It made me think … this conversation I had with a person the other day … She did not like the teachings of a specific person because they were ‘too hard’.
Mmmm … The teaching was merely to be aware of one’s thoughts. To be aware of what we are focussing on.
You see … we so often focus on things we don’t want, and the universe responds to that. So does it not make sense to focus on the things we do want, and to focus on that, in our life, which makes us happy?
I do not see that as ‘too hard’. I see it as essential to my own growth.
There are times, however, that I forget, and I slip into focussing on the things that annoy me, and then I circle round and round the annoyances. Do I feel good? Do I feel happy in that way of thinking? No! Does it help me? No!!
Life presents challenges to all of us. What is important is how we show up to them.
When I remember to face them with peaceful acceptance, and then relax into ‘Okay, what are my next steps?’ and then I break it down into those steps, and focus only on the first step, and then when that is completed I focus on the next step and so on. I do not worry about all the steps ahead. I focus only on the next one. I have to break it down and have that plan of steps so that I can navigate the way ahead. But I am not locked into the steps, I am aware that there are many opportunities, possibilities and changes that may come forth. So I am at peace.
This is also the way I face any anxieties that arise.
When I am feeling all at sea, it is generally because I have lost my way. But it is a simple thing to find my way back again. How?
The same thing that person thought was ‘too hard’. I pay attention to my thoughts, to where my focus is. I look around me and I appreciated the beauty. I appreciate the sky, the clouds, the flowers, the trees, the breeze. And I take a deep breath and let it out slowly.
As I appreciate that which is around me, as I love the beauty that is laid out all around me … I feel myself come into alignment with the Universal Consciousness. What does that feel like? You have probably felt it too. It is that feeling when your heart-space feels like it is overflowing with love. When I come into that space … I feel I am Home. (Home is not a place ‘out there’.)
And so … I try to pay attention to my thoughts. If I break that down simply for you, think of your thoughts as being like magnets. They will attract more of the same. Worried about too many bills? The universe will respond with ‘yes, and here’s another one.’ Worried about people letting you down all the time? The universe will respond with ‘and here is another person to let you down.’ Thinking about the way you always attract toxic partners? The universe will respond with ‘and here’s another one’.
How do you stop it though?
Think of the bills and tell yourself ‘it’s okay. I can manage.’
Don’t think about people letting you down, think how wonderful that you have friends who are always there for you, or even just think how lucky you are to have happy people in your life.
Those toxic partners? First, make sure you are not also a toxic partner!! And then, work on your own growth, get yourself into a better space, and then think about what it would be like to have a kind, caring partner.
We cannot attract what we desire while we focus on what we do not desire.
Too hard? Well … if a person is not prepared to make any effort, then they are obviously happy with their life. And that is okay. Truly.
But if we want to be happier, if we want to understand life more, then we need to pay attention to our thoughts, and also pay attention to what is happening in our life. Can we see a correlation?
Choose tomorrow to be the day you decide to appreciate more things around you. The garden, the sunshine, the rain, the traffic, the coffee, the tea, the food, the clothes you wear. Try and appreciate as much as you possible can. You will see you are actually quite rich in things to appreciate! But mostly I want you to get to the end of the day and ask yourself this: did I enjoy that day? Did that day feel good? I am pretty confident you will say ‘I had a happy and enjoyable day. I had a great day!!’ I would really love it if you said to yourself at the end of the day “I fucking ROCKED that day!!”
Think of the days when you were annoyed and grumpy all day. How did you feel at the end of the day? Did it feel like that day was a complete waste of a day? Well guess what? They don’t need to be a waste. We all only have so many days in our lifetime. Appreciate the simple things around you.
I am sitting here writing this, and I have a mug of caramel tea sweetened with honey on my desk beside my computer. It is so delicious. I am appreciating every sip. I am not gulping it down absent mindedly. I am appreciating it. We need to slow down a bit and really appreciate the food and drink we consume. That gratitude touches every cell of our body!
Being in alignment is not too hard. It is wonderful!! And the more time we spend in alignment the more we tangibly feel life responding to us. The more we realise that joy is a wonderful place to be, and that joyful fun is contagious. We begin to affect and touch other lives, simply by being in alignment. You become the person that others gravitate to because you are a ‘safe space’, your energy is of love, of peace, of contentment. You radiate it!
Too hard? No. Never.
Don’t be lazy when it comes to understanding the power you have in your own life.
Yesterday morning I got up early to go for a bike ride. I was tired. I thought to myself “I am really tired. Do I want to go for a ride, or do I want to just go back to bed?” My answer? “Go for the ride. You will be disappointed in yourself later if you don’t.” So I got my cycling gear on, filled my bottles, and off I went. I took it easy to start with as I warmed up, and then … I just picked up the pace. I felt great. I pushed so hard that I did my fastest 100 kilometres!! A new personal record! (And yes, I will try to beat that one day!) I pushed myself, because I knew I had it in me. I knew I could do it! I set a goal: ride. I set another goal: ride faster!! Smashed out an epic ride. So damn proud of myself.
We will go nowhere in life if we tell ourself ‘no it’s too hard’.
Personal growth, personal evolution … it involves all levels of ourselves because all is interconnected. One affects the other.
Think well.
Eat well.
Drink water.
Exercise.
Appreciation.
Gratitude.
And be humble.
Always. Be loving.
Always. Be peaceful. Always.
Be compassionate. Always.