Get Out of Your Head!

"I have ruts.  Ruts are common, unimaginative, and oh so boring.  I know because I have spent time in them.  Actually, I even took up emotional residence in a couple.  To make them more comfortable, I even decorated them.  I adorned the walls with excuses:"I can't", "I tried", and "I don't wanna".  Those are just a few of the plagues, I mean plaques that I hung in my ruts."  ~Patsy Clairmont

This is a quote that a dear friend shared with me this morning.  Ruts, ruts and more ruts...something that we can all relate to. 

The thing with ruts, is that they are just in our head.  I mean let's think about it for a minute.  If our thoughts create our reality, and thoughts can literally become things, then if we are thinking we are in a rut, or feeling like we are in a rut...guess what?  We are!  So, it is simple; to get out of our ruts, we have to get out of our heads.  We need to STOP thinking ruts and START thinking flight!

Now, you are probably sitting there, reading this, saying "If only it were that simple..."  or "I have been thinking positively and trying to manifest and nothing is happening yet..." - I am here to tell you that it is that simple and that there are a few other important tools that we can use to help us stay the course, stay focused and not get discouraged.

Janice Mae Parviainen teaches us in "A Courage to Love Yourself" that "Things just are.  They just seem different from what you expected them to be."  You see, we often hold positive intentions, and positive thoughts, but we attach expectations to them, sometimes even unknowingly.  These expectations often hold us in the pattern of how we used to be, in exactly the same ways that we are trying to change or release from our lives.  So, the question now becomes, how do we identify those expectations so that we can release them?

We have to be willing to actively participate in what I call, admission medicine.  We need to honestly look at what we are trying to manifest, discover if we have an ulterior motive, and visualize what we think it will look like if we already had it in our lives.  We need to meditate on it, pray on it, and hold the positive intention that whatever the Universe brings us is exactly what we need.  Once we have identified what is holding us back, leaving us feeling stuck in a rut, we can release it.  And how do we do that?  Some prefer journaling, some like to talk about it, some like to do a ceremonial release.  For me, I like to acknowledge it, and change how I am currently handling it.  Because, there are no right answers here.  If we have a pattern in our life that is tying us to the past, and we recognize that how we have been reacting by having that in our life isn't working, and we change it, the pattern changes.  And as long as we hold the intention of making a change that is in our best interest, our pattern will change.  Let me give you a personal example.

As you know, this last year has been chaotic.  All in good ways.  Abundant in community volunteer work, international mission work, local church activities, family life, and my career, life brought forward a spiritual rut that I fell into.  Aware of my situation as it was happening, I could see that my life was significantly out of balance.  I was giving 80% and getting 20%...and when you give that much and only allowing yourself to receive a little your spiritual tank can run dry in a hurry.  I have been running on empty for a months now.  And in a small town, once you volunteer to do something once, you are in for life - you know what I mean?  There have been expectations from others and self to continue being and doing at the same pace as I always have done.  And I know that I cannot do that, on this empty tank.  I mean, 36 hours after I had a baby, I was involved with interviewing a potential hire for the ministerial position that was available at church...who does that?  Most women aren't even out of the hospital...and here I am, trucking off to conduct a meeting mere hours after delivering my beautiful Faith-Anna.  Do you think I have been living in a way that strives to meet all those expectations? 

So, what have I done to pull myself out of my spiritual rut?  I released virtually all of the committments that I have had over the last 3 years.  I kept only the things that are filling my spiritual tank.  I know it sounds extreme, but I had reflected on it for 6 months, and it was time for action, so I decided to change my pattern, change my thought process and voila!  Lighter....emotionally lighter...spiritually lighter...(actively working on the physically lighter!)...and I feel good about myself and where I am in my life.  I have made room for the things that are important in the here and now.  Everyday, I can feel my passion and my spiritual spark getting brighter and can feel my tank getting filled.

I believe that we co-create our own reality.  Our thoughts become our reality.  If we think we are in a rut, we are.  Choose to NOT think you are in a rut.  Choose to do something...anything really.  Every time we change, our reality changes.  And when our intentions and dreams finally come to fruition they will be absolutely phenomenal...beyond what we could have expected!  I couldn't have expected to feel today what I feel...releasing my pattern (volunteer addict) and making changes has resulted in a very pleasant surprise!

Be patient and trusting friends.  Your rut is only in your head.  Stop "trying" and just do - something, anything!  Stop with the "cannots" because you can!  Have the courage to face your rut and get out of your head...you won't regret it! 

Your thoughts are already creating your reality!

Consider that.

Juli

The Mirrors in Our Life

We all have that person in our life that gets under our skin.  That the mere thought of them brings up feelings of anxiety, frustration, anger.  Yep.  That's the one - you know who I am talking about!  Do you ever wonder why that person is in your life?  Why, when you would so otherwise choose to NOT have that person in your life?  Oh my, the answer is so obvious that we often overlook it!

These are the people that act as our mirrors.  These are the ever-so-important teachers that come into our lives to give us the chance to explore ourselves deeper.  They are the "button-pushers" for a reason: we NEED them.  We need to have them hold up a mirror for us to show us that we are not better or worse than anyone else and that we are not alone.  "Every aspect (of human nature) that exists on the planet exists within you." ("Courage to Love Yourself", Janice Mae Parviainen).  If we didn't have these people who get under our skin come into our lives and hold up that mirror for us, we wouldn't have the opportunity to recognize that which we don't like, or wish we could change about ourselves.  You see, we wouldn't be able to recognize those traits in others, if we first didn't recognize them in ourselves.  For you to know someone is happy, you yourself must know how happy feels.  For you to know joy, sorrow, love, envy, anger; you yourself must know how joy, sorrow, love, envy and anger feel.  For you to know what forgiveness looks like, you yourself must feel forgiveness first.

These people, our mirrors, triggers, "button-pushers" are NOT there to make our lives difficult!  In fact, the opposite is true.  They are there as teachers and they are a great gift!  They are in our lives to encourage us to see the truth about ourselves.  They are there to inspire change in our lives.  They are there to push us along the path of evolution or ascension.  You will notice that these "button-pushers" often come into our lives, create chaos or drama at the least appropriate times...this is no accident, but an opportunity for you to change your pattern, change that behaviour in yourself that is festering in your world. 

Sometimes it is hard to accept that these traits or behaviours are a part of us, but the simple truth of it is that if they didn't keep popping up around us in annoying ways it wouldn't be OUR lesson to learn.  And in those moments we have a CHOICE - do we keep reliving the behaviours or do we take the opportunity to learn from them?  If we choose to learn from them and challenge ourselves to break our patterns or behaviours that we don't like or no longer need, we will find that we are able to reclaim our power and inner authority.  You see, we are NOT changing the emotion of anger, for example, but we are changing the way that we express that anger.  It is OKAY to feel it, but the way we express it is often what upsets us.  When we honor and acknowledge our emotions or behaviours (even the ones we don't like) we have a choice and a chance to change the outward expression of them.  Reclaiming our personal power lies within being aware of the choice and finding solitude in the inner authority that grants us the personal permission to make significant changes in our lives.

This week, don't look at the "button-pushers" in your life as a pain in the ass.  Look at them as gifts and teachers and give yourself the space and personal permission to honor your truest self by making the changes in your life that best suit you.

Dream it.  Live it.  BE IT.

Juli

Everything is as it should be...

Thankfully, a dear friend introduced me to "Messages from the Universe" where I receive a message everyday from http://www.tut.com/.  They are inspirational and profound messages that you can ponder for the day or use as a focus of daily meditation.  Part of the message that I received today, read:

"What if feelings of uncertainty and confusion were only reminders that you have options, that there's no hurry, and that everything is as it should be... Would you still feel disadvantaged?"

We live such a fast paced life, so busy - all day.  Even now as I type this message, I know that I have to hurry along to pick up my son from school!  There is always something pressing us to live faster.  Often when we are stuck in life or we feel like things aren't happening the way we want them to or as fast as we want them to, it is because we are too busy trying to hurry everything up and force things to happen.  I have been trying to schedule "me-time", trying to force ideas and thoughts...and we all know how well that works!  I was feeling at a loss because for all my trying - I didn't feel like I was making any significant progress.  Well, no more trying!

As some of you know, I am working on a book right now.  I was struggling with having the time and the connection to make any satisfying progress with it.  This message couldn't have come at a more timely time for me.  This last week, I have allowed for major adjustments in my life.  I took the time to slow down, and listen, and re-connect with my "core values" and to feel again.  I have always said that a cluttered house is a cluttered mind - so with the help of a great friend, I have been physically purging my house, room by room, closet by closet.  Releasing that which we no longer need both in my home and in my mind.  Not only do I physically feel lighter, but I emotionally feel lighter!  My body is a pretty amazing pendulum these days!  If it doesn't feel like it is 'sitting right' with me, I am releasing it from my life.  I am allowing, and going with the flow again.  And in freeing up my time and energy with the need for busy-ness or the hurried-ness of life I have allowed for the things that are really and truly tugging my heart strings. 

I have learned that in allowing and listening to how my body is responding to the dreaded three "C's" (circumstances, committees and commitments), I have found the strength and enough courage to let go.  In doing so, I find myself honoring my own sacred vortex.  I am the center and I am drawing to me the potentiality of my dreams and beyond.  My "me-time" perspective has shifted, and creative thoughts and time to write can happen at anytime of the day - and some of the best moments happen when you are completely engaged in another task or conversation and your mind isn't even thinking about writing.  When all of a sudden you realize that this conversation, this experience was DIVINELY guided and in it holds an important lesson and message for you...ta-da!  My vortex is amazing - an I am so thankful to be back at the center and working and living in my truth!

So, in answer to the question that the Universe proposed to me this morning...my answer is no - I don't feel disadvantaged anymore! 

In thanks, to the Universe for asking the question, and to the "Courage Cards" by Janice Mae Parviainen for gifting me the clarity,

Juli

Today's Challenge

Life is full of choices.  We choose to get out of bed in the morning.  We choose what we are going to wear.  We choose what to have for breakfast.  We choose our friends.  We choose who we let take advantage of us.  We choose what we stand up for.  We choose what to fight for.  We choose to let others piss us off. 

The power of choice can sometimes be overwhelming.  Especially for those that have tendancies toward indicisiveness.  Choosing to be in control of your choices, can truly make you a force to be reckoned with.  You see, you can accomplish so much more with your life, and in your life, when you choose to make a difference.  When you choose to have an impact on the world around you, doors begin opening for you that you never dreamed would open.  THE UNIVERSE WANTS YOU TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!  The universe, the Creator, God, wants YOU to have a positive impact in the world around you.  And so, the universe will support you in making healthy choices.  If you simply, choose to be aware of your choices, and begin to take conscious control of your choices, you will be unstoppable!  You will be propelled to new heights, new experiences and you will NEVER look back to the life you lived when choice controlled you.

I challenge you to take control of your choices.  Make a difference.  Make an impact.  I dare you!!!

I leave you with a great quote from George Bernard Shaw:

"This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.


I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and that as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no "brief candle" to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations."

-George Bernard Shaw

Blessings,
Juli

Embracing our Light

My friend Carol recently shared this quote with me.  It is a quote by Marianne Williamson (A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles", Harper Collins, 1992. It is from chapter 7, section 3).  This is the thought for the day.  Ponder it, and allow it to have influence in your life.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Or deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.  We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?"  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.  We are all meant to shine, as children do.  We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.  It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.  And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

What a great concept - let's all employ this veiwpoint and CHOOSE to live our lives in the light!!!