“Setting others free means setting yourself free.” Catherine Ponder
Have you ever tried to take away a ball from a dog? The ball firmly clenched, the dog shakes her head from side to side. She wants to play, but won’t let go. We do the same when we hold onto unhealthy relationships, unrewarding jobs, outdated ideas, and bad habits. We want something new in life, but the fear of letting go is bigger than the pain of the situation.
We don’t have to give up the intention for what we want, but we do have to be willing to give up how we go about getting it. When we surrender attachment, there is an extraordinary sense of freedom, an abundance of possibilities, and awareness of infinite love. How do we surrender? We practice taking our attention off the need to possess something or change someone. Instead, identify those values you want to express in life. Choose to focus on what brings you joy, on what lights you up. Find a place to be of service. Take time to go within and ask what is yours to do.
Letting go requires a level of acceptance, adaptability, and trust in the flow of life. It involves acknowledging that holding on to something that no longer serves us can be detrimental to our well-being. When we let go of control, we allow the dynamic doors of the universe to open to infinite potential and possibility.
Richard Rohr states, “All great spirituality is about letting go. It trains us in both detachment and attachment: detachment from the passing so we can attach to the substantial.” When we can let go of our need for control and trust that things will work out as they should, we open ourselves to the possibilities available to us.
Affirm: I am willing to release what no longer serves me.
“Self-care is never a selfish act; it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others.” – Parker Palmer
As she walked out the door, my friend Gloria said, “What would we do without our friends?” Three of us enjoyed a great lunch together and precious time to catch up. All three of us were going through a similar challenges and were surprised to learn that the others were experiencing the same.
There is a tendency to keep things to ourselves. We can minimize what we are experiencing and don’t want to bother anyone with our problems. Sometimes there are feelings of shame or guilt and it feels too vulnerable to share them out loud. The fear of rejection alone can keep us from connecting with others.
No doubt about it, reaching out takes courage. But the benefits far outweigh the fear. Friends can offer words of comfort, can listen without judgement and be physically present when we are going through something tough. Friends can help us build confidence when we are doubting ourselves. Friends help us be our best selves.
Reaching out to others is self-care. You are worth the time and energy. You are loved and appreciated more than you know. Summon your faith and courage and connect with a friend this week. Send a text and say hi. Or arrange for coffee time or a lunch. Be willing to receive. You will be so glad you did.
Joy is prayer; joy is strength, joy is love; Joy is a net of love, by which you can catch souls. “. –Mother Theresa
We can get so caught up in the busy holiday season and feel stressed, anxious, worried and overwhelmed. We can easily lose sight of the magic of the season.
Wouldn’t it be great to live the holiday through the eyes and awareness of a child? Here are some helpful tips.
1. Be Here Now. There is no tomorrow or later. There is only NOW. Try it for yourself. Spend the next 30 minutes being in the moment. It’s not as easy as it looks.
2. The Universe is abundant. There is no lack in a child’s world. They see the unlimited view. They will ask for what they want. If they get a ‘no’ answer, they’ll ask again. And again. And again.
3. Imagination is everything. We adults live inside the box. We see what we expect to see. Using the imagination expands our reality into unlimited possibilities.
4. Rules are meant to be changed. If you don’t like the outcome of your game, then change the rules. Change your mind. Change your thinking. Just change.
5. Love heals everything. A hug, a kiss or a smile can transform tears into laughter, discord into peace, separation into harmony.
We discover the real joy of Christmas when we take time to slow down, be in the moment, give thanks for our blessings, and share a hug or a smile. Perhaps if we take a moment to see Christmas from the eyes of a child, we can be in awe of the miracle of the season.
“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, Stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so?” “It came without ribbons. It came without tags.” “It came without packages, boxes or bags!” And he puzzled three hours, til his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.” “Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more!” — Dr Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas
May the Light of the Season guide your journey with Grace, fill your heart with Love and your life with Infinite Joy.
“Everything you judge you fear. Think about it. Ask yourself what you judge, and then ask yourself why you fear, and you will know this in your heart once and for all.” –Paul Selig, Book of Love and Creation
It is very popular to play the blame game in today’s society. We often look a scapegoat, someone to blame for the problems of the world. We blame the government, stock market, banks, wealthy people, poor people, big business, other countries and our parents for the pain and suffering of today’s world. We point fingers and worry about what others are doing or not doing. When we do that, we are simply spreading fear.
It’s so easy to judge what others are doing and give advice to how they should change their behavior. Actually it is a way to avoid looking at our own limiting beliefs and fear-based thoughts. An important step on our spiritual journey is to take responsibility and pay attention to what we are doing, thinking and saying.
Responsibility is not about blaming ourselves. Responsibility is the ability to respond. It is the freedom to take action. It is the power to change. When we take responsibility, we face our fears and take steps to move past them.
Practice looking at what you want instead of what you don’t want. Ask each day “What is mine to do to make the world a better place?” Release judgment and anger and send love instead. When we send love we raise the vibration for everyone.
Be gentle. Practice compassion. Having compassion for ourselves and others opens us to love and to be loved. Compassion awakens love in us. Love is the healing power beyond judgment and blame. There is always a choice.
Have you ever struggled to express your feelings, especially around loved ones? Do you find yourself carefully choosing your words, worried about hurting someone’s feelings? You’re not alone! The holiday season can sometimes amplify our challenges in communication, making us feel reactive and defensive.
Join us for an empowering workshop where we will tap into the art of heartfelt communication. Together, we will cultivate the practice of speaking from the heart, transforming our interactions with authenticity and compassion.
The news media can be our over-active nervous system–if we let it. Turn away from the outside world and speak words of truth, of what you claim for yourself and your country. Speak these prayers from Ernest Holmes aloud. Keep your vibration high.
My Prayer for My Country
by Ernest Holmes
Believing in the Divine destiny of the United States of America and in the preservation of liberty, security, and self-expression for all, I offer this, my prayer for my country:
I know that Divine Intelligence governs the destiny of the United States of America, directing the thought and the activity of all who guide its affairs. I know that success, prosperity, and happiness are the gifts of Freedom and are the Divine heritage of everyone in this country. I know that success, prosperity, and happiness are now operating in the affairs of every individual in this country. I know that Divine guidance enlightens the collective mind of the people of this country, causing it to know that economic security may come to all without the loss of either personal freedom or individual self-expression. I know that no one can believe or be led to believe that freedom must be surrendered in order to insure economic security for all. The All-Knowing Mind contains the answer to every problem which confronts this country. I know that every leader in this country is now directed by this All-Knowing Mind and has the knowledge of a complete solution to every problem. Each is compelled to act upon this knowledge to the end that abundance, security, and peace shall come to all. And I know that this spiritual democracy shall endure, guaranteeing to everyone in this country personal liberty, happiness, and self-expression. Amen.
Prayer for Peace of Mind
by Ernest Holmes
Be still and know that I am God. I am the Christ, the Light of the Living God within me. I am the Principle of Peace within me. I am the manifestation of Love within me. My mind is poised in Peace and Beauty. All sense of fear and doubt is gone. I rest in calm trust and rely on the Law of Spirit to bring good into my experience of Life. I contend with none, argue with none, and am filled with wonderful Peace and Light. There is no uncertainty about my future and no fear as a result of my past. I live in an eternal Now which is filled with good alone. Goodness and Beauty follow me. Happiness and Wholeness fill my entire being with the realization of Love and Perfection. I am the Christ, Light of the Living God within me. This inner mind of mine is now Divine and complete. It has no worries and no fears. It is whole, complete and satisfied. I look back over all previous experience and find that it was all good, very good. I look toward the future and find that it is good, very good. I look at the present and find that it is also good, and very good. God is in all, over all and through all. I am the Christ, Light of the Living God within me. I am the Spirit of Confidence. I am poised in Love and Reason. I am the perfect Law of Truth and the complete Presence of Beauty.
I am the Christ, Light of the Living God within me. Amen.
