Posts from — September 2009

“Who says I can’t be free?
From all of the things I used to be,
Rewrite my history,
Who says I can’t be free?”

- John Mayer, “Who Says”

There’s no need to think we can’t change everything in our lives in a heartbeat. Think back to when you were a kid with grand plans to become a doctor or firefighter or even the president. The possibilities seemed endless and we didn’t spend our time being pragmatic about our dreams. Recapture that innocence. The world is what we make of it, in more ways than most people understand.

All that matters is this moment; just because you have a history of getting angry quickly or gossiping doesn’t mean you always will. Start the positive change now. Take life moment by moment, choose your own actions, and be the person you’ve always wanted to be. Thinking you can’t change who you are means that you are living in the past and allowing it to dictate your future. Since neither past nor future exist, what you are really doing is keeping yourself out of the present moment, which is all there really is. Do what you want to do and be who you want to be. Make today the day you rewrite your history and truly become free.

We are so attached to our thoughts. We think we are our thoughts, but we’re not. We think our thoughts are real, but if you watch them, you will see how contradictory they are.
Our thoughts change constantly. [...] there is no stability in our thoughts, freedom comes when you learn to just watch them pass.

-Isha, Why Walk When You Can Fly?

I have been reading Why Walk When You Can Fly? and the above passage really stuck out to me. Why? It reminded me of this clip of Peaceful Warrior:
video management, video solution, video streaming
I forgot about this until I was walking with two friends after grabbing lunch. One of them mentioned that he sometimes felt bad for things that he thought! I was rather excited to quote the movie for them (I love movie quotes) but this synchronicity made me think I should share with you.

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Change and impermanence are everywhere present, both in nature and throughout our material world of structure and technology. But nowhere is the ebb and flow of change more intimately felt than in our relationships with friends, family and co-workers, where we find even the most enduring connections can transform in sudden and unexpected ways. Our closest bonds are our most important anchors in life and often provide the lens through which we see not only ourselves, but, to a large extent, the world around us. The mirror held before us through these relationships is most often the truest and clearest and, if we dare look deeply enough, provides an instrument of amazing growth and transformation. When close ties are broken, whether through the transition of death or a simple parting of paths, this same reflection illuminates the way to understanding and acceptance, even while coping with the sting of impermanence.

After the loss of the presence of a dear friend several months ago, I have gazed into this reflected pool on a daily basis and have been given profound insights into the many facets of myself, both light and dark. While challenging, the process unerringly cleared my vision, allowing me to see the underlying elements of our friendship and the roles we played with, and for, each other. While the change is not one I would have consciously chosen, I now embrace a fuller, richer view and have come to a peaceful resolution within myself.

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The days of this past week were remarkably glorious. The evenings were particularly alive with color, texture and sound and provided the perfect atmosphere for our end of the day walks. Unusually cool breezes caressed bare summer skin; scarlet suns set against prismatic skies; a rising full moon, the color of ripe mangos, hung huge above the horizon; silent flurries of bats winged their way between treetops at twilight; and the cacophonous sound of cicadas fading into the chorus of crickets as darkness enveloped each day. Peace and wholeness hung in the air on those nights and all seemed right with the world… a feeling reminiscent of the wonder I felt while gazing at star-filled skies as a child.

As I reflect on these experiences, I marvel at how easily we become distracted by the busy-ness of our daily lives and the extent to which we separate ourselves from the magnificent beauty and magic that fills the world in which we live. As we narrow our field of awareness to the tedium and drama of passing events, the mind, ever so efficiently, justifies the importance of such focus. We tend to take for granted the very things that reflect the aliveness of spirit and complacently settle for the chase after illusive greener pastures. Patiently, the all-knowing heart yearns for something more. [Read more →]

I started reading The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
today, and, much to my surprise, the note from the publisher caught my eyes (like that rhyme?).  It is such a concise message that I found beautifully written.  So of course, I had to share.  Bolding is my addition.

Inspiration is a wonderful gift to give ourselves each day.  To nurture our spirit, to be reminded of the power of life flowing through us, to be inspired to manage our power with greater awareness – this is the purpose of “One Hour of Wisdom.”  Most of us spend more time taking care of our material possessions then we spend taking care of our spirit. In a world where so many things require our attention, the larger purpose of our lives can be forgotten.  This book captures the essense of the author’s wisdom, and shares a wealth of information, in less time than it takes to prepare ourselves a meal. [Read more →]

It turns out I am somewhat of a control freak.  I like things to be the way I want them to be, and if they deviate from my preconceived notions/desires, I get upset.  Recently, I started working on this little flaw, (and I have made huge progress) but, much to my surprise, I have found that control is like an onion, and I’ve only peeled the top layer.  Moving into a new apartment and living with a new roommate has quickly pointed this out to me.  Basically, I’m tired of being bothered by simple little things, especially because, as it turns out, we really have no control.  We all like to think we do, but we don’t.

Now, every time something “annoying” presents itself, I make sure to take note of it and give thanks to the universe.  I am thankful because it is just another opportunity for me to learn that I can’t control everything.  I already feel much more peaceful and accepting simply from doing this.  I have come to realize that we only ever have control over ourselves.  I can control what I do, say, think, feel, etc, but I can’t determine that for anybody else.  The great part is that the opposite of control, allowance, is one of the best ways to live.

Not only does allowance keep us from sweating the small stuff, it makes way for the universe to do its thing.  I can tell you from experience that sometimes just stepping out of the way is all I have to do to ‘get what I want.’  We are meant to work towards our goals, but at the same time acknowledge that, in the end, the outcome is out of our hands.  Successful business entrepreneurs are the people who dive in head first with the knowledge they could fail.  They can’t control the market or their customers, but they do all they can to succeed.  Be an entrepreneur of life; set your intentions, chase your dreams, live life the way you’ve always wanted, just know that nothing turns out exactly as planned.