A Hidden Perk Of Walking The Dog

Without a doubt, I've known that walking my dog, Cody, is great exercise.  Yesterday, after a day of things not going quite right, I also found that walking the dog was a catalyst for happiness.

It was interesting to notice the transformation as I decided to strike out on a longer walk than usual with Cody.  As we started out, I was still feeling tense from issues at work and trying to figure out the best way for me to deal with the issues.

Feeling overwhelmed by trying to find a solution, I decided to let it go and be present for the walk.  Occasional thoughts of what wasn't working drifted back into my mind but I made the conscious choice to let them go.

Walking further and rounding the corner, my thoughts also took a turn into one of forgiveness as I silently repeated the Ho'oponopono mantra in my head.  My steps felt a little lighter with each repetition and my pace settled into a nice, easy rhythm.

Continuing on into a local neighborhood, I soon began noticing the people outside, going about their day in seemingly good spirits.  I would say a friendly hello and smile, and that was returned to me by every single person I encountered.

As Cody and I made our last turn toward home, I realized that my spirit had lifted quite a bit.  I felt....good.  So much better than when I had started out on this 2-mile jaunt.

And, by the time we reached our front steps, I felt a joy inside for my beautiful new home and all the things I had to be grateful for.

Of course, Cody was oblivious to all of this going on with me.  He was simply smiling and panting from the enjoyment of being out on a walk and looking forward to a nice long drink of water - and maybe a treat or two.

I wonder, sometimes, if I overthink my spiritual practices as a solution for where my day may take me. Maybe it's just a matter of enjoying time outside and the simplicity of walking the dog.  And maybe that in itself is the spiritual practice.

So, today, I set the intention to trust that the simple things like walking the dog might just be exactly what is needed to bring me back to living in the present and forgiving the upset of the day.

"This being human is a guest house.  Every morning, a new arrival."  

~Rumi

"Very little grows on jagged rock.  Be grounded.  

Be crumbled so wildflowers will come up where you are."  

~Hafiz

Affirmative prayer:
Taking a breath in and letting my heart expand, my thoughts turn to the all-good of God.  It is a sweet presence of love and light.  It is the joyful presence of that still, small voice within.  It is the One Divine Presence that moves through each day with ease and grace.

This Divine Presence delights in reminding me who I am - a child of the Universe, a channel through which Spirit expresses magnificently.  I am outrageous prosperity and abundance that circulates perfectly and, as such, I am open at the top as an instrument for Source.

Secure in this knowing, I allow Spirit to surround me and guide me into something even better than I can imagine.  I recognize the stressors of the day and let them go.  Instead, I focus my thoughts on the good in my life as I walk outside in the warm sunshine, listening to the birds sing and realizing it is the voice of Spirit.  I celebrate the freedom of choice I have to discover new paths as I journey through life as Sandy.  I welcome the joy and happiness that emerges through simple tasks like walking the dog.  And I affirm that I am surrounded by love and laughter, thankful to be alive!

Cherishing this knowing, I am thankful for the wonderful unfolding of each day in right and perfect ways.  I am grateful that as I remain in the present moment, the gifts of the Universe appear as if by magic.  And I say "Thank You, Sweet Spirit", for the blessings and everyday miracles that light my path and fill my soul.

From this place of deep gratitude, I release my prayer to the Divine Action of the Law, knowing it is already done.  I am free and worthy to receive, every day.  Amen.  Alleluia.  And so it is.

Photo my own

Knowing (vs. Hoping)

The idea of hope is magical - wishing and thinking and dreaming of the life you'd love to have.

A sporty new car.

A loving marriage/partnership.

A lovely house in a perfect neighborhood.

For me, it turns out, hope is really the expectation of how I'd like things to be, NOT the expectancy that they are here now, just waiting to find me.  On top of that, it puts life into a neat and tidy box of exactly what it must look like.

But what if the Universe wants to provide something even better than I hope for?

Here's where the amazing power of 'knowing' comes into play.  If you start to focus on knowing the car you've been drooling over is yours now - you're driving, listening to the awesome stereo system, enjoying the leather seats, and of course, it's easily affordable - pretty soon, things are lining up and it seems that miracles are happening.

Added to that, what if you 'know' what you want is yours now, and then - you simply allow.  You don't keep worrying that it's not going to happen, that you're not really deserving, that it would be too expensive anyway.  You follow your inner voice that directs you to talk with someone or email someone or go to a certain place - before you realize it, all these events have steered you to that car you KNEW was yours.

It takes practice to 'know' and to 'allow' but test it out for yourself.  Trust that the Universe knows what you need and what you want and, believe that when you get out of the way, something even better shows up.

So, where do YOU see 'knowing' working in your life?

Today, I set the intention to practice 'knowing' that what I want in my life is here now and I simply need to allow it to be revealed.

"Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, 

he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game." 

~Voltaire

"You are not a drop in the ocean.  You are the entire ocean in a drop." 

~Rumi

Affirmative Prayer:
Turning within, there is an Infinite Presence that shines; glorious and magnificent, a welcoming Presence that is the core essence of Life itself.

This Infinite Presence is ever so alive within me, ever so strong within me.  I live from the truth that Spirit is expressing as me in every moment.  And, I am filled with awe as a Divine Power calls me grace and harmony, beauty and peace.

Every day, I choose to live life fearlessly as Spirit expands the visions and dreams I have for my life.  I live my life from a place of knowing; knowing that I am deserving of all the good that is arriving daily; knowing that I am worthy of the best in my work, in my job, in my relationships.  I affirm the possibilities for success are everywhere and I only need allow myself to be guided to see those possibilities revealed.  And I sit in wonder and expectancy as Infinite Intelligence works miracles all around me, blessing me daily.

I am grateful for the Divine inner wisdom that guides my steps and always has my back.  I give great thanks that something wonderful is always happening and I am filled with gratitude that the more I know and trust in Spirit, the more I see it done unto me as I believe.

From a place of pure joy, I release my prayer to the Divine Action of the Law, knowing it is already done.  I open my arms and receive the gifts of Spirit.  And I let it be so.  And so it is.

Photo courtesy of Steve Grosbois/Flickr

A Powerful Behavior That Could Be A Game-Changer

Change is a constant part of life.  I don't think anyone would disagree with that statement.  And - there are some who embrace change and there are some who will run far, far away from change.

It's funny but I really thought that the more I grew in my spiritual practice, the more things in my life would change.  Instead, what I've seen is that the changes I've been experiencing have been small.  In fact, over the past year, I've had very little change.

Is it that my spiritual foundation is so strong now that I simply move through the changes and barely notice them?  I find that hard to believe.

I can SEE fabulous opportunities for change.  Who wouldn't like more money in their bank account or to lose a little more weight or to have a better relationship with their family.

And it's NOT that I'm unhappy that I haven't been inundated with changes.  But I believe that change is a great opportunity to explore thoughts and feelings that I often didn't even realize I had.  It's a way to meet a new part of myself that had been under wraps.   It creates a space for some spring cleaning for my soul.

So has my personal growth stalled?  If there's no change, how am I supposed to pull out my creative ways of dealing with it?  (Wow, I think I'm coming full circle on my thoughts from a few weeks ago about hitting a ceiling in my spiritual growth.)

What I can FEEL is that there is some change bubbling up from within me.  For me, that feeling reminds me to deepen my connection to the Divine.  Maybe this time of little change is a nudge to keep building on that connection, to really fall in love with Spirit.

There was a song playing on the radio recently and it's a more "Christian" type of song but it beautifully stated what I'm coming to believe about my relationship with the Universe.

"it's gotta be/ more like falling in love/ 

than something to believe in/ 

more like losing my heart/ 

than giving my allegiance"

Now there is a thought to contemplate  - falling in love with the Divine.  

Dr. Patrick Cameron said recently that "Gratitude is one of the key spiritual practices for transformation, because gratitude shifts us into a greater alignment with Source...it is a pathway to greater love."  And, I have to admit that, while I am certainly grateful for things occasionally, I've been hit or miss including this as part of my regular practice.

So, as I seek to take my relationship with Spirit even deeper, gratitude will be essential.  As part of the daily intention and affirmation practice I have been working on, I'm adding a gratitude list as a way to finish it off.  Six things to be grateful for every day and, as much as possible, they have to be different from the day before.

Demonstrating gratitude will bring more things into our lives to be grateful for.

Gratitude is a powerful behavior that could be a game-changer in my life.  So, as a good friend of mine likes to tell me, I say BRING IT ON!  Oh, and don't forget to breathe....

What are some things YOU are grateful for?  Do you have a gratitude practice?

Today, I set my intention to transform my life through the practice of gratitude, knowing I will move through any changes with ease and with grace and uncover abundance in everything as a result.

"And because all things have contributed to your advancement, 

you should include all things in your gratitude." 

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Your lamp was lit from another lamp.  

All God wants is your gratitude for that.  

~Rumi

Affirmative Prayer:
Hearing the birds sing and the breeze gently move through the wind chimes, there is a recognition of Oneness with all of creation.  And in this Oneness, there is Creative Intelligence that reveals beauty, uncovers wisdom and transforms dreams into reality.

This Creative Intelligence flows through me, seeking to express in new and greater ways as me.  Leaning into this knowledge, I allow joy to surround me and courage to move my feet, excited for the good that flows from embracing this truth.

As I am inspired to step up my practice of gratitude, I accept that abundance and prosperity in all areas of my life will unfold in amazing ways.  Relationships that are loving and kind are revealed as I express gratitude for my current relationships.  And I celebrate my increasing good health as I say Thank You for my current ability to walk and run and dance with a strong heart and lungs filled with life-giving oxygen.  I affirm that I am a better person as I express gratitude to others and gladly help them with a gracious attitude of service.  I love being in love with Life!

I am so grateful for this feeling of excitement that is expressed as my ever-increasing abundance and prosperity are realized.    And I am thankful for the big and the small opportunities that allow me to practice the art of gratitude in my life.  I am filled with gratitude for the blessings that are showered upon me as I stay in this feeling place of thankfulness.

Reveling in the awareness that my life is good, I release my Word to the Divine Action of the Law, knowing it is already done.  I am fully available to what is next.  And I let it be so.  And so it is.

Why You Should Treat Yourself As Someone You Love

"But it is not enough simply to clear the debris of the past.  We must plant what we love in the garden of our life.  As the Tao Te Ching insists, our center will heal us.  When we attend to what is loving and beautiful, we are brought forward into our most exquisite manifestation."  In the book, How, Then, Shall We Live?, Wayne Muller makes that beautiful statement.

I have been staying the course in my personal development work to clear out things that I no longer absolutely love to do in order to be able to judge what I do love and spend more time doing them.  And, I know that in staying the course and taking one step at a time, I am discovering more about what makes me happy.

Those things, then, that make me happy are not only what I should plant in my garden of life, but those are the things I should do A LOT.  For example, knowing that I love music, where is it that I can spend A LOT of my time around music?

As I make those kind of choices, I am realizing how empowering it makes me feel.  I get excited and a little scared at the same time.   That's when it hit home - this is how I felt when I first started dating someone new.

So, maybe I should go out on a date with....myself?

There is a story in the Wayne Muller book that is a beautiful example of treating OURSELVES as someone we love.  The woman in the story, Elizabeth, loved being a mother above all else.  One day, her younger son suffered a traumatic injury resulting in the loss of three fingers and a mangled hand.

Elizabeth felt responsible as there was nothing she could do to "make him whole again".  Recognizing that there were things with her children that were out of her control, the part of her that she loved most - being a mother - started dying and she became powerless.

What also became clear was that it was time for Elizabeth to start something new.  As her children were growing and evolving, so was she.   And, as her children were discovering what they loved, she was free to love herself again.

Treating herself as someone whom she was falling in love with again, she turned to meditation.  Not just 5, 10, or 15 minutes a day.  She jumped into meditation A LOT - a 10-day retreat.

From there, a meditation practice turned into a mediation business which in turn fueled a passion to help others.  That passion ultimately became the Empty Bowls project which serves the poor and hungry in local area communities.

When I read Elizabeth's story, it reminded me that when I love myself first, letting go of the labels of mother, wife, daughter, employee...the Universe celebrates.

It's not that I don't love being a mother or a wife but - MY life has meaning BEYOND that.  And if I postpone what feeds my garden, my garden can wither as the seasons change.

My journey from this point, then, is to treat myself as someone I am in love with.  I will not postpone what has heart and meaning for me.  Instead, I will spend A LOT of time with what nourishes me.

What would you like to spend A LOT of time doing?  What makes you happy?

Today, I set the intention to treat myself as someone I love dearly, spending A LOT of time doing activities that have heart and meaning for me.

"All that we are arises with our thoughts.  Speak or act with a pure mind or heart

 and happiness will follow you as your shadow, unshakable."  

~The Buddha

"Whatever you wish to marry, go absorb yourself in that beloved,

 assume its shape and qualities.  If you wish for the light, prepare yourself 

to receive it; if you wish to be far from God, nourish your egoism and drive yourself away. 

 If you wish to find a way out of this ruined prison, don't turn your head away from the Beloved,

 but bow in worship and draw near."  

~Rumi

Affirmative Prayer:
Breathing in and breathing out, there is a realization of a Creative Source that is present in each moment.  And as the night falls and the stars light up the sky, there is a deep knowing of a Power that is filled with the energy of love and of life.

This energy, this Creative Source, is individualized in me and is seeking an outlet through me.  I step into the embrace of the One, letting everything that is the opposite of peace, of passion, of purpose, fall away and I dwell in the beauty of the Now.

Letting go of any resistance, I feel an amazing grace swell from within as my heart overflows with love.   Affirming my worthiness to receive, I welcome the laughter and the joy that bubbles out from me as I spend time with myself.  The activities I choose make me so happy and I welcome the freedom I have to spend A LOT of time enjoying those activities.  Expressing the Divine Source that is seeking to emerge through me, I am nourished and fulfilled as I follow my heart in my daily choices.  Mundane details are no longer important as I claim the passion and the purpose that is my Divine birthright.  I shine from within as I live my purpose and everyone I meet is touched in beautiful ways that remind them the Universe is working for everyone's highest good.  We simply need to say Yes and let life unfold perfectly.

I am so grateful for the grace of Spirit within me that tells me every day how deserving I am of self-love.  And I give great thanks for my Divine talents and abilities that make me unique and that emerge in amazing ways.  I am filled with gratitude for the Creative Source that magnifies my joy and happiness as I dwell in the areas of life that have great meaning for me.

From this place of gratitude, I release my Word to the Divine Action of the Law, knowing it is already done.  I am now a magnet for opportunity and for success.  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.