Training

"Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose." Yoda

Breaking this sentence down can lead to much introspection.  From the training, to the letting go to discovering what I fear to lose and why, it is a message filled with wisdom.  The wrinkly, little sci/fi character from Star Wars shared this Buddahism with Annikin Skywalker when he noticed that the future Darth Vader was torn between the Dark Side and the light side. 

"Fear is the path to the Dark Side.  Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering."  Also a Yoda quote.

I have been living on the Dark Side, it would seem.  I am angry.  I do hate.  I am suffering.  So, training myself to let go of all I fear to lose is the answer, according to the little man.  How does one go about this training? 

1.  Practice, everyday, letting go of something I have no control over.
2.  Accept what I am given as what I need.
3.  Accept that what I want may not be what I need.
4.  Dismiss others' shortcomings as a mechanism to make me feel bad. 
5.  Love myself, above all others.
6.  Practice being more selfish, but for the bettering of myself, not for evil. 
7.  Show love, compassion and friendship, even if it is not shown to me.

Practice:  This means discipline of which I suck at!  Practice will be difficult for me but doable.  In order to achieve, I must practice discipline. 

Accept:  This means for better or worse, show love and compassion even if the action or expression seems as if it is against me.  This also means giving up my own feelings in order to show the other person my acceptance.

Dismiss:  This one is easy for me although I have been dismissing the wrong things.  I must dismiss the actions of others even if they make me feel like I'm dying inside.  Other people's issues don't have anything to do with me.  They don't have anything to do with my happiness, my success, my love, my life.  Dismissing things I don't approve of will only leave space for me to concentrate on myself and my life.

Love myself and being more selfish:  This is also not very easy for me.  I have control over myself, my happiness, my success, my future.  Take it girl!  Take what you want and make it all happen for yourself.  You don't need anyone.  You don't need validation from anyone.  You are your best means of support.

Training has begun.  "Always in motion is the future."  Yoda