“Not consciousness and self-understanding but a passionate inner presence makes us what and who we are.” Thomas Moore

Willingness is defined as “cheerful compliance ” – in other words – readiness, enthusiasm or eagerness. It’s almost surprising to find the “cheerful” quality attached to this concept because willingness is often thought of with a kind of grudging quality to it. A grudging attitude will not get you the changes you want.

TAKING ON TRANSFORMATION AS A WAY OF LIFE REQUIRES THAT EACH TIME A NEW EXPERIENCE OCCURS IN YOUR LIFE; YOUR INNER GYROSCOPE KEEPS SEARCHING TO FIND THAT CHEERFUL, OPEN AND EAGER LEARNING ATTITUDE ONCE AGAIN.

Do you remember being a teenager? Do you remember complying with parents or teachers and applying the eye-rolling attitude of those years? What did it get you?

I can still remember my mother wanting me to include sweeping the floor as part of my kitchen clean up. I did it whenever I was forced to – unwillingly. I never allowed myself to think through why such a request was being made of me or what a little deal it was to take the extra three minutes to sweep the crumbs from the floor. All I ever experienced was the victim-like inner feelings attached to “why me?”

NOW IMAGINE TRYING TO CHANGE HABITS AND THOUGHTS OF A LIFETIME – LIKE LEARNING HOW TO STOP CREATING TROUBLESOME RELATIONSHIPS – WITH A RESENTFUL, EYE-ROLLING ATTITUDE. HOW SUCCESSFUL DO YOU SUPPOSE THAT WOULD BE?

You always have the will; it’s how you were made. Look at a baby and you can see they have the will to get what they want and need even if they do not always have the means. This sense of purpose to fulfill your inner yearnings and desires is born into you; it has to do with the will to live. However, your will to live is often covered up by the “stuff” in your life. Then, on top of that, you try to protect it by not being willing to look at the truth inside you. (Doesn’t this sound a lot like what happens to the Real You?) Then you feel guilty for not being motivated and self-disciplined. People tend to believe that the will to live has to do with just meeting basic needs, but the will to live and prosper and enjoy life is the basis for all of your yearnings.

My hope for you is to do more than just exist. This is what creates frustration and unhappiness – knowing we can live happily, abundantly and fruitfully, but never knowing how.

If you first look at the truth about yourself and what you need, your inspiration and self-discipline naturally arises. You find yourself being creative in finding solutions to your needs. From that perspective, it takes no more discipline to grow  or transform than it takes an acorn to become an oak.

**Excerpt from You University: Coaching Program to Learn to Live Your Real Self © by Maia Berens