Think of those who have achieved a sense of peace and grace in their experience and surround yourself with their teachings. Their mastery is merely a reflection of the awakening that is happening within you. Inner mastery is not about control or beliefs; rather, it is an awareness of our Divine potential. These masters walk among us to inspire. They help us to see our own shadows and rise above perceived limitations. This awareness burns away all that is false until only truth, peace and empowerment remain.

You are a master in the process of awakening and can transform your experience into one filled with bliss and blessings. Ultimately, every gesture and word will reflect this higher state of consciousness and your life will become your message. To access this energy, be willing to approach the teachers who inspire you with an open heart. Let them awaken the truth that is already within you.

When faced with a challenge, begin the process of self-observation. Quiet the mind through meditation, conscious silence or mindfulness and allow yourself to know the truth. The ego is repetitive and loud; therefore, anything demanding your attention is likely suspect. Conversely, inner wisdom speaks in whispers and is typically a quiet knowing that immediately rises to the surface. If you find yourself lost in questioning, confusion or thought, begin again.

Imbalances can occur on four different levels:

Mental (thoughts and beliefs)

Emotional (overwhelmed by too much sadness, anger or frustration)

Energetic (overuse or blockage in the chakras)

Physical (disease or illness)

Each type of imbalance brings certain lessons into play, awaken new levels of knowledge and compassion or allows karmic contracts to be fulfilled.

The most important element of healing is to be present with yourself. All your energy must be directed into the Now, not reliving the past or worried about the future. Begin by seeing this moment as an opportunity to expand your consciousness. The willingness to accept healing and balance sparks new energy into motion within your experience.

One of the greatest gifts of my life was my inability to get a job after I was led to move to a new area. I did my best and faced closed doors at every turn. The skills I had cultivated didn’t seem appreciated. One by one, all the options I thought I had disappeared until finally, there was nothing left. In that moment of confusion I awakened to a new idea – I should open my own business… (at the time it was hypnotherapy and Reiki) and almost immediately support began to flow from various sources, usually in the form of people who were open to what I had to offer.

Every person who entered my space became a teacher. Each new book inspired insight and freedom. My world opened in ways I never imagined.

Five years later I lost everything once again. Two businesses, a home, friendships and support, money and credit ratings seemed to disappear overnight. When all the options dried up, I followed (with less trepidation this time) where the energy led. The flow of change, assistance, opening and the discovery of new abilities happened once again. This time they came more quickly and had greater impact, and I could feel only gratitude for the change and disruption in my life.

When we allow rather than struggle, miracles happen. Each of us is loved, supported and guided each and every step of the journey. Trust the processes of your awakening and do not resist the changes that come your way for there is always something new to discover.

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~