New Year, Old You?

Its a new year today or so we are told. The old calendar is no use. We have to get a brand new one, it feels like a chance for a fresh start.
And it can be an opportunity to reassess the state of our lives, relationships, careers and implement changes, set new goals and adjust our sails, if we are willing to change our thinking, our actions and consciously create something new.

“You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness that created it. You must learn to see the world anew.” Albert Einstein

"Learning to see the world anew," - that means the world does not change but we who looks on it change our perceptions, our consciousness. Only you know what shifts you need to make in your own thinking.

For me as I assess my own circumstances I have decided I need to simply be more conscious of how I use my time and energy, my greatest resources. I have a tendency to set goals and ignore opportunities to follow through on implementing the steps toward that goal. Negative thinking and fear are two major impediments to pursuing my goals. So seeing the world anew for me means really evaluating the truth of the doubts and fears I become conscious of as I allow myself in the moment to be mesmerized by the worlds distractions.  If I want to create a new experience in 2013, my way of seeing the world anew is being in integrity with myself, becoming more conscious of how I spend my time and energy and creating a new consciousness with which to see my world.
How will you see the world anew and create a Happy New Year?
For inspirational stories from others who look to a higher power for support in change see www.SpiritIsTalkingToYou.com

Your Story

We have many stories don't we; the story of our lives and how we come to be where we are, stories of happy times and not so happy times. Our stories solidify the conclusions we have come to about who we are and where we are in our lives - they are the words that describe who we are. Our stories are important to our identity, who would we be without them?
            Now that is a good question. Who would you be without your stories? Is it a bit scary to imagine removing those stories? Who would you be if you didn’t have them?
            Maybe without those stories we would be the essence of the life that we were when we were born. Imagine that. Then we had no story yet. Who were we then?
            We are still that underneath our stories. In some cases our stories have dampened that vibrant, open eyed innocence and wonder. We can reclaim it. We can loosen our attachment to our stories especially if they limit us in some way.
            Lately I decided to compile stories into a book, combining my stories with other people's stories of how Spirit talks to them in their lives. I struggled with the idea of myself as an author or anthologist. Who am I to do this work having been an artist all my life? Now that's a limiting idea born out of the story I tell myself. I may be new to writing but I have endless enthusiasm for this project. That enthusiasm is who I am - the essence I was born with. I have not let my story restrict the TRUTH of who I am as a creative being. Are your stories limiting you?

Check out my website www.SpiritIsTalkingToYou.com and see if there is an author in you because I believe we all have a story worth changing but we also have a story worth telling.

NAMASTE

Life is an Experiment

"When you alter your relationship with yourself, your external world will alter accordingly."
-Katherine Woodward Thomas

I used to visualize this idea as two people carrying a plank (connected in a relationship dynamic.) One day, one person decides not to carry their side (to act or react differently.) Now the second person has to adjust their behavior accordingly. When we no longer act as we used to, naturally people have to act differently around us. If I decide to get healthier, to grow, to change the way I allow others to treat me, naturally it upsets the equilibrium. People around me don't necessarily like it even if they support me. Change can be difficult.

Then should I not change?
You know the answer to that! I cannot keep myself the same for the sake of other people. I then sacrifice my integrity and trust in myself, plus I may be paying a higher cost than I know for playing safe. I may be losing the chance of greater love or expanded experience of life. Plus I am not giving others the chance to grow with me, to change and explore the limitations they have set for themselves. So I endure some discomfort for a time and some friends may fall away but some others may be inspired. I have to allow the external things to do what they will do.
My concern is internal. I must follow my heart, the quiet voice beckoning me on into uncharted territories. Its a natural progression and if I want a different experience than I have had in the past I must forge on in expectation of some discomfort as I break the mold of past conditioning. I may also expect great reward and vistas never before witnessed or experienced by me in my life. The things we leave undone cause us more regret than the things we do, no matter the outcome.
Emerson said "All life is an experiment." Who knows how many days we have left, let us be brave and move beyond our comfort zone. What have you left undone?

So you think you can't change?

Bruce Lipton says a negative thought can kill you, and positive healthy thoughts can heal.
The mind influences biology, the subconscious mind is equivalent to a tape player, the conscious mind is creative.
The subconscious has programs in it that have strongly influences our biology, it carries out all the functions of our body such as heartbeat and all those functions we don't have to think about. 95% of our day is run by the subconscious and we don't even see that those programs are not supporting our conscious desires. We tend to take a victim mentality when things don't work, blaming the outside world.
The subconscious being a tape player you cant negotiate with it. You can talk till you are blue in the face but that tape player keeps playing back the same messages. Not till we hit the record button can we change that recording. Tapping or as its often referred to as EFT, emotional freedom technique is one way to record new data.

I just love what he says about healing yourself and believing that a doctor is a necessary step. We are more powerful than we know and are capable of incredible change if we can change our beliefs. Its how the placebo effect works and we can multiply this, if we work with scientific principles in Quantum Physics. Genes do not have to control your experience.

In his words, "Quantum physics and epigenetics provide amazing insight into the mystery of the mind-body-spirit connection. While Newtonian physics and genetic theory dismiss the power of our minds, the new science recognizes that consciousness endows us with powerful creative abilities to shape our lives and the world in which we live. Our thoughts, attitudes and beliefs control behavior, regulate gene expression and provide for our life experiences." 

listen to Bruce H Lipton, PhD an internationally recognized leader in bridging science and spirit.
http://www.2011tappingworldsummit.com/VideoSeries/?page_id=60

Change is the Only Constant

"There are 6 billion belief systems in the world" - Andrew Newberg

Its so interesting to me the way we make sense of the world, each of us doing our best to be at peace with our version of how things are and work. Newberg also says there are huge gaps between the world out there and our inner worldview, so the brain stays busy revisiting its cognitive maps selecting some perceptions, ignoring others and filling in the blanks with conjecture. Busy brains!

No wonder in these times of media bombardment more and more people are turning to meditation. I just attended the Scripps Institute Nursing Conference  in San Diego and witnessed the latest ideas in healing. I was part of the Chakra Pavilion as an artist and Practitioner with Centers for Spiritual Living. I spent three days in a room full of energy healers and it was a delight to see and hear the nurses talk about the work they are incorporating into their medical practices.

Dr. Mimi Guarneri, heart surgeon and head of the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine and Healing Hearts Program believes in treating the whole patient - mind, body and soul. She works with cardiac patients using treatments such as biofeedback, acupuncture, guided imagery and hypnotherapy, healing touch treatments, kundalini yoga, cooking classes, stress reduction and meditation!

Beliefs are changing as part of the expanding consciousness of the universe. Are you open to it?
As we meditate, we take a step back from the routine thoughts that may have us stuck in a groove. Try it today and be willing to allow new in. Life can get better, experiences can be expanded, healing can come in unusual and unexpected ways. Just be willing today and see what transpires as you loosen your hold on old beliefs.

In deep water

“A great ship asks deep water”
George Herbert (English metaphysical Poet and Clergyman, 1593-1633)

Thomas Moore in his book Care of the Soul says that when a person ...or I will add, a country...is depressed, it feels as if there is nothing happening, everything has come to a halt, slowed down as if we are caught in the doldrums. But on a deeper level the person is shifting and re-evaluating their beliefs in a reshuffling of priorities.

When I read his words many years ago I felt them to be true. I believe that there are no mistakes and that everything is perfect as it is even though it looks so wrong and badly in need of fixing. These doldrums will pass as we shift in our thinking to catch the winds again, renewed and with a new awareness, wiser and knowing more acutely our responsibilities. We are stronger than we know.

Yes there are days I am taken in by my eyes and ears as I hear people talk from fear and negativity but I can choose to focus on something else. I can choose a bright future and even if I don't know how that can come about I know with the grace of God it will. I have witnessed it in my own life and what is true in a small scale is true in a large one too. If you have ever studied statistics, which I am presently, you will know the pattern of results doesn't change if you change the scale! What do you choose to imagine? If you join me in seeing a strong, globally conscious and concerned world where people listen to each other then together we can make it so. To quote Rumi - "Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." In that field of infinite possibilities why not join me in imagining something amazing and then live our lives from that vision. Sounds better than the alternative you must agree!

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.”
Seneca (Roman philosopher, mid-1st century AD)