Let Go!

Whatever leaves my life makes room for something better.

When we believe we are losing control, we grab on tight.   If we want to avoid pain, we hold on for dear life.   When we are in fear of losing, looking bad or being abandoned, we tighten our grip.   When our greatest fear comes upon us, we clench our fist and teeth, close our eyes and hold on.   We must learn how to let go.   We have the capacity to live through any adversity if we just let go.   We cannot stop time or destiny.  Whatever is going to happen has already happened; we must learn how to see it through to the end.   When we hold on, we prolong the pain.   When we dig our feet in, we must be uprooted.   When the time comes for growth and change, we must have the courage and faith to let go.

Should

No one can judge you unless you let them.  ~ Swami Nada Yolanda

Don't "should" on other people and don't let them "should" on you.   Should is a judgment we make based on our experiences and perceptions.   When we pass that on to other people, we are judging them.   Should is an expression of fear.   It says that our way is the right way; if you move beyond that, you might prove I am wrong.   Should is the way we control others, to make them think or behave the way we want them to.   Should takes us on a guilt trip and limits our capacity to grow.   If we only do the things we should do we will never learn another way we could do it.   Should limits us to what is comfortable.   Should keeps us in a place that is familiar.   Should makes us responsible to someone other than ourselves when we know that is not the way we "should" live.  I "should" do only those things that feel right for me.

Solitude of Your Mind

In the solitude of your mind are the answers to all your questions about life.   You must take the time to ask and listen.   - Bawa Mahaiyaddeen

There are times when we all feel we need to be alone.   We just want to get away from everyone and everything and be alone.   Sometimes we may feel guilty or selfish for thinking this way, but it is perfectly normal.   To be alone is the best thing we can do for ourselves.   To be alone means to be all one with the spirit within.   When we are alone, we have an opportunity to get in touch with, to talk to and be guided by our power source.   Spirit.   To be alone means going to the essence of your being.   To ask questions within and get clear, concise answers.   To be alone means taking the time to give to yourself a small portion of what we have been giving of ourselves for so long.   It is like drinking from the fountain of restoration to bring back your physical, mental and spiritual health.   So go ahead.   Tell them all and don't feel bad about saying it.   "I want to be alone."   Today we can be one with the spirit within.

Faults

Don't be afraid to look at your faults - Yoruba Proverb

Even though we know there is always room for improvement, we tend to shy away from criticism.   Our egos tell us we are being attacked and quite naturally we want to strike back.  In order to be whole, healthy beings, we need to know all there is to know about ourselves.   Sometimes that information must come from others.   This may mean admitting that we are not always right, and knowing it is okay to make a mistake.   A mistake, an error, a poor choice, or bad decision does not equal "there is something wrong with me."   It means you are on your way to being better.   We do not make mistakes on the basis of race or color.   We make them because we are human.   When we acknowledge our errors and face up to our shortcomings, no one can use them against us.  Let us not be afraid to admit when we are wrong.  

Confidence

"The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Emmanuel, which means God with us." Isaiah 7:14


Christmas means we should have confidence in God! This year, read the Christmas story out loud with your family, especially, children or grandchildren. The story is in the second chapter of Luke or the first and second chapters of Matthew.

The Christmas story gives us confidence that God did, and does, break into history and into human lives in transforming ways. Think about it: Mary was young. Elizabeth was old. Zechariah doubted. Joseph wanted to make the whole thing go away and get on with his life. King Herod hoped it wasn't true. But, in the midst of all of that human drama, God was determined to make Christmas with us. That's the first and best part of our confidence, God is determined to be with us! It should give you a smile to know that God is exerting God's self to be with you.

The truth is, we are nobody, really, that God should want to be with us. But, God does want to be with us! Jesus' birth tells the whole story. And because God wants to be with you, now you can be sure that you have real worth. Because of my worth in God, now I have real confidence, a confidence that endures through the changes of life; a worth that the world can neither give or take away. You can have Christmas every day of the year when you finally realize that.

 

(Originally posted December 2010)

Our Situation & The Real Meaning of Peace

Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That we are here for the sake of others ... for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day, I realize how much my outer and inner life is built upon the labors of people, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received.                 ~ Albert Einstein 

The Real Meaning Of Peace
There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The king looked at all the pictures. But there were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.

But when the king looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest - in perfect peace.

Which picture do you think won the prize? The king chose the second picture. Do you know why?

"Because," explained the king, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."  ~ Author Unknown

Your Comfort Zone

Create a soft place to land in your home a refuge from the stress of the day.

Our day-to-day demands can quickly take their toll on our well-being if we are not vigilant about caring for ourselves as best we can. One way we can ensure that we have an opportunity to relax and recuperate each day is to create a soft place to land when we arrive home. This landing pad, whether it is an entire room or merely a small corner of a larger area, can provide us with a safe and comforting refuge in which we can decompress and recover from the day’s stresses. There, we are enveloped in feelings of security that transcend other issues that may be unfolding in our homes. Our landing pads also act as way stations that enable us to shift our attention away from our outer-world concerns and back to our inner-world needs.

To create a soft place to land in your home, begin by scouting potential locations. Or perhaps your entire home is your landing pad in which case you may only need to declutter. Your habits can often provide you with insight into the perfect spot, as there may be an area of your home you gravitate to naturally when you are in need of comfort. Any space in which you find it easy to let go of stress and anxiety can become your landing pad. A basement or attic, spare room, or unused storage area, furnished with items that soothe you, can give you the privacy you need to unwind. If you appreciate the elements, you may find that spending time in a section of your garden or outdoor patio helps you release the day’s tensions. Preparing these spaces can be as easy as replacing clutter with a small selection of beautiful objects that put you in a relaxed frame of mind. Remember to consider noise and activity levels while choosing the site of your landing pad. If you know that ordinarily human commotion will distract you from your purpose, look for a secluded spot.

The soft place to land that you create should inspire within you the mantra, “I can breath here. I can relax here. I know I am safe here.” When you return to your home after braving worldly rigors, you will feel a subtle yet tranquil shift occur inside of you as you settle in to this most personal of retreats and feel centered once again.

"Inspirational Me"