Daily Inspiration 9-30-16

"Your work 

is not to fix them; 

they are not broken." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

I was watching a video from Starbucks about a rural Christian church in Cordova, outside of Memphis, TN. In the video a Muslim group bought property directly across the road to build the Memphis Islamic Center. The pastor was initially upset and began to pray about it and read the Gospels again. He felt they should welcome them, so he put up a big sign saying just that. One of the members of the church told the pastor that he was very upset about this and that he might have to leave the church. The pastor suggested he reread the Gospels. After doing so, the member said that, "it wasn't them, it was me." He was not demonstrating the love that is so apparent in the Gospels. He knew it in his heart and so he changed his mind.

War is crass. I wrote that a long time ago. We pretend to seek a world without war. Beauty pageants are known for the women saying they want world peace. We have no power to put that upon the world. In this scenario, it would never be. There are too many variables, and all of those variables begin with us.

If we say we want no war; that we want peace, then the first place to look for it is in our own mind. Are we at peace in our mental and physical life? Is there no war within us or waged around our bodies? We cannot project on to the world anything more than we are ourselves. That would be the height of arrogance and ignorance to attempt to do so. Yet we do, don't we?

It has been said that there is no way to peace, but that peace is the way. That would be exactly right. It has to begin within. We will know it is when we are in alignment with our Source within. Whatever name we may give that, it has no boundaries and it has no differences. Source is one in many voices. And, we know it when it is in alignment because of how we feel. In alignment, we feel good, we feel that peace that we proclaim, we feel the unconditional love of our Source, we feel good.

When we are at war within, leaving peace far from us, we can be said to be out of alignment with our Source because our Source is love. We know where we are by how we feel. We will be feeling fearful, angry, upset, full of rage, violent in our bodies. We lash out. We inflict pain verbally and physically. We are living in fear.

Whether it is an argument with our spouse, our children, our neighbors, or co-workers, or whether we are encouraged into more fear with other people's facebook posts about politicians, or this is wrong and that is wrong, we know where we are if we will pay attention to how we feel. If we are feeling bad, angry, upset, disappointed, powerless, we are living in fear. Our Source is not there. We are out of alignment. This is exactly why there will never be world peace. If we cannot have it within and at home, how could it ever come globally? It cannot.

Whatever we want, we must line up with that, and we will know where our alignment is relative to our Source by how we feel.

Let me finish this post with the entire quote by Abraham, Esther Hicks from which I found the quote at the beginning:

"You're not ever going to teach them how to vibrate, nor would you want to change them all to a place of vibrating just like you. Your work is not to fix them; they are not broken. Your work is to choose from among all of that which feels best to you, and fixate on it as long as it gives you pleasure and joy. And in doing so, you will align with the Energy of your Source, and you will live a magnificent experience. You just have to not let your joy depend upon what anybody else is living, cause that'll get you every time." 


World Peace Begins Within Each Of Us. We Each Control The World We Choose To See. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by laying down that rope of resistance and fear. In so doing, joy is automatically released.

Daily Inspiration 9-29-16

"The effect you have on others 

is the most valuable currency there is, 

because everything you gain in life 

will rot and fall apart, 

and all that is left of you 

is what was in your heart." 

-- Jim Carrey 

At the beginning of my commercial truck adventure 

in 1989 at Bidduph Chevrolet in Santa Rosa, CA 

Not very experienced at selfies, 

but here's the somewhat older gentleman 

that writes these Daily Inspirations today, 

In my uniform of Tommy Bahama shirt, shorts, and flip-flops. 

Today is another milestone for me. This Daily Inspiration is number 2,557, and it is the completion of 7 full years of daily inspirational messages that I've publicly posted in multiple venues, via email and on the Internet. The first was published on September 29th, 2009. Yesterday would have been the full completion but I skipped August 10th, 2013, the day my wife passed away. That phrase passed away is such an interesting way to say died, but I like rose above better yet. I firmly believe that she left pain behind for nonstop joy and unconditional love.

Milestones are interesting things. They are simply markers, and really don't mean anything more than we choose them to mean. Sometimes they can help us move forward, sort of prodding us, daring us, exciting us, challenging us. They can also cause us to reevaluate, reconsider, restructure, abandon, or begin again anew.

If I added up the hours that I have spent doing these daily messages, it adds up to around 250 24-hour days. Wow.

Sometimes I ask myself, "what the heck am I doing?" "Why am I doing this?" "What is the value of doing this, or continuing this?" Sometimes I think I am just putting out dribble, and other times, I felt divinely inspired. My goal has always been to be in touch with that divine inspiration, as it comes through me rather than from me. But, who knows? Maybe none of it has, maybe some, maybe all in some sort of mysterious way.

Then I get a note from a reader saying how much this particular message was just for them, just for now, perfectly received, divinely stated. Sometimes I get several, and in each I am amazed, and reengaged and inspired anew. I think that if even one was touched in that way that it is worth any and all of the time, energy, commitment, and production that I have within me. If I can have just a little dinky bit of a positive, uplifting--indeed, inspiring effect on another, it will be worth it many times over. I love how Jim Carrey began this post with, "the effect you have on others is the most valuable currency there is."

What amazes me more about some of the notes I get is which messages were valuable to them. Sometimes I feel like I hit the mark with a message, that it was divinely coming through me and might even be a little profound. Then, I write one that I felt missed the mark, was not divinely inspired, and even though it was the best I could do at the moment, I wasn't particularly pleased with it. Often, it is on one of those kind of posts where I felt I missed the mark that I get more responses. It's then that I know that regardless of how I feel, sometimes God comes through anyway, and I'm blown away.

It is not completely altruistic. It probably helps me more than it helps others because it is a way of me expressing my thoughts, feelings, ideas, inspirations. It allows me to think out loud so to speak. To gather my thoughts and find a way to put them together so that they make more sense. And if in so doing, others benefit, all the better.

I am so grateful for the few who read these, and I especially love those who bother to take the time to send me notes now and then reinforcing the idea that I might be providing some sort of value to them. They are milestones that encourage me to keep going.

I have learned so much along this path of sharing. I dare say that I am the greatest beneficiary.


Thank You For Your Part In This Co-Creative Experience. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by letting your light shine!

Daily Inspiration 9-28-16

"Honesty is vulnerability. 

Sadly, not everyone 

can handle someone's honesty. 

However, lying allows people 

to be comfortable." 

-- Shannon L. Alder 

I stated yesterday that I would continue with the topic of holding back. As I looked at the quote above, I thought how that spells out holding back and probably the biggest reason for it at the same time: vulnerability.

Feeling vulnerable is to feel naked on a Friday at noon in Times Square. It is purely fear-based thoughts about holding back, not being enough, missing the mark, recalling past so-called failures, embarrassment, and more. That feeling of being vulnerable can keep us "tight in the bud," as Anais Nin stated so poetically. But, to quote her more fully, she said, "the day came when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." That is the essence of letting go of the rope; of letting go of holding on; of letting go of holding back.

I stumbled across a wonderful video on YouTube of the actor and comedian (and artist!) doing a commencement address to the 2014 graduating class of Maharishi University of Management (MUM). It's only 26 minutes which is short for most commencement addresses I've watched, and it was pure joy because Jim Carrey is not only funny, he is full of life. To me, he is the embodiment of a cup that runneth over. Yet, the bits of wisdom that this address contained was surprising and enlightening.

Toward the end of the subject at hand, holding back, he said, "You can join the game, fight the wars, play with the form all you want, but to find real peace, you have to let the armor go. Your need for acceptance can make you invisible to this world. Don't let anything stand in the way of the light that shines through this form. Risk being seen in all your glory." 

Some will never let the armor go, as the risk of the exposure, their vulnerability, and their need for acceptance keeps them tied to the dock in a ship meant to sail the oceans. We all get to choose for ourselves.

In my case, I've learned to release a lot of holding back, but I have often felt more of the time as if I've tied myself to the dock, afraid to let go, in the attempt at personal security and false peace.

Years ago when I was studying personal development in the 1970's, there was the concept of the comfort zone. I even wrote and recorded a song about that. Supposedly, we most often voluntarily keep ourselves within a zone of comfortableness, where we know what we know. It feels good there much of the time, and it can also become boring and tedious. To venture out of the zone of comfortableness is to feel the pain of the unknown. The teachers would chide us into venturing out, taking a risk, and as we chance to move out, the zone is automatically expanded, and we blossom a little. It refreshes us. It can be invigorating.

These are similar ideas and all associated with the potential pain (because it is often a mirage) of risking growth, risking so-called failure, risking being vulnerable, allowing our light to shine even if only a little. And besides, does anyone ever really ever not hold anything back?

Since vulnerability is clearly fear in one form or another, and the opposite of fear is love, then the best we can do at any time is to live in and project love. Not only to those outside of us, but in loving ourselves enough to risk in confidence that love will catch us if we fall.

Whenever we are comparing ourselves to another, or even to our ego-driven ideas of what we should be, we are living in and projecting fear. If that's where we want to live, fine. If not, choose love more often. We have unlimited opportunities to do just that. We always have the ability to choose.

Are We Willing To Risk Love? 

Spread Some Joy Today--by practicing risking to experience joy, even when others choose fear. Leading by example is always good form.

Daily Inspiration 9-27-16

"You never lose by loving. 

You always lose by holding back." 

-- Barbara De Angelis 

Wow! I have had so many thoughts flowing through me this morning that it was hard to choose one for today's Daily Inspiration. But, I was prodded by a daily inspirational message from The Universe, a.k.a., Mike Dooley, which struck a full chord in resonance with me: "Just wanted to formally announce, Terry, that the world is indeed ready for ALL of you. Go on. Astonish yourself. Love, The Universe." 

Here's a question: What's the difference between half-assed and incomplete? The answer: The degree of the part that was held back.

Let's take a peak experience like great sex. You can probably remember when you let it all go, unhooked the chain that held you close to the dock, and floated away in ecstasy. Whether you noticed that in yourself, or noticed it in your partner, or felt it in unison, my recollection is that it is indeed a peak experience. Yet, perhaps, much of the time, it is less than this, and we seek it to be that peak experience, but it misses the mark. The more times it misses the mark, the more frustrated we could get. Then we put all these unspoken expectations on the other.

What's the difference between anticipation and expectation? The ego.

It seems to be a challenge so often to get out of our own way. We have all this chatter going on in our heads; the cares of the day, the projections of the future, the lack of energy after a long, arduous day. There's a lot going on inside even when it may seem not so much outside. Our inner world is always very active, to the point that it is a real challenge to lay it aside for even something as glorious as sexual sharing.

We might think, "I wish she or he would let go of the cares of the day and be here now, relax, and enjoy, and perhaps even enjoy a little abandon." But, no matter how hard we try with our thoughts or our attempts to please, we cannot control what another person chooses to think or do. However, we can do that in and for ourselves. So the first thought would be to choose what we want for ourselves. If the other follows, wonderful, and if they don't, unconditional love goes all the way every time. 

Abraham, Esther Hicks adds something important here: "The only thing that holds you back from getting what you want is paying attention to what you don't want." Taking that to heart will go a long way toward harmony.

Of course, loving without any conditions probably leads to better relations regardless of the time, location, or agenda. Frankly, I think that unconditional love is the ultimate abandon, the ultimate ecstasy. More tomorrow on this subject of holding back.


Dare To Allow Yourself To Be Free. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by opening that bag of warm fuzzies, and giving them away with abandon. The bag will always be full.

Daily Inspiration 9-26-16

"The privilege of a lifetime 

is being who you are." 

-- Joseph Campbell 

If you were to bother to look up quotes about purpose, and specifically, life purpose, they would be as clear as mud. It's been said by many that our only purpose on this earth, in this life--our single goal is to figure out why we're here. Michael Hyatt said, "Your life matters. You are here for a reason. Your job is to determine why." Right. Like that's easy or something.

Then, the wise and prolific, Ralph Waldo Emerson, said, "The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well." Hmmm. The purpose of life is not to be happy. . . so I guess we should cross happiness off our goal list, and adopt duty instead. Not for me, thanks.

In attempting to clear the muddy water, I'm clear that this quote from Robert Bryne isn't much of a filter: "The purpose of life is a life of purpose." Well, there ya go! The purpose of purpose is purpose!
I love it when famous people say, "everyone has a divine purpose on this earth, and your only job is to figure out what that is and then go do it." Well, say, don't you say! Our only job. Hmmm. I guess that I haven't been doing my job through all these years. And, how would I know my divine purpose when it was shown to me? And, why the heck wasn't that made more clear at the beginning. I could have just followed the bread crumbs! I woulda had a map. The journey would have been clear. I woulda made all the right choices. I woulda lived a life worth living, a life of purpose, even divine purpose because it was given me at the beginning.

Dribble. It reminds me of the Mission Impossible TV show. Good morning, Mr. Minion. Your purpose, should you decide to accept it, is to find your one purpose. . . LOL. Like rad, man! Bitchin' I'm digging it. Far out! Well, don't say, you say.

Some are so confused by all this that they may wander their entire lives trying to find that needle-in-a-haystack purpose that was meant only for them, perhaps disappointed at every little turn. Our only purpose is to figure out our purpose. . . . I'm not one of the lucky ones! I'm a failure. I can't figure it out. My life is wasted and meaningless. . .

So, I'll help here. There is no purpose that is not known by you. If you're here and you're currently alive and breathing, your purpose is already fulfilled. Cross that one off your list. You're done. You're worthy. You're loved. You're valued. You're appreciated. You are enough. 

Let me add a few things that I have learned. They may or may not benefit you. You are you. I am me. Yet, we are all at the same time, part of the One, part of All.

I love Ralph Waldo Emerson, but I have to disagree with him. My purpose is to be happy, and happiness is not something I need to find. It is always there whenever I choose to allow myself to feel it. I always choose. Next, choosing love instead of fear has always worked best for me. Fear is always near, but as Jim Carrey so wisely said, "fear is going to be a player in your life, but you get to decide how much." I choose very little. Love feels way better. Way better.

I also love how Joseph Campbell said that to "follow your bliss," is as good as it gets in purpose. Indeed. Bliss is love. Love is bliss.

So, truly, it really is about me feeling good. It's not about sacrificially serving others, although to do so can be love, as in the life of Mother Teresa, who didn't sacrifice, because she gave out of her joy. She followed her good feelings--her bliss. As I choose to pay attention to how thoughts and things feel to me, and as I choose to focus on the ones that feel good, I am being more the real me that I sometimes have chosen to hide behind the fear. The more often I "let the armor go," as Jim Carrey wisely said, the more free I become to enjoy my life journey.

I like how Wayne Dyer said that, "to feel good is to feel God." 


Your Purpose Is Assured. You're Here. You're Alive! The Rest Is Just Smoke And Mirrors. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by letting the armor go and letting your life force shine through your form.

Daily Inspiration 9-25-16

"The pleasure we feel in criticizing 

robs us from being moved 

by very beautiful things." 

-- Jean de la Bruyere 

It's natural to have preferences. It is not natural to criticize others or something others have done. We need only recognize that we are feeling that this is not for us, turn and move toward what is.

I just love movies, and I've seen videos and articles in newspapers from movie critics. Predominantly, they seem to be seeking what is wrong with the film, or what they missed, left out, failed to achieve, and much more. Critical is the correct word. Rarely do I read or see a truly positive and inspiring review.

So, I was thinking today as I was doing some errands that because I love movies so much and I watch them pretty much every single day, I could be a movie reviewer. Except, I would never again want to be a critic. I would be a movie praiser. That's right. A Movie Praiser. Terry the Movie Praiser. When I would review a new film, I would only write a review if I could praise it. If it was so unappealing to me that I couldn't sing its praises, I would have to pass on doing a review.

If that were tied to a star rating, that would still be okay, because even if I rated it a 2-star or 3-star out of 5, I would only write what I honestly could praise about it. No negative comments about it. Just praise, or nothing.

Of course, I've been playing with this in my life for some time with people, things, events, news, and my own thoughts. I have found so much value in seeking what is good, working, positive as opposed to trying to point out all the faults. I love finding appreciation. And, it always seems to be there as I look for it.


It Just Seems To Flow Better Because It Feels Better. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by speaking joy. My grandmother used to say, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

Daily Inspiration 9-24-16

"Do what you can, 

with what you have, 

where you are." 

-- Theodore Roosevelt 

Easily the simplest advice for achievement, and from a wise perspective. The only thing I would add to this is to . . .


Do Whatever You Can To Enjoy The Journey. Live Long And Prosper! 

Spread Some Joy Today--Life is meant to be enjoyed!

Daily Inspiration 9-23-16

The most valuable lessons 

I have ever learned in my life! 

"The fastest way 

to get what you want, 

is to want what you have." 

-- Albert K. Strong 

I have come to believe as Abraham, Esther Hicks has taught, that desire, or wanting is what draws life force through us, and that without it, there would be no life, or reason for it. So, in that analogy, we are beings in want of something more.

At the same time they teach that by recognizing the contrast that is all around us, we learn what we do not want, or do not like, and that fuels the desire for something that we do want and would like better. And, as long as we don't push against this that we do not want or do not like--as long as we recognize the value of it to guide us to something better rather than fight what we are seeing or feeling, our desires draw more life energy through us.

I suppose you could say that it is all about something new, some new idea, new direction, new thing, and that may well be true. It can also be true that to appreciate what we already have, we go forth toward something else with a sense of well-being, and that I believe is the best journey we could be on--knowing that we want something, appreciating what we have already got, loving life and the process of growth.

Then I thought that many times, perhaps even often, we might lament what we are not, or not yet, when it seems so much more beneficial to celebrate what we are, what we have become. From this foundation of well-being, we can celebrate what we will come to next, what we will become in the process.

My early mentor, Jim Rohn, expressed some of this idea of becoming this way: "We can have more than we've got because we can become more than we are." He made it even stronger with this: "The most important question to ask on the job is not "What am I getting?" The most important question to ask on the job is "What am I becoming?"

And, one of my Rohn favorites: "After you become a millionaire, you can give all of your money away because what's important is not the million dollars; what's important is the person you have become in the process of becoming a millionaire."

This attitude toward what we think we want as expressed so nicely by Jim Rohn, is the place of well-being. It is in his way, I think, celebrating ourselves and what we already have, what we have already learned, and accumulated--respecting and appreciating this that he seems to indicate is the real journey, or the main reason for the journey at all.

In other words, in wanting this more, will I become more, because becoming more is my well-being, it is my alignment with the Source within me, it is celebrating this gift of life. In fact, the way Jim has expressed it many times that we must become more, because in becoming more, we open a much larger portal to whatever our desires can expand into.

Just as Jim Rohn expresses the idea in becoming more, I like the idea of celebrating where we have been, what we have done or accomplished, how much we have grown, and yes, become. Celebrating is another way to say appreciating, and appreciating what we already have, including all that we have become, is the fastest and best way to venture into our current new desires.

From The Place Of Joy, We Find More Joy, Seeking More. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by celebrating all the joy you already have!

Daily Inspiration 9-22-16

"God does not play dice

with the universe."

-- Albert Einstein

I read about the story when Albert Einstein was approached by a reporter during an interview and asked, "Dr. Einstein, you are recognized around the world as one of the most bona fide geniuses of our century, maybe of human history. Your scope of thinking has covered the workings of the universe from the tiny atom to the cosmos. You have seen your discoveries both evolve and enrich, and also mutilate and destroy the human life you so highly value. What, in your opinion is the most important question facing humanity today?"

Characteristically, Einstein stared off into space for a moment, and then looked down at the ground in front of him. Finally he looked back at the reporter and replied, "I think the most important question facing humanity is, ‘Is the universe a friendly place?’ This is the first and most basic question all people must answer for themselves."

"For if we decide that the universe is an unfriendly place, then we will use our technology, our scientific discoveries and our natural resources to achieve safety and power by creating bigger walls to keep out the unfriendliness and bigger weapons to destroy all that which is unfriendly—and I believe that we are getting to a place where technology is powerful enough that we may either completely isolate or destroy ourselves as well in this process."

"If we decide that the universe is neither friendly nor unfriendly and that God is essentially ‘playing dice with the universe’, then we are simply victims to the random toss of the dice and our lives have no real purpose or meaning.

"But if we decide that the universe is a friendly place, then we will use our technology, our scientific discoveries and our natural resources to create tools and models for understanding that universe. Because power and safety will come through understanding its workings and its motives."


The Decision Is Always Ours To Make.

Spread some joy today--by choosing what feels good to you today. Let the rest choose as they will.

Daily Inspiration 9-21-16

"Every morning 

we are born again. 

What we do today 

is what matters most." 

-- Gautama Buddha 

It doesn't matter how many times we've tried and failed to achieve an objective. It just doesn't matter. All that matters is right now, this moment, this minute, this hour, this day, today. We could have tried and failed thousands of times as I did when I was 'shoulding' my self to quit smoking, and then the next day after all those failures, I focused on that next moment, made a firm commitment and let go of cigarettes. It will be 15 years in April. Thank goodness for the new day and the new opportunity that it always affords.

What do you want to do today? What new thoughts do you want to adopt today? What do you want to let go of today? What new loves would you like to feel and explore? What new joys would you like to add? What act of kindness would you like to act on today? What's new for you today? What would you like to be new for you today?

Here's the perfect place to begin: Find something, anything to be thankful for. Buddha said it nicely this way: "Let us rise up and be thankful, for it we didn't learn a lot at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die, so, let us all be thankful." 

Being thankful begins every day with the best frame of mind. It opens up new opportunities we didn't see before. It uncovers the bountiful love that we often cover with cares and worries. It lights the way toward that which we want leaving in the darkness that which we may have been holding on to seeking a security that didn't really exist.

Celebrate your brand new day today. Celebrate the weather. Celebrate all that you are and all that you have done, so-called failures and all. There really is no such thing as failure, you know. It's all one step in front of another, even if sometimes we run and hide. Today is a brand new day. Let's make it a joyous one! Let's do the happy dance!


Being Thankful Is The Best Beginning Of Every New Beginning! 

Spread Some Joy Today--in your fresh new day!

Daily Inspiration 9-20-16

Today's Affirmation: 

"Something magical and wonderful 

is going to happen to me today!" 

There's nothing quite like a solid expectation of wonderment that will show up in your life today. Believe it. It's on its way. Feel the joy ahead of time for the order you've put in to the Universe. Then, get on with all those important things you've got lined up in your life today. This way, you can look and feel totally surprised when it arrives!


Pay Attention To That Smile On Your Lips As You Injoy The Anticipation Of Your Magical And Wonderful Delight's Arrival. 

Spread Some Joy Today--How can you not? It's a given more than a getten.

Daily Inspiration 9-19-16

"It's a beautiful day everyday, 

because beauty is incredibly flexible." 

-- Albert K. Strong 

It is if you say it is. It isn't if you say it isn't. I suppose that means you have total control over how you see and interpret what you see.


You've Got The Power! Let The Force Be With You All Day. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by making this a very beautiful and happy Monday! It's another great day to be alive!

Daily Inspiration 9-18-16

"There is nothing to fear." 

-- Lesson 48 from 

A Course in Miracles 

A few days ago in the Sept. 15th Daily Inspiration, I included a scale of emotions from Abraham, Esther Hicks as published in their book, Ask and It Is Given. I said how helpful seeing that scale of emotions was to me, but it is even more than that as I find more and more value from it. In fact, when I was looking at the lesson above from A Course in Miracles, it came to me again that everything below the turning point of hopefulness is fear.

As I was listening to a friend tell of an interesting event that happened to him and the many details surrounding it, the thoughts and emotions generated by the strange event were easily seen in referencing the scale as fear. There was disappointment, blame, doubt, frustration, irritation, and pessimism, and even some discouragement.

But, when I become familiar with the scale of emotions, and pay attention to what I'm feeling, or the emotions that he was expressing, I can easily see the playground we were playing in. All of the emotions I mentioned, will attract only more of the same via the Law of Attraction. It's how things easily get blown out of proportion.

So, that is one piece of what I want to mention today. It is realizing where we are currently on the scale of emotions, and knowing that on this playground, there is only more of the same.

Now, allow me to inject something I touched on only yesterday in the Sept. 17th Daily Inspiration on the value of asking an empowering question, what if? It's a question that is very positive in leading us to consider possibilities. And, at the same time, it can help lead us off of the playground of fear, through the corridor of hope, toward the playground of love, peace, and joy.

Consider this what if: What if every cloud really does have a silver lining? In other words, what if every situation, interaction, event, circumstance contained the seeds of joy, love, appreciation, empowerment, fulfillment?

I've considered this question in this specific way for some time now, and I wanted it to be true, because that is what I wanted to see. I think it has helped to look often at one of the signs on my wall from Abraham, Esther Hicks: "Today, no matter where I am going and no matter what I am doing, it is my dominant intent to see that which I am wanting to see." 

This has caused me to move through the corridor of hope to the playground of joy by considering what the many silver linings, or what the many positive aspects of this so-called negative event are. There are always many blessings that come from any situation regardless of how bad others may think they are, or how long they hold their grudges, and a grudge is simply a fear thought they keep thinking.

This allows me to hear of an event or situation and then start thinking of what some of the many blessings may be. I have come to know they are in there, and I am 100% confident that they will be seen in time. This allows me to let go of the pain or the pain of the other, and to begin looking for the blessings, even though I may do that quietly within myself so that I don't upset the desire for fear-based emotions in the other person. Some people need to grieve. That's okay. I no longer need that; albeit, for most of my life, I was on that playground most of the time.

To summarize, I find such value in the scale of emotions to show me where my thinking and feeling is. My goal is always to feel better, to find relief, so I can then move up the scale to a better feeling place. In addition, one of the most helpful concepts I have adopted is the idea of, what if there is a silver lining in this? Or rather, I would now state it this way: I am certain there are many blessings here, what might some of them be? I get excited about the possibilities, and I can't wait to see them and realize the power and value in them.


What Playground Are You Playing On? 

Spread Some Joy Today--by asking this: What if I had joy today? What if I had so much joy it was overflowing and I couldn't contain it? What if some of it landed on others today?

Daily Inspiration 9-17-16

"What if . . . ?" 

What if it were true? What if we could feed the entire world? What if we had the power? What if I have the power? What if?

This is such a grand question to ask. It is a perfect message to print out and put on your bathroom mirror or your office wall, or anywhere to remind us that we live in a world of possibilities and that we probably have more power to direct them to our liking than we imagine we do.

More often, I think, we are saying, "Yes, but. . ." instead of exploring the possibilities. Or, maybe saying flat out, "that's not possible, or it can't be done, or the logistics don't work, or we don't have the resources, or. . . well, the list goes on and on and on. We may even become experts based on past experience of what we cannot do, which directs what we seem to think that we can do. Truth is a toy to play with, and in fact, there is no truth. Instead, there is conjecture--and plenty of that.

Lately, I've been playing with inspiration. I've been reading Wayne Dyer's book, Living An Inspired Life. More than anything, the book is about connecting with God, our Source, but not from the idea that God is something outside of us, but something that is within us all. As we align with or connect with that Source Energy, the All-Knowing, we have access to a more joyous life. As well, as we ignore that connection, doubt its existence, we are completely on our own.

Yesterday, I was sitting in the bathroom, and suddenly, I realized that I have the power to move mountains. I began laughing. Not laughing at the idea, but laughing with the joy of that realization. I began thinking that if I have the power to do this, I have the power to do anything, and many of the things on my list are so small in comparison with that!

In Matthew 17:20, after the disciples were wanting to know why Jesus could chase the demons out of a boy, but they could not, "Jesus said unto them, because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible unto you." I like the King James version I wrote here because it uses the word unbelief, rather than, littleness of faith. I think that says it more clearly, or at least, it feels more clear to me.

I've always remembered that verse because it was such a bold idea to say to the mountain to move from here to there and it would. The power involved in this is far greater than any nuclear bomb we've ever created.

But here's a grand idea: If we have the power, and Jesus said that we do, just imagine the power we have over things that are insignificant in comparison to this! Imagine the possibilities! Imagine that if we have this power, all we need is to know it at our deepest level--the level of full belief and complete faith. And He said, "and nothing shall be impossible to you." Nothing. No thing. In other words, everything, anything is possible for us. We have the power to do or have anything we so desire.

So what holds us back? Our mind. Our thinking. It is our unbelief. It is our lack of faith. It is our lack of knowledge of knowing that we have the power.

We are so focused on the physicality of our lives when it is the mind that has the power. We try all these physical remedies for having the perfect body and forget to let our mind lead. Why? Our unbelief, lack of faith, lack of knowledge of knowing that we have the power within our mind to do as we wish. I often mention that it is like the tail wagging the dog, and this applies here too.

Try playing with this idea that we all have the power. We may not now believe it, have any reason to have faith in it, or understand it. That's okay. Just play with it. Ask what if you had the power! What if? Imagine the possibilities of it. The next question might be, what then? Imagine what you could do if you truly believed in yourself, believed in your personal power. Imagine what could be done. Imagine how you could help others. Imagine enjoying your life as being in-joy because you have the power, you know the power, you believe, and your faith is full.

Here's a better message to print and put on your wall or mirror: I've got the power!


Just Imagine! I've Got The Power! So Do You! 

Spread Some Joy Today--by realizing the power within you to be, do, and have whatever your heart desires. What joy!

Daily Inspiration 9-16-16

The most valuable lessons 

I have ever learned in my life! 

 "Allowing is being actively passive." 

-- Albert K. Strong 

This is the third best lesson I've learned in the group of lessons that has changed my life for the better, and not in a small way, but in a grand way.

It is also the third Law shared by Abraham, Esther Hicks in the basics of the Teachings of Abraham, from their book, The Law of Attraction, which was also my first introduction to their teachings. It is the Art of Allowing.

Simply stated by them, "The third Law. the Art of Allowing, says: I am that which I am and I am willing to allow all others to be that which they are. When you are willing to allow others to be as they are, even in their not allowing of you, then you will be an Allower, but it is not likely that you will reach that point until you first come to understand how it is you get what you get."

This part resonated so clearly with me when I read, "Allowing is that which you have come forth into this experience to teach. But before you can teach, you must know. Ordinarily, this subject comes up more in the line of, "Someone is doing something I do not like; how can I get them to do something I do like instead?" And what you will come to understand is: Rather than trying to get the world to all do the same thing, or to do the things that you like, it is a much better plan to put yourself in the position of accepting that everyone has the right to be, do, or have whatever they want; and that you, through the power of your thoughts, will attract unto you only that which is in harmony with you." 

It was an amazing coincidence when I first read the first line in the last paragraph several years ago: "Allowing is that which you have come forth into this experience to teach. But before you can teach, you must know." The coincidence was that I felt this was written from my own pre-intentions, that this was one of, if not the goal of my life here. And, it has also come to pass that I know, and that I teach that which I have come to know. Just writing that is fascinating to me.

I often talk about the value of and the act of practicing. Not so much the idea of learning a musical piece, memorizing parts of a stage play and such, but in the idea that a lawyer practices law, or a doctor practices medicine, or that an artist is practicing their art. In other words, as life itself is an ongoing journey, practice is that journey, so you could then say that our lives are lived in the practice of living. This is the Art of Allowing.

The first of the previous two most important lessons, was understanding the Law of Attraction. That is all that is required of that. It is. It always has been. It always will be, and it requires no effort of us. It functions equally with our acknowledging of it or not; however, there are massive benefits in realizing and understanding what it is and what it does toward a more joyous life.

The second was the Law of Deliberate Creation, or they have also called it the Science of Deliberate Creation. Both of these are prerequisites to understanding the Art of Allowing. The whole idea of deliberate creation is that we each have the same exact power to create and we all do so; albeit, ofttimes by default, or unconscious of the power that we possess to control our outcomes, and how much better it is to do this deliberately rather than by default. Learning about how we get what we get, and how to understand how to know how to use that tool is what the Law of Deliberate Creation is all about.

The Art of Allowing is the most exciting to me. There are many ways to look at this, and to speak of it. One that I've often shared is that there is no way. There is only your way, my way, and their way, and that they are all ways. That sounds nice, but it is missing the key ingredient: Allowing. We can understand the idea, but not be willing to practice it, which would be the allowing part.

I think that the best way to summarize the Art of Allowing is Wayne Dyer's famous definition of unconditional love. He said, "Love is the ability and willingness to allow those you care for to be what they choose for themselves without any insistence that they satisfy you." 

For this purpose I would restate it this way: "Unconditional love is the ability and willingness to allow others to be what they choose for themselves without any insistence that they satisfy me." 

Unconditional love is allowing. The practice of loving unconditionally is the practice of allowing. It is the Art of Allowing.

The practice of allowing is something I practice every single day, all day long now. I see things that used to upset me, and now I simply allow them to be in the joy that they are choosing for themselves. It brings me peace. In fact, peace is a natural result of practicing allowing, along with well-being, harmony, self-empowerment, appreciation, joy, and of course, love.


Allowing Is Not Just Letting Go Of The Rope Of Resistance, But Letting Others Do As They Will With It. 

Spread Some Joy Today--as you allow that joy to flow in you and through you spreading it with every thought you have.

Daily Inspiration 9-15-16

The most valuable lessons 

I have ever learned in my life! 

"Nothing brings out 

the worst in another faster 

than your focusing upon it. 

Nothing brings out 

the best in another faster 

than your focusing upon it." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

Yesterday, I promised to state my second most valuable lesson of my entire life today, and tomorrow will be the third most valuable. These were not originally in any particular order, but after writing them and thinking about them, I felt strongly about enumerating the ones that have affected the most positive change in me and how I feel about my life.

Number one was understanding the Law of Attraction, by realizing what it is and how it works whether I am aware of it or believe in it, or not. It is the single most valuable knowledge I have and understanding it helps me understand myself and the world around me.

Number two follows the Abraham, Esther Hicks top three laws as well. This is the Law of Deliberate Creation. They state this law in this way: "By deliberately directing your attention and thoughts toward the outcome that you desire, you can be or do or have anything that you choose." 

My understanding of this is so powerful because it demonstrates that I do have more control over my life and what I receive from life--in fact, it is ultimate control, in that I get what I think about, focus upon, pay attention to. But, it is way more than controlling thoughts. That is a seriously tough job with the tens of thousands of thoughts we have every day. It is actually estimated at 50-70,000 each day. Whew! That would be a serious amount of work to try controlling all of that.

So how does it work then? We have an Inner Being within us. You could call it our God within, our Higher Power, Source Energy, but it matters not the label we give it. It only matters that we realize that it is always there, and that it is there as a guide for us. It is intended to make our lives easier, to have more joy, and to have what we really want. As we are in alignment with this inner knowing, we will experience good-feeling emotions, and as we are out of alignment with it, we will experience bad-feeling or off-feeling emotions. You could say in alignment is resonance, and out of alignment is dissonance, smooth-going versus rocky-going.

These feelings then are our guidance. It is simple, not the least bit complicated, and that is what resonates with me the most. Anyone can understand this. We all experience emotions, although so many times, we are letting our emotions directly direct our lives, influence our thoughts, instead of the other way around. It's sort of like the tail wagging the dog then.

However, as we learn to pay attention to what emotions we are experiencing and especially noticing what they feel like to us, this is the guidance that demonstrates very physically whether we are making good choices or poor choices, and by taking stock of these feelings, we can choose deliberately. Without this simple knowledge, we are most often choosing by default, or unconsciously. How much better it is to choose deliberately.

This is one part of this self-empowering idea. The second part is understanding more about my emotions. Abraham, Esther Hicks in their book, Ask and It Is Given, shared a sample scale of emotions as an example of the many names we give different feelings. I have loved this chart because it has helped me so much to understand my feelings, where I might be on the scale and thereby effect a moving up the scale of emotions toward better feeling emotions by deliberately directing my thoughts. I have this printed out on my wall to help me.

Here is the scale:

1. Joy, Knowledge, Empowerment, Freedom, Love, Appreciation
2. Passion
3. Enthusiasm, Eagerness, Happiness
4. Positive Expectation, Belief
5. Optimism
6. Hopefulness
7. Contentment
8. Boredom
9. Pessimism
10. Frustration, Irritation, Impatience
11. Overwhelment
12. Disappointment
13. Doubt
14. Worry
15. Blame
16. Discouragement
17. Anger
18. Revenge
19. Hatred, Rage
20. Jealousy
21. Insecurity, Guilt, Unworthiness
22. Fear, Grief, Depression, Despair, Powerlessness

These emotions can rule our lives, or guide our lives as we choose. And, we always choose; albeit, it may be unconsciously. What is also interesting about this is that it is often too hard to make big jumps. This is why when we are depressed and someone who is full of enthusiasm irritates the heck out of us. But, generally in a state of depression, and with the Law of Attraction constantly at work, we won't be attracting happy people anyway.

Yet, we can move up the scale. As Abraham, Esther Hicks says that we should simply seek relief and relief is always going up the scale. As an example, anger is relief from guilt and unworthiness, as frustration is relief from worry, and so on. As we seek relief, we can feel better and better until we reach the turning point of hopefulness. At and above hopefulness is where I want to be as much as I can.

This has been life-changing for me. It has helped me understand how I have interacted with people in the past. I love the quote at the top which demonstrates how this Law of Deliberate Creation functions: "Nothing brings out the worst in another faster than your focusing upon it. Nothing brings out the best in another faster than your focusing upon it." It is also very appropriate to change the word, 'another,' and 'your,' to 'me,' and 'my.'

We can have control over our lives once we understand how we get what we get, and how we can understand how to make choices by paying attention to our inner guidance by paying attention to our emotions, or how we feel. We are all empowered equally as we understand these basic and powerful laws.


"Things Don't Just Happen. They Happen Just." -- Jim Rohn 

Spread Some Joy Today--by taking full control of your joy. There isn't a soul on the planet better qualified than you for that task.

Daily Inspiration 9-14-16

The most valuable lessons 

I have ever learned in my life! 

"The world, as we have created it, 

is a process of our thinking. 

It cannot be changed 

without changing our thinking." 

-- Albert Einstein 

Of all of the most valuable lessons I've learned in my life, this one is number one. It is the single most powerful idea to me in experiencing a life that I love. Tomorrow, I will share the second most valuable lesson which is fed by this one.

Abraham, Esther Hicks on their own, and via The Secret, which was originally designed around their teachings, is famous for promoting the idea of The Law of Attraction. Yet, that phrase was used many times in history, but never got widespread attention. Now it has, and so much so, that often people seem to think it is a buzzword, a gimmick, a temporary philosophy, a new-age thing, and more.

The Bible talked of it; albeit, not using that exact phrase, but the essence of the idea that as we think, so it is. As we think on or focus on something, more is attracted that matches that thinking and focus, or simply, that which is like unto itself is drawn.

Einstein understood its simplicity. He understood laws well, such as, "gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love," but what I love about Albert is the idea of understanding, not just learning. He says, "any fool can know. The point is to understand," and my favorite, which I have taken to heart for many years: "If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it." Fortunately, the concept of the Law of Attraction is easy to understand, because we can see it working in other people's lives very well, regardless of age; although, we often may be not paying so much attention to seeing it at work in our own lives.

I think one of the most powerful quotes I've seen to explain this idea from Albert Einstein is this: "I do not believe in the God of theology who rewards good and punishes evil. My God created laws that take care of that. His universe is not ruled by wishful thinking, but by immutable laws." 

The Law of Attraction is at the top of the laws "that take care of that," because it always works all the time for everyone equally. It doesn't matter what you're thinking, the Law of Attraction begins to immediately attract other like thoughts, situations, circumstances to back you up. It is not a respecter of people, or their thinking. It simply acts.

Abraham, Esther Hicks states, "Nothing merely shows up in your experience. You attract it--all of it. No exceptions. 

To better understand the Law of Attraction, see yourself as a magnet attracting unto you the essence of that which you are thinking and feeling. And so, if you are feeling fat, you cannot attract thin. If you feel poor, you cannot attract prosperity, and so on. It defies law." 

If we think someone wronged us or someone else in some way, and as we think about that, more and more thoughts about that come into our mind. We become more and more upset by this as we think about all of the many things that surrounded the event, increasing our disdain for it, feeling attacked, picked on, picked out, and as those continue, we draw even more unto ourselves. We could very easily get into a rage about it, and maybe the event wasn't even that big a deal in and of itself, but as we consider all of the details, we find more and more to be upset about until we stop thinking those thoughts.

At the same time, if someone did something wonderful for us, and thinking about that, draws more thoughts that match that, and we feel the joy of that special moment and we feel better and better, and we may even blow this situation out of context, but it works the same way for something good as something that we deem not good, or bad.

It might be a past event, maybe even way in the past, but as we are thinking about it in our now, fuel is being added to the fire by the Law of Attraction, as fuel is adding to the joy when it is a good thought and feeling. It might be something we are observing right now, or it could be something we are imagining, fantasizing, projecting. Time is of no relevance here, nor is there any concern whatsoever about what we are choosing to think and feel. Whatever it is, the Law of Attraction is actively adding to it.

As Albert Einstein said at the beginning, "the world (our current reality) as we have created it (no one else can create for us), is a process of our thinking." In other words, we get what we think about, and as we think more about it, we expand on it. "It cannot be changed without changing our thinking." In other words, no one can change it for us since we created it, and so the only way it will change is when we change our thoughts about it.

The immutable Law of Attraction is constantly at work and at play in our lives matching up our thoughts with like thoughts, and physical manifestations that are a vibrational match. We can choose to understand its power, and make beneficial use of it, or we can ignore it, reject it, laugh at the idea of it, yet no matter which, we will see it in our lives as we seize the opportunity of noticing that visual display on purpose, or others noticing it on our behalf. Conscious or unconscious, either way, it is.


"There Are Only Two Ways To Live Your Life. One Is As Though Nothing Is A Miracle. The Other Is As Though Everything Is A Miracle." -- Albert Einstein 

Spread Some Joy Today--by making your own conscious choice.

Daily Inspiration 9-13-16

"The beginning is always today."

-- Mary Wollstonecraft

[Classic post from 5-26-13]

I used to begin things on the first of the month, the first day of the week, the middle of the month like the 1st, 15th, or even the 20th. It was always in the future somewhere though often not very far in the future. I guess you could say that it was always tomorrow. A clean break. A change. A fresh start.

The trouble with this is that tomorrow became today and then my plans were extended to another tomorrow, another week, another month, another year. Yet I always knew inside that tomorrow never really comes.

There is only today, and really only this very moment. If I am to get anything going, it must be right now, not later.

If I am going to get my marketing plan in order, that will have to be done today. Leave the cell phone, go to a neutral location and get it down on paper and get it started. Call the people who need to be called and get on with it.

Whatever it is that needs to be done, begs to be done, needs the priority of right now this minute and a commitment to the action of beginning it.


I Only Know This From My Vast Experience As A Practicing Planner.

Spread Some Joy Today--Create a perfect day!

Daily Inspiration 9-12-16

The most valuable lessons 

I have ever learned in my life! 

"I always thought that life 

was mostly about gathering, 

learning to handle things, 

but I have learned instead, 

the value of letting go." 

-- Terry Minion 

I've bought several books and CD's of late on the subject of meditation. When I read that this person has meditated at minimum of 15 minutes every single morning for the last 25 years, I think to myself, "you've gotta be fricken kidding me! Are you serious?"

I heard the late Wayne Dyer say that he ran a minimum of 10 miles a day for something like 15 years. I think to myself, "Are you serious? Every single day for all that time? You're killing me with that. I find it hard to believe. You can't really be serious about that." 

In 2007, Dr. John Demartini, in his book, The Gratitude Effect, wrote, "For thirty-four years, I've kept a daily record of what I have been grateful for. I haven't missed a day." And, I'm thinking, "you gotta be pulling my leg. 34 years not missing a day? OMG!" He also says that he had read something like 50,000 books by learning to speed read. And, I'm thinking that even if it were half of that number, it would be a crazy accomplishment.

I guess that some people are so focused and committed to something that they can do these things. I only sit in amazement, and though I meditate once in a while, read a lot more than many, and have never even actually ran more than one mile, and that only at the insistence of the drill instructor in basic training, I can't even imagine doing these things like those I've just mentioned. Who are these people? They must be extra special people, super-humans, mental giants.

These kind of things--and this is a very short list--make me feel like a loser, a miscreant, a slacker, a failure, a ne'er-do-well. Or rather, it used to. I was always comparing myself and my performance with others and that never seemed to help move me forward. I just couldn't keep up. I wasn't that good a guitar player, wasn't focused in school very much, and there was such a long list of my mistakes, poor decisions, and such to contend with. Maybe I'll eat some worms. . .

Yet, I found hope. Consider this bit from Abraham, Esther Hicks: "There are other ways of raising your vibrations than meditation, such as listening to music that makes your heart sing, jogging in a beautiful place, petting your cat (cat? no way!), walking your dog (much better!), and so on. Often you are in your highest state of connection to Source Energy while you are driving your vehicle." 

They continue, and here's the lesson for today: "Your goal is to release any thought that causes resistance so that you are then in a place of pure, positive thought. Just find any thought that feels good when you think it, and practice it until you begin to set that tone within you--and then, other good-feeling thoughts will follow." 

I underlined the most important part to me. I like to visualize releasing resistance, so I like to call it, letting go of the rope. I have even come to actually visualize feeling that rope and my resistance on the pull of whomever, or whatever is on the opposite side of that rope. As I resist, I have a tug-o-war game going on. Letting go and laying down the rope releases every bit of resistance in that moment, and as long as I don't pick it up again, I'm good.

But, of course, I can't help myself some times. I pick it up on this subject, and that subject, and this issue, and that issue, and what this person did or said, and that one, and more. At least I used to do that a lot. Now, I have practiced this and understand it well enough that I pick it up less, and lay it down quicker.

I can feel the tension of the resistance in my body--in my stomach muscles, my jaw, and more. It is a mental thing that is causing physical symptoms. It's psychosomatic. At the same time, I can sense the relief when I let go, how my body relaxes. It's psychosomatic. Which do I prefer is a good question. I prefer relief. Absolutely. I prefer relief. I prefer to feel good, relaxed, at peace, in love, in joy, in appreciation, in knowing.

Comparing myself with another, especially if they are really good at something is not very productive in my life. However, as I realize that I don't need to emulate them, I can appreciate them. I appreciate Wayne Dyer and his commitment and the legacy he has left. I appreciate Dr. John Demartini and his many books that I have read, and the valuable information he shares openly from his learned wisdom and experience. I appreciate people who are committed to meditation and who teach it, and especially Davidji, who makes it so simple and easy.

I love to watch and listen to good guitar players. Even though I might be at the Kindergarten level compared with Eric Clapton, or my friend, Phil Greene, I can very much appreciate the skill they have developed, and the commitments that they have made to the art of music.

I don't have to do as someone else has done. Feeling less than them is purely my ego, as would feeling more than them; however, I can love them, appreciate them, be enamored with their presence and feel wonderful about myself at the same time. I appreciate all of my teachers, and the many people around me with skills that I do not, and may never desire or attempt to possess.


Letting Go. Letting God. Loving Those Around Me, While Loving Myself As I Am. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by loving yourself as you are. There is your own joy.

Daily Inspiration 9-11-16

The most valuable lessons 

I have ever learned in my life! 

"You only hear 

what you are ready to hear." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

Some people do not understand the power of words. They seem to think, and have tried thousands of times to kill the messenger thinking that this will kill the message. But, it never has, nor will it ever. The word is infinitely more powerful than any messenger who may bring it. Victor Hugo said it well when he said, "Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come."

The audiobook, The Secret, which was the catalyst that immediately changed my life in a major way, was all about the message that was as old as the words that made it, and was throughout history hidden from the many, supposedly in fear, that if they understood it, those in power would lose that power and privilege. Fear is an all consuming thing.

But, here is the message that matters, as Jesus said in Mark 4:9: "Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear." It's really not the messenger, and it really isn't even so much the message. It is the asking. As in another very popular Bible verse from Matthew 7: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." 

There's another colloquial expression that works here too: "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." Again, it is not the message, or the messenger, it is the asking. It is the ears that are ready to hear.

I know several people, and I have always known several people that I would love to see be happier, more loving, enjoying life more, to let go of the rope more often, and so on. I used to try and try and try to move them toward those positive ideals, and they tenaciously held on to the rope of their choices. My grand lesson is tied to this trying in that I cannot change another no matter what message I speak, no matter how skilled and practiced I may be as a messenger. All I can do is to be who I am, to share the message peacefully that I have been inspired to share, and the rest is not up to me. It is the asking. It is the readiness to receive. It is the desire to know. And, none of those things are in my slightest control.

It took me some time and awareness in my own study to realize this valuable lesson. And, I didn't just learn it about me sharing with others and their being ready to hear or not, but also for myself and that there is always more to know and whether I will know it has to do with my own readiness, willingness, asking in order to receive.

As I look briefly in the rearview mirror, I can see how many messages were there for me, but I was closed to them. I was not yet asking. I might have been asking for other things, ready for other things, but not yet this message. Yet, this is not something to be even the slightest bit upset about because all of our lives are a journey, and we all learn as we go, ask as we are ready, and receive when we are willing to allow. I have come to believe that it is all perfect, and in perfect timing. The best I can do is to be open to continued learning as much as I can, in as much as I am currently asking.

I laugh about it today, but in mid-2007, when I first became aware of the Teachings of Abraham, and Esther and Jerry Hicks, I was afraid. The message scared me from teachings that I had learned in the past. As I allowed myself to be open to the message without killing the messenger, I found myself with ears to hear. I had been asking already, and it came in the perfect time for me, which has set me on a certain path ever since that first hearing. I am so thankful for the message because it has brought me joy, peace, love, happiness, calmness, appreciation, and much more. I asked, and I received. I listened, and I heard. I knocked, and it was opened to me. And, as powerful as their message has been for me and a few million others, it is not the message, but my asking, my willingness, and my allowing.


When The Teacher Is Ready, The Students Will Appear. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by loving yourself today. Forget about all the cares and woes and the things to do list. Chill. Take a break. Let the love of your Spirit flow over you and cleanse you today.

Daily Inspiration 9-10-16

The most valuable lessons 

I have ever learned in my life! 

"Every subject 

is really two subjects: 

There is that which you desire, 

and the lack of it." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

They continue: "Often--even when you believe you are thinking about something that you desire--you are actually thinking about the exact opposite of what you desire. 

What you think and what you get is always a perfect vibrational match, so it can be very helpful to make a conscious correlation between what you are thinking and what is manifesting in your life experience, but it is even more helpful if you are able to discern where you are headed even before you get there. 

Once you understand your emotions and the important messages they are giving you, you will not have to wait until something has manifested in your experience to understand what your vibrational offering has been--you can tell, by the way you feel, exactly where you are headed." 

Way back in the early 70s, I learned about Transactional Analysis from a ground-breaking book by Thomas A. Harris, M.D., I'm OK--You're OK. I was drawn to self-help psychology because I wanted to understand about how I worked inside and how things would happen that I didn't want, instead of things that I did want, and many other reasons. I have always sought the simple solution because it seemed to me that it had to be simple so that we could all understand it without needing a Ph.D. Transactional Analysis, or T/A, as it became known was a breath of fresh air in the simplicity of understanding human interaction.

In the same time frame, I was blown away by Wayne Dyer's first two popular published books: Your Erroneous Zones, and Pulling Your Own Strings. They made T/A make even more sense; albeit, it a different but still very simplified way. I gobbled them up and was led to even more.

When I was led to be introduced to the Teachings of Abraham, via Esther Hicks, I found even more simplicity, but not just simplicity, but complete resonance with my desire to know and understand. 

Two subjects was a very powerful lesson. I wanted financial abundance, but it didn't come, and I was able to realize that it is because though I thought I was focused on abundance, I was continually accepting the current reality of lack of abundance. And, even more important, this idea of two subjects applies to every thing, whether it is love and fear, with fear being only the lack of love, wanting harmony, but choosing lack of harmony, wanting peace and choosing to fight, which is lack of peace, wanting more, and paying more attention to the current reality of more not arriving yet.

I recently put a new sign on my wall: Is My Focus On What I Want? It's to remind me which of the two subjects I am paying attention to--what I want or the lack of it, because I know that I will not get what I want by paying attention to what I don't want. They are two very different vibrations, and are therefore incompatible.

It's probably not you, but you have most likely heard people, friends, relatives speaking of what is going wrong in their relationship at great length, but not talking about what they really want, which is the perfect relationship with unconditional love. Or, they are talking about how broke they are, or how this happened or that, how they weren't at fault and these things just keep happening and they don't understand it, and so on. What end of that stick are they focused on? The lack end. The lack of what they really want. And, if you pay attention, you will hear little or nothing about the other end of the stick.

Isn't it so simple to see why they have what they have, why things seem to happen out of the blue, and more? If they had a diagnosis of an illness, they may constantly talk about fighting the illness, learning more about the illness, spreading the word about the illness, creating YouTube videos about it, and more. But, the other side of that stick is health, total good health--well being. How much talk is about that?

So, learning about this idea that every subject is really two subjects, the thing I want and the lack of it, or the thing I want and don't want has been very powerful to me. It allows me to give up being a victim, which I spent a great deal of time perfecting, and I am guided to personal responsibility for my thoughts--not so that I can beat myself up about that, which is the wrong end of that stick, but to understand what is going on, where I am heading, and be alert enough to ask myself if this is okay with me. If it is, fine. If it isn't, I know what to do about it. If I want something, I know what to focus on, and I will know what I am focused on by how I feel. When I'm focused on what I want, I feel good.


What I Really Want More Often Than Not, Is Joy. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by simply focusing on that end of the stick. I am joy. I spread joy. I love joy. I like it, I love it, I want more of it. I like it, I love it, I want more of it.

Daily Inspiration 9-9-16

The most valuable lessons 

I have ever learned in my life! 

"Life gets awesome 

when you make up your mind 

to perceive it as awesome." 

-- Karen Salmansohn 

This valuable lesson is about choice, and choice is a multidimensional thing to me. There is, what we might call in current medical terminology, the 'pre-choice' phase, then the mental testing phase, the choice itself, and the results, or the exit interview phase.

Recently, I've been tip-toeing back through parts of A Course in Miracles, and just the other day underlined some passages that I found fascinating. It is in the first section in a sub-section on Fear and Conflict:

"You may believe that you are responsible for what you do, but not for what you think. The truth is that you are responsible for what you think, because it is only at this level that you can exercise choice. What you do comes from what you think. You cannot separate yourself from the truth by "giving" autonomy to behavior." 

What was really interesting to me is that this morning I printed out a number of quotes that I receive every day, and it was as if they lined up perfectly with what I had in mind to share. Here's a couple of them:

"Within the seed of your desire is everything necessary for it to blossom to fulfillment. And Law of Attraction is the engine that does the work. Your work is just to give it a fertile growing place in order to expand." -- Abraham, Esther Hicks

"The habit of being happy enables one to be freed, or largely freed, from domination of outside conditions." -- Robert Louis Stevenson

Yesterday, I was standing in the carport outside my office looking on the courtyard, feeling the magical breeze, hearing my favorite wind chime with its soft, clear, perfectly tuned tones with all its overtones, holding little Charlie, my dog so that he could enjoy it too. I said to Charlie, "This is heaven. This is heaven on earth. Yes, Charlie, we're in heaven right now." Yes, it's true. I actually did say that aloud.

Have you ever felt that way? I used to have to go on a long trip to some other place like Hawaii or something to feel like that, but now, something has changed inside me and I don't have to go anywhere at all to feel it. It is right where I am, wherever I am, as I choose to allow that feeling within me, and my feeling comes from my thoughts, and when my thoughts feel good, I am in alignment with my greater, inner Source of All That Is.

The quote said, "You may believe that you are responsible for what you do, but not for what you think," but it is the thinking that creates the possibility of choice and the choice will create the doing. Sometimes we want to escape where we are to go to a place we think will be so much better, only to realize that we brought ourselves with us. In other words, we bring our thinking with us, and our creations are from our thinking.

Now, I know that a change of venue can influence our thought. Tony Robbins calls that a "change of state." It isn't the doing that controls, but the doing can be a temporary influence, opening the door to a more permanent change in thinking. More often, of course, it is our thinking that creates our state, as in how being depressed, feeling sorry for ourselves, has our physical body in a certain state, and then merely by immediately and grandly changing that physical state of our body, we can immediately influence the thoughts. I've done a demonstration of that in training classes I've done. But just changing the state, or the location is not enough for it to last. We have to get to the real cause in the cause and effect loop: the thoughts. They are infinitely more important.

As Robert Stevenson said, "the habit of being happy enables. . ." Like Karen 'Not Salmon' Salmansohn says, "Life gets awesome when you make up your mind to perceive it as awesome." It is a choice of thought, a decision, a way of seeing something that may not have otherwise been seen, as in my 'heaven on earth' thoughts.

We get to choose every moment of every day how we will think, and what our thoughts will be and thereby what we will create within us and without us. As A Course in Miracles, points out, "Few appreciate the real power of the mind. . . The mind is very powerful and never loses its creative force. It never sleeps. Every instant it is creating. It is hard to recognize that thought and belief combine into a power surge that can literally move mountains. . . There are no idle thoughts. All thinking produces form at some level." 


I've Made Up My Mind To Perceive It As Awesome! 

Spread Some Joy Today--How many levels of joy do you suppose there are? Hmmm. Interesting idea. Sounds like fun to try them out one by one!