Something more

We want so desperately to believe that there is something more to life; something beyond our touch, beyond our system of beliefs that keep us stuck doing the same things over and over again while at the same time swearing that we want to change.  We grasp hold of this idea that there is more, more wonder, more spiritual knowing, more awe, and especially more experiences of unconditional, non-judgmental love beyond measure.  Yet we are surrounded by the miracles of this love every moment of every day and we see only the same ole same ole.  We are blind to the very wonder we seek.  We are ready to give up everything for what we seek only to find that we have it already.  We simply choose in every moment to look the other way.  We look at our day-to-day lives as if they are simply a symphony of blistering notes that remind us of what we lack, what we are not good at, what mistakes we’ve made, and what a loser we really are.  We are deaf to the wonderous melody that plays in the background of every incident, encounter, and moment of opportunity; the beautiful, awe inspiring music of the miraculous weaves the threads of our lives into and around one another so that our music is their music and we are one with all there is.

It is no wonder that we do not see the divine in every act and every scene for we have been taught to pick, pick, pick, at the air with our finger to show that we are keeping score to see who is winning and who is losing when there is no scoreboard.  We have been taught to gloss over everything and skim through the important so that we can get through it faster only to find that we missed the obvious, the miraculous staring us in the face.  We have been taught to be only aware but not awake.  What could we be if we stopped the wheel from spinning so fast into the abyss?  We could be, really be, here and now without agenda, without doubt, without pretense, just be if for only a minute.  For that would change the world for the moment.  For that would change your mind and that would change your thoughts and that would change your words and that would change the world.

Simple Thought #2 - Love or Fear

One day I decided to look closely at my thoughts.  I found that when I spoke I used the words, "I'm afraid" a lot.  I would say, "I'm afraid I won't be able to accept that invitation.  I'm afraid that date is out of the question.  I would love to come by on Thursday but I'm afraid I won't have enough time to spend with you so let's make it another day."  And the list went on and on.  I had never realized how many times I used the words "I'm afraid."  So I asked myself, "What are you so afraid of?"  I didn't have a good answer. 

Much of my life's decisions had been made in a sense of fear that I would somehow be disappointing someone, my husband, my children, my parents, my boss, my employees, etc.  I began to be much more aware of the words I was using in all my conversations and found that fear truly ruled my life.  That was in 2004 and the journey to freeing myself from the fear has brought tears and joy beyond measure.  The best decision I ever made was to take a look at my thoughts because your words follow from your thoughts. 

The idea that fear was running my life seemed ridiculous until I took a look at the words I used on a daily basis.  Try it.  You might find it surprising.

What truly made the difference was when I began ever so slowly to decide from Love instead of fear.  Taking it one small decision at a time.  Allowing myself to fall back and not beat myself up but just keep moving forward allowed me to gently improve my skills each week.  Now things were getting easier and making sense.  The experience of seeing through thoughts of Love allowed me to forgive others which allowed me to forgive myself.  Naturally this was not an overnight accomplishment but the peace came much easier and faster through the eyes of Love.  Love is all there is.  Namaste.

Simple Thought #1 - Magic in Your Words

Many people are truly searching for a way to make lasting change in their lives because they are not happy with the results they are currently getting.  They are unaware of the link between cause and effect and the power of their words which are the result of the thoughts they think.  They think that the answer lies out there somewhere outside themselves.  The truth is simply that the answer has always been quietly waiting within which is where all answers lie.  

If you want to see things, situations, people, etc. change before your very eyes...change your thoughts.  I know you've probably heard that one before and tried with all your might to change your thoughts only to realize that it is easier said than done.  But instead of going through your past and finding out why you think the way that you do, I'm going to make it much, much simpler for you to begin right away to win the battle with your thoughts.  

In A Course in Miracles there is a simple phrase that takes you directly to the core of any situation and allows your incessant fearful, negative thinking to be suspended for a short time.  Use this phrase in each and every situation no matter how big or small - "I am willing to see things differently."

Your willingness to view any situation through the eyes of Love instead of fear (see Simple Thought #2) will begin to bring about the changes you seek and in ways you never even imagined.  There is magic in those words that would take a long time to explain (and the Course in Miracles does a magnificent job of explaining it) but if you are ready to move forward this is your magic incantation that works on you, not on them because it is impossible to change another person on the planet (as I'm sure you already know from experience) but when You change, everyone around you changes.  Namaste.