Daily Inspiration 11-14-16

"How did we come up with the notion 

that life is not okay just the way it is, 

or that it won't be okay the way it will be? 

Who said that the way life 

naturally unfolds is not all right? 

The answer is, fear says so." 

-- Michael A. Singer 

The questions and answer above is one of the more powerful things that I have learned from Michael A. Singer. The other is to not shut off part of ourselves by resisting.

I was rereading a bit from Bashar about beliefs and how powerful they are, and, as well, how malleable they are, and he came to a place that seemed to mirror Michael Singer's thoughts. He said, "feelings are a reaction to a belief; they are secondary to beliefs. Feelings are not the primary experience of reality; beliefs are the primary interface. First you believe something is true; then you get the feeling; then you have the reinforcing thoughts--which may re-reinforce the belief; and then you regenerate more of the same feelings." 

There was an objection to his explanation about how many negative thoughts come up and the voices in his head saying, what about this, and that, and the other, etc.

Here's where he mirrors Michael Singer. He said, "Let them come up! So what?!? You see, you are trying to shut portions of yourself off. You think that when you integrate, you will never hear those voices again. and that's not true; you will always hear those voices. As a matter of fact, the more you integrate, the more you will hear them because you are accepting everything, every way you are, into your life. And those are some of the ways you can exist. They come up not to show you you have failed, not to show you you are stuck; they keep coming up to give you the opportunity to realize how much you must have changed. You don't relate to the them same way you used to--unless, of course, you choose to do so." 

As I read that and remembered what I learned from The Untethered Soul, I realize how much I've grown even though the negative talk persists in my head. I think that I must have been thinking that once I get to a certain level of awareness, that the positive would be predominate and that I would overcome. I see now that is not true. Yet it is true that I have become a much calmer, more enlightened person who loves life openly. It is not one or the other, it is simply how one is allowed to pass through without resisting, or turning it into a problem, or stuffing it to chew on later and such. You could say accurately that it is just less resistance, and more allowing. The talk remains, but I simply watch it go by just like sitting at the airport watching people come and go.

In most of my reading of this type of material, it has seemed to me that one big goal was to overcome the ego. As Wayne Dyer said, "EGO is an acronym for Edging God Out." It seemed that the idea of more enlightenment is to negate the ego, or rise above it, but in Anita Moorjani's newest book, What If This Is Heaven? she says that the ego is a primary part of us which is what makes us unique in this plane of existence, that we don't want to overcome it. I'll write more about that tomorrow because it is absolutely fascinating and a radically different point of view that makes a lot of sense.

To think the talk will stop is sort of a false objective I think. What is more important than trying to shut it off, is to allow it to pass through without getting stuck inside. Just like the airport analogy, here they come, here they are, there they go--oh, and here comes another and another and there they go. How interesting. . . And just like sitting at the airport watching the diversity of people going by, we have this tendency to like ourselves better and better, and this is equally true as we allow those monkey mind thoughts to flow unobstructed. 


I Am Not My Thoughts; Although, They Are A Part Of Me. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by resisting not. There is no joy in resistance.

Daily Inspiration 11-13-16

"The privilege of a lifetime

is being who you are." 

--Joseph Campbell 

I cannot think of many other statements than this one by Joseph Campbell that express the magnificence of life as we know it. We may not always appreciate our lives in this way, but we are certainly worthy of that appreciation.

Wayne Dyer in his book, Living An Inspired Life, states that "it's imperative to eliminate self-perceptions that might cloud our vision or makes us question our Divine magnificence. . . If we want to move from disenchantment to inspiration, or from apathy and indifference to passion and enthusiasm, then it's necessary to alter our awareness of ourselves." 

A Course in Miracles, states in lesson 94 of the workbook an empowering thought for peace within: "I am as God created me."

In all of these thoughts, here is a wonderful affirmation to print out and put on your bathroom mirror, or on you wall, in your purse, or wallet. It is three huge words:

I Am Enough. 

How often do we allow our 'monkey mind' to say how many ways we may not be enough. Words and phrases like 'should,' 'could.' 'need to,' 'ought to,' drag us away from being enough. It might be saying that we aren't slim enough, not smart enough, have made poor decisions in the past, wishing we were healthier, could fit into clothes we still have in our closet but haven't been able to wear for years, have the wrong job, don't make enough money, and the list is pretty much endless left to our monkey mind's own devices.

Let me affirm: I am enough. I am as God created me. 

Whether we believe that this life is the only life we will ever have, or that we have been here many times and many more to come experiencing all manner of lives, in either case, to affirm that we are enough and that we are as God created us, and accept our Divine magnificence, and appreciate the privilege of being who we are at this time in this life, are among the most worthy thoughts we could state as true for us. 

I think that is what an affirmation is. It is a statement of truth for us, even though we may have been ignoring it for some time, or simply forgotten it temporarily. In any case, affirming your Divine truth will bring you back to your magnificence in short order.


You Are Enough. You Are As God Created You. You Are Magnificent. 

Spread Some Joy Today--as you know it is your own true natural state.

Daily Inspiration 11-12-16

"You must learn that nobody can control 

everything in the flow of life," said Dart. 

"Control is something we all strive for--but you will find, 

as you become more experienced with magic, 

that you gain more control over yourself 

by releasing your need to control life." 

-- A. Grace Martin, Spirit Rider 

Last Tuesday's election is among the most fascinating in U.S. history--at least in my studies.

I have to say that I didn't vote for the president-elect, and I was aghast at his rhetoric during the campaign, but I also feel similarly about the other party. Negative political messages are sickening to me, and thank God, I don't have cable TV anymore, but that negative stuff often works, just like sales manipulation often works, although, I think it is condescending.

But, as I have thought about this turn of events in the last few days, I am excited, enthusiastic, and I find myself in great anticipation of how life will unfold in the near future.

I could not think of a President in history that had no political experience, or who was not a military leader. To have one upcoming who doesn't have that experience is quite interesting. He's not experienced in this job, but he does know how to lead, and as with many of us taking on tasks with which we have no prior experience, we most often rise to the challenge, as I know Trump will. I can hardly wait to watch this unfold.

I watched a short video of the meeting on Thursday of Trump and President Obama. I was surprised to learn that they had never met. How strange it is, and so very real how we can demonize someone that we have never even met. All we know is what we've seen in the news, or word of mouth, or through their writings and public accomplishments. It made me laugh and remember one of my top ten quotes of all time by Abraham Lincoln: "I don't like that man. I must get to know him better." I know I can appreciate that wonderful advice and probably I am not alone.

There's a lot of anguish from what I see online or in the newspaper; albeit, I'm not really giving it any attention. Some are still waging the war I think. Albert K. Strong says, "fighting for and fighting against are two very different things, and yet in one thing they are the same, and that is, struggle, resistance, and fear. Peace contains no struggle. Joy contains no resistance, and love contains no fear."

I am amazed at how I am feeling about this election, and though much that I did vote for did not come to pass, I am joyful, peaceful, and loving toward everyone and everything. I've learned that there is a flow of life and we can either flow with it, or struggle, resist, and be fearful.

I learned from Abraham, Esther Hicks that life is much like a river flowing, and that we can try as long as we want to go against the current, or to swim upstream, push against the tide, but they say, "everything you want is downstream."

I learned from Michael A. Singer, Eckhart Tolle, Buddha, and others that though the mind never stops in its chatter, if we will but let go of our attachment to that and the problems that are created in that chatter, we will rise above and have a more enlightened view.

Though there are many things that I may have disagreed with, the flow of life has demonstrated that it is in charge, and I know that I am in full control of my own choices to flow with that flow of life, or to struggle against it. As I flow with it, I find myself looking for things to appreciate in all of that flowing, and as I appreciate those things and people, I find myself loving all of it.

A few days back, I ended a post with this quote from Brother David Steindl-Rast, which I fully understood as soon as I read his delightfully brief and loving quote: "Joy is the happiness that doesn't depend on what happens." I find myself joyful as I flow with what life is bringing, and I am in joyful anticipation as I flow with it.


"Change Always Comes Bearing Gifts." -- Price Pritchett

Spread Some Joy Today--by flowing with life. There is joy in the flow because everything we want is downstream.

Daily Inspiration 11-11-16

[Classic post from 11-29-10]

"Problems?

I thrive on 'em!

I beg for 'em!

I wallow around in 'em

like a pig in slop!"

"I gotta percolate a little. . ."

(referring to a dilemma where there

appears no solution possible

that was pleasing to him.)

-- Paul Newman, as Gov. Earl Long

from the 1989 movie, Blaze

"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities--

brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems."

-- John W Gardner

"The problems of the world cannot possibly

be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons

are limited by the obvious realities. We need

men who can dream of things that never were."

-- John F Kennedy

Tonight I watched a movie I don't recall ever seeing before with Paul Newman, called 'Blaze.' I loved it. What a great actor and the story was quite interesting. One part of it just jumped out at me and I had to write it down. It is the first quote above. He said he thrived on problems, begged for them and liked to wallow around in them like a pig in slop. I had to laugh and it was a powerful lesson at the same time.

How many times have we problems and they just get us down and sometimes they even seem to be so hard to solve, or maybe even seem insoluble. I say, 'we,' but maybe it's just me, so I'll use first person: sometimes I've had a pile of problems all at once, some problems have been big, some small, and some that seemed so difficult, I felt like I needed a miracle. Sometimes I would ignore them and hope they would go away, other times, I'd be brave and face them and deal with them as best I could. And, all my life, though the specific nature of the problem may change, the problems yet persist and make themselves well known.

It's enough to get a person depressed, cause to drink, fodder for anger and self-pity, and generally feel crappy about. Phrases like, "if it's not one thing, it's another," have been said many times--in fact, I recall hearing my mother say that when I was small. As they are solved, and it seems they always finally get solved one way or the other, others take their place, and that ever present worry stirs the pot with vigor and delight.

Well, enough of that.

I'm embarking on a new journey: I am developing a love affair with problems! I want to get excited, stimulated, enlightened, and joyful about them! I want to see them for what they really are, to strip them bare and welcome them with open arms. I am learning to truly appreciate problems for what they truly are: contrast.

With my new attitude about problems, I see that which I don't want and that is enlightening. The trick here is to appreciate the messenger, while turning away from the message and focusing on what I really want, which quickly enough becomes the solution.

Now the difference is this: I used to focus on the message, or the problem itself. I would stew about it, repeat it, tell others about it and generally spend a lot of time with it. Now, I appreciate it's arrival, and turn to focus on what I want instead. I respect the contrast of the problem showing me what I don't want, so that I can then choose what I do want and go focus on it.

It is making all the difference. In fact, one of my clients told me how calm and peaceful I looked today. Very interesting. . .

Without Problems, There Would Be No Anything.

Spread Some Joy Today--Get excited about some problems today! It's just the thing that can fire you up if you will let it excite you in that way. The solutions come easily that way.

Daily Inspiration 11-10-16

"We might learn 

from the idea and value 

of having a cabinet of advisers 

like the President does." 

-- Albert K. Strong 

This morning, I was very briefly meditating and I thought of the book, Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill, and his "Master Mind Group," which he learned from Andrew Carnegie, his mentor and benefactor in the creation of that book, along with others he would write.

I haven't thought about this in a long time, and so this morning, I decided to assemble my own non-physical cabinet of advisers. I imagine being at a large table with my respected and admired advisers. With careful and delightful consideration, here is my cabinet:

Abraham Lincoln
Andrew Carnegie
James Allen
Jim Rohn
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Robin Williams
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Mahatma Gandhi
Mark Twain
Jesus
Wayne Dyer
Abraham, Jerry Hicks
Eleanor Roosevelt
William Shakespeare
Albert Einstein
Thomas Jefferson

Of the millions that I could have chosen, I think this group is as good as any group could be as a Master Mind Group of Advisers. I intend to spend some time coming together with this diverse group.

Someone might say that there are only two woman on this panel, but I don't see them as male or female. Instead, I see them as they are beyond that limitation.

If you were to choose your Master Mind Group, or your cabinet, who would you choose to consult with?


Diversity AND Wisdom. What A Grand Combination. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by imagining yourself spreading joy.

Daily Inspiration 11-9-16

"As I grow older, 

I pay less attention 

to what men say. 

I just watch 

what they do." 

-- Andrew Carnegie 

Wow! I was blown away when I picked up the newspaper this morning. My first reaction was total surprise. Well, not total, because yesterday I considered the possibility that Donald Trump could win. It seemed unlikely, but it was possible, and then. . . there it is on the front page: Trump Wins!

The secondary reaction was laughter. Not laughing at Trump, but laughing at how interesting this was. And, after January 20th, just over two months from now, I will be fascinated more at what he will actually do.

It's quite interesting how many people seem to think the President has so much more power than he or she does. Talk, talk, talk during the campaign, and then when it matters, it is often wrought with problems, road blocks, and a lot of resistance in the game of tug-o-war that is main stream politics. 

The newspaper and online sources say things about how the country is divided. When was this ever not true? As a student of U.S. history, I see that it has always been divided, and perhaps even more divided in times gone by. It will always be divided; however, it is never divided equally, and even then it is never simply one side against the other, as there are many facets dividing each of those segments.

Thinking about that reminded me of a paragraph I recently got from Abraham, Esther Hicks:

"Esther said to us, "Abraham, how come you guys (meaning nonphysical entities) can't get your stories straight? This one says this. That one says that. If we have been talking to God, why doesn't God say the same thing to everyone? Why isn't everybody getting the same message?" And we said, "Everybody isn't asking the same question. Everybody is not at the same point of understanding. Everybody is not even wanting the same thing." We are all about eternalness which means we are about difference. It is in our difference that desires of all kinds come forth, and as all of these new desires pop up, every one of them, even in their difference, is important."

As I teach and promote unconditional love, I find that I am loving the people that were involved in this grand process of the 2016 elections. I am happy for the winners, and I am happy for those who did not win. I am also loving the voters who took the time and energy to make their choices known, one at a time.

I don't have to agree to love them, for to have the need to agree with people to love them is one of the best definitions of conditional love. Instead, I am loving them regardless. We are all asking and wanting different things a good deal of the time, and all of that is worthy of love.


The Older I Get, The More Fascinated I Become, And The More Loving I Am. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by finding peace in what is regardless of the noise that might surround you.

Daily Inspiration 11-8-16

"If you wish to remember 

that nothing can separate you 

from the love of God, 

let nothing separate others 

from your love." 

-- Alan Cohen 

I thought the above quote was such a beautiful and appropriate thought for election day here in the U.S. It is also a wonderful reminder that as we say we love God, and then not love so many of His creations, or hold ill toward any, that as we are loving only under the right conditions, then we are loving God in exactly the same way.

When it comes to voting, it is our intuition that is our best guide. There are arguments all around us attempting to convince us that their agenda and philosophy is the one--the only one. This is where intuition when we pay attention to it can lead us through the dark swamp of current day political rhetoric.

I watched a TED Talk the other day titled, It's Time For Women To Run For Office by Hall Tomasdottir who recently ran for President in Iceland. In her talk, she said this bit that jumped out at me: "As a good sister of mine sometimes says, 'you may cheat on your intuition, but your intuition never cheats on you.'"

Abraham, Esther Hicks would say that when we follow that, it is being in alignment with our Inner Being, or you could say the God within us, our soul, or whatever name any of us likes to give it. I believe we all sense this within us. In all cases, it is an inner guidance of the most profound wisdom. That is, when we pay attention or go with it. It is equally easy to push against it; albeit, with considerably different end results.

The more we all choose to pay attention to and follow our intuition, or inner guidance, the better things work out all around, regardless of who wins and loses.


"Joy Is The Happiness That Doesn't Depend On What Happens." -- Br. David Steindl-Rast 

Spread Some Joy Today--by being at peace within, confident in your choices.

Daily Inspiration 11-7-16

"The world we have created 

is a process of our thinking. 

It cannot be changed 

without changing our thinking." 

-- Albert Einstein 

Many times I have said how I am watching a movie and a line or part of a dialogue grabs my attention to the point that I have to stop the movie and write it down. Here's another one.

This is a short dialogue from the movie, A Hologram For The King, with Tom Hanks, where Tom Tykwer was the screenwriter. It is a short conversation between Tom Hanks as Alan Clay, a U.S. businessman, and Alexander Black, as Yousef, his guide, interpreter, and mentor in Saudi Arabia: 

Alan: Are you thinking of joining the army?
Yousef: Maybe.
Alan: Nah--No don't--don't.
Yousef: Why not?
Alan: You should go to college and finish and give yourself some options.
Yousef: There are no options here, Alan. You know that.
Alan: Well. . . then leave.
Yousef: I prefer to stay here and have things be different. 

This is a perfect demonstration in very few words of what goes on all the time all around us and probably also within us. We want things to change, but we are unwilling to change, or we expect the world to change, or the other to change, or circumstances to change. 

James Allen said, "Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound." He said this a different way also by saying, "As he thinks, so he is; as he continues to think, so he remains." 

But, the most telling quote by James Allen I think is this: "A person is limited only by the thoughts that he chooses." 

Of course, things are always changing every single minute, hour, day; albeit, they may certainly be changing to the same thing that was, as our thinking may also be. I think it is fair to say that absolutely nothing changes for us without a change in thought. It need not be a major thought leading to a life-changing movement, but it must change. As well, and again, we certainly have the option of rethinking the same thoughts, doing the same things, reliving the same patterns.

It is all choice. For Yousef to stay or leave is his choice, and to change his thinking is his choice also, but the only way things will be different is if he would change his thoughts, which will lead to a change in activity. Then things will be different.

How many times do we think the same way as Yousef? I want things to be different, but I don't know what to do. Not knowing what to do is okay. There is nothing wrong with not knowing, but it pretty much guarantees that things will not be different any time soon.

The first step for things to be different is to think different thoughts. Sorry, it's the only way. I have to change my thinking first in order to change my circumstances. I like how James Allen says, "Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself." And, if circumstances are not to our liking, the place to look first is our thinking.

This leads me back to the sign that has spent years on my wall so that I see it all day long: What is My job. How is God's job. It is my job to think about and choose what I want. As I think about what I do not want, do not like, wish were different, what am I telling God or the Universe? As Abraham, Esther Hicks so often teaches, the Universe and the powerful Law of Attraction doesn't recognize wanting something different by pushing against what is. It is a total contradiction, and in this case will only respond to the most dominant thoughts and then bring more of that into our lives.

If we want to change for the better, toward well-being, we need to direct our thoughts there. It matters not that they are a current fantasy in comparison to our perceived reality. It only matters that we do that. We have to tell God or the Universe what we want, and the more energy we put into that by picturing it happening as if it is already accomplished, the faster it comes. Even if that is only for a few moments with our eyes closed to our current visual reality, it is enough to get the change coming toward us.


Thoughts Become Things. Not The Other Way Around. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by letting go of the idea of where you are this moment if where you are is not where you want to be. Instead, finding things to appreciate will lead to more beneficial thoughts in general and more releasing of resistance leading toward what we want.

Daily Inspiration 11-6-16

"If God is love, 

then therefore 

I am love." 

-- Terry Minion 

As I was finishing yesterday's post about unconditional love and how Anita Moorjani gave such a great explanation of what it is, I had a life revelation.

You know how people will say that they were born to do this or that, or that they have found their life's purpose, or rather their life's focus, or that there is something that we have all come here to do, be, create, experience? I've so often wondered what that grand purpose was for me--that thing that I came here to do. And, then this morning, as I glanced backward only for a few moments, it became crystal clear for me, like all of a sudden the blurry picture came into focus.

I now realize what my life purpose was, is, and will be. I am here to learn about, experience, and teach love--and especially the concept of unconditional love. 

Until I read and took to heart Wayne Dyer's definition of unconditional love, I don't even remember when, but I expect in the last 15 years give or take, I didn't realize that this was the idea I was searching to understand and practice. His definition was this: "Love is the ability and willingness to allow those that you care for to be what they choose for themselves without any insistence that they satisfy you." And yet, as powerful a definition as this is, it is lacking. What about those that you don't care for as an example?

So, I began redefining it, such as, "love is the ability and willingness to allow all others to be what they choose for themselves, without any insistence that they satisfy me." This makes it universal, or all inclusive. The first one is easier than the second one, don't you think? In fact, the first one is sort of another definition of a less conditioned, yet still slightly conditioned love. But, in all fairness, I'm certain that Wayne was saying that in reference to a situation where he was interacting with people he cared for, such as family. I'm certain that he practiced the second definition in his life as fully as he could, and that is evident from his books and other teachings.

I could take it a step further and include inanimate objects, things, situations, events, or in other words, all of life. This would be in my estimation the love of God, demonstrating that love is a state of being and not an emotion as Anita described in her book, What If This Is Heaven? And, yet another excellent way to say what unconditional love is would be to say that it is being without any resistance at all. 

As I glance backward, I can see so many stepping stones on my journey, sometimes called learning experiences, where I learned of the disappointment and problems associated with conditional love. I saw it in two divorces before I was 16, as well, I saw it all around me, on screens and off screens. Each of these caused me to ask more strongly for something better, something not so temporal. 

Then I began practicing. Even in my own divorce after 16 challenging years, I set into motion my own practice of unconditional love. There were many challenges to my desire for love to be love and not change into something else, and through them all, I have persevered. As well, I began expanding this to my work environment, and all of my life. I missed the mark so many times allowing my tainted thinking to prevail for a time, but in the end, I let go of the resistance in relief, as I turned back toward love. As I turn back toward love every time, I turn faster each time as I have practiced the art of allowing more fully and universally. It is now becoming a habit so that I don't even have to think much about it, I just turn.

I wrote so many songs and sang them in church expressing this theme better with each attempt. It is strange that I was even led to become a 'worship leader,' which was way out of my comfort zone, and to write songs of love, but I wasn't hearing much love in the sermons, but a lot of bowing to and looking up to, as well as shame and berating sinful behavior, but not so much practicing love with each other. I felt there was a need and that I was led to do it, and while it lasted, I rose to the occasion and expanded within myself as well as touching those I was meant to touch. 

Then a bit later, I began this Daily Inspiration project to share my thoughts and those of others on inspiration, appreciation, releasing resistance and a whole lot of love. My oh my, I cannot even express how much I have expanded and grown in this monumental and joyful endeavor.

And so, I have now realized that I really am fulfilling my life purpose as I write, as I speak, as I share love in every way I can. As I become more proficient in my practice of unconditional love, or as Abraham, Esther Hicks says, the Art of Allowing, I feel the expansion within me. As I love, I am healed, and as I love, I heal the world in a tiny, yet powerful way, although in this love I know it is not broken. All of the things I have gone through on this learning and practicing journey have led me to this place right here and now. Last but not least, I want to thank you for being a part of this journey on your own trail. I expect that you too are sharing the love that is shared.


We Each Have Something Special To Share

Spread Some Joy Today--by allowing yourself to love others by allowing them to be what and who they are, and by loving yourself in exactly the same way.

Daily Inspiration 11-5-16

"Unconditional love 

is a state of being, 

not an emotion." 

-- Anita Moorjani 

I'm so enjoying Anita Moorjani's new book, What If This Is Heaven?. I'm listening to her read her book on audio while reading along and highlighting what resonates with me. I'm going slowly on purpose to absorb it more fully at only a chapter a day, and so far, there are highlights on almost every page. I highly recommend getting her book, on audio or the book, or both. There is something so much more powerful about the author reading the book to me.

There is so much I could discuss, so I will begin with unconditional love. In her first book, Dying To Be Me, she explained how she had a near death experience (NDE) and learned about unconditional love, and especially loving herself unconditionally, and this is in the end what healed her.

We, in this physical plane on earth know of love, but generally what we know of love is that it comes and it goes, that it is balanced by not love in this world of duality; i.e., white and black, hot and cold, day and night, forward and backward, etc..

Learning from her NDE, she says, "I realized that I'm loved unconditionally just because I exist! In fact, even the word unconditional is superfluous, because love, by its true definition, is unconditional. Conditional love is an oxymoron--a contradiction in terms. As soon as we put conditions on love, it becomes something else entirely." 

She was asked to explain in more detail the difference between conditional and unconditional love, and on page 30 of her book, she gave a very interesting comparison:

"It would almost be like comparing the soft, cool glow from a firefly to the blazing heat and light from the sun. When the sun is shining, we are bathed in glorious warmth and light that completely wraps us up in its brilliance. It's unconditional. The sun doesn't choose to whom it's going to give warmth and light and to whom it's not. The sun just is." 

She continues, "The firefly's small glow, on the other hand, has much less power; and it's much more discriminating, more selective, and more conditional. You have to be in a direct line of sight with the firefly to see its light, and even then it's really easy to miss or lose sight of. It's beautiful in its own way, but rather paltry compared with the sun." 

Because all my life I have had so much experience with conditional love, falling in and out of love, loving me as long as I draw within the lines, watching parents loving and then hating each other, and so much more, I have been on a journey to experience and promote love in the unconditional sense. Wayne Dyer's definition of unconditional love has guided me, and I have practiced it every day in some way, even if only sitting here thinking. I have also been turning it on myself and practicing loving myself unconditionally too. It's working, and I also need more practice. It's a worthy endeavor--and, has become my number one objective.

I love Anita's comparison and this chapter on love. I especially loved the sun comparison and the statement, "the sun just is," as in unconditional love just is. We get to choose to bathe in its warmth and light and share that place with all others, or we can choose to stay indoors so to speak. It just is, but we need to line up with it, allow it in, feel it as a state of being rather than simply an emotion. This, of course, doesn't mean there isn't a certain feeling in unconditional love because so far in me, there is nothing to compare that joy to. It is beyond words. 


"Unconditional Love Just Is. It's Not One Side Of The Coin--It's the Whole Coin!" -- Anita Moorjani 

Spread Some Joy Today--by practicing a love that is the love of God, that which never fails, and is completely and wonderfully without condition.

Daily Inspiration 11-4-16

"I think I can, 

I think 

I 

Can. 

I thought I could 

and see, 

I did." 

-- The Engine That Could 

Here's a telling bit from Abraham, Esther Hicks: "The more you say "I don't remember," the more you cannot remember. You cannot find something that's "lost". When you've decided that it's lost, when it's lost to you, it is lost. The Universe could not possibly show it to you." 

Affirmations are often more powerful that we might imagine. To say, "I can't," or "it's too hard," and such is like building a huge wall in front of us while that thing that we want that is so hard, or that we have so little confidence in attaining, is on the other side. The more we say it, the taller the wall gets. 

Here's an important insight, I think: All of that is resistance. The more we resist, the more resistance is given. Just as in the tug-o-war game, we pull on the rope and the 'other side' pulls back and we resist more and so on. The key to getting to where we really do think we can is first and foremost, to lay down the rope, cease resisting, or in a really simple word, relax. Let all that resistance go. Chill. Take a break. Consider instead, all that you can do, have done, and how smart you already are.

There are always new things coming down the pike. Older people seem to resist so much more because they don't want to change, but no change is no life. Change is life. Life is constantly in motion.

Take technology for example. Fresher humans have been born cable ready so to speak. They came in or are coming into a world that is quite different from when I came in. Television was brand new when I came in, and color TV didn't come out until I was around 12 years old. A fresh human has cell phones, watch phones, computerized this and that, the Internet, social media, texting, coding, and all manner of technology that didn't even exist when I was young. So the older ones have way more resistance to these changes. It is a given.

What is not a given, is to say 'we can't,' when we absolutely can. Why? Because all of that power to do and power to resist is in our head. It's not real, except it might feel real. The resistance begins as resistance to change, becomes an affirmation, and then it becomes an attitude, and in more resistant cases, it can become a life style.

I know this and I often have resistance myself. I try to be aware if I might respond to something by saying, "I don't remember," etc. Instead, I rush to say something more powerful and empowering such as, "I know this, and it will come to me." Or I might say, "I can do this, and though I feel this inner resistance, I will relax in my own true power." Or, I might say, "I want to do this, and I will learn how." Or, "I know it is around here somewhere. I probably just put it in a different place than I normally do. I'll find it very soon."

It is common to struggle with things, ideas, new gadgets, change. The word struggle is the embodiment of resistance, isn't it? The solution? Relax. Let the stress walk on by. Let the pressure out. Let go of that rope.


Relax. You Got This. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by letting go of the resistance. Joy is on the other side of that wall you're building. Resistance created the wall, and peace will dissolve it. And there it is: your joy.

Daily Inspiration 11-3-16

"When angry, 

count four. 

When very angry, 

swear."

-- Mark Twain 

I was privy to some melodrama yesterday at the bank. I was fascinated with it, being completely outside of it looking in.

There was this older guy on a very cool motorcycle. There was a girl on the back. I saw them go by as I was walking Charlie and his pipes were gloriously loud and 'poppy,' which I'm sure was much to the owners pleasure. He had a scarf over his face to protect himself from the wind as he must have been on the freeway earlier or something. It was about 71 degrees, not cold at all.

Then, as I put Charlie back in my pickup to go, I saw the motorcycle again going past me in the parking lot, a bit fast for a parking lot, of course. Then I heard all manner of swearing as the motorcycle guy was yelling at someone in a car near the entrance to the parking lot.

He went on and on yelling something about the car coming right at him and mother-f-ing this and mother-f-ing that and dah, dah, dah-dah, dah. So the car moved down toward me and I saw who it was. She is also very pregnant with her first child, not too far from the time. The motorcycle had turned around and stopped her almost in front of my truck, doing some more mother-f-ing and dah, dah, dah-dahing. I couldn't hear a word if there were any from the driver of the car, but I'm guessing there were defensive notes if nothing else. She was really under attack.

The motorcycle moved along and there was a security guard nearby and he decided to do some more dah, dah, dah-dahing to him. As the woman got out of her car, and as I was driving out, she was yelling at the guard to get his license number. She was also visibly upset and angry.

So, here's a perfect example of anger management, or rather, the lack of anger management that goes on all around us every single day. Sometimes we hear it, sometimes they are in their vehicle cussing us or someone without that noise escaping the vehicle. Many, many, many, more times, it is people swearing in their thoughts not vocalizing anything but visibly they are obviously distressed.

For what? Did anything damaging really happen? No. No one was hurt or injured, no ambulances were called, no police cars breaking it up, just one angry biker causing someone who may or may not have done something inappropriate to become defensive and then exercise her right to be angry back. Anger for anger. Dust to dust. Fear for fear.

The only place anything happened was in his head, affecting his rider's head, defensively exciting the pregnant woman's head, affecting physically her baby's head, affecting the guard's head, then of course, I was watching this amazed at all of this affection, and who knows who else was close enough to witness this. It was over the top and it was also absolutely unnecessary. The anger didn't help anything, but it infected everything. There was no resolution, only carrying anger away and stuffing it and saving the remnants of it for another encounter of justified release.

Here's a great question to ponder: How easily do you turn to anger in offense or defense? How long do you hang on to it? How many people do you tell about how inappropriate that situation or that person was?

But, here's a better question on your self-development journey: How fast do you realize that you're angry and recover to peace by letting the whole event go? This has been the key for me. I would go to anger in detail and even drag it into depression in my justification of my righteousness. Now, I let it go. I lay down the rope. I stop resisting. Yes, I feel anger, but a dinky amount in comparison with my past, and as soon as I recognize it is happening, I begin visibly in my head laying down that rope, and finding peace and well-being.


That, My Friends, Is Progress! 

Spread Some Joy Today--regardless if there is anger all around you. Plug into the feelings you would rather have!

Daily Inspiration 11-2-16

"I have hope 

in who I am becoming." 

-- Charlotte Eriksson 

This morning as I was considering my message of the day, I had a Facebook message with some photos from the 50th high school reunion. I don't know why exactly, but I scrolled through them. I think it was because my 50th is next year. These were images of what all those young kids have become after 50 years of living life.

Then, as I was perusing some quotes, I ran across this wonderful bit from Abraham, Esther Hicks, and I thought it had a timely message and delightful perspective wherever you are on your journey: 

"Before the contrast and before the summoning, and before the answering of Source Energy, the Universe was less. So rather than thinking in terms of time, think in terms of expansion, and then you will understand time in the way we understand it. We never think about how long anything takes. We are just enjoying the expansion. And so, our now is always powerful in our anticipation of what is becoming." 

I loved this perspective of expansion as becoming. Not necessarily about growing, although that can be the case, but expansion, and I don't mean our body suits, although that certainly can be the case. 

Becoming. Expansion. Movement. I think it is simply and exquisitely life moving through us more than we moving through life. Wisdom? Who knows? Maybe. Wisdom I think is just a perspective, don't you agree? What have I learned? But, I don't think it is about learning. We are all learning, some more, some less, but all, yes.

Expansion. Becoming. Allowing life to flow through us. Do we have a choice in this? Of course. We can struggle with it, fight it, complain about it, and any number of ways attempt to control it, but in the end, I think it is simply, and exquisitely flowing. I think also, that as we allow, appreciate, recognize this flow and the resultant expansion, we may choose to enjoy, even delight in the becoming.


Going With The Flowing As This River Of Life Leads The Way. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by untying the rope from the dock. Feel the anticipation!

Daily Inspiration 11-1-16

"How long 

will you keep pounding 

on an open door 

begging for someone 

to open it?" 

-- Rabi'a al-'Adawiyya 

Back in the mid-1970's, I was listening to a radio talk show self-help teacher, who said something I've never forgotten, and have come to a much deeper understanding in later years. He said that we need to "own our own feelings."

What that meant then is that no one can make us feel anything. We make ourselves feel whatever we are feeling by what we are thinking. Of course our thinking is often infected with volumes of beliefs and other influences of all that is around us and all that we have experienced until now.

It's a simple edict. We are in charge of how we feel. Simple, and yet not so easy to really grab hold of. There's a lot of history in each of us and then there is also that mystical sense of normal response that we probably accepted somewhere along the journey to where we are this moment.

My somewhat deeper understanding of this platitude to own our own feelings is stated a bit differently: Don't give your power away. You have more control than you are imagining right now. You get to decide everything.

I wrote about this earlier in October quoting Alan Cohen who was a graduate student and had two friends who were the best of friends, and then they had a parting of the ways, and Alan was so very upset by this that he was distressed and unhappy about it. His teacher said, and I will paraphrase here, that you were happy when they were together and then you were unhappy when they were not. If they were to get back together, would you then be happy? Then he said not to give the power of your happiness to others because they are constantly changing. He said, instead, put your trust in God, who is unchanging, who is love.

Isn't this the norm--to be happy when things are going as you would like and to be unhappy when they are not? Whomever said that life is like a rollercoaster said it very well in the life of the normal person. Whatever that really is.

The political candidate wins the election and he or she is happy, and if they lost it, they are not happy. Your candidate won and you are happy, they lose and you are not. The neighbors do what you think is appropriate and you are happy, and then someone doesn't and you are not. The love of your life, or at least this portion of your life says yes, and you are happy, and she says no and you are not. This is all quite normal, or at least that is the way we see it all around us. And they are all knocking on the open door begging for someone to open it. Please make me happy. Please tell me what I want most to hear. I need your help. You complete me. Blah, blah, blah.

Happy feels good. Not happy not so good. But to give our power away means we are subject to the whims of others. Since no one, not the most beautiful or buff lover, the candidate, the neighbor, can make you feel anything because only you can choose your thoughts and thereby reap the feelings that respond to them, taking back your power to make yourself feel the way you want to feel is probably the most empowering thing you can do for a glorious life.

We choose our own happiness or lack of happiness by our thoughts. We feel those thoughts in how they resonate or don't resonate within. When we pay attention to that inner alignment with that which is unchanging by how we are feeling, our guidance will lead us to more of what we want and ignoring the things that we do not want. This is owning our own feelings. This is owning our own power over ourselves.


And, This Place Is Pure Joy. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by taking your power back.