Dunedin Spiritualist Church

Who is running your life? by Graeme Wilson

Who is running your life?

(from a talk given at the Dunedin Spiritualist Church on 28th January 2007)

Listen to a streaming mp3 audio version of this article by clicking the following icon:
Or download the mp3 to your computer by clicking the mp3 icon:

I will start off by asking a question for you to keep in the back of your mind while I give this talk. Who is running your life? I don't intend on answering that directly, but will leave it to you to think about and reflect on.

The Will

This talk focuses on the Will, which is undoubtedly a term I'm sure you've heard, and used, although may not be fully aware of just what it is, and how we use it. You may be familiar with terms such as will power, free will, the will of God, being strong willed, or perhaps even the will to live.

In common usage the Will is often seen in two main ways. The first is often about control and resistance to control. This is common understanding of "will power", "being strong willed", or a "wilful child". It is often considered that the Will in this respect implies power over someone or something else, or a resistance to a controlling force. For example a wilful child may constantly resist the good intentions of the parents.

The second aspect which is commonly associated with the Will is relating to fate or destiny. Some people may say it was "God's Will" that such and such happened, and there is often plenty of debate as to whether we have free will, and to what extent, as opposed to a life run entirely or partially by destiny or fate.

These are not the aspects of the Will I intend to focus on during the talk. What I intend to do is share some of what I believe are the important aspects of the Will that we can use in our day to day lives, and which can assist us in our Self growth.

For the duration of this talk I am using the following definition of the Will:

"The Will is the function of the human psyche that translates thinking into doing."

Just take a moment to think about that. "The Will is the function of the human psyche that translates thinking into doing." So, whatever thoughts we have and need to perform only occur when we actually engage the Will. Simply thinking about things will not bring about change without the Will translating the thought into an action.

I will give you an example of this by way of an experience of a willed act:

1. Stand up, and just stand for a moment relaxed, with your arms hanging loosely by your sides.

2. What we are going to do is raise your right arm so it's out in front of you.

3. Now think about your right arm raising up so it's out in front of you (but don't actually do this yet).

4. Choose to do this (or not)

5. Tell yourself that you are going to raise your right arm.

6. Imagine how it feels, and where your arm will be, once you have raised it.

7. Now, actually move your arm up.

8. Sit back down.

Hopefully this gave you the sense that thinking about it, and choosing to do this was not the actual act itself, and until you actually engaged your Will nothing actually physically happened. This is the "willed act" where you have consciously chosen to turn a thought into a physical action. This is also the basis of magic, that through your Will a change in the physical world is brought about. Think about this for a moment.

Something else to ponder: While this is a harmless exercise to demonstrate the Will, and you chose to take part (or not), the activity was suggested to you by someone else.

Choice

Tied in closely with the Will, and the basis of the concept of "free will" is choice. An easy and practical way to get used to working with the Will is to become aware of choices, and practice choosing consciously - practice making choices.

Being aware (and having!) more choices leads to greater freedom. Having less or no choices leads too less freedom. If we have few or little choices we are like prisoners or slaves - whether or not we are actually confined to a prison cell or shackled in chains. The lack of choices is what keeps us impoverished.

How do we make choices?

There are three main ways we make choices. The first is based on our needs. If we are hungry, we eat. If we are thirsty, we drink. If we're frightened we may run away!

A second way is based on beliefs. We will choose our course of action depending on what beliefs we hold, and on our understanding of the options available to us. For example we may eat fish on Friday instead of meat because we're Catholic, and we believe this is what should be done. We may discriminate against someone because of their gender, race, or sexual orientation because of things we believe, perhaps "women can't lift heavy objects, so I better pick that box up for her" or "such-and-such a race are no good, my daughter can't have a boyfriend who is that race!"

A third way we choose if through suggestions, such as advertising, or other people telling us the best and most appropriate way. Advertising is a good example - "To look good you need to be wearing XYZ brand clothing".

Often many of these things lead us to choose in a fairly unconscious manner. We choose the same things because of what we believe, rather than what is actually happening in the situation. Perhaps we make choices for others for example to "keep the peace" or "to be accepted". We may not even be aware that we are choosing to do things because of beliefs we hold, and that these beliefs may be more about serving others than doing what is best for us.

So it is through choice that we are using our Will, and either using it for ourselves, or for others. We may be using it to bring about actions that harm others, or harm ourselves.

The Will is non-moral, like a tool. For example a knife can be used to cut our food, or to attack someone - but it isn't that a knife is good or bad, right or wrong. It is the way in which it is used. The same can be said for the Will. Our Will can be used for us or against us. For example, advertising often works to get us to choose a product or service whether we need it or not. Politics, religions, and ideologies can be used to limit our choices and encourage us to choose actions for someone else's "cause" (terrorism, warfare, etc).

It is not that beliefs, or even religion and politics, are bad. It is that adopting beliefs and never questioning them limits your choices. This isn't always a bad thing, as having an endless amount of choices could take a long time to make any decision at all. Imagine all the ways you could try to prepare the ingredients in your kitchen if you allowed an endless amount of choices to run through your head, or even trying to prepare a full roast meal when you have half an hour to get ready for work! In this case it is helpful to limit some of your choices depending on the time of the day, dietry and nutritional requirements. However, you are still free to experiment with other options as you choose, while being mindful of other people, and other things in you life.

What You Can Do

There are plenty of things you can do to ensure you are using your Will more effectively.

• Become aware of beliefs you hold. Are you choosing/acting for you? Are you limiting your choices through holding a particular belief?

• Become aware of more options (for example, if a sales person offers you the choice of a red one or a blue one, you can still choose neither!)

• Practice choosing consciously - being aware that you are actually making the choice to act in a particular way.

• Get in touch with your feelings and needs. These often give you a better indication of choices you can make - like trusting your gut feelings that something isn't quite right in a situation.

• Ultimately, get in touch with your Higher Self / Spirit / Holy Guardian Angel, and choose from a "higher place" - be careful here though that you aren't selectively filtering intuitive wisdom through your beliefs and carrying out the same limited self of potential actions.

• Become aware that every action you make is an act of will!

I will finish this talk with the same question I asked at the beginning - Who is running your life?

Homework: During the week become aware of choices you are making. Practice choosing consciously! Pick a problem, task, etc, and consciously choose from the options you have. Perhaps spend some time meditating on the task and see if there are other options you can also choose from.

Further Information

The Will Project - A Program of Research on the Will and Its Applications

Purpose and the Creative Will by Will Parfitt

Snap decisions sometimes the best (news article)

Conversations on the Will by Jay Ray

Being Willing by Jay Ray

Back to Articles Index

See New Zealand web site listings for: psychosynthesis

See free online book, article and magazine listings for: psychosynthesis