Tag Archives: #appreciation

Insight Through Contrast

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“The true miracle lies in our eagerness to allow, appreciate, and honor the uniqueness, and freedom of each sentient being to sing the song of their heart.”
~Amit Ray~

Spiritual awakening is a constant process of forgiveness. As long as there is still one person, government entity, business or circumstance that you can’t forgive, there is still work to be done.What if you chose to find one thing to appreciate about each person who has ever been a challenge in your life? What if you chose only to speak about that positive thing when prompted to discuss him or her. What do you think would happen?

Life is a blend of dark and light. The contrasts we experience provide insight and wisdom we could never access from a one dimensional vantage point. Everything is multi-faceted; therefore, there is always an opportunity to find the good, assimilate the lesson or cultivate new strength, no matter what the circumstance.

Love who you are at this moment with the understanding that you are a culmination of all that you have ever experienced. When we rise above the need to blame we free ourselves to consciously explore Oneness, love and connection.

Our Physical Experience

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“We are not physical beings having a spiritual experience;
we are spiritual beings having a physical experience.”
~Pierre Teilhard de Chardin~
The whole point of being human is to enjoy physical life… as beings of spirit, we had never experienced the taste of chocolate, known the warmth of a hug, or felt the emotions that arise from falling in love or feeling disappointment.
And so the experiment began. As One, we created a playground within the realm of time and space. We decided to dance in the arms of the Divine by taking a journey into new levels of illusion, and getting immersed within the dream, got lost for a time and forgot the point of existence… experience.
However, even that forgetting was something that the infinite source of love had not experienced before and so, it too, fulfills an important aspect of a grander plan – the joy of awakening.
Let yourself slow down and savor all the tiny, exquisite aspects of being human today. Without inner dialogue or mind-made labels, simple be with whatever unfolds. let every action, sensation and experience be considered sacred. Slow down and consciously enjoy your food or a good conversation, run your fingertips across different textures, revel in your dog’s smile and take the time to enjoy the beauty and majesty of being human.

Little Miracles

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“A miracle is often the willingness to see the common in an uncommon way.”
― Noah Benshea

Many walk through life blind to the beauty and possibilities that surround them. Distracted by the mind, all they see are struggles that need to be overcome, money to be made or others to impress. These outward distractions are so all-encompassing that they often overwhelm.

As we begin to break free from conditioned thought, we can return to the realm of the love. Within it, we discover that there is enough time, that things are simple and life is filled with little miracles that remind us that we are here to expand rather than contract.

Take the time to appreciate the little things. When a hummingbird makes you stop and smile, a breathtaking sunset fills your heart with color, or a breeze gently rustles the leaves of trees nearby, simply notice. These sparks of energy are everywhere, waiting to inspire the movement of love within us.

Love and peacefulness combine and are expressed as kindness and compassion. Seeing life differently allows us to experience life differently. The purpose is to awaken.

Present Moment Practice

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“When the faith is strong enough, it is sufficient just to be. It’s a journey towards simplicity, towards quietness, towards a kind of joy that is not in time. It’s a journey that has taken us from primary identification with our body and our psyche, on to an identification with [the Divine], and ultimately beyond identification.”
~Ram Dass~

Present Moment Practice is a conscious, mindful approach to life. Within the Now we become the witness – to our inner commentary, to the world around us and to the energy that we bring to our collective journey.

In this moment, you have all that you require. Begin by going deeper into the Now. Notice the physical world, the chair in which you are sitting or the solidness of the earth under your feet. Feel the warmth or coolness of your surroundings. Then pay attention to your thoughts. Are you worried? Do you find yourself constantly reading or watching information about world affairs? How attached are you to your phone? How does your body feel? Are you tense or relaxed, hungry or satisfied? Just observe.

Remind yourself that all you see and experience is a profound illusion that is measured by your physical senses. Close your eyes and take three deep, slow breaths. As you open your eyes, choose to see things differently. Instead of looking at the lamp, notice the light that it casts and the shadows it creates. Observe the unique designs of all that you see. How does your heart respond to a flower or your favorite scent? What pictures do you see in the clouds? This is your practice for today. Be, observe, appreciate.