Extract of the book “Être à sa place”
We may plan our lives as extensively as we wish. We can purchase life insurance, invest in real estate, and secure our future as well as that of our children. However, life will inevitably surprise us, reminding us of its uncontrollable and unpredictable nature. We cannot always manage everything that occurs. Many factors are beyond our control. Nevertheless, most of us strive to dominate every aspect of our lives: family, finances, love, health, and work.
This control of the mind is closely associated with our fear of the unknown, our fear of emptiness, our fear of death, or more precisely, the death of the mind, and ultimately, our fear of life itself. Indeed, the mind has a profound need to exert control and to identify with the illusory life it has constructed, including its profession, romantic relationships, financial status, and material possessions. Should any of these areas be threatened, it would trigger an internal upheaval, resulting in a state of panic. Consequently, the mind would become disoriented.
However, we cannot fully experience the present moment while simultaneously wishing for it to be different because it does not align perfectly with our expectations. If we desire our lives to conform precisely to the projections of our minds, we will endure a constant sense of dissatisfaction, perpetually feeding our feelings of lack and, consequently, fear.
What a futile endeavor it is to seek to control everything! Consider the amount of energy required to achieve the goals we set for ourselves! Establishing a goal immediately solidifies it in time. Furthermore, when we visualize and project this goal, we create a mental image that compels us to strive for its attainment, lest we face dissatisfaction.
What is the alternative, then? Instead of setting a specific goal, we might opt to choose a direction by attuning ourselves to our inner selves, a direction that will evolve over time. This direction does not need to be precisely defined or described in detail but should remain relatively open, allowing the universe the opportunity to fulfill our needs in the most beneficial way for our personal growth.
Maintaining an open and receptive mindset each day to what unfolds before us, embracing the present moment without the desire for change, allows us to nurture and cultivate our inner blossoms and to savor their essence. This attentiveness, both inward and outward, will guide us toward the places that resonate with us, where joy awaits. The effort required to reach these destinations will transform into enthusiasm, propelling us along our journey and unveiling new perspectives and opportunities.
It is important to recognize that it is not necessary to know which path to take; rather, we should allow it to unfold before us gradually, maintaining faith that the life experiences we encounter each day are present because we have, in a sense, created them at a more subtle level of our being. As Gandhi wisely stated, “Life is a mystery to be lived, not a problem to be solved,” and “Life is my teaching.” Each day brings its own insights for us to discover. By having faith that we are exactly where we need to be, that we are the person we have been waiting for, and by embracing the present moment, we reconnect with that inner silence which opens the door to all possibilities.
Listen to this silence, and you will find yourself in the belief that everything is just and holds a profound meaning, even if you do not always understand the reasons behind it. Ultimately, it is about accepting the unknown and entrusting oneself to life. The notion of “I know that I know nothing,” as expressed by Socrates, becomes a clear truth.
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