Every disagreement, every challenge that we encounter is an opportunity for spiritual enlightenment for all of those involved. All that is required is that one person be open to a new paradigm. The resulting shift in energy creates a space in which a transformation can occur.

Think of how important that makes your personal path of awakening. Your choices and actions set something powerful in motion – choose well.

It’s time to put down the burdens that you have carried. The load of “should and shouldn’ts” creates stress and struggle within one’s existence where none is required. Each of us has our own lessons, karmas and purpose, and in order to accomplish our dreams we must utilize our energy consciously.

Many times these burdens exist only within the mind… but that doesn’t mean they don’t slow us down or distract us. Today is the day to love yourself enough to set yourself free. Let your choices be led by joy (never by fear) and choose to play and enjoy your journey toward healing, empowerment and radiance.

Beauty can be found in the simple ordinary things of life. Gratitude opens your energy to receive. We can seek wholeness within the natural movement of this wonderful day. There it waits, waiting to bless you with peace.

Today my intention is to take things easily and simply, one step at a time.

The path from conflict to communion is this… When the ego is in control, we relate to the ego in another; however, when we approach a situation from a state of quiet consciousness, our Higher Self relates to the highest part of the other. The next time emotions get triggered in a situation, do your best to keep quiet and observe. This is important and keeps you from entering into the drama or someone else’s dysfunction and certainly will help you to see more clearly.

Remember, all those who grace our lives are here to help us see what we need to see for our soul’s growth. Any type of tripper is an indicator that something is rising to the surface and ready to be healed. Don’t get distracted by the story or behavior or allow judgment to cloud your vision. Typically, the thing we need to see the most is the one that eludes us. This is where another soul lovingly steps in to reflect our shadow self and provides us with an opportunity to heal.

When we approach life from this viewpoint, obstacles become opportunities, delays work to our highest good and the fear dissipates. How wonderful it is to be an active partner in our own awakening, for truly, there are no enemies.

There is nothing special you have to do and nothing to become. Rather, the goal of your journey is only to remember the truth regarding your divinity. Love lies within you.

Today my intention is to open my consciousness to the expansion of life. I am in a constant state of growth and change.

When you step into the role of observer, simply watching the antics of the mind, it becomes easier to see more clearly. Your sense of peace and inner balance is like a calm, beautiful lake and the voice of ego no more important than ripples that move across the surface. In the role of observer, things seem more amusing…

Stillness is an important quality to develop. It allows us to find ways to rise above thought and create distance from the drama and intensity of life. There is freedom to be found by turning inward whenever you can, and this is freedom that you can experience Now.

Conscious is rooted in the deep stillness of your being. It expands your energy to touch the Divine, provides clarity and brings understanding, not through the mechanisms of the mind, but through harmony with the pulse of life itself. See yourself as the observer who acts and loves and holds space while cultivating the art of detached compassion – for yourself, for those who grace your life with their presence and for the world.

When we see beyond the illusion, we are looking inward to that which is eternal. Externals often lead to judgment and preferences that keep us trapped in old patterns and behaviour. Relax into your deepest truth and know that all you need is already within you.

Today my intention is to be one with the light, love and laughter of the Universe.

This moment is filled with unlimited potential. It is time to allow seeds of possibility to be scattered throughout your life in celebration and love. Who knows where they may fall? This flowering of energy desires only to be shared. Invite joy into your experience by living in harmony with the present moment.

This recognition of the abundance already flowing to you may prompt you to reach out to others. The seeds you sow with your kindness and compassion will create a garden of enlightenment. So, nurture the growth, remove any weeds that pop up and rejoice in the miracle of change.

You are the creator of your experience. This is the time to consciously choose your thoughts, words, intentions and actions well, knowing that the seeds you sow today will become the gifts of tomorrow.

Today my intention is to nurture and share the gifts of my life.

There is a way to live in the world and still be happy. Spiritual awakening calls upon us to immerse ourselves deeper within life instead of separating ourselves from it. Since life responds to you, all that is needed for your awakening will present itself to you at the perfect time. The only prerequisite is that you be fully present and conscious within the Now so that mental preoccupation doesn’t distract from the beauty and opportunity that is available.

Times of great sorrow have the potential to be times of great transformation. When it arises, don’t run from the pain, go deeper within it without any blame or self-pity. The resulting insight and awareness will awaken the soul to new possibility. When we release all judgment and attachment, we open ourselves to receive the gifts of spirit.

Judgment and joy cannot coexist. One cannot say, “I just want my life to be peaceful!” while seeking out irritation. Complains, getting lost in the story or blaming others are distractions. Fortunately, we are the creators of our experience… drop your questions, the worry, the story and be here Now. Love what is regardless of how it appears with the knowledge that you are supported and guided each step of the way.

It can sometimes be challenging to change a lifetime of habit. Spiritual awakening is a process and to be certain, there will be times when you shine and others when you miss the mark a bit. Should that occur, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, find the humor and take one more step forward. Your path is sacred. You are sacred. Do not block yourself with limiting thoughts regarding your worthiness, for the Divine (in all it’s perfection) seeks to experience life through you.

Today my intention is to share my gifts in a way that is expansive and fulfilling. My desire is to be an open channel for love, light and laughter.

Go within… this message reverberated in my dreams and drifted along with me as I swam upwards to a state of consciousness this morning.

Whenever an imbalance is encountered, be it physical, mental, emotional or spiritual malaise, the answer lies within you. Most people on the Path of Transformation have heard that phrase hundreds, if not thousands, of times on their unique journey without realizing the depth of that concept.

The ego, as our teacher, has a very loud presence until we begin to shine the light of consciousness upon it. I visualize the ego as one of the three stooges, dressed in striped prison garb trying to sneak past, but getting caught in the spotlight during a prison break. This amusing image always makes me giggle and it breaks me away from whatever story is being produced by the mind. Once the ego is quieted, I can choose to remove myself from the distractions of whatever the world says is important, the story of the ego, or the drama and dysfunction of others to create a moment of silence.

In the silence, we create a space in which transformation can occur. Whenever you find yourself running in circles, trying to fix something in your life (like a financial, health or weight issue), feeling overwhelmed by stress or in a relationship challenge, notice the simple fact that you are looking outside of your Self for inner peace. The answer lies within you but you may be temporarily distracted. How many times have you searched frantically to find a pair of glasses, only to find them on the top of your head…? Same thing.

Creating love, prosperity, flow, joy, movement, peace, or anything you can dream of in your human experience begins by discovering that old patterns have been limited you. Go within… all that you need is here in the present moment.

Today my intention is to rejoice in appreciation of the little things in life which bring me so much joy, thus creating a connection to my inner knowledge and ability to listen. I ultimately know that the direction I need will come quietly from within.

Never underestimate the power of your thoughts. Happiness is a state of mind that we can choose in each moment and yet many have a core belief that they cannot be happy until everything is flowing with ease in their world or happiness eludes them because of things that have happened in the past or may happen in the future. Herein lies the challenge of holding a cherished outcome. We desperately want things to go well and yet life has a tendency to offer disappointments. The human condition often experiences frustration, despondency, impatience or anger throughout the day. So much, in fact, that it is hardly noticed and even thought of as “normal”. People seem to look upon authentically joyful people as if something is wrong with them, they are “out of touch with reality” or faking.

Hugh Prather talks about the quest for happiness in this way:

There is a mental state – it could perhaps be called the grounds for happiness – that passes gently and easily over the endless nonsense that litters the day. Like a gentle breeze, it refreshes everything but disturbs nothing. It is happy being itself. And being something, it has something to give. Its opposite is the mental state that is constantly getting entangled and pulled down by almost everything. Unhappiness is undisciplined, agitated, and above all, scared. Having no integrity, no calm inner direction, it takes its cue from whatever problem is perceived to be before it now.

The love within you is stillness, an allowing, and above all, a choice. Happiness and anger cannot coexist and while the ego seeks justification for an angry response, it is still a choice that one makes at the level of mind. Because anger is an aspect of the ego, and does not reside at the stillness of your being, it can be relinquished without hypocrisy. When the mind wants to respond in anger, notice it and choose an opposite response or simply observe what happens when you choose not to include anyone else in your distress. It takes practice, because attachment to outcomes has become habitual for many, but you have the power to retrain the mind. Notice any unhappiness that arises, observer the thoughts that preceded the emotion and take a moment to focus on seeing past the thoughts to the core of your being.

Today my intention is to embrace the Now with joy, taking quiet pauses to experience life without expectation. Mindfulness is a constant practice which brings me peace.

Mastery is not about having power over others, but over oneself. Each of us walks the Path of Transformation as masters in the process of awakening… the only difference is in how much awareness one has attained.

There is no way to teach truth, it must be authentically lived in each and every moment. It is beyond words, an energy transmission that flows from enlightened ones to those with whom they come in contact. Many go to spend times with various teachers just to bask in this energy. It is revitalizing, inspiring and captivating and brings a sense of balance to those who are ready to receive.

True support, whether between teacher and student, friendships, family or love, leaves enough space for the winds of heaven to dance in between. We allow others to stand individually, rotted in their own Divine connection, with no desire that things be anything other than what they are. The sharing of insight, kindness and compassion flows without any attachment to desired outcomes and is truly unconditional.

There is a deep desire which emanates from the core of your being to live in harmony with life itself. As we move from the known into the unknown, this eternal dance takes us forward to live again and again until we become aware of our inner mastery.

No matter what the situation, you can choose joy. Even in the midst of great transformation, there is great clarity rooted in the stillness deep at the core of your being and it is available for you now. In every moment we have the option to accept or reject what is. Rejection brings pain while acceptance creates a flow of ease and grace within one’s experience.

Today my intention is to live in harmony with the Now and share this gift of joy and acceptance with those who grace my path with their presence.

Gratitude carries powerful, high vibration energy. It removes us from the mundane and expands us in such a way that we connect with the infinite love of the universe. Bringing gratitude into your life is simplicity itself:

• Each morning, before you do ANYTHING, go outside and breathe the air
• Begin by speaking aloud all the things for which you are grateful
• If someone/something challenging comes to mind, find reasons to be grateful for that situation or person (sometimes, surprising things do come to mind)
• Last, stop and listen. I love to quiet the mind until I hear five different bird voices, but adjust your attention to what is offered to you, whether it is cars, dogs, humans, etc.

You cannot think and listen at the same time. You have just provided yourself with a moment of reflection without the interference of the ego. This sense of peace is always within you. It is hidden underneath the seemingly never ending layers of thought.

Gratitude Walks proclaim to the Universe your desire and willingness to create peace in this moment. They shift your energy to a higher level so that you can greet the day and what it has to offer from a higher perception and place of personal power.

Take yourself there – you have this ability right now, in this moment, no matter who you are or what your life circumstance. You have a choice to select this moment of freedom. Yes, there are atrocities all around the globe, every day. There is war, disease, fear, people hurting one another, the hatred we see evidenced in politics and on television each day. Mankind, for the most part, lives in dysfunction and completely lost in ego.

You have the choice to feed the energy of what you don’t want in your life or put your energy into what is working for you and what you’d like to create next. You are not a victim. Beauty is within your reach. The key is taking small steps in the right direction and see where they lead you. As Lau Tzu said in the Tao Te Ching, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Will you take it?

Today my intention is to dance with the joy of life.

It doesn’t matter what perceived mistakes, blockages or limitation have blocked you from realizing your dreams. The action that you take today will create a flow of energy based upon your intention. “What if’s…?” may have held you back in the past; however, the relief and momentum generated from taking just one conscious step will make you wonder why you waited so long.

When we see beyond the fear generated by the ego, we begin to rise above our limiting thoughts. They may still remain but will lose their hold upon you. In the stillness of a quieted mind, you may find yourself grateful, joyful and ready to receive… the blockages of the past transformed into teachers that point you the way home.

Limitation is an illusion. When one finds the courage to step into his or her power, those around them become inspired. We teach others by living our truth to the best of our ability. It’s natural to feel a little shaky when spreading your wings to fly but this is an opportunity to experience the freedom that exploration has to offer.

Today my intention is to be willing to take a risk, step outside of my comfort zone and honor the path of awakening with full, conscious participation in the present moment.