Audiobook: Your Simple Path By Ian Tucker - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Give or Take - You can now enjoy the audiobook of Ian Tucker's international bestseller "Your Simple Path" here on InsightTimer! Are you at a crossroads? Do you feel that there has to be more to life? The sole purpose of this beautifully simple book is to reconnect you to what truly matters. Each chapter is a step towards letting go of what no longer serves, and liberates you to create a life of authenticity and meaning.

Transcript

Chapter 4 Give or Take After recognising that the current moment is all we can ever truly rely on,

Let us now look at what will offer you the next step along your simple path.

Regret and worry are just two of the emotions that we can feel at any time.

Our emotions are our feelings.

They give us an indication of how we are doing,

How things are affecting us.

Unlike our thought process,

Which at times can play tricks on us,

Our emotions really do serve our best interests.

They are a true indication of how we really are.

We can be dishonest.

We can even train our mind to believe a certain story.

But deep down inside,

Our emotions always let us know what's really going on.

It's important to realise that one emotion exists to create another.

How can we feel happiness without first knowing sadness?

Recognise the blessing of being cared for if at some point we have not felt lonely?

It's healthy for us to acknowledge that we need our full range of emotions to grow and evolve.

Inner peace and happiness will not be found within some sort of clinical existence where nothing ever goes wrong.

We will have things come into our lives that test us and it's at times like this that we are given the chance to realise how alive we really are.

We come into our own not only in the sunshine but also in the eye of the storm.

Another way of looking at it is if there were only left and no right,

Then we would have to go the long way around every time.

Our emotional wellbeing is closely linked to another part of our make-up,

Our behaviour and actions.

How we act or interact with ourselves and others has an absolute bearing on our outlook towards life.

Our emotions and actions are directly connected.

For example,

If we act a certain way,

It will have a direct effect on how we are feeling.

If we saw a stranger who obviously needed our help and we offered it,

Then that would create an appropriate emotional reaction.

On some level we would nurture a caring or kind feeling and in turn the stranger would respond with feelings such as gratitude and appreciation.

But if we were to attack or harm that person,

Then emotions such as aggression or hate would emerge and create fear and anxiety within them.

Our actions at any one time also have a lasting effect on our ability to be happy.

For example,

Helping the stranger will serve our best interests moving forward.

We will develop positive and cherished memories which will in turn create a warm and endearing emotional response.

We can even call on that occasion if we are in need of simply feeling a bit better about ourselves at some point.

In contrast,

What if we had chosen to verbally or even physically harm that person?

What do we carry with us?

Regret,

Remorse,

Guilt,

Anxiety and in the other person,

Perhaps revenge,

Anger or even aggression back towards you or another.

Every action creates a reaction and not only within ourselves.

We're more apparent when we allow ourselves to think about the effect it has on the other person.

There is a very good chance that a kind act from you would leave them wanting to reciprocate in some way,

Either with you or another.

So even without knowing it,

You have created a chain reaction of goodwill.

Your simple act moves forward into a world that is in desperate need of someone just like you.

A kind gesture or word from you has a wonderfully uplifting effect on others.

In today's society,

Interaction and unconditional kindness can often be scarce,

But something that seems nothing to you can change another's life forever.

A smile to a stranger who has given up hope of anyone ever smiling at them again.

A hug for someone who just needs to feel wanted.

A reassuring arm around the little boy or girl who's not the team's star player.

You have a choice with every action.

You have a fabulous opportunity to look after not only your own mental and emotional state,

But send ripples of happiness out into the world to touch the hearts of everyone.

The following illustration takes just a small selection of our full range of emotions and actions that are available to us and places them on a simple template.

Anything below the line in the centre of the page would perhaps be less welcome than those placed above the line.

So above the line we have happy,

Forgiving,

Compassionate,

Empathetic,

Generous,

Calm,

Honest,

Complimentary,

Caring,

Allowing,

Grateful,

Respectful,

Authentic,

Kind,

Loving,

Sympathetic.

And below the line,

Worried,

Aggressive,

Violent,

Revengeful,

Depressed,

Dishonest,

Guilty,

Selfish,

Insecure,

Fearful,

Anxious,

Lonely,

Controlling,

Critical,

Manipulative,

And rage.

Every one of us will have experienced all the emotions and actions shown and there's a very good chance that they will all be a part of our lives again,

Even if only for a moment,

We're in a much more conscious state.

I think it's safe to assume that we would all wish to spend more time above the line.

It's simply a more inspiring,

Peaceful,

And joyous place to be.

What if I told you that above the line is who you really are and you have simply created what appears below the line as a result of falling in line with a collective consciousness?

You live in a world that recognises below the line as normal.

You spend every day with people and newspapers and television channels that encourage you to stay down there.

Each night a national news summary on every major channel spends half an hour feeding fear to millions without taking any responsibility for finding a solution.

That's if the issue even exists in the first place.

Occasionally they will include a 30 second light at the end of the tunnel snippet,

But then straight back to the major damning headlines to close the programme.

Strangers,

Work colleagues,

Even family will often question the authenticity of that rare individual who dares to choose happy and not sad,

Or gratitude over complaint.

It's just not natural.

Is there a chance that you are being drawn to above the line because seeing it in this way reminds you of your true nature?

Well let's look at what's natural.

A bird wouldn't sing below the line.

A tree couldn't root there.

And that infectious laughter of a toddler would fall silent amongst embarrassed and fearful or manipulative and deceitful.

So if this is beginning to make sense to you on some level,

Then how can we simplify it even further?

Some of us may look at one section as a positive whilst the other is negative.

Or maybe one is born out of love and the other fear and both would be perfect analogies.

Now look again,

Just a little deeper.

Is there a pattern to the words on each side,

Regardless of whether they are actions or emotions?

These words carry a great life lesson.

Words such as caring,

Sympathetic,

Complimentary,

Sincere,

Compassionate.

The list could go on and on,

But they all point towards the same thing.

To feel good,

To be above the line and closer to your true,

Authentic self.

We should look at what we can do for others whilst looking to develop an existence where bringing happiness and peace to others comes before our self.

A sense of concern for others gives our life meaning.

It is at the root of all human happiness.

In the same way,

Below the line could be termed what's in it for me.

As words such as complain,

Control,

Manipulate,

Revenge and anger all support the notion that we have to have it our own way.

That inner peace and happiness come from controlling an outcome,

Any outcome,

In order for the end result to be just as you would like it.

Allow yourself a moment and begin to imagine your life if you could lose all the emotional baggage,

The stress,

Anxiety and heartache associated with uncertainty and the need to be in control.

Sense the weight and heavy energy that goes with your negative or fearful emotions and actions lift from you to be replaced by the lighter,

Peaceful,

More energetic vibrations that you feel when you begin to take yourself out of the equation.

Developing an outlook that puts others before yourself shouldn't just stop at people who you have come to know and even love.

Imagine how your life would change if you could extend this to all living things.

At this point I would like to introduce you to a wonderfully inspiring concept and a perfect way to step out of your society-induced cycle of the need to control your life.

A very dear friend of mine,

Stuart Morris,

Is the director of a natural health centre in Birmingham,

England.

When I was preparing to write this book he encouraged me to run a series of talks and very kindly offered me a room at his centre.

His advice and insight has ever proved to be perfect.

The talks grew in popularity and as I was able to help others find their simple path in life,

Their feedback and interaction within the group really began to shape and define the message further.

At the end of the first talk I went to him and asked him how much I owed him for the room.

Without hesitation he asked me to pay it forward.

I must admit that I wasn't sure what he meant so I enquired again.

He asked me to think of an amount that I would expect to pay and give it to a stranger as a random act of kindness.

This immediately made sense to me and I found myself excited but a little nervous about the whole thing.

When I pushed Stuart for who,

Where and when he simply said,

Don't worry about that,

You'll just know when the time is right.

The following week I was in Liskard,

Cornwall.

The family and I were walking back to catch the train when the heavens opened and it began to pour with rain.

We took shelter in a charity shop that by any stretch of the imagination was a little down on its luck.

Bare shelves and not much else were on offer.

The only other people in the shop were two female volunteers.

After spending a small amount on a couple of things we noticed that the rain had stopped and our train was almost due so we went on our way.

As I left the shop I got an overwhelming feeling to go back in.

Stuart's words of you'll know when became very prominent and so I asked my wife to carry on with the kids and I would catch them up.

When I re-entered the shop the lady at the counter asked if I had forgotten something.

I inquired if she could tell me about the charity and her eyes lit up.

With real enthusiasm she began to explain that it supported local adults with learning disabilities who were able to attend a creative day centre and the proceeds from the shop paid for the materials required.

As she was explaining I took the money from my wallet.

I found myself so full of gratitude that I had been given the chance to actually connect with this lady and handed her a donation.

Both of them became very emotional and told me that that was typically what the small shop took in a week and that's when the hook started.

I told them that it was a gift from a very special place in Birmingham and congratulated them on the inspiring work that they both do.

So by recognising that the actions and emotions associated with giving rather than receiving always sit above the line it is possible to consider paying it forward rather than the need to always get something back.

Perhaps we then begin to understand the wise and knowing words of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

If you contribute to other people's happiness you will find the true goal,

The true meaning of life.

Reviews

Live above the line. Makes perfect sense. That was a lovely example of paying it forward. 💛

That was Very inspiring Ian. Thank you!! I too pay it forward.

Very powerful, brought tears to my eyes. Thank you!!🙏

Thank you for sharing this audiobook here on Insight Timer. This is a true gift.

So many simple teachings. Thank you 🙏🏻❤️

Good memories from your live event 😄 especially the line on the page and end story parts!

Very inspiring chapter to give more & spread kindness. I especially like the part above & below the line. I stopped watching the news & find now I stay mostly above the line. The charity story really made my day. Thank you for these reminders on how to make a better world.

wonderful as always, Ian. thank you. ♥️
(have to admit the episode in the charity brought a tear to my eye...)

Very moving story! Wisdom & discernment! Lovely Ian

I went into meditation after listening to this chapter, namaste 🙏