Do you only want to dream or truly wake up?
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Is it easier to look out the window or have we allowed ourselves to believe it is easier simply because to look within is where the work, the responsibility, and the power truly reside?
This can be asked in any number of ways:
• Why do people take the road most travelled rather than the one least travelled?
• Why do people spend so much time, effort, and energy to compete with the Jones’ or the Kardashians rather that in being authentic as themselves?
Knowing who you are, takes work—work that many of us would prefer to avoid.
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Carl G. Jung said, “Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens,” and yet that is precisely what many prefer to do – dream rather than awaken.
From my personal and professional observations, I find that part of this avoidance is related to fear. We can compartmentalize this thing called fear and say that fear the unknown; we fear failure, and we fear success. We can say we fear our ability to meet the expectations that are set upon us and we fear the possibility of not being able to live up to the power that is ours to wield.
Remember that famous line from the Spider-Man mythos, “With great power comes great responsibility.” This is also found in the Judeo-Christian Bible, “To whom much is given, much is required.”
We fear that “much” that is given.
The other thing I find is that we as a culture in this age and time have become apathetic and desensitized in many ways. Unless we are really challenged to do so, we have no interest in the words of the oracle at Delphi, “Temet nosche” —Know Thyself. Knowing the stars on our favorite reality TV show or the top three contestants on The Voice or some other show takes precedent in our minds and hearts.
Knowing who you are and why you are, takes work—work that many of us would prefer to avoid.
• Why is there such a wealth of pharmaceuticals for so many illnesses and diseases that are caused by misuse of our minds rather than an actual problem within our bodies?
• Why is there an abundance of weight loss programs and diet programs to combat the increasing levels of obesity found in both adults and children?
And while I could go on, I am sure you understand the point. We have the capacity to look within and change the course of our lives.
• Why is it said in various spiritual texts and sacred wisdom, some version of, “The kingdom of heaven is within,” as found in the Bible.
“Look within! The secret is inside you,” written by Hui-Neng.
“To thine own self be true,” written by Shakespeare.
And let me include a quote from the film The Last Dragon, because I have found that wisdom comes to us from anything and anywhere when we are ready to learn: “there is one place that you have not looked and it is there, only there that you shall find the master.”
The moment we look at the master that is behind the eyes, the Observer looking through our eyes at its own reflection, we will understand that the situations, conditions, and circumstances of the world can be shifted and altered.
Mahatma Gandhi did it, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, Harry Moore, Harriet Tubman did it, Bruce Lee did it, Helen Keller, Viktor Frankl, and Harvey Milk did it.
Nick Vujicic (world famous speaker who skydives, surfs, plays golf, swims, and has no arms or legs!) and Oprah are doing it even today and so can each and every one of us!
Remember – “Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens!”
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Photo: GettyImages