On the journey of self, it is easy to want to look to others and emulate the behaviors, thoughts and words of those we deem as having achieved enlightenment or some divine virtue or understanding. It's easy to model ourselves against those we deem important, but in doing so perhaps we lose a part of ourselves. It becomes easier to blame ourselves or others when things don't quite work out, or we do not achieve our expectations or goals. Silence and patience suddenly becomes our enemy, and rather than battling against the outside world, the struggle turns inward. We want so much to achieve, without quite knowing what exactly it is that we want to achieve, that rather than enjoying life as it comes, we try to change it. Like pressing against a brick wall, our energy is wasted, and once again we are faced with ourselves. Not everyone is our enemy. What prevents us from seeing our true selves is being our true self. We must become mindful of not only the things we do, but the things we do not do. We must become mindful of our thoughts, constructive and destructive. We must bring mindfulness to our spirit as well as love to our hearts. We must set in motion the virtue of our spirit and experience the peace that has never left.