We often let life play us by conforming to societal pressures, chasing external success, and accepting conditional relationships — all while operating from a belief in scarcity. True abundance, however, lies in shifting our perspective, embracing what is already present, recalibrating our inner compass, and releasing imposed expectations and outdated patterns.
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We choose how, where, when, and with whom to engage in this game of life. The “what” and “why” are constants: we are here to learn, or perhaps, to remember. Yet, how often do we let the game play us?
Conditioned by our environment, we live in cultures that perpetuate a pervasive negative bias. Foundational archetypes and recurring themes are everywhere: struggle, polarity, and violence are glorified, while ease, grace, and lightness are dismissed as naive or unremarkable. Fear of sickness, pain, and death is normalized, while joy in living, breathing, and experiencing spiritual freedom is seen as radical.
Misinformation, disinformation, capitalism, and divisive mainstream narratives keep us in a state of perpetual unease — or worse, trapped in chronic fight-or-flight. The more we conform to societal norms and political correctness, the less freedom our spirits have to explore and express their boundlessness.
In careers, we chase success, yet it’s never enough. We seek money, accolades, or material gains to justify the pain and quiet desperation we endure, deferring the necessary reality checks and existential soul-searching.
In relationships, we often settle for conditionality — chasing love, tolerating mediocrity, or trying to “fix” one another. We avoid asking value-based questions before committing and instead surrender to impulse, attraction, or infatuation. Worse, we may fixate on “red flags” or other trivial concerns that sabotage potentially meaningful connections. Beneath this lies an unconscious belief that we’re unworthy of happiness, fulfillment, or stability. We rush toward connection while simultaneously pulling back, afraid of what it might mean to truly ask for and receive what we need.
As artists, we may be misled by distorted capitalist ideals, disappointed by a modest following when, in truth, a relatively small, engaged audience can sustain us throughout our entire career.
These spiritual checks and balances may arise to gauge our commitment to purpose, inviting us to recalibrate our inner compass. Or perhaps the unsettling emotions point to lingering patterns protesting from beneath the surface. It may be time to sit quietly with these feelings, letting them sing their final verse before turning the page.
Scarcity thrives on lack — needing, wanting, seeking, and fearing we’re missing out — concerns that are both unnatural and often externally imposed. Abundance, by contrast, is the knowing, remembering, and embodying of what is always present, beyond imposed expectations and conditions.
There is no lack of abundance. And yet, there’s a persistent belief in an abundance of lack. Perspective is everything, and in the blink of an eye, we can shift the parameters of our reality.
Love your life.
“Shut It Down, Turn It Off” from The Reluctant Pilgrim, Part II