The journey of a thousand miles

The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.
- Lao Tzu

As with everything in life, we learn by taking one step at a time. Baby steps. We fall down, we get back up and take another step. That is the only way to learn and to continue growing on our spiritual journey. What we forget, is that instead of taking it one step at a time, we try to run, and then we normally trip and take a very painful tumble. Take it one step at a time and you will eventually get where you want to be.

Starting this journey of self-discovery and empowerment has been a long overdue, wanting it, yet being terrified of it at the same time. You never know what you might learn about yourself, and what if you really don't like what you see once you've opened that treasure chest deep inside. That is a risk we all face when we decide to start on our own journeys. With high risk comes high yield or a big loss. That is a risk you have to be willing to take. To expose yourself to yourself. Let's face it we all prefer to live in denial. We go about thinking the best or the worst of ourselves, until one day you fall down into the mud and you actually have to face yourself. Who are you? What makes you special? What makes you YOU?

There are four basic steps that we need to follow on our journey. I am still only a traveller.

Step One - Be prepared to look at yourself and admit that every bruise, every fall is all your doing.

Step Two - Surrender, let go of the idea that you should control every event, and have faith that everything you ask will be given to you.

Step Three - Sit down every day and write. Start a journal and every day record the events of the day, paying attention to:
* Your reactions to events, experiences, people.
* Classifying your reactions for what they were, i.e.. anger, jealousy, resentment, joy, love, self-pity.

By identifying your reaction and classifying it as YOUR reaction to an event, you will come to see why you are acting as you are. Why you would react angrily in ansituation that does not require anger. Your own feelings and responsibilities.

Step Four - Ask WHY? Why do I become angry in that situation. What is my deeper hidden feeling about this type of situation. Start recording your WHY in a separate book. In this booknrecord all your experiences and incidents of your past and how you reacted to them. Divide it into blocks of year i.e. 0 to 10 years, 10 to 20 years, etc.

You will soon start to see that your current reactions can be traced back to past situations. Your WHY you react the way you do. Sooner of later we must admit thatnall our reactions are a result of our desires, expectations and our ego.

Once you can trace your weaknesses (the times you react negatively) you will find ways to deal with them in a more constructive and positive way. Growing stronger every day your understanding of yourself will grow one step at a time. It is a journey filled with wonder and adventure. One step at a time.