Question:
You say that we should concentrate on our present actions and not get emotionally attached to the result. Then how should we plan our future? When we set our goals, we’re generally expecting things to turn out it a certain manner. Isn’t it how we plan our lives? How do we detach ourselves from the outcome and yet find the strength and motivation to take action towards our goal?
Answer:
Setting goals is fine for giving a direction for your life, but when you get emotionally attached to the outcome, then you are identifying yourself and your well being to something external to you and something you ultimately have no control over. That is a recipe for unhappiness. The Gita says: You have control over action alone, never over the results of action, therefore don’t live for the fruits of your actions, but don’t become inactive either.
Don’t worry about trying to detach from your goals, just consciously remind yourself that you are not your thoughts, actions or desires. Let your meditation practice inform you of what your true self is. The necessary motivation and persistence for your actions will flow from your inner sense of dharma—a knowingness that you are following your appropriate path of life.
Love,
Deepak
For more information go to deepakchopra.com
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About Deepak Chopra
Time Magazine heralded Deepak Chopra as one of the 100 heroes and icons of the century, and credited him as "the poet-prophet of alternative medicine." Entertainment Weekly described Deepak Chopra as "Hollywood's man of the moment, one of publishing's best-selling and most prolific self-help authors." He is the author of more than 50 books and more than 100 audio, video and CD-Rom titles. He has been published on every continent and in dozens of languages. Fifteen of his books have landed on the New York Times Best-seller list. Toastmaster International recognized him as one of the top five outstanding speakers in the world. Through his over two decades of work since leaving his medical practice, Deepak continues to revolutionize common wisdom about the crucial connection between body, mind, spirit, and healing. His mission of "bridging the technological miracles of the west with the wisdom of the east" remains his thrust and provides the basis for his recognition as one of India's historically greatest ambassadors to the west. Chopra has been a keynote speaker at several academic institutions including Harvard Medical School, Harvard Business School, Harvard Divinity School, Kellogg School of Management, Stanford Business School and Wharton.His latest book is
"Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul."
When you are young it is very difficult to do what Deepak advises. You see people in the world who have things and position and they seem happier and better off and you want to be like them. Life appears to be something that you can control if you behave in a certain way. You have goals, you want a spouse, a lover, a best friend, a great career, children. You want to be able to support your children and make your spouse happy and yourself happy.
Unfortunately these ideas while seemingly charming and very nice have nothing to do with reality, only the ego which wants to be important and wants to be successful.
love and light,
Stuart
http://stuartmarkberlin.com
P.S. someone recently went to my website and wrote to me directly. It meant so much to me., Thank you.