"Who, me? Not me. Then who?"

"Who, me? Not me. Then who?"

The soul is a spark of the essential substance of the stars. − Heraclites

I suppose if we truly understood that each of us had a God particle or spark in the center of our forehead, we would not be afraid of each other and we would freely share what we are and what we hope to become. All people unfortunately suffer from a form of identification called inner considering, which plagues us and steals our moments. The mechanical dialogue of inner considering sees everything in terms of how we appear to others, rather than as we and they are.

Like a black hole that prevents light from escaping its mass, inner considering prevents people from real interaction and denies possibilities. Identifying with people means I lose my sense of identity in an imaginary idea of how I will be received, rejected, or perceived by other people. A friend even told me she inner-considered an inanimate thing, after catching herself apologizing to a lamp post into which she had just accidentally bumped.

The running inner dialogue poses a barrage of self-centered questions or doubts, locking oneself into inaction or in any case some form of unconscious action, like a child standing on the edge of a pool uncertain of whether to jump in. Does this inner dialogue sound familiar? “I’m not so sure how that would sound or I shouldn’t talk now or I should have worn something else or that might appear funny if I said that or it would be better if I just waited or I can speak about that next time or don’t they know I’m right here and I know all about this topic,” and so on and so on.

I remember once seeing a former high school teacher across the room while visiting a museum. Then in a flash, I was grabbed by inner considering and I couldn’t look at her and pretended like I didn’t know she was there. I later reflected that I had passed up an opportunity. This was a teacher whom I was fond of, but my sleep caused me to miss my life.

When I can separate from inner considering and overcome this mechanical tendency to identify with what people think of me, I am liberated from a gripping form of sleep. When I remember myself, then I can shine like a star, occupy my place in the solar system, and emit light and belong. Just be.

If we do not use this time there is no other. Opportunity is coincidence – the way into higher worlds. It means our own inner possibility concurring with the possibility provided from a higher level. Real time is when everything is clear and possible for us. − Rodney Collin

Join the discussion

Bartholdy Lamp Fountain, Washington, DC