As a student of life, I have read so many books on spirituality, self-growth, law of attraction, mind power, you name it! Yet, when I come across this one sentence, something clicked any my life begins to change.
I realize, most of my life, when I pray, I ask God or the universe to grant me something. I wish and I hope. Sometimes, I even command. Yet, there is always that question in the back of my mind – doubt. Between my girl Annisa and I, we always ask ourselves “how to eliminate self-doubt”? or just doubt for that matter? Can we really do it? Yet, when I came across this one line, it gives me peace that it automatically eliminates and doubt, worries or any limitations I might have.
What is it?
Well, I learn it from this book called “The One Command” by Asara Lovejoy (http://www.commandingwealth.com/)- a must read for all of you who wants to let go of all your worries, doubts and limitations to open yourself to be the true you who is attracting and manifesting your heart’s desire. It is not about law of attraction, not about affirmations, not about visualization that somehow ‘forces’ you to believe in something when you are not ready for it. This is the sentence that will bring you peace.
It begins with “I don’t know how…” Ends with “All I know is I do now and I am fulfilled.”
For example if I want to get a more fulfilling career, all I have to say (in a state of peace) is “I don’t know how I can have such fulfilling and rewarding career that is according to my passion. All I know is I do and I am now fulfilled.”
For me, when I start my prayer with “I don’t know how..” I come from a place of humility and peace. I am not forcing myself to change. I am not expecting anything out of myself. And I don’t pretend I know anything. I am communicating to God to jump in, because I don’t know. Yet I know deep inside I know and hence I am then fulfilled.
The moment I speak of such prayer, I let go of any attachment, expectations and worries. A new found peace, confidence and knowing sets in. I do not set limits on how everything is going to fall into places. I just know it is already taken care of. I let God and the universe to take its course and do its own magic. I am taken care of. And when I start practicing this prayer in every occasion, I start experiencing miracles beyond my own imagination.
I cannot explain it well. Read the book. Try it yourself, only if you’re ready for miracles to start happening in your life though
People come and go. Love come and go. Friendships also come and go. But the ones I treasure most are the ones that trigger my growth and understandings.
My friends and relationships range from an 3 year old boy named Brahni to an 80 year old Mongolian professor. They span across age, time and space. I don’t have to see them all the time. I don’t have to spend a lot of time with them. But when I do, they add something into my life, inspire my being and get me fulfilled.
They don’t always tell me all the good and beautiful things in life, but also all the misery and journey. They challenge my thoughts and behaviors. Some are honest. Some lie and hide things. Though honesty can hurt, I respect and appreciate their honesty and openness. Yes, we can even argue and fight and hurt each other without meaning to. Yet, we come to an understanding, forgive each other and fall in love back with each other. In that journey, we add value into each others life and make the friendship even stronger.
I have made friends. I have lost friends. It is all part of this journey – learning about me and about life.
The toughest lesson I have about friendship and any relationship is truly to see it as a lent gift. I am not given the friendship, I am lent. At any time, this friendship can be taken away from me. At any time it can go away. I have no right to hold on to it. And when I see relationship from this point of view, I give them the freedom to do whatever they want and for me to treat each moment shared with them with such respect, love and gratitude. I am not attached to the relationship. I let go of all expectations from that friendship. Yet I know, anytime I need or want a friend, a random stranger I meet down the street can fulfill that yearning.
With this, the whole world is my friend – better, my best friend – because I learn and discover new things from each of them. How can I be so selfish and close-minded to only call certain people “my friend” or “my best friend” when God has given me the whole world.
So, my lesson. For me not to get attached to the idea of love, friendship or even relationship, but to see, discover and appreciate the love, friendship and relationship each person brings into my life at each moment.
I thank you each and one of you who I have encountered in my life, people who have loved me, hated me, or just plain strangers – because you’ve taught me one of the greatest lesson in life.
Those are the first sentence of a song called “Gondola no Uta” -- a Japanese song I heard sung in a Movie called Ikiru (to live) a 1952Japanese film co-written and directed by Akira Kurosawa. For all the women out there, listen to this song, listen to the meanings, find that courage to fall in love.
life is brief.
fall in love, maidens
before the crimson bloom
fades from your lips
before the tides of passion
cool within you,
for those of you
who know no tomorrow
life is brief
fall in love, maidens
before his hands
take up his boat
before the flush of his cheeks fades
for those of you
who will never return here
life is brief
fall in love, maidens
before the boat drifts away
on the waves
before the hand resting on your shoulder
becomes frail
for those who will never
be seen here again
life is brief
fall in love, maidens
before the raven tresses begin to fade
before the flame in your hearts
flicker and die
for those to whom today
will never return
Gosh, we women can never stop talking about these 3Ls. We would discuss, contemplate, complain, praise, wonder, cry and laugh about it all the time. We’d have hours of conversations over dinner and even after three chocolate martinis later, we still have no clue on how to deal with love, life and lust. Do we actually learn somthing from these endless discussions?
I learn the hard way.
I learn that if I want to experience love, I need to be the first one to show love and compassion to others – not just one or two people that I like or find interesting, but to every single being I encounter. Love attracts love! How hard is it to just be kind and smile to people? To look at another being in the eyes and show your respect and care?
Then, if I want to experience life to its fullest, I need to first show curiosity, interest and gratitude for life itself. What new things do I learn this week? What kinds of things I’m grateful for today? What do I want to discover this week? What can I contribute in my community? These are the questions that I need to live by and take action for my life to be fascinating and full.
Or, do I just want to experience pure and utter lust? An ego based action that will give me pure instant gratification with no care in the world. No care, no love.
So, sip your drink and look at the quality of your life this moment. Have you truly loved? Have you really lived? Have you lusted? What are your choices for the future? Trust me ladies, show, give and share more and you shall receive more! Go create miracles!
Just for today…
Think about how you love, how you live and how you embrace lust now and then. Have you really been honest?
*wrote this a long time ago for a magazine, just found it again, a good reminder for me
Jika kamu tinggal di Jakarta, kamu pasti tahu bahwa Jakarta bukan tempat yang mudah untuk mendapatkan cinta. Bukan cinta semalam, bukan cinta segitiga ataupun cinta semata. Tetapi true love. Cinta dengan suatu kualitas yang dicari setiap orang, terlebih kalau kamu termasuk the single 30-somethings.
Pembicaraan sepulang kerja, dipojokan bar favorit diantara empat wanita pun, yang dimulai dari pekerjaan dan keluarga akhirnya mengerucut menjadi tentang cinta. Sambil meneguk minuman favorit masing-masing, bergantian kita bercerita. Satu baru mulai jatuh cinta. Satu baru saja kembali patah hati. Satu bingung mau dibawa kemana cinta-nya. Dan, yang satu, baru saja punya crush dengan seseorang yang baru dikenal. Diskusi malam itu menjadi “so, what would love do?” – apa yang cinta akan lakukan? Love will bring out your best self.
“Soul-mates are people who bring out the best in you. They are not perfect but are always perfect for you.” ~Unknown
Yang sedang jatuh cinta glows - dia bersinar. Ia pun tidak ingat kapan terakhir Ia bersinar. Semua yang melihatnya pun mengakuinya. It is very electric. Lucunya, cinta telah membuat dia jatuh cinta kepada dirinya terlebih dahulu: Ia lebih rajin pergi ke gym, Ia makan lebih sehat, ia lebih terbuka kepada orang lain, Ia pun lebih pe-de. Selanjutnya, she is in so much joy, sehingga “keberuntungan” pun mulai mendatangi dirinya. Berbagai job offers baru pun Ia dapatkan. Ia banyak bertemu orang-orang baru yang mengagumkan. Ia pun menjadi lebih berani dalam mengambil resiko. Wow! Dia mengatakan, “yang terbaik adalah, dengan dia.. I can be myself.” Cinta membuat dirinya nyaman dengan dirinya sendiri. Cinta membuat dia nyaman mencoba hal-hal baru, seperti rasa takut itu tidak ada. Memang, tidak ada hal yang pasti, tetapi cinta membuat dia merasa nyaman, berani dan hidup – cinta telah menjadikannya a better version of herself.That’s when you know… » Read the rest of this entry «
Well, I learn it from this book called “The One Command” by Asara Lovejoy (http://www.commandingwealth.com/)- a must read for all of you who wants to let go of all your worries, doubts and limitations to open yourself to be the true you who is attracting and manifesting your heart’s desire. It is not about law of attraction, not about affirmations, not about visualization that somehow ‘forces’ you to believe in something when you are not ready for it. This is the sentence that will bring you peace.
I learn the hard way.
