An Empty Box

"Life can be looked at as if it were a box. We want to take something out of the box to make our life work better. For example, if our lives need balance, we will look into the box and try to pull out balance. Or if we want more joy, we reach into the box and look for that. We're bent on finding the secret that will give us what we want.

But life does not work this way. What we want out of the box we must be willing to put into the box. If I want more serenity in my life, then I must be willing to do what it takes to put serenity in the box of my life. That might mean, for example, that I must learn to stop hoarding my hateful thoughts toward someone who hurt me. Or if I want more love in my life, I must put love in the box. I must be willing to be a more loving person towards others so that love can come back to me. Or if I want to be a healthy person, I must do something that will move me toward health.

I cannot become what I am not willing to choose right now to begin to become."

-Stephen Smith, Soul Custody