Sometimes the lessons are learned quickly while often it may take many repetitions and much suffering before we understand. One of my favorite movies is Groundhog Day because it describes so beautifully and with great humor the process of learning that leads to happiness. Sometimes the lessons are profound while often they are more like little nudges to push us in the right direction. The trick is to notice which frequently we do not because we are so focused on “our” plan.
Recently, I had one of those “wake up” events which involved illness as is often the case. Becoming aware of our body is critical to self understanding. If we truly paid attention to all the signals it sends out we could avoid much suffering. In addition to diet and exercise, the mind-body connection is a major factor in, some say, more than 90% of illness. Without a doubt it was the main factor for me in the form of stress. Stress is frequently obvious such as when it pertains to work or relationships, but it can also be subtle and unnoticeable because we have become so adapted to living in a stressful world. Yet, it is nevertheless creating toxic conditions within our bodies that will sooner or later become manifest. The challenge is to recognize the mental conditions that may have precipitated the malady, and in this way we learn.
For sometime I have become accustomed to associating my physical well being with my mental state. Of course the food we eat is most important, but if we have given this proper attention then the mind connection must be considered. For me the cause was quickly evident. For over a year I had become quite involved with an organization that had worthy goals but various issues weighed heavily on my mind at a more or less subconscious level. Ultimately this led to my afflictions - first came Sciatica and then Pneumonia. It was enough to make me realize that I needed to make some changes.
Although I had previously thought the work I was doing was what I should be doing, I resigned completely from all involvement. When I did this I immediately felt a huge burden being removed that I hadn't even been aware of. I further realized that I had to surrender to the Higher Consciousness and reestablish my heart connection for guidance. As I have done this I Have experienced a new freedom I have not felt for some time - the freedom to truly be me. It is as if I have opened a new door though I have no idea what is on the other side.
It is so easy to get caught up in a role we play. This is a reflection of our cultural conditioning. Most of us are brought up believing that we are our ego and undoing this belief is an arduous process. Today there is tremendous support however for becoming truly self-aware, conscious human beings who are interconnected at every level. The truth is not “out there” it is within each of us. We only need to listen to that soft inner voice of love and follow the path. The guidance is always there if we pay attention. Be conscious, be in the present moment and cultivate your intuition for this is your higher connection with the universe. Seek the path of Love for this is the way to peace and happiness. We must change ourselves before we can change the world.
