Who Determines Your Reality?

Well, it had to happen...

After we've enjoyed a few days of warm and sunny weather here in Ottawa (the second coldest national capital on earth, by the way) - even to the extent of sitting outside in T-shirts - we've suddenly been hit with another cold snap.

And worse than cold and worse than overcast, it's actually snowing!

Truth be told, this happens pretty much every year at some point in April. You get a taste of near summer-like weather and then BAM!

The most interesting thing, though, is the reactions of the people. From the several dozen people I've talked to today, I can only describe their moods as depressed. And it's all because of the weather. Since it's gray, dull, cold and snowing outside, they seem to assume that their inner worlds have to be gray, dull, cold and snowing too.

If you're near a window, have a look outside right now. Is it overcast? If so, I'd invite you to close your eyes and visualize the weather at 40,000 feet (10,000 meters). What's it like?

Well, as you probably know, it's always bright and sunny at that altitude. So you can tell yourself in all seriousness that just a few miles / kilometers away from where you're standing right now, it's a beautiful and sunny day.

What's the point of all this? Simple - you have a choice. You can choose to let your outer circumstances get the better of your inner world by getting depressed and down when the weather takes a turn for the worse, when your internet connection fails or when people around you are in foul moods for whatever reason.

OR, you can choose to be the one who consciously decides the quality of your inner world at all times. You can choose to live in any "world" you wish, no matter what's going on around you.

You may remember that in The 5 Pillars of Life, I mentioned that all Authentic Ancient Traditions are about freeing you from the domination of your environment. That's the essence of Warriorship - deciding to take responsibility for your inner world from now on.

To return to the example of people who allow themselves to get depressed because of a gray and snowy (or rainy) day... Are you able to see the day as beautiful and sunny? Can you focus on this so strongly that you don't even notice the weather?

A form of self-delusion, you say? Nonsense. Achieving the "diamond like concentration" that enables you to control your inner world and free yourself from the negative influences around you is one of the greatest of human spiritual achievments.

Try it out for yourself and you'll see. Of course, it takes practice ;-)

To your freedom,

Dr. Symeon Rodger