Pressure

There’s no pressure like the pressure we place upon ourselves. The mind creates several “must-haves” to generate stress and tension and the day seems to speed up as we go along. In reality, there’s plenty of time. As conscious creators, we have the ability to slow down our perception of time and bring Presence into the forefront of our experience.

When you notice that the body is holding tension, take a moment to go inward and observe. Pay attention to the stories of the ego and seek to bring in the opposite energy. A simple approach is to close your eyes, if possible, and breathe slowly and deeply for a few moments. Focus on the task immediately at hand and then give it your full attention. This ensures that the best of you is being accessed in the present moment. A higher quality of energy will flow into whatever you choose to do. You will then be able to drop attachment and move forward knowing that you’ve done what is needed.

Become aware of the excessive demands that you place upon yourself. Some things are habitual, some are necessary for our daily experience, and some are to impress others. Seek only to have a playful, empowered life experience. You are the bridge between the spiritual and the mundane.

Transforming Stress

It’s important to listen to the messages of the body. Periodically, still the mind and go inward. Really tune in and notice if you are holding stress in a particular area, clenching the jaw or holding your breath. If so, close your eyes and breathe deeply and rhythmically. Place your focus on the flow and just be.

Now that you’ve identified that stress is present, turn your attention to any scripts that are playing in the mind and observe your surroundings. What is causing you to tighten up? If it’s in your power to change the atmosphere, do so and see how your body responds. You may discover that certain people, music or actions are pulling your energy out of balance.

If nothing can be physically changed, you can either remove yourself or move into acceptance. The present moment is your gateway to transformation. Utilize stressful situations as an opportunity to cultivate your awareness. Observation and conscious presence are sometimes  enough to reduce the stress. Remind yourself, “This, too, shall pass.”

Another powerful tool is purposeful movement. Walk, shake it off, use EFT, work out or dance. Rather than holding the energy, find a healthy way to release it. You are far more powerful than you realize.

Appreciation

Your first thoughts and actions upon awakening dictate how the energy of the day will be experienced. When you consciously choose appreciation and gratitude, you open to receive the love that flows upon you from all dimensions.
Longing is another form of suffering. Rooted in some undetermined future, it robs us of the ability to experience the vibrancy and potential of the present moment. The enlightened spirit takes full responsibility for their own state of consciousness. Seek to adjust your inner dialogue whenever necessary and observe how you choose to respond to the present moment. This simple movement of awareness is transformative.
Human intimacy, and all the emotional aspects it contains, provides the richness of spiritual life. Many seek to rise above the mundane as an aspect of their spiritual journey; however, the repudiation of worldly interaction can sometimes become the ego’s way of grabbing hold through denial or judgment. Anyone can be zen while meditating on a mountaintop. The spiritual master brings that sense of peace into each and every relationship.

Be willing to be vulnerable as you participate in the experiences of your life. Conscious choices are always available when you remember that every situation is an active, integral part of your awakening. The present moment brings what the present moment brings. Live it. Release the word “should” from your vocabulary, it indicates expectation rather than acceptance.

Challenges Expand Consciousness

“When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.”
~Paulo Coelho~

The soul seek to expand into new areas of awareness and the challenges we face, both personal and collective, play a powerful role in our development. Your attention begins the process of transformation. Bring a gentle self-awareness to the patterns that repeat and purposely seek to change your approach. When you break free of habitual responses, something new begins to emerge.

The tools that you have cultivated along the way become stronger when you have the opportunity to consciously utilize them. Rather than resist the tidal flow of energy, seek to flow with it and face any challenges that arise when they are still small.  See the field of life as a place to observe wisdom in action. Your higher self is guiding you throughout the process of awakening.

Choosing Joy

“Let us dance in the sun, wearing wild flowers in our hair…”
~susan polis schutz~

You are here to experience everything that life has to offer. It’s powerful to remember that, in every moment, you can consciously choose how you interpret your experiences. When you view the present moment through the filter of joy, you bring a higher awareness into any situation.

Life is filled with contrasts. Joy helps us to discover purpose, solutions, healing and strength in circumstances that can often be fraught with challenge. Your love is the guiding light during moments of darkness, and your willingness to walk forward will bring you once again into the realm of joy and empowerment.

Wisdom is attained through experience. Our challenges provide opportunities to strengthen aspects of our character that are ready to shine. Proceed, knowing that you are right where you need to be and that all you need to discover is waiting for your attention. Laugh at your foibles, and realize that you do not need to wait for a reason to celebrate. You can dance in the rain knowing that sunny days are ahead. And, if all else fails, lose yourself in the smile of a dog.

Here and Now

“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.”

~Thich Nhat Hanh~

You can cultivate a powerful connection with life by going deeper into the present moment. Consciously release any distractions and travel inward. All the wisdom, peace and joy you seek is within you. It’s time that you come home to yourself.

You may consider creating or re-energizing your sacred space as part of the shift into the new year. Whether you have a meditative corner, a magic room or a zen garden, it’s life-affirming to have a space filled with your own peaceful energy.

I often pause on my gratitude walks to be inspired by the trees. Breathing deeply, I visualize my roots drinking from the energy of our beautiful planet and know that my innate way of being changes the world around me. This spiritual synthesis inspires unconditional love and acceptance.

Every experience provides an opportunity for enrichment. Live totally and intensely, so that each moment is filled with the sacred gifts of love, light and laughter. Rediscover magic and inspiration and celebrate the journey. The quiet grace of living with intention can be a powerful tool for expansion.

 

Consciousness

“As we grow in our consciousness.. there will be more compassion and more love. And then… the barriers between people.. between religions.. and between nations will begin to fall.”
~Ram Dass~

There’s no great trick to expanding one’s consciousness; however, the ego will often distract with excessive thought, perpetuating a belief that one needs a particular type of spiritual experience or insight in order to achieve enlightenment. Many run from one spiritual fad to another never realizing the beauty and simplicity of becoming deeply immersed within the present moment.

Books, teachers and experiences are all pointers to truths that reside within each of us. We tend to get inspired when we discover someone with whom we harmonize at the deepest level. Utilize these insights by immediately putting them into practice as much as possible.

Challenges offer opportunities to expand consciousness. First, become aware of any imbalance. Awareness allows a moment of observation of the antics of the ego-mind. Our initial response will be either reactive or conscious. Simply notice. Reactivity prolongs the discomfort while a conscious response takes ownership and expresses itself in a healthy way. Rather than using the mind to understand consciousness, use life as a vehicle to experience it.

Consider the Flowers…

“The smallest flower is a thought, a life answering to some feature of the Great Whole, of whom they have a persistent intuition.”
~Honore de Balzac~
Life embraces the present moment. It offers beauty and growth, change and delight. The flowers strive to receive the sun, the trees breathe with patience, the weather ebbs and flows… and we, we who consider ourselves masters of all, often wreak havoc, discord and dysfunction.
This is the moment of transformation. We have an opportunity to spread seeds of love in celebration of life. The seeds you share are a natural byproduct of your spiritual awakening. Some may flower, some may quietly wait, but all hold the potential for change.
Be like a garden that emits beauty and scent with wild abandon to all that come near. When the Joy of Being seeks to express itself through you, allow it to shine like a beacon in the darkness. Kindnesses are transformative, and often the littlest things have the greatest impact.

Inner Beauty

“Beauty isn’t in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.”
~Kahlil Gibran~

You bring something beautiful and unique to the world. When we drop man-made imprinting and self-criticism, we create a space where something new can emerge. Seek to engage in an inner dialogue that is supportive, kind and adventurous. There is an art to living fully immersed in the beauty of the present moment – see it, experience it. Wherever you are, be the soul of that place.

As a child of light you are entire, complete; nothing is missing, you are fulfilled. One act of trust leads to another, and another. And when doubt arises, choose to see through it and trust anyway. This creates a momentum of transformation and your true potential shines through.
Once you learn to see life as an opportunity to love, a new quality arises in your experience. Begin within. Turn your gratitude and appreciation inward. It will naturally be reflected to you through the whole of existence.