Master and Commander
Our future is so much closer
loud and accidental.
The quieter
and serenely open we are,
the more we can make it our own.
It becomes our fate,
our innermost being.
It’s then, we come to realize -
nothing alien happens to us,
but only what has long been our own.
- E. A. Bland
Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.
Lao Tzu
Commanding Your Destiny Starts With a Peaceful Mind and An Open Heart
Dear Poets,
In our quest for peace and contentment, we often clutch tightly to our desires, control, and expectations, believing that through sheer will, we can command the tides of fate. Yet, true serenity unfolds not from a tighter grip but from a stance of openness and acceptance.
It's about embracing the future's uncertainties with a calm heart and an open mind. This week we’ll explore how serenity can become a tool to shape our destiny, guiding us to navigate life's currents with grace and align with our true purpose.
The Future, Though Loud, Is Ours to Shape
A Mantra for Personal Destiny
Life is inherently unpredictable, filled with noise and chaos that can either derail us or propel us forward, depending on our response.
Serenity, in this context, is more than just a state of calmness; it's a strategic tool for personal growth and future shaping.?
When I kicked off the Found Poetry Monday series, I didn't expect it to hit home with so many of you. All I wanted was to put a little bit of my soul and art out there, along with some thoughts to ponder during your day.
But here we are, with folks from all over social media asking for more—“When’s the next one coming?” “This has been a breath of fresh air in my week.”
Turns out, there's a lot of love for poetry out there!??
Our Fate Aligns With Our Openness
A Guide to Navigating Life's Currents
The degree to which we are open to life's experiences directly influences the trajectory of our journey.
Our destiny, in a sense, is not a predefined path but a river that changes course with our every decision.
For instance…
Found Poetry Mondays, and this newsletter as a whole, wouldn't be what they are if I hadn't taken the leap into writing found poetry.
Like I've shared before, my adventure with found poetry began during the lockdowns in 2020, serving as both a coping mechanism and a way to look after my mental health. Every day, I'd turn to a fresh page, spotlight the words that resonated with me, eliminate the ones that didn't, and rearrange what was left into something resembling a poem.
Some of these pieces were tough to write and reflect on, uncovering parts of myself I wasn't ready to confront and even putting my beliefs and relationships under the microscope.
It's hard to say where our paths might take us, but if we're open to the journey, we might just stumble upon places and opportunities we never knew existed.
领英推荐
You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.
Marcus Aurelius
We Encounter Only What Resonates With Us
Understanding Life's Selective Echoes
How many of us dive into work, spend time with certain groups, or engage in activities only to end up feeling miserable, angry, or downright depressed? Well, let me pose this question to you:?
How much of what we experience daily is actually a projection of our own beliefs and feelings?
Our experiences in life are not random but are reflections of our inner state. The energy we emit through our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs attracts similar energies, shaping our reality.
Starting therapy at the beginning of 2023—for the first time ever—helped me truly understand and accept that the more disorganized, unmotivated, and indifferent I was about my internal world, mindset, and direction, the more my external life mirrored that chaos and disarray.
I found myself tolerating negativity and toxicity because, in some way, I believed I deserved it, instead of recognizing... that's just life.?
What I - what any of us - truly have "control" over is how I internally respond to what happens around me, which is reflected in my actions. In other words:??
Serenity and Openness Are The Keys to Commanding Your Future
Crafting a Destiny of Choice
What have I learned from this journey? Reflecting on this series, the newsletter, and the four years since the lockdown, what lessons have they all imparted to me?
Mastering our destiny is about finding the sweet spot between calmness and openness.
It's about developing a peaceful mind that can navigate life's uncertainties gracefully and an open heart that sees every moment as a chance to carve out our path.
So, as we come to a close for this week’s Found Poetry Monday, here are some final takeaways to get you through the week.
By accepting the paradox that real control stems from surrender, we discover not just peace but also the ability to influence our future. It's when we open our hearts and minds that destiny's winds can sweep us toward our destined spots, steered by the constellations of our most profound wishes and dreams.
Whatever feelings of uncertainty, discomfort, or unrest you're experiencing at this moment, welcome them, with the assurance that "this too, shall pass."
You are Master and Commander.
With an open heart,
E. A. Bland
Stay Poetic!
If you liked what you read in today’s newsletter, why not share it with a friend or a loved one? Don't forget to subscribe and drop a comment—I’m eager to hear what you think!
And how are you finding this new format? It’s been in the works to get to this stage, so I’d love to discuss it with you! Thanks for reading. Stay poetic, and have a wonderful rest of your week.