All conflict and suffering arises from identifying with “me, myself, and my story.” This is true no matter where on earth we live, no matter the color of our skin, the language we speak, the culture are raised in, or our religious beliefs or practices.
When things are going well in our view, we feel good, but when things aren’t going well, we spiral down into worry, anxiety, self-doubt, and often despair.
The fastest and surest way to true freedom is to learn to love—or at least accept—our triggers, those times when we have an emotional reaction to someone or something.
We learn to say, “Ah, I welcome this, it is showing me where I am not yet free.” Then we affirm the mantra: “I am the awareness in which everything comes-and-goes…” and relax into the awareness we are.
Then, from a place of alert yet relaxed presence, we look inwardly at what is true. We notice how thoughts, beliefs, “stories,” and even the ego “I” itself—along with its associated feelings and emotions—do come-and-go in the awareness we always are.
Imagining ourselves facing the triggering incident again, but from presence this time, we come increasingly to the realization that our true nature is pure, thought-free awareness.
This is felt as a current of peace, harmony, and flow here, now—and a deep love for all humanity. Our ego is still there when we need it, stronger and more powerful, and our thinking is much more creative.
Amazing, huh?