Change awaits

 The universe is change. Our life is what our thoughts make it.  

- Marcus Aurelius (about 175 CE)

Our lives are our thoughts made real. But, then, 'real' only lasts a moment, so all thought could be an illusion. 

No other being can influence my life unless I give it permission, no matter how tentative. This includes all nature. Only when I allow another person's ideas to enter my consciousness and psyche will they have some influence on me. However, the truth is that it is extremely difficult to prevent this happening because we are trained from birth to behave as others want us to - and therefore to think as they do. Acceptable behaviours are rewarded and reinforced and unacceptable ones are punished, or go unrewarded. No wonder, then, that as adults, we find it extremely challenging to discover our true self. Every moment of our lives, to a greater or lesser extent, is taken up with this struggle.

This begs the question: can we ever regain a sense of independent thought, and therefore life?

Humans hold a deep need for recognition, to be "seen" and therefore to exist. Our existence depends on our being seen, recognised. All around us are examples of this trend. Every 'reality' TV production strives to present each individual is the brightest possible light, in the most extraordinary circumstances, under the most glaring of pressure. "Look at her" say the producers. "Can you see me?" ask the participants. "I am worthwhile," they shout. The rest of us are voyeurs, peeping Toms, breathless with anticipation and vicarious pleasure, never actually living our own, real lives.

If we don't exist, we are dead, so we fear it. I think the death we truly fear is not so much the physical one but that of our spirit, our soul, our sense of true BE-ING. We strive to avoid death despite the fact that is is part of the cycle of existence. Each death exposes a new opportunity for life. Each moment of life challenges us to embrace the coming death. This doesn't seem morbid to me but exciting and deeply challenging.

It begs another question: what lies ahead? What is approaching? (well, two questions).

Inevitably the only answer is: CHANGE awaits us.

So if we can get our thinking in tune with our deeper values, that change is less likely to be a shock.

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman Emperor who ruled from 161 CE until his death in 180 CE in modern day Vienna. He was born in Rome in 121 CE. He is considered by many as the finest example of the "Philosopher King" and it is true that the Roman Empire experienced a period of scientific, artistic and social growth during his reign. The Ridley Scott film Gladiator did a great deal to bring this man (played by Richard Harris) to the modern world's attention. His famous work is called Meditations. It was probably written in the years around 175 CE.