This is the 24 carat question. It’s truly astounding to me how often I don’t stop to ask it, even after more than five years of inquiry where this is the first question (The Work of Byron Katie). The more mindful of my choices I become, the more assumptions I notice I have about the world. This is the source of all my personal restriction.
Sometimes it’s hard to catch the belief (see my blog on Thought Catching). Often this comes after I notice a habitual pattern of acting that keeps me stuck. I notice I frequently don’t allow enough time to get places, to be restfully present when I arrive. I notice the stress that comes into my life.
Oh my gosh. I’ve been believing two things my whole life: that I have to rush. That I don’t have enough time. Is it true? that I don’t have enough time? That I have to rush? Be honest with yourself. No. But by the way I act you’d never know it.
There are other profound and powerful questions in this process. But sometimes asking just this one takes me right out of a old, robotic way of living and brings me to the present moment, where I can create something different.
Try it out for yourself. Ask this one question and notice what other wisdom emerges.
As for me, I’m going to take my time packing for my morning exercise routine right now, testing out whether it’s indeed true that I needed to rush.
