truth

Finding Your “No”

/ oneheart / 4 Comments

Someone said to me a long time ago that you can’t have a true “yes” until you have claimed your “no.” This makes so much sense to me now but at the time I can’t say that I fully understood it.  In my childhood I was definitely a pleaser and always looked for ways not to rock the boat. I really didn’t have an example of how to just say “no,” who did?  It seems to me that no one I knew actually felt entitled to say no so if they did have the courage to put it out there it always had an edge like it needed to be explained or defended in some way. 

What about that force that exists in each of us that either pulls us toward or repels us away that is so natural?  All living beings have it and it’s so simple and pure.  We are drawn toward or repelled away from situations, objects, foods, choices and it can go on and on. You can easily that see that babies and young children always do this quite naturally.  They instinctively  sense what is just arising within them and follow it without worrying so much about how it’s received by the world around them. 

I see this playing out so naturally in my cats for example. They move through the life as they wish without the external pressure of having to be a certain way. We accept them on their own terms and it’s one of the things that all cat owners know and love about their furry friends.  They cannot be controlled nor would a real cat person ever even try. We love them for who they are and all the while we are learning how to put our expectations, attachments and agendas aside. 

Unlike the natural world we are often taught to override our inherent internal navigation system and do the “right” thing.  As a result our pure impulses can be subtle to non existent and burried deep within.  They never completely disappear and we can learn to strengthen those neglected muscles. Our instinctive and intuitive knowing comes forward most easily when we are done looking to the outer world for our direction and we are left with no other option other than to go within.  Our innate  power and wisdom is constantly calling to us and it is there for us when we are ready.

Saying “yes” when you really feel a “no” is no way to live a life and yet so many of us are engaged in life in this way.  Feeling “no” about the work we do, “no” about our social obligations, “no” about what we require of ourselves on a daily basis. Once we begin to observe our real feelings it can seem like we are so far outside ourselves that it’s an impossible journey back to our truth.  The thing that I love about the truth is that is has a resonance not only in you but in the world as well.   Even a hard truth that rings true can be easily and seamlessly received by others.  When you are true to yourself  you are being authentic and you give whose around you the opportunity to really know you, the real you.   You no longer have to hold up the perfect lovable projected image of yourself that is exhausting.  You also give others permission to just be themselves.  Other people feel where you’re coming from and are just more comfortable and relaxed around you knowing that you will tell it like it is.   

So go ahead and give yourself the opportunity to just be yourself try saying “no” when you feel “no” and see how it goes.  I’m not promising that some people won’t resist this change in you but I guarantee you will breathe a sigh of relief, have renewed energy and invigorate your true “yes.”  The perfect gift to yourself this holiday is to just feel more comfortable in your own skin.    

Don’t Worry be Happy…or not…

/ oneheart / 4 Comments

It sounds so simple but it can create a lot pressure to think that you should always be happy!  In fact life is full of suffering, challenges and conflict that we have to learn how to deal with and not think something is wrong when these feelings come along.  

One of my teachers Amoda Maa says we have to accept the messiness of life.  I love this!!  Life is never going to line up with our view of how it should be and when we truly and deeply accept this truth it can be very freeing.  I’m not saying condone things that you feel are horribly wrong but resisting what is happening is also a pointless misuse of energy.  Resisting can cause stress and even more unhappiness.  Where did we ever get the idea that we should always be bright and cheerful?  This mistaken idea can actually contribute greatly to our suffering. 

Sometimes, however, accepting what feels unacceptable can feel like an insurmountable challenge.  There is one question to ask yourself.  Is there something in my power that I can do about this?  If there is then take the action that you feel is appropriate. If there isn’t then you have to accept that this is the world we live in and both the beautiful and ugly coexist side by side.  We have to choose consciously how we wish to be in this imperfect world.  Am I going to let it get the best of me or am I going to learn how to navigate and stay open to it all? Allowing all my feelings to flow freely through me to the best of my ability.  It doesn’t work anyway to try and shut them down or protect against them and only serves to block us physically and energetically.  

I’m not making light of serious physical or emotional abuse when the feelings are strong and destabilizing.  It’s still important not to deny them but working with someone to help you face these things can make all the difference. 

Life is meant to challenge us and force us to grow in ways we would never willingly choose.  When we are forced by circumstance to open to a new way, something outside our comfort zone, it could just be the doorway to liberation that we have stumbled on.  So try not to label your your feelings as either good or bad, acceptable or unacceptable, happy or sad.   Welcome them all. 

A Nudge from the Universe

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We are timeless spiritual beings having a human experience and when we are born we are one with this.   As we grow up in our families and in the world we forget the truth of who we are.  It’s meant to be this way even though sometimes it can feel like a cruel joke.  We all always have the potential to recognize our true essence.   If you look at infants and babies it is easy to see and feel their purity and oneness with the truth. Nothing is yet obstructing it and it’s why everyone loves babies so much!

I know the word spiritual can even cause confusion.  Like spiritual people are the only ones who have access to this profound and powerful truth.  This is simply not true.  Simply put spiritual seekers often live consciously to embrace and know who they are but everyone is on the same road so to speak whether they know it or not.  It’s kind of funny like that. One thing is for sure, being conscious and open does amplify the power of your essence and your path forward.

In case you hadn’t noticed I use essence and truth interchangeably but there are many ways to refer to what I’m speaking about ~ divine essence, truth of who you are, your center, true self, source, God-self, life force and so on.  Words are inadequate when it comes to describing what I am sharing with you and words can only point you in the general direction. It’s similar to seeing a road sign with the name of a town on it. You can read the name but you can only know the town by going there and experiencing it. Life is full of pointers that our mind understands are sign posts indicating what direction to go in.  If you want ice cream don’t follow a sign that sends you to a liquor store.  Knowledge of something is helpful but when it’s discovered in an experiential way then it is transformational, life altering and unforgettable.  It’s why so many people can talk about something for a long time in therapy but suddenly the penny drops when they experience the changes in their life.  

So where am I going with this…it’s time to awaken!!  Maybe you’ve heard?  Why do I say this?  Because it’s part of human evolution.  Evolution continues not in terms of our outer appearance anymore but on the inner.  Our consciousness itself evolves and we have the potential to become more wise, compassionate and loving humans.  Not through trying harder to be a better person; these qualities arise naturally from being seated in the truth.  Evolution can’t be stopped we can only either grab ahold of it consciously or be knocked around until we wake up to the truth.  We’ve been getting  knocked pretty hard lately and a lot of people have begun looking inside, growing quickly and awakening as a result.  

If you feel intrigued by what I’m speaking of please feel free to reach out to me and I can point you in the right direction to the best of my ability.  These are definitely exciting times we are living in with tremendous opportunity to make this discovery for yourself. 

Are you being nudged by the universe?  You are now!!

Signs of the times

/ oneheart / 2 Comments

I’m driving and suddenly I notice lots of lawn signs popping up everywhere lining the streets in front of Mc Donald’s and by office buildings.  Empathy, compassion, love, healing , thank you.  Do we need to be reminded?  Have we forgotten or lost touch with our true nature because life has just been too chaotic?  Have worries, Amazon, smart phones, work and the political environment numbed us out?  Has it overshadowed the essential truth that all human beings want and need the same things?  We must need reminding.    

These are qualities that should flow freely in a person that isn’t stressed out, fearful or feeling compromised in some way.  We are so caught up that we are not able to focus on what connects us all.  

It seems that compassion and a loving presence don’t just emanate from us effortlessly especially right now.  We can, however, consciously decide  the kind of presence we wish to be in the world and choose it over and over again. It will become hardwired into our very psyche and nervous system as we  unplug from what we have grown accustomed to.  Remembering the true qualities that we all share can awaken their power as we consciously lean into them over and over again.  It is the brave heart, the warrior heart that will choose this path.   

Remembering that there is power in right action and fall in love with this state without expectations and conditions because life doesn’t work that way.  The universe works in mysterious ways that we will never fully comprehend.  It’s  a letting go, a surrender, a falling into the abyss and trusting a power greater than ourselves brought all this into existence.  Letting go of the need to arm ourselves against life and instead trust life.   The source of life has your back and will be there with the power of the universe behind it.  It’s time to be the change we wish to see in the world.  It’s time to remember who we really are.