Stop Trying To Improve Yourself

Embarking on the spiritual path often feels like a quest for happiness. 
Yet, you’ve likely already realised that the kind of joy you've been seeking isn't bound to the external.

Because in truth, happiness isn’t a treasure to be found,
but a state to be remembered!

Stop trying to improve yourself sounds like a radical statement from a self confessed journey junkie!!
 
The journey to discover and abide in our true essence is not about improving anything, rather its about chipping away the parts of us that are not real – the masks we wear, the egoic patterns that give us the illusion of safety to discover what’s underneath all that.

One of  the places I’ve found myself and my students getting stuck is trying to shed old, outdated patterns that we become aware are not serving us. Once we’ve shone the light of awareness of these ways of being, there can be a hurry to transcend them. But in that desire to extricate ourselves from that, we are resistance to what is and we know that what we resists persists.

The alchemy is in the loving this old pattern into non existence. Shaming or judging it will keep this stuck.

So if you become aware, for example, that there’s an arrogant or selfish or jealous part – hold it in the light of awareness with compassion for yourself and for this pattern. Acknowledging that this pattern arose to give you the illusion of  safety.
Thank this part for the all the experience its provided and the wisdom allowed you to cultivate and then choose to set yourself free.

So instead of trying to get better, by fixing or controlling – just sit and witness for example the one wanting to improve and the reasons why it feels in need to….?
 Shaming it pushes it back into the shadow.

None of us like looking at these darker aspects of ourselves but we all have them and the only way to heal and transcend them is to bring love – they aren’t the true essence of who we are but nevertheless they have played a role in our lives. 


Acceptance for what is the most loving thing we can do for ourselves. From this space there we really grow. This space that holds everything – dark and light. 

Old school self help which fosters positive thinking is incredibly limited. If you desire sustainable evolution – freedom from all that isn’t your true essence and abiding in that is the magic formula.

This is a beautiful contemplation. The here and now presence to all that is can become your new high!!

The true essence path is the path of remembering what you are whilst illuminating what you are not.  
 

Real joy emanates from the understanding that you're already whole - a perfect manifestation of the Divine right now. 

Are you ready to remember?