“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.”
— Nietzsche
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My Ascension teacher is in town, doing some retreats for us Ishaya teachers.
It’s awesome to have him around. If you’ve ever had a leader or a coach or a mentor that really inspires you, you’ll know what I mean about that extra lift that enters your life.
What’s been even better is having the vibe of a retreat combined with the substance of real life – for me and Sumati, organising and helping kids and teaching courses and doing admin haven’t ended.
And that’s been awesome.
It’s where the spiritual rubber meets the road. Where it’s not about hiding away from life, but engaging it from a different place with a different attitude and a different level of presence.
I always saw my Ascension meditation practice as a means to help me be that clear, calm, connected better version of me. To help me enjoy a life of my choosing – and not as an excuse to shy away from full engagement in my life.
So, my teacher was asking us why –
As in “Why are you alive?”, “What do you want from life?”, “What does Ascension give you in service to that?”…
It’s been incredible to have that reminder. I don’t think I can be reminded enough of that!
That shift in focus makes all the difference, doesn’t it?
We get so stuck in the busy-ness, the dramas and challenges and all the other frustrating and worrisome small stuff (that’ll be so gone in a few week’s time – or less) that we forget and overlook what is truly important.
When you remember your Why, everything comes into crystal clear focus.
You see the small stuff as small, you don’t sweat it.
Anxiety and worry can’t really stick.
Resentment and frustration don’t really get started.
Everything that happens becomes fuel for the fire, as Marcus Aurelius put a long time ago:
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“The blazing fire makes flames and brightness out of everything thrown into it.”
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“To me?” … no, “For me!”.
Everything becomes a chance to exercise and master your choice to respond freely and not react blindly.
You see?
We’re in control, but we’re really not as well.
While we often don’t have much choice in what happens to us, we certainly have a choice in how we respond. And that’s the greatest thing you can claim in life, me thinks.
So get clear on your why, and what’s important to you. Stay inspired. Surround yourself with reminders.
Get present – practice and protect your peace! – and you'll go very well from there.
Enjoy!
Arjuna
PS.
If you’d like to learn Ascension meditation – super simple and powerful techniques so you can be clear, calm and collected and full of choice,
Next course is 7-9 July (starts 7pm Friday)
Get in touch if you’d like more details, we only have a few seats left.
And as always,
Let me know how I can help.
Talk soon!