Oneness

As we accept the true nature of Love, underlying all thought, all matter, all energy, all creation, we begin to grasp that we must be connected. Unless Love is somehow separated, one apart from another, all matter must be joined. We are matter, at least in part, so we must be a part of this Divine Oneness.

What we perceive and what we know are not necessarily in alignment, especially in our early and formative stages. We perceive a state of separateness from our sensory and our instinctual selves, but our Higher Selves know the truth. We are One. And we are One with Love.

Becoming willing to believe that which is unseen, we begin to believe that which is unseen. Willingness is the seed that germinates the tree of faith. Willingness is small as the seed is small. It's easy to grasp and understand. Simply be willing to lay down what you think you know to be true. Simple willingness is the key to the door of all learning, and the beginning of all faith.

One who knows all has no need of learning. In this state of perfect knowledge and understanding, there is no need to grow. Without growth, there is no life. Wouldn't you rather choose willingness and be willing to set aside your knowledge and wisdom? The seed of willingness is small in size but large in potential – it opens the possibilities of learning, faith, and growth.

This requires courage... much courage. Willingness, while simple, is not easy. It requires a laying down of independence, a surrender of will, a leap into unknown. But this is precisely what this book is about, embracing change.

Embracing change begins with a thought. We courageously explore the idea that what we always thought we knew, based on what we were taught and what we experienced directly, may not be true, or at least, may not be the whole story. Thankfully, we're endowed with a curiosity that lends itself to exploring other ideas. Imagination fosters questioning which leads to new discoveries.

As we begin to glimpse at a hint of what might lie beyond what we perceive with our senses and what we believe we know in our learned and stored thoughts, we become willing to consider new ideas.

Willingness then, sparked by curiosity, fed by imagination, encouraged by a desire for growth and change, opens the door to fresh perspectives. Being willing to surrender old beliefs makes room for new knowledge and discoveries. Willingness opens the mind and soul to begin the journey of change.

Living in the acknowledgment of oneness, we begin to see with new eyes. If I harm a sister, I am harming myself. If I withhold love from a brother, I am withholding love from myself. As I recognize and realize that you are me and that I am you, the lines of love blur a bit. It becomes less about love of self and love of others and more about simply Love.

The more we realize we are all connected, unified, one, the more we become willing to forfeit some of our needs, providing instead for the needs of others. For the needs of ourselves and the needs of others are indeed one. Giving, loving, helping, and supporting another is precisely the same as giving, loving, helping, and supporting self.

The path to one is the recognition and celebration of others. The path to others is the recognition and celebration of one. The more we surrender the old thoughts of fear, separateness, and self, the more we are able to surrender these old thoughts. Surrender is a circuitous path.

Fully recognizing and embracing our oneness does not come in an instant for most of us. It is a process of releasing old beliefs, finding new truths, embracing and living these new truths and then circling back to release more old beliefs.

As we live with increasing knowledge and awareness of oneness, it becomes increasingly more difficult to be selfish. Awareness breeds love. Loves breeds peace.

This is the inevitable way the universe is moving. It leads to peace, fulfillment, awareness, and higher levels of love, both of self and others. It leads to higher levels of creative ability. In loving collaboration with others, more is possible.

The universe demands more. This is the way of growth. This is the way of life. To deny growth is becoming less and less an option as denying growth causes more and more pain.

Some may never surrender, a sad truth of evolution. They will lead themselves through their positions of stasis to their own extinction. Will you consider a willing surrender of your old beliefs and make room for new?