~ Developing Consistent Wellbeing; Perfect Practice~ Part 3 The - TopicsExpress

~ Developing Consistent Wellbeing; Perfect Practice~ Part 3 The Commitment to the Application of the Knowledge Let’s begin by defining commitment. Many people cringe when I mention the word. This comes from the perception that our lives are too full of commitments already, often in the form of time and money. We quickly turn our commitments into “Shoulds”. I should work harder, get organized, get out of debt, spend more time with my loved ones, spend more time exercising, and so on. Our world seems to be one big commitment of our precious resource, energy. All this is an outcome of unconscious striving. It stems from doing, before feeling. As I mentioned in part 2, we are taught our doings provide our feelings. This is simply, completely backwards. In terms of focus, all our focus is outside of us and the one place we are able to fully commit, is left somewhere back in the dust of the doings. I describe the distinction of a personal and sacred commitment as dedication. Obligation comes from a “Should” (often someone else’s opinion), dedication comes from a Want (Personal inspiration). It is very important to “Consistent Wellbeing” to define the commitments in life that are dedications and those that are obligations. It is not to say that life doesn’t present occasional obligations, but to remember the personal choice that is involved. I have heard it said there is no selfless act. We make choices that somehow, we feel, will better our lives. It may be that we are deceiving ourselves about those choices, but none the less we can track them back to something we want. The difference here is that we can become unconscious in our actions. For instance someone who is constantly giving of themselves and depleting their own energy, can believe that this is what they must do, to avoid pain, or suffering such as judgment, or abandonment. In this way they are still coming from self, it is just masked by serving others. The commitment to one’s self that I speak of here is a dedication to authenticity; to know the personal motive in our actions, and define it as positive or negative. In this way we serve others and the world in the only way that we can, from honest and true love. If we are so far from our own authenticity that we have lost ourselves, we cannot be effective to our wellbeing or the wellbeing of others. This is the sacred marriage that the world has tried (ineffectively) to portray in matrimony. Everyone will agree that the perception of an external validating system has proven ineffective. This is why at least in the Western World divorce is second to death as personal trauma. We are searching for the Sacred where it cannot belong, somewhere outside ourselves. To marry another authentically we must first marry ourselves. I do not want to be misinterpreted as condoning separation from others, in The Commitment to Self. This is the extreme opposite of the intention here. I suggest feeling so safe within our own skin that we offer our whole self to those we love. In this way we grow authentically with our loved ones, free of the judgment and obligation, that we create them or they create us. Neither is remotely possible. Once we consciously awaken our deepest truth, sharing this with others becomes a joy, and in turn we can see into the truth behind the smoke screen of doings (Ours and Thiers.) We commit freely because it is natural to connect. Not because we feel obligated but because it feels GREAT! Sharing real Love is the ultimate purpose for life. It is the reason we strive to achieve. It only requires peeling back the layers of our external judgment, and reclaiming our deepest personal truth. In any commitment we may waiver from time to time. Again I reinforce the concept of staying in a thought or intention through to a success. If the habit of obligation sets in, track it back to what the original want is. Is it some form of inner desire to be important, recognized, understood or appreciated? Once that desire is identified, find a more direct, proactive way of creating that feeling. Perhaps it is just the recognition that is needed to shift the obligation to dedication. Mindfulness towards a good feeling about commitment is the key. Joining with the first two steps of Willingness and Consciousness, Commitment becomes natural. When we are inspired, aware and excited we can easily direct our energy and focus. And as I say, “What we focus on becomes more abundant.” It only builds in momentum from the original desire. Consciously commit to this loving process in life and life will return the intention by transmuting feelings of hardship to feelings of opportunities! This is the wealth of our Nature; growth in the form of Love. Peace, Compassion, Wisdom ~M~ © 11/2/2013 Mary S Corning maryscorning@gmail 971.264.4094