Wondering What If?

Do you ever wonder what life would have been like if you had made a different choice at some point in your life?  Or do you accept all the choices you have made?

These are two opposing points of view.  Is there a right or wrong one?  Who knows.

Personally, I find it hard to regret choices I have made because any choice I made led to experiences that made me who I am today.  Regretting what could have been only leads to making you feel bad, disempowered, and helpless.  It also keeps you stuck in that moment in time when the decision was made.

If there is something you wish had happened, there is no moment like the now.  If it is something you really want, it is never to late to get it, do it, and/or make peace with it.  Instead of reminiscing, put that energy towards creating today's reality and making your dreams come true.

Asking For Forgiveness

Just as important as giving forgiveness is asking for it.  We are all human, we make mistakes.  Instead of ignoring knowing you did/were wrong, make it right and apologize.

Similar to showing vulnerability, asking for forgiveness is also a strength and something you do for your well being as much as for the other person.  Find your strength and face what you didn't do so well.  If you ignore it then it becomes one more layer you will need to work on some other time.  It is like trying to hide dirt under the rug.  Soon the rug will be floating on dirt.

Saying you are sorry and asking for forgiveness starts the healing process, maybe not always for both parties, but as long as it is heartfelt it will be for you.

Inner & Outer Balance

When you are focused on looking inward, sometimes you forget to also look outward and be aware of those around you, especially those you love.  As always, balance is key...though the inner journey is very important, life does go on.  Find the balance between both.  Your loved ones will give you ample opportunity to help you stay balanced as long as you keep an open line to them and you remember to listen and see them.  When the opportunity arises be open to it and be there for the other person.

In a way you are putting your inner learnings into practice by interacting with someone in the now, thus recreating your personal balance as well as gaining a new perspective.

Express Thankfulness

Whenever I do subtle energy work, I ask for 'my highest support system' to join me and assist me.  I can feel their presence and support.  While I am always thankful for it, I have been neglecting to take the extra moment to thank them for their help.

Today I added thanks and gratitude when I asked for their assistance.  Their response was an immediate shower of gratitude and love in return for the recognition.  It made me smile and of course it felt great.  It was a sweet reminder to be thankful for their presence, love and support.

Whether you can feel, see or hear them, or even if you can't, know they are there at your service, ready to assist you anytime you ask them to (you do need to ask!) and know that they like to be acknowledged too.  Thank them for all they do.  :)

Commitment To Change

Tired of your same old story?  Tired of always trying to please everyone?  Tired of over analyzing everything in your life? Etc.

Make a change today!  Make the commitment to change your story:  Only say things that make you feel good.  Make the commitment to be true to yourself first before you cater to everyone else.  Make the commitment to give your brain a rest and feel with your heart.  See where it takes you.

Know that these 'habits' have taken a lifetime to form and won't be changed overnight.  Implement baby steps: Every time you catch yourself back in your old habit, remember your commitment.  Write it down on a piece of paper or many pieces of paper and keep them handy.  Reread your statement(s) as many times as you need until it becomes second nature.

Remember to praise yourself too when you start noticing changes in you!  Every time is a great accomplishment!!!

Unknowns

What do you believe you deserve in your life?  Truly, deep down, what do you believe you are worthy of?  Do you believe you deserve a miracle in your life?  Or maybe even many miracles?  Or no miracle at all?  Have you ever stopped to wonder why you do or don't?

Many people believe they are not worthy of a miracle or are even scared to experience one.  Choosing to close one's eyes and turn away is 'easier' to handle.  Fear of the unknown and "supernatural" is very common.  Science and logical thinking rules our world.  Coming into balance with the unknown is crucial though to embracing all of who we are.

Intuition, faith, trust, and spirituality are all "unknowns" which have the potential to enrich our lives beyond our expectations and stretch us way beyond our current limits and limitations.  Explore these unknowns and make them a part of your reality.

Seize The Moment

Seizing the moment and being spontaneous can be very invigorating and always enriching.  Be open to opportunities and adventures when they come along.  Be willing to shift gears when the unexpected comes knocking on your door.

Sometimes it is easier to turn your back on them because they might seem like work, or you feel tired, etc.  Everyone deserves a change in pace, everyone can benefit from an adventure once in a while. Make sure you do when it comes your way.  :)

I Choose...

Can you be going through a really tough time and still be happy?  Absolutely!

Your center, your Higher Self, that peaceful inner sanctum that is in all of us, is not affected by external ‘realities’.  It is a constant, accessible at any time you choose.  Remember that it is your choice.

When you find yourself being sucked into the drama of life, know that you can choose to step out of it and into the balance of your center.

For example, competitive situations can be nerve wrecking.  Let’s say you are getting anxious as you are watching a match one of your kids is playing.  Though that anxiety serves absolutely no purpose and does not aid the child in any possible way, it is something protective parents seem to do.  Instead of giving in to the emotions you can become conscious and center yourself.   For example, a quick way to do so is to tell yourself: “I choose to be at peace while watching this game and send my child love & light.” or “I choose to think positive thoughts”.  Of course choose whatever positive affirmation works for you.  I find the first two words (I choose…) very powerful and empowering in that type of a situation. Repeat whatever expression you come up with as many times as you need to until you feel the change in yourself.

Next time you are in an emotionally laden situation, apply this conscious thought and see how it works for you.

Totality Of Possibilities

"The gateways to wisdom and learning are always open, and more and more I am choosing to walk through them.  Barriers, blocks, obstacles, and problems are personal teachers giving me the opportunity to move out of the past and into the Totality Of Possibilities."  by Louise L. Hay

I have chosen to walk through them too, as have you, if you have been following these Daily Insights. Congratulations!!! Enjoy the Totality Of Possibilities!  :)

Taking A Big Step

Sometimes you know what you need to do but are afraid to take the one big step that will completely change your life.  The trick/challenge is to keep working on the fears and peel them away one layer at a time.  It takes courage and perseverance to keep looking, admitting and accepting the various facets involved to peel away each layer.  Each little step though brings you closer to the final big step you know you will take.

As you get closer to taking that step you also get closer to your truth and to yourself.  Though turmoil might be on the horizon, peace is also within you, as is hope, trust and faith.  With that type of backing everything and anything is possible.

Miracles Happen

"Miracles seem to me to rest not so much upon faces or voices or healing power coming suddenly near us from afar off, but upon our perceptions being made finer, so that for a moment our eyes see and our ears can hear what there is about us always."  by Willa Carther as quoted in the book 'The Miracle Chase' by Joan Luise Hill, Katie Mahon, and Mary Beth Phillips, PhD

Loved this quote.  Miracles do happen all around us everyday.  Each of the authors experienced a miracle and that started their quest, the miracle chase.  It reminded me of something I experienced when my oldest had both his arm bones badly broken.  He needed to be anesthetized and the bones reset.  The doctor told us flat out that it was a very bad break and that he didn't think the bones would reset.  He was preparing us for metal plates, screws, complicated surgery, etc.  I was stunned.

As soon as our son was wheeled off to surgery I started praying to Mother Mary.  I felt so incredibly helpless and hopeless after that blunt prognosis that that was the only thing I could think of to do. Somewhere in the middle of praying (and crying a lot) I had a "vision" of two praying hands that were glowing and the words 'magic hands' came to my mind. I somehow knew that that was what I needed to focus on - praying for the doctor's hands to be magic. It sounds silly, but I just knew that it was what I needed to do and so I did.

When the doctor came out of surgery, he had a broad grin on his face and gave us the news that the bones miraculously (yes he did use that word) reset.  I have no doubt in my mind that we were witness to a miracle that day.  Somehow it all came together.  Somehow we were blessed.

I do believe that miracles are all around us and happen all the time.  It is about becoming more aware and opening your perceptions more to be able to experience them more consciously.

Beliefs And Standards

Everyone has a set of beliefs and standards that they have built for themselves over the years based on their individual experiences.  So does one person's view apply to another?  Whose beliefs are right and whose are wrong?  Or neither?

Being experience based, beliefs and standards are very individual.  The more fear based they are the stricter and narrower they will be.  They will also be harder to change because they are linked to survival and in some form or another have been successfully used for that purpose at some point in time.

What does happen, however, is that because of possibly a single occurrence, standards get set in place that may not be useful as the person evolves, but because of previous successful application are strictly enforced.

In order to grow, it is important to "relax" these standards and beliefs once in a while and see what happens if you make room for alternative views/rules/standards.  It doesn't mean you have to change everything, but what if something new applies to you?  What if a shift in perspective opens up a whole new side of life that you never knew existed? What if, by seeing someone else's point of view, your pain is lessened?  What if you start seeing the duality of life and how you can be on both sides?

Give it a try.  Pick any standard or rule in your life and give it space to grow.  Be open to something new and see what happens.  You might be pleasantly surprised.  :)

One Way Of Navigating Situations

When you are in a situation that doesn't feel right, but you can't quite put your finger on what is wrong, do what you can to give yourself time before responding.  These steps may be helpful:

1. Remove yourself physically from the situation and detach from it mentally.  Don't suppress it.  Give it and yourself more room.  Let it float by, like a cloud, when it comes back.
2. After some time and distance, when it feels right, start musing on what about the situation didn't sit right with you.  Use your intuition as well as your mind!
3. Once you have the key point or points figured out, look & feel for alternate solutions that will serve the big picture as you sense it, not only individual needs.  You will know it is the right one by the way you feel at peace.  The uneasy feeling will dissipate and be replaced by a feeling of balance.

Mirroring Lesson Vs. Actual Situation

As discussed earlier, people and situations mirror your internal state of affairs.  Note that figuring out the lesson that is in it for you is different from how to handle the actual person and/or situations.

Knowing what your part is in it gives you perspective and the distance you need to respond instead of react to the situation.  Be clear on what your personal goals are, where your limits are and what your values are.  Based on these, respond to the situation. You will not be able to change what happened nor the person that is in front of you.  Remember true change can only happen when you change first.

The mirroring learnings will apply to a different part of your life, a deeper aspect of yourself, that you will work on separately if you so choose.  It will usually take longer to resolve than the situation/person that mirrored for you, because it has been in place a lot longer.

Love, Prayer, And Forgiveness

"Never forget the three powerful resources you always have available to you: love, prayer, and forgiveness." by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (author)

These are all definitely in you and thus always within your grasp.  Use of any one of these three will always make you feel good.  The key is to remember they are there anytime ready to shift and lift your energy.

Recognition

Recognizing others for their achievements is an important part of the journey. When you honor someone else's success, their joy brings you joy.  It also gives you the opportunity to reflect on your journey to see how far you have come as well.

The process is dynamic. You give and you receive at the same time.  Take the time to recognize someone's achievements today. Make their day and yours at the same time.  :)

Inspiration

Inspiration can be found anywhere and in anyone.  All you need to do is be open to it and to let it in. Find it and let it lead you to new heights.

Determination Personified

Today I was inspired by a young lady that is new to the High School's tennis team.  She played her first varsity doubles match ever.  Though she is new to the game, she fought like a lioness, her determination fierce, her concentration deep, and her focus constant throughout the whole match (literally!). Very impressive!  As an added bonus, the girls ended up winning the match!

Giving it your all, doing your best is what life is all about.  With that kind of determination there is simply nothing that can possibly stand in your way.  Whether you win or loose is not important in the end (though this young lady would probably disagree...  :)  ).  When you do the best you can, you are automatically a winner.  She was a true inspiration to all that watched her.  I know she was to me.

The look on her face is etched in my brain and will always be the personification of the word determination.  :)

Dennis Petersen

When you follow your heart and do what you love you never know where you might end up and how many people you will inspire along the way...  On October 13th, 2006, Dennis Petersen hiked Malan's Peak to celebrate his retirement and hasn't stopped since.  This Saturday he will be taking his 2,500th consecutive hike (for more details:  http://www.standard.net/stories/2013/08/13/2500-hikes-dennis-petersen-has-climbed-malans-peak-every-day-nearly-seven-years ).

Little did I know about any of this when I first met him on my first winter hike ever as he whirled by me almost 5 years ago.  He was super friendly and on a mission (obviously to climb the peak).  His presence and speed inspired me.  Though there was no way for me to keep up, I remember thinking:  I want to be like him when I grow up...  :)  Later that winter he was there, cheering me on, the very first time I "conquered" Malan's Peak.  He was so thrilled for me.  I will always cherish that as one of my fondest memories.

I have been hiking fairly regularly ever since and it has been a joy.  While I am still no where close to Dennis' speed, it is always fun to run into him and other fellow hikers.  No matter what though, he has always been one of my main inspirations when it comes to hiking.

As the article shows, I am just one of many he inspired.  It all started one day at a time (baby steps) and now it is an incredible achievement!  Congratulations Dennis!!!!

How To Use Mirroring For Your Growth

Whenever you are angry or upset do the following exercise to get to the bottom of your funk:

1. Write down what you are upset/angry about.  For example:  "She doesn't respect my time. She wants me to bail her out.  She is not taking on her responsibility."
2. Go back through all the statements you came up with and rewrite them in the first person.  Following the previous example: " I don't respect my time.  I want to be bailed out.  I am not taking on my responsibility."
3. Take a deep, cleansing breath and clear your mind.  Put whatever happened out of your mind and focus on yourself.
4. Read the "I" statements out loud to yourself.
5. Without judgment, ask yourself: "Where in my life am I doing this?"  For the example given this would mean: "Where am I not respecting myself?  Where do I want to be bailed out?  Where am I not taking on responsibility?"

Once you have your answer you will clearly know what to do in your life.  You will know where to put your focus.

People and situations are mirrors for you to learn from.  Be thankful for them and use/work them.

Note too that this exercise works for positive mirrors!!!  If you want to know what your strengths and positive aspects are, follow the steps above whenever you have something really great happen to you.  Everything you attract is your mirror.  :)

Block Dissolution

Sometimes when you are consciously working on a personal block you feel internal resistance.  There are different techniques you can use to work through such a block, such as breathing through it or visualizing its dissolution.

However when all your techniques don't seem to work, here is one more to try:  Invite the block to go with you into the area it is blocking.  Make friends with it, form a bond and partner up.  Reassure it of your good intentions and that you can get through it together.  Remember the block is there to protect you after all.  You created it for that purpose!

Give it a try.  Go on an exploration within with your new partner.  It works every time.  :)

Shift

While driving by a corn field today I noticed how every once in a great while one solitary corn stalk would be about a foot taller than the rest.  It struck me as a metaphor for the human race, how we are all at a similar evolutionary level (the corn being all the same height for the most part) but that there are individuals who are striving to reach a little further to be different and better (the taller, individual corn stalk).

Entering your inner journey and changing paradigms can be solitary and at times lonely.  It is not necessarily socially accepted and people are not often willing to share who they really are.  However, the more people experience this journey, the more love and understanding will rule everyday life to the point where the scales will tip and it will be common practice.  I, for one, look forward to that day and will do what I can to make it happen.  :)

Honor Yourself

Always remember the power of honoring yourself.  When you believe in yourself, when you become your biggest fan, when you love yourself enough to put your needs first (not in a narcissistic way, but in a "I am worth it.  I am as important as everyone else." way), when you live from your center, your view of the world will change as will your impact on the world.

By helping yourself first you learn what it really means to be there for others.  If you don't know what it's like to be there for yourself nor how to be there for yourself, how could you possibly be there for others?

If you are a person that likes and wants to help others, make sure you know how to give to yourself first.  Treat yourself with respect, be true to yourself, pamper yourself, honor yourself.

Coping Pattern

When a lot of things happen around you at once it is very easy to fall back into old habits.  Your subconscious takes over and you start coping the old way.  Though every one's coping mechanism is different, odds are that you will not feel good overall.

When you manage to realize that you are repeating an old pattern, instead of taking whatever fight and flight reaction surfaces, take a deep breath and face this coping pattern.  What are you trying to avoid?  What are you afraid of?  When you answer those questions you alter your modem operandi.  The bad feelings will immediately disappear and you feel centered & at peace.

What Is Mastery?

"What is Mastery?  It's the ability to create and experience your reality in this realm.  It's the ability to work with energy any way you choose, without the limitations of destiny, fate, and karma.  Mastery is knowing your core, your soul Self, and then understanding how energy relates to your consciousness. Mastery, of course, is not about Mastery over others; it's about Mastery of you Self." excerpt from the book "Live your divinity" by Adamus Saint-Germain - transmitted by Geoffrey Hoppe & Linda Hoppe

I love this definition of Mastery.  It is another facet, a different way to look at or understand the importance of knowing who you are inside and how it relates to world.  While the words are different the message is always the same: Know and love who you are. :)

Take A Break

Today take a break from analyzing yourself.  What if you are perfect as you are?  What if you are here to simply experience?  What if you only need to focus on the moment and what you are experiencing in that moment?

Get out of your head and into the flow of the now.

"Living Your Light" Understanding

It is important to understand that living your light does not mean that there is only light.  Where there is light there is also shadow.  They are partners and work together.  Living your light means that you live from your center, from your soul, from the seed of God that you are.  It is about balance and experiencing the now.

It is also about moving away from dualism (e.g. good/bad, right/wrong, etc.) and embracing the Universal energy flow.  It is about feeling abundance now, in your heart.  The more you feel it in every cell of your body, the more you will attract it, abundance of every kind.

Push Your Limits

Once in a while it is a great exercise to push your limits and see how much further you can go.  Here is why:

1. You may surprise yourself and reach new heights.
2. When you do you will be thrilled to know that you can be more than you thought possible.
3. Though the road might have been tough (and you knew it would be) the sense of accomplishment can open your heart wide and let you vibrate at a higher frequency.
4. Overall you will be super happy you did!

Another Facet Of Forgiveness

"The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world." by Marianne Williamson

Forgiveness is the key to moving on from any negative situation/experience/act.  Forgiving does not mean that you are saying whatever happened was OK.  Forgiveness is about giving yourself permission to move on by leaving judgment to a Higher Source.

Forgiveness gives you the possibility to release all heaviness and make room for love again.  It is an act of self-love and all love ultimately benefits the world.

What Do You Love To Do?

Make space in your life for what you love to do.  No matter how much work you have or how many chores you need to do, it is of vital importance to nurture yourself too.

When you do what you love, universal energy flows unencumbered through you and you become one with your Higher Self.  It feeds your soul as well as your physical, emotional and mental being.

Ask yourself:  "What do I love to do?  What recharges my batteries?"  Become conscious of it and integrate it regularly into your life.

Positives And Negatives

People and situations mirror to you your internal reality.  As you are working on yourself realize that the do not only mirror issues within you but also all your positives!  Make sure to see both.  :)