Episode Transcript
Have you ever felt incomplete, confused, or unfulfilled? You can't put your finger on it. Nothing is really wrong, but things don't seem "right."
You may have done or achieved something. You may have followed your thoughts and desires, or you may have followed the thoughts and desires of others.
As humans with so much external influence, I believe we never have an opportunity to know ourselves enough to become who we can be. I ask myself who we can be.
All too often, we restrict ourselves by our present understandings. Unfortunately, that is a severe problem. If you can only build "birdhouses," you cannot perceive the building of office blocks.
I am using these terms not as a verbatim example but as a metaphor for principle. I am referring to remaining in the constant state of becoming and being able to never become.
I remember reading The Art of War and becoming aware of "defenselessness." In short, in war, it is never necessary to defend a single position or stronghold because this becomes a specific position for the enemy to focus its attack on.
The beauty of the Art of War is that its perceptions can easily be transmuted into everyday life. I was talking to a client about this book.
Although they had read this literary piece, they found no application for its wisdom. But after a brief discussion, their eyes were opened.
It is in this context that I perceive happiness happiness as always becoming.
Although this can sometimes seem very disconcerting and somewhat uncomfortable, I believe this is our natural nature.
As we look at our growth from an embryo to our physical transition from this earth in the form of what we know as death, there are many stages of becoming.
We often go through these inevitable stages of becoming, but not always gracefully. However, the stages remain in constant motion. A small child may watch their favourite movie to the point of knowing every word and reciting them in sync with the movie. Then, without warning, they will no longer have the slightest desire to watch that production.
The state of becoming is likened to the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly. But unlike the butterfly, we humans can remain in a constant and unpredictable state of transformation.
Our physical states show transformation in many different forms, whether it is growth, injury, or ailments. However, there are physical restrictions. These restrictions are somewhat evident with our minds, as we cannot produce thoughts that are outside the scope of the presently understood data sets.
But our becoming is infinite. Our "Aha" moments are perfect examples. The "new" revelation was always present. The concept of understanding was not new; it was new only to us.
For those of us who have children, there was a time when our babies discovered their feet or hands belonged to them.
It is truly fascinating to watch them when they realize that the "thing" they have been viewing belongs to them and they have direct control.
Imagine if they refused to accept this truth. And worst still, what if it confused, confounded, and scared them? They would become mental wrecks and would forever remain in a fixed, fearful, and restricted state.
It is this realm of thought I humbly ask you to explore the state of becoming an adopted practice.
In my way of believing and existing, I have been fortunate to experience many, many facets of life. Honestly, I did not welcome every twist and turn. In fact, I found some of the curveballs very distressful, and many seemed impossible to deal with. But, with that said, I am still here and no worse for these experiences.
As what we call time goes on, we can begin accepting such foolishness of time and event acceptance. Either by outside influences or our limited perceptions. Unfortunately, this can become like a woman who decides she isn't going to give birth as the baby is beginning to exit her body. All the wanting and wishing of the moment will be eliminated by the actuality of the moment.
I recently found myself in this state. I had accomplished many great tasks and overcome huge obstacles in my life. I must admit that in some of these situations, I was able to get through, and in some, I was thrown over and found myself in a crumpled mess on the other side.
Sometimes, after struggling to pick up the pieces and regain composure, another bigger obstacle was right back in front of me.
Although this is frustrating and disconcerting, at least you are aware of the thing in your path. The hurdle of the state of becoming is a different situation altogether. It is like being attacked or aggravated by some unseen force. You feel its presence but cannot figure out the direction or understand its intent.
As with many of my "Aha" moments, this understanding presented itself in the form of a dream. On a side note, scores of friends, family, and associates have consulted me about their dreams and have never had any complaints or blowback on my interpretations.
I will not go into the exact details of this dream, but its interpretation was to embrace the happiness of staying in the state of becoming.
The last few years have been dynamic and full of growth and new beginnings. These new beginnings have brought about new relationships to replace the old ones. Complete mindset shifts and other situations have been almost too many to count. Fortunately, I have made it through to the other side.
I am happy, content, and fulfilled with my journey and accomplishments. However, I had this nagging feeling. I couldn't put my finger on it, but it was affecting my overall performance. I still had articles, books, and projects to complete, but I was finding it harder and harder to find my "flow."
I have been hard at it for about four years without any meaningful break, but I wasn't feeling burned out. I was still very excited and embraced every moment of life with love and appreciation. Regrettably, these feelings made things worse because I was happy and restless. It's like wanting to stay and go at the same time.
I am delighted to report that now I understand. It is time to hurry up and wait, to embrace the present moment while dwelling in the fact that there is more to come. I don't need to know more. Yes, I can plan and imagine, but treating every moment like the anticipation of unwrapping a gift from a favorite person in my life makes every moment a beautiful gift in itself.
Everything is okay; in fact, everything is lovely. Plans and aspirations are excellent. Reflecting on great moments in the past can be encouraging, but waiting patiently without expectation for each moment is truly a fulfilling existence. It is also a must for constant happiness because constantly chasing an ever-moving horizon is a recipe for continual discontentment and mental strife.
I hope you can embrace this realization. Thank you for walking with me through another life-changing moment.
Peace and blessings to all.
Well, my dear friends, until next time.
Always be the best version of yourself. Love Yourself. You are Not Alone. You are relevant and worthy.
How about that?
