You’ve Changed This Year. You’ve Grown. Here’s What’s Next.

An examination of the Human Responsibility to Change.

You know, a lot of humans underwent a metamorphosis during this year. Great suffering was dealt to all of us. Every single one of us was affected by the events that transpired in this year alone. It is because of this suffering that we grew. We opened our minds to something that we cannot quite explain. We’ve awakened as a species. If you’re reading this, you have awakened — and you have a lot of work to do.

The Bamboo

A Bamboo grows at a rate of about 1 mm every 90 seconds. Meaning, you can literally watch the Bamboo grow. With enough patience, one can sit in front of the Bamboo plant, in bloom, and watch the growth of this life. You’ll notice that the rate of growth is steady, and suddenly — the plant begins to shake, gently. The notch is being formed. The notch seen at different intervals in the plant are what make the Bamboo strong. Giving it the strength to be a wonderful tool, or a deadly weapon. You’ll notice that while this notch is being formed, the Bamboo appears to suffer. In its own way, this life is suffering. Not the way we suffer, but suffering nonetheless. The Bamboo does not waiver. The Bamboo does not slow. The Bamboo does not give up. The suffering passes and the growth is apparent: The strongest parts of the Bamboo are made from the greatest moments of suffering.

We are made from our greatest moments of suffering. What we choose to do with that suffering is what shapes us; this decision pushes our consciousness forward, or halts it altogether.

Shaping Our Consciousness

Suffering is terrible, believe me this. Making the decision to choose love and positivity while undergoing inexpressible suffering is insidiously difficult. This decision is what shapes our consciousness. As we choose love and positivity during times of great suffering, consequently we raise our consciousness to higher planes. Our mindset begins to shift and adjust as a different reality begins to form before our eyes. Our lives become better, in ways that we couldn’t have ever imagined. Our interactions with other humans become increasingly positive.

Remember that suffering can come at different levels of intensity, and in a myriad of ways. What you respond to is how you shape your consciousness. You have a Response Ability to everything around you. How you Respond is how you raise or halt your growth. This is an ongoing process, and requires discipline.

You are disciplined enough to continue to push your consciousness forward, if you have made it this far in your Journey, you are disciplined enough. It’s okay to falter, but remember to always accept responsibility, ownership, and honor; as these are the qualities that will continue to align with our True North.

Your Responsibility

As this year draws to an end, know that this is not the end of Great Suffering. Much like the Bamboo, we will need to undergo more suffering in order to gain another notch, and continue to push forward.

As you proceed, know this: You have suffered greatly, and you are still here. On some level of your sentience, you chose positivity and love. Your consciousness grew. How much does not matter. What matters is that it did. It grew; you grew; you enhanced your life. Continue to think about the positive changes that have occurred since the very beginnings of your suffering. Connect the dots all the way through until you reach an event that is satisfactory for you. You will always be able to look back, and see how your consciousness shaped the reality that we perceive as Our Lives.

Remember this as you move forward with your growth, you have a responsibility to the changes that occur. It will be inevitable, and everlasting — but so will the rewards should you so choose Positivity and Love. It is your responsibility to continue to shape your consciousness, as you so have.

With Great Love & Energy,

-RL