Doing Our Own Brainwashing
I like the description of prayer as what happens the moment a heartfelt desire is recognized. There are so many throughout the days of each human life that we have, over the eons, developed ways to highlight them. Lofty labels, really.
We often call them rituals. Sometimes addictions.
Mostly we call them nothing because of how much of our time we spend, even in our own minds, averting our attention from ourselves.
Finding dis-traction.
(AKA avoidance.) This is a fear-based action, and as natural as it is (think survival instinct), it's misery-inducing. We gotta’ change the program.
Collectively.
As humans.
And by collectively I mean to include all of us, and that each individual is inherently responsible for their part.
First step: awareness. Think of this as an acknowledgement, such as, “This is a fear-based way of thinking.” Labeling.
Second step: question. What would I prefer instead? What am I really wanting? What would be a little better?
Third step: detach. The mind is triggered by every question and is fundamentally driven by 3 collective parts: intellect, instinct, and intuition. Our individual-preserving and mostly “persevering” (yes, pronounce that both ways) mindset is commonly known as ego. There is nothing evil about it. It is simply a primary driver of action in the world. Of course it is an energy. For all earthly purposes it is probably best considered a driver of energy.
It’s fuel is desire.
It mostly operates on what is often referred to as the subconscious level. Questions are desire made palpable. The physical representation of curiosity. Lofty questions, those which pull us most strongly (meaning we have taken time to prioritize, after considering the internal interest rate) are the ones with natural staying power.
Simply put, they keep popping back up. Seemingly of their own accord.
To intentionally pose a question in the mind is to highlight its attention to its own natural capacity for problem-solving. The most effective way to be intentional is to ask ourselves our own lofty questions rather than wait for others to do so.
Every time the mind is asked a question it moves from focusing on problem-finding activities to solution-implementation mode. This part is automatic and subconscious.
Hence the conscious point here is that the end goal of every desire is to let go of our own individualized expectations.
By intentionally executing these 3 steps, rather than fear our limitations, we trust our intuition.
To do this is to return again and again, throughout the day, to knowing everything is already OK, and will be, no matter what.
To do this is to replace fear with trust.
There is not one step more important than any other in the process delineated above. All 3 components are symbiotic and built-in to every human experience as a capacity awaiting activation. Synergistic.
And they are in order for a reason. Because one tends to naturally lead to the next. Cheers...and HallelujahOfuck!
