You Are The Source
By Nick Arandes
The biggest challenge for most people is to accept the truth of Who they really are. They attend seminars, read books, listen to tapes, try all kinds of practices in order to find something or "attract" something they think they need in order to be happy, feeling prosperous, or to experience healing, and so on. In other words, they spend their whole life looking for everything they think is missing in their lives somewhere else.
That keeps their attention out into the world, not realizing that everything they have been searching for, they already have. That's why it is said, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and Its righteousness, and all of these things will be added on to you." And where is the Kingdom? It is within!
So if the kingdom is within, why is it that most people look for the treasures of the kingdom outside, out into the world? Because the still voice that is whispering gently and softly asking them to turn within is overshadowed by the loud voice of the world, one that is rooted in fear. Although as stated earlier, everything we think we ever need we already have, the only way to accept that truth is by being willing to let go of everything we think we know. Not necessarily easy to do, especially in a world that worships the intellect, logic and knowledge over intuition, trust and inner guidance.
Many teachers for example focus on goals, on trying to teach me how to get what I want. The challenge with that way of thinking is that it assumes that I know what it is I want, or that I know what it is in my best interest. I like to share an excerpt from my book What Happens When You Let God:
The truth is, if you remember Who you really are, no matter what it is you are guided to do, you know you'll always be taken care of. That's how you experience freedom in a real sense. A Course in Miracles reminds me:
I'll share an example from my book, What Happens When You Let God, so you can see the difference between visualization and visioning:
So we visualize what we want, put lots of energy into it and realize that we end up exhausted because it does not seem natural. And the truth is, it is not natural because of the following paradox which says, 'At the same time that you are the producer, the director and the writer of your own movie, at that very same time you play an extra in a much bigger play.'
So even when you think you are the one making choices, at a much deeper level these are choices you are being moved to make, as denoted in the saying, God's Will be done. In other words, you cannot force someone who is passionate about music to become a doctor and then expect that person to be happy, nor anyone else who is forced to do something contrary to what he or she likes. Temporarily we could learn to love and appreciate anything, but if we are not in alignment with our reason for being here, happiness and joy will elude us. Abraham Maslow said it best when he wrote:
"A musician MUST make music, a poet MUST write,
an Artist MUST paint, if he wants to be at peace with himself."
The reason being is, your personal agendas always have to do with seeking something you think will make you feel whole when in reality, your wholeness is what you extend out into the world, a world that is one with you. There is a line from A Course in Miracles' original version that states: "The idea of buying and selling implies precisely the kind of exchange that the Soul cannot understand at all because its supply is always abundant and all its demands are fully met." T-4.in.5:5
So how do we get to experience the fullness of our Real Source? By simply letting go and letting God, which is the complete opposite of what we've been taught by every teacher who suggest that we are the ones who decide what we want, that we are the ones in control. This brings up the line from the Scriptures, which states: "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." [Psalms 23:1]. What the sentence is suggesting, is that instead of us telling Spirit our plans, let's us be guided by It. The reason being is, imagine being in the middle of the jungle. From a distance it looks very beautiful and breathtaking, however, if we dare to go in, we will encounter lots of very dangerous and vicious animals that could kill us in seconds.
Well, the purpose of the shepherd is to lead us back to safety because the shepherd not only knows the imminent dangers that reside within the forest, but She/He also knows the easiest and safest path home. But in order for us to let the shepherd lead us, we need to fully trust without question. In other words, we must relinquish our individual wants (wanting to explore the forest) and let the shepherd lead us.
When the shepherd leads us, in other words, when we truly listen, our guidance comes from within and we find ourselves being inspired. But when we want to take charge, our guidance comes from the world and we find ourselves making decision that result in very disastrous consequences. That's why it is said, "be careful what you pray for because you may end up getting it." So when we are led from within, aside from experiencing a life filled with joy and fulfillment, and as our faith is strengthened, we also give ourselves the opportunity to see how the Source of everything is found within, and how the universe always takes care of each and everyone of our needs. For it is said, "Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?" [Matthew 6:26].
So why it is unnecessary to seek for anything outside of ourselves? Because since you and God, Spirit, whatever name suits you best, are one, and Spirit is the Source of it all, then it can be concluded that you are the Source.