Who We're Meant to Be

“The ability to free your mind from unwanted thoughts is real freedom.”

Remez Sasson

“And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Marianne Williamson

“I wish that every human life might be pure transparent freedom.”

Simone de Beauvoir

Today was long and difficult and frustrating.  It didn’t end well either.  I didn’t get my blog done.  I got very little done actually.  I felt confused, uncertain and sad.  I felt suffocated.  Someone once told me that I have to get control of my emotions and that’s good advice.  So that’s what I did.  I did “The Work” by Bryon Katie and I very quickly my negative emotions under control.  I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but at this moment I feel peaceful and full of love.

I’ve mentioned The Work before.  It is the process of taking a negative thought and examining it, using four questions and a “Turnaround.”   

These are the four questions:

1.     Is that thought true?

2.     Do I know for sure that it’s true?

3.     How does that thought make me feel?

4.      Who would I be without that thought?

For example, my negative thought might be, “I’m not going to be able to pay my rent next month.”

1.     Is that true?  I don’t know.

2.     Skip since I don’t know if the thought is true.

3.     How does that thought make me feel?  I feel scared and angry.

4.     Who would I be without that thought?  I would be calm and peaceful.  I might even be able to devise a way to pay my rent.

The Turnarounds:

·      I will be able to pay my rent next month.

·      I will get the next month rent-free.

·      I will have enough money to pay the next three months’ rent.

·      I will find a less expensive place.

There is often more than one possibility.

I love this method because it brings me peace.  When I am peaceful I am also more loving and more compassionate.  I get my eyes off myself and back on God and on other people.  That’s a much better place to be.  To be in a place of love, where I can hear what God is saying and see what others need, is a wonderful place to be.  The burden of self is too hard.  In fact, it may be the hardest (and most unnecessary) burden in the world.

What is the burden of self?  It is the burden of focusing on my needs and desires.  It brings with it fear, anger, sadness, selfishness, hatred, bitterness, envy and greed.   What is the opposite of the burden of self?

It is love.

It is presence.

It is joy.

It is peace.

It is freedom.

It is clear thinking.

It is contentment.

It is spontaneity.

It is structure.

It is self-discipline.

It is being who we are meant to be.

It is the way we were created to be. 

All the selfishness, greed fear, hate and other negative emotions do not make us who we are supposed to be.  Too often I allow myself to be led by those emotions, but it is not who I am supposed to be.  I am designed for greater things.  We all are.

What turned my darkness into light tonight?  I Got Started and I Kept Going…and I became person I am meant to be.