A question for you to ponder, no – better yet, investigate in the arena of your life:
Is it truly necessary to tolerate anything?
Or can you fill your life not with a single moment of gritted teeth, but total acceptance and love – regardless, across the field?
There’s two paths when it comes to moving beyond toleration –
The first, fully and unreservedly accept, embrace and even welcome the thing that you were previously ‘grrrrr-ing’,
Alternatively, move. Change and leave that which you don’t want to accept.
What do you think?
Easy to say, not so easy to do perhaps, but I don’t want a life of mere tolerance. I don’t want to be lukewarm. I don’t want to live a 7 out of 10.
(Tim Ferriss has a decision making framework where a choice is rated out of 10, with a 7 being excluded. He says that 7 is a place marker, a reluctance to commit fully to a choice. Without a 7 rating, you’re left with either 6 at most – a clear no – or 8 or higher – a solid yes.)
I want nothing but a life filled with Quality and aliveness, and I believe this involves bolder choices. “Yes I’m all in”, or “Nope, I’m not”.
So how about that?
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“Don’t fight darkness — bring the light, and darkness will disappear.”
— Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
I hear often repeated the idea that experiencing the dark is necessary to appreciate the light.
This is certainly balanced, poetic, but I don’t believe it’s true.
Evolving in this sense is most certainly a journey, but what if the dark was optional? What if human life didn’t necessarily involve suffering?
What if your life could be solely based in contentment, ease and vibrant aliveness?
I believe we’re here to transcend darkness, to learn how to become the light, fully and totally.
Certainly, it’s not a journey for the (excuse the pun) light-hearted, but really … I can’t think of a more compelling purpose, a purer direction for evolution.
Here, everything becomes fuel for the fire – all of life becomes a chance to continually make the choice for love until you become it.
Nope, this isn't about burying your head in the sand and ignoring challenge. It’s recognising that one of the most powerful magics in the world is that what you focus on, grows. What you’re about, you become.
Can you truly accept what you don’t want?
That changes the whole game: freeing you from judgement, the dark disappears in the light of your embrace. Make it yours.
Well, that’s my take on it. Put that idea to the test in the lab of your life and see what you make of it.
Go well, and enjoy playing the game.
Arjuna
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PS.
If you’re in and around Richmond, North Yorkshire this Thursday night, I have something that might interest you:
It’s a workshop on how to get more balance, presence and wellbeing in the middle of your busy days … more grace and less stress.
Over 90 minutes you'll learn meditation and mindfulness tools and perspectives that will help you live with a clearer, more peaceful mind.
Alive and authentic and connected.
Join me Thursday, May 1st at 7:30 PM at the lovely Physio 42’s Pear Tree Studio in Richmond.
£10. Limited spots available!
To get your place, head here: https://www.arjunaishaya.com/workshop