When I think of the current state of society and how the masses swell and are swayed to go this way and that; I am reminded of an old maxim; “Be in the world but not of the world.” I used to ask, “how can one be in a place, yet not from a place at the same time.” The internal knowing bubbled up as question from within me: It said, “can you not be in a place of chaos, but not from a place of chaos.”. There I had my answer, the “world” is not only referring to the physical and geographical location, but a dimension of consciousness that materializes in its season.
Be in the world, but do not be defined by it. Our duty in life is to aim is toward self-actualization. Everyone’s thought patterns and subsequent actions are contributing to a world that will soon be materialized. Realizing one’s truest self cannot be done if ones own light or authenticity cannot shine forth.
We ascend towards the several ‘higher ideals’, these include: nurturing and birthing our own person vision for life and our contribution to it, helping others do the same, discerning the person behind the mask they temporarily wear to reveal the truth about their state of being, and then helping them ascend mentally or even physically from the situations they face.
Higher ideals are not concepts that most of the world thinks about on a daily basis. For some it takes tragedy and discomfort for them to return to center–only to forget the lesson and be reminded again in the appropriate season.
Others are born with the burden to never forget the ideals that forms the foundation of life’s evolution.
Satisfaction and internal peace will not be had by those who carry the burden of knowing their personal power yet take little to no action to bring forth its fruits.
When seeking higher ideals, we must achieve a certain level of detachment. It is not to walk around aloof as though nothing is happening or naive as if nothing could happen. But detachment is to be fully aware, yet not allow one’s ‘current world’ to bring down their spirits. It is vital to completely separate oneself from that ‘world’ without looking back longingly.
People bow in submission to their emotions. They look back like Lot’s wife, who turned to a pillar of salt, after disobeying the command not to look back a Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction. This relinquishment of personal power (inability to detach) is what leads many astray from their truest calling and makes their world then no different from the collective ‘world’ that most inhabit.
Take a moment to reflect a bit. When someone upsets you, do you dwell in the sentiment of the moment for more than 5 minutes, or do you transform that negative emotion into wisdom?
Detachment is to observe yourself and the situations you face as though you are watching a movie–anticipating what will happen next and reflecting on what has been, but knowing firmly that which is done, is finished. Your personal power is best cultivated elsewhere–like creating the next step.
Knowing transformation has happened is the evidence of things not seen–it is felt. In due time, the fruits self-actualization will appear.
