Take conscious action

Choosing to take full responsibility for your own experience leads to empowerment and spiritual mastery.

“Feeling disappointment is a natural part of being human. Festering in resentment is against our deepest nature.”  ~Ezra Bayda~

When you seek movement in your experience, operate from a state of empowerment rather than one of victim-hood. If a situation has created challenges in your experience, recognize that it has a valid purpose in your spiritual growth. Initially, it may be challenging to know the right steps to take: is it appropriate to leave it, change it or accept it?

Begin by attempting to create change using the tools you have cultivated thus far on your journey. Communication, compassion, conscious action and intention can shift the energy dramatically in many cases. If you have tried these to no avail, consider if it’s in your highest good to step away and pivot into another direction on your life path. If you are stuck in the situation, then you must accept it and change your perspective.

No matter which approach you deem appropriate, each brings unique lessons, insight and energy that will ultimately assist in your awakening. Everything works toward your highest good. Everything.

Focus on the end result

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What you fight, you strengthen.

“When stuck in apathy, procrastination, or the morass of depression, choose one small task and complete it mindfully. Momentum will follow.”  ~Ezra Bayda~

Sometimes the changes we seek to create in the world (and within ourselves) seem daunting or overwhelming. Discomfort arises when we begin to realize that something needs to shift and, of course, the ego-mind immediately jumps in with momentum stopping dialogue.

Bring your focus to the end result and celebrate the fact that if you can visualize it with passion, you can draw in what you wish. Rather than fighting what you perceive as “wrong”, purposefully feed your energy into what inspires you as you create positive changes.

Most people do not realize how powerful they are. Making even one small positive change can shift the momentum of your life. Set an intention and speak it out loud in the present tense as you set the tone for the day. Then support your intention by ensuring that your thoughts, words and actions are all in alignment with it. And finally, be willing to receive with the knowledge that you are a powerful co-creator of your experience.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is about setting yourself free from anger and resentment.

“Spiritual practice always entails forgiveness – at least as long as there is even one person we can’t forgive. But real forgiveness is not some form of magnanimous acceptance of others ‘even though they did us wrong,’ Rather, with true forgiveness we loosen the grip on our treasured resentment. Often the most difficult part of forgiving another is facing the fact that we don’t actually want to forgive them. yet the process of forgiveness also requires that we experience, within ourselves, the fact that we are not so different from those we are so ready to judge. Experiencing this shared pain of humanity – the realization that all of us are acting out of protectedness and fear – allows forgiveness to come forth on its own.”  ~Ezra Bayda~

When we view life from a higher perspective, we are able to access greater wisdom and insight. The ability to rise above the ego while in the midst of betrayal, anger or when on the receiving end of an attack is a powerful aspect of spiritual mastery. We bring consciousness to our challenging situations rather than reactivity.

The key is to drop the “I” of the little mind. The ego may say with indignance, “I do so much for him! How can he treat me this way?” Keep in mind that everyone is doing the best they can from their level of consciousness. If someone behaves in a way that you perceive as negative or as an attack, recognize that your anger only reinforces the situation and keeps both of you stuck. Find a way to view the situation through the filter of compassion, and then choose your actions (or inaction) from that perspective.

We are all works in progress. Remembering that can help us to see clearly.

Attachment to suffering

The ego always fears the unknown and will often sabotage our efforts to break free from suffering because of it.

“Few circumstances awaken our aspiration to live more directly from the heart than the grave illness or death of a loved one. In such times of naked pain, we’re no longer so intent on clinging to our protections, so interested in preserving our small comforts and our fleeting goals. At such times, we may become aware of just how strongly we hold our hearts back in fear. At this point, grief becomes a doorway to enter more deeply into our life.”  ~Ezra Bayda~

Suffering has no value unless it is conscious suffering. People can become trapped in the story of loss, sometimes for years, and accept it as part of their ego-identity. As humans we all experience the joys and distress of life… the ebb and flow of energy, the loss of those we love, fear of pain from sickness or accident. Yet, these extraordinary challenges call upon us to rise above the mundane.

As spiritual seekers we have a different set of tools that help us to process our painful moments and transform them into the strongest aspects of our growth. Then the ego-driven story and identification as “the one this happened to” becomes the back-story of the empowerment, breakthrough and insight of the soul.

When you feel overwhelmed, go back to basics. Sit in stillness, do gratitude walks, cleanse your home and crystals, take a moment to bless the food you eat. All of these little actions are compassionate gifts that you give to yourself to set yourself free from victim-hood consciousness. And thus, you open yourself to receive the love, light and laughter of the Universe.

Infinite choices

Live in alignment with your innermost values.

“There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.”  ~Marianne Williamson~

The beauty of living in an infinite universe is that one can always find people, ideas and energies that support their joys and passions. When you choose to live from the heart, there will be ample opportunity to allow your light to shine. You make a difference when you live from the heart.

At the beginning of one’s awakening, it can be challenging to be consistent. We learn through experience and contrast, eventually releasing the things we have outgrown. After years of practice, we discover aspects of ourselves that are consistent, deep and meaningful, and recognize that nothing is more important than living that truth out loud.

So, begin by discovering your unique journey. Let your life be your message and become an agent of change. Each of us, by living our truth, plays an active role in the collective awakening of which we are all a part.

Living in the gap

Observe the stillness that exists between thoughts.

“When you go in, you touch a new kind of silence – the presence of silence itself. It is not only an absence of noise, it is something absolutely positive, almost visible, tangible.”  ~Osho~

Throughout the day, pause before you choose to reach for your phone to pass the time. Instead of ‘checking in’ with the world around you, simply go within and be still. Observe the body, slow your breathing and listen. Enter Zen from where you are. 

The mind’s habitual pattern is to stay busy, jumping from one thought to the next, finding something that needs to be done or filling the gaps with mindless activity such as watching television. It’s healthy to periodically break the pattern and move into stillness. Find the gaps in your experience and utilize those moments of deep connection. 

Once you step into stillness, you’ll notice that time slows down. As you create a deeper sense of balance and presence, you’ll bring that positive energy into the activities in which you decide to participate. Part of our spiritual journey is to bring the beautiful connection with the Now into our human experience.

Everything is sacred

Honor the teachers that walk among us.

“Our task must be to free ourselves… by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.”  ~Albert Einstein~

As we awaken, we become more aligned with the world around us and therefore, will naturally learn to bring a higher consciousness to all of our decisions and interactions. When you recognize the sacredness in all things, it is simply a reflection of your own sacredness.

This wisdom will shine through your choices. When the mind, body and spirit are in harmony, mastery is assured. Rather than being a slave of old ideas and preconceptions, we choose to walk softly in the world.

Recognize the teachers around you. Our domestic animals have great wisdom to share about love, communication, kindness. Wild animals carry specific energy and messages from the Divine that can inspire compassion and empowerment. As agents of light, we are called upon to bring a humility and gentleness to the world.

Kindness

Never underestimate the value of kindness.

“Peace requires us to surrender our illusions of control. We can love and care for others but we cannot possess our children, lovers, family, or friends. We can assist them, pray for them, and wish them well, yet in the end their happiness and suffering depend on their thoughts and actions, not on our wishes.”  ~Jack Kornfield~

It is said that no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Choose to be one who brings this lovely energy to the planet. Whether you rescue a spider, listen to a stranger, hold space for your child or help another to see their own beauty, walk gently upon the earth.

We live in a time of ego-generated opinions. The contrasts of belief systems seem to be widening. Things appear chaotic. And yet… we are on the verge of tremendous growth and breakthrough. Great change is always proceeded by disruption. Most people expect (or even seek) push-back, thus allowing the ego to feed existing negative energy through debate. When others seem to want conflict, give kindness.

As spiritual students, we are learning to rise above ego. There is no need to be right. Our actions and insights should bring a new energy to our life situations. Rather than repeating old ideas and behaviors, seek instead to embrace a new way of being. Educate others by showing what authentic loving-kindness looks like.

The world of form

We must learn to see beyond the illusions of this world.

“It takes a little effort to get our of illusions because we have invested in them very much. They are our hopes; It is through them that we go on living.”  ~Osho~

Notice when you use the word “I” when referring to how you see the world. Everything is a projection of our beliefs. We can get trapped by the “I” when chasing after particular goals. Remembering this can set the stage for awakening.

Meditation can help you to see through this illusory state of being. Once we strip away the goals, dreams, thoughts of past and future and simply be, the present moment comes alive. To be fully in the present means to be aware of the immense beauty and perfection that is already here. There is nothing for which to strive, nothing is missing.

A different kind of experience waits for you. Your joyousness, when complete, allows you to become fully aligned with the Now. Give up needing to understand the “whys” and “hows” and leave that to your spiritual guidance. Instead, focus on higher awareness, be fully present and allow a new consciousness to be born in you.

The dance of awakening

Life is a constant dance of energy in motion.

“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~

We live in a paradox. Everything seems a mess, yet all is well. Experiencing hatred teaches us the value of love. Loss can teach us about true abundance. And challenge after challenge shows us how strong we can be.

When you allow movement of energy throughout your life experience – honoring its natural ebb and flow – you’ll come to discover the freedom of journeying. Detaching from outcomes and being fully present allows us to consciously take part in the tapestry of existence.

The higher your state of awareness, the easier things become. Even if you’ve been toiling to go upriver for years, the moment you go with the flow, it immediately moves you gracefully along. As you realize your potential, you’ll come to realize that you are whole. Nothing is missing, you are fulfilled.