Where to Start?

Looking back along the path I have traveled to bring me here I must admit one thing remains blurry (well perhaps a lot more than one thing).  Where did it all begin? When did I start to want difference in my life? Why did I begin to commit a lot of my time to self improvement and personal growth?

The truth is I don’t know.  Here are some thoughts on the matter though, I think there is an inherent goodness in all of us, something that want to come out, something that is calling to us whether we listen or not.  Give it any name you want, it is there if you listen, it will still be there if you choose not to.  I suppose it was this inner voice (I call it my good self, or the light side), that spurred change within and without.  Once acknowledged this echo gains strength, once you are aware of it, it will no longer be ignored, once you begin to foster it, it begins grow and affect every aspect of your life.

Sounds a little heavy, perhaps a little esoteric, well that’s because it is.  I used to be fairly skeptical of most things considered “out there”, and I believe a little healthy skepticism is good for the mind, it turns on your thinking.  Questioning things is why we are what we are, but questioning and dismissing are two very different things.  It is easy to be skeptical of something and dismiss it as unimportant, or of little to no value, this I would consider unhealthy skepticism.  This rule applies to your inner voice, it is easy to apply your unhealthy skepticism to all areas of your life, in fact if left unchecked it naturally does so anyway.  Before you know it most new and unknown things are being thrown out of your mind as soon as they enter.

Even things that are important are filed away as having little value, I believe this repetitive behavior is what leads some into the ruts that they find themselves in.  So how do you break out?  Well it is not as simple as that, far from it in fact, it is this inherent difficulty in the task of improving one’s self that makes the journey so rewarding.

The starting point is here.  Start listening to your good self more often, add a little ying to that yang, explore how the feminine complements the masculine.  Start questioning things and then trying them.  Example “I think these sausages make me feel terrible inside, but I can’t be sure so I will continue to eat them”.  Find out for yourself! Stop eating the frigging sausages and then make up your mind!  Test that inner voice, see what holds true after some experimenting, we are here to grow, to learn not accept things as they are.  Just imagine what they could be!  It is up to you, no one will help you if you do not help yourself, but once you begin to help yourself the world will begin to open up to you.  Step inside and never look back.

“We are all in the gutter, some of us are looking at the stars.” – Oscar Wilde

Look at the stars, think about them, and then reach!

Getting Better Over Time

I can’t say for sure exactly when my own personal path of self discovery began, things of this nature can be hard to pinpoint.  In truth there have been so many “beginnings” for me, many times when I feel as though the path has just opened up, or taken a turn leading to higher places.

It can sometimes be a simple thought, a conversation or the act of applying new perspectives to old vantage points.  The more I become aware of these moments the more they seem to happen, it has gotten to the point where they do not feel quite as valuable to me, not as important.  It has begun to lead me into a place of doubt, a feeling of going in circles, questions like “Am I even making progress?” arise lately.

It is important in these times to take a step back and stop being so serious, take a look at your progress in terms of a larger timeline.  Questions like “How have things changed since last year?”, “Since five years ago?”.  Impatience can kill efforts if you are not careful, this is a long path and it is best not to rush, best not to be too concerned with what is around the corner as opposed to what is at your feet, beside, and all around you.  I you keep rushing to the bend in the path as to get a look at what is next on the path, you may find disappointment at every turn.

Getting better, like much else in life takes time, It is funny how often I must remind myself of this simple truth.

Here is an old zen story about an impatient Samurai:  There was a Samurai who was quickly gaining a name for himself as being a proficient swordsman, an honorable adversary as well as being incredibly impatient.  He was quick to lose his temper and was quickly becoming a danger to the village in which he lived.

Upon hearing of this young Samurai an old Zen Master decided he must teach him a lesson before things got out of control.  The zen master invited the samurai over for some of his world famous miso soup, the samurai having heard of this soup gladly accepted.

When the Samurai arrived for dinner the Zen master assured him it would not be long before the soup was ready so eagerly the samurai waited.  After some time the samurai asked “when is the soup going to be ready, I am very hungry and can hardly wait” The zen master replied “There was some difficulty in the preparation it will not be long now”

After some time longer the Samurai growing impatient yelled “Please zen master I am starving! How much longer must I wait?”  The Zen master replied “It is almost done, there was again some difficulty in the preparation”

When the Samurai was just about to implode with hunger the zen master brought out the soup and served it to the Samurai.  Upon his first taste the Samurai exclaimed “Zen master! This is the best miso soup I have ever had! Please you must tell me your secret.”  ”There is no secret, it is only miso soup” replied the Zen master.  ”There must be a secret, some special ingredient, I have never tasted soup so good!  Please tell me the secret ingredient!” Insisted the Samurai.

“Time” replied the Zen master.

I recently read that little anecdote in a wonderful little book titled “The Te of Piglet” by Benjamin Hoff, if you have not read either the Tao of Pooh or it’s companion book the Te of Piglet, I would insist that you do, they are both very good books.

Yes time, it can change how we view most things in life, whether we feel we have too little of it, too much, felt it has been too long or not long enough.  Try changing the timeline of things you are frustrated with, be honest and supportive of yourself and you will see things differently.

I will leave you with this thought: Getting better at something (especially life) takes time, how much time is different for everyone, the important thing is focusing on doing a little better whenever it is possible.  If you remain focused on getting better, the time will take care of itself.

Welcome to Along the Path!

Welcome!

This is a website dedicated to the personal journey, a journey along the path of our life, a journey that we can all relate to.  Within this website you will find insight and advice, encouragement and hope.  Through sharing my journey with all of you I hope to help as well a learn.  I am no wiser than you, no different from you, I am just another person along the path.

Thank you