| The
Founding of Lifespring, A History by John Hanley - Page 3
Next, I discovered
that whether I liked it or not, all I had going for me was
me, period. Nobody else in the world had the same feelings,
the same brain, the same body. I was an individual, and that
horrified me! Recognizing that you are one of a kind tends
to make you feel like a loner. You see that only you have
the right answers for you. Other people can't help you, they
can only assist.
Before long,
I began sensing the benefits. The more I got in touch with
my uniqueness, the more power I had because I knew my resources
and was able to draw on them. From this emerged a sense of
pride, a sense of respect. Suddenly life became relatively
pain free, which posed a tremendous conflict.
I no longer had that familiar
space of pain to hang out in. I had to approach the world
from a different perspective, which was, "John Hanley,
you have everything you need in order to get and be all that
you want to get and be." I saw then what is true for
all of us: that I am 100 percent responsible for whatever
happens in my life.
That was a heavy one, but, by
accepting it-by allowing my individuality to surface-my life
changed dramatically. Where before life was hard (because
"life is supposed to be hard"), today life is easy.
It's a coast. I have tons more joy in my life than ever before.
The price I have paid to be in joy most of the time is self-awareness.
Just now, for
the first time, I'm beginning to get really close to people.
My relationship with my wife is the strongest, the closest,
it's ever been. I have more money now than ever before. I
get more results in an hour than I used to get in two weeks.
Because life takes far less personal energy now, it leaves
a vast reservoir for subjective work on myself, for recreation,
lovemaking, for all kinds of things. I am able to be a more
creative person, a more "there" person, with less
effort. The experience of accepting my individuality has inspired
within me a certain feeling of compassion, understanding,
even empathy for myself.
Yes, and admiration too. I feel
solid about myself. I like so much of who I am that I want
to share it. And each time I do, I get a clearer picture of
me. Everyone should feel so good, for everyone and I have
the same things. I absolutely believe that God did not discriminate.
All it takes is a willingness to set one's feet on the path
of self-discovery and a persistence to keep going until you
tap the joy!
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