After 55 years of life, and getting kicked in the teeth all too many times, I have learned that free will is a myth, an Illusion, a lie, something we like to convince ourselves that we have so that we don’t have to admit that we have virtually no control over what happens to us throughout our lives. My old teacher would often say to me, free will is for amateurs. What he meant was that I needed to get over my ego’s need to feel in control, let go of the tiller of my boat of life, and learn to work with life rather than trying to dominate and control life.
And so I have learned the phrase “Erleichda” which means “loosen up” or “let it go” in the book Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins. Rather than determining what to do, I spend more time looking for the cues and subtle shifts that indicate for me or point me towards a specific direction. Life is very simple and clear if we can but silence the inner chatter, get in touch with our intuition, and trust that something far more magnificent and glorious than us is running the show.
Let’s be clear here. There are many things we can do to make our life amazing. Discipline, meditation, visualization, working hard, measuring our results, all of these things I do. This blog is about the big decisions, the ones that point our life in one direction or another. This is not about a way to live every moment of our lives. This is about creating the capacity to hear our inner voice when it speaks, and value the wisdom and guidance therein.
“Among the maxims on Lord Naoshige’s wall, there was this one: “Matters of great concern should be treated lightly.” Master Ittei commented, “Matters of small concern should be treated seriously.” – Ghost Dog (from the movie Ghost Dog)
Often this divine guidance shows up as subtle feelings. Feeling these subtle messages takes discipline and practice, and if you can find someone who knows what they are doing, a teacher can speed up the process. I remember doing an exercise back in England fifteen years ago, in which we would pair up with another person. We would look at each other, left eye to left eye, and one by one, we would intentionally pushes a thought into the other’s head. Our task was to notice when the thought entered and confirm it with our partner. My partner could not believe how accurate I was. Each time he thought, I caught it. That kind of sensitivity and awareness and openness is what is required. The trick is to be able to catch the thoughts of god.
For the past few weeks, I have been planning to go to Vietnam. However, as I started to look at flights, hotels, and transportation, I felt a longing for Chiang Mai. And just like that, for I am not one to question the universe, I decided to go to Vientiane, Laos for one week to renew my visa, and then return for two months to Chiang Mai. What about Vietnam? I don’t know. I don’t need to know. All I know for sure is I will be in Chiang Mai for a while. Something is happening here for me, and something else will be happening during my extended visit. This much seems clear.
As I look at this picture, I think of life. There is so much beauty. Each scarf, like every human being, or every experience, or every country, brings with it a unique color and texture and sensation. Each is radiant in its own way. How do you choose? This blog suggests that you don’t. Something else chooses for you, if you can listen and respond. I have made myself crazy in the past, evaluating colors and costs and projections and net net values, and in the end, something much bigger is at play. That is the game I want to understand and respect. It is the only real game in town.
I have people ask me; “Jay, why do you talk so much about meditation?” This is why. Meditation slows everything down, so that I can see and hear and feel so much more of life. If you don’t know how your mind works at its most fundamental level, it is tough to progress beyond a life of tasks and duties, the status quo, survival and a fearful death. But when you start to dissect who you really are, and who you really are not, magic starts to emerge. You can see the unseen, and feel the virtually unfelt. Life is a glorious dance with more and more to explore and discover. Go with the flow. Life is flowing slower than you think, and it is waiting for us to show up.
About the Author
Jay Cradeur is an author, blogger, internet marketer, world traveler, and coach. Jay has helped thousands to achieve their dreams of financial independence. As an internet marketing coach with a focus on personal development, Jay may be able to assist you in reaching your goals. You can work with Jay for a 100% refundable fee of $49 by clicking on this link and committing to your future. Work with Coach Jay.