ASK ABDI: HOW DO YOU TRUST, SURRENDER, RECEIVE, ETC. WITHOUT WAITING FOR THINGS TO HAPPEN?

QUESTION: How do you trust, surrender, receive, etc. without "doing" or feeling lazy or likely waiting for things to happen... I don't want to "control" as I know the timing of my life is not in my control and yet, I'm feeling a little stuck understanding what "to not do" means. And so I'm spending much of my time in stillness, listening, and honoring that the quieter I become, the more I'll hear within me. But in our society, that certainly isn't easy. I'd so love some insight as I'm sure others might also be wondering how to navigate this LOUD world… Thank you.

ANSWER: I appreciate your belief that you are spending your “time in stillness, listening, and honoring that the quieter you become the more you’ll hear within”. You are on the right path with your intent. The actual execution of this is a whole different ball of wax. It can and does take much effort and time borne out of incessant suffering to put this intent into actual practice.

“The LOUD world” that you are attempting to navigate is in fact a reflection of the LOUD mind of yours (and all of ours). When one actually gets on the path of silence, there is much less of an “I” trying to do anything, including navigating. It is not that one “listens and honors” the quiet, one is in fact THE STILLNESS.

One first needs to make peace with the fact that we are all control freaks. Control denotes fear (terror would be a more appropriate feeling for most of us). Fear and terror point to the false illusion that we are separate and there is an other that threatens us. The incessant thinking that leads to the “loud world” is the mind’s constant attempt to control an illusory threat.

Step away from thinking, truly find the silence in your mindheart. This is a lifelong pursuit but alas the only salve for a restless world.