Monthly Archives: April 2019

Overriding our tendency to negativity, defensiveness, neediness, addictive behaviors, being reactionary and volatile or any other attitude or behavior that causes us stress or unhappiness or that brings conflict into our lives takes time and a conscious effort. And usually, the deeper the emotional pain or the longer the abuse – whether physical or emotional – that caused these ways of us navigating the world the longer it takes and the more conscientious we need be to be able to override their effects. Still, once we make the decision to shift from any nonconstructive thinking or behaviors mighty companions come to our aid. Spirit is always ready to support us to shift away from thought systems and behavior patterns that keep us from being the best, most empowered version of ourselves. To shift from a fear-based reality to a love-based reality. In my April 2019 newsletter message entitled Many Messages in Easter and Passover I delve briefly into the time frame of suffering and overcoming using metaphors of the Easter Crucifixion and Resurrection theme and the Passover Exodus and Freedom from Slavery theme. (Newsletter link is below). This article is based on concepts from my New Book See here for About Book and see below for info on the next 2 books in this series - due out shortly. (And also below is a link to information on my 1st book, “Your Journey to Peace…”, ) Both of these Holy holidays bring with them the acknowledgment of past pain and suffering, but also the celebration of overcoming the pain and suffering. The prayers, rituals, and gatherings are powerful. They fill us with a peaceful feeling. And the act of intentional celebration with others infuses the gathering, and thereby us, with grace. Being filled with grace helps us heal. The ideas of suffering and overcoming, and of slavery and freedom are analogous for us overcoming our mental suffering, and of being freed from being a slave to our egoic mind and the unhappiness and conflicts caused as they influences how we navigate life. Three Days, or 40 Years The three days to the Resurrection and the 40 Years of wandering in the desert can be seen as a reflection that the process of shifting from  a fear-based mind-set to a love-based mind-set does take time. How quickly we make the shift to start to come from a place of being love-centered depends on: how deep set our fear-based attitudes and the behaviors they produce are; how attached we are to them; how strong our willingness, or unwillingness, to override them; and how steadfast we are to the practice we choose to support us though the process. Overriding a lifetime of navigating life one way to shifting it to another first takes acknowledgement. It takes willingness. Focus. Determination. And overriding the sadness, unfairness, fear, and/or sense of disempowerment that was created deep within us takes courage and faith in the process, because it is often of a two-step-forward one-step-backward progression. And when we have suffered or been abused [...]

Because we have been unaware of being under the influence of unconscious authority and that the separation we feel toward each other is an illusion, we have gone about life mindless to the effects of these false premises. Mindlessness  When we operate from a mindless state we act impulsively, foolishly, or single-minded, often blind to other possibilities and the effects our decisions will have on our ultimate happiness or on others. We are not concerned with others or maintaining harmony in situations. We are acting from impulses aiming to either protect us, or get what we think we need to be happy or feel empowered. This article is an excerpt from my New Book See  here  for About Book and below for info on the next 2 books in this series due out shortly. (See below for information on my 1st book, "Your Journey to Peace...", ) An example of this might be a spouse who, without consulting his or her partner, takes a job that makes more money but means less time for family. The partner making this decision may have been influenced by a disadvantaged background and be blind to the effects this decision would have on the rest of the family. By making this decision on his or her own they are being mindless to the reasons they want the job as well as to the effect on those around them. Being mindless usually causes conflict with those around us. Mindfulness Conversely, if we are mindful when making decisions or taking action we are not in denial of the reasons for our desires or choices, and we consider their effects on others. We instinctively maintain harmony in situations.. When we decide to shift to becoming more aware and away from the negative and/or being mindless a conscious effort is required. However, we don’t have to examine every thought or attitude we hold. We can start by examining our general focus, thoughts, motives, and reactions and consider how our choices impact ourselves and those around us. We still get to live normal life, but we just do a bit of self-reflection. Our minds can decide whether our emotions are showing us true pictures or are based on false created Self that does not guide us to ultimate satisfaction. Unless we are mindful, we will fall prey to emotions influenced by our unconscious. For example, it is our neediness which speaks through our emotions―that wants us to overeat or indulge in something that is not good for us. We can engage our conscious minds to override those emotions by using self-talk. We can say something like, “I have decided to eat healthily, but I now feel the urge to eat something unhealthy. I can overcome this urge. And I will.”  We take a few deep breaths to anchor in this intent. If the urge is still there, we can have a healthy snack, a cup of tea, or go and do something that will distract us. When someone is rude to [...]