Don’t you just hate it when you hear sophomoric platitudes like “Don’t Worry,” “Let go,” “No sweat,” etc.?  Especially if you don’t know the person speaking and from the seat you’re sitting in, none of this is easy. I won’t bore you with the long story of how I came to understand just how easy it actually is, to let go, not sweat things, and not to worry–to change, in other words. To shift fear to faith. To see everything as okay even the shitty stuff that makes you practice letting-go. Suffice to say that I did change, and here I’ll give you the tools that I use each day to make sure I don’t slip back into a fear-syndrome. Perhaps you’ll find them useful. In this day, with recession worries, environment and conflict issues galore, there are heaps of people freaking out. Some quietly, some quite loudly The numbers taking anti-depressants, using alcohol, drugs, overeating, and finding release through very peculiar outlets is mind-boggling, to say the least.

Sufi Bird

Let’s assume you’re interested in changing in the first place, shall we? Otherwise … you wouldn’t be reading this. Okay, to change, one has to first determine what it is that needs changing. THIS is the hard part. Once you can put your finger on just exactly which trait you have that is making your life filled with worry, fear, anxiety, jealousy, anger, or any other emotion that keeps you from experiencing the magic of everyday earthly existence … once you identify and admit this is your challenge … then you’re ready to do the easy part.

Here’s how to determine what it is that needs to be changed.

The easiest and bravest thing you can do is ask someone close to you, someone you trust, someone you love and who loves you. Tell them to honestly tell you what it is, that in their estimation, is a negative trait you have habitually. If you promise them the safety of your willingness to accept what they have to say, and be sure to SAY ALOUD that you promise you won’t hold it against them, be mad at them, or dis-believe what they offer … then get ready to hear what will, no doubt, either hurt your feelings or make you plenty pissed off, or both.

If you don’t believe this trusted person, ask another, and another, if you have to. Make sure they are kind-hearted folks. Keep asking until you either hear the same thing over and over or … you get a series of astounding character defects you never knew you had.

Brave you! I commend you for doing this! It takes a lot more self-confidence to do this simple exercise than anyone would ever believe. But once you have this information, now you’re ready to do the next step.

And that is simply … to breathe!

what? breathe? that’s it?

Yes, that’s it. Because to breathe means you’re alive. And if you’re alive that means you’re filled with consciousness. Because after you die, guess what? That’s the only time when consciousness departs, unless you’re un-conscious, knocked out I mean, or in a coma, and even then we’re told that there still remains a tad of consciousness even when people can’t respond through usual channels.

look deep within---it's YOU!

Okay, so you’re breathing. Now, armed with your desire to change whichever character flaw you’ve now discovered, with each breath, with each act, with each word, with each thought — YOU have the ability to choose whether to act in this annoying, less-than-compassionate manner, or not. YOU, and only you, have control over your life. YOU can let go. YOU can stop being selfish or stop worrying. YOU can Easy-Does-It. Only you and you alone can make your life a heaven on earth, or keep your consciousness in the hell you’ve created for yourself. Right here. Right now.

Once you’ve made up your mind to address any negative trait, all you have to do is keep aware, awake … breathe … and each instance of life’s occurence will present to you the opportunity to exercise this new choice — to change!

With great love, your pal lordflea