Right Before Our Eyes

 "Wakefulness is not a destination

but a song the human heart keeps singing,

the way the birds keep singing at the first sign of light."

Mark Nepo

Conversations about being awake are common.  Actually, we are all awake, but not paying attention to the vast amount of information surrounding us inside and out.  If we were to access the information intimately available, we would become more like the person we were born to be.

Our desires are often overridden by criticism by our ego or other negative tapes that play in our head. We may stumble across a life changing idea, but our fear of failure or our fear of appearing foolish to others, scurries our insight right out of our head.

We have outgrown many of our automatic responses that once intended to keep us safe.  They may have worked at the time, but they are no longer necessary.  The outdated pattern is not an appropriate reaction to the present.

If we grew up poor, we may have been vigilant about spending money.  We might have worked two jobs while attending school just to keep afloat.  It was difficult to live month to month, but there was a sense of pride for paying the bills.  We may have developed rigid practices to keep us financially safe.  Time passes and although we may not be rich, we are leading a comfortable life with the same mindset of rigidity in fear of financial failure.

When we are awake, we are able to create a better balance in our lives.  In each moment, we decide what is best without the influence of past experiences.  If our hearts remain open and our actions are  cushioned with compassion, each moment has its gift.  When we race into future scenarios or get stuck in the emotional heaviness of the past, we miss the gift right before our eyes.