I watch the squirrels and birds fight bitterly for food at the feeder.
The red and gray squirrels squeal wildly and the little birds scatter. Then five blue jays swoop down and take control of the suet and seed for a few minutes before getting distracted – and the squirrels return to the battleground. There is no camaraderie and absolutely no sharing – not this morning anyway.
As human beings, we have the potential to share and assist. Our hearts are proud and kind. We can be infinitely altruistic and infinitely cruel. But we can choose how we behave! We are not bound by baser instincts. It is within our potential to be All Things – and this makes me Hopeful that we will resolve our global challenges.
The squirrels just knocked the bird feeder to the ground. Better go put it back up.
Just a few thoughts this morning.
………………………………………..
NEW! “Inspiring Hope” online program is almost complete! Check out the details today. Launch date is March 6th!
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Thursday, March 5, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
The Search for ‘The Meaningful’ Inspires Hope
When it surfaces, The Meaningful stops us on the path of life.
We are stunned by its beauty and relevance,
and nothing is ever the same again.
The Meaningful eludes us when life becomes too complicated or senseless. Without The Meaningful making an occasional appearance in our lives, we lose our way. We retreat into a frightening disconnected reality where we feel alone, confused and unmotivated. An array of physical complications set in like fatigue, headaches and muscle pains. Without The Meaningful, life can feel as if it is not worth living.
The Meaningful, though, is always with us. We can not always see it or feel it – but it is with us hidden in the shadows or just beneath the surface of What Is. If we have lost our ability to see, hear or feel it, we will have to attune with it and search it out.
Our lives are made up of a number of seemingly discordant and also harmonious events. We feel despondent when things configure in ways that are unfathomable or illogical. We feel elated when events align in ways that support our personal goals. Neither of these experiences will be lasting unless we incorporate them into our lives.
When we incorporate or integrate all of our experiences both the discordant and the quick-fix-harmonious, we see beyond them, our world shifts and reconfigures, and life feels balanced again. It is when the heavens tilt slightly and give us a new perception of the familiar, that The Meaningful is discovered. This can not happen unless we direct our focus or attune to The Meaningful. But exactly what are we attuning to?
Recently I advised a client concerned about a number of difficult issues, to focus on The Meaningful and to let the rest go. She had every intention of doing this, and is actually very good at following through with her commitments to herself, but she found this assignment a challenge. She is a very sensory person who fully understands the energies of Gratitude, Discernment and Truth, but she could not get a firm grasp on the assignment and asked me a day later, “What is The Meaningful? What exactly am I reaching for?” What great questions!
'The Meaningful' Defined
The Meaningful is our Heart or Soul speaking. It is what wakes us up to the calling within or our destiny. It directs us towards what we must move towards to feel fulfilled.
The Meaningful has archetypal significance. The birth of a child, a breath taking sunset or even an untimely death are all events that can bring us to our knees in awe and gratitude, changing our perception of ourselves.
An athlete may discover that competition is motivating but that personal triumph has far greater impact on their sense of accomplishment.
A woman drowning in feelings of ineptness or failure may discover that she never was inept just believed she was – and so rise from the ashes of her life with newfound strength.
A man having lost a job and a pension package late in life may discover he has a true gift for painting the feelings of angst.
Someone plagued with a life long disability may discover how that disability led them to the exact people and situations that brought them Inner Peace.
The death of a loved one may inspire someone to powerfully assist others in their grief or to discover the cure for an illness.
Bringing ‘The Meaningful’ into Focus
When we set our intention to self-discover The Meaningful, many factors we perceive as the absolute Truth begin to gently reposition themselves. The chaotic theater of events and thoughts that is our perceptual base, morphs into a cohesive and brilliant work of art. The stage blurs, there is a dazzling display of lights and effects – and then The Meaningful is revealed. We may have to stay with the chaotic vision and feelings for awhile but as long as we stay clear with our intention, The Meaningful will reveal itself.
We will recognize The Meaningful because it is well defined – not muted, pastel or non-descript. It has a clear voice that tells us the answer. It is a spot of light shining on the perception of life that fulfills or enriches us. The quintessential factors important to who we are step forward for our consideration, and we applaud!
When The Meaningful emerges, we emit a great sigh of relief. We are awash with a sense of Peace that comes with the realization that the Truth has been revealed. We see what we didn’t before. We grasp the ‘why,’ and everything else drops away into insignificance. The magnitude of the relevance fills us to overflowing with understanding. We are washed over and through with this understanding, and we feel Peaceful, replete, and full of Hope.
What to Do: Specifics
When we think things don’t make sense or we are bored or depressed with life, we must stop and ask ourselves, “Where is The Meaningful in this situation?”
If our actions are distancing us from The Meaningful, we must tweak our actions. We can not, though, change how we live life unless we first intend to find The Meaningful – and then anything that is insignificant or lacks meaning will drop away. The meaningless simply can not exist in the same place or time as The Meaningful.
The Meaningful is in everything and everywhere.
When it makes its dazzling appearance,
we feel blessed down to our very bones,
and everything changes and reconfigures for us –
and that is definitely Hopeful!
……………………………………
Please reproduce and share this article, but be respectful and include the details below:
Written by Corinne S. Ramage, Leader in True Wellness® Studies
Creator of The Spiritual Healthcare Network of online programs
Author of “The Art and Practice of True Wellness”
We are stunned by its beauty and relevance,
and nothing is ever the same again.
The Meaningful eludes us when life becomes too complicated or senseless. Without The Meaningful making an occasional appearance in our lives, we lose our way. We retreat into a frightening disconnected reality where we feel alone, confused and unmotivated. An array of physical complications set in like fatigue, headaches and muscle pains. Without The Meaningful, life can feel as if it is not worth living.
The Meaningful, though, is always with us. We can not always see it or feel it – but it is with us hidden in the shadows or just beneath the surface of What Is. If we have lost our ability to see, hear or feel it, we will have to attune with it and search it out.
Our lives are made up of a number of seemingly discordant and also harmonious events. We feel despondent when things configure in ways that are unfathomable or illogical. We feel elated when events align in ways that support our personal goals. Neither of these experiences will be lasting unless we incorporate them into our lives.
When we incorporate or integrate all of our experiences both the discordant and the quick-fix-harmonious, we see beyond them, our world shifts and reconfigures, and life feels balanced again. It is when the heavens tilt slightly and give us a new perception of the familiar, that The Meaningful is discovered. This can not happen unless we direct our focus or attune to The Meaningful. But exactly what are we attuning to?
Recently I advised a client concerned about a number of difficult issues, to focus on The Meaningful and to let the rest go. She had every intention of doing this, and is actually very good at following through with her commitments to herself, but she found this assignment a challenge. She is a very sensory person who fully understands the energies of Gratitude, Discernment and Truth, but she could not get a firm grasp on the assignment and asked me a day later, “What is The Meaningful? What exactly am I reaching for?” What great questions!
'The Meaningful' Defined
The Meaningful is our Heart or Soul speaking. It is what wakes us up to the calling within or our destiny. It directs us towards what we must move towards to feel fulfilled.
The Meaningful has archetypal significance. The birth of a child, a breath taking sunset or even an untimely death are all events that can bring us to our knees in awe and gratitude, changing our perception of ourselves.
An athlete may discover that competition is motivating but that personal triumph has far greater impact on their sense of accomplishment.
A woman drowning in feelings of ineptness or failure may discover that she never was inept just believed she was – and so rise from the ashes of her life with newfound strength.
A man having lost a job and a pension package late in life may discover he has a true gift for painting the feelings of angst.
Someone plagued with a life long disability may discover how that disability led them to the exact people and situations that brought them Inner Peace.
The death of a loved one may inspire someone to powerfully assist others in their grief or to discover the cure for an illness.
Bringing ‘The Meaningful’ into Focus
When we set our intention to self-discover The Meaningful, many factors we perceive as the absolute Truth begin to gently reposition themselves. The chaotic theater of events and thoughts that is our perceptual base, morphs into a cohesive and brilliant work of art. The stage blurs, there is a dazzling display of lights and effects – and then The Meaningful is revealed. We may have to stay with the chaotic vision and feelings for awhile but as long as we stay clear with our intention, The Meaningful will reveal itself.
We will recognize The Meaningful because it is well defined – not muted, pastel or non-descript. It has a clear voice that tells us the answer. It is a spot of light shining on the perception of life that fulfills or enriches us. The quintessential factors important to who we are step forward for our consideration, and we applaud!
When The Meaningful emerges, we emit a great sigh of relief. We are awash with a sense of Peace that comes with the realization that the Truth has been revealed. We see what we didn’t before. We grasp the ‘why,’ and everything else drops away into insignificance. The magnitude of the relevance fills us to overflowing with understanding. We are washed over and through with this understanding, and we feel Peaceful, replete, and full of Hope.
What to Do: Specifics
When we think things don’t make sense or we are bored or depressed with life, we must stop and ask ourselves, “Where is The Meaningful in this situation?”
If our actions are distancing us from The Meaningful, we must tweak our actions. We can not, though, change how we live life unless we first intend to find The Meaningful – and then anything that is insignificant or lacks meaning will drop away. The meaningless simply can not exist in the same place or time as The Meaningful.
The Meaningful is in everything and everywhere.
When it makes its dazzling appearance,
we feel blessed down to our very bones,
and everything changes and reconfigures for us –
and that is definitely Hopeful!
……………………………………
Please reproduce and share this article, but be respectful and include the details below:
Written by Corinne S. Ramage, Leader in True Wellness® Studies
Creator of The Spiritual Healthcare Network of online programs
Author of “The Art and Practice of True Wellness”
Friday, January 23, 2009
Inspiring Hope in the New Year
Sorry, I forgot to post this for you. I sent it to The Wellspring subscribers (my newsletter) but did not post it here.
Part Four of ‘A Spiritual Holiday’
May every challenge in your life
be a stepping stone to resolution and Inner Peace.
Energetically Hope is an iridescent, all color, grid structure that configures in your life with your direction and intention. Its structure is two fold:
1) Hope incorporated into your daily, inner practice allows you to post your dreams and expectations before you for review. Your mind now clear of distractions can review What Is for meaning and validity.
2) Hope gives you structure to hold onto as you let go, Trust and journey towards personal fulfillment.
Knowledge is comfort. Knowledge shared births Hope.
The year 2008 was especially challenging. We began the year expecting the economy to improve. There was a greater overall optimism about financial decisions individuals were making with their investments and home purchases. Statistics indicate that many more Americans at the beginning of 2008 than today approved of the military decisions of the U.S. government and had Faith in how their lives would unfold. In fact, worldwide what was once peaceful and we assumed resolved, is probably no longer settled and wrought with confusion.
Without going into too many specifics, our expectations have been shifted and in many cases the reality of how we live has changed in ways we could never have anticipated. The challenges we are facing have driven deep into the Heart of our lives affecting the poor, the middle class and the wealthy. A massive leveling is occurring and the global community is One in its participation and fear about what the future holds.
Change is a challenge to our stability and sense of self, and the fear factor worldwide has destabilized multiple areas of our lives. The number one strain on a personal relationship is the stress and fear created during a financial crisis. Families are being uprooted with the loss of jobs and homes. Many expectations and dreams are being altered or destroyed. Stories of loss are rampant. Whether we feel personally devastated or not, we all know someone who is.
It is becoming more and more difficult to maintain balance in one’s life. Physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being are all aspects of the self that have tilted out of balance creating discord and disharmony. When this happens physical health issues begin to arise and relationships suffer. Those mired in personal crisis or feelings of loss can feel overwhelmed, depressed, and lose themselves completely in addictive self-destructive behaviors such as obsessive thinking, suicidal feelings, over eating or drug/alcohol abuse.
There is a way out…It comes in small, deliberate steps that move from inside a challenge, out. These first cautious but brave steps begin the journey into the Best of What Can Be. Our answers are always being offered to us. It is our choice whether we listen and walk towards resolution or not, whether we tune ourselves to resolution or more of the familiar suffering.
The only way out is In. This means that to resolve the very twisted configuration we have created to find ourselves we will have to know our challenges for what they truly are. Today we are being invited to find the strength of character, integrity, and Compassion that has always been ours but been buried under the international driving lust for material gain and power. We are meant to live in harmony with each other and nature. When we lose our footing and walk the path of independent selfish gain, everybody loses. Our Hearts close. Compassion dies for others. Suffering becomes epidemic.
But…2009 is the Year of Hope and Promises Fulfilled. The opportunity for resolution is here! Everything is aligned for our success. We come to a time in our evolution as human beings when we realize that to not get this right for ourselves is to devastate our planet. If we can find the Inner Peace we need to live in harmony with ourselves, we can offer it to others – and the Goodness Within will be the model for others to follow.
Everyone wants to be well, to feel accomplished and to be Loved. Aspire to be Hopeful and to fulfill the brightest of Promises for yourself – and share your personal work with others. Be a messenger of Hopefulness.
Let’s intend to be the best we can be, in order to save the world!
A tall order? Not at all! Everything begins at the beginning. What you accomplish for yourself, you do for the world. This is what the 21st century with its technology and spirituality is offering us. Our interconnectedness allows us to share anything and everything that we do. The powerful connections of those involved with the internet and social networking is proof of how our technological advances have been molded to answer our need for community. The more desperate the times, the more we need each other. And when one of us intends for Hope and Healing, every one of us benefits in some way from that intention. Who we become is who others become. Inner Peace shared grows quantumly. Let’s all be a part of the wave of Hope reconfiguring our lives.
Here is what is calling us:
The opportunity is here for us to look at everything that is wrong or could go wrong in our lives, to learn to manage these things, to be infinitely wiser than we are today, and then to make wiser decisions than we have to date.
Make a study of Hope.
Be Hope Full.
Decide to be the best you can be.
Act in Compassionate ways.
Share Joy.
Show Love at all times.
Be a Messenger of Hope.
This is the year to set yourself on a trajectory – and Trust!
Part Four of ‘A Spiritual Holiday’
May every challenge in your life
be a stepping stone to resolution and Inner Peace.
Energetically Hope is an iridescent, all color, grid structure that configures in your life with your direction and intention. Its structure is two fold:
1) Hope incorporated into your daily, inner practice allows you to post your dreams and expectations before you for review. Your mind now clear of distractions can review What Is for meaning and validity.
2) Hope gives you structure to hold onto as you let go, Trust and journey towards personal fulfillment.
Knowledge is comfort. Knowledge shared births Hope.
The year 2008 was especially challenging. We began the year expecting the economy to improve. There was a greater overall optimism about financial decisions individuals were making with their investments and home purchases. Statistics indicate that many more Americans at the beginning of 2008 than today approved of the military decisions of the U.S. government and had Faith in how their lives would unfold. In fact, worldwide what was once peaceful and we assumed resolved, is probably no longer settled and wrought with confusion.
Without going into too many specifics, our expectations have been shifted and in many cases the reality of how we live has changed in ways we could never have anticipated. The challenges we are facing have driven deep into the Heart of our lives affecting the poor, the middle class and the wealthy. A massive leveling is occurring and the global community is One in its participation and fear about what the future holds.
Change is a challenge to our stability and sense of self, and the fear factor worldwide has destabilized multiple areas of our lives. The number one strain on a personal relationship is the stress and fear created during a financial crisis. Families are being uprooted with the loss of jobs and homes. Many expectations and dreams are being altered or destroyed. Stories of loss are rampant. Whether we feel personally devastated or not, we all know someone who is.
It is becoming more and more difficult to maintain balance in one’s life. Physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being are all aspects of the self that have tilted out of balance creating discord and disharmony. When this happens physical health issues begin to arise and relationships suffer. Those mired in personal crisis or feelings of loss can feel overwhelmed, depressed, and lose themselves completely in addictive self-destructive behaviors such as obsessive thinking, suicidal feelings, over eating or drug/alcohol abuse.
There is a way out…It comes in small, deliberate steps that move from inside a challenge, out. These first cautious but brave steps begin the journey into the Best of What Can Be. Our answers are always being offered to us. It is our choice whether we listen and walk towards resolution or not, whether we tune ourselves to resolution or more of the familiar suffering.
The only way out is In. This means that to resolve the very twisted configuration we have created to find ourselves we will have to know our challenges for what they truly are. Today we are being invited to find the strength of character, integrity, and Compassion that has always been ours but been buried under the international driving lust for material gain and power. We are meant to live in harmony with each other and nature. When we lose our footing and walk the path of independent selfish gain, everybody loses. Our Hearts close. Compassion dies for others. Suffering becomes epidemic.
But…2009 is the Year of Hope and Promises Fulfilled. The opportunity for resolution is here! Everything is aligned for our success. We come to a time in our evolution as human beings when we realize that to not get this right for ourselves is to devastate our planet. If we can find the Inner Peace we need to live in harmony with ourselves, we can offer it to others – and the Goodness Within will be the model for others to follow.
Everyone wants to be well, to feel accomplished and to be Loved. Aspire to be Hopeful and to fulfill the brightest of Promises for yourself – and share your personal work with others. Be a messenger of Hopefulness.
Let’s intend to be the best we can be, in order to save the world!
A tall order? Not at all! Everything begins at the beginning. What you accomplish for yourself, you do for the world. This is what the 21st century with its technology and spirituality is offering us. Our interconnectedness allows us to share anything and everything that we do. The powerful connections of those involved with the internet and social networking is proof of how our technological advances have been molded to answer our need for community. The more desperate the times, the more we need each other. And when one of us intends for Hope and Healing, every one of us benefits in some way from that intention. Who we become is who others become. Inner Peace shared grows quantumly. Let’s all be a part of the wave of Hope reconfiguring our lives.
Here is what is calling us:
The opportunity is here for us to look at everything that is wrong or could go wrong in our lives, to learn to manage these things, to be infinitely wiser than we are today, and then to make wiser decisions than we have to date.
Make a study of Hope.
Be Hope Full.
Decide to be the best you can be.
Act in Compassionate ways.
Share Joy.
Show Love at all times.
Be a Messenger of Hope.
This is the year to set yourself on a trajectory – and Trust!
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