Daily Inspiration 9-28-17

"When we release expectation

and experience appreciation,

all the moments of our lives

become openings and opportunities."

-- Kristi Nelson

[New post]

Woo-hoo! Today's post is number 2,921 and marks the 8th anniversary of the beginning of these CTS Daily Inspirations. The first published post was on September 29th, 2009. What a fascinating journey this has been through these little expressions of intended upliftment. This has always been the intent.

After all, it is titled, Daily Inspiration, and what is magical about this is that it has kept me on track of doing the best I could at the time to be as inspiring as I could. Many times I might have had to stop and start over because I was wandering away from the theme. As I reflected on the theme of to inspire, even a little, I would come back.

This has been a growth journey for me, expanding my own knowledge, awareness, and expertise as I found ways to express my learning and experimentation in my own life on the page.

I don't know how long I will continue to do this every day, but I have found that committing to doing this daily has been inspiring and encouraging to me. I love getting comments and emails from some readers and I met people I had not known before as I found that they were readers. That is a wonder, really.

Of all the themes that I have written about, the quote above eludes to the most written about: appreciation. I have learned to be an appreciating person by practicing appreciation. Of course, that is true of all the themes. As I practice them, they become me. Another big one is patience. There are so many opportunities virtually every day to practice patience, and as I practice being patient, I become a patient person.

Of course, the theme that overrides them all is to love. To love ourselves. To love one another. To love what you do. To love just for the heck of it. To love. To love. To love. And, then love some more. It is absolutely the same vibrational stance as appreciation.

For however long your journey with me is or has been, I appreciate you as a traveling companion. I celebrate all that this effort has brought me, and I celebrate any little tidbit this generosity has brought you.


Onward. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by re-membering your love.

Daily Inspiration 9-27-17

"Whether it is a castle or a button, 

if you are using it as your object of attention, 

it is summoning Life Force. 

It is the feel of the Life Force

that life is about. 

The reason that you are summoning it 

is inconsequential."

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks

[New post]

I separated the two phrases above because the first line of the second phrase is the key idea to me: "It is (whatever we are giving our attention to that is summoning Life Force)  the feel of the Life Force that life is about.

In the last few days on social media and all over the Internet people are giving their attention to some popular things. It might be some colored cloth, a symbol shaped as a cross, a bombastic world leader, or two, or three, or four, a team of competitive teams stocked with individuals, and whenever we gather individuals, there is always some squirming going on because we like our space.

What happened to what we were giving our attention to a year ago? Or six months ago? Or last month? Weather? Economics? Elections? Holidays? But, it matters not what or who or when. It matters only that we are actively giving our attention and summoning Life Force, Life Energy, feeling our way as we wander on our Life Adventures.

You feel that you want to share your thoughts, and another wants to tell you to stuff it, and if you don't, they will shut down their account and ignore you. Whatever we are giving our attention to is summoning.

Does this happen automatically, or without our permission? Do we have automated reactions? Of course, but they are only beliefs that we have held that are temporarily challenged. They summon as easily and effectively as choosing on purpose with careful thought. How we summon, why we summon is not nearly as important as the reality that we do summon. We are constantly summoning.

There is only one question worth asking ourselves that I can think of since no matter what we do we are summoning. That question is this: Is this what I want?

Is this what I want to summon? Is this how I want to feel? We always, always, always, and in all ways have the power and freedom of choice. We are so free that we can choose bondage as Abraham, Esther Hicks has often said. In any case, we always have the power and freedom to choose.


Instead Of Beginning With 'I Believe,' Try This: 'I Want _______', Then Fill In The Blank. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by simply and exquisitely enjoying yourself today. Be injoy as much as possible. Or not. You choose.

Daily Inspiration 9-26-17

"They say:

Use it or lose it.

And, I say:

As I choose it, I use it.

There's a big difference

don't you think?"

-- Albert K. Strong

[New post]

You've got the power. I've got the power. We've all got the power. As we are choosing--and we cannot help but be constantly choosing--we are making use of our greatest power. That power is, of course, the power of choice. We choose our perspective. We choose our thoughts. We rise above and manage our lives or our ego does it for us without any effort. We choose all of that, and so much more.

As we allow ourselves to be controlled in all manner of ways, we relinquish our power to those people, ideas, laws, rules, and agreements. Many of these agreements have been agreed to for our entire lives. We were taught them from the earliest of ages, and unless we wander purposefully away from those agreements, they remain intact. And yet, we always have the power to accept, continue, or change as we make use of our power of choosing. We are always choosing, though we may be choosing the same things over and over again.

For us to change, for any change, these agreements must be examined, questioned, and tested for continued relevance.

A few days ago, I mentioned how global, or what we call big things are often seen as too hard for us to do anything about. We may wait for the world to change, expect others to take charge, push it off onto our government, or big business, or the United Nations.

One of these is the issue of global warming, which is such a soft phrase way of saying that we are destroying our protective ozone layer in many ways, and there is a lot of focus on carbon dioxide, although there are other factors that are more potent. Is this issue too big for an individual to have any affect? Absolutely not. We all have the power, or at least, so much more than we may now imagine.

I didn't realize this power as I stated when I began this series of posts last Friday. I do now. All of a sudden, it came home to me that I've had it all along, but I was doing as so many of us do, waiting on the world to change. Some things I could control and so many other things seemed completely out of my control.

Then, I saw a phrase that really struck me right between the eyes that I read in a Paul Selig book where it was said, "you are not separate from your environment." This phrase immediately permeated my entire being.

I watched a documentary on Netflix within days of reading this. It was titled, What the Health. I realized that my long, long history was now being examined by me and that if I were to live in my highest values, I had to change. I had the power to choose. I had the power to have a positive effect on global warming personally.

I chose to change my eating habits and become a vegan, leaving all meat, fish, dairy, and eggs behind, creating an immediate positive effect on the environment, and so I would find out later my own health. After 67 years of eating meat at almost every meal, being an egg lover, butter advocate, and more, I could no longer do it. I was done. It wasn't the food issues. It was the "big" things that I could have a positive effect on. There were two big things for me: Killing animals for no need, and the environment.

If you are ready to question and examine your historical choices as I was, I highly recommend watching What the Health and the predecessor to that movie called, Cowspiracy. You will come away enlightened.

Maybe you're not now ready to look. We each have the power and we each choose when and how we make use of it, but the main point of this piece is that we each have the power to make a difference even as an individual. We have far more power than we give ourselves credit for and now instead of waiting on the world to change, or even protesting that the world should change, we have the power within to change it in our own lives or keep it the way it is.


Power To The People! You Can't Lose Your Power. It Is Always There. In Every Choice, You Are Using It. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by choosing how you want to feel today. I wish joy for you, and you, of course, choose as you will.

Daily Inspiration 9-25-17

"Every moment of the day

you are standing in your choice. . .

As you choose love, 

as you operate from love,

you move upwards.

Reprimand, we will say,

is an opposite choice. . .

Think of how the word feels 

as it is spoken.

It implies a cutoff. 

It implies a negative reaction.

To be in reprimand 

is to stop the flow of love."

-- Paul Selig

The Book of Love and Creation

[New post]

I'm going to continue my theme that began on Friday. It's interesting how current events can demonstrate what I've written about, such as, the President chastising the NFL and the NFL rebelling against that criticism. Then, there are all these posts on Facebook and other places where people are spreading fear and anger toward all manner of things they see as wrong.

Fine. I agree that they have the right to do that and to express how they feel. I saw a post on Facebook about the Dallas Cowboys owner stating that all players will stand, hand over heart, in deep respect, or they will be fired. Fine. His way or the highway. Make your choices. They are your God-given power. For yourself. We are each given the power to ourselves. Our choices. But we are not given the power to choose for others. That is not allowed.

But, of course, it is done all the time, isn't it? And, this is my point. As we think that we have the right to choose for another or others, we step out of our own power and attempt to be God. We have all manner of justifications, reasons, history, whatever. And, that is my point as well. It hasn't changed in thousands of years. All of this same thing has gone on for all of recorded history, causing all manner of violence, anger, and distrust.

It all comes back to the first point from Friday. As we accept and honor that we are an aspect of God, we can accept and honor that another and that all others are aspects of God, all standing in an equal sharing of the love of God. As we honor this, we are in love. As we dishonor this, ignore it, disbelieve it, don't give a damn about it, we are in reprimand and being in reprimand is being in judgment.

If we get all upset about tiny things like how we can honor symbols like a flag, standing or not, and tie ourselves to these kinds of agreements with others, how can we deal with the really important things like not dehumanizing and killing others?

To keep it as simple as possible, as we go through our day, minute by minute, hour by hour, we can choose to be in love or choose otherwise. We can choose to realize that we are aspects of God and so is every other person on this planet, or not. We can see past the petty differences that we historically latch on to so that we can be upset, or we can choose to see past them, to see the real person through the mirage of distractions, no matter how we may justify the importance of those distractions.

When someone is choosing something that is not our choice, it is simply that--not our choice. It is not an attack on us, and our attempt to force our current beliefs on them to set them straight only separates us further. Separation comes from reprimand. It comes out of not believing that we are all aspects of the Creator with an equal share of the love of that Creator. That's all separation is.


Choose As You Will. You Have That Power. I Choose Love. 

Spread Some Joy Today--as you make your choices all day long.

Daily Inspiration 9-24-17

"You will never reach the place

where you will not need to be diligent

about your choice of thought.

Because you live in a world that is determined

to show you every pocket of despair.

So you must diligently choose.

But it gets easier and easier and easier to do so."

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks

[New post]

For the last several days I've been writing about changing the world and that the only way to do that is to change ourselves first. Waiting on the world to change, especially when it comes to things that seem big, or global doesn't really get it done. The main reason is that we are not changing.

Raising our consciousness is tantamount to choosing the higher road, higher thoughts, and our consequent vibration. We want the world to do that, but it must begin here within. But, we say, these things like global warming, warring countries, terrorism, and such are too big for me to deal with. We need our governments to come together. And, they will when we come together first within our own hearts and minds, and then within our close community of those we see on a daily basis.

As we do so, as we change, we give silent permission to others to consider a similar change, then another, another, and pretty soon we can raise the consciousness of a family, a neighborhood, a town, and so on. Will everyone change? Whether they do or not is not our affair. If it were, we would be waiting on the world to change. No, we must choose the thought, change our habitual thinking patterns, and move around at a higher vibration.

Want to change the company you work for? This is how it is done. First, we change. Will the company eventually change? That is not our affair. We cannot choose for another, we can only choose for ourselves, then we can demonstrate in our presence (our consciousness, our vibration) who we now are. Will this have an effect? Absolutely. It always has a positive effect as we raise our own consciousness.

Our lower consciousness or vibration has been clearly displayed throughout time as far back as events have been recorded. Thousands of years of fighting, bickering, posturing, forcing others to think like us and so much more. It hasn't worked in all that time. And, here we are in 2017, with world leaders threatening nuclear war and calling each other schoolyard names. We can go back to anywhere in recorded history and see and hear this same insanity. It didn't work then, and it cannot work now.

As we are in our low vibration, we attract low vibration. For things to change, we must rise above that to a higher vibration where we attract the like in that. This is where love, kindness, mutual respect are.

This is the place where we realize that we are all aspects of the Creator of all things. This is where we see through the childish and violent rhetoric to see the aspect of the Creator that each person is deep within. As we honor that in ourselves, we honor that in another. It is not about agreement, believing the same things, or sovereign cultures. It is about mutual respect for who each of us is, for that within ourselves and for that which created all things--All-That-Is.

This is when things change. So, do we give away all of our awesome power to wait on the world to change? Or do we accept our power as the power given us by our Creator to change our own thoughts, and consequently, our vibration and our entire lives. As we accept and make use of this power, just by our very presence, we gift the same opportunity to others from this higher vibrational stance.

So what can we do as individuals? We can see through events and exchanges of other people and see them first as people, as aspects of the Creator as we are, and honor that in them as we honor it in ourselves. As we do this, we raise the vibration, and as we stay the way we have been for thousands of years, we continue in the low vibration that leads to destruction, distrust, anger, fear, dehumanization, and more.

I've come to this place of raising my vibration by realizing that I am an aspect of the Creator and honoring that in myself, realizing and honoring that same aspect in every other human being on this planet, and sending love instead of fear. This is what I finally realized that I can do. I have been given that power. I have not used it much in the past because I accepted the history and kept repeating it. Now, I have changed. I see that it has not worked in all the history of the world. To continue to repeat it is beyond senseless now.


I Diligently Choose To Ignore History And Change It Within Me. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by allowing yourself to vibrate at a higher level and see the view from there.

Daily Inspiration 9-23-17

"I want world peace."

-- Common beauty pageant answer

[New post]

Sounds good. Sounds far-reaching. Sounds big. Rings false.

Saying that I want world peace is like waiting on the world to change. Thinking that peace is something that is won is to misunderstand what peace really is. What we really mean when we say we want world peace is that we want to world to create world peace, we want the magic wand of that long-bearded man in the sky that we call God who looks a lot like that painting on the ceiling in some far off place.

It wasn't him, but that infinitely more powerful entity that is virtually indescribable that is the real Creator gave us each the power to do as we choose, consequences and all, peace, love, war, hate, whatever. We choose it all. It is not chosen for us.

Want world peace? Really? It begins inside of each of us and without this, there can never be anything remotely like world peace. Without individual peace, there is no global peace. Everything begins within ourselves whether we actively seek change for the better, or sit and watch from the sidelines.

We often think that we cannot do these big things, but we can. We have far more power than we imagine. In fact, we have the ultimate power when it comes to the world we see, the individual we see, what we think, how we feel, everything is our choice as we choose or fail to choose, it is all chosen.

Peace begins within. Let's take all this inflamed rhetoric about North Korea as the evil poster child of the moment. The more inflamed the talk, the more we see evil and good at odds with one another. They are really never at odds, but we play that game with our egoic mind.

I remember after graduating high school in 1967, a fellow graduate had joined the Army and he said he couldn't wait to go kill some gooks. In reality, he was referring to human beings. But by killing the gooks, forcing them to surrender, we could win that war and create some peace. Yet, peace cannot, can never be created out of violence, killing, or forcing people to surrender to our values.

We have this conflict going on because we see one better than another, one right and one wrong, one evil and one good, and though we are all aspects of the same Creator who loves us beyond our knowing, we choose to see each other as enemies. We all want the same thing. We all want to be loved. We all want to thrive. We all, every single person on this planet want to live in joy.

A question popped into my head just the other day which was an amazing question as I considered it. The question was, why are we still thinking this way when we know that it hasn't worked yet? Why are we still seeing one as good and one as evil? Why? The answer is far too obvious: We keep choosing that.

Habit is just a thought that we continue to think. War is just an act that we continue to see as a solution to problems. For things to change, we must change. Or not, but either way, we are in choice. Always. In all ways. We choose personal peace or not. We choose to accept propaganda that demeans others, or not. We choose to hire leaders who stir the pot or not. We choose. We always choose.

Want world peace? It is easy. Begin with peace within ourselves. Choose peace within. There is no way to peace. Peace is the way. How can we choose this? As a first step, as in yesterday's post, we realize once and for all that we are all, each and every single one of us, aspects of God, or the Universe, or Allah, or All-That-Is. The name of what I like to call the Creator is not the least bit important. The only important thing is to realize our connection to that and to feel the love that emanates from that Source that is equal to all. Yes, all. From Hitler to Mother Teresa. All.


Anything Else Is Purely Choice Of Misalignment. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by realizing your power of choice and how powerful it really is. You are so powerful that you can choose world peace. And mean it. And demonstrate it. By living it.

Daily Inspiration 9-22-17

"It's hard to beat the system

when we're standing at a distance,

so we keep waiting,

waiting on the world to change."

-- John Mayer

[New post]

Today, I want to inspire you in your core values. Deep inside, we are so much more than we show in our physical presence. In our higher self, our higher vibration, we are aligned to all that we know is true and are in alignment with our Creator, our Source, God, the Universe, All-That-Is.

We don't pay much attention to that because we have so much going on around us, influencing our attention, along with our constant ego communication, or what we often call our self-talk. But, we can rise above all of that, and I have found out how to do that recently.

First and foremost, realize that you are an aspect of the Creator in physical form. This is true of me. It is true of every person on the planet, and everything on the planet. When we can learn to open up to the reality that this is true deep within us, this will guide us.

Second, realize your own power. We have all been ordained with great power. Our greatest power is the power of choice. It is equally placed and social status or financial prowess has no effect at our core. It is only on the surface, or the egoic self that we believe that to be true. The power of choice is our ultimate tool and our ultimate power.

The third is to be willing to come into alignment using these two very basic and all-powerful ideas to realize our core values and to honor them.

That's it. First, we are all aspects of God. Yes, we are all aspects of God. As we honor ourselves as aspects of our Creator, we must honor all others, for to fail to honor another is to fail to honor ourselves, is to fail to honor the Creator and all of creation.

As we honor this, we no longer belittle people, nor do we dehumanize them. We honor them as we honor ourselves. No, we don't let people walk on us, but we honor them for who they truly are deep within, as we honor ourselves in the same exact way. We are no better, they are no better, we are all honored equally by the Creator.

As we honor each other as ourselves and as equal in the love of God, we will not war. We will not cheat. We will not lie about one another. We will honor them.

Our power of choice allows us to choose as we will. When we are aligned--and this is why it is number one--we make different choices than when we are not aligned with our inner core values, our connection to God within. Only in ignoring this can we make choices that do harm, create disharmony, put one person or group above another. It is obvious then that much of the world has not realized that they are aspects of the Creator.

To make use of our power of choice and our deep connection to all that is, we must become willing to change, to do, to act. These three things are all that is necessary to change the world because the only way to change the world is to first change to what we want to see in the world within ourselves.

To keep this short, I will continue more tomorrow, but I want to leave you with this question to consider in your own lives: Today, what choices can you make and what actions can you take that would be even a small step toward coming into alignment with your highest values?


Simple Is Not Necessarily Easy; However, It Is Fully Within Our Own Power. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by feeling your own connection to All-That-Is. It is joy on steroids.

Daily Inspriation 9-21-17

"Having a place on the Internet

is about having something to say.

The questions to consider are these:

What do you want to say?

How do you want to say it?

And of equal importance,

how do you want people to receive it."

-- Terry Minion

[New post]

I've learned so much about the Internet by choosing to own an Internet business, Upward Trend, beginning in January 2008. In a couple of months, it will have been in existence for 10 years. Amazing to say the least, especially if you knew the back end stories.

The reason I mention this is the theme of this Daily Inspiration is how we decide what to show others on the Internet. It's telling in many ways.

The questions above are perfect to ask a potential client. Basically, what do they want to achieve by having a website, social media, etc.? Everyone wants to be number one on Google, of course, but they don't understand how that comes to be. I get emails from people offering to get me to number one on Google all the time. Really, it is easy. Open your wallet and part with a lot of money. Yet, that isn't really what works on the Internet in the end. That is just a carrot that is held out there for fun and games.

I was looking at a commercial truck company's website this morning. I'm asking myself what they are trying to say. They have a lot to say, but it is as if it is a machine talking to a machine. There are no people. Well, I take it back there is one video of a person talking, but no other people.

It is people who do business with people in most businesses, but somehow so many were sold a bill of goods that they can be like Amazon. If you were to talk about how much experience your company had and how long the employees have been there, how much you care about giving great service, how vast your empire of parts and inventory is, and not have any people on the site, what is that saying?

What do you want to say? How do you want to say it? And, how do you want it received?

Take social media, for example. What do you want to say and to whom? How do you want to say it? Do you want to be divisive or inclusive? Promote fear or love? How do you want it to be received? Want people to be uplifted or dejected?

All of this is life. The Internet is simply a tool for communication. How would you talk to someone in person? That's a good way to talk on your website then. Are you trying to make a connection? Then show some people to connect to and not a form. Want to tell people about your company, put up some great short videos of a person talking to a person (the viewer).

Sales, service, building a business, marriage, all relationships all come down to the most basic thing whether on the Internet or in person. It is communication. How am I communicating? What do I want to say? How do I want to say it? How do I want the other to receive it?


First Be A Real Person Sharing With Another Real Person. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by sharing your heart. By sharing who you really are.

Daily Inspiration 9-20-17

"Wherever we're giving our attention

is our vibration,

and the Universe is matching it."

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks

[New post]

I love the Teachings of Abraham, and they state that the Law of Attraction is simply this: "that which is like unto itself is drawn."

So many over time have stated that as we sow so shall we reap, as we think so it will be, and all of that is, in essence, the Law of Attraction, yet it is often misunderstood that opposites attract, not sameness. Yet, it is easy enough to see that like thinking attracts like thinking like action attracts like action, and the world is clearly demonstrating this to us as we are willing to open our eyes to it.

But, vibration is a bit more challenging to absorb for many. As the quote above states, whatever we are giving our attention to by thinking, looking, feeling, whatever, is our current vibration which is quite malleable.

Have you ever seen one of those demonstrations of colored sand on top of a speaker and as the tone changes, the sand forms shapes, and quite elaborate shapes at that? In case you haven't, here's a link to one of them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIgmiDnmVdU

Since the sand changes its shape with each different vibrational frequency, it is easy to see how as our vibration is changed in frequency by what we are giving our attention to, we change. We may or may not feel that change, but it is there.

Now, I'll leave you today with the entire quote where I gleaned the quote above, and it is certainly worthy of your consideration today as you go around giving your attention to one thing or another:

"Have you heard the expression, "We're either growing or we're dying."? Well, what they're saying is, "You can't stand still." We are either giving our attention to where we're going or we're giving attention to where we've been or we're giving our attention to where we are, but in any case, wherever we're giving our attention is our vibration, and the Universe is matching it." 


Since I Get What I Give My Attention To, The Good News Is That I Get To Choose What I Give My Attention To. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by considering this quote from Abraham, Esther Hicks on my wall: "Today, no matter where I'm going and no matter what I am doing, it is my dominant intent to see that which I am wanting to see."

Daily Inspiration 9-19-17

"You can always, always give something,

even if it is only kindness!"

-- Anne Frank

[New post]

There are two things in this quote that speak so clearly to me. First is the fact--no, it isn't just an idea or a thought, but a fact--that we each can always, always give something. We always have more than enough of something to give away.

The second thing is that kindness isn't something so small, but it is among the most powerful and effective things that we can give one another. As she says, "even if it is only kindness." Only? I laugh. Only? I laugh some more. How about, at least? Only? Indeed.


If You Did Only One Thing Today, Giving Away A Bit Of Kindness Is As Generous As Generosity Gets. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by realizing that it is in our letting go of ourselves for even a moment that can allow us to recognize another.

Daily Inspiration 9-18-17

"Where there is no struggle,

there is no strength."

-- Oprah Winfrey

"We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned,

so as to accept the life that is waiting for us."

-- Joseph Campbell

[Classic post from 4-27-11]

Today the word struggle popped into my head. I looked at quotes about struggle and they were all like Oprah's quote above--all about life is a struggle, the strong survive, etc., etc.

I guess there are a lot of ways to go about a thing and struggle is certainly one of them; however, in my recent life, I have found a far better way for me: letting go of struggle and getting into relaxing my way. It's not that I don't work, because I do and I also work a lot, but it really isn't work--it's joy, fun, excitement, interesting and satisfying.

It reminds me of the old game we played as kids called "tug-of-war." There's a puddle of mud in the middle and people on both sides pulling against each other's team until one team is pulled into the mud. I always found it much more fun to just let go of the rope, but then the rest of the team thought I wasn't a team player. It's true, I'm sure.

I've noticed that life is like that game of tug-of-war, in that I see people pulling, tugging, coercing, manipulating, trying to win the tug, and back and forth it goes. Then the game spreads to most others and everyone is struggling in one way or another.

I have found the best solution for me is to let go of the rope. Think about it. It is in the letting go that stress no longer exists, worries no longer penetrate, and joy is possible.

I was talking with someone close yesterday and they were saying how someone took advantage of them and it was wrong and this and that and how they were going to confront them and take the things back and all that dribble. I told her that this was one way, but it wouldn't help the situation. The best thing to do is to just let go of the rope. Let go? she said. . . it was just plain wrong. I said, well, that is purely a judgement call, and of course, you can certainly make it, but what will you get out of that? Certainly no joy, just more stress, unhappiness and the like.

So, letting go is the best answer I have and I practice it a lot now. I let go of so many things and it is quite interesting how much better I feel and how much better I perform as a result. I let go of those judgements, disappointments, fears. Who needs that stuff? Oh yes, the strugglers. . . no gain without pain. . . okay, they can have it their way, and I'll have it mine.


One Of My Favorite Book Titles Says It Very Well:

"Love Is Letting Go Of Fear" By Gerald Jampolsky.

Spread Some Joy Today--What is that so important grudge you've been holding dear to you awaiting the final judgement? Is it bringing joy? Consider dropping the rope.

Daily Inspiration 9-17-17

"No man is crushed by misfortune 

unless he has first been deceived by prosperity." 

 -- Seneca 

[Classic post from 1-24-14]

It would not have been long ago that this quote by Seneca would not have even registered with me at all. Now it does. I find that very interesting.

I see being deceived by prosperity as putting prosperity upon a large pedestal. In this place it is more than a goal or desire, it is an ideal. It is likened to the Holy Grail. It is where (or so we think) everyone who is anyone strives to be. And, one more thing--it is hard. It isn't easy. You have to work your ass off to get to that place and though many try, only some achieve.

From this vantage point, misfortune is devastating. It is also a place where losers gather and commiserate with each other. It is more than an event or a place one gets to. It is a state of mind. Many even begin thinking they deserve no more for this is their lot in life. Indeed, they often travel from one land of misfortune to another.

Those focused on the grail of prosperity are so fearful of misfortune. Those focused on the depth of misfortune cannot seem to find a way beyond. And, the trouble with both is that they take it all so seriously. They make it far more important than it is. In either place they often feel poorly in the pursuit, or under the threat.

Far more satisfying and life-giving is to not be so concerned about either. It is best to judge not. Either of these places is outside of the present. Both are filled with fear. Desire is wonderful and it should feel wonderful. Let that flow over you along with the peace of now. Laugh. Enjoy. Relax. Enjoy. Allow.


Be Cool. Enjoy Your Travels. Enjoy Your Moments All. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by enjoying yourself and your surroundings as much as possible.

Daily Inspiration 9-16-17

"It's all good."

-- Common phrase

[New post]

This hurricane, that storm surge, another disaster, a major change. Stuff happens. If we were to pay close attention to all the news, it is all bad, and getting worse, and then comes the long, long, long, recovery.

There's no question that some events like these are larger and more impactful than another, but it isn't all bad. Anything we look at, whether a big recession, a forced change of employment, and many lifetimes worth of a list of things that can and do happen may at times look all bad, but they are never all bad.

Here's a really good practice: Begin to see a larger picture and a more far-reaching picture of the event. Spread the time frame out, zoom out and get a wider perspective. Now make a list of what the good is in this event.

A big natural disaster can spur an economy into quite a growth spurt. Manufacturers will need to expand production because wholesalers will be needing more materials because retailers are ultra short of stock and demand is through the roof. Construction companies, contractors will need more trucks to take up the task ahead. They will need to hire more people. It's an opportunity to create something even better from the ashes of the event.

The demand for services just exploded. They will need more people, more vehicles, more products to sell. All of that flows uphill too. Once the services are being rendered for the basics, people will find they want something more than they had before. They will upgrade. They will improve. The opportunities are growing exponentially.

I remember a little thing that was a big deal in our house when we had a small fire in one bedroom of our house in 2001. There was direct fire damage, yes, but the indirect fire damage was the costly part. The services came, cleaned all of our closets of clothes, there was much to do from the smoke damage throughout the entire house. It was one of the best things to happen overall. There certainly was some short-term unpleasantness, but in the aggregate, we upgraded considerably, and since there was all this other work, we redid our roof, driveway and other things outside that weren't affected at all by the event. My favorite thing: no more popcorn ceiling.

Whatever is going on in our lives that may seem negative or traumatic at first can be seen in a different light as we are willing to draw back and see a larger view so that we can invite our mind and eyes to see the benefits that come from every event.


It's All Whatever We Are Willing To See. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by finding ways to expand your own worldview.

Daily Inspiration 9-15-17

"When you. . . 

acknowledge your power

as a co-creator of your life,

you stop being a victim.

When you are not a victim,

you have choice.

When you are in choice,

you are in your power

and you are not frightened."

-- Paul Selig

from I Am the Word

[New post]

Have you ever known, or know one or more now, who are like the Pig Pen character from the Peanuts comic strip where there is a shit storm going on all around them. Something is always going wrong. Someone or several others are always taking advantage of them or finding fault. There seems to always be someone that is out to get them.

It is part of the drama triangle which includes the victim, the persecutor, and the rescuer. This is a game that has no winners. Regardless of which of these three roles I might play, I lose. Believe me, I've played them all and even became proficient at each role.

But what I found after wising up to the game was that stepping outside of the game is where joy is. As I let go of any of those roles, I gain peace. In fact, joy and peace come automatically. They always come automatically when we let go.

The drama triangle is tempting. It is easy to participate in. You listen to someone's sad story and your heart wants to rescue them, or your inner parent wants to counsel them to a better place, your inner fear wants to persecute them, but realize this, as this is done from the mirage of the heart or the nurturing falsehood or disgust of the mind, I am in the game. As I am in the game, I go from role to role to role. I begin to crave rescuing people or playing the victim looking for sympathy and comradery, finding others to blame, to persecute and complain about.

The best thing that can happen to us is an awareness that we are in the game. Once we see we are in the game, we have an opportunity to step out of the circle of influence of the game. We can turn away and right there we are free of the game and in peace and joy.

This game goes on at work with co-workers, the owner or supervisor, other managers, customers, vendors, and others. It goes on at home with spouses, relatives, children, neighbors, friends. It goes on in our mind as we seem to be thinking all by ourselves going from one role to another in our minds about something we did or didn't do, should have done, shouldn't have done, might do, want to do, questioning ourselves, cajoling, feeling sorry for ourselves, and well. . . I'm guessing you know what I'm talking about.

The answer is always the same. Play the game, or step away from the game. Having become quite good at the game, I found that the joy and peace outside is infinitely superior in every way.


How About The Joy Triangle Instead: Joy, Peace, Love. That's A Glorious Game! 

Spread Some Joy Today--by creating your own Joy Triangle.