Yesterday some friends and I were discussing the untimely
and tragic death of one of the funniest men that lived, Robin Williams. We discussed
how no matter how much wealth we accumulate, how much fame we may gain, unless
and until we are peace with who we are and why we are here, none of those things
matter. None of the trappings of the physical world can ever bring us peace as
can coming face to face with who we are, what we are and why we are here.
We then discussed how most of us are striving. Here trying
to find our way. Trying to accumulate. Trying to do better than where we are. I
was thinking about that more and I consider us to be the average people. We are
the ones who have enough to sustain us but are still trying to find that little
more. Allowing us to wake up with purpose every day even though we may not
think we do. We do because we are striving to make our lives better than what
they already are. Therefore providing us with a reason to have to get out of
bed every single day. We have to go to work. We have to show up. We have hope
that one day our lives will become easier.
But what happens when we attain what we have been striving
for? What happens when our dream does become a reality? What happens then? What
purpose do we have then? And I believe that is why we are seeing so many famous
people, so many stars committing suicide because they are chasing the high they
felt when they attained the success. That moment when their dreams became their
reality. When they believed they had reached the mountaintop and they felt
invincible. Until they woke up the next day, and still found they were the same
person who went to bed the day before their dreams became reality.
I remember one actor saying becoming famous is like being in
prison. A great analogy because I believe our minds become the prison when we
reach the pinnacle we had envisioned for ourselves. And the reason our minds do
is because then when we wake up in the morning, we are not waking up to do our
everyday. We have achieved the everyday prize. So instead we are waking up to
ourselves each and every day and each and every day we are forced to confront
who we are and why we are. We no longer have anyone else to blame for who we
are. All obstacles have been removed. In
some ways we have become the destination. The end game. We have everything and
there is nothing stopping us from finding happiness because we have it all so we
thought. But yet we still are not content.
Ironically I was watching Netflix Original series called Orange
is the New Black, when the main character, Piper, told a young person who
thought she was tough, thought she was invincible, that coming to prison strips
people of all their bravado. It forces them to have to come face to face with
who they are. It brings to the surface all the fears they have tried to suppress
about themselves because prison forces them to have to deal with who they are
in order to survive the confinement. Very much like what the famous actor was
saying about fame.
Leading me to the conclusion that having everything is the
equivalent of having nothing. Both become prisons until we find spiritual
peace. The peace within. The peace that can’t be taken away by anyone except ourselves.
Spiritual peace comes from being at peace
with who we are. It comes when the soul is at peace. It comes when the heart is
at peace. It does not come from wealth. It does not come from success. It comes
from being able to look in the mirror and feeling at peace with who we are and
where we are and why we came here.
Lately there have been several deaths of some very high
profile and “successful” people and I believe it is with intention. The intention
of waking us up to the fact that life is much more than striving. Much more
than chasing and obtaining dreams. Much more than becoming successful in the
material sense. Life is about mastering spiritual peace. About finding contentment
with who we are. Accepting that life is a journey not a destination. That even when
our dreams do come true, unless we are at peace, our dream will become a
nightmare for us.
And when we do find spiritual peace, it is up to us to use
our spiritual peace to bring peace to those around us. Because as William Shakespeare
said, “A light heart lives long.” I believe this to be true because when our
hearts and souls are light, we are at peace. We become the love and light we
asked to come here to be. We embody the spirit that is us.
To Robin Williams, Philip Seymor Hoffman, and all those who
could not find peace with themselves, thank you for being the angels that you
are because I believe you came here to show us the truth and light. To show us
that material possessions matter not if we do not find peace. If we do not accept
we are peace. To show us that life is not a destination, it is a journey. That
when we reach the mountaintop, all we have done is surpassed one level but
there will be many more to come.
May you now rest in peace. For your example I am truly
grateful. For I am learning nothing matters until we have found spiritual peace. The peace within.
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