A friend of mine posted this question on her face book page and I thought it was a great metaphor for how it is we typically react to Life. Well, there are two other typical reactions to Life as well: go backwards or stay paralyzed. Let's leave that for another blog.

If you examine both these energies on a closer level, you will see that they both imply a doing-state that arise out of expectation. In each case the expectation is slightly different. In the first case there is running involved with an escape mentality - with an expectation that there will be no more fear. In the second case, there is running involved again but this time with a search mentality  - with an expectation that there will be something better at the end of the road.

On the surface the move towards sunshine may appear more positive. After all, who can discount a search for happiness and optimism? Yet, I believe both are inherently the same in terms of their energetic , internal processing. Let us break it down.

When confronted with a difficult emotion, be it fear, envy, anger, resentment, whatever it may be, if we seek to run from it either through an escape-mentality or a search-for-better-mentality, what we are essentially communicating to ourselves and the Universe is that these emotions are unworthy, and unacceptable. In essence, our conditioning seems to be tuned to wanting different and more.

At their root, both these metaphors have in common this one element: an inability to be grounded in the present. To be grounded in the present moment implies the ability to accept one's life in its as-is form. This does not mean a passive allowance of life to simply overtake you. Instead, it implies an active process of meeting life where it is at and then, only then, seeking to make changes. These changes are organic to the present moment and in fact, arise only after a surrender to it.

So going back to the two metaphors, it would seem that a grounded approach would include an embrace of one's fear. When one lives from the present-perspective, then all emotions, however unpleasant are harbingers of growth. Fear especially. When the fear or unpleasant emotion is metabolized and processed, it begins to shed light on our internal worlds. This light comes from awareness. When these emotions are understood, and most powerfully, integrated, suddenly they are transcended.

When fear or another not-comfortable emotion is fully processed, there, in its aftermath lies the most blissful of states: stillness. Openness. Being-ness. Quite naturally, joy emanates.

So my friends, we do not have to go looking for anything, expecting for greater, grander and better in the tomorrow. Instead, all we need to do is look within, accept the as-is, surrender to its wisdom and as it peels away its defiant layers, it will leave behind the tiniest glimmer: a pearl of peace.

Running away from pain carries pain into the tomorrow. Releasing pain transforms it into presence. Presence brings connectedness. Connectedness brings joy.

There is no sunshine out there that can rival the light of inner connectivity.