Work on Oneself

No one can hope to know the joy of true personal freedom without knowing the truth of spiritual peace. Freedom and peace are as kite and wind; the former remains grounded without the latter. This is to say that before we will feel ourselves being lifted above the conflict and illusions of this world, peace must become conscious within us. Peace is the foundation, freedom the form built upon it...

Blaming conflict-filled feelings on any condition, or person, outside of yourself is like getting angry at your shoes for being laced too tight. Most men and women recognize the need for a healthy balanced diet because good eating habits nourish the body. Good nutrition helps keep us agile and strong. And we also like to learn new skills to expand our interests. Challenging mental activities...

In my job I must deal daily with several emotionally dark coworkers. What can I do to handle this situation better, besides getting another job? I know that it is difficult to be surrounded by toxic people; however, as difficult as this is to understand, your present work circumstance is perfect for your continuing development, if you understand how to use it. I say...

If we wish to live without resentments that linger in our hearts and rid ourselves of fear with all of its debilitating limitations, we must shed the skin of our selfishness. We must learn what it means to consciously suffer ourselves without complaint and have compassion even toward those with whom we disagree. If we want to realize the higher level of Self that reveals the need for further...

Whenever we consent to, or otherwise agree with anyone's dark assessment of his or her life, we are telling this person, "Yes, that is true (about you). No doubt life couldn't be any other way; after all . . . what else can you do?" In these sentiments is hidden a secret message that effectively says: "Sure . . . I understand the prison you are in and -- given your conditions -- it's only logi...

If you watch animals in the wild, one thing is obvious: The nature of an animal and its natural experience of life are indivisibly related. For example, deer attract biting flies. In the high heat of summer you won't see one without the other, and I have seen deer driven nearly crazy by these pests. They have no choice but to suffer this seasonal torment. An animal's nature attracts to it the...

Nothing seems harder to accept than some of the strange and often shocking spiritual facts to which we are awakening. After all, who would ever believe that we are responsible for so much of what proves to be unnecessary suffering? But with the help of honest self-investigation, we begin to learn that we must challenge this involuntary, often intractable refusal to consider such ideas. The tru...

The following short set of questions and answers is taken from the "Ask the Masters" sections that follow the end of each chapter in Guy Finley's newest book, Let Go and Live in the Now. QUESTION: I love the idea of living in a world without storms, but given how much turmoil and trouble there seems to be everywhere, including in ourselves, where do we find such an elevated state of self?...

The reason why discouraging states hold us captive as they do is that they convince us that the limited darkness of their reality is all there is for us to live within! But such small states only have this last word about the world we live in as long as we agree with what they tell us is true about our possibilities. We can do better than consent to live like this, and here are the steps that...

Here is a new and true beginning you can start with today that will put you in the right place for leaving an old self-defeating choice behind you for good: Any time someone criticizes or corrects you, dare to go against your habitual urge to defend yourself. Instead of reacting with heated resistance to something you don't want to hear about yourself, just listen to what's being said.

In order to have a sunny life on a moment-to-moment basis, you must be willing to let something new happen to you. No one sincerely asks for a new life until they are thoroughly dissatisfied with the old one. Letting go of the old ideas is the only way to really invite something new. This is what we are learning to do with the help of these higher ideas. Let's look at one example of how our...

What we must always remember is that the only work we do of lasting value is the work that we do for ourselves within ourselves. We have a definite conditioned dependency to think of things as worthwhile only if someone else recognizes their value. This painful kind of thinking not only leaves us tied to trying to please others, but it also discourages us from embarking upon the exciting journ...