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Spiritualminds.com Articles
Inspiration: Guidance from the Friend Withinby: Daniela E. Schreier
Guidance from the Friend Within:
A How-To Guide
At times I wonder why. At times I wonder how. I am searching for answers, yet I don’t know where to find them. Why? Why does the mysterious gift of life become a threatening burden—an intimidating, unbearable weight filled with fear and doubt—for so many? Why do we allow emotional, interpersonal, and task-related challenges to dominate our lives? Why do we allow stress to take away our awareness and our receptiveness for the beauty of each moment and for each new day?
Why do we continue to believe that professional success and material wealth define us as individuals when the leading causes of death today are lifestyle induced? Stress, burnout, diet, smoking, and drinking are all diminishing the quality and very existence of our lives. Why can’t we stop for a moment and realize that our true enemies are our unhealthy patterns and our desire for more? When will we realize that our suffering is man-made, that what makes us different as a race of people and as individuals is essential to creating the world, that differences unite us and inspire us to grow? Why are we scared to share with those who have less? What are we afraid of losing?
Why are we driven? Why are we driven to extend ourselves to the point that we don’t even know when to stop working and to start enjoying living, when to stop worrying and to await an outcome fearlessly, when to celebrate life?
Why are we unable to tap into our inner energy sources and why do we deny ourselves the privilege of self-love and self-care? Why do we say we love each other when we constantly fight love with every move we make?
Why are we fighting our blessings, fighting each other, and fighting "the self"? Why do we deny the greatest gift of all, life, and the chance to blossom? Why do we set our boundaries the way we do? Why can’t we choose to be individuals and yet be a part of the whole? And why do we lose ourselves to the masses without conserving and following our own ideas?
Why do we believe in rules and laws more than in humanity and in being human? Why can’t we see ourselves as tiny yet a vital part of the whole, of the ocean of life?
Why do we judge people who look, think, behave, and live differently than we do? Why don’t we accept their priorities?
Why does change build up so much fear when it is ultimately the only constant in our lives? Why are we restless and fearful of a quiet moment? Why does life sometimes seem to be a bridge of unsurpassable challenges? And why, as time passes by, do many of us become more frightened, more helpless, and more stagnant? Why does sadness strike and why do we accept "depression" as a common occurrence without wondering why? Why are we stuck in a world of time and mind? Why are we torn between memories of yesterday and anticipation for tomorrow when all that truly exists is this very moment in time, the here and now?
Why are we afraid of time? And to where does the race we are running against our eminent opponent lead us? Why do we focus on a destination when we have a journey to enjoy? How can we overcome difficulties and become "bigger" people? How do we achieve greatness as individuals and become more constructive and loving as a whole? What are we aiming for? What do we wish life to be? Why do we search for answers in places that don’t offer valid replies?
Whenever I search for answers in the outside world, my calls remain unanswered. Then suddenly awareness strikes: All answers lie within, within each of us. Whenever we search inside, whenever we ask the friend within, we receive answers. Whatever we seek, we cannot find unless we first know what we wish to find. Whatever we wish to accomplish in this life, we first need to define ourselves in order to know what our goals are. When we wish to know how to live and how to appreciate life, guidance can only come from within—from our inner voice. Hence, the friend within connects us to the universal power that offers us true wisdom.
To know how to live and how to make the best of any given situation is true greatness. To know how to be critiqued and to critique constructively is a blessing. To know how to deal with difficult people and to stay calm in heated discussions is greatness. To know how to forgive and to forget is necessary so we can go on with our lives. To know how to be rich without forgetting about the poor and to be able to respect everybody are valuable skills. To know how to keep our focus during times of setbacks requires energy and trust in ourselves. To know how to speak without hurting the feelings of others and still make our point clear is love. To know how to handle ourselves in times of distress and to be calm when all our possibilities and perspectives seem to be gone is true mastery of ourselves. To know how to start all over again without losing confidence in ourselves is bravery. To know how to be courageous and self-loving without being ruthless and egotistical is a wonderful achievement. To know how to be ourselves and to speak the truth is excellence. To know how to be frank and fair is a requirement on our way toward self-awareness. To know how not to be taken for granted and, at the same time, how not to take anything or anybody for granted is wisdom.
To know how to set our boundaries and to live life at a steady pace is a blessing. To know how to trust our inner voice and to accept ourselves helps us to know how to live and to accept the gift of life.
On our search for answers, we have to remember that we are parts of the whole: We are part of the universal power. On our search for the beauty in living, we have to recall that each of us is holding the key to that inner treasure and that all keys combined reveal the secret of life. The precious key for each individual is listening to that inner voice; the precious key is learning how to trust the friend within to reveal the secret of life—the power within.
© 2001.Daniela E. Schreier. All rights reserved
For rights and permit contact: DSchreier@thecolorsoftherainbow.com or info@oneplanetpublishinghouse.com
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