We all love it here - Tompkin's Sq. Park on a Sunday summer afternoon
“Your life is right now! It’s not later! It’s not in that time of retirement. It’s not when the lover gets here… Your life is right now. It will always be right now. You might as well decide to start enjoying your life right now because it’s not ever going to get better than right now – until it gets better right now!” – Abraham
We all suffer from the “when my ship comes in syndrome.” We live in a goal oriented, insurance run world that keeps selling us on futures, convincing us that we’ll be happy once we buy or achieve this, that or the other thing. Our happiness is often short-lives as we proceed to wanting somethings else, as well we should. Desire is what makes the universe expand – it’s what we were put here to do.
How can we enjoy our “now” when things are not ideal ( the bank account is low, we don’t like our jobs and aren’t happy with our relationships) ? How does enjoying ‘Now” set us up for the fulfillment of our desires? A paradox?
The only reason we ever want anything is that we think it will make us feel good. And the best way to be a vibrational match for something that will make us feel good is to FEEL GOOD NOW.
Appreciation and gratitude are fail proof tools for feeling good and flexing our manifestation muscle. They are to manifesting what curls are to bi-ceps.
Last summer I went on a pilgrimage walk in France. I walked for 11 days and stayed in a different hostel each night – all as unique as the villages, hosts and fellow pilgrims I met at each spot. My friend and I developed and cultivated a mantra that we said upon arriving at each new place: “WE LOVE IT HERE!” And we did. We looked around and found things to love – always. I have continued the tradition and this summer when I spent 10 days in NYC (my home town) and 10 days on a little island in northwestern Maine – I said I LOVE IT HERE, everywhere. And I did.
When “I love it here” where ever I am, I know that wonderful places will be the geography of my life. It’s another version of “I am on good terms with my now” (Eckhart Tolle). It’s the best way I know to ensure that I will continue to invite and allow the fulfillment of my desires. My enjoyment of here and now sets the stage for life to continue to flow abundantly, full of all I hold dear. BE HERE AND NOW!
When Steve Chandler quoted Ambrose Redmoon, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” I started thinking about those “something elses”; those things for which we’ll cross the swaying bridge, stand up in front of a crowd of people and do something we had always been afraid to do.
We don’t often take the time to consider what really matters. We assume we know. We are so programmed to be do and have what the world tells us we should we sometimes forget what REALLY matters.
What inspires us to do something even when we’re afraid.? Is it love, integrity, pride, family, creativity, adventure, service, passion?
I’ve been looking around at my life and asking what kind of a person lives here. Who do I associate with? What do I read? How do I spend my time? I learn a lot about what matters most to me on the inside by what is showing up on my outside.
People who are very ill or have survived a trauma speak of impermanence and the precious nature of everything. There is a newfound depth of gratitude when we realize that nothing’s guaranteed. It’s all a gift.
It enhances our happiness to know what matters most. We learn what we’ll take great risks for and why. We get a chance to have been afraid and done something anyway, to feel vitally alive and 10 feet tall! To let go of things that don’t really matter and lighten our loads.
I believe that life is meant to be enjoyed. When I honor and nourish what matters most, tune into my inner guidance system, focus on what I want, on being of service and being grateful NOW – I have an amazing time.
To keep all those systems humming requires practice(s) and the courage in the quote. We’ll go to bat for what matters most, climb mountains, keep things humming, do something scary anyway. When we move from fear into action we’re good to go.
I gave myself homework and am passing it on – I’m making a list of the top 10 things that matter most in my life. Then I am looking to see if I am spending most of my energy on those things or not? I’l keep you posted. I’d also love to hear what matters most to you.
I am inspired by this quote from The Art of Thought, by Gene Dennis.
” You would not plant a valuable seed in your garden and then a day or week after go out and dig it up to see if it were sprouting. Don’t plant the seed of your desire in your subconscious mind and then go out the next morning with doubts and fears. Nourish it by living it in thought, the thing you desire, by realizing it, visualizing it, seeing it as an accomplished fact.”
I love the analogy between planting peas and planting the seeds of our desire. Both require patience, care as love and non-attachment. Days go by and one day we go out and the vines are climbing up the trellis or the tiny stems are poking out from the earth.
It’s harder to leave the seeds of our desire to their own devices. We worry, doubt, question and metaphorically pull our little seedlings out of where they are growing. In effect, we cancel our order to the universe by focusing on not having, not getting – on scarcity and lack.
The Law of Attraction is simple. What we focus on expands. When our focus is really on not having the money, love, health…. that we say we want – we get more of “not having”. Switching our focus to everything coming up in its own perfect time and thriving under our care – creates a sense of eager anticipation that is great for the healthy growth of desire and seeds of all kind.
Every seed knows exactly what’s it supposed to turn into. Same with our seeds of desire. If we nourish them with our attention and a lively imagination and throw them into the universe. Some will grow and some won’t. We walk out of our houses and are constantly amazed at the spectacular surpises our lives keep dishing up for us.
The more we focus on the good stuff and keep the faith about our seeds – the more we can get on with our business smiling.
Plant a seed of desire today. Care for it with the tonic of eager anticipation and positive focus.
The news of Michael Jackson and Farah Fawcett’s passing yesterday only added to the list of friends and acquaintances far and wide who have left this earthly plane over the past 6 months. Most of them have exited earlier than planned, many unexpectedly. All left sadness, shock and fear in their wake.
Michael was 50, Farah was 62. I remember when those numbers seemed ancient. Not so anymore. It sure makes me think about my own mortality and about my life right here and now. I read a tweet (yes, I’m an avid tweeter) that said something along the lines of, “If our lives will flash before us when we leave this earth – is yours worth watching?”
So… I mentally reviewed my life. It needs a lot of editing but, for the most part I feel pretty good about what I saw. I figure that what leaves room for more color, adventure, love and good fortune is my direction from here on in, starting now.
I know that I am the director of the movie of MY LIFE and also that I am the star, casting director, camera, crew and sound person(s). I may want to enlist the services of some stellar talent to amp it up a notch but it’s my script. I already have an ending in mind that blows my socks off, warms my heart and sticks in my mind for days, leaving me feeling transcendent and luminous. It’s Academy Award or Palme D’Or material and a star on the Hollywood walk of Fame would be nice.
No one else can play me like I can and the same is true of all of us. It’s no mistake that we are the stars of our own movies. If we find ourselves cast in roles that leave us feeling like we are extras hiding in the shadows, or playing the part of a victim or a cold-hearted character, who’s casting this film anyway? We are – you, me. So what’s with that? Why would you cast yourself in the role of the wronged woman or the guy who doesn’t get the promotion or the anti-hero who watches everyone else have fun while they gaze through a fogged up window.
We can all recast ourselves, shed the layers of out-dated costumes and cliched lines we’ve all heard before, and emerge as OURSELVES in capital letters in neon – our best, truest, most authentic selves. It is absolutely possible to change ourselves from the inside out and, as Wayne Dyer says in his new book Excuses Begone!,
“Every self-limiting thought that you employ to explain why you’re not living life to the absolute fullest – so you’re feeling purposful, content, and fully alive – is something you can challenge and reverse, regardless of how long you’ve held that belief and no matter how rooted in tradition, science, or life experience it may be.”
Once we accept total responsibility for our lives and give thanks to everything that has and is happening for what it has taught us, and is, at this very moment, revealing – and once we decide to plug into source energy, God, the higher power from which we were created and which is accessible to us at all times, our movies will really start to grab us. The parts we play, the people who we cast to be in it with us, the scenery, music, lights, action will be unbeatable and totally US – Me -You. I’m smiling just thinking of it. We’ll all be parading and celebrating and honoring the creative source that brings everything to life. We’ll not only be surviving, but thriving.
I love the twists and turns, the suspense, the mystery, the slow sensual scenes and well… I’m not giving it away. I’m living it and I hope that you will try on this idea of Your Life, Your Movie.
Kids chant “sticks and stones will hurt my bones, but words will never hurt me?” Sticks and stones will definitely hurt bones but words cause longer lasting damage. No bruises to go through color changes or scratches to scab over but words cut deep and hit the heart. We may cover them over with thick skin and an “I don’t care attitude,” but a look or criticism can deflate our best moods and find us slinking off into corners.
We eat. We sleep and we communicate. We talk (some more than others) all day long. Even our dreams are full of language and we are constantly chattering to ourselves.
The Buddhists say that “to be human is to have a hero’s heart and a monkey mind.” Monkey mind is that inner dialogue that is full of criticism, judgment, self-doubt and “what-ifs.” It talks to us in a personal, familiar way and can seem logical, irrefutable and seductive. It says things like, “who do you think you are?”, “you could never do that,” “you’ll never amount to anything,” “you want to do what!?” It may have the voice of our mothers, fathers, teachers, society – “sit down and be quiet.”
When I learned about monkey mind I really started paying attention and tuned into what I was telling myself on a minute by minute basis. I was horrified! Most of what I had to say was negative, critical and, what’s more – it wasn’t true! I was appalled that, for so many years, I had been believing my chatter and taking it to heart – letting it define who I was, how the world was and what was possible. I realized that I was living in a self-imposed prison.
When I work with clients and groups I share the idea of monkey mind right off the bat. I encourage them to be observers of their thoughts. I ask them to question those thoughts and ask if they are really true. Mostly they’re not. It’s a liberating experience. Once you choose to ignore the chatter, it will quiet down clearing the way for you to proceed toward your dreams and goals. Who cares what monkey mind thinks? It never has your best interests at heart anyway.
In addition to noticing what words are going through your head, it’s equally amazing to pay attention to the words that come out of your mouth. Parents may think that saying “you’re my little pudge ball” or “the kid with the head screwed on crooked” are terms of endearment. Listen again – they’re not. Even if you say you don’t really mean it – think back to the sticks and stones statement. Words cut deep. WORDS MATTER. Right speech is one of Don Miguel Ruiz’s Four Agreements. Start paying attention to how you speak to your children, spouses, friends and neighbors.
If all your words really did matter (and they do) what would you no longer say? What words cut down, dimish, hurt? What words lift up, empower, warm the heart and heal?
Works are powerful. During the difficult learning curve of a new job, a friend noticed that she kept telling herself, “I’m losing my mind. I’m losing my mind….” She caught herself and changed her words to help rather than hinder.
In the beginning was the word. If we remember this we will all rise to the challenge of paying attention to the conversations in our heads and to the words that come out of our mouths. We get to be censors who ban all negative words, all put downs, all mean-spirited comments and self-deprecating statements. If we can’t replace them with something uplifting, positive, loving or at least neutral, remember that silence is golden.