Coping without attachments and aversions

[andersonx]

Hi.

After 6 months of emotional hell, I've slipped back into a sort of "present moment awareness" which feels like I'm all day bathing in peace.

I've begun doing Byron Katie's "The Work". This basically leads you into freedom from all your attachments and aversions, so you permanently abide in an unreactive state of mind.

It doesn't matter what is taking place in your life, you feel pretty joyful. Life no longer has to do what you want it to for you to be happy, you are just content with what is.

Here is where I ask for your advice:

Who here has had practical experience of this?

I realise the only reason I've been struggling to perform in a hyper competitive and very difficult job is because I felt I needed to get rich to be happy, and I simultaneously felt I would be unhappy without the respect that successful people get from others.

It's like someone has taken an axe to my attachment to this job. It's beautiful to taste the world when you are not bound to it by fear and desparation. However, I now have no motivation to continue doing this job.

I know being "present" and simultaneously "considering what I should do next" conflict. But I believe in practical wisdom even when you are spiritually connected.

Has anyone experienced anything like this, and has any advice about how I should (or shouldn't) make any changes to my life?

[Rhythman]

Perhaps just try to stabilize in your current state before making any drastic decisions such as a career change.

You mentioned that you have "slipped back into a sort of "present moment awareness"" and that you have "begun doing Byron Katie's "The Work"." Sounds like you could just as easily "slip" out of your current state....and you have only just begun to do your spiritual program.

In my experience, my mode of perception has gone through some radical changes, but nothing in my outer life has changed.

Rhythman

[zeitgeist]

I would echo Rythman's advice - Just do what you have been doing for a while without attachment and see how your perspective of everything changes. It is ok to feel a bit empty for awhile until you transition into something else or find new meaning in what you have been doing.

[andersonx]

thank you guys, good advice.

[aphorist]

Originally Posted by andersonx

I know being "present" and simultaneously "considering what I should do next" conflict. But I believe in practical wisdom even when you are spiritually connected.

You've already answered your question. It's this self-centered want for 'practical wisdom' that will keep you suffering.

There is a place of 'flow,' of ego-less, spontaneous expression which will arise when you release all of 'yourself,' 'your story.' What you do daily might change or it might stay the same, but it won't be 'you' filtering it or controlling it any longer.

As the other posters have said, there is a period after any change in which you should allow things to settle before moving forward. This period could be days, weeks, months, or years. You will probably move forward when you are ready, try not to force anything. Just live. It's great, right?