When it comes to the things we want, there always seems to be an endless list.
It seems that as soon as the goal of one accomplishment or achievement is reached, we replace it with another, seemingly impossible one.
I keep lists in my BlackBerry of things to do, films to watch, home improvements to make, and plans for the distant future. Once a list begins to seem stagnant, I update it and prioritize it again, adding other items and allowing myself to believe that this newly updated list has conquered the previous one, and off goes the Don Quixote in my mind to battle the windmills once again.
In life, this drama of wanting and getting and wanting is all part of the dance. The things we want motivate us to get up and get them. Yet, at the same time, we can torment ourselves with our wanting, especially when we want something we can’t have or can’t find. It is in cases like these that it might be fruitful to entertain the idea that maybe what we really want is right in front of us. Perhaps we even utilize this desire we can’t fulfill to distract us from truly engaging the blessings we already have.
It may seem as though that does not make sense, yet we do it all the time. It may be easier to see it in other people than to see it in ourselves. We have all heard our friends wishing they were more this or less that. Meanwhile, looking at them we see clearly that they are everything they are wishing they were. We know people who are in wonderful situations and yet envy ours. We wish we could give these people a look at their lives from our perspective so that they could see that what they want really is right in front of them.
It is not too far-fetched to consider that we might be victims of the same folly. It can be scary to have what we want. We become caught up in the chase and forget to enjoy the beauty right in front of us, like a child who never wants the toy in hand but always the one just out of reach.
My dog has a large basket filled with toys. His favorite is a hedgehog that grunts when squeezed. He has two of them, but if he has one and I take the other, he wants the one that I have. This dance continues until I tire of it, give him both, and walk away. He then wants neither one.
This may be amusing or comical, but it also serves as a commentary. Perhaps he never wanted either hedgehog. Perhaps he just wanted what he already had … the person who walked away.
Too often we lose sight of what we have. Our loved ones -- partners, families, and friends -- are here with us and we have worked hard at building and maintaining these relationships. How often we leave them to the side while we pursue our quests. What if they were to walk away and never return?
Perhaps today we can learn to consider the many pleasures we have in our lives and how we might best enjoy them.
With love & Light,
Rob
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
The Ripple Effect
In a world of six billion people, it’s easy to believe that the only way to initiate profound transformation is to take extreme action.
However, each of us carries within us the capacity to change the world in small ways for better or worse. Everything we do and think affects the people in our lives, and their reactions in turn affect others. As the effect of a seemingly insignificant word passes from person to person, its impact grows and can become a source of great joy, inspiration, anxiety, or pain. Our thoughts and actions are like stones dropped into still waters, causing ripples to spread and expand as they move outward.
The impact we have on the world is greater than we could ever imagine, and the choices we make can have far-reaching consequences. We can use the ripple effect to make a positive difference and spread waves of kindness that will wash over the world.
Should the opportunity arise, the recipient of a good deed will likely feel compelled to do a good deed for someone else. On the other hand, someone feeling the effects of negative energy might be more likely to pass on that negative energy. One act of charity, one thoughtful deed, or even one positive thought can pass from individual to individual, snowballing until it becomes a the ray of light that saves someone’s life.
I like to share my story of a young man who was a server in a restaurant we used to frequent. He spoke of how he lived in a basement apartment with little sunlight and worked in a dark, wood paneled restaurant, again with very little sunlight. It depressed him and he saw himself going nowhere in life. I visited one day and gave him a bag of (what was then new to the market) light bulbs that would replicate sunlight. He left that job shortly after and I never saw him again, until about ten years later. He recognized me while we dined at another restaurant and came over to tell me that the light bulbs made a difference. It was not just the bulbs, but rather the simple act of caring that inspired him to further his education and earn his degree in teaching. He then married another teacher and had a child on the way.
So, this one act of kindness transformed a depressed individual into a brilliant teacher, and we will never know the differences that this teacher will make in the lives of others, and what ripples will be sent forth.
Every transformation, just like every ripple, has a point of origin. We must believe in our ability to be that point of origin as we seek to spread the goodness of God, as we are called to do.
A smile directed at a stranger, a compliment given to a friend, an attitude of laughter, or a thoughtful gesture can send ripples that spread among our loved ones and associates, out into our community, and finally throughout the world. We have the power to touch the lives of everyone we come into contact with and therefore everyone those people come into contact with. The momentum of our influence will grow as our ripples moves onward and outward.
One of those ripples could become a tidal wave of goodness, compassion, and love.
With love & light,
Rob
However, each of us carries within us the capacity to change the world in small ways for better or worse. Everything we do and think affects the people in our lives, and their reactions in turn affect others. As the effect of a seemingly insignificant word passes from person to person, its impact grows and can become a source of great joy, inspiration, anxiety, or pain. Our thoughts and actions are like stones dropped into still waters, causing ripples to spread and expand as they move outward.
The impact we have on the world is greater than we could ever imagine, and the choices we make can have far-reaching consequences. We can use the ripple effect to make a positive difference and spread waves of kindness that will wash over the world.
Should the opportunity arise, the recipient of a good deed will likely feel compelled to do a good deed for someone else. On the other hand, someone feeling the effects of negative energy might be more likely to pass on that negative energy. One act of charity, one thoughtful deed, or even one positive thought can pass from individual to individual, snowballing until it becomes a the ray of light that saves someone’s life.
I like to share my story of a young man who was a server in a restaurant we used to frequent. He spoke of how he lived in a basement apartment with little sunlight and worked in a dark, wood paneled restaurant, again with very little sunlight. It depressed him and he saw himself going nowhere in life. I visited one day and gave him a bag of (what was then new to the market) light bulbs that would replicate sunlight. He left that job shortly after and I never saw him again, until about ten years later. He recognized me while we dined at another restaurant and came over to tell me that the light bulbs made a difference. It was not just the bulbs, but rather the simple act of caring that inspired him to further his education and earn his degree in teaching. He then married another teacher and had a child on the way.
So, this one act of kindness transformed a depressed individual into a brilliant teacher, and we will never know the differences that this teacher will make in the lives of others, and what ripples will be sent forth.
Every transformation, just like every ripple, has a point of origin. We must believe in our ability to be that point of origin as we seek to spread the goodness of God, as we are called to do.
A smile directed at a stranger, a compliment given to a friend, an attitude of laughter, or a thoughtful gesture can send ripples that spread among our loved ones and associates, out into our community, and finally throughout the world. We have the power to touch the lives of everyone we come into contact with and therefore everyone those people come into contact with. The momentum of our influence will grow as our ripples moves onward and outward.
One of those ripples could become a tidal wave of goodness, compassion, and love.
With love & light,
Rob
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Balancing Our Daily Life
The way in which we wake can have a profound impact on our day.
If we are still weary when we we hit the ground running, rushing to prepare ourself to face our worldly obligations, we are likely to feel fatigued and overwhelmed for most of our day. That will affect not only our lives, and the lives of those we encounter, but also our perception of the gift of life.
A leisurely and relaxing morning, on the other hand, can energize and excite us, as well as give us the courage to meet the challenges that await us. By beginning our day in a focused and balanced manner, we make the day our own. We set the tone of our expectations and choose the mood we will use to respond to our circumstances. A gentle, reflective, and thoughtful morning will prepare us to create a gentle, conscious, and thoughtful day.
The simplest way to eliminate the rush from our morning routine is to rise earlier. Perhaps that is easier said than done, but it can be accomplished simply by going to bed earlier in the evening. The added benefit of that can be the opportunity to allow ourselves to fall to sleep, perhaps while listening to meditation music set to an off timer, by reading an enriching piece of literature, or reflecting in meditative prayer, rather than succumbing to exhaustion. This also allows our sleeping space to become a sanctuary of sorts, rather than a destination.
Encouraging our household families into routines that send them to be off to their days in the same way requires even more time. This may seem like a hardship at first, but the extra minutes afford us the opportunity to really enjoy watching the sun come up or to connect with our loved ones before we go in our separate directions.
There are many more ways we can constructively use the time we gain. A mere half of an hour of time in which we examine our priorities, give thanks for the richness in our lifes, pray for the needs of others, and contemplate the known and unknown blessings we will receive this day can lift our spirits and help us to formulate lasting and positive expectations.
We can also find a way to maintain this balance and inner peace throughout our day, as well as to project it and share our light with others. Perhaps as we begin our time of reflection and prayer in the morning, we can find an object to hold; a new object every day, and something simple that fits in our pocket. A leaf, stone, or blade of grass from our lawn. An item of clothing, photo, or a note given to us from a loved one, kept within our reach can be held during times of trial and stress during our day. Along with a deep, controlled breath, we can receive a brief moment in order to return our selves to our center where we know our balance.
If we want little more than just to enjoy our day, we simply need to simply devote a portion of our personal time to activities that both ground and delight us, such as meditation, reading, walking, or listening to music.
If there is little room for change in our start of the day routine, we can just try to make each activity we engage in upon waking a ritual in its own right.
The time we spend each day enjoying an invigorating cup of coffee, savoring a soothing cup of tea, or washing away tension in a hot shower can serve as a reminder of the need to care for ourselves no matter what the hour, as well as to take a reflective moment to give thanks for the life around us and within us, before and beyond.
Our morning is ours and should reflect not only our practical needs but also the needs of our soul. When we center ourselves at the start of our day, no matter if our day starts at 6:00 a.m, 4:00 p.m. or midnight, we do not only maintain our sense of balance throughout our day, we also to offer that same spiritual balance to others.
With love & light,
Rob
If we are still weary when we we hit the ground running, rushing to prepare ourself to face our worldly obligations, we are likely to feel fatigued and overwhelmed for most of our day. That will affect not only our lives, and the lives of those we encounter, but also our perception of the gift of life.
A leisurely and relaxing morning, on the other hand, can energize and excite us, as well as give us the courage to meet the challenges that await us. By beginning our day in a focused and balanced manner, we make the day our own. We set the tone of our expectations and choose the mood we will use to respond to our circumstances. A gentle, reflective, and thoughtful morning will prepare us to create a gentle, conscious, and thoughtful day.
The simplest way to eliminate the rush from our morning routine is to rise earlier. Perhaps that is easier said than done, but it can be accomplished simply by going to bed earlier in the evening. The added benefit of that can be the opportunity to allow ourselves to fall to sleep, perhaps while listening to meditation music set to an off timer, by reading an enriching piece of literature, or reflecting in meditative prayer, rather than succumbing to exhaustion. This also allows our sleeping space to become a sanctuary of sorts, rather than a destination.
Encouraging our household families into routines that send them to be off to their days in the same way requires even more time. This may seem like a hardship at first, but the extra minutes afford us the opportunity to really enjoy watching the sun come up or to connect with our loved ones before we go in our separate directions.
There are many more ways we can constructively use the time we gain. A mere half of an hour of time in which we examine our priorities, give thanks for the richness in our lifes, pray for the needs of others, and contemplate the known and unknown blessings we will receive this day can lift our spirits and help us to formulate lasting and positive expectations.
We can also find a way to maintain this balance and inner peace throughout our day, as well as to project it and share our light with others. Perhaps as we begin our time of reflection and prayer in the morning, we can find an object to hold; a new object every day, and something simple that fits in our pocket. A leaf, stone, or blade of grass from our lawn. An item of clothing, photo, or a note given to us from a loved one, kept within our reach can be held during times of trial and stress during our day. Along with a deep, controlled breath, we can receive a brief moment in order to return our selves to our center where we know our balance.
If we want little more than just to enjoy our day, we simply need to simply devote a portion of our personal time to activities that both ground and delight us, such as meditation, reading, walking, or listening to music.
If there is little room for change in our start of the day routine, we can just try to make each activity we engage in upon waking a ritual in its own right.
The time we spend each day enjoying an invigorating cup of coffee, savoring a soothing cup of tea, or washing away tension in a hot shower can serve as a reminder of the need to care for ourselves no matter what the hour, as well as to take a reflective moment to give thanks for the life around us and within us, before and beyond.
Our morning is ours and should reflect not only our practical needs but also the needs of our soul. When we center ourselves at the start of our day, no matter if our day starts at 6:00 a.m, 4:00 p.m. or midnight, we do not only maintain our sense of balance throughout our day, we also to offer that same spiritual balance to others.
With love & light,
Rob
Saturday, October 17, 2009
We Need A Little Christmas ...
Celebrate Every Day
Life has suddenly become so stress-filled for so many of us.
We find ourselves wondering, each day, how we will survive financially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
Challenges, that we may once have invited as avenues to make us stronger, suddenly invite anger, depression, escapism, and spiritual death.
In order to maintain a balance of our love and appreciation of life, we need to celebrate each day and invite happiness to prevail over our trials.
We all know someone who keeps plastic covers on his or her sofa in order to protect it.
The irony here is that many of these people may live their lives without ever having actually made contact with their own furniture! This is a poignant and somewhat humorous example of the human tendency to try to save things for special occasions, as if everyday life weren't special enough to warrant the use of nice things.
Many of us have had the experience of never wearing a particular piece of clothing in order to keep it nice, only to have it go out of style or outgrow it in the meanwhile.
I remember when we purchased our good silver. It was beyond our financial means 20 years ago, but we wanted to establish some sort of a heritage. Interestingly, once we chose a pattern and committed ourselves to the purchase, the sales associate immediately began to sell us items in which to store away our accomplishment to keep it safe from the effects of sunlight and oxygen.
Why?
I have a friend who uses her silver and crystal daily. Meanwhile, our silver is packed up and too tarnished to be bothered with.
It's interesting to think of what it would mean to us if we let ourselves wear our nicest clothes and eat off the good china with our silver and crystal on a daily basis. We might be sending ourselves the message that every day we are alive is a special day and a cause for celebration, and that we are worth it.
There is something uplifting about treating ourselves to the finest of what we have. It is as if we rise to the occasion when we wear our best clothes and set the table beautifully, as if for a very special guest.
We are more mindful of where we place things, what we are eating, and who is with us. Using the good china, taking a meal at the Dining Room table, and taking the plastic off the sofa might just be an invitation for us be more conscious of the beauty and grace which is inherent in our everyday lives.
If there are things we've stashed away for a special occasion --a bottle of special wine, a new pair of shoes, an antique lace tablecloth -- we need to consider taking them out of their hiding places and putting them to use today or tonight ... just because we are alive now to enjoy them.
What better cause is there for celebration?
So ... dress in your finest, behave at your giddiest, break out the finest of all, invite your loved owns over for a spontaneous party.
In the words of Auntie Mame; "We need a little Christmas, right this very minute ..."
With love & light,
Rob
Life has suddenly become so stress-filled for so many of us.
We find ourselves wondering, each day, how we will survive financially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
Challenges, that we may once have invited as avenues to make us stronger, suddenly invite anger, depression, escapism, and spiritual death.
In order to maintain a balance of our love and appreciation of life, we need to celebrate each day and invite happiness to prevail over our trials.
We all know someone who keeps plastic covers on his or her sofa in order to protect it.
The irony here is that many of these people may live their lives without ever having actually made contact with their own furniture! This is a poignant and somewhat humorous example of the human tendency to try to save things for special occasions, as if everyday life weren't special enough to warrant the use of nice things.
Many of us have had the experience of never wearing a particular piece of clothing in order to keep it nice, only to have it go out of style or outgrow it in the meanwhile.
I remember when we purchased our good silver. It was beyond our financial means 20 years ago, but we wanted to establish some sort of a heritage. Interestingly, once we chose a pattern and committed ourselves to the purchase, the sales associate immediately began to sell us items in which to store away our accomplishment to keep it safe from the effects of sunlight and oxygen.
Why?
I have a friend who uses her silver and crystal daily. Meanwhile, our silver is packed up and too tarnished to be bothered with.
It's interesting to think of what it would mean to us if we let ourselves wear our nicest clothes and eat off the good china with our silver and crystal on a daily basis. We might be sending ourselves the message that every day we are alive is a special day and a cause for celebration, and that we are worth it.
There is something uplifting about treating ourselves to the finest of what we have. It is as if we rise to the occasion when we wear our best clothes and set the table beautifully, as if for a very special guest.
We are more mindful of where we place things, what we are eating, and who is with us. Using the good china, taking a meal at the Dining Room table, and taking the plastic off the sofa might just be an invitation for us be more conscious of the beauty and grace which is inherent in our everyday lives.
If there are things we've stashed away for a special occasion --a bottle of special wine, a new pair of shoes, an antique lace tablecloth -- we need to consider taking them out of their hiding places and putting them to use today or tonight ... just because we are alive now to enjoy them.
What better cause is there for celebration?
So ... dress in your finest, behave at your giddiest, break out the finest of all, invite your loved owns over for a spontaneous party.
In the words of Auntie Mame; "We need a little Christmas, right this very minute ..."
With love & light,
Rob
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Life Can Be Scary
I have always loved a challenge.
Or ... so I think.
Life can take us on a roller coaster ride full of highs and lows and twists and turns.
Even for those of us who enjoy unexpected thrills, it is frightening to suddenly find ourselves heading for a deep plunge. However, it happens to all of us.
It is at these moments when it is important to remember that we are not alone in our experiences. No matter how brave, how strong, or how levelheaded we are, at some times we all become scared or afraid.
Our fears may evolve around our physical safety, particularly if we are not feeling well, living under difficult circumstances, or doing work that exposes us to hazardous conditions.
Perhaps we may be experiencing financial woes that cause us to be fearful about making ends meet, afraid that we may lose the very home in which we've lived and loved. Or, we may fear losing investments that we have worked hard for in hopes of procuring financial security in retirement.
We may also fear the loss of a loved one who is sick, or we may never have been with someone and may be afraid of never finding someone special to spend our life with.
We may be scared to start at a new school, or be afraid of being denied admittance to one.
We may be afraid of beginning a different job, or be scared of losing a job we have.
We may be scared of moving to a new town, and afraid of losing the friends we've known ... the life we've enjoyed.
Whatever our fears are, they are valid, and we do not need to feel ashamed or embarrassed that we are, at times, frightened, afraid, and scared.
It may be comforting to know that everyone becomes each of these, and that is okay.
Sometimes just acknowledging our fears is enough to make us feel better.
Also, while it sometimes takes a lot more to ease our mind, we can console ourselves with the knowledge that life can be scary at times and that we are not the only ones who are afraid.
When we allow ourselves the permission to be scared or afraid, we allow ourselves to move forward through our fears so we can let them go and we can grow within ourselves through faith.
That growth, through faith, also makes us able to share our fears with others - therefore allowing the grace of God to work within us and through us, using our own difficulties, fears, and challenges as a channel in which we can guide others through the waters of life, and nurture faith in others.
Much like the ship that enters the unknown harbor, awaiting the pilot boat to navigate the waters ahead, sharing our apprehensions with others allow even our own fears to be realized as far less overwhelming as we invite the assistance and guidance of others to work as lighthouses against our own reefs.
When we share our own fears, we lighten our burden because we no longer carrying our worries all by ourselves.
We accept the gift of friends to bear the burden of our own Cross.
When we ask someone to be mindful, in meditation or in prayer, we invoke a power that is greater that any nation.
We invoke a power of love, spirit, togetherness, and faith.
With love, we can overcome any obstacle.
With spirit, we can reach far beyond our dreams.
With togetherness, we can outshine any darkness.
With faith, we do live eternally.
So, what we learn, is that we can lose many things which are afraid of losing, and we can encounter many situations which we are scared to step in to.
However, we can never lose our love, our spirit, our togetherness, our faith.
Remember ... we are never alone.
With love, light & faith,
Rob
Or ... so I think.
Life can take us on a roller coaster ride full of highs and lows and twists and turns.
Even for those of us who enjoy unexpected thrills, it is frightening to suddenly find ourselves heading for a deep plunge. However, it happens to all of us.
It is at these moments when it is important to remember that we are not alone in our experiences. No matter how brave, how strong, or how levelheaded we are, at some times we all become scared or afraid.
Our fears may evolve around our physical safety, particularly if we are not feeling well, living under difficult circumstances, or doing work that exposes us to hazardous conditions.
Perhaps we may be experiencing financial woes that cause us to be fearful about making ends meet, afraid that we may lose the very home in which we've lived and loved. Or, we may fear losing investments that we have worked hard for in hopes of procuring financial security in retirement.
We may also fear the loss of a loved one who is sick, or we may never have been with someone and may be afraid of never finding someone special to spend our life with.
We may be scared to start at a new school, or be afraid of being denied admittance to one.
We may be afraid of beginning a different job, or be scared of losing a job we have.
We may be scared of moving to a new town, and afraid of losing the friends we've known ... the life we've enjoyed.
Whatever our fears are, they are valid, and we do not need to feel ashamed or embarrassed that we are, at times, frightened, afraid, and scared.
It may be comforting to know that everyone becomes each of these, and that is okay.
Sometimes just acknowledging our fears is enough to make us feel better.
Also, while it sometimes takes a lot more to ease our mind, we can console ourselves with the knowledge that life can be scary at times and that we are not the only ones who are afraid.
When we allow ourselves the permission to be scared or afraid, we allow ourselves to move forward through our fears so we can let them go and we can grow within ourselves through faith.
That growth, through faith, also makes us able to share our fears with others - therefore allowing the grace of God to work within us and through us, using our own difficulties, fears, and challenges as a channel in which we can guide others through the waters of life, and nurture faith in others.
Much like the ship that enters the unknown harbor, awaiting the pilot boat to navigate the waters ahead, sharing our apprehensions with others allow even our own fears to be realized as far less overwhelming as we invite the assistance and guidance of others to work as lighthouses against our own reefs.
When we share our own fears, we lighten our burden because we no longer carrying our worries all by ourselves.
We accept the gift of friends to bear the burden of our own Cross.
When we ask someone to be mindful, in meditation or in prayer, we invoke a power that is greater that any nation.
We invoke a power of love, spirit, togetherness, and faith.
With love, we can overcome any obstacle.
With spirit, we can reach far beyond our dreams.
With togetherness, we can outshine any darkness.
With faith, we do live eternally.
So, what we learn, is that we can lose many things which are afraid of losing, and we can encounter many situations which we are scared to step in to.
However, we can never lose our love, our spirit, our togetherness, our faith.
Remember ... we are never alone.
With love, light & faith,
Rob
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
A Soft Touch in Hard Times
Life is very tough.
Throughout life we must cope with blockages that impede our forward momentum ans seem to attempt to keep us from a peaceful inner existence.
Quite often, it is natural for us to respond with anger and frustration, but that does not equate with the peacefulness that we seek for one another.
Whether these obstacles are of a personal, professional, or societal nature, our first instinct may be to push against the obstruction. However, the simplest way to alleviate resistance is to approach it gently, with a soft manner and kind intentions.
To quell the storm, if you will.
Struggle and strife can find no foothold when confronted with mildness because conflict can only exist when fed by two opposing forces.
So many areas of our lives can benefit from the application of gentleness.
The beauty of gentleness lies in its own multifaceted nature. It is part love, part compassion, part patience, part understanding, and part respect for others.
When we move through life gently as a matter of course, we naturally attract these wonderful elements into our lives.
This does not mean that gentle people are by nature passive or meek. Rather, their copious inner power is manifested in their gentleness and their choice to move with the flow of the universe instead of against it.
We can make use of gentleness in our own life by applying it in situations where we feel challenged by our circumstances, by people in our environment, or by our own helplessness in wanted to bring healing to another.
Quite often, caring for another is a misunderstood anomaly as we are not accustomed to accepting what life holds before us.
However, it is important that we move forward.
As we move forward gently, the energy pervading our life will likely shift and, consequently, the blockages before us will diminish and ultimately vanish.
Cooperation progresses smoothly when approached gently because all parties involved feel confident that their needs will be met.
Quarrels are easily quelled with gentleness because the dualistic concepts of losing and winning are made moot by our willingness to exercise infinite patience with those whose values differ from our own.
Gentleness must be practiced, as we are inadvertently encouraged to act competitively in certain phases of our lives, fighting against nature and its inherent realities.
At first, our established habits may make being truly gentle challenging. Yet, as we grow and mature, we can commit to consciously apply gentleness to all areas of our life, whether by collaborating rather than competing, or yielding graciously to the impassable roadblocks in our path in order to seek a new road.
We will find that we begin to act gently.
Some might interpret this as weakness. However, it is strength is growth as we accept the lessons of this wonderful teacher called life.
As our patterns of thought and behavior become ever more peaceful, we will discover that we encounter far less impassable resistance on our individual journeys.
Also, as we discover this, we accept that no one walks alone in her or his journey.
Sometimes, it is easier to accept a held hand with our eyes closed.
Perhaps a held hand and closed eyes open our inner eye to all those who walk with us.
With love & light,
Rob
Throughout life we must cope with blockages that impede our forward momentum ans seem to attempt to keep us from a peaceful inner existence.
Quite often, it is natural for us to respond with anger and frustration, but that does not equate with the peacefulness that we seek for one another.
Whether these obstacles are of a personal, professional, or societal nature, our first instinct may be to push against the obstruction. However, the simplest way to alleviate resistance is to approach it gently, with a soft manner and kind intentions.
To quell the storm, if you will.
Struggle and strife can find no foothold when confronted with mildness because conflict can only exist when fed by two opposing forces.
So many areas of our lives can benefit from the application of gentleness.
The beauty of gentleness lies in its own multifaceted nature. It is part love, part compassion, part patience, part understanding, and part respect for others.
When we move through life gently as a matter of course, we naturally attract these wonderful elements into our lives.
This does not mean that gentle people are by nature passive or meek. Rather, their copious inner power is manifested in their gentleness and their choice to move with the flow of the universe instead of against it.
We can make use of gentleness in our own life by applying it in situations where we feel challenged by our circumstances, by people in our environment, or by our own helplessness in wanted to bring healing to another.
Quite often, caring for another is a misunderstood anomaly as we are not accustomed to accepting what life holds before us.
However, it is important that we move forward.
As we move forward gently, the energy pervading our life will likely shift and, consequently, the blockages before us will diminish and ultimately vanish.
Cooperation progresses smoothly when approached gently because all parties involved feel confident that their needs will be met.
Quarrels are easily quelled with gentleness because the dualistic concepts of losing and winning are made moot by our willingness to exercise infinite patience with those whose values differ from our own.
Gentleness must be practiced, as we are inadvertently encouraged to act competitively in certain phases of our lives, fighting against nature and its inherent realities.
At first, our established habits may make being truly gentle challenging. Yet, as we grow and mature, we can commit to consciously apply gentleness to all areas of our life, whether by collaborating rather than competing, or yielding graciously to the impassable roadblocks in our path in order to seek a new road.
We will find that we begin to act gently.
Some might interpret this as weakness. However, it is strength is growth as we accept the lessons of this wonderful teacher called life.
As our patterns of thought and behavior become ever more peaceful, we will discover that we encounter far less impassable resistance on our individual journeys.
Also, as we discover this, we accept that no one walks alone in her or his journey.
Sometimes, it is easier to accept a held hand with our eyes closed.
Perhaps a held hand and closed eyes open our inner eye to all those who walk with us.
With love & light,
Rob
Monday, September 28, 2009
Life's Lessons
Most of us have the ultimate respect for teachers, as it is they who tend the gardens of our lives.
Many teachers, like gardeners, give their unlimited all in exchange for the sidelined gratification of silently seeing the fruits of their labor emerge into new life. Much like parents, they watch as their nurtured youth grow, take form, and fly - perhaps soar.
Many of us long to find a teacher, or guru, or spiritual guide. We may feel uncertain of how to practice our spirituality without one, or we may long for someone who has attained a higher level of insight to lead the way for us throughout this difficult and trying life.
Some of us seek such guidance for years without finding compatibility. Others are blessed with a match, without much seeking.
The good news is that the greatest teacher we could ever want has been appointed for us since before birth and is always with us.
Life.
The people and situations we encounter every day have much to teach us when we are open to receiving their wisdom.
Often, we don’t recognize our teachers because they may not look or act like the teachers from our youth, our vision of a guru, or our concept of a spiritual person. However, our teachers embody great wisdom.
Sometimes, our teachers find our lessons in situations that we neither invite nor want. All the situations in our lives, from the insignificant to the severe, aspire to teach us exactly what we need to be learning at any given time.
The lesson plan, however, is not ours.
Patience, compassion, perseverance, honesty, letting go - all these are covered in the classroom of God by the teacher that is life.
We can help ourselves to remember this perfect teacher each day with a simple reflection. We can begin our day by taking a moment to say;
"I acknowledge and honor the teacher that is my life. May I be wise enough to recognize the teachers and lessons that I encounter today, and may I be open to receive them and remain thankful for their wisdom."
We might also take some time each day to consider what our lives are trying to teach us - some time to listen to the Spirit of guidance, which we so often pray for. A difficult phase in the relationship with our employment, life partner, family, or friendship, may be teaching us to be prepared to let go.
The homeless person we see every day may be showing us the boundaries of our compassion and generosity.
A sudden onset of lost items may be asking us to be more cognizant of our physical realities.
A sudden turn about in the health of a loved one may be reminding us to give great thanks and glory to God for the world of marvel in which we live, and for life itself as each moment passes in a never turning tide.
I watched the Sun rise the other morning as I traveled to New York, and it was beautiful. My Mom always tells me how much she loves the Sunrise from her front patios, which overlook the Delaware Water Gap from about 20 miles.
As I watched the morning's Sun rise, I noticed that it was reminiscent of a Spring morning. How peculiar for Autumn. For 21 years now, Frank and I have always wanted to photograph that beautiful morning moment, which so many people miss.
We still haven't done that.
Today, I wondered what lesson God's nature was teaching me with that gentle reminder of Spring at the onset of Autumn.
When we trust our intuition on the nature of the lesson at hand, work at our own pace, and ask as many questions as we need, we learn that life has all the answers.
All we need to do is learn.
With love & light,
Rob
Many teachers, like gardeners, give their unlimited all in exchange for the sidelined gratification of silently seeing the fruits of their labor emerge into new life. Much like parents, they watch as their nurtured youth grow, take form, and fly - perhaps soar.
Many of us long to find a teacher, or guru, or spiritual guide. We may feel uncertain of how to practice our spirituality without one, or we may long for someone who has attained a higher level of insight to lead the way for us throughout this difficult and trying life.
Some of us seek such guidance for years without finding compatibility. Others are blessed with a match, without much seeking.
The good news is that the greatest teacher we could ever want has been appointed for us since before birth and is always with us.
Life.
The people and situations we encounter every day have much to teach us when we are open to receiving their wisdom.
Often, we don’t recognize our teachers because they may not look or act like the teachers from our youth, our vision of a guru, or our concept of a spiritual person. However, our teachers embody great wisdom.
Sometimes, our teachers find our lessons in situations that we neither invite nor want. All the situations in our lives, from the insignificant to the severe, aspire to teach us exactly what we need to be learning at any given time.
The lesson plan, however, is not ours.
Patience, compassion, perseverance, honesty, letting go - all these are covered in the classroom of God by the teacher that is life.
We can help ourselves to remember this perfect teacher each day with a simple reflection. We can begin our day by taking a moment to say;
"I acknowledge and honor the teacher that is my life. May I be wise enough to recognize the teachers and lessons that I encounter today, and may I be open to receive them and remain thankful for their wisdom."
We might also take some time each day to consider what our lives are trying to teach us - some time to listen to the Spirit of guidance, which we so often pray for. A difficult phase in the relationship with our employment, life partner, family, or friendship, may be teaching us to be prepared to let go.
The homeless person we see every day may be showing us the boundaries of our compassion and generosity.
A sudden onset of lost items may be asking us to be more cognizant of our physical realities.
A sudden turn about in the health of a loved one may be reminding us to give great thanks and glory to God for the world of marvel in which we live, and for life itself as each moment passes in a never turning tide.
I watched the Sun rise the other morning as I traveled to New York, and it was beautiful. My Mom always tells me how much she loves the Sunrise from her front patios, which overlook the Delaware Water Gap from about 20 miles.
As I watched the morning's Sun rise, I noticed that it was reminiscent of a Spring morning. How peculiar for Autumn. For 21 years now, Frank and I have always wanted to photograph that beautiful morning moment, which so many people miss.
We still haven't done that.
Today, I wondered what lesson God's nature was teaching me with that gentle reminder of Spring at the onset of Autumn.
When we trust our intuition on the nature of the lesson at hand, work at our own pace, and ask as many questions as we need, we learn that life has all the answers.
All we need to do is learn.
With love & light,
Rob
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)