Self reliance
I learned self reliance early in life. I moved into my own apartment and started my first full-time job the day after I graduated from high school. I paid all of my bills on time, and managed to have enough money left over to keep myself fed, although my cat did eat better than I did. My friends all went on to college, and I became a little bit isolated, which was fine, because I was working so hard at taking care of everything myself.
I started college when I was 27 and studied science while supporting myself, which now included maintaining a house mortgage. The cats still ate better than I did, but I graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in biology. I had become increasingly isolated, but that was still fine, because I was still working SO hard.
When I began my professional career, the feeling of isolation diminished, because now I was part of a team. We each did our own part, and depended on the others to do their part. I learned the power of teamwork and focusing relentlessly on what needed to be done next. We excelled.
Meanwhile, my private life was still fairly isolated. I was responsible for everything, shopping, cooking, cleaning, repairing, paying, I was it. But that was fine, because I could do it. I was self-reliant.
Around that time, I discovered Ananda and began exploring a spiritual life. I found people who held the same values that I had been hoping to find all of my adult life, people who answered questions that I hadn't even been able to articulate, questions that were the basis of all my confusion about what the heck is the meaning of life anyway.
So I paid attention and tried new ways of approaching life. My old habits started to shift and slip away. The habits that clung the longest were the ones that had served me so well up to that point. Self reliance was one of the tenacious habits, one that I'm still working at bit by bit.
Because the thing about self reliance is that it's good up to a point, but after that, it becomes isolating. Not only do you become isolated from other people, but you become isolated from the divine flow. The tendency to respond to offers of help, "Oh, that's okay, I've got it," squashes the energy flow between you and another person. People love to help. People love to open the door, or carry one of the bags, or move a box out of your way. It's simple, and it feels good.
Things that we encounter in everyday life are mirrors of what's happening on a more subtle, energetic level. I've found that if I say "Yes, thank you!" to every offer of help, then not only does it create a stronger connection to the person offering the help, it also makes me more receptive to divine help.
I LOVE receiving divine help, because it's always perfect, and beautiful, and timely, and inspiring. It lifts your heart with joy when you recognize it. It stays with you and lightens your burden. It creates a stronger connection between you and the divine.
Isn't it fun that a little thing like accepting help with carrying the groceries can shift something inside of you that then opens your receptivity to the blessing of answered prayers? Isn't life fun?
I started college when I was 27 and studied science while supporting myself, which now included maintaining a house mortgage. The cats still ate better than I did, but I graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in biology. I had become increasingly isolated, but that was still fine, because I was still working SO hard.
When I began my professional career, the feeling of isolation diminished, because now I was part of a team. We each did our own part, and depended on the others to do their part. I learned the power of teamwork and focusing relentlessly on what needed to be done next. We excelled.
Meanwhile, my private life was still fairly isolated. I was responsible for everything, shopping, cooking, cleaning, repairing, paying, I was it. But that was fine, because I could do it. I was self-reliant.
Around that time, I discovered Ananda and began exploring a spiritual life. I found people who held the same values that I had been hoping to find all of my adult life, people who answered questions that I hadn't even been able to articulate, questions that were the basis of all my confusion about what the heck is the meaning of life anyway.
So I paid attention and tried new ways of approaching life. My old habits started to shift and slip away. The habits that clung the longest were the ones that had served me so well up to that point. Self reliance was one of the tenacious habits, one that I'm still working at bit by bit.
Because the thing about self reliance is that it's good up to a point, but after that, it becomes isolating. Not only do you become isolated from other people, but you become isolated from the divine flow. The tendency to respond to offers of help, "Oh, that's okay, I've got it," squashes the energy flow between you and another person. People love to help. People love to open the door, or carry one of the bags, or move a box out of your way. It's simple, and it feels good.
Things that we encounter in everyday life are mirrors of what's happening on a more subtle, energetic level. I've found that if I say "Yes, thank you!" to every offer of help, then not only does it create a stronger connection to the person offering the help, it also makes me more receptive to divine help.
I LOVE receiving divine help, because it's always perfect, and beautiful, and timely, and inspiring. It lifts your heart with joy when you recognize it. It stays with you and lightens your burden. It creates a stronger connection between you and the divine.
Isn't it fun that a little thing like accepting help with carrying the groceries can shift something inside of you that then opens your receptivity to the blessing of answered prayers? Isn't life fun?