I Will Not Negotiate by Withholding

“If you withhold love as a form of punishment, who is being punished?”
~Donald L. Hicks~

Love is giving – giving based in kindness, freedom and compassion without expectation.

Judgment is a by-product of the ego. Condemning others, whether through “righteous anger” or an internal dialogue, creates blockages between people. The only way to break through the lower levels of unconsciousness is to become more conscious yourself. Let your life be your message.

Love transforms any situation into a space of pure potential. Like water eroding rock, the process may take some time, but the results are permanent. Each loving thought, word or act of kindness plants a seed of awakening. These seeds are nourished by our consistent mindful approach and may thrive in ways you’ve never imagined. Whether you’re there to witness the transformation or not, never doubt the power of love.

This is why we seek to honor all paths as sacred. Each journey is unique, yet all are on the same path of awakening. One never knows what will trigger a breakthrough; therefore, act as if every moment is the one that will open doors to new levels of understanding… and remember that love is the key.

I Hold No Cherished Outcome

“Detachment involves “present moment living” — living in the here and now. We allow life to happen instead of forcing and trying to control it. We relinquish regrets over the past and fears about the future. We make the most of each day.”
~Melody Beattie~

In the depths of experience, we can choose to remain free from attachment and carry a sense of inner balance with us wherever we go. To hold no cherished outcome means that we learn to release the expectations we have formed regarding others, ourselves or situations. The mind becomes attached to illusions, an idea or an end result and sometimes we have no idea that the attachment has occurred until things don’t go our way and we feel disappointed.

When you can rest in the fullness of who you are, you cultivate a greater understanding of the infinite nature of wholeness. In the stillness and acceptance of what is, we welcome a new quality of life. See if you can spend some time today simply being aware and content witnessing the beauty of Now. See how life comes to greet you – sometimes in the form of a gentle breeze, a smile from a stranger, unconditional love from a pet or simply being at ease within yourself. Whatever you choose to do, do it from this space of awareness.

Participation

“There is more than one road to spiritual salvation. We discover a philosophical way of living by encountering the world, culling knowledge from all available resources, and thinking reverently about life.”
~Kilroy J. Oldster~

The goal is to bring higher consciousness into your day-to-day life experiences. As you grow in awareness, you may discover that life will often provide an opportunity to see the new concepts that you have learned in motion. When you express a desire to cultivate your ability to love unconditionally, invariably  someone difficult to love will enter your life. This isn’t an obstacle, it’s a response to the awakening of your soul. Know that you already have the tools you need to navigate your life situations.

Practice allows you to strengthen your spiritual tools. The more you participate in life, the more empowered you become. Allow the give and take of energy to be your guide.

They say when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. This is because everything and everyone is your teacher. The only change is that you now have the ability to recognize the gifts that surround you. The veil that clouded your perception dissipates allowing you to see more clearly.

This Moment is Sacred

 “When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.”
~Marcus Aurelius~

I enjoy walking just prior to dawn and watching the sunrise. The day is filled with limitless possibility and I feel the freedom which comes from knowing that I can choose to create something amazing.

Nothing is more important than your joy. In higher levels of consciousness, it becomes easier to walk the line of neutrality within the paradox hidden in the events of the physical world. Human experiences contains myriad emotions – we deal with the loss of a loved one or face financial challenges, we succeed in regard to personal ambition or discover joy in the little things – at the core is the knowledge that all works toward our highest good. As people and experiences flow in and out of our lives, we can choose to walk in the light of expanding consciousness.
Each of us is responsible for our own awakening. Leave your friends and family to discover their own truth in their own way and realize that you’ll have the greatest impact by being an authentic and consistent example of an awakened soul. Plant seeds of love whenever possible. Nurture them with ongoing drama-free interactions and observe the changes within yourself. There’s no need to wait. Imagine the world of your dreams and begin living it now.

Simple Things

If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive.
~Eleanora Duse~

The mind loves to complicate life. Multi-tasking, stories with layers of history, over-inundating with background and nuance, the ego seeks to keep us overwhelmed and disengaged from the power of the present moment.

As consciousness expands things become easier. We learn to slow down and enjoy the experience of Now. In the midst of life’s cacophony, seek to discover your own unique sparks of joy. Let the simple things awaken your soul and bring you back into balance. It is your birthright to express yourself in ways that are deeply fulfilling. No matter what has come before, every moment is a new beginning.

Expect the very best. When you live in alignment with your inner truth, life becomes simple. Choosing to honor each moment as sacred brings a quiet quality of empowerment to any situation.

Simplicity, patience, and compassion form the core of each interaction, the foundation of every relationship, and most importantly, the realization of joy in your experience.

Endings

“Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.”
~Rumi~

Growth and change may involve endings as part of the cycle of new beginnings and transformation. We must be willing to let go of what we have outgrown, honor the passage through the unknown and create peacefulness in our experience each step of the way.

When you choose to relate to life from the expansive mind of the Divine (rather than through the limitation of ego), it becomes possible to walk in spacial awareness in the present moment. Here we can choose to simply be at peace, stepping out of conflict and into communion.

There is no future, only this beautiful moment exists. No matter what twists and turns you’ve experienced on the journey so far or what stories you’ve lived, you can step into empowerment Now.

Spiritual practice is about consciously choosing to enter into love – not romantic love, but the deep and empowering love that is the true nature of your being. From this space of awareness each step brings the joy of relating to life with a open heart.

Curiosity

“Regret is about the past,
anxiety is about the future,
curiosity is about now.”
~Natalie M. Esparza~
As we cultivate the ability to be more mindful and deeply immersed within the present moment, life takes on an aura of wonder. Allow curiosity to be your guide for there is always something new to discover. The key to being receptive is to have an open heart and open mind.
Many people are deeply burdened by the baggage they carry – opinions, prejudice, memories, worries, hopes, desires – the immeasurable mental weight distracts them from seeing the beauty that surrounds them. Awakening is nothing more than the systematic removal of these layers of distraction.
Curiosity ignites passion, taking us outside of time and into the realm of infinite possibility. Don’t wait for life to fall into place before you enjoy these innocent, childlike aspects of yourself. Celebrate this breath, this step… and create spaces of wonder in the Now. Follow your bliss to places unknown knowing that you are loved and supported each and every step of the way.

Expressions of the Divine

“To the poet, to the philosopher, to the saint, all things are friendly and sacred, all events profitable, all days holy, all men divine.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson~
When I behold beauty I often pause a moment in wonderment and gratitude. The energy is fleeting, constantly in motion. What captures my eye and my camera one day may be completely gone the next. This realization has reinforced my desire to be fully present, aware and appreciative. As life changes form, I celebrate infinite potential in motion.
Granted, it’s far easier to recognize divine energy in a flower or the laughter of a child than it is when faced with anger or dysfunction; however, as awakening souls, we are called upon to cultivate the ability to embrace what is, honoring the Oneness that connects us.
Each of us is a sacred work in progress. Pay attention to the numerable delights at hand and immerse yourself in the Now. Rather than seeking to possess, appreciate. Rather than seeking to win, interact. Instead of clinging, allow. Ultimately, your soul wants nothing more than to be a source of love and transformation. Each step of the process is necessary and beautiful in its own way

Right Action

“Step into the fire of self-discovery. This fire will not burn you, it will only burn what you are not.”
~Mooji~

There is no need to struggle. As you move to higher levels of consciousness, you’ll naturally learn to find the flow of life and move into it rather than fight against it. The human tendency is to create stress. Anxiety, tension, fear and worry are so commonplace that many have come to believe that dysfunctional states are natural and unavoidable.

The process of awakening is not about change. It is the incremental release of everything that weighs us down. Layer by layer we let go of old patterns, beliefs, conditioning, expectations, resentments and ego-created stories until there is nothing left. In that space of no-thingness, we learn to love and experience things as they are. We become the space in which transformation occurs.

Imagine how much energy you’d have to utilize in the present moment if you were completely clear of unnecessary baggage. The gifts of transformation are already within you, waiting to be discovered. Enlightenment is a process rather than a destination.

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.