When Einstein said the following passage he was referring to his world of physics.
…creating a new theory is not like destroying an old barn and erecting a skyscraper in its place. It is rather like climbing a mountain, gaining new and wider views, discovering unexpected connections between our starting point and its rich environment. But the point from which we started out still exists and can be seen, although it appears smaller and forms a tiny part of our broad view gained by mastery of the obstacles on our adventurous way up.
When I read this I thought it was indeed a perfect description of life’s journey to Higher Consciousness.
When first you learn something you didn’t know, you eventually reach a point where you are certain there are things you just don’t even know you don’t know you don’t know. In the process of evolution you get to the place where you can relax in that knowing of not knowing. You relax in knowing that you don’t know ~ and it is all okay. You do what you need to do. You strive to expand your knowing, your perspective and perception of life and all its components.
However, there is just so much that can be misunderstood or misinterpreted. Later, these may change with the coming of more wisdom and more knowing. The assessment of how you thought things were or how they should be changes and you have a clearer view of it all. Opinions change, perspective broadens, and you become more allowing.
You also don’t forget what you thought you knew ~ you remember those old, outdated opinions and beliefs; and hopefully you have a sense of humor about it. They are just part of the journey.
Life and increased awareness is a step-by-step process. Heading up the mountain, you see more. You know more about the experience you had, where you have been and that 20/20 hindsight reveals to you the lack of clear sight you had back there. But then how could you see when you were back in the valley and not farther up the mountain? You couldn’t.
All that knowing you had back there was based on where you were. There is flat land, a river, and space that is limited. And way over there is a huge mountain that some people choose to climb. You watch and consider, maybe one day, not just now.
Then the day comes and you begin to ascend and as you do your view expands and changes. Wow, I didn’t know that all of this existed. Well, how could you? Now you do. And what will happen as you keep climbing? Expanded views, new perspectives; more knowing what you didn’t know before. More discovering what you didn’t know you didn’t know.
And how come it took me so long to head up that mountain? I had to get ready. And all the things you experienced down there prepared you for the journey.
There is a thread that weaves through our lives. Once we gain higher ground we see the pattern, the way we have woven our life ~ each event connected in some manner through our experience. And in our wisdom we learn from all of it and are grateful. Without all of that experience we would not have come to where we are ~ farther up the mountain.
In our new perspective we know that what we experienced was simply the journey. And while we sat in the middle of it, it seemed so big, now it seems small. Hindsight is like that ~ evolution creates perfect vision.
As we gain a broader view, an expanded perspective, what seemed the biggest challenge in the world now looks small. What seemed a big life now seems a small life. And we are able to embrace a greater purpose for our existence ~ to live a bigger life. It is the mastery of the obstacles that changes our viewpoint and propels us to Higher Consciousness ~ one step at a time.
I had a realization about this recently when talking with one of my granddaughters. She just turned eight and was telling me that now when she hurts herself playing she doesn’t cry. She just rubs it and it stops ~ “It’s no big thing” she said. I said, “That’s because you know its not going to last. When you were little and you hurt yourself you thought it would so you really, really cried about it.” She agreed with that and then promptly pointed out that her little sister still cries a lot when she hurts herself.
This is just an example of evolution to Higher Consciousness at a child’s level that is a perfect parallel to life’s journey for all of us. The more Awake we become the less we cry about what is going on in our life that isn’t working. We know it isn’t going to last ~ it is transitory ~ it will change and stop hurting. And we create a new theory that matches our current state of being and remember the old one as a lesson for gathering wisdom.
Standing up on the mountain we look down and see from where we came. We see the winding trail of our journey and we smile that we thought the way we did. Seeing things in such a limited way ~ and now we know.
All is well in our world as we continue to climb the mountain appreciating and enjoying the journey.
