I always assume I will have another day because, for as long as I have lived, that is what life has gifted me. I just took a power nap and woke up wondering, for a few seconds, what day it was and where I was. This sparked profound gratitude for being alive—not because my life is fantastic or soaring to the highest of highs, as deemed successful in this Western part of the world, but rather because life itself is amazing when viewed through the lens of an open mind of abundance that the universe has laid before me.
The Beauty in Simplicity
I get to witness a blue sky with clouds floating by. I get to see the sunshine illuminating the world below, which is full of life. From tiny insects to large mammals, and small plants to magnificent trees, each leaf is unique and different.
Can you imagine coming from nothing and arriving on this planet as a completely new being, like a baby opening its eyes for the very first time and witnessing the brightness of everything new? What wonder and glory surrounds us! Yet, we often lose sight of it amidst the conditioning, judgments, and “shoulds” that fill our minds. We have forgotten to appreciate and realize that we are not guaranteed another day here. Today could be our last. How would you look at this vast planet, which you have the opportunity to explore? How would you live differently, and what would you do with your last day on earth?
Confronting Our Challenges
I know we all face challenges, some easier than others. Some may make many want to escape to nothingness or the unknown because their current reality has become a painful trap. The mind can be tormenting and relentless, with demands that mirror our pain. Is it war? Is it health? Is it poverty, loss, shame, or addiction? Fill in your pain with those questions: Why me? In our suffering, there often arises the question of why. Why do we suffer, and how do we find freedom?
The Roots of Suffering
The root of our suffering lies in our minds and the stories we have made so real. We carry evidence from our past that convinces us that today cannot be lived without identifying with the person we used to be—shaped by relationships and experiences that have etched our mental synapses into a projection of illusory reality. We no longer see the world as it first existed; instead, it has become overshadowed by a lens of personal meanings. The labelling of trees, parents, ourselves, and society—everything carries meaning now. A tree is no longer just an object; it has a name and can evoke memories, both good and bad.
A New Perspective
I had forgotten the burden of labelling everything until I picked up the workbook “A Course in Miracles.” One of its lessons taught me to look at everything around me and say, “That X means nothing.” It felt very alien at first, yet as I followed the teachings in this book and my life began to open up. I started to see things from a higher vantage point, becoming less attached to everything the way I initially had been. As a commitment to myself and a way to help others through the workbook, I posted my journey on YouTube. You can view the details here: https://www.youtube.com/@ACIM11
While I am not religious, I recognize that “A Course in Miracles” contains much Christian terminology, which can be off-putting to some. However, if you can look beyond this surface to grasp the book’s true teaching—that is love—not in the Hollywood sense, but rather as unconditional acceptance of life as it truly is.
The Transformative Power of Love
Love has the power to change everything in our lives when we embody it completely. It’s not for the faint of heart; it requires strength to love what the mind deems unlovable and intolerable. As Byron Katie expresses in her book title “Loving What Is,” you can release yourself from much suffering by loving what life presents to you without attaching any meanings, labels, or definitions of right and wrong—just with an open heart. When you do this, miracles occur.
I read the book “Into the Magic Shop” by Dr. James Doty, in which he describes a poignant moment in his childhood where he confronted two bullies who were attacking another boy. When Young Doty confronted the main bully, he looked into the bully’s eyes, connecting deep into his soul and saw his suffering. This deep recognition changed everything for Doty and the bully, shocked by what he felt and witnessed in himself immediately walked away. The other boy, supporting this bully was confused by the sudden change in his behaviour and questioned why they were retreating, but the bully just kept on walking away. In that moment Doty’s life transformed because he had experienced humanity through the lens of deep suffering. The empathy he was able to sense deep into this scared bully’s soul changed the course of his life forever and you can read more about this journey in his book ‘Into the Magic Shop’.
We inflict so much pain in this world by not seeing it for what it truly is. The world has become inverted; we only see what we believe the world to be and have lost touch with the truth.
Observing Our Thoughts
So, stop what you are doing right now and observe your thoughts from a distance. Don’t attach to them. What narrative is playing out in your mind, and how is it affecting your life today? What are you bringing from your past, and how are you keeping it alive in the present? You could ultimately drop it all and start fresh, becoming whatever you want to be, embracing a life of endless possibilities as you are gifted a new day to explore and marvel at the world around you.
Embracing Freedom
Don’t waste any more time suffering. Release yourself from the prison of your mind and step into a new life with a future wide open, bright, and effervescent. The choice is ultimately yours, and in that choice lies your FREEDOM.