Freedom

Do you ever have those moments when you feel utterly alive, free & full of joy?  I had one last weekend- I was driving on this road, Foo Fighters' "Rope" blasting on the radio, headed to Connecticut to spend the perfect summer day with my nephews & niece that I adore.  & then just like that my mind says, You can't be this happy, you need to be worrying about something.  Oh yes you're right, how could I have forgotten?!  & then the list starts.  Why are the happy moments so fleeting?  Why can't I feel this way most of the time instead of being at the mercy of the incessant chatter in my head?  I want to live my life to the fullest & of course have many goals but when you strip it all down all I really want is freedom.  Freedom from fear, worry, anxiety- all of the things that get in the way of the inner peace & joy that are the true & timeless nature of our souls.  But how to do this?  It is absolutely possible but requires a commitment like no other.

First- stay in the present moment.  How much of your day is spent in the present moment?  How many of your thoughts involve ruminating over the past or worrying about the future?  It's probably safe to say most of them.  Well the past & future don't exist & all we ever have is the depth & beauty of the present moment.  And the quality of your present moments determines the quality of your future moments so make them good ones!  Give your full attention & love to whatever you're doing.  Any resistance to what you're doing will cause pain.   Accept the present moment in whatever form it is & know that the whole universe is always as it should be.  You're here, you're alive, this is a miracle worth treasuring every single moment.

Second- it is profound to understand that you are not the thoughts in your head- good, bad, it doesn't matter- one second you're happy, the next cranky, WTF?  This is your ego & it incessantly talks about anything & everything under the false illusion of "protecting you" & "making sense of the world" according to your beliefs, experiences, etc. but it is not your friend & causes pain & anxiety.  You will have freedom when you're able to disidentify from your thoughts & know that they are not the real you.  The real you is the observer of your thoughts, your spirit.  It's always calm & at peace no matter what crazy shit is going on in your head.  

These are some pretty deep topics & if you want freedom in your life I can't recommend enough reading The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer & A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle.  I have been reading them on & off for years & they are nothing short of mind blowing.

Have a wonderful weekend my friends- stay present, don't let your thoughts control you, & enjoy every second!!

photo: me