“How do I stop putting energy into worrying about how my life has gotten worse, is getting worse, and might get more worse — instead of into positive visualizing and action?”
The inestimable and incredibly productive Ariane Goodwin has produced the second annual smARTist Telesummit to support artists in building their art career. I’m one of the presenting experts, and I participated in a panel discussion yesterday. Although it started yesterday, it’s not too late to jump in, since you get the recordings also. I’m really impressed with Ariane and the whole thing, including the amazing experts included with all kinds of presentations. You should check it out for yourself.
But anyway, I’m getting away from my topic.The question that I started with above was directed to me, and I had two minutes to answer. So, of course I stepped in up to my hips and waded in with some big esoteric spiritual topic that can’t be handled completely in two years, never mind two minutes. Sigh.
The basic gist of what I said is that we can’t visual our way into success. We can’t. As our little ego selves we simply don’t have the spiritual power to rearrange the Reality around us. We can receive Presence, we can express it, we can transmit it, but we can’t create.
We can’t. You can’t. So stop trying.Using thought or other forms of ‘spiritual’ techniques to make stuff happen in the world falls under ‘spiritual materialism.’ It’s like working 80 hours a week trying to get all your to-do’s done. It doesn’t lead to peace, love or contentment.
The understanding/experience I’ve had in my spiritual journey is that, yes, Virginia, there is a God. A Divine Presence. A Source of Everything. The Divine is, of course, beyond any simplistic pictures of a “beard in the sky” and defies definition.
And where do we find awareness of the One, the Source of All? By visualizing? I don’t think so… Try to visualize infinity, and you’ll see what I mean. Instead, all those ‘old school’ spiritual teachers who told you some version of ‘Be Here Now’- that’s more the line of it. Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Bah’ai, Zoroastrism, and dozens of other less well-known spiritual paths tell you to be here now. Why? Because what’s going on right now is the shape of Reality in this moment.
This post is getting too long, so let me cut to the chase with a pleasant image.
Imagine you are walking down the street and you look down to find you just stepped in a gift that one of our little canine friends has left. You can’t use visualization to ‘get out’ of where you are- if you’re trying to wish it away because you don’t like it.
Visualizing in that situation is like wishing you hadn’t stepped in the crap. You can stand there on one leg, wishing you hadn’t stepped in it- but how do you take a step forward on your path, with one foot in the air, already covered in dog poop?
You stepped in it, you can’t not have stepped in it. Becoming present is letting yourself stand where you are standing. It seems like you might sink up past you eyeballs (maybe our furry friend was BIG, not small) but you won’t. It’s just a dog turd. And, when you stand in it- guess what? That’s where the pavement it is.
If you stand firmly where you are, in whatever business situation you’re in, THAT’s where the pavement is. That’s where the Divine Presence is. That’s where you can stand on two feet. And take the next step forward.
4 Responses
I agree with what you
@Jay: I’m not entirely sure I agree with you. There’s a funny line we walk spiritually with intention. Certainly intention is important- we need to show up, and I know that intention has meant a lot to my movement forward in business and in life.
And yet, at the same time, our will power is just not strong enough to change reality. Sometimes things happen despite our will and perseverance.
The Sufis say that our actions have no direct causal effect on our results- instead, actions are seen as prayers in physical form. It is still up to the Divine Presence whether something happens or not.
Some people are disturbed by this. Personally, I’m comforted. I have to show up, but I’m not required to try and force an outcome. And thus ‘success’ is redefined from achieving goals, to being present. Which, on really good days, I get to experience for some moments. 🙂
Thoughts?
I like the way you combine imagery with action. So often, we’re taught a kind of wish-craft. Just wish things into being… keep focusing…
Action is where things happen. Whether action is prayer or simply movement. Wishing, visualizing, prayer, hoping and dreaming are never enough.
On a limb with Claudia
@Claudia- Thank you- I’m glad you liked it. Action is definitely part of the equation. 🙂