What is it that motivates a person? Who will they emulate, and why? Why even does one decide to act at all?

Let's start at the beginning:
What is,,,,, is....
We (all living as well as - I suppose - nonliving things) were dealt a card. This card stated what we would come into this world with; two arms or one, color of skin, place of birth, family dynamics, and wealth or lack thereof. The Buddhists call it "Karma". All of these factors can be looked upon as a blessing or a curse depending upon one's viewpoint, and it seems to me these factors are haphazardly spread about, yet somehow interrelate into an intricate tapestry. That when we interact in this collective reality, we evolve together as a whole.

Why would one person compare their life to someone else's?
I simply am, and the world simply is, and no matter how hard I try, I'll never be able to load the deck or switch my personal reality with someone else.
I can wish I were someone else, but why torture myself? What does that do but just spread confusion and hatred to those around me!?!?!

It seems that all of the people who are self-depreciating and angry at the world for their misgivings could just as easily be appreciative and thankful for their blessings if they had made that choice. Therefore, with every event, action, and encounter there is an emotional fork in the road, and a person can see either the advantage or the obstacle.
Why does one need to chose a value or an emotion at all?

We grew up in a modern society that teaches us that if we work hard enough, we can get anything we want, but this principle is flawed at its foundation. What if your wishes are arbitrary, and what you have is perfect for you? Just by being here and having the honor of dancing with the rest of us in this collective reality, we already have EVERYTHING we're supposed to have to work with, otherwise, we must not believe that we were created for any purpose; to learn, or to grow. Wanting something beyond what we have implies that we don't have the things we're in need of, which in turn implies that our whims are more important than the constant change of our universe! Rather egocentric and arrogant, to think that we know better than the creator, or the great river of all that is, isn't it? So, by default we should be satisfied with our Karma. The possibility surely exists for each of us to reach enlightment in this lifetime, whether we are teacher, beggar, pro athlete, disabled, or millionaire.

Now, what if we feel there is something we must accomplish? We build up this preconceived view of how it's going to be after we have achieved this goal, and what do we find? It doesn't happen the way we planned! If we try harder to "get it right" then our goal further alludes us. Or, if we do achieve the goal, then it's importance diminishes so that we have to set and achieve more goals - and on and on. It's never enough!

Life is trying to tell us through our Samsara (never ending circles of repetion) that we already have what we're trying to get! Our peace of mind (and that's what we want, right?)
Why do people want things? It's because we think we'll get peace of mind if we get them. That's why we punish ourselves each day to work hard at jobs we don't feel comfortable doing so that we can get that all-pervasive paycheck so that we can make mortgage payments, or that toy for our kid, or whatever. Can't we enjoy what's here for us now?
We must stop crashing into everything blindly or fighting our demons to get something and instead, be fully present at the moment.
The journey should be the focus, not the result!

But, how we perceive the world directly influences the result of our actions.

I've noticed that my own internal debates are reflected in perception of my surroundings. This includes the people, the weather, and the landscape around me... Whatever I believe about the world is supported by what I see because what I see is what I look for. If I were looking for evidence to support my theory that the world is a horrible place that needs my work and sacrifice to make it better, then that evidence will be there for me to percieve, and if I look for love or connectedness in all that exists, then that perception will also be there...To me, this represents the Yin-Yang nature of the universe. It's all there,, the good, the bad, the black, the white. I can see it either way, just depends on what I look for.

Here it is, the fundamental truth which has changed my life:

There is only ONE thing in this life I have the power to change - my perception, not the external world!

But, why would I want to?
After all, my own perception is simply part of that non-revokable card I was dealt, isn't it?

I remember when I was a young boy with an uncluttered mind, free of habits, opinions, and paranoia; open to whatever the world presented to me. No theories, no preconceived notions about what might happen next. The societal collective mind had not yet taught me to fear and limit what I perceived with the notions of "smarter" men and historians.

I believe that my youthful perceptions were part of the card I was dealt and that slowly my perceptive mind was molded by society through the introduction of thoughts cluttering a previously clean mind. These thoughts essentially acted as other perceptions of this same collective reality which confused me through the sudden addition of multiple choices on which to perceive, thus how to proceed. At that point, I had essentially changed from my God-given card to something else, and it felt wrong!

That is why I want to change my perception - because it isn't my own!

How then, do I get back to my true self? How to rediscover my God-given perception?

In the span of 12 years I found first a Buddhist girlfriend, several books written by her guru, many different spiritual friends and guides, a man who gave me another book, and finally the author of that book from whom I learned to meditate.

In the book "Fall to Grace" (an autobiography) Eric Karlson revealed that he was a meditation instructor who lived in the Boulder vicinity... So, I called him up and jumped in seat first!

About ten years ago I learned the Tibetan style of meditation from some folks related to the local Karma Dzong, some Shambala training, and even did a Dathung once. But, at the time, didn't gell with these practices that required a straight back and opened eyes that were easily distracted ..

The technique that Eric taught, on the other hand, possibly due to my readiness or the ease of practice, reached me. This style is eyes closed, repeat a mantra, and sit comfortably in a chair, if you wish, for only 20 minutes twice per day.
I am currently practicing in a chair and on a meditation cushion with a straight back and eyes closed for two daily 30 minute sessions, and 45 minute sits with a group on Tues. nights.

It seems that meditation occasionally gives one a glimpse into emptiness, and these glimpses can become more influential to one's calmness and therefore one's sanity with continued practice. There is unexpected logic in emptiness being beneficial to existence.

You must give up the idea of substantiality or existence. The usual view of life is firmly rooted in the idea of existence. For most people everything exists. Of course the bird we see and hear exists. It exists, but what I mean by that may not be exactly what you mean. The Buddhist understanding of life includes both existence and non-existence. The bird both exists and does not exist at the same time. We say that a view of life based on existence alone is heretical. If you take things too seriously, as if they existed substantially or permanently, you are called a heretic. Most people may be heretics.

We say true existence comes from emptiness and goes back again into emptiness. What appears from emptiness is true existence. We have to go through the gate of emptiness. This idea of existence is very difficult to explain.

As long as we have some definite idea about or some hope in the future, we cannot really be serious with the moment that exists right now. You may say, "I can do it tomorrow, or next year," believing that something that exists today will exist tomorrow. Even though you are not trying so hard, you expect that some promising thing will come, as long as you follow a certain way. But there is no certain way that exists permanently. There is no way set up for us. Moment after moment we have to find our own way. Some idea of perfection, or some perfect way which is set up by someone else, is not the true way for us.

Each one of us must make his own true way, and when we do, that way will express the universal way. This is the mystery. To be independent in this true sense, we have to forget everything which we have in mind and discover something quite new and different moment after moment. This is how to live in this world.

Shunryu Suzuki