Meditation Vision Question

[Michelle]

I'm fairly new to meditating without some sort of guidance. For years I've done guided, recorded meditations but lately have had the feeling it may be time to try a few minutes of silent meditation.

During a few minute of meditation today, I had a vision which looked like this:

There were two paths leading to my life's goal during this lifetime. The first path was a direct route leading in a very short time (less than a year) to my desired life goal. The second path took a bit of a detour but did get to the goal as well after a longer period of time (3-4 years). The difference between the two paths was my decision to start a new part time job in a local cafe to earn a bit money while I continue doing my soul's work which doesn't pay at the moment but will in the future.

I'm confused because I feel like I've been lead to this new job. I worked there for a few hours yesterday as a trial and had fun. It seemed like an ideal solution to my momentary financial situation as well as giving me something in the outside world to work on, since most of my work is focused on inner development right now.

The fact that I could now be receiving inner guidance in this form frustrates me because God, the angels, etc. have had ample time to let me in on this info. The other possibility is that my ego is suddenly overactive and trying to sabotage my newfound independence and moving forward with my purpose.

Thoughts anyone?

[Kemisi]

I think that either path is good, since both will ultimately lead you to your life's goal. However, taking the longer path is not necessarily a bad thing. Maybe you have some life lessons to learn that will be experienced on this longer path, so that is why you felt led to this new job. All experiences in life can be good and can be learned from, it is simply your reaction to them. So don't fixate so much on the goal, but enjoy the path that takes you there. And now that you have an idea of what the different paths are, you can decide which one to take.

[Dharma]

Michelle,
Go with your gut. If you feel you need the money now, and a job has been presented to you, go for the job. It's not a forever thing, unless you think about the future too much.

By taking your focus off the now, you're getting all squirrelly inside by thinking of all these possibilities, goals (future), and lack (I will experience some loss in the future if I take this path now!). Be present, respond to the present moment (your finances), and not the imagined future (lack of time, delay of my purpose).

The present moment is the short path. Living for the future and using the present as a means-to-an-end is the longer path, IMO. The longer path feels like "work".