Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Don't Limit God?

Growing up in Mainstream Church, Southern USA, I learned that asking God for something specific - i.e telling God what you wanted - limited God in some way.... so that (s)he couldn't bring you what you really needed.

In some metaphysical teachings I've heard "don't ask for specifics" - just focus on generalities and leave it "open".

Then in other new thought circles I've been taught, "YES! Absolutely ask for exactly what you want and envision it in every detail."

So for years I've battled in my mind about which the hell way DO you "ask so that you can receive"? Do you set specific goals? Do you affirm, "I now make $100,000 dollars a year" (when you're making only 50% of that or less?) Or do you affirm something more "reasonable"?

A couple of days ago it hit me like a "duh" thump on the head.......

It's both... And.

You have to know what you want - exactly - otherwise you end up in a vague fog wishing and hoping for "something" better. All the while, your real focus is either on what you currently have and don't want or what you don't have that you want..... Either way, the focus is on the "don't have" - the "wanting" - the "lack of" - because that is the clearest picture in your mind.

So you get more of what is currently in your life - and in your mind's eye or focus.

You remain a "victim" of your world, waiting for something outside of you to come "save" you.

(Been there, done that. Many times!)

Knowing what you want - precisely and exactly - enables you to "see" a new picture in your mind. (A "new reality" so to speak.) And the more details - especially feelings - you can add to the picture, the clearer and sharper the picture.

But it doesn't stop there.

You must "see" this New Reality with a handful of detachment.

The feeling of what you want is the fuel. The details of how it arrives is like the "vehicle".

If you're expecting it to come to you in a yellow Ferrari, for instance, and a blue Jeep Cherokee shows up, you'll be left standing on the curb because you were too focused on a different way to get there - in this case the yellow Ferrari - and didn't even notice the Jeep Cherokee.

Adding "this or something better" to your picture leaves the door open for what you want to come to you in the best way for you.

Plus, I always add "for the highest good of all" as well. (We don't live in a vacuum. Whatever it is we want is usually going to involve other people in some way. Putting out the energy of "win-win" is good Karma as well as just good "metaphysical manners"!)

However, it doesn't stop here either.

Once the picture is in your mind, you're feeling all the wonderful emotions as if what you want is already part of your current reality, and you're open to it showing up in whatever way is best for everyone concerned....

Now you must take inspired action.

Sitting on the couch, visualizing, feeling good, and putting out good energy won't cut it. It's a third dimensional world we live in. You've got to DO something to bring it into the physical world.

So, when you get a nudge or an idea to go talk to somebody or do something or say something..... GO DO IT - SAY IT.... Follow through. Even if it's scary. (Actually, especially if it's scary!) These are promptings from Spirit / God.

You're "new reality" is on it's way. Following through on the nudges or ideas is your demonstration of Faith.

So really.... it's not putting your faith into action that limit's God.

What do you think?

Here's to continuing the Journey... getting a clear picture of what you want, feeling how awesome it is, and showing your faith by taking inspired action.

-Becky

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Take a "Do Nothing" Break

Actually, it's impossible to "do nothing" since we're always breathing and thinking and our heart is always beating. 

What I'm suggesting is to use these for a "time out" from hurry and worry.

Take a few minutes - even if it's just 5 minutes (though 10-15 would be better) to just sit and breathe and use your mind for relaxation.....
  • Get in a quiet, comfortable location where you won't be disturbed.
  • Begin taking slow deep breaths and just focus on the air coming in and out of your lungs.
  • Smile. (This step is really important!)
  • Imagine yourself sitting on the beach, or beside a mountain stream, or anywhere out in nature that is calming and serene to you.
  • Engage all your senses. What do you see around you? What sounds do you hear? What does the ground beneath you feel like? Are there any smells or tastes involved?
  • Put your awareness on your heart. How does it feel being in this place? Calm, serene? Are you happy, excited? What are you feeling?
  • Enjoy!

Take this "Do Nothing" break as often as you can - at least daily - and allow the "busyness", worry, and stress to just melt away.
 
Leave a comment and let me know how it goes!

Here's to continuing the Journey.... breathing... relaxing.... doing "nothing"..... giving yourself time to refresh your Spirit.
 
-Becky

Sunday, February 14, 2010

A Great Way to Send Love

Visualization is "seeing" in your mind's eye - or imagining.

Some people think they can't "do" it. However, I think as humans we do it so naturally that we aren't even aware of it. For instance....

Think about your car. Did you picture it in your mind? If you didn't get a clear picture, you probably at least got a sense of it, right?

Think about an event in your past, like the best birthday you ever had....

Some kind of image and feeling came to mind, didnt it?

When you remember a past event, or imagine a future event, or think about anything, your mind gets some sort of image or picture or feeling. That's in essence, visualization.

AND your mind does not know the difference of whether the event - or what you are "seeing" - is real, as in happening right now, or if it's imagined, something that happened in the past, or in the future, or if you're just "making it up."

The thing is.... whatever you put your attention on, that is where energy flows. It's like sending a signal out to the Universe that says "this is important, this is what I want". The more you think about it - visualize it - and the more emotion you put behind it, the bigger the signal gets.....  (even if it's something you consciously say you don't want)

But.... getting back to love.....

Visualization is a great tool to use to send love. Remember, energy flows in the direction of your attention..... And adding emotion gives it a super-charge.

Here's an exercise to try this Valentine's Day - or any day....
  1. Sit quietly and take several deep slow breaths.
  2. Put your awareness on your heart. You may want to place your hand on your heart.
  3. Think of someone you love and allow yourself to smile and remember them in your mind.
  4. Imagine that you are breathing through your heart and with every exhale, imagine that you are sending out loving, healing energy to this person. You may want to add color to that energy, seeing it as a white beam of light coming out of your heart going into their heart. Or some other color.
  5. Breathe, smile, focus, and imagine connecting with them in this way for several minutes, or as long as you like.
My new Heart-Speak Meditation has a variation of this visualization exercise on it with original, soothing music behind it. I invite you to check it out at http://tinyurl.com/heart-speak

Here's to continuing the Journey..... sending love and healing to you on this Valentine's Day.

-Becky

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

What's YOUR Dream?

I was reminded again this morning about the Susan Boyle story..... a 40-something woman that never gave up on her dream..... who faced ridicule and humiliation but kept going and did it anyway! 

She is a role model for all of us.... Don't let life kill your dream!

See her first audition where she surprised the world......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Lyrics: I Dreamed a Dream

I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high,
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving.

When I was young and unafraid
When dreams were made and used,
And wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung,
No wine untasted.

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hopes apart
As they turn your dreams to shame.

And still I dream he'll come to me
And we will live our lives together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms
We cannot weather....

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seems
Now life has killed
The dream I dreamed.

Here's to continuing the Journey..... and having the courage to LIVE your dream.

-Becky

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

See the Flowers.... Look for the Diamonds

This morning I was checking in with one of my plants.... (Okay, yes, I admit, I do talk to my plants) ....And was noticing how happy it seemed to be in its new location. It seems to have more growth all the time and even had one of its tiny yellow flowers a several weeks ago.

When I checked it this morning, I saw another yellow flower.... in the same spot the other one had been.

However, when I looked again, it wasn't there. More investigation showed me that it was just the light reflecting on one of the leaves that could have made it seem like there was a flower there.

As I continued my morning meditation, the phrase came to me.... "see the flowers."

I remembered yesterday morning, enjoying the sunlight reflecting on the thin layer of frosted snow on our back deck and on the bare tree branches in the back yard. It looked like sparkling diamonds reflecting in the sun.

And I realized.... again.... it's all a matter of perception.

Our perception comes from our beliefs - those habitual thoughts that we've accepted as "truth." And our brain is wired to only let in things that "conform" to those beliefs.

This is a good thing - because we have so much information coming in through our senses that we would go insane if we consciously were aware of all of it. So, acting as sort of a "safety device" the brain has a critical filter that only lets in certain information. It's filtering system is based on our beliefs and those things we decide are important and relevant.

Say for instance, you decide you want to purchase a new car and you want something different - something that is unique. So you decide on a green jeep.

Well, the next thing you know, you're seeing green jeeps Everywhere! That's the critical mind filter at work. You decided green jeeps were important and relevant to you, so your mind's filter let's that information come in to your awareness now.

But don't take my word for it. Experiment and see for yourself. Decide you want to see green jeeps, tourquois mustangs, yellow butterflies..... or whatever. And count how many times you see them through the next few days.

There's a flip side to this too, however. When you have the belief that you're not good enough, you'll never succeed.... nobody appreciates you..... Those are the things you will see as well.

But the more good news is..... :) It's all a CHOICE.

And it starts with awareness..... (and that's a choice too!)

Here's to continuing the Journey.... choosing to see the flowers..... and being aware of the diamonds all around us.

-Becky