Which Way to Go?

Which Way to Go?

Many individuals are in a kind of transition right now.  They have set goals of some kind to accomplish things in a more natural line of work, often, some kind of healing work, whether it is Reiki, therapeutic massage, acupuncture, any of a variety of therapies or New Age teaching, and so on.  They take the classes, get certified, look for professional space to perform their work, and then....nothing.  They are confused because they believed they were following the will of the Universe to make this change, but when the Universe doesn’t make good on the promise of allowing them to make a living wage, or the time involved in supporting their labors is excessive, there is disappointment and a feeling of being betrayed.  Why does this happen?

The problem with following the dictates of the Universe is that the “how” is often left up to us.  If we feel we are following our dreams, that we truly want to go into some form of healing work, the time it takes to set up a new business and the personal investment that it requires, we don’t get as upset as we otherwise might.  The problem comes in when we feel that the Universe has directed us into this new line of work.  We may have the expectation that our lives should move forward as they normally did.  We want to be the high rollers of the healing world.  If we feel we have been directed to write a book, we expect to be at the top of the New York Times Best-Seller List.  So it is our expectations that are causing the difficulty. 

When we expect that we will be highly-paid for what is a gift-related, giving field, as healing is, no matter what area we actually practice, we are not being realistic.  Yes, there will be some practitioners who have a great deal of business savvy, and can sell their abilities, books, treatments, classes for others, and so on.  But most of us don’t have the kind of know-how or energy to reach out and broaden our scope of expertise and sales in this way.  Does this mean that the Universe sucker-punched you?  No.

Often, those of us who choose to make the change from a lifetime career to something that fills the bill of our duty, what we’re supposed to do, are stressed, tired of the grind, and looking to move on to something better, more natural and more emotionally fulfilling.  When we put this kind of energy out there for the Universe to play with, it sends back the message to do something more natural, something that serves others.   Maybe the next step is to get a reading, to narrow down the field.  A reader may pick up on your desires for something that is less stressful than, say, a corporate job.  So you get sent in the direction of writing a book or studying Reiki.  That doesn’t make it a mandate, just because a reader said so.  You still have to consider your aptitude, your wishes, your own personal inclinations.  Without that, you are heading toward a great deal more stress. So how do you know what life and the Universe really want from you?  What are you destined to do, fated to become?

First, take off the rose-colored glasses and recognize that you are probably not destined for greatness.  Be real.  Next, think back to your childhood, when you first had a notion that you were meant to do something with your life.  What did you want to be when you grew up?  Some of us knew early on what we would do with our lives.  Often, some form of the Arts was on the agenda. 

As I speak with people about their lives and careers, it amazes me that the majority of people who are dissatisfied with their jobs and their lives are often gifted artists in some form, whether that is painting, singing, making jewelry, taking photographs, writing poetry, playing a musical instrument.....you get the idea.  And perhaps we come back to the same old problem of money, because unless you are so talented that the world cannot help but put you on a pedestal, you are not going to be rich and famous.  But you can still practice your craft and you can still get by.  Once again, it all comes down to expectations.  And that brings us to Life Lessons.

This is something that we all need to be aware of in this lifetime, because our society values success to such a great degree, and we have believed that a large, attractive home, a boat, nice vehicles, and all the other trappings of wealth are the things that make life worthwhile.  Yet our service to our fellow travelers is not valued.  So it becomes a matter of perspective, that we must learn to value helping others: enriching life with Art, and growing spiritually by focusing outside of ourselves rather than inside.  Does it limit the experiences that we may have, for example, travel, gambling, parties?  Perhaps, but think about the ways that you can still accomplish these things without having to have a great deal of money.  A simple life can be just as rich as an opulent one.

Understanding that it is probably the high expectations that you have which may be causing the blockage toward you accomplishing the goals that you seek, will help to relieve some of the stress that you feel, that feeling that you are not successful in your spiritual progress, and that you are getting mixed signals from the Universe.  Cleanse all of that away, empty yourself of expectations and past failures, and start anew with fresh goals based upon what you want, what you can reasonably accomplish, and go from there. 

May you be richly blessed.