Impressions

I've been reading MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl. In this book he wrote briefly about an idea that I'd like to expand on. Sometimes when we are watching a moving film, reading an inspiring book or listening to a powerful sermon we receive certain impressions that motivate
us to do something different with out lives. I experience this phenomenon almost every time I meditate while out in nature, whether it's on a hike or a long backpacking trip. These impressions give us the desire to change the way we live, to show someone that we care, to be more kind to those around us or to learn a new skill. I recently experienced this when watching the movie Karate Kid. For whatever reason, watching that little kid kick some trash made me want to learn kung fu 功夫. These impression are often more deep in meaning but the problem is we become desensitized to them. While in the moment we are connected to our inner being, to God we experience a strong desire to accomplish whatever that feeling entails. Then we get back to reality. Once the movie is over, once we finish the book, once we get back into the city, those inspirational ideas seem to fade and we soon forget. The same feelings may return upon repeating the previous action but then our lives take over again. I wonder if society, technology, work, school, responsibilities are somehow limiting us from our true potential. I'm talking about the experience I had that I described in my post Why Not Today? We experience these inspiring thoughts and then we are overtaken by worldly ideas. These ideas are demotivating. They keep us from reaching our true potential. Next time you experience this, when you feel inspired to make a change or learn something new, don't let yourself forget. Push through the ideas that tell you it can't be done, that you don't have time, that you don't have the money. All things are possible, my belief is that those inspiring feelings come from God and it is what He and life expect from us.