It’s amazing how many signs are actually around us on a daily basis that we miss. Sometimes it’s because:
We aren’t paying close enough attention to our lives
The signs aren’t speaking loud enough for us
We are ignoring them
Any one of these prevent us from experiencing what could potentially be an empowering personal growth opportunity. These signs sometimes create those “aha” moments that we all seek, those moments that lead us to a higher understanding and level. I absolutely love those moments and I am constantly looking around for the greater reason behind all of my experiences in every part of my life because I know it’s there. There are times when I am fully engaged and paying attention and still cannot see the signs. Sometimes this is because I am too closely connected to any given situation to have the clarity I need but I persevere because I am very committed to finding my reason for being. I believe that in the grand scheme of things we are all connected to each other through a higher level, a higher sense of being, a higher power, it’s just a matter of tapping into it. Paying Attention!
Our inner voice is always whispering to us and when I don’t pay attention, I get a shove, not literally, but one that says “hey, start listening to me”. I’ve had times when I really disregarded my inner voice and ended up in an emotional and/or physical state of being that could have been avoided if I had been paying attention to the signs within and around me. Our inner voice, gut instinct, intuition, whatever you want to call it, is wise beyond what we can understand and every time I choose not to listen I get thumped! It’s the equivalent of the “I told you so”, except there is no judgment and the consequence is already occurring.
If you have an undesirable scenario that keeps playing within your life like a broken record and you keep ending up in the same place then it may be time to step back and analyze that so you are able to find a more productive and positive outcome.
Knowing how far things can progress in a situation before clarity and insight can finally occur depends on each individual, how in tune they are with themselves and how devoted they really are to getting in touch with their reason for being.
Everyone has their daily routines but don’t go through them blindly, our lives aren’t just supposed to be existing, they should be a living experience.
I’ve heard the phrase “forgive and forget” many times but I’ve learned that while it is essential to forgive, it is just as essential not to forget, carry the wisdom forward. The most significant aspect of the events I’ve experienced so far, whether desirable or not, were the lessons I learned and the personal growth I gained. Without some of my lessons it may have taken me longer to realize that I needed to develop a stronger set of boundaries, boundaries that should have already been in place. If I was to forget my lessons I would lose along with them, the wisdom and experience I need to prepare me for the future I am meant to live. I really believe that “everything happens for a reason” and if I am able to step outside these events, even for a moment, then I am able to provide myself with the necessary insight and awareness that directs me to the bigger picture.
When I have things going on in my life that are upsetting or disappointing I always find that if I were to look around there are others that have much more difficult situations to deal with. It’s at this time that I realize how insignificant my issues are in comparison and that I need to remain thankful for the guidance and greater knowledge that these situations offer. I’m not saying the problem or issue doesn’t matter but it does help me to scale down the severity, especially when I am too emotionally connected to a situation to be objective.
We have one of two options when faced with adversity:
1) Use it as a positive force, a catalyst, to change and create a better future
2) Use it as a negative force, an excuse, to hold you back from having the future you desire
I’ve read and heard so many stories of people that have come from terrible upbringings and backgrounds and have used that pain and sadness as a force of positive strength and determination to change their circumstances and create a happier and more fulfilling life.
It’s amazing how much we can learn from others if we just pay attention, and care to listen. We are all here to learn and progress and there are so many people that have been and still are in my life that have taught me some very significant and invaluable aspects. I don’t believe that any one person or event in my life has been a coincidence. I believe that we all come here with a purpose and passion and those involved in our lives are here to help us along that path, our conscious is not aware of it but our inner voice is. Our inner voice is always whispering to us and I can honestly say that since I started paying attention to my inner voice I’ve had great things occur and discovered a deeper sense of happiness.
For me experience has been a good teacher, mistakes have been an even greater teacher. Everyone makes mistakes, no one is perfect, but without the mistakes I’ve made I wouldn’t have gained the knowledge or insight on how to navigate and discover my life’s purpose. Through making mistakes I’ve developed a stronger sense of inner strength, depth of character, a clearer definition of the future I want to manifest and the importance of carrying the wisdom forward.
I’ve found this week to be quite enlightening and it’s given me a heightened sense and understanding of the Law of Attraction. I found that last week I was a little off simply because I allowed certain situations to become something I stressed about. By keeping myself in this area I was not operating within the core of the Law of Attraction.
To clarify what I’m trying to get across I’m going to use this analogy – Imagine that there is a huge party going on inside an arena and you can see everyone in there having a great time and they are all radiating positive, exuberant energy. You want to be in there but you just don’t have that same positive energy and exuberance going on because you are allowing someone or something to inhibit that positivity from flowing (you’re in a bad mood) so instead you are on the outside looking in. It’s not because you don’t want to be in there but you’re not open to absorbing or contributing to the positive energy in the center. Negativity cannot stand or survive within a positive environment, it repels from it, that is why there are certain people we are drawn to and certain we avoid.
The Law of Attraction is a positive state of being, but picture it as a huge vibrational ball of energy and at the core is where everyone who is “in the zone” is hanging out, experiencing life positively and outwardly projecting all that their inner spirit has to offer. When you are truly being yourself, no pretense, you will find that even though this is the easiest thing to do, it’s also the most natural and naturalness flows effortlessly. It’s that naturalness that is most in tune with your higher self and inner spirit and it’s through that that you will find your higher calling and purpose and of course most gratifying life.
I noticed that when I turned things around (flipped that switch) and stepped back into the zone that everything picked up immediately, and I do mean immediately. The universe knows when we are in and out of sync with ourselves and attracts accordingly. Even though I thought I had a great read on myself, what I needed to do, and how in control I thought I was, I discovered this week that my thoughts (no matter how small) play an extremely prominent role in my daily reality. I already knew this but I had not realized that even the miniscule thoughts and ideas played a part in taking me entirely “out of the zone”.
Out of the Law of Attraction, out of my positive state of being, out of the zone!
The strongest asset I have on my side is my awareness and having that awareness heightened to recognize the most minute detail having an effect on my daily life will definitely change how determined I will be in the future to prevent it from taking me out of the zone. Every little piece of our psyche counts in contributing to our overall sense of being and learning to recognize and redirect it to the positive will provide a more fulfilling daily life.
I have attached a very powerful You Tube video featuring Esther Hicks and it’s the video that helped to bring me into the zone and one I watch when I feel out of sync. Being in a state of appreciation can really bring you back into the zone by showing you the greater importance in life.
Sorry all, it’s 7 ½ minutes long but if you have the time it’s well worth it, as are all of the videos put out by Esther and Jerry Hicks.
My biggest excitement today is my daughter’s birthday ( Felicity is 13 years old )
There are many different definitions and concepts surrounding “Karma” but the common thread seems to be that of “cause and effect” or better said “what goes around, comes around”.My belief about the meaning of Karma is that there are two parts to it:
1) Intention – This does not mean doing random acts of kindness on purpose with the expectation that this will now create “good karma”. It is simply doing random acts of kindness with the intention of generating a positive feeling in the recipient. In my opinion it is the positive act with the only desired outcome being that you make someone’s day better that automatically generates the good karma. The unintention within the intention.
2) Reaction – One of my favorite quotes by Wayne Dyer that clearly expresses this;
“How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.”
So true, and quite often reaction can be a very difficult emotion to control. When others have treated me in a way that hurts or upsets me, my immediate reaction can be either to act out or shut down. I’ve found that neither one of these have ever been a beneficial solution.I’ve had my own difficulties with trying not to let others words/ actions affect me and sometimes it can still be an ongoing battle but I’ve found that it depends on the state of being I’m in at the time an issue arises. If I am in a place of feeling strong within my mind and soul then no one can affect me, however if I am in a less than strong position I will have a feud going on within me just to fend it off. One of the quotes I constantly remind myself of when I’m in those less than strong positions that helps me find my way out is, of course, another Wayne Dyer quote:
“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.”
It doesn’t always work for me at first but if I keep repeating it in my mind at some point it kicks in. Along with that I will constantly ask myself “do I want to allow others to block my happiness or positive energy?” or “give someone else the power to change my future?”
Absolutely No Way!
I know that when I’ve let someone else’s behavior affect me I’ve noticed that it has a direct effect on all those around me, my entire day and every day after that until I stop letting it affect me. It’s something I have to consciously choose to ward off and it can sometimes take all of my positive energy just to stay on the level but it’s a definite “have to” for me, and the most necessary step in maintaining my spirit.
I do have one aide that I use that helps to calm me internally when someone has affected me and it really does work. I bought myself a clear crystal quartz that hangs on a nylon cord like a necklace and I wear it when I feel out of sorts. Clear crystal quartz is said to have healing properties that cleanse away negativity, clear blockages and balance your crown chakra. It’s called “the poor man’s diamond” because it’s so rich in every way except material value.
It’s been said that your karma follows you through each and every life until you’ve paid up the karmic debt that you’ve created. I can’t say one way or the other on this statement as I would have to have data from not only mine but from others past and current lives. I don’t know if that’s even a possibility to complete, at least not for me anyway. I do believe in the statements of the karma coming with you through each life and the karmic debt being paid. I think that anyone can turn their karma around as long as their intention is coming from an open and honest place. Of course I don’t mean that by reaching an open and honest place that means that they are automatically paid up for any past transgressions. I view it to be a process, somewhat like a 12-step program and that the person who has made this transformation within is usually eager to make amends and make up for any stress and/or hurt that they’ve caused. It is through these positive desires that the karmic debt gets paid up, not just because they’ve made amends but because the intention is open and honest and their words/actions are consistent with that intention.
I thought that I had found my fullest form of Contentment when I finished writing my 1st book “Finding the Balance” but as it turns out I had only just stepped onto that path. When I finished it I felt a certain level of contentment, the key word here is level, something I have come to understand and recognize after some time has passed. When it comes to personal growth the period of time it takes is different for everyone because of our individuality and because we all learn in our own time. What I should have considered is that with all areas of learning there are many levels and varying degrees and I had only thought I reached full contentment because I felt more empowered, engaged and aware. Little did I know that there was much more, much better to come.
I now know that what I had experienced then was a level of contentment because I now feel that I have moved to another level. The only way I can describe this level is – it feels to be an unshakable faith in myself, where I am, where I’m going and that all things will occur as they are destined to along the way. This level of contentment reinforces my belief that everything (positive and negative) happens for a reason. Both are meant to teach and bring us to a higher level of ourselves and without them we may remain stuck in a never ending cycle of frustration and confusion.
If I allow the little things to bother me along the way I am allowing my ego to inhibit my own growth cycle and that is not something I want to do in any way. Of course there are still times when something I did not expect occurs but my reactive behavior to these unexpected occurrences is starting to adopt a more negotiable mind and I am approaching things from a far more relaxed state of being. I’m not entirely sure if this is something that comes with age, experience, time or all of these but I welcome it because it’s providing me with such a unique, profound and irreplaceable form of happiness. Within this level I have also discovered a greater passion, a greater reason and a greater experience within my purpose.
Part of the change is my focus and where I am directing my attention to and where I’m taking it away from. I’m directing more towards where I want to go, what I want to achieve, how I want to get there and what I want to project along the way.
I’m retracting it from the trivial areas, areas that my ego contributes to. We all have an ego, the hardest thing to do, at times, is to keep that ego in check. It can divert our minds into focusing on things that shouldn’t really bother us. I think we’ve all had one of those days when we got dragged down to a level of communication and behavior that we later regret, that’s our ego winning the battle. It can wreak havoc within our lives when we allow it to carry our thoughts away from the bigger picture.
This really is something that comes from within and I’ve found that in everything I do and commit to if my subconscious isn’t in it 100% then I won’t succeed. I wish I could offer a “one size fits all” process that would help everyone to get to their own “greater meaning of their life”. My own journey to has had its share of ups and downs along the way but knowing how far I’ve come and having faith that there is so much more on the way makes it entirely worth it.
There is a quiet strength and resilience hidden with the state of Contentment. My personal peace and happiness have become the most important state of being that I covet.
It’s hard to believe that this would be true but it is and believe me I’ve done my fair questioning of “Are you kidding me?” It is usually through difficulty that we find out what we are really made of and what we really can accomplish. The question to ask when you are in the midst of difficulty is do I want to find a positive outcome and do better or do I want to look for an excuse not to try and do the same or worse. It’s the balance of positive versus negative and that can be a battle all on its own. Some have to work harder than others to find the positive side but I can assure you it’s totally worth it.
Of course it is easiest not to try, there is no effort required for that route at all and unfortunately that makes it the most travelled road but definitely not the most pleasant, positive or purposeful.
I know everyone out there has the desire to have a better life and anything worth having is definitely worth working for. If things were too easy they would be so attainable that they likely wouldn’t be desired. This is true in taking the path of “not to try”, there is absolutely no effort required in this route and I’m quite sure that there isn’t one person out there that wants to have nothing, no one says when they are a child that my life goal is “not to try”. Every child has a dream and just because we are now adults doesn’t mean that you’ve passed the point of attaining a goal you made as a child, teen or young adult. The only difference is that you just alter the timeline, instead of achieving something by the time you were 25 you now achieve it by the time you’re 35 , 45, 55, etc. The only reason you can’t achieve something should be because you are no longer on the earthly plane, other than that being an obstacle, there are none. We only create obstacles to make ourselves feel better for not doing something we really wanted to do and at the end of the day you still don’t feel better.
Some of my biggest setbacks have created the enlightenment that I needed to guide me to my greater passion and purpose.
I can honestly say without a doubt that I wouldn’t change any of the events that led me to where I am today. Of course some of them were so far from ideal that I was questioning the greater reasoning behind them at the time, but all of them I can now honor and appreciate because they led me to my passion which then led me to my purpose. The way I was able to find my purpose was within, I started listening to my inner spirit. It had always been whispering to me and I found that it was only when I started to listen and pay attention that it became louder and stronger.
My purpose has led me to a greater form of contentment, peace and balance which has motivated my desire to stay on this path.
If you are looking for a sign that you deserve to honor your and achieve your innermost desires then this is it.
It took me so long to learn and actually understand the true meaning of this phrase? I’d heard it many many times before but didn’t really know what it meant and I wanted to share a point of view that I recently learned relating to this.Your cup, essentially, is your lifeline, and as long as you feed and maintain your level in this cup then what spills over the edge is what you have to offer to those who are in your life. If I let my cup go below level then how can I possibly feed the lifeline of those that I take care of or those that depend on me if I’ve depleted it so much that nothing can spill over.
In feeding my purpose first it allows me the energy, inspiration, creativity and motivation to keep that cup full and overflowing. This is a cycle that continues and will continue to gain momentum as long as I am feeding my purpose first. It’s when I start to put others ahead of my LIFE NEEDS that I end up depleting myself and that is a cycle that I cannot afford to let happen.
There is nothing more motivating for me then to have my cup full and overflowing, and what I have running over is the spread of positive light and energy, which of course becomes more and more motivating for me. The cycle of the positive gains speed just as well as the negative, except for one big difference. To me the negative is cancer and I have no intention of spreading that in any way, shape or form.
My observations of the differences between positive and negative energy are that they show up physically on a person.
Someone who is experiencing negative thinking and energy has a darkness about them (the equivalent of the sad person walking around with a cloud of rain over their head). They sometimes look pale or gray, tired, gaunt and unhealthy. Their body language can almost seem angry and uninviting.
Someone who is experiencing positive thinking and energy has a glow about them (the equivalent of the happy person with the rosy cheeks and big smile). Their appearance is that of infectious radiance and the picture of health. They are exuding confidence and are usually quite energetic and open.
I have always been very interested and intrigued by the many unique personalities that are in this world and the only way I can truly understand how some people work is to make sure that I listen and observe fully with an open mind.
My goal is to always have my cup running over, spilling out positive light and energy to all that come into or through my life. That is not only feeding my purpose but it is what I believe my purpose in this life is.
This is a topic that came to me late in the day today and not for any specific reason but I started thinking about my place in this world and what I wanted it to be. I know I want to make a difference, have a positive impact and hopefully leave this world with at least one, but hopefully a few more than that, lives changed for the better.
I believe that Integrity is at the top of the rung, if your word doesn’t mean anything you’re not going to have many people that trust you with important parts of their life. For me it’s the important parts of mine and other’s lives that connect us to each other. Everything you do has either a direct or indirect effect on those around you and I find it to be an important factor in everything that I do. It also shows your consideration and respect for those people and there’s no greater gift you can give them than that. I’ve found that my deepest connections with others have been rooted in either one or many shared experiences. It’s these shared experiences that validate both our thoughts and feelings on any given situation and help us to understand that we are not alone or off the wall in how something or someone affects us.
Remember this: People are only as important to you as you make them feel.
Our feelings and emotions drive everything we do and when we feel hurt or betrayed emotionally then our reaction can be to either disconnect or shut down all together from that source of hurt. As well it can emotionally stunt us from any growth we are meant to experience. Our feelings and emotions are very strong and unless you are able to tune them out or control them ( I’m not ) then you either have to deal and move on or you become stuck.
There is no doubt in my mind that becoming stuck is not an option for me. I choose to deal and move on, not only for myself but so that I don’t pass on this negativity to anyone else in my life.
My favorite method is to write it out and I want to encourage anyone and everyone out there to try this, it’s been extremely successful and healing for me. I’m sure anyone who’s ever written an email or letter to someone has written it and then re-read it, made adjustments, read it again, maybe make another adjustment and then send. I think the reason we make the adjustments is so something doesn’t come off sounding bad ( that’s our consideration and respect ).
Imagine this, you write out your letter to someone, something or even an organization giving it your all and getting everything off your chest, leaving nothing unsaid.
Don’t actually send it!
Every time and I do mean every time I’ve done this I’ve felt better after and it’s because I got to put in my 2 cents about how something made me feel and once I’ve done that it’s released from weighing on my mind and emotions. This is my therapy, my release and my way to keep myself sane and prevent that negative cycle from continuing. It’s like my own little personal assertiveness training and it helps me to draw my line in the sand without losing my own dignity or integrity.
The main thing I’ve got that is entirely in my control is my Integrity – my respect, my consideration, my compassion and my empathy for not only myself but for others. My word definitely means something!
It’s been a very contemplative week for me, a lot of deep thinking and it’s all due to the power of the positive. I’ve had the benefit of watching Oprah’s Lifeclass Tour which began just last week and I’ve found it to be a huge opportunity for expanding my own personal growth. I don’t think anyone is ever really done when it comes to expanding your awareness. I definitely don’t think that I have things all figured out and I absolutely love that Oprah is putting on this tour and broadcasting it worldwide. I am so excited to see positive thinking and personal empowerment being spread on such a global scale. The opportunities we can all create for ourselves have no limits and this tour is a huge reminder of that as well as an opportunity for anyone looking to experience personal growth, empowerment, awareness, motivation and inspiration. So far there have only been 2 shows of this tour televised and it has already amplified my own thirst for personal growth and empowerment. It has helped me to continue to remind myself that what I want to project outward at all times is a healthy and positive attitude and that no matter who or what the circumstance is I am going to be strong and not allow anything to interrupt or change that in any way.
If something is bothering or interrupting my personal flow of life I find that the best thing I can do is try to find the ultimate reason behind it, look for the positive lesson. Sure, I could shrug my shoulders, give in and scream out “what’s the point of this?” or say “it’s not my fault, it’s theirs”, but for me I don’t see any benefit in doing that ever! It doesn’t solve anything, it doesn’t make you feel any better and it certainly doesn’t change things. So if you’re going to say “what’s the point of this?” make sure that question is directed to “what’s the point of me giving this any energy?”.
One of the key things on the first show that I believe to be a very significant factor in a lot of people’s lives is “what story are you telling?”. If the reasons you aren’t succeeding or moving forward are because of a difficulty you’ve experienced in your life ( in your past ) then you need to stop telling that story. It’s something that has caused you pain but by continuing to use that as your story (your excuse) you are the one holding yourself back from being all that you are meant to be.
When you continue to re-tell your story of the obstacles that have prevented you from having the life that you wanted, you are reinforcing that story and giving it more energy to grow and become an even bigger obstacle. Close off the old story – “Life was tough before now, some of it was very painful, but now I’m going to take charge and I’m going to change it, it’s going to get better. It’s going to be the life that I want and that I was meant to live”.
You need to re-write that story to suit you better to who you are now and who you want to become. A good beginning, that I have used, is to simply change my perspective and attitude, it doesn’t cost a thing. Maybe at first you may not see the changes and it’s not because they aren’t there but it does take some time to learn how to recognize your newfound awareness but it won’t be long before you are able to fully embrace it and begin to move forward.
Start your new story now, don’t wait, don’t leave it for another day. If inspiration, motivation or both strike you, then you need to strike back while the iron is hot. I know you are totally worth it to re-write your new story, one that is more positive and of more benefit to the direction you want to see your life go. The only way to grasp a new way of life is to let go of the old one.
When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” – Wayne Dyer
I’ve actually tried this and it really worked, the circumstance I was applying it to was at my workplace. It wasn’t that I had a huge dilemma with a co-worker we just kind of rubbed each other the wrong way. Much time has passed since changing how I was looking at things with this particular situation and I’ve come to realize that maybe the reason for my co-workers disassociation was caused by the disassociation I was projecting. Oddly enough now, this co-worker is someone I really like, admire and respect and all it took was to change that around was to change how I was looking at things.
When you first try this it may feel odd ( I think mostly because it takes more energy to resist the natural flow ) but you will find that whatever you are projecting outward is what you will receive back so it makes sense that if you change that projection then what you get back will also change.
What I have to throw into the mix this week is – “what if I am emotionally connected to the circumstance, how do I then change how I am looking at it?”
When I am emotionally connected to a situation it can be very difficult to shift my thinking because it’s clouded by the emotional attachment. The only way I can think of is to take away the emotion factor by disconnecting at the source, and this is not easy to do and I’m not so sure that is something I am able to do or if it’s the right thing to do. It sounds simple in theory but when you get right down to it, it’s a lot harder to take on. The way we really connect with others is emotionally based and if you’re already connected then how do you disconnect. We aren’t robots, we don’t have switches we flip, we are energetic beings that sense and feel but if a circumstance is causing you stress or hurts you emotionally then removing yourself from it is the only solution.
My usual approach to any dilemma is to weigh out my options, kind of a like a pros and cons list. This gives me a visual and when I write things out it makes it easier for me to come up with the best solution or plan. This is an ongoing process for me, I’m not sure that I’ve found the best solution yet for myself or for anyone facing this dilemma.
The only solution I have is when a situation or circumstance is causing you stress or hurt then sometimes the answers are to look within. As in the circumstance above, I was initially causing the discrepancy I was having and had I realized that sooner I would have changed my thinking around much earlier and saved myself the discomfort. What I know now is that when I do have any issues, I start with me.
If you need to search further then maybe the answers can be found by talking things over with a close friend who can help you to find the answers you need individually. Sometimes in doing that you will find the answers much easier than trying to figure it out on your own.
Our inner voice is always whispering to us and when I don’t pay attention, I get a shove, not literally, but one that says “hey, start listening to me”. I’ve had times when I really disregarded my inner voice and ended up in an emotional and/or physical state of being that could have been avoided if I had been paying attention to the signs within and around me. Our inner voice, gut instinct, intuition, whatever you want to call it, is wise beyond what we can understand and every time I choose not to listen I get thumped! It’s the equivalent of the “I told you so”, except there is no judgment and the consequence is already occurring.
I’ve had my own difficulties with trying not to let others words/ actions affect me and sometimes it can still be an ongoing battle but I’ve found that it depends on the state of being I’m in at the time an issue arises. If I am in a place of feeling strong within my mind and soul then no one can affect me, however if I am in a less than strong position I will have a feud going on within me just to fend it off. One of the quotes I constantly remind myself of when I’m in those less than strong positions that helps me find my way out is, of course, another Wayne Dyer quote:
Shelley Hallmark 