Spiritual Challenge of the Day.
Whatever matters to you will have the power to upset and disturb you. What matters to you is not necessarily what you say matters to you, or what you believe matters to you (in fact, every belief is actually an obstacle). What really matters to you is what your actions and reactions reveal as important and serious to you.
Look at your actions and reactions as a criterion to find out how deeply you know yourself. You might say, “I know I am an immortal spirit,” or “I am tired of this mad world, and peace is al I want” - until the phone rings. Bad news: The stock market has collapsed; the deal may fall through; the car has been stolen; your mother-in-law has arrived; the trip is cancelled; the contract has been broken; your partner has left you, someone is demanding more money; they say it’s your fault. Suddenly there is a surge of anger or anxiety. A harshness comes into your voice: “I can’t take any more of this!” You accuse and blame, attack, defend or justify yourself, and it’s all happening on autopilot. Something is obviously much more important to you now than the inner peace that a moment ago you said was all you wanted. And you’re not an immortal spirit anymore either.
The deal, the money, the contract, the loss or threat of loss are more important. To whom? To the immortal spirit that you said you are? No, they are more important to “me.” The small “me” that seeks security or fulfillment in things that are transient, and who gets anxious or angry because it fails to find it.
Well, at least now you know who you really think you are. And the world keeps showing you what truly matters to you and thereby always makes sure that you cannot fool yourself for long about who you really think you are. Keep noticing those actions and reactions.
If peace is really what you want, then you will choose peace.
If peace really matters to you more than anything else, you will remain nonreactive when confronted with challenging people or situations.
If you really believe that you are an immortal spirit, you will immediately accept situations and become one with them rather than separating yourself from them. You will respond from the perspective of consciousness; your responses will be powerful and effective. You will make no person or situation into an enemy.
~ adapted from Eckhart Tolle
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