I try to remember the things that keep me peaceful, happy, and compassionate. I constantly write notes on my phone about little discoveries I make in terms of perspective and habitual thought patterns. My memory seems to let me down, so this really helps me.
I try not to think in terms of good and bad but more in terms of helpful or unhelpful in regards to specific moral codes and goals.
I am still learning and experiencing things and feel like I cannot state a truth. So I guess one truth I know for sure is that I cannot state one. A paradox.
I don't have enough knowledge or wisdom to say anything profound to people all over the world. But maybe a simple "I love you," as corny as it may sound, shows them that I am willing to be compassionate, generous, and peaceful with them.
What is truth? I think stating a truth could be dangerous, because we are locking something in and therefore making it harder for ourselves to change beyond that certain thought or concept.
Knowing that a paradox is required for life as we know it to exist allows me to give up trying constantly to understand it and instead just feel it and enjoy it.
If you give yourself permission to feel the pain and the joy, without attaching to either, then you can be happy or sad with an underlying peace that just makes everything feel like it's going to be OK.
I feel hurt or attacked, jealousy or fear, what works for me is thinking of life as an adventure. This way, I remember that all these feelings or situations are part of a greater whole and that they need to be there to make life exactly what it is.
Several things can throw me into that space where I feel energetic and peaceful at the same moment - often things that force me to utilize all my senses. Sunshine does it for me. Music for sure, singing, and dancing. Conscious breathing. Nature. Silence. Meditation. Sport is a great one.
Sometimes we can't help the way we feel, but we can mostly choose how we respond to it.
I try to make sure I have a helpful perspective so when emotional pain comes up, it doesn't get out of hand.
I feel especially vulnerable when I know I've let the reactive ego take control of my actions and it may have had hurtful implications with someone I love. I feel vulnerable when I don't listen to my conscience.
It's difficult to change, because I have to admit that I have been previously living in a less compassionate and loving way. Sometimes we just want to be right instead of fully conscious.
For me, it's the slow release of my ego and certain belief systems that I identify with that give me comfort and an identity, and it's scary to let go of that.
Passion overcomes obstacles.
