I believe that we are always aware of who the “Real” person is behind our masks. In every action we take, every day of our lives, we are consistently making choices.

One one side of the possibility of choices are actions that our “little self” — our ego — the “masked person” — wants to take. One the other side are the choices that our “Real Self” — that part of us that is filled with love, wisdom and compassion — wants to take.

One example I can offer here is one that I’ve been taking notice of over the past week or so — and that is how so many of us are choosing a fast, overly scheduled life, over one of slowing down and enjoying life.

Wherever we are, from one day to the next, the Earth is moving at the same speed. Yet, in the modern world, we’ve convinced ourselves that the world is moving faster, and that speed is the way to make our life work. Under the pressure of tight schedules, commitments, and over-burdened “to-do” lists, we think we can accomplish more if we speed through the day. There we are, parked outside the grocery store, checking our list of things to buy while we are either taking to our mother-in-law or texting someone on the cell-phone, and mentally planning our next activity of the day for our business.

That sort of self-generated speed creates its own power and momentum, which begins to rule us. It’s a form of small-mindedness that blinds us to what life truly has to offer — the opportunity to develop our wisdom and compassion. With this “speedy mind”, we find it difficult to enjoy the fruits of our labor, our love, or our life. We can’t relax.

When we speed around, are we mastering our life, or are we hanging on for dear life? In order to master our life, we need to learn to be content with life as it unfolds from moment to moment. We don’t have to buy into “speed’s game plan”. We can slow down. Eating fast doesn’t make food taste better. Getting angry over traffic, doesn’t make it move faster.

One way to get out of the cycle of speed, is to learn to meditate. That will give you the opportunity to slow down for a short time each day — to step out of the cycle of speed. If we choose to run on the clock of wisdom and compassion, the clock that our “Real Self” uses, we can accomplish even more without racing around like headless chickens.

We don’t have to speed. With love as our only appointment, we have all the time in the world. We can put all those “ego masks” aside, the ones that represent anger, jealousy, pride, and regret. The face behind all those masks is the face of love, wisdom and compassion.

It’s a choice. It requires determination, or courage as you mention, to take the time to simplify our lives. By doing so, we regain space and the only thing we lose is speediness. We learn how to float, carried by the winds, taking the time to appreciate what we see in every direction. We learn to relax.

(Sorry for the length — I got carried away!)

With love and peace …