
Creativity and Empowerment

“Self discovery is the most empowering time of your life, you remember who you are and you become the best version of yourself but what they forget to tell you is, to get to a point of pleasure you must face the pain.”
~Nikki Rowe~
The challenges that you have faced have forged aspects of your personality that are ready to shine. In times of uncertainty, you can tap into these inner strengths to give you fortitude to face whatever unfolds in your experience. Resilience of character is often a silent wisdom and competence that underlies your actions while providing a firm foundation throughout the journey.
Remember to give yourself credit for how far you have come. The weight of the past is nothing compared to the power of the present moment. Allow the light of your soul to guide you home. The story of your awakening is unique, and all the supporting characters have played their roles to perfection.
You are ready to thrive. All that is required is one more conscious step forward, and then one more. Pay attention to the calling of your spirit and choose to be open to discovery and adventure. You’ve got this.
“The magic in this world seems to work in whispers and small kindnesses.”
~Charles de Lint~
Life is filled with limitless potential. You are filled with limitless potential. Why take that infinite power and use it to call up the past? Why fret about tomorrow? Most people live in regret or anticipation because that’s how they were taught to live. The whole world can sometimes seem governed by opinion and perception and those who choose to experience the world in another way can often feel misunderstood.
Begin small with consistent daily gratitude. Expand it from the easy, wonderful things in your life to encompass whatever arises. Love your bills. Enjoy preparing and paying your taxes. See challenges as opportunities to shine. Asking these three questions can often open your mind to healthier perception:
1) What is the gift for me in this moment?
2) What am I trying to learn?
3) How can I bring the best version of myself to this situation?
You don’t need to know the answer immediately, simply live the questions and they will open your ability to receive.
The higher your vibration, the easier life flows. The infinite power of the Universe supports you in miraculous ways – always.
“The wise heart is not one that understands everything; it is the heart that can tolerate the truth of not knowing.”
~Jack Kornfield~
The mind seeks answers and explanations. The ego projects the belief that all will be well with a definitive plan in place and creates distraction by constant search and analysis. There is more truth to be discovered by genuinely living in the present moment and placing your full attention on whatever you are experiencing now.
As I was writing the words above (a mind generated process to be sure), my dog Minky distracted me mid-sentence with a gentle middle-of-the-night “woof…” At once I was prompted to stop and gaze into her eyes. We experienced a moment of smiling doggy love which I joyfully realized was the most important thing to experience in all the world at that moment. Rather than being a distraction, it was a simple reminder that love is alive and all is well.
The profundity of the human experience lies in our ability to honor the present moment as sacred, however it presents itself. And in that sacredness, we can act with integrity, do our best and accept what is.
“Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.”
~Robert Fulgham~
Balance isn’t something that just happens when life falls into place; rather, it is the foundation of a life that is grounded, joyful and complete. Much of the world’s angst comes from the desire to please or care for others at the expense of one’s own happiness. People struggle to satisfy perceived expectations and often put their needs on pause.
The challenges we face help us to discern what is important to create and maintain balance. How would you discover your boundaries if someone or something didn’t cross them from time to time? See those who challenge you as healing angels rather than frustrations. They are teaching you what is truly important.
The awakening spirit understands that fulfillment comes through finding their own unique way of being in the world. There is great beauty to be discovered throughout the journey inward. As you create balance by tending to the needs of body, mind and spirit, you’ll find that you have more to give those you love – more compassion, patience and kindness. Then life becomes an outward expression of your joy.
By the way… according to palmistry, the wider you hold your thumb apart from the hand, the more generous you are. You’re looking at your hand right now, aren’t you?
All change begins within. Your thoughts become the things you draw into your life situation; so, when you notice an aspect of your experience that no longer serves you, observe your inner dialogue. It’s likely that an ego-driven script has been running on a loop, once suppressed and unconscious, feeding off your energy, and gathering various moments of self-fulfilling prophesies that reinforce the original limiting beliefs.
Your awareness begins the process of transformation. Once you shine the light of consciousness on the ego, it cannot function with the strength it once did. Little by little the script starts to break down and new experiences are drawn in. The next step is to reinforce your expanding awareness with empowering thoughts, words, deeds and desires. Consciously tap into your ability to take ownership and create change.
In the midst of all this “work” it is helpful to realize that it is play. You have entered the realm of infinite possibility. When old patterns rise to the surface, turn towards them and redouble your efforts. Their appearance indicates readiness to be healed and released. All true change is preceded by chaos; therefore, realize that resistance verifies that you are on the verge of a breakthrough.
“Dying to your own attachments is a beautiful death.
Because this death releases you into real life.
You have to die as a seed to live as a tree.”
~Mooji~
Imagine being genuinely at peace no matter what unfolds in your life experience. Live passionately and joyfully, pursue your goals, love who you love, and allow life to unfold as it will. Seek only to bring the best version of yourself to the present moment.
The awakened spiritual seeker understands the empowerment that comes from transforming challenges into opportunities to awaken. Clinging – whether to an idea, person, pattern or possession – guarantees that eventually you will see yourself as a victim. Everything is impermanent… except for the inner stillness of Presence which resides at the core of your Being.
No matter where you are on the journey of awakening, you can discover life’s magic and wonder. It is everywhere, residing in the realm of pure potential. You can enter this space through the gentle process of allowing life to be as it is. Resist nothing. Acceptance creates a flow of grace and ease throughout your life.
When you choose to live with an open heart and honor your path as sacred, you create space in which transformation can occur.
“When we are aware of our weaknesses or negative tendencies, we open the opportunity to work on them.”
~ ~
We have been conditioned to fear the shadow side of life and of ourselves. It’s important to turn and face it; thus transforming it into a powerful aspect of spiritual awakening.
As multifaceted beings, we hold every possibility within us. What we deny within ourselves quietly runs various aspects of our lives, often sabotaging efforts regarding work, abundance, relationships and self-love.
What you react strongly to in another is a reflection of something you do not wish to see or own in yourself. Pay attention – this is the beauty of understanding how we help one another on the journey. It is within these unexamined, darker aspects that our true power lies.
The way to transform our shadows is to shine the light of awareness upon them. From a space of love, choose to stop projecting it onto others (notice words of complaint or blame), release attachment and self-judgement and be gentle with yourself. Healing comes through wholeness and acceptance. We don’t conquer the shadow, we transcend it by approaching life from a higher level of consciousness.
No matter what the situation, seek to become consistently aware of your state of consciousness. There may be recurring patterns that are trying to get your attention. Everything in your experience has one purpose – to facilitate your awakening – and even the smallest of interactions are filled with infinite meaning and possibility.
Nothing is more important than your joy in the present moment. Make yourself a priority and explore various ways to keep yourself balanced. This will positively affect every relationship and interaction that you have.