God is the Doer...

In everything God is the Doer.

This was told to me by some instructors from Ananda.

It has really helped me deal with stress at work. The whole "Why is this guy not pushing back on the project?" or "Why is he saying that?" or any other of endless complaints can end with this premise.

If God is the doer, don't complain. There's a lesson here, from God to me, so look for it.

The problem ceases being a problem, and becomes instead a reference point to freedom.

An example of this:
This past week - I had a situation at work, where I was getting frustrated. I look back on it now and I see the initial reason why I became upset.

It started like this: Someone at work, wanted to push more and more into something we were trying to release. This added pressure and stress on everyone to try and meet these changing goals. But if God is the doer, then this is occurring under the will of God. As such, I can't call this person names, or think negatively of this person. I can't. I see them only as doing the work of God. But what could the purpose possibly be?

Judging from my reaction - I must have a problem with being "pushed around" or in handling Greed/Desire. I say this because I had a reaction. Reactions in us are pointers to internal problems. In this case, I'm having a reaction to someone's greed. This guy was apparently "greedy" to get more things out in a release. This greed caused me to feel "pushed around."

First question I ask: Do I ever act this way with others? Do I ever throw my weight around to get what I want?

If so (invariably things that bother us are reflections of what's inside us) then this is a lesson to help me overcome my own tendency to do the same thing.

Second question I ask:What's the root cause or motivator that frustrates me? In this case, this person appears to have the root motivator of greed/desire. I have the same root problem, in other areas of my life.

So simply - this is a life lesson, not a frustrating person in my life. **Important Note: Life lessons aren't about the problems in others! They are always about the problems in US!** A lesson will never be "Oh i discovered this co-worker is a true dick." That's not a Life Lesson. A Life Lesson would be, "I see my own mistakes now, now I must find a way to work and resolve my similar problems."

It's hard to get to that conclusion in the moment. But start where we're at. If it takes a week to realize this. Great. In time, it will take less and less time - till you see the life lesson in the moment. You see, as the Buddhist's say, the emptiness of the situation.

Once we see the problem, then what?
So far, we've hit the nail on the head of where the problem is. But how do we fix it? In this case, I worked on issues of Greed and Desire - by uses of chants, meditation and prayer.
One mental chant that helped me is this one:
"I am Strong in myself. I am Complete in myself. The joy and perfection of the Universe await Inner Discovery."

Meditation, twice daily (morning and evening) for even a mere 15min at a time, helps tremendously. What I meditate on is either Universal Love or Expanded Consciousness. Expanded Consciousness, is meditating that you are not in the body. You are outside it, then expand your awareness... further and further expand - it removes the "I" and "ego" of self. It helps realize a universal oneness.

One Last Thing (perhaps the most important):
Don't forget to Thank God for the Life Lessons.