A safe harbor where beliefs are respected and kindness prevails.

Reflections – June 2014

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Mt-Hood-ReflectionRegret and worry. In my life I’ve had more than my share, and they have robbed me of the ability to enjoy my life.   The funny (ok, sad) thing about regrets and worries is they are self-inflicted. There is no person or thing outside of us that can ever force us to experience them.

If you find yourself falling into that “blue” space of worry and regret, be ok with that. When we allow ourselves to feel what we feel, then we have the ability to release it … to let it go and clear a path to living in the now.

When it comes to enjoying life now … for me at least … it means giving myself permission to set aside the regrets and worries. And by appreciating all the blessings I do have in my life, right now, I realize that there is more to life than what I have allowed to hold me back. Therein lies peace and power.

Is My Life On Autopilot?

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JG1The question to answer is this: Is my attention present? Consciousness is only ever here now. Thoughts and feelings cannot occur anywhere other than in the present moment. Our physical body exists only in this moment. However, our attention is unfixed in time and space. Our attention drifts away from the present as we experience memories or imagine the future.

Mind is a condition of existence arising from the ever-present consciousness. Observe: if you are absorbed in a memory or thoughts of the future, whether pleasant or unpleasant, the mind is doing this now. Thoughts and feelings rise and pass now. Right now, many people are experiencing feelings connected to memories, while others are anticipating the future.

Our observations of incoming data are immediately placed in context with our past experiences. Because of this process, many people live in the moment as if it equals the past. Are we aware in the moment of our thought and feeling choices, or are we running on autopilot? Are we living our lives in response to what is happening now, or are we reacting to present input based on our past? Do we simply go about running our prerecorded programs? Context predisposes us toward living on autopilot. Often, our routines lull us to sleep, and our attention drifts. This is not good or bad, it just is.

When we live on autopilot, an event occurring now may be unconsciously associated with something that happened in the past. Or, a future event may be equated to a similar past event. If that event was pleasant, we could develop expectations about how the future event will bring joy. Imagine our disappointment if the future doesn’t measure up to our hopes. Dreading a future event is also rooted in our autopilot program.

Is our attention on choosing what we think and how we feel right now? When we practice awareness in the moment, the observer is awake. Awakened, we observe our automatic and habitual thoughts and feelings. In our awakened state, we have the freedom to choose our responses to what is happening now. Awakened, we notice how thoughts and feelings arise and pass—without analysis or attachment. Awareness of the present is often referred to as mindfulness. Mindful focus on the present is powerful because it takes us off of autopilot and restores our power of choice for our emotions, thoughts, and (re)actions.

With a mindfulness practice, we are able to observe and end our habit of reacting to this moment as if it equals the past. With practice, mindfulness relives anxiety about the past and the future. Being aware in the present moment isn’t about forgetting our past or ignoring the future. Keeping our attention present is about making conscious choices. Mindfulness brings our attention to the content of our thoughts and feelings. This action returns us to the point of power—which is now. Keeping our attention present enhances our journey because we stay awake to our moment-to-moment thoughts and feelings that create our experience of reality right now.

The goal is not to forget the past. Our memories contain gifts. Some of our memories are very pleasant; some are not. The feelings happen now. Perhaps a memory helps us learn to forgive ourselves or others. Maybe we are learning to release guilt, or perhaps we are growing to realize that the way my life is today is in my power now. The gift may be learning to let the past go. What if the gift is practicing shifting attention away from the past and into the moment? My point is that memories have something to teach us when our attention is present. Planning for and taking action toward our future is also valuable. We plan for the future with our attention present.

I want to share my simple process: First, I observe that I’m dwelling on a memory. Second, I notice how I’m feeling in the moment. Third, I consciously choose what I want to think and feel in the present. Notice that I don’t beat myself up for drifting into a memory. I welcome my freedom to choose my thoughts and feelings now. I also follow this process when I observe myself future-tripping. I invite you to try this approach if it appeals to you.

While our thoughts and feelings can only occur in the inescapable present, our attention drifts. Running our lives on autopilot equals a surrender of our power. Habitually worrying about past or future events wastes the moment. Nonetheless, our past is a teacher worthy of our respect, and dreaming of a brighter tomorrow may birth positive change—now.

We are living a lifetime. Our memories of the past arise now. Our thoughts about the future occur now. The context of our experience is ever present. Paying attention to the content of our thoughts and feelings allows us to respond to life events in the present. Observe, without judgment or attachment, present thoughts and feelings. Then, decide if a shift in attention is desired. Under all circumstances, be gentle with yourself.

The awakened life requires practice. In every moment ask: Is my attention present? Just asking the question brings our attention into the moment. There are endless resources and countless teachers to assist you if mindfulness is a process that attracts you. I assure you that practicing mindfulness costs nothing. Mindfulness need not be tied to religious doctrine, yet that option is available if you find it fulfilling. I have the highest respect for your discovery and practice of present attention methods that serve you. However you decide to shut off autopilot, enjoy the journey.

Enjoying Life by Living In The Moment

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SMK1Often, when it comes to personal development, we become so focused on watching our thoughts and our words and implementing Divine techniques on what we would like to change in our lives or actively co-create to experience in our future that we forget the most important part of our journey is to enjoy life by being present and live in the moment of NOW!

We spend so much of our conscious time either clearing away and healing the past or creating our magnificent future that we forget to take the time to connect with this beautiful moment of right here, right now. Take a few minutes, preferably in one of your favorite spaces, and take in a deep diaphragmatic breath. Pause and take in another one. Do this a couple more times. Ahhhh!

Notice:

  • How do you feel: emotionally, mentally, and physically?
  • How is your breathing? Is it relaxed or labored?
  • What do you see around you? Colors? Shapes?
  • What textures are in this space?
  • What sounds do you hear within, nearby, and afar?
  • What aromas are in the air?
  • What elements of Nature are you surrounding yourself with?
  • Who are you sharing your cherished life with?

This moment that you are experiencing right now … is a priceless gift! This is you being consciously present and living in the moment of NOW! This is where you experience your core-essence of Being that is innately who you are.

The path to enjoying a fulfilled life, which is your Divine birthright, is to celebrate this beautiful moment by offering gratitude and appreciation for who you are, what you have, where you are, and with those you are so blessed to share your journey with in this moment of time. Hence, the proverbs “stop and smell the roses”and “count your blessings.”It’s experiencing the beauty of your journey along the way versus achieving the goal or reaching the final destination of desire.

Being conscious of your blessings in this moment is the greatest honor you can offer your Creator and all the trail blazers who came before you. This is also the most auspicious time to connect within to your Higher-Self, Guides, and Angels to receive Divine guidance and inspiration, for the Universe loves and blesses a thankful heart.

The next time you enjoy one of your domestic amenities: an indoor warm shower or hot bath, the dishwasher, refrigerator, stove, your vacuum cleaner, washer and dryer, a long drive in your vehicle, clean running water, electricity or your cell phone, telephone, or computer to connect with your loved ones or business …remember, it wasn’t long ago that these everyday simplicities were only the burning desires of our pasts dreamers, inventors, and explorers wanting to bring forth luxury as a basic essential for the highest-good of all, including you and future generations.

You are immensely blessed in this very moment. Delight in the energetic flow that you are safe, powerful, perfect, balanced, and complete. Trust in the knowing that you are meant to live a life fulfilled with health, love, prosperity, beauty, laughter, joy, creativity, and right-relationships with everyone you encounter.

Your power to dance in life’s abundance is by being fully present and living in this moment right here, right now. Enjoy!

Namaste’

Blissful Beliefs

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JU1What do you believe about your beliefs? How often do you stop to consider what your beliefs allow in your life? Are your beliefs expansive, or are they intrinsically constricting? Our belief systems create our states on a moment-to-moment basis. Whether we are strict, playful, committed, or scatterbrained, the interplay of our character joined with our belief system creates the fabric of how we live our lives.

Many people live with some pretty awful, unhelpful, and downright depressing beliefs every day. Just the other day, a friend of mine honestly confessed that she felt ‘fat and pathetic.’ Not surprisingly, she is neither in my eyes, and I’m a fairly objective person.

That’s what bothers me so much about beliefs. No matter what I might say to cheer, negate, or influence her beliefs, they are deeply held and will likely not budge by any of my ‘opinions.’ Beliefs come from the way we are raised, the experiences we have had, and in many cultures, the inherited energy of our ancestors’ experience. Beliefs ripple up through our thoughts, then into our actions, and then cycle back to either shift or enforce those beliefs. That cycle is where the magic can happen.

Beliefs can change. We can influence them. In many instances, like my friend’s, beliefs really must change. Here’s the place where personal choice comes in. For life to be wonderful, wonder-filled and fulfilling, beliefs must be fully life-affirming and expansive. Chances are that all of your beliefs do not fall into that excellent category. Life has perhaps jostled you about, given you some aches and pains from the hurtful actions of others (who acted from their own crappy beliefs), and now you have some pretty jaded, edgy beliefs. That’s okay. But you don’t have to stay in that state.

Have you ever found yourself wondering about someone: ‘Gosh, they’re always so happy,’ or ‘I wonder why they are so positive all of the time?’ or ‘Life isn’t as easy for me as it is for her. I have no reason to be so happy all the time’? Most of us have, at some point or another. Those are beliefs inside of us affirming that ‘Life is full of struggle’ or ‘To succeed you must sacrifice hugely’ or ‘People will only take you seriously if you act serious all of the time.’

I beg to differ. Some of the most successful, influential, and responsible people I’ve known have also been the most relaxed, pleasant, and open-heartedly generous. Their belief systems allowed that to happen, and they simply proceeded accordingly. Their beliefs were trained and molded to support their roles of responsibility and still keep them open to the expansiveness of life. As T Harv Eker says, rich people have different beliefs about money, and their bank accounts reflect that.

I also grew up around many devout religious people. I cannot tell you how many wonderful, fun, and warm-hearted people I’ve known who cared daily for long-ill relatives, had little money, and worked very hard to simply survive. They didn’t carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, they just enjoyed their lives and got on with it, best they could.

Some of us are certainly predisposed to happiness more than others. It’s proven that about seventy percent of your happiness is genetically coded for you. However, thirty percent is a pretty high percentage when talking about your daily joy. Shifting the deepest state of your beliefs can make a huge impact on that thirty percent.

There is a marvelous book that I hope you will go out and read immediately called Bliss, by Raphael Cushnir. It is all about experiencing full-blown bliss in your life every moment of every day. And the formula is astoundingly simple. Cushnir says that it is nothing more than this: joy+love-cause=bliss.

Choosing to embrace joy and love each moment while choosing to do so without any actual cause can create a state of pure bliss. Stop and imagine for a moment what staying in that state might do to shift some of your unfortunate, unsupportive beliefs. Remember that movie Pollyanna? Not such a bad state to be in, huh?

What could you get done in a state of moment-to-moment bliss? What could you achieve? How much more energy might you have? How much more creativity might you invite out of yourself – it’s all there within you all of the time anyhow! How often will you call upon the creativity, joy, and bliss in others to shine forth? Do you sense how the fabric of the world could shift, could open up, could envelop decisions globally and, certainly, locally. What does your role in that look like? Live in the moment and choose bliss. I dare ya!

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