Present Moment Joy

“You are an incredible mystery that you will never figure out.
To be this mystery consciously is the greatest joy.”
~Adyashanti~
Spirituality is meant to bring wholeness and magic back into your life. There are many paths to awakening – purposely choose the one that brings you the greatest joy. As you bring the best version of yourself to the present moment, the future takes care of itself.
When life becomes a drudgery, judgment arises. Self-criticism and frustration block us from recognizing the beauty that surrounds us. It’s important to keep playfulness in your outlook and experience. Laughter enriches the soul and is a powerful expression of the Divine.

Draw attention to the threads that weave the tapestry of your experience. Enter the field of Now. Notice what you hear, feel, smell, touch and see. Quiet the mind and simply notice what is around you. Recognize that whatever you place your attention upon becomes more prominent in your experience.

You can find awakening in your life as it is, for you are right where you need to be. Acceptance draws in the circumstances, experiences and  synchronicities that are in alignment with your joyful, expectant, optimistic attitude.

The Life Experiment

Observe how you respond to the world around you.

“The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.”

~Eckhart Tolle~

Pay attention to how your well-being is impacted by the world around you. Part of this life experiment is discovered through openhearted exploration of our physical experience while observing how we respond to all that we encounter. Things that are enriching can be celebrated and enjoyed. Anything depleting should be released or consciously transformed.

The key is to notice when we feel more connected to one another and to the Divine. If particular foods or drink affect the body negatively, observe without judgment and choose to make healthier choices as you move forward. Trust your inner wisdom and apply that same mindful attention to music, reading material, those who surround you and what you choose to bring into your experience.

Eventually, you’ll surround yourself with uplifting energy and encounters that consistently enhance your spiritual, physical, mental and emotional experience. You can choose reactivity or purposely take an active role in creating the life of your dreams.

 

Challenges Expand Consciousness

“When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.”
~Paulo Coelho~

The soul seek to expand into new areas of awareness and the challenges we face, both personal and collective, play a powerful role in our development. Your attention begins the process of transformation. Bring a gentle self-awareness to the patterns that repeat and purposely seek to change your approach. When you break free of habitual responses, something new begins to emerge.

The tools that you have cultivated along the way become stronger when you have the opportunity to consciously utilize them. Rather than resist the tidal flow of energy, seek to flow with it and face any challenges that arise when they are still small.  See the field of life as a place to observe wisdom in action. Your higher self is guiding you throughout the process of awakening.

Creating Joy

“The root of joy is gratefulness…It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.”
~Brother David Steindl-Rast~
Joy is an expression of empowerment. It is a choice that we make again and again that creates an unshakable foundation. Obviously, those who reside in joy still face challenges and encounter hardship, but joy always comes along for the journey.
It is absolutely possible to feel empathy and desire change, yet still be able to consistently create moments of gratitude, joy and celebration. When you honor your path as sacred, beauty emanates from you.
Don’t wait for life to fall into place before you choose to be joyful. Know that your life will fall into place because you are joyful. You are a powerful co-creator within your own experience.
Take time to enjoy the flowers in bloom and watch how they open to the sun. Appreciate the clouds as they form living art on gentle breezes. Dance to birdsong, kiss your dog and slow down the fast pace of your mind. These things and more await your loving attention and the universe supports your endeavor.

I Drink From Your Well

“A mind that listens with complete attention will never look for a result because it is constantly unfolding; like a river, it is always in movement. Such a mind is totally unconscious of its own activity, in the sense that there is no perpetuation of a self, of a “me,” which is seeking to achieve an end.”
~Jiddu Krishnamurti~
In every generation there are new distractions to occupy the mind. Our role, as awakening beings, is to retrain habitual patterns to be fully present where we are. Allow there to be space in your experience. Give others your complete attention. Stop ‘killing time’ by doom-scrolling or playing games incessantly.
When you align yourself completely with the present moment, you’ll discover the expanding vibrancy of the Divine everywhere you look. Teeming with movement and miracles, the glory of our existence is constantly in the process of transformation. We can choose to bring this awareness into our conversations, our passions and our work.
Life is a dance of experience. You must be aware and present whether dancing with another or finding expression in the solitary movement of interpretive creativity. When you bring the best version of yourself to this moment, the future will take care of itself.

The Joy of Experience

“In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration.”
~Ansel Adams~

There is nothing to be gained from making life harder than it needs to be, and yet we sometimes find ourselves doing just that. in the midst of chaos we often spin a bit further into confusion before we remember to breathe and go within.

Everything in your experience can spark an awareness of your purpose in the physical world. When you open yourself to accept assistance and guidance, you create space in which transformation can occur. One of the greatest gifts you can offer yourself is to cultivate healthy detachment and trust. As we release attachment to outcomes, we open ourselves to receive greater ease and joy on our path.

Whatever is experienced fully transforms into joy, while conversely, resistance slows the process. During your gratitude moments, choose something and give it your full attention. Notice any thoughts that arise and pull yourself back into your experience. This awareness will open your heart and energy as you become the observer. Awareness is a process. These few moments connect you to universal love.

Your sojourn here holds great purpose. Seek to be grounded, centered and silent enough to experience life with compassion. From there, anything is possible.

Attention and Energy

The thoughts we choose to think are the tools we use to paint the canvas of our lives.
~Louise Hay~
Whatever you place your attention on grows stronger in your experience. Keep this in mind when you speak and consciously choose to utilize your energy well. When you wish to create change, appreciate the perceived problem for igniting the spark of transformation and move consciously toward a solution. Once you’ve decided to take action, focus on the end result and let the universe handle the details.
The ego loves to sabotage the energetic flow by interjecting thoughts of “how?” or “when?” to distract you from empowered movement forward. Learn to trust the messages of the Universe. Seek a constant conversation with the Divine and experiment various ways to communicate. Some spiritual seekers enjoy utilizing numbers, others connect with the messages to be found through animals or trees, some play in the angelic realm or become more sensitive to energy and vibration. This is your journey and there are infinite ways to participate in your own growth.
Many walk through life without realizing their potential. Let your grace be so inspiring that it awakens grace in another.

The Spiritual Practice of Listening

“Listening is about being present, not just about being quiet.”
~Krista Tippett~

Many people often feel unheard and misunderstood. Consciously choose to be receptive today, offering advice only when it is specifically requested. Being an open presence of non-judgment and an active, present-moment listener is a sincere expression of love and respect. Every moment provides an opportunity to learn from one another.

The next time you find yourself in conversation, observe the thoughts that run through the mind and purposely choose to become present. You may be surprised at the busyness of the ego. Authentic listening demands that we forget ourselves completely (not an easy task) and become the Divine feminine – open and receptive, a conduit for energy, light and love. We cannot achieve communion by being aggressive. Open the door and wait.

Each time another piece of the puzzle falls into place we develop a greater understanding of the whole. True silence exists within you – and in within it, the ego cannot flourish. More than the absence of thought, it is the deep and profound stillness that holds the seeds of infinite possibility. Active listening puts you in touch with the present moment in way that is profound, almost magical.