4.28.2010

Stress

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked;
'How heavy is this glass of water?'

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter.
It depends on how long you try to hold it.
If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.
If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.
If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.
In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'

He continued,
'And that's the way it is with stress management..
If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later,
As the burden becomes increasingly heavy,
We won't be able to carry on. '

'As with the glass of water,
You have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.
When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.'
'So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you're carrying now,
Let them down for a moment if you can.'

So, my friend, put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.
With thanks to lovely Maja at The Smiling Soul.

4.23.2010

Do You Do Too Much?

It's an interesting question, "Do you do too much?"

When I ask that question of people, typically they smile a little and say "yeah" kind of sheepishly or apologetically, then immediately follow with some kind of "but .." But I have to .. but I have responsibilities .. but things won't get done if I don't do them .. but they need me .. but I have all these goals .. but this has to be done .. but but but.

In his article about feeling a loss of passion, Jim Self asks: "If we are truly doing our work, happily on our path, we would be filled with energy, passion, light and enthusiasm. Right?"

In his article he's talking specifically about people doing spiritual healing/teaching who feel their passion diminishing or even disappearing, but the question really applies to all of us. If we aren't feeling passionate, happy, fulfilled, in whatever moment we are experiencing, something is clearly out of alignment.

Sometimes things are out of alignment because we don't know or aren't clear about what it is we want, and sometimes it's because we're taking things on that don't belong to us - things that aren't really our responsibility, things that we are doing not out of true choice, but out of duty, obligation, or habit, or things that can wait but we've decided for whatever reason that they can't. Perhaps it's time to re-examine what we are choosing to do in any given moment, and why.

In the rest of his article (below), Jim gives us some suggestions for how to determine if something we're about to take on is "outside our bandwidth" and if it is, how to bring ourselves back.

What is your job anyway?

As this Great Shift into higher awareness occurs, you must distinguish between what is your job and what isn't. By diving head-first into this 3D game you have volunteered to contribute a very unique, specialized piece of the puzzle. The puzzle is called Adding to All-That-Is.

Please notice the difference between “one piece of the puzzle” vs taking on the entire puzzle. The latter is a huge job; the former a bit more do-able. The heart surgeon has a very specialized talent and doesn’t even consider opening a general practice. A successful plumber recognizes her art and doesn't also try to become an electrician.

Unlike the specialized surgeon, however, many of us have been taking it ALL on. Whatever and whomever crosses our path, we engage with it - in the spirit of contribution and helping others.

Your enthusiasm, your passion and drive to contribute have opened a door through which all people in need are passing and standing before you to be healed and helped. Perhaps your job entails just one area of focus, not everything you are asked to do. Perhaps also - you can say "no thank you" now and again. All of these broken, lost and wanting spirits are not a match to you. Every person and every issue isn't your job to help. It isn't possible to do It-All and remain happy and healthy and connected to Creator.

None of us can do It-All and stay aligned with who we truly are. You came into 3D to contribute within only a very specific bandwidth*. Within that bandwidth lies your purpose, your passion and your well being. Identifying and serving within that bandwidth is your job. That is your only job.

Your bandwidth is one radio station playing clearly the music you love. Not all of the stations. Sure - two dozen stations broadcast to your home, but there is only one that is in true alignment with who you are. Maybe two. The jazz station and NPR. Not the Latino station or country or the hits from the 70's, Not Frank Sinatra or Christian broadcasting. Just jazz and NPR. The rest is noise. Perhaps you enjoyed those stations at one point, but now it is noisy. And that noise is wearing many people down because they are trying to tune into all the stations, all the time, all at once.

When you identify and focus only upon what pleases YOU, you will be happy and available to contribute your very best to the people and tasks within your bandwidth - allowing all the others to tune into a radio station that better matches their energy.

A Tool to Discern Your Bandwidth:

Imagine a gauge (0-100) and ask yourself these questions as new and current projects and people step into your life.

If the number that pops up isn't higher than 90, consider stepping away from it and therefore allowing more of what IS in alignment to enter your life. Just let the number pop up - no analyzing allowed.

1. How much fun is this project/person?

2. How good does this make me feeeeel in my body?

3. How aligned is this to my personal bandwidth, really?

As you play with this tool, know that even if the person or project scores high today - that doesn't mean you must keep it in your life forever. These are most important times of Shift and transition. What is true today may not be true tomorrow. Allow yourself and your passion to evolve.

You are big, not small. You are significant, not insignificant. You have a very important piece to play as the healer, teacher, leader you came here to be. BE who you came here to be.


Jim Self is an international teacher, speaker and author. He has been a leader in the field of spiritual development for over 27 years. He offers us the Tools of Mastering Alchemy as a Way of Life. This work is co-created with the Archangels, Ascended Masters and Teachers of Light. Free DVD and Free Tele-classes are available.

Jim presents free local evening classes and a weekend seminar ‘Creating the Personal Power Field’ across North America. www.MasteringAlchemy.com

* Note that Jim did not say we are each here to "do only one thing". He said we are each here to "contribute within a very specific bandwidth". A lot of different activity can be fit into a bandwidth, if we can get clear about what that bandwidth is.

4.14.2010

Learning to Distinguish Energy

As we move forward with the shift in consciousness, it becomes apparent that many, if not all of us to some degree, are empathic in nature. Which simply means that we "feel" the energy of others, both physical and non-physical, including the energy of animals, trees, and even inanimate objects. It can be difficult for all of us, whether you consider yourself to be empathic or not, to discern which energy belongs to us and which does not.

If you're feeling inundated with feelings, confused or overwhelmed, first take a moment to breathe. Breathe in deeply for a moment or two, until you begin to feel a bit settled. Then ask yourself "how did I feel a few moments ago?" If a few moments ago you were calm, or happy, or joyful, or just content, ask yourself what happened in the last few moments that caused a shift in your feelings? Did someone come into the space around you who was previously not there? Did you witness an event that caused the shift? Did you overhear a conversation?

Be aware that you may not ever be able to specify what caused an emotional shift. All of us, and particularly those with strong empathic leanings, can pick up energy that hangs around in an environment, especially very strong energy that has not been transmuted or released. Even sitting down at a table in a restaurant where an argument has taken place recently can lead to feelings of upset or agitation.

The point is to begin to be aware of energy that does not belong to you - to recognize it and release it. It's difficult enough to manage all the different energies that affect us based on our own actions and beliefs, let alone that of others that we aren't even aware of!

Of course if there are "good" energies about that help us feel complete, happy, content, etc, we don't much need to worry if those are our feelings or not. We can just enjoy the good feelings and continue on our merry way.

But when the energies surrounding us are confusing, upsetting, or in any way deterring us from the good feelings that we are entitled to, it's worth determining if they are truly our feelings, or if we're getting caught up in energies that don't belong to us. If the energies are truly ours, it's worth recognizing that we can shift out of them, just with our intent to do so. If they are energies that don't belong to us, we can easily release them, without upset and without anger - simply wish the energy well and let it go. Remind yourself that you are the master of your own self and your own space, and you don't need to take upon yourself any energy that you do not wish.

Jim Self in his Mastering Alchemy program, offers some simple yet powerful tools for managing our personal energy field. His site contains a lot of free articles, and free audio material, including his Essential Energy Tools, which is a sub-set of his paid program of Mastering Alchemy Level 1. Very useful and interesting stuff if you're struggling to keep yourself unbound by the energy of others.

4.13.2010

Create

The following comes from April Crawford's Veronica, but the same concept was given a few months ago by Geoff Hoppe's Adamus at Crimson Circle. It's a simple concept but extremely powerful. And most of all, it can be really fun. Soo .. go forth and unabashedly create!

Create....... (To "Stick" or be "Un-Stuck")

Your soul, infinite in its existance, chooses physical reality as an opportunity to participate in creation. All spiritual energy feels the desire of expression whether in nonphysical or physical. The level of participation may vary but ultimately that creative process aligns your soul, enhancing its connection with all that vibrates in reality.

So, if you are feeling stuck in your focus being an omnipotent energy in a physical form.... create... anything..... Bring forth a part of your soul no matter how simplistic it may feel.

Allow your soulful energy to unfurl itself while igniting your thoughts creatively to bring in a spiritual creation to this reality.

This alignment not only will be a fulfillment to your dimension but will also move stagnant energy within you.... This allowing will bring better manifestation to your reality.

The feeling of being stuck may dissipate giving you a chance to reconnect with physical & yourself.

Create what?, you ask.

The answer lies between a simple endeavor to a complex one. It's your energy that will define it. Breathe new life into your self and ride the wave of creative power that is within all of you.

It may be dulled from inappropriate outside influence but indeed it is still there. Reach down deeply and reconnect to whatever your soul resonates with.

It will make a difference.

Creation is the fuel of the soul & its expression.

~ VERONICA

4.08.2010

Don't Let The Turkeys Get You Down

It is no secret that in current times people are finding it increasingly difficult to remain centered, focused and positive as a result of constant negativity and fear based energies bombarding us. The Collective Unconscious is oozing darkness making it challenging to determine what is our own stuff and what is collective fear. The new energies are exposing these negative issues in an attempt to break down the old ways of the mundane world so as to empower and motivate us to rise above the obsolete ways of living life and learning our lessons. This, however, is not an easy process often leaving us feeling tired, confused, and frustrated as we attempt to wade our way through 3D sludge and find our path to freedom.

On the positive side, we have an awesome opportunity to once and for all rise above our old patterns and discover ways to free ourselves from past programming and reinvent ourselves in previously impossible ways. We are realizing things about ourselves and life in general, which in the past we sidestepped due to the fear of facing our shadow and acknowledging, that in fact, by facing our fears, in the long run leaves us feeling more self-aware and better equipped to manage ourselves and our lives during these times of accelerated change.
"... as we attempt to wade our way through 3D sludge ..." Wow. Powerful words that have great meaning for me personally at this time, maybe so for you as well. I've been "struggling" through an incredible mess created by a mistake made by one of our insurance companies. One day they own up to their error and are willing to fix it, and the next it's as if they never heard of me and my issue before, and are adamant they are right. Maintaining center and balance has been difficult, and I must say that it's a battle I haven't been winning.

The above, which is this week's message from Michelle Eloff at TheLightweaver.org helps me realize it isn't just me, and that maintaining my center and balance as this issue is resolved is all there is to do. I find that as I've tried to attain justice for the wrongs that have been inflicted through this error, I've gotten wound up in my own drama.

Getting mired in drama never helps, and mired in drama I have been. Which means I've been giving away my power, which not only isn't helpful, it isn't my typical way of being. It's amazing to me to see how much this one small issue has taken over the rest of my life. The vast majority of my life is wonderful, yet I'm allowing this one injustice to ooze into and affect other areas of my life. Upset can be like that - if we don't reign it in it can negatively impact a lot of other areas of our life.

With these new insights I'm more resolved than ever to follow my heart toward a solution and allow things to unfold as they do. This is a challenge I am more than up to, as it is helping me break up patterns of behavior that have run my life. Bring it on, Universe!