"Do you hear what I hear?"

The question is, do we want to listen to the thoughts in our head (the neurotic roommate) or do we want to listen to God?

I had heard that the winter solstice (which was last Friday night) can be a time of personal transformation.  I spent some time in meditation that night and opening to a higher sense of Self.  At the same time I was experiencing some sadness related to a situation in my life.  When I woke the next morning I initially thought about the situation which was bothering me.  I decided not to listen to these thoughts and instead to listen to God about this situation.  The bothersome thoughts and feelings about the situation completely disappeared.

Since then I have not been able to completely stop listening to my psyche although the thoughts and feelings about that particular situation have not returned.

It is possible to transcend the human drama by choosing to align our thoughts with the God within.  Whenever I am taken off center (out of peace) by a thought or feeling I remind myself to let it go and return my attention to listening to God.

On this Eve of the birth of more Light, Truth, and Joy in our lives I solidify my intention to listen to God and to listen for God instead of listening to the voice in my head.

Do you hear what I hear?

Merry Christmas!

Accepting more Light!

Regardless of your spiritual tradition, this is the time of year for accepting more light into our lives.

More than ever before I am seeing the limiting thoughts that block the light and opening to a Truer sense of who I really am.

For example, if a judgment arises I choose to let it go and remind myself that I choose Joy instead of judgment (the path of Unconditional Happiness). Or I may look more deeply at the situation to see what feeling is fueling the judgment (perhaps I am feeling hurt by someone else or fearful that I am not enough and this is causing me to judge) (the path of Nonresistance).

Like a snake shedding it's skin, I choose to let all of this go and embrace the Divine Essence that is the core of Who I am.

During this Holiday season I choose to be gentle with myself as well as others.

I step into a greater expression of Self which is Whole, Wise, Loving, Joyful and Confident (in Latin this means 'with faith').

Peace and Light to you!

"Always work with the mind, not the the world."

One of my favorite quotes from Michael Singer goes something like "Always work with the mind, not the the world."

It is the mind (i.e., conditioned thoughts from our past experiences) that causes the lack of harmony in our lives.  Although life can seem challenging at times, most of these problems are caused by the meaning that we give to situations rather than the actual situations themselves.  Noticing the chatter in the mind and choosing to let it go allows us to approach each moment with a fresh perspective and can greatly change our experience.

I have been working on showing up in relationships without an agenda, judgment, expectations...  When I open to the moment without listening to the mind something lovely often blossoms.  Why wouldn't this be so? We are already connected.  When we let go of the egoic chatter we are allowing the unity and love that we are to show up.

When  a challenging situation arises I ask myself, "What am I holding onto that is blocking me from experiencing my good?"

It is always an inside job.

I choose to set the world free.

I work on my mind.

Let there be Light!

I have been noticing more and more beliefs, feelings, and perceptions that are blocking me from embodying love, peace, and joy.  Letting go of this is like cleaning out a closet that is crammed full of unwanted stuff.  I have been cleaning out this closet for years but it is a very, very deep closet that never seems to run out of things to throw away.

Michael Singer says that "Thoughts stay because we invite them to stay."  I can see that with resentments, blame, judgments...oftentimes we just want to hold onto these ideas.

The same seems to be true of feelings.  Feelings are lodged in the body.  We hold onto feelings by tightening up our bodies.  I notice how I tighten up in the face of fear, and this keeps it locked within my body and my psyche.

As simple as it sounds, taking long slow deep breaths and relaxing all of the tight places in my body seems to be the best way to let go of fear.

(And an added benefit to this kind of belly breathing is that it helps the immune system.  When we are under stress our breath is more shallow.  When we breathe deeply we stimulate our immune system.  This may be part of the reason why people are more likely to get sick when they are under stress.)

So, breathe...and let go.  Let the fears and limiting thoughts and perceptions go.  Nature abhors a vacuum. When you let go of what you no longer need, the emptiness within will be filled with light.

As you inhale allow the air to nourish every part of your body. As you exhale allow the limiting thoughts and feelings to float away.  Relax your body.  Relax into this moment.  Be at peace for all is well in your life.  The God that created you will sustain you, guide you, and will fill you with love and light.  All you need to do is let go.