Life’s Paradox

Let’s sit, have a cup of tea, and discuss what matters in life. Let’s sit, debrief, and debunk what we thought we knew. Let’s look at life, our opinions, how they create, and how they get in the way.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder is one of those sayings that took me a long time to understand. In truth, it was not clear to me until I became a serious student of the Science of Mind. And, like all meaningful things, this statement had a sting and is an inspiration. This is an example of something that I would like to sit and contemplate.

When life surprises you with challenges, when you feel hurt or scared, when your anxiety is off the roof, it is not easy to look at those outcomes and take responsibility. Here is the rub – the paradox. Responsibility is powerful, but first, we have to accept it without shaming ourselves. The spiritual principle of responsibility requires us to reveal who we are in authentic ways, but we must NOT look in the mirror only to shame the one looking back at us.

If life is working for you, this statement affirms you. It is a reminder that you have created the beauty of life you see and experience. If life is challenging at this time, this statement will sting like the thorn on a beautiful rose. It is not easy to look at life’s challenges and admit – I did this; I am responsible for this experience; however, this is the very action that will leave you standing on higher ground with a view of the vista of life.

If you are committed to your spiritual practices, you have positioned yourself to see beauty, joy, compassion, and love all around you. Spiritual practices tether us to the universal mind and make for spiritual alchemy moving toward our good.

As it says in the meme, we don’t see things as they are; we see them as we are. Here are a few tips for accepting this principle without beating yourself up.

·         Cease judging yourself for what you have created.

·         Be gentle – we are all learning and growing.

·         Cultivate compassion for yourself, and remember that you can change direction.

·         If your conflict is with another, talk to them directly. Close the loop, but have the hard conversation. Be the solution by being love.

·         If something is hard right now, look at it, remind yourself that you are complicit in some way with your reality, and then look in the mirror and say: While I accept my participation, I remember that I am always doing the best that I can, knowing this, I accept responsibility, forgive myself, and speak the word for my new desired outcome.

You deserve freedom, one step, one decision, one conversation at a time.