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On Setting Goals

What are your thoughts and feelings toward setting goals? I feel that goal setting is a good motivational tool; however, you shouldn’t place an emotional attachment toward completing a goal. In other words, try not to solely focus on its outcome; enjoy the process and evolution of your goal while striving to attain it.

There are many valuable lessons to learn before a goal can come to fruition. Careful planning and patience are essential. Perseverance and optimism are catalysts as well.

Some goals are short-term and easy to achieve. “Today, I will finish five loads of laundry in the basement.” Others are more daunting and require much willpower, determination, and endurance. “I will obtain a master’s Degree in Business.” 

It’s usually easy to initiate a goal. It is more daunting to achieve it. You might hit a roadblock during the process and want to give up. Don’t give up! Draw your attention toward the associated feelings of achieving your goal. How will it feel once you get that master’s degree? Make that your focus no matter how long it will take.

All goals are attainable if you desire them enough. Sometimes, while achieving a goal, you may want to alter it. Perhaps, in the beginning, the goal served a purpose in your life, then through trial and error, you determined it wasn’t a good fit. 

This doesn’t mean you have to give it up, but instead, alter it to make it more achievable. In other words, recognize how the goal can be modified or reformulated to meet your expectations. There’s always a solution to every perceived problem. 

No matter what, there is no failure in goal setting. Every experience you have in life leads you to the next extraordinary chapter. If your intentions are right-minded and respectful of how they make you feel, you’re on the right path. 

I recall a recent quote from a spiritual teacher. He said, “Right action emerges out of presence, living in the now.” Don’t let anything get you down, especially “failures” in life, such as an unaccomplished goal. 

Beautiful awakenings come out of dark experiences. All will be well if we can expect, accept, and flow with these experiences, like paddling downstream in a river. Resistance to “what is” is synonymous with swimming upstream. It’s an exhausting struggle that will get you nowhere. Set realistic goals and follow the flow, moving you in the right direction.

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How To Get Unstuck

Writer’s block is the pits! I’ve had a difficult time listening to the messages of my heart. Perhaps it’s due to changes that have taken place in my life over the past few months. I started a new job which has taken a lot of my time as I’ve had the privilege to “reimagine” the position I accepted to make positive change in the institution. We have a marriage coming up, two graduations, and a semi-permanent move to a big city all taking place at the same time. Another distraction is the physiological changes I’ve been growing through as I enter a new chapter in the stages of life: good changes but hard to accept.

I’ve looked back on previous excerpts to remember my messages and how important they are for me to pass on to the reader. I’ve learned that as we become more conscious of what is around us, we take on more responsibility. I’ve become more sensitive to situations and occurrences. Others perceive me as “too conscious.” For example, I find it quite unbearable to witness violence against nature. I’ve seen people treat small creatures as pests, taking pure pleasure in squashing, poisoning, and using other means to kill them while boasting about their victories.

I can feel the instability and “wobble” of the Earth more than ever. And though I have not watched the news and have strayed almost entirely away from the antics and brainwashing of social media, I’ve seen snippets. I’ve heard about humans’ violence and disregard towards each other on a social, emotional, and political level. I curl inward, wanting to find more space and peaceful moments on the porch, alone, in stillness.

These moments of stillness are often interrupted, though. I feel an underlying anxiousness that I cannot pinpoint. Perhaps it’s because I haven’t been able to do what comes naturally to me. That is to write. Maybe I’m putting too much emphasis on completing another degree which I keep avoiding. So, what, now?

What does one do during these sorts of moments? I turn to my advice and that of my teachers. If nothing else, I hear the underlying message to be present and to be aware of “now.” It can be such a problematic practice at times. I hear ego screaming to “do something” when I know I need to “be” and do absolutely nothing. How do we differentiate the voice of ego from the true self?

Usually, the ego will feel boastful, mean, cocky, annoying, and repetitive. Depending on persona, ego can sometimes sound victimized—”poor me,” or needy to the point of fault. The ego is the watcher and the one that is always trying to protect itself. I’ve taken more time to recognize and be aware of this lately. Where I thought it was pretty easy to differentiate between the two, I suddenly found it contrary.

One thing I do know as a writer is that during times like this, the only thing one can do to break out of the block is to start writing. So, here it is. Ego tells me that this excerpt is a piece of crap. My true self tells me it’s time to open my heart again and share my message with you and all those who need it. As always, I aim to reach at least one soul on their journey. If I can do that, then my open heart is content.

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Perfect Peace, Perfect Poise

I’ve always picked up on the energy that surrounds me. It is both a blessing and a curse. As I’m maturing as an Earthbound soul, I’m becoming more sensitive and a bit choosier about who I keep company.

When I’m in the presence of another person or persons, I can sense their energy field. If I had to explain how it feels, it would be something like this—the energy transfers and surrounds me. Then I get a message through the senses in my body about how that person(s) is feeling.

The same thing happens when I enter a room full of people. There’s no need to “tune in” because the energy comes right to me. I can immediately sense whether there is tension or happiness in the space. Those who feel, absorb, or sense others’ energy is empathic. Empaths are highly aware of and attuned to those who surround them. Often, they are tremendously sensitive individuals, even in childhood, and can become completely overwhelmed by the energy of others that surrounds them.

We all can be empathic if we become aware of the energy surrounding us. One must pay close attention. Try to tune into your surroundings. Observe others with nonjudgment. Look at the expressions on faces and body language. Tap in with your senses—how does the atmosphere feel, how do things look and smell? Don’t analyze what’s going on; this is not “mind stuff;” it’s a sensory experience.

I used to try to host large parties with many friends. My goal was to raise everyone’s spirits to feel love, joy, and happiness. I’d spend the day cooking and decorating, ensuring everything was perfect. The guests would arrive, and the vibes were high. Everyone was having a great time—except for one thing. I’d pick up on all the energy and feel like I was in overdrive. It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing—just overwhelming. So, I’d have these great parties and run into another room (sometimes into a closet) and hide! Well, not for long. I just had to center myself and breathe, and then I could return.

Nowadays, I avoid large parties, and if I must attend an event, I don’t stay very long. I’ve learned that idle talk and gossip are not good energy fields to allow oneself into and that it’s most important to be in the company of friends who have similar interests or, better yet, energy fields. In turn, energy strikes a balance, and as a result, the feelings of harmony and peace prevail.

If you’re empathic and a challenge arises while in the company of others, go a step further with your gift instead of fleeing a situation. For example, if I find myself in a space where there is “wobble” in the energy field, intuitively and through concentration, I consciously seek to raise the vibration of the person or people around me. It’s difficult to use words to describe how to do this, but the best description I can give is that the energy dispersed comes from the true self, the knowing self, or the tender heart who echoes the words deep within: “perfect peace and perfect poise.” It takes practice to do this! Then, I center myself by breathing very slowly and profoundly, feeling stillness. And so it is.

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A Bit About Transience

I’ve recently been drawn once again to the teaching of the Buddha. There is something so pure and practical about the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, especially lessons from the Rimpoches, who are considered incarnate lamas. His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, is known as Gyalwa Rinpoche.

I listened to a lesson about life and death narrated by Gelek Rimpoche. He made a beautiful analogy about how we contain Earth’s elements within our material body. He described the bones and flesh as Earth, the metabolism and digestive systems as fire, the blood and fluids as water, and our breath as the air and wind. I was entranced by his poetic description of the living body mentioned. 

Then, he described how these elements drift and pass as the material body dies. First, the Earth element (bones and body) cannot move. The Fire element begins to flicker until it goes out. The water element ceases, dehydrates, or dries up, such as the dry lips of the mouth when the person is passing, and then finally the air or breathing stops, and that is the end. 

When described in this fashion, death doesn’t seem so terrible. It becomes more tangible and understandable when one mentions “the cycle of life.” It helps clarify and give a fresh perspective of what oneness is. It reminds us of how transient life is and taps us on the shoulder, asking the questions, “Are you living life to the fullest? Do you cherish all that you have regardless of circumstances?”

I’m not one to contemplate death, though I believe it should be part of our daily practice to take note of our impermanence. It’s valuable to recognize how fleeting life is. True, we have many ups and downs, sidewinders, free falls, etc. Sometimes it feels like we never catch a break and can’t see all the good surrounding us. It is there. Take note of your now and remember to express appreciation for all that is.

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May Peace Be Within You

The holiday season can be a rush and bustle. It’s exciting for some to see the decorations and the wide variety of gifts to shop for to make someone else feel loved and happy. For others, the holidays are stressful, and a reminder to be careful with spending or even figure out where the money will come from to buy gifts. Regardless of the coaster of emotions we relate to the holidays; the most important thing is to retain harmony and balance.

It’s always been difficult for me to attain this state towards the end and immediately following the New Year. Perhaps this can be attributed to the lack of sunlight (at least in the northeast where I reside) and various other physiological “wirings.” Many people experience a bit of a letdown after the holidays. I call it the sugar high and then the crash. We get all ramped up for the excitement, the fun, the food, and the company of good friends and family, only to realize that once they’ve departed and the festivities are over, we feel emptiness in our hearts.

The past couple of years has not been ideal due to the pandemic. Some of us, or maybe I should say many of us, have been prevented from connecting with loved ones. Or a trip or visit was cut short because someone became sick and had to quarantine, or perhaps there was family disharmony or other circumstances beyond our control. In any event, the whirlwind of emotions can be disheartening at best, causing unrest and anxiety as we transition back to work, school, or life in general.

So, what can we do to bounce back? What can we do to take the edge off? New Year’s resolutions? Self-talk and reflection? Meditation? Yes, all these methods certainly work. However, sometimes they offer only a temporary fix or distraction, especially if we feel depressed or lonely. What is truly needed to lift the veil? The short answer is, I don’t know.

I can tell you what works for me, but that may not be the right recipe for you or anyone else for that matter. One thing that continues to work for me in just about every positive or negative situation is to remind myself not to rob myself of the present moment. If we ignore or push away our “now,” we are choosing, consciously choosing, to live in a denser modality of life. Right now, I’m writing, which makes me feel tremendously good. I know that through my writing, I’m healing myself and hopefully a catalyst in healing someone else who may be experiencing the same feelings.

Right now, I’m in a warm house, and it is frigid outside. Right now, my dog is resting comfortably at my foot. Right now, my kids are on their way back home after a very stressful holiday experience. Right now, my heart rate is steady and calm. I have a feeling of perfect peace and perfect poise. So, I will relish the experiences of my right now.

When I relish in the feelings of the present moment, I also remember to tap myself on the shoulder and express gratitude. I express gratefulness for what I have–not for what I want or prefer, but what I have right now. Then, I try to imagine what it would be like if I didn’t have what I already have—then the stuff that I desire melts away, for there is no need for it. What do I gain through this simple exercise? One moment, one breath of fleeting peace. Isn’t that what we all need right now? I’ll take it.

May peace be within you.

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A Bit More On Purpose

Over a year ago, I wrote about discovering one’s purpose in life. I want to add a bit to that exploration because I’ve learned something new that’s worth pondering for those who are seekers of the truth. Many of us fret in determining our purpose here on earth. The fact is, we’re not supposed to spend any time deciding it. Our purpose naturally unfolds and is not something we should seek from an external point of view. In other words, your work, titles, wealth, or lack thereof do not define who you are and your purpose in life.

As I wrote in May 2020, one’s person must be conscious. To be conscious is to be aware. When you become aware, you begin to realize and realizing is “knowing.” Knowing what, you ask? We learn to understand what is true and know our purpose in life clearly from a space within.

If you ask yourself your purpose, be very attentive to what you hear as an answer. If the answers are worldly, the voice is from the ego. Therefore, go deep within, perhaps during a moment of stillness or meditation, and listen. If you hear yourself say, “My purpose is to be a great surgeon,” what is your motivation in that? Is it to be recognized, rewarded, acknowledged? If so, that voice comes from the external you (ego). On the contrary, if you hear, “my purpose as a great surgeon is to heal and cure the injured,” this voice comes from a different place. It comes from within to serve others.

What I know and have come to realize is that our purpose is to serve all sentient beings—human or animal. If we concentrate on this concept, all of our queries immediately point to this answer. Here’s an example; this has been my example for over 20 years, and I’m just starting to “get it.”

I’ve been in the field of education for a long time. I don’t know how or why I got here. I never liked school; I was bullied in high school and had a terrible rap with grades, but somehow, I ended up teaching and then became a school coordinator and facilitator. Just about every day of my existence, from the point I obtained my first job back in the mid-’90s to now, I’ve woken up each morning asking, “Why am I still doing this? I can’t stand this; I want out, or I’m done.” What has kept me there besides earning a paycheck? I’m not sure. I’m smart enough and can do anything I put my mind to, but here I am, 20 years later, still doing the same thing. My greatest desire has always been to be a spiritual healer in some capacity, but I never knew which way to go with it.

Then it occurred to me that perhaps this job is my spiritual practice. Even though it’s not my preference, I know that accepting it now and doing the very best I can with what I’ve got is meaningful, productive, and fruitful. I also know that I’d probably have the same or similar complaints and agitations if I did something else. So, again, the question comes up. “What am I doing? What is it that I want?” Now, the answer is, “It doesn’t matter.”

What matters is how I’m serving myself and others. Ultimately, if I can accept where I am, do the best I can, and most importantly, help those I work with to the greatest extent possible and with compassion (this is key). Because when I accept what is with no attachments and work for the sake of working, not for any external desire, preference, or outcome and serve for the sake of compassion, my true purpose is alive. In other words, nothing else matters except how we treat ourselves and how we treat others.

If we live a life of compassion to serve all sentient beings, then all of us awaken. Awaken to what? Well, that is the mystery. It’s so simple, I believe, yet so many of us, myself included, are making it more difficult than it needs to be. I think that if we begin to practice compassion with, first and foremost, the intent to serve (our most authentic purpose in life), we spark a fire in our heart, and it’s in this space where light and energy expand to others and eventually to us all.

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Joy is Feeling-Not Thought

There is a lot of information expressing that our thoughts create our reality. I do believe this myself. However, if we place our energy solely on our thoughts and not the associated feelings that go along with them, how will the universe know that we’re sincere? You might have heard, “Fake it til’ you make it,” in terms of manifestation. I believe this is true to some extent. You can think of positive thoughts and hope that they will manifest in the material world, but unless there is an associated feeling with that thought, the energetic aspect of the idea may fail.

This is my assumption because as I sit in quiet contemplation each day, this idea pops up. How can we add the material without the non-material? I propose that thought is material and takes form in some aspects, but a feeling is non-material and a powerful energy source. Therefore, it must drive the thought to materialize in some way.  This is why many mystic writers say that you get what you ask for even if you don’t want it. In other words, if you perseverate on a thought such as “I really don’t want this or that” and you attach a powerful emotion to that thought, it will still manifest because of the emoted energy attached to that thought. 

Maybe this is why we are taught, as seekers, to “go for the better feeling thought.” At least if the better feeling thought is more optimistic, the “feeling energy” that attaches to that thought will drive its manifestation. I’ve been experimenting with these ideas and have found success. It’s pretty fun and challenging to play with the universe in this way.

It’s essential to have some genuine, positive feeling with the thought you’re putting out there. In other words, it should resonate on some level within your spirit for this to work. For example, I often have a habitual reaction to the holidays. I try not to pinpoint or relive its origin because that causes momentum and pushes me down the rabbit hole of negativity. Instead, I observe it, honor it, and welcome it. I speak directly to the rambling ego, “Okay, so you think vacation is going to whisk by, and you’ll feel sad that you didn’t enjoy yourself because you obsessed about cleaning the house and making everything perfect.” Then, I open up higher-self to speak, “All is well, and all is fleeting, enjoy each moment starting now.” 

Okay, that’s nice, so how do I attach that message to the feel-good/feelings part? I immediately find something to ground myself to at that moment. Catch yourself, look around, and use your senses to ground yourself. Often, I’m in my car when ego wants to agitate me. So, I look at a tree. There’s something about trees that ground me. I can feel the energy of the tree or the sun or a puffy cloud; it can be anything that usually makes you say, “wow,” or sparks wonder in you. Then, when the energy sparks, I quickly think of a positive holiday memory—like a quick video clip in my head. I put myself there and feel the highest energy—love. 

Then, I sit in that feeling, and I put it out there for a few minutes. I express gratitude for a self-healing moment. I feel good. I realize (know) what it takes to transmute thoughts and their associated feelings to manifest all good things. What you put out there indeed does come back to you, directly to your heart, first, and then on the material plane.

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Keeping the Faith

Try not to confuse a belief with faith. A belief is a thought that you keep thinking repeatedly and that which may not serve you. Faith is a knowing that exists from within, not something attained by a habit of thought. Thoughts can be destructive and not serve your greater good. Faith understands that your material body is connected to the non-material body or the spirit. Some refer to the spirit as their higher self, the God within, or the Divine Self.

If we observe our thoughts, which ultimately create our reality, we can catch ourselves when ego thoughts are “behind the wheel.” How can we tell? Typically, the ego likes to place thoughts of depression, remorse, guiltiness, or regret into our heads. Sometimes it puts more subtle messages such as apprehension, lack of confidence, or just plain old lack. The ego likes to drive, and it is our duty as spiritual beings to recognize this and put our foot on the brakes.

You don’t have to feed more negativity to the ego, such as, “You’re driving me crazy—get out of my head!” Just recognize the “chatter” and recompose it. Swami Paramananda suggests that “When these feelings come, it is good to have some strengthening text to repeat.” In other words, reconstruct the thought-feeling-belief. It doesn’t have to be an outlandish reconstruction. It can be as simple as an affirmation or rephrasing. For example, if you feel a sense of self-defeat at work, say, “All is well; I’m on a learning curve and need time to process all new things coming my way.”

Being conscious of our thoughts-feelings-beliefs will help to strengthen our spiritual faith, which is of utmost importance. Again, if we seek faith from the outside world, we’ll always be grasping at something finite. On the other hand, if we seek and nurture faith from the inside, or true self, we have access to infinite possibilities and endless solutions. 

It is a process, most often a slower process, to unfold the limiting mind beliefs and doubts and transmute them to unfaltering spiritual faith. Consciousness is key to this unfoldment. Be aware of your thoughts and feelings on the outer plane of existence. Know that if they are harmful and depressing, they are not serving your faith in being. 

Instead, turn to the higher self for strength in knowing what is true. Truth is knowing, and as a seeker of truth, this “knowing” leads to self-realization of the higher self, which will always fortify your feelings through divine consciousness and guide you through and to true spiritual faith. 

If you find difficulty on your journey, be still, pray, meditate, and find a teacher who you can trust to help guide you. However, take note that no teacher can live your journey. It is yours to traverse through every experience; whether you identify it as good or bad, helpful or not, it is part of the process here on Earth. Keeping the faith is knowing and realizing that all experiences on your journey lead to God.

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Follow Your Path

I’ve been a seeker my whole life ever since I was a child. A seeker of what, you ask? A seeker of what is true. Spiritual journeys have many twists and turns. It shakes us up and awakens us to realize all that surrounds us from a different perspective. How do we know what we are learning is truth? In other words, how do we discern that we are on the proper path to realization or truth?

I believe that all paths lead us to God, the Great Spirit, Universal Consciousness–however, you wish to identify it. Just as with any journey, we might get lost along the way. During these times, we feel empty or at a loss of faith. We might have a “dry spell” in which we remove ourselves from connecting. It’s okay; this is all part of the process. You are not exiled; you simply need to step back, take a break and breathe your way back to the path.

Sometimes, we have experienced an epiphany or an “ah-ha moment.” These experiences rejuvenate us and help us to feel great joy. Then, a “human” experience approaches, we fall down on the path and feel discouraged. We want to give up on the search. However, it’s crucial to understand that those experiences are essential to the seeker. They are the stepping stones towards realization and knowing what is true.

We can turn to our many Earth teachers for guidance and support, such as teachers who guide us in person or reading books. We can turn to the Ascended Masters of all creeds and faiths, the angels, saints, or guides who hold us lovingly in their hearts and souls and guide us on our journey. However, true “knowing” comes from the higher self. I’m sure you’ve heard this a thousand times, but it is true.

If you listen very carefully, you will hear the inner guidance. You need to be still. In other words, stop moving, stop searching, stop reading, stop everything. Even if you make it a goal each day to sit for four minutes with no distractions. Concentrate on one thing. It doesn’t matter what it is. There are many examples out there, but the fact is, let it come from your heart–whatever it may be, that will be the object or notion of focus.

I don’t prefer to give examples, but I will for the sake of the student. Focus on peace, your dog, a lotus flower, flowing water. Or maybe you need to see it in material forms like a candle flame, a tree, a pendant, or crystal. Perhaps you should close your eyes or keep them open. Maybe you should burn some incense to help with focusing or perhaps, not. Sit outside in a lotus position, lay down on the couch inside the house, or focus while driving (but don’t close your eyes).

You see, it really doesn’t matter. What matters is what feels suitable for you–what works for you and what resonates with you. I’ve tuned myself quite well these days in the way of discernment. For example, I’ll be reading a book that starts out great and feel hopeful that “this is the one that will truly help me solve this puzzle we call life!” Then, halfway through (sometimes earlier), if I’m really tapped into “true self,” I’ll hear a message such as, “Nope, this doesn’t feel quite right to add to my box of truth.”

Then, I take a deep breath. Thank the teacher who gave me a nugget of information to add to my repertoire and move right along. I envision myself on my path. Sometimes I’m alone or with a teacher; however, I can confidently say that I’m constantly surrounded by the safety and loving guidance from the Universe and All that is. Accept your journey and know that you are right where you’re supposed to be. There is no right or wrong path; it’s just a path. You decide which way to go.

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Fear Is A Lie

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #62

Fear is a lie. It is not the truth. How do we move past a fear-based society when it is so embedded in our thoughts? I say, start by turning off the television and shutting down social media. 

If we examine our feelings, I bet we can almost always trace them back to some sort of fear. Perhaps anxiety is fear of rejection or fear of the unknown. My culprit is anticipation, especially if I have to present something at work. I stay awake the night before because the uncertainty of speaking before a massive group of people causes me great anxiety…which amounts to fear. Fear of what? Judgment. 

Perhaps you’re feeling down and depressed. Why? Nothing is going right at school or work. You feel as though you will never accomplish your goals. What is the underlying issue? Fear of failure. Again, fear creeps in and rules the egoic mind.

I can tell you it’s a daily exercise and practice to be aware of your every thought, and you’d be amazed at how much fear emotions rule the psyche. I’ve caught myself numerous times throughout the day ticking off the negative fear-based thoughts as they arise. 

“What does so-and-so think about my work?” This one comes in all the time. Fear of rejection…fear of not be liked. “What if my supervisor thinks my ideas are stupid?” Fear of judgment, fear of failure. 

I bet that almost every negative thought can be traced back to some sort of fear. So, how do we lift fear emotions? You must catch yourself in the act instantly and transmute the thought. Don’t be phony about it or over the top with positivism. Just be kind to yourself, gentle. 

I admit that I catch myself so often that I’ve thought myself to be quite mad. When a negative thought arises, such as, “You are mad,” which is the fear of going completely mental, tell yourself, “this thought is a bad habit that doesn’t serve me. ” “I recognize that my negative thought patterns are affecting me today, and now I give myself grace and send those thoughts to the light for healing.” 

This is a good piece of advice–send all your negative, fear-based thoughts to the light for healing. Give them all up. Indeed, fear is a lie. It’s all made up and created by the egoic self who believes it lives separate from the Source of all good and peaceful things. Remember, you are safe, at peace, and loved.

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Living Happily-Ever-After

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #61

We only have the present moment. The here and now is our most significant point of power to change our thoughts and beliefs. Many people, myself included, have turned to the past, searching for information or reliving experiences through memories to understand or find the root of our problems. Maybe we think if we go back there, we’ll find the key—the missing link to why we continue to do the same things over and over, reaping the same results.

I admit to visiting a past life regressionist to see if I could go back to my past lives to understand why I do the things I do and why I find it so difficult in this human body to correct the mishaps in this lifetime. Also, I’ve meditated on Akashic records in an attempt to figure this stuff out. When I experimented with both of these avenues of figuring stuff out, I had a deep knowing that I shouldn’t. I had an intuitive feeling that revisiting, in this case, most of the negatively charged experiences in my life were not to my advantage in this present moment. The more vital message I received: It’s a moot point to “go back there.”

It was not until recently that I received validation of this feeling. In one of the Seth books titled, “The Nature of Person Reality,” Seth, the entity who speaks through Jane Roberts (the medium) eloquently, and in straightforward terms, explains why revisiting our past to figure out or resolve our “now” does not serve us. He explained that when one revisits their past through whatever means (e.g., meditation, thought, etc.), it dredges negative experiences seeking a solution. This doesn’t work because we focus on “lack,” which is damaging and attracts that negativity back into our lives. It is almost as though we are hypnotizing ourselves to remain in the state of negativity to solve negativity!

On the contrary, if you revisit the past, focusing on the positive experiences you’ve had and concentrate on those experiences’ associated feelings, you are attracting that energy into your life instead. Therefore, desire and belief will align, drawing solutions, goodness, and joy to you.

Remember, we create our reality; thus, we can recreate anything we don’t desire from the vantage point of “now,” present moment awareness. We can rewrite the story that doesn’t satisfy us. We only have to imagine the happily-ever-after, and it will manifest.

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We Are Divine Beings

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #60

I know that I put you through the parochial school system since kindergarten. It was with this intent: To envelope a sense of belonging and community that was Christ-centered. It wasn’t to indoctrinate you in any way. I didn’t want you guys to become Holy Rollers. Hopefully, the dogmas of Catholicism didn’t take over your thoughts, as that was not the intent. The more significant objective was to help you observe, develop and grow the spiritual part of you. 

In the Art of Living by Thich Nhat Hahn, he so eloquently stated, “spirituality is not a religion—it is a path for us to generate happiness, understanding, and love.” I don’t mean to imply that organized religion is a bad thing. On the contrary, any form of spiritual development is a good thing. I just wanted to give you the freedom to discern and choose your path. 

I will say that my bias in terms of my spiritual development grows with Christ Consciousness. The term “Christ consciousness” was conceptualized over time because of the way Jesus Christ connected with God. His ascension was of the highest attainment compared to any other mortal who has walked the earth. Christ consciousness focuses on alignment between the material and non-material, you. It points to what I’ve been writing here in these excerpts. To become aware. To let go of your story. To be still and find a quiet place to meditate and be. To observe your thoughts and to banish the ones that don’t serve you. In turn, this helps you to serve yourself and others with compassion, non-judgment, caring, loving, and forgiving. 

It’s not a complicated formula to follow–to observe the self and transmute thoughts. Yet, it can be challenging to allow the time and space to embrace such a practice with life’s distractions. However, isn’t it is so lovely knowing that we are not alone. Isn’t it so comforting knowing that we are not separate from one another? In this recognition, we can see each other through the eyes of Source, Christ consciousness, and observe our Divinity.

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How To Be A Listener

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #59

Do you have what it takes to be a good listener? It is one thing to hear what somebody is saying to you and another thing to listen genuinely. When you are listening to someone else’s story, do you interject? Is it possible to keep your mouth shut without inserting your preferences or opinions? Try this some time. It’s a challenging thing to do.

On top of that restraint of reply, observe how you feel when you’re practicing this. I find it a bit easier to listen now because I know how much my ego wants to put its two cents into every conversation. Sometimes, it’s because I want to be heard and recognized. At other times, I want to feel accepted or validated or wish to defend an opinion or argue. These are all the wants and desires of the ego.

In some way, one is looking for attention to feel better or justified. Make listening to others without interjecting a daily practice when you can. It’s challenging to listen to co-workers in the workplace, especially if you’re on a committee or team. These groups lend themselves to providing one’s input or opinion; however, be the conscious listener for more extended periods. Observe yourself. Observe the other players. It’s fascinating to watch “the show.”

Here’s a more complicated element to add to this practice: don’t judge anyone as you listen. Oh, this is tough! In other words, don’t say things in your head such as, “oh, that one is seeking attention, or that one is a brown noser.” Nope! Keep your mouth shut and turn off the cartoon cloud above your head, screaming to add input silently. The next step is to look at each player as a family member or good friend. Maybe even as their childlike self. Send them a blessing. Silently, thank them for their contribution. Observe that we are all one. We are all trying to attain the same thing. And that is to be accepted and loved.

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How To Be Grateful

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #56

What are you grateful for? It’s been a common practice to keep a gratitude journal these days to enumerate all the things you’re thankful for. Expressing gratitude envelopes a certain grace that many seem to take for granted. It is so much easier to complain about what we don’t have or would like to have. 

As soon as an issue arises, we can quickly complain or create more drama around it. It is common to forget the little things that surround us each day that make our lives easy. For example, waking up each day. Even if you wake up in a lousy mood, shouldn’t you at least be grateful that you woke up? It means that the involuntary actions of your fantastic body were all in check and kept you alive. 

Each morning, regardless of my mood, I express the gratitude of waking to Source, God, the Universe…whichever you prefer to name it. There will come a day when this will no longer happen, you know. Why not be grateful and joyous that you get to spend another day here? 

Deepak Chopra said during one of his daily meditations, “All good things bring gratitude.” I agree with this statement; however, I’d restate it as “All good things and all seemingly bad things, bring forth gratitude.” 

I say “seemingly bad things” because even the difficult situations in our lives have a lesson linked to them to bring us to higher consciousness and awareness. So, we should express gratitude towards those experiences, even though it seems counterintuitive and clearly uncomfortable when we’re in the moment. 

Thich Nhat Hanh, the great Tibetan Monk, expresses it this way, “Hello, fear, what have you to teach me?” or something to that effect. In other words, with acceptance of our current feelings, even if they seem scary or impossible to face, comes a certain grace, and with that grace comes deep gratitude within. One does not have to keep a journal of gratitude statements or use someone else’s canned gratitude statements to be thankful. 

If you can be the awareness of gratitude, then you are living in a state of grace. I make it my daily practice to be aware of all the wonderous things I see before me and express gratitude right in the moment. Sometimes it doesn’t even come through as a visual conceptualization, like a puffy cloud or light on the birch tree during sunrise. Sometimes, I feel an exhilaration within. 

I feel such a feeling right now because I’m going to pick you guys up from school and college, and we’re going to have a great meal at our favorite restaurant tonight. “Thank you, God, for my beautiful children and the abundant meal you bless us with tonight.” I couldn’t be any more grateful!

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Give With Your Whole Heart

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #55

Are you a giving person? If not, you should be. Meema and Papa always gave me this mindset: Give to others, always be generous, and expect nothing in return. Here is another excellent practice to start; silently bless others as much as you can throughout the day. Do this to friends or those you consider foes. Imagine their reaction in your giving this blessing to them. 

If you see that someone is down, bring them up if someone is in need, help. Being a giving person at every chance you have, raises the vibration on Earth and creates miracles in your own life and others. Don’t forget–it is also important to be giving to oneself. I know that may sound silly, but it is the greatest form of self-care to give to oneself. Some people call this feeding their soul or nourishing their heart space. I call it well-being. 

In giving, these two aspects of life will fill your life with the most beautiful abundance. I like this quote from Earl Nightingale, “No man can be rich himself unless he enriches others.” Do you want to feel peaceful? Then, spread peace. Do you want to be joyful? Then, spread joyfulness. Are you poor? Act as though you are rich. Be as you desire. 

What you get back in life is what you have put out there. It is law, just as the ocean ebbs and flows. Therefore, be of service, be in touch with the collective consciousness of this Earth. Create beautiful experiences all around you. I will leave you with this quote that I read today from another author: “I only do what gives me joy, follow my flow as much as possible, I do work hard, and I trust life’s abundance fully.” –Lucien Lecarme 

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How To Get In Sync

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #54

Do you believe in synchronicities? Some people say that these experiences are just random; however, I don’t think that’s the case! I believe that certain things happen at precise moments for precise reasons. On my journey, I’ve noticed that certain books, information, conversations, or even experiences fall into my lap at the exact moment that I need them most. Indeed, there is a miraculous connection going on.

If I pay close attention and not let the world of form take over me, along with these “happenings,” there is often a quiet message that comes across with them. One has to be still to capture the message. It’s internal, and it’s a knowing; it is one step closer to peace.

I’ve read many books written by spiritual writers of ancient times as well as modern. Every once in a while, I’ll come across one that I’ve seemingly never heard. One such person was Earl Nightingale. He was a radio talk show host in the 1950’s well known for his speech titled “The Strangest Secret in the World.” It’s worth listening to it.

From a synchronistic point of view, what he claims to be true has been an iteration of the many spiritual teachers, past and present, who have also claimed this to be true; “We become what we think about.” I feel that I’m getting this message drilled into my head from various perspectives, albeit the same overall message: we create our reality.

Nightingale poses a 30-day challenge to transmute your thoughts and become more aligned in your approach to life. First, he suggests that you ask yourself the question, “What do you want?” He refers to a goal that you wish to achieve and that this goal will become “infallibly real” should you have the genuine desire and belief that you’ve already obtained it.

I, myself, immediately deferred to a somewhat abstract goal–to have peace in my life. I put it out there, “I ask for peace, and so it is.” It’s essential not to have any apprehension about not accomplishing your goal. Therefore, if this is the case, the first thing to do is to transmute your thoughts about it. I know I’ve mentioned this before. To do this, Nightingale says to refer back to the Sermon on the Mount— “Ask and it will be given you,” “Seek, and ye shall find,” “Knock, and it will open.” His added advice is always to remain “Calm and cheerful.”

I like this added note because it assumes non-attachment to the outcome of your goal. You put it out there, ask for what you want, know that you already have it. It sounds so simple because it truly is. As George Bernard Shaw puts it, “Look for circumstances that you want, and if you can’t find them, make them.”

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You Are Not Crazy

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #53

You are not going mental! I’m going to share a text message that I passed on to my friend who always thinks she’s going crazy, but she is not. She is the total polar opposite of crazy. When I speak to her, all I see and hear through my sense perceptions are the most peaceful human being. 

Here is the text message: Sher, you may think you’re going crazy, but you’re not. There is a beautiful stillness within you that draws me to you. That is your true essence. You need to tap into it! You give it away to everyone, including me, and leave yourself with what I call the “hamster on the wheel” brain, or the monkey brain. It would help if you had a stillness moment, like looking at the clouds you so adore. 

It’s hard to think of “no-thing” when our mind is spinning. I’ve been there, too. It also takes a long time to untangle it, but you can do it. I can tell you that you won’t find peace externally; however, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek help. Helping yourself is the best form of self-love and care. It helps to think about what Jesus once said, “The Kingdom of God is within you.” That means we have the means to heal ourselves because we are of God. We are divine beings having a human experience! 

My aunt always told me to keep myself distracted—this way, thoughts won’t drive us nuts. I tried to do that, but I did it in the wrong way. I turned my distraction towards addiction which I thought could numb or alleviate all the spinning thoughts and emotions–not a good choice. It set me back so far, and it took a long time to heal from all the crap. We are all cut from the same bolt, Sher. We have the ultimate freedom to choose our path. As Abraham Hicks said, “We are so free, we can choose bondage.” Often, we do. 

It sucks to have to sit in our shit, but we have to in order to rise above it! Every day, I make it a practice to accept “what is;” to truly surrender to the ego and all its antics. The ego is “mind stuff” that makes us feel like we’re going nuts, such as fear, hate, anxiety, depression, sadness, jealousy. When this stuff arises, be the witness of it. In other words, don’t say, “I am sad.” Instead, say, “I’m experiencing sadness…it’s okay; this is fleeting and will pass.” That is why you often quote, “This, too, shall pass.” Turn to meditation always and thank the Universe for the mundane things in life that we so often neglect to recognize. 

You are so beautiful, and I love you. Now, for God’s sake, be silly and laugh! Life is too short. We forget about all this eventually! You are not losing your marbles; besides, who cares! Enjoy this moment–as it is all you have.

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Life Is Good

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #52

Doesn’t it feel good knowing that you don’t have to plan anything out in life? You don’t. I think that people spend too much time micromanaging theirs lives. I, for one, am very guilty of that. How important is it to constantly track your habits, set goals and objectives, and plan? The more I stop and become still, the more aware I am that life unfolds in divine order. In other words, no matter what you say or do, or ask for, it happens when it is supposed to happen if it’s supposed to happen.

When things don’t work out “in our favor,” we often say, “it wasn’t meant to be.” Or, “if it was meant to be, it would have happened.” I always believe that the Creator holds the ultimate blueprint of life. It is not “my” life or “your” life. It is just life. Our bodies provide the vehicle necessary to navigate the blueprint. 

In our humanness, we sometimes navigate it correctly, and other times, not so much. It is, as it is. We all have different experiences, which I refuse to label as good or bad. They are just experiences by which we can gather information and learn to expand our awareness. 

As humans, we often read into everything way too much with our thoughts. Those thoughts end up turning into beliefs. Many of us are rigid in our ideas and beliefs. We remain unconscious in the refusal to see things from a different viewpoint. It is good to listen to those around us and not judge. If we defer to what is right and what is wrong, we remain disharmonic. 

As long as humans feel the need to be right, there will always be someone viewed as wrong. It’s a cyclical thing, and when you look at it closely, it’s pretty looney. Wouldn’t it be nice to listen with openness and without making judgments? Without planning an argument or defense? Wouldn’t it be nice to put out a positive feeling or a request without having a plan or an attachment to its probable outcome? And, wouldn’t it be nice to have confidence knowing that everything is working out for you regardless of what you do to “get there?” 

Indeed, this is how we should live our lives—by knowing (faith) that life (not your life as the ego doesn’t have a life) is unfolding in divine order. It is already chosen. “It’s not what you want that you attract; you attract what you believe to be true.” –N. Goddard. In other words, if you believe in Source Energy that you already have everything you need, regardless of your current situation, it is yours. Without a doubt, you are divinely guided, in divine order by the divinity within you—that which is God.

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The True You Has No Name

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #51

What is your purpose in life? They say that living your purpose or your passion is conducive to happiness and joy. What if you don’t know what your purpose is? If there’s one thing I’d like to pass along to you guys: whatever your purpose is, or whatever title you go by, for example, lawyer, doctor, teacher, mother, father, etc. Those words don’t define you. 

In other words, it shouldn’t be a part of what you consider as your “identity.” They are just words and concepts–mind-stuff made from the ego. What is left of you if you strip away your titles and labels? It is the true you, that which is timeless and nameless. It is not associated with a labeled identity. 

For a very long time, I tried all my might to figure out my life purpose. I kept thinking, “Even though I have this title (teacher), I’m not a teacher. I’m not a this or a that. Who the hell am I?” I kept searching for an appropriate label with which I could identify. 

I discovered that my self-worth depended on my title and what I was doing or not doing. As you’ve heard me complain countless times, I never identified as a teacher or inclusion facilitator, a writer, or an artist, though these are my labels. “Who am I? What am I doing here?” I’ve spent many years pondering these questions in my head, along with the feelings of self-defeat. Then, I heard something so simple yet so profound from Eckart Tolle. 

He said, “Your purpose in life is to be conscious.” Now, this may seem a bit weird but focus on what he said. It doesn’t matter what you do or what concept you have of yourself in life. What matters is that you should always be aware and conscious of the present moment and the evolution of your consciousness with all that you do here on Earth. 

In other words, make whatever you choose to do in life your spiritual practice, and that will serve as your purpose on Earth. Grant it; it may not feel wholly satisfying but trust me, it will be enough. Embrace each day with a positive outlook, no matter the situation. Leave time out of the equation and surrender to now. If you lead with your heart, you are guaranteed to be living with purpose. And know that all spiritual paths lead to God.

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How To Focus On The Now

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #50

Do you take time to reflect upon life? I choose not to reflect on the past because it is done and gone. You can’t go back or change it; you can only live in the “now”–the present moment. Now his is all we have. There is no such thing as the future, so you can’t worry about that, either, unless you want to make up a big ass story in your mind of how something might play out. That’s a waste of time. Once you arrive at a future moment, it will be your “now.” Similarly, all past experiences were your “now” moments at that time.

What I often reflect upon is consciousness–the consciousness of this very moment. It’s profound. True, I like to ponder why we do the things we do. Why we say the things we say, but that is all ego stuff. It’s all a made-up story. 

True reflection comes from one’s essence to be still with the here and now. That is the part of you that is free from stories that your mind makes up. I like going to that place. Like many of us, I force myself to be still. When you are still and focused on your breathing or some lovely music, you can drift into the “gap,” as Deepak Chopra refers to it. You can hone in on the consciousness of now. Sometimes, I like doing this with my eyes open and take time to recognize something that I wouldn’t otherwise if I was distracted by all the business of life. 

Often, we consume our lives with lots of activities and movement all around us. You can still practice consciousness in these moments. There have been times when my body is in motion, like on a treadmill or elliptical, but my “center” is entirely still. There is a certain peace there, a knowing, a feeling of love. When I’m distracted, I envisage the owl high up in the tree on the Tenney River. That beautiful image of his stillness amidst the frenzy of the crows circling him at proximity. He acted as though there was nothing there at all. He was unaffected, unattached, still, and at peace—a true reflection of pure consciousness. 

When there is chaos all around you when you are feeling mixed and muddled up, when the reeling thoughts of the ego’s storytelling are grating on your nerves, stop. Reflect upon the consciousness of now, your present precious moment. Don’t let anything or anyone rob you of it, including you! That’s why God says, “Be still, and know that I am, God.” There’s a profound meaning in that statement. A lot more than one can imagine or describe, but I repeat it every day to understand its true meaning. It is an essential piece that one should add to their daily reflection practice. It helps to center oneself and focus on the here and now. Try it and let me know what you think.

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Excuse Me, I Need Help!

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #49

Are you willing to ask for help when needed? I hope so. As a quiet observer, I often witness so many people who aren’t keen to ask for help. Most folks want to do everything themselves. There are different motivating factors for this mindset. Some may feel that the job won’t get “done right” unless they do it themselves. For others, they may feel too much pride to ask for help. “I can do this by myself without bothering anyone else.” Yet others might feel guilty about asking for help. “If I ask for help, I’m creating a burden on this or that one.” Or, “If I ask for help, it makes me look weak.” The quotes above represent the ego in action– How will asking for help make me look? How will others perceive me? Will they think I’m a wimp and can’t handle things on my own?

I’m truly guilty of all of the above but own that this is not how to think or live. We all work together as a collective consciousness. We all have a symbiotic relationship with one another, from the animal and mineral world to the very human world. There is nothing wrong with asking for help; in fact, it’s essential. There is so much to learn from one another in the asking.

Collaboration is key to learning things from all different viewpoints and perspectives. It helps us to discern situations better and make decisions in life. “Going it” alone can be very lonely and saddening. It’s much better to open your viewpoint. “Everything, every situation, every scenario that has ever occurred, has been experienced by so many others. I am not alone in this. Help is on the way.” I state this mantra repeatedly when I’m feeling fearful of making a decision or asking for help.

Some people withhold asking for help until it’s too late and to their detriment. I will use you as an example, Pierce, for instance. You didn’t make me or dad aware that you were still having symptoms of dizziness and ill-health after your previous spell that landed you in the hospital. You thought it would be too much of a bother and burden to tell us that you were still sick. You let your symptoms build for four months until they reared their ugly head. This caused you even more anxiety and worry, which exacerbated your physical symptoms. And then you finally broke down. You recognized that the quality of your life was suffering, and it was time to let me know.

Why did it take you so much time to ask for help? Did you think I would attack you? Brush your feelings under the carpet? What good did it do for you not to ask for help? Do you see where I’m going with this? Asking for help is essential. It shows that the individual is willing to take care of themself and perhaps others, depending on their situation. Only good things can come from this.

Of course, I will always point you in the direction to ask God for help. “Ask, and it is given.” However, we are all of God and hold the divine within us. Therefore, don’t hesitate to ask others for help. Believing that you can “do it all” will lead to failure. We need one another for help and support. Asking for help is the greatest form of self-care and demonstrates that you are strong and wise. I’ll leave you with a quote from the late Rick Ocasek: “Refusing to ask for help when you need it is refusing someone the chance to be helpful.”

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Word, From Your Mother

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #47

Have I been a good parent to you? I know I’ve done the best I could, but I also know that I screwed up along the way. After all, there is no manual on perfect parenting. Whatever concepts or perceptions you have about me as your parent, please take them very lightly. I hope I haven’t persuaded you in any way with my beliefs and egocentricities, as I never meant to. You are your persons who are here to create your reality and life. I’m here to share pointers, not dictate.

I’m here to support you, not make demands. I’m here to offer advice based on my experiences, but that doesn’t mean you should follow it. You have your own mind and your own creative spirit. As you’ve grown older, I’ve had to bite my tongue and let you be. Many people define the role of parenting as being superior or above their children. I hope I haven’t sent that message to you! I’ve always tried to stick with my philosophy of encouraging you to be self-determined. In other words, I provide you with some tools, and you do with them what you wish. I don’t like telling you what to do.

Sometimes I get hot-headed because I “think” that you’re not making a wise choice. I know at times, I’ve pressed you with seeking an alternative. I certainly hope I haven’t ever set any ultimatums with you, for that is total egoic. My wish is that I’ve given you the freedom to be and express who you indeed are without interference. As Eckart Tolle would put it, I hope that I’ve focused more on your “being” (the formless part of you) rather than your human part. I hope that I have led by example, and I certainly hope that example was a good one!

I apologize for hurting you in any way, not because I humiliated myself but because I might have broken your spirit. From what I’ve learned, much of our deep-rooted sorrows and repeated bad habits (especially of thought) developed in early childhood on account of our parents and cultural beliefs. This isn’t to blame anyone, but we are so impressionable that even the most seemingly innocent comments can be very damaging as children.

I can’t even begin to enumerate all the “bad stuff” I’ve overcome through years of counseling and many psychological issues as a child. I recognize the things that were said to me by my parents that may have caused damage in my adult life. Now, it’s essential to be aware that only I have chosen to let those things bother me throughout the years. I’ve held on to them for some reason. I’ve made them part of my “little me” story. However, we can rewrite our stories. I refer back to the transmutation of thought. Turn the negative into a positive. Recognize that a belief is only a thought that you keep thinking over and over, which unfortunately or fortunately became part of your story.

You can always change your story. I change mine every day. I hope that you recognize these things within you and bring awareness to them. Acknowledge your pain and embrace it as though a little injured pup. Would you hurt an injured pup? No, not I nor you. You would hold it and hug it and tell it that everything will be alright. As always, follow up with my usual advice, look up to the sky and take three cleansing breaths. Know who you are. You are free.

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How To Live In The Now

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #46

How can we perceive timelessness? After all, we live in a world perceived by time, a human concept created for the sake of a beginning, middle, end, or yesterday, today, tomorrow, or past, present, future. I’m sure you’ve heard the mystics say, “there is no such thing as time.” Timelessness is especially true if we are living in the “now” or the present moment. So, then, what is timelessness? 

In front of our very eyes, what is not fleeting, passing away, deteriorating, dying? Deepak Chopra explained in his meditations that what survives and is not fleeting is “creativity.” That energy will always be “out there,” building and building upon itself infinitely. Everything else is transitory from an external or form perspective. 

We can create beautiful pieces of art and sculptures, but they fade away, crumble, or decay over time. However, the creative idea will always exist because it was born of energy, the energy of an idea, or desire realized. We, ourselves, our form or shell, dies every day. I don’t mean to describe that from a morbid viewpoint. It is true that as we grow older, our cells break down. Those cells are the tiny powerhouses of energy that keep our human form moving and alive. Then, there comes the time when they are slow down and retire. But, the creative force inside of us—call it spirit or essence, never goes away. It is free once again to move about, perhaps finding another form as its vehicle for transmitting its precious, beautiful, creative energy. 

The trick is, how do we remain present throughout the day without looking at our watch, our phone? How do we squelch the anxieties and fears associated with our time reference? Isn’t everything based on our perception of time? We have busy schedules; we divide up the day into chunks. We categorize our tasks allotting 10 minutes to do this. Oh, it’s time to cook—how long will it take to make dinner? Will I get to bed on time? In timelessness, if you can live there, you go beyond these ideas, things, preferences. As Deepak said, “We have the choice to shift our allegiance to the timeless.” 

How do we put this into action? By celebrating creation in the present moment. It is a challenging task to live in the now. It takes awareness and concentration to divorce the ego. I remind myself with gentle reminders (especially if anxiety or negative thoughts arise), return to where I am presently, and relish in the creativity of now. How? I take notice of the mundane and my role as a quiet observer. I listen to the children’s voices without referring. I watch the people in the classroom interact without judgment. I turn to my senses to recognize the subtle smells of school cafeteria lunches, a crayon-marked coloring page. I hear the song of the “aha” moments of a child who has learned something. I observe the number of visible dust particles on my desk without counting. I feel from the inside without labeling. I observe the tortoises in the large aquarium next to me, which produce joy. “Life is fleeting, but what survives is not fleeting.” Deepak Chopra 

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Our World–Reimagined

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #45

Why would you give attention to something you don’t want? Remember, our intentions and thoughts (which are energy) materialize both from an individual and a collective perspective. I wonder why so many people give their attention to the coronavirus. Why? Why would one hand their attention and energy to such a thing? Does one you wish to attract it? Abraham Hicks, regarding the Law of Attraction, says you attract what you don’t want if that is your primary focus.

By giving energy to something negative, you power it up. You draw it near. Imagine if all of the world’s people were thinking about the negative and freaking out about the coronavirus. That would be giving that virus a lot of energy. It would find its way right to us. My choice? I radically refuse to harp on negative things such as viruses and illnesses.

I have a pretty significant immune disorder, but I pay no attention to it because I don’t wish it to be part of my story. When I see illness or begin to feel it coming on, I transmute my thoughts about it. I chant my mantra, “I am immune.” I say it over and over. And then I observe my thoughts and let them float away. I choose not to attend to such things because I don’t want to fuel its energy. I’d instead focus on the better feeling thought.

If you catch yourself thinking about a global illness such as coronavirus, catch yourself. Be the observer of what your thoughts are. Don’t dismiss them in fear; acknowledge them for what they are and transmute them for the better.

Stop reading all the crap on your phone and turn off the T.V. There are many people out there who thrive on creating a fear-based society. It’s maddening to be an active observer of the lunacy in this world, from ridiculous reality shows to the insanity of news broadcasts, politics, religious fanatics—all fighting for the position of who’s right. It is truly a war of the egos. Therefore, nobody is going to win!

We are living during a significant time on this Earth. It’s time to realize (with our “real eyes”); the true essence of who we are. We must let go of feeding the little self (ego) with all its preferences. What preferences? The persistent desire for attention, validation, acceptance, recognition. It’s time to recognize who and what we are, divine beings having a human experience.

The external (all that is without) needs dismantling. If you can envision that the form, the human body, and intellect are just a vehicle that drives our innermost self, our soul, then you’ll understand our mission. Our soul’s mission is the evolution of our journey towards our true essence. Our purpose, in the words of Eckart Tolle, is to be conscious. I genuinely believe this. Can you imagine all the possibilities available if and when we all awaken from the world of illusion? The matrix of thoughts that have reeled over and over can be reimagined and rearticulated to benefit all. We function as a collective, all as one, and co-create by turning our ideas into matter.

Here’s the question: What is the matter? Though many will say we’ve created quite a mess, I’d like to think that we’ve created some of the most amazing things on this Earth. My point is that we have to start making positive changes one person at a time. I learn from my teachers; I teach you or anyone else I can get my pointers out to. In return, they teach others: small steps but necessary steps to create positive thinking and positive changes towards our evolution. So, stop giving your attention to ideas that materialize, to negative, meaningless, ineffective crap. Instead, choose the positive. Choose who you want to be without reserve or fear. Believe it. Feel it. So, it is.

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You Are Free

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #44

A good friend of mine said something to me that got me thinking. She said, “If it is to be, it is up to me.” Ironically enough, the next day, I read one of Deepak’s blogs, and a similar message came through. He said, “Without conscious intention, nothing can happen in the direction you desire.” In other words, intention (your aim, purpose, or intent), along with action, leads to the desired outcome. 

Sometimes it isn’t easy to do these two things simultaneously without becoming attached to either one of them (the intention or the outcome). On my journey, I find it most appropriate to “ask,” or set my intention first, “God of my heart, I ask and desire that I will land a job that serves others;” in other words, “putting it out there” and then waiting for the response or the outcome to happen naturally. 

If we place attachments to the outcome—like a sense of urgency or desperation skipping over intentionality, we won’t attract what we should imagine to already “have.” I also feel that the more precise your intention is or the higher your vibration is, the more likely you are to attract all that is good and satisfying in your life. Some refer to this as the Law of Attraction: what you put out there comes back to you; however, I feel it goes a bit deeper than that and would instead turn to the biblical verse, Matthew 7:7: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 

It’s all about the flow of energy in your life. You can choose how free you indeed are. Abraham Hicks once said, “You are so free, you can choose bondage.” We do create our reality through our thoughts, intentions, and beliefs. We can choose which way to go, and we can change the course if it doesn’t work. It seems so simple to grasp the written words as described but another to play it out in our daily lives without interference or distraction. The interference is that non-stop chatter that goes on in our heads. Again, to reach liberation and truly put intention and desirable outcomes to work, you need to still your body and clear your mind of all the clutter. 

Even if you set aside one minute per day to chill out and “be,” you’ll see that limitless possibilities are awaiting us in all that we seek in life. Make it a goal to take small steps, incrementally, to still your body and ask all that you desire in your heart of hearts. Don’t expect immediate answers. Just bask in the quietness of being. The answers will eventually come. As Eckart has put it in his book, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, “Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness.”

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“Cognito, Ergo Sum” (Reimagined)

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #43

Did you know that life is a play of consciousness? Descartes had described it as, “Cognito, ergo sum “–I think; therefore, I am. Many of my teachers think that he almost got it right, though, in terms of consciousness awareness, he should have expressed it as, “I am, therefore, I think.” I’m not sure if I can fathom an explanation of what I’m trying to say, but it’s something like this. Suppose we are aware that we are aware (conscious). In that case, we can undo all the mental constructs that the thinking mind has created. Why? Because the thinking mind is ego-based, attached to thoughts, beliefs, ideas, concepts, etc. All of which are limited and unimaginative.

Therefore, if we are aware of such thoughts, beliefs, ideas, and concepts…and how they “play” out in our life, we can deconstruct them with our “I am presence.” Again, I’m pointing to the internal “I am,” or the formless part of who we really are. How do we deconstruct all those thoughts? Though it may seem complex from a “how-to” point of view, it’s pretty simple.

When you feel a thought arising, especially a negative one, catch it, observe it and say to yourself, “it’s just a thought.” Then, try to transmute it or replace it with a more positive one. This may be easier to do if the thought is, “I don’t look good.” You can catch it and say, “well, I look a bit better than yesterday,” or “you’re too hard on yourself, you look fine, besides it’s better to feel good than looking good.” Just go for the better feeling, thought.

This may seem pretty surface level in terms of deconstructing thoughts, but it’s a start. Sometimes, I’m so frustrated, I can only get to the level of saying, “it’s just a thought.” In other words, I acknowledge that that particular thought doesn’t define who I am. It’s just a bad habit of thinking, or as I mentioned before, you hop on the train of wrong thoughts.

If you want to go deeper, you really need to still your body and be mindful of internal sensations. In other words, divorce your senses (seeing, touching, tasting, and hearing) and go deeper into the true self’s intuition. Eckart Tolle offers the simple exercise of closing your eyes and trying to feel sensations in your hands. It may feel like a tingling or swirling. That is the energetic part of you or what he refers to as true essence. Then, try to feel sensations or sense perceptions in other parts of your body; your arms, legs, abdomen, feet, etc. Giving this undivided attention to your energetic body is key to divorcing all that we attach to the external world.

If you make this a daily practice, you won’t even need to close your eyes to feel such movement within. This is the quickest way to break down the ego state. Turning your attention inward strengthens awareness and leads to awakening and complete liberation.

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You Are A Miracle

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #42

Do you recognize the synchronicities occurring almost constantly, every day in your life? It takes some concentration and awareness to recognize the small miracles that appear on this plane. Some things that happen are so fleeting that we don’t even realize when they occur. Others are so blatantly obvious that there’s no denying that divine intervention has taken place. That’s when we say things like, “I must have been at the right place at the right time.” Instead, if we truly become aware…really tune in to the present moment, we would replace the fleeting thoughts (or lack thereof) with thanks.

I’ve been trying to make this a daily practice, even for the most seemingly mundane thing. Why? Because we tend to take note and notice when terrible things happen and make that our focus. We take for granted the small miracles that are occurring almost every minute of the day. For example, our heart is beating. Our chest rises and falls with every intake and exhale of breath. There is light all around us.

Everything appears still, yet it is moving at different rates and with different vibrations and frequencies. We have an abundance of food. We are well clothed and roofed. Each night, our heads lie on a soft pillow. When we wake up each day, you can see. There is an abundance of clean water everywhere we turn that we can drink, bathe, cook, float, and witness other life forms within.

Are you expressing appreciation for these beautiful things? What about all the synchronicities? (Those things that are happening at the precise moment). It’s more difficult to enumerate these, but I’ll give you some examples. As I’ve expressed, I feel connected to the universe through the appearance of specific number sequences. They have a lot of meaning to me and translate into particular messages that I’ve received for quite some time. Often, when I’m thinking about something spiritual, or joyful a number sequence will appear. To me, I feel as though Source Energy is communicating with me during these moments. This also holds true when I’m praying, when I’m worried, when I’m inspired, and when I feel unsupported. Almost instantaneously, a particular number sequence will present itself and make me feel more at ease. Coincidence? Never. I’ve always believed that there are light beings all around us who are constantly trying to communicate with us.

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Stop Thinking About Stuff

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #40

Stop thinking about stuff. I say this to myself quite a bit. If you can observe that “thinking” puts a monkey wrench into every situation, you’d get what I mean. We tend to spiral out of control with our thoughts. As I mentioned before, thoughts create beliefs, and in turn, your beliefs create your reality. 

If we can stop and pause, try to slow down our minds, we become free of thoughts. Therefore, we live more freely as though a river flowing downstream. In this case, we allow things to happen naturally, as they should be, without much effort. I find that if you “free up space” in your mind, your heart (the space with the most loving brain) speaks. 

The heart’s wisdom is the impersonal part of you or the non-material aspect of you that speaks. Some people call it the God of our heart or our heart space. This is what always should lead. We are so bombarded by manmade concepts based on what we’ve been taught or what we learn through experiencing through the five senses. If we can break away from our outer experiences and quiet ourselves enough to hear the wisdom from within, things flow with greater ease. 

There would be no reason or need to resist, control, or manipulate what’s going on in our outer world. Have I achieved this state of being? Not yet. However, I feel that the first step into awakening to this way (the way) is to become aware. Being “aware that you are aware” is consciousness. As quoted by Neville Goddard, “Heed the words of St. Augustine, “Too late have I loved thee, for behold thou wert within, and it was without that I did seek thee.” 

It is your own consciousness that you must turn as to the only reality. There, and there alone, you awaken that which is asleep. This brings me back to imagining. I feel that using your imagination is very different from “thinking.” Thinking requires a lot of work—the need to analyze or problem-solve while using your imagination permits a sort of freedom or creative flow to occur. Use your imagination as a child would. Dream the unimaginable, set no boundaries, believe what you imagine to be true. 

I’m sure our imagination can dream up scary stuff, too, but that’s not the aim. The aim is to imagine what you desire and believe that you already have it—that it’s already yours and see what happens. Be mindful of how negative thoughts may try to impair your “image-ing” of it all. Treat those thoughts for what they are—just a thought, and don’t let it get in the way of desire. 

Again, this can be a challenging practice if you’re wrapped up in the world of form. The trick is to be child-like in your imaginings. See and sense the dream imagined. Don’t worry about how it’s going to arrive. Don’t have any sense of urgency in the “getting of it.” Just know that it is there and it is yours. You already own it. You already have it! 

There is such a flow and happiness when we use our imagination to think up wild things. Do you remember playing and pretending when you were a little kid? Didn’t it seem natural to be a fairy, a king, or a princess? Couldn’t you see yourself in the role and feel all the riches of the land and its offerings. Didn’t your play of imagination produce the most beautiful costumes and castles (blankets and hideaways between couches and furniture)? Returning to innocence, God provokes us to return and let go of the thinking, analytic self. “Truly, I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew: 18:3

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How To Dissolve Your Preferences

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #39

Are you good with letting things unfold naturally? Or do you tend to want to be in control of what’s going on? I know where I fall on that pole, and I’m working on going towards letting things “be.” It doesn’t matter how much you try to insert your preferences into a situation because they will unfold naturally, regardless. It is a universal law. 

 I recommend reading Mickey Singer’s book, The Untethered Soul. You can get a free audio version on YouTube. He eloquently explains that we, as humans, are always trying to interject our preferences concerning how things should be. To have preferences as to how things should be is a ‘mind’ construct. No matter how much we try to change our situation to meet our personal preferences, we will remain dissatisfied (unless it’s going our way). 

I feel that if things are moving along swimmingly, I’m moving in the right direction. I also have become aware that if they don’t feel so great or seem not to be going “my way,” I need to step back and be the active observer of the situation. Instead of reacting and trying to interject my preferences, I quiet my mind, observe and let it be. Quieting the mind is a challenging practice indeed, especially if you have a robust egoic drive. It is worth it, however, to discern your reaction towards situations. I can honestly say, in my own opinion, 95% of the time, I’ve made mistakes by trying to control or change my situation. And, especially if in doing so, I miss out on being praised, recognized, or rewarded for my efforts. 

For example, say you work with a difficult person and find that your co-workers often chime in on how much they can’t stand that person. Do you feel tempted to “join the club” in the collective gossip? Can you move away from inserting your preferences towards the situation and stand as the active observer? Or do you wish to pump up your ego by gaining praise or recognition from your co-workers for your ill intentions towards that one person?

In other words, what do you gain by putting someone else down? Or better yet, what are you trying to achieve? Can you identify your faults in the situation? Is it worth the energy to get involved? What have you to gain in terms of consciousness? What is your preference? Do you prefer to gain validation and acceptance, approval, etc., from that source of energy? Or can you just let things be?

The above may be a poor example but as a practice, try this—whenever you feel “triggered” by a situation—any situation, still your mind in that instant. Hold back your reaction—observe. Don’t think; feel what’s going on. Try to recognize where your feelings are placing you at that moment (especially if they’re negative). Can you realize it, accept it for what it is, and let it be? Is it worth the effort to project your preferences into the situation? What does the path of least resistance feel like to you? I guarantee that it’s the better choice.

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Who Is Your Master?

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #38

Do you serve a master? Sometimes, people seek one on the physical plane, for example, a teacher, mentor, or spiritual leader, for guidance. When I first heard a follower refer to Paramahasana Yogananda as to her Master, I was a bit confused. Master of what? He, her Master, and she the servant? He, the Master of Yoga or spirituality? I wasn’t quite sure.

I began to think about whether or not one should refer to anyone as their Master on the physical plane. In my opinion, God, Source Energy, the Creator, or however you choose to identify him or her, is Master. And our Divine-self, which is ultimately an attribute of God, is the Master expressing his/her idea through us.

Please don’t ask me what the idea is. I cannot articulate it in words. However, if I had to attempt to, I’d say that the desires we feel are God’s ideas that we express through action on the physical plane. I translate the “idea” as to love and serve one another. In other words, this would be the outcome of any case scenario or action—the final resulting in peace on Earth.

I suggest reading the book by Joseph Brenner titled, The Impersonal Life to grasp what I’m trying to say. I have read this book repeatedly as I feel that the message is essential and of God. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read. Each time I read it, I gain understanding and realization.

The short and skinny of it is to KNOW that there is only one Source and one Master. And, WE, all of us, represent a single attribute of the Master, Creator, or God as it were. Suppose we are all one, an embodiment of God, each a singular cell or characteristic of the Creator. In that case, there is nothing that we do that the true Master does not direct. Our minds and intellect have no say in the matter except for free will choice to follow along swimmingly or not.

We’ve fabricated a bit of a mess through our free will choices if you look at humanity as a collective. As you know, I’ve chosen not to entertain those who contribute negativity to the collective consciousness. However, I remain optimistic because here’s the thing. We can change the motions and pathways of our free will choices. We don’t have to choose what doesn’t serve us. On the contrary, if we choose to wake up and KNOW that we all benefit from every positive thought and every right action, we could change the world.

The most aware among us are choosing to take steps in bringing to light human consciousness and awareness to help guide others towards the light. Here is where we will all flourish, as I believe it is part of the Master’s plan. The idea must be to turn away from our “selves” finally and turn to the Creator, the true Master; this would mean to put complete trust in him/her, which is ultimately US.

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Interpreting Your Emotions

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #37

How do you interpret your emotions? If you get angry with someone, do you hear yourself say in your head, “I’m furious right now…I can’t believe he/she said that about me…what a jerk, etc.” As I’ve mentioned before, everything is energy. Words and thoughts manifest things. The comments above and associated emotions are quite negative. So, what are you “putting out there?”

It’s essential to be the observer of our emotions—to be consciously aware of how we feel. Are you able to catch yourself before feeling negative emotion and transmute it? This is the stuff of awareness. Instead of saying, “I am angry,” how about, “I’m experiencing the feeling of anger.” Or, “I’m anxious and nervous, I’m going to bomb this exam.” How about, “I’m experiencing the feelings of anxiety and nervousness.”

If you follow up this “catch” with some self-care phrases, all the better. My rule of thumb is to ask, “What is it I need?” Then, I reinforce and take care of myself with kind and compassionate phrases or words such as, “I’m safe.” “There’s no such thing as failure, only learning.” “Things are always working out for me.” “I am so loved and appreciated.” “I am not alone with these feelings.” “I am not the only person who has felt this way,” etc.

It may seem a bit cheesy to do this but believe me, it works. With practice, you become even better and better with self-care. We so often neglect ourselves in this manner. By acknowledging your feelings and emotions (especially if they’re negative) and transmuting them head on, you’ll find that your life will flow much better. You will resurrect gentleness in your soul, and most importantly, you’ll be able to share this healing with others. Let your emotions be your teachers.

I remember Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s quote in terms of recognizing our fears as our teachers. When an emotion arises, he said to receive and acknowledge it (as though a friend), “Fear, what have you to teach me?” or, “Anxiety, what are you trying to tell me?” Something to that effect. I like to cut to the chase and immediately transmute the emotion or thought. I feel that awareness exercise brings us closer to the authentic self. That self inside of us that is timeless and all-knowing. It’s the soul-self that we have forgotten about, but that brings forth the possibilities of universal peace. It starts with awareness and consciousness. It begins with changes at the fundamental level of self-care.

If you find it too challenging to transmute your words and thoughts, then go outside and take a walk in nature. Be receptive to all the sights and sounds. Calm your heart rate, breathe deeply. When you are calmer, face your emotions with gentle kindness and love. Allow this love to enter your heart.

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How To Become More Aware

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #36

I was stuck on what to write about today, but if I stick with my number one topic, awareness, I can always focus and come up with something meaningful to share. What level of awareness do you behold? We use our senses of sight, sound, touch, and taste to understand the world around us. Usually, we can attend to the various thoughts that are spinning around that pertain to our “story,” However, we miss so much more.

I like to do this simple exercise, especially in the summer: close your eyes and sit on the front porch or outside, mainly, and count all the sounds you hear. Do this first with your eyes open. You’ll probably name a couple of things without much focus or complete attention. However, if you relax and close your eyes and steady your breathing, you’ll hear a lot more.

You’ll begin to sense a lot more, too. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the small surroundings of your daily life and story. It is a minimal view and perspective. However, if you become aware of being aware, focus, and concentrate on the present moment, you’ll see that there’s so much more that we take for granted and are missing.

Deepak Chopra recommends this exercise: Take yourself out of your human world or “channel.” Observe another creature and how they go about their daily life. As you know, I like to observe all sorts of wildlife but find birds most intriguing and admirable. Observe their patterns of communication, their ways of life in terms of hunting, surviving, being. Observe how they gather their information through their senses.

Bats have impeccable sense. They can see in the dark and sense their prey through echolocation. These echo signals enable the bat to form a mental map of its surroundings. How wonderful! Imagine being a bat. What would you see, hear, touch, taste, and smell? How different are those perceptions from yours? Quite different, indeed.

We tend to limit our perceptions about this incredible world and all the creatures in it, giving thought only to our human channel. Let’s move forward with the idea that we are all one, right down to the most inanimate object. As a result, we’ll gain a better understanding, appreciation, and gratitude for all that is.

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Love Thyself

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #35

If you can’t love yourself, then you cannot love others. I’m sure you’ve heard this many times. What is self-love? How do we do love ourselves? I’m sure that most of us can articulate what it is not. For example, if you’re constantly beating up on yourself, putting yourself down, being hard on yourself, etc., that would be the opposite of respecting and loving yourself.

I believe we’re all guilty of doing this to some degree. How can you build up self-love? It starts with self-compassion. I never really thought about this concept until reading, The Power of Self-Compassion by Laurie Cameron. She references three ideas regarding self-compassion: Being mindful, recognizing common humanity, and being kind to oneself. She explains that being mindful is all about being present or being in the “now,” as I’ve commonly mentioned throughout this book. She goes further on to say that being mindful is about paying attention to yourself and your feelings, being non-judgmental, and living moment-to-moment. In other words, to avoid trying to “fix” things as they occur, especially if they’re not to your preferences. 

She brought to mind one of my favorite poets Thich Nhat Hanh, who set the stage on mindfulness-awareness. You can look at mindfulness in several different ways. My philosophy is that I don’t want my “mind” to be “full”—of stuff. Quite frankly, I’d rather be “mind-less.” However, I don’t want to get mixed up in the literal or semantic sense of the words. In this excerpt, I’d like to think of mindfulness as being aware of or paying attention to something with a fair amount of concentration. 

When things are not going your way, if you feel down, if you are anxious, the first thing to turn your attention to is what is. Recognize it. Be aware of your feelings at that moment. In other words, embrace it. Next, turn your attention to “common humanity.” This entails recognizing that you are not alone in what you are feeling or experiencing. Voice: “I’m not the only person to suffer in this way; I am not alone in this; we are all interconnected, this is not a separate experience.” 

Finally, practice self-kindness. For example, how would you treat a friend if they were experiencing the same thing as you? Would you yell at them and tell them you’re sorry that their life stinks? No, you would try to soothe or validate their feelings. I like to think of how I’d respond to a child. If it were a little child or a baby under duress, we certainly wouldn’t act harshly. We’d respond with compassion and empathy.  

Sometimes, when I’m super stressed and aim to be more compassionate to myself, I think of “little girl” me. I close my eyes and imagine that I’m holding her and hugging her. I usually picture this when something tragic has happened, like losing a pet or a relative. Often, traumatic experiences like these bring us back childhood memories of feeling abandoned or lonely due to loss. 

Suppose I encounter an upsetting situation at work. In that case, I try to direct the kindness inward by asking the question, “What do I need right now to take good care of myself?” In Cameron’s words: How do you protect, provide, motivate yourself as a form of compassion? How do you meet your own needs with kindness towards yourself? 

Isn’t it so much easier to express empathy towards others? I find that it is. It wasn’t until recently that I recognized how much I’d neglected myself. I think we all tend to be a bit hard on ourselves. That’s why it is essential to look upon ourselves with compassion. It’s not easy to face difficult situations. Still, it’s much easier to become aware of them, embrace them, forgive them, and love and support yourself in the process with gentleness. This is what self-love engenders.

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How To React…Or Not

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #34

Do you need to defend yourself when you feel as though you were “attacked” verbally? Buyer beware; this is the stuff of the ego. I was listening to Eckart Tolle today. He quoted an excerpt from, A Course on Miracles (I highly recommend you read this, though it is an intensive study and as thick as the Bible). He stated that you’re identifying yourself with an illusion or the conceptualized/fictitious sense of self when you’re defensive. When you are defending yourself, typically, it is to provide safety of the self. 

In other words, when attacked verbally, there is nothing for you to defend. You are safe. You aren’t going to be eaten alive. It would be best if you never let words hurt you. I understand that it is a difficult practice not to defend oneself. The other day, Dad and I were taking a ride in the car. I was driving, and he was perusing through Facebook. He noticed something that my cousin Christopher had posted about women (particularly, wives) always moving their husbands’ things without asking, therefore causing a raucous. He was going to reply, “Yes, my wife not only moves my stuff, but re-gifts it back to me.” 

Okay, how could I not become defensive about that quirk? I immediately started defending myself that I had only done this once. Still, he has not let it rest (since 2007, mind you). And that by posting that terrible comment, it would make me look like an idiot. I further defended that if he had put his stuff where it belonged, this would not be an issue. Again, I also defended that everything has its place and its home. Black socks don’t belong on the countertop where I’m preparing food! So on, and so forth.

Well, he didn’t end up posting the comment because he recognized my sensitivity about the subject. He also told me to relax and that he was joshing. I still ended up chatting in my head; I said to myself, okay, here you go protecting your “little me, ego.” Who cares what other people think? Do you want to focus your time on something so trivial? Do you wish to contribute to this act of unconsciousness? 

That question ended up bringing me back to stillness. Again, a challenging practice but worth being aware of. We have conditioned our minds to react defensively. What do we gain from that, though? What sort of satisfaction is there in being defensive? Not much. It is essential to bring ourselves to awareness when situations like this arise. 

If you can catch yourself before you react and be thoughtful about whether your response will serve you, it is worth taking the time to realize this. I can say that when I’m able to catch myself in the heat of the moment (before reacting), I’m able to gain perspective, be receptive to my “now,” and return to the stillness within. The peace within is all-knowing. It reminds me that I’m safe and unconditionally loved. It reminds me to refuse to harbor negative thoughts or to react in a way that would only make things more dissatisfying in my life. As Dr. Wayne Dyer once said, “What other people say about you is their karma; how you react is yours.”

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How To Hop On The Train To Enlightenment

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #33

Today is a great day! Every day is a great day! This is my daily mantra and should be for all. Often, we get caught up in our “life story.” Often, we wake up grumpy and attach that grumpiness to us for the entire day. We need to transmute our mindset immediately at rising and raise our vibration to the best feelings and thoughts.

We all have a personal story or “performance” that we play out in our lives. Deepak Chopra refers to our life stories and the world as we perceive it as virtual reality because it is not real or fixed. It is all made up. My story is different from yours. Everyone’s perceptions are different. It’s nearly impossible to know what another person is thinking or how their story is playing out. We can guess by making up what their story is in our minds, but I bet it’s 99% inaccurate. Does it even matter? I prefer to “stay in my own lane” when it comes to this life drama. One life is good enough to handle!

It doesn’t matter how another person perceives you or even how you perceive yourself. Why? Because it is all made up in our mind. It has nothing to do with the true self, which is flawless and unconditionally loved. One may think they’re weak or not good enough. Why? These are thought forms conditioned over time, starting at a young age. We chose to believe others’ perceptions or beliefs about ourselves. As we grew older, unless we transmute these negative beliefs, we add more commentary to the story. It becomes the ongoing tape-recorded message in the back of the mind that plays relentlessly.

It’s that whole negative “train of thought” that I referred to earlier. I’ve become quite conscious about when I’m hopping on that train because it ultimately takes me nowhere. It’s as though the tracks are a big circle and the train keeps going around and around with no outlet. It stays the same, but the cargo keeps getting added on to the train’s cars.

What happens to an overloaded train that keeps going around and around? Well, I assume it will eventually fall off the tracks. In terms of the mind-stuff, it turns into self-defeating stories, self-fulfilling prophecies, depression, etc. In other words, it goes nowhere, fast.

Can you imagine life as never hopping on the train of thought–to think of “no-thing.” Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Emptiness is often equated with loneliness, but is it? To me, emptiness means attachment to no-things; whether it be a thought, an idea, or material items. Imagine how the world would be if we had clarity in the emptiness of no-things to worry about–where there were no perceptions, notions, judgments, drama. We’d all be on the train to enlightenment and on a much needed destination!

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Believe That You Have Received

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. 

Excerpt #32

I speak to you often about manifestation. I’m no expert on Universal Laws, but I’m piecing together a lot of the parts. There is much to be said about the Law of Attraction these days. What you put out there—what you think about comes about. It works both ways. If you think about something you don’t want and think about it intently, you’re still attracting it because that is where your focus lies.

I’m becoming more receptive to Neville Goddard’s description of the “Law of Reversibility.” It seems to resonate from a more spiritual perspective. In short, the law of reversibility describes that “if a physical fact can cause a psychological state; then a psychological state can cause a physical state.” For example, if being at the beach on a warm summer day brings forth a state of peace, then peace (imagined) can bring on a physical form of desire–let’s say your dream home. This concept is difficult for me to grasp as I’m trying to conceptualize it too much. I can say that I know that this works but to put it to practice is a bit more complicated.

I know that both of you practice this notion by default. Perhaps it’s because you both don’t have a lot of junk or attachments to things. Your brains aren’t tangled up with a lot of crap; therefore, you are wide open and receptive to asking and receiving. I love that you are both cognizant of your abilities to manifest things. I’m impressed by the fact that you both seem so detached from “things.” You both have a lot of things; however, if they were to all go away, I know in my heart that you both wouldn’t care. I admire this ability. I, on the other hand, have to be consciously aware of non-attachment. In other words, I have to say in my mind (after something nice breaks, etc.) that it was “never meant to be” a permanent object and that everything dissolves, eventually. I shouldn’t have to do this. It should come by default, but it doesn’t.

It is very easy to become attached to the material items, but the most important thing is to be cognitively aware not to be because everything is fleeting. It is most important to focus on the nonmaterial aspect of life. I know this to be true; however, the human side of me desires so much! Where is the happy medium? For what should we be asking? It is our birthright to live in abundance and happiness. What type of abundance? An abundance of love or material items?

What exactly should we be asking for? Maybe all of the above. I think the trick is to “put it out there” without expectation of the outcome (for that is where attachments lay). My glimmer of hope in the asking is with quotes coming from the bible. Hopefully, I’m not lost in the translation. “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that you have received them, and ye shall have them.” (Mark 11:24)

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How Your Contribution Affects All

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel. I wrote this excerpt before the occurrence of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Excerpt #31

How did you sleep last night? I had nightmares all night because I sat and watched two episodes of that terrible, low energy show with you guys. You know what I’m talking about. I have to admit, it’s easy to get sucked into those types of shows. The writers make it provocative, so you can’t walk away. Even though it wasn’t violent, it was indeed sad and upsetting, which doesn’t resonate with me quite well (you know how sensitive I am).

In any event, this entry will be in my own voice and very familiar to you as I’ve spoken to you both about this topic many times. It is so important to avoid not only negative thoughts but anything negative, for that manner. Television and social media are prominent perpetrators for the promotion of negativity and violence. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of good stuff out there, but the vast majority is not okay. 

As you know, Dad and I haven’t watched the news or listened to the radio for many years. We refuse to contribute to the insanity and brainwashing that is out there. How do you contribute? Making and contributing to all that crap out there by watching it, listening to it, and following it. You may say, “that (horror) movies won’t affect me and the way I think.” That may be true; however, by merely giving it attention, you add to the collective consciousness that does. I’d gather that’s a pretty big pool, and I don’t want to swim in it! 

Consciousness creates. As said in the Kybalion, “transmute that which is undesirable into that which is worthy, and thus triumph.” We are the creators of our universe. How will we untangle (transmute) the mess we’ve made from a conscious perspective? Many people aren’t even aware of what’s going on. Then, there are the people who are so radical, so consciously aware of what’s going on, that they choose the wrong paths to try to promote change. In other words, they get into ego wars (I’m right, you’re wrong), and that only exacerbates the situation right down into the rabbit hole of no return and little change. 

I try to dismiss the radical stuff going on out there in our physical world. I’m aware that it is our own making and hone in on my own contribution towards a greater good. Still, I know there are those out there like myself who believe that we, as collective energy, need to raise our vibration on Earth to feel the full effects of kindness, peace, and change.

I remember Eckhart Tolle quoting a famous monk who said that we must instill within “the radical refusal to harbor negative thoughts.” I take that advice a step further as I quietly state in my own mind, “I radically refuse to attend to the low energy of this negative____.” You can fill in the blank: person, show, advertisement, movie, broadcast, etc. What’s good about refusing? Quite a bit. If you don’t attend to it, you won’t judge it (which is also not our right), plus you don’t give it energy. You see, things begin to spiral when we feed into this sort of stuff. Energy gets created around it, and it can be challenging to transmute it as it builds up in your mind over time. Perceptions are created; thoughts become beliefs. Exposing oneself to lower energy can be very damaging over time. Even worse, it gets passed on from person to person and again builds and gives it more power. 

I’d much rather spend my time building upon the good stuff! We are temporary visitors here, and our time is but a blink in this physical reality. Choose your path wisely and know how many it affects, as we are all one.

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Feel Your Wish Fulfilled

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel.

Excerpt #30

What is your idea of fulfillment? Does it mean having a lot of things? Does it mean that your heart is content? Is it your idea of peace? When I think of the word fulfillment, I equate it with the feeling of contentment- that all is well and that my life is “full” of those things that bring me peace and joy. 

In his new book, Metahuman, Deepak Chopra explains fulfillment a bit differently. He describes it as the need for nothing. It is the need for nothing because you are enough in yourself. He says that it is the ego that is never satisfied and always needs something to have fulfillment. If “I” can only get that job, I’ll be satisfied. If “I” can only get that house on the water, I’ll be happy. If “I” could get a perfect grade average, I will receive recognition.

You will find that even if you have all these things, it will never be enough because true fulfillment comes with the soul’s alignment to the self. How does one acquire this? By being aware that you are aware. It all goes back to consciousness. If you are the silent onlooker of your thoughts and emotions, you can transmute them. The need to fulfill the “I” will eventually dwindle as you become aware that the need for things to feel fulfillment is an illusion. It’s a human-made concept of perceived happiness with the “having” of things. 

Wait a minute, then are we being superficial when we are manifesting something to be? Perhaps it’s in the wanting of something to fill a void. If you think of it in that manner, then as you are aware of it, you recognize that you are expressing lack. If you believe in lack thereof, then that is what will ultimately materialize. 

You can ask for something but then believe that you’ll never get it. That’s thinking on opposite ends of the pole. If you desire something because the “having of it” will bring along the feelings of satisfaction (for example, desiring peace), well, that’s very different. Then what you genuinely want is satisfaction, not a material object. A material object may show up by default in some manner or other, I suppose. For if we ask, it is given. Maybe that’s why Neville Goddard told us to skip to the end of the show. Go right to Act III to the wish fulfilled. Then you experience the feelings associated with the having of (whatever it is). 

Vibrating at a higher vibration promotes the fabrication of (whatever it is) in the material world. It all has to do with quantum physics. I’m no expert on quantum physics but do know that it’s an elementary understanding that “electrons and other particles are not real but exist only as ideas or concepts. They become real when someone asks questions about Nature, and depending on which question you ask, Nature obligingly supplies an answer.” (Heisenberg, as quoted by Deepak Chopra article on LinkedIn, December 23, 2019, Why You Can’t Always Believe Your Senses). 

Therefore, if you ask, it is given. The wish is fulfilled. So, for what are you asking. What do you choose to manifest, and why? Ponder this question daily to observe in which way you are serving yourself in the highest manner.

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What About Reincarnation?

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel.

Excerpt #29

Do you believe in reincarnation of the spirit? I know that your foundation in religion started with Catholicism. I wanted to make sure that you were both introduced to Christianity so that you may learn about the life and teachings of Jesus. Jesus was and is a great teacher of humility and grace. I do hope that your heart is linked with him, always.

I’m just finishing up reading the book Jesus and the Essenes by Dolores Cannon. What a great piece of writing. Dolores was a very well know hypnotherapist who specialized in regression. Regression involves taking people back into their past lives through hypnotism. If you believe in reincarnation, then you will understand why some people like to revisit their past lives– to figure out what they might need to work on or what may be inhibiting their progress in their current life. I don’t feel this is necessary if you choose to live in the present moment. What is done can’t be undone, and supposedly with each lifetime, one is evolving, not sliding backward. So, why go back there?

I have to admit that I did go to a past-life regressionist therapist once. I didn’t like what I conjured up because it involved tragedy and sadness. Plus, it didn’t do me any good with my present life besides affirming certain repetitive (negative) feelings that keep coming up in my life. It is all part of the work. Those feelings are certainly not as bad now, as they were then; however, to conjure them up didn’t do me any good in terms of my evolution.

Getting back to the book, the regressed person (a woman) was a man in the past who was a teacher to Jesus and John the Baptist. They were studying in a beautiful community of peoples known as the Essenes. It is believed that the Essenes were the initiators of early Christian beliefs and the traditions of baptism, the Eucharist, and others (what we would refer to as sacraments).

As the story unfolded, Suddi (pronounced like Saudi) described his experiences as a teacher of young Jesus and John the Baptist. When he was older, Jesus began to minister his teachings worldwide. Though Suddi was no longer alive during the crucifixion, Delores contacted Suddi on the inner plane (a resting place before souls decide whether to return for another “assignment” on the earthly plane). Her prerogative was to ask Suddi what was taking place during the crucifixion and what it all meant. I like that she framed her authorship as being open to the translation. As described by Suddi, it had an impeccable resemblance to what is currently written in the Bible today. However, there were new things brought to light with Suddi’s interpretation.

I believe them to be an accurate translation of what Jesus wanted us to know. It is a much more intuitive translation and seems more “Christ-like.” In other words, what he brought to light seems much more an accurate interpretation of what Jesus would have told us directly.

Suddi explained that Jesus didn’t return in the flesh. He returned as a being of light (often what we refer to as an angel). If one were to touch him as Peter-Simon did in the Bible interpretation, he wouldn’t have felt Jesus’s flesh. Suddi explained that Jesus appeared as a sort of apparition still with his wounds present. He presented with his wounds to demonstrate that one can come back reincarnated as the same person who had left. And, also to make the vital point that we do come back. The spirit body/energy sometimes returns as a light entity, sometimes as within a new “container,” or body. Jesus believed that he was once Moses or Adam and that John the Baptist was Elijah, reincarnated. One thing is for sure; energy can’t be created nor destroyed. Everything is energy. The pointer that I’d like you to take away with this excerpt is that our souls are eternal. We don’t die; therefore, we always “be.” Perhaps this is why we are called beings. True, the human part of us dissolves, but the being forever remains.

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How To Feel The Love

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel.

Excerpt #28

We are on the verge of a new year! A time for a fresh start and a new beginning. What will be your focus? What are you manifesting? I’d like to hone in on love. How can one best envelope love or share it? It seems such a simple concept and, indeed, the main focus of Jesus’ teachings.

I believe that one must feel the feeling of love within to honestly and freely share it. In all that I’ve learned, you have to feel what it is you desire. This desire comes with knowing that you are already in possession of it. I often refer to this in acquiring material items, but how about nonmaterial things such as love? 

Doesn’t it make sense that you won’t acquire material stuff unless you feel the immaterial stuff? In other words, I’m sure in my heart that if I have faith (belief without seeing)— in knowing that I’m completely loved and of love, that I will have everything I so desire. God sees us as unlimited. We can be, wish, desire, and have anything we want to have in this lifetime and beyond. Does it not take faith and love to understand and believe this? 

If we lack love, how can we ever honestly wish and receive all we desire? It seems counter-intuitive. You can wish to have something but then feel that you will never get it. You have to expect, imagine, and know that you already have it without paying mind to any feelings of lack, worthiness, etc. Isn’t this the same as feeling the love within? 

If you always think that you are incapable, not worthy of giving or receiving love…then, how will it come about? You ask…well, how do I feel the love? Or what does love feel like? I’ve always had a difficult time describing this because I’ve conceptualized love too much. If I were to express love in words, I’d see images of both of you as newborns. The feeling in my heart is an utter joy to the point of ecstasy!

When I try to put my heart in the feeling of love, I have to create an image in my mind’s eye—our pup’s little sugar powdered mouth, the sense of her soft ears. Sometimes, it’s a difficult practice for me for some reason. Many mystics would refer to this as the veil that shrouds us, which keeps us disconnected from our true self—the ego as it were. 

With practice and concentration, through meditation, open your heart to the feelings of love. Try to feel it internally. Coax these feelings through imagery and loving memories. Don’t push it aside or forget it. Live each day with a loving spirit. See those around you—even those you don’t particularly care for with love in your heart towards them. 

The feelings of love are at the highest vibration possible. Nothing is higher than the vibration of love! I believe nothing is attainable unless you can love, no matter what your situation. 

A practice that I enjoy doing is passing love to others randomly. When I see a beautiful child, I give the blessing of love. When I’m near a co-worker who touches my heart due to their dedication, I silently bless and thank them with love. When I see you both together—dancing and being playful or even bickering with each other, I thank and bless you both with love. This is how the work is done. It is a practice worth embracing!

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How to Evolve Your Being

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel.

Excerpt #27

If you want to evolve as a human being:

  1. Focus on having a higher concept of self.
  2. Pay attention to self-talk.
  3. what you are manifesting

I read a recent interview with a favorite author of mine. As part of his daily meditation practice, he said that he pays close attention throughout the day to the negative chatter in his head. To resolve this, he suggests that you repeat the negative thought to yourself to recognize it but not judge it. He claims that this is the best way to dissolve negative thoughts. For example, if you hear yourself saying, “I am not good enough,” repeat with, “Thinking I’m not good enough.” Here, you can recognize it as only a thought and not a belief that would submit to the subconscious. 

Remember, we often attract what we believe to be true. So, it is essential to focus our attention on the positive things in life. If you put aside all the concepts, perceptions, beliefs, obsessive thoughts, you’ll find that we are in a perfect place where rights and wrongs don’t exist. Rights and wrongs come from the ego. They are human-made. So is the concept of time. There is no past or future. There is only this “now” moment. If you think about it, the stuff that happened before this moment was the “now” of that moment. Life is a continuous stream. 

Getting back to attention, it is our attention that creates worlds, according to my teachers. With concentration, awareness, and consciousness to whatever-it-may-be, we create concepts and circumstances that manifest into physical things, our tangible outcomes, and our effects. It pertains to everything we give our attention to. 

You both have wondered why I don’t watch the news or anything violent. It is because I choose not to give my attention to it, as whatever locks into my consciousness also attaches to the collective consciousness, and it builds. It creates worlds! Why would I want to fuel attention toward anything of that nature? I don’t know about you, but I’m not particularly eager to contribute to that sort of mindset or that type of world. It doesn’t engender peace, kindness, empathy, or compassion. It draws us away from our inner sanctum, where all possibilities reside and awaken.

Part of self-evolution and developing a higher concept of self is to create your ideal self. You do this by transmuting your thoughts and aligning them with the desired outcome through your imagination, which is the “I AM” part of you or the divinity within. Your self-concept determines your outer or external situation. If you say/think, “I am unwell.” It will manifest. If you are unwell but imagine your ideal self as well, it will manifest. However, to do this, what you think and what you feel must be in alignment. The feeling of wellness must be committed to the subconscious. It would be best if you assumed the feeling of wellness as your ideal. Beliefs change matter.

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Believing is Seeing

Neville Goddard described the difference between faith and prayer as such. “Prayer is the act of believing what is denied by the senses, and faith is belief, not seen. The latter is a bit easier to grasp. Believing what is denied by the senses points to the subconscious mind. In other words, whatever you supplant there through prayer, manifests into the wish fulfilled. The subconscious self is the divine within. It is what connects us all together as one with Source. It is the cause of voluntary action. The mystics often refer to the subjective mind, which doesn’t point to the senses (seeing, hearing, touching, smelling). It is the opposite of the objective self or conscious self. 

Again, Goddard explained, “the subconscious mind is what man is, the conscious mind is what man knows.” Understanding the dual nature of consciousness is key to having all wishes, desires, and prayers answered. This all seems a science, but it’s effortless to grasp on a conceptual level. 

It’s just challenging to put into practice! It’s important to accept “what is” in life. This is how one lives in the present. However, when you pray, turn your attention from “what is” to what it ought to be or what you desire it to be. Assume that your wish is already fulfilled. Feel the wish fulfilled. 

The subconscious mind (that auto-programmed area of your brain) doesn’t know the difference between right and wrong, good or bad. It moves the energy within you through the feelings that you feel. This is what your vibration truly is. Let’s say that your prayer is for peace. Act as though you already have it. That vibration of energy is what you are sending out and that which you will receive. 

If you complain and are hopeless, you are vibrating at a deficient level—then that is what you’ll attract in your life. Many of my teachers have said that “you create your own reality.” This is true. How does one do this? Well, many would say through your active thoughts and beliefs. As Abraham would say, “A belief is a thought you keep thinking over and over.” If your thinking is negative, “I am a failure,” this will eventually become a belief. Why? Because you believe that you’re a failure. There is your vibration! Not a very good one. 

So, change your thoughts by imagining them differently. What are your “I AM” statements? Your “I AM” affirmations are your subconscious, all knowing, subjective feelings. I AM the essence of the divine. There is no way that I can fail. There is nothing that I can’t do or have. Again, be the onlooker of the background noise. Don’t judge what you observe. Just recognize it and transmute it. 

Transmutation, through your imagination, awakens the prophet within. If you don’t want to be poor, give more to others, act as though you’re rich. If you don’t want to fail, act like an achiever. If you don’t want to be sad, spread happiness. If you don’t want to be lonely, serve others. Fake it til’ you make it. The universe doesn’t know the difference. Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

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How To Express Thanksgiving

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel.

Excerpt #25

I was speaking to an older friend of mine this weekend. I told her that I’m impatient with the unfolding of my life. My ego has a way of agitating me. It distracts me from the “now” by always thinking about the future. I do know that life unfolds magically with perfect timing for any given situation or scenario. However, the ego often works to inject my own personal preferences about how things should be working out. Suppose these things are not aligned with what I deem appropriate. In that case, I will internally and eternally get on the” train” of a complaint. This is not a good thing!

Situations often don’t go as you thought, hoped, wished, or planned with good reason. It’s because everything happens in divine timing. My friend reminded me of the teachings of Abraham. For example, say, you’re in a funk because things aren’t going your way. In my case, I feel as though I’ve been stuck in a job that isn’t satisfying. Though it’s not my preference to work in the field of education, I clearly recognize, daily, evidence of how accepting my role has positively affected others.

I try to remain positive (by raising my vibration just a bit). If I’m doing it by default, I know that by keeping things positive, my momentum will increase and bring about my desires (of doing something different). Abraham, the entity expressed by Esther Hicks, explains that if you ask for everything to change all at once, it doesn’t work. It would be like jumping on a teeter-totter at full speed when your vibration “isn’t there yet.” Indeed, you’d fly right off.

Catching up to speed happens when you raise your vibration a little bit at a time; until you’re ready to “jump on the teeter totter” and receive your next assignment. If you’re mindful, you’ll recognize when something happens at just the right time. You’ll say things like, “This____ happened just when it was needed.” Or, “I can’t believe that things are going so well.” You will see synchronicities occurring more frequently.

When I asked my friend how can I raise my frequency even more, she replied, “Always express appreciation in your life.” We hear this often by writing in a gratitude journal and being thankful for what we have through prayer and meditation. When you’re right in the moment of feeling dissatisfied, this is when you should recognize all that you should be grateful for. Be the active observer and express appreciation for “what is” right now.

I appreciate that I have a drive and desire to be the best I can be regardless of my career. I’m appreciative of the kind people who surround me at work. I’m so grateful that my supervisor trusts in my ability. I’m thankful to serve others in any capacity. I appreciate that I can view my work as a spiritual practice. We often take for granted the good stuff.

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Give Your Heart the Task

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel.

Excerpt #20

Our brain is not capable of solving internal issues. This task is for the heart, which scientists claim functions as a little brain in and of itself. I’m sure you’ve heard of the expression to “think with your heart.” 

The mind is a problem solver. It’s much better to solve external issues such as equations or produce ideas to create big things. However, the brain cannot fix a problem within. Only the heart is cut out (no pun intended) for this type of task. 

If your feelings are hurting, don’t turn towards the external world to seek refuge or get a quick fix because you won’t find it. You can try all sorts of things to fill the void or solve the inner issue with your mind’s requests, but it won’t work. It’s like asking a car to drive without the driver within. Many people shop or fill their lives with material things, but this is just a quick fix; temporary satisfaction. Some people turn to the bottle or drugs, thinking that addiction can somehow mask the pain. Again, this is just a temporary fix as it causes further dis-ease. 

Some people project their ill feelings and seek solutions through others; this doesn’t work at all. A relationship with someone else won’t fix you, even if it seems a healthy one. Only you can heal you. You have limitless solutions and possibilities within your heart. You have to trust and turn to your heart. Ask it questions. Be still and listen. You will receive answers once you let go of the ego’s melodrama and all those spiraling crazy stories made up in your head. It’s not an easy thing to do; it does become better with practice. 

As you quiet your mind and become still, focus on a nice and easy breathing pattern. Imagine yourself in your sacred place or a relaxing place. Feel it, smell it. Then go inside and ask, for example, if you’re feeling sad, “Dear heart, my dear heart, please guide me to peace as I have the feeling of sadness. Show me in images, forms, or words, what will help.” Then wait for your message or messages. 

Don’t be discouraged if nothing comes up right away. Just remain relaxed and breathe and allow yourself the time to decompress and relieve the tension within. Eventually, you will receive your answers, and with it will come a wash of calming contentment. 

Sometimes, suppose you feel particularly wound up. In that case, the best thing to do is to recognize the feelings of illness or sadness and say, “I choose to acknowledge and surrender these feelings. Or, I recognize how I’m feeling, and I’ll be okay because things are always working out for me.” Thinking in this way reinforces my previous pointers to always turn to the better feeling thought. It will transform you. In Hermetic philosophy, this is called transmutation. Only, instead of transmuting silver to gold such as the ancient alchemists did, you are transmuting negative thoughts into positive ones. Remember, your thoughts materialize and reflect your soul energy. Put some good stuff out there as your external state reflects your inner state.

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You Already Have It

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel.

Excerpt #24

Apparently, the best way to have your wish or desire fulfilled is to imagine that you already have it. Neville Goddard said that “Christ is awakened through human imagination.” He recommends this practice. First, set your objective. In other words, know what it is that you desire or want. Then, have a waking dream about your desire. Define and accept this dream as a physical reality.

Try this. Close your eyes are and put yourself in the space of your wish fulfilled. For example, say you desire to visit a tropical island such as Barbados. Imagine yourself with all of your senses there. If you’re having this waking dream while sitting in your bed, mentally remove all aspects of the room you’re in, including the ground. Replace it with the lounge chair you’re reclined on at the beach. Smell the ocean, sense the warmth of the sun, feel the sand on your toes as you drop a foot down from the lounge chair. Hear the sea…the ebb and the flow of the waves.

How do you feel? This is the most essential part of manifesting this wish. The energy which is associated with the wish fulfilled is what draws it to you. Some call this the law of attraction. Goddard refers to it as the law of reversibility. I believe that we create our realities by our thoughts and the energy produced by the feelings aligned with those thoughts.

Be mindful as you manifest your desires. If you start at point A of your probable wish-“I want to go to Barbados,” but become too specific in your thoughts about it: “How will I get the money? When will I be able to go? I’m broke. I’ll never get the time off from work. What exactly are you attracting? All roadblocks. Therefore, this is what will manifest. You are pinching yourself off from possibilities.

How can you manifest the seemingly impossible desire? Remember to use your imagination! Pretend as though you were a little child when you weren’t robbed of using your imagination. Write it down. “I’m already there. I feel exhilarated by the sun and warmth. Isn’t it nice knowing that I’m here in Barbados? I just love it here. My body and soul are rejuvenated.” Feel the feelings of your fulfilled wish. In other words, skip to the chase. Instead of watching Act I to Act III in the play of life, go right to Act III. Imagine it is already done, and you are already there!

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How To Not Get Triggered

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel.

Excerpt #23

Try this exercise sometime: Don’t react to something when you’re “triggered.” This is very difficult to do if you have a busy ego. At any other time, I wouldn’t have reacted to the scenario that follows; however, when a couple of people add their two cents, the “story” started to develop.

I had forgotten to add Auntie’s name as one of our family members in this year’s Christmas card. I didn’t notice the omission. However, Meema called straight away in a frenzy. She said, “How could you forget Aunt Fran out of all people? She’s going to be offended… she’s going to think you don’t care… she’s going to be really upset…etc.

Now, initially, I calmly stated, “Really, Ma, it was an honest mistake. I meant no harm.” Then she went on another rant and implored that I needed to call her immediately to explain this matter. Honestly, the conversation carried on with my seven apologies in between for about 20 minutes.

When the conversation was over, I felt that I’d take action as soon as possible to clear things up. I was baffled that I made an editorial mistake. I also made a mental note to further apologize to Auntie that I had remembered to include the dog’s name but not hers!

Later that day, I called Papa to give him updates about how things were going our way. Wouldn’t you know, he brought up the whole Auntie thing. He said, “How did you forget this? Do you realize that your aunt is sensitive and this is not going to go over well…you should know what’s going to happen; you lived with her (triggered)…did Doug help you do these cards? (triggered).”

I started to defend myself profusely and added that if my husband were involved with making the card, there would not have been an omission. He carried on for at least a half-hour. I told him I had called auntie, but she didn’t pick up. I continued to defend my ego by stating that I would never leave a message because that would surely make her more upset. I explained that I would stop at nothing until I reached her. I also explained that she doesn’t pick up the phone unless she recognizes the number. Oh, my…I went on and on and on.

All the while, I was very conscious of my defensiveness. My true self (that little quiet voice within) had told me instantly, upon the first reveal from Meema of my mistake, that Auntie would forgive and that she’d be okay with all of this. However, the “unconscious me” took over, inserting many apologies and attached a zillion “stories” to what might happen. This, of course, did not serve the matter at all. It only caused me great anxiety and strengthened the ego. I had allowed the ego to high jack my consciousness of the situation; the still part of me that says, “All is fine. There is nothing to be worried about.”

Later that evening, when I was shopping, the cell phone rang. It was auntie. She said, “Oh, my God…is Doug okay? I’ve been praying for him ever since I saw your number come up (Doug had just recently had surgery).” I reassured her that everything was okay and told her my reason for calling–that I had omitted her name from the family Christmas card. Her reaction: “What? That’s it? Who cares!! I thought someone was sick!” She started to laugh and said, “Let everyone guess who I am. I don’t care if my name is on the card.”

In short, if I had listened to my inner guidance, I would not have fed into all the egoic drama. Further, I wouldn’t have created a story around it. If I had just stopped at, “I forgot to put Auntie’s name on the card,” and just let it be, all would have been fine. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you act as though you have no filter. Don’t get me wrong. I still would have called her and apologized for the omission.

Consequently, there wouldn’t have been undesirable stress, anxiety, or other negative emotions in my energy field to add to the so-called problem. Be an active observer of how you react to things. Catch the negative thoughts and feelings as quickly as possible and let them dissolve. You’d be amazed at how often the ego tries to highjack a situation to throw your energy field off.

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Do Not Worry About Tomorrow

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel.

Excerpt #22

This past summer, I was kayaking down the Tenney River in the early morning hours. This is when nature is at its best. There was a lot of activity going on out there. First, I passed the still, painted turtles with outstretched legs, sunning themselves on a fallen tree in the river. I noticed a brilliant white duck feather floating on the surface. The June bugs were buzzing, as were the cicadas. It was warm and muggy, albeit the start of an August summer day in Maine. There was nobody on the river except me, so I had the whole place to myself.

I rested my legs on top of the kayak and placed the paddle close to my ribs as a resting place so that I could close my eyes and not worry about letting it go. It was quiet for some time. Then, an impulse told me to look up. There I saw the most beautiful Great Horned Owl. It was just sitting there, head slowly rotating. He didn’t pay any mind to me at all. I took note of how he was so still way up there in the tree. All of a sudden, a barrage of crows tried to ambush him. They were squealing and cawing something fierce! I thought that the owl might react in some defensive way, but it didn’t. It just sat there as still and unaffected as ever.

I thought to myself, then. The owl represented the inner self or the soul self, which is quiet and calm—which isn’t affected by anything because it has a knowing. This knowing is that peace always resides within us and that there is nothing that can harm us. The crows represented the noise of the external world. I thought of the crows as the unrelenting thoughts that always spin like a mouse on a wheel, often unrelenting if one remains unconscious of them.

When my life gets busy and thoughts, start to spin, I think back to the quiet and still barred owl. How beautiful it was. How centered it was. Unaffected by the noise and totally content with what is. We can learn so much by observing the beasts in nature. They hold the true meaning of being. They don’t worry about anything because they know they are taken care of.

It brings to mind a verse from the New Testament written by Matthew 6:25-34. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you, by worrying, add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

In other words, stay grounded in presence, for that is our point of power. Our personality’s ego is only concerned with the exterior (material) portion of our life. Journey more in-depth into the stillness within, like the Great Horned Owl. Remain centered and tap into that part of you that reaches beyond the external circumstances. There, you will find ultimate peace and joy.

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Imagine…Living Life in Peace

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel.

Excerpt #21

Today, I learned a new viewpoint about how we create our own reality. Most of my teachers explain that it is thoughts that create our reality. I’m shifting my perspective based on the teachings of Neville Goddard. He explains that it is the imagination that creates our reality. This holds firmer true to me.

We can think about all the great musicians, architects, artists, actors, inventors, and even laypeople. We, as humans, have to create an image in our heads of our desired result. This can be a tangible object, such as a painting or a sculpture. Imagination is usually sparked by inspiration or impulse—that is, desire to create.

If you look around, everything was imagined before it actually materialized. I take note of everything around me from the magnificent to the mundane and say to myself, “Someone had to imagine that before it came into being.” The other day, I was driving on the highway and trying to just “be.” In other words, trying not to label or conceptualize everything around me. However, as I have a busy mind, I began to appreciate all things visible. I see an exit sign and thought to myself, “Someone had to imagine that sign, which led to the creation of it.” In the interim, perhaps, that person got the idea in their imagination but then turned to someone else to help build it. Therefore, the person making it also had to imagine how they’d do that.

Then, my mind began to perceive further. I began to think about how valuable each of us is to the creation of things. We are co-creators of our world and all the forms within it. That is pretty amazing. It took the inventor to dream up the invention, perhaps the builder, to dream up the materials to make it. The architect to further define its measurements, the painter to add color to it, and the observer to appreciate the end product.

All of us contribute the energy to create. All of us imagine first before the form can emerge. This made me further think that everything is first formless before it is formed. Even we are formless before we are created. God imagined us through him. In his likeness (the formless), he placed his/our energy within a form; the material body.

The material body is not really who we are. Neither is the highway sign what it appears to be. It is all an idea, imagined. This is why the mystics say that there is no reality in the world of form. By reality, I mean something fixed or permanent. We are expressions of Source. In other words, our energy is divine. We are divine beings experiencing a material, human experience. When the form (the material aspect of self)-, is gone—that which we call death, we are still alive through the vibrant energy of the soul body. Imagine that.

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Believe That You Already Have It

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel.

Excerpt #19

How often do you use your imagination to create? Your imagination is the most powerful tool to create what you desire. In other words, you can use it as a tool to manifest anything you want. I believe that you both do this by default because I’ve seen and heard you speak your desires out loud with conviction, and they are received almost instantaneously. I’m sure you’ve conjured up an image in your imagination with the desired result and, boom! There you have it. It would be best if you kept doing this without reserve. 

In my journey, I’ve learned that it’s best to “act” as though you already have what you desire. Try this; close your eyes, and imagine that you’re there, or it’s in your possession–whatever it is. Think backward and feel yourself in the desired state. See yourself with the desired result. You have it. 

I’ve made envisioning part of my daily practice to annihilate distractions that get in the way of my clarity. Here’s what I know works to manifest desires. I should tell you that not all desires you seek should be towards the material. For example, I often desire a peaceful mind or harmony within my heart. A great wish, indeed! 

Getting back to practice, here are some guidance tips. Close your eyes and imagine your desire. Pretend that in the seat in which you are sitting, everything around you disappears, and you’re in a void space. Now, imagine your desire. I’m in India (a genuine desire of mine). I can’t see it clearly, but that’s okay. I don’t know how it will happen, but that doesn’t matter. I see beautiful flags of many colors; I see the Himalayas. I smell an earthy smell and beautiful scents of exotic spices. There are people all around me dressed in colorful sarees. The streets are unpaved as I walk through the market place, chatting with merchants. I’m walking up the mountain to the ashram as part of my retreat journey—all is quiet and still. There are no walls in the ashram; it is open to view the spectacular Himalayas. I sit upon a silk cushion in a lotus position and quietly, even my mind. Meals are small and delicious and simple—just soup and tea. I’m at peace. And, so it is. 

Now, open your eyes. Those intents and desires imprint on the universe. Envisioning is a simple way of asking or even praying. We find this truth in the Bible verse, “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.” Mark 11:24

It is so important to note that your imagination is what drives all desires to come true. Some people allude to the wishes of their imagining as too far-reaching or unattainable. It isn’t! One’s imagination drives creativity. The masters of our universe have the most prolific visions. Due to their imagining, great things have materialized, which have led us to higher consciousness. That is the point I’m trying to impress. 

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Tapping Into Your True Essence

The following piece is an excerpt from my book, “Word, From Your Mother,” a daily guidance journal written for my children, Liv and Pierce-Gabriel.

Excerpt #18

What is our true essence? Many of my teachers identify it as consciousness or awareness. I don’t think we can conceptualize or label it, though. It doesn’t have a name or a word that would accurately describe it. I believe that I’ve experienced the feeling associated with it, though. 

I guess, to put it into the written word, I’ll call it true essence. It’s not a tangible thing. We often label who we are: mom, daughter, son, artist, teacher, but that’s not who we indeed are. Those are just labels that we use. It is separate from our true essence. In his book, Source Code Meditation, Dr. Michael Cotton calls the externalization of our identity as the “object.” He gave the example that if you look at a cloud, you know you are not the cloud, or if you look at people around you, you are not those people. If you look at your “self,” you are not even that. In other words, your true essence is formless. The formless you should not be confused with the spirit or the soul. You are neither of those since you can be the onlooker of both. 

How do we experience our true essence? There are so many ways, but I find that you allow the beautiful feelings associated with inner connectedness during the quiet moments. These are the moments when you are still and free of thought or concepts. My teachers say that once you transcend the self to the essence of self, there is no need to conceptualize, label, react, or feel fear because you become one with what is. Some people identify this as enlightenment. I know that the feelings associated with this stillness in being are that of profound peace. 

Some people may never achieve this connectedness in their lives. They are too busy focusing on anything and everything that genuinely doesn’t matter (which is just about everything). Usually, there’s a hyper-focus on having things, comparing self to others, involving themselves in drama, and a myriad of other life scenarios. It is my only desire not to seek but feel my way into true essence. I know in my heart of hearts that this is the way, the truth, and the life. 

Let’s not leave out the “I Am” part. The “I Am” part is the true essence. That which cannot be labeled only pointed to that dark space, that void, and emptiness. You may think that using the descriptors, “dark space, void, emptiness,” has a negative connotation, but they do not. Source Energy (God) created the world ex nihilo, “out of nothing.” Break the word nothing apart into “no-thing” or something non-descript. When you close your eyes to meditate, try to think of no-thing. Try to enter into the emptiness, the dark space, the void. Tap into your heart to receive whatever messages may arise. Feel the connectedness. Most importantly, share this connection with others on the material plane not by story telling but by the expressing compassion and love.