Shift from struggle to surrender

Notice we are each making our way from unconscious struggle to surrender. Some of us may feel we struggle more than surrender, but we get here. Every moment, we have opportunities to shift energy, vibration. The matrix of interactions is complex. Everybody has unique experiences and manages them the best they can based on their references and level of consciousness. We see through the lens of fear (ego) or the mirror of love, acceptance (Soul).

Bottom line is, when we struggle in the external world with events that evoke discomfort, resistance or anything other than peace, its because there's imbalance inside us. We do not feel okay. We store energy that bothers us. It follows we feel restless about all we repress, deny or attempt to escape. As the result, we struggle to experience the outside world in ways that make us feel better. So, external things cannot bring lasting happiness.

Ironically, people struggle with the intention not to struggle. They struggle to forget or let go of their inner struggle. In essence, ego struggles to get things the way it wants and keep them that way. Fighting, disagreement, ill health, all happen because we each have different ideas about what will bring us peace, fulfillment, satisfaction, wellness. And struggle is not spirituality.

Curious thing is, nobody ever satisfies a desire by fulfilling it. Its like we close the door on one desire to feel better until something else begins to bother us. Nothing we do is ever wrong or bad. When people get what they want, they fear losing it. There must be a better way to know peace. We can learn and grow from it all.

The spiritual journey is very much about the inward shift. Then, the competition and struggle are suddenly with yourself. Do what challenges the 'self' concept. If we struggle inside and decide we have no problem then this is not the answer either. Spirituality is not a struggle and not denial of lingering struggles. Fighting with the self is common. What does it mean to grow spiritualy? It is not about how long you can meditate or how quiet you can be. Its the process of surrendering to the fact things are not as you think. Everything has a reason for the way it is without us. It is the result of cause and effect, universal laws. No accidents exist.

Some say the spiritual journey really begins with the willingness to take responsibility for our role in unfolding events. It also takes everything being as it is to interact as it does. Beyond judgement, everything is the result of all that ever was. Wake up to realize what is right here, now. Its not about whether you like it or not. Same thing with every moment. All forces invite us to surrender honour, respect, this moment in front of us. Each is very special. Something inside is distracts us from the reality of the moment in front of us. Shift away from struggle to seeand feel the blessings right where we are. This is the act of letting go of the unreal. We are each on a unique trajectory of radiating divine light, joining dots and streaming beyond space-time.

Being centred is key

Notice if we are truly committed to soul growth, this requires we shift our full, conscious attention in this direction. Wherever we focus in this world creates problems or distrubance until we recall our true relationship to energy and all things. Yet, what is it to devote ourself to our evolving relationship with self?

Contrary to popular belief, evolution does not necessarily require living in solitude in a remote place, leaving a job or family, though such experiences may be part of our journey. In truth, evolution happens as we prioiritize our liberation from illusion, decide to be conscious of our reactions/ responses to all things. See triggers as gifts to move though them. If the external happens to irritate us, evoke fear, negativity, imbalance, we accept this points to what is going on inside us. If people are talking and it bothers us, then we realize disturbance is within us. This is taking responsibility for our thoughts and feelings and recognizing power is within to direct every moment of our lives.

A being intent on spiritual grow uses every moment for this purpose. Its not only during scheduled meditation or spiritual practice. To sense energy is to realize wherever we are, we attract or repulse everything in our experience. We tend to look past what feels neutral to what evokes pain or pleasure, want to minimize pain and maximize pleasure. We are disturbed, experience pleasure through attraction or overlook things. Ponder why so many things are neutral. Within those moments, a peaceful relationship exists. There is nothing to do abouti it. Thing is, balanced states tend not to last long. Our conditioned habit is to push things away or cling to things we attract to stay balanced. Whatever we are constantly working on is not us. Problems and solutions are not us. Yet they take most attention. The spiritual journey is about shifting away from that to neutrality.

Yoga is about turning all this upside down. It helps us realize that only working with ourselves can change our external conditions. It is not about touching our toes but what we learn about us through the course of our practice. As opposed to what is widely taught, we cannot change 'life' by focusing on the external. Why?

A closer look reveals focusing on the external is giving our power away. The external solves itself when we work on ourselves. Life is energy simply passing by and we are at peace with it. All of life is beautiful. If we think something right or wrong with life, then judgment is within us about us. People are the way they are. Situations are the way they are. We are honoured to be here with it all. There is a dance of energy unfolding. Watch what happens when there is no attempt to control things. Put whole heart and soul into whatever is before us. What enables us to experience life as it is not on what we define it to be. All of life exist to free us from our own self-created limitation and illusions.

So, work on our inner selves can happen every moment. Until we understand what takes us out of the peace evoked in meditation, then we will not be able to prolong that experience. Pay attention. Watch what is coming up in you. Join the dots. Ebbs and flows of inner tides prevent us from being at peace. True spiritual growth is the revelation that we are working on ourselves every moment of every day and not simply when we are meditating.

Most people can maintain consciousness and balance in a relaxed situation. The key is to be aware of what draws us out of that state. How do we stay centred, come what may? Shift focus inward to how we are responding to life, relationships, situations. Enter a room and participate in interactions, keep the continuity of experience and leave still centred. The purpose of any event is never the event, it is what happens to you when you are interacting before, during and after a situation and how we grow to remain calm and centred.

Let go of will to control

Notice its common to wonder what determines how life unfolds. Yet, its not up to us. Its outside of our control. Feel into any resistance arising to not being in control. Everything that presents results from dynamic forces of equilibrium and natural laws interacting and creating what is seen and unseen. We do not have to know all reasons that needed to happen for everything to be as it is. This has nothing to do with us. Its completely impersonal. Everything is fine until we show up, judge it, attempt to force or manipulate. Energy flows where we are not. We are fine with that. We rarely or never complain about where we are not. Ponder this...

So, life is not about controlling energy. Its about our relationship with the force of creation unfolding outside us. We each inhabit a body and "the world" is outside. Energy is always unfolding, that includes before after time, before our birth and after body is gone.

Many people seek peace. Thing is, right now, we can be in a state of acceptance, awe, respect, honour, experience this moment as fresh and new. Insodoing, we gift ourselves whatever arises. We are the only being standing right here, now. From this view, no problems exist, simply experience we accept (or reject/ resist). For most, their relationship with life and self is not always peaceful. Why is that?

Well, we decide in the mind, develop ideas, of what life should be doing today, tomorrow, and beyond. In truth, we limit possibilities, make it all up, create a vison, goals, dreams we must realize and specific steps to get here. Ego decides what should and should not be, what we like and dislike, what is right and wrong in relation to our own self-created points of reference. A problem is that unfolding realities are not obliged to meet our expectations. Business projections are not always accurate. When what we want to happen, doesn't happen as we want it to and when, that is viewed as a problem. Yet, reality does not behave this way. We make up an alternate version of reality and get upset when the unfolding does not happen as ego wants. This brings suffering. We are the source.

In essence then, Buddha's Nobel Truths are simple. Everybody is suffering because they do not have the right understanding of the way things are, they have expectations for life that reality does not meet. The cause of suffering is desire, preference, our idea of ways things ought to be. We make it up and want things to happen, our way.

As it is, moments exist independently from the rest. Everything is interconnected. To end suffering, end attachment to desire and outcomes, stop being rigid about the way things must be. Come back to simplicity. The way the world is does not have to be the way you want it to be.

A key question to ask is what prompts us to fear things will not be the way we want? It evokes tension. A wise person does not renounce all desires. Yet, why do we insist on imagining an alternate reality instead of savouring the one that exists? Rather than struggle with life or ourselves, go deeper. Everything does not have to be a certain way for us to be loved, lovable, accepted, successful. We are a witness, guest and observer.

Be receptive to the present

Notice at some stage, it dawns no separate personal, public, professional or spiritual life exist. The fragmented ways we are taught to view our lives are paths and back to wholeness.As we begin to make the shift from ego to soul, we may encounter opposition or interference. Those most closely connected to us resist our shift because we have created predictable patterns (healthy or not) and this keeps others in their comfort zones.

Anything we attempt to push away, deny, fragment or forget is stored energetically inside us. As we allow ourselves to feel the tug-of war, discomfort fully, honour, accept its right to be, learn, grow from the experience, then energy and related conditions dissipate.

Truth is, we also cannot undo past events. The pain we feel related to what we cannot change is a form of love. To be open and receptive to energies coming through, is part of learning to be comfortable with all vibrations. Growth only happens when we learn to get comfortable with and decode our own discomfort, energies we are not completely equipped or ready to handle. Anything that is stuck inside is unfinished energetic business.

Life is about getting in touch with our inner selves. When we no longer attempt to control and manipulate life, we stop triggering our stuff. If we are unaware or not taking care of our inner world, then our outer world reflects this.

So, if the mind is healthy, no emotional or mental "needs" exist. Yet, if we are afraid, tense, insecure, anxious, not paying attention, our uncomfortable vibration projects into our external. Certain things can happen outside that make it worse inside, that magnify inner disturbance. Most people are disturbed far more than they are at peace. Inner disturbance are the most common underlying reason we tell ourselves we want to take vacations, buy things, get different relationships, new homes, jobs or create new businesses or conditions. Until we deal with the underlying issues that drive all of this in the mind, they simply emerge again.

Some people go out of the way to put themselves in challenging situations. When conscious, this brings out the best versions of us. What if you could awaken in the morning with no notion of what's next? Simply be spontaneous and totally okay about that?

The ultimate aim is to be receptive to energy flows, to let energy pass through and choose not to carry it with you. If it is not unfolding right now, then it is no longer relevant to our attention. Life can be savoured moment-by-moment without unfolding in a certain way. Living with the uncertainties and stress of modern day can feel s of the ego is to know life does not have to be what we are taught. We can feel our way into new realities.overwhelming, but only if we allow it. To recognize dreams and goals are ego constructs is to know life does not have to be a certain way. We can feel our way into new realities.

 

Redefine Time between Birth & Death

 Notice a wise being comes to realize that true meaning of life is unrelated to anything that doesn't last. What has meaning is how you use the time you gift yourself between physical birth and death. What do you do with it? Most people do not see existence this way. They often seek to do the most in least time or focus on crossing items off a bucket list. Well, some would ask, what else is there?

We are born crying and often think life is about acquisitions, emotional rollercoasters and denying inner disturbances. If we feel bad, scared, uncomfortable, restless, we will do that which enables us to feel better, reduce pain. We are either clinging to what we think will feel better, or reaching outside for it. Then, we strive to keep it. We resist death unless we experience that which enables us to feel successful, comfortable, satisfied. Irony is, ego is insatiable.

The essence here, is why do we not feel okay? Films like the Matrix echo taking a pill can ease discomfort temporarily, but the root cause of unrest does not go away. Not a single thing we are trying to do in the external will solve what bothers us deep down. Trusted external authorities advise running after compensations or quick fixes for the problem we think we have. Yet, its not a lasting solution. We must deal with the root cause of our loneliness, discomfort, false beliefs. Spirituality is never about getting what you want or avoiding what you don't. Its about finding courage to uncover inner issues. Most people do not want to know about this. Most people are focused on quick fixes for external symptoms.

What if everything is pointing to the option of turning inward and seeing everything as experience without judgment? If we truly aim for lasting joy, turning inward is the only option. This is the source of happiness. When inner disturbance subsides, joy is all. The meaning of life is the experience of life itself, its about aliveness. If we feel whole and complete within ourself, then we can be happy anywhere. There is no loneliness when we know we are energy, interconnected with all. Every experience we have stretches the soul, enables it to grow and come full circle.

When we are okay, the struggle ceases. We can honour and appreciate every moment of our lives.  Many people do not know what its like to not feel fearful and needy.  Yet everyone can also outgrow this.  Every moment can feel fresh and new.  Every sunrise and sunset is like the first one. The experience you get to have is the one you are having. Make the most of wherever you are. That which is unfolding in front of us is where we are meant to focus.  Imagine wanting, fearing and needing are gone.  Be here now.

The reason you have trouble with decisions, is because you think there is something wrong. A spiritual person is experiencing the moment that is in front of him/her.  Life is neither for or against us.  Which part of the quantum field is wrong? Let go of whatever you think you need to be okay.

A wise person awakens and realizes external challenges point to issues going on inside the self. Stop avoiding and compensating for what is imbalanced inside. Stop attempting to control or blame others.  Situations and circumstanes are going to present regularly to trigger us.  Life bothers us until we have worked through all our inner "stuff." Awakening is realizing we have a minimum time between birth and death to expand experiences. We are inviting ourselves to love and honour every moment of existence like the sunset. In this instant, when our stuff is triggered, we can be more open and learn from it all. When we leave this 3D plane, we want to be more mature and evolved than when we arrived.  Every event in front of us has to come through us energetically.  Are you ready to grow, come back to God self? Let go of any lingering feelings you are not ok.

"Birth and death are simply passages, not of life, but of time. " -Sadhguru