Ten Steps to an Easy Life--Without Struggle

What does it mean to you to live an easy life? Do younenvision a life on the beach or around a pool, surrounded byneverything you need for relaxation and entertainment? I’mntalking about something else--to me, an Easy Life means anlife that is easy to live--a life without struggle ornhardship--a life that flows naturally through its cycles--nincluding pain as well as joy, perspiration along withnrelaxation, and death as well as birth.

The Easy Life requires energy expenditures--often very largenand challenging energy expenditures. The Easy Life is not anlife without effort and perspiration. You know what I mean--nyou’ve worked very hard at times yet felt no stress, no
struggle. Perhaps you experienced this in sportsncompetitions, or in exercising, or in a very challengingnproject requiring long hours of labor. These efforts, thoughnchallenging, were also easy, in that they felt a naturalnpart of your life.

Life can be easy and each of us can live a life that feelsneasy--even when life brings us difficulty. The ten steps Inlist below are my view of the steps to a life withoutnstruggle--the Easy Life. Only the first is in prioritynorder--without it, none of the other steps will have thendesired impact. I’ll amplify each of the ten steps in futurenarticles. For now, briefly stated, here are my Ten Steps tona
Easy Life.

1. Know that an Easy Life, a life without struggle, is notnonly possible, but is natural. If you do not intuitivelynknow this to be true, or know that an Easy Life is withinnyour grasp, your life will, indeed, be a struggle. This is anfundamental sponsoring thought--life is either easy orndifficult--you choose it and then you get it.

2. Understand yourself--recognize your calling in life andnlive it in all possible ways. Do what you love and love whatnyou do.

3. Spend less than you earn--live within your ability tonea
while honoring your calling in life.

4. Feel your fundamental connection to all people, allnliving things, the earth, and the Universe. You are notnalone--never have been, never will be.

5. Judge nothing--no event, no circumstance of life, and nonother person--regardless of how foreign the observation maynbe to you. Know that every being is being who they must benat this time--and doing their very best at it.

6. Live with intentions, but embrace and honor what showsnup. Know that each event, each circumstance, and each personnappearing in your life is a gift to you--receive itngraciously. Know that the value of each gift depends on hownyou choose to accept and utilize it.

7. Love fully and unconditionally. Unconditionally love allnbeings--including your self--all living things, all animatenand inanimate objects. Love simply because love is thenessence of life, the source of life’s joy, and because younchoose to love.

8. Know there is enough of all of our precious resources forneveryone--enough money, food, land, and love. Givengenerously of your treasures and your special skills.
Compete with another only when both parties agree that ancompetition will be great fun--never compete under othe
circumstances.

9. Live in the present moment. Learn from past behaviors,nbut harbor no guilt, regret, or resentment. Anticipate thenfuture for the adventure it will surely bring. But livennow--for now is all you really have.

10. Know that the joy you seek is already with you--deepnwithin you, not outside of you where you’ve been seeking it.
Joy will manifest itself in your relationships, but thensource of joy is within you. Regularly achieve a quiet mindnthrough meditation and meet a wonderful soul--you.