Our mind is the last line of defense against the Adversary. When the mind operates with love it can develop systems to help protect its allies. One tool it can use is to filter everything others take through good intent. This allows us to assume others aren’t trying to hurt us. Living this way pushes back the Adversary and allows us to see the world with clear eyes. Another tool is to know that those who are wise and strong never have to fight for their position, because they already have it. The mind can make sure others have the time to speak, and it can choose to listen to what they have to say. It can assume people we interact with are unaware of the truths we believe, especially the ones we think are common sense. This allows us to avoid impulsive characterizations of them. The mind can choose to allow emotional wounds an opportunity to heal, by letting them scab over before we try to treat them. It can remind us that suffering ends when we give purpose to the pain, that positivity begets positivity, and we should judge others by the merit of their character.
Our mind can allow us to take a proactive approach to preventing regret. Regret is unresolved fear, and it eats away the glue that binds our mind, spirit, and soul. It is a subtle way for the Adversary to trick us into hating ourselves, and over time it will erode our ability to love.
As we live, interesting ideas drip into our mind. The older we get the greater the regret storm becomes. As we enter our twilight time regret floods our existence. The water levels press against our levies until they break, and we become the consequence of refusing to live our life in the moment. Every fearful scene we had influence over but refused to act upon will one day haunt us. Each memory is a grain of sand. A single speck is enough to irritate our eyes, but a handful will blind our sight. There is only one way to shield our eyes. To keep our vision clear we must actively engage a proactive prevention of regret. This requires us to resolve our fears in the second by asking our incorporeal union questions. Do we have influence over the outcome? Are we experiencing fear? Why are we afraid? Are we a slave to the fear? If we are afraid will we regret breaking the chains? Will we regret acting with courage? Is the act moral and ethical? Will we regret being a coward if we refuse to be courageous?
In hindsight our scary scenes set us free. They show us a secret nestled within our soul, and each memory is a reflection of who we once were. We can enrich our afterthoughts by writing our life with sensational stories in the second. Each decision we make allows us to author a beautiful autobiography, one without regret, suffering, and anger.
Sometimes we get lost in the moment, especially when each second is all we know. The past is an abstract idea that shackles our mind to a boulder of perpetual reflection. The pain of the past creates a deep void, within its darkness are tentacles of the Adversary. This alien hunger desperately needs to eat away every wholesome component of our existence. When its slimy sucker covered limb wraps around our leg it leeches away our ability to love. As our divine energy drains from our heart we stare toward the temptation of the void. Our spirit needs nourishment, she hungers and her need to feed leads us to eat weakness and worry. Some attempt to curb this insatiable urge by listening and living by the wise words who came before.
“Live each day like it is your last.” Living this way can be beautiful for someone rich with wisdom. Unfortunately in our era of self-obsession this becomes a motto for obsessive personal gratification. Few possess the sound judgement, humility, and empathy to use these words as a medicine, and instead inject their spirit with addictive intoxicants.
“Live like it is the last week of your life.” This gives us time to think about others in the world. We feel less rushed, we can accomplish tasks, fulfill our obligations, and give love to others. Life is a social journey, to celebrate every second we must spend it with people. If we are to live like it is our last week of our life, we must be considerate to the other guests, our responsibilities, and the purpose of our existence.
Living life like it is our final week on earth means we must witness the blessing of every circumstance. We must learn that every hurt is an opportunity to learn how to help others, and that suffering ends when we give purpose to the pain.
Death and pain are laws of life and without them our existence would be meaningless. The last week of our life may hurt, but every week is filled with pain, yet every week eventually ends. Avoid the frustrations by embracing the blessings, witness the miracle of every moment and accept the gifts we have been granted.
