When we choose to share our energy with others, we create a flow of abundance that enriches both our lives and the lives of those with whom we come into contact. Consider bringing each person with whom you interact a gift day. It may be as simple as a compliment, a shared moment, a stone from your sacred space or a flower – but the joy that comes from sharing will certainly open a world of new possibility.

Everyone in your life is there for a purpose and contributes to your spiritual awakening. Giving is a wonderful way to say “thank you” to those who grace our lives. Each conscious act adds to the beauty in the world.

When we give love, we improve our own mind/body/spirit connection and radiate the frequency of bliss to everyone around us. It’s time to try something new, offer kindness and make this journey of life the absolute best it can be.

Everyone desires the same end result in their lives – joy. We want to achieve particular goals, participate in healthy relationships, love what we do for work and greet each day with delight. The challenge is that the human condition typically projects happiness somewhere out into the future by attaching it to the outcome of manifesting what we desire.

It’s easy, then, for many to get caught in a paradoxical cycle of a never-ending search that becomes frustrating or disheartening as happiness continues to elude one level or another, and nothing ever seems to be quite right.

Joy is a powerful emotion that ignites magnetism and movement. The fastest way to create the life of your dreams is to focus upon joy, gratitude and happiness in whatever way you can. Acceptance combined with intention and conscious action is a powerful aspect of spiritual growth. Make this your daily practice and allow the Universe to surprise you in unexpected and amazing ways.

Prior to writing, I stepped outside to enjoy a moment of gratitude in the misty moonlight. As is the norm, I was followed by my animals who set off in all four directions to explore. In the stillness it seemed that time stopped, I walked in mystery between the worlds and felt renewed.

Animals have no opinions, no judgments, no thought… instead they take the time to stretch out in the sunlight, to purr in absolute bliss, to snuggle with reckless abandon and delight in showing us the way out of the prison of our minds. They are our guardians of being and serve as reminders to be fully present while reminding us what is important.

It seems that each action says life is good without creating a story about why it is good – it simply is.

Consider allowing yourself to be observant today. Notice the messages of love that are all around you and discover what the small, mundane things of life have to teach. A solitary flower courageously growing and opening to the light of day can be transformative when we allow it to be.

I am grateful for the gentle reminders to be joyful, to show unconditional love, to be still.

There is nothing more beautiful than allowing someone the space to awaken. When others attempt to draw us into some type of conflict or drama, we have the opportunity to observe our own defensiveness, views or opinions and can use this awareness as part of our spiritual growth.

The act of observation creates space in which transformation can occur – both within ourselves and in others. Accusations, defense, the need to be right, criticizing and blaming are all designed to strengthen the ego, and as we learn the art of non-reaction, the ego has no energy to feed upon.

It takes practice, but there is great power to be accessed in loving, non judgmental silence. When we make the choice to be neutral – allowing the other person to have a differing opinion or to process through a negative outburst at their own pace, we set ourselves free from identification with the ego.

If you need to say “No” or take action, it will come from a place of consciousness instead of reactivity, and you will feel at ease within the present moment.

Connecting with aspects of nature can be a very important part of one’s spiritual development. I have long loved the moments just prior to dawn – to me it feels as though our sacred mother is holding her breath as life unfolds with quiet expectation.

Whether experiencing the power of a primeval forest, a manicured back yard or park, the wildness of the ocean or the openness of mountain or meadow, we can participate in the limitless possibility held within the movement of change by observing the signposts around us.

Nature can inspire us take a step back from the intensity of our life situations and align with the power and wonder of the Divine. When our perceptions open to witness the varied, amazing dimensions of life, we have greater access to our own inner wisdom.

The more we appreciate the little things, the more frequently they come to aid us on our journey. If we choose to listen, symbols and patterns speak softly and provide greater insight throughout the journey of transformation.

Consider taking a sacred walk. Let the sun and air energize you, allow your senses to come alive, feel embraced by love. This is Oneness with life.

Whatever you want to create in your life – spiritual growth, healing, love, weight loss, increasing psychic ability, greater peace in your relationships, abundance – consistently do the work, in whatever way you can in the present moment and know that it will make a difference. Wishing for change is not enough. We must support our desires, positive thoughts and affirmations by taking conscious action and ensuring that there are many ways open to accept a miracle.

All the effort you extend will return to you, often in unexpected ways. There may be moments comprised of cautious baby steps, begrudgingly dragging yourself out of bed to do a gratitude walk, or periods where you find yourself leaping with joy, new momentum and inspiration. Either way takes you one step closer.

Celebrate life, honor the teachers in your world and be willing to accept the beauty that continues to unfold in your experience. Don’t wait for your life to fall into place before you choose to be happy.

Perhaps 20 years ago I stayed home sick from work. While channel surfing I ran across the Oprah Winfrey Show and watched her speak with a family of white supremacists. Of course, there was a lot of anger, yelling and hateful energy. I remember thinking, “Those kids never had a chance. They will never change. The imprinting of hatred is too strong to overcome.” I moved on to another show and forgot about it completely. A year later I got sick again. Same scenario – on the couch, a little bored, channel surfing… and once again I came across Oprah who said that she was bringing back a guest from the year before to discuss how the experience altered her life.

This piqued my interest. I had only watched the show that one time, and my immediate thought was “Wouldn’t it be interesting to see one of the people I saw last time?” Sure enough, it was a teenage daughter of the family who had spewed so much hatred.

She was completely changed. Her energy was soft, kind and compassionate. Her demeanor was authentic and even her clothing was a completely different style. Oprah showed a clip from the previous year and the contrast was so apparent that it brought tears to my eyes.

I had judged and dismissed this girl a year earlier thinking there was no hope for her. She simply explained, “I never knew that there was a different way to think.” The opposition her family experienced from the crowd in the original show planted the seed of awakening. She had the courage to stand alone in her family and transformed hatred into love. She was an amazing teacher.

I often think of the delightful “coincidence” of those two days of illness and how everything works to our highest good… all the time. I learned that anyone can shift at anytime from any interaction. It took a year for this particular lesson to be made clear to me and of course, I didn’t even know that I was in the midst of a lesson under after it was completed.

This is the beauty of what life offers you… that teachers can be found in the unlikeliest of places, that even a head cold can have purpose and meaning far beyond what we perceive and that hatred and violence can be transformed in an instant.

Allow yourself to notice the rhythms of the body, quiet the mind and access the sacredness that resides within you. Breathe deeply and purposely choose to love whatever the day offers. Find your own pace. Live in alignment with whatever brings you balance of mind, body and spirit. If things seem hard or overwhelming, it only means that there is something you’re missing – healing will come.

When we become lost in the stories of the mind – analyzing, worrying, remembering, projecting – we become wanderers in a dark labyrinth of our own making. As we open to the gifts of life, nature, animals, the scent of a flower or the journey of a cloud across the sky can remind you of the joy of being alive. Our experience is always a reflection of what we choose to create in the present moment.

If you find yourself lost in thought today, choose instead to rise above it. See the world from a higher perspective and allow your experience to be filled with enchantment and delight. This moment is the beginning of the most beautiful time of your life.