It’s Good-bye

I’ve been writing these reflections for almost five years. I feel it’s time to sign out. I have expressed my considerations on various aspects of Life, hoping to encourage other fellow human beings to find their own answers to the many questions and challenges that face all of us on a daily basis. I don’t know if I succeeded and, if I did, to what extent. For the time being, though, there is nothing else I feel worth saying. So, I simply step out and wish everyone all the best. Good-bye.

Waking Up

Throughout your life, you find yourself at different levels of awareness, according to the effort you put into becoming a "better yourself". It is not important how long your eyes were kept blindfolded. What counts is the moment when your eyelids are able to rise, allowing you to see clearly. The result is a proper vision of reality, free from preconceived ideas, false interpretations, conditioning. What counts is the "waking up", not how long it took.

Ready Or Not?

Ask yourself what is the aim you are pursuing at this point of your life. Try to understand if you are always alert, if you try to grasp every opportunity to improve yourself, if you are willing to work for your spiritual progress. Ask yourself if you are ready, "now". If you believe you are mentally and spiritually open, if you are receptive to positive solicitations, you can begin to accept new ideas, learn useful principles, absorb them and apply them in your life. It will be for your own good.

Why Worry?

At a certain point in your life, you might feel that you have no more goals to pursue. What to do? Simply decide to live "without" a goal. Carry on with your life day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, without worrying about what is coming next, about what to "do" next. Most people believe that every action should always have a well defined aim. This is usually true but, at times, you can just go on doing what you are doing for the simple reason that you like doing it - "now". The next moment will take care of itself, when and "if" it comes. It might even not come. So, why worry?

An Inventory

Take a little time to examine your own life. Think of your past. Count up your successes. Count up your failures. Think about how you are feeling - right now. How do you see yourself? How do you "judge" yourself? Do you see a winner, or do you see a loser? Don't take into consideration what the outside world thinks of you. What is important - really important - is how "you" see yourself. And you might see a totally different person from what you "appear" to be. This may end up being a rather painful kind of exercise. But, if you dare to do it, it will prove to be quite useful. It will show stuff that you - maybe - never had the courage to tell yourself.

Like a Candle

When you light a candle, usually the wick burns properly. But sometimes it doesn't. When this happens, it makes me think of how also people can be different in a similar way, especially from a non-materialistic point of view. Some are interested in their spiritual progress, try to improve themselves and keep the flame of love and understanding alive inside their spirit. On the other hand, others don’t care to keep any spiritual light alive, are not interested in kindling any higher interests or purpose. Both the lazy candle and the apathetic individuals must be accepted as they are and… allowed to carry on their lives the way they have chosen.

The Final Pursuit

Do you think that, if you found what you believe to be the perfect mate (job, environment etc.), you would consider it wonderful... forever? The excitement of reaching the object of your craving, according to human nature, tends to transform itself: at first, into a more relaxed feeling, then acceptance comes in, followed by a sense of entitlement. Afterwards all is transformed into a habit and finally... boredom. It seems that human beings are not built to be capable of total contentment. As everything is temporary, all is bound to change. Both positive and negative feelings will be transformed, in a way or another. So, happiness, serenity, fulfillment do not depend on outside circumstances, situations, people or things. They must be nursed inside yourself, through the never-ending pursuit of spiritual progress. 

For How Long?

Right now, before you read any further, ask yourself, aloud, "What do I really want from life?". Now, you have answered. What is it? Is what you "really" want from life the perfect mate? The best job? A totally loving child? More money? Greater power/control? Do you want to be popular, respected more? Do you want to be prettier, thinner? Taller, with bigger muscles? Whatever it is that you wish for, now ask yourself: "What would I get if I had my desire fulfilled? More love, appreciation, security, admiration? And if you got it all (Here is the most important question), how would you feel? Do you think you would finally feel happy and "fulfilled"? It's quite possible that you might. But... for how long?

A Profound Realization

As time goes by, what do you think about yourself? How do you feel about yourself? It is very likely that, although you can't deny the changes you see happening in the mirror, you still feel the same. Your physical features change according to unstoppable passing of time, but your inner self still feels identical to what it used to be. According to your deepest feelings, you are never a day older. "You" is always "you". Without realizing it, though, you have changed, you have been transformed into another human being, another version, a more mature, deep, reliable, possibly wiser "edition" of your original self. Should you be sad or rejoice with such realization? It's up to you to decide.

Impermanence

Are you aware that "everything" is temporary? I mean, really aware? If you are, decide to stop worrying about things you cannot change, about things you cannot have, about things that simply cannot "be". Do your best to make your life as good as you can but then... let it be, accept what "is", stop being frantic about the problems that are challenging you, especially those you cannot solve. If you don't, you will just wear yourself out, you will make your life an actual hell, "uselessly"! 

Truth and Choice

Truth can only be found through an emotional understanding, for truth is a feeling, it's not intellectual. To know what truth is for you, you have to understand what you feel about it. Emotion is the greatest reality, whatever you choose to believe. Just seek the answer that feels right within your spirit. Your intuition will let you know if you are making a good (or not-so-good) choice. If you are totally honest with yourself, you will be able to realize if a choice is suggested by genuineness or by selfishness.

Fake Gold

How certain are you of your "knowledge" of others? I mean, are you sure that you really know the people you love, you work or generally interact with? It would be interesting to find out. You believe you understand the nature of those who surround you - in your family, in your social or work environment - but every now and then you are surprised (at times even shocked) by someone's behavior, words or actions. One was so calm and suddenly they reveal an aggressive streak, another looked so trustworthy and then you discover they are not, sincere attitudes may turn into deceiving traits. And so on. You find out that (as an Italian proverb says) not all that shines is gold. Therefore... don't give up love and friendship, accept people as they are but - simply - be careful and alert. Be ready for any (usually unpleasant) surprise. Also this is part of Life.

Manifestation

Picture an individual who, at the moment, is just a human being with no outstanding features or characteristics, no special charm, not a lot of money, no great spirituality: a seemingly, truly "nobody". But he has a dream and steadily keeps working towards it. All by himself, little by little, he begins climbing the staircase that will eventually take him to the top. When he finally reaches his goal, his triumph is total. Many may not realize it, they may see him as another successful person. But ... he knows! He is aware of the effort it took him to do what he did, to be able to manifest his skills, his capacities and become what he was supposed to be, what he was meant to be: a good painter, scientist, musician, author, athlete, actor, teacher... By following his inner drive, he proudly reached his destination. Everybody can do the same... and so can you!

To Know or Not to Know

Many people wish to know what their lives are going to be like, so they consult mediums, psychics, clairvoyants, astrologers. Human beings, more often than not, need encouragement, need to have someone tell them that everything is going to be all right. In this way, they feel they might be able to avoid challenges, to create an easier life for themselves. But... would knowing the future be positive or negative? It is possible that, if you could know what the next weeks, months or years have in storage for you, you would probably lose all enthusiasm, you wouldn't strive to be creative, to renew and improve yourself. You would feel that everything is already laid down, with no choice of yours, and your mind, will, endeavors wouldn't really matter. It doesn't seem a very pleasant perspective, though - does it?

Fulfillment

Has it ever occurred to you that all the things that you cherish, that you are so strongly attached to may be just illusory? Ask yourself if you believe that the money, the success, the love you are searching for and try to reach at all costs can truly be the ultimate source of your fulfillment. Think about the never-ending struggle you voluntarily face day after day just to achieve "more" of what is nothing but a temporary possession, a grain of sand on the beach of infinite, higher possibilities. At this point, you might start wondering where real fulfillment resides: in the things of the world or... somewhere else?