Just For Today I Will See the Sweetness in Life

I woke up this morning with a feeling of joyful anticipation. I've noticed this feeling a lot these past few months. Then I begin to wonder what will happen today? Why am I having this feeling? I question how I could be feeling this way with all I have to do, my responsibilities, the sadness of friends, and trivial worries I harbor.  The feeling disappears. I did something different this morning - I smiled to myself and out loud to the Universe, I affirmed, "Thank You". The feeling remains. I consciously decided last night before I went to sleep to do something different, when that peaceful, happy feeling arrived. I planted the idea of holding on to whatever I felt as I was waking. I remember a part of a dream where hummingbird reminded me of the sweetness in life, explaining it is always there we just forget to allow it - we look past it to the problems we think we are having. Even now fully awake, I see the truth of the dream.

Have you ever noticed in the moment before you are fully awake, you feel a sense of peace or joy, or perhaps you feel a deep sense of love for life? Then you begin to think of all you have to do today, or the phone call you forgot to return yesterday. Worries about what will be or how the day will turn out start to set in as you come fully awake, and in an instant the original moment of bliss is gone.

During the deepest part of our sleep, our minds and bodies are given opportunity to heal. Worries and fears disappear as we become more attuned to Spirit, knowing we are safe, loved and protected. Our dreams often show us the way out of difficulty, restoring balance. As we are waking we hold on to the knowing we are guided, that life is meant to be joyful and that all is just as it is supposed to be. Then we allow the mind to take over, reminding us of all we think is not so great in our world. We override the peace or joy or love, as we begin the to do list in our heads, wondering how we will make it through the day. The dream containing the solution is lost from our conscious mind, and once again we feel alone, having to face the difficulties on our own.

What if we held on to whatever feeling we had when we awoke? What if we just trusted the gift we were given in our sleep? What if we let ourselves believe that all would be well during the day? What if we knew there was nothing to fear or worry about? What if everything that happened during the day was a gift guiding us toward the joyful anticipation of life?

I have decided to try this new way of looking at all that is happening around me. For years I have affirmed that All is Well in My World, among many other inspirational thoughts as they come sporadically throughout the day. I read the Reiki Prayer - Just for today I will not be Angry. Just for today I will not Worry. Just for today I will be Thankful. Just for today I will do my work Honestly. Just for today I will send love to every living thing. But today, I am adding - Just for today I will accept the gift of joy anticipation and see where it leads. Today I will not let all that appears to be wrong with the world, be wrong. There is a reason for all things and I trust the Universe. For today I will just notice what happens and without judgment be grateful for life.

If you would like to join me in this adventure, add your comments. If we all become more accepting of the peace we wake up with perhaps our lives would begin to reflect those thoughts instead of all the worry, fear, grief, anger and guilt we now experience.

Blessings to All

Honest Expression Creates Health

As I sit watching the sun come up I realize that even in the moments of sadness, loss, fear and doubt we can find peace. There is no shame in the truth of how we feel.

As much as I promote being in a place of joy, love and gratitude, there are times when we are sad, angry, indecisive, and ungrateful. Using these honest feelings to understand your boundaries, values and beliefs can be invaluable. When we allow the less than happy thoughts and feelings to pass through us, we become stronger. Expressing sorrow in times of loss is healing. Feeling pain when we have been hurt is normal. I see too many who are afraid to express their anger, bottling it up inside for fear of hurting someone else, or afraid of what others may say about them. That is not healthy.

True joy and exceptional health come when we are able to deal with the emotions as they arise. Being honest with ourselves and others, opens communication, expands our heart space and clears a place for shifting our perception of an event or situation. Once cleared healing can begin.

True strength and character come when we are able to be honest in our expression, maintaining integrity within ourselves. There are constructive ways to release heavy, unloving emotions. You can state what is hurting you, cry, relay anger, share your guilt, shame or disappointment without unnecessary drama or hurtful, demeaning words. Stick to the emotions you are feeling. Don't place blame on the other person or group. Take responsibility for your perception of the situation. Listen to the other side of the story.

Remember no one has the power to hurt you, make you angry, or even to make you happy. Only you have control over how you react to anything. If another's action or words invoke a feeling in you, ask yourself where this feeling originates. What do I need to understand about myself, to take this to heart? Am I seeing a truth about myself, that I don't like? How could I see and feel differently? Does what I am thinking and feeling matter enough to ruin my day? Are these even my feelings and thoughts or are they a programmed response based on someone else's system of beliefs and values?

I think of boundaries in terms of what am I willing to give my energy to? Being upset is one of the greatest energy zappers in our lives. When a loved one upsets us it is probably worth the time and effort to work through what is going on inside of us, and explain how the behavior hurts us. Too often though we allow strangers to affect our day, as we rerun the scenario over and over in our mind. Is it worth it? How is it serving you?

Journalling, walking, gardening, prayer are all healthy ways to release pent up emotions. Next time you have a desire to yell, scream, vent or blame another, find a quiet place to review what is really going on. Hurting others in order to feel better in the moment usually creates further guilt - is it worth giving your energy to that?

EACH MOMENT IS AN OPPORTUNITY

Today is a new day, and I begin anew. I begin by greeting the day with love, in acceptance of all the opportunities placed before me. Today I see each moment as an opportunity. For even obstacles or boredom are nothing more than opportunities to seek, to grow.

Fear asks me to stand tall, to move, to reach out for support. Therein I find courage, strength, new friends.

Sadness calls out with memories of happier times, encouraging me to experience true sorrow, so that I will also know true joy.

Lonliness beckons me to lend a hand, to help another. I need never be lonely when there are so many who would be a friend. Lonliness is an opportunity to take time for meditation and fuel creativity.

Illness is but an opportunity to heal. As I sit with illness, I see my thoughts more clearly, and find new ways to regain the vitality I long for. A day of rest is often well deserved. Long suffering is for those who choose to blame rather than claim responsibility. In this suffering I see my truth revealed, which now becomes an opportunity to let go of self-pity, guilt, remorse.

Pain reminds me that I have given without thought to physical capabilities. Here I find the steps I need to take to strengthen my muscles and replenish my fortitude. In my own pain I see those who I have hurt, as well as those I need to forgive. Thank you for this opportunity to forgive others and myself.

As I watch the clouds from window, I sense the wonder of the world. It is in this moment I feel the joy of living. In this joy my heart opens to the opportunities for love, for purpose, for dreams.

Within a crowd there is opportunity to spread love and blessings, without words or recognition. In stillness I find time for prayer, in gratitude for silence, peace, and breath.

Celebration is an opportunity to reunite with friends and loved ones, to regain the awe of childhood, to feel the bonds of family and community.

Each moment of our life offers opportunities to see the work we do, the joy we share, the love we need, the talents we have, the blessings, the trials, the possibilities. Each moment can bring us closer to our dreams or further from our goals. Each moment gives us the opportunity to choose what we offer others or what we  keep for ourselves. Each moment soon becomes our life.

Love Cannot Abide In Fear/Trust Cannot Live Within A Lie

Now, if you have absorbed my previous blog, you will be facing your true feelings. Hopefully, you are expressing your truth, in appropriate ways, allowing yourself to feel anger, resentment, fear, grief just as they appear in your day to day experiences. When we are able to release the so-called negative emotions, we create room in our hearts for love, joy, compassion and peace with integrity rather than as a mask to meet socially acceptable behavior.

We are told that love and fear cannot live in the same space. That is not to say that a loving person does not occasionally become angry or defensive. Even the Universe gives off a jolt of lightening, erupts a volcano, creates a tsunami, or an earthquake once in awhile, to release toxic energy.

Have you ever paid attention to the new growth after a forest fire, or the way your garden takes a spurt of growth after a lightening storm? I am sure you have noticed the compassion and gratitude that come to play at the event of a major disaster. How many of you have reached out to communities rebuilding after a tornado, earthquake or flooding?

We are so afraid of speaking our truth, fearful that those we love will leave us or love us less, for showing our anger, or speaking beliefs contrary to theirs. This fear prevents us from being honest with others, until at some point we lose sight of who we are. The vibration of distrust begins to override the vibration of love until at some point we overreact to an event, shattering the mask of bliss we tried so hard to maintain.

Can you think of a time when you  argued with a loved one? Do you still feel guilty or can you look past the anger, and see a building of trust, thanks to the honesty of each of you in the moment? We feel the vibrations of conflict, even when the words aren't spoken. Though we prefer the vibration of love, it is easily overridden by words unspoken and feelings repressed to protect the cherished relationship.

I believe relationships become stale and mundane due to our lack of honesty. When we tuck our less than loving feelings away, to keep peace, we also tuck away a part of our soul, until one day we wake up and realize that our relationships have become a convenience rather than a partnership. Trust cannot live within a lie.

That trust cannot live within a lie, becomes even more important than the statement, love cannot abide in fear. Love can only be built on truth which leads to trust. Life is the totality of our expression. Reality lives beyond the illusion of love. If we are to find our wholeness, we must accept love as a reality only when it allows us full disclosure of our feelings and beliefs.

Begin today sorting out your true feelings, allowing the masks to slip away. Be honest in your conversations. Check in with your soul - are you trustworthy?