Question: I play a difficult musical instrument to master, but I have a wonderful teacher, known all over the world. He has corrected me many times, and yet as I continue to practice, these supposed corrections still come out wrong… as well as my anger towards myself for failing to learn! What am I missing here; why do I continue to fail?

Answer: Our challenge in life is to be the best it is possible for us to be, which is the same as working to be the most awake human being that we can be in the moment. This “best possible” is not a skill, not a creative gift, not even a strength; it is our wish to live in the present moment, in the light of truth, and to give ourselves over to that living Presence to the best of our ability. If we do this… truly acting on the truths that we know as fully as we can… we succeed in life, regardless of the outcome, and regardless of what others think of us. No one holds the key to your heart and mind. Which means that anything or anyone that is troubling you — from a miss-struck string on an instrument to your own sour note for having made a mistake — is because you have forgotten your right to give yourself to what is your choosing.