Standing Up For Your SELF

Good people are not those who lack flaws, the brave are not those who feel no fear, and the generous are not those who never feel selfish. Extraordinary are those who choose to do something about it.  (Shankar Vedantam, The Hidden Brain) 

Susan Jefferson's book "Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway" summarizes what every successful entrepreneur, entertainer or athlete will tell you as well: luck and good connection only get you that far towards success; in the end it is pure will-power that catapults you into the "Who is Who" of society, history and sports. There will be stretches when you feel fear, when you want to give up, but you carry on because you feel that it is your destiny to succeed. While you are shaking in your boots, you are faking a smile on the outside and keep going.

For a spiritual traveler this is certainly true as well. Angels may be on our side when we manifest our notion of Heaven and earth, but we nevertheless will encounter some scary moments along the WAY. Should we criticize ourselves for being fearful? Why should we as long as we keep moving in the right direction. If anything, we should be proud; it is the journey that matters, not our self-imposed doubts and fears.

In the same vein, there is no need to be embarked about our so-called darker cravings. The jealousy, the greed, the desire, the anger, the lust, and all the other perceived obstacles along the WAY. It is ok to feel the way we do, we are human after all. Million of years of gene competition made us a little selfish, that's the price to pay to manifest here on earth. Feeling darkness in our bones doesn't mean that we have to go and run with it. And even if we miss a beat along the WAY now and then, so be it.

We can be proud of our spiritual journey as long as we look out for your SELF to the best of our abilities. When we recognize a mistake, we apologize and do our best to reverse it afterwards. So much of our precious energy is wasted on questioning, criticizing and worrying. Yet, it is simply part of being human. Accept your feelings and then stand up for your SELF.