The other day I discussed how you can erase negativity through applying some of the wisdom in The Handbook To Higher Consciousness. I consider it one of my “desert island books.” The desert island book concept is where you pick 10 books that you would pick to have with you if you were stranded on a desert island by yourself. This one would be one of those books I’d take with me to the island. It’s challenging and would help immensely with the psychological side of dealing with being stranded on the island.
Overall there are 12 different pathways that lead to higher consciousness. Today I wanted to discuss pathway #1:
Pathway #1: I am freeing myself from security, sensation, and power addictions that make me try to forcefully control situations in my life, and thus destroy my serenity and keep me from loving myself and others.
I recommend memorizing each of the pathways because you’ll increase your understanding of each one. You will also be able to apply each one in your own life to overcome personal challenges and setbacks. Reading them is not enough.
The first pathway addresses our need to be in control of virtually every aspect of our lives including other people. You don’t need to be a “control freak” in order for this pathway to mean something to you. This pathway addresses all of the various disappointments we can have with other people as well as ourselves.
This pathway addresses how we are all human and are prone to make mistakes. Yet, the human heart can be unforgiving sometimes. A spouse says something that touches a nerve. A date is 20 minutes late. Someone borrows something without asking.
The “normal” human reaction is to get grumpy or to “get even” with words and actions.
Keyes, however, argues that by reacting in a negative way it both upsets you and separates you from the people around you.
Part of being human means being imperfect. Thus, others will make mistakes. You will make mistakes. I will make mistakes too.
If our feathers get ruffled when others make mistakes (which by virtue of being human is the normal state of being) then we are not living in reality. I get angry at myself for making a mistake, yet being human means I am imperfect and make mistakes. Therefore, if I get angry or upset, then I am not living in reality – make sense?
Learning acceptance is the highest form of love. As Shakespeare said “warts and all”, to see others for their flaws and love them anyway is a higher consciousness – wouldn’t you agree? Mother Teresa was not a beacon of benevolence because she helped attractive celebrities in Calcutta. No, she helped the poor, sick, malnourished, homeless and otherwise unloved in India.
Where others saw a person unworthy of love, she loved and she helped to show that love.
I know, I know there is a phenomenon where some people are “users” and will use up every drop of compassion if you let them. Keyes qualifies this with a simple sentence. “It’s ok to throw someone out of your house, just don’t throw them out of your heart.”
If you are going to live a life of higher consciousness, you can’t be a doormat. That is not a good way of facing reality. Some people will take, take, take if you let them. That’s not the goal.
You can love someone and say “no” – otherwise you are giving a gift you can’t afford to give.
So the next time someone does the opposite of what you want, consider what it would mean to free yourself of the natural reaction. If you don’t react negatively will it make the situation better or worse, easier or more difficult?
