You Are What You Are looking For
I love turning the idea of a “selfie” on its head. It is our conditioning that tells us that the answers to our so-called problems, issues or desires are things to be found in the external. Rumi told us “You are What you Seek” which for me doesn’t mean personality, learning style, enneagram or any of the other ways in which we try to define and describe ourselves. All of those things are fun and informative – but at the end of the day, are any of them the answers to inner peace, well-being or joy? (not)
From someone who has spent a great deal of my life in a seeking mode, I can save you some time. Akin to the metaphorical story of the lost keys – man is searching outside on the street for his keys- friends and neighbors join him and someone thinks to ask where he lost the key. He answers by saying in the backyard -when asked why he is searching on the street – he answers that here he has more light. Eddie Murphy long ago made a joke on Saturday night live of “lookin for lube (love) in all the wrong places. Like bring a spring looking for water.
Waiting for the stock market to improve, the housing market to lighten, the political arena to improve (really) ,the friend or spouse to change so we can be happy, feel safe or content is looking in the wrong place for all those things. Time to take that selfie and notice that peace is already within, contentment is a state of mind over which we have dominion. Events merely provoke where we have our attention…if we are anticipating the negative, we will be inclined to see it everywhere and feel all the power is held in the event itself. If we notice that we can have peace above all circumstances, we tend to bring that to the events that present themselves.
Our design is so helpful to remember that we do not have to acquire these qualities – we have them in abundance – we have a true nature that is always leaning towards our having the answer within. Whether you meditate, do yoga, tai chi or do spiritual practices such as prayer – all traditions begin with this instruction…”Turn within”. That is what we seek and that is where we will find it.
