There are a lot of models of human psychology and behavior out there that attempt to describe the human experience as if we are programmable machines that are doomed to act out our life based on the computer software installed on our hard drive.
While these models can be useful when we talk about conditioned thinking (adapted beliefs and behaviors that we learn to survive in our environment from birth), to me they seem to severely underestimate our innate capacity for psychological well-being.
The truth is, the fact that you are reading this right now means that your innate capacity carried you through all of the ups and downs of your life. Even when things seemed hopeless and doomed, something inside of you prevailed. Call it spirit, soul, higher-self, Universe, God…call it what you want, that essence carried you through it all and it will continue to do so.
The extent to which we forget this and try to control it all, can determine the extent to which we experience frustration, pain, anger, despair, sadness, insecurity, etc.
Author Anita Moorjani, who famously writes about her experience of “crossing over”, says that there is no such thing as fear. Fear is only an absence of love.
Your feelings are not your enemy. They are not things to be “plucked out”.
Your feeling are a blessing, they are letting you know that you are preoccupied with thought in the moment.
…and in any moment, you can wake up, let go, notice your mind settling, and experience your true essence.
But don’t take my word for it. Look for and remember those moments in your life, those moments when you awoke from what in one moment seemed real, and in the next moment it wasn’t.
The more we see it, the more we can relax into this immaculate experience called life and be grateful for the ride.
with love,
Alan
