Grappling with the unknown…

You might think that with all the change stemming from the unfolding global financial crisis that understanding the fundamentals of change would seem a little more relevant right now…  But for the vast majority of people their only real desire is to get back to the way it was.  We get comfortable with our routines and with what we know.  When the unknown looms in front of us our only desire is to get back to the comfort and safety of the known.  And we'll do everything in our power to make that happen.  I know because I've observed it in others and witnessed my own reactions to the unknown.

Well, what's wrong with trying to convert the unknown back to the known?  Is there anything particularly instructive about hanging out in the unknown?  There can be, but only if you can get beyond your fear of not knowing.  The unknown presents us with a natural opportunity to increase awareness of ourselves.  For example, it helps us get a clearer picture of fear and how it influences our actions.  It can help us tune into what we're really afraid of.  And it can help us see that there are times when events really are beyond our control.  Awareness of these realities can help us temper some of the stress and unnecessary worry running through our minds.

Depending on how deep you want to go the unknown can even be seen as a doorway to the experience of something bigger than ourselves.  As people we are often unable to see beyond our direct interaction with the physical world.  As a result we believe that everything in our experience can be manipulated to our benefit.  From this perspective life should always be fun, we shouldn't have to experience unpleasantness, or go without anything we desire.  This, of course, is a fairy tale version of life.  We all can and have experienced challenges, hard times and difficulties.  

So why do we experience these things that we wouldn't otherwise choose?  Could it be there is something beyond our current awareness--something that is trying to get our attention?  Can we accept the possibility that life has purpose beyond what the senses can detect?  Is there some higher intelligence that weaves its thread through our lives?  In my experience there is, and it's in those times when we don't know, that we are most open to the possibility of a higher intelligence weaving itself through the fabric of our lives.

Without faith in a higher intelligence we are left to carry the weight of the world--everything depends on you and me.  But neither are we absolved from responsibility for our actions.  We act within our sphere of influence, but allow for and acknowledge events beyond our control.  This balanced approach allows for events beyond our control and yet still allows us to interact responsibly within our surroundings.

Could there be more to the unknown than meets the eye?

There has to come a point in our awareness where we look beyond the surface events for something bigger than us.  That inner voice you hear--the one that makes the most noise and is your toughest critic; is the voice of your lower self.  More commonly referred to as the ego.  It's your ego that experiences fear.  It's your ego that is most vocal in matters of a sensory nature.  What I referred to in the Everything Changes! series as our internal operating system could also be referred to as the ego.  I didn't call it that because the term has become such a cliché that proper understanding of its function is easily lost in translation.  No one is without an ego because proper psychological functioning depends on having one.  That being said, if we are to realize anything beyond the surface appearances of our sensory impressions, then we must work to understand the ego's reactions and where appropriate learn to override some of its automatic responses.  Like its aversion to the unknown…


Note to reader:  Thanks for reading!  If you have comments or questions please feel free to respond.