Tuesday, November 13, 2018

In the Driver's Seat


Inner Guidance

Something wonderful begins to happen with the simple realization that life, like an automobile, is driven from the inside, not the other way around. As you focus on becoming more peaceful with where you are, rather than focusing on where you'd rather be, you begin to find peace right now, in present time. As you move around, try new things, and meet new people, you carry that sense of inner peace with you...”
Richard Carlson (Don't Sweat the Small Stuff)

Back in 2005, Jon Kabat-Zinn wrote a book about mindfulness titled, Wherever You Go, There You Are. It is a reminder that we carry our definitions of life with us on the inside, and we either “joy” ourselves with them, or we “trouble” ourselves with them. Events and other people are what they are, who they are—the translator and producer of emotions is us. When we feel angry or scared, happy or sad, contented or restless—it is we who are in the drivers seat. We sometimes set in motion events that create our circumstances—though we often blame someone or something else for them.

Here's a case in point: I received a property tax bill in October that was much larger than I'd anticipated. I immediately panicked. I was anxiously delving about for solutions, when the blower-motor on my furnace died—costing me a hunk of cash. Now, I was in even more of a stew about money. Then I hit a month (November) that started on Thursday, meaning that I would not receive Social Security, or any other money until the middle of the month. I was in a virtual frenzy. This morning I was awakened by a dream about being on vacation somewhere and having all my credit cards stolen. At first the dream was troubling—I actually went and checked my wallet just to make sure credit cards were still there. But then I realized that the dream was actually offering a solution—put away my credit cards for a while. Live within my means. Don't create any new debt while I pay off the old, a little at a time, as I can.

All the anxiety was unnecessary. I conjured it from within, and for a while it made my life pretty miserable. No matter where I go, I am still myself. All my fears and anxious thoughts belong to me and are mine to accept or change. The key to living a non-anxious life is creating peace within. When we are peaceful within, we are open inner guidance, and solutions will present themselves.

                                                     In the Spirit,
                                                         Jane

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