Awakening to the Eureka Moment

Awakening to the Eureka Moment

There are useless tendencies or mechanical habits in my machine that deplete my energy and take me away from the simplicity of being present to what is in front of me. Without increased awareness of these sleep-inducing weaknesses – coupled with intentional work against these habits – they grow and displace self-remembering. One of these habits is called inner considering, which is identification with people, and it is typically partnered with imagination about what other people think of me and my actions.

Both identification and imagination alone are already formidable obstacles to higher consciousness. When combined with inner considering, it can be very challenging. When I am in a state of inner considering, the energy of the lower parts of the emotional center is drawn toward the topic of other people and whether they value me enough – an especially perfect storm for those whose center of gravity is in the emotional center.

A balanced and properly developed emotional center – a product of the Work in the Fourth Way – runs at a speed approaching the speed of higher centers. I envision it like running alongside a train and only being able to jump onto the train when my speed is fast enough. Unfortunately, inner considering thwarts my ability to run fast enough by wasting precious energy on identification with people. Rather than using the fuel of a more balanced emotional center to self-remember, inner considering siphons off and degrades that higher or finer energy.

What we are involved in is so urgent that there just is not room for inner-considering. — The Teacher

Examples of inner considering are voices inside my head that seek to leave a good impression on other people. Evidence of their existence is when I become upset that someone did not show enough gratitude toward something I did for them; or imagining that a co-worker is trying to take my job; or complaining that a member of the team is not contributing enough.

Being in the moment is very different from these voices that are preoccupied with my reputation and people-pleasing behaviors. These voices from inner considering spend an enormous amount of energy trying to establish recognition, appreciation from others, status, and respect. Inner considering is a mechanical habit that is desparate to defend my imaginary picture of myself and support false personality.

Although it is uncommon, I have met and been inspired by people who do not seem to inner consider. Their higher level of consciousness frees them from the trap of worrying about what other people think about them or about their choices. They are able to exercise their will, free from the concern of other people’s scrutiny. I see my work as taking steps to release myself from inner considering through awareness and self-observation and redirect the otherwise wasted energy into self-remembering, consciousness, and Real ‘I.’

The machine cannot be present, so it often attempts to undermine Self-remembering; almost all of the ‘I’s are a substitute for Real ‘I.’ — The Teacher

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In his excitement, Archimedes forgets to dress and runs nude in the streets exclaiming “Eureka.” A drawing by Pietro Scalvini, engraving by Carlo Orsolini, 1737.