Everything changes. It’s the way of the world.
If outer circumstances change in a way that don’t meet our expectations, then we become upset. If they do meet our personal dictates, then we’re happy. In essence, our happiness seems to depend on things outside of our locus of control. To make matters worse, we then go about trying to fix or “change” these things to make them fit our own personal agenda. We rant, rave, point our finger and blame. What we don’t realize is that, while it “feels so good” to project our thoughts and feelings, we are totally disempowering ourselves in the process. These outer distractions are pulling us each away from our inner center where the real power of change can and does occur. Distracted by the drama of the world, nothing gets better because we are missing the point, trying to establish meaning and betterment where it can’t be had.
What if the outer drama was pulling you away from the inner source of peace, creativity and joy? Would you be willing to let this happen?
The Yoga Sutras tell us the obstacles lies not in the world outside of us, but in our mind. Our eyes and ears tell us, “The problem is OUT there! Don’t look inside, stay focused on the outer.” What has this way of thinking ever gotten you? This (ego) part of the mind would rather we be “right” than happy and it will fight for it’s “rightness” regardless of the cost.
Attack and blame are the ego’s game, but it does not have to be yours.
Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” He didn’t say, “Do the change you want to see in the world.” Just be. What if the desire (to have things other than they are) is the very thing making it worse? If you perceive conflict, is it not conflict that is made? What if accepting things as they are (a major stepping stone to discovering your true Nature) was necessary for any lasting improvement to occur in the world? Don’t we reap what we sow? If you see conflict, conflict is what you get. If you see confusion, confusion is what you get. If you see peace, peace is what you get. Our yoga is to take back our power and “see” the inner obstacle as a distraction to true Self and the joy and peace that comes with it.