INTENTION

HAPPY SPRING! Spring begins at 5:45PM Central Standard Time. It has been Spring weather here for two weeks. We are about to lurch back into colder weather, with highs in the thirties. It has been either 10 to 20 degrees above average or 10 to 20 below average. We seem to get only a few hours of average temps while in transition.

Many of us try to be perfect, even though we know perfection is unobtainable. When we find ourselves falling below our expectations, we attack ourselves in some way, which can bring a sour mood, if not depression.

It needs to be clear that perfection is impossible as long as we are in bodies. We may have an ideal, of being unconditionally loving beings, but we will fall short. Intention is very powerful creative energy. We cannot be perfect, but we can focus intention. Have the intention of being an unconditionally loving being, but don't judge yourself. We can't be nit-picky about how we measure up. We won't. Let us not go there.

We may have the overall intention of being unconditionally loving and then a whole list of sub-categories. Whether we want to be good parents, good supervisors, nonjudgmental, unbiased, whatever, our intention is everything. When we remember, throughout the day, what our intention is, we shape our response to the world. We will make progress towards our goal. Let us keep our eyes on our goal and not on the distance we have yet to travel.

We will get there, because at our core, we are unconditionally loving beings. Having these bodies limits us somewhat, but not enough to keep us from paradise. What holds us back is fear and allowing our ego to have its way with us. Remembering, to renew intention, puts your ego in the backseat where it belongs.

We need to see what we are doing with our intention. We may want to love everybody in the world, yet we neglect, ignore, or spurn someone next to us. We need to begin with the intent on loving ourselves. If we can do that, we can extend that love to the one next to us. It is very important to love the world, but we must begin with those around us.

What about helpers? Helpers are things that get us through the day. Friends, chocolate, sugar, coffee, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, substances, organic and chemical, of all kinds. For our purposes it doesn't matter whether they are legal, prescription, or gathered in a vacant lot. The question is, are they helping or hindering? Is that high or warm glow helping you love or not? Are those two cocktails, every evening, making life better?

The above is not a moral issue or a place for preconceived ideas. Two cocktails a day for some folks may be the perfect solution, for others, it may be holding them back, or worse. There is habituation and addiction, but in this writing I will not explore that in depth. We can be addicted or habituated to almost anything. I have known people addicted to a toxic friend and it was just as destructive as drug.

Helpers can be truly helpers. They can expand our mind. They can temporarily bypass our egos. They can make socializing easier for the shy. They can relieve our tension. They can bring us peace [for a time]. In there place, and used appropriately, they are wonderful.

The question is when do they quit helping? We all need to see that answer for ourselves. As anybody, who has struggled with addiction knows, we humans have an endless ability to fool ourselves.

I could write a thousand pages on this subject. I hesitated to bring it up. I don't know that there is a point, where we can say, enough is said. I may have an urge to write more about this, at some time. For now, let us be aware of our relationships with our helpers, are they helpers or tyrants? Are they opening our eyes, or creating a fog? Are they helping us traverse our path or are they causing us to limp?

As we learn to love ourselves more, we will perceive what is a help and what isn't. Love is the key. Love is everything. Love is increasing around us very rapidly. This is a very significant day and a very significant period of time. Be alert for great changes in all spheres of governmental and social institutions.

Happy Friday.

Love and Peace,  Gregg