Tag Archives: #conditioning

Facing The Shadow

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“When we are aware of our weaknesses or negative tendencies, we open the opportunity to work on them.”
~Allan Lokos~

We have been conditioned to fear the shadow side of life and of ourselves. It’s important to turn and face it; thus transforming it into a powerful aspect of spiritual awakening.

As multifaceted beings, we hold every possibility within us. What we deny within ourselves quietly runs various aspects of our lives, often sabotaging efforts regarding work, abundance, relationships and self-love.

What you react strongly to in another is a reflection of something you do not wish to see or own in yourself. Pay attention – this is the beauty of understanding how we help one another on the journey. It is within these unexamined, darker aspects that our true power lies.

The way to transform our shadows is to shine the light of awareness upon them. From a space of love, choose to stop projecting it onto others (notice words of complaint or blame), release attachment and self-judgement and be gentle with yourself. Healing comes through wholeness and acceptance. We don’t conquer the shadow, we transcend it by approaching life from a higher level of consciousness.

Conditioning is Attachment

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From earliest childhood we are conditioned to think in a certain way. This varies from family to family or country to country, and the attachment to beliefs and ideas becomes a powerful playground for the ego.

Adulthood adds additional expectations regarding money, possessions, relationships, appearance and the like, and we are bombarded daily by merchandising, manipulation and the story that the next thing we achieve or purchase will bring happiness. Add to that the rampant ego driven judgment and opinion by social media and it can often feel overwhelming.

Awakening compels us to question these rigid sets of rules and we begin to step outside the current set of norms. We expand into new thoughts patterns, practice stillness and shed the old layers of limitation. When you truly understand your own sacredness, there will be no need for outside validation. The inner expression of peace and harmony takes precedence over the trappings of the physical world.

More than ever, it’s imperative to create spaces of Presence in your experience. Disconnect and reside in the fullness of who you are. Your spirit will see through the illusions of this world and sense the vibrant energy which underlies all things. Then, you can be in the world, but not of it.

The Path of Awakening

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“The willingness to simply rest in the physical experience of your life is the key to spiritual transformation.”
~Ezra Bayda~

Everything in your life experience provides an opportunity to grow. The physical world is a canvas and upon it, you can create whatever you wish.
You may discover that each time you focus on addressing a particular area of your healing, you begin to see the pattern of it everywhere. For instance: you seek to cultivate stronger self-esteem. All of a sudden it may feel that you’re under attack – others are unkind, demand too much from you or have no empathy for your feelings. These frustrations are not obstacles on your path – they are your path. The only way to address them is to go within, know your value and seek to address each situation with grace and empowerment in order to rise above. This is the process of growth.
Begin with daily efforts to be more aware. Bring a willingness to see clearly and consistently practice, practice, practice – everywhere you can. Your awareness alters and transforms the experience until one day you notice that you are handling situations that previously disrupted your joy… and handling them very well. You have set yourself free from an old pattern of conditioning into an arena of unlimited possibility.

Surrender

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“When we bring a gentle awareness to the layers of our conditioning, and to the struggles that arise out of our conditioning, the power of that conditioning slowly dissolves. Life then moves toward the unconditioned – where the vastness, or love, just flows through.”    

~Ezra Bayda~

The ego often seeks to fight, prove oneself right, defend beliefs or struggle against life. Whenever you observe this happening, consciously move into surrender. Allow the energy around you to flow unimpeded. You’ll access the strength and peace that reside underneath the mechanisms of the mind.

When we choose to surrender to what is, we demonstrate faith in the process of awakening. Things often flow better when we get ourselves out of the way. The enlightened understand that surrender is a sign of empowerment.

Trust the wisdom of your higher self. Place your focus upon how you are responding to life, rather than trying to control how it unfolds. Are you operating from a space of joy, enthusiasm or acceptance? Are you seeing your experiences as opportunities to awaken?

The present moment is your point of power. How are you choosing to experience it? Life’s wonder and mystery can only be discovered where you are.

Creating Grace

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“It is only with true love and compassion that we can begin to mend what is broken in the world. It is these two blessed things that can begin to heal all broken hearts.”
~Steve Maraboli~

From time to time you may face challenges that allow the ego to slip in and momentarily take over your state of consciousness. This can be felt as anxiety, fear, confusion, stress or simply feeling off-balance. Part of the human experience – which is ultimately the expanding experience of the Divine – is learning how to utilize spiritual tools to shift our perception.

View challenges as opportunities to apply your skills and spiritual knowledge. You have the ability to change how you respond, how you think and consciously direct the flow of your energy back to joy.

There is nothing more empowering than witnessing the incredible results of your energy and intention in motion. The creative aspect of the awakened manifester is recognized by unshakable faith despite moments when things appear to be blocked on the physical plane. There is nothing more important than your state of consciousness and as you outgrow old conditioning, you may discover new facets of beauty that are ready to shine.

Allow the healing energy of the Divine to help you to create habits and patterns that are more aligned with what you’d like to experience in your life. Be patient and stop believing stories that bring you pain. You are called upon to transform what you experience and it begins, always, within your thoughts and how you choose to utilize your energy. The Universe loves and supports you at all times and is ready to help you rise above any perceived limitation or past programming.