What Do You Really Want?

"Happiness is your nature. It is not wrong to desire it. What is wrong is seeking it outside when it is inside."

Ramana Maharshi

As we enter the second week of the New Year, perhaps we have made some intentions or set some goals for 2019 that have already fallen by the wayside. A great question to ask ourselves from time-to-time, particularly as we begin a new cycle of 365 days, and another trip around the sun, is 'What do I really want in my life, right Now'? Not next month, after you do this or attain that; not next year when you have done enough meditation or read enough spiritual books; not 5 years from now after you have reached enough goals to consider yourself worthy of what you really want - but RIGHT NOW.

Why not take a few moments right Now, close your eyes and bring this great question to yourself; 'What do I really want'? Let yourself be Still for a few breaths and allow the answer to percolate up from your deepest heart - that part of you that already knows exactly what you need to be happy and at ease in your life. As this knowing arises, bring it to just one word. For instance, if what you really long for is to be relaxed and at ease in every moment, bring your focus to the word 'ease', and begin to repeat it on your out-breath with great focus and a feeling of devotion.

Do this for at least a minute (or longer if you're so inclined), and see what happens. What you might begin to notice is that the feeling of whatever your word is, begins to arise very powerfully within. If your longing is for peace, and you repeat that word to yourself, the feeling of peace begins to make itself known to you very quickly. In this we see that what we truly desire is already a part of who we are, and we don't have to wait for it or feel that we are separate from it.

Asking this great question also keeps us focused on what we want, rather than thinking about what we don't want or what we seem to lack. As soon as we let go of trying to get something that is already inside us, the satisfaction and joy of our own Being reveals itself without any effort on our part. All that we have to do is stay focused on what we really want, and align all of our actions, words and thoughts in the direction of that intention. In this way, we come home to what is already present within us, as us, in this present moment.