New Found Joy

When the stories of our life no longer bind us, we discover within them something greater.  We discover that within the very limitations of form, of our maleness and femaleness, of our parenthood and our childhood, of gravity on the earth and the changing of the seasons, is the freedom and harmony we have sought for so long.  Our individual life is an expression of the whole mystery, and in it we can resat in the center of the movement, the center of all worlds.

~Jack Kornfield
A Path with Heart:  A Guide Through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual Life



 As children, we keep things pretty simple.  Somewhere along the line we learn to complicate life with drama, addiction, and disillusion.  This may sound sinister, but these very elements are catalysts to assist in the discovery of personal meaning in life. 

Life presents a challenge and we as humans have a variety of reactions:  avoidance, denial, and other levels of complications.
If we would face lessons head on (after careful consideration) they would not necessarily grow as the old proverb indicates, 'making mountains out of mole holes." 

It is wise to do research, but often times we are simply seeking opinions of those who know less than we do.  We also ask  for input from certain people we already know will simply parrot back to us what we want to hear.  For whatever reason, we do not trust the knowledge we have within.

"To thine own self be true," is wonderful advice.  The better we know our selves, the more we trust our inner knowings, the less complicated situations will be.   We can cast off what no longer serves us and embrace the freedom of original thought. Old thoughts, past limitations, and mistakes we have made along the way are only barriers when we preserve them.  Once removed, these old restrictions no longer bind us, and in our new found joy, we can discover a more intimate connection with life and the Divine.

Finding the harmony we have sought for so long, enhances our lives and encourages us to maintain balance.  We create a stronger connection with nature or the arts enjoying the beauty of our world and the mystery of the spiritual world.  We can allow our selves to be free.