Our minds, encapsulated somewhere within the gray, squishy brain matter between our ears compose daily, sometimes moment-to-moment stories. They are elaborate, fully choreographed, deliciously dialogued stories; tales of “he said/she said” that we personally fashion to fit our particular need in the moment. They are magical fables, totally self-conceived, that essentially function solely as fuel for the ego mind’s insatiable appetite to bolster its case against trusting our soul’s message: to love, forgive, heal, and learn––with grace and gratitude.
Not too long ago, I listened to a version of my own story swirling inside my mind, feeling like some cheap whiskey inside a Styrofoam cup. It said, “She doesn’t trust you. She’s never really trusted you, so what did you expect?” And other similar words to that effect. And then, just for good measure, my tenacious ego-mind conjured up various old movies from the past, some over 40 years old mind you, to highlight ancient vignettes that would support my personally created stories’ case.
“See? What did I tell you? See how she’s never trusted you? Look at all those times she thought you were full of it. See? See?”
Do you hear the rather large component of self-righteousness, not to mention, arrogance, here? If we allow ourselves to become a good witness for a minute––we’ll discover that the need to be right will take center stage every single time. It’s a very expensive habit we can ill afford, as illness is precisely where we are headed as long as we choose to listen to the ego-mind’s demand to be right.
When something doesn’t go our way, when someone doesn’t do what we think they “should” or “shouldn’t do” we tell ourselves stories as to why they’re wrong and we’re right. If only they did it our way, in our time, everything would be so much better. We make it all up, folks.
It’s the big human pretend movie. We’re not only the star, but since it’s our story, we also play all the roles so that it fits our self-penned narrative to our benefit.
From that place, we completely forget how much we love our partners, friends and children…and life itself. It doesn’t dawn on us to take a breath, or two or three, while we allow ourselves to connect to the incident or person with love and appreciation. When we do, the difference is extraordinary, instantly replaced by colorful blue butterflies, luscious, red rose petals, and passionate air kisses. Or your version thereof.
What if, the next time you become aware of your personally spun yarn, you acknowledge its source, kindly escort it to the exit doors and begin to work on a more loving version of the Truth?
You have nothing to lose.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Accepting a Truth
You know how it feels to have a Truth pierce right through the derma layers, down into the depths of your being? Well, I had an experience with that very thing this morning while on my morning walk with the my three dogs. It wasn't a Truth I hadn't heard before. In fact, I have probably said this Truth thousands of times over the years since I was ordained back in 1972.
Up the hill from my house sits two towering ponderosa pines. Well, they were two trees once, but now they're joined at the hip, so to speak, sharing one skin. The smaller of the two "embraces" the larger one with several of her branches (she represents the feminine to me), while the masculine tree stands guard against our infrequent bouts of severe winds. After giving and receiving my morning tree hug from these two old friends, I stepped out into the early morning sunlight, as I listened for a moment to the braying, whinnying, crowing, and twittering (from birds, not computers or cell phones) coming from the valley below. I call it the Farmland Concert Hour.
Gazing up at the glowing sun in the sky for a moment I wait until my eyes adjust just enough to see the Source of the sun's effulgence. That's when I say the Prayer of Protection:
The Light of God
Surrounds us.
The Love of God
Enfolds us.
The Power of God
Protects us.
The Presence of God Watches Over us.
Wherever we Are, God is,
And God is within.
I also add these prayers:
The Abundance of God
Prospers us.
The Creativity of God
Inspires us.
The Beauty of God
Entralls us.
Remember, I’ve said this prayer thousands of times. Maybe more. But until this morning, they were little more than sweet words of encouragement. Today, they took flight within my soul, soaring up to that burning star in the sky, then back into my heart in one unexpected, but exhilarating motion, revealing the Truth in those few words. When we accept an unlimited God Source, only then can we accept an Unlimited Self. My beloved friend Bee said that. She was so right on.
I accepted that Truth today.
As I closed my eyes at the end of the prayer, the sun's luminosity still burned brightly beneath my eyelids, as a tender reminder to hold it all lightly, as it's a transient, but also ever present Truth.
What if you allowed the Truth to penetrate all your worries, fears and frustrations right now? What if you allowed the Truth to reveal your own unique Beauty, Creativity, Prosperity, Light and Power to Love right now?
You have nothing to lose.
Up the hill from my house sits two towering ponderosa pines. Well, they were two trees once, but now they're joined at the hip, so to speak, sharing one skin. The smaller of the two "embraces" the larger one with several of her branches (she represents the feminine to me), while the masculine tree stands guard against our infrequent bouts of severe winds. After giving and receiving my morning tree hug from these two old friends, I stepped out into the early morning sunlight, as I listened for a moment to the braying, whinnying, crowing, and twittering (from birds, not computers or cell phones) coming from the valley below. I call it the Farmland Concert Hour.
Gazing up at the glowing sun in the sky for a moment I wait until my eyes adjust just enough to see the Source of the sun's effulgence. That's when I say the Prayer of Protection:
The Light of God
Surrounds us.
The Love of God
Enfolds us.
The Power of God
Protects us.
The Presence of God Watches Over us.
Wherever we Are, God is,
And God is within.
I also add these prayers:
The Abundance of God
Prospers us.
The Creativity of God
Inspires us.
The Beauty of God
Entralls us.
Remember, I’ve said this prayer thousands of times. Maybe more. But until this morning, they were little more than sweet words of encouragement. Today, they took flight within my soul, soaring up to that burning star in the sky, then back into my heart in one unexpected, but exhilarating motion, revealing the Truth in those few words. When we accept an unlimited God Source, only then can we accept an Unlimited Self. My beloved friend Bee said that. She was so right on.
I accepted that Truth today.
As I closed my eyes at the end of the prayer, the sun's luminosity still burned brightly beneath my eyelids, as a tender reminder to hold it all lightly, as it's a transient, but also ever present Truth.
What if you allowed the Truth to penetrate all your worries, fears and frustrations right now? What if you allowed the Truth to reveal your own unique Beauty, Creativity, Prosperity, Light and Power to Love right now?
You have nothing to lose.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
God CPR
There is no place that God isn't, if we believe in an omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient Eternal Force.
I personally love that principle, because it empowers me, too. It also empowers everyone around me. An empowered, limitless Self is the wondrous effect of believing in a Limitless God Source. Bee Landis, the wise elder focus of my book, Exit Strategy... Leaving this Life with Grace and Gratitude, knew that as a Truth worth living near the end of her physical life on earth.
While working with a hospice patient recently, we were discussing what she saw as her controlling emotion. At that point in time, despair was at the top of her list. That was obvious to anyone who looked at her, of course. Her brown eyes were sadly downcast. Her mouth was pierced tightly shut, while her entire body seemed lifeless and inert. Most importantly, her breathing was shallow, using only the top third of her lungs.
Watching someone's breathing is a good sign of their overall well-being. When we're full of life, joy and peace, our breathing grows deeper and slows down. But when we're full of fear, frustration, resentment, pain, hopelessness and despair, our breath is barely perceptible. That's when it's a good time to practice what I call God CPR.
By God CPR, I mean to use your imagination to see the Holy Spirit breathing into you. The breath would be full and full of peace, wellness, wholeness and love. A gentle God Breeze to alight and delight the cells and senses.
Allow for the inspiration of God CPR next time you're feeling any negative emotion and see what you get.
You have nothing to lose.
I personally love that principle, because it empowers me, too. It also empowers everyone around me. An empowered, limitless Self is the wondrous effect of believing in a Limitless God Source. Bee Landis, the wise elder focus of my book, Exit Strategy... Leaving this Life with Grace and Gratitude, knew that as a Truth worth living near the end of her physical life on earth.
While working with a hospice patient recently, we were discussing what she saw as her controlling emotion. At that point in time, despair was at the top of her list. That was obvious to anyone who looked at her, of course. Her brown eyes were sadly downcast. Her mouth was pierced tightly shut, while her entire body seemed lifeless and inert. Most importantly, her breathing was shallow, using only the top third of her lungs.
Watching someone's breathing is a good sign of their overall well-being. When we're full of life, joy and peace, our breathing grows deeper and slows down. But when we're full of fear, frustration, resentment, pain, hopelessness and despair, our breath is barely perceptible. That's when it's a good time to practice what I call God CPR.
By God CPR, I mean to use your imagination to see the Holy Spirit breathing into you. The breath would be full and full of peace, wellness, wholeness and love. A gentle God Breeze to alight and delight the cells and senses.
Allow for the inspiration of God CPR next time you're feeling any negative emotion and see what you get.
You have nothing to lose.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Passionate Resistance
Recently I have been re-introduced to an extremely effective life tool, one that I had conveniently, but temporarily, misplaced in my inner box of invisible gadget goodies that help me get through challenging times. The tool has to do with letting go of resistance. (See http://www.sedona.com/ for more information.)
We all experience resistance from time to time in our lives, some more than others. We resist joy. We resist abundance. We resist peace of mind. We resist hearing or telling the truth. We resist creating our unique art. We resist reaching out to others in times of need, either theirs or ours. It's not the issues that are the problems in our lives––it’s the resistance to them. The issues are simply a few picket fences along our path that require scaling, digging under, or mowing down, if necessary.
When we learn to overcome resistance, our lives begin to move with the flow of life, rather than against it, as The Sedona Method teaches. Author Robert Conklin said, “Resistance is thought transformed into feeling. Change the thought that creates the resistance, and there is no more resistance.”
Hmmm. Just change the thought, eh? Often easier said than done, Mr. Conklin. What happens if we change the thought and, whoops, here it comes back again?
What if we let go of needing to change the thoughts that create resistance, and spread them out on the dining room table for a closer look-see? In other words, what if we actually allowed ourselves to feel the resistance completely by putting it under a make-believe microscope for a minute or two? You’ll be amazed how quickly that which you were resisting is transformed into just a bunch of dust on the dining room table.
For over a decade I have encouraged people who have been in a grieving state for many years, to go and grieve some more, but this time, do it passionately, with intent to get to the other side of the grieving process. What is under our grief, pain, and fear is our peace of mind waiting to be discovered.
What have you been resisting? Is it time to look at it?
If so, then releasing it is the next step.
You have nothing to lose.
We all experience resistance from time to time in our lives, some more than others. We resist joy. We resist abundance. We resist peace of mind. We resist hearing or telling the truth. We resist creating our unique art. We resist reaching out to others in times of need, either theirs or ours. It's not the issues that are the problems in our lives––it’s the resistance to them. The issues are simply a few picket fences along our path that require scaling, digging under, or mowing down, if necessary.
When we learn to overcome resistance, our lives begin to move with the flow of life, rather than against it, as The Sedona Method teaches. Author Robert Conklin said, “Resistance is thought transformed into feeling. Change the thought that creates the resistance, and there is no more resistance.”
Hmmm. Just change the thought, eh? Often easier said than done, Mr. Conklin. What happens if we change the thought and, whoops, here it comes back again?
What if we let go of needing to change the thoughts that create resistance, and spread them out on the dining room table for a closer look-see? In other words, what if we actually allowed ourselves to feel the resistance completely by putting it under a make-believe microscope for a minute or two? You’ll be amazed how quickly that which you were resisting is transformed into just a bunch of dust on the dining room table.
For over a decade I have encouraged people who have been in a grieving state for many years, to go and grieve some more, but this time, do it passionately, with intent to get to the other side of the grieving process. What is under our grief, pain, and fear is our peace of mind waiting to be discovered.
What have you been resisting? Is it time to look at it?
If so, then releasing it is the next step.
You have nothing to lose.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
The Properties of Light
A dear friend brought up the subject of optics the other day. He was referring to something he had heard where optics was used in a non-traditional way, i.e. “the optics of a situation.”
Optics is the science that describes the behavior and properties of light and the interaction of light with matter.
I must confess to only having a cursory knowledge of optics, and in that, only of the generally known variety, aka spectacles, micro/telescopes, x-rays, fiber optics, and lasers, etc. I'd never actually thought about optics being a study of light. More than any other application––through the psychological perspective––relating to the role of light in vision, is fascinating to me.
The only reason I've been a mini-student of quantum physics is because of the thinner-than-thin veil distinguishing this realm from other realms. There's something abstruse about living in a totally illusory world, while trusting that if my body comes between a well-shot bullet and its intended target, I'll bleed red, fall to the ground and die. How does one hold both realities––we’re here and nowhere––simultaneously?
I found these equally intriguing, non-scientific quotes from an interesting array of fellow earth travelers from the past... deep past, as from the poet, Alexander Pope. I thought they might add to the fuel your brain must need right about now.
Paul Cezanne, artist (died 1906)- Optics, developing in us through study, teach us to see.
Claude Debussy, composer (died 1918) - Music is the arthmetic of sounds as optics is the geometry of light.
John Trumbull, artist (died 1843) - But optics sharp it needs, I ween, To see what is not to be seen.
Richard Whately, archbishop (died 1863) - In our judgment of human transactions, the law of optics is reversed; we see the most indistinctly the objects which are close around us.
Alexander Pope, poet (died 1744) - The difference is as great between the optics seeing as the objects seen.
So, that got me to thinkin’, as an old friend used to say, what if we began right now to see ourselves differently, through the prism of light from within, where deep Truths lay, in fields of exciting electromagnetism?
In other words, what if you saw you the way God sees you?
You have nothing to lose.
Optics is the science that describes the behavior and properties of light and the interaction of light with matter.
I must confess to only having a cursory knowledge of optics, and in that, only of the generally known variety, aka spectacles, micro/telescopes, x-rays, fiber optics, and lasers, etc. I'd never actually thought about optics being a study of light. More than any other application––through the psychological perspective––relating to the role of light in vision, is fascinating to me.
The only reason I've been a mini-student of quantum physics is because of the thinner-than-thin veil distinguishing this realm from other realms. There's something abstruse about living in a totally illusory world, while trusting that if my body comes between a well-shot bullet and its intended target, I'll bleed red, fall to the ground and die. How does one hold both realities––we’re here and nowhere––simultaneously?
I found these equally intriguing, non-scientific quotes from an interesting array of fellow earth travelers from the past... deep past, as from the poet, Alexander Pope. I thought they might add to the fuel your brain must need right about now.
Paul Cezanne, artist (died 1906)- Optics, developing in us through study, teach us to see.
Claude Debussy, composer (died 1918) - Music is the arthmetic of sounds as optics is the geometry of light.
John Trumbull, artist (died 1843) - But optics sharp it needs, I ween, To see what is not to be seen.
Richard Whately, archbishop (died 1863) - In our judgment of human transactions, the law of optics is reversed; we see the most indistinctly the objects which are close around us.
Alexander Pope, poet (died 1744) - The difference is as great between the optics seeing as the objects seen.
So, that got me to thinkin’, as an old friend used to say, what if we began right now to see ourselves differently, through the prism of light from within, where deep Truths lay, in fields of exciting electromagnetism?
In other words, what if you saw you the way God sees you?
You have nothing to lose.
Monday, January 26, 2009
WHAT IS YOUR OATH?
With millions, perhaps over a billion other sweet souls last week, I watched the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States. Barack Hussein Obama as he stood, appearing confident and calm, his hand poised on a bible that belonged to his hero, Abraham Lincoln, to take his oath of office. Sworn into the highest office in the country, we could hear a ground swell of gratitude, encouragement, support and sheer joy filtering up from the millions who endured the bitter cold in our nation’s capital to participate on this auspicious day.
This was more than an extraordinary moment... a time when we can begin to realize that we ARE all in this together, we are ALL capable of inaugurating ourselves into a life where kindness, love and compassion is the only path worth taking.
On my walk this morning with my dogs, I listened to a familiar line repeating in my head: That which we see in others, we also have within ourselves. At this time, most of us see true greatness, unlimited potential, and extraordinary leadership in President Obama. We only see it in him because it already exists in us. Nearly 2000 years ago another extraordinary human being traveled across the scorched earth in Palestine whispering a similar message to those who walked with him. You are the Light of the World. Not only I, but you… We are the light of the world.
Please think about leaving behind the old paradigm of “I got mine, now you go out and get yours.” Please think about setting aside any delusional thoughts of disenfranchisement where your votes aren’t counted, you don’t matter, or any false beliefs that your electoral or civil privileges are only available for the elite.
What oath can you make today? To step up… step out… reach higher… let go of what no longer serves you?
What oath are you willing to make today? To own the magnificence of who you are… To discover the wise leader––ready, raring to go––within you… Are you willing to connect with other powerful souls and co-create the world you imagine?
What oath are you willing to make your own?
You have nothing to lose.
This was more than an extraordinary moment... a time when we can begin to realize that we ARE all in this together, we are ALL capable of inaugurating ourselves into a life where kindness, love and compassion is the only path worth taking.
On my walk this morning with my dogs, I listened to a familiar line repeating in my head: That which we see in others, we also have within ourselves. At this time, most of us see true greatness, unlimited potential, and extraordinary leadership in President Obama. We only see it in him because it already exists in us. Nearly 2000 years ago another extraordinary human being traveled across the scorched earth in Palestine whispering a similar message to those who walked with him. You are the Light of the World. Not only I, but you… We are the light of the world.
Please think about leaving behind the old paradigm of “I got mine, now you go out and get yours.” Please think about setting aside any delusional thoughts of disenfranchisement where your votes aren’t counted, you don’t matter, or any false beliefs that your electoral or civil privileges are only available for the elite.
What oath can you make today? To step up… step out… reach higher… let go of what no longer serves you?
What oath are you willing to make today? To own the magnificence of who you are… To discover the wise leader––ready, raring to go––within you… Are you willing to connect with other powerful souls and co-create the world you imagine?
What oath are you willing to make your own?
You have nothing to lose.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power. -Alan Cohen ...author of 22 popular inspirational books and CDs, including the best-selling The Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Change #1 Changing the World?
Quote #1
Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing him/herself.
––Leo Tolstoy, (
Inevitable Change
Over the next 21 days I am going to be sending out daily thoughts on change from the world’s most extraordinary past and present minds, those who have touched me deeply over many years, as gentle (sometimes not so gentle) reminders of the inevitability of change.
Monumental change, unlike we have seen in decades, is currently being felt around the world; from the ferocious winter weather to the ping-pong economic status, to the disconnection some of you may be feeling from your family and friends.
We only have this infinitesimally short time to do our work (our play?); to make our unique mark, to know that our breath makes more of a difference than foggy air against a mirror; to allow ourselves to be touched, and touch the hearts of another; that in doing so will fill in even the smallest cracks we created from our bleak, unacknowledged pain; a pain that wants to be healed now.
All of it is here, serving as a compass heading to return us to….. Our Center.
This is a kindly challenge to all of you, a call to hearts, to take the next 21 days to deeply contemplate, if it pleases you, what these words mean to you, how they affect you, and what you’re willing to do about it right now.
You have nothing to lose.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)