Chapter 16.3: Rediscovering Our Destinies

 

Returning home to our roots is called serenity – returning to the wellspring of our souls. 

Serenity is called returning to our destinies – our life’s mandates.

Returning to our destiny is called constancy.

  Understanding constancy is called enlightenment.

Not understanding constancy, one acts blindly,

 as if trapped in a pit, and brings misfortune.

To experience renewal, regeneration, and growth, each of us needs to return to our roots, strengthen the deep taproot of our souls, and experience a joyous homecoming after long periods disconnected from our core – our true selves.  We need to return to the nourishing and life giving wellspring of our souls, and drink deeply from its strengthening and sustaining waters.  Doing so brings renewed levels of serenity, along with clarity of identity and purpose.  This, in turn, helps us embrace our place in the universe, to become more embracing and encompassing, to more selflessly serve others, pursue our passion and purpose, and make the world a better place.  Serenity helps us (re)discover our destiny – our life’s mandate – that higher purpose we keep going back to over and over again; that endeavor we feel called to deep down inside ourselves; that gift of self that only we can offer the world. 

There are some constants in the world – individual directives that stay with us throughout our lives.  We may lose sight of them for a time, we may not be able to hear them against the cacophony of cultural cries and the shrill, seductive siren’s song of society, but when we clear away the clutter and make some space in our lives, we find that it is still there inside us.  Returning to those constants in our lives – those things that inspire and edify, ennoble and encourage us to believe and become the best versions of ourselves brings enlightenment and soul illumination.  What are the constants of our lives – the things that are really important to us?  What things do we keep going back to over and over again for strength, hope, clarity, and soul restoration?  These are the fundamental things that motivate us, keep us moving forward, and bring richness to our lives. 

When we misunderstand the deep seated desires within us, our personal purposes, the constants of our souls, we wander around aimlessly in the darkness until we stumble blindly into the pitfalls of our world.  Often in our hurt and broken states, we feel trapped, unable to see a way out.  We beat ourselves up and lash out at those around us who are also trapped or who may even be trying to help.  I have experienced this many times in my life.  I have felt the personal pains of powerlessness and despair … but there is ALWAYS a Way – a Way forward, a Way upward, a Way out from wherever we are in our lives right now to wherever we want to be.  There is ALWAYS a Way!  There is a small, subtle step we can take, a hand we can grab hold of, a rope we climb.  There is a solution to every problem.  Though we often cannot change others or our circumstances, we can ALWAYS change what we choose to think and believe, how we choose to feel, and how we respond. 

Life is like a river, we don’t always get to decide where the current takes us.  We don’t always get to choose when the rapids and white waters of challenge and trial appear.  However, we always get to decide how we are going to navigate those rapids – we don’t have to let ourselves be dashed upon the rocks of despair or dragged under by crushing currents of circumstance.  We can steer our rafts, we can hold on tight to our lifelines, we can power through, and make it to the other side until the currents calm, the rapids recede, and we find ourselves enjoying peaceful waters once more.

When we feel lost inside or out in the world, we can always return to our roots, come home to ourselves, go back to the wellspring of our souls, and get back in touch with the constants of who we really are.  It doesn’t matter how far afield we’ve strayed from ourselves, how far from home we’ve wandered, or how long we’ve been stumbling around in the darkness.  It doesn’t matter how far down we’ve fallen into the pit of despair, how disconnected from our roots we feel, or how trapped we feel.  We can get back in touch with ourselves, find our constants, and experience serenity of soul.  We can rise from the ashes, reignite the passion, and rekindle the inner flame.  We can bloom, blossom, and flourish once more. ~ DCB

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