A couple mornings ago, as I awakened, I repeatedly heard the phrase, "You're presence is requested..." And it raised the question, How often am I fully present to whatever is occurring in my life?
I only know that I am learning to be more so. And that awareness is hot! Mindfulness is sexy! Being present now is bliss!
And yesterday morning, as I sat on the front porch, I noticed a spider's web. The breeze rippled it and created the optical illusion of rippling water. And the question arose, How can I discover something if I created it? And the answer came, You created it so you could discover it.
This morning, as I sat on the front porch with my parents, a butterfly came and landed on my dad's shirt, flitted away, then came back and landed on his hand. It left again and returned to perch on his knee, where it lingered quite a while.
It was fun to watch this particular creature. It had quite a sense of humor. It landed on the porch in front of the cat at one point, as if to say, "Catch me, if you can". Then later, as the cat was lying on the porch, the butterfly flitted across him well within reach of his paws, and the cat did take a few swings at it, but it was too fast. Imagine a butterfly taunting a cat!
There are so many wondrous things to discover in life, if we slow down and take the time to "stand and stare".
In the words of William Henry Davies:
Leisure
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
Come on, folks! Let's take some time to stand and stare.
Most of what seems so urgent right now will be fully forgotten and completely meaningless ten years from now.
This is living. This is life. You can't live yesterday, and you can't live later. Now is all you have. If you're not living life now, as fully as you possibly can, you're missing the only opportunity you're given.
Do it! Do it now! Just do it! Better yet, BE it.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
No more!
My whole life I have been trimming myself to fit the world. No more! It's time the world learned to deal.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Stopping to Smell the Flowers
Hey, how would you feel if you were sitting right there in plain view, displaying your beauty and emanating delightful fragrances and nobody paid attention to you? I'm just saying, these gifts are presented to you. Why not enjoy them to the fullest extent possible?
By the way, I take stopping to smell the flowers very seriously. So, if you're ever out and about and notice some wild-looking woman stopped on the side of the road breathing in the essence of a patch of honeysuckle all the way down to her toes, it could be me. Stop and say hello, if you dare. :-)
By the way, I take stopping to smell the flowers very seriously. So, if you're ever out and about and notice some wild-looking woman stopped on the side of the road breathing in the essence of a patch of honeysuckle all the way down to her toes, it could be me. Stop and say hello, if you dare. :-)
Making Love with the Universe
Okay, I'm
And so I walk. I just can't stop myself. I get outside and I bask in the pleasurable sensations of the wind softly lifting my hair and caressing my skin. And I give voice to my pleasure.
And soft raindrops begin to touch my skin. And I see the profusion of green in the grass and leaves, and the splashes of color in the flowers. And I breathe in the fragrance of a gardenia blossom. And I touch the leaves, and the plants, and I feel my Oneness with All That Is. And I taste heaven.
Yeah, baby! That's what I'm talking about!
supposedto be writing. And I love writing. Don't get me wrong. But the breeze is ruffling the leaves outside and calling to me like a siren song.
And so I walk. I just can't stop myself. I get outside and I bask in the pleasurable sensations of the wind softly lifting my hair and caressing my skin. And I give voice to my pleasure.
And soft raindrops begin to touch my skin. And I see the profusion of green in the grass and leaves, and the splashes of color in the flowers. And I breathe in the fragrance of a gardenia blossom. And I touch the leaves, and the plants, and I feel my Oneness with All That Is. And I taste heaven.
Yeah, baby! That's what I'm talking about!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Don't Call This a Pipe Dream!
I recently read some poems written by some new associates of mine, and it woke up the poet in me. It's been years since I have written a poem, but this one came to me easily. I hope you enjoy it.
Gather my tears from East, from West,
From North, from South, wherever they've trekked.
And let them fall in a cleansing rain,
Till all the world is free from pain;
Till every heart is pure and light
And gone is the urge to hate or fight;
And everyone knows the joy of Being
And perfection is all at last we're seeing;
And all illusion just fades away
Truth dawns on us all like break of day;
And everyone knows that Love is all,
And every heart heeds Spirit's call;
And harmony is the rule of living
And everyone is loving and giving;
And the only law is the law of Love
And peace is on earth as it is above.
Don't call it a pipe dream! It can happen.
Gather my tears from East, from West,
From North, from South, wherever they've trekked.
And let them fall in a cleansing rain,
Till all the world is free from pain;
Till every heart is pure and light
And gone is the urge to hate or fight;
And everyone knows the joy of Being
And perfection is all at last we're seeing;
And all illusion just fades away
Truth dawns on us all like break of day;
And everyone knows that Love is all,
And every heart heeds Spirit's call;
And harmony is the rule of living
And everyone is loving and giving;
And the only law is the law of Love
And peace is on earth as it is above.
Don't call it a pipe dream! It can happen.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Life is Now
Recently, I realized that I was judging myself as a Possibilist because I did not save my marriage, but then it dawned on me this morning that even God won't mess with free will, so what makes me think that someone else's exercise of free will is my failure? So, I'm back on track and when I write and when I speak my story, it will be from the perspective of possibilities. We may have things occur in our lives we would not consciously choose, but we also possess the power and the possibility of transforming each and every one of them.
I love the song, "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield. It's kind of the way I feel about life right now. This morning, as I was taking my walk, it was raining - most of the time a slight mist, but it became a soft shower for about the last 1/8 of a mile. And I thought of this song, and feeling the rain on my skin, and I thought of my friend, Kari, dancing in the rain with her sister and her mother. And I thought, this is it. Life is now. It's not "happening" now, it is now. And what better way is there to live it than to experience everything that presents itself as deeply and as fully as possible?
We are presented with so many wonderful gifts daily - the trees, grass, flowers, the sun, the wind, the rain, the animals, and one another - not accidents of nature, but gifts lovingly created for our enjoyment - and just as we delight to see others enjoying the gifts we give, I believe it must bless the heart of God to see us enjoying the gifts we receive.
If you haven't heard the song "Unwritten", I hope you enjoy the lyrics below.
I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned
Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way
Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten.
Have a blissful day!
Cathy
I love the song, "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield. It's kind of the way I feel about life right now. This morning, as I was taking my walk, it was raining - most of the time a slight mist, but it became a soft shower for about the last 1/8 of a mile. And I thought of this song, and feeling the rain on my skin, and I thought of my friend, Kari, dancing in the rain with her sister and her mother. And I thought, this is it. Life is now. It's not "happening" now, it is now. And what better way is there to live it than to experience everything that presents itself as deeply and as fully as possible?
We are presented with so many wonderful gifts daily - the trees, grass, flowers, the sun, the wind, the rain, the animals, and one another - not accidents of nature, but gifts lovingly created for our enjoyment - and just as we delight to see others enjoying the gifts we give, I believe it must bless the heart of God to see us enjoying the gifts we receive.
If you haven't heard the song "Unwritten", I hope you enjoy the lyrics below.
I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned
Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way
Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten.
Have a blissful day!
Cathy
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Love is Action
"Don't hide love. If you feel it, express it – not to demand that others love you back, but simply to live outwardly the best of what you feel inwardly. The worst that can happen to your heart is not rejection by another person, but failure to act on the love you feel."– Martha Beck, author of The Joy Diet.
Amen, Sister!
Love is an essential ingredient of a succulent life. And love unexpressed hardly counts for anything. Your love does little good to your loved ones as long as it just abides in your heart. Love isn't realized until it is expressed in words or actions. Then it becomes effective.
So, get it out there. Make it known. Take a chance.
What if you get hurt? What if you get rejected?
So what? You'll handle it.
Amen, Sister!
Love is an essential ingredient of a succulent life. And love unexpressed hardly counts for anything. Your love does little good to your loved ones as long as it just abides in your heart. Love isn't realized until it is expressed in words or actions. Then it becomes effective.
So, get it out there. Make it known. Take a chance.
What if you get hurt? What if you get rejected?
So what? You'll handle it.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
If I Had It To Do Over...
If I had the opportunity to go back and change the "negative" things that have happened in my life...oh, I admit I would be sorely tempted...but in the end, I would leave everything exactly as it was - not because those events made me who I am today, but because they made me aware of who I am.
At our core, we are love. Through our varying purposes, personalities and preferences, we express different aspects of love in our world. My primary work seems to be edification, compassion, connection and touch. My belief is that the experiences of being misused and torn down made me aware of the need to build up and to support others. The experiences of being neglected and abandoned made me aware of the need to connect and express God's love at every opportunity. Oh, and isn't there plenty of opportunity?
We need one another. We need to remind one another of the powerful, loving, infinite beings that we are and to encourage and support one another as we awaken. We need to let the light that is in us shine so that others will feel empowered to shine also.
What are we here for if not to experience the fullness of the life we have been gifted with and to support others in doing the same? Let's do it!
At our core, we are love. Through our varying purposes, personalities and preferences, we express different aspects of love in our world. My primary work seems to be edification, compassion, connection and touch. My belief is that the experiences of being misused and torn down made me aware of the need to build up and to support others. The experiences of being neglected and abandoned made me aware of the need to connect and express God's love at every opportunity. Oh, and isn't there plenty of opportunity?
We need one another. We need to remind one another of the powerful, loving, infinite beings that we are and to encourage and support one another as we awaken. We need to let the light that is in us shine so that others will feel empowered to shine also.
What are we here for if not to experience the fullness of the life we have been gifted with and to support others in doing the same? Let's do it!
Monday, June 18, 2007
Feeling Loved
I recently had someone from one of the e groups ask me about a comment I made about love. I had said, "Feeling loved is an enjoyable story, but a story nonetheless"
They asked, “So are you saying that it is not that important to feel loved...even though there is a sort of need for it in everyone of us?”
All of life is emotionally neutral until we tell ourselves a story. We can tell ourselves a story that creates heaven or hell for us.
My favorite story is about two fish swimming in the ocean. A shark swims by and says, “Isn’t the water grand!” Then he swims off.
One fish looks at the other and says, “What’s water?” The other fish doesn’t know either so they swim off looking for water. They spend their entire life searching, swimming from ocean to ocean. Finally, one day a turtle swims by and in despair they call out to him.
“Grandfather turtle, what is water?” The turtle swims slowly by, smiles and says, “My little friend you are swimming in it.”
As I see it, the universe is a vast energy system. The best way I can describe that energy is limitless, expansive, infinite, eternal, and unconditionally loving. In order to use the word love I had to shift my definition so it was free of judgment, rules and limits. To me love is the essence of that unlimited energy of pure creation. Everything is made up of that energy, there is no way to move beyond it because it is infinite and we can’t be separate from it because of its limitless nature.
So, we swim in a sea of love yet we spend so much of our life searching for love. If we tell ourselves the story that we are separate, we feel alone and disconnected from the universe. Yet we can never be alone because no matter what story we tell ourselves we are all one.
I often suggest people play the game of ‘there is no out there.’ There is often a great deal of resistance to that perspective, but when we adopt it we get to ‘see’ how our story stops us from experiencing the ocean of love always surrounding us.
We can limit our experience of love by demanding that it show up in a certain form. We can limit love by adding parameters or we can expand our experience by realizing everything is energy and as such an expression of love. I enjoy some forms of love more than others, but that too is based on my story.
I can stand out in nature and experience the wonder of creation. I can feel the wind and watch the trees and feel wonderful or not. I can walk out into the middle of an inner city and see decay and suffering or feel the energy of creation and be awed by its various manifestations.
No one does anything to us – we can choose to feel loved or unloved – there are no victims in life. There are only limitless, eternal, infinite beings having an experience and at times they choose to experience feeling like a victim.
The more we take responsibility for our experience the more likely we are to experience our true nature. We are limitless, expansive, infinite, eternal, and beings made of star stuff – made of unconditional love. And we are such magical magicians we can conjure up infinite number of experiences to pretend other wise.
It is all our creation – my suggestion is if you want to be happy embrace your creation and enjoy it. If you are feeling alone and miserable embrace your creation and be as miserable as you want.
There is after all, no out there.
With love, aloha and gratitude,
Susan
Check out my latest classes
http://SusanGregg.com/teachings.htm
Susan makes a great point. Several of them, actually.
They asked, “So are you saying that it is not that important to feel loved...even though there is a sort of need for it in everyone of us?”
All of life is emotionally neutral until we tell ourselves a story. We can tell ourselves a story that creates heaven or hell for us.
My favorite story is about two fish swimming in the ocean. A shark swims by and says, “Isn’t the water grand!” Then he swims off.
One fish looks at the other and says, “What’s water?” The other fish doesn’t know either so they swim off looking for water. They spend their entire life searching, swimming from ocean to ocean. Finally, one day a turtle swims by and in despair they call out to him.
“Grandfather turtle, what is water?” The turtle swims slowly by, smiles and says, “My little friend you are swimming in it.”
As I see it, the universe is a vast energy system. The best way I can describe that energy is limitless, expansive, infinite, eternal, and unconditionally loving. In order to use the word love I had to shift my definition so it was free of judgment, rules and limits. To me love is the essence of that unlimited energy of pure creation. Everything is made up of that energy, there is no way to move beyond it because it is infinite and we can’t be separate from it because of its limitless nature.
So, we swim in a sea of love yet we spend so much of our life searching for love. If we tell ourselves the story that we are separate, we feel alone and disconnected from the universe. Yet we can never be alone because no matter what story we tell ourselves we are all one.
I often suggest people play the game of ‘there is no out there.’ There is often a great deal of resistance to that perspective, but when we adopt it we get to ‘see’ how our story stops us from experiencing the ocean of love always surrounding us.
We can limit our experience of love by demanding that it show up in a certain form. We can limit love by adding parameters or we can expand our experience by realizing everything is energy and as such an expression of love. I enjoy some forms of love more than others, but that too is based on my story.
I can stand out in nature and experience the wonder of creation. I can feel the wind and watch the trees and feel wonderful or not. I can walk out into the middle of an inner city and see decay and suffering or feel the energy of creation and be awed by its various manifestations.
No one does anything to us – we can choose to feel loved or unloved – there are no victims in life. There are only limitless, eternal, infinite beings having an experience and at times they choose to experience feeling like a victim.
The more we take responsibility for our experience the more likely we are to experience our true nature. We are limitless, expansive, infinite, eternal, and beings made of star stuff – made of unconditional love. And we are such magical magicians we can conjure up infinite number of experiences to pretend other wise.
It is all our creation – my suggestion is if you want to be happy embrace your creation and enjoy it. If you are feeling alone and miserable embrace your creation and be as miserable as you want.
There is after all, no out there.
With love, aloha and gratitude,
Susan
Check out my latest classes
http://SusanGregg.com/teachings.htm
Susan makes a great point. Several of them, actually.
Tears are Liquid Passion
Yesterday, and again today, the tears came. Oh, don't feel sorry for me. It's a good thing. It means I'm back, in all my heart-on-my-sleeve, true-to-myself glory.
They were cleansing tears, a needful step in clearing out the old to make way for the new.
I always say tears are liquid passion, and when I am deeply in touch with myself and my world, I cry easily.
I cry tears of compassion for those who are hurting and don't know how to heal. I cry for those who do harm to others, because only a deeply injured soul would seek to injure others. I cry tears of joy for the many wonderful people we share the planet with - those who reach out and practice random acts of kindness and compassion, some even going so far as to risk their lives for a stranger. I cry over sunsets, and oceans, and beauty of all sorts.
Whenever my heart fills to overflowing, the overflow expresses itself as tears.
And so I say, Tears are liquid passion.
And though our society shames the shedding of tears, I am not ashamed. My passion is my truth, and expressing it is my authenticity. If anyone is uncomfortable with tears, I invite them to look inside and discover the reason.
Perhaps it is because they are uncomfortable with passion in general. Maybe they have lost touch with their own passion, perhaps they have been shamed out of expressing it.
Being fully alive means being in touch with every aspect of yourself. That's definitely a journey and not a destination, and it's a worthwhile journey. Why should parts of you be suppressed, not allowed life and expression, locked in a prison cell and slowly starved to death?
Every bit of you is worthwhile, and deserving of love, acceptance and compassion. Yes, even your shadowy aspects, and we all have them.
And so I say, be you. Be all of you. Be okay with all of you.
The amazing thing is, when you are deeply in touch with who you really are, you will find that you have no desire to do harm to others, because who you really are is love.
And do not be ashamed of what you feel, of what you desire, and definitely not of who you are.
Give life and love and voice to all of you, especially your passion. Just do it!
They were cleansing tears, a needful step in clearing out the old to make way for the new.
I always say tears are liquid passion, and when I am deeply in touch with myself and my world, I cry easily.
I cry tears of compassion for those who are hurting and don't know how to heal. I cry for those who do harm to others, because only a deeply injured soul would seek to injure others. I cry tears of joy for the many wonderful people we share the planet with - those who reach out and practice random acts of kindness and compassion, some even going so far as to risk their lives for a stranger. I cry over sunsets, and oceans, and beauty of all sorts.
Whenever my heart fills to overflowing, the overflow expresses itself as tears.
And so I say, Tears are liquid passion.
And though our society shames the shedding of tears, I am not ashamed. My passion is my truth, and expressing it is my authenticity. If anyone is uncomfortable with tears, I invite them to look inside and discover the reason.
Perhaps it is because they are uncomfortable with passion in general. Maybe they have lost touch with their own passion, perhaps they have been shamed out of expressing it.
Being fully alive means being in touch with every aspect of yourself. That's definitely a journey and not a destination, and it's a worthwhile journey. Why should parts of you be suppressed, not allowed life and expression, locked in a prison cell and slowly starved to death?
Every bit of you is worthwhile, and deserving of love, acceptance and compassion. Yes, even your shadowy aspects, and we all have them.
And so I say, be you. Be all of you. Be okay with all of you.
The amazing thing is, when you are deeply in touch with who you really are, you will find that you have no desire to do harm to others, because who you really are is love.
And do not be ashamed of what you feel, of what you desire, and definitely not of who you are.
Give life and love and voice to all of you, especially your passion. Just do it!
Friday, June 08, 2007
It's Like This
If you discover something you are eating is poisoning you, and you have no intention of dying, the first logical thing to do is to stop eating the poison.
Then you've got to do whatever it takes to get the poison out of your system or take some antidote to neutralize it.
You can hardly expect to clear out the poison while you're still eating it, and yet that's what we try to do when we remain in an unhealthy situation while trying to heal.
Wow! When I put it that way, what was I waiting for?
Then you've got to do whatever it takes to get the poison out of your system or take some antidote to neutralize it.
You can hardly expect to clear out the poison while you're still eating it, and yet that's what we try to do when we remain in an unhealthy situation while trying to heal.
Wow! When I put it that way, what was I waiting for?
Get Up and Go
I'm finally ready to extract myself from an unhealthy situation I've been living with for far too long. After years of waiting on God to rectify the situation, I've come to the conclusion that God has been waiting on me.
I've been looking for a miraculous solution. But the situation I'm in doesn't call for a miracle - just a little common sense, a fair degree of gumption, and some old-fashioned get up and go - literally.
There are a whole lot of aspects to this thing that I can't figure out, and I've allowed that to keep me in inertia and suffering needlessly. But the parts I can't figure out - that's God's business. I need to take care of the parts I can figure out.
I've been looking for a miraculous solution. But the situation I'm in doesn't call for a miracle - just a little common sense, a fair degree of gumption, and some old-fashioned get up and go - literally.
There are a whole lot of aspects to this thing that I can't figure out, and I've allowed that to keep me in inertia and suffering needlessly. But the parts I can't figure out - that's God's business. I need to take care of the parts I can figure out.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
A Leap of Faith
“If we listened to our intellect, we’d never have a love affair. We’d never have a
friendship. We’d never go into business, because we’d be cynical. Well, that’s nonsense. You’ve got to jump off cliffs and build your wings on the way down.” Ray Bradbury
Here's to leaping before we find our wings!
friendship. We’d never go into business, because we’d be cynical. Well, that’s nonsense. You’ve got to jump off cliffs and build your wings on the way down.” Ray Bradbury
Here's to leaping before we find our wings!
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Resistance is Futile
I was thinking this morning about the collective unconscious, about all the things that we have agreed to believe together. Conditions are what they are because we have collectively agreed on them. So, the world conditions we accept are mostly the creation of beings who have gone before us.
Why should we settle for other people's creations? Why should we let other people's beliefs create our life experience?
I was thinking of how difficult it is to break out of the collective unconscious and create your own belief system, especially when you live among people who are still firmly gripped by the collective "realities".
It feels like trying to get out of the Borg. I can hear it now, "Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated".
The hell I will!
Why should we settle for other people's creations? Why should we let other people's beliefs create our life experience?
I was thinking of how difficult it is to break out of the collective unconscious and create your own belief system, especially when you live among people who are still firmly gripped by the collective "realities".
It feels like trying to get out of the Borg. I can hear it now, "Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated".
The hell I will!
Metamorphosis is Hell
I mean, you're just ambling along happily, minding your own business, contentedly munching on whatever lies along your path, when all of a sudden, you get this overwhelming urge to wrap yourself in a tight, dark space and shut out the world while you work on your transformation.
Try explaining to your friends and family why you need to be alone so much.
I still wouldn't trade it for the status quo. Growth is change. That's why life offers so many lessons in letting go.
At least that's the way I see it. But, what do I know?
Try explaining to your friends and family why you need to be alone so much.
I still wouldn't trade it for the status quo. Growth is change. That's why life offers so many lessons in letting go.
At least that's the way I see it. But, what do I know?
Friday, May 18, 2007
The "One" True Way
I recently told a friend that at this point in my life, I am all religions and I am no religion. I followed a path for many years that helped to keep me mired in depression, until I realized I had a choice.
Religion has to have a hook, and a good portion of them hook you with "love". Then, because religion requires membership, there is a need to keep people hanging in. This is accomplished by convincing you that you are fundamentally flawed and that the only salvation is in whatever brand of "truth" they happen to be selling. That's why there are so many different "one true way"s.
All through history, there are examples of religious zealots who believed they had the God-given right to take over the world and enforce religion as law. Bullshit! If God wanted us all to be alike and think alike, don't you think we would have all been created alike?
If religion can convince you that you can't figure out the truth for yourself, and that you must believe the "truth" as they sppoon feed it to you, or you will go to hell or experience some other horrible end, then they get what they need, which is faithful, controllable members. I don't believe that religionists do this consciously. I am sure the vast majority of them truly believe what they are teaching.
But here's my point. Our Creator didn't give us the gray matter in our heads just to fill up space. We are meant to think for ourselves. No one has any corner on the truth. We all have the ability to figure it out for ourselves.
And I have come to believe that my God, a God who would create such a vast variety of people and other creatures and features would not damn any of them, especially based on the fact that they don't all see or recognize God the same way. A lot of people would believe this to be heretical, but to be honest, I wouldn't be interested in associating with a God who would create people just to condemn them.
In the religion I once adhered to, I was taught how cautious we have to be lest we "fall into sin" and offend God. And do you know what I found to true? When I began setting myself free from the prison of caution and fear, I found I had no real desire to harm anyone. And if there is any definition of sin, it would definitely be doing harm.
Oh, sure, we all feel every now and then that we would like to see someone "get what is coming to them", especially when they have done harm to a child or someone less powerful than them. But I find that love always drowns out the other voices in my head, and at the deepest level of my being, love is what I am. I believe the same is true for you, and that's exactly what you will find if you dare to explore the depths of your being.
At the very most basic level, we are all made out of the same stuff, and that stuff is love. God is love and we are all manifestations of God in this world. How could a manifestation of love be anything less than love? How could anything God created be anything less than perfect? And how could anything God desires be "wrong"?
So, the way I see it, the "One True Way" is what you decide it is for you. And it is not something for any of us to force on one another. And if you believe I am "wrong" and that God is someone to be feared, well - I have been there, done that, got the T-shirt, and I would rather die than go there again.
Religion has to have a hook, and a good portion of them hook you with "love". Then, because religion requires membership, there is a need to keep people hanging in. This is accomplished by convincing you that you are fundamentally flawed and that the only salvation is in whatever brand of "truth" they happen to be selling. That's why there are so many different "one true way"s.
All through history, there are examples of religious zealots who believed they had the God-given right to take over the world and enforce religion as law. Bullshit! If God wanted us all to be alike and think alike, don't you think we would have all been created alike?
If religion can convince you that you can't figure out the truth for yourself, and that you must believe the "truth" as they sppoon feed it to you, or you will go to hell or experience some other horrible end, then they get what they need, which is faithful, controllable members. I don't believe that religionists do this consciously. I am sure the vast majority of them truly believe what they are teaching.
But here's my point. Our Creator didn't give us the gray matter in our heads just to fill up space. We are meant to think for ourselves. No one has any corner on the truth. We all have the ability to figure it out for ourselves.
And I have come to believe that my God, a God who would create such a vast variety of people and other creatures and features would not damn any of them, especially based on the fact that they don't all see or recognize God the same way. A lot of people would believe this to be heretical, but to be honest, I wouldn't be interested in associating with a God who would create people just to condemn them.
In the religion I once adhered to, I was taught how cautious we have to be lest we "fall into sin" and offend God. And do you know what I found to true? When I began setting myself free from the prison of caution and fear, I found I had no real desire to harm anyone. And if there is any definition of sin, it would definitely be doing harm.
Oh, sure, we all feel every now and then that we would like to see someone "get what is coming to them", especially when they have done harm to a child or someone less powerful than them. But I find that love always drowns out the other voices in my head, and at the deepest level of my being, love is what I am. I believe the same is true for you, and that's exactly what you will find if you dare to explore the depths of your being.
At the very most basic level, we are all made out of the same stuff, and that stuff is love. God is love and we are all manifestations of God in this world. How could a manifestation of love be anything less than love? How could anything God created be anything less than perfect? And how could anything God desires be "wrong"?
So, the way I see it, the "One True Way" is what you decide it is for you. And it is not something for any of us to force on one another. And if you believe I am "wrong" and that God is someone to be feared, well - I have been there, done that, got the T-shirt, and I would rather die than go there again.
Monday, May 14, 2007
How to Save a Life
I saved a life today! Admittedly, it was reptilian, so there won't be any award ceremonies on the steps of city hall...no press releases or kudos from the president. But I had fun, anyway.
I was going out for a walk when I noticed a mound of something in the road ahead. As I moved closer, I noted a tail protruding and a head disappearing with every passing vehicle. The poor thing didn't have enough sense to stay out of the road, but it was deeply aware of the danger that a couple of tons of metal barreling down the road at 45 mph presented.
Anyway, I waited for the traffic to clear - (Hey, I'll risk my life for another human life, but not for a turtle. Sorry. Maybe if I was a little more evolved :-) - and I approached the turtle. It soon became apparent that the turtle considered me as much of a risk as it did the cars. And since being chomped down on by the jaws of a snapping turtle was not on my list of things to enjoy today, I abandoned the idea of picking it up and moving it. I had to figure out how to get it out of the street without touching it. So, I began stepping toward it, careful to keep enough distance that it couldn't get a vice grip on any of my toes. And I managed to get it to turn around and abandon the street-crossing plan. By now, crossing the street was the last thing on its list of priorities, and escape topped that list. It is surprising how fast a turtle can move when it wants to.
And, being the goofy person that I am (hey, what's wrong with that?), I began thinking about the parallels of the turtle's experience to our lives. I wonder how often we bite and snap at the people who agitate us, not seeing that they are only doing what is in our best interests? By pushing our buttons, they reveal to us what those buttons are - areas where we could stand to grow and mature.
It is so much easier to treat the symptom of the agitation than it is to dismantle the source of the irritation. That's why we often find ourselves getting into the same situations over and over again.
Why not become our own heroes and sheroes? Why not go to the trouble to figure out why that person or incident is bothering us so much and heal that area or change our perspective so that we can integrate that lesson and stop going around in the same vicious cycles?
It's easier said than done, but it's worth our thought, time and effort. Let's do it!
I was going out for a walk when I noticed a mound of something in the road ahead. As I moved closer, I noted a tail protruding and a head disappearing with every passing vehicle. The poor thing didn't have enough sense to stay out of the road, but it was deeply aware of the danger that a couple of tons of metal barreling down the road at 45 mph presented.
Anyway, I waited for the traffic to clear - (Hey, I'll risk my life for another human life, but not for a turtle. Sorry. Maybe if I was a little more evolved :-) - and I approached the turtle. It soon became apparent that the turtle considered me as much of a risk as it did the cars. And since being chomped down on by the jaws of a snapping turtle was not on my list of things to enjoy today, I abandoned the idea of picking it up and moving it. I had to figure out how to get it out of the street without touching it. So, I began stepping toward it, careful to keep enough distance that it couldn't get a vice grip on any of my toes. And I managed to get it to turn around and abandon the street-crossing plan. By now, crossing the street was the last thing on its list of priorities, and escape topped that list. It is surprising how fast a turtle can move when it wants to.
And, being the goofy person that I am (hey, what's wrong with that?), I began thinking about the parallels of the turtle's experience to our lives. I wonder how often we bite and snap at the people who agitate us, not seeing that they are only doing what is in our best interests? By pushing our buttons, they reveal to us what those buttons are - areas where we could stand to grow and mature.
It is so much easier to treat the symptom of the agitation than it is to dismantle the source of the irritation. That's why we often find ourselves getting into the same situations over and over again.
Why not become our own heroes and sheroes? Why not go to the trouble to figure out why that person or incident is bothering us so much and heal that area or change our perspective so that we can integrate that lesson and stop going around in the same vicious cycles?
It's easier said than done, but it's worth our thought, time and effort. Let's do it!
Monday, May 07, 2007
Beginners!
There are so many things I am learning, and I feel like such a beginner in so many ways. Sometimes, it is almost embarassing how much I don't know. But the truth is, I hope I always maintain a beginner's mind. The greatest hindrance to learning is believing that we already know. That's not to say we don't know. But much of what we know is hidden and waiting to be discovered. That's why I am so turned on by exploration. There is joy and understanding and love and beauty hidden within like buried treasure waiting to be uncovered.
I remember always feeling like a beginner when it came to bringing up my children. Oh, I tried learning all I could from the "experts", hoping to avoid as many mistakes as possible. But often my children didn't respond to the expert techniques like they were supposed to. :-) So, then I would listen to my intuition and when I followed it, I invariably discovered that I held the key to my children's hearts, not some expert with fifty letters behind her name. I eventually relaxed into the understanding that parenting is a shot in the dark. And that as long as I love my kids immensely and intensely and make sure they know it, everything would work out okay. Even my mistakes would all prove forgivable.
And so, as the lifetime student I am, I will keep learning and exploring and opening my mind and heart to new possibilities. And I expect I will always be a kindergartner at heart - joyous in the expectation of discovery and exploration. Care to join me?
I remember always feeling like a beginner when it came to bringing up my children. Oh, I tried learning all I could from the "experts", hoping to avoid as many mistakes as possible. But often my children didn't respond to the expert techniques like they were supposed to. :-) So, then I would listen to my intuition and when I followed it, I invariably discovered that I held the key to my children's hearts, not some expert with fifty letters behind her name. I eventually relaxed into the understanding that parenting is a shot in the dark. And that as long as I love my kids immensely and intensely and make sure they know it, everything would work out okay. Even my mistakes would all prove forgivable.
And so, as the lifetime student I am, I will keep learning and exploring and opening my mind and heart to new possibilities. And I expect I will always be a kindergartner at heart - joyous in the expectation of discovery and exploration. Care to join me?
Metamorphosis
I came across this article this morning, and it's highly synchronistic as I recently became aware of a sense that I am going through some sort of metamorphosis myself. I don't fully know the meaning of it yet, but I feel a wonderful sense of excitement and anticipation. We are all in process of becoming aware of who we really are, when we are not hindering the process. Enjoy!
Light is Our Very Essence
By Liz Tayla
It is not exclusive to a select few, it is not dependent on position, status or education, it does not discriminate against age, race or creed, it does not depend on past history or present circumstances, all it takes is the choice which you have the right to make with your free will, to recall that Light is Our Very Essence. This enables love to shine through into you and from you, it is a feeling that has no equal.
It is during the process of Metamorphosis, of moving beyond current circumstances and beliefs that you can literally transform and actualize (act on and realize) the true self, your true essence. During this process awareness expands, new insights are gained and so many more moments are consciously chosen - to shift our focus upon the light and enjoy the feelings of joy and harmony it creates. Others feel the warmth radiate from us, our energy is different, enjoyable, lifting us out of chaos and hopelessness into the realms of possibilities and hope.
Moving beyond the limitations of our physical lives takes courage and faith. Courage to withstand the adverse reactions and misunderstandings that lead to conflict, and faith to realize that this process takes time. Your beliefs took you a lifetime to acquire so be easy on yourself when all manner of chaos breaks loose, you are in transition! It will pass; hold on to your faith and stay true to your vision. Even though only part of the picture is clear to you, it will fall into place as a new higher order unfolds.
It is also a process that will provide you with so many deeply fulfilling and rewarding moments, a natural high that is not dependent on anything or anyone outside of you, and as a result can not be taken away.
You begin to realize your ability to create and you begin to discover your unique skills and talents and that putting them to good use helps us all. You remember we are all connected, and our hearts share the same language. Our feelings start being honored instead of feared; they guide us towards integration of mind, body and spirit, into health and prosperity and out of oppression and desperation. We become constructive and less inclined to participate in actions that only lead to destruction.
In time you will have a rock solid foundation upon which to stand, and who you are and why you are here will be so clear that the falls will be minor in comparison to your vision and purpose. Your ability to discern what is and what is not in your best interests will become sharper through the heightened awareness of all of your senses and your increased sensitivity. These are wonderful qualities, they are not to be manipulated, criticized and used against us for someone's gain at our expense. In time you will see how these qualities work in harmony with others and for the benefit of all.
It may take some time for others to see and some may choose not to. The sadness and pain that may be experienced at such times, will in time be replaced with a sense of freedom from all that has tied us to old patterns of behavior, that at best kept us stuck and at worst harmed us.
Unconscious actions and words that do not have the welfare of another at heart, and are used for self gain at someone else's expense, cause so much damage and spread far and wide. This causes so much pain and division from one person to another - even generation to generation - and affects the quality of life for all involved. That is a very strong reason to stay true to your heart's call, as it will make a difference and quite possibly impact in a positive way on current and future generations. That is how important one person's determination is!
We are all making a difference whether we are aware of it or not. What kind of a difference is your choice. It will not always be a walk in the park, however it will lead you out of the dark.
Stay true to your vision and you will overcome the obstacles, the criticisms and all the attempts to bring you back down again - for who does that ultimately serve? Instead you may just cause the ripple in the pond that touches lives in a profound and wonderful way. You will be the source of inspiration and help to lift instead. We could all benefit from that, especially today's children, as their sense of truth is already very sharp.
It is reassuring to think of the difficult encounters in our lives, as shaping us and helping us to realize our strengths, as well as opportunities to work out who we are and who we are not, what we stand for and what we choose to believe and act on.
It is even more satisfying knowing that there comes a time when we finally realize enough is enough, and that the situations and people that brought us to our knees are no longer able to bring us down. They will either change their approach and treat us with the respect we deserve or withdraw, as that dynamic will simply not be entertained, now that your transformation guides you back into the highest expression of yourself.
You will find your confidence and sense of self worth increase and as a result you will attract more situations and people who value you and the contribution you make. A self actualized person is more likely to give, appreciate and honor in turn because they feel fulfilled. They are also more likely to look within, take responsibility and correct themselves, when they have contributed to a conflict.
Focus on all that you love and all that supports you. Take your focus away from what is not right and get back into the light, there is always support there for you. Seek out someone that believes in you, make it a daily choice to have healthy input. Rest, direct your kindness to yourself as well, and explore the things that make you happy. Have some fun along the way, it is all worth it and so are you.
Copyright © Liz Tayla 2007
Liz is an artist and writer based in Melbourne Australia and works with Flower Essences, Thought Field Therapy and Kinergetics. Interests include Metaphysics, Human Behavior, Raja Yoga and Tennis for the physical fitness, fun and sense of wellbeing the outdoor sport brings. Email Liz.
Light is Our Very Essence
By Liz Tayla
It is not exclusive to a select few, it is not dependent on position, status or education, it does not discriminate against age, race or creed, it does not depend on past history or present circumstances, all it takes is the choice which you have the right to make with your free will, to recall that Light is Our Very Essence. This enables love to shine through into you and from you, it is a feeling that has no equal.
It is during the process of Metamorphosis, of moving beyond current circumstances and beliefs that you can literally transform and actualize (act on and realize) the true self, your true essence. During this process awareness expands, new insights are gained and so many more moments are consciously chosen - to shift our focus upon the light and enjoy the feelings of joy and harmony it creates. Others feel the warmth radiate from us, our energy is different, enjoyable, lifting us out of chaos and hopelessness into the realms of possibilities and hope.
Moving beyond the limitations of our physical lives takes courage and faith. Courage to withstand the adverse reactions and misunderstandings that lead to conflict, and faith to realize that this process takes time. Your beliefs took you a lifetime to acquire so be easy on yourself when all manner of chaos breaks loose, you are in transition! It will pass; hold on to your faith and stay true to your vision. Even though only part of the picture is clear to you, it will fall into place as a new higher order unfolds.
It is also a process that will provide you with so many deeply fulfilling and rewarding moments, a natural high that is not dependent on anything or anyone outside of you, and as a result can not be taken away.
You begin to realize your ability to create and you begin to discover your unique skills and talents and that putting them to good use helps us all. You remember we are all connected, and our hearts share the same language. Our feelings start being honored instead of feared; they guide us towards integration of mind, body and spirit, into health and prosperity and out of oppression and desperation. We become constructive and less inclined to participate in actions that only lead to destruction.
In time you will have a rock solid foundation upon which to stand, and who you are and why you are here will be so clear that the falls will be minor in comparison to your vision and purpose. Your ability to discern what is and what is not in your best interests will become sharper through the heightened awareness of all of your senses and your increased sensitivity. These are wonderful qualities, they are not to be manipulated, criticized and used against us for someone's gain at our expense. In time you will see how these qualities work in harmony with others and for the benefit of all.
It may take some time for others to see and some may choose not to. The sadness and pain that may be experienced at such times, will in time be replaced with a sense of freedom from all that has tied us to old patterns of behavior, that at best kept us stuck and at worst harmed us.
Unconscious actions and words that do not have the welfare of another at heart, and are used for self gain at someone else's expense, cause so much damage and spread far and wide. This causes so much pain and division from one person to another - even generation to generation - and affects the quality of life for all involved. That is a very strong reason to stay true to your heart's call, as it will make a difference and quite possibly impact in a positive way on current and future generations. That is how important one person's determination is!
We are all making a difference whether we are aware of it or not. What kind of a difference is your choice. It will not always be a walk in the park, however it will lead you out of the dark.
Stay true to your vision and you will overcome the obstacles, the criticisms and all the attempts to bring you back down again - for who does that ultimately serve? Instead you may just cause the ripple in the pond that touches lives in a profound and wonderful way. You will be the source of inspiration and help to lift instead. We could all benefit from that, especially today's children, as their sense of truth is already very sharp.
It is reassuring to think of the difficult encounters in our lives, as shaping us and helping us to realize our strengths, as well as opportunities to work out who we are and who we are not, what we stand for and what we choose to believe and act on.
It is even more satisfying knowing that there comes a time when we finally realize enough is enough, and that the situations and people that brought us to our knees are no longer able to bring us down. They will either change their approach and treat us with the respect we deserve or withdraw, as that dynamic will simply not be entertained, now that your transformation guides you back into the highest expression of yourself.
You will find your confidence and sense of self worth increase and as a result you will attract more situations and people who value you and the contribution you make. A self actualized person is more likely to give, appreciate and honor in turn because they feel fulfilled. They are also more likely to look within, take responsibility and correct themselves, when they have contributed to a conflict.
Focus on all that you love and all that supports you. Take your focus away from what is not right and get back into the light, there is always support there for you. Seek out someone that believes in you, make it a daily choice to have healthy input. Rest, direct your kindness to yourself as well, and explore the things that make you happy. Have some fun along the way, it is all worth it and so are you.
Copyright © Liz Tayla 2007
Liz is an artist and writer based in Melbourne Australia and works with Flower Essences, Thought Field Therapy and Kinergetics. Interests include Metaphysics, Human Behavior, Raja Yoga and Tennis for the physical fitness, fun and sense of wellbeing the outdoor sport brings. Email Liz.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
It’s OK To Want What You Want
By Claudette Rowley
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sail. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
- Mark Twain
Growing up, permission slips were a big part of school life – essential to participating in special projects, field trips or class trips out of state. For me to take part in any adventure outside of the classroom, my mother or father had to sign the slip. Now, as an adult, I can sign my own permission slip. In fact, I don't even need one! Yet I realize I often don't give myself permission to be who I want to be or do what I want to do.
How many times have you decided that you wanted something, and then denied yourself permission to have it or even ask for it?
Here are the top 10 reasons I’ve found people use to deny themselves permission to want what they want:
• I can't afford it.
• I don't deserve it.
• What will other people think? Someone might not like it.
• "In my family, we don't desire things like that. My parents had the same sofa for twenty years. Why should I be any different?"
• What if I get it and decide that I don't like it?
• I might fail.
• I might succeed.
• I can't have THAT (it's too big, too small, too expensive, too fill-in-the-blank)
• I'll have to step outside of my comfort zone.
• And the essence of all resistance: "I am afraid."
Here's the antidote to these limiting beliefs: IT’S OK TO WANT WHAT YOU WANT. It's that simple. You get to want what you want without judging it or measuring its merit or any justification at all.
Use these steps to get you started:
1. Recognize what you want.
2. Refrain from judgment.
3. Give yourself permission to want what you want.
4. Take the action required – for example: asking, buying, giving.
5. Notice what opportunities magically appear before you and what opens up inside of you.
Following these steps may feel uncomfortable; you might feel fear. That's okay. These are simply signs that you are move beyond your comfort zone. It’s a sign you are growing!
Each time you acknowledge what you want, don’t judge it. Act on it! It’s part of the flow of life. Life wants to give you what you want. Our socialization (see 10 limiting beliefs above) tends to complicate matters and have us believe otherwise. Recognizing what you want and giving it to yourself is a skill. And like most new skills, it requires building "muscle." The more you work this particular muscle, the easier it is to use it regularly.
Now It’s Your Turn
Take out a pen and, using the form on the following page, and make a list of 50 things that you want, both internally and externally. For example, an internal desire might be to achieve inner peace or self-acceptance, while an external desire might be to acquire a fun new sofa or a fun new job.
Write whatever comes to mind without any censoring. Got it? NO CENSORING! Include everything from wanting new socks to wanting to be more self-aware to wanting to be the President of the United States. Make it a stretch: If you can comfortably make a list of fifty desires, then make a list of sixty. If 100 is a piece of cake, I challenge you to create a list of 200.
As you make your list, notice the following:
• How do you FEEL? Do you feel excited about certain desires? Guilty about others?
• What physical sensations do you feel? Does it feel like someone is tightening a noose around your neck? Or do you feel like getting up to dance or pump the air with your fist?
• As you write down each item, what words pop into your head? For example, do you hear such gems as "Oh, that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!" or "You can't have that! Who do you think you are? The Queen of Sheba?"
Pick your top 10 desires. Review your newly formed short list and again notice how you feel? What voices do you hear in your head? What beliefs pop into your mind?
Where do you notice your social conditioning showing up? How does your body feel? Do your top ten desires have a common theme? What did you just become aware of?
At the end of day, what we want is usually pretty simple and clear. It's our feelings and judgment that get in the way. Social conditioning that tells us that we must live a certain way, act a certain way and feel a certain way – and these inner voices stop us from acknowledging what we truly want.
50 Wants List
[Sorry, guys. You'll have to use your own paper or WP software here.]
Congratulations! You’ve successfully identified your top 10 desires. If you’d like to find out how to use this new information to improve your life, career or business, contact me for an introductory coaching session. Simply send a message to Claudette@metavoice.org or call me at 781.316.1923.
I felt this article was worth sharing. I know it's a recurring theme in my life. Perhaps you will benefit from it as well. As Clay Walker sang it in "Dreaming With My Eyes Wide Open", 'We can do some living, or spend our whole life hoping, but in the end we're left with what we chose.
What will you choose?
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sail. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
- Mark Twain
Growing up, permission slips were a big part of school life – essential to participating in special projects, field trips or class trips out of state. For me to take part in any adventure outside of the classroom, my mother or father had to sign the slip. Now, as an adult, I can sign my own permission slip. In fact, I don't even need one! Yet I realize I often don't give myself permission to be who I want to be or do what I want to do.
How many times have you decided that you wanted something, and then denied yourself permission to have it or even ask for it?
Here are the top 10 reasons I’ve found people use to deny themselves permission to want what they want:
• I can't afford it.
• I don't deserve it.
• What will other people think? Someone might not like it.
• "In my family, we don't desire things like that. My parents had the same sofa for twenty years. Why should I be any different?"
• What if I get it and decide that I don't like it?
• I might fail.
• I might succeed.
• I can't have THAT (it's too big, too small, too expensive, too fill-in-the-blank)
• I'll have to step outside of my comfort zone.
• And the essence of all resistance: "I am afraid."
Here's the antidote to these limiting beliefs: IT’S OK TO WANT WHAT YOU WANT. It's that simple. You get to want what you want without judging it or measuring its merit or any justification at all.
Use these steps to get you started:
1. Recognize what you want.
2. Refrain from judgment.
3. Give yourself permission to want what you want.
4. Take the action required – for example: asking, buying, giving.
5. Notice what opportunities magically appear before you and what opens up inside of you.
Following these steps may feel uncomfortable; you might feel fear. That's okay. These are simply signs that you are move beyond your comfort zone. It’s a sign you are growing!
Each time you acknowledge what you want, don’t judge it. Act on it! It’s part of the flow of life. Life wants to give you what you want. Our socialization (see 10 limiting beliefs above) tends to complicate matters and have us believe otherwise. Recognizing what you want and giving it to yourself is a skill. And like most new skills, it requires building "muscle." The more you work this particular muscle, the easier it is to use it regularly.
Now It’s Your Turn
Take out a pen and, using the form on the following page, and make a list of 50 things that you want, both internally and externally. For example, an internal desire might be to achieve inner peace or self-acceptance, while an external desire might be to acquire a fun new sofa or a fun new job.
Write whatever comes to mind without any censoring. Got it? NO CENSORING! Include everything from wanting new socks to wanting to be more self-aware to wanting to be the President of the United States. Make it a stretch: If you can comfortably make a list of fifty desires, then make a list of sixty. If 100 is a piece of cake, I challenge you to create a list of 200.
As you make your list, notice the following:
• How do you FEEL? Do you feel excited about certain desires? Guilty about others?
• What physical sensations do you feel? Does it feel like someone is tightening a noose around your neck? Or do you feel like getting up to dance or pump the air with your fist?
• As you write down each item, what words pop into your head? For example, do you hear such gems as "Oh, that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!" or "You can't have that! Who do you think you are? The Queen of Sheba?"
Pick your top 10 desires. Review your newly formed short list and again notice how you feel? What voices do you hear in your head? What beliefs pop into your mind?
Where do you notice your social conditioning showing up? How does your body feel? Do your top ten desires have a common theme? What did you just become aware of?
At the end of day, what we want is usually pretty simple and clear. It's our feelings and judgment that get in the way. Social conditioning that tells us that we must live a certain way, act a certain way and feel a certain way – and these inner voices stop us from acknowledging what we truly want.
50 Wants List
[Sorry, guys. You'll have to use your own paper or WP software here.]
Congratulations! You’ve successfully identified your top 10 desires. If you’d like to find out how to use this new information to improve your life, career or business, contact me for an introductory coaching session. Simply send a message to Claudette@metavoice.org or call me at 781.316.1923.
I felt this article was worth sharing. I know it's a recurring theme in my life. Perhaps you will benefit from it as well. As Clay Walker sang it in "Dreaming With My Eyes Wide Open", 'We can do some living, or spend our whole life hoping, but in the end we're left with what we chose.
What will you choose?
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