Author Gilbert Main 7 steps to freedom
There’s a lot going on in the world right now. Many of them can drive the most optimistic soul to despair. And on the other hand, you can also grab a few little shining dots of light and keep the fire in your house of optimism burning. As Shakespeare said, “Like a candle lit on a hill, a good deed shines in a mischievous world.”
But if you keep swinging from despair to hope and back again depending on the daily or hourly news cycle, you’ll have, in the words of a friend, “a job with a future.” Sho.
So how do we get off this roller coaster of toxic emotions? And it’s toxic. These ups and downs can lead to worry, confusion, and physical discomfort. Depending on the company you’re dating and the relatives you have, outside events can sour relationships and drive an insurmountable wedge between loved ones.
I watched a heartbreaking video on YouTube of a tearful young mother who separated herself and her children from their father, their grandfather, for two years over a political disagreement. One day she woke up and realized what she had done. Her father had been diagnosed with cancer. She realized that she was putting one of the important loving relationships in her life at risk. And for what? Politics is an ever-changing merry-go-round where one day you are in power and the next day you are heard.
In that story are guideposts for those of us who wish to find joy, courage, certainty, and confidence in a world of change, anger, and discouragement. How can you find lasting happiness in the face of turmoil? For that young mother, it was love. It was the sweetest and most powerful feeling. It was something eternal, unchanging, and tender: the love between father and daughter, and when I remembered it, it wiped away the bitter and fragile conflicts.
I spent years searching for an answer to that very question: a way to find peace, calm, and certainty in a world of turmoil, change, and conflict.
When I was young, I longed to understand what was really happening to myself and other people. I wanted to know why we did and said things we shouldn’t have done or said. And why didn’t we do or say what we should have done? Why do we get carried away by other people and events? Why couldn’t we hold fast to what we know to be true and healthy when others are heading down the path of destruction?
Why couldn’t we “keep our heads” when we’re all losing our minds and blaming ourselves for it? (Kipling, if)
Fortunately, in my early twenties, I found teachers and guides who taught me simple and effective ways to cultivate inner strength and an awareness of peace and stillness. and how to interact with people and events in an honest, open, and effective manner. It has allowed me to maintain a clear sense of self while immersing myself in family, work, religion, and leisure.
I worked as the principal of a very unusual primary school in Sydney, Australia for almost 30 years. We taught our children the basics of math, English, sports, history and science, but we also incorporated Sanskrit, Latin, Shakespeare, philosophy, mindfulness, the Bible and Mozart into our curriculum.
I loved my job, but I was in an environment where my calmness was tested every day. Parents, teachers, young children, local authorities, neighbors – this can be quite a daunting task for a dedicated and enthusiastic headteacher who has to keep all of these things in mind.
I used to describe my job as half firefighter. At first we saw smoke rising and had to put out all the fires before it turned into a huge fire. And the other half, in charge of entertainment, had to keep the staff, parents and children happy so that the magic and miracle of education could unfold.
It was a great testing ground for me to apply the wisdom my teachers and guides gave me. After all, if we forget their advice when the time comes and fall back on the well-worn and habitual tactics of fear, anxiety, anger, and jealousy, we will never forget the timeless tactics of saints and sages of ancient and modern times. What is the point of learning knowledge?
For example, Lord Sri Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that a sage is the same “in heat and in cold, in joy and in pain, in honor and in disgrace.”
Sounds easy? It’s actually a pretty high bar. You remain the same, at peace, quiet and detached inside, radiating love and understanding, but one moment everyone is praising your victories to the sky, and then you are 10 for your failures. Turning on a dime and screaming at you? I went there and did that and no one gave me a T-shirt. What I got in return was lots of great opportunities to practice following the guidance of a wise man.
So, want some top tips to put practical wisdom into practice and navigate the challenges of a chaotic world? Do this every day for 30 days.
Sit in a quiet place where no one will disturb you. Feel your body in the chair, your feet on the floor, the clothes on your skin, feel the air moving in and out of your lungs. Don’t think too much about it, just look at what’s right in front of you. Stay in the present moment. Smell; Taste; Then lead to quiet listening, extending your hearing to the farthest sounds. If your mind goes crazy, it probably will, and it gently returns to your body and repeats the process. Do this for about 2 minutes. Do it twice a day.
I absolutely guarantee that if you keep at it, you will feel more peaceful, calm, and “together.” Make this simple exercise part of your daily routine. Don’t you skip meals? Or sleep? Don’t skip this.
If you want to know more, I wrote a book about all this – 7 steps to freedom. Get your copy. You’ll love it!
Source: Spiritual Media Blog – www.spiritualmediablog.com
