People define themselves in the context of, and in reference to the hopes and expectations of life that were taught to them by society’s leaders: parents, teachers, etc.
If things change, and change is the nature of things, then to think that one’s personality or response to the world should remain static or solid is not concurrent with reality.
People don’t accept life as it is—they want it to be another way, so they fight against it, and build up barriers against their feelings. They have to learn to feel their pain without projecting blame onto others.
Contradistinction: that’s how we tend to view others.
Our subtle spiritual faculties are enfeebled by the claws of materialism. Our spirits are withered and dried up; we are trapped behind thick veils laden with years of worldly conditioning.
We either deny others in order to take care of ourselves, or we deny ourselves in order to take care of others. In this culture, we haven’t learned how to take care of ourselves and take care of others at the same time.
People are validated for worldly success, so we learn to suppress emotions and spiritual awareness, and focus all our energies on personal worldly success in order to feel accepted.
Everyone is competing with everyone else to cover up insecurities. If we could just be honest and loving, we wouldn’t have all this posturing and alienation. But materialism and individualism and the rewards they bring (worldly goods, ego success, achievement, sense of accomplishment) have been exalted above truth, love, unity, and honesty, and definitely above God and religion.
My life is filled with things I don’t do.
If you can’t feel pain or emotions, you can’t feel God’s love and healing grace.
There is no real resolution without revolution!
Our self-worth is conferred on us by our loving Creator—we don’t have to do anything to earn it. Being liked and accepted by others, however, is something we may have to work for.
People don’t want God’s grace, because it means they have to let go of their worldly attachments and the pleasures derived from them. This includes attachment to self-esteem and a positive self-image (false self: what you think you should be, what you want to be, but not really what you are), and the attachment to wanting others to like that positive self-image.
When you are humble and supplicating to God, you relinquish control of your life and let God take over. Usually, people assume control and imitate trust in God by conforming to an idealized self-image. When this whole self-image collapses, and one determinedly turns himself over to God, the Holy Spirit fills his heart and he acts by the will of God as a co-creator of destiny, and as a servant of the Cause. Surrendering self brings in the True Healing power—so powerlessness breeds true strength. God is in control anyway—better to surrender and yield to this truth, and give up false control.
Paradoxically, control happens when you relinquish control. You help people while asking God for help, while being helped by God. It is God doing the helping, through we who are supplicating God’s help. We empty out, and God fills us. We simultaneously help others and get helped by God and others. It will be a new humble way of relating and being connected to people—no longer behind walls and masks, no longer hiding fear, shame, vulnerability, and neediness. We will give our fears, shame, and needs to God, and he will show us His love, and we will love others—not just acting as though we love them. And we will have detachment from all things, as we act purposefully in the world. We will soar in the heavens as we relate and interact with people and things on earth.
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