I Honor Your Path

“How would your life be different if…You stopped making negative judgmental assumptions about people you encounter? Let today be the day…You look for the good in everyone you meet and respect their journey.”
~Steve Maraboli~

Many today feel the loss of changing relationships. Polarities are becoming more extreme and excessive stories of the ego are causing people’s pain-bodies to take over in reactivity, anger or fear. Rather than focusing on perceived differences or the loss of closeness, consider that each soul is on a sacred journey.

To honor the path of another is the greatest act of love that you can give. Acceptance does not require agreement, nor is it apathy. The awakening soul understands that each of us must walk the journey of awakening in our own way.

The only thing over which you have any control is your state of consciousness. Do your best, act with integrity and accept what is. As life unfolds you may get more clarity, or not. Understanding that everything works for the collective highest good of all is a foundational belief that counsels patience and understanding.

There is far more to life than meets the eye. Be kind. Every situation provides countless opportunities to learn and evolve and, in the words of Ram Dass, we’re just walking one another home.

 

Self-Karma

“Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at the moment.”
~Eckhart Tolle~

Each of us comes into this life with a three-fold intention: fulfilling karmic contracts, supporting our soul group and working on personal karma. Personal karma is something specific that we have chosen to work on throughout our lifetime. It could be addiction (to food, substances, abusive people, etc), self-image, issues of worthiness or vanity, poverty or abundance – but always, self-karma involves the extremes of an experience.
Perhaps in one lifetime you were admired for your looks and carried judgment about those who heavy. Now you might have chosen a body type that struggles with excessive weight on and all the issues related to that experience.
Another choice might be to experience the opposite of what is considered “normal” in the society into which you have incarnated. This involves cultivating an incredible amount of self love and humor, as well as embodying the strength that comes from being judged as an outsider and accepting yourself anyway.
Ultimately, the key is to see everything as an opportunity to learn and grow. Aim to to be authentic and consistent in your daily life, be kind to yourself and others, and honor all life as sacred.

Enlightenment

“…the past gives you an identity and the future holds the promise of salvation, of fulfillment in whatever form. Both are illusions.”
~Eckhart Tolle~

The greatest gift that we can give is our Presence. In every situation we have the opportunity to bring light where there is darkness, give kindness rather than turn away and teach by example. In order to be consistent in our approach, one must never stop learning.

Turn your attention inward by asking, “How may I be of service in this situation?” As we examine our motivations we discover that helping others helps us to achieve enlightenment. This double helix of energy thus creates a space where transformation can happen.

View this planet as a playground that teaches through contrast. Every moment offers an opportunity to become a little more aware, a little more empowered, a little more free from limitation.

Some lessons are presented in several different forms before we truly understand the patterns that have silently controlled our lives. Your awareness of moments of unconsciousness is actually an indicator that you are becoming more enlightened. Celebrate your humanness as well as your true infinite nature. Delve into the delight of consciousness, for once you explore the mysteries of life with an awakened heart, you will never be the same.

Stillness

“Wisdom comes with the ability to be still. Just look and just listen. No more is needed. Being still, looking, and listening activates the non-conceptual intelligence within you. Let stillness direct your words and actions.”
~Eckhart Tolle~
Silence is more than the absence of noise. It is an inner communion with peace and awareness. In the stillness we become open to receive and it is within that gap of ‘no mind’ that we can touch the infinite.
Our current experience of the world is one of bombardment – a blend of sound, marketing, opinions, expectations and ego-driven thought. Our senses are often overwhelmed. Many spend each day running to accomplish many self-imposed tasks while neglecting the one thing that truly matters – grace.
Create pauses throughout the day to appreciate the beauty around you. Stop and breathe. Find something for which you can be grateful. Imagine joy flooding every aspect of your being. Touch the realm of limitless possibility and you will discover inner sacredness and beauty.
In the midst a cacophony, stillness can be accessed by dropping your resistance to noise. Your acceptance is another gateway into stillness. As you practice being at peace with what is, you’ll discover new depths of perception and serenity. This is where inner wisdom resides.

Live Your Bliss

“Being spiritual has nothing to do with what you believe and everything to do with your state of consciousness.” 
~Eckhart Tolle~

Let your life be your message. There is no need to explain your point of view or get others to agree with your approach. Simply choose to bring the light of consciousness to every situation. Those who are ready to explore new dimensions of awareness will be drawn to you.

When specifically asked about your beliefs, do share. You’ll discover that articulation helps to anchor certain concepts and the role of teacher may lift you to higher levels. The greatest gift you can give those who grace your life is your authenticity.

Nothing is more important than your state of consciousness in this moment – no anger or frustration, no problem, desire or regret. If this were your last moment, how would you spend it? Would you keep old antagonisms alive or want to hug those you love and appreciate one more sunset? Petty differences would become meaningless.

You can choose to put down any baggage that you carry. Once you realize that loving celebration leads to enlightenment, you’ll discover that there is no need to postpone your joy. Live as if each moment were your last because the next is not certain. Find your bliss here and now and choose to embrace it. Living your bliss will transform your life experience.

Worry

“Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create.”
~Roy T. Bennett~
Ever wonder what would happen if you gave up the addiction to worry? Many masters have taught that worry is a waste of your precious energy. Live today consciously, mindfully attend to your tasks, be responsive rather than reactive, and allow tomorrow to take care of itself.
When you place your full attention on the present moment and do one task at a time, it drops from your consciousness. There is no need to carry additional thought about it. Worry arises only when something is left unaccomplished or we know that we have rushed through a task in order to get to the next thing.
To break the addiction, focus on doing one thing at a time – fully and completely. Your conscious attention will slow down your concept of time and everything will get completed, typically with greater accuracy than when it is rushed.
Practice extreme alignment with the Now and you’ll discover the love that rains down upon you from all dimensions. When you choose to see your life experience as an ongoing, evolving conversation between you and the Divine, it changes how you walk in the world.

One Love

“Love is the recognition of oneness in the world of duality.”
~Eckhart Tolle~
What would it take to drop all judgment and step into the realm of inclusive, loving experience?
As we walk together on the path of transformation, it’s important to remember that we all ultimately follow the same journey. Enlightenment is a process of awakening that spans many, many lifetimes, and what you see today is but a small fraction of the overall tapestry of existence that we weave.Consider this: You will have the opportunity to be every race that this world has to offer. You will have the opportunity to embrace every religion, spiritual belief or no religion at all. You will have the opportunity to be rich, poor, healthy, diseased, understood, misunderstood, desired or shunned. The process of awakening embraces every experience as important, each plays as integral role in the cultivation of compassion.

So when you feel you don’t understand the thought processes or actions of another, it may simply mean that you have yet to experience that type of life situation or that you don’t consciously remember the lessons you carry from past lifetimes. Be patient with one another, no matter where they are in the process of awakening. Walk with a quiet stillness of understanding and compassion. Realize that we all do the best we can from where we are, with what we have.

The most important thing to focus upon is your own state of consciousness. We can absolutely change the world with our love while providing space in which transformation can occur.

Present Moment Practice

“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.

 

This Moment

The Inspiration You Seek
Is Already Within You.
Be Silent And Listen.
~Rumi~
This moment is the gateway to infinite possibility and whatever arises is exactly what is needed for your soul’s growth and development. Bring a sense of awareness to all that you do, seeking to observe the ego rather than becoming trapped by it.

The mind is conditioned to stay in reactive patterns and a habitual survival mode. Beneath this activity is the stillness of Presence, a timeless dimension of limitless possibility. The more you recognize your unconsciousness, the more conscious you are becoming.

Your life’s journey is an adventure – be aware of the miracles that unfold around you. This choice brings a sense of vibrancy and wonder into even the most mundane circumstances.

The joy of being a spirit having a temporary physical experience is expressed through our five senses. Take the time to look at life through the eyes of love. Listen without judgement to the sounds around you, but more importantly, listen to the silence beneath the sound. Touch something and feel the energy of the Divine flowing through it. When you allow everything to be as it is this moment becomes the key to freedom.

Belief

“Being spiritual has nothing to do with what you believe and everything to do with your state of consciousness.”
~Eckhart Tolle~
There are nearly eight billion souls currently on the planet. No matter what you choose to believe, it is likely that you will find many who agree with you. As we evolve, this becomes a subtle manifestation of the ego. Beliefs become more deeply solidified and adhered to until a “us versus them” mentality arises.
When we seek to codify the Divine, we limit it with our words. It’s important to remember that descriptors, beliefs, research and rules are all merely pointers and should be utilized only to spark an awakening. Learn what you will in whatever way speaks to your heart and then bring a deep Presence into all that you do.
Expanding consciousness is a byproduct of your own journey. Next lifetime you may approach your evolution in a different manner so you can cultivate a deeper understanding of the various ways to awaken. For now, live in alignment with your true nature and let your life be your message.
No matter what you choose to believe, seek to infuse it with the higher levels of consciousness: love, joy, peace, enlightenment.