I Create My Future

It's New Year's Eve and I find myself, as most people do on this day, reflecting on the past and thinking about the future.  As I stand on the precipice of one year and look toward taking the leap into another, my mind can conjure up all sorts of busy thoughts about the endless possibilities, both positive and negative.  But before I get too carried away with all this thinking, I remember to breathe, focus, and ask for guidance.  In a flash, I realize that there is no precipice - that time is only a construct of the conscious mind and reality is a  continuous flow, created, moment by moment, by the choices that I make.

The future really only exists in my imagination.... I can plan, dream, envision what I would like my life to become and, because thought eventually creates reality, my dreams may actually come true in Divine right timing. But I need to be careful about what my thoughts dwell on.  If I am terrified of something bad happening and focus on this instead, I am bringing negative energy into my life and sabotaging my well-being in the process.

As I meditate on this for a moment, I realize that habitual negative thinking patterns are rooted in the past: mistakes, failures, and losses that we have allowed to become ingrained in forming who we are rather than learning from and letting go.  Past mistakes do not define us, they are part of our learning process and are stepping stones to a higher reality if we move past them and continually embrace whatever is praiseworthy.

This New Year's Eve, I am challenged to change my thinking, to release old patterns and habits that no longer serve my Highest good, and to envision the future with hope.

Thoughts of the future can be fearful or awesome...the choice is mine

All is Calm

This morning, I woke to a mind already chattering with its list of last minute holiday preparations and I couldn't seem to clear my head.  A little later, out walking through the neighborhood with Shamus my dog, the words to my favorite Christmas hymn floated into my awareness:  "Silent Night, Holy Night, All is Calm, All is Bright...", just as the sun peaked out from the clouds and the faint dusting of snow lit up like sparkling diamonds.  Suddenly, the flurry of busyness that had plagued me disappeared in the clarity of the moment.  The message was clear: stop, pause, reflect on the silent beauty that runs like a current behind the facade of the frantic pace of conscious life and be thankful for all.

As I reflected on the song that inspired my change of heart this morning, I looked up its origins, which I had heard a little of before.  "Silent Night, Holy Night" was composed by Joseph Muhr and Franz Gruber in Obendorf bei Salzburg, Austria in 1818.  One beautiful, clear night in the weeks before Christmas, Joseph Muhr was walking along the river and stopped to gaze at the water,  meditating and envisioning the beauty of the first Christmas.  The lyrics to the hymn came to him as a flood of inspiration and he asked his friend and fellow musician Gruber to help him compose music to go along with the words.  They performed the song by guitar at Christmas Mass of that year and the rest, as they say, is history.

This Christmas, may we each find time to be still, to affirm that "all is calm, all is bright" and to be filled with the peace that passes all understanding.

Love Casts Out Fear

We live in a culture of fear- people are mistrustful of others, of the government and of the dangers in society. Certainly it is wise to be cautious when we are facing a real danger such as an icy road or a wild animal. Sometimes though, fear can be irrational and may lead to excessive worrying and eventually, physical or emotional problems that are difficult to resolve on our own.  At these times, it's important to remind ourselves that we are loved, and that love has the power to cast out fear.

Human love, of course, is integral to our relationships and daily lives, but it is not perfect.  Only Divine love is perfect, accepts us fully and completely as we are, and is given freely, without restriction.  We simply have to create space within and ask, in a quiet moment, to be given the gift of God's love and then affirm that it is so. 

We can be freed from fear when we know that we are loved, because we can trust that, no matter what our present circumstances, all things will work out for the best. 

Breathe in fully and deeply, creating space for the gift of Divine love, healing, and protection. This love is free flowing and unmeasured; there is no fear of lack. Affirm that you are cared for and that all will be well.  Then release the love that now fills your heart, first to yourself, then out into the world.   

Namaste: The Divine in me sees the Divine in you

What is My Daily Offering?

 Whenever I share something from my heart, I am making an offering, whether it's a tangible gift, a simple prayer, a hug, or an act of service. 

I ask myself today: Is what I am offering to others positive and uplifting, or am I offering worry, stress or anger? If I am not in a good place, I can spend a few moments in sacred silence, seeking Spirit's healing touch. I sit in quiet meditation and release worried thoughts by reciting a mantra: "Peace, be still", until I find my place of inner calm.

I can carry this calm with me throughout the day, by breathing and mentally revisiting this place whenever an anxious thought enters.

When there is peace in my heart, I am able to give more freely and authentically of myself and spread the true "goodwill" that we sing about in the songs of the season.

Keep a Place in Your Heart for Memories

The holidays can be bittersweet for those of us who've lost loved ones.  Our memories of them are like treasure boxes that we keep hidden in our hearts, bringing out from time to time to admire. We know that nothing will ever be the same, holiday traditions are forever altered, yet we hold onto what we remember because it is all that we have left. As we move forward in life, everything around us may change, yet the love that we've shared with those who've passed endures forever.

There is pain and sadness intertwined with the happy memories, because the loss of a loved one is a wound that never fully heals; there will always be a scar.  It's important to let go of any regret, guilt or unforgiveness and move on, but the reality is that we will always miss the physical presence of the one who has left. Loss is one of the harsh lessons of life and reminds us to be fully present always, because life is fragile.

Take a moment today to remember those loved ones who have passed; reflect on their contributions to your life and to the lives of others. Honor them by keeping alive traditions that were important to them, or sharing stories about them at family gatherings. Record memories in a journal, or reflect on something that they have written or done (music, favorite recipes, artwork, etc.) and share with others.  Spend time in meditation, focusing on their spirit, which lives on eternally....

  Keep your memories alive and treasure them in your heart.  

Every Day is a Gift

At this time of year, our thoughts are focused on gifts - we are making lists, shopping, wrapping and anticipating gift giving and receiving. For many, there's a certain amount of anxiety that goes along with it: budgets are stretched thin as we stress about what to buy for each person and how to find the time to do it all.

In the midst of all this, it's good to remind ourselves that the simplest gifts in life are free.  Just to wake up each morning, breathe fresh air, see the sun (when it makes an appearance) and have the strength to do the tasks that are before us each day are gifts.  We participate in this thing called life because we were given the gift of being; we were miraculously created and are being renewed day by day.  We have families, co-workers, friends, pets, homes and so much more to be thankful for. Our lives are blessed tremendously by everything we take for granted.

We live our lives as if tomorrow is an assurance, but there are no guarantees.  There is only today, this moment, ever unfolding and becoming tomorrow as we follow its path. May we do so thoughtfully, faithfully, with reverence for the simple beauty of the greatest gift of all - life itself.

Take time to pause, breathe in the beauty of this moment  and give thanks...

Balance is Key

Is your life feeling in balance today?  Sometimes, we can get so busy that we don't even notice when things are out of balance; there may be just a general feeling of not being right with the world.

Our bodies are each a microcosm of the universe: intricately designed, finely balanced; we are largely unaware of the amazing processes that occur everyday.  Yet, if we are paying attention, we can sense when we are out of balance, when things just don't feel right, whether it's physical, psychological or spiritual,   In fact, our minds, bodies and spirits are so interconnected that it's often difficult to tell what may be causing our feeling of imbalance.

The scientific name for our state of inner physical balance is "homeostasis".  Basically, what this means is that, whatever is going on in our external environment, our body is able, through its physiological processes, to maintain a constant temperature, blood sugar and electrolyte level, blood pressure, and so on.  As long as we eat healthy food, exercise and get enough rest, we can generally maintain our homeostasis. We know when we are becoming ill, because one or more of these systems is temporarily disrupted and we feel unwell.

So too with our psychological/spiritual/emotional bodies - when we nurture ourselves with daily quiet time, uplifting thoughts, prayer and meditation, our inner state of balance is maintained and we feel well.  Of course, all of our systems are inter-related, so our physical health influences our psychological state and vice-versa.

Take a moment today to just pay attention: to be still, breathe deeply, follow the flow of breath and calm the mental chatter.  With your mind's eye, scan through your physical and mental bodies, asking yourself:  "Am I in balance today?"  Direct the flow of breath to any spot of pain or discomfort and imagine that area being filled with white healing light. Give thanks for your body and its amazing ability to heal itself when given the right tools.

Nurture yourself, mind, body and spirit. as all are one.

Choose Joy

During this season, there is a certain expectation that we should be joyful, merry and full of the "holiday spirit".  We may put on our happy faces to attend parties and special events, yet many of us just feel stressed and anxious because we have so much more on our to do lists....we worry about so many things that there is no room for joy.  So how do we change our inner state so that we truly feel the emotion rather than just wear the mask? How do we choose joy?

The definition of joy is "the emotion evoked by well being or good fortune; a state of happiness", which may make it seem further out of reach for those who are experiencing challenges and difficulties.

But the inner state of joy is not dependent on life circumstances or the season that we are in.
It is something that we can choose, each day, as we let go of the baggage - the worries and minutia and the desire to pile more on our plates than we can handle. It may mean buying fewer gifts, ordering online instead of fighting the crowds, or saying no to a party, freeing up time for whatever nourishes our soul.  As we release the "small stuff" and ask for God's help, we create space for the  Light of Spirit, and joy naturally flows in.

We can choose in every moment how we're going to react to each situation: with patience rather than anger, with love rather than hatred, with forgiveness rather that resentment, with hope and joy rather than despair.

Begin with the first morning thoughts: catch them before they have a chance to spiral into negativity.

Choose joy with your waking breath...