Self-Imposed Limitations

"Anything you identify yourself with limits you."

Any time we associate ourselves with an external cause,
of any kind, we relinquish control of our personal Sovereignty
and we create within ourselves a Self-Imposed Limitation.

A self-Imposed Limitation is a restriction we allow to enter into
our psyche that confuses our thinking, distorts our perception, and
causes us to Compromise our personal growth and our Spiritual
Path.

A Self-Imposed Limitation is, by its very definition, a Thought,
Belief, or Action that limits our ability to enjoy complete Freedom.
And when we limit our Freedom we restrict, and possibly even
abandon, our enthusiasm to pursue our personal Destiny.

Self-Imposed Limitations are created so easily and automatically
that we do not recognize the chains and bonds we are shackling
ourselves with each time we create a Self-Imposed Limitation.

We bind ourselves with Self-Imposed Limitations each time we try
to control the actions of another person, join someone else's cause,
or subscribe to someone else's belief system.

Self-Imposed Limitations are the beliefs, attitudes and actions we
voluntarily subscribe to at the request, inducement, or demand,
of another person or group. These persons and groups can be our
friends, relatives, social groups, alumni associations, the news media
or political factions.

Self-Imposed Limitations instill within us unwarranted prejudices,
desires to excel at the expense of others, and in their most
dangerous extremes, the desire for vengeance. Self-Imposed
Limitations polarize us against the Divine Concepts of Harmony,
Truth and Freedom that we all long for and ache for.

It is very easy to become "tricked" into accepting Self-Imposed
Limitations and it is important that we recognize a Self-Imposed
Limitation when one presents itself to us. Once we allow a
Self-Imposed Limitation to become a part of us we instantly
restrict our access to all the Limitless possibilities that the
universe makes available to us.

Self-Imposed Limitations present themselves to us in many
different and "harmless looking" disguises. Whenever we choose
a team to root for we create a Self-Imposed Limitation by thinking
that our team is the "best" and we must therefore root against all
other teams: ignoring the fact that there are well-trained, dedicated
athletes on all teams and in all sports.

Whenever we choose a political faction to associate ourselves with
we create a Self-Imposed Limitation which prevents us from
understanding, and availing ourselves to, all sides of all issues.

Whenever we readily accept any "expert Opinions" presented to us
by the news media we create a Self-Imposed Limitation by allowing
our thoughts and feelings to be governed by biased opinions that
may, at best, be only fractionally correct.

Whenever we believe that our school or university is better than
any other school or university we are creating a Self-Imposed
Limitation by refusing to recognize the quality and accomplishments
of the many gifted students and teachers that attend, and teach at,
other quality institutions.

Whenever we join a "cause" we create a Self-Imposed Limitation
by closing our mind to all other points-of-view.

And, in its most self-destructive form, we create a Self-Imposed
Limitation whenever we seek to continually torment an ex-spouse,
ex-partner, ex-business associate or anyone else who has injured
our ego in any fashion.

In this instance we are creating a Self-Imposed Limitation by
continuing a negative relationship with another person when it is,
in fact, in our best interest to release that relationship, along with
all of its associated negative energies, from our lives.

It is in our best spiritual interest to recognize that Self-Imposed
Limitations do exist and are continually attempting to gain control
of our thoughts, actions and feelings.

By preventing unwarranted prejudices, the desire to control others,
and desires for vengeance from entering our psyche we automatically
keep ourselves open to all the positive possibilities that the universe
makes available to us. We allow ourselves "see in all directions". We
allow ourselves to explore all of the limitless possibilities that present
themselves to us in the physical, mental and spiritual realms of our
Current Incarnation.

It is by tossing away the restrictive hooded garment of
Self-Imposed Limitations that we are able to recognize and
understand all sides of all issues, "see clearly" in all directions, and
Choose only those ideas, concepts and actions that are Harmonious
with our Current Incarnation and our Divine Nature.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2009

Spiritual Refinement

Refinement is a Process by which we eliminate all that is impure
in order to retain, and concentrate on, only that which is Pure.
This Process works the same whether we are Refining something
in the physical, mental or spiritual realms. With this in mind, let
us explore the Spiritually Refined Individual.

Within every society there exists a small number of people whose
Thoughts, Words, and Actions are finer and nobler than the
Thoughts, Words, and Actions of the common masses. These
Spiritually Refined persons always represent a small percentage
of any society.

The Thoughts of a Spiritually Refined person reside in the Realm
of Ideas and Ideals. Their Ideas focus on Creativity and Self-
Improvement while their Ideals are the Guidelines they live by
which allow Creativity and Self-Improvement blossom in their
lives.

A Spiritually Refined person does not allow their Thoughts to
become mired in the mundane bickering of the external world.
They understand that the fussing, complaining and arguing, that
takes place among the masses is a negative energy that can only
divert them from the Spiritual Path they have chosen to Travel.

Because the Thoughts of a Spiritually Refined person are finer
and nobler so, too, are their Words and conversations. Their
conversations consist of Words and phrases that are positive,
stimulating and complimentary.The Spiritually Refined person
naturally refrains from the use of any vulgarity and profanity in
their conversations. They understand that vulgarity and profanity
are gross negative energies that can, in no way, contribute to their
further Spiritual Refinement.

Since the Thoughts and Words of a Spiritually Refined person are
finer and nobler so, too, are their Actions and inter-Actions.
A Spiritually Refined person avoids the use of any kind of force to
compel another individual, or group, to succumb to their way of
Thinking.

Their primary interest is to share their Thoughts and Ideas with
"like minded" persons while graciously side-stepping those persons
whose paths are in conflict with their own. They do not indulge in
gossip or criticism and they avoid responding to any gossip or
criticism tossed upon them by others. The Spiritually Refined person
understands that to respond to gossip and criticism is only to invoke
negative energies that can be of no positive benefit to them. In the
same vein the Spiritually Refined person avoids all individuals whose
basic nature is to antagonize, ridicule, and bully others.

Quite simply, the Spiritually Refined person is interested in only
invoking those Positive Spiritual Energies that nourish the finest and
noblest qualities of their Divine Nature while avoiding any negative
Action, or energy, that hinders their Spiritual Growth. This is why a
Spiritually Refined person always leaves behind them a positive and
peaceful energy wherever they Journey.

Each one of us has the ability to become a Spiritually Refined Person.
All that is required is that we eliminate all negative Thoughts, Words,
and Actions that are detrimental to our Spiritual Nature while
continually focusing on only those Thoughts, Words and Actions that
are responsible for creating Spiritual Refinement.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2009

The Wilderness (An Inner Journey)

The Wilderness is a Metaphor which describes an Inner Journey.

Ancient Teachings from all civilizations speak of Great Masters
who traveled into the Wilderness seeking a place of Solitude
where they could Meditate and Pray.

These Teachings go on to say that, while in the Wilderness, these
Great Masters would grapple with Demons that resided there.

We are also taught that this Journey of Solitude, and the conquering
of Demons, was a task (a trial) that the Master needed to face and
overcome alone.

Once the Master completed His time in the Wilderness, and
conquered His Demons, He left the Wilderness having achieved
a Higher Level of Consciousness.

But what is this Wilderness, and why do all the Great Masters
journey into it?

The Wilderness Symbolizes a Time and a Place in the Master's
life where his Journey "pauses" so that He can confront and
conquer an Inner-Conflict that is blocking His Spiritual Path.

The Physical Wilderness is a real place to where the Master
Travels in order to be alone. Once He is in the Physical Wilderness,
he is able to relax, meditate and explore the Secret Realm of His
Spiritual Wilderness. His Spiritual Wilderness is where His
innermost Thoughts, Feelings and Conflicts reside.

The Demons that the Master "grapples with" are His deepest
and darkest fears and doubts. They are the Specters of his
Subconscious; the Beasts that only He can Confront, Conquer
and Banish.

Once these Demons are defeated, and exorcised, the Master leaves
the physical wilderness Spiritually Cleansed. This Spiritual Cleansing
is His Rite of Passage. It is the process by which the Master
Initiates Himself into a Higher Realm of Consciousness.

Each one of us is capable of experiencing this same Inner Journey
undertaken by the Great Masters of Antiquity. We simply need
to follow their example: seek a place of Solitude...Meditate...
Banish our Inner Demons...and insure that the Road we are
traveling is in Harmony with our Divine Nature

(Note: I have used the masculine gender for literary simplicity.
However, Ancient Masters have been both men and women.
Therefore, both genders equally apply.)

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2008