Category Archives: Wow Moment

Accept – Then act

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Everything works toward your highest good.
“I feel safe in the rhythm and flow of ever-changing life.” 
~Louise Hay~
Life will provide whatever experience is most needed for the evolution of your consciousness. Whatever appears in your life is happening for you, not to you. So if you find yourself wondering “Why me?” see if you can move into acceptance as quickly as possible asking instead, “What am I trying to see here?”
We do not need to spend a lot of effort rearranging the circumstances of life to meet a certain pre-conceived expectation. Once you realize who you are at the deepest level, peace is discovered… and then everything flows much more smoothly.
“Always say “yes” to the present moment. What could be more futile, more insane than to create inner resistance to what already is? What could be more insane than to oppose life itself, which is now and always now? Surrender to what is. Say “yes” to life – and see how life suddenly starts working for you rather than against you. Any action is often better than no action, especially if you have been stuck in an unhappy situation for a long time. If it is a mistake, at least you learn something, in which case it’s no longer a mistake. If you remain stuck, you learn nothing.”
~ Eckhart Tolle
I can think of nothing more beautiful than taking a risk. When we step out of our comfort zone, it creates a space in which something new can occur. The ego will often arise with the fear, the what-ifs, or reasons for procrastination; however, shining the light of consciousness upon the stories of the mind will lessen their hold upon you. Ego is nothing more than old, conditioned thought patterns. Awareness and ego cannot co-exist in the same space.
Allow yourself an hour to be fully present today. Notice when the mind creates a story of resistance or pain, notice whose energy lifts you up or how you feel in different rooms of your home, take a moment to hug a tree and feel the grounding energy of mother earth. This attention to your state of consciousness is a powerful tool than will begin to set you free.
Today my intention is to embrace the present moment without expectation. With each breath, I choose to accept whatever life offers.

Friendship

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The extent to which you are willing to be supported is an indication of the love you have for yourself.
“I always have wonderful, harmonious relationships. The person I am looking for is now looking for me.” 
~Louise Hay~

I awoke this morning thinking of the joys of friendship. Often it seems there are an amazing number of synchronistic occurrences that have to fall into place in order for two souls to cross paths. Then, recognizing a kindred spirit – or perhaps a karmic contract – they choose to embark upon a segment of the journey together.

I’m grateful for those who are kind enough to bring laughter and support into my world. These infinite soul connections create an energy and harmony that plays the soundtrack of my life. I often visualize them as a symphony – every instrument is vital and important and while the music continues if someone is missing, the energy shifts significantly. The nuances of the whole allow greater depth of experience.
My soul support group of 12 – love, knowledge, compassion, mentor, beauty, child, humor, discipline, anchor, healer, enlightenment, muse – has changed significantly throughout the years. It’s interesting to notice how, when it’s time for someone to leave your life, another person enters to fulfill that role.
I can’t express enough the importance of allowing others to support you on your personal path of transformation. Ultimately, the momentum of change is created within; however, these supporting characters provide the springboard for the discovery of new direction, thoughts, opportunities and perceptions.
Today my intention is to send love to friends both near and far. Thank you for walking with me on this amazing journey.

Mindfulness

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Suffering is the result of insisting that life be other than what it is.
“Everything unfolds in the perfect way at the perfect time.” 
~Louise Hay~
Mindfulness is the substance of Zen. Consciously observing and experiencing the ebb and flow of breath is the easiest way to bring oneself present. When you practice in this way, your mind and body come into alignment, your mind quiets and you are at your best.
Deep within the Now, peace awaits. Here are a few simple Buddhist practices from Living Buddha, Living Christ. Silently speak these sentences with each mindful breath:
Breathing in, I calm my body.
Breathing out, I smile.
Dwelling in the present moment,
I know this is a wonderful moment.
Breathing, smiling, present moment, wonderful moment…
Breathing in, I am aware of my heart.
Breathing out, I smile to my heart.
I vow to eat, drink, and work in ways
that preserve my health and well-being.
Engage in these mindfulness exercises throughout your journey today. The most beautiful gift that we can offer to others is the art of mindful interaction in the present moment. This energy inspires, awakens, opens and allows the love of the Universe to flow through you into all you say and do.
Today my intent is to embrace each moment with mindfulness, awareness, ease and grace.

 

Fear

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Fear – False Evidence Appearing Real
“When I find harmony and balance in my mind, I find
it in my life.” 
~Louise Hay~
Have you ever noticed that life often forces you to face what you fear the most? Many people put a lot of energy into avoidance, preparing themselves for every possible contingency and then, when “the worst” arises, they realize it wasn’t as bad as they expected.
As painful as it may be to face one’s fears, it’s far more debilitating to the spirit to avoid them. Until you understand that fear is a product of illusion, it limits your ability to love. Love and fear cannot coexist in the same space.
Fear begins with a story in the mind – “What if…?” If left unchecked, the story repeats until it is eventually accepted as truth. The mind responds by creating tension, anxiety, rapid heartbeat… all the usual products of a fight or flight response. When the body is in fight or flight, all the normal and healthy functions of the body stop doing their jobs and instead rush to the area believed to be “in need” creating an energetic imbalance.
Unbalanced energy shows up on the physical plane as insomnia, avoiding interactions, poor health, challenging relationships and projection.
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to Hate. Hate leads to suffering.”
~Yoda~
In the shamanic tradition, the power animal of the West is Jaguar who stands for sudden transformation, life and death. When I’m working with clients who are facing fear, I will often call on the spirit of Jaguar to walk by their side. Jaguar is said to devour fear, anger and grief while transforming toxic energies into light.
You can choose freedom. If there is a situation in your life that causes fear to arise, call upon the guidance of Jaguar. There are many ways to tap into that energy – dream work, meditation, studying their attributes, keeping a picture of one nearby- whatever unique way that inspires you. Jaguar can help you reclaim your true power.
Today my intention is to walk in the light of truth with joy.

Lessons comes from everywhere

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Recent events reminded me of a Wow Moment from years ago….

“Every experience I have is perfect for my growth.” 
~Louise Hay~
Perhaps 15-20 years ago I stayed home sick from work. While channel surfing I ran across the Oprah Winfrey Show and watched her speak with a family of white supremacists. Of course, there was a lot of anger, yelling and hateful energy. I remember thinking, “Those kids never had a chance. They will never change. The imprinting of hatred is too strong to overcome.” I moved on to another show and forgot about it completely. A year later I got sick again. Same scenario – on the couch, a little bored, channel surfing… and once again I came across Oprah who said that she was bringing back a guest from the year before to discuss how the experience altered her life.
This piqued my interest. I had only watched the show that one time, and my immediate thought was “Wouldn’t it be interesting to see one of the people I saw last time?” Sure enough, it was a teenage daughter of the family who had spewed so much hatred.
She was completely changed. Her energy was soft, kind and compassionate. Her demeanor was authentic and even her clothing was a completely different style. Oprah showed a clip from the previous year and the contrast was so apparent that it brought tears to my eyes.
I had judged this girl a year earlier thinking there was no hope for her. She simply explained, “I never knew that there was a different way to think.” The opposition her family experienced from the crowd in the original show planted the seed of awakening. She had the courage to stand alone in her family and transformed hatred into love. She was an amazing teacher.
I often think of the delightful “coincidence” of those two days of illness and how everything works to our highest good… all the time. I learned that anyone can shift at anytime from any interaction. It took a year for this particular lesson to be made clear to me and of course, I didn’t even know that I was in the midst of a lesson under after it was completed.
This is the beauty of what life offers you… that teachers can be found in the unlikeliest of places, that even a head cold can have purpose and meaning far beyond what we perceive and that hatred and violence can be transformed in an instant. Wow.
Today my intent is to marvel at the wonders of life, to embrace every moment, relationship and experience as sacred – because they certainly are.

Uncertainty

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Inner grace allows us to remain peaceful, even in the face of the unknown.

“I feel safe in the rhythm and flow of ever-changing life.”
~Louise Hay~

There is great peace in discovering the Law of Detachment. In a world that’s evolving faster than ever before, old structures are dissolving. What was once considered stable is now as impermanent as shifting sand. Many are being swept along in this energy, not realizing that the intensity and transformation are leading them to golden shores of new possibility.
When we learn the art of detachment, we begin to live in the present moment without rigidly imposing our vision of how we believe things should be. To participate with detached compassion allows the opportunity to clearly see all the pathways which become available.
Yesterday a grasshopper joined me during my gratitude walk. For a few steps he kept pace with me, nimbly weaving in and out between my feet before going off to explore whatever his world had in store for him.
Grasshopper teaches us to trust our inner voice and take leaps forward or sideways (never backwards) in an unexpected manner. The ability to leap into the unknown is a powerful part of their mechanisms for protection.
Today my intention is to allow uncertainty to be an essential ingredient of my experience. I am willing to see what emerges from the chaos. Choosing to allow uncertainty to be my path to freedom opens me to infinite possibilities and I am ready to experience all the joy, adventure and mystery of life.

The Zen Manifesto

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Be willing to achieve, believe, conceive… receive.

“I easily flow with new experiences and new opportunities.”
~Louise Hay~

“Zen knows only a vast life
which contains all kinds of contradictions
in a deep harmony.
The night is in harmony with the day,
and life is in harmony with the sky.
The presence is in harmony with the absence.
This immense harmony,
this synchronicity,
is the essential Manifesto of Zen.
This is the only way of life which respects
and loves,
and denies nothing, condemn nothing.”
~Osho: The Zen Manifesto~
There is great joy to be discovered on your life’s journey. Filled with limitless possibility, we can explore all the nuances of experience. Every situation, regardless of how it appears, contains a gift. Are you willing to receive it?
Today my intention is to experience life as a joyous dance.

 

This moment is sacred

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Today, I am willing to accept a miracle.

“A smiling face and joyful, loving words are the best presents I can share with everyone I know.”
~Louise Hay~

Awaken the heart of compassion. Scatter seeds of joy throughout your day, pausing to appreciate the uniqueness of it, the beauty of it. Remind yourself often to be aware of the gifts that are all around you.

It can be easy to get caught up in the drama of daily living. We live in a world filled with distraction but also one of inspiration. Each of us has an opportunity to choose how we wish to experience the present moment. When you begin the day with mindfulness and gratitude, you set the stage rather than react to whatever life has to offer.

So, how can you bring your meditation to life? By seeing the physical world as a spiritual experience… by experiencing this moment as sacred… by allowing kindness and compassion to guide your decisions.

Be open to change and willing to receive the unexpected. Give up the illusion of control and simply ask, “How can I bring the best version of myself to this situation?” Your life’s purpose is to awaken. To be awake is to be aligned with joy.

Today my intention is to bask in the love and light of my life. This moment is alive and sparkling with possibility.

The quest for happiness

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I bring an unprotected heart to our meeting place.

“I see myself as a magnificent being who is wise and beautiful. I love what I see in me”
~Louise Hay~

True happiness is not dependent upon outside factors. It is simply a peaceful acceptance of ourselves and the present moment while residing in the knowledge of one’s own empowerment. Don’t wait for your life situation to fall into place before you choose to feel happy and fulfilled. It’s important to cultivate the ability to be at ease with the unknown. Doubt (and all that arises from it) is simply one more path to awakening.

“Attachment to the belief that you can’t be happy while in pain may be a greater source of suffering than pain itself.”
~Ezra Bayda~

Life is your teacher… pay attention! Messages of love, support, guidance and wisdom are all around you and when you open to them, you open to a new level of consciousness. See yourself as a master in the process of awakening.

Today my intention is to remember that every moment presents a wonderful new opportunity to become more aware of who I am.

Three choices

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Happiness is a choice.

“I am aware that what I do not want to change is exactly what I need to change the most.”
~Louise Hay~

When faced with a challenging situation we have three choices: change it, leave it or accept it. The key is to act from a space of awareness while detaching from a specific outcome. Conscious actions create a space where a transformation can occur.

Happiness is a choice, as is unhappiness. Many are addicted to the drama and energy created by having problems, for what would the ego do without something to worry about? Seek to operate from a space of passion, enthusiasm and joy. See any challenge as an opportunity to drop limiting beliefs or practice your ability to move into unconditional love.

If a situation is toxic and you have done your best to change it, you must either leave it or accept it completely, if leaving is not an option. The idea is to actively recognize the stage from which you are operating and make healthy, conscious decisions that support your joy and growth.

When your sense of security is being challenged and the energy around you grows intense, know that you will emerge stronger and clearer from the perceived wreckage. Shake ups call upon us to recognize what has true value – our sense of inner peace and balance.

Today my intention is to easily and comfortably release that which I no longer need. I am willing to embrace what is.