Life | Live What You Know

September 28, 2015

Shift Happens

This quote has been on my mind sporadically since I came across it. It struck something deep in me when I first saw it; since then, I have continued to let it roll around in my head and take on various meanings and inspire a variety of learning opportunities.

There are several ways to look at it. It can be interpreted in so many ways, depending on our state of mind when we see it, hear it or think about it. Here are just few things that may occur to us:

At a glance it can evoke the feeling that lots of people say a lot of stuff that they don’t exactly live up to or in alignment with. Always too easy to see what others are getting wrong; feels much better to see what is lovable about them.
It can also make one wonder about their own actions and if we ourselves are truly living what we speak about or living aligned with what we value most, etc.
It can simply beg the question, “I know that is the best thing for me, why am I not doing that?”
The old, “Actions speak louder than words,” can also seem the easy comparison or conclusion.
Considering how we listen to others occurs to me as well…can I hear what isn’t being said or in some cases ignore what is being said and look at the actions? Can I look past actions or directly at them and hear or feel what is really being said at the deepest level?

If we can take it up a notch, through a lens of deeper awareness, we may look at these words through this perspective:

We may consider our deepest intuition and what makes us do the things we do, say the things we say, etc. To know that intuition well is to know the Miracle of Life. It knows what It is doing. Walking with our Divine Intuition is so much more relaxing (among other great and meaningful things) than walking with the smaller version of us that remains wrapped in fears and judgment.
By leaning back and looking at the many versions of “me” we have known over our lifetime so far, we can ponder the changes and the versions we have seemed to be throughout the years. We may cringe at our younger years or hopefully just smile and love ourselves with gratitude for becoming more of the person/spirit we are opening to. We can awaken to the Divine Knowing of who and what we truly are.
The shift happens…what we do, how we behave and who we are changes over time…we only need Live what Life would have us Know…it is always teaching us, guiding us and Loving us. The quote above can gently remind us to Live What We Know.

Obviously, these thirteen words strung together by Emerson can lead us to consider a myriad of possible meanings; some inspiring, some disappointing. I think the key to getting the most out of something like this and just about anything we ever encounter is to look within and figure out what it means for us. We can observe how we choose to live and how that shift begins to show up in our daily lives and the things we spend our time doing.

When we look at these words and apply them to what we think we see on the outside or in others, we may get stuck in painful memories or recall past experiences that can make us pretend to live in a world without enough Love. We must find the courage to look within and let these words comfort us in the moment of Life we are currently in as we do our best to BE and Live more of who and what we really are.

On a personal note, I’ve been somewhere in the shift for many years. I now know that not everyone likes to see change or the beauty of fresh unfamiliarity in lifelong relationships or even newer ones. Our journey towards our truest self that is a lifeline for us is not always seen as positive by everyone. Sometimes others just cannot see us. Misunderstanding and the painful feeling of not truly being seen as we grow can be tough. Sometimes we have setbacks or things happen that can make it seem as though we aren’t moving far enough along the path. The pain can block us or clog our flow if we let it seem real for too long. Those setbacks are blessings. They are the blessings that awaken us to the truest part of Life…the One we are meant to Live. We must remember that we are just where we are meant to be in Life and at the perfect place to Open up and allow abundant Blessings for All to flow through us.

Today, I pray to see recent suffering as a blessing and hold firm to the knowing of who I Am. I am reminded that although there have been painful repetitive experiences that I have known since childhood, I am not bound by that pain and continual misunderstanding. I can release the guilt that I have always felt since childhood and set it free knowing it does not serve me or anyone or anything around me that I may bless without it. Page 241 of A Course In Miracles says, “…it is only your guiltlessness that can protect you.”

May we all love our choices and see the shift in our lives today. May what we do speak of Love for ourselves as well as for others. May we know deeply that our intentions are pure and we are led by the Divine in Us. May we have compassion for others’ reactions to our choices without taking those reactions personally. May we unclog the flow of Life by surrendering and releasing guilt and see only the Oneness and Beauty that Life is beyond all the mirages caused by fear. May we be thankful and filled with gratitude for All.

Sending you Love and Joy!

February 3, 2015

We Don’t “Know” and IT is Wonderful! Let’s Go With IT!

Trust Life.

IT knows what IT is doing.

We don’t “know” what is best or even how to label anything — ever. IT is wonderful (if we choose to see it that way)! We can let go of trying to know it all, label it all and figure it all out. Instead, we can just BE and experience all of IT without needing to call it one thing or another. IT works perfectly that way. IT is the only true perfection. IT gets to experience ITself that way, and that is what IT is here to do. Meaning, that is the only reason We are here.

Whatever we think it is — whatever seemed to happen or not happen, whatever seemed unfair, terrible, wonderful, amazing, like a blessing, sad, happy, IT didn’t happen the way we may think it did. IT wasn’t bad or good. IT was perfect!

Truth is — we don’t know if IT’s good or bad and we don’t need to. Labeling IT either way only keeps us from experiencing a deeper version of Life. Good and bad only exist in the illusion that most of us have agreed to call “reality” — it isn’t reality once we know who is creating Life and who is choosing what we are looking at and how we see it.

Deeper Truth is — there is no good or bad, there is only the exact thing the Universe/God/Life picked out for us to experience at the precise moment we experience IT. We can lean back and look for the message we are meant to receive. We can trust that IT is the experience we are meant to have because we are having it. This is the way of Life. It is going with the Flow. It is following our Heart. We can call it anything we like as long as we embrace the courage to do our best each and every day to Live IT.

It is easy to get caught up in judging situations. It is easy to waste time resisting what already is. It is easy to dwell in distracted doing. These seeming “easy” choices aren’t actually “easy” at all, they are the hardest ones to live. They only exist in the illusionary world of suffering. Even to call it suffering misses the point. If suffering leads to bliss, was it ever really suffering? Was it more like a trusted friend trying to wake us up? We do have a friend that we can trust no matter what form IT comes in. Our friend is Life.

We can build a relationship with Life based on trust and do our best to give IT our fullest attention. We can stop ignoring IT and/or wishing IT would change. As our relationship with Life deepens, something much better than “easy” will embrace us. That thing that is “better” than “easy” and beyond our habitual illusions is without a label. We could choose to call it peace, joy, love, consciousness, awakening, being, reality, truth and many other words. These are all just labels pointing in the right direction. What IT really is cannot be summed up in words, only felt deeply within. It is in the silence, not in words.

All is well. Thank you All, I’m grateful for every part of you!

4 Comments

January 1, 2015

Today’s Outlook – Clear and Present, Tomorrow’s Forecast – Clear and Present

Happy New Year All! May you feel the air of unlimited possibility all around you today and each new day of the year!

I could think of no better forecast than the title above. What a peaceful existence it would be to rest in the state of truly living the wonder of each moment as it comes. We could leave behind the baggage we carry from past experiences and drop the unnecessary assumptions and predictions we often place on the future. We could travel lightly with a fresh perspective allowing Life to bless us in every way. Easier said than done, but always the answer.

In a recent discussion with my children, I was delighted to hear myself describe some specific ways we can choose to live our days with clear and present energy. Our discussion was a result of the typical sibling disturbance, filled with a lot of over-familiar responses indicating that past resentments and future assumptions were dominating the interaction between two precious little people who love each other very much but could not feel it in certain moments of their daily life. In speaking to them, I was able to break it down in a simple manner and give specific tips and tools that would surely help harness a more conscious experience for anyone. It was a review of the tools we ask them to use each day with some added ideas about clearing out our energy each night. The discussion was spontaneous and completely unplanned. I loved everything I heard and I knew the Universe was speaking to us all.

The one true answer to everything is to truly be where you are at fully and experience what Life is showing you in the deepest possible way. This intention will guide you effortlessly through the moments and connect the dots in your life in miraculous ways. Figuring out how to do this takes much practice, undoing of programmed mind activity, a deep desire to make the shift to a more conscious lifestyle and much more. But, it takes only one moment to become present. It is always the one that you are in. It takes no time at all. Even though there is much to learn and practice to hold it for longer periods of time, or on a more consistent basis, it actually takes no time at all to do it because this moment (now) is the only time it is ever possible. We can let the other moments take care of themselves as we fully embrace the one we are in now.

In our family discussion, I reminded the kids about setting our intentions each morning and exactly why we do that. I explained that it isn’t just to write it down in your journal because Mom wants you to, because that won’t work. We had a lovely discussion about the power we put behind our choices with our intentions and how the Universe matches our intentions back to us continuously throughout our days. We can’t say we have a certain intention and then forget it in the first possible moment we have a choice we could apply it to. We cannot go through life reacting to whatever happens I explained, we must decide what our intentions are for the day in the morning and then remember to use that spirit behind each choice we make (or at least as many as we can as we learn and grow). Then our days will be filled with purpose and meaning as our intentions guide us to the life and connections we are meant to live.

Having noticed that the kids still seem easily annoyed with Life, each other and even my voice early in the mornings just after a morning meditation, prayer and intention journal entry, it was obvious that they are living out past experiences over and over again. God gave me the language to speak to them about this clearly. I told them that if by 9:30 am, they have already forgotten their intentions and surrendered to reactionary choices and a mind filled with negative thoughts, then the spiritual practices they are doing aren’t working. In general, if it doesn’t feel good, it’s not working, I explained. I called on them to truly access the spirit inside them that will give more meaning to these practices to help support their intentions to live out their days in a more meaningful way that will bring less stress and allow more joy. I encouraged them to believe in their ability to truly decide their intentions thoughtfully and place their power behind the things they do and say. I asked them to play with it and see what they can do and make happen. We discussed the difference between being vague and getting specific and noticing how the Universe responds and works with us. Great words came about how they have the power to bless others and themselves with the intention and spirited action they choose to bring forth. It sounds over a child’s head, but they are much closer to the spirit world than we realize sometimes. They came from there and they can remember how to access it and use it to bless the world. The conversation was lovely and then we put it all together with some new ideas for even better practices.

We discussed how we can sometimes hold on to the past so much that it doesn’t allow us to be where we are at. We either relive the past or worry that it will happen again in the future. This simple choice, makes it seem real in our heads and then we have lost our way and fallen into unfounded and irrational reaction rather than spirited action. We used specific examples of disputes they have had and hearing and saying things to each other like, “you always” or “she/he always,” etc. We discussed the unfairness of continuously punishing each other for things that aren’t happening any more. We talked about being unable to hear what is actually being said or see what is actually happening if we look at the situation through the veil of past experiences. Love comes through in present moments, not in cluttered up past ones. We came up with the idea of clearing things our each night to allow for a more present and thoughtful morning that will allow us to get the most out of our chosen spiritual practices. We talked about clearing out our energy in the middle of the day if it starts to seem hard to make the kind of choices we meant to when we started the day. It was all very simply put and the plan started to seem comforting and accessible. I encouraged the kids to try clearing out the energy on their own with specific ways to talk to your deepest self, etc. I added that if they had some things getting stuck or some energy that didn’t clear, they should ask for help and we could come up with a better plan or try different ways, etc.

There was much more to it of course, too much to explain here. What started out as a lecture on bad choices turned into an uplifting guide/map for a future filled with present moments of joy. I said a prayer of gratitude afterwards for the energy that had come through me and around me in such a supportive way. It was a lovely moment. Of course, the holidays and all kinds of hectic schedules and situations grabbed hold of us just after this breakthrough. 🙂 But, this moment remains as good as any to recall the tools we have and the ways we can support ourselves to make good choices grounded in love and clear presence. The energy that surrounded us all that night in conversation can be accessed now and the tools are always there as long as they are needed.

May you be blessed with the ability to wish yourself a Happy New Year and start fresh in any moment of any day this year!

Clear and present blue skies are now!

8 Comments

December 31, 2014

Love Doesn’t Come From Our Head and Fear Doesn’t Come From Our Heart

I have been quiet here in this space for a while now. I have been waiting until the distinct and authentic urge to post returned to me. It thrills me to feel that I am now ready once again. I have missed this lovely space; my experience sharing and connecting here has always warmed my heart. Thank you for sharing it with me! A few months ago, I stumbled into the following quote:

“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” ― Socrates

It wasn’t the first time I had seen these words from Socrates, but it was the time that I was really meant to feel them. These words struck me and stayed with me for quite some time. They made me quiet here and within myself. After all, this space is called “Live What You Know,” so the desire to truly reflect on how to live the wisdom of knowing you know nothing became the focus of my journey. I certainly don’t have it all figured out. 🙂 But, I am ready to share with an open heart as I continue down the path of Life and all its wonderful lessons.

To break this idea down to any specific points would be to miss the meaning of it entirely. It is a tricky thing to explain knowing nothing. You have to sound like you know something to explain it at all, hence, the quiet lately. Although I did a good job of keeping quiet here, I didn’t always do so well in my daily life. It’s always a blessing to live and learn (unless of course, it isn’t.) 🙂 I kept watch over myself as I interacted with others and I was aware of the times I had clung to the idea of “knowing” how things “should” be or how my ideas of things clouded my reactions and allowed the part of me that “knows” everything to push itself forward. It is a delicate balance and an amazing gift to figure out how to allow your truest self, that knows it knows nothing and stays open to life to guide your choices and align your personality with your soul. Seeing and living from a place beyond the little thoughts from the head holds the key that opens the heart and allows our perception and experience of Life to expand and include All.

Simply put, Love doesn’t come from our head and fear doesn’t come from our heart. While the truest part of me knows I know nothing, it does occur to me that I feel deeply from my heart and the things it allows me to feel are vibrating at a higher level than any thoughts ever could. That frequency of Life that the heart allows brings me such peace and allows me more compassion and connectedness to Life in every way. The feeling pervades within me that a life without doing whatever it takes to learn how to live from that place on a regular basis would seem to miss the point of being here entirely. While, I don’t “know” this for sure, I do feel it as sure as I feel my breath.

As I continued to watch and reflect on “knowing” things versus feeling Life, the Universe sent me many helpful lessons and tools to guide me to great teachings that were delivered perfectly at the best moment and in the best possible way. Just one example is The Fifth Agreement, by Don Miguel Ruiz. Even though I loved the book that preceded it, that book had been sitting on my shelf for years without me ever feeling the time was right to read it. Finally, it made it into my daily reading time. It was a wonderful guide in letting go of all the ideas of right and wrong that have been programmed into us since birth. Not to say that I have given up all the ideas that have been injected into my mind just yet. But to know that I should question everything rather than accept even my own ideas as truth is a wonderful place to start. I have heard this lesson in many different ways by many different teachers, but in this case, the tools and teachings life was sending me were perfectly answering the questions I was asking at the perfect time. I share this example of one of the tools that came my way, not to suggest reading this particular book, but to encourage or inspire us all to allow Life to show us what it has picked out for us perfectly at this time. If we are interested in living from a deeper place, Life will surely show us the way in the perfect manner for each of us. We must look with fresh, clear and open eyes to receive the gifts that await us. Important note (not something I “know,” but something I feel): if we are not interested in living from a deeper place, Life will provide experiences to increase our interest; we are Life, so Life wants our attention.

I pray for all of us as we continue down the path of open-hearted living. Sometimes opening your heart all the way can allow things to hurt. The hurt won’t stay because the heart is very resilient, but sometimes it still gets hurt. Recently my heart hurt very bad, I was quite surprised that it could happen. I value allowing things to be as they are and I feel that resisting and insisting things change only brings more suffering (unless my heart is guiding me towards initiating change or otherwise). I thought my intention to go with the flow and my desire to avoid judging whatever I saw would protect me from a deep hurt. Instead, I now feel that hurting is just part of the process. Sometimes people are afraid of an open heart and uncomfortable in its presence. Sometimes heads convince people that they would rather be upset, right, important, insignificant, superior, inferior or a million other things fear disguises itself as; often people choose from any number of distracting activities to quiet the noise the head is continuously making. The distractions keep us from opening our hearts and living within the experience Life is trying to give us in every now. People can treat an open heart in a rough manner at times as they juggle their thoughts and fears. When it hurt, I sat with my weeping heart, shared openly with my sweet little family and allowed it to be as it was. It didn’t close up, it isn’t wounded and it doesn’t love any less, it simply hurt for a bit. I smile now, because it doesn’t feel possible for my heart to hurt. The heart doesn’t waste time keeping track of awful memories and bad feelings. It beats now. The head likes to keep score, be right and convince us we have problems that need solving. The heart doesn’t remember, it lives the blessings of the moment. It is worth it to allow your heart to hurt sometimes because only a truly open heart can provide the place to rest without fear. The heart hurting is nothing to fear. Love comes from the heart and its power to do so is beyond comprehension. Believing in our hearts and allowing them to feel everything can only bring the peace, joy, love and aliveness that has been waiting for us since the beginning of time.

Three wishes for us all:

The courage to feel, connect and be guided from our hearts.
The desire to learn how to truly quiet the mind without leaning on meaningless distractions.
The ability to reside comfortably and excitedly in knowing we know nothing.

Sending you love and joy!

9 Comments

November 6, 2014

The Last Judgement

What if today was the day I made my last judgment? I could break free from the world of labeling everything I see. I could stop making things right and wrong. I would no longer see separation around me. I wouldn’t need people to agree with my perspective or see me in a certain way. I could use all the energy that no longer went to those things to spread love, see oneness and bring peace to all that I encounter. I would be in heaven, suffering would end and joy would become my permanent state. People would feel something in my presence that made them feel safe. They may not know what it is, but it may help them seek more peace and allow more awareness to come through. Things would align. All would be well.

Without all the judgements, we could live in peace and let go of creating stories in our head about the importance of every little thing coming in and out of our lives. We would not torture ourselves with the harm done in placing judgements on our fellow humans and in wishing things were different. We would not spend so much time trying to arrange things how they “should” be. We would BE rather than assign labels, wish things were different and create problems. We would vibrate at a peaceful frequency and so much more would come through us.

If someone were to do me some harm or wrong or bring hurtful intentions towards me, I wouldn’t be able to see it because without the label of it, it wouldn’t have that power. I wouldn’t be able to feel wronged, harmed or hurt. I would simply love the person just where they are on their path and wish them every bit of peace they could possibly feel. My energy would soar because I wouldn’t waste it on the dream of a smaller life in the way I sometimes had before. My soul would emerge and guide me to create and give my energy to all the things I came here to do. There would be no limits. All would be possible.

Without judgements, we would return to the joy we had when we got here…before we learned all the labels and how to judge everything we think we see. Our presence would be like an innocent infant and we would bring joy and peace to all.

What if today is the day I have made my last judgement? If it were not possible, then why would I have this desire?

Sending you love and joy!

1 Comment

November 3, 2014

Practicing with the Little “i” and the Real “I”

What do I know?
Where am I at?
Where do I want to Live?

I choose what I see.
I pick what I feel.
I know what I AM.

Can I remember it every now no matter what?
Will I ever be able to?
When will it get easier?

Now.
Each and every now.
Now has everything I need.

Can I accept the gift?
Will I create or react?
Will I love or be right?

I know too much to ever have peace without love for All.
I can love it All as if I have chosen it.
I can spread love and feel love.

There is a higher frequency.
Trust the Universe.
All is well.

Be.
Ask and be guided.
Love.

Practice!

6 Comments

October 21, 2014

Twinkle

Recently, we were enjoying the fresh air in our backyard late in the afternoon. We enjoyed a lovely dinner and then settled into comfy spots to enjoy the nature around us. My husband and I chatted and sat quietly together as the kids ran around watering plants and playing with dirt. We moved our chairs closer to the edge of the yard to see even more. The light hitting the mountain across from us as the sun began to set was spectacular. The lighting created a new scene every few minutes. The beauty was breathtaking. Right there in our own backyard. The birds were dazzling us and the energy around us was miraculous. It was lovely to let life pause and feel ourselves as part of the scene we were enjoying. It was a beautiful Sunday night. We were at one with nature rather than observing it or missing it altogether. My soul delighted in the peace, natural stillness and beauty.

As the night began to approach, the family headed in to begin the nighttime routine. The kids were especially ready because dessert was first on the agenda. I said I would join them in a few minutes. I wasn’t quite ready to leave my peaceful spot. I felt like offering a prayer of thanks for my time out there. There was still the tiniest bit of light from the sun, but it was fading fast. I thought I would meditate for a few minutes to hold the peace. I rested my head on my chair to look up at the sky. I noticed a faint little star beginning to become visible. My heart skipped a beat. I looked around and there were a few more of them coming out to shine. The miraculousness of it hit me like a wave of, well, Divine Love. That is the only way I can describe it. Those precious stars were shining the whole time and until our magnificent sun was out of sight we couldn’t see them. Within the next few minutes many more joined the scene. It was so lovely and so much more than I can explain. I joined my family within just a few short minutes, I never like to be far from them. I felt changed and ready to see them twinkle too. Oh, how they shine.

The stars that blessed me that night were twinkling all the time, I just couldn’t see them until the right moment when circumstances allowed and I was ready to give them my attention. I am made of the same stuff as the stars. We all are. Imagine all the things in the world that are shinning and yet still unable to be seen for various reasons. Couldn’t it be that any time we see one another with anything but love in our eyes, we are missing the twinkle we all share. Perhaps something is blocking our way. Some little annoyance, some grave injustice, some petty circumstance, or whatever it may be is blinding us from the reality of what we are really looking at. We are looking at a shinning star in front of us no matter who or what our eyes fall upon. We are all connected to each other and everything around us like the constellations in the sky. We can connect the dots and see that twinkling around us. We will shine all the brighter when we do.

Whether something is blocking our vision or if we are simply distracted and busy, we can choose to see what is really around us. We decide what we see and how bright we shine. We can wake up or slow down or get present or whatever you want to call it. We can see the love, the miracles, the connection to everything and everyone. We can shine and feel the light shinning on us.

Let’s twinkle bright enough that we may be seen. Let’s keep our eyes and hearts wide open so that we can see even the faintest twinkle before us. Let’s love and be loved. Sending you joy!

7 Comments

August 27, 2014

Bless You

“Personally, I believe that prayer is a sending out of vibrations from one person to another and to God. All of the universe is in vibration. There are vibrations in the molecules of a table. The air is filled with vibrations. The reaction between human beings is also in vibration. When you send out a prayer for another person, you employ the force inherent in a spiritual universe. You transport from yourself to the other person a sense of love, helpfulness, support—a sympathetic, powerful understanding—and in this process you awaken vibrations in the universe through which God brings to pass the good objectives prayed for. Experiment with this principle and you will know its amazing results.” —Norman Vincent Peale

This is an excerpt from The Power of Positive Thinking. The author goes on to explain that he has a habit of praying for people as he passes them and he shares lovely stories of how this works is his life and examples of the choice to bless those around us. I read this a few weeks back and I loved it. I believe in the power of prayer. I believe our life is a living prayer. I believe our creations are offerings of prayer. I believe our intentions and actions are prayers instructing the universe. I believe we speak to our truest self when we pray. I could go on. I suppose I believe a lot of things about prayer. I often tell people I will send them prayers for whatever they may have going on in their lives. I always remember at least once in that very moment. Whenever people randomly pop into my thoughts, I often remember to send them a prayer. I try to remember to keep the prayers going. I am sure I could improve my prayer habits with regards to consistency. Prayer shouldn’t be pressure though, I’ll just chug along and experiment with different ways of enhancing my prayer life and have complete faith that it will go well. I like that plan.

Yesterday the idea of praying for people as I pass them popped into my head. I began blessing people as I passed them on my drive to drop my daughter at her lesson. I was having so much fun and filling up with so much joy that I shared my prayers with my son in the backseat on the way home. When we got back into the car the next time, we continued blessing people together. It was a thrill to find someone to send a prayer to. It felt right. I realized that if we cultivate this practice of blessing people we merely pass on the street, it will bless all those we come into contact with. I always try to brighten the day of those I interact with, but I think this all goes much deeper than that. I think this habit can tie us to our purpose and bring more meaning to our days and our dearest relationships. It is sort of like plugging into the universe and the moment we are in.

Blessing strangers as we pass has profound impacts for us and for the strangers. Our blessings go out in infinite miraculous ways we will never fully understand. It’s too miraculous for understanding. In addition to the miracles, this habit of prayer can build joy and strengthen our love for all. It then can extend to those we are familiar with. Familiarity can erode the true purpose and joy of the relationships we are blessed with. The practice of prayer can bless the interactions with those we are most familiar with and keep us fresh in the moment and able to see the blessings and constant change around us. As we pray for and bless what is before us, we must see it more clearly. We will see our loved ones as they are in the moment, rather than the image or memory we have of them in our heads. We will be more alive to the present and more in touch with our purpose and the various ways we can bless this world. We can become at home with the idea that we have the power to bless everyone around us. We can become better at blessing strangers, acquaintances, those nearest and dearest to us and the entire universe as we go. When we bless another, we bless ourselves and we strengthen the bond of oneness that we have with all we can see and all that we cannot.

Let’s experiment with all the wonderful ways we can use prayer today—blessings to strangers, art, kind words, smiles, knowing glances, gentle touches, loving thoughts, creativity, stillness, helpfulness, forgiveness, good old conversation with God and the universe, quiet reflection, deep asking, faithful knowing, complete attention, deep listening…the list goes on and on. Prayer is so many things. The power of it is real and true. In our hearts, we can hear how to practice today. Sending you love and joy through my prayers today and always.

12 Comments

August 20, 2014

Intention

Each day we receive a wonderful, miraculous, amazing gift called a new day. As we receive this gift each morning, we can decide how we will use it well. We can pause and consider how to honor this gift and use it to the best of our ability. This gift we receive each morning is too awesome to take for granted. It is too much to accept without realizing the magnitude of it. If someone gave us a large sum of money, we would surely take the time to consider what to do with it. The gift of a day is worth far more than any amount of money could ever be. There is nothing more miraculous than a day to turn into your masterpiece. All anyone can ever do to honor this Life we are given is to get up each day and do the best we can with our day moment by moment.

We can set a clear intention for ourselves each day. At the very least, knowing our intention will help us make better choices to match our truest desires and best character aspects as we navigate various situations and circumstances. At the highest level, setting our intention clearly each morning is like sending out prayer filled instructions to the Universe. The Universe hears our instructions and then begins arranging things to perfectly match them and bring us the circumstances that will allow us to live our creation. We are constantly sending out instructions whether we realize it or not. Things are arranging themselves according to our intentions. We can see the miracles and create beautiful things or we can miss the magic and stumble around accepting what comes without realizing we ordered it.

A few months ago, I gave the kids intention journals and encouraged them to write down their intentions each morning. We have had lovely discussions about their various intentions and how they can remember what they intended for the day as they make choices and deal with situations that arise. It is helpful for them to take responsibility for their actions and remember what they really want to do with their day and their character choices in general. My writing here is really about my intention to live what I know and help others as I go. When I gave the kids their journals, I thought I didn’t need one because I write about my intentions here. I recently changed my mind and got me an intention journal too. I am joining them in the practice of clearly stating my intentions in writing each morning. I love it so far. I learned about intention years ago, but I can see the power and supportive Universal energy in stating my intentions clearly each day. I am grateful for this practice, it will help me create the days I am meant to and hopefully send Love and abundant blessings out into the world through me. That is my dearest intention.

Wishing us all the courage to intend well and bless abundantly. Sending you love and joy.

17 Comments

August 18, 2014

Spiritual Simplicity

To become a happy person have a clean soul, eyes that see romance in the commonplace, a child’s heart, and spiritual simplicity. —Norman Vincent Peale

I came across the above quote in my morning reading recently. The idea of spiritual simplicity struck me deeply. I instantly loved that notion; the deepest part of me knew exactly what it meant when I came across it. That idea stayed with me all day and carried me through my choices of love and non reaction. Simply put, it helped me stay firmly in the moment and accepting of all that each moment brought with it. It is a very helpful thing to remember first thing in the morning, so I want to share it here this morning.

Spiritual simplicity means loving all that we encounter. It means accepting and truly living each experience as it comes. It means knowing that whatever circumstances we are experiencing, they are the perfect ones for us at the exact moment the Universe has created them for us. It means listening to Life and flowing with it in the rhythm that our spirits know. Living in acceptance doesn’t include feeling like we don’t want to or cannot change things. It empowers us to know the impulse of the Universe and give our attention and energy to changing things that are ready to change. In some cases, our mere acceptance of things allows them to change before our eyes; like how a hug or loving smile can melt the anger, sadness or frustration of a loved one. Other times, our acceptance of what is allows us to hear the Universe/God/Life telling us about what it would like to bring to us or through us. Resisting anything is a force that does not allow listening, it makes hearing Life’s messages impossible. Spiritual simplicity is love and listening. It is only found in the sacred moment we are in. It isn’t found in the thought stream and stress of daily life. It is in the flow of our spirit. Our spirits flow together. We are all connected and we can flow through our days in spiritual simplicity. Let’s listen and love.

As for the rest of the quote above:

A clean soul — we all have that.
Eyes that see romance in the commonplace — we can do this by opening our eyes and truly seeing all the amazing miracles that are constantly around us. I like to think of it as seeing the unfamiliar in all things and never assuming we know how things are going or how they will turn out. It is staying fresh and alive to each moment. Love is all around. We can choose to see it.
A child’s heart — we all have that. We must remember what it feels like to live from it. Be amazed. Be present. Expect wonder and excitement.
A very important note — the quote begins with the idea of “becoming” a happy person. We don’t need to try to do that. We already are that. We came into this world with that intact. We simply choose when we are ready to remember it. “Happy” becomes peace and joy and is accessible in every moment.

Let’s set our intention this morning and feel how well it will serve us. Today, I choose to live spiritual simplicity and I intend to spread it to as many lives as I can touch and as many places as my energy can visit.

Sending you love and joy!

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Tag: Life

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