Those who choose the road to mediocrity will always find many shortcuts along the way.
Comments (0)
6 Views
New and True Benefits That Self-Study Brings
- Posted: Friday, November 5, 2010
- 534 words
Key Lesson
Summary
Often, when we first set out on the path of self-study, we begin with unrealistic or just plain mistaken expectations about what it will do for us. The unconscious wish that fuels this early stage of self-study is simply to become a better "old" person, rather than to become a completely new person.
Perhaps we have visions of suddenly becoming capable of handling with ease any set of troublesome circumstances; or that our newly enlarged self-knowledge will enable us to control other people, or at least to no longer be bothered by what anyone does to us. We hope or believe that in this imagined self-mastery the universe will shower us with gifts such as money, relationships, and good fortune. Further, we may believe that these are the things we need to guarantee our future happiness. But can any of these exterior conditions deliver the inner contentment we want? No, they can't. See the following fact and let it reveal the path to higher and higher levels of inner freedom: even when these desires are fulfilled, they do nothing to expand the restricted world of our self. To the contrary, these trappings only tighten the secret grasp of the thought-self that now is strengthened in its belief in its own power. If we do what we call spiritual work for these "self"-ish reasons, we simply remain in our tiny world, seeking the ends that that world calls valuable. The only way out of that world is through self-study, which begins with showing us that devoting our lives to the never-ending agenda of the never-satisfied false nature will never lead us to lasting happiness.
When people approach their self-study with wrong expectations, they can quickly become discouraged when those expectations are not fulfilled. They then claim that self-study does not provide anything valuable in return for all the effort it requires, because it does not bring them what their minds tell them it should. Wanting only to feel good about themselves, according to their own worn-out ideas of what that means, they never enter into the realm of real self-study at all. Sadly, without knowing it, they close the door on a world that could have rewarded them beyond anything they even knew to ask for, which brings us to a surprising paradox along the path of self-study.
The purpose of our inner investigation is not to feel pleased with ourselves -- and certainly not to feel good about ourselves because of some new noble self-image as someone aiming to lead a better life. The true purpose of self-study is to invite something Good into our lives that then provides us with the unshakable goodness we were previously unable to give ourselves.
We can only benefit from self-study when we use it correctly for self-discovery -- and not just as one more ineffective attempt at self-creation. True self-study is not an exercise in confirming what has been, but an opening of ourselves to what is and to the always-becoming unknown. We can use it to illuminate the tiny world our false natures have held us captive in, allowing our discoveries to throw open the door to the larger world within that is our birthright.
This Material was Excerpted From:
Related Products
-
Harness the Secret Power of Conscious Persistence
<p>If we're not getting what we want out of life, it's only because of one simple misunderstanding: <em>Our unique purpose is not to succeed at any one thing, but to discover and live from a nature that is success itself.</em> When we understand this, the world opens its doors to us. We're not meant to struggle to make events go the way our minds tell us they should. That's what leads to frustration...</p>
Starting at $5.79
-
Design Your Destiny: Shape Your Future in 12 Easy Steps
Whether we know it or not, we create the content and the quality of our own lives moment-to-moment. In fact, you are creating and experiencing your destiny even as you read this. Which means that what you think of being your future is really the choices you are making -- and experiencing -- right now. To understand this truth is to unlock the treasure of your True Self, and gain the abundance of...
Starting at $9.95
-
Education of the Soul: Answering the Longing for Immortality
A special kind of wisdom has been passed down through the centuries, generation to generation, for one exalted end -- the education of the soul. Thus have willing seekers always been given the means to fulfill the true and higher purpose of their lives. The specially selected talks in Guy Finley's audio program, Education of the Soul, integrate key principles from...
Starting at $79.95
-
The Secret Life of Dreams
Your present dreams about where to find happiness and fulfillment are the very things that stand between you and the real happiness and fulfillment you seek. They act as a barrier to a special creative power that can pour itself into you right now and make the deepest wishes of your heart come true. **There is a completely different kind of "dream" that lives in the deepest part of all of...
Starting at $3.99
-
Talks in the Pines 2015: The Secret of Your Immortal Self
""There is no reward on earth, or even amongst the stars, equal to the realization of the Divinity within you. Once achieved, this Celestial Union releases you from sorrow and fear, endows you with serenity and strength, and grants you the final freedom of knowing that... death is not the end of life."" -Guy Finley Whether your wish is to realize a deeper, more meaningful relationship with t...
Starting at $24.95
New and True Benefits That Self-Study Brings
Posted by Guy Finley in 459 Galice Road, Merlin, OR 97532 on , and updated on .
Get Guy Finley’s Bestselling eBook for FREE!
Freedom from the Ties that Bind
Simply by Joining Our Newsletter List!