An overwhelming feeling that there isn't enough time....

[Beau]

I merged it with the proper thread SeekingtheTruth. :)

 

[anart]

Anart, I realize this is a very very delayed reply to your post but I just wanted to let you know that what you said and the quote you gave by Ark really got to the "heart" of the matter for me. I felt the need to express my gratitude for helping me in such a meaningful way and give my sincere thanks for your help.

My pleasure - if it weren't for Laura and Ark, and others, I wouldn't have any way to reply at all. We're all in this together and no one can do it alone, so I'm glad it helped.

 

[TheLostBoy]

Thank you to everyone who shared their sympathies and contributed to this post. I recently had the issue of 'time pressure' come up and ended up posting said feelings as part of my "Introductory" post. It felt great reading how everyone relates and deals with said topic. so Thanks Everyone!

Also a huge thanks to Anart for his incredibly helpful input. That quote from Ark just became a favorite! Right along with other bits from this post. I'll also go ahead and thank Anart for being so grateful to Laura and the 'team'. I think most of us feel the same way, and they deserve every bit and more of our support for the immense, incredible work they've done here for us all on the BBM.

Didn't mean to bump an older topic, but then again, I feel/hope that a bump for gratitude is all good :)
THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE+ANART!

 

[KristinLynne]

My most recent post was entitled
"Help with feelings of indifference" . I am still in the process of reading Gnosis Books I, II, and III and have yet to complete my thoughts to give an informed response. By all measures I feel I should have already responded. However, it seems that every time I begin to read the material, I feel I should also be reading the literature suggested by Laura in the "Spirit Board - Ouija Video" post as well as attempting to keep myself up-to-date with newly posted articles on SOTT and the discussion(s) in this forum. Thus, I am finding myself feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information that needs to be assimilated relative to the amount of time that I perceive is remaining before it is too late. Once I begin an article/book I find myself rushing through it. The effect is that I am preventing myself from actually learning and assimilating such information in an economical way. I have attempted to take a step back to re-focus my efforts so that I may have a chance to progress another step despite the weight of the big picture, unfortunately this approach doesn't seem to be yielding profitable results. When I read Laura's Session 3 September 2008 post today and read the words

A: USA heading for destruction!

it made this feeling of not having enough time all that much more intense! Though Laura's quote on the bottom of her page reads

"When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight it concentrates his mind wonderfully." Samuel Johnson

, it seems my mind has decided to concentrate on the tick of the clock. I feel like it's the night before the final exam and I have only began to study with an overwhelmingly, hopeless feeling that I'm not going to make the grade. I would appreciate any suggestion(s) you all may have that could help me re-direct my energy in a more productive way.

[Edit: corrected links]

SeekingtheTruth, I've struggled with this concept most of my life especially when taking on challenges that seem to be so much bigger than anything I've done before. Thank you for posting about (and bumping) this topic because it is still something that I struggle sometimes. When I feel overwhelmed I say to myself, this is not a race and the goal is to keep moving forward.

Hi SeekingtheTruth,

One thing we know for sure is that 'time pressure' - stressing out about not having enough time - is not only useless, it is damaging, I'd even say entropic. We can have no impact on time (it doesn't even exist) - we cannot change others and we cannot stop what is coming. However, it is my deep understanding that continuing, in the midst of this increasing madness, to objectively awaken and help others who are asking to do the same - to live as if there is nothing more important than THIS - every day, in everything, standing up for the Truth and becoming objectively Real is sending a signal out to the Universe that will be noted in the grand scheme of things.

If you consider that every step you take toward awakening sends out a signal - that every program you remove, every effort you make to be a representative of Truth and Creativity in this world sends out a signal, then the 'time issue' fades away. If you act as if everything you do affects the future, then there is an amazing amount of time in a single day to make a difference.

Perhaps it is about approaching it differently than as if it is a checklist of books to read or concepts to grasp. Perhaps it is simply a matter of doing what you love - being good to yourself - learning what is burning within YOU to learn and doing so with some level of joy that you have this opportunity, in this amazing time to do so.

We will do what we will do - and all there is is lessons. Pushing oneself to overcome interior barriers is vitally important, but stressing over not having enough time takes energy away from remembering oneself, doesn't it? Perhaps this is where faith comes into play. The Universe knows what it is doing and we have a certain amount of 'time' left to contribute in this venue - to send out that signal and do what is before us to do - what else could matter more than that? And, ultimately, what more could one hope for a lifetime?

The following was my signature quote for quite a while - perhaps you'll understand why...

FORGET "I should", forget it all. Replace it by "I LOVE TO DO ...." and skip completely the TIME issue. If you need five lives to accomplish what you WANT, let this be the first of those five. And then, without any "time obligation" or "should stressing" - start it. First step first. And ENJOY it. And LOVE yourself - take care of yourself.

This is the only thing that the Universe (God?) wants from you, I think. Arkadiusz Jadczyk

So - relax - have a little faith - and simply focus on doing what is in you to do - and enjoy it! :)

Thanks Anart and Ark for reminding us of the wasted energy in stressing about the non existent time while enjoying the process for what it is. Sometimes it is easy to forget.

 

[KTC]

Where would we be without this forum? Thank you for bringing up something that I also find a little overwhelming sometimes... and thank you for reminding me why I'm here. I'm off to bed to continue reading Beezlebubs Tales. I actually put it down a week ago because of this feeling of never getting through all of this literature 'in time'.

 

[Moonbird]

I cannot even imagine where I would be without this forum, and The Wave volumes and SOTT. This is the first breath of sanity in all my 50 years of this current life…the only information that has made any sense for me in my search.

Thank you for bumping this thread. It is just what I needed. I also have been feeling overwhelmed with the time issue and have been feeling “out of breath.” Also, I feel guilty because I “should” be doing this, or that or the other.

I copied Ark’s quote down for me to refer to as a reminder. Very helpful.

 

[lwu02eb]

I second the gratitude felt by others, both for this specific thread (and particularly Ark's insight) and for everything achieved by this forum and its contributors.

 

[Drea]

With all the recent chaos going on, it has been hard to convince myself things are "OK".
Reading this thread helped me to slow down a bit, and regain some peace inside.
Thank you crew for this thread, and thanks for the bump. It came at the right time.

 

[cubbex]

I have to add that stressing because of the imminent end of times is not helpful as has been told, just thinking about it, we can die at any moment.
The best we can do is indeed, do the best daily. I still remember those days where I was so impatient to know when a comet will fall, so I could avoid it, but I guess that being aware when a baseball ball can fall over my head is more important so I can avoid being hurt by a daily accident.

 

[Ariadna]

Every day I am more grateful for this opportunity that life has given me to find this forum, and the people who inhabit it. Each day I find topics and post that help me enormously to see things clearer. In reference to this topic "An overwhelming feeling ..." I think most of my life I lived under pressure (family issues, especially labor, couple ... all at once ...) and now to take this path of knowledge, was tumbling on the same thing, hurry, not having time ... and thanks to your words, wise words, wisely expressed, I realize that I can't observe, to remind myself, enjoy, pay attention to situations or people, reflect and ultimately learn under stress! Thank you Seekingthetruth, Anart, Ark., others, and especially Laura, who with her work, research and books, has opened for me and I think for many others the door to all this knowledge.
I'm happy to share thoughts, feelings and experiences.

Hope I'm not being a bit heavy to express my gratitude, but honestly is how I feel now. :)

 

[kanader]

Hi SeekingtheTruth,

One thing we know for sure is that 'time pressure' - stressing out about not having enough time - is not only useless, it is damaging, I'd even say entropic. We can have no impact on time (it doesn't even exist) - we cannot change others and we cannot stop what is coming. However, it is my deep understanding that continuing, in the midst of this increasing madness, to objectively awaken and help others who are asking to do the same - to live as if there is nothing more important than THIS - every day, in everything, standing up for the Truth and becoming objectively Real is sending a signal out to the Universe that will be noted in the grand scheme of things.

If you consider that every step you take toward awakening sends out a signal - that every program you remove, every effort you make to be a representative of Truth and Creativity in this world sends out a signal, then the 'time issue' fades away. If you act as if everything you do affects the future, then there is an amazing amount of time in a single day to make a difference.

Perhaps it is about approaching it differently than as if it is a checklist of books to read or concepts to grasp. Perhaps it is simply a matter of doing what you love - being good to yourself - learning what is burning within YOU to learn and doing so with some level of joy that you have this opportunity, in this amazing time to do so.

We will do what we will do - and all there is is lessons. Pushing oneself to overcome interior barriers is vitally important, but stressing over not having enough time takes energy away from remembering oneself, doesn't it? Perhaps this is where faith comes into play. The Universe knows what it is doing and we have a certain amount of 'time' left to contribute in this venue - to send out that signal and do what is before us to do - what else could matter more than that? And, ultimately, what more could one hope for a lifetime?

The following was my signature quote for quite a while - perhaps you'll understand why...

FORGET "I should", forget it all. Replace it by "I LOVE TO DO ...." and skip completely the TIME issue. If you need five lives to accomplish what you WANT, let this be the first of those five. And then, without any "time obligation" or "should stressing" - start it. First step first. And ENJOY it. And LOVE yourself - take care of yourself.

This is the only thing that the Universe (God?) wants from you, I think. Arkadiusz Jadczyk

So - relax - have a little faith - and simply focus on doing what is in you to do - and enjoy it! :)

Thank you so much for this. Sadly there are still people like me and others who still need a real quick in the...
"Time" is one of the worst concept implemented by the Matrix to hold us back and the lack of it is the number one cause of stress which in retrospect, negate all the positive things that we do on a daily basis :(
Even by knowing this, I cant help myself to fall into this trap again and again...
there are so many things happening to me for the last couple of month that sometime, it's hard to stay focus and and to let it go.
So, Thank you anart for your input. The quote from Ark is just what i needed. I will print it and stick it everywhere i can to remind me that one can still have "the Time of his Life" even in this Matrix of ours.
Thank you so much.

 

[JGeropoulas]

I have finally finished reading Jeanne de Salzmann’s book, The Reality Of Being. It’s taken two years because I quickly realized I needed to approach it like a devotional book—brief readings followed by extended times of reflection. I have found this book not only educates me, but also inspires and guides me with my own “Work.” Maybe that’s because Salzmann’s book is a compilation her personal journals from decades doing “The Work”. I also realized early on that I would have to treat her book as a “Work”book, so it's now filled with my own notes and nearly every paragraph coded as a “Key Truth”, “Ultimate Aim” or “Practical Technique.”

I really appreciated Ark and Anart’s “calls to rest vs. stress,” so thought I’d share some quotes from Salzmann’s book about the importance of avoiding stress and tension—from a larger, esoteric perspective:

In order to experience a state in which I engage in a new order...first I need to find a position of my body in which there is no ...tension to hinder a pure sensation...relaxed yet alive.

I cannot perceive a subtle Presence in myself...because I am separated from it by a wall of tensions

Opening to Presence requires the passage from one density of vibrations to another, a movement inward through sensation...an empty place free of tensions

This force comes from a higher part of the mind...from above my head...passes through my body if there are no tensions. ...to find a place that is free in order to act of the other centers.

There must be room so that a vibration can be produced. The slightest tension makes it impossible. In order to receive this life in me, I must have a state with no tension—nowhere

The more I “try,” the more the way is blocked. Nothing gets through.

real security does not come by escaping from the mind. It is possible only when the thinking is truly quiet, when the accumulating action of ambition and desire comes to an end

then my search for silence, for tranquility, will be a quest not for security, but for freedom to receive the unknown

There is no time, only the present moment. Yet to live in the present is wholly sufficient unto itself. At each moment one dies, one lives, one loves, one is. Free of fear and illusion moment after moment we die to the known in order to enter the unknown.
.

 

[SMM]

Thank you everyone here, to all the posts & input, for deeply moving & appropriate words.

JGeropoulas, the last part of Salzmann quote really touched me;

real security does not come by escaping from the mind. It is possible only when the thinking is truly quiet, when the accumulating action of ambition and desire comes to an end

then my search for silence, for tranquility, will be a quest not for security, but for freedom to receive the unknown

There is no time, only the present moment. Yet to live in the present is wholly sufficient unto itself. At each moment one dies, one lives, one loves, one is. Free of fear and illusion moment after moment we die to the known in order to enter the unknown.

It bought tears to my eyes. In states of tension I realise that my reflection is not my own, my voice is not my own. Dying to the known requires letting go, of tension, ambition, desire which pulls you away from the Present - the presence of a true voice, a true reflection.

The [objective] voice is often silent, an undeniable knowing without sound. For many years I tried various means to escape, all my life I feel as if I've been seeking silence, sensing the world cruel & incomprehensible. In retrospect I feel as though it was wasted time as 'silence' was nowhere but in the present moment... it's about better heeding the message in the moment & acting on it. Knowledge protects. Physical appearances/manifestations are very deceiving [what one sees/hears.. or as it relates to the senses & our physiology] for their own purposes. It's hard or maddening without knowing, which is why understanding the machine & interior barriers is vital, yet I cannot see any other path worthwhile.

It's inspiring & fun - a forum/networking with those who have different strengths, weaknesses & ways of looking at or approaching things really helps.. you never know where you'll end up next. Everyone with their journeys/lessons, as well as collective lessons. Focussing on being better, making good things happen, in all your choices & letting go of the outcome is what we can do. As the C's say:

"We will do what we will do."

"Where you are [i.e. time] is not important. Who you are & what you see is."

Thank you Anart, that quote from Ark speaks a million words.

I have to add that stressing because of the imminent end of times is not helpful as has been told, just thinking about it, we can die at any moment.
The best we can do is indeed, do the best daily. I still remember those days where I was so impatient to know when a comet will fall, so I could avoid it, but I guess that being aware when a baseball ball can fall over my head is more important so I can avoid being hurt by a daily accident.

Very nicely put

 

[Faith]

(...) Thus, I am finding myself feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information that needs to be assimilated relative to the amount of time that I perceive is remaining before it is too late. Once I begin an article/book I find myself rushing through it. The effect is that I am preventing myself from actually learning and assimilating such information in an economical way. (...)

When I was feeling the same way, rushing through the articles and being overshadowed by this mountain of information, I finally found this helpful thread. Thank you for bringing this up. :)

FORGET "I should", forget it all. Replace it by "I LOVE TO DO ...." and skip completely the TIME issue. If you need five lives to accomplish what you WANT, let this be the first of those five. And then, without any "time obligation" or "should stressing" - start it. First step first. And ENJOY it. And LOVE yourself - take care of yourself.

This is the only thing that the Universe (God?) wants from you, I think. Arkadiusz Jadczyk

So - relax - have a little faith - and simply focus on doing what is in you to do - and enjoy it! :)

I really am touched by these words. So being on the way and moving forward is the main thing, how ever slow it might appear. When I intend to go faster and realize that it starts stressing me in the way SeekingtheTruth has described, I know this has been too fast, too much, too demanding. I must change down, find my own pace. If learning is the objective than it's better to read at a slower pace, even if it means to read less books and articles. I can learn more from those few if I also enjoy myself a little. In terms of quality that's better than fearfully rushing through huge amounts of information with just a superficial understanding or no understanding. As they say: "Haste makes waste". In the end I want to say: I have progressed a little further.

 

[SadEyes]

(...) Thus, I am finding myself feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information that needs to be assimilated relative to the amount of time that I perceive is remaining before it is too late. Once I begin an article/book I find myself rushing through it. The effect is that I am preventing myself from actually learning and assimilating such information in an economical way. (...)

When I was feeling the same way, rushing through the articles and being overshadowed by this mountain of information, I finally found this helpful thread. Thank you for bringing this up. :)

FORGET "I should", forget it all. Replace it by "I LOVE TO DO ...." and skip completely the TIME issue. If you need five lives to accomplish what you WANT, let this be the first of those five. And then, without any "time obligation" or "should stressing" - start it. First step first. And ENJOY it. And LOVE yourself - take care of yourself.

This is the only thing that the Universe (God?) wants from you, I think. Arkadiusz Jadczyk

So - relax - have a little faith - and simply focus on doing what is in you to do - and enjoy it! :)

I really am touched by these words. So being on the way and moving forward is the main thing, how ever slow it might appear. When I intend to go faster and realize that it starts stressing me in the way SeekingtheTruth has described, I know this has been too fast, too much, too demanding. I must change down, find my own pace. If learning is the objective than it's better to read at a slower pace, even if it means to read less books and articles. I can learn more from those few if I also enjoy myself a little. In terms of quality that's better than fearfully rushing through huge amounts of information with just a superficial understanding or no understanding. As they say: "Haste makes waste". In the end I want to say: I have progressed a little further.

I often have this lingering feeling urgency in the back of my mind at times when I am quiet; and I could never understand why. I have a mountain of books on my dresser that I am slowly going through (and adding to at the same time), but I often feel that some books need to be read when I'm ready to read them. When I first found this site, I was completely overwhelmed by the amount of information as well as the suggested reading list, and that threw me into despair. Taking some time to myself and going at my own pace, while concentrating non-stop on Being, self-remembering and observing seemed to take away much of that feeling. I had almost forgot that I should also enjoy life for a while.