Ego will tell me that I want a particular job title or a particular outcome or a particular amount of money or a particular person’s (or group of people’s) love, acceptance, understanding or approval.
What is it about those particular people, places, things, outcomes or experiences that would satisfy me?
I identify what that is.
And then really look:
Notice: it is already so.
If I’m honest with myself, and if I keep asking this question of any want that is still unsatisfied, I will always arrive at the realization that the benefit it would bring me is already so.
The root benefit of ANYTHING I am seeking is already so.
I want a song I wrote to hit the charts? I want it to hit number one? I want it to win a Grammy?
Sure, I may not actually have a charting hit, a number one or a Grammy right now, but what is it about getting those things that would satisfy me? I put it in those terms:
I want to have written a song that has a positive impact on the world. I want to have done something obviously worthwhile to others. I want third-party acknowledgement that I am a good songwriter. I want to be accepted by the world.
Notice: it’s already so.
Every single thing in that list.
I want my son to understand that I know what I’m talking about and to take my advice.
What is it about my son understanding and taking my advice that would satisfy me? Put it in those terms:
I want my son’s respect. I want him to be okay. I want him to be able to navigate his world effectively. I want to save him some time.
Notice: it’s already so:
He totally respects me. Enough to reject my advice to my face!
He’s obviously okay right now.
He certainly has the ability to navigate his world effectively (and he may be using that ability right now even if I don’t see it).
Everything except for that last item. I do not see that he is saving time. So I keep asking…
What is it about my son saving time that would satisfy me?
I want my son to be more effective in life than I was when I was young.
Still not there. I do not see him as more effective than I was.
What is it about my son being more effective than me that would satisfy me?
I want my son’s choices to result in him having a happy life for himself.
Notice: it’s already so. He is very happy right where he is.
I want more clients?
What is it about having more clients that would satisfy me? Put it in those terms.
I want to have a consistently positive impact on people’s lives. I want to free lots of people from suffering. I want enough money to live happily and securely without having to let money drive all my decision making.
Notice: it’s already so.
All of it.
I want to publish my writing in physical form?
What is it about publishing your writing that would satisfy you? Put it in those terms.
I want my writing to reach people who want it. I want my writing to be out in the world. I want it to have the impact on the world that it’s meant to have.
Notice: it’s already so.
I want everyone on earth to read my writing and be helped by it?
What is it about everyone on earth being helped by your writing that would satisfy you? Put it in those terms.
I want to know I’ve contributed to a better world. I want my contribution to be valued. I want to have made a positive difference in the lives of others. I want to notice that I’ve made a difference.
Notice: it’s already so.
Whatever I really want is already so.
Does this mean never doing anything?
No.
It means letting go of doing anything to get something I don’t have now, or to become something I am not now. Because that is impossible.
There is never a moment that I don’t have what I really want nor is there ever a moment where I am not what I really want to be.
It means doing things simply to be at play in a perfectly balanced universe where everything is already and always as it should be, where nothing I do can change the fact that everything is already and always as it should be.
It means doing things only to be engaged in the benevolent flow of a perfectly kind and peaceful universe.