When you really pay attention, everything is your teacher.

“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~

Everything that you see and all that you experience is part of a loving conversation between you and the Divine. This is why acceptance is such an important component to living a life of awakening. When we resist what is, we are basically telling the Divine that we, as beings with limited vision and perception, know better than the loving, infinite, divine and creative power of the universe. 

So, resist nothing. Turn into your experiences with a nuanced eye and an open heart. Examine the message, gift or insight and let the varied aspects of creation become your companions, teachers and friends.   

There is always something new to learn. We are at the very beginning of an incredible journey of awakening. No matter how far we may have come, we are still just barely scratching the surface of what it means to experience Oneness. 

Every aspect of truth and infinite potential is woven intricately throughout your life. When you really pay attention, you can awaken to your ancient knowledge and consciously participate in the evolving consciousness of the planet.

Life is a reflection of our state of consciousness.

“Rarely do we experience the presence born of knowing who we really are and what we are doing on this earth. Realizing how rarely we’re present to life is itself a crucial step in awakening.” ~Ezra Bayda~

As we awaken, the ego’s mechanisms become more subtle. Often, it can be a simple thought prompting us to forgo the personal nurturing or rituals that keep us balanced. Our attention gets drawn outward instead of inward where we are able to connect with our own divine nature.

Happiness and fulfillment are the end results we seek in any situation. Therefore, choose to be at peace in this moment, as if you have already reached your goal, and purposely keep your vibration at that empowered, high level. We will always draw in the circumstances, opportunities and fellow travelers that reflect our state of consciousness.

Celebrate how far you’ve come and celebrate the joys that still await discovery. Walk in the world filled with wonder and allow life to enter you. There’s no need to wait. You can be at peace now.  

Judgment and love cannot coexist.

“A great scholar hears of the Tao and begins diligent practice. A middling scholar hear of the Tao and retains some and loses some. An inferior scholar hears of the Tao and roars with ridicule. Without that laugh, it would not be the Tao.” ~From the 41st verse of the Tao te Ching, Lau Tzu~

Within this verse of the Tao te Ching, notice the word scholar being utilized instead of soul age terms such as old, mature and young. The implication is that we are all scholars, simply at different points in our development. Lau Tzu is pointing out that young souls are imperative to the process of awakening – that’s the beautiful paradox of our collective experience. 

With this in mind, you may be able to see beyond the roles people play. Go beneath the surface to discover the ultimate truth of your current life situation. Remember, if higher consciousness was easy, anyone could step into it at any given moment. Truly, you are only one thought away from peace, but consistent mindfulness and awareness is a process of discovery. 

Our goal is to see the world differently. Inner peace is power. Non-attachment to things or money is abundance. Having nothing to prove or no one to be allows us to shine. As we drop labels, release desire and become a pure source of love, our experience of life becomes one of mastery, joy and balance. By changing how we see the world, the world will change.

Those who challenge you the most on the physical plane love you the most on the spiritual plane.

“[Divine], make me an instrument of your peace.
While there is hatred, let me sow love. While there is injury, let me sow pardon. Where there is doubt, let me sow faith. Where there is despair, let me sow hope. Where there is darkness, let me sow light. Where is sadness, let me sow joy. Oh Divine, grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled as to console, To be understood as to understand, To be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.”

~St Frances of Assisi~

The quickest way through any challenge is to utilize the contrasts. As you observe the ego clamoring to take action, choose to slow down and breathe  and consciously do the opposite. When we feel compelled again and again to have our say, to voice an opinion, to point out others’ shortcomings, there’s more power in being silent.

Your energy determine how much you get out of this exercise. If your silence contains anger, then it is harming you and not balancing the situation. When anger arises, observe it, and ask how you can bring love to the present moment. As you enter a state of compassion, your silence has meaning and purpose.

There is an ebb and flow to all relationships. They serve a vital purpose in our awakening and it can be helpful to remember that we are all doing the best we can based upon our level of consciousness, imprints, and life experiences.

Release the need to seek validation from others.

“There is often a vague sense of danger with which we greet almost every person and every situation. If it had a voice, it might whisper, “Please don’t hurt me.” ~Ezra Bayda~

Do not compare yourself with others. There will always be someone younger, older, more beautiful, uglier, wealthier, poorer, skinnier, curvier, more enlightened or more dysfunctional. Instead, seek only to be more awakened than you were yesterday.

Measuring yourself by someone else’s benchmarks of what is desirable or appropriate is a waste of your precious energy. Observe, and you will see how much society judges one another with ego-minds thriving and running the show. Marketing strategies are based upon this ego generated belief in lack or endless desire. The reason they work is because so many suffer from this same affliction.

It’s the contrasts that bring out the beauty in life. The spiritual student strives to recognize the sacredness in all beings and in all situations. In order for that to be possible, we must first recognize the sacredness and perfection in ourselves.

Everything has meaning and plays its part in your awakening.

“What is the path? Residing in this very life, exactly as it is right now… liking or not liking has nothing to do with it.” ~Ezra Bayda~

It’s impossible to be “off your path.” You may delay or avoid certain lessons or experiences; however, your soul is always seeking to awaken. Those challenges will continue to arise (whether in this life or the next) until they are no longer required.   

Some believe that they can step out of karma by reaching a higher level of consciousness. The converse is true, when recognizing a karmic situation (by noticing your emotional or reactive energy), you bring higher consciousness to it and turn into the karma in order to heal and grow. As you awaken, you create less karma, experience less drama and handle the challenges of life with faith, peace and empowerment. 

Acceptance is the key. Know that you are right where you need to be, experiencing exactly what you are meant to be experiencing. As you go within, choose to honor yourself and your path as sacred. Drop any expectations or self-criticism and see it as a purposeful journey that leads to enlightenment. 

It’s important to cultivate your ability to live harmoniously in the world.

“The true master lives in truth, in goodness and restraint, non-violence, moderation and purity.” ~Buddha~

It’s easy to live in extremes. The pendulum swings from excess to denial and though each experience has something of value to teach, true mastery lies in discovering empowerment through moderation.

Sometimes you have to be who you aren’t in order to discover who you are. You can shift your life experience to one of harmony, mastery and balance by bringing your conscious awareness to the choices you make.

Our purpose must be consciousness-driven rather than ego-driven. The ego says “more, more, more” while the heart says “all that I need is here.” One practice is to seek to balance energy through living in harmony with life. Should you see someone else’s trash (which is an example of mindless excess), pick it up. Seek to give when the ego wants to accumulate. Eat, drink and be merry in a way that supports your joy.

Our level of consciousness determines how we view the world.

“The more we practice with our own struggles and relate to them as our vehicle to awakening, the less we will judge our struggles as defects. Likewise in relationships: the more we can remember that others also have the wish to learn from their struggles, the less we will judge others as defective when we see them caught in their distress.” ~Ezra Bayda~

As we awaken to higher levels of consciousness we are able to see more clearly. Our awareness has the ability to transform situations by changing how we choose to respond to them and indeed the challenges you face are a blessing. They provide the opportunity to apply what you have learned and allow you to observe the various stages of your own growth.

Shine the light of your consciousness inward. Seek only to continue your spiritual evolution and express this awakening energy in the world. We have a vast playground to explore and you may be surprised by the many facets of your love, strength, empathy and kindness that are waiting to be discovered.

Whatever you choose to do, do it with love and integrity.

“Our higher purpose is what we came here to do on a soul level. We are born with the specific interests, talents, and abilities to fulfill that purpose.” ~Shakti Gawain~

Our higher purpose is the sharing of our gifts. We chose the perfect family, soul group, karmic contracts, life situations and personality traits to arrange the circumstances of our lives in order to express those gifts.

When our lives are balanced and centered, the resulting feelings of fulfillment and peacefulness flow into all we do. Don’t underestimate the value of the gifts you have to offer. You may be a wonderful listener, someone who remains positive in the face of challenges or a frequency holder who keeps others’ energy fields balanced. When your gift comes naturally to you, it’s easy to underestimate the effect it has on others, but you are quiet literally fulfilling your life’s purpose.

You bring something beautiful to the world that was not here before, and will not be seen again. This is the moment to embrace your unique Path of Transformation and to share your light with the world.

Everything emits a unique energetic vibration.

“Spirituality is one type of energy – the energy that links us to our deepest essential nature and to the universal source. Consciousness is the awareness of all of the energies within us.” ~Shakti Gawain~

Pay attention to the vibrational frequency of the things, people, ideas, emotions and experiences that fill your life. It’s important to ensure that your surroundings complement your unique energy and intentions. Incongruity can detract from your feelings of balance and harmony.

For instance: consider how challenging it would be for your focus to be clarity and balance when you have a pile of old paperwork piled up in the corner of your bedroom or office. Each time you notice it, thoughts arise – “I should go through those” or “I hate how that looks…” – whether at the forefront of your mind or hovering in the background, it has an impact of your overall state of being.

It’s the little things that bring us joy; therefore, fill your life with mini-blessings. Handle things as they arise when they are small and manageable. Imagine how wonderful you feel when the spiritual, physical, mental and emotional aspects of your life experience are in balance.