The Key of Awareness

“If you understand it, the world is a great device to make you conscious. Your enemy is your friend, and the curses are blessings, and the misfortunes can be turned into fortunes. It depends only on one thing: if you know the key of awareness.”
~Osho
~

Happiness is your divine right. All too often, people live with the limiting belief that life is hard and that one must suffer in order to get ahead. We suffer until we realize that there is no need to suffer.

Practice finding joy in the little things: an inspiring piece of music that makes your heart come alive, the way sunlight spills through the trees creating unique patterns on the earth, respond to the smile of a dogs loving eyes… Once you master happiness in the Now, expand it outward. Feel it guide you throughout the day. Discover the power of choosing joy even in the midst of challenging moments.

When you maintain an undercurrent of satisfaction and peace as the foundation of your journey, you step into an empowered way of being. Expecting good to come from everywhere and everything creates a magnetic effect that draws energetically aligned people and circumstances into your experience. Celebrate it! Let your life be a dance of empowerment, passion and acceptance.

Peace and Presence

In this moment, you have all that you need. Nothing is lacking; however, it’s easy to get distracted by the ego and miss the miraculous flavor and texture of the awakened life. When you place your focus inward without thought, a gentleness pervades your experience. Settle into this immense energy and simply be.

This is the I Am. This infinite space of pure potential underlies all that we do. When you can access this field of energy in the Now, it flows into your life experience. Moments of grace are available at any time. Bring an awareness to the sacredness of who you are, honor how far you have come, and know that you can face whatever lies ahead.

Gratitude and appreciation take you more deeply into the present moment. Let contentment and stillness free you from the distractions of the mind. The journey inward is limitless. Close your eyes and listen. Be. Accept the love and energy that rains down upon you from all dimensions. The seeds of your awakening are nurtured by purposeful quiet interludes. In the space of infinite possibility we can discover our unique way of being in the world.

 

Creating Change

“When contemplating what our life’s work might be, we are often driven by our attachment to security. Perhaps the one question we don’t ask often enough is “What do I have to offer?”
~Ezra Bayda~
No matter what you wish to create in your experience, it begins with a shift in your awareness. See what is possible rather than placing your focus on what is not working. Honor the process of transformation itself, embracing the small changes that naturally come from changing your thoughts.
When change becomes a celebration, it awakens infinite possibility. There are no limits to what you can create. We must be open to new ideas and perceptions in order to accept new energy. Those who remain stuck in beliefs such as “that’s the way I’ve always been” or “things will never change” live in self-made prisons.
Choose to bring your conscious awareness to your activities today. Allow the new to enter you by changing your perception. When you think differently, when you see differently, something new emerges in your experience and you will be transformed. Believe in something beautiful…

Right Action

“We go through our days responding and reacting, but it’s rare to really pause and ask…’Is this the kind of thing the person I would like to be should do?”

~Ryan Holiday~

Awareness ensures that your responses to life are empowered rather than reactive. Once the ego is no longer in control, your stillness and alertness will allow you to bring a higher consciousness to any situation. From that space of awareness, the action (or inaction) that is for the highest good of all involved will make itself known. Then you can act with integrity, do your best and accept what is.
Another way to observe right action in motion is that, once completed, it drops completely from your consciousness. There is no need to replay it, take credit for it, wonder if your choice was ‘right’ or worry about how things will unfold. This is the Divine working through you without ego-driven interference.
Cultivate mastery through the simple things of your experience such as driving, interactions with your children, the energy you bring to your work or your self-dialogue. The peace of Presence is always there. Honor the present moment as sacred by experiencing it fully.

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.

 

Conscious Non-reactivity

“When I say it’s you I like, I’m talking about that part of you that knows that life is far more than anything you can ever see or hear or touch. That deep part of you that allows you to stand for those things without which humankind cannot survive. Love that conquers hate, peace that rises triumphant over war, and justice that proves more powerful than greed.”

~Fred Rogers~

You don’t have to be a master to be peaceful and non-reactive. Just do your best to be conscious. When faced with someone angry or offensive, your greatest weapon is neutrality. Rather than lowering your vibration to meet them where they are, seek instead to pause, check your own state of consciousness, and then respond.

This slight gap between noticing and reacting allows you to connect with your higher self rather than the ego-driven personality. To be moderate and mindful is a powerful way to interact. One can still speak truth or take right action without moving into judgement. Your integrity, wisdom and awareness can be a powerful example.

We can weave higher consciousness into the mundane aspects of our life situations. Your spiritual practice is in the here and Now.

Perception and Awareness

“The outer world is a reflection of the inner world. Other people’s perception of you is a reflection of them; your response to them is an awareness of you.”
~Roy T. Bennett~

Our infinite universe has infinite interpretations and it doesn’t matter what you believe. All that matters is your state of consciousness and how you choose to respond to life.

As we progress, our perception expands, each phase adding nuance to our experience while leading us onward. We learn through contrast and through experimentation, ultimately  discovering Oneness through our varied experience.

This world is an illusion and perception creates reality. Yet, the ego-driven condition is such that we will often fight to the death over a thought, belief, or interpretation. Ego can become so strong that it equates losing an argument with literal death and we can become trapped in the illusion.

Spiritual seekers can bring a new energy into being because the higher levels of consciousness generate greater power. Rather than depleting energy through participating in conflict, we have the opportunity to rise above, see through the illusion, and operate from the level of soul.

When faced with a challenge, pause and ask how you would respond if you were completely balanced, healthy, wise and loving. Your practice is to put that into motion and observe what unfolds.

Awakening and Intention

“Sunlight comes into your house not because you want it. It happens because you open the windows.”

~Sadhguru~

The three phases of life are Youth, Power and Wisdom. The journey through each level offers unique lessons that can lead one into greater awareness. It’s helpful to remember that everything we experience plays a role in the expansion of consciousness.

Obviously, not everyone has the privilege of growing old and age does not automatically equate with wisdom. For those purposely engaged in awakening, the transitions are filled with possibility. Building upon the wisdom gained through experience, we often revisit places or situations with a new perception and still, thankfully, continue to learn something new.

Don’t be a “once and done” kind of being. There are always new levels to explore. When you choose to approach life with a hint of wonder and openness, life responds in a big way. The nuances take on new meaning and we discover aging as a beautiful rite of passage.

You stand at the threshold of new awareness. Passion, purpose and vision combine to pivot your experience in ways yet to be discovered. Live with an open heart and honor the promptings of your soul.

Living Courageously

The only way to connect with all of existence is to go inward. Deeper than the stories of this lifetime and beyond the limiting patterns of belief, resides a soul who was willing to enter the challenging and beautiful school of physical reality. When you live with great awareness as the observer, life becomes a odyssey of discovery. Each step reveals new layers of wisdom.

In this free will world, nothing is guaranteed. We must believe in our potential in order to take a risk. We must explore the unknown, learn from our challenges, and constantly walk forward into the light of awareness. Too often, we hold ourselves back out of fear. From something as simple as saying “no” when appropriate to leaving a toxic situation or reclaiming individuality and confidence, we can find the strength within to make empowering changes.

Let your pilgrimage become a dance of awakening. Seek your own way of being, live authentically and remember that nothing is more important than your state of consciousness. Courage is the first step. Nurtured by faith and by movement, we grow towards the light of the Divine. Drop the ego, release attachment and most importantly, be willing to receive.

This Moment

“There is only one perpetrator of evil on the planet: human unconsciousness. That realization is true forgiveness. With forgiveness, your victim identity dissolves, and your true power emerges–the power of Presence. Instead of blaming the darkness, you bring in the light.”
~Eckhart Tolle~

When you bring the best version of yourself to the present moment, the future takes care of itself. Mastery comes from cultivating the ability to remain conscious as you address the tasks of the day. Each has the ability to awaken greater insight and awareness. Even something as simple as taking a walk can be done consciously or unconsciously. If you’re only trying to get to the next place, looking down at the phone or lost in thought, an opportunity is missed. Thankfully, there’s another. And another.

Slow down and choose to fully experience the Now. The key to your awakening lies within it. As present moment awareness becomes a habit, your life will sparkle with limitless possibility. As you change, the world around you is transformed.

You can participate without getting caught up in the drama. With awareness, passion evolves into compassion. Judgment dissolves into love and the world explodes into life. This vibrant flow of energy moves through you to play in the world of form.