Sing Your Song

A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song. ~ Chinese Proverb

I've spent a lot of hours in a lot of weeks over a lot of years looking for answers--therapies, psychological, relationship, business, transformational, and spiritual techniques, insights, philosophies, theologies, and all kinds of teachers. Now I love to learn and I love to help. Yet I often forget momentarily--answers isn't the answer.

My most important personal mentor was a psychiatrist named Tom Malone--a man oozing with wisdom. I remember asking him one day: "Tom, how can we best speed up the healing and change in people's lives?" I wanted to change the world and put an end to people's suffering as fast as possible. I'll never forget his response: "What's the hurry, Gary?"

Today I am reminded that the urgency we feel in wanting to fix, change, and get rid of our bad habits or "problems" only fixes our attention to circumstances and keeps us attached to our illusions--which always includes self-deception. When I am being who I authentically am, I'm not so focused on answers and problems. As I look back at my life--and the lives of thousands of people I have taught, trained, coached, and worked with over my 40 year career of helping people, I realize that people change when they are ready--not when circumstances are less than desirable.

This "trusting the process" requires a certain acceptance of self, others as they are, and life as it is. So today I reflect and remember--I've come a long way--not because of answers and changes, but because I am committed to a process of transformation that directs me into greater fields of awareness and consciousness. I'm ok as I am--in all my imperfection. Maybe you are too. Sing your song--as you are--and recognize that song as your sacred purpose. It's your song--and it's enough.

Keep singing,

Gary