3 Reasons to Ease Up on the Effort to Embrace Positivity and Serenity

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The moment we embrace things as they are, freedom becomes an immediate reality. ~Karen Maezen Miller

There are countless individuals in the world who strive diligently to cultivate positivity, tranquility, and spirituality, only to experience disappointment when they perceive themselves falling short.

I am aware of this because I have personal experience in that regard.

And occasionally, I still find myself in that state.

That moment dawned upon me when I came to a realization:

1. The functionality is not operational.

2. Being spiritual is not an action you perform; it is an inherent part of your being, and it exists within you at this very moment.

   Just like beneath the noise of your thoughts, you already possess a sense of positivity and tranquility.

3. Your spiritual essence has reached its peak potential.

Article Complete: Exploring the Path to Spiritual Growth

Indeed, there is a deeper aspect to this matter.

Let’s take a step back – beginning with a couple of admissions.

Admission 1: The clock has struck noon, and I find myself comfortably nestled in my bed, having indulged solely in the consumption of cheese thus far today.

(That felt more like a casual admission; I mean, who hasn’t indulged in bed with a generous portion of cheese every now and then?) To be completely fair to myself, it was merely a tiny block.

Confession 2: I put in maximum effort, in all aspects of my life—well, almost all.

(My spouse insisted that I include this additional detail as they claim I don’t always put in my best effort during our games of backgammon.)

Honestly, or perhaps with a touch of sincerity, if there happened to be a presentation on the art of enhancing relaxation and reducing excessive effort, you would find me eagerly positioned at the forefront, eagerly raising my hand, brimming with numerous inquiries.

I could consider jotting down important points and capturing the lecture on audio to review later in the comfort of my own home.

Being determined and putting in effort has always been a point of pride for me.

Our conviction is that once we achieve our goals, whatever they may be within our realm of impact, we will experience happiness and affection.

We all strive for success – it’s something inherent in all of us; a shared human experience.

Your approach to attempting something may appear distinct from mine, yet ultimately, the essence remains unchanged.

Perhaps your current aspirations differ from my past pursuits of achieving excellent academic grades or managing the finest small-scale bookstore in New Zealand.

However, you are undoubtedly dedicated to a specific endeavor, whether it be embodying the ideal member of a motorcycle club, being a nurturing father, or sharing the most amusing posts on Facebook.

You’re putting in a lot of effort.

Question: There are moments when I find my inclination to exert maximum effort quite exasperating, yet I persist in doing so.

Why, oh why?!

Response: The source of my thoughts.

I put in a lot of effort because my mind is constantly active, which is a characteristic shared by all minds.

Your brain is constantly processing the tasks you should prioritize in order to enhance your future well-being.

Pursue a higher education and you’ll discover a newfound sense of happiness, your inner voice advises.

Engage in additional yoga sessions and experience an enhanced sense of tranquility, as your mind suggests.

As we embark on the journey of self-discovery, we gradually come to realize that true inner tranquility cannot be attained through material possessions alone.

Consequently, we shift our focus towards cultivating our spiritual essence in search of genuine fulfillment.

Yes, I am aware that I did.

I enjoy delving into literature that explores the realm of spirituality.

I have subscribed to newsletters.

I began to realize that true tranquility does not lie in acquiring a new vehicle, but rather in cultivating mindfulness, engaging in meditation, and adopting a more eco-conscious lifestyle.

These are the aspects that warrant my attention and dedication.

Indeed, it is undeniable that genuine joy and satisfaction can solely be discovered in the present moment.

Engaging in practices such as meditation and mindfulness can serve as remarkable avenues to achieve this state of being.

So engaging in the act of “doing nothing,” but I digress.

The crux of my argument is as follows:

Pursuing spirituality can be just as tangible a pursuit as acquiring a trendy new yoga mat.

The tiny inner voice that once whispered about your inadequacy due to the outdated vehicle you owned will now shift its focus towards labeling you as a disappointment for moments of being judgmental or skipping your meditation practice today.

Our mind shouts at us, “How difficult could it possibly be!?” Despite recently reading a book on gratitude, it’s disheartening to witness your lack of appreciation just a mere two weeks later.

“Will you ever grasp the lesson?” your thoughts inquire.

Observe the serene composure of Marianne Williamson, while your own calmness falls short by half!

Several years ago, I embarked on a unique journey of silence that lasted for an entire year.

Each day, I dedicated my focus to the art of “doing nothing” – a practice that involved eliminating all forms of distraction, such as television, reading, and other activities, and simply allowing myself to sit in stillness.

Occasionally, I allow my thoughts to roam freely, and I catch myself doing so.

A close companion once shared with me the wisdom that “through silence and inactivity, the aspects of oneself that require healing have the opportunity to mend on their own.”

I desired to address my inclination to excessively work as it was leading to difficulties for me.

And that’s when I found myself, “engaged in idleness.” And can you believe it?

I exerted immense effort in attempting to engage in “non-activity,” which ultimately resulted in the development of a phobia and an unprecedented surge in my anxiety levels.

I made a conscious effort to avoid exerting excessive effort.

Upon this realization, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Only after a few months had passed did I come to the realization that I approached my spiritual endeavors with the same level of scrutiny as I did with other aspects of my life that I sought to transform.

There’s a particular tale that I find quite captivating, and it unfolds as follows:

“You’re aware, aren’t you, that your outlook tends to be quite pessimistic?” a close companion remarked to me on a particular occasion.

After pondering the matter extensively, I came to the realization that he was correct in his assessment—I did indeed anticipate unfavorable results quite frequently.

I never had complete faith in my abilities.

Oh dear, you’re correct,” I acknowledged, “So how should I address this situation?

“Absolutely nothing,” he replied.

Whether you tend to have a negative or positive outlook, it’s important to remember that your current mindset doesn’t define you permanently.

Pardon me?

So, you’re saying that I don’t need to make an effort to be more optimistic?”

I was beginning to grasp the concept now.

There was no need for me to alter my identity; I simply had to observe and embrace the reality of the situation.

And, as I found out, this is the most efficient method to progress regardless!

Is your intention to transform spirituality into a pursuit of materialism?

Do you often find yourself being self-critical for not reaching the level of spirituality you aspire to?

Or perhaps as tranquil?

How about looking at it from a more optimistic perspective?

Or perhaps as conscious?

During my year of silence, I gained a profound comprehension of my own mind.

In reality, whenever we believe we fall short, it is merely the chatter of our own minds and not an accurate reflection of our worth.

There is no obligation to accept the thoughts presented by your mind.

At this moment, we possess sufficient capabilities.

And this isn’t just a generic motivational speech; it’s a genuine reality check.

An undeniable essence of spirituality.

The clock strikes 3pm and here I am, snugly nestled in the comfort of my bed.

I occasionally find myself succumbing to negative inclinations.

I possess a myriad of additional habits that books and spiritual mentors advise against, and to complicate matters, there’s the predicament involving these scattered cheese crumbs.

However, I have come to realize that it is flawless.

(There’s a certain charm in the moments when I momentarily forget the perfection surrounding me and begin to criticize myself!)

What does spirituality entail if it doesn’t involve acquiring a new vehicle or perfecting the downward facing dog pose?

You bear a striking resemblance to your current appearance.