Or so it seems.
The truth is that - for those who choose to embrace the "easy, but without meaning" mindset - the above listed scenarios represent the recipe for a more "difficult" life, relative to the human spirit. I am referring to mindsets where individuals base their idea of reality only in the status quo; "secure" only in that which appears to already exist, these folk question or stifle their ability to initiate changes that might make life even better.
This ideological position is taken when one does not understand and acknowledge his very real and innate ability to bring wonderful ideas - that sometimes drift in and out our minds' eye - into being. And if "wonderful" is too big of a leap, let's say better idea. In the absence of belief in better possibilities, and in the absence of efforts that would give life and form to said beliefs, that which already exists takes on greater reality… and power. And if one's existence is characterized by despair, limitation, struggle, oppression, and stagnation, then so defines their reality. Anger, fear, ignorance, and resentment often fill the void that would otherwise be occupied by optimism, hope, knowledge and the intelligent application thereof. That which might have seemed so good and right is then left, not undone, but unattempted.
This does not mean that life will be universally "difficult" for everyone. Instead, these descriptions apply only to those who effectively choose the status quo by not intelligently questioning it. One example of how this is routinely done is by those who believe that humanity is divided into discrete racial groupings. "Buying into" this erroneous notion, and "acting as though" it is true sets the believer up to have their life defined by others, and by the ideological hierarchies that go with the belief.
"Difficulty" means that we will be involved in, and enjoy fewer transformational and transcendental experiences than if we allowed ourselves to dream more expansively, believe in them, equip and prepare ourselves enough to give them possibility, and then include ourselves in their manifestation.
Dreaming, believing, preparing, and including in this manner transform the one that actually does the dreaming, believing, preparing
and including. They will not transform the inner reality of anyone else, for each of us have free will, and no one else knows exactly how another individual is using their will, or why. No one knows what another truly believes about life, or why. However, elevated dreaming and supportive actions taken by one individual may indeed motivate and inspire others to embrace the same attitudes that have made us not only more powerful, but happier and more hopeful amid life's chaotic madness.
The power to transform our reality and world exists within us all the time irrespective of the racial group we believe we may be a member of. We are never separated from our power. However, we can turn it off, or simply never get around to activating it. We can do this, for example, by believing that power is external to us, perhaps because we are "_______." The truth is that, with empowerment comes responsibility. One who cannot, or will not take responsibility for how he or she has created walls and limited opportunities on his own will not find or exercise the real power to change their life.
Some of us may indeed believe we have the power, but are unsure of how to go about unleashing it, or are simply afraid of doing so. Let me offer this little principle: With respect to any activity or idea that enhances your life, expanding love, understanding, harmony, and hope, "practice" makes better, if not "perfect."
What?! "Practice being aware?"
Yes indeed. We oftentimes go about our way running, not on E for "empty," but on A, for "automatic," a mode of consciousness where we engage in little or no critical thinking. We behave like automatons, content to react without discerning or considering the effects thereof, and without considering that certain rote reactions can be overridden. How else can you explain our current flirtation with "rage?" It is almost fashionable to "explode" in public these days; on the road, in the air, and so on. But this behavior amounts to little more than "chic" insanity. The problem is that (1) many people can be hurt by the action, and (2) the rationalizers amongst us will come up with a term, and award aberrant behavior with instant celebrity status.
There is nothing therapeutic about rage. Yet, when an individual "goes off," becoming a media sensation in the process, the behavior gets a clinical treatment instead of criticism. Someone who has a book to sell on the topic gives it a pseudo-scientific name, and then more "adopters" line up to demonstrate the behavior and get their ten minutes of fame (actually devaluing the previous "fifteen minute" rule). Though these machinations appear to give rage more validity and acceptability, we will eventually get bored with that too. Except for those who make a living off the pain and suffering left in the wake of one's rage, this process achieves no particular good, though it does bump up the ratings on slow news nights.
Courage on the other hand, is "rage" of another kind. It is behavior that is certainly not "automatic," and represents an act of "good" that many will not only want to remember, but will even celebrate for generations to come. Courage is still quite rare because it cannot be "scripted," or orchestrated for sensation value.
In a more mundane sense, certain decisions are made while one is in automatic mode because the individual - or the group that he or she belongs to - "has always done it that way." For the same reasons we often automatically take stands "for" or "against" other groups of individuals without question or critical analysis, unwilling to "break ranks" from possible harm that continued "alignment" might cause. Some are intent to rationalize and excuse harmful behavior taken amongst "their own," while condemning behavior taken in the same mindset by a member of another group. Those who make it their "mission" in life to oppose abortions by themselves resorting to intimidation and mayhem are examples of such behavior. This is not intended to be a statement in support of abortion. If anything, it is a statement against the use of harm as a way of ending it. It is simply an example of a "unifying cause"… an idea that people often elect to stand behind, or against.
The unifying cause for one's stand could be the other group's race, religion, education, economic status, political affiliation, or something so arbitrary as the color or "cut" of the clothes that they wear. It doesn't matter what reason we give ourselves for targeting other entire groups to disrespect. The price we pay for blind conformity to mindless disrespect is the limiting of our personal awareness of how to transform our own lives. Otherwise, we might realize that the way of transformation might actually require us to pass through the experiential territory of our erstwhile "enemies" harmoniously at best, and at the very least, harmlessly. But if we did that, what are we going to do with the disrespect that we have practiced for so long? More importantly, how are we going to interact with those with whom said disrespect was previously shared? What if they "reject" us? Should we care?
Inspiration requires awareness. In fact, if anything could be termed divine, it is the realization of inspired awareness: one of those moments when the simple, elegant, possible, and even easy solution to a long vexing problem becomes known. Said realization is the crystallization of a wonderful idea into one's consciousness, as though a transformational and transcendental "way" had entered the conscious awareness of the inspired individual. Once so inspired, the individual will forever look at a particular idea or situation differently than they did before the awareness. Something that was once deemed impossible may now appear plausible, even reasonable. At another point, with more attention and energy given, it becomes doable (as it was all along). Inspired moments add up, as pieces of a puzzle… or shall we say one's puzzlement continues to fall in place, building to a breakthrough crescendo… a revelation.
Believers, seekers and builders of wonderful dreams are often puzzled by how to make their ideas real for others. Let me say this: begin by leaving your anger, fear, and resentment at the door, before you embark on the journey. It will not serve you on the way. It will only slow you down, if not actually take you backward.
But then, the path toward realization is not a linear one. This is why awareness is so important, as is willingness. We refer to the willingness to go forward, to persevere, to travel in unfamiliar circles, and to interact lovingly with unfamiliar people. Most importantly, we refer to the willingness to embrace the highest and best, while leaving alone the lowest and the rest. "Highest and best" refers to the highest harmony and best effect that can be realized for the greatest number.
In the absence of inspiration, and by ignoring the internal power source, non-believers, non-seekers, and non-builders of wonderful dreams will "fill" their minds with fear, pain, illness, weakness, misuse and abuse, resentment and bitterness. They will live for, and even create the next disaster. They will also gain a certain amount of satisfaction when others appear to fail. Unfortunately, they will never know what they are missing, until they have a clue of what is possible.
What are we "missing" when we live by fear, and social distancing?
We will definitely miss the positive, perception transforming effects that our bright ideas would have had on others, if we had cared to advance them. We will also miss the harmonizing, power-building, and Soul-integrating effects that the process of building our bright idea would have had on us. Sadly, we will also not know just how wonderful things could have been. We will have to "content" ourselves to observe what others are creating and judge them instead of being inspired by, and learning from them. In this way, we give them or some other outside force power while continuing to think that we have none.
Yet, it's all about choice and the power thereof. The moment we grasp and embrace this simple idea, the transformational process can begin, for us. Life won't get any "easier," particularly in the beginning stages, for the momentum for a positive reality change must be built through the sustained application and focus of one's thoughts and energies… not in a trance or reciting mantras per se, but by elevated hopes, aspirations, dreams and *interactions* with other human beings. Remember the practice principle. What it lacks in initial "ease" it gains in meaning. We all gain by the good deeds that get done.
Adam E. Abraham @
Phaelos Communications:
Publishing - Music - Entertainment
It is far easier for people to go through life believing that they are powerless to make a positive, meaningful difference than it is to go through life understanding, and even knowing that they can and do influence others every single day. It is easier to demand that others change to make our lives better, instead of electing to examine and change some less than effective aspect of our self. It is far more convenient to believe that you or your brightest ideas are insignificant, and that it won't matter if the dedication, courage and perseverance required to present them to the world are not maintained. It is far more expedient to not care that the inspiring and empowering effects, which might occur by our positive achievements, are indeed possible. One could even argue that it is prudent to not invest our time, energies, and talents toward our actuality.Practice, Practice, Practice
The practice principle applies to everything that is good, harmonious, and meaningful in our lives. It applies to that which is obvious (love one another), and not so obvious. For example, it is important that we practice being aware each day.Pride, Prejudice, Inspiration, Awareness, Revelation
Some people would rather die in pride and pain than have to answer these questions, or live in harmony with those who don't support their particular sacred cows. It could be because they refer to their God by another name, or that they don't see evidence of such an entity. We have found far less important reasons to loathe, fear, and even hate others. This is the cauldron out of which the willingness to harm is brewed, and how the rocks and potholes of fear are strewn along our way. It is not an inspired way.'Highest and Best?'…!
As the highest and best is one's motivation, and actions are taken toward one's inspired vision with a love of the potential effect firmly in one's heart, "barriers" to greater harmony and cooperation between the individual and others will eventually fall. The first and most important "barrier" to fall will have been internal. That is the barrier between the individual and his own power. It is the power of the human spirit, made possible and "flexed" by inspiration.Also by Adam E. Abraham:
 |
 |
©2001 all rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part prohibited without
the express written consent of Interracial Voice.