Stop Lights

I was asked this morning, "How do we not notice our reality, when things go wrong?" The question refers to some teachings that say we would do better to focus on what we want to attract, instead of the situation we are not wanting.

My answer was this: Of course, you notice your reality and you even have to "deal" with it as it is. The thing I'd suggest you do is not emotionally attach to it. See it as it is: temporary.

When we are driving our car and come to a red stoplight, we "notice" the stoplight and we "deal with it", (behave appropriately by stopping our car). And if we are wise, we don't attach to it by reacting emotionally as if it's permanent. We spend the couple of minutes focusing on what we're making for dinner that night or the thing our child said to us this morning. Before we know it the light is green and we're on our way.

But... if we are in a hurry, have an emotional reaction to it, start to sweat and panic, doesn't that light seem to take forever?! And then, sometimes, doesn't it seem like a domino effect of mishaps after that? Have you ever noticed how "everything just seems to go downhill from there"??

When we allow something to be, without focusing much attention on it and energy into it, it seems we stay in our flow and that thing is very insignificant in the scheme of our day, week, month, year,and lifetime.

We can even go one step further with the stoplight scenario. We COULD appreciate the two minutes of stopping. Maybe, we really needed to get a quick text to someone or read a short note. We see the light turning red, slow down for it thinking, "Oh good. I can read this real quick." Don't those type days seem to be filled with synchronicity? And a "flow" to them? Coincidence? I think not.

Of course, we notice our reality and we need to respond to it in some way, usually. The difference is in HOW we respond. :)