The amount of disappointment you feel when a situation turns out differently than you expected is an indicator of how attached you were to a particular outcome.

“Seeing ourselves as the one who can get things done or being attached to the results of what we do will surely lead to frustration, disappointment and burnout.” ~Ezra Bayda~   

Life is a mystery. It cannot be controlled, understood or managed; therefore, we must learn how to flow with the energy of the events in our lives without creating additional resistance to the events that unfold.

When working from the level of mind, one may find oneself attempting to anticipate every contingency through pure focus and intellectual posturing. This can certainly work in many situations, giving the ego a false sense of control. As a feeling of security is created in this approach, invariably something will eventually unfold in a way that creates suffering, blame, frustration or anger when blockages are encountered. This is the moment of infinite potential. Will you stay attached or will you be open to something that is different from what you expected?

There is no ‘wrong’. There is only life and our response to it. If you can notice the challenge as it arises, observe your level of anxiety or frustration and immediately shift back into balance, you are doing exactly what was intended – practicing the art of moving to a higher level of consciousness.

Disappointment will happen. Change is inevitable. Suffering is optional.

You are the dreamer and life is the dream.

“To awaken within the dream is our purpose now. When we are awake within the dream, the ego-created earth-drama comes to an end and a more benign and wondrous dream arises. This is the new earth.”~Eckhart Tolle~

Lucid dreaming is a term that means to be conscious of the fact that you are dreaming while still in the midst of the dream. As we awaken spiritually, we discover that life itself is a dream and learn to see beyond the illusion to the truths of our purpose here.

To be spiritually aware in the midst of illusion could be called Lucid Living. This means that we are no longer identified with the things of this world. Seek to bring a balance of your spirituality to your physical expression of life by being in the world but not of it.

Some spiritual seekers withdraw completely from life, shunning the trappings of unconsciousness: money, prestige, tangible items and the like; however, as we awaken the ego becomes more subtle. These same people can tend to develop a new ego-identity: one of “the enlightened one.” They may see themselves as “more evolved” than those around them which involves judgment.

The key is to function well in the world, to enjoy and even love the things of this earth without attachment, to be immersed in the present moment as an awakening soul while waking consciously in the midst of our physical playground.

We are in the process of discovering a peacefulness that transcends the human experience.

Your life is meant to be a beautiful manifestation of awakening.
Your life is a work of art.

“The enlightened person has the ability to interpret life from many different perspectives. As your vibration increases, new viewpoints become available. Reactivity is an automated reaction that is driven by the ego. Observe these initial responses to the challenges in your life. It’s likely that you’ll notice the intensity and duration decrease as you awaken.”

Your success in the human experience has nothing to do with what you’ve accomplished on the physical plane, but how conscious you have become. The ego distracts us from our purpose by feeding thoughts into our psyche that limit our ability to see clearly. Many become caught up in achieving physical goals – monetary, finding ‘the one’, seeking notoriety, leaving a legacy – and miss the only purpose of existence, which is to awaken.

Change how you measure success. Using peace, compassion and joyfulness as barometers, observe your responses to the situations you encounter. How conscious can you remain in the face of a challenge? Do problems immediately knock you off balance or have you discovered your innate ability to face them with courage and appreciation?

Consider those whom you admire. What is it about them that sparks awareness within you? If you spot it, you got it! Your inspirational teachers are showing you the seeds of your own possibility.

Many have forgotten their true innocence and childlike wonder.

“If you really want to know, you will have to drop all your knowledge; you have have to unlearn it. You will have to become ignorant again, like a small child with wondering eyes, with alertness. You will be able to know not only your own being but also the being the exists in the world…”  ~Osho~

The ego-driven mind loves to accumulate knowledge. It can then sound off facts and figures, delineate life and pump itself up by “being right,” especially when compared to the accumulated knowledge of others. In the midst of his or her pontificating, a child may come along and jump into the experience, laughing with delight and innocence. Who understands the magic of life more? The adult with important knowledge or the child immersed in the present moment?

Your true being is already activated and alert; however, it is a forgotten language – the language of being. Over time and through experiences, we have added layer upon layer of stress and tension which blocks us from seeing clearly.

Many spiritual masters such as Buddha, Christ, Lao Tzu and Guanyin were considered very simple people. Their teachings point simply to the truth of Being and the importance of stripping away all that distracts us from it.

When your ego wants to jump in and speak, sharing your opinions and past experiences, choose instead to be silent. See the moment through the eyes of a child and allow laughter and innocence to guide you deeper into the present moment.

As we awaken, we learn to trust the processes of life.

“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~

As humans, our point of view is very limited. We interpret life through the filters of our perception and often seek to control the world around us based upon what we perceive our needs or desires to be.

Awakening calls upon us to be aware of our responses to life. Rather than seeking to dominate circumstances we learn to flow with them. Rather than attempting to bend others to our will we see the sacredness in each person’s path. The only thing over which you have any control is yourself, and that is challenging enough! We’ve all experienced the take over of the ego-mind and have temporarily lost consciousness; however, these moments of missing the mark become less intense and occur more rarely as we continue in our practice.

So give up your need to control. Cultivate your ability to trust and you’ll discover greater peace in your daily journey. Your purpose is to awaken and all that you experience facilitates that awakening.

Enlightenment is not a destination. It is a state of being.

“When we begin practice, we are normally so caught up in our separate self – with all of our stories, complaints, entitlements and desires – that we can rarely get in touch with the love or appreciation that reflect our true nature. This is why we cultivate awareness of the heart, including emphasizing the importance of living from gratitude, loving-kindness and compassion.”  ~Ezra Bayda~

In every moment we have the opportunity to demonstrate what an awakened life looks like. Our actions and responses to life events mirror our current state of consciousness; therefore, choose to see every aspect of your journey as spiritual practice.

When we bring mindfulness to our daily experiences, we change the filter through which we interpret the world. The challenging person becomes a teacher. Painful emotions awaken new aspects of our ability to love. Boredom gives us space to bring a meditative awareness to the present moment.

This expression of light may spark the light within those you encounter. Your acceptance or kind words can remind someone of what they may have forgotten when caught in the midst of struggle. There is no greater gift that we can give.

Your awareness and attention brings deeper meaning to all you experience.

“There is a rhythm in life, a certain beauty which operates by a variation of lights and shadows, happiness alternating with sorrow, content with discontent, distilling in this process of contrast a sense of satisfaction, of richness that can be captured and pinned down only by those who possess the gift of awareness.”  ~Louise Bromfield~

Every situation contains gifts of insight and awareness. As you search for meaning in the exploration of life, you’ll come to realize that your consciousness and perception gives meaning, rather than seeking it from outside yourself.

As we evolve, we see things differently. The chaos of modern life makes the stillness of a tree even more beautiful. We can lose ourselves in the contemplation of a flower – it’s sacredness and energy and ultimately learn to bring that awareness and stillness into daily life.

Observe things around you without labeling them. Simply see and experience them without the minds interference. This can take you deeper within the truth of your own nature. Imagine how you would walk through the world if you saw only the energy of the Divine in its various forms.

Celebrate the small, new beginnings and breakthroughs in your experience.

“My new world is a reflection of me new thinking. It is a joy and a delight to plant new seeds, for I know these seeds will become my new experiences. All is well in my world.”  ~Louise Hay~

Most people do not experience a flash of insight that immediately shifts their consciousness to a permanent level of enlightenment. Rather, we experience awakening as a slow, progressive journey inward that, layer by layer, releases all that blocks us from seeing our inner sacredness and potential.

The cumulative effects of consistent practice are reflected in our life experiences. Initially, when we place our attention on healing a particular issue, things get more challenging. Life will bring the dysfunction to the surface so that we cannot miss seeing it. From there, we can utilize our tools and begin to break free from our perceived limitation.

Honor your path as sacred. Whatever arises is exactly what you require in order to access the higher levels of consciousness. Trust the process. Know that you are loved, guided and protected each and every step of the way. Nurture the seeds of change for each is a stepping stone to the higher levels of consciousness.

Separation is an illusion.

Our physical world utilizes the illusion of separation to facilitate the exploration of Oneness. This paradoxical experience will ultimately help us to discover that we all share very common struggles, fears, joys, expansion and compassion.

Some people are lost in their perceived boundaries of race, beliefs, political views, sexuality, gender, etc. These boundaries often create a lot of judgment and expectation; however, the only difference between us is our level of consciousness and where we are in the process of awakening – and that, too, is fluid and ever-evolving.

When you meet someone, choose to be something more than the roles you play in this life. Rather than discussing your job, marital or parental status, or using any limiting descriptors, simply be fully present in the interaction. Explore who you are in the presence of the other. Allow them to shine and to also experience your authentic energy. When we speak without preconceived limitation we create an opportunity for true connection.

When I meet someone new, instead of asking about their work I ask about the most amazing thing they’ve ever experienced. I ask what they find inspirational or who has had the greatest impact on their life. Everyone is wildly interesting. Their perceptions and stories are unique.

Our level of consciousness determines how we interpret and respond to life.

“No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.”  ~Albert Einstein~

In the midst of a challenge, it can be interesting to observe how conscious we remain. When the ego takes charge, our reactions will typically reflect the lower levels of consciousness such as Pride, Anger or Fear. Notice how these responses tend to extend the problem and even add extra layers to it.

When we stay rooted in the higher levels of consciousness, we are able to recognize the voice of ego, see past it and rise above it. Then we can ask, “How high can I go?” In the stillness of awareness we are able to discern appropriate action (or inaction) and act with conscious intent. The energy is significantly different; therefore, the outcome will be as well.

Be kind to yourself. Should you miss the mark, do not slip into self-judgment. Rather, observe with a loving and open heart. Take responsibility for your choices and learn from them whenever needed. When you are able to access your conscious awareness in the midst of challenges, that is a sign that you are becoming increasingly awake. Celebrate how far you have come.