It is said that soon after his enlightenment, the Buddha passed a man on the road who was struck by the extraordinary radiance and peacefulness of his presence.
The man stopped and asked, “My friend, what are you? Are you a celestial being or a God?”
“No,” said the Buddha.
“Well, then, are you some sort of magician or wizard?”
Again the Buddha answered, “No.”
“Are you a man?”
“No.”
“Well my friend, what are you then?”
“I am awake”.
-– Joseph Goldstein and Jack Kornfield, Seeking the Heart of Wisdom
Have you ever thought about the journey to Self as a mathmatical equation?
When we begin the journey of fulfillment, self-expression, and authenticity, we often add to our lives in search of those ideas, people, creative undertakings and things that speak to us personally and feel real to our truest selves. Part of “becoming” is trying out new notions and endeavors, right? We begin to expand as we learn new patterns and ways.
We might take up painting, or cooking, or poetry, or a hundred different creative endeavors that feed our soul. We might make a career change or enter new relationships or even decide to have or adopt a child. We might take up sailing, surfing, or mountaineering for the incredible connection to nature – and ourselves – that we find when we are outdoors.
But as we continue to grow, we also begin to curate our reality. We become more selective about what we bring into our sphere as we discover that the process of self-actualization is equally about subtracting and discarding those things in our lives that no longer serve our highest good.
We discard old belief systems and unhealthy habits.
We discard relationships that don’t support our growth.
We discard the excess accumulation of “stuff”, learning to live happily with those things that most resonatewith our truest selves. Those things that make our cells sing.
In the same way a caterpillar transforms into its gorgeous butterfly self, (it literally digests itself; dissolving its corporal self into a gooey miasma to re-form into the winged symbol of beauty and joy we all love) we let go of those parts of ourself that no longer serve the fullest expression of who we are.
Sometimes, just as I would imagine the transformation of a caterpillar into butterfly must be excruciating, the journey to our truest self can also be uncomfortable or even downright painful. Have you ever tried to learn a new language or instrument with zero previous experience? It can be fun, joyous, even, and exciting, but it is also challenging, frustrating, and hard. This is the reason why so many give up after just short time.
Building new neuralconnections and chemistry is just not an easy process – but if we stay committed to the path, it is very, very worth the end goal. Once we move through the discomfort, through the pruning and culling of that which we don’t really need, the end product – comfort, ease in our being, joy, a sense of purpose, manifestation and ultimately, the continual creation of our best reality.
Where is your journey of transformation taking you? What habits are you letting go of – or creating – today?
Much Love;
- Terah
This Blessed Sacred Life 