My dear beautiful friends, 

I was laughing with a friend the other day that “the universe is determined to drag me kicking and screaming toward my ultimate happiness.” 

It’s been an interesting ride where no matter what I’ve done to try and control / wish / will my life to be a certain way, the universe rearranges things again and again until I have no choice but to let my idea, of how it should be, go. 

If you didn’t know, I’m a recovering workaholic and since retuning to Australia 18months ago, I’ve done all I can start / run a business when life has been asking me to stop. To stop striving, to let old dreams go, to move into the present, focus on what’s in front of me, and build a new way of being in the world.

One without stress, striving or achieving.

I’d been given the opportunity, so why wasn’t I taking it? (I’m wilfully stubborn is the answer). 

The universe has been determined to drag me to my ultimate happiness, and so for the first time (consistently) I’ve just let it (that’s not always been easy, see stubbornness above)…. And surprisingly (not surprisingly) I’m truly happy. Content even. No worry or thought of long term future, or will I ‘make it’ (whatever that means), just pure enjoyment of the moment; living within my means right here and now. 

I’ve been living without striving and in its place, I’ve been serving; My family, my self and even a few ‘clients’. I do it because it feels good, not because I HAVE to or I’m trying to build something / get somewhere. 

Contented with living life as it is, and as it comes.

I felt this verse from the Tao Te Ching ⬇️ sums it up.

Give up learning and you will be free from all your cares. 

What is the difference between yes and no? 

What is the difference between good and evil? 

Must I fear what others fear? 

Should I fear desolation when there is abundance? 

Should I fear darkness when that light is shining everywhere? 

In spring, some go to the park and climb the terrace,

but I alone am drifting, not knowing where I am. 

Like a newborn babe before it learns to smile, I am alone, without a place to go. 

Most people have too much; 

I alone seem to be missing something. 

Mine is indeed the mind of an ignoramus in its unadulterated simplicity. 

I am but a guest in this world. 

While others rush about to get things done, 

I accept what is offered. 

I alone seem foolish, 

earning little, spending less. 

Other people strive for fame; 

I avoid the limelight, 

preferring to be left alone.

Indeed, I seem like an idiot:

no mind, no worries. 

I drift like a wave on the ocean. 

I blow as aimless as the wind. 

All men settled down in their grooves;

I alone am stubborn and remain outside. 

But wherein I am most different from others is in knowing I take sustenance from the Great Mother.

—Lao-tzu,

20th verse Tao Te Ching,

transcribed by Dr Wayne Dyer. 

In his book Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life. Dr Wayne Dyer writes about this as Living Without Striving. He writes:

“Lao-tzu advises you to slow down your incessant demands for more, and to relax your efforts to fill up every moment in anticipation of being somewhere else...being here now is accomplished by adopting an acceptance of life as it is presented by the great Mother, or the Tao. It’s a surrendering process, if you will - simply allow this great all-creating, all-nourishing Source to take you where it will… The surrendering process allows you to bear witness to the unlimited abundance and eternal light that is always present. You retrain yourself to give up your beliefs about lacks and shortages; you instead trust in the great Source to provide what you need.” 

He offers two ways to practice this:

☝️The first, is to catch yourself striving for future benefit, and instead return your attention to the present moment.

✌️The second, is to accept what is offered, “know that this situation, in some way that your striving ego rejects, is actually sustenance from the Great Mother.” 

At times I feel foolish because we’ve been taught that we’re supposed to strive for more, or else we’ll be left destitute. This teaching goes directly in the face of that, by insisting in non-striving we will be well cared for…

Maybe it’s right, maybe it’s wrong. But I know this, I have never felt more consistently content and happy. And whenever I begin to wobble and worry about the future and what-if’s, I just remind myself that I’m happy now, so why wouldn’t I be happy in the future? 

After all, the universe is dragging me to my ultimate happiness. It’s my choice if I go kicking and screaming, or not…

Something to think about.

Just thought I would share that with you.

All my love 

Jess 

—- 

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