Happy Holidays

The holiday season always brings with it some stress and lately I have begun to understand that situations that stress or frustrate us are simply asking us to find the real truth at the heart of life.
Let me explain what I mean. Ups and downs are part and parcel of life, big ones like loosing a job and small ones like screaming kids at the mall; they are pretty much unavoidable so what do we do when we can't change something?
Viktor Frankl says “When we can no longer change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” And the Buddha said the more we resist things as they are the more we suffer.

I dont think its possible to go through life without encountering something that triggers our upset or annoyance or challenges our sanity in one way or another. Its part of being human.

The real truth at the heart of life, as I mentioned earlier, is that we all deserve and are love and understanding. Something that makes us suffer is asking us to find our compassion, to remember that on a soul level we can grow through this experience and find love for ourselves and those around us. Circumstances change, things come to pass not to stay. The only lasting thing is our consciousness.
No matter if you are heading out to shop for Christmas or caring for someone with cancer, in whatever situation you find yourself pushed to your limits, remember it is in your power to practice compassion.

Soften your heart and speak gently to yourself. There is already enough stress in the world. No less than we would wish for ourselves, let us also wish the best for others. Try to find the best possible reason for a person's rudeness or seeming insensitive behavior. There is always room for more love in the world and you can be a channel for it this Holiday Season.

It is a wonderful opportunity to practice goodwill to all men.

And remember if you feel your goodwill toward men running low maybe its time to take yourself back to your sanctuary and make yourself a cup of hot chocolate as you congratulate yourself on your patience and your ability to change yourself instead of fighting the inevitable.  How powerful you are!

Being of Service

I remember an English TV show from the 80s called "Are you being Served?', it was set in a Department Store on the floor for ladies and menswear, supervised by a very proper Mr. Peacock. It was a great favourite of my Dad's as he worked in this environment when he was younger and I'm sure enjoyed himself and the interesting characters with whom he worked. They had two refrains - one to the customer "Are you being served?" and another to each other if they had a question "Are you free?", meaning not serving anyone at this moment.

So I'm asking you "Are you free?" Because I have a question for you, when it comes to work do you think about the service you give? Each of us right now has a place in the world where we are of service and its very easy to dismiss the value of the things that we do.

Whether I am volunteering, working for pay, doing dishes or speaking with a friend, I am in service to something or someone. If I am between jobs I can often feel isolated as if my life lacks purpose or value but this is a false idea. Its not what you do but how you do it that matters. If I tidy my office I contribute order to the world, when I wash dishes I can do it with love not grumbling, when I work I can remember my essential part in the process as well as the consciousness I bring to the workplace.

The energy we bring to each task big or small is the most important way we can serve the world. If I can bring my best self to all that I do today I contribute consciously, allowing Spirit to work through me, being uplifted in the process and adding that lightness to the very atmosphere I create. Once I am in the flow I can be assured that my good is coming back to me by laws of circulation.
I just have to remember to ask the question, "Are you being served?" by my consciousness, my love, my attitude, and adjust in consciousness accordingly.