Inspiraelevation

Enlightenment cannot be sought after.

“If we demand enlightenment, it hides. All that we can do is make ourselves enlightenment-prone. We learn to treasure the possibility of awakening in all moments and circumstances. We learn to simplify and cultivate the receptivity of heart that can be touched by profound understanding. We learn to listen deeply and discover stillness amid the movement in our world.” – Christina Feldman

One becomes enlightened

Enlightenment is the measure of growth or stature gained by he or she who seeks above all wisdom, to live a life of love, of charity, and of giving freely of self, that others may blossom.

It is being the beautiful person you were destined to become.

What does one who is enlightened look like?

Those who are enlightened are fully aware, they are fully conscious.

They are aware of themselves, their surrounding world, and are able to separate themselves from the noise of the world in which they inhabit.

They are no longer humans doing but human’s being.

“Enlightenment is not about becoming divine, instead it’s about becoming more fully human. It is the end of ignorance. ” -Lama Surya Das

 

Those who are then enlightened, use their newfound awareness to rise to levels of greater understanding thereby achieving a state of inner peace that surpasses all comprehension.

It is an inhaling of the beauty and magnificence of life and its myriad complexities and components and exhaling acceptance and understanding.

As Wayne Dyer author of “Wisdom of the Ages,” so eloquently stated, “If I could define enlightenment briefly I would say it is, “the quiet acceptance of what is.”

Although many seek few fully develop it for many it takes a lifetime.

“There are very few human beings who receive the truth, complete and staggering, by instant illumination. Most of them acquire it fragment by fragment, on a small-scale, by successive developments, cellularly, like a laborious mosaic” – Anais Nin

For one who does manage to become enlightened

• He or she grasps the purpose of it all, of everything, of one’s existence.
• He or she sees the intricate little pieces of life fit together into one giant mosaic.
•  one exquisite landscape.

“To the illumined man or woman, a clod of dirt, a stone, and gold are the same.” – Bhagavad Gita

Why is it that so few become enlightened?

Many are looking in the wrong locations for enlightenment.

1. They are looking for enlightenment in places. 

Enlightenment is not a byproduct of having visited zen gardens, mountaintops, cathedrals, temples, or other locales.

2.  They are looking for enlightenment from others.

They are seeking enlightenment apart from themselves, to come from some great teacher.

3. They are awaiting some grand alteration in events, but this is to no avail.

Enlightenment does not change our physical into a metaphysical state. Our physical form and surroundings remain the same. One does not ascend above the drone of daily existence.

There  is a Zen proverb that eloquently states

“Before enlightenment chopping wood, carrying water” (Dyer p 59)

“After enlightenment chopping wood, carrying water ” (Dyer p 59)

There is no significant alteration of circumstances, events, or places required to become enlightened.

“Inside or outside of yourself you never have to change what you see, only the way you see it” (p 63)

 

 enlightenment indicates a change in perception and perspective.

“In general enlightenment will not change your outer world, but will change your way of processing the world” (Dyer p 61)

Old habits are broken and new ones enacted. One becomes reborn a new person. They simply seem different.

To them, the world no longer seems the same because he or she is no longer blind but sees the world in vivid color.

 

Enlightenment awakens.

 

The evidence of such is undeniable, one demonstrates such in the life that they live.

Dyer, Wayne. “Wisdom of the Ages.” Harper Collins. Print

Self-fulfilling prophecy plays a vital role in what we are to become or what we are to achieve.

Self-fulfilling prophecy is the action(s) one carries out based on internalization of a belief, be it erroneous or not, which has been  imparted on one by self or another, and found lodging in one’s brain as a result of  verbal repetition or thought.

Many people talk themselves out of doing those things that benefit us by focusing on those behaviours and character traits that don’t.

We become that which we dwell upon most.

“You’re always reinforcing something- even when you’re doing nothing” (Blanchard)

Your brain is always working even when you are not.

Words have sticking power.

That is why suggestion or auto-suggestion is powerful.

Tell yourself something long enough or permit someone to tell you something often enough you will begin to accept it as true and act out in said fashion.

For this very reason, one should take care of who they let speak into their lives.

One must take extra caution regarding what one focuses on.

If you want to have positive outcomes you have to accentuate the positives.

• Focus on what you are doing right.
• Focus on what you are good at.
• Focus on your assets.
• Focus on your best traits.

Remember the universal law of magnetism.

You draw unto yourself what you put out.

If your focus is on negative, you will draw unto yourself more of the same.

“Humans naturally want approval from others” (Blanchard)

We crave attention.

The wrong type of attention is detrimental.

Therefore, watch from whom and where you derive your worth and value.

Watch who you let whisper in your ear or who you entertain in a conversation.

Do not under any circumstance let someone demean you or over amplify your flaws.

Remove yourself from the company of those who incessantly devalue your worth or barrage you with insults.

Never accept or choose to stay in the presence of those who always tell you what you cannot do or what will not happen.

Seek out people who will focus on your positives, who will catch you doing what is right; because this is the type of thing that will encourage you and give you zest so that you may do more of the same.

Everyone needs encouragement.

“When one is dealing with their kids, or with the people at work, and consistently call attention to what they do right, it is like they’re responding to the best that’s in them” (Blanchard)

Responding to the best in people drives them to be their best, even when they are at their worst.

The Art of Suggestion is a powerful thing.

Blanchard, Ken. (2002).  “Whale Done!” New York: NY, Simon and Schuster. Print.

A breakthrough is the fulfilment of a long-anticipated outcome.

The elusive prize sought out for consistent efforts, and toil yet to be rewarded

If one were to pique the mind or pull up a chair to hold attendance to some of the greatest thinkers and innovators of humankind one would come to the full understanding of the process of achievement.

Success is a journey.

A journey riddled with setbacks and opposition.

But like all good things that come about with hard work and time withstanding, so does success

If you are sweating it out, waiting it out, and refusing to doubt then what you are working for will one day work for you.

• Give it time
• Don’t ever give up

Things don’t always happen when we want them,  and for good cause

We are not always equipped to handle what we want.

For many, if they got what they wanted when they wanted it, then the obtainment of their desires would consume them.

Good things grow with time.

What grows too fast is born pre-mature, underdeveloped, undernourished, and struggles to survive.

Great things take the time to build.

That which one constructs too fast is often shoddy, and incapable of withstanding the elements of nature and the corrosive force of time.

Such things will often have to be torn down and rebuilt.

It takes time to succeed.

The more you grow, the more you know, the more prepared, the more polished, and the more brilliant you will shine.

Most expectations are unrealistic.

A lesson through symbolism

Has a farmer ever planted a seed in a patch of soil and expected a full harvest on the morrow.

Does he or she not nourish, water, and till the soil that the harvest be robust?

Does he or she not treat the soil and weed the garden to protect?

Must not the sower of seed await the sun,  for the seed to struggle through the dirt,  and patiently wait for the seed to endure the elements of the wind or a strong rain.

We are not unlike the farmer.

Our dreams are our seeds

Our work, practice, and dedication the nourishment and preparation.

Our vigilance to our thoughts  and actions our protectorate.

Must the dreamer not wait for his or her dreams to see the light of day.

Are we the ambitious, innovators, creators, the believes not left to struggle, to push for one to take notice of our dreams.

Must not our hopes endure the elements of both criticism and opposition.

Surely we can see the process of our lives reflected in that of the sower and seed.

Our lives as a reflection

1. Make sure that you are not sowing your seed in the wrong place.

Thorny soil will not produce a full harvest no matter how much work you put into it.

2. Make sure that you are sowing the right seed.

If you invest in something that is not for you, or does not make good use of your gifts or talent no matter how much you work, a breakthrough will be impossible.

3. Make sure that you are sowing in the right season.

Frost and snow are detrimental to crops and will kill most seeds before they have time to grow.

For everything, there is a season and a purpose.

Perhaps the time for fulfillment is not yet.

Learn the art of discernment.

4. Make sure you are not depriving your seed of nourishment needed.

All things need attending.

• Do everything you can to grow.
• Learn all you can.
• Continuously improve.

5. Make sure you are protecting your seed.

Don’t let naysayers get in your head.

Stay away from dream snatchers.

Protect your dream as you would your infant child.

Don’t rush it!

That does not mean to sit back and do nothing.

It means to do what is necessary.

Don’t try to force open closed doors,  doors close for a reason.

If a door closes or is closed search for another door, a cracked door, or open windows.

When one door closes, another avenue will open and sometimes in the most unexpected of places.

In summation

• Hard work is essential.
• Putting your time and effort into building is necessary.
• Diligence and vigilance are a skill set one must encompass.
• If you want something worth having patient hope is quintessential

Don’t ever, ever give up.

Your breakthrough is coming.

 

 

When we are born, we are born as self-discoverers.

This must be, this is by design.

We are egocentric and with good cause.

The focal point must be on our adaptation and survival.

Our needs must be put at the center, this is required.

We simply cannot care for ourselves.

Egocentrism is typical and developmentally necessary for the child.

Before understanding the world, or others, one must understand self.

We must determine how we relate to the world.

Self-centered thinking is a process of development, as  “Childrens’ thoughts and communications are typically egocentric.”(McCleod)

The child see’s everything from his or her perspective and is unable to at the time understand the complexities of the views of others.

“As Mcleod  further notes, According to Piaget, the egocentric child assumes that other people see, hear, and feel exactly the same as the child does.”

This is essentially how we  find ourselves and what we believe.

However, the way of life is growth.

We are designed to progress from one stage of development to another.

Egocentricity, serves its purpose in our youth, but should be subdued as one grows into adulthood.

Once we find our way in the world, there are things we must learn to grow out of so that we can grow into who we are to become.

Egocentricity can develop into full blown self-absorption or what many refer to as narcissism.

This can come at an extreme detriment.

 

 

A lot of issues that we contend with stem from stunted growth, specifically failing to grow beyond that of egocentric thinking.

Our interdependent nature was by design.

We need each other.

We live in a communal earth.

we inherit collective resources such as land and water.

Thus, our survival is greatly dependent on our ability to share those resources.

Therefore, we must learn to think of others who are inhabiting the same sphere with us.

There is an abundance of resources to go around, provided that we do not become overconsumed with self.

Self-centeredness, is a blight on humanity.

 

I believe that if  one were to explore the very depths of human depravity and ruin, one could find the rot of selfishness at the very root.

There is a remedy.

 

The solution to what puzzles or confounds us most is selflessness, as such is the seedling of love in full bloom.

Selflessness

Selflessness begins with self-care and self-awareness.

At times, you must put you first, especially when replenishment of your stores are needed.

For this very reason a day of rest has been set aside, it is essential.

A day, when one  must work on building and nourishing,  to release selfishness in exchange for selflessness

 

 

You must be whole and healthy to fully give unto others.

 

An imbalanced nature is evident

Self-care and self-absorbancy (selfishness)

Many confuse self-care with self-absorbancy.

They believe that any attention on self to be selfish in nature.

Self-care and self-absorbancy are not synonymous, one must be mindful of this.

Self-care is to pay necessary attention to one’s need’s to maintain balance.

Self-absorbancy is to pay unnecessary attention to one’s want’s at the expense of others.

Self-absorbancy is seeing oneself with an over-inflated sense of importance.

 

Self-absorbancy is the epitome of selfish behaviors.

 

 

Such people have a tendency to put their wants above the needs of others.

One’s luxury becomes more important than another’s survival.

One’s comfort more vital than another’s suffering.

They absorb more than is necessary and  collect and store up for vanity sake.

 

Such often have a penchant of prefacing their thinking with an, ” what about me” attitude.

they contend for their spot at the center of the universe, as evident in their day to day practices and interactions.

They wish success for self at the expense of others.

They are marked by their cupidity, plagued with an I got mine now you get your’s mindset.

Driven to win by any means necessary without due consideration of the trickle down effect.

 

 

 

Mcleod, Saul. (2010). Preoperational Stage. SimplyPsychology. http://www.simplypsychology.org/preoperational.html

 

Now is important

for all we know, now may be all that we have.

It is so easy to push things off, to say I will but later.

It is  so easy to hesitate, to deviate, to procrastinate.

One of the greatest enemies to success is procrastination.

It is the fruit of laziness, desire not yet full.

Though many will not admit it procrastination is just sloth in a fancy shroud.

Desire pushes.

Sloth pulls.

When desire is full one  acts with immediacy out of necessity so that he or she may not lose an opportunity.

A soul full must be emptied to make room for more.

Procrastination has a steep penalty.

If anything I have learned, I have learned thus much, you pay the price today for the achievement you desire tomorrow.

Later never comes.

The flower that blooms too late

it often meets a dire fate

instead of blossoms that burst in spring

It has to weather what fall may bring

cold, snow, frost and dew

push against that flower in bloom

 for when the  time for flowering has past

success is relegated to chance

It will take everything that little flower has

to do all it can  do to last

The time is always now

Procrastination is an ugly habit

That undermines all talent, skill, and gift that lies within.

If you find yourself putting things off until later you must question your desire.

Ask yourself, how much do I want this?

How important is this to me?

Do I want this at all?

If your intention is to continuously put a thing off until later it could be that it’s not very important to you or completely unnecessary.

If you have no intention of acting in the present

It stands to reason you may never do it at all.

All tomorrows will turn into today’s.