Dear Divine Ma,
What Do You Want Me to Learn Today?
“Just like the great saints and sages, you too can access inner guidance from the Universe. All you need is the confidence, open-heartedness, AND the surrender/self-offering that determine whether it can be perceived.”
Which comes first, the surrender or the confidence?
“You have to be willing to let Him enter and that takes self-offering/surrender. God can’t enter and be heard unless you allow them to. AND, on the other hand, you won’t allow them to—your self-offering—unless you are confident that They exist and that They WANT to communicate with you. Until you’re convinced that They not only CAN but WISH to communicate with you, then you won’t open yourselves up to be able to hear Them. So, it’s a catch-22! It’s a bit like you need to have BOTH happen at the same time. Or perhaps TRICK yourself into opening to Them, so they can PROVE that they both exist and WANT to share with and guide you. They WILL prove it if you but find a way to TRICK yourselves into opening the previously-closed-door of your willingness.”
I tried the self-disgust path to motivation for a number of years. Never took me very far in closing the gap between me and God. Personally, I found self-acceptance a much more effective route. Once I wasn’t loathing the things that kept me from God, I was able, as Swamiji says in one of the affirmations he wrote for us, ” to work on them and change them.” I love your affirmation that you, too, gave in your comment, Jack. “Dare to believe what your heart knows is true.” Beautiful…
Confidence comes first. Dare to believe what your heart knows is true.
As for God shaming us into submission, I find self-disgust to be more motivating.