Daily Inspiration 1-31-18

"The answer to the questions, 

Do I have a free will? 

and Is intention working with me

as an all-pervasive universal force? 

is Yes. 

Can you live with this paradox?" 

-- Wayne Dyer 

[Classic post from 10-7-16]

I have arrived at a place of major change in my life. I've known this intention was coming for some time, and through my free will, I have been choosing to resist that change with resistant habit patterns. I know this because these habitual resistant patterns used to feel good and they no longer do, and this unconscious intention that I've been praying to show itself is now breaking the surface like a volcano does prior to rocking the neighborhood.

This is not something that has come about in a day or a week or even a year, but like a volcano has been slowly but surely coming up, and though I've asked for it and knew it was eventually coming, did not know the timeframe. It is very near now. I can feel the ground shaking periodically so to speak.

Yesterday, I wrote about trust--having a sense of certainty in allowing the Universe or God to come through. Many things are now beginning to make sense to me that in weeks and months past felt like confusion, being lost, out of sync. At the same time, growth in my awe of life all around me has been occurring.

In Wayne Dyer's book, The Power of Intention, from which the quote at the beginning was gleaned, he lists what he calls four steps to intention. They are, discipline, wisdom, love, and surrender. And, although I may be taking this out of this context, I feel that these have been major steps in my life. For the last many years, I have been in the loving place. Anyone could see that in my writing where it is exposed clearly. Now, as yesterday's post indicates, I am entering the surrender place, that place of trust, of allowing, of giving, of accepting the direction I have been praying for.

Have you ever felt any of these things? I think others do. I was listening to Gary Zukov reading the 25th-anniversary edition of his famous life-changing book, The Seat of the Soul. He said something that instantly made sense to me, and I believe mirrors with different words what Wayne Dyer's quote said. He said that there are conscious intentions and unconscious intentions. Using Wayne's words, free will, and intention.

It seems to me that often our free will or conscious intentions struggle against our Spirit's intentions. I have written about this in many different ways, and it seems so real and true. I might call that being out of alignment, as Abraham, Esther Hicks might say. And, then there is in alignment where our free will and our inner unconscious intentions work as a team, such as when I am trusting, feeling good, allowing.

It reminds me of the autumnal equinox which just passed on September 22nd of this year. The 90 and 100-degree heat may continue to try to come through, but it is essentially done for. It is resisting the change of the unconscious intention of the seasons and it is also doomed no matter how hard it tries to hold on to summer.

Such is the case with me right now, and yesterday was a day that made this clear to me. A glorious day! Even though I played my resistant game as I have been for a long time now, I could easily and wisely see the change is taking over, and it won't be long now. The time is at hand.

I celebrate this change with all my love, and though I may yet consciously resist a bit longer, I can feel the joy coming, and major changes in how I live the remainder of my life.


The Place Where Free Will And Intention, Or Conscious and Unconscious Intention Are In Alignment With Me. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by recognizing when it's time to let go of the rope and soar.

Daily Inspiration 1-30-18

"God's love and grace

are not daunted by

your fears, self-doubts, 

or dark fantasies. 

Grace seeks not to fix, 

but to affirm." 

-- Alan Cohen 

[Classic post from 10-6-16]

Have you ever heard someone telling you one or more things that are going wrong in their life, and then when they are done with their admission, you begin to itemize things that they can do to fix it (in your opinion, of course) only to have them reject each one in turn?

It seems to be a very common thing--one might even say, a natural thing--to try to help someone fix a problem. And, it seems that in these situations, we have many suggestions, perhaps even ones we have used ourselves in similar circumstances.

I'm certain that God never would see this situation this way. God would not offer solutions to a problem that doesn't really exist. As Alan said at the beginning, "God's love and grace. . . are not daunted." Not daunted by any of our attempts to cover up the real higher selves that we are beneath the dribble of our fears, self-doubts, and more.

God's love is unconditional. No matter what. This means that there is nothing and no things that we could possibly do to dissuade God from loving us fully and completely.

As I was thinking about some of my readings of late, it seems to me that we pray a lot and trust very little. We hope a lot and are certain very little. What would our lives be like if we really and truly trusted in God, in God's grace, and God's assurance, and especially in the depth of God's unconditional love? Would we act differently? Would we fuss over these little fears, self-doubts, or dark fantasies? And, how would we interact with others? Would we be more supportive and not critical? Would we share the unconditional love with others that we feel from our Source?

This is not something we should do. It is something we can choose to do. The more I remind myself of that song, of the unconditional love I feel from time to time, of the presence I sometimes feel, the closer I get to trusting. Sometimes the silly cares of the day tend to get more of my attention, and this happens more because it is in my face at the moment than that I believe in it more. As the bridge of the song says, "when what I want may disagree," not as if I'm actually arguing with God, but yet at the same time, I am. Then I come to my senses again and remember and then "I will pray and let it go, and trust in God."

Alan Cohen adds, "If you could love yourself as God loves you, you would simultaneously become the Lover and the Beloved." What a wonderful place to be.

So as I go through my day, the more I remember that I am loved, the more I will remember to love those in front of me. The more I remember that I am forgiven all, the more I will remember to forgive those in my life, in my business, in the world. The more I remember the Grace that is constantly given me, the more grace I will be able to give others.


And, That Makes My Day Pretty Dang Wonderful! 

Spread Some Joy Today--by trusting, injoying, sharing, loving.

Daily Inspiration 1-29-18

"The most profound way 

to practice releasing resistance 

is to see clearly 

how we don't want to let it go." 

-- Gabrielle Bernstein 

[Classic post from 10-2-16]

About a week ago, I bought Gabrielle Bernstein's latest book in print and unabridged audio. It is titled, The Universe Has Your Back - Transform Fear To Faith. What's interesting to me about this is that I have bought all of her books, and read a portion of her first, Add More ~ing To Your Life, have not yet read the others, and yet I devoured this one. It's so interesting how things work out.

This book is full of powerful wisdom for me. It sort of reminds me that I am on the path I meant to take, and it has tools that help me practice staying on my path. I say my path because somehow I know deep within what I chose before I came here and these things that I often stumble across are reminders and expanders.

Since I talk about 'letting go of the rope' all the time, I have long realized that it is my resistance that causes any ills in my life. It is in the letting go of resistance or letting go of the tug-o-war rope that brings me back into alignment, back into love.

This book reminded me so much of a favorite book from 1992 by Marianne Williamson, titled, A Return To Love. Both are teachings using A Course in Miracles as a foundation. So many of my favorite teachers use that same foundation, such as Alan Cohen, Gerald Jampolsky, and many more.

In the introduction, Gabrielle quotes A Course in Miracles: "We must not seek for the meaning of love but instead seek to remove all the barriers to love's presence." In other words, remove the resistance, let go of the rope, and even more important, return to love. It is the idea that love is our truth or all that is, and that everything else is simply hiding the truth.

Often when we are learning or expanding on a thing or our thinking, we feel that we fail to be perfect at it, even for the level we have achieved, and so we can beat on ourselves about failing, missing the mark, not being there yet, or whatever. Gabrielle says that "we can forgive ourselves for not doing things perfectly, and we can forgive ourselves for holding on to old patterns. Honoring this shadow side of ourselves is the way to heal our resistance." 

But, here's the key to the whole book to me: Recognize where I am, what I am feeling, honor it, then turn back to love, or choose again. In other words, we can stay there if we want, but all of that is fear. Don't get upset by it, just acknowledge it, honor that it is an honest feeling, then choose what we already know is better and move on.

Throughout the book, she openly admits to her own resistance, even as far as she has come in her own learning, yet she becomes aware by how she is feeling as to where she is at emotionally and even physically. The healing path is always turning to love again and again and again.

This is the practice that I often talk about. We think we should finally arrive and no longer have to practice, but the practice is never over. It is the journey. There is no destination. The journey is our life, and so we can choose to practice, or we can choose not to choose.

She points out often how we don't want to give up our control: our judgments, fear, the relentless manipulations of the ego, and more. We resist. It's true, and it is also okay, but some people just don't want to change, don't want healing, are happy in a mysterious way to be unhappy. She mentioned how Sigmund Freud realized that some of his patients didn't improve because they did not want to improve, and that this realization changed his entire practice.

The theme of the book is also the idea that the Universe is always guiding us; albeit, we are often clueless about that. She shares many ways to communicate with the Universe and to seek openly the divine guidance by letting go of how things will come to pass, and just believe that somehow they will and it will always work out perfectly--even when sometimes there seem to be obstacles along the journey. It's all perfect.

There is so much value in this book for me, yet the single most valuable idea is as she says, "Our happiness is a direct reflection of how quickly we can restore our fear back to love." She adds, "The miracle isn't how well we avoid fear; the miracle is how quickly we return to love."

As I go through my day, and I feel that low vibration of a fearful thought, such as anger, resentment, disappointment, and such, when I realize or become aware what I am thinking by paying attention to how I am feeling, I can accept and honor that, and then, I can choose again. I can choose love.

It's kind of like going fast on a merry-go-round, then getting off and trying to walk a straight line. We may be caught up in it for the moment, but in a very short time, we can return to clarity and better control.

I have been practicing this in earnest for quite some time now, and I can tell you from my own experience the joy that is contained in how fast I turn to appreciation, to feeling good, to love. It is a very powerful idea and practice.

The Practice Of Choice. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by remembering it is joy that you really want.

Daily Inspiration 1-28-18

"How does it feel 

to live the life 

of your dreams?"

-- Albert K. Strong 

[Classic post from 10-13-16]

Wallace D. Wattles, in his book, The Science of Getting Rich, that was the initial inspiration for the movie and book, The Secret, says that after deciding what we really want, we must, "act in a certain way." He goes on to say that we need to focus on the present holding with faith our inner desires. He says for us to "put your whole mind into present action. Do not give your creative impulse to Original Substance, and then sit down and wait for results; if you do, you will never get them. Act now. There is never any time but now, and there never will be any time but now." 

He says not to worry about yesterday's efforts or work, concentrate on today, right now. As well, he says, don't worry about tomorrow and what will or will not come, there is only right now to deal with and that if we will "hold with faith and purpose the vision of yourself in the better environment, but act upon your present environment with all your heart, and with all your strength, and with all of your mind," it will be yours. For him, to act in a certain way is to give our best to the tasks and needs before us right now regardless of where we would rather be.

Wallace D. Wattles wrote that in 1910, and he is one of so many, who have said the same thing in various ways. As we focus on what we have to do in front of us, we release our immediate preferences, quiet to some degree the inner chatter about our preferences and all that surrounds them, and in doing so, we find a certain peace in our immediate present which opens us to what will come next for us.

I just finished, The Surrender Experiment, by Michael A. Singer, and he says that concentrating on the moment and the things to do in the moment was exactly what was needed. His approach to the moment was the same, but rather than having faith in what he wanted, it seems that he simply released his desires of outcome completely. It seemed that he wanted nothing at all.

At first sight, that is what it seems he did--but only for his worldly desires. He let them go completely and surrendered to whatever the Universe or Life would bring. He would immediately struggle for a moment or so, and then let go of his inner chatter by concentrating on what was in front of him and being amazed at what came next. But, in truth for him, he was holding on in faith to his most powerful desire, that of releasing himself, letting go of the mind chatter, and being one with the moment, in peace, one with Life itself. His desire wasn't of things, or situations of the world, but of inner peace and tranquility.

We all have wants, strong desires, dreams for the life we want to live, and many of us are perhaps already there, living that, though there is always more when we are ready for more. There are as many wants, desires, and dreams as there are stars in the sky, but I think in all of them, by following the advice of these two spiritual guides and doing with all our heart what is in front of us at the moment, will suffice to guide us toward that which we would like better. In fact, in Michael A. Singer's place, as many others too, he attracted far more than he could have ever imagined possible.

It is said that we can ask and it will be given, and in our asking, we are thereby clarifying what we would prefer, and this can be helpful for us. To God, or the Universe, or Life, or All-That-Is, this is not needed for It. That is already known, and as we learn our various ways of getting out of the way, dropping the rope of resistance, allowing, we may be then surprised at the path having led us to what we wanted, and often far more than we imagined. We can often actually see that magical path when we turn and look back. As we focus on what is at hand with our heart, head, and hands, we only need faith--trust--that the path we are following is true.


Make Your Work Today A Gift To The Universe! 

Spread Some Joy Today--by giving your best, living your best, loving your best.

Daily Inspiration 1-27-18

"The ultimate judge of your swing 

is the flight of the ball."

-- Ben Hogan 

[Classic post from 10-16-16]

As this quote relates to golf, and it speaks of truth being told by the effects of our actions, it seems like a great point of view, and certainly somewhat poetic in its expression. However, it is but one point of view of the event.

One could take a view from outside at any point where the event can be seen and come up with a different view to express. There could even be a criticism of the swing, the stance, the posture, the hands and grip, the follow through or lack thereof, the choice of club, the angle of the club, the dampness of the grass, or a hundred and one other thoughts about this one simple event.

At the same time, the event can be complicated dramatically in having the event take place in a tournament, and even more dramatically in the final shots of the tournament where everything, even a lifetime of work is poured into this one critical shot. We do tend to take the simple and complicate it, and the more points of view there are, the more complicated it gets.

Then there's the memory. Years later someone recalls the event. It was a big event, an important event, and all the points of view that were there have a point of view in their memory, complicated more by their own recollections of so many other events, how they are feeling that day, and any number of other influences mingling around that memory.

Then, many years beyond this distant memory, where most, if not all of the points of view have passed from this point of life, one takes upon the task of recreating the event from those records that may still exist, which may include a handful of the points of view who bothered to recall their memory to paper or other record such as telling the story to someone else who is currently available or who recorded it for posterity.

At the same time as the event itself, there are untold numbers of interconnected events as in the lives of the people involved that led to this event and their participation in it, including other factors that perhaps have some bearing on the event, the progress of the event, or the outcome of the event.

In other words, the more you look for, the more is going on. It is no longer an event. It is history. This is history, and it is told in all manner of ways. Yet no matter what depth one goes to in order to understand the event, it cannot be fully understood. Not even when the event took place. For the now that was the event was so full of information, it could not be contained in any record as a complete event. It is simply what each point of view says it is, whether at the event in real time or as history at any point in the future.

This is the same with the people who are involved in the event. Each of them is unique and brings all of their accumulated living to the event with them. They can be judged by points of view on any point of that accumulation, as well they can judge themselves in that same way, and yet this is but a point of view, isn't it?

I have studied much history, and particularly of the United States, with special attention to selected events and in-depth biographies of many of the people involved in the events, with focus on the accumulated living of that person.

I have realized that this study of history is interesting, but not Truth. There is no Truth, but only points of view. I love how Albert Einstein said, "Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods." But, don't take this wrong. I am interested and enjoying history. It is simply that I try to keep it simple in that I enjoy the story and find appreciation in its expression without taking it too seriously. What I mean by taking it seriously, is that I allow it to be as it was expressed, but I don't get upset by it. I look at it as it is stated and let it go.

This does not mean that I do not learn, or that I do not use what I have learned in it within my own life. I certainly do. One of my favorite quotes by Abraham Lincoln is this: "I don't like that man. I must get to know him better." This is like history to me, not only of events but certainly of people. It applies in history. It applies in my life today, right now.

I can only judge from a point of view, and I am taught by history that my point of view or a point of view is so limited as to be almost insignificant. To judge from this place is to be as ignorant as to not have known at all.

I have learned to love people more, to appreciate them, for their circumstances in history, for the various points of view that might attack them righteously or without any merit other than their own personal or political agenda. This affects me today in choosing to love people regardless of what others or any other recording might say about them. These are merely points of view. I may have my own, and I cannot see from their view, so I take that as an expression of a perspective.

I choose to love them in all of it. I choose to love the events they were involved in as is going on here today. History is being made every second of every day in each and every point of view. Each of us chooses what to think and feel about that.


I Choose To Love, And To Enjoy The Story. And To Learn To Broaden My Point Of View. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by giving everyone the benefit of doubt. Seek to find something to appreciate in another and events. This will open the door to invite in more and more joy. Your point of view is malleable.

Daily Inspiration 1-26-18

"Everything you are against

weakens you. 

Everything you are for 

empowers you." 

-- Wayne Dyer 

[Classic post from 10-4-16]

This quote by Wayne Dyer leapt off the page when I first saw it this morning. I've known this for some time now; however, I've never seen it said quite this way, and in this way, it is said so powerfully, and clearly.

This is one of the things I dearly love about learning. I can read many things on a subject from many authors, and then I read one that says it just so, and my ultimate goal of understanding is achieved in a moment.

It reminds me of a time when my wife and I had two teenage relatives living with us who were thought to be slow learners because of their grades. They weren't slow. Lazy, perhaps. But, I really think they weren't inspired. In school classes with 30-40 kids at a time, it is easy to have several fall by the wayside.

Anyway, we began having some fun with them learning new words, and reading, and having them tell us what they just read, or rather, their understanding of what they read. I'll never forget one of the words we all learned. It was obsequious. Fascinating word. We found that they could easily repeat or regurgitate what they read, but they weren't understanding it, so as we played with that, they grew and grew in their learning. What's more is that they were excited, engaged, having fun doing it. Learning really is fun.

Anything I spend time and energy fighting drains me. Anything I spend time and energy praising inspires me anew. Pushing against something takes a lot of energy, whereas, delighting in something gives me more energy.

As I go through my day finding potholes to complain about, I am like a leaky tire soon to go flat. As I go through my day finding things and people to appreciate, I find that I have increased energy and joy.


Struggle? Ease! Hmmmm. I'll Take Ease, Thank You! 

Spread Some Joy Today--by opening your eyes to all of the joy that is surrounding you. It has always been there awaiting your attention.

Daily Inspiration 1-25-18

"You could spend your whole life 

imagining ghosts, worrying 

about the pathway to the future, 

but all there will ever be 

is what's happening here, 

and the decisions we make in this moment, 

which are based in either love or fear. 

So many of us choose our path 

out of fear disguised as practicality." 

-- Jim Carrey 

[Classic post from 10-1-16]

One of my top ten favorite quotes of all time is from a man from history that I so admire--Abraham Lincoln. He said, "I don't like that man. I must get to know him better." The path he was forging in our history created a lot of adversaries holding hard to the status quo, and some acted quite mean in the attacks on him. Yet, he acted more out of love than out of fear based on all of my readings.

This quote says volumes to me. It says, what he was immediately feeling. He acknowledges this in his spoken words, "I don't like that man." But, rather than elaborate all the reasons that he doesn't like him, as many of us might, he realizes that not liking him is not what he wants. You could say that he realizes he is out of alignment with his inner truth or his inner compassion. He realizes that the reason he doesn't like him is mainly because he doesn't really know him and that deep down he is probably different than he seems right now, so he states, "I must get to know him better." The first part is acknowledging the fear, and the resolve is turning to love.

I put the quote into Google and found a site where someone asked, "should we strive to be the same?" The "best answer" based on relevance shown, the person said this: "Horrible advice. I don't like many people. . . many vain, selfish, shallow, arrogant, pig-headed, racist, sexist, manipulative, dysfunctional, insane people. If I 'got to know them better' it'd be keeping me from 'getting to know' the sane, rational, kind, caring healthy people I like. No wonder Lincoln was a depressed individual with suicidal tendencies."

Hmmmm. I wonder where this person is? Fear or love? It's so interesting that this answer was listed as the best answer. But, it is practical. This person is watching the clock and there's only so much time, so why bother with someone I don't like because I need to spend my time on agreeables.

I wonder if this person realizes that he or she takes themselves everywhere they go?

Our fears are so easily 'disguised as practicality.' Or logic. Or prejudice. Or being among the chosen ones. Or whatever we decide to make up to justify our position and dress up our fears.

Notice how many names the respondent used to describe the person: vain, selfish, shallow, arrogant, pig-headed, racist, sexist, manipulative, dysfunctional, insane. I'm certain they could have gone further. The more we want to dislike a person, the more names we call them, to strip them of their humanity, to make them less and less like us. All of this is the ego trying to make itself number one and everyone else as the enemy. And, of course, we only take this a few tiny steps further when we call a disagreement war.

We really do create our own little world, and some are quite little perhaps, but to make things really, really simple, there are only two choices we have at our disposal: love or fear. As Jim said, we are often very good at disguising our fear in practicality, but no matter how we dress it, it is fear. As we decide that love might feel better, work better, bring together rather than segregate, we can begin to choose love. As we become habitual love-choosers, our world expands to become a world big enough to encompass all.


Try Choosing Love. See How It Fits You. 

Spread Some Joy Today--Joy is love. Love is joy. All is appreciation.

Daily Inspiration 1-24-18

"There is nothing to fear." 

-- Lesson 48 from 

A Course in Miracles 

[Classic post from 9-18-16]

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 1-23-18

"Honesty is vulnerability. 

Sadly, not everyone can

handle someone's honesty. 

However, lying allows people 

to be comfortable." 

-- Shannon L. Alder 

[Classic post from 9-28-16]

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 1-22-18

"What if . . . ?" 

[Classic post from 9-17-16]

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 1-21-18

Today's Affirmation: 

"Something magical and wonderful 

is going to happen to me today!" 

[Classic post from 9-20-16]

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 1-20-18

"God does not play dice

with the universe."

-- Albert Einstein

[Classic post from 9-22-16]

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 1-19-18

"You never lose by loving. 

You always lose by holding back." 

-- Barbara De Angelis 

[Classic post from 9-27-16]

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 1-18-18

"Every morning
we are born again. 

What we do today 

is what matters most." 

-- Gautama Buddha 

[Classic post from 9-21-16]

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 1-17-18

The most valuable lessons 

I have ever learned in my life! 

 "Allowing is being actively passive." 

-- Albert K. Strong 

[Classic post from 9-16-16]

This is the third best lesson I've learned in the group of lessons that have 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 1-16-18

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 

[Classic post from 9-15-16]

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 guide. 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 1-15-18

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 

[Classic post from 9-14-16]

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 about 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 1-14-18

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 

[Classic post from 9-12-16]

I've bought several books and CD's of late on the subject of meditation. When I read that this person has meditated at a 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 kinds of things--and this is a very short list--make me feel like a loser, a miscreant, a slacker, a failure, a neer-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 on 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 sometimes. 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 1-13-18

The most valuable lessons 

I have ever learned in my life! 

"You only hear 

what you are ready to hear." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

[Classic post from 9-11-16]

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 they're 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 1-12-18

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 

[Classic post from 9-10-16]

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 everything, 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.