After creating through external means for years, I now want to see what happens when I instead bring forth the external through awareness and activation of my inner Resource. Committed to this experiment, I developed the following to facilitate my transformation:

Step 1.  What do I Want?

The first step is figuring out what I want.  Beyond the material things that I think will make my life easier – money, money, money – what I really want is peace.  I want less stress.   I want joy in my life.  I want to do what I want and not what I have to do to make ends meet.

I don’t want to keep repeating the same types of experiences over and over.  I want to learn the process of navigation, not simply how to handle a particular person or situation.  My goal is to externally express peace, joy, and fulfillment from my deep and abiding inner consciousness.

I now see that my anger and victim mentality, even if justified, created more stress.  By taking personal responsibility for my life, I am depending less on “them” and more on how I can bring more joy, peace, and security in my life. What can I do today to be happy? How can I better love myself?  Am I making decisions from joy or obligation?  What choices am I making that take me away from what I want?

Step 2.  Start Doing It

Start doing whatever it is that you want.  For me, I post Ancient Seeker every week.  Sometimes I’m late, but I make writing and posting a priority.  I practice yoga.  I meditate.  I swim and bicycle.  I prepare my own healthy meals.  My goals are to be more consistent; but, life intervenes, so I do at least one of these things every day.

Step 3.  Move Away From What is Not Supporting Me

Make choices about those with whom you associate, with whom you spend most of your time.  As much as possible, limit the presence of people who are determined to remain entrenched in negative thought, beliefs, behavior, and speech.  You don’t have to kick people out of your life, but you can minimize contact with those whose normality is creating tension, drama, demands, neverending rain, chaos, and neediness.  I know that some have pulled away from me because I’m not contributing to their lives and I completely understand and support their decisions.  Not everyone can hang through my metamorphosis.

If I am not strong enough to move myself upward while pulling someone else along, I have to let go and I give others the same right with regard to me.  If someone missed the boat and is stranded on an island, are you willing to jump off the departing boat knowing that you might die on the island with that person? Are you willing to jump in front of a train to save another?  Less dramatic, for what are you willing to give up your joy and peace of mind?  These are choices.  There is no right or wrong.   There is only what you want and choose to do.

Step 4.  Stop Resisting

Are you relaxed and willing to let your life flow without tension?  Tension and stress are signs that you are resisting something.  Resistance blocks your good.

There’s a story about a monk accused of impregnating a young lady.  The village demanded that he take care of the child.  Instead of defending himself, he said “ok.”  Years later, the girl admitted that her boyfriend was the father.  The villagers were ashamed.  They apologized to the monk and took the child.  The monk again simply said “ok.”  He didn’t fight to keep the child he had raised.  He didn’t become resentful and angry.  He accepted the circumstances that were before him and made the best of them.

Step 5.  Find Support

I bolster myself from a variety of sources.  I have friends and relatives who are on their own spiritual journeys and provide great sustenance to me.   Their support helps me through rainy and sunny days and allows me to see the light through clouds of darkness.  I take time to be still and reflect.  I’m constantly reading, listening to, exploring, and finding inspiration.

Be around people who are growing.  Get right with yourself so that you can attract people who can support you on your path.

Step 6.  Don’t Give Up

Continue to work on yourself, even if you have to be alone for awhile.  Fully commit to ceasing behavior and patterns that draw you towards and into negativity.  Utilize all experiences as tools to learn, grow, and change.  Ask and practice: “How can I be peace in the midst of chaos?  How can I be more loving?  How can I not be angry or resentful?  How can I be neutral and not judge?  How can I accept?  Allow?”  Leave other people out of this.  It’s all about you.

Be patient.  Persevere.  When you clear out negative thoughts and behavior, you think that results should be immediate.  But change may not happen overnight.  As long as you’re moving in the direction that you want to go, trust that everything will work out.