Getting your Life Right
Get your life right outside and you will be right inside.
Everybody can get their life right. Life is only a problem when you’re afraid to cut your losses, quit and start again. You are not compelled to remain in any situation. You only think you are. And the thinker’s name is fear. You can get married today and leave or start divorce proceed- ings tomorrow. You can stay in a rotten job long enough to pay the rent this week and then you can quit. And where will you live? . . . You’ll find somewhere. And if it’s not right, you’ll quit again.
You can leave anything. But if you don’t quit, you will not be unhappy, because you’ll know why you are doing what you’re doing; and that will keep you from complaining. You only complain when you’re afraid to quit or do something meaningful about the problem.
And for the smarties: if you keep quitting situations on the whim that you want to be free, and if constant quitting or running is making you unhappy, then quit quitting. Face the music. By quitting ‘quitting’ you’ll know that you’re staying put for your own good. You’ll feel better and you’ll feel more authority in yourself, even though the irresponsible urge to quit tries to tell you you’re unhappy.
~ an extract from Barry Long's book, Journal 1
Symbolism