Granted

“Watch nature, because it is your greatest teacher. It moves and flows and moves on again. There is an incredible beauty out there in the mountains, in the forests, to teach you it’s silence, it’s beauty, it’s humility. Stay aligned to that.”

— Stuart Wilde

More than a decade ago, I wished to not operate from the various components associated with the personality but to function from spirit within the body; I believed this would allow room for pure spiritual growth. Moving in the world without a pesky personality would allow a free flow of connection to every living thing — so I thought — and I was so wrong. The personality is far too complex for such a wish! However, that wish was then and I am writing this years and years down the road.

What did I learn? When you wish for something from the heart, my experience has repeatedly shown me that heaven and earth will move for you to experience that thing as long as you’re willing to receive it without dictating the how, what, when, where, and who of the wish. Having lived through what followed (which was repeated experiences in various shapes sizes and scenes to release “Valerie”) I would wish you never ask for such a thing and that instead you spend each day embracing yourself as much as possible. You need your ego to function in the world with a grounded view of reality. It may be important that aspects of your personality change, but change is not elimination.

In conversing with one of my daughter’s art teachers in the last few years, I learned she had ventured down a similar rabbit hole at one point. She wanted spirit flow to art without restraint. With the chance you’ve ever gone down or are tempted to a similar path, I’d say to not wish aspects of yourself away. If you must make change – wish for peaceful change that highlights your strengths. We grow with and through our humanness. Spirit works through the expression of personality as an intended stroke on the large canvas of life. So show up with your quirks and your humor, loving every aspect unconditionally for your best possible outcomes.

The current expression of you in this moment is your incredible beauty. You showing up every day as you is a mountain and it is a forest of sorts. You hold a wealth of wisdom within and there’s nothing external that can teach you what’s inside or allow it to flow into the world better than it will naturally. The external can only reflect, reveal, and maybe polish. Your healthy ego directing that glorious personality is the key to your ideal life experience. With pure intention, stay aligned to that.

As You Are

“One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Being appreciative for what is, as it is, can bring you into alignment for feeling so much gratitude.  There is a gift in accepting all the parts of another person or a situation.  If we can practice letting go of the want to change something or someone in order to express love, we can also experience expansion.  True love comes without condition.  I love you if you do it this way, because you are like that, and when you do this are all conditions; love is not contingent upon expectation or want.

Love is ready to flow through and from you without any stipulations. The return of being a gateway for this can bring joy that fills you up and overflows into the space you occupy.  When you open up to love, it is always there waiting for you – as you are – and ready to be shared with others.

Deb8

 Photograph by Deb Strother  –  Santa Fe, NM

Presence with Self

Gather everything you think about yourself as a strength and place these things as your focus for the longest possible increments of time.  While focusing on your own strengths you will find it easier to draw out those of others as well because with practice it will become your habit.  We often fall victim to patterns of habit energy ingrained in years and years of acting without clear thought about what it is that we are doing or passing on to others.  How about highlighting everything that is your best and the best of others instead?   When you train your mind to find the good parts of people (this means you too!) or situations it becomes easier to reside in a place of acceptance.  This perspective assists with actively living from a balanced center and connecting to the infinite wisdom of your soul.

It is my goal for this week to have presence with self and to move from the center.  By that I specifically mean:

1. Focus on good feeling thoughts

2. Express Gratitude

3. Act in accordance with desired change

I know there will be challenges and unpredictable occurrences  but the place from which we operate can be consistent. Here’s to being consistently present and focused on the thoughts we generate about ourselves and the actions we share with others!

Please join me if you’re up for it this week and let me know how it goes …