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On...
Fulfilling Desires
When we
fulfill a desire or experience something pleasurable we do not always
add to the level of happiness we experience on an ongoing basis in our
life. The highs that these might give us, as well as the lows that we
frequently experience, are always temporary. They are fluctuations that
occur in our emotional body, and are often linked to how we perceive
ourselves and our experiences.
It does
little good, and sometimes harm, to deny significant desires that we
have. They exist for a reason, a good reason. And it often happens that
when we pursue their fulfillment we learn what is important to us and
what is not. Desires are motivators to keep moving and experiencing
life, and thereby learn and find our ‘royal road’ of consciousness and
love – the road to real happiness.
Pleasures
are important because they, too, are motivators. They help us savour the
variety and beauty of life’s many gifts and expressions. To use pleasure
as the ultimate measure of something’s value, however, is a false
standard that becomes hedonistic and egotistical. On the other hand, to
deny pleasure is also misguided because it is a means of loving oneself
and caring for oneself. Then we can learn to give pleasure to others,
which is an aspect of altruism.
If we
know what gives us pleasure and what we deeply desire we can be in touch
with what we truly care about and what we feel passionate about. This is
very important because this can guide us into the most fulfilling and
generous giving. In light of this, Harold Whitman gives us this advice:
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive,
and then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have
come alive.”
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Exercises:
1. Make a list of what you find very pleasurable. Which of
these do you deny to yourself? Which serve just you and which
serve others as well?
2. What experiences or people in your life have contributed
to your overall happiness?
3. What makes you come alive – i.e., what do you feel
passionate about? |
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This is one of 150 Soul Perspective articles.
For more articles visit
Soul Perspectives
Index.
Andrew and Bonnie Schneider are now offering personal interactive email coaching for the 4 Level Soul Journey program. Connect weekly with Andrew and Bonnie on how to develop soul consciousness. Read more about this personal coaching from Andrew and Bonnie Schneider by clicking here.
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