One of humanity's biggest fears is losing what we have.
It is healthy when fear of loss helps us take steps to appreciate and protect what we have worked hard to attain, be that a career, a home, a relationship, a love, or a life.
However, it is unhealthy to continue to fear something we can do nothing about.
We need to remember that focusing our energy on fear can actually create and strengthen what scares us, and holding too tightly to what we have keeps us from participating in the spiritual flow of abundance and instead creates stagnation. Since we can only really control our thoughts and our responses, gaining proper perspective may be key to conquering such fears, allowing us to grow in spirit as intended.
It has been written that the letters of the word "fear" can be an acronym for
"False Evidence Appearing Real."
Fear of being separated from something or someone we feel we need for our security, happiness, or love comes from a delusion - a distorted way of understanding ourselves and the world around us.
When we understand that what we perceive as possessions are only tangible representations of spiritual energy at work in our lives, we can shift our attention to the right and proper place.
We can stop fearing loss of what means our world to us because, when we understand how it is created, we can always recreate it through energizing that spirit to live on forever within us and through us, to shine forth for others, and for ourselves.
We can stop fearing loss when we realize that our source of our joy and well being consists of the same energy of love, which can, in reality, never be diminished.
We need not hold anyone too close for fear of losing them for we know that love does not diminish when it is given or shared, but rather it expands beyond boundaries of time and space.
By focusing our light on our fears, they are revealed as mere shadows that disappear in the presence of mind and spirit. We can choose instead to direct our thoughts and creative power toward things of true value ... love, abundance, peace, passion, joy, and eternal spirit.
With love & light,
Rob
Friday, August 7, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Awareness and Faith in Times of Adversity
sLife is a journey comprised of many steps on our personal path that takes us down a winding road of constant evolution.
Each day, we are provided with a myriad of opportunities that allow us to transform ourselves into our next best selves. One moment we are presented with an opportunity to react differently when yet another someone or something in our life rubs us the wrong way. Another moment we may find ourselves wanting to walk away from a particular circumstance but are not sure if we can.
Sometimes, we find ourselves stuck in a rut that we can never seem to get out of. Perhaps we make the same choices over and over again because we just don’t seem to know how to choose otherwise.
Rather than leading us forward, our personal paths can sometimes take us in a seemingly never-ending circle where our actions and choices lead us nowhere but to where we’ve already been. It is during these moments that awareness and faith can be the first step to change.
Awareness is when we are able to realize what we are doing. Faith is when we are able to realize where we are going.
Awareness is the first step to change through faith because we can’t make a change unless we are aware that one needs to be made in the first place.
It is once we see the destination we seek, and have faith that we will arrive there, that we then begin to understand why we do what we do.
Afterwards, it becomes difficult not to change because we are no longer asleep to the truth behind our behavior. We begin to realize that, just as much as we are the root beneath the growth of our behavior, we are also the originator for any changes that we want to happen.
There is a freedom that comes with awareness of our faith, combining the two. Rather than thinking that we are stuck in a repetitive cycle where there is no escape, we begin to see that we actually do very much play a hand in creating our lives.
Whether we are aware of them or not, our behaviors and choices are always ours to make. Our past and our present no longer have to dictate our future when we choose to be aware and faith-filled.
It is then that we are free to move beyond our perceived limitations, make new choices, and take new actions. With this awareness, our paths can’t help but lead us forward in our lives while paving the way for new experiences and new ways of being. It is through faith that we can continue to consciously evolve.
Along the path which lies before us grows hardships and joys.
When we encounter adversity, the stress we feel can erode our optimism, eventually convincing us that the issues we face cannot be overcome.
In faith, however, there is no situation so dire, no challenge so great, and no choice so bewildering that it cannot be overcome. Though we may believe that all avenues have been closed to us or that our most conscientious efforts will come to naught, we are never without feasible options.
The best course of action may be veiled benath a protective shell of doubt, but it is there and waiting to ne nurtured to life and growth.
When we are honest with ourselves with regard to this simple fact, we can overcome anything because we will never stop looking for a solution to the challenges before us.
Faith, coupled with a sturdy plan of awareness, is the ultimate antidote to adversity’s tendency to instill disillusionment in the human mind.
As difficult as the obstacles that plague us seem, they are no match for the unconditional love of a supportive God who has been a part of our life since before the day of our birth, and will be with us forevermore.
We must not to be misguided by our fears as this gives rise to the notion that there are problems without solutions.
When we have faith in the talents and capabilities that God has granted us we may discover that our personal paths, that we once believed could lead us in a seemingly never-ending circle, miraculously open. Even if all we can do is allow our perspective to turn an impediment into an opportunity for growth, we will have found the hope that is an inherent element of all hardship.
Our destiny is a product of our own creation.
Even when it seems we have nowhere left to turn, there is a solution waiting for us.
The only insurmountable obstacles are the ones we create in our own minds, and these can only persist if we allow them to overpower our faith.
Uncertainty will always be a part of our existence, but perseverance and mindfulness of what we believe ... our faith, will never fail to see us through to the other side of hardship where only peace and joy can thrive.
No matter what life places in our path, there is absolutely no situation that cannot be resolved with time, love, and friendship.
With love & light,
Rob
Each day, we are provided with a myriad of opportunities that allow us to transform ourselves into our next best selves. One moment we are presented with an opportunity to react differently when yet another someone or something in our life rubs us the wrong way. Another moment we may find ourselves wanting to walk away from a particular circumstance but are not sure if we can.
Sometimes, we find ourselves stuck in a rut that we can never seem to get out of. Perhaps we make the same choices over and over again because we just don’t seem to know how to choose otherwise.
Rather than leading us forward, our personal paths can sometimes take us in a seemingly never-ending circle where our actions and choices lead us nowhere but to where we’ve already been. It is during these moments that awareness and faith can be the first step to change.
Awareness is when we are able to realize what we are doing. Faith is when we are able to realize where we are going.
Awareness is the first step to change through faith because we can’t make a change unless we are aware that one needs to be made in the first place.
It is once we see the destination we seek, and have faith that we will arrive there, that we then begin to understand why we do what we do.
Afterwards, it becomes difficult not to change because we are no longer asleep to the truth behind our behavior. We begin to realize that, just as much as we are the root beneath the growth of our behavior, we are also the originator for any changes that we want to happen.
There is a freedom that comes with awareness of our faith, combining the two. Rather than thinking that we are stuck in a repetitive cycle where there is no escape, we begin to see that we actually do very much play a hand in creating our lives.
Whether we are aware of them or not, our behaviors and choices are always ours to make. Our past and our present no longer have to dictate our future when we choose to be aware and faith-filled.
It is then that we are free to move beyond our perceived limitations, make new choices, and take new actions. With this awareness, our paths can’t help but lead us forward in our lives while paving the way for new experiences and new ways of being. It is through faith that we can continue to consciously evolve.
Along the path which lies before us grows hardships and joys.
When we encounter adversity, the stress we feel can erode our optimism, eventually convincing us that the issues we face cannot be overcome.
In faith, however, there is no situation so dire, no challenge so great, and no choice so bewildering that it cannot be overcome. Though we may believe that all avenues have been closed to us or that our most conscientious efforts will come to naught, we are never without feasible options.
The best course of action may be veiled benath a protective shell of doubt, but it is there and waiting to ne nurtured to life and growth.
When we are honest with ourselves with regard to this simple fact, we can overcome anything because we will never stop looking for a solution to the challenges before us.
Faith, coupled with a sturdy plan of awareness, is the ultimate antidote to adversity’s tendency to instill disillusionment in the human mind.
As difficult as the obstacles that plague us seem, they are no match for the unconditional love of a supportive God who has been a part of our life since before the day of our birth, and will be with us forevermore.
We must not to be misguided by our fears as this gives rise to the notion that there are problems without solutions.
When we have faith in the talents and capabilities that God has granted us we may discover that our personal paths, that we once believed could lead us in a seemingly never-ending circle, miraculously open. Even if all we can do is allow our perspective to turn an impediment into an opportunity for growth, we will have found the hope that is an inherent element of all hardship.
Our destiny is a product of our own creation.
Even when it seems we have nowhere left to turn, there is a solution waiting for us.
The only insurmountable obstacles are the ones we create in our own minds, and these can only persist if we allow them to overpower our faith.
Uncertainty will always be a part of our existence, but perseverance and mindfulness of what we believe ... our faith, will never fail to see us through to the other side of hardship where only peace and joy can thrive.
No matter what life places in our path, there is absolutely no situation that cannot be resolved with time, love, and friendship.
With love & light,
Rob
Friday, July 24, 2009
Letting Go To Grow
There is tremendous freedom in letting go.
Letting go of a situation frees ourselves of things that clutter our lives; too many possessions, unhealthy habits, old beliefs ... even emotions that drain our energy. All of these things and more can weigh us down. So, every once in awhile it's good to "clean out our closets" literally, figuratively, and emotionally, allowing change to take place and bring us to new life elsewhere.
When we suffer a loss, we tend to concentrate our energy on regretting moments lost to the passing of time, and moments that will never be as they are lost to our evolving life.
Like pruning dead branches from a tree or weeding a garden, we need to let go of the what no longer exists, so that there is room for something new, alive, and what is needed at this time in our life.
We are a possessive society.
We often hold on to posessions, feelings, and relationships out of habit, fear of being without, or sorrow for a loss.
So much of learning to let go is about learning to trust. We have to be able to trust that, indeed, new budding branches will grow, and that there is a beautiful garden waiting for us beyond the weeds. We must also learn that, to the degree that we are willing to let go, we are able to receive.
In reality, we own nothing. Certainly, we don't own people. Our spouses, families, and friends are not really "ours." Even if we own the title to our house or car, such possessions can be gone in a moment, taken by a natural disaster, an accident, or financial circumstances.
I recall, from a ceremony at which we asked Mother Earth for blessings in constructing a Labyrinth, that Native Americans could not grasp the European concept of "owning" land, anymore than one can own the sky. Everything belongs to the universe, as even we do.
When we allow ourselves to rethink our sense of "ownership" of posessions, people, and moments lost to circumstance, we find it easier to be thankful for what we had, when we had it, and it is easier to let go. We no longer need to feel burdened by the responsibility of having to hold on to something. We can rethink the value of a prized book collection, a coveted job, or feelings for an old flame.
Allowing ourselves to accept a loss, letting go of the power that a person, ideology, or material object possesses, and embrace the memories associated with it is truly freeing.
With love & light,
Rob
Letting go of a situation frees ourselves of things that clutter our lives; too many possessions, unhealthy habits, old beliefs ... even emotions that drain our energy. All of these things and more can weigh us down. So, every once in awhile it's good to "clean out our closets" literally, figuratively, and emotionally, allowing change to take place and bring us to new life elsewhere.
When we suffer a loss, we tend to concentrate our energy on regretting moments lost to the passing of time, and moments that will never be as they are lost to our evolving life.
Like pruning dead branches from a tree or weeding a garden, we need to let go of the what no longer exists, so that there is room for something new, alive, and what is needed at this time in our life.
We are a possessive society.
We often hold on to posessions, feelings, and relationships out of habit, fear of being without, or sorrow for a loss.
So much of learning to let go is about learning to trust. We have to be able to trust that, indeed, new budding branches will grow, and that there is a beautiful garden waiting for us beyond the weeds. We must also learn that, to the degree that we are willing to let go, we are able to receive.
In reality, we own nothing. Certainly, we don't own people. Our spouses, families, and friends are not really "ours." Even if we own the title to our house or car, such possessions can be gone in a moment, taken by a natural disaster, an accident, or financial circumstances.
I recall, from a ceremony at which we asked Mother Earth for blessings in constructing a Labyrinth, that Native Americans could not grasp the European concept of "owning" land, anymore than one can own the sky. Everything belongs to the universe, as even we do.
When we allow ourselves to rethink our sense of "ownership" of posessions, people, and moments lost to circumstance, we find it easier to be thankful for what we had, when we had it, and it is easier to let go. We no longer need to feel burdened by the responsibility of having to hold on to something. We can rethink the value of a prized book collection, a coveted job, or feelings for an old flame.
Allowing ourselves to accept a loss, letting go of the power that a person, ideology, or material object possesses, and embrace the memories associated with it is truly freeing.
With love & light,
Rob
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
I Love You ...
I have a friend who, almost every time he texts me, writes "I love you".
I don't think that I reply with the same "I love you" often enough. So, as you read this, please know that I do love you ... and you know who you are.
Oddly, and too often, stating "I love you" to someone we truly do love is difficult to express.
It is easy to take our feelings for granted and to assume that the people we care about know how we feel about them. But while those we love are often quite cognizant of our feelings, saying "I love you" is a gift we should give to our loved ones whenever we can.
Letting people know we love them is an important part of nurturing any kind of loving relationship. Few of us ever tire of being told we are loved, and saying "I love you" can make a world of difference in someone's life, take a relationship to a new level, or reaffirm and strengthen a steady bond.
We all need to hear the words "I love you."
Three simple words ... I - Love - You.
When we declare our love for someone, we admit to them that we care for them in the most significant way.
It can be difficult to express our love using words, but we should never be afraid to say "I love you" or worry that doing so will thrust us into a position of excessive vulnerability. It is important to share our feelings with those who matter to us.
Not only is there a fulfillment that comes with loving someone and telling them that we love them, but the fact remains that love exists to be expressed, not withheld.
When we love someone, we need to let them know. There is no need to be afraid of the strength of our emotions or worry that our loved one won't feel the same way.
The words "I love you" are often best said to another without expectation of a return investment. As each one of us is filled with an abundance of love, there is never any worry that we'll run out of love if our expression of love isn't returned for replenishment. The unconditional love that God has graced us with is unending.
Saying "I love you" is a gift of the heart sent directly through words to the heart of the recipient. Although it may not always seem that way, true love from our heart is an offering that is always unconditional and given without strings attached, and given without our prior consent.
That is the true essence of the gift of "I love you".
Throughout history, love has burned in the hearts of composers, writers, and painters, as well as in those of parents, children, and friends.
Love, primal, passionate, and pure, has been dissected, revered, and derided. It has been called complex, ethereal, and mysterious. We long for a definition but fear that the feeling called love would be less exhilarating if it were to be specifically defined.
Much of the mystery is rooted in the incomprehensibility of love's purpose. It is possible to have intense feelings for others but not define those feelings as love. Yet love remains a powerful and universal force that uplifts us, inspires us, and strengthens us to bring about great change.
Like the wind, which we cannot see yet know is all around us aas we feel it, love is often more easily perceived through its effects. As we transcend the boundaries of ego in order to love and be loved, we put aside our self-centeredness and experience unity with another, as well as compassion, peace, joy, excitement, and fulfillment. No matter if the focus is a lover, a child, a relative, or a friend; the results are both familiar and novel, more so when love is returned in kind.
It has been noted that "to describe love is very difficult, for the same reason that words cannot fully describe the flavor of an orange. You have to taste the fruit to know its flavor. So with love."
Those who have tasted of it often equate love with jealousy, bitterness, resentment, lust, or aggressive attachment, but it is none of these things. Love is both a feeling and an action. As it brings us into our light, we strive for the happiness, stability, and fulfillment of those we love.
It is true that love can be fleeting and accept few controls or conditions. However, the strongest of love either blazes into being and withers away in an instant, or lasts lifetimes.
Love is not something that we learn, but rather it is a light that burns within us and yearns to shine.
It is only fear that causes the need to love and be loved to be hidden beneath that bushel basket.
It is when we accept our worthiness and reject indifference that we are able to completely become outlets of God's unconditional love.
With love & light,
Rob
I don't think that I reply with the same "I love you" often enough. So, as you read this, please know that I do love you ... and you know who you are.
Oddly, and too often, stating "I love you" to someone we truly do love is difficult to express.
It is easy to take our feelings for granted and to assume that the people we care about know how we feel about them. But while those we love are often quite cognizant of our feelings, saying "I love you" is a gift we should give to our loved ones whenever we can.
Letting people know we love them is an important part of nurturing any kind of loving relationship. Few of us ever tire of being told we are loved, and saying "I love you" can make a world of difference in someone's life, take a relationship to a new level, or reaffirm and strengthen a steady bond.
We all need to hear the words "I love you."
Three simple words ... I - Love - You.
When we declare our love for someone, we admit to them that we care for them in the most significant way.
It can be difficult to express our love using words, but we should never be afraid to say "I love you" or worry that doing so will thrust us into a position of excessive vulnerability. It is important to share our feelings with those who matter to us.
Not only is there a fulfillment that comes with loving someone and telling them that we love them, but the fact remains that love exists to be expressed, not withheld.
When we love someone, we need to let them know. There is no need to be afraid of the strength of our emotions or worry that our loved one won't feel the same way.
The words "I love you" are often best said to another without expectation of a return investment. As each one of us is filled with an abundance of love, there is never any worry that we'll run out of love if our expression of love isn't returned for replenishment. The unconditional love that God has graced us with is unending.
Saying "I love you" is a gift of the heart sent directly through words to the heart of the recipient. Although it may not always seem that way, true love from our heart is an offering that is always unconditional and given without strings attached, and given without our prior consent.
That is the true essence of the gift of "I love you".
Throughout history, love has burned in the hearts of composers, writers, and painters, as well as in those of parents, children, and friends.
Love, primal, passionate, and pure, has been dissected, revered, and derided. It has been called complex, ethereal, and mysterious. We long for a definition but fear that the feeling called love would be less exhilarating if it were to be specifically defined.
Much of the mystery is rooted in the incomprehensibility of love's purpose. It is possible to have intense feelings for others but not define those feelings as love. Yet love remains a powerful and universal force that uplifts us, inspires us, and strengthens us to bring about great change.
Like the wind, which we cannot see yet know is all around us aas we feel it, love is often more easily perceived through its effects. As we transcend the boundaries of ego in order to love and be loved, we put aside our self-centeredness and experience unity with another, as well as compassion, peace, joy, excitement, and fulfillment. No matter if the focus is a lover, a child, a relative, or a friend; the results are both familiar and novel, more so when love is returned in kind.
It has been noted that "to describe love is very difficult, for the same reason that words cannot fully describe the flavor of an orange. You have to taste the fruit to know its flavor. So with love."
Those who have tasted of it often equate love with jealousy, bitterness, resentment, lust, or aggressive attachment, but it is none of these things. Love is both a feeling and an action. As it brings us into our light, we strive for the happiness, stability, and fulfillment of those we love.
It is true that love can be fleeting and accept few controls or conditions. However, the strongest of love either blazes into being and withers away in an instant, or lasts lifetimes.
Love is not something that we learn, but rather it is a light that burns within us and yearns to shine.
It is only fear that causes the need to love and be loved to be hidden beneath that bushel basket.
It is when we accept our worthiness and reject indifference that we are able to completely become outlets of God's unconditional love.
With love & light,
Rob
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Sharing Our Enlightenment
At lunch yesterday, I overheard someone say "cellular phones have us so connected; we have become disconnected from one another".
So, later, a friend and I decided that we would put away our phones and devote our evening to each other, as one. As the pace and fullness of modern life serve to isolate us from one another, the contact we do share becomes vastly more significant. Even If I had decided to just ignore the vibration of my Blackberry and kept it tethered to my hip, there would have been a distraction with each disturbing buzz and my mind would have wandered to thoughts of what the call or email might be.
It is a wonderful feeling when to put away your onnection to outside communication, and not even have a sense of the time, giving ourselves completely to the person we are with.
By doing this, I was able to focus more intently on each word, expression, and intention of my friend - from the manner in which he treated me as well as those we encountered throughout our time together.
We unconsciously absorb each other's energy, adopting the temperament of those with whom we share time, and we find ourselves changed after the briefest encounters. Everything we do or say has the potential to affect not only the individuals we live, work, and play with but also those we've just met. Though we may never know the impact we have had or the scope of our influence, accepting and understanding that our attitudes and choices will affect others can help us remember to conduct ourselves with grace at all times. When we seek always to be friendly, helpful, and responsive, we effortlessly create an atmosphere around ourselves that is both uplifting and inspiring, and that same loving attitude grows within those we encounter.
Very often we neglect to give thought to the effect we have had or will have on others. When we take a few moments to contemplate how our individual modes of being affect the people we encounter each day, we come one step closer to seeing ourselves through the eyes of others. By asking ourselves whether those we encounter walk away feeling appreciated, respected, and liked, we can heighten our awareness of the effect we ultimately have.
Something as simple as a smile given freely can temporarily brighten a person's entire world, and can even be a life saving factor. Our value-driven conduct may inspire others to consider whether their own lives are reflective of their values. A kindly shared word of advice can help others see life in an entirely new fashion, and small gestures of kindness can even prove to those embittered by the world that goodness still exists.
By simply being ourselves, we influence other's lives in both subtle and life altering ways.
To ensure that the effect we have is positive, we must strive to stay true to ourselves while realizing that it is the demeanor we project and not the quality of our wondrous inner landscapes that people see. As we interact with others, the manner in which we behave can be as important as who we are.
If we project our passion for life, our warmth, and our tolerance in our facial features, voice, and choice of words, every person who enters our circle of influence will leave our presence feeling at peace with themselves and with us. We never know whose life we are affecting, big or small. We also never know whose life is going to affect ours.
Our individual journeys take us into many unexpected situations where we encounter a wide variety of people - some quite like ourselves and some very different.
We cannot anticipate these meetings, but we can make the most of them when they take place. When we are courteous as a matter of course and open minded in our assessment of the individuals whose lives touch our own, if even just briefly, we are more apt to stumble upon surprising gems of enlightenment that open our eyes to new worlds of possibility. Every person we meet can affect us profoundly, just as every situation we find ourselves in can teach us something new.
To fully embrace this fact, it is essential that we acknowledge that everyone is valuable in their own way and capable of expanding our horizons. Since we never know when we will happen upon those individuals who will unveil the truths that lie before us, we must extend to all people the same generous level of kindness, care, compassion, and understanding. When we accept that everyone we meet is special and treat them as such, we can develop a strong rapport quickly. By making an effort to adopt a positive attitude toward others at all times, we ensure that our emotions do not blind us to the enlightenment that exists, even in difficult or distressing situations.
With love & light,
Rob
So, later, a friend and I decided that we would put away our phones and devote our evening to each other, as one. As the pace and fullness of modern life serve to isolate us from one another, the contact we do share becomes vastly more significant. Even If I had decided to just ignore the vibration of my Blackberry and kept it tethered to my hip, there would have been a distraction with each disturbing buzz and my mind would have wandered to thoughts of what the call or email might be.
It is a wonderful feeling when to put away your onnection to outside communication, and not even have a sense of the time, giving ourselves completely to the person we are with.
By doing this, I was able to focus more intently on each word, expression, and intention of my friend - from the manner in which he treated me as well as those we encountered throughout our time together.
We unconsciously absorb each other's energy, adopting the temperament of those with whom we share time, and we find ourselves changed after the briefest encounters. Everything we do or say has the potential to affect not only the individuals we live, work, and play with but also those we've just met. Though we may never know the impact we have had or the scope of our influence, accepting and understanding that our attitudes and choices will affect others can help us remember to conduct ourselves with grace at all times. When we seek always to be friendly, helpful, and responsive, we effortlessly create an atmosphere around ourselves that is both uplifting and inspiring, and that same loving attitude grows within those we encounter.
Very often we neglect to give thought to the effect we have had or will have on others. When we take a few moments to contemplate how our individual modes of being affect the people we encounter each day, we come one step closer to seeing ourselves through the eyes of others. By asking ourselves whether those we encounter walk away feeling appreciated, respected, and liked, we can heighten our awareness of the effect we ultimately have.
Something as simple as a smile given freely can temporarily brighten a person's entire world, and can even be a life saving factor. Our value-driven conduct may inspire others to consider whether their own lives are reflective of their values. A kindly shared word of advice can help others see life in an entirely new fashion, and small gestures of kindness can even prove to those embittered by the world that goodness still exists.
By simply being ourselves, we influence other's lives in both subtle and life altering ways.
To ensure that the effect we have is positive, we must strive to stay true to ourselves while realizing that it is the demeanor we project and not the quality of our wondrous inner landscapes that people see. As we interact with others, the manner in which we behave can be as important as who we are.
If we project our passion for life, our warmth, and our tolerance in our facial features, voice, and choice of words, every person who enters our circle of influence will leave our presence feeling at peace with themselves and with us. We never know whose life we are affecting, big or small. We also never know whose life is going to affect ours.
Our individual journeys take us into many unexpected situations where we encounter a wide variety of people - some quite like ourselves and some very different.
We cannot anticipate these meetings, but we can make the most of them when they take place. When we are courteous as a matter of course and open minded in our assessment of the individuals whose lives touch our own, if even just briefly, we are more apt to stumble upon surprising gems of enlightenment that open our eyes to new worlds of possibility. Every person we meet can affect us profoundly, just as every situation we find ourselves in can teach us something new.
To fully embrace this fact, it is essential that we acknowledge that everyone is valuable in their own way and capable of expanding our horizons. Since we never know when we will happen upon those individuals who will unveil the truths that lie before us, we must extend to all people the same generous level of kindness, care, compassion, and understanding. When we accept that everyone we meet is special and treat them as such, we can develop a strong rapport quickly. By making an effort to adopt a positive attitude toward others at all times, we ensure that our emotions do not blind us to the enlightenment that exists, even in difficult or distressing situations.
With love & light,
Rob
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Life's Difficult Decisions
Many of us have a hard time making decisions.
We fear that if we choose the wrong partner, we'll be stuck in an unhappy relationship. Or, if we make the wrong financial decision, we'll be stuck in a bad investment. However, there are no wrong decisions.
Perhaps we could, at times, make different choices regarding our relationships, personal pursuits, careers, or the right color of paint for our walls. Yet, regardless of the outcome, we always gain valuable experience and insights from any choice we make.
Making a decision is always better than making no decision at all. Once done, we know that we had the courage to decide, take a chance, and make a move in a particular direction. We can't take action unless we make a decision first; and a decision is never wrong because we always gain something from it - whether we get what we thought we intended or learn a valuable lesson. Sometimes, we need to follow through on a decision to realize that we don't really want what we thought we did.
Each of the many decisions we make every day has the potential to have a deep impact on our lives. Some choices touch us to our very cores, awakening poignant feelings within us. Others seem at first to be simple but prove to be confusingly complex. We make the best decisions when we approach the decision-making process from a balanced emotional and intellectual foundation. When we have achieved equilibrium in our hearts and in our minds, we can clearly see both sides of an issue or alternative. Likewise, we can accept compromise as a natural fact of life. Instead of relying solely on our feelings or our rationality, we utilize both in equal measure, empowering ourselves to come to a life-affirming and balanced conclusion.
Balance within and balance without go hand in hand. When we are called upon to choose between two or more options, whether they are attractive or distasteful, we need to understand all we can about the choice ahead of us before moving forward. If we do not come to the decision from a place of balance, we risk making choices that are irrational and overly emotional or are wholly logical and don't take our feelings into account.
In bringing our thoughts and emotions together during the decision-making process, we ensure that we are taking everything possible into account before moving forward. Nothing is left up to chance, and we have ample opportunity to determine which options are in accordance with our values and our needs.
Our perception of the traits and characteristics that make us who we are is often tightly intertwined with how we live our life and the way we make our decisions. We define ourselves in terms of the roles we adopt, our actions and inactions, our triumphs, and what we think are failures. As a result it is easy to identify so strongly with a decision that has resulted in unexpected negative consequences that we actually become that "wrong" decision. The disappointment and shame we feel when we make what we perceive as a mistake grows until it becomes a dominant part of our identities. We rationalize our "poor" decisions by labeling ourselves incompetent decision-makers. However, our true identity cannot be defined by our choices. Our essence - what makes us a unique entity - exists independently of our decision-making process.
All decisions contribute to our development and are an integral part of our evolving existence yet they are still separate from our self. A decision that does not result in its intended outcome is in no way an illustration of our character. Still, it can have dire effects on our ability to trust ourselves and our self-esteem.
We can avoid becoming our decisions by affirming that a "bad decision" was just an experience, and next time we can choose differently. We then need to avoid lingering in the past and mulling over the circumstances that led to our perceived error in judgment. Instead, adapting to the new circumstances we must face by considering how we can use our intelligence, inner strength, and intuition to aid us in moving forward more mindfully. We must not entirely avoid thinking about the choices we have made, but reflect on the consequences of our decisions from a rational, rather than an emotional, standpoint.
So, we strive to understand why we made the choices we did, forgive ourselves, and then move forward.
Life's decisions provide a valuable learning experience and is, in essence, a gift to learn and grow from. We are not bad people and we are not our decisions.
We are simply human.
With love & light,
Rob
We fear that if we choose the wrong partner, we'll be stuck in an unhappy relationship. Or, if we make the wrong financial decision, we'll be stuck in a bad investment. However, there are no wrong decisions.
Perhaps we could, at times, make different choices regarding our relationships, personal pursuits, careers, or the right color of paint for our walls. Yet, regardless of the outcome, we always gain valuable experience and insights from any choice we make.
Making a decision is always better than making no decision at all. Once done, we know that we had the courage to decide, take a chance, and make a move in a particular direction. We can't take action unless we make a decision first; and a decision is never wrong because we always gain something from it - whether we get what we thought we intended or learn a valuable lesson. Sometimes, we need to follow through on a decision to realize that we don't really want what we thought we did.
Each of the many decisions we make every day has the potential to have a deep impact on our lives. Some choices touch us to our very cores, awakening poignant feelings within us. Others seem at first to be simple but prove to be confusingly complex. We make the best decisions when we approach the decision-making process from a balanced emotional and intellectual foundation. When we have achieved equilibrium in our hearts and in our minds, we can clearly see both sides of an issue or alternative. Likewise, we can accept compromise as a natural fact of life. Instead of relying solely on our feelings or our rationality, we utilize both in equal measure, empowering ourselves to come to a life-affirming and balanced conclusion.
Balance within and balance without go hand in hand. When we are called upon to choose between two or more options, whether they are attractive or distasteful, we need to understand all we can about the choice ahead of us before moving forward. If we do not come to the decision from a place of balance, we risk making choices that are irrational and overly emotional or are wholly logical and don't take our feelings into account.
In bringing our thoughts and emotions together during the decision-making process, we ensure that we are taking everything possible into account before moving forward. Nothing is left up to chance, and we have ample opportunity to determine which options are in accordance with our values and our needs.
Our perception of the traits and characteristics that make us who we are is often tightly intertwined with how we live our life and the way we make our decisions. We define ourselves in terms of the roles we adopt, our actions and inactions, our triumphs, and what we think are failures. As a result it is easy to identify so strongly with a decision that has resulted in unexpected negative consequences that we actually become that "wrong" decision. The disappointment and shame we feel when we make what we perceive as a mistake grows until it becomes a dominant part of our identities. We rationalize our "poor" decisions by labeling ourselves incompetent decision-makers. However, our true identity cannot be defined by our choices. Our essence - what makes us a unique entity - exists independently of our decision-making process.
All decisions contribute to our development and are an integral part of our evolving existence yet they are still separate from our self. A decision that does not result in its intended outcome is in no way an illustration of our character. Still, it can have dire effects on our ability to trust ourselves and our self-esteem.
We can avoid becoming our decisions by affirming that a "bad decision" was just an experience, and next time we can choose differently. We then need to avoid lingering in the past and mulling over the circumstances that led to our perceived error in judgment. Instead, adapting to the new circumstances we must face by considering how we can use our intelligence, inner strength, and intuition to aid us in moving forward more mindfully. We must not entirely avoid thinking about the choices we have made, but reflect on the consequences of our decisions from a rational, rather than an emotional, standpoint.
So, we strive to understand why we made the choices we did, forgive ourselves, and then move forward.
Life's decisions provide a valuable learning experience and is, in essence, a gift to learn and grow from. We are not bad people and we are not our decisions.
We are simply human.
With love & light,
Rob
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Times Are Tough ... This Too Shall Pass
We all have days that seem endlessly difficult and hard. On these days, it is as if the odds are stacked against us and we just can't get a break as one challenging ituation follows another. We may feel like we're standing in the ocean being hit by wave after wave, never able to get a full breath or keep a steady footing, becoming more exhausted with each strike.
Sometimes it's necessary, or worthwhile, to remain committed and work our way through. Other times, the best idea is to go home and take the breath we need in order to carry on.
If the only choice is to get through it, a hard day can be a great teacher. It will eventually end and we can look back on it, taking pride in the determination, courage, and ingenuity it took to hold our ground. We may also look back and see how we could have done things differently. This knowledge will be valuable when we face the inevitable challenges that lie ahead of us in our life.
It is as these challenges present themselves that we must trust our spiritual guidance and discern wether to work through it or take a different course.
Very often, a timely retreat is the best way to ensure a positive outcome. Allowing some quiet time to listen to the Spirit inside us can remind us that external circumstances are not the whole picture.
Once we catch our breath and re-center ourselves, we find a true perspective. We begin to see that what we perceived as hardships can actually be opportunities.
Sometimes all that's needed is a good night's sleep. No one is immune to having a hard day and these are usually the times we can learn the most. If we can find it in our hearts to examine the day, and maybe make one small change in perception, we can ease our pain and greet the next day with ease, remebering that the bad times too shall pass, as shall the good times.
As the story has been recorded;
One day Solomon decided to humble Benaiah Ben Yehoyada, his most trusted minister. He said to him, "Benaiah, there is a certain ring that I want you to bring to me. I wish to wear it for Sukkot which gives you six months to find it."
"If it exists anywhere on earth, your majesty," replied Benaiah, "I will find it and bring it to you, but what makes the ring so special?"
"It has magic powers," answered the king. "If a happy man looks at it, he becomes sad, and if a sad man looks at it, he becomes happy."
Solomon knew that no such ring existed in the world, but he wished to give his minister a little taste of humility. Spring passed and then summer, and still Benaiah had no idea where he could find the ring. On the night before Sukkot, he decided to take a walk in one of the poorest quarters of Jerusalem. He passed by a merchant who had begun to set out the day's wares on a shabby carpet.
"Have you by any chance heard of a magic ring that makes the happy wearer forget his joy and the broken-hearted wearer forget his sorrows?" asked Benaiah.
He watched the grandfather take a plain gold ring from his carpet and engrave something on it. When Benaiah read the words on the ring, his face broke out in a wide smile. That night the entire city welcomed in the holiday of Sukkot with great festivity.
"Well, my friend," said Solomon, "have you found what I sent you after?"
All the ministers laughed and Solomon himself smiled. To everyone's surprise, Benaiah held up a small gold ring and declared, "Here it is, your majesty!"
As soon as Solomon read the inscription, the smile vanished from his face. The jeweler had written three Hebrew letters on the gold band: gimel, zayin, yud, which began the words "Gam zeh ya'avor" -- "This too shall pass."
At that moment Solomon realized that all his wisdom and fabulous wealth and tremendous power were but fleeting things, for one day he would be nothing but dust.
So, we must remember that our tough times shall soon pass, and give thanks for that. We must also remember, however, that our good times shall also pass, and so we must give great thank for those times and share them.
With love & light,
Rob
Sometimes it's necessary, or worthwhile, to remain committed and work our way through. Other times, the best idea is to go home and take the breath we need in order to carry on.
If the only choice is to get through it, a hard day can be a great teacher. It will eventually end and we can look back on it, taking pride in the determination, courage, and ingenuity it took to hold our ground. We may also look back and see how we could have done things differently. This knowledge will be valuable when we face the inevitable challenges that lie ahead of us in our life.
It is as these challenges present themselves that we must trust our spiritual guidance and discern wether to work through it or take a different course.
Very often, a timely retreat is the best way to ensure a positive outcome. Allowing some quiet time to listen to the Spirit inside us can remind us that external circumstances are not the whole picture.
Once we catch our breath and re-center ourselves, we find a true perspective. We begin to see that what we perceived as hardships can actually be opportunities.
Sometimes all that's needed is a good night's sleep. No one is immune to having a hard day and these are usually the times we can learn the most. If we can find it in our hearts to examine the day, and maybe make one small change in perception, we can ease our pain and greet the next day with ease, remebering that the bad times too shall pass, as shall the good times.
As the story has been recorded;
One day Solomon decided to humble Benaiah Ben Yehoyada, his most trusted minister. He said to him, "Benaiah, there is a certain ring that I want you to bring to me. I wish to wear it for Sukkot which gives you six months to find it."
"If it exists anywhere on earth, your majesty," replied Benaiah, "I will find it and bring it to you, but what makes the ring so special?"
"It has magic powers," answered the king. "If a happy man looks at it, he becomes sad, and if a sad man looks at it, he becomes happy."
Solomon knew that no such ring existed in the world, but he wished to give his minister a little taste of humility. Spring passed and then summer, and still Benaiah had no idea where he could find the ring. On the night before Sukkot, he decided to take a walk in one of the poorest quarters of Jerusalem. He passed by a merchant who had begun to set out the day's wares on a shabby carpet.
"Have you by any chance heard of a magic ring that makes the happy wearer forget his joy and the broken-hearted wearer forget his sorrows?" asked Benaiah.
He watched the grandfather take a plain gold ring from his carpet and engrave something on it. When Benaiah read the words on the ring, his face broke out in a wide smile. That night the entire city welcomed in the holiday of Sukkot with great festivity.
"Well, my friend," said Solomon, "have you found what I sent you after?"
All the ministers laughed and Solomon himself smiled. To everyone's surprise, Benaiah held up a small gold ring and declared, "Here it is, your majesty!"
As soon as Solomon read the inscription, the smile vanished from his face. The jeweler had written three Hebrew letters on the gold band: gimel, zayin, yud, which began the words "Gam zeh ya'avor" -- "This too shall pass."
At that moment Solomon realized that all his wisdom and fabulous wealth and tremendous power were but fleeting things, for one day he would be nothing but dust.
So, we must remember that our tough times shall soon pass, and give thanks for that. We must also remember, however, that our good times shall also pass, and so we must give great thank for those times and share them.
With love & light,
Rob
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