Listening To That Little Voice

Lately I’ve had so many irons in the fire it’s not even funny, but amongst all the chaos that has been my life lately I’ve been learning how to still my mind. I’m amazed at the synchronicity I’ve been presented with lately. It’s becoming more and more apparent to me that there are no coincidences and we are given messages throughout our day if we will only slow down long enough to listen to them. I’ve been consciously watching and listening for the messages that are being presented to me and I’ve really been surprised at the turn my life has taken.

At first I believed it to be just my imagination, but last night I was proven wrong. About mid afternoon I was bombarded with the statement “A forgotten document will be found under the bed.” I’m really big time into keeping things cleaned from under my bed. I’ve always been told when you pile a bunch of junk under there it can interfere with your sleep. I don’t know if that’s an old wives tale or if it’s Feng Shui, but I’ve always tried to follow that rule. I knew for certain there was nothing under my bed.

Last night I got undressed, crawled into bed and called a friend. During the course of the conversation I still kept hearing that same statement in my head. Our call was interrupted and while I was laying there waiting for the call back, the urge became so strong that I got out of bed to prove the voice wrong.

I figured if something was under a bed it must surely be in one of the bedrooms I no longer use. My first stop was in the bedroom I slept in many years ago. I looked under the bed to find a tremendous amount of dust and two empty photo albums. Then, I stuck my hand and arm between the mattresses to take a feel. Nothing… Ha! I said to myself, I thought so! But just to be sure I went to the bedroom across the hall. Once again, nothing under the bed and nothing between the mattresses just as I suspected before I even started my search.

I proceeded to head back to my bedroom. Even though I knew there was nothing under my bed but a baseball bat I looked anyway. Then, I stuck my hands between the mattresses on the side where I sleep. To be absolutely certain, I walked to the other side of the bed and stuck my hands between the mattresses… The look on my face must have been one of complete disbelief because as I drug my hand across the box springs I touched something. An envelope, that I had no idea was ever even placed there, that did indeed contain documents.

The envelope contained a poem I had written for someone. I’m not really certain why someone or something thought it was so important for me to find it. Maybe it was to make a point... One thing I know for absolute certainty is from this time forward when that little voice talks to me, no matter how odd the statement, I won’t be so quick to dismiss it. I spent the next 45 minutes laying in bed saying to myself over and over again, “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe there was actually something there…”

Today’s Homework: Search for the daily guidance we are given… regardless to the form in which it may present its self.

I still can't believe it was actually there... :-)

The Importance of Stillness

Are you like me? My mind is always moving, thoughts after thoughts after thoughts. At any given point in time I am thinking about at least three different things. A project I want to do, all those things on the “to do” list and upcoming travels. It’s no wonder I stay so tired all the time. I never take the time to slow down my mind. Always afraid I’m going to miss something. The truth of the matter is my lack of focus is causing me to miss many things. Life is just passing by right in front of me and I am too busy to see it.

This became apparent to me yesterday when I drove right by a place I had been to at least 50 times in the last two years and I didn’t even see it. The bad part is I was actually looking for it when I passed by! That has to be a sign that my mind is way too occupied. How can I live in the now and enjoy all that is happening around me when my focus is on the future. A future that in truth may never even come, none of us are promised tomorrow. How can I possible expect to get grounded and connected to the universal pulse when I am so out of touch with my environment?

Here is the challenge presented to me. I am a very organized and efficient person. I plan ahead and make the most of my time. I live my life that way and have for several years now and it has been a major factor in my success with my career. I can multitask like you couldn’t possible believe. How do I still my mind long enough to get grounded and still accomplish all that I want or believe needs to get done? I’m just one person that feels the need to accomplish the tasks that two would find difficult. This is going to be a tough one! Wish me luck—No! wish me stillness of mind!

Today Homework: Find at least 20 minutes every evening to meditate and still my mind...

I can do this! I have to do this if I want to find that connection. All things are possible if you believe…

How Can I Get Back There?!

Four weeks ago something really incredible happened to me and the only way I can put it into words is to say it was an encounter, and it was with something very big. I don’t really believe in organized religion, but I’ve been regularly attending church for the fellowship and I was in church when this occurred. Though I don’t agree with everything that is being said, when you have a large group of people coming together for a constructive cause the collective energy has to be a positive influence regardless of your individual beliefs.

In an instant every muscle in my body relaxed and I became extremely aware of something much greater than me. I could feel it in me, around me and in everything living thing in my presence. Colors were incredibly vibrant and I could feel electrical current in the air. I had the same experience after my first Reiki treatment, but this was like Reiki times 1000. The euphoria lasted for several hours and with it came the knowledge that something really wonderful would be happening to me very, very soon and it would be life changing. I have no doubt whatsoever in my mind that a blessing is on the way.

The enchantment has since lessened, but it’s been replaced with a simple stillness and increasing peace of mind. Though I have no idea what it is, I know for a fact that my higher power has an important goal for me to accomplish. For those few hours I was connected to the pulse of the universe and I long to master the ability to do it at will. Is that what enlightenment feels like? How can I get it back? I was shown what I am capable of achieving; now it’s time to start the quest to reach that point and maintain it. This time I don’t think I crossed through a window. This time I’m pretty sure I was thrown through it glass and all. My, my… what a room full of possibilities I’ve landed in…

Today’s Homework: Try to identify the mental blocks and remove them…

God, in my opinion, is the energy that powers the universe. It’s time to plug in.

One of the most amazing and inspiring things I’ve ever read in my lifetime is Desiderata by Max Ehrmann. I’m continuously surprised by the people that have never read it or heard of it. I would like to share it with you today and may you see the great wisdom in its words.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Today's homework: Take time to reflect...

Victim or Victory?

In the past, my life has been a roller coaster of ups and downs. Things would go my way for a little while and then suddenly it would be as if a rug had been snatched right out from under me. It’s hard to maintain a positive attitude when you look around and see so many bad things happening to folks. Even more difficult, when it is happening to us or members of our family and then we compound our own situations by trying to fix what is happening to the others we care so much about. Without even realizing what we are doing we assume their burden as our own.

I want to share something with you that has taken me almost 13 years to realize. Every single thing that happens to you in your life happens for a reason. Even the bad things, most especially the bad things, there is a divine plan in action even though it may not always be apparent. You may not think so at the time, but when all is said and done you will benefit from the experience. Every detail of your life was planned out before you ever came into existence.

Sit down and make a short list of troublesome situations you have experienced in the past. Limit your choices to things that occurred at least five years ago or longer. Now sit down and reflect on how your life was changed by those occurrences. In almost every situation I think you will see that you are better off as a result of what happened to you. Maybe you were fired from a very important job and now you have employment with less stress and more money. Maybe a relationship that you were completely committed to for 15 years ended, but now you find you are with the person that you have searched for all you life. Just look and you will see you are better off than you were. It was something that you had to experience to reach where you are today.

If you happen to find yourself in one of those situations now, there are a couple of things I want you to remember. First, nothing is ever as bad as your mind makes it out to be. If you will look back at past situations, you will find it really wasn’t all that bad and you made it thru just fine, though it may have been a difficult time in your life. Second, other people’s problems are just that, other people’s problems. They have their own lessons to learn just as you did. If you are in a position to help and you can, by all means do what is right. I’m not suggesting that you shouldn’t lend a hand, I’m only saying don’t tax your spirit trying to resolve a situation that only the person involved can fix.

My next door neighbor is a deeply religious woman. She developed breast cancer and had to go thru all the horrible treatments and surgeries. I was talking to her one day in the garden and she told me she was losing faith. She didn’t know what she had done to make “God” turn his back on her and allow her to suffer as she had. I told her, Janet, this is not who you are, you are strong in your faith, you encourage people. You have always been a light in the darkness and you hold on to that. She did that and more, she took flowers from her garden to the treatment center, she prayed with the other patients that wanted her to and she read poetry to people as they waited. She found before long, she was feeling better even on the bad days and her spirit was lifted.

A few months later she saw me outside again and told me how the other patients she had seen were telling her what a blessing she was to them during the treatments. Some even told her that they would have given up were it not for her. I told her Janet, God didn’t turn his back on you; he put you where you could help others and make a difference. She could have never fully understood how they were suffering had she not gone through it herself. Her God would have never put her into that position, if she was not strong enough to persevere; in the process I believe she saved the lives of others. To this day Janet is certain, that was the reason for her battle. Now this is an extreme example, but you can see the point I’m trying to make. I myself suffered an enormous personal tragedy many years ago. To this day I have yet to know why I had to experience what I did, but I find great solace in knowing sooner or later the larger picture will be revealed and it was not in vain.

Today’s homework: Search for the silver lining…

You are not being punished and there is a higher purpose in all that happens. Though you may not see it now, one day it will all be crystal clear and you will know it helped create who you are as an individual. You can not always control you circumstances, but you can control how you choose to respond to them.

Living With Purpose

About a week ago I decided I had to become more focuses on my spirituality. No matter your beliefs, you have to incorporate them in your daily activities. If you are a follower of Jesus, bring him into your life every day, if Buddha is the deity that brings you to a higher consciousness practice daily, if it is the God of the universe or Gaia that give you strength then worship them daily. Sounds easy does it not? You would think so, but the truth is no it isn’t. We get so caught up in living life that we aren’t experiencing it. Before you know it, day after day, after day of your life passes by each day busier than the next. Though I strive do a little “inner work” on myself every day, I find that I am easily distracted by the daily activities and my good intentions fall to the side. I asked myself what I could do to stay focused on my path. Then it occurred to me, everyone is writing blogs these days; I’ll sit down every day and type out what I did to make me more connected and make me a stronger child of light. I’ll keep an online diary, but in the long run how would that help me on my path. Would documenting my studies really do anything to help me stay focused and how would it benefit me in the long run? Then it occurred to me, maybe I shouldn’t do it to help me, maybe it should supply a higher purpose. Maybe I should use what I’ve learned to try and make a difference in someone else’s life. It hit me like a ton of bricks, instead of always trying so hard to help myself, maybe I should channel that energy to a less selfish purpose. What can I do to help someone else? I think that is my lesson and purpose for this particular window period.

We spend our days running around like crazy. We get up, get ready, take the kids to the sitter, go to work, pick the kids back up, go to the grocery store, go home, start supper, wash clothes, clean the house, pay bills take a bath, go to bed and get back up and do it all over again. But in reality when you sit down and think about it, what did you really accomplish? What did you do that made a difference? How did you impact the people you were around today? Don’t get so caught up in daily activities that you forget to live. Not only do you need to live, you need to live life with a purpose. Don’t just exist, do something that makes a difference. Are you sitting there wondering what you can do? I can’t tell you. It has to be something you feel inside and that you can fit into your lifestyle. Ask for guidance, I bet you’ll be shown the path to take. ;-)

Today’s homework: Create an intention and put it into action…

A good way to start in your search for a purpose is to follow the words of Mahatma Gandhi- “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Whatever you feel strongly about is a good place to start looking.

The Light Bulb Moment

I’m not the type of person that reads books just for the story. Anytime I’m reading, it will usually be a book about spirituality, psychology or something else that will enrich my life or help me grow as a person. One of the most inspired times of my life was when I read the book ‘When you can walk on water take the boat’ by John Harricharan. It was a life altering moment for me, finally I found an author that had the same view of religion as myself. At last, someone had put into words what I was unable to describe. It was around 1991 when I was first given this book to read. I can’t begin to tell you how many copies I have given away over the years. I was totally at a loss when I realized the book was no longer in print and I was unable to get a copy of it.

There was no possible way to determine who the last person was to borrow it from me and I had decided it was gone for good. There had to be some way for me to find another copy. Following my instincts I got on line to start searching. I was able to get in contact with the writer via email and he sent me the book I’m speaking of and also the one that followed. He also took a moment to hand write a message in both books on the dedication page. They are two of my prize possessions.

‘When you can walk on water take the boat’ is believed to be the life experiences of the author, but he will neither confirm nor deny the story. At any rate, it is a book that has forever changed my life. It helped add solidity to the beliefs I’ve had since I was a small child. It was also the catalyst that started me on my journey as a student of life.

I want to encourage you to explore new possibilities. Get out of that little box you were placed in as a child and understand that there may be more to life than you’ve been told. Just because you explore other people’s beliefs does not mean you have to accept them as your own and it does not mean that you are less dedicated to your own religion. I explore all religions and condemn none for their beliefs as long as it does not harm another. By approaching it with an open mind, I have learned so very, very much. Some of it I retain, other parts of it I dismiss, but it is all a learning experience.

Today’s Homework: Open your mind to new possibilities…

John’s book is no longer in print, but if you would like to read it you can download a copy of it absolutely free of charge here. There are no catches or strings attached, it downloads the e-book and you can start reading it immediately. It is an extremely generous gift from the author himself to you.