I’ve been asked a few times by some of my friends and colleagues about how does one stay in that place of positive flow after one has to go back into the “real world” after experiencing a life changing concsious awareness experience like POA and other personal/spiritual development workshops and weekend retreats. My response is, one just does whatever one has to do.
I equate working out ones consciousness/spiritual “muscles” to working out the body’s own physical muscles. For someone not used to working out or exercising, who may be experiencing being somewhat “out of shape”, the first thing they usually do is read a book on healthy living and/or subscribe to some sort of healthy lifestyle or workout magazine.
The next step is to join a fitness program or a gym. Then there’s the first of a series of work(shops)outs. Through which we experience that first ”shock” (awareness) of how badly out of shape (misaligned) we’ve allowed ourselves to become by our own very poor thoughts and habits and operating (thinking) standards over the years. But that’s okay, because now we know (are conscious) and we are starting to feel good (happy) with the knowledge that we are now receiving the tools and practice to change our bodies (minds).
You see where I’m going here? So… now we are ready for a serious challenge like maybe a short marathon or some sort of exercise bootcamp (workshop/retreat) to take us to that next level. We sign up, we pay and we perform (grow/expand) with flying colors! We are exhausted but exhilarated at the same time! Life will no longer ever be the same, we tell ourselves! But then…
Ego is sitting in the wings waiting for thefirst opportunity for a chink in the armor. ”
Some of us go back into what I call the “sleeping world” of day to day routine in an unconscious working/home environment and/or social circles. And for the first few weeks to couple of months, the high of what we’ve learned (and unlearned) sticks with us, and sticks with us strong! We are livin’ the dream, baby! We ARE different. The people around us recognize it and we are complimented on the positive changes that are apparent in our demeanor, words, and actions which we have worked hard to achieve. Quietly, however, Ego is sitting in the wings waiting for the first opportunity for a chink in the armor. When it can operate from a new place of consciousness and begin to take things back over. How willing are we really committed to holding onto the new level consciousness we have worked so hard to obtain and live by?
With this new and improved self-image (spiritual confidence) we think (there’s that word again!) that we don’t need to do all that work we had to do before. We’ve done it! Right? All that work as paid off and we now have the answers and the key to our own happiness, cause we “know” we are in control!
But like the person who has finally reached the best physical shape for them after an intense workout routine, we tell ourselves, “I’ve got this. I’m good.”
And without much effort, literally, we begin to slack off the work that got us to where we’ve arrived. We begin to skip workouts. We sleep in instead of going to the gym. We decide to veg on the couch and watch reality shows and sci-fi flicks instead of getting outside and taking a run or brisk walk or some other outdoor activity. We go back to eating and drinking some of the things that we used to consume which may not be so healthy. And 2-3-4-6 months later we are back where we began with old habits (Ego) again running the show.
I see it over and over again. Hell, I’ve BEEN through it over and over again! Not only on a physical level but on a spiritual as well. But not anymore and not for a long time. Like many others, I’ve grown tired of going back to being mentally, emotionally and spiritually out of shape!
So, I tell my friends and those I meet along the way who ask me the question… “How do I stay in that place of knowing and growing on my spiritual path without sliding back?” And I say to them, practice… hard work… commitment… and exercise.
Jesus tells us to “be IN the world but not OF it”. The Buddha instructed his most ardent followers to question everything but to find the “middle way”. Life is about balance. It’s a fine dance between living with complete attention (awareness) and enjoyment through the three core facilities of Mind, Body and Soul. Feed one more than the other and the others will lack, grow weary and weak and one finds oneself out of shape and out of balance once again.
And as much as we train and strengthen our mental and physical muscles of Mind and Body, we must also continue the work of giving our Soul the nourishment, exercise, and energy it needs to allow us to live the life we are truly wanting and are meaning to live. It’s truly that simple… but it ain’t easy! It takes work just like anything else.
Truly there is no going back, but there are those who do end up going back to what was. Even if only for a little while. Perhaps just to be a reminder about how uncomfortable that state of being really was. Thank God, the gym of life is open 24 hours, huh?!
(photo credit: Krissie P’s Photo Stream, Flickr.com)
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When not working out and reading in order to keep his own physical and mental muscles in shape, Roldan maintains his own spiritual fitness program through writing, speaking and personally coaching those ready to seek, find, claim and maintain their own personal power through personal one-on-one coaching and the Power of Awareness Workshops. He welcomes your comments and questions and thanks you for sharing this time and space with him. You can contact him directly at roldanfsmith@yahoo.com.
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