Finding Freedom: Why is God Laughing?

 

Sunrise in Jerusalem, Israel October 2015, Photo by Lisa Niver
Sunrise in Jerusalem, Israel October 2015 Shot on LG G4

Where do you find freedom? For me, traveling and reading books have been ways to find the experiences of freedom. In Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey’s recent 21 day meditation experience, I listened to Deepak talk about the ways to experience freedom.

In my new Travel Writing Award, I invite you to share where you feel independent! The award closes on July 4, American Independence Day and we will give away $1000 in cash prizes!

In Deepak’s book, “Why Is God Laughing?: The Path to Joy and Spiritual Optimism,” he says:

“When you give in to fear, you are either projecting into the future or reliving the past. Here and now, you are safe.”

I hope you will share a story of how you stay in the present. As the daughter of a dentist, I found this next quote from his book very interesting!

“While fear is trying to convince you that it’s real, what’s really happening is that you lose touch with the present. The world turns into one big dentist’s waiting room with everyone anticipating the next thing that hurts.”

I promise you that it is important to go to the dentist, it does not always hurt and staying in the present is very important. I have spent much of the last two years rebuilding We Said Go Travel and my life after my divorce. When I stay in the present, things are much better.

Deepak tells this story:

“A little old lady goes into a restaurant. She eats a salad. Then she says to the waiter, ‘I’ll have an ice cream sundae.’ “‘I’m sorry to tell you, madam,’ says the waiter, ‘but in five minutes the world is coming to an end.’ “The little old lady thinks for a second, then she says, ‘In that case, heavy on the whipped cream.’”

It is important to enjoy our moments and have a sense of humor about our lives. I believe what Deepak shares that:

“Obstacles are signals from consciousness that we need to change direction, to take a new tack.”

I have changed tack significantly lately and it has been very challenging but it has been worthy it. I hope you will share a story of your path to freedom wherever you are on your journey.

I spent my birthday in Israel in October 2015 and it was an incredible journey! Please enjoy these 27 videos from my adventures in Israel.

Lisa Ellen Niver

Lisa Niver is an award-winning travel expert who has explored 102 countries on six continents. This University of Pennsylvania graduate sailed across the seas for seven years with Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Renaissance Cruises and spent three years backpacking across Asia. Discover her articles in publications from AARP: The Magazine and AAA Explorer to WIRED and Wharton Magazine, as well as her site WeSaidGoTravel. On her award nominated global podcast, Make Your Own Map, Niver has interviewed Deepak Chopra, Olympic medalists, and numerous bestselling authors, and as a journalist has been invited to both the Oscars and the United Nations. For her print and digital stories as well as her television segments, she has been awarded three Southern California Journalism Awards and two National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards and been a finalist twenty-two times. Named a #3 travel influencer for 2023, Niver talks travel on broadcast television at KTLA TV Los Angeles, her YouTube channel with over 2 million views, and in her memoir, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty.

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