Sunday, January 31, 2010

Live your Life like a Dog!

A dog's life is not so bad - he sleeps 22 hours a day, runs around and jumps for joy about 1 hour a day (unless a squirrel is within eyeshot - then he barks the entire time) and the last hour he spends loving you. Directly from the heart. No games, no contradictions, no obstructions.

Just pure love.

A dog does not judge you for your past failures or disappointments. He takes you just as you are, right at this moment, and shouts with his entire body, "I am so HAPPY to see YOU!" Even if you have only been gone for a minute, a dog will greet you like he hasn't seen you in days. You could say that a dog packs more pure love into the one hour a day than most people do in a month of Sundays!

Think about your dog - the one you had growing up that heard every deep, dark secret of your childhood. Or consider the one who is resting under your feet right now while you read this blog. Aren't you the center of his universe (especially at dinner time)? Then think about this:
Did you do anything to earn his love? Or does he give freely, without reservation, hesitation or manipulation?

You know the answer to that question as well as I do! So why not model your life after your dog's? It will do your heart (and your life) a world of good.

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." Roger Caras

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Its Time to Expand My Life!

How are you doing, at the end of the first month of the new decade? Are you forging ahead on your New Year's Resolutions or have they been put up, along with the Christmas decorations? Time to check in and recalibrate!

Instead of stating the same old resolutions (lose weight, make more money, pay off debt, etc.) why not try a different approach? One that could recharge your life, your dreams and your goals! The place to start is not "out there" or after you get "_____" (fill in the blank). The place to start is right where you are -- right here, right now.

There is a quote that has had a profound impact on my life, which I now use to guide my choices throughout the day. You have to meditate on it, start using it as a template for your day, and the wisdom and spiritual energy will begin to seep into your consciousness. It goes to the heart of each of us and encourages us to choose well.

The quote is by Neale Donald Walsch, author of the "Conversation with God" series of books. It states:

Every decision you make - every decision - is not a decision about what to do. It is a decision about Who You Are. When you see this, when you understand it, everything changes. You begin to see life in a new way. All events, occurrences, and situations turn into opportunities to do what you came here to do.

Try reading this quote several times a day. Carry a copy of it with you to refer to in your free moments. Embed it on your consciousness, then make a note of the results. You will be amazed how a simple change in your perspective can totally change the direction of your life!

I think of it this way - in every moment of my day, I have two basic choices. I can either chose to expand myself, my purpose and my service to others, or I can chose to contract in fear, doubt, worry and anxiety. The expansive choice causes me to grow; the contractive choice makes me shrink. So, the basic question in each moment is, "Do I want to grow or shrink?" When I consistently make the expansive choice, my life is unbelievably, fantastically awesome. When I chose to listen to my fears, I shrink down into a smaller version of me.

Expand your life, and all of your New Year's Resolutions will come true in ways that you could never imagine. Try it yourself - make a comment back to this blog so we can all share our experiences!

Friday, January 8, 2010

Discover Your Spiritual Bridge

The dawning of a new year (much less a new decade) is time for celebration and contemplation. You celebrate that you are still here, in your human body, aware of the passage of time. You contemplate the past and the future, wondering about missed opportunities or undiscovered joys.

In short, the new year is a moment in time when the world stops spinning and we can catch our breath before the frantic energy begins again.

If you ever have moments you just want to get off the carousel, pay attention! That is your body telling you to slow down, breath deeply and just be. Not do, not accomplish, not succeed. Just be.

The bridge to your spiritual self is waiting for you in the stillness of your inner world. When was the last time you visited?

The following quote from Elizabeth Fayt is instructive:

"When we become silent, we are able then to become truly still. Meditation is the best way to achieve this stillness, because silence is more than just silencing the outward noise. It is about silencing the thoughts within. It is in this silence, that God speaks to us."

There are many different meditative techniques. Do some research, experiment and find the one that works best for you. Then practice it every day. This one simple change will make this new year completely different than any that has passed before!