This Is My Life…

Peeling Away The Layers

Trees Shedding Their Bark

Trees grow up through their branches and down through their roots into the earth. They also grow wider with each passing year. As they do, they shed the bark that served to protect them but now is no longer big enough to contain them. In the same way, we create boundaries and develop defenses to protect ourselves and then, at a certain point, we outgrow them. If we don’t allow ourselves to shed our protective layer, we can’t expand to our full potential.

Trees need their protective bark to enable the delicate process of growth and renewal to unfold without threat. Likewise, we need our boundaries and defenses so that the more vulnerable parts of ourselves can safely heal and unfold. But our growth also depends upon our ability to soften, loosen, and shed boundaries and defenses we no longer need. It is often the case in life that structures we put in place to help us grow eventually become constricting.

Unlike a tree, we must consciously decide when it’s time to shed our bark and expand our boundaries, so we can move into our next ring of growth. Many spiritual teachers have suggested that our egos don’t disappear so much as they become large enough to hold more than just our small sense of self-the boundary of self widens to contain people and beings other than just “me.” Each time we shed a layer of defensiveness or ease up on a boundary that we no longer need, we metaphorically become bigger people. With this in mind, it is important that we take time to question our boundaries and defenses. While it is essential to set and honor the protective barriers we have put in place, it is equally important that we soften and release them when the time comes. In doing so, we create the space for our next phase of growth.

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We wish to speak with you today about the powerful healing tool called acceptance. That’s right, acceptance. Many of you think of acceptance as giving up. You think of it as being passive. That is not what true acceptance is.

Acceptance is letting go of the struggle mentality around something. When you struggle about something, you are exerting a lot of effort that can be better put to use. When you struggle, you are so busy fighting and pushing away, that you are unable to see the problem for what it is and find the solution. When you push something away, you deny its existence and therefore you cannot heal it. You cannot heal what you do not experience. Many of you spend years and perhaps lifetimes trying to avoid something, trying to keep something at arms length because of fear. As a result you are keeping yourself at arms length too.

The very act of acceptance is in itself a very loving and compassionate act. When you accept something happening in your life, you are embracing a part of yourself. Everything that happens to you, your entire life, is a part of you. If it is painful or difficult, you can bet there is an orphaned part of you, that wants nothing more than to come home and be nurtured, accepted and loved. When you accept, you open the door for yourself, instead of shutting yourself out.

Allowing yourself to be loved (by loving yourself), is the most important part of acceptance, and what makes it a extremely powerful healing tool. Love is the energy that underlies all of life. Love heals. When you love what is, you find the healing it contains. You do not have to go searching for answers or techniques. The pain and anguish of denial and struggle are gone. The fear of the situation is gone. You are left with the experience of discovering that there is nothing to fear at all. You may find the situation changes (it most likely will), or it may not. However, it no longer matters. When you remove the fear about something, you disarm it.

Judo teaches how to work with the “energies” of push and pull. It teaches that when someone pulls you towards them, instead of resisting and trying to pull away, if you move in their direction, working with the momentum they have provided, they have no power over you. Acceptance likewise involves going with the flow, using the energies present in a situation, regardless of how adverse it may seem, as a partner in your healing process. Acceptance means rolling with the changes, the punches. Nowhere does Judo say that it is about allowing yourself to be punched or harmed. And although Judo is referred to as self defense, we prefer to think of it as common sense.

We hope that this writing has added a little bit of light and insight to the concept of acceptance. We wish to remind you that the most powerful and wonderful healing tools are often the ones that are manifest around you in everyday life. This is because they work! Sometimes it is easy to miss them because they are not flashy or popular, or because they are misunderstood. Healing does not have to be a struggle. We wish for it to be a gentle, and easy pleasure. You deserve it.

Peace,

Linda White

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The Sun Always Shines

by Carrie Hart

Even when the sky is cloudy, the sun shines behind the clouds.  Even when the storm blows, the sun shines above the storm.  Even when the wind howls through and blasts the trees with its awesome power, the sun is there, up beyond the clouds and wind, shining as brightly as ever.

Even in the darkest night, when you feel lost and unable to find your way, the sun is shining on the other side of the world, and you have only to wait for the cycle to complete, and the sun will be rising brightly on your life once again.

Sometimes you have only to run for cover during the storm and wait for the sky to clear; it always does.  Sometimes you have only to stay still and wait for the sun to rise again in the coming dawn; it always does.

But here is the true miracle of it.  You can access the sun at any time, even during the worst storm, even during the dead of night.  Still, even then, the sun is shining in your heart.  Still, even then, you can become quiet, breathe deeply and bring all of the wonder, all of the love and light, into you own heart of peace.  You have this power inside you, right now.

And so then, use these two powers.  Use the power of time, knowing that change is constant and that what is today will be other tomorrow.  And use also your own power, the power to create light and love inside you, no matter what is happening outside.

And thus does your life proceed in peace and connection, in joy and love.  And thus does your own light shine out brightly, even in the darkest of times, so that you light not only your own path, but help those around you to see a way to theirs.

You are the light.  You are the beacon.  You have all the power you need to shine out, no matter what others say, no matter how dark it seems, no matter how strongly the wind blows.

The sun always shines and you are the sun.

*
www.carriehart.com.

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The Presence of Love

by Gloria Wendroff

God said: It is enough to be in the presence of love. Love does not have to be personally given to you. You do not have to have more love than someone else. You do not have to have the love of one particular person. No one’s love belongs to you anyway. Love is for everyone. Be secure in love. You do not have to have greater love as proof that you are love-worthy. You are love-worthy now.

No more either are you to choose where your love is directed nor are you to choose where anyone’s love is directed. You are not to bind love. Why do you think you need more anyway? Do you not have all of Mine?

Why would you give less love than what I have given you? And why would you demand more love from anyone? Love cannot be commanded nor demanded. If someone does not love enough, then you, beloved, I ask that you give love enough for two. If no one else in the world gives love, then I ask that you give love enough for everyone in the world. Never are you to stint on love, nor are you to count it. Love is to be given, not accounted for. Who are you? You are one who loves.

Patient ocean waves lap against huge rocks. Rocks cannot withstand waves forever. Let your love be like ocean waves with infinite patience. It is not even patience. The waves do what they do without thought of outcome so patience does not enter in. Let your love go out in waves without thought. Your love comes from the Mighty Ocean and will never run dry.

Giving love everywhere is not effort. Love is, or it isn’t, and I tell you it is. You are not faking love. You are not making a big show of it. You are simply allowing the love in your heart to go out, and in that process, love refurbishes itself. No heart is empty. Your heart is full of love, yet love is not to be crammed. Love is to be given, and you are to give it. Don’t make it hard to give love. Just give it. Do not keep your love within. Love is to go out. Do not stop love midstream. Do not stop love at all.

Be glad that you are one who can give love. Be glad that you are one who can receive love. Be glad you are one who can see love. You see love in action. Love moves. It is encompassing. Love is a world traveler. It cannot stay still. It must always be given. Love does not have to be sought. Like the sun, it is simply there.

You do not have to mine for the gold of love. It is right out there for you. It is yours to pluck at will, and it is yours to give at will. But receiving love is not like picking raspberries where you pick one berry at a time. Love is all at once. Love is valiant, and it is all-embracing. There is no possibility of the source of love running dry. The only possibility for love is of abundance.

Love is not new, nor is it old. Love is attribute-less. Love is like Me, eternal, universally for all. Love is a legacy. It is not a pittance. Never more will there be a dearth of love on the Earth. Love is taking over the world, once and for all.

source - heavenletters.org

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Speak From Your Heart With Kindness
by Eva Gregory

Each of us is graced with the most powerful gift. With it, we are able to make people soar out of orbit with happiness, or plummet to the earth with despair if we are careless. What is this almighty gift? It is the gift of words and the ability to communicate.

As a society we often forget how powerful our words can be. We are occasionally reckless or too quick to speak, when we should take time to think about the consequences of our words. We are taught from childhood to think before we act, but sometimes neglect to think before we speak!

Not to worry-this can be a thing of the past by learning the art of ‘Speaking with Integrity.’ Integrity is defined as ‘the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards.’ Isn’t that an awesome definition? Right away, it elevates the position of the speaker to a place where he/she is responsible for caring about how their communication is going to be received.

For example, if you frequently tell jokes or stories that are a little ‘unfitting’, when integrity is embraced, your jokes will conflict with the ‘high moral principles’ aspect, and maybe even the ‘professional standards’ part depending on where your jokes are being told. Wow, how is that for immediate responsibility acceptance? Want to try it out? For the next week, examine your communications and try to speak with integrity. If you slip, jot it down and write a response that does come from a place of integrity. With practice, you will start to put this to use naturally and you will see how extraordinary the results will be. Your life and the lives of those you touch will be so much richer.

Now that we’ve decided to change how our words affect others, what about how our words can affect ourselves. As a whole, we so often use our words to speak against ourselves. We were all taught manners. Isn’t it a shame that we don’t apply the manners that we wouldn’t dream of deviating from for others, on ourselves? In fact, I bet that if anyone else spoke about us the way that we do, we would not be speaking to them at all! So, why put up with it from ourselves? Make a conscious effort to STOP! Yes, start TODAY. In the story portion of the One Minute Millionaire, the main character was told to wear a rubber band around her wrist and to give it a tug every time she had a limiting thought. Within days she had a red welt on her wrist, but as time went on she was pulling the rubber band with less frequency. Why not try this tool yourself?

I CHALLENGE you to put that rubber band on your wrist, and give it a good pull each time you speak about yourself in anyway other than an exemplary manner. You may start out with a very sore wrist, but you will end up with a very strong sense of self.

We’ve decided to not speak to others without integrity-to speak about ourselves in an exemplary manner. How about how we talk about others?

Yes, it is gossip when we speak about others. It can be hurtful and sometimes have serious consequences, not just for others, but for ourselves as well. When we gossip we are tarnishing ourselves. Most of what is considered ‘good’ gossip is negative in some manner-a behavior, situation or belief. We are willingly corrupting our world by participating in such actions. Since we know that like attracts like, we are knowingly sending negativity out into the Universe. Make a promise to eliminate all forms of gossip from your life. Each time you think to gossip, instead turn it into a positive affirmation about the person. This change alone will help you attract much more of what YOU want.

Imagine how much good the ‘Art of Integrity’ can put out into the Universe. Providing a positive, truthful comment, helping someone turn a bad mood into a good mood, and speaking to ourselves with only love will have an incredible affect on many lives. Remember the Laws of Attraction are at work at all times. Watch your words and speak only of what you would want to have in your world.

© 2006 Leading Edge Coaching

Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
by Deepak Chopra

There are many aspects to success; material wealth is only one component. Moreover, success is a journey, not a destination. Material abundance, in all its expressions, happens to be one of those things that makes the journey more enjoyable. But success also includes good health, energy and enthusiasm for life, fulfilling relationships, creative freedom, emotional and psychological stability, a sense of well-being and peace of mind. Even with the experience of all these things, we will remain unfulfilled unless we nurture the seeds of divinity inside us. In reality, we are divinity in disguise, and the gods and goddesses in embryo that are contained within us seek to be fully materialized. Although I call the laws I’m about to discuss The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, they could easily be called The Seven Spiritual Laws of Life. This is because they are the same principles that nature uses to create everything in material existence–everything we can see, hear, smell, taste or touch.

Success in life could be defined as the continued expansion of happiness and the progressive realization of worthy goals. Success is the ability to fulfill your desires with effortless ease. And yet success, including the creation of wealth, has always been considered a process that requires hard work, and it is often considered to be at the expense of others. We need a more spiritual approach to success and to affluence, which is the abundant flow of all good things to you. With the knowledge and practice of spiritual law, we put ourselves in harmony with nature and create with carefreeness, joy and love. True success is the experience of the miraculous. It is the unfolding of the divinity within us. It is the perception of divinity wherever we go, in whatever we perceive–in the eyes of a child, in the beauty of a flower, in the flight of a bird. When we begin to experience our life as the miraculous expression of divinity–not occasionally, but all the time–then we will know the true meaning of success.

Now let’s go over The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success and see how we can apply them in our lives.

1. The Law of Pure Potentiality

This law is based on the fact that we are, in our essential state, pure consciousness. Pure consciousness is pure potentiality; it is the field of all possibilities and infinite creativity. When you discover your essential nature and know who you really are, in that knowing itself is the ability to fulfill any dream you have, because you are the eternal possibility, the immeasurable potential of all that was, is and will be. This law could also be called the Law of Unity, because underlying the infinite diversity of life is the unity of one all-pervasive spirit. There is no separation between you and this field of energy. One way to access the field is through the daily practice of silence, meditation and non-judgment. Spending time in nature will also give you access to the qualities inherent in the field: infinite creativity, freedom and bliss.

2. The Law of Giving

This law could also be called the Law of Giving and Receiving, because the universe operates through dynamic exchange. The flow of life is nothing other than the harmonious interaction of all the elements and forces that structure the field of existence. Because your body and your mind and the universe are in constant and dynamic change, stopping the circulation of energy is like stopping the flow of blood. Whenever blood stops flowing, it begins to clot, to stagnate. That is why you must give and receive in order to keep wealth and affluence–or anything you want–circulating in your life. If our only intention is to hold on to our money and hoard it–since it’s life energy, we will stop its circulation back into our lives as well. In order to keep that energy coming to us, we have to keep the energy circulating. Thus, the more you give, the more you will receive. The best way to put The Law of Giving into operation is to make a decision that any time you come into contact with anyone, you will give them something. It doesn’t have to be in the form of material things; it could be a flower, a compliment or a prayer. In fact, the most powerful forms of giving are non-material. The gifts of caring, attention, affection, appreciation and love are some of the most precious gifts you can give, and they don’t cost you anything.

3. The Law of Karma (or Cause and Effect)

“Karma” is both action and the consequence of that action; it is cause and effect simultaneously, because every action generates a force of energy that returns to us in kind. There is nothing unfamiliar about the Law of Karma. Everyone had heard the expression, “What you sow is what you reap.” Obviously, if we want to create happiness in our lives, we must learn to sow the seeds of happiness. Therefore, karma implies the action of conscious choice-making. Whether you like it or not, everything that is happening at this moment is a result of the choices you’ve made in the past. Unfortunately, a lot of us make choices unconsciously, and therefore we don’t think they are choices–and yet, they are. If you step back for a moment and witness the choices you are making as you make those choices, then in just this act of witnessing, you take the whole process from the unconscious realm into the conscious realm. This procedure of conscious choice-making and witnessing is very empowering.You can use the Law of Karma to create money and affluence, and the flow of all good things to you, any time you want. But first, you must become consciously aware that your future is generated by the choices you are making in every moment of your life. If you do this on a regular basis, then you are making full use of this law. The more you bring your choices into the level of your conscious awareness, the more you will make those choices which are spontaneously correct–both for you and those around you.

4. The Law of Least Effort

This law is based on the fact that nature’s intelligence functions with effortless ease and abandoned carefreeness. This is the principle of least action, of no resistance. This is, therefore, the principle of harmony and love. When we learn this lesson from nature, we easily fulfill our desires. In Vedic Science, the age-old philosophy of India, this principle is known as the principle of economy of effort, or “do less and accomplish more.” Ultimately, you come to the state where you do nothing and accomplish everything. This means that there is just a faint idea, and then the manifestation of the idea comes about effortlessly. What is commonly called a “miracle” is actually an expression of the Law of Least Effort. Least effort is expended when your actions are motivated by love, because nature is held together by the energy of love. When you seek power and control over other people, you waste energy. When you seek money or power for the sake of the ego, you spend energy chasing the illusion of happiness instead of enjoying happiness in the moment. When your actions are motivated by love, your energy multiplies and accumulates–and the surplus energy you gather and enjoy can be channeled to create anything that you want, including unlimited wealth. There are three components to the Law of Least Effort–three things you can do to put this principle of “do less and accomplish more” into action. The first component is acceptance. Acceptance simply means that you make a commitment: “Today I will accept people, situations, circumstances and events as they occur.” This means I will know that this moment is as it should be, because the whole universe is as it should be. The second component is responsibility. This means not blaming anyone or anything for your situation, including yourself. This allows you the ability to have a creative response to the situation as it is now. All problems contain the seeds of opportunity, and this awareness allows you to take the moment and transform it to a better situation or thing. The third component to the Law of Least Effort is defenselessness. This means that you have relinquished the need to convince or persuade others of your point of view. If you relinquish this need you will in that relinquishment gain access to enormous amounts of energy that have been previously wasted.

5. The Law of Intention and Desire

This law is based on the fact that energy and information exist everywhere in nature. A flower, a rainbow, a tree, a human body, when broken down to their essential components are energy and information. The whole universe, in its essential nature, is the movement of energy and information. The only difference between you and a tree is the informational and energy content of your respective bodies. You can consciously change the energy and informational content of your own quantum mechanical body, and therefore influence the energy and informational content of your extended body–your environment, your world–and cause things to manifest in it. The quality of intention on the object of attention will orchestrate an infinity of space-time events to bring about the outcome intended, provided one follows the other spiritual laws of success. Intention lays the groundwork for the effortless, spontaneous, frictionless flow of pure potentiality. The only caution is that you use your intent for the benefit of mankind.

6. The Law of Detachment

This law says that in order to acquire anything in the physical universe, you have to relinquish your attachment to it. This doesn’t mean you give up the intention to create your desire. You give up your attachment to the result. This is a very powerful thing to do. The moment you relinquish your attachment to the result, combining one-pointed intention with detachment at the same time, you will have that which you desire. Anything you want can be acquired through detachment, because detachment is based on the unquestioning belief in the power of your true Self. Attachment comes from poverty consciousness, because attachment is always to symbols. Detachment is synonymous with wealth consciousness, because with detachment there is freedom to create. True wealth consciousness is the ability to have anything you want, anytime you want, and with least effort. To be grounded in this experience you have to be grounded in the wisdom of uncertainty. In this uncertainty you will find the freedom to create anything you want.

7. The Law of “Dharma” or Purpose in Life

The seventh spiritual law of success is the Law of Dharma. (Dharma is a Sanskrit word that means “purpose in life.”) This law says that we have taken manifestation in physical form to fulfill a purpose. You have a unique talent and a unique way of expressing it. There is something that you can do better than anyone else in the whole world–and for every unique talent and unique expression of that talent, there are also unique needs. When these needs are matched with the creative expression of your talent, that is the spark that creates affluence. Expressing your talents to fulfill needs creates unlimited wealth and abundance. There are three components to the Law of Dharma. The first says that each of us is here to discover our true Self. The second component is to express our unique talents; the expression of that talent takes you into timeless awareness. The third component is service to humanity. When you combine the ability to express your unique talent with service to humanity, then you make full use of the Law of Dharma. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success are powerful principles that will enable you to attain self-mastery. If you put your attention on these laws and practice the steps outlined above, you will see that you can manifest anything you want–all the affluence, money and success you desire. You will also see that your life becomes more joyful and abundant in every way, for these laws are also the spiritual laws of life that make living worthwhile.

If This Were My Last Hour

When I’m feeling overwhelmed or irritable about something, I often take a walk or go for a ride in the car to clear my head. I think of this activity as a way to “reboot” my mood or clear the stored up memory in my too-full mind. While on this mini-excursion, I ask myself the following:

If this were my last hour on earth, would I..:

* Be happy with how I’ve spent my time today, this week, or this year?
* Feel good about the priorities I’m focused on at this point in my life?
* Feel complete and at peace with the people who matter most?
* What memories would I most like to take with me?
* What would I be most greatful for?

It’s a simple way for me to get in touch with what’s real. This exercise, is something I’ve done for a few years now, it has become a way to stand outside of my life, if only for a few moments, and get a fresh perspective. The five questions always reconnect me with what matters most to my heart instead of just my head. And it often motivates me to take some kind of action.

Sometimes I shift how I think about a problem. For example, one day, when I was stressed about a challenge I was having, I decided to shift my worry to gratitude and just be thankful for the blessings the day had given me. Later that afternoon, the problem resolved itself. I also remember a day when this exercise inspired me to make a 180-degree turn, simply because it wasn’t making me happy.

By taking a break from the non-stop action of life to consider what’s real, you give yourself a chance to readjust your priorities. When you do this exercise, for instance, it might motivate you to call someone you’ve been in conflict with and get the issue resolved once and for all. Or, you might finally decide to stop pushing yourself to do something your heart just doesn’t want to do.

Try it this week. Let what’s real — and the fact that life is so precious — inspire you to live more authentically. Give yourself a reality check and watch what happens!

This week, take a break during the day to do the exercise above. Take a walk, sit outside for a while, or go for a ride so you have some space to think about your life

Once you consider the questions above, also think about what you need to do differently to realign your actions with your head and your heart.

For example, you might ask yourself:

* What change do I need to make to feel happier and more alive?
* What issue do I need to address that I keep avoiding?
* What do I need to let go of — completely?
* Who do I need to reconnect with?

Make today count, make this hour memorable.

Live your life with love and love your life.

Quotes by Gary Zukav
seatofthesoul.org

• An authentically empowered person is humble. This does not mean the false humility of one who stoops to be with those who are below him or her. It is the inclusiveness of one who responds to the beauty of each soul. …It is the harmlessness of one who treasures, honors, and reveres life in all its forms.

• Eventually you will come to understand that love heals everything, and love is all there is.

• The purpose of our journey on this precious Earth is now to align our personalities with our souls. It is to create harmony, cooperation, sharing, and reverence for Life. It is to grow spiritually. This is our new evolutionary pathway. The old pathway –pursuing the ability to manipulate and control—no longer works. It now produces only violence and destruction.

• Try to realize that what stands between you and a different life are matters of responsible choice.

• We are evolving form a species that pursues external power into a species that pursues authentic power… Authentic power has its roots in the deepest source of our being. An authentically empowered person is incapable of making anyone or anything a victim. An authentically empowered person is one who is so strong, so empowered, that the idea of using force against another is not a part of his or her consciousness.

• If you wish the world to become loving and compassionate, become loving and compassionate yourself. If you wish to diminish fear in the world, diminish your own. These are the gifts that you can give.

• Emotions reflect intentions. Therefore, awareness of emotions leads to awareness of intentions. Every discrepancy between a conscious intention and the emotions that accompany it, points directly to a splintered aspect of the self that requires healing.

• When you interact with another, an illusion is part of this dynamic. This illusion allows each soul to perceive what it needs to understand in order to heal.

• Reality is what we take to be true. What we take to be true is what we believe. What we believe is based upon our perceptions. What we perceive depends upon what we look for. What we look for depends upon what we think. What we think depends upon what we perceive. What we perceive determines what we believe. What we believe determines what we take to be true. What we take to be true is our reality.