What About Careers (Part Three) ...?

I've noticed something (& not for lack of trying) ... we can't fake authenticity.

It seems that we tend to put a whole lot more effort into being special, rather than being real. It's as if we all secretly believe that we're a fake ... that we're an impostor ... that we're really horrid wretches, and must. at. all. cost. hide. this. from. everyone. else. must. pretend. to. be. OK ..!

And so we dazzle 'em with our embellished personality-bling...

Such a charade, with everyone trying to conform with everyone else, who's doing the same...!

My, my, aren't the Emperor's new clothes to die for...?!?

(well, yes! so, drop the illusion and live!)

Think of a bunch of little children ... before they start to worry about the "shoulds" in life. Imagine their open, bright little faces ... so receptive, so unselfconscious ... so shining. It's only when they later learn to compete, conform and comply, that their light becomes dimmed and distorted ...

That natural light, which we all have (we are the Light of the world, according to Jesus), is our grandeur. The ego's attempts to "improve" upon this natural state becomes distorted into grandiosity. And they are different ...

The former says, "I'm complete as I am - and so are you."

The latter says, "I'm better than you - no, wait, I'm less than you - no, wait, I'm better than you" ... and so on.

The liberating truth is that we're just like everyone else ... we're all offspring of God. The truth is that everyone is accepted ... there's no need to compete for anything we need. There is enough. Of everything.

(I know, I keep saying that ... and I'll *keep* repeating it 'til I GET it...!)

We can be tempted by our own attempts to be impressive ... but, of course, others perceive that as pathetic. Grandiosity is always a cover for despair. But even when the ego receives a positive stroke, it cannot receive it, for it knows that it was just one masked-ego stroking the mask of another ... it knows it's not authentic. What isn't real doesn't exist ...

Here's what Marianne Williamson says (in "A Return to Love"),

A miracle worker is an artist of the soul. There's no higher art than living a good life. An artist informs the world of what's available behind the masks we all wear. That's what we're all here to do. The reason why so many of us are obsessed with becoming stars is because we're not yet starring in our own lives. The cosmic spotlight isn't pointed at you; it radiates from within you....

If we wait for the world's permission to shine, we will never receive it. The ego doesn't give that permission. Only God does, and He's already done so. He's sent you here as His personal representative and is asking you to channel His love into the world. Are you waiting for a more important job? There isn't one.

There's a plan for each of us, and each of us is precious. As we open our hearts more and more, we're moved in the directions in which we're meant to go. Our gifts well up inside of us and extend of their own accord. We accomplish effortlessly...

We are to do what there is a deep psychological and emotional imperative for us to do. That's our point of power, the source of our brilliance. Our power is not rationally or willfully called forth. It's a divine dispensation, an act of grace."

Go forth and shine as the Light you ARE.

Shalom, Dena