I sit at the computer with the music softly playing in the background completing one application after another looking for a job and fighting depression because I still haven’t found one. With the blinds open at the windows, I can see if the sun is shining or if the clouds are dumping rain. Either way, it doesn’t affect the speed at which I complete the applications. It does, however, help me not to feel so disconnected from the rest of the world.
Although I haven’t had the “normal” interaction with people that I used to have when I was employed, I have learned a lot about myself and other people during this time of unemployment.
The Ruin Within
“Where there is ruin, there is hope for a treasure.” ~ Rumi ~
Rumi said, “Where there is ruin.” I think we all have “ruin” inside. There is something that we want to change because it wrecked or is wrecking our life. The rest of that quote by Rumi was, “there is hope for a treasure.” So basically, when we change the things that need changing within us, there is a treasure waiting for us after the change has taken place.
I believe that to be true.
When I was struggling with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) there was “ruin” inside of me. After I went through therapy and all the steps necessary to heal the wounds, healing took place and my new life was a “treasure” of peace and calm. I became a PTSD survivor and that is HUGE accomplishment.
After any of the ruins in life are conquered, I believe they are all followed by a treasure of happiness, peace and calm because the pain of that struggle is over. The fighting within us has quit.
The Truth Brings About Peaceful Joy
“When you feel a peaceful joy, that’s when you are near truth.” ~ Rumi ~
Unhappiness is not happiness.
Disorder and indecision is not peace and tranquility.
Darkness is not light.
Rumi hit the nail on the head when he said, “When you feel a peaceful joy, that’s when you are near truth.”
Have you ever tried to lie to yourself? It is IMPOSSIBLE. You don’t believe me? Try it. No matter how hard you try, deep down inside, you will know that you are lying to yourself even if you don’t admit it to anyone else.
I tried lying to myself many times. I always knew the truth even though I tried to make myself believe the lie. That sounds really stupid as I type it, but I know that you know what I mean.
Maybe I should give you an example. When my parents got a divorce, in the beginning Dad would pick us up every Saturday. The first time Dad missed a visit, I told myself that he wouldn’t ever do it again. At first I believed that Dad really wouldn’t ever miss another visit, but after awhile, he started missing visits and offered lame excuses. I still told myself time after time that he wouldn’t miss his visit even though deep inside I KNEW he would miss again. I KNEW it. I didn’t admit that I KNEW he was going to keep missing visits, but deep inside I knew that Dad was going through a very selfish stage of his life and children didn’t fit into it that well.
So like I said, it is impossible to lie to yourself. When you know the truth and you live the truth, you can move towards having peace, tranquility and joy.
Love Makes All Things Possible
“Only from the heart can you touch the sky.” ~ Rumi ~
The choices we make determine our life direction, success and happiness level. Choosing peaceful light will bring happiness while chaotic darkness fills our life with unhappiness.
You can fake parts of your life by lying to yourself and others, but until you have a peaceful heart and mind, success within your heart will be elusive.
Rumi said that, “Only from the heart can you touch the sky.” I’m not an astronaut nor can I fly an airplane, so I don’t get anywhere near the sky. However, when I love someone or unselfishly give my help to someone, I am happy and I do feel like I can touch the sky. Loving and caring for people will lighten your burdens and take you away from the me, me, me dialogue that runs through your head all the time.
Love is a wonderful emotion. When you are filled with love, everything feels possible. Nothing feels impossible to achieve. Love is an all encompassing emotion that brings out the very best of the soul…hope, compassion, empathy, caring, patience, thoughtfulness.
On the flip side, hate and chaotic darkness brings about anger, a mean spirit, dishonesty, envy, jealousy, impatience and selfishness. None of those emotions will make you feel like you can touch the peaceful light of the sky. They depress you and bring about a whole lot of unhappiness.
The Light Enters
“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” ~ Rumi ~
So where does that leave you?
Scarred.
Fearful.
Ashamed.
Regretful.
Wounded.
Human.
Oh my, human? Yes, not only are you never going to be perfect, but no one else is going to be perfect either.
Without unhappiness, you would never be able to know how happiness feels.
Without chaotic darkness, you would not be able to appreciate and feel the peacefulness of light.
The hurt and disappointment that you have suffered up to this point CAN lead you toward success, happiness and tranquilty. There’s an “if” at the end of that sentence…IF you choose the path of goodness, truth and peaceful light.
You will never find peace, happiness, joy or goodness in chaos, selfishness, lies and anger.
The choice is entirely up to you. Will you let the light of love, forgiveness and healing enter through your scars and wounds or will you continue to remain locked inside your prison of chaotic darkness, pain and unhappiness?
I know it sounds sooooo simple, but look at the drastic difference in the type and quality of life based on that choice. It is rather scary and mind boggling. There’s so much to gain and so much to lose.
The wounds that you may be trying to hide or avoid is the place that will heal if you choose to work your way through the process of healing them. It is much better to feel the pain now than to keep dragging it with your throughout the rest of your life and letting it rob you of all the happiness that can be in your future.
All these words I’ve written aren’t meant to just sound good. I know they are the truth. I’ve lived them. I’ve experienced the wounds and the healing. I’ve experienced every emotion I just wrote about and I KNOW that wounds can be completely healed, but it takes EFFORT.
The choice to heal is yours.
I hope we all will choose the short time suffering and pain in order to rid our life of “ruins.” Our future can be filled with peace, joy and tranquility. I know it and that’s what I’m continually working towards.
katherines corner says
I always choose the light my darling friend xo
Sherry Riter says
🙂 Life is better that way for sure Katherine 🙂
Pam@over50feeling40 says
There is always hope…no matter the situation. Thanks for sharing on the Thursday Blog Hop!
Sherry Riter says
Thanks Pam!
Joan says
Loved all of your Rumi quotes! And I, too, always choose the light. 🙂
Sherry Riter says
Good! The light sure does feel better than the darkness!