Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Gratitude Is Giving

While watching a Deepak Chopra movie last night ("The 7 Spiritual Laws of Success) I barely caught this little tidbit about giving and receiving.

The law of circulation is a principle of this universe, in both the physical and metaphysical realms. What we give comes aback to us. When we hold back, so does the universe.

He said, "Gratitude is a form of giving."

That was the tiny piece that hit me. Our gratitude creates the process of circulation that brings more of what we are grateful for.

Gratitude is an energy that adds to our abundance and keeps the circle turning, adding more to what we already are blessed with.

No wonder it feels so good.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Acceptance

Have you ever had one of those nights where you can't get to sleep? Just wired to the max, mind racing, body not interested in sitting still?

That's where I was last night, a very unusual occasion for me. I usually drop pretty easily after 11.

But last night I felt like I could have gotten up and run a 6K, which would be a major miracle in my current state. I have no idea where this energy was coming from, but I certainly wasn't going to disparage it. I was grateful to experience a heightened level of energy.

But I wasn't getting to sleep in this state. What to do?

Accept.

I had the advantage of feeling gratitude for this remarkable state of energy, so it was a little easier to move to acceptance in this situation. I decided to stop worrying about sleeping, and...

Accept.

I accept this gift of hyperactivity.

And the release of resistance was palpable. I could feel it's release like a 100 pound weight being lifted from my body. The restriction of my chest was suddenly soft and gentle.

Acceptance. Better than NyQuil.

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Peace
Larry

Monday, October 11, 2010

Compassion (cont.)

What is left? What is our intention when we are expressing compassion?

Perhaps it is knowing that they are whole and perfect just where they are. Recognizing their divinity while they are in the midst of struggle might seem ineffective and inadequate in the face of their plight. When have you tried it? Try it today and let me know how its working for you.

Maybe it's honoring their journey as it takes this path that can feel so painful and appear so unfair. Maybe it's honoring the choices and all the situations and events and people that have brought them to this perfectly imperfect moment.

Maybe it's holding with them their potential that is more than this situation. Maybe it is recognizing the power that they possess to re-create their life in a beautiful way that is totally unique to them.

Compassion isn't about me.

It's about them.

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Peace
Larry
www.inspiringconnection.com

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Compassion

Spiritual Partnership book study based on Gary Zukav's book has multiple references to compassion. As I've discussed this in a couple of circles, compassion is an often used word that is not clear. It's meaning is a bit illusive.

When we are having compassion for someone;
-It's not feeling what the other person is feeling. That would be sympathy. We can never know what they are feeling. Besides, how does that help them? Does it serve them to jump in with them when they fall down a well?
-It's not feeling sorry for them. That requires a perspective of superiority. it also implies that there is something wrong with them.
-It's not identifying with them and telling them, "Yeah, that happened to me..."
-It's not giving advice and trying to fix them or their situation. They're not broken. They never were.
-It's not taking sides.

What is left? What is our intention when we are feeling compassion?

Continued tomorrow....
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JOY
Larry

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Unlimited Parts

How often do I look at what I do and criticize? Not enough. Less than them. Comparisons, judgments, perfectionism, etc. Who knows what's going to show up? Am I even aware of these parts?

These parts are all about the physical world. This is a world of limitations.

There are parts of our world that are unlimited. There are parts of me that are unlimited. Parts of you that are unlimited.

I have a choice to look at those unlimited parts and choose them as my motivation and intention. I have a choice to see the potential in myself and accept it as my inheritance to express in any moment.

From that unlimited potential, the limited parts lose their power. I have re-set my intention to one of possibilities.

See it often.

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Peace
Larry

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Switchbacks

Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz talks about the zigzag path that we all take to our goal. Like a sailboat on the sea, it rarely is going directly in a straight line to the destination. It requires many corrections.

Last night I had a dream of climbing a mountain and then seeing a trail map after the fact that showed our path. It wasn't a straight line.

It was a combination of directions, rarely in a direct line with the goal of the pinnacle, numerous switchbacks. Such a great metaphor, and one that I prefer to the sailboat heading across the sea.

Climbing a mountain is hard, and it can wear us out, become dangerous, if we try to take it on without consideration of our limitations or the obstacles. But paying attention to the really steep parts, we can continue to make progress up the mountain by taking a path across the mountain.

It can look like we're not moving toward our destination, our goal. It looks like I am going the other way, and that the goal is slipping out of sight.

When we are patient and constantly moving with the intention of reaching the top, anything is possible.

This is really useful to me so that I can be gentle with myself when progress seems elusive, when the path doesn't seem to be going to the top. I can be more patient knowing that progress isn't only made in the direction of the goal, but in the intention and persistence. Keep moving the feet, keep my eye on the prize.

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Peace
Larry