“The spiritual practice of relationships is about working on ourselves only, freeing ourselves from the constricting grip of our own unhappiness. It is not the other person’s job to take our unhappiness away, our discomfort is our own responsibility. Attending to our own spiritual tasks – seeing our judgments, opinions, beliefs, demands, and staying present with the fears out of which they all arise – frees others to move toward us. Then, when they no longer feel the need to defend, they become more willing to take care of their job. Thus joy in relationships becomes possible .”
~ Ezra Bayda

The pathway of transformation is filled with opportunities to heal the barriers to love that we carry. Even the most casual acquaintance can trigger a deeply held limiting belief to rise to the surface. It’s equally important to be conscious of self-talk in fluid situations with strangers or co-workers as it is with our daily interactions with significant others.

Many people carry their wounds very near the surface. They view life through the filters created by these wounds and project them onto every situation. Be compassionate with others and even more importantly, be compassionate with yourself.

Awareness is the first step of healing. Every time you decide to make a deeper change in your life, to release yet another barrier to love, you create a space in which something new can be experienced.

Today my intention is to choose to be free from limiting patterns. With every new day, my consciousness expands in amazing ways, positively affecting every aspect of my life.

“The path to love requires open-hearted attention to the very things that seem to block our way to it.”
~ Ezra Bayda

When we consciously bring the light of awareness to the challenges of our lives, we begin to recognize the illusions from which they arise. Transformation occurs as we dissolve our self-imposed limitations and boundaries, strip away any preferences that have crystallized into demands and enter into the stillness of the Now.

The ego will tell you that you must work with the other in order for things to change. Talk, expectation, desire, compromise, blaming and justification simply tie you in deeper to the egoic mechanisms of the mind. As a spiritual seeker, it’s important to realize that everything, everything, everything is your path of awakening. Don’t bury the lesson underneath your fear, simply keep bringing the light of awareness to it. This is the slow transformative path to freedom.

Today my intention is to remember that when I find harmony and balance in my mind, I find it in my life.

When we observe life through the wordless language of the heart rather than the limiting concepts of the mind, we access our inner truths more easily. It’s important to remember that we are all on the same path – merely functioning from differing levels of consciousness and experience.

The awakened spiritual seeker lives in a way that is radiant, contented, balanced and graceful that is beyond that of the mundane world. You are a ray of light that shines through the darkness.

Cultivate the ability to see through appearances. The challenging person in front of you may actually be a healing angel. A situation that breaks down may help you to discover ingenuity, skills and insights you didn’t realize you carried. Live in a way that is responsive but not reactive. Blessings are all around you.

Today my intention is to handle all my experiences with the highest perception possible. I choose to view life through the eyes of love.

In a world filled with limitless possibility, whatever you seek is what you will discover. Each time we choose to find the gift in a situation, one makes itself known to us. Pay attention to your thoughts and words for they are your personal conversation with the Divine… When we approach the present moment with a resounding “Thank you!” filled with gratitude and joy, it becomes easy to see more clearly.

Choose to honor all things as sacred. This approach releases the tendency to judge or reject and opens your heart in miraculous ways.

You are a master in the process of awakening, a conscious co-creator of your own experience. As a soul seeking empowerment and enlightenment, realize that your choices dictate your reality.

The moment your attention is completely in the present moment, you feel a presence, a peace. The ego loves to distract from the stillness of Now by keeping the mind busy. When you really pay attention, you’ll notice the repetitive nature and meaningless chatter of the ego.

When you bring your consciousness to the Now and surrender to what is, a portal opens, drawing in the limitless potential of  Divine energy that consistently moves through you.

“To go beyond the mind and reconnect with the deeper reality of Being, very different qualities are needed: surrender, nonjudgment, an openness that allows life to be instead of resisting it, the capacity to hold all things in the loving embrace of your knowing.” ~ Eckhart Tolle

Love resides at the core of all things. Even though it can be hard to recognize it in some instances, the choice to seek it is the mark of an advanced soul. As we walk through life observing the contrasts in every situation, we have an opportunity to bring a completely different outlook to the present moment.

This means that you will often stand alone in your viewpoint. Most people on the planet are young and mature souls, so their perception is naturally limited. No matter, simply be your unique self. Carry a sense of grace with you as you walk your journey. When you feel misunderstood, ask yourself if it is a result of non-judgment or seeing beyond the illusion of the physical to the deeper truths that lie within.

Emulate those who inspire you. Your ability to recognize healthy, empowered souls indicates that you are ready to embrace those same qualities in yourself.

Meditation has no value unless we can bring that peaceful energy into daily life. Prayer has no substance until we carry the peace of conversations with the Divine into every situation. The concepts we teach have no value if we are not teaching by example.

There are no rules in spirituality except to be absolutely authentic. Everything can be transformed into aspects of your spiritual growth. All that is required is a willingness to experience the present moment with awareness and love.

“The church says: The body is a sin.
Science says: the body is a machine
Advertising says: The body is a business.
The body says: I am a fiesta.”
~ Eduardo Galeano

Live your physical life in such a way that you purposely recognize the body as sacred. It too is part of the spiritual journey. When we tend it with love, the ability to share our peace, love, compassion and freedom grows within us.

One of the more subtle tricks of the ego is attachment. When we feel successful, appreciated, respected or abundant, self confidence soars. It’s challenging to recognize that the ego has been in control until something stops working well in our lives. It’s only when we observe the worry, frustration or sadness that arises from experiencing loss that we realize how much our self-image depended upon having a particular number in the bank account, a certain persons love or position in life.

In moments of challenge, notice how deeply your mood and outlook are affected. If only moderately, your degree of ego-driven attachment was also moderate and you are moving toward authentic freedom.

Celebrate the beauty that unfolds in your life with genuine appreciation while recognizing that the natural ebb and flow of life contains both highs and lows. The deep sense of peace and well-being will always be there, even in moments of turbulence. You have the ability to tap into a limitless wellspring of grace and joy – it is your birthright.

We are constantly in the process of planting seeds of experience. Our thoughts, words and beliefs set things in motion. Our soul group comes to participate throughout our lifetime, each person playing their part in the expansion of consciousness. On unseen levels, our spirit guides, angels, healing masters and helpers coordinate chance encounters and coincidences to surprise and assist along the way.

Sometimes, things on the physical plane appear to be the opposite of what is actually occurring – losses turn into new beginnings, friendships implode teaching us to become more authentic and intimate, blockages force us to change our plans and unexpected beauty flows into our lives. It’s important not to create limitation by demanding that things unfold in a particular way. Learn to trust the processes of life. You are loved, guided and supported each and every step of the journey.

Human consciousness is in the process of evolving. As we awaken, we discover how to enjoy being in the world and how to manifest without getting lost in desire and attachment. Eckhart Tolle calls this awakened doing.

The goal now is to bring mindfulness to each and every situation, learning to return to the timeless beauty of the present moment. This teaches us to become aligned with the true Presence of the soul rather than identifying with the roles we play or how others see us.

Become aware of the stories created by the mind. Awareness makes it easier and easier to recognize old patterns and conditioning. Enlightenment is seeing beyond the world of form to the infinite nature of the Divine.

Each of us can play our part in the collective awakening of the planet by taking responsibility for our own state of consciousness in this moment. Any time you notice a negative inner state (perhaps feeling fed up, stressed or unhappy), realize that you have not failed – you are becoming more aware. The ego will shrink as your awareness grows.