Criticism Versus Self-Improvement

"Give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others."

-- Thomas Jefferson

Damn it's fun to criticize other people! And it's not like they don't deserve it. The problem is that no matter how good it makes your ego feel, criticizing others is a total waste of your time. Rarely do people willingly and joyfully accept your criticism, and even less rarely do they actually change as a result of it.

Self-improvement, on the other hand, always pays dividends. No matter what the world does, no matter what other people do, you will more empowered to face the future if you practice self-improvement today.

What does that look like? It may mean going for a run rather than sitting in the coffee shop gossiping, or meditating instead of watching some inane show on TV, or developing a new skill instead of buying more useless crap from China at the mall. Self-improvement is anything that

expands your choices, skills, and consciousness. It is your way to become more fully you.

And others? They're really none of your business. Their shortcomings will never be remedied by your criticism but only through their own efforts at self-improvement. You can encourage them to do so, but don't let your so-called encouragement be merely criticism in drag. Focus upon yourself, and you'll be amazed how other people magically improve as well, whether they actually change or not!

Impermanence Is Us

"All spiritual life begins with the shock of impermanence."

-- David Guy

You're going to die. And everything and everyone you see, know, or can imagine will pass away as well. And that's the good news! Impermanence is not to be avoided, resisted, or mourned -- it is ridiculous to fight the inevitable. Instead, seeing the beauty in both creation and destruction, we can experience Spirit in this moment, right now. And, as Guy points out, that is just the beginning.

But middle and end of spiritual life are much the same as the beginning -- marked by the recognition of the sacred ineffableness of each and every moment. Nothing is forever, nothing lasts. That's OK. That's as it should be. How do we know that's how it should be? Simple -- that's how it is. Reality trumps all shoulds. And reality's defining characteristics is that it is ever changing.

So what? So, why "rage, rage against the dying of the light?" It matters not whether that death be of the physical body, of a once luscious relationship, or of an ideal job. None of them will ever last. Get over it already!

Enjoy the now. Yeah, I know, everybody says that. And you know why they say it, even if they can't live it? Because it's true! Trite sayings are deep truths, popularized and diluted. These forms of bumper sticker wisdom too shall pass.

Today it's enough to recognize that. Tomorrow it will be enough to see it anew. Impermanence on and on for as far as the mind's eye can see. And you riding the waves of change with a big shit-eating grin on your face. At least for now....

Everything Keeps Changing!

"All disquiet springs from a search for quiet. And so the best way to cultivate inner peace is to learn to love the way everything keeps changing."

-- Rumi

Have you noticed how everything keeps changing? People, ideas, the environment, music, clothing styles, literally everything keeps changing! And just when you think you've got it all figured out, it changes again! 

If your peace of mind is based on things remaining the same, you will never have peace of mind for more than a nanosecond. Way back in the 60's Bob Dylan noted "the times they are a changin'," and they ain't stopped yet. And they never will.

So, if peace of mind is your goal, acceptance best be your method. Acceptance of what is. And what is never remains the same for long. Can you learn to love this constant change? Begin with acceptance. Love is merely unconditional, whole-hearted acceptance, acceptance to the nth degree. No resistance, no denial, no struggle.

It's like surfing -- mind surfing, heart surfing, soul surfing. Riding the waves of change, you not only avoid drowning, you actually enjoy it! 

Let Rumi be your surf instructor. Quit trying to make everything stable, quiet and serene. You can't surf on placid waters. Give up control and flow. You alone can be stable, quiet and serene -- in the deepest part of your being. The external world will never be that way.

The waves break all around you, and you keep your head above the surf. Even when you wipe out, you bob to the surface laughing. And you're at peace because you love it. You love the way everything keeps changing.

Surf on dudes and dudettes!