What blocks connection?

What blocks connection?

"People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges."
-- Joseph F. Newton

We experience soul when we really connect with life -- when we stop and consciously experience what is happening.

We lose soul with: - resistance - to anyone or anything- superficiality - we avoid depth of experience- control - we try to control the relationship- selfishness - we remain self-centered.

Each of these attitudes fosters separation rather than connection. Once again, soul lives in relating. Take time to become aware of, and perhaps journal on how you relate to other people and things in your life.

"We have to decide for ourselves what’s nourishing to our souls,

and do those things over others."

-- Thomas Moore

Relationships

"It's surprising how many persons go through life without ever recognizing that their feelings toward other people are largely determined by their feelings toward themselves, and if you're not comfortable within yourself, you can't be comfortable with others." -- Sydney J. Harris

Relationships are such a challenge because life pulls us in opposite directions at the same time. Our personality feels the need to be unique and special and so our focus lies on how we are different from others. Differences hold the potential to create conflict. At the same time, our souls live through connection with others. We are challenged to rise above our personal preferences to discover how we and the other are the same. Our overall need lies in balancing these two tendencies.

"The purpose of relationships is not happiness, but transformation." -- Andrew Schneider

Becoming in touch with your personal sources of power

Becoming in touch with your personal sources of power can be a way for you to feel effective and empowering.

Reflect upon the strengths you possess, which could help you use your influence in a positive and supportive way.

Ask yourself :

" What assets do I have that others admire in me ? "

Some clues that can lead you to uncover strengths and resources:

Think about the things in which you are weak, and what you have done to overcome those challenges, for these triumphs are your strengths.


Uncovering the gifts that you have, can give you greater confidence and increase the feelings of self-worth that are required to positively impact others.

Once we understand our strengths, we are able to affect positive and lasting changes in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

Consciously examining our talents, brings our strengths to the fore and helps us to gain confidence in what we are able to achieve.

By knowing your strengths today, you will inspire, encourage, and influence others through your strong sense of self.

Accepting change

"We cannot live the afternoon of life according to the programme of life's morning; for what in the morning was true will in evening become a lie."

-- C.G. JungLife continually evolves.

We’re always moving into new experiences, new possibilities. This constant change unsettles the personality, which finds security in stability. But with life always in flux, that security is an illusion. We experience pain by trying to hold on to things that are not solid.Life becomes joyful when we can open to the constant flow and ride freely with it. This requires us to let go of the need to control. We need to learn to trust."Can it then be that what we call the ‘self’ is fluid and elastic? It evolves, strikes a different balance with every new breath."
-- Wayne Muller

http://www.thedailyguru.com/higherawareness.htm

Life on the Train

Life on the Train

(Text of a slide show)


Life is like a train ride,

We get on.
We ride.

We get off.

We get back on and ride some more.
There are accidents and there are delays.

At certain stops there are surprises.
Some of these will translate into great moments of joy,
some will result in profound sorrow.

When we are born and we board the train,
we meet people whom we think will be with us
for the entire journey.

These people are our parents!

Sadly, this is far from the truth.

Our parents are with us for as long as we absolutely need them.

They too have journeys they must complete.

We live on with the memories of their love,
affection, friendship, guidance and their ever presence.

There are others who board the train and who eventually
become very important to us, in turn.
These people are our brothers, sisters, friends and
acquaintances, whom we will learn to love and cherish.

Some people consider their journey like a jaunty tour.
They will just go merrily along. Others, will encounter
many upsets, tears, losses on their journey.
Others still, will linger on to offer a helping hand
to anyone in need.

Some people on the train will leave an everlasting impression when they get off....

Some will get on and get off so quickly, they will
scarcely leave a sign that they ever travelled along
with you or ever crossed your path....

We will sometimes be upset that some passengers
whom we love, will choose to sit in another compartment,
and leave us to travel on our own,

Then again, there's nothing that says we can't seek them
out anyway.

Nevertheless, once sought out and found, we may not
even be able to sit next to them because that seat
will already be taken.

That's okay....everyone's journey will be filled with
hopes, dreams, challenges, setbacks and goodbyes.

We must strive to make the best of it....no matter what...

We must constantly strive to understand our travel
companions and look for the best in everyone.

Remember that on any moment during our journey,
any one of our travel companions can have a weak
moment and be in need of our help.

We too may vacillate or hesitate,even trip....
hopefully we can count on someone being there
to be supportive and understanding....

The bigger mystery of our journey is that we don't know when our last stop will come.

Neither do we know when our travel companions will make their last stop.

Not even those sitting in the seat next to us.

Personally, I know I'll be sad to make my final stop--
I'm sure of it!

My separation from all those friends and
acquaintances I made during the train ride will
be painful. Leaving all those I'm close to will be a sad thing.
But then again, I'm certain that one day I'll get to the
train station only to meet up with everyone else.
They'll be carrying their luggage - most of which they didn't have when they first got on this train.

I'll be glad to see them again. I'll also be glad to have
contributed to their baggage....and to have enriched
their lives, just as much as they will have
contributed to my baggage and enriched my life.

We're all on this train ride together.
Above all, we should all try to strive to make the ride
as pleasant and memorable as we can,
right up until we each make the final stop
and leave the train for the last time.

All aboard!

Safe journey!!
B O N V O Y A G E !

on meditation

I've been neglecting regular daily meditation lately , but I intend to change that. From now on morning meditation first thing and last thing at night rather than here and there during the day.

Last night's meditation felt good 23 :30- to midnight. Woke up at 4 am with the moon on my face and the sound of my painting falling off my story- board on my bedroom door.

This morning's meditation wasn't easy- got lost in thoughts several times but felt stillness towards the end . I know it's not supposed to be any way - just observations- keeping notes.

Funny how what you focus on grows- this came to me today in an email:

Why meditate?

"Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom."-- Buddha


Meditation is considered an essential practice for those who seek self-knowledge and self-mastery. Why? Basically, meditation brings awareness of how our minds work. Over time, we become watchers, able to detach from the thoughts and emotions that play out in our minds.With this detachment, we gain the freedom to choose whether or not to act on our thoughts and emotions. We learn to distinguish between objective reality and our mental and emotional dramas."

Only in quiet waters things mirror themselves undistorted. Only in a quiet mind is adequate perception of the world."-- Hans Margolius