Celebration

“Celebration is a thankfulness; it is prayer that comes out of gratitude. It is the recognition of the gift that has been given to us… it is understanding. It is overflowing love for the existence that has done so much for us.”

~Osho~

There is no need to wait for a reason to be joyful. Honor this moment through laughter and playfulness and bring a gentle awareness to the perfection of your life. The ego-mind creates heaviness that distracts us from enjoying the present moment. It may tell you that things are not good enough, that you are not yet good enough or that there’s too much to be done… there’s no time to be silly or frivolous. Consider that the ego’s job is to teach through contrast; therefore, choosing to purposely explore the opposite of it’s serious inclination is a good use of your energy.

Those who know how to celebrate life also know the joys of working hard, and loving deeply. They bring an empowered, meditative quality to the present moment rather than being lost in thought. See if you can recognize the sacredness in the ordinary. All that you seek is within you. All of existence responds to the wonder of your light.

Surrender

“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.

Delay

“The journey between what you once were and who you are now becoming is where the dance of life really takes place.”
~Barbara DeAngelis~

There are times when we face obstacles in our path. These moments call upon us to view our challenges in a new way. Whether we pause, think differently or discover a new perspective, the delay transforms into a teacher. Typically, the ego gets impatient, prompting immediate action; however, the best approach often begins with mindfulness and observation.

The challenges, difficulties and delays that we encounter allow us to discover the strength we have within ourselves. Each time we rise above the stories of the mind and take conscious, decisive action, we release a layer of doubt. Over the course of a lifetime, the successes and breakthroughs we experience create new paradigms.

When things are easy we don’t search for answers, seek assistance or take the time to examine limiting beliefs. The gifts that life brings us are often wrapped in challenging situations. Knowing this can shift how you view obstacles – they are not impediments on your journey, they are the journey. As you awaken, you will experience less drama and handle challenges with insight and empowerment.

 

Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness allows you to observe without judgment as you traverse the highs and lows of life. Your balance is a form of protection and you can bring a new level of consciousness to your journey. From the mundane to the mystical, everything offers the possibility of transformation.

Beauty can be found in the simple, ordinary things of life. When you approach tasks with total involvement, seeking no thoughts of recognition or reward, they begin to take on a sacred quality. Try it. Bring present moment mindfulness to whatever you choose to do and you will discover that you get far better results.

Rather than waiting for moments of fulfillment to happen, create them. Make mindfulness a powerful aspect of your daily life. Chores, work, play… all become purposeful aspects of your soul’s journey.

When we seek to walk a path of mindfulness, we must begin with the present moment. Whatever arises, observe it without any commentary. When the mind begins to judge – good or bad, right or wrong, pleasurable or frustrating – pay attention to the energy behind the words.

There is always an opportunity to be more mindful, compassionate, empowered and accepting. Seek to cultivate these gifts within yourself.

Rising Above Ego

“Enlightenment is the ego’s ultimate disappointment.”
~Chogyam Trungpa~

Prior to awakening, the mind is in control. Always comparing, seeking, distressing, planning, fixing or creating dissatisfaction with the present moment, it mercilessly controls our lives. It’s important to honor the ego as a teacher rather than see it as an enemy. It’s purpose is to maintain the illusion of separateness. This prompts our quest for Oneness.As we move to higher levels of consciousness, we become more aware of the mechanisms of the ego. We learn to transform challenges into empowerment while cultivating the ability to see clearly. The ego must then find news ways to function, so it shifts to a more subtle but still disruptive force. You’ll know ego is activated in some fashion whenever peace and acceptance elude you.

As you cultivate wisdom and taste the freedom and expansiveness that is discovered, you will begin to view the ego as a teacher – nothing more, nothing less. It then becomes easier to see through the illusion. In moments of imbalance stop and observe your thoughts. See them objectively and then consciously move into love. Every moment is an opportunity to be still and deepen your connection to the Divine.

Presence

“You are not limited to this body, to this mind, or to this reality—you are a limitless ocean of Consciousness, imbued with infinite potential. You are existence itself.”
~Joseph P. Kauffman~

Presence is achieved by going inward. The ego disappears, roles and life situations become transparent and only empowered silence remains. When you begin to realize that you are much, much more than the stories of the mind, you have planted the seeds of your own spiritual maturity.

Why seek validation from others when all of existence is ready to communicate with us? The Divine seeks expression through you – allow it to flow without limitation.

You have an opportunity to bring a powerful sense of peace and well-being to this moment. Your thoughts create your reality – what are you choosing to create right now? Life presents opportunities to respond to darkness with light, to show kindness to those who seem to reject it the most and to experience the infinite Presence of the Now.

No matter how you choose to connect to the Divine, do it consistently. Let your life be a walking meditation knowing that awareness is your true nature. As you drop old patterns and limiting beliefs, you are left only with the infinite mystery of your being.

Be Peace

“If you understand it, the world is a great device to make you more 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~

You have chosen to follow a path of awakening in a time when many still live in darkness and confusion. More than ever before, it’s important to focus on staying balanced – even in the midst of upheaval – so that you can bring light to the world.

A peaceful heart is created by a peaceful mind. Quieting the ego is a life-long process; however, it is one that has the potential to set you free from the turbulence that plagues so many. Since your perception of the world is a reflection of your inner state of consciousness, your experiences will become more peaceful.

All that unfolds happens for you, not to you. Your life situation provides the opportunity to refine and utilize the spiritual tools you have been cultivating. It allows you to apply your inner wisdom in various scenarios until it becomes the integral aspect of your response to life.

Focusing Intention

“…Realize that your dream is fueled by the passion of the soul rather than the will of your ego and find a way to act courageously before the day ends.”
~Alberto Villoldo
~

Seek to expand your ideas, dreams and behavior. Honor the sacred path of your souls awakening by taking one conscious action today. What do you wish to create? What can you do to bring that energy into your experience? Small consistent actions add up to powerful transformation. You can choose to be courageous and dream a new world into being.
When we first begin to observe our thoughts and words, it can be surprising to discover how often they destabilize our precious balance. We activate the power of the soul by re-framing old limitations and focusing on the gift, the goal and the potential within the present moment.
Our role is to engage life from the level of soul rather than the level of mind. Our lives are epic journeys of spiritual maturation and courage is born of the willingness to walk forward with faith. Trust your inner wisdom and know that you are an empowered participant in the collective awakening of the planet.

Trust

“Trust is yes. Knowing that this existence is our mother, that nature is our source and it can’t be against us. It can’t be inimical to us. Seeing this, understanding this, trust arises.”

~Osho~ 

Life, by it’s very nature, is constantly evolving, transforming and uncontrollable. Our role in this process is to learn how to recognize and step into the flow of energy, rather than fight against it. Our human perception is very narrow and to think that we can plan and rationalize the world around us accurately is laughable.

A higher source of truth moves through you. When the focus is on creating balance in your experience and detachment from the mechanisms of the ego-mind, you can trust the processes of life knowing that you are guided, protected and loved each and every step of the way. This is not to say that challenges won’t arise – it only means that there is always a purpose to the challenges we face and trust keeps us from moving into resistance.

The key is learning how to trust even when you feel doubt. Do not wait for the doubt to disappear; instead, realize that trust absorbs doubt and transforms it into empowerment. Act from the heart and allow life to unfold as it will.

Transcendent Empowerment

Transcendent Empowerment is created when one combines the mysterious depths of the soul with conscious wisdom and intention.

Ego generated accomplishment calls upon us to focus our strength and abilities, create a plan and work hard to achieve our goals. As we grow in soul awareness, we discover that true power needs no force in order to manifest transformation. Conversely, we find that purposely stepping into the flow of universal energy creates ease and grace in our experience.

Some get lost in passivity, never realizing their role as a conscious creator. In every aspect of your life situation, seek to find a balance that embodies passion, conscious intention, purposeful action and detachment. Your mastery and focus will awaken abilities that are ready to shine.

Your expression of life is unique. Your skills, talents and inspiration are meant to be explored. When you reach a point of not knowing how to define yourself, when no title seems to apply, you’re on the right track. Release the habitual need to limit your experience by adhering to a particular role. You are eternal. You are love. Let your life be filled with infinite possibility.