Living the alternative dream

Your life could feel like a dream.  Everything unfolding one thing after another, in a way that makes a sort of sense as you observe it.  You could find yourself looking upon the circumstances that present themselves without judging them as ‘good’ or ‘bad’.  Perhaps the odd sharp word you hear, directed towards you, could be met with the empathy of knowing the other person must be experiencing some kind of suffering to be acting that way and there’s no need to take it personally. Maybe you’d appreciate being in the here and now, knowing that the future will unfold as it will.  You could live the alternative dream, feeling the peace and gentle ease that comes with not taking the idea of you <insert your name> as being someone that needs to be protected and promoted.  Knowing instead that you are free to play with the experience of life and all its ups and downs.  What a joy that could be!

If that’s not how you live already, would you like to? 

Or, does it look like peace and happiness comes from securing a particular set of circumstances? Perhaps in your work or business?  Maybe from your partner behaving a particular way, or finding a partner?  From having better health, or a more active social life?  From finding your purpose and meaning in this world?

It’s a strong pull, isn’t it?

Years ago, when I first stumbled upon the realisation that I could live the alternative dream, it felt as uncomfortable as it felt intriguing.  The ego kicked back and promoted strongly the idea that the things on my life shopping list were the route to happiness.  It warned me that if I found happiness without achieving those things, I would be unhappy later.  Crazy, right?! 

You see, the ego and society combined, have us hypnotised.  Locked in the idea that happiness is to be found ‘out there’ somewhere.  If we work hard enough on ourselves and our circumstances, we might eventually find it.  But if we’re not vigilant, destitution and despair will surely follow.  The fear keeps us firmly in the rat race.  Until it doesn’t.  Until somewhere along the line we hear a whispering that there is another way.  We become tired of looking ‘out there’ and the whispering gets louder.  So we turn slowly and gently, looking in a new direction.  In an inward direction.  Back before we say anything after the words “I am”, to the pure essence of who we are.  That’s where peace is found.

When you’re ready, you’ll start to turn inward.  When you do, you may like to have someone to help you navigate the path.  It can be a challenging path.  The ego is a slippery little sucker and the societal conditioning doesn’t stop.  Rather than going and living in the woods by yourself, or giving up on everything and sitting at home in your pants, it can be helpful to join others on the same journey.  I’m one.  When you’re ready, I’m here and happy to help.