The Journey

By R Z

Life is beautiful in its simplest complexities. Our common oversight of the small, but important, details diminishes our sense of direction toward attaining what we seek...true happiness. We become fixated on what is apparent in our lives, thereby losing sight of Life itself.
On occasion, we find wisdom for understanding and acceptance. From this comes that glimmer of inner peace and true happiness which we tend to seek on a more constant basis. That wisdom is not despite the obstacles we've met, but a result of those obstacles we've overcome.
This book is a compass to help you navigate Life for a better understanding or It and your purpose here. As you read through The Journey, not only will you begin to understand the many obstacles encountered in life, but you’ll be challenged to reflect on yourself in the utmost unbiased sense. In return, you will become the best version of yourself. You will gain the ability to elevate your senses beyond the experience of The Journey and with that, a more fulfilling life of love and compassion.
I wish you the best on your journey through life and may you find that constant inner peace and true happiness that so many of us have so blindly searched for.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R Z
• Release date: Jun 14, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370229635

R Z

You'll not know my identity. I choose to remain anonymous for various reasons but mostly for the following: If I told you who I am by what I do, what I’ve done, or what I have accomplished, you would automatically generate an idea of who you think I am. We’re not defined by these details but the details within. If we all had no appearance but were each an indistinct blur, we would have no option but to know each other for who we truly are and not assume to know each other so easily by superficial factors. For this reason, you will not see a picture of me, nor will you receive a definition of who I am. You’ll know me in a deeper form...through my mind, my heart, and my soul (all of which I’ve poured into this book). My thoughts have been formed, not only by books and studies but primarily through experience, analysis, and reflection. These are the origins of our oldest philosophers which have paved the way for today’s generation of the like and those who will follow in their footsteps.

Book preview

Preface: Preparing For Our Journey

The Secret to Happiness

Where can one find true happiness? How does one attain that deep, fulfilling, and constant happiness? It is not found in material things, it is not found by traveling the world, nor is it found in friendships or relationships. These things bring happy moments, temporary happiness. They do not bring the inner peace that provides for a deep, fulfilling, and constant happiness. True happiness lies within ourselves and once true happiness is attained, it is self-sustainable. Some people seek true happiness their entire lives and never find that deep sense of inner peace from which it comes, most commonly because it was sought from external sources. Many people assume that by changing their circumstances, they can find true happiness. True happiness is only found when you search deep within yourself. It does not matter what you have, what you do for a living, or any other external source you may attempt to alter. What matters is that you find inner peace within yourself; true happiness comes from inner peace. This seems to be so easily attainable, still for many, it’s so difficult to achieve.

Have you ever gone through an extremely difficult obstacle in your life that left you feeling hopeless and searching desperately for answers…a sign perhaps? Religious or not, have you ever found yourself searching for solace through prayer? There’s an energy through which we are all connected that we can tap into when we extend our consciousness beyond ourselves, a higher power. It flows all around us and when we allow it, it flows through us granting a reassuring comfort in knowing that everything is going to be alright; it’s the sudden calm amongst the chaos in which anxiety makes way for acceptance, regardless of circumstances or potential outcomes. This is that inner peace we must to tap into on a more constant basis. That inner peace is where true happiness stems from…within yourself.

In difficult times, we become more open to connecting to that energy, like a soldier in battle who never prayed in his life finding solace through prayer during his time of distress. I’d like to try an exercise with you to elaborate this understanding. I’d like you to take a moment and imagine that you’re trapped in a very dark place and in this dark place, there is an imminent threat of grave danger to your life. Now imagine your worst fear lingering over you in this dark place. There is no way out, there is nowhere to hide, and there is no way of protecting yourself; death is certain. Knowing this, what do you do? What can you do? You could panic, but that would resolve nothing. You could cry, but that’s just a temporary release of toxicity, still nothing resolved. What could you do to calm that fear, that anxiety, and suffering…to find that inner peace you long for? You cannot change the circumstances. There is only one factor that you can change and that is yourself. It requires a shift of mindset. Move from the chaos to the calm by closing your eyes, shifting your perspective (Acceptance), and allowing the energy that surrounds you to flow through you. Even those of little faith can quickly find solace through prayer. It’s not that we believe God’s hand will physically come down and protect us. It is simply the belief in something greater than ourselves, an energy through which we are all connected, an energy which would allow us to feel comfort...to feel inner peace. This is the calm amongst the chaos. As long as you maintain this awareness, this connection, nothing external can take away your inner peace…the source of true happiness.

We are faced with many obstacles throughout our lives and we tend to tell ourselves that when we have overcome this obstacle or the next, that we can finally relax and be happy, but this only leads to the next obstacle, and the next, and so on. When we come to the realization that this is Life and that there is no point in waiting to overcome any obstacle but simply accept Life as it is, we can attain inner peace and we can find true happiness. Like being trapped in a place without escape, you can choose to shift your mindset and perspective, granting yourself the comfort of that energy and with that, inner peace and true happiness. In life, there will be obstacles throughout most of our time here. If we are constantly waiting to surpass each obstacle in an effort to find happiness, then that would mean we would spend the majority of our lives unhappy. Instead, choose to be happy, even during the times of obstacles. That's Life. Enjoy and appreciate the journey throughout for there is a silver lining in each obstacle overcome.

With each obstacle in life, you have the opportunity to learn and become more enlightened. With a higher level of enlightenment, everything you experience in your life is done so on a deeper level. The more enlightened you become, the more profound love, compassion, inner peace, and happiness you can feel. These wonderful feelings are amplified by your better understanding of Life. You should welcome the obstacles throughout life. They are not burdens but opportunities. The time between the obstacles is nice, but each obstacle overcome provides a higher appreciation for everything you experience in life. As a glass of water is better appreciated after a journey through a desert, life is better appreciated with every struggle we endure. Again, this is Life. The obstacles are never-ending so choose to be happy. Choose to have inner peace. Choose to love. Choose to have compassion. Choose and always remember:

There is no pursuit of true happiness. True happiness lies within the pursuit itself.

Selective Hearing

We shouldn’t be selective of what we interpret in life, nor should we be selective in what we interpret from this book. Some of us tend to interpret things in a manner that suits us. We have a major flaw in how we communicate and for that, it’s easy to, not only misinterpret, but interpret what we choose to for our immediate satisfaction. When we deny ourselves the truth, we hinder our growth. Sometimes, we’re faced with hard facts and it’s difficult to accept those facts so we may choose to interpret them in a way that suits our needs, or better yet, our wants. Simply put, don’t cheat yourself. Be truthful with yourself and don’t interpret things to your liking because it’s easier or convenient. This will only delay the inevitable or worse, prevent you from finding the truth you seek, be it inner peace, a higher level of enlightenment, or a true, lasting happiness.

As you read, try not to be selective, but assume the possibility of how everything you read may actually apply to you, be it positively or negatively. Without acknowledging the bad, we cannot correct it and grow from it. The more aware you are and accepting of the difficult things we tend to veer away from, the more potential you’ll have to learn and grow as an individual. I want you to succeed in having inner peace, enlightenment, and true happiness. We are constantly learning and relearning things in life, allowing for spiritual growth, higher enlightenment, thus attaining more awareness and a deeper sense of peace and happiness. With this, we not only improve our own lives but the lives of those closest to us as well. Whatever your motivation for reading this book, my hope is that you consider it a compass that will help you navigate and understand Life for a better understanding of It and your purpose here.

THE JOURNEY

INTRODUCTION:

REMOVING THE BLINDFOLD

What’s my purpose in life? It's a question most of us have asked at some point in our lives. So many of us search for answers, not only to that question but to several other philosophical questions about life. There are so many things throughout our lives of which we are unaware, even within ourselves. We often fail to understand, not only what, but why. It goes far beyond our average awareness as many of us tend to just go through the motions in life. We’re all human and we all have our individual minds. Though we are all created equal, we are not all created alike. There is a way to gain perspective and understanding to help guide us toward the answers we seek. Regardless of circumstances, a new perspective and a better understanding will add tremendous value to your life. No matter what it is we go through in life, we are