Obstacles To Enlightenment

As I re-read Eckhart Tolle's Power of Now, this phrase leaps out at me; "Most people treat the present moment as if it were an obstacle they need to overcome."   Of course, now that the thought is in my consciousness, I also have an awareness of how this shows up in my day-to-day life.

I notice how in the present moment at the grocery store people rush to park and shop and get back out.

I notice how in the present moment at the gym, there is a rush to get on the treadmill, get through the workout and rush on to the next activity of the day.

I notice how in the present moment, a man walking his dog is distracted by his phone, nose down and pulling on the dog to keep going.

And, I am guilty of that same thing.  I push to get through work so I can get to the store, then go home and walk the dog, then cook dinner, then catch up on email and Facebook and Pinterest...and on and on.

In an instant, I see that mindfulness doesn't fit neatly into my 15 minutes of meditation a day.  Mindfulness and being in the present moment are something that is practiced each day in every moment.

So, I've begun again to slow down a bit and give my attention to the present moment.

Walking up the stairs, I enjoy the strength in my legs that let me easily climb up to my bedroom.

Cooking dinner, I inhale the aroma of delicious flavors and give thanks for the food about to grace my table.

Walking the dog, I watch as his ears flop up and down, and his nose twitches as he explores the green grass of a neighbors lawn.

I am remembering to treat the present moment as Life itself, something to savor and experience, filled with beauty and joy, expanding with good beyond my imagination.

Today, I set the intention to surrender to the present moment and embrace it as Life itself as I journey toward enlightenment.  

"Always say 'yes' to the present moment...surrender to what is.  

Say 'yes' to life - and see how life starts suddenly

 to start working for you rather than against you."  

~Eckhart Tolle 

"Enlightenment, joy and peace can never be

 given to you by another.  The well is inside you."  

~Thich Nhat Hanh

Affirmative Prayer:
Sitting in a space of gratitude, there is the recognition of the One Divine Intelligence that is kindness and compassion, beauty and joy, shining light and love over all of creation.  One God.  One Power.  One Presence.  One Life

This One Power and One Presence is made manifest with my life.  It seeks expression through me.  Its beauty flows around me.  Its elegance lives as me.  I am pure bliss and light itself.

I embrace the truth that no matter what, I am fully supported in all that I do.  I accept that I am unique, traveling a path that is mine alone.  I graciously accept the bounty of miracles and blessings that flow into my life daily.  I welcome the expansion into ever-increasing good that comes as I take divine right action.  And, I affirm that as I bring my full awareness to the present moment, a feeling of joy and serenity overtakes me and reminds me that I am the beloved of God.

I am grateful for the clarity of my thoughts and actions as I remain in the present.  I give thanks for the love that surrounds me, even in the smallest of ways - a song that makes me smile, a bird singing in the trees, the moonlight shining through my window.  And, I say Thank You, Sweet Spirit, for the peace that surrounds me in every moment of mindfulness.

From a place of peace and joy, I release my prayer to the Law of Mind, surrendering and letting God take care of the 'how'.  It is done now in amazing ways.  Life is good.  Amen.  Alleluia.  And so it is.

Photo courtesy of Ilker Ender/Flickr

Why Life Will Give You The Experience You Need

For the past few days, I've been busy buzzing around, excited about my new potential career opportunity.  But - I'm also noticing a bit of the angst of moving into new territory.  So, while I feel like I've had an extra dose of caffeine and want to jump right in, my fears about success are also making themselves felt and saying "Whoa, hold on there."

What I've come to understand is that both sides of these emotions are valid.  I know that my excitement about the new opportunity will push me to try something outside of my comfort zone.  I also know that my fears will keep me from pushing too far and going down a path of mistakes and wrong choices that could be avoided.

It's a powerful realization that I have learned enough about life and the Universe and my own nature to see that I don't have to identify with only one way of feeling and thinking.  I can embrace both.  I can get the lesson and change my behavior when necessary.

I've been given an opportunity to go down a path and create something new.  I don't have to dampen my fears and 'positive think' my way through.  And, I don't have to rush through the experience and miss the journey itself.  I just take it one step at a time, notice my thoughts, and let myself be available to the personal growth that will get me from here to something even better than I can imagine.

So, what are YOU learning from your emotions?  Are you seeing the gift in both the positive and the negative emotions?

Today, I set the intention to embrace and learn from both the positive and negative emotions I have, knowing they are teachers and leading me down a path of ever-increasing good.

"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

"All life is an experiment.  The more experiments you make, the better."  

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Affirmative Prayer:
In the wholeness and fullness of this moment, there is a field of infinite possibility, stretched out and inviting the knowing of a Divine Presence.  It is a presence of peace and joy, of harmony and bliss making Itself felt as steadily as the rhythm of a beating heart.

As I stand in this stillness, I see that I am the peace that is at the heart of this Infinite Intelligence.  I am the softness and compassion that moves as gently as a cloud on a quiet summer day, revealing the Creative Wisdom that I call God and allowing it to surround me and flow from within me.

In this awareness of my Oneness with Source, I am clear of my path each day as I take one step forward.  I welcome the ever-increasing good that transforms my experiences into celebrations of learning and wisdom.  I stand deep in the faith that my personal growth is Divinely guided and my evolution into a life filled with meaning and purpose is perfect.  And, I affirm that joy and bliss follow me and that peace and grace sustain me with each opportunity that is presented on my journey of transformation and expansion.

Exhaling into this moment, I am filled with gratitude for the healing that takes place in embracing all of my emotions.  I am thankful that my relationship with myself is evolving into a beautiful knowing that Life is here to support me to thrive.  And I am grateful for each experience that brings with it a pearl of wisdom, a gift that encourages me to reach for higher and better outcomes in the here and now.

From a place of thanksgiving, I release my word to the Divine Action of the Law, knowing it is done and being made manifest in amazing ways.  I let it be so.  And so it is.

Photo courtesy of David Blackwell/Flickr

Are You Willing To Balance Doing With Being?

I have been so out of my routine lately since finishing up my last day at work.  Most of the time, it's been great because I had the free time to spend with family and see my son off to the Air Force.   But - with tomorrow being the big day to take the written practitioner licensing exam, I really need to get some study time in.

Instead, all I'm feeling motivated to do is spend time sitting and daydreaming.

So far, here's my day:
I took the dog for a walk
I went for coffee
I checked email
I spent time on Facebook and watched a TED talk
I decided to run to the grocery store for a few things.

That's when I had to give myself a heart to heart talk.  This exam and becoming a practitioner are VERY important to me.  It's a soul's calling that I have been chasing for four years now.

So, as I stall, I tell myself that I need to make the time to take an hour to buckle down and just pull out the books and notes and flash cards and simply do it.  Funny, but with this being so important, I would have thought I'd have jumped out of bed with so much enthusiasm to study Ernest Holmes and all the New Thought teachings.

Not the case...

The truth is, even when I am free to choose to spend time only on the things that I am driven to do, there is still a strong pull for me to turn off the cell phone and unhook from the world.  The trick is balancing the two so I don't end up worrying about the things I'm NOT doing.

Contemplating this feeling to spend time only in the moment, I've decided that I'll set a timer for one hour and immerse myself in studying.  I'll fulfill any obligations that I've made for the day.  Then, I'm going to take a step in faith that I will know everything I need to know for tomorrow's exam.

And - I'm putting away the books and the notes and the flash cards.

If I really need to study more, I'm certain I'll receive divine guidance that nudges me to sit down again and make some time.  When I am truly tuned into the Universe, just-in-time wisdom does a beautiful job of guiding my next steps.

So, what is your inner wisdom telling YOU what you'd like to spend time doing today?  And, are you listening to it?

Today, I set the intention to follow my inner wisdom, balancing my time between obligations and "me" time, trusting that by listening to divine guidance, my dreams are manifesting beyond anything I can imagine.

"To know yourself as the Being underneath the thinker - the stillness underneath the mental 

noise, the love and joy underneath the pain - is freedom, salvation, enlightenment."  

~Eckhart Tolle

"If you want something in your life you've never had, you must be willing

 to do something you've never done." 

~Thomas Jefferson

Affirmative Prayer:
Honoring the call to stillness in this moment, there is an Infinite Intelligence that is sweetness and beauty and tranquility.  It is perfect health and complete wholeness that is the all-good of Spirit, of Divine Source, of God.

Awakening to this each day, I am immersed in the all-good and surrounded by the wholeness of Spirit.  I am filled with the light of joy that expresses as me, connecting to the heart and soul of every thing that exists in the One Mind.  And, each night, I am filled with a Divine well-being that tells me I can sleep peacefully, relaxing in the embrace of the Beloved.

Honoring my journey, I affirm that inner wisdom is always guiding me with perfect, Divine timing.  My path is well-lit and I accept the love of the Universe that fills my heart to overflowing.  I claim the deep peace that carries me through each day, knowing that my gifts are being revealed in extraordinary ways.  I let go of any mental clutter that tells me "I can't" and I welcome the clarity and the connection to beliefs that tell me "Yes, you can!"  I am unlimited in the possibilities for my life and I remember the freedom and security that are available to me as sure as the sun rises and sets each day.

Deeply grateful for the unconditional love of Spirit, I smile as I am renewed in this love.  I am thankful for the abundant life I live as I take steps toward fulfilling my destiny.  And I am filled with gratitude for the intimate embrace of the Universe that desires only my happiness.

With faith that my life is unfolding in remarkable ways, I release my Word to the Divine Action of the Law, knowing it is already done.  God is at the center of my being and all is well.  And I let it be so.  And so it is!

Photo courtesy of Greg Westfall/Flickr

More Is Possible So Get Used To Starting Again

We live in a Universe of infinite possibility.  You hear that quite a bit if you hang out in any New Thought community for a while or listen to shows like Oprah's Super Soul Sunday.  For me, that means just because I think I've reached the pinnacle of something, does not mean that I have maxed out.  There is ALWAYS more that is possible.

I really believe this comes up for me now because I am reaching the culmination of my Practitioner studies.  I've finished my last official class and submitted my application.  I still have to take a written and oral exam but I feel pretty good that, as long as I work with my study group, there will be no major hiccups.

So I'm wondering, where do I go from here?  Have I hit a ceiling in my spiritual growth studies?  That might seem silly since there are so many opportunities to learn, whether its Oprah's show or listening to Hay House Radio or live streaming people like Michael Bernard Beckwith.

And I don't believe I'm anywhere near the mystic abilities of someone like Eckhart Tolle or Wayne Dyer or Deepak Chopra.  All the same, that feeling is there and exists within me.

What comes to mind is, maybe, this is part of the dance between the human side of me and the Divine side of me.  From all that I have learned, I know that my soul chose to be here at this time - to do THIS dance at THIS time.  My soul compels me to get up each morning and take action during my day.

Maybe I've become so wrapped up on my spiritual path that I'm neglecting what's happening in the world.  Maybe that is why I feel like I've hit a ceiling.

The Universe is trying to tell me that it might be time for a reset.  Yep, another growth opportunity.

Rather than look at the human and the Divine as opposites, I need to learn how I can integrate them into something that works for me.  How do I take everything that I have learned over the past two years and incorporate them into the ongoing journey of my life?

Well - on the human side, I know I need to take action.  And I'm doing that by looking at what I love and moving in that direction.  I also know I have to shed some baggage and let go of things that I no longer love doing.  Both of those I wrote about recently and I'm making some good progress.

Now that I'm on my way to becoming a clean slate and starting from scratch, my Divine side tells me to go back to my imagination once again and make time to dream.  Recognizing that the Universe is unlimited, I can start to picture bigger ideas for my life.

And, I can start to mold my thoughts, consciously grooming them so that I create not only the things I love to do as the human side of me, but blend them with the Divine side that tells me I am filled with a power and a force that can reach anywhere and experience anything.

So -  I continue with the dance, surrendering to the music of the Universe and honoring my human side with every conscious thought I have.

What are some possibilities for your life?  And what are you choosing to create for yourself today?

Today I set the intention that each morning I wake up and claim my opportunity to create a life of amazing possibilities, allowing the dance between the physical and the Divine to work together in magical ways.

"Paradoxically, your soul thrives on chaos because it recognizes the hand of 

the divine at work in upheavals that push you toward transformation."  

~Caroline Myss

"One of the great difficulties in the new order of thought is that we are 

likely to indulge in too much theory and too little practice.  As a matter of fact, 

we only know as much as we can prove by actual demonstration."  

~Ernest Holmes

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Affirmative Prayer:
Breathing in deeply and exhaling slowly, there is the recognition in that breathe of an Infinite Intelligence, an Infinite Wisdom, an Infinite Power.  It is an electric force of beauty, of joy, of happiness, of peace and It is filled with grace in every moment of the day.

Relaxing into this Divine Force, I surrender to this moment, allowing the full expression of Spirit, of Source, of God, to flow through and around and as me.  I am expressing perfectly as a Divine Being, eager to step into the transformation that occurs as a beautiful part of Life.

As I step into the dance of my journey, I claim that everything I need for my next steps comes to me before I even know that I need them.  I focus on what is working well and I go forward from there, welcoming the amazing possibilities of prosperity and infinite abundance that are revealed as I seek them.  I let go of thoughts of lack and of limitation and I move away from fear.  Instead, I choose faith, love, and peace, using my thoughts to co-create a life that pushes me to thrive!  The more I trust the Divine Power that guides me, the more my life opens up to experiences of wealth, of health and of miracles.  Knowing that I am enough just as I am, I affirm that my life is magical, filled with opportunities even better than I can imagine.

I am so grateful for this truth -  that Divine Power is my nature and the Universe has my back.  My heart is filled to overflowing with thanks for the wonderful life I am co-creating with Spirit.  And, I am thankful for the peace that transcends as the evidence of wealth, health and miracles come out of seemingly nowhere.

From a place of joy, I release my Word to the Divine Action of the Law, knowing it is already done.  My good is right here, right now.  And I let it be so.  And so it is!

The Freedom in Tasting Life

I am always reminded of how much of life truly is a journey. I was again reminded of that reading the section of Mark Nepo’s Seven Thousand Ways To Listen, titled In the Presence of Sages. When I listen to or read anything by Eckhart Tolle, it is a good reminder to be present in the moment and fully available for what is happening now.

For me, Nepo takes that even a step farther when he talks about “tasting” life.

It’s not just about being present and aware but about experiencing what is happening and letting it flow through you. And, it is what makes this life such a wonderful journey.

I can reflect and contemplate all that I want about life but when I internalize all that I am experiencing, it allows me to tap into a Divine Wisdom that knows exactly what is for my highest and best in this life. It allows me the freedom to be who I am AND it tames my ego which says I must judge people and situations and circumstances.

 I do not have to judge any of it – I simply need to lean in and experience it.

I believe it is also this tasting, this internalizing, that allows me to work through and move past any limiting race consciousness beliefs. When I consider the idea that I continue to repeat the same mistakes, it seems like a daunting task to undo any limiting beliefs.

But, instead of running away from those experiences that seem less than ideal, when I allow them to be felt, to be honored and then to be released, I seem to move to another level of understanding. The same goes for moments of joy and beauty.

Rather than rush through them on the way to another experience, when I savor them and revel in them, I am filled with a deeper “consciousness of good” as Ernest Holmes calls it. Further, Holmes says that the consciousness of good “acts as a law of right action.”

 I am no longer limited in my experiences but am open to endless possibilities for “tasting” and for expressing God as Sandy. I am open to be who I came here to be.

So, today, I set the intention to taste life, letting every experience flow through me, knowing I am free to be exactly who I am called to be.

"Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment."  ~Rumi

"Be patient and loving with every fearful thought.  Practice observing your fears as a witness, as you'll see them dissolve."  ~Wayne Dyer

Affirmative Prayer:
In every moment, there is a clarity that all is Divine Intelligence, that all is Divine Wisdom, that all is God.  This Wisdom and Intelligence guides in ways that inspire wonder at the magic of life.

And from this place of wonder is a knowing that this same Wisdom and Intelligence moves through me, uplifting me in ways that are magical.  I sit in anticipation of the good of God that expresses as me as I travel this path that is laid out before me.

My life is filled with endless possibilities and I remain present to each opportunity to taste and to experience life to its fullest.  I have a great destiny that is always unfolding in amazing ways and I am free to be exactly who I am called to be.  In this freedom, I take each step, knowing that my steps are guided by Grace and by Love. There is no need to fear or worry - all is well in my life and keeps getting better each and every day.  The Universe has my back and I can feel the pulsating of Source eagerly encouraging me to be brave, to take a chance, and to feel blessed that bigger and better plans are lining up to meet me, better than I can even imagine.

I am so thankful for the love, the joy and the prosperity that I receive each day.  And I am grateful for a Spirit that always says Yes!  Go for it!  I give great thanks for the support of a loving Universe that creates through me.

And from this place of love, I release my Word to the Divine action of the Law, knowing it is done, it is manifest and becoming form in this very moment.  And I let it be so.  And so it is.