“In times of change, the learners will inhabit the earth, while the knowers will find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.” (Fred Kofman)

Do you feel overwhelmed sometimes, by the ever increasing rate of change and complexity in today’s highly unstable world? There’s a joke about how ordering a cup of coffee today (de-café soy vanilla late) involves more choices that our grandparents made in a month!

The answer to our collective dilemma does not lie in the mind, which is already overloaded with vast amounts of information. It lies in the heart, the spiritual heart, the radiant core of our being. When last year’s tsunami moved across the Indian Ocean, there were scuba divers in the depths of the sea who emerged at the surface 30 min. later, totally unhurt. What a perfect metaphor for the difference between living in the silent depths of the heart, and being tossed about by the waves of the mind.

The willingness to learn who we really are, what our real vocation is, and how to practice genuine integrity comes from the depths of our being. It is a readiness to embrace a new way of living, to relax into a basic trust that life brings us exactly what we need in each moment, regardless of what our mind believes. This kind of learning is dynamic, transformative and mysterious. It opens us up to the voice of our own truth, and asks us to ponder some life-changing, fundamental questions, such as, “Who am I really?” “What do I really want?” “What matters most to me?”

The process of inner enquiry is one that calls forth and embodies the deep inner qualities of the soul: courage, curiosity, compassion, determination, and joy. It’s a voyage into the mystery of our being, and it asks us to see clearly what is really working in our lives, and what is not.

The wonderful thing about integrity, kindness and truth is that they work! They are not just lofty abstract concepts that we can aspire to reach when we are purified or holy enough. No! We need to begin living a life of full integrity, right now, because it works in relation to all the nitty-gritty details of our everyday lives. This is our next evolutionary step. Don’t wait until your mind and ego tell you that you are ready. As Martha Graham said, “There is only one you. You will never come again. If you do not express yourself as you are, that chance will be lost forever.”

Shayla Wright.

Excerpts from a talk sponsored by Career Development Services, Nelson.