Affirmations Inspired By S. Boorstein’s “It’s Easier Than You Think”
Written By Renee Baker
I allow myself to stay open to a spiritual path. My spiritual path need not be complex. Simplicity is okay. As I explore this road, I allow myself to awaken a bit more. I manage my life more gracefully or even semi-gracefully. I allow awareness, clarity, compassion and generosity to become the mainstays of my path. Mindfulness and lovingkindness become a greater part of my daily vocabulary. The truth continues to set me free.
I recognize that there are things beyond my control. I see no sense in getting upset over them. I concur that life is difficult and painful. I observe this is true no matter what actions I take. It’s okay that life is mysterious and unpredictable and risky. I need not inevitably suffer from the difficulty of life. I will not struggle with my life experience. I open myself up to experience life with compassion and wisdom. I let go of the act of craving other than what is. I can make a change, yet I accept the here and now. As I accept, I find salvation and liberty and peace of mind.
I still have desire and make choices. I plan and pursue, but am prepared to let go if they don’t work out. I may want more, but I won’t want other. I shall live and love life and not worry about perfect growth. If I still suffer sometimes, I will manage. I will cling less to my life story and how it should play out. I have pain and does everyone else. We all suffer. In seeing this, I am more compassionate to myself and others. I encourage others to cling less as I do so myself. As I let go of the need for things to be a certain way, I let my fears go.
On this journey to happiness, I accept where I am at and start from there. I recognize that I can still be happy even though life is inevitably disappointing. Our pains will come no matter what I do. They do not last forever as nothing is permanent. I resolve to move beyond my habit of conditioned negative responses and replace them with more conscious loving, generous and fearless actions. I let go of counting my grievances and my righteous indignation. I forgive myself and others. I choose liberty – the freedom to do what I ought to do. Others can do it and so can I.
When a fear arises on this path, I take an interest in why and to what am I clinging. I only act in love, not fear. I do not cause pain to myself or others. I alleviate pain within and without. I tell my mind not to blow this pain out of proportion to what it really is. I dedicate myself to telling the truth, because I care about myself and I care about others. I speak the truth, but only when it is helpful. When I correct others, I do so if timely, gentle, kind and helpful so they do not feel diminished. I do not lie, say hurtful things or gossip. I maintain awareness of my intention in all of my communication. I resist automatic responding. I take time to think before I speak.
In my work and livelihood, I take care not harm others, not to exploit them and not to abuse them in anyway. I choose a wholesome livelihood that contributes to my mental happiness and peace of mind. I am humble in my work and take pride in it. I pay attention to what is wholesome – that which creates such feelings as friendliness, compassion and generosity. I put unwholesome thoughts such as greed and anger and grumbling aside. I put thoughts that lead to unhappiness out of my mind. I choose to be happy.
I learn to meditate and develop my focus and concentration. I learn to pay attention to one thing at a time. My mind becomes stronger yet more flexible each time I meditate. I have no desire to force out sadness by a loss, but feel it deeply and become more compassionate. I am not shattered by feelings. They are impermanent too. I accept this present experience, this present moment whether pleasant or unpleasant. I gain insight from this acceptance, wisdom even. I practice remaining calm. When I am calm, I am in the now.
Now is the only time we ever have.