Vernon Howard was a modern-day true teacher.
His teachings are timeless. This means that even though his physical self is gone from this earth, his teachings are still alive. Hitch your wagon to the stars. The Universe is calling.
How do you respond?
Most people who run into Vernon’s true teachings get overwhelmed by all the work they see that needs to be done on themselves and then go into confusion on how to proceed or if they should proceed at all. Be different! Don’t be overwhelmed. First, start in small ways. Small changes to yourself are just fine. Go into action with an exercise or right idea that interests you. An idea that awakens your curiosity. Small changes to who you are, with persistent efforts, turn into big changes.
Encouragement leads to self-inspiration.
Therefore, seeing yourself begin to change is so encouraging. Seeing self-evidence of your sleepy life is good and necessary. Earlier, you were blindly plodding through life, but now you have become aware of your plodding. This is true success. Walk towards the truth is the same thing as walking away from your conditioned self. This conditioned self is what you have always been. And only bad things fall away; anything good can never be lost. Decide you are going to listen to a higher part inside. Equally, put aside worries and concerns. See, the only sensible thing to do is to start where you are.
Escaping All Conflict!
In conclusion, Mr. Howard’s teachings will guide and help you to find the true path. Go into action! For those who have been walking for a while, add more exercises for swifter progress. Start your life all over. This is the fun you have been seeking; therefore, quit wasting your time and life. Dare to be bold. Don’t hold yourself back! Remember to break free with small changes. Most importantly, Be gentle on yourself as you walk the path.
I know the truth of what you are saying in this blog, Steve. It is working with the small things that leads to huge changes in your life.
For example, I started working with Vernon’s exercise “don’t complain”. These two little words were life changing for me. Prior to the exercise I had not known how much I complained, nor how many of my relationships were based on complaining about politics, friends, or anything in life. I began to see the negative effects that complaining had on myself and others with infusing fear. I uncovered that most of my life was based on nothing real, and I lived in a great deal of negativity. Also, light was brought to the fact that “I feared the Truth,” and complaining disguised that fear.
I could go on and on with describing how this one little exercise brought endless discoveries and huge changes to my life, but the most important thing that happened was that I came to understand that unless I actually practiced the exercise I could not come to live the rewards of it, reading about an exercise does not create real change.
Yes, Yes, Yes Glenda,
We need to allow the truth into our lives because it will lead us to nice places (Vernon Howard’s quote). A great question to ask oneself is, where does my wonderful self lead me to every day? Don’t answer the question, but simply have an interest to watch and observe yourself daily. Where do you end up, Happyland or Sadland? Work with this for one full week, so you get a good dose of where you are being led. Self-honesty is a must and helps to lead to delightful places inside. The Truth is unbelievably inspiring. See you at the top of the mountain!
P.S. Don’t dapple with truth, but instead, go all out to let it show you unearthly treasures.
I especially liked Glenda’s mention that “…unless I actually practiced the exercise I could not come to live the rewards of it…” It makes me recall a great adage that has served me well over the years: “Only that which acts is actual” or another one: “You can’t plow a field by turning it over in your mind.” I’m also inspired & uplifted to hear of the living experience of earnest self-observation, honest & courageous self-facing, and the wonderful rewards that follow: ever more liberation & freedom from the bondage of self.
“You can’t plow a field by turning it over in your mind.” This is a one to remember! Overthinking is no fun.