The Secret of Life

What is the secret of life?nnOften, we ask ourselves this question when we find ourselves in a situation or faced with a problem that doesn't feel good, usually related to some health, money, work, career, relationship, family, or other issue.nnOther times, we ask this question when we get something that we thought we wanted or desired and yet somehow, still feel empty, unsatisfied, or detached afterwards.nnCan you relate?nnSo, what is the secret of life?nnWhat is life's real meaning?nnTo answer these questions, we must first look at two inescapable truths or what I like to call "The Most Powerful Universal Truths."nnThe Most Powerful Universal Truthsnn * This moment is all there is.nnnThe first most powerful, inescapable truth is that this moment is all there is. There is no getting around this one, but if you're like most people, you can still overlook this one often. We do this by giving our attention to the past (i.e., our "story" of what has already happened) or by projecting ourselves into the future, anticipating or imagining what could happen (often, a "worse case scenario").nn"Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Life is now. There was never a time when your life was not now, nor will there ever be. Nothing ever happened in the past; it happened in the Now. Nothing will ever happen in the future; it will happen in the Now. Wherever you are, be there totally. If you find your here and now intolerable and it makes you unhappy, you have three options: remove yourself from the situation, change it, or accept it totally." - Eckhart TollennWhich leads us to our second most powerful, inescapable universal truth:nn * The greatest power you have is how you choose to respond to this present moment.nnnEach of us has 100% free will to decide how we will respond to the present moment. And here, there are really only two choices that we can make:nn 1. We can respond to the present moment in a way that feels good.n 2. We can respond to the present moment in a way that doesn't feel good.nnnWhen you think about having only two choices in how to respond to the present moment, the first choice seems obvious (to feel good) and the second choice (to not feel good) seems insane.nnSo, why then do we so often choose to respond to the present moment in ways that don't feel good?nnFor many reasons...here are just a few of them:nn * habits of thought;n * memories, both subconscious and unconscious;n * social conditioning;n * peer, family, cultural, environmental, and/or other influences;n * unconsciously reacting, instead of consciously choosing how to respond.nnnThe Secret of LifennSo, what is the secret of life?nnFind a way to feel good in the present moment.nnIf you feel like this is impossible, then find a way to feel better or as good as possible in the present moment.nnIf not, do you have a better alternative?nnnnHow to Live the Secret of LifennHere are some ways that I have found on how to live the secret of life and feel good (or better) in the present moment.nnn * Look for things to be grateful for.nnnInstead of looking at what has gone wrong, shift your attention and look for things to be grateful for.nnAbraham-Hicks, in "Ask and It Is Given," offer a process called "The Rampage of Appreciation" game where, in the present moment, you look around your immediate environment (e.g., your car, home, work, etc.) and notice something that pleases you. Next, you try to keep your attention on this pleasing object as long it is comfortable, noticing how wonderful, beautiful, or useful it is. Then, you move on to another pleasing object and continue playing this game for 10-15 minutes at a time, or as long as it is comfortable for you.nnnWhy is this game so powerful?nn"Once you become oriented toward looking for things to appreciate, you will find that your day will be filled with such things. Your thoughts and feelings of appreciation will flow from you naturally. And often, while in the midst of a genuine feeling of appreciation for someone or something, you will feel ripples of goose bumps -- those sensations are confirming your alignment with your Source." - Abraham-HicksnnnHow cool is that?nnHere are some ideas to help you shift your energy, attention, and focus to appreciating more things in the present moment:nn 1. Stop telling and retelling (mentally, verbally, or in any other way) the "story" of the past, including everything that has gone wrong and/or anything negative about the things, people, circumstances, etc. in the past.n 2. Stop complaining, gossiping, whining, and blaming anyone or anything for any aspect or detail of your life experience.n 3. Forgive everything and everyone from the past, including yourself.n 4. Let go of trying to control or manipulate anyone or anything in your life. Choose to allow everything and everyone to be as they are instead.n 5. Be flexible and look for the opportunities, instead of what has gone wrong or what is not working or falling apart in your life. Try your best to not resist change or changing.n 6. Be open to greater possibilities (including miracles) or things simply being better than they have been in the past (but don't try to figure out the "how," just stay open and flexible).n 7. Look for or imagine the greatest potential, possibilities, and outcomes for yourself and others in your life (instead of worrying, thinking, or imagining the things that could go wrong for yourself or them).nnnn * Do it for the joy of it.nnnThe other way that I have found to be very helpful and beneficial in living the secret of life is no matter where I'm going, what I'm doing, or who I'm doing it with, do it for the sheer joy of it.nnnWhy is this so important?nn"When you follow your bliss, when you follow your path to joy, your conversation is of joy, your feelings are of joy -- you're right on the path of that which you intended when you came forth into this physical body." - Abraham-HicksnnIn other words, this is why each of us came here, to this lovely planet of ours.nnThis is our purpose in life.nnThere is nothing else. There are no things that we "should" do, "must" do or are "supposed to" do. There are only things we want to do because they feel good to us. Period. End of story.nnWhat could be simpler than that?nnnnThe Moment of TruthnnNow, that you have what I believe to be "the secret of life," what are you doing here and now to live it?nnThis present moment is your moment of truth.nnSo, what are you going to do with it?nn"To feel good or not," that is the only decision to make. And, this choice is forever yours.nn"There is no coincidence, and nothing happens 'by accident.' Each event and adventure is called to your Self by your Self in order that you might create and experience Who You Really Are.nnAll that is required is to know this. For you are the creator of your reality, and life can show up no other way for you than that way in which you think it will.nnEvery prayer - every thought, every statement, every feeling - is creative. You were created to create -- not to react.nnConscious creation is what is needed now. Stop moping. And stop thinking negative thoughts. Just get on with it! Tomorrow awaits your choice as to how its going to be. Call the shots! Make it happen! You're in charge here.nnYou are, always and forever, in the moment of pure creation. The point of life is therefore to create—who and what you are, and then to experience that." - Neale Donald Walsch