Be

I greatly admire the major faiths and their leaders. I consider myself Christian as the teachings of Christ resonate with me on a deep level. Yet I do not follow any Church or consider myself to be a religious person.

The spiritual teachings that speak most clearly to me is Zen. I have experienced my most spiritual moments in being in the NOW and focusing on the moment. I gain the most pleasure in life from understanding.

I know that people perceive their own needs in many different ways. What they value and believe may not even be something they have thought about. I do not feel the need to force what I believe on other people. Yet if I can help them to become happier in any way, then this is something that pleases me.

I get frustrated when I talk to people and they dismiss what I say. Who doesn’t?  I get angry when things don’t go as I expect or as I planned and when I cannot change things. Who wouldn’t?

I like Zen. I try to understand Zen. I try to BE. But I am no Zen master. I’m just another human being, like you, looking to improve some things I don’t like about myself, about the world around me, hoping to accept what I cannot change with good grace. Yet often failing to both change or accept!

In times of sadness, I cry sometimes, I withdraw a little and meditate, to  centre my BE-ing back in the present.

To overcome ingrained patterns of negative thinking I have tried self hypnosis and visualisation.

To achieve a better life I have tried setting goals and taking risks.

Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I fail. Sometimes I try again, sometimes I give up. Sometimes success makes me happy. Sometimes I wish I had not done things.

To feel happy and enjoy myself I listen to music and play the guitar as best I can, hoping to improve with practice, enjoying just doing it. I create by writing, painting, sorting, teaching. I read books on a vast range of topics both fiction and non-fiction and try and understand more things. I have never lost the sense of wonder I get from walking in a forest or on the beach, breathing the salt air, listening to the waves, soaking in the light and the colours. It makes me feel really happy after swimming in water and I feel best when I am warm and clean. I love, talk to and hug my family and friends. I enjoy the company of my dog and cat and like to sit and watch my goldfish swim. Children always make me smile and often make me laugh.

This is what it is to BE. For me.

What is it to BE you?  Have you thought about it?

Continue Reading

• Journey of Self Discovery
• Pursuit of Happiness

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