ByronKatie.com

To Rick,

What a wonderful question you have and I would like to answer it. You could do The Work on "Goals, desires, and aspirations imply dissatisfaction with the present moment" and see what you, yourself come up with on that one.

In my experience, when I am moved to action, I am moved to action. There doesn't need to be a story nor a justification around that. If I am moved to write as I write to you, then that is what it is I am doing. It gives me joy to write, but does not necessarily imply that I was in a place of dissatisfaction before that. I observe myself reading your comment, being compelled to answer, and then replying as a natural unfolding of my character. Is there a purpose or motivation behind it? Maybe. Maybe not. To get trapped in trying to define it, though, I find that to be somewhat stressful. I just write because I am moved to write and I am content with that. Now, I cannot say that for everyone, but I find that is what is true for me.

All the best to you,
Hypegia

In response to Rick:

Hi Rick. Your question resonated with me, because I have had similar thoughts myself. I have taken the liberty of attempting an answer.

I used to think that if I lost all my goals, my ambitions, my plans, to enquiry, then I would have nothing, I would be lost. Then I wondered: "Is that true?" Unless I conceive it in my mind first, project, then act, my life will be devoid of movement. Is that true?

I found that for me the the opposite is the case. As my mind becomes calmer, clearer, and less caught up in conflict and suffering, I have so much more energy to do the things that are true to me (rather than the things i thought I wated to do) Or I do some of the things I thought I wanted to do, but in a clearer, more integral way.

But I guess there's no point striving for any of this. I only needed it because I was suffering and needed that to end.

Well, best wishes,

Ruskin

I think katie what you have said here is the basic problem with seeking?in that the self cannot be realised because there is no self there in the first place,complicated and simple?

Dear Katie;

How does one reconcile The Work with the setting of goals in one's life. For example, you have written a number of books, and without having the intention to write a book, one doesn't write one. Do all goals/desires/aspirations imply a dissatisfaction with the present moment?

Thank you

Rick

That never-ending trail of thoughts...it's sooo beautiful, Katie. Thanks for always bringing clarity and peace to this world.
Happy Holidays to You and to all your Loved Ones--this whole Earth!

My realization is that I am becoming more and more in love with what IS!I have often read KT and wondered how I would ever achieve the peace and joy that radiates from her words [and WORK]. Now, I KNOW!!! It has come and gone over the past 2 years and now it is staying longer and longer each and every time that I STOP and INQUIRE when I start suffering from my a thought. ANYTIME that I find that my joy has slipped away, I quietly retire to my favorite chair and INQUIRE. Sometimes there is nothing to inquire about...and in that case I sit quietly and accept what is. But, in most cases underneath the cloud of suffering is a thought that I believe.

Thank you, KT and Stephen...may reality be! Happy, happy holidays from an open heart to other open hearts of joy.