subject: Why can't people change? [print this page] Why can't people change? Why can't people change?
WHY IS CHANGE SO DIFFICULT?
When you see your life isn't working too well and you want to change, why is it that so hard? Why is it that we can't just pick up and go to a new world of our liking?
Here's what change is like for most people:
They look in the mirror and see they really need a haircut. Off to the stylist who cuts it really short. Then back at home they look in the mirror and guess what? They still really need a haircut. They need to change their headsa haircut isn't enough.
The reason why most people can't change themselves is that as they grow up they are shaped like a clay pot by Mom and Dad and siblings and then fired in the kiln of rejection or acceptance of their peers. And I mean you and me not an intellectualized abstract human who is part of a mass or herd. We all have a subconscious mind that says "Go ahead!" or "Oh no. You can't change. You can't do that.". . . and we keep sleeping thinking we have consciously made those decisions.
But I'm not really talking about being successful here. What I'm talking about is realizing we're sleeping in a dream, and finding a way to wake up. And here's the difficult part. If someone told
you what waking up really was, and showed you a way to wake up . . . when you woke up . . . then actually, you'd still be dreaming.
As close as I can tell you what waking up is, is that it is the discovery that everything is always new. How can we know this? Otherwise, if you think everything is old then life really is a drag. It's SOS (same old shit) every day after day after boring day. And that really sucks. To wake up a person must momentarily stop living the dream that everything is an exact continuation of yesterday . . . And notice, perhaps, that the sunset is different, the air is fresher, trees have new leaves . . . That things have changed and then understand that change is going on
constantly.
Grasping is one of the first motions a baby does. Gathering and holding seems natural to being human. And it seems being human is also involved in holding on to the past, blaming, not being able to forgive and not being able to move on to a better life. That's not good.
The guru's say it is Attachment.' But if they tell you to be detached, don't listen. Don't let anyone tell you anything. Even me. All I'm saying is it seems like everyone is stuck in a dream, and if you want to discover a different reality you have to . . . well, you don't have
to do anything.'
. . . keep sleeping, it's your life.
There are techniques to wake up. Here's one. The next time you're out and come home, instead of opening the door sneak around your house until you find an open window, and climb in the window. The change will do you good. Try it, you'll see. Here's some more advice: Make sure
the authorities don't see you, especially the Thought Police. "You can only use the door," They'll tell you, handcuff you and take you down to the railroad station to be shipped off to retraining where you'll learn how to use their key.'
The one Mom and Dad and your brothers and sisters gave you when you were young.
Relax, deeper now, that's right. At this level of mind you will always do as you're told. You have the key to a normal life, you will never be dissatisfied again . . . correct?
You may open the window (of your mind) to open the door of your life.
http://wisdomgame.org and contact me steve@wisdomgame.org
