Promises Promises

It has been more than 40 years since I  made a promise to bring more joy into the world. What was I thinking?

Making the promise was easy, made at a time when there was so much sadness. It seemed it would take so little to create a happier place. It began with just wearing a smile, sharing it with everyone I met. I looked for ways to be kind to others, ensuring the children I babysat had reason to laugh, assisting the elderly in the community in whatever ways I could. My motto was "If I can make even one person smile today, who would not have another reason to smile, or if I can create more ease in the life of another today, then I have done well." As the years went by, I looked for many more ways to inspire happiness in others. Whether I was skating, working, gardening, cooking, or just being a friend, my thoughts were on bringing joy and laughter into the world. Now, I am not a Saint. I wanted this as much or maybe even more for myself as for the people around me.
In the midst of this game of creating joy, I began to notice a restless sense of not being enough. It seemed no matter how hard I tried, people around me could not sustain the moments of joy. Even I could not be happy everyday in every moment. Whenever a shadow cast, I blamed myself. I found I was angry, lashing out at others, but inside I was hurt, feeling let down by my inability to keep the promise I made. Where was the help I expected to be there? Why was I doing this alone? What was the point in being happy in a world where others seemed more inspired by bad news and the latest cruel gossip?

I began to ask questions. "What am I doing wrong?" "Why does there have to be so much pain in the world?" "Am I being selfish asking for happiness?" "What is wrong with me?" "Am I kidding myself about life and the way it is supposed to be?" "Why is everyone around me is looking for so much more than just the simplicity of joy?" "Am I missing something?"

So I began a journey of looking for what everyone else seemed to be seeking - money, security, relationships, health, expensive clothes, better furniture, recreational toys, and more stuff..... It seemed this was the road to freedom and bliss according to friends, family and marketing ads.

Well, once again - What Was I Thinking? It seemed like fun for a while but the emptiness and continual grasping began to take a toll on my energy. My vitality, motivation and inspiration dwindled to zero. The greatest loss in this time of seeking was my health and relationships. Neither seemed sustainable in the midst of becoming better, faster, smarter, prettier, richer.....

So back to the drawing board and to the promise made so many years before. "Where do I find the happiness I seek?" "What is happiness?" "If found, how does one maintain a state of joy?"

The answer came in seeking peace. Once I decided that my expectations were too high, I settled for finding contentment. It seemed that even peace was too much to ask. Drama plays a big part in keeping so many motivated and inspired. But I was done with drama, so what did that leave me? It left me accepting that sadness is an expression of life, as is anger, guilt, self-pity, along with wonder, awe, and surprise.

In seeking peace, I began to notice that I was not being peaceful, just as I had not been happy in seeking joy. At this point I literally gave up. What is the point in any of this? Why are we put on this planet? Who created this game anyway?

I made a decision to just do what was before me to do, accept whatever came my way, and do the best I could with what I had. I stopped searching. My motto became "Show me what You would have me do today."

Once I stopped searching for joy and peace and simply put my life in the Hands of a Higher Power, I began to notice something within myself. It was a sense of acceptance which became a sense of peace, which then moved to a place of love and a sense of humor. I began to see the joy in little things - sunrises and sunsets, rainbows and the moon, rain, snow and sunshine, children and grandparents. Gratitude for all experiences provided the security I sought, my health improved and once again I was inspired to keep my promise.

Life will throw curves your way. There will always be bills to pay, but when you see them as an energy exchange for the blessings you receive, they too bring joy. Loved ones will die, but you will find peace in knowing they are safe and watching over you. Illness will become a way of learning more about yourself and those around you. Arguments will happen, to remind you of your own unique way of thinking and being in the world - no one is at fault. You will leave relationships, but in love, not anger. There will be occasional disappointments encouraging you to look deeper for the blessings.

When you choose to be the peace you seek, and the joy that is missing in life, everything around you has a reason. When judgments cease and acceptance fills the void, you realize there is no right or wrong - it all just is. The rest is a choice you make, either for joy or sorrow, peace or conflict.

Thank you to all who have been the inspiration I need when my own cup is running empty. Thank you to all who bring a smile into the world along with me - the world needs more of us. I am grateful to each person who came into my life, especially those caught up in the drama years, for what I learned from you has given me compassion and understanding. I apologize for the confusion I created as I sought to make the world a happy place. In gratitude I now know, I cannot make anything outside of myself. I cannot make anyone happy who is not already in a place of peace.

We each must make our own choices. I respect you for your decisions. As for me, I am content to be a believer of good, joy, peace and love, grateful to be asking the right questions and making the right mistakes. I am grateful for a simpler life and the people in my life who share in inspiring joy, peace and love.

Blessings

Allowing Self-Acceptance

Today I release all hopes, dreams, and desires. Most of them were built on a need for approval. In an instant I realize it is a need to approve of myself that keeps me seeking yours. So today I ask, "What do I do from love, from the heart, from my soul? What thoughts and actions feel right and in harmony with the truth of my being? What words would I speak, if they were of my true nature?"

If we approve of ourselves, there is no need for the approval of others. If, at the end of the day there is no guilt, no remorse, no promises unkept, or decisions unmade, then I have been true to myself. If I can look at what has been accomplished and what is left undone, and know I have done everything possible, that is enough.

One of the commandments is "Thou shall have no other gods before you". Today I see a new perception of this law. I realize that maybe Jesus was trying to tell us, that our own being must come first. There is only one God and that One Spirit lives within all of us, but we cannot change others. We alone cannot change the world. The only difference we can make comes from recognizing God within ourselves. When we seek approval outside of ourselves, in essence we are saying the God within you, is greater than the God within me, or otherwise saying there is more than one God. Beyond the ego, within the core of our being, we are all one. Without self-love, and self-acceptance, we cannot truly love or accept the Divine within each other. Seeking approval is to say I am not of God, and that is an impossibility. If we are seeking outside of ourselves, it is a good indication we know there is something we are doing or being that is not in harmony with Creation. When we put our own approval first, what we offer to others will be in alignment with Love and Light, and if we are at peace with ourselves, we can only offer peace to others. Whether they accept will depend on their own consciousness, and is not a reflection of the self.

The end result is another commandment stating a similar law. "Love your neighbors as yourself". As we learn to love and appreciate our own inner core, we then find loving our neighbors is a natural part of living, for it becomes easy to see the Divine within them. Once we find the loving, accepting and allowing part of ourselves, we are more able to see it within everyone around us.

To love thyself, and to accept the God Within is not selfish or egotistical, it is the complete opposite. It is unconditional love for all of Creation and the reason we are here.

My mantra, YOU ARE A SUCCESS BECAUSE YOU EXIST, takes on a whole new meaning.

As for the mistakes I have made in an effort to be loved, liked and approved of, I will clear up those I can, and forgive myself, trusting the Creative Process to make all things right. We are here to learn, and to assist others in their growth, and while life seems hard and not at all perfect - everything is just as it is meant to be.

Today with or without your approval I seek to be true to myself, so I can be true to you.

Namaste

New Ideas and Inspiration - What Do You Think?

What are your plans for the coming year? I have been thinking about this a lot over the last few weeks; wondering how I can serve in a deeper, more meaningful way.

I also ask myself on a daily basis, "How can I offer more laughter, more joy and greater peace to those around me?"

Here are some ideas that have been playing in my mind as I meditate and journal. I would love your feedback. Send me a message on facebook or email - jmheaven@telusplanet.net or let me know your thoughts at your next appointment.

I would like to offer a Client Membership which would include weekly appointments, monthly circles, product, program and book discounts, as well as few extra goodies and inspirational ideas.

The monthly circle will be back and can be incorporated as part of the membership or you can choose to just attend the circle. This will be open to anyone over the age of 18 or over the age of 15 if accompanied by a parent or other adult designated by a parent. This gathering will be directed by the attendees, but will include meditation, life discussions, laughter and inspiration.

Home Parties will be offered with free treatments or reading for the host(ess) - you gather the people, set the theme and I will provide the services. See my Course and Events tab for more info.

I am also working on ideas for those of you at a distance. It is my desire to bring us all closer together but the details are still in the planning stages. If you have suggestions, please help me out.

There are many predictions for 2012, and it is my belief that it time to gather together as community, and to choose what we wish to be in the world.

Your ideas and feedback would be greatly appreciated. Post your comments here, send me an email, post on facebook or give me a call.

Wishing for All - A Year of Love, Peace, Joy, Health and Prosperity

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