Jared Akers

If it's uncomfortable, I should probably be doing it

by Jared Akers

For years I resisted change. If it was uncomfortable, I avoided it. After all, it was all about me.

Two rationalizations I made often:

I’m shy
I work better alone

Here’s how I see these two rationalizations today:

I’m shy

I was making everything about me, how about getting outside of myself for a minute and see where I can be of service to others. Take the elevator instead of the stairs. I wasn’t shy, I just didn’t want to have to hear about anyone else’s problems. I was selfish and self-centered (although I didn’t know it at the time).

I work better alone

I didn’t want to ask for help or depend on anyone; especially not about how to be happy. So I taught myself how to do everything. Or maybe it was just my ego not wanting anyone else to know more than me. Either way, it kept me apart from as opposed to a part of.

Today if something feels uncomfortable, I realize it’s probably an area in which I have room to grow. The overall result is after going through it, I inevitably find myself with more happiness.

5 Ways of Finding Peace Within

by Jared Akers

“We can be sure that the greatest hope for maintaining equilibrium in the face of any situation rests within ourselves.”
—Francis J. Braceland

Inner peace is not something I simply woke up with one day. Finding inner peace came out of necessity from years of living a life run on self-will. The result of which were failed relationships, low self-esteem, self-destructive behavior, never knowing how to be happy, and depression. In a moment of desperation, I was forced to abandon my life as I knew it and ask for help. Through a spiritual program and accepting the help from a fellowship of caring, unselfish, and loving people who had something I wanted—serenity and inner peace—I found what I had always been looking for. The belief in a power greater than myself, in my case a loving God as I understood him/her, and a loving relationship with myself. In my time of desperation, I did not know this was what I was looking for, I simply realized I did not want to die and was willing to do whatever it took to relieve the pain. [Read more…]

Where I’m supposed to be

by Jared Akers

Yesterday, after my morning prayer & meditation, I wrote down a passage from “The Christmas Sweater” by Glenn Beck. I wrote it down to share with a group of people I would be speaking to that afternoon. The passage is dialog between little Eddie, the main character, and his mother. Eddie is upset about his fathers recent death and not getting the bike he wanted for Christmas. Below is what I wrote on a piece of paper and shoved in the back pocket of my jeans.

Page 108 of The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck

“I know that things have been hard since Dad died. But it’s been hard for both of us. At some point you have to realize that everything happens for a reason. It is up to you to find that reason, learn from it, and let it take you to the place you’re supposed to be—not just where you have ended up.” “…you can either complain about how hard your life is, or you can realize that only you are responsible for it. You get to choose: Am I going to be happy or miserable? And nothing—not a sweater, and certainly not a bike—will ever change that.” [Read more…]

In the midst of winter: finding my invincible summer

by Jared Akers

In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.
—Albert Camus

While sitting in the hot tub a few nights ago, I discovered a wonderful way to meditate. Meditation is a process I like to practice when I’m feeling the internal winter that sometimes creeps into my soul. By “winter” I’m referring to a gentle nudge of my serenity. Ninety percent of the time this feeling is based in fear. Fear of loosing something I think I have or not getting something I think I want. By quieting my mind, I can listen for the answers.

I like to SCUBA dive. Diving is one of the most spiritual experiences I engage in. Being submerged in another world full of beautiful creatures is truly amazing and nurturing for the soul. So here’s my process of meditation which works for me:

Find a comfortable position
Close my eyes and concentrate on breathing. I tend to think “God” or “Spirit” when breathing in and “self” when breathing out. This helps me relieve myself of “me” as much as possible
I imagine I’m drift diving over a beautiful reef in crystal blue waters. Drift diving is as close to flying as I’ve ever come, you simply ride along the current and float over the reef.
As I’m drifting along looking at all the beautiful sea life, I concentrate on as much detail as I can, trying to make out the different types of coral and schools of fish.
If something comes into my mind—work, school, finances—I try and let it float by. If it keeps returning I have to do something to get it out of my mind. If the thought is school, I picture one of my text books, again concentrating on as much detail as possible. I must find something that visually represents the thought. Once I have a clear image of it, I imagine the object is floating over head and beginning to block out the sun and is disturbing my beautiful dive. As the object begins to block the sun, I watch it move slowly down from above and right in front of my face. I then imagine the object beginning to morph into a colorful fish. Like a bright yellow angel fish or something I’ve seen before under the ocean. As the object morphs it begins to descend past me towards the reef below. I then watch as the fish begins to swim around some rocks and coral. I then let the current take me on down to the next coral head or item of interest.

I try and continue this process for as long as possible, usually around 20-30 minutes. Afterward I feel refreshed and revitalized. This is when answers come to me. My mind is clearer and ready for guidance. Its at these times when I find my internal summer. The feeling deep inside that no matter what happens, everything is going to be OK. True serenity.

Thank Heaven for 7 Eleven

by Jared Akers

I didn’t know 7 Eleven’s slogan was “Thank Heaven for 7 Eleven.” I know, I know, not sure where I’ve been for the last 30 years or so. I was getting gas there yesterday and their little screen at the pre-pay pump displayed “Thank Heaven” on it. I thought, wow, that’s cool. Amen to that. My wife informed me that was their slogan, not just a personal little message for me. Oh well, I took it as one. 😉