A "Paper Life"

Philosophers, psychologists, Positive Thinkers, and more, keep talking about the importance of "consciousness", about the fundamental role this mysterious 'essence' has in your life. Another word for consciousness is "awareness". Synonyms given by the dictionary include realization, understanding, knowledge. So, being conscious or aware means to be 'awake', to be present in the moment, to have full knowledge of what is going on. My favorite author Anthony de Mello, SJ, said that most of us live a "paper life". That's a strong statement! Paper is fragile, it has a very weak consistency, it can be easily torn, burnt, destroyed. It is all but strong and powerful. It has a touchable consistence all right, it is certainly useful in many instances, but it is not apt to face "challenges". Therefore, you lead a "paper life" when you are not aware of what you are doing and why you are doing it. When you follow your whims and don't reflect about the possible consequences of your actions or words, you are 'asleep'. When you allow your life to be made of 'paper', expect it to be easily torn or shattered.

Blissful Ignorance

You have a mind, so you can't help thinking practically all the time. Why? Because this is your mind's function. But, how necessary and positive is this never-ending mental wandering? Why do you experience this need to analyze whatever happens? Wouldn't it be better to just accept what is and things as thy are, without wanting to understand how and why? The fact is that - if you care to live an "examined life" (as the Greek philosopher Socrates called it) - you need to 'understand'. Socrates went as far as saying that "an un-examined life isn't worth living". This may not be true for everyone. There are plenty of people who are happy and satisfied with their un-examined lives. They just carry on day by day, without ever wondering about the meaning of what they do, about the impact that their actions and words have on others, as well as on their own 'self'. Blissful ignorance, some call it. Why not? But only if such ignorance can quench your desire to 'know'.

PEACE

“If there is to be peace in the world,

There must be peace in the nations.

If there is to be peace in the nations,

There must be peace in the cities.

If there is to be peace in the cities,

There must be peace between neighbors.

If there is to be peace between neighbors,

There must be peace in the home.

If there is to be peace in the home,

There must be peace in the heart.”



― Lao-tse

A Different Christmas Movie

Timeless "The Wizard of Oz" can be considered a Christmas movie because it pinpoints, underlines and stresses some of the most important principles that should guide the human behavior: 
* "friendship" (to have compassion, to be co-operative and available towards others)
* "courage" (to dare to face the unknown)
* "trust" (to believe that wishes can be fulfilled).
A wonderful lesson for all, if we only take the time to stop, examine ourselves, and reflect.

A Recipe For Serenity

Here are the ingredients:

* openness (to receive)
* availability (to do what needs to be done)  
* willingness (to do what must be done)
* lack of expectations (of what you believe you should have)
* acceptance (of whatever comes along)
* trust (that everything that happens is for the best)

The Importance of Experiencing

How important is the actual 'experience' of the world? Imagine that someone tells you that they love you, but in practice do nothing to show you such love. If you don't feel that you can count on them for support, for sharing, for presence, does their feeling have a real meaning for you? Does it have an impact on your life? Consider now a very rich person: they have money but they are reluctant to spend it, to enjoy it, to make good use of it. Does that wealth have an actual significance, does it produce a beneficial effect in their lives? They enjoy the feeling of 'owning', but this is totally useless in a practical way. So, you could say that experiencing the world is possibly the most essential feature of your life, because without it everything would just happen in your mind. You might be contented with it, and that is fine, too. As to the spiritual world, it certainly is enough. In the physical, material world, maybe... not so much.

Accepting Feelings

You are told that any feeling you experience depends only on yourself, i.e. on your reaction towards what happened. When something pleasant takes place, you are happy - so you experience a positive feeling. On the other hand, when something hurtful materializes in your life, you can't help feeling unhappy because your instinctive reaction is one of non-acceptance or resentment. The best attitude would be to understand the reason why it happened, and accept it willingly. But when someone hurt you, or disappointed you, in spite of your willingness to accept it, you can't help wondering about the position of the person who hurt or disappointed you. You have to be lenient all right, but... will the other ever realize that what they said or did had such an impact on your feelings? Of course, this is 'their' problem, still....

Trust vs. Fear

You may be acquainted with the well-known affirmation, "Love is letting go of fear". I certainly don't deny it. But, reflecting upon it, I feel that the word "love" is correctly used for a situation where you are interacting with the world outside, with other human beings. When you can love them, your fear disappears. But when you are dealing with your own 'self', I would replace the word 'love' with the word 'trust'. If you are afraid of disease, of the future, of loss, even of death, trust can help you analyze your feeling from a different perspective. It can help you realize that you have the ability to face challenges, that you will know how to deal with difficulties when they present themselves, it rekindles the hope that everything will be well. To trust means to believe in your capability to cope with any struggle you encounter on your life path. It's the conviction that "You Can"!

Knowing & Feeling

Is there a gap between 'knowing' and 'feeling'? As counter-intuitive as it sounds, such gap might not be actually real. These two functions of your body coexist but they also seem to be clearly separated. 'Knowing' is of the mind, "feeling' is of the heart. Knowing means to have a clear knowledge that something is the way it is (or has been). You know that it is daytime  when the sun shines because you see and perceive such physical fact. You know that Julius Caesar was a Roman leader because you studied it in history books. But may also believe you 'know' that a spiritual wold exists because you 'feel' it. So, knowing can be connected with feeling. These two seemingly different facets of your 'being' are not so different, after all. It depends on what you are taking into consideration. In the physical world, to know means to experience it with your physical senses, in the spiritual world it means to experience it in the deepest part of your "self".

Uncertainty

A Renaissance leader, art patron and poet - Florentine Lorenzo de' Medici (called "The Magnificent") wrote in one of his most famous poems, "If you want to be happy, be (now), as there is no certainty about tomorrow". How true! One of the greatest challenges that mankind faces on a daily basis is exactly this: uncertainty. You can only know for sure what you are - and what is - in this very instant, but no more. You cannot "know" what will happen. You can only "guess" or "forecast". Therefore, it's advisable to learn how to live in the present moment, without counting on what might happen. Is this a negative attitude? I don't think so. It's rather a realistic one. It encourages you to live as well as you can "now",  appreciate what you have and what you are. As to tomorrow, you can only do your best and then...trust.

Sharing

Sharing is a good thing. To a certain extent. Not indiscriminately.  They say it's a synonym for caring. Not always. When you have something to offer, it's better for you to know more about the person you would like to offer it to. If you are not careful, you might be bitterly disappointed. If you like a piece of jewelry, for example, not necessarily does your friend like it, too. Let's say you are planning to give a pair of vintage ear-rings you own and love to your friend as a special gift. Before you do, check out if she likes vintage jewelry as much as you do. When you hear about a new spiritual insight - that you consider highly valuable - don't share it with "everybody". Your intent is good, but they might not be interested in hearing what you have to say. People are different, and what looks charming or sounds interesting to you, may appear even the opposite to someone else. 

Forgetting

Aren't you fully satisfied with the way your life is going? Do you believe that you deserve something better? Are you resentful for not feeling happier? Finally, are you looking for "the Answer" outside yourself? The truth is that you already know how to lead a more serene and fulfilling life because your intuition (the deepest part of your Self that knows best) can give you the answer you need to any of your problems and worry. What you lack is simply a greater awareness. On a general level, you know what it would be better for you to think, say and do in every moment of your day, but you do not realize it because such awareness has been covered up by several layers of conditionings – both external and internal – that seem to have erased some truths from your mind. It is as if you knew a certain thing but, having forgotten it, you are now convinced that you have never known it.

Like the Romans

A well-known saying advises that, when you are in Rome, you should do as the Romans do. Beside the superficial meaning, i.e. while visiting a foreign land, you should respect its customs and adapt to them as long as you stay there, such a phrase has a deeper meaning. Human beings in general tend to be a little self-righteous, they can't help believing that their way is the best, if not the only, way. It is not so. Everybody's "way" is the best...for them. It's neither right not wise to judge others because they think, act and behave differently from you. Therefore, when you have to deal with "Romans", try to understand them and endeavor to accomodate your behavior accordingly. Does this mean that, in doing so, you give up who you are? Absolutely not. You remain who you are, while showing flexibility of mind as well as appreciation for another's beliefs and habits. Is this just kindness? You can say so.