Need a breath of fresh air, when it comes to your darkish, nervous, or disturbed thinking?
Well here’s a fancy new spring idea, in the midst of strange, whacky and disturbing times where a lot of thoughts are getting born and re-born day by day:
Spring doors are opening to the Year of Inquiry, the ongoing membership community of folks sharing The Work together regularly in live online groups, in writing, and in partner pairing work.
Basically, we’re pretty into questioning our thoughts. We’re deeply interested in understanding happiness. We’re practicing making friends with reality.
And sure, maybe sometimes resistant to it, sometimes arguing, sometimes tired of it all….and yet sometimes incredibly inspired and inspiring, sometimes refreshed, and sometimes laughing, crying, or both at the same time.
In a good way.
We usually only open Year of Inquiry in September. But when three different people ask, and two recently joined who did YOI in the past but wanted to get connected again….
….it just seemed like picking up fellow passengers on the rough seas is a good idea.
We’ve got a pretty good ship, I’d say.
Small but mighty, as one beautiful YOI inquirer put it last year.
Even if you don’t feel you need “rescuing” exactly, we are an awfully fun group to be around, no matter what’s going on in the atmosphere.
We ask, we answer, we get the virus, we do The Work. (Yes, one of us has been on the front lines with “the” virus–she’s OK and back at home).
The inspiration is invaluable. I’m so grateful.
You can join Year of Inquiry for one month only, and then continue month-to-month as you wish, or sign up for a whole year (saving quite a bit).
Read more about Year of Inquiry here.
Doors open this week basically. We start with a presentation/webinar thing on Monday April 6th at 9am PT called Living Our Turnarounds. You can watch the recording. It’s the topic for this particular month (we have one every month, topics like money, relationships, family-of-origin, body). Anyone who joins for a year now will be a part of YOI until May 1st, 2021.
Our YOI schedule for now:
- Mondays 9am PT/ Noon ET/ 6pm CET
- Tuesdays 5:30pm PT/ 8:30pm ET/ 8:30am Australian Western Time on Wednesdays
- Wednesdays Noon PT/ 3pm ET/ 8pm UK
- Thursdays 9am PT/ Noon ET/ 6pm CET
- Fridays 9am PT/ Noon ET/ 6pm CET
Have you ever looked over at that other person, and thought “Jeez. They have it sooooo easy! It must be nice.”
Maybe a little drop of sarcasm in your voice.
You’ve got it harder.
They’re enjoying themselves, getting praise, support, security, freedom, attention, love or whatever else is wanted or desirable.
I remember at the lowest of times in my divorce process long ago, I went for a walk in my neighborhood.
Only two blocks away was a completely different street.
The houses on the lake. With docks. And views. And grand entrances. Boats. Jet skis. Decks. Gardens. Room.
How’d they do this? Why didn’t I work harder at acquiring money? Why are they lucky, and not me? What’d I do wrong?
THEY have more freedom, support, fun.
What about relationships and love? How many times have I heard someone say they are so sad they’re single and if only they had a mate they’d be much better off?
Those people in committed relationships are happier, or more successful.
Is it really true?
What about enlightenment. There he is blissfully “awake”. He must have done something right. I wish I could be like that.
Hmmmm.
Let’s do The Work.
They have it better than me. Picture those others who have it better.
Is it true? Absolutely?
I have no idea, really.
It looks more fun, but I don’t know what’s actually happening within over there. I’ve talked with plenty of unhappy and very wealthy people. I’ve talked with single, joyful people and exceptionally unhappy married people. I’ve talked with people who are very sick and dying who are deeply at peace. I’ve spoken with people who woke up or had enlightening experiences who still feel the suffering of the world, or worry about the environment, or who have heart-breaking emotions and thoughts.
I just don’t know. Happiness doesn’t seem to depend on the circumstances or condition called “having money” or “having a partner” or “having a job” or “being single” or “getting enlightened”.
I dated someone many years ago who was off his rocker with anxiety, and one of the more wealthy top real estate agents in his area, supposedly.
He said himself it wasn’t fun, or free.
But, for me and this past inquiry, still there was this persistent thought that those who can afford the house on the lake must be having a better time than me.
What happens when I believe they’re having a better time than I am?
Dread. Jealousy.
Longing. Envy.
Lonely. Desperate.
Isolated.
Disconnected. Settling. Withdrawn. Giving up. Not trying.
ANGRY.
Very, very stressed.
So who would I be without this belief that they have it better than me?
Woah. What?!?
You mean….not think my story is the Truth?
Chuckle.
Staring at those other people, doing what they’re doing, smiles on their faces…..Pretty houses…..A couple walking along, talking while holding hands……The spiritual teacher sitting in her chair…..
Who am I without my story that they have it better?
What if THIS is the right place to be, the place I am apparently located?
What if there is no better, or worse, but only what is in this moment for now?
What if seeing those other people, this other condition, is FOR me, not AGAINST me?
Can I find examples of how it works that I’m here, looking from whatever position in the universe this is, and seeing that image of a house, a person, money, a smile, a peaceful human, a happening….
….and notice it’s good to be in this place, now?
Turning the thought around: I have freedom, fun, support available to me right here, right now. I have love, connection, attention already. There is nothing missing or absent, except in my thinking. I am awake.
If you have a problem with people or with the state of the world, I invite you to put your stressful thoughts on paper and question them, and to do it for the love of truth, not in order to save the world. Turn it around: save your own world. Isn’t that why you want to save the world in the first place? So that you can be happy? Well, skip the middleman, and be happy from here! You’re it. You’re the one. In this turnaround you remain active, but there’s no fear in it, no internal war. So it ceases to be war trying to teach peace. War can’t teach peace. Only peace can. ~ Byron Katie