No Problem!
Posted: January 14th, 2010, 7:07 pm
No Problem!
Stop for a moment and think of the biggest problem you perceive yourself to have right now. Got it?
OK.
Now ask yourself, Is this really a problem? Could there possibly be a different way of looking at this that could transform this situation into a gift rather than a curse?
After considering those answers, ask yourself two more powerful questions, Why have I chosen to experience this? What value does being in this particular predicament have for me?
Interesting questions 'eh? Especially when the vast majority of us have been programmed to strongly believe that problems are a very real, often very nasty, part of life that we all must endure. So, day after day, year after year, time and time again--problems! Most people think there is little if anything we can do about this, problems just exist. With such an ingrained perception it's tough to give up the belief that problems are real, let alone embrace the idea that we could possibly have an influence over whether we experience problems or not.
The good news is that at the highest levels of experience, problems are not real. They seem to exist for us only because somehow, somewhere in our lives we are being resistant to expansion and to embracing a less limited identity. Even better news is that each of us does have a very powerful influence over whether or not we experience problems in our lives.
Consider a new way looking at problems.
See them as gifts in disguise.
If you only opened and accepted gifts that were perfectly packaged with big beautiful bows on top, you would miss out on receiving quite a few treasures in your life.
Admit it, a diamond could be wrapped in tin foil!
And while you're at it, admit something else. The only thing that keeps problems alive for us is our perspective. As we open our minds and hearts to receive more into our lives from a situation, anything becomes possible. We may not get exactly what we thought we wanted at first, but we will always get something even greater--PEACE!
I've gotten myself to incorporate a very effective habit into my life. Whenever I find anything has a charge to it, or can be unsettling to me I simply say to myself and to the Universe simultaneously, "I don't know what this is, but I love it, thank you."
I once heard a story about a woman who was suffering with cancer. In hopes of finding some spiritual, if not physical, relief for the pain she was in, she sought out the Indian sage, Nisargadatta Maharaj. After listening to the woman describe her condition Nisargadatta told her, "You are not suffering. Only the one you perceive yourself to be suffers." At that she became very irate and proceeded to refute him, by not only describing her own personal torment even more dramatically, but by pointing out to him all of the current ills, anguish and misery in the world. He simply replied, "Madam, in my world there are no problems."
Does his answer hold any charge for you? Do you find yourself wanting to reach right through time and space to ring Nisargadatta’s neck, and shake some sense into him?
I remember when I first began hearing wisdom like that I had a physical reaction to it.
Pain was very real to me and instead of finding a story like that inspiring, it made me mad.
Inside of me a small, not so still, seething voice said,
"Stupid Guru!
What the @#%^ does that so and so mean by saying, 'You are not suffering. Only the one you believe yourself to be suffers.' What a reply! That poor woman had cancer for God sakes. Of course her problem was real."
But is it? If this woman could completely accept this answer, and as a result open her heart REALLY wide to encompass a vastly expansive perspective, one that reaches far beyond the limitations of a body, would pain and death still feel so real to her?
Let's experience for ourselves what Nisargadatta Maharaj means, right now...
Close you eyes for a moment and watch your breath.
Take slow, steady deep breaths.
Center yourself this way for at least one minute and then open your eyes and read on.
Notice that unless you have a respiratory ailment, the act of breathing is fairly effortless.
Now, begin to breathe again, this time feeling yourself to be the stillness inside of each breath.
Close your eyes for a moment and be the stillness inside of each breath, while taking slow, steady deep breaths.
After a minute, open your eyes again and read on.
Now, as you center on the stillness that is emerging from within you, give it your complete attention, while you continue to breathe quietly and deliberately. Then, while maintaining focus on this sense of stillness, allow it to become you entirely by noticing anything in your body. Feel any energy that feels stuck or painful in any way and just allow your breath to embrace it, to dissolve it, to dissipate it's charge.
Continue this exercise in deliberate attention and release for at least five minutes.
When you are fully present with your breathing this way, you can become aware of the fact that this act, which sustains your life is involuntary. Despite any other preoccupation you may be experiencing in that moment, you will breathe.
For just a moment feel how effortless your life could be if you could remain identified with this stillness. The Inspiration you are experiencing each time you breathe connects you to something far greater than yourself -- spaciousness. That which is.
So, who then is the one who can have cancer, or problems? Not this breath. Not the stillness inside of each breath.
If you never stop to feel the stillness, the space in, of and around you, of course you won't identify with it. The only recourse you have then is to identify with whatever else does occupy your experience most of the time. So it stands to reason that most people believe that we are all very limited bodies. Therein lies the problem... bodies very often experience problems.
Whatever we believe with absolute conviction will be our experience.
If you believe you are a spirit--an inspiration, a still sweet breath of God wearing a body for a time while on earth, then the whole story changes.
Now, you are unlimited, instead of struggling to overcome limitations.
Now, you are a creator, instead of a creation.
Now, instead of living in fear of death, you embrace life fully. And by doing so you access the realm of miracles.
It is vitally important to realize that our lives are an exact reflection of the beliefs we hold.
Therefore to cease experiencing pain in your life, don't make pain real.
Don't justify, analyze and pick apart every problem in your life. That only solidifies your perception that pain is real and creates more problems.
Instead, next time you find yourself perceiving that you have a problem, BREATHE, deeply slowly and deliberately, while focusing on the stillness in each breath. The more this becomes a personal habit of yours the less likely you will be to perceive yourself as a limited person, having insurmountable problems.
Begin affirming to yourself now, all day, every day, and most especially when faced with a challenge, "I don't believe in problems."
Just try it and see how quickly you overcome any apparent obstacle that may arise in your life.
"I am not a body, for I am STILL as God created me."
~ A Course in Miracles
www.experienceaxiom.com
"There are no problems here. It's just that everyone is so fiercely trying to keep their 'little world' in tact while at the same time, in each life and in each heart Spirit is crying out, "Expand, Expand, Expand"
Stop for a moment and think of the biggest problem you perceive yourself to have right now. Got it?
OK.
Now ask yourself, Is this really a problem? Could there possibly be a different way of looking at this that could transform this situation into a gift rather than a curse?
After considering those answers, ask yourself two more powerful questions, Why have I chosen to experience this? What value does being in this particular predicament have for me?
Interesting questions 'eh? Especially when the vast majority of us have been programmed to strongly believe that problems are a very real, often very nasty, part of life that we all must endure. So, day after day, year after year, time and time again--problems! Most people think there is little if anything we can do about this, problems just exist. With such an ingrained perception it's tough to give up the belief that problems are real, let alone embrace the idea that we could possibly have an influence over whether we experience problems or not.
The good news is that at the highest levels of experience, problems are not real. They seem to exist for us only because somehow, somewhere in our lives we are being resistant to expansion and to embracing a less limited identity. Even better news is that each of us does have a very powerful influence over whether or not we experience problems in our lives.
Consider a new way looking at problems.
See them as gifts in disguise.
If you only opened and accepted gifts that were perfectly packaged with big beautiful bows on top, you would miss out on receiving quite a few treasures in your life.
Admit it, a diamond could be wrapped in tin foil!
And while you're at it, admit something else. The only thing that keeps problems alive for us is our perspective. As we open our minds and hearts to receive more into our lives from a situation, anything becomes possible. We may not get exactly what we thought we wanted at first, but we will always get something even greater--PEACE!
I've gotten myself to incorporate a very effective habit into my life. Whenever I find anything has a charge to it, or can be unsettling to me I simply say to myself and to the Universe simultaneously, "I don't know what this is, but I love it, thank you."
I once heard a story about a woman who was suffering with cancer. In hopes of finding some spiritual, if not physical, relief for the pain she was in, she sought out the Indian sage, Nisargadatta Maharaj. After listening to the woman describe her condition Nisargadatta told her, "You are not suffering. Only the one you perceive yourself to be suffers." At that she became very irate and proceeded to refute him, by not only describing her own personal torment even more dramatically, but by pointing out to him all of the current ills, anguish and misery in the world. He simply replied, "Madam, in my world there are no problems."
Does his answer hold any charge for you? Do you find yourself wanting to reach right through time and space to ring Nisargadatta’s neck, and shake some sense into him?
I remember when I first began hearing wisdom like that I had a physical reaction to it.
Pain was very real to me and instead of finding a story like that inspiring, it made me mad.
Inside of me a small, not so still, seething voice said,
"Stupid Guru!
What the @#%^ does that so and so mean by saying, 'You are not suffering. Only the one you believe yourself to be suffers.' What a reply! That poor woman had cancer for God sakes. Of course her problem was real."
But is it? If this woman could completely accept this answer, and as a result open her heart REALLY wide to encompass a vastly expansive perspective, one that reaches far beyond the limitations of a body, would pain and death still feel so real to her?
Let's experience for ourselves what Nisargadatta Maharaj means, right now...
Close you eyes for a moment and watch your breath.
Take slow, steady deep breaths.
Center yourself this way for at least one minute and then open your eyes and read on.
Notice that unless you have a respiratory ailment, the act of breathing is fairly effortless.
Now, begin to breathe again, this time feeling yourself to be the stillness inside of each breath.
Close your eyes for a moment and be the stillness inside of each breath, while taking slow, steady deep breaths.
After a minute, open your eyes again and read on.
Now, as you center on the stillness that is emerging from within you, give it your complete attention, while you continue to breathe quietly and deliberately. Then, while maintaining focus on this sense of stillness, allow it to become you entirely by noticing anything in your body. Feel any energy that feels stuck or painful in any way and just allow your breath to embrace it, to dissolve it, to dissipate it's charge.
Continue this exercise in deliberate attention and release for at least five minutes.
When you are fully present with your breathing this way, you can become aware of the fact that this act, which sustains your life is involuntary. Despite any other preoccupation you may be experiencing in that moment, you will breathe.
For just a moment feel how effortless your life could be if you could remain identified with this stillness. The Inspiration you are experiencing each time you breathe connects you to something far greater than yourself -- spaciousness. That which is.
So, who then is the one who can have cancer, or problems? Not this breath. Not the stillness inside of each breath.
If you never stop to feel the stillness, the space in, of and around you, of course you won't identify with it. The only recourse you have then is to identify with whatever else does occupy your experience most of the time. So it stands to reason that most people believe that we are all very limited bodies. Therein lies the problem... bodies very often experience problems.
Whatever we believe with absolute conviction will be our experience.
If you believe you are a spirit--an inspiration, a still sweet breath of God wearing a body for a time while on earth, then the whole story changes.
Now, you are unlimited, instead of struggling to overcome limitations.
Now, you are a creator, instead of a creation.
Now, instead of living in fear of death, you embrace life fully. And by doing so you access the realm of miracles.
It is vitally important to realize that our lives are an exact reflection of the beliefs we hold.
Therefore to cease experiencing pain in your life, don't make pain real.
Don't justify, analyze and pick apart every problem in your life. That only solidifies your perception that pain is real and creates more problems.
Instead, next time you find yourself perceiving that you have a problem, BREATHE, deeply slowly and deliberately, while focusing on the stillness in each breath. The more this becomes a personal habit of yours the less likely you will be to perceive yourself as a limited person, having insurmountable problems.
Begin affirming to yourself now, all day, every day, and most especially when faced with a challenge, "I don't believe in problems."
Just try it and see how quickly you overcome any apparent obstacle that may arise in your life.
"I am not a body, for I am STILL as God created me."
~ A Course in Miracles
www.experienceaxiom.com