Where We Want To Go -- We are already there!

"The lesson which life repeats and constantly enforces is 'look under foot.' You are always nearer the divine and the true sources of your power than you think." John Burroughs

"If we are not totally blind, that which we are seeking is already here. This is it." Alan Watts

One essay in BECOMING is entitled 'Look Where You Want to Go.' It addresses our tendency to focus on what we don't want. We don't accept what is and stay present with the challenging situation or experience -- No. We rarely do that! Rather we get stuck in our thinking mind and we obsess about the difficulty: we ruminate, brood, wallow, criticize ourselves...

This is not the only way! We can drop into our Being, become aware of what is, breathe consciously, notice what is, create space, and bring a whole different person to the challenge.

Check out the section on 'Breathing Space,' in the book, Mindful Way Through Depression, which, by the way, is not just about depression, but about 'freeing yourself from chronic unhappiness.' Jon Kabat-Zinn and others teach a practical and transformational path that leads in this direction.

BECOMING addresses these themes as well, in a personal yet universal manner. BECOMING is now available on line, at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble , and in the UK Check it out and tell your friends!

Birthdays and challenges

Today, August 4, is President Obama's birthday. As we wish Happy Birthday to Barack, we may remember how the world stopped to watch him step into this office... What an overwhelming job he's tackled. He needs us, those people– those many among us– who are willing to help slay the dragons, yet we cannot slay them if we (or he) are consumed by them or protecting them! Our and his work is cut out, no doubt. Read more at Christina Baldwin's site: http://storycatcher.net/wordpress

But just what is this work that is cut out for us?

One essay in Becoming is called 'Universe Unfolding,' and it tackles the seeming contradiction Shunryu Suzuki addresses in his quote 'Each one of you is perfect as you are. And you all could use a little bit of improvement!' This paradox surely applies to the world as well.

How do you feel about the perfection of the universe confounded with the turmoil on the planet? What happens as you try to consider both simultaneously? What is appropriate 'work' in your life and worlds at the present time?

Becoming considers these questions and helps us move to personal and universal responses to the juxtaposition of consternation and celebration, greed and grace, apathy and awareness, jousting and joy...

Join the dialogue at Becoming; Journeying Toward Authenticity