Our spirit is a straight arrow.

Words mean nothing. To prove it, do the following exercise:

Talk to someone who has a job or is in a relationship. Ask them how their job or relationship is going. For 10 seconds, cultivate an absolute focus on their answer. Their words might be consistent with the real answer, but the real answer doesn't originate in word or thought. It will come from their spirit. It will come from their body, their gaze, their facial expression, the tone of their voice, their posture. From that which is more powerful than thought and word. Their spirit will find a way to express itself faster than the mind can keep it under control. It will do so through certain things the mind can't keep up with so quickly.

Our spirit always wants to be honest. The spirit is not versed in the art of deception. The spirit doesn't conceal. Our spirit is a straight arrow. It's as straightforward as gravity. Hold a stone in the air and as soon as you let it go (give up control) it will drop in a straight line to the floor. The mind will try to catch the stone as it falls. The mind is very good at that, so you have to pay close attention. But as the stone is falling, free from the influence of the mind, it will be in movement. Focus on the movement of the spirit.

Answering the question, their first reaction might be something like: "It's going well." Practice trying to guess what will come next. But do not judge, or do not artificially induce any follow-up question or answer. Your focus must be to sincerely care for the well-being of the person you're talking to.

As they answer,

They might start to smile or stop smiling,

They might avert their gaze,

Their chest might lift as though they're in need of more air,

Their eyes might soften, light up, or be flooded with sorrow,

The tone of their voice might be inconsistent with their answer or it might be in absolute harmony.

The motivation of the mind to be inconsistent with the spirit is fear. We are afraid of our own answers or are afraid to be judged by others. Can you imagine how powerful the mind is? Sometimes we rather be dishonest in our speech, because we are so afraid of what the real answer might mean to us.

It feels like the mind hates change. Its aversion to change is so powerful, that it prefers to keep you in a situation you are dissatisfied with, rather than risking change. Learn how your mind works so that you may free yourself of its coercion.

In any case, the real answer never comes from words alone. Words are a paper-thin slice of the colossal movement within us. The problem with words is that our ego and sense of self are the proud masters of the realm of word. In that world, they are all the gods of all the pantheons. See beyond word in others and you will see beyond your own words.

So, how's your job going?