In America, Thanksgiving is a day we traditionally look at our own lives and remember all those things we are thankful for. As I look at my own life, it appears much the same as it did last year. Still the changes in my life have been huge, for they have been internal changes which have shifted my perceptions on life and totally changed the ways I act in the world.
Acceptance has been one of those changes. In the past, I would look at difficult situations as catastrophes and in many instances they would overwhelm me to the point of inaction. While I can't say I am totally proactive at this point in time, I can say I am much better at assessing the crisis and remembering it is something I have called to myself because of what it can teach me. Instead of dreading the crisis, I ask, "What is it I need to learn from this?" and am able to deal with each instance a little at a time.
I have also gained a better understanding of judgement--where it comes from and why it needs to be avoided. I know how it separates us from one another and how this separation harms us through blocking energy (love) that should be flowing freely between us.
I know my life isn't perfect. As always, it is a work in progress. Still, I am appreciative of those things I have gained in the past year--the ability to cope more effectively in the world and the lessening of the blocks between myself and my fellow man. I am blessed, and for that I am truly thankful.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
The Silver Lining
Money is tight right now. I have to confess--it is a situation I created when I quit my job recently. Still, as the holiday season rolls around, it is a very uncomfortable place to be. I don't like scrimping and "getting by". Honestly, I don't want to be thinking about money at all, yet here I am stressing over it!
I did have a reason for quitting. I have wanted to get out of being a daycare teacher for years. The only reason I got into it in the first place was because I was getting divorced and I had three very small children who needed fulltime care. As my youngest started high school this year, I have no need for the daycare services I required years ago. I have just been teaching so long it is now part of my "comfort zone". For the past several years I have felt restless--like I need to be doing something different, something more. Then, the situation at work became intolerable for me and I knew I needed to do something different now.
As uncomfortable as the money situation is for me at present, I do know one thing. This too shall pass. Whether we see it as good or bad, life is a constant state of flux. Looking back on my life, I have always had what I needed when I needed it--somtimes just in the nick of time.
The other thing I am reminded of is the fact that my greatest understandings have come during those times when life has been most difficult. Every great tragedy has always come with a great reward. When I lost my newborn daughter, I learned how to deal with separation and how to help others cope with their own losses. When I divorced, I learned how to face life and become independent. Yes, those times were hard, but I would not be the person I am today without those experiences. My life has been immensely blessed as a result. The storm clouds of life are always present, but you can find the silver lining when you take the time to look.
I did have a reason for quitting. I have wanted to get out of being a daycare teacher for years. The only reason I got into it in the first place was because I was getting divorced and I had three very small children who needed fulltime care. As my youngest started high school this year, I have no need for the daycare services I required years ago. I have just been teaching so long it is now part of my "comfort zone". For the past several years I have felt restless--like I need to be doing something different, something more. Then, the situation at work became intolerable for me and I knew I needed to do something different now.
As uncomfortable as the money situation is for me at present, I do know one thing. This too shall pass. Whether we see it as good or bad, life is a constant state of flux. Looking back on my life, I have always had what I needed when I needed it--somtimes just in the nick of time.
The other thing I am reminded of is the fact that my greatest understandings have come during those times when life has been most difficult. Every great tragedy has always come with a great reward. When I lost my newborn daughter, I learned how to deal with separation and how to help others cope with their own losses. When I divorced, I learned how to face life and become independent. Yes, those times were hard, but I would not be the person I am today without those experiences. My life has been immensely blessed as a result. The storm clouds of life are always present, but you can find the silver lining when you take the time to look.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Spiritual Exercise
I've always had appreciation for my talents which fit into conventional society. I have a good ear for pitch and consequently sing quite well. I have a way with words and can express myself in writing and speaking. I am also good with people. My interest in them is genuine, and they are attracted to me as a result. Still, for all these talents, I have yet to find an occupation or even a hobby which fulfills my mission in life. It is only in the past month I have begun to know and appreciate those more spiritual gifts which I feel more adequately reveal my life's purpose.
I grew up in a very Christian home where "spirituality" was a big deal. I can remember my father, a lay minister, standing up in services and giving messages from God to people in the congregation. There have been times when I have felt very strongly that certain people needed to hear particular words of counsel. When I have been bold enough to follow through, people tell me it was just what they needed to hear. Looking back on my life, I realize my two sisters and even my children have similar abilities. This realization has been an amazing discovery for me.
Still, now that I have recognized this potential, I'm not exactly sure how to proceed. It has never been my intention to give guidance to people seeking answers. As I look back on my life, I realize I have a tendency to ignore most of the messages I receive because most people do not want to know. Telling what I know only upsets them. Then there is the problem that I am underconfident in my abilities because I do not intentionally use them on a consistent basis. My spiritual muscles are weak, so I have a hard time trusting them and myself.
I truly desire to help people come to a better understanding of themselves and of God. This goal--this mission--fully resonates with me. I know I need to exercise these spiritual muscles in order to more fully develop them. Talents and skills must be nutured in order to be maintained. It is more or less a question of whether I am willing to do the spiritual exercise required to help me progress on the rest of this journey. I face my fear in the hope that this spiritual exercise will help me find new pathways of purpose and understanding.
I grew up in a very Christian home where "spirituality" was a big deal. I can remember my father, a lay minister, standing up in services and giving messages from God to people in the congregation. There have been times when I have felt very strongly that certain people needed to hear particular words of counsel. When I have been bold enough to follow through, people tell me it was just what they needed to hear. Looking back on my life, I realize my two sisters and even my children have similar abilities. This realization has been an amazing discovery for me.
Still, now that I have recognized this potential, I'm not exactly sure how to proceed. It has never been my intention to give guidance to people seeking answers. As I look back on my life, I realize I have a tendency to ignore most of the messages I receive because most people do not want to know. Telling what I know only upsets them. Then there is the problem that I am underconfident in my abilities because I do not intentionally use them on a consistent basis. My spiritual muscles are weak, so I have a hard time trusting them and myself.
I truly desire to help people come to a better understanding of themselves and of God. This goal--this mission--fully resonates with me. I know I need to exercise these spiritual muscles in order to more fully develop them. Talents and skills must be nutured in order to be maintained. It is more or less a question of whether I am willing to do the spiritual exercise required to help me progress on the rest of this journey. I face my fear in the hope that this spiritual exercise will help me find new pathways of purpose and understanding.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
The Change To Heart
America just went through it's voting process a few days ago. While I am personally glad there has been some shift in power, realistically I know that we've probably just exchanged old problems for new problems. Many Americans, myself included, have come to the conclusion that elections are often a choice between the lesser of two evils. One would think our modern society was capable of making decisions based on the win-win instead of the struggle for power, but this is not the case. The question becomes, "What, if anything, can we do to fix this problem?" The answer lies in a complete paradigm shift. We must learn to base decisions not on what the mind tells us is best but on the leadings of the heart.
Our minds are wonderful things. They contain the wisdom of all our experiences as well as the experiences society deems appropriate to teach to us. This knowledge helps us cope in our world, and when we follow it we are often saved from harm. The flip side of this is, the mind is also the place of fear. There are many occasions where we allow the mind to keep us from taking the actions needed for growth and change. Fear of potential consequences will hold us back and get in the way of accomplishing our goals.
Our hearts are actually our places of power. This is where we connect with Source--the power that flows in and through all things. Ironically, many people are unaware of this connection, but they still have it. Our driving passions and dreams are the results of that connection. Following those dreams can empower us. Intentionally connecting with Source magnifies this power and gives us access to wisdom beyond ourselves and our limited earthly teachings (aka our minds). This is where intuition comes from and why intuition is usually more fruitful than mind-based decisions.
Our society, as well as the individuals in it, typically makes decisions based on the understandings of the mind. We even brainstorm using the minds' constructs. While this is not always a bad thing, faulty decisions can be made because of faulty understandings that have been learned by the mind. Our decisions are only as good as the information we have access to!
When we learn to open our hearts and access the wisdom of the collective (Source), we are made aware of new unlimited understandings. Possibilites that we were not aware of before spring up. Solutions come that benefit the whole.
The Institute of Heartmath (http://www.heartmath.org/) is an organization "dedicated to helping people establish heart-based living and global coherence" through science and educational initiatives. They have some practical ideas for people interested in learning to live from the heart which appeal to a broad range of people. While this is not the only way to this understanding, the website does have some great information and resources.
What it all boils down to is this: the problems which face the world today are the result of society making decisions based on what the mind knows. This knowlege is often corrupted and faulty. In order to solve these problems, we need to learn to connect within to the heart and make decisions based on its wisdom. This is the place of connection, of understanding, of wholeness, of Oneness. Albert Einstein once said, "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." We need a change in thinking--a change to heart.
Our minds are wonderful things. They contain the wisdom of all our experiences as well as the experiences society deems appropriate to teach to us. This knowledge helps us cope in our world, and when we follow it we are often saved from harm. The flip side of this is, the mind is also the place of fear. There are many occasions where we allow the mind to keep us from taking the actions needed for growth and change. Fear of potential consequences will hold us back and get in the way of accomplishing our goals.
Our hearts are actually our places of power. This is where we connect with Source--the power that flows in and through all things. Ironically, many people are unaware of this connection, but they still have it. Our driving passions and dreams are the results of that connection. Following those dreams can empower us. Intentionally connecting with Source magnifies this power and gives us access to wisdom beyond ourselves and our limited earthly teachings (aka our minds). This is where intuition comes from and why intuition is usually more fruitful than mind-based decisions.
Our society, as well as the individuals in it, typically makes decisions based on the understandings of the mind. We even brainstorm using the minds' constructs. While this is not always a bad thing, faulty decisions can be made because of faulty understandings that have been learned by the mind. Our decisions are only as good as the information we have access to!
When we learn to open our hearts and access the wisdom of the collective (Source), we are made aware of new unlimited understandings. Possibilites that we were not aware of before spring up. Solutions come that benefit the whole.
The Institute of Heartmath (http://www.heartmath.org/) is an organization "dedicated to helping people establish heart-based living and global coherence" through science and educational initiatives. They have some practical ideas for people interested in learning to live from the heart which appeal to a broad range of people. While this is not the only way to this understanding, the website does have some great information and resources.
What it all boils down to is this: the problems which face the world today are the result of society making decisions based on what the mind knows. This knowlege is often corrupted and faulty. In order to solve these problems, we need to learn to connect within to the heart and make decisions based on its wisdom. This is the place of connection, of understanding, of wholeness, of Oneness. Albert Einstein once said, "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." We need a change in thinking--a change to heart.
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