Wisdom is not to be found within the antics of the mind. It resides within the silence of infinite potential. One cannot think and listen at the same time; therefore, learn how to become fully present within the Now by becoming deeply attuned with it.

“The deep knowing that is wisdom arises through the simple act of giving someone or something your full attention… It joins the perceiver and the perceived in a unifying field of awareness. It is the healer of separation.”

~Eckhart Tolle~

You can create greater depth, peace and understanding in your experience through silence. Rest the mind. Delve within and listen. Bring this peace and connection into your daily interactions and seek to become comfortable with stillness. Give yourself moments where there’s no one specific you need to be be, nowhere to rush, no worries about the future. Just you and this loving, vital, evolving connection to the Divine.

Step lightly and non-seriously while remaining balanced and fully present. Fear arises when the mind takes control. By choosing to remain centered, you will cultivate the ability to turn and consciously face your fears when necessary. Even if you should fall, it is always possible to pick yourself up and continue on your way.

“In some people anxiety is obvious. Others may appear calm and at ease with life, yet still be scared to death – of intimacy, of criticism, of loss, of something. Just because fear in others is not obvious doesn’t mean it’s not there. The fear may be hidden, but it is just as powerful and just as frightening. Recalling this can foster compassion.”

~Ezra Bayda~

It’s important to turn that same compassion inward. We can utilize fear as a powerful tool of transformation. Observe the mind – what are you afraid of? When we face our shadows, we often discover that the mind has amplified a projection of a negative or limiting thought and it’s not nearly as big as it wants us to believe. You are a divine, infinite being on a journey of discovery. You are safe, supported, loved, guided and directed each and every step of the way.

Many carry emotional baggage from the past. Many carry the weight of an unknown future. Some have even pre-decided to become unhappy when the eventual changes of life come into play. The ego loves to keep us in chains. As a child, I was greatly affected by the visual of Jacob Marley in the story “A Christmas Carol”. He painfully carried the chains of his past while informing Scrooge that his own chains had been the same length seven years prior and were much, much longer now. Even prior to my conscious awakening, I was inspired by the concept that, in one night (in one moment), a shift in thoughts could break someone free from a self-induced prison. And, indeed, I see that truth played out daily with the many beautiful people who grace my life.

You can be free – right now, in this moment. It is easy to release that which no longer serves you. It is easy to create the space in which a transformation can occur. You can choose to change your thoughts whenever necessary, expect the very best and walk forward in joy. You are the master of your own experience. Imagine a life free from fear, pain and doubt… one filled with miracles, loving experiences, simple pleasures and the freedom to embrace life.

Our greatest joy is found in giving. Relationships are a fascinating energetic field of discovery. Within them we discover the mysteries of love within the intricate dance of light and dark. Learning to honor another’s path while appreciating the contrasts between us awakens our ability to love without demands. Rather, we seek wholeness within ourselves and bring a sense of grace and acceptance to all of our interactions.

Your love, whether inspired by your partner, children, animals, those in need, the planet or (for the advanced among us) your enemies, should be a living, thriving, evolving space of exploration. There is no end to what we can discover together.

Live from the heart and allow life to unfold as it will.

Every moment, we are emitting eternal waves of energy outward. They ripple, expand and transform as they travel, creating a momentum of change. Consider that when you choose the words you speak or the actions you take. Bring a consciousness to your choices. If you were mindful of the spoken words power, would you choose to complain, blame or gossip or would you turn your attention toward something of greater value?

Be an inspiration. Share kindness with every one of earth’s children. Seek the sacred in all things. If the actions of others’ are hateful or dysfunctional, do not add to the imbalanced energy with judgment. Instead, be the change you wish to see. Your sense of purpose and your unique way of being has the power to change everything, whether you are a witness to that change or not.

Moving from one achievement to the next, seeking the perfect relationship, moving from goal to goal is an ego-driven trap that keeps us believing that the perfect situation is out there and all that we need to do is reach it in order to achieve happiness. This approach to life will keep you searching.

Rather than seek security from outside factors, create a sense of peace and grace within yourself that is absolutely unflappable. Find your truth and live it to the best of your ability. Be yourself rather than who you think you should be.

You may discover that others find healing in the authentic energy you emit to the world. Success is measured only by the amount of joy and fulfillment you experience. The dollar amount changes, the presentation of your appearance changes, but the joy remains the same.

“The heart that seeks to awaken, to live genuinely, is more real than anything. That nameless drive calls you to be who you most truly are.”

~ Ezra Bayda~

There is nothing wrong with having preferences; however, when those preferences become requirements, we experience frustration and pain in our experience. The degree of emotional distress you feel in a given situation is directly tied to how attached you were to a particular outcome; therefore, it’s important to practice detachment. Begin with the little things – a text, business meeting outcome, the amount of traffic or road closures you encounter on your journey or changing plans – and observe the emotional level of your response to life’s frustrations.

Awareness sparks transformation. The moment you notice you are behaving in an unconscious manner, consciousness is actually arising within you. The ability to recognize it in the present moment means that you are becoming more aware and  creates the opportunity to shift your thoughts and actions more quickly.

Live in alignment with the present moment. Non-resistance allows the Divine to inspire your actions. When we get out of our own way, amazing things happen.

It is said that baby steps spark miracles. Whether physical, spiritual, mental or emotional, any conscious change creates a movement of energy that will take you somewhere new. Begin today. Organize a closet, choose kindness over anger, meditate, take a walk, dream more, listen more, rearrange a room or give extra hugs to those you love… and see what unfolds. You may be pleasantly surprised.

“There is great value in doing new things, not just for diversion or escape, but in order to help us awaken. When we put ourselves in a new or foreign situation, that very act awakens our senses, our awareness, our presence. Sometimes we have to take a leap in order to experience and heal the fear that holds us ever at the edge of familiar safety. Our task in awakening is to go against the grain of our mechanical tendencies.”

~ Ezra Bayda ~

Anger and resentment are a waste of your precious energy. They drain vitality and ease from your life experience and harm no one but yourself. This energy can be transformed into gentleness through gratitude, meditation, mindfulness and a conscious choice to be free from the past.

The spiritual path calls upon us to reside fully in life, as it is in this moment. If there are pains that you carry, do not feel that you must push them down or deny them; rather, bring them to the light of your consciousness and transform them through acceptance and forgiveness. See the past through the filters of your current state of awareness and you may discover that freedom is at hand.