“Hurry up, let’s go. We have so much to do. How are we ever going to get it all done? Come on, we’ve gotta get a move on. We’re already late. What will they say? What will we do if we don’t get it all done? Faster, forget about that, we have to run. Go, go, go.”

How often have you heard your ego voice, the one that’s been conditioned by our fast paced culture speak these or similar words? How do you let this voice and those of others run your life? How many times have you gone somewhere to have a good time, packed so much in the day or week-end that when you finally got home you couldn’t remember what you did because it was one thing after the other; a blur of activity?

I burned myself out more than once with this mind-set: doing too many things, moving too fast, overcommitting, over scheduling, chasing my tail in endless circles. I thought it would make me look good and fill my need for success. When I finally got in touch with this compulsion through intense inner dialogue I gave it a name; ‘Rocky Driver.’ Through this awareness my understandings grew and I began to let go of my compulsions.

Seng Ts’an was the 3rd Patriarch of Zen in China during the 6th Century. Along with the above quote I’m sharing two others that he taught. In these three sayings we have a call to enter into what is real; what brings Life to life. This engagement will be a new practice for you so give yourself a generous affirmation for beginning if you choose to do so. Observe your pace of life to see what’s real and what’s not. Slow down, under-stand, let go, clarify, become more silent, more reflective and practice presence. Ahh. . .

• Take a few minutes to write each of these sayings in your journal and sit with them over the next few days, weeks, months and years until they sink into your inner being. Practice what’s being directed and see how more of the ‘Real You’ emerges . . .

• “Stop talking, stop thinking, and there is nothing you will not understand.”

• “Let go of longing and aversion, and everything will be perfectly clear.”

• “When someone is going through a storm, your silent presence is more powerful than a million empty words.”

• And this one’s from me: “Smile awhile, laugh a lot, appreciate what is and what’s not.”