fulfilling life that aligns with your spirit
Making Peace with “I Don’t Know.”
Published on 5 Nov 2011 at 9:10 am.
3 Comments.
Filed under Courage Series,Feature Articles,Personal Development Strategies,Spirituality & Inspiration.
Do you ever wonder, “What am I supposed to be doing?”
That’s a common question when going through periods of transition. Transition is the psychological reaction to change – anger, confusion, fear, anxiety, grief…
Frankly, I think life is an ongoing transition because change is always happening.
With the consciousness shifts occurring on the planet, there can be many moments when life seems to be a great mystery and all you have are questions that seem to have few answers. At least the answers you want and hope for to soothe any anxiousness or fear arising when living with uncertainty.
Years ago, I read, ” The Art of Possibility” by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander. It’s one of my favorite books. The authors view uncertainty as a doorway to possibilities. What a fabulous way to look at uncertainty! Possibilities invite us to think of positive things that could happen which is a very different way to frame the idea of uncertainty.
Seeing life as a great mystery invites us to let go of trying to figure things out; to become adventurous and curious to receive the next clue that leads us on an unfolding story. Living in this way allows us to make peace with being in the mystery, rather than having the “need to know or understand”.
For almost a year, I’ve been living in and out of “I don’t know.”
There have been periods of immense pain and confusion, and times of Grace and joy.
Throughout the most difficult periods, I have received so much abundant support to strengthen my faith, trust, and courage.
There have been moments when I think I have crystal clarity and when I take action, the outcome is different from what I want or expect. The opportunity is to surrender and remember that there is a higher plan at work that is greater than my mind can comprehend.
My ego hates those times. Rebellion stirs, I cry, I stomp around, I yell at God, my inner victim comes roaring out…
What am I missing?
What do I need to see, feel, know, do… to change my life?
What do I need shift or let go of to allow more Grace in my life?
What???
How????
Just tell me what to do!!!
And when I have fully felt everything and acknowledged my helpless to do anything more or change the situation I am struggling with, Grace comes in. I still don’t know anything more and it doesn’t matter because through all of that release some old pain has burned out, I feel at peace.
There is NOTHING to do.
Until we become helpless, The Divine is helpless to help us.
What is the difference between desperation and helplessness?
Here is my distinction:
When we feel desperate, our mind and ego frantically begins searching for ways to solve the “problem” that is causing pain, fear, struggle… In desperation, we seek to gain control to manage, move, or direct the situation to make the situation go away, to get away from the situation, or get the result we want. We attach to our own perceived sense of Power and push against life in an effort to triumph over it.
Whew!
When we feel helpless, we acknowledge the limitation of our own power in being able to do anything more than the best we have done. In realizing we have done all we can and been all we can be, we completely turn things over to The Divine to handle … trusting that the help that comes will be for our best and highest good from a Presence that loves us dearly and wants our lives to be happier than we could ever imagine.
Grace comes pouring in when you finally “let go and let God”.
Today I am living in quite a bit of “I don’t know.” What I do know is that the answers will come when they are ready to be revealed. “I don’t know” simply means, “I don’t know …yet”. The more I push and demand to know, the more disconnected I am to receive the guidance that is speaking to me and to all of us in every moment.
Not knowing does not mean that you are at risk, in danger, or that your worse case scenario will be actualized. And yes…what you fear might happen…..might happen for real.
Make peace with not knowing. Struggling and pushing to understand creates misery.
This is where faith and trust come in.
Today people are living through some of their greatest fears and have come out the other side with a greater life than they ever had before. They are happier, thriving, and loving their life because they had the chops to go the distance through the dark places that brought them in the Light of Grace and Love.
The world is “waking up” to their destiny and remembering who we really are. We feel like strangers in a strange land learning a new language without a road map. Life seems to be falling apart to make way for new beginnings.
That’s the journey I am on. I don’t know what is next. I’m not sure I know much about anything other than trusting that I am exactly where I am meant to be and I am not traveling this path alone.
Today, I will take a walk outside and have a thoughtful conversation with the God of my understanding, create sacred space for my spiritual practices, and take whatever inspired action calls to me as the day unfolds.
Today I will appreciate all the miracles, blessings and gifts I receive through my relationships and life experiences. The rest I surrender into the hands of my Divine because that is all I know. And that is ok.
These are a few of my favorite quotes that keep me from sliding down the rabbit hole:
“The moment you move out of the way, you make room for the miracle to take place” Dr. Barbara King
“There is a light in this world, a healing spirit more powerful than any darkness we may encounter. We sometimes lose sight of this force when there is suffering, and too much pain. Then suddenly, the spirit will emerge through the lives of ordinary people who hear a call and answer in extraordinary ways.” ~Mother Teresa ?
“When we come to the edge of all the light we have
And must take a step into the darkness of the unknown
We must believe one of two things
Either we will find something firm to stand on
Or, we will be taught to fly.”
by Patrick Overton Copyright © 1975 The Leaning Tree
Click on the link below to download some beautiful healing music called “Beautiful Rapture” http://www.eraofpeace.org/music.php
You do not travel this journey alone. If you truly knew who walked with you every day, you would never be afraid.
Living a joyfull and abundant life is within your grasp if you are willing to courageously liberate yourself from fears, doubts, and not “enoughness” to know your value, claim your Divine power and live your purpose NOW! Are you yearning to be liberated from pain, struggle, and fear? “Pathways To Awakening” is a series of monthly mini courses designed as deepening journeys to help you release the past and open to greater joy and prosperity while fulfilling your Divine destiny.
The next Journey through Fear into Courage begins 11/9. Click here: http://powerfull-living.biz/pathways/ to learn more. Register to hear a special preview call on 10/27, 2011 here: http://www.powerfull-living.biz/blog/2411-2/
Love and blessings,
Lorraine
Sianetha on 22 Nov 2011 at 5:07 am: 1
Hi Lorraine, i think you are an angel spending some tim on this planet to help out. Thanks for all this, i feel so rested after getting your message. Many blessings!!
lorraine on 22 Nov 2011 at 8:30 am: 2
Dear Sianetha. Thank you for sharing your heart with me. And I am so glad you found my article post meaningful for you. These types of conversations and messages are also so valuable for me in putting things in a higher perspective. Our mind is always trying to make sense of things to feel relief and the truth is that there are times when the answer we want just isn’t there….yet. We are all on this journey together and we will be ok. Much love to you. Lorraine
Powerfull Living » Five Spiritual Laws That Strengthen Or Shake Faith and Trust, Part 5 on 27 Nov 2011 at 8:51 am: 3
[...] PS: A few weeks ago I wrote an article called “Making Peace with I Don’t Know” and I talked about the difference between desperation and helplessness. Read it here. [...]