Late last night I listened to one of my favorite “modern day” spiritual teachers – Marianne Williamson, and was reminded of a simple but important message.
The more “wanting” and “gimme” you have in your attitude – the more of that you experience in life – and you feel like the world is saying “gimme” to you. The more “abundance”, “having” and “gratitude” you have the more you experience and the more you feel as though the world is giving to you.
A wanting state implies that “I lack” or I don’t have. I think this is what one of my favorite teachers, Lester Levenson actually meant when he said “want equals lack”.
At first it is counter-intuitive, but through insight you can see that our psycho-spiritual “mechanism” operates this way.
Deep, huh? 🙂
Seriously though, as a musician freelancer there is always a dialogue inside me of how I want more, how can I get more? How can I get more gigs? How can I sell more CDs, more books? What tunes can I learn and re-arrange to get more of an audience? What instructional videos would sell…and so on. I need to be extremely careful regarding this dialogue.
While this kind of mentality is praised and honored as industrious and clever, it is not a very “high up there” kind of mind.
I tell you – the most blissful, most sweet, most delectable experiences and states I have had in recent years were in the writing of the music for “Gratitude”. I remember sitting and “receiving” tunes and melodies from “source” or God or whatever you want to call it – and literally being brought to tears by the sheer beauty.
That’s right – no cleverness, no “how can I get ahead”, none of that crap. The gift was given to me, and I made a commitment to give it back to listeners and the utter joy, through and though was unreal.
I am very thankful for having experienced this good that life has to offer, and I am thankful to see when I have steered in a wrong direction.
And now as I leave you to go about my week I ask the question, “what can I give?” and from there I will practice music, email people and act.
Keep Swingin’
Adam
Right on. ‘how can i give’ instead of ‘how can i get.’