The idea of convenience and what we are willing to do and not do, became a subject for thought the last few weeks. It was triggered by a note I received from a bookstore owner in Chicago. We were discussing the Solar Wave www.kachina.net/~alunajoy/solarwave2005.html. She was telling me that people would get involved only if it was convenient for them. In other words, people would not participate in events that could have potential to heal humanity and the planet if it was inconvenient.

I began to look at this idea of convenience. In my sessions with clients I began to watch for places that they were willing to settle for less to avoid the inconvenience or conflict created by shifting or changing any given situation. I began to see that a core reason why the consciousness of humanity and the state of our planet is the way it is, is because it is too inconvenient for us to fix it.

Have we become so comfortable or should I say anesthetized, in our current situations that we are not willing to make the changes needed in our lives, communities, countries and planet, to make a better life or a better world? Are we stunting our spiritual and emotional well-being just because it’s too inconvenient to begin to live our life’s purpose? Have we filled our lives up with so much doing, that we are too sedated to consider just being?

My heart would love to write about living love today, but I can’t help seeing that many are settling for less than love in their relationships. Many stay in a relationships much longer than they want to, because it is simply inconvenient to leave them. It would mean they would have to go through the turmoil of losing the relationship. Many things change when we leave any form of relationship. We might have to move, change our jobs, lose a few of our friends or even wake up and evolve to the next level. Oh my!

We want peace and harmony in the home, so we settle for less than good behavior from our children, just to get a few moments of peace. It has become inconvenient to stand up to our little angels and do what we know is right. Those little angels know this and work us over and over controlling our lives.

Our marriage and children are understandably difficult relationships to change, since there is a lot at stake. But I have to ask why we allow friends to abuse us. They treat us in a condescending ways, making us feel less than who we are and do not support us. Are we willing to settle for half of a friendship and endure the drama or abuse that goes with the other half?

We settle for less in our jobs the same way we settle for less in relationships. We stay in a job because it is too inconvenient to find a new job. We have lost our passion for what we are doing but it has become too inconvenient to find our life’s work. Our bosses and co-workers take advantage of the situation because they know that we will not stand up to being over worked and being used. Why is it that we are willing to risk our health and endure in a stressful job over mere convenience?

We have convenience stores, convenient relationships, convenient on-line shopping, convenient jobs and live in convenient areas. But do we ever ask ourselves are we really happy? Do we ask why we are willing to settle for less? Living convenient, tidy lives packs a huge price. Are we willing to pay the price? Staying in any situation as a matter of convenience takes a great toll on our physical health, our immune system, our spiritual lives and our emotional body. Convenience has also triggered a phenomena of global isolation and loneliness. In order to stay in a relationship of convenience, one must shut down the heart just to endure the convenience. It is no wonder so many are unhappy, feel unwell, are tired all the time and feel uninspired. Are we willing to shut down our heart’s desires so we can maintain the conveniences of our lives? Are we letting our dreams die to maintain the status quo? Are our fantasies possible realities that we have given up on?

There are only two ways to live; either in love or in fear. When we settle for less, we are not doing what is best for us; nor are we loving ourselves. We are not living in truth or love. We are actually living in fear.

If we are not willing to stand up and do what’s best in our personal lives, our family, our community or our country, then we are to blame for the state of our family, our community, our country and the planet.

This brings me back to where I started when I began to write this article. I have a dream that we can change this world in a positive way. I think it is your dream too, is it not? I believe that we can create a world of peace, harmony and balance in spite of the overwhelming outer evidence. I believe we can love our diversities, not fight over them. I believe we have it in ourselves to see beyond the differences in race, religion and culture. I believe in the power of gathering groups. I believe in the power that you have and the power that I have, if we could just take a little time away from our busy lives to gather together, to multiply the power we have collectively and do something good. The signs are evident. We can not afford the price of convenience anymore.

Aluna Joy Yaxk’in is an author, guide and mystic. She has based her life’s work on mystical/shamanic experiences with the Star Elders that accelerated over a decade of travel in Central and South America. She can be reached at PO Box 1988, Sedona, AZ 86339, (928) 282-6292 or alunajoy@kachina.net. Visit www.1spirit.com/alunajoy.