Ever feel like secretly you are BEGGING the universe, other people, an event, you yourself….to provide you with something you deeply and repetitively seem to want?
Lordy.
I say that with a sigh because of the persistence of this mind to come up with various angles on the same themes:
- I want more money. I would be so happy. I would feel so generous. I would have so much less anxiety and so much more safety, fun, fulfillment.
- I want more love. I would be so happy. I would feel so joyful. I would have so much less anxiety and so much more safety, satisfaction, fun.
- I want more physical or emotional space. I would be so happy. I would have creative energy. I would feel generous. I would have less self-pity and more abundance.
- I want more success. I would be so happy. I would feel so fulfilled. I would have pride (the good kind) and feel assurance.
It really does bring home that anything we believe we want more of in our lives generally points to the same thing: that getting this would bring happiness.
This goes even for things we don’t always love, like overeating or smoking or taking drugs.
In the split second of moving towards that experience, we feel like we’ll get a little happiness for a second from the taste of the food, the relaxation of the alcohol’s effect on the mind, the relief from the craving.
When we’re engaging in all this Wanting More, it sure does make our current condition look bad, doesn’t it?
This current state of my life, in this particular department (money, relationships, business, etc) is Not Good.
I have proof.
Those people over there are much happier. I myself used to be happier. That other time/place/experience is BETTER.
This is bad, here.
There’s an absence of the thing I want, here.
What happens when we believe this is true?
(And it sure happens fast).
We feel sad, we chase down the thing wanted like we’re on fire, we beg.
Please, please, please…..could I just win a billion dollars?
Please, please, please……could the perfect mate show up tomorrow?
Please, oh please…..could my business make a bigger difference to more people?
Who would you be without the story of begging?
I mean, what if I just stopped the begging and let things be the way they are in this moment, this situation, without pushing and pulling every which way?
I like seeing that sitting still doesn’t mean I’m never going to want anything again.
I mean, I’ll probably be thirsty in a few hours for water!
It’s the way of it.
But to question the mind’s orientation for MORE is so freeing, so exciting.
Thoughts don’t have to the be the Truth.
We can notice the thought-chain that keeps on ticking, and it’s not who we are.
We are the ones watching, hearing thought, watching it perceive the world, while something here within ourselves is silent.
We *think* we always want to be MORE of ourselves, or have more for ourselves, but that’s just thought, too. Isn’t it?
What if we’re enough already.
We are as much as we could ever be. This is it.
If you’re having trouble with money or relationships as the “more” thing your mind is endlessly talking about, and you’d like the relief and freedom of questioning your story with money, or your story about love….
….the best way I’ve ever found is in The Work of Byron Katie.
Living With Money is a course that brings us a way to identify what it is we’re thinking that hurts, like the broken record “I want more money”, and allows us to see a new way to be with money and live with it peacefully.
Live sessions to accompany this course begin on January 11th and will run every Wednesday at 9:30am PT through February 15th. Sign up now for the course and begin–and bring your questions to our live calls.
What we often notice is when it’s OK to be right where we are, things start to get easier all on their own.
Same with an important relationship in your life you might want to bring to inquiry: lover, spouse, mother, father, sister, brother, boss, co-worker.
Relationship retreat is a 4 day blitz Feb 2-5, for 3 hours each day. You will do The Work with a small group, on any stressful relationship in your life.
When you question your beliefs about your relationship, you change on the inside, and you can then be clearer, know what to do next, act with kindness and strength and possibility, and end your war with What Is.
Register for Valentine Relationships Retreat Feb 2-5 HERE.
Much love,
Grace
Upcoming ways to question your thinking, change your world:
Online annual Valentine retreat on relationships of any kind 8-11am PT daily Feb 2-5 with Nadine Ferris-France and Grace Bell Sliding Scale $275+
Everyone wanting to join an ongoing group for investigating compulsion around eating, food, body image with The Work of Byron Katie….Eating Peace Inquiry Circle meets Tuesdays 5pm PT and Thursdays 10am PT. Come to just one, or both, or watch/listen to the recordings. We have deep and awesome inquiry work happening. Join month-to-month sliding scale.
Year of Inquiry opens its doors in January only for those who want to join us the rest of the year.