Dave’s Desk@Ditch: Aspiring to Inspire
“Just as we are all students throughout life, we’re all teachers. We learn best by offering what we desire for ourselves to as many individuals as we can, as frequently as we can. It’s imperative that we make a deliberate effort to increase our inspirational energy, as this will lead us to being both a spiritual learner and teacher simultaneously.” This is, indeed, a rather insightful passage, shared by Dr. Wayne Dyer from his classic work, “Inspiration: Your Ultimate Goal.”
I first ambled upon this quote and a few others on the topic during a period of career transition nearly 20 years ago. Their essence captured the moment of “right place, right time” in my life to receive such potent messages.
It would take an entire year of doing the inner work necessary for at least some of the answers I’d been seeking to appear. Undertaking a new career as a special needs educator, while further developing my skills as a screenwriter, were two of the more notable manifestations to emerge in my life during that decidedly transformative period. Quite remarkably, the individual responsible for providing the necessary encouragement and inspiration for both of these dormant gifts to materialize would be one and the same.
No doubt we all have those persons in our lives who we can turn to for inspiration. The bigger question for many of us might be: How do we go about amplifying our own Spirit, in order to inspire others?
From an Eastern perspective, one of the key elements requiring immediate attention is acknowledging the role that ego, or our “false self” plays in this matter. Ego in this instance isn’t a reference to the more commonly known Freudian term from the field of psychology, but more so what the followers of Eastern philosophy believe to be a concept of non-identity or non-self.
In our Western society, there’s a general perception that one’s identity is defined by arbitrary labels or “forms” such as: what we do for a living, what we possess, and what we look like.
Buddhist teachings reveal that all of these descriptors (in addition to countless others with which we associate), are completely transient and impermanent in nature. They are, for lack of a better word, illusory. They’ve been created to maintain a particular way of life; requiring constant up-keep and validation.
Ultimately, we struggle and endure much suffering when those false titles inevitably fade.
Once we’ve begun the process of detaching from the mental and physical constructs, in turn raising our awareness of this pure, unfiltered Spirit within, we find ourselves emitting an energy source unlike any other. This is where we are able to observe our absolute Being. It’s where compassion originates. It’s where we develop unlimited potential. It’s where love dwells.
Embracing these types of concepts requires courage and practice. Taking risks is necessary if we are to grow. Ironically, none of this happens unless we are committed to living a life in the present moment.
The past and future exist only as expressions of form; reference points connecting to an egoic mind. Their dysfunctional nature is viewed as an impediment along our pathway towards an enlightened presence. By surrendering to the timeless Now, we’ve essentially freed ourselves from fear and all of its manifestations, allowing an unfettered Being to emerge.
As we evolve and elevate our frequency, it’s impossible for others not to recognize our heightened consciousness and become inspired themselves. Or as Dr. Dyer summarizes: “Spiritual teachers have raised the vibrational frequency of their daily life to a point where they’re able to provide inspiration to others merely by their presence, and this is the standard to which we need to aspire.”
