Solving a problem from a place of no problem (Jeff)

Hello Jeff,

I just had to write to you and express my gratitude to you for sharing the story about the sentence Andrew Cohen posted from your letter for other students to read.  Something like, "I realized I had stopped trying to figure out a solution to a problem as soon as it arose." 

It is so simple, and exemplifies a foundational aspect of Evolutionary Enlightenment, but I honestly did not see it so clearly before the call tonight.  It had an immediate impact on me and continues to, as I realize the implications of letting the need to solve the problem, from the place of being convinced that there is a problem, go.  The ego has no hold.  Wow.

Thanks again,
M

Dear M,

How we generally operate is that we unconsciously assume that we are fine the way we are and then when circumstances make it obvious that we do need to change we tend to adopt one of two positions. The first is that we start solving the problem and so we go from “not needing to change” to “changing” with out having to experience “needing to change”. The other position is to go from “not needing to change” to “I can’t do this” (ie. despair) again without ever having to experience the discomfort of “needing to change”.

Bottom line - we never want to see ourselves as needing to change – needing to evolve. Our general state of consciousness tends to be that we don’t need to change, that we are fine the way we are. Our post-modern society has convinced of it, ala “Free to be You and Me” and that is OK as far as it goes, but if you begin to want to evolve – to care about the creation of something new – you have to be willing to experience the need to evolve, you have to be willing to experience the tension and confusion of not being perfect. It is a simple point, but if you think about it you will see that it is outrageously profound.

Stay in Touch,
Jeff