Resist or Surrender

"...to offer no resistance to life is to be in a state of grace, ease and lightness." Eckart Tolle I love to randomly open an inspirational book and read whatever my eye falls upon first.  There are no accidents. The above quote was just what I needed to read yesterday morning.  "To offer no resistance." That seems a pretty tall order these days. Everyone on the planet is in their own personal struggle to adapt and ultimately accept. As emotional beings we cling to what we know. We live in the illusion that we have control over our lives. Then something big happens. An unexpected breakup, a death, disease, or the life-changing Coronavirus.  As you observe your reactions to this unprecedented time, first don't beat up on yourself. It is normal to feel fear. Strive to be mindful of the tendency to stay mired in that emotion. It is understandable to feel anxious. We have no touchstone, no comparison to equate this to in our lives.  We are grappling to develop the tools to maneuver through a completely new reality. As we gain footing I would like to make a request: Be highly aware of what makes you anxious and where your thoughts are taking you.  When we cease to resist we may make room for inner peace. This occurs when we surrender. That inner peace is the state of grace that Eckart Tolle is suggesting.  Surrender does not create victimhood.  Surrender is spiritual action. It frees us from the impossible belief that we can push and shove life to where we want it to be. Start to develop the ability to surrender by watching your thoughts. Be aware when your mind is filled with imagined horrors and decide not to live in future fear. We are in this together. We always have been. The veil of separation is being exposed for what it truly is. An illusion. As we are forced to actually physically separate we will have an opportunity to appreciate how much our connections truly mean to us. How much we need and love others. Surrender can open pathways to creativity. We begin to adapt by living in the moment. This crisis may lead people to recognize their true purpose and contribution. What if an outcome of this pandemic means more people go into medicine or science? What if a love of teaching emerges through home schooling? What if broken families heal when individuals see the fragility of life? What if Coronavirus shines a light on the insignificance of our petty emotions, grudges and attachments? I have no doubt that good will come as a result of this global crisis. Perhaps we will begin to understand the truth. Our value has nothing to do with what we own, drive or live in. It has to do with how we think, act, and be. You can do your part by surrendering your worry and fear and deciding that you will create love and magic by using your unique gifts. Find a way to laugh each day. Use FaceTime to visit with friends and family, take advantage of the links available to visit art museums and virtually wander through their exhibitions. But mostly commit to love. Help in whatever way you can. Breath. That is probably the most impactful thing you can do for stress. Meditate on what is meaningful to you and know this too shall pass.   Here is an affirmation for today Today I connect with my inner core of strength, love and joy. I spread love and light with each breath I take. I am safe, loved and loving. Sending you love and light.

Catc A Wave

"Catch a wave and your sittin' on top of the world."

Beach Boys "Catch a Wave"

Are you feeling afraid? Are you worried about everything? Do you feel helpless and depressed, anxious and distracted?  There is something you can do to alleviate the stress that appears to be drowning you. Catch a wave. We are surrounded by waves of energy. Sound, radio and electromagnetic waves constantly bounce around us. There are waves of negativity, fear and hate and then there is the wave of love. With a loving thought or a simple act of kindness you magnetize its power to you. When you choose love you commune with a force of healing that permeates the planet. Riding a wave of love lifts your spirit, shifts your perspective and expands your own vibratory field. You live in the moment. Believe in it's power and engage with it.

Some of us perpetually flail about among currents of negativity riding the peaks and valleys of fear. Love negates powerlessness. You cannot feel like a victim when love is your focus. Create your own bandwidth of love by choosing to think, speak and act in loving ways. Your efforts will help our planet heal.  

If you are burdened by negativity check in with your thoughts. Are they harsh and judgmental? Minor changes in perspective can create major shifts in attitude. Notice how even the smallest act of kindness alters your emotional mood. Try it! You have nothing to lose but suffering and much gain. Catch a wave, the wave of love.

"I think the world is going to be saved by millions of small things."

Pete Seeger 

Love and light,

Nora

Keys to Nowhere

Do you have a secret place in your home where you accumulate junk? I certainly do. One drawer in my kitchen was randomly designated as the junk drawer for years. The other day I decided it was time to do some purging. After sifting through bottles of sticky bubble stuff, half-burned birthday candles, keys to nowhere, gadgets and gag gifts received over the years three items remained: a ball of string, a tape measure and a bag of kitchen hooks. 

While admiring the now spacious drawer I began to wonder. What about the "junk" people keep in their hearts and minds?  How often do you find yourself remembering an old slight, a thoughtless snub or a petty argument? How frequently do you ruminate on memories full of pain and suffering? 

The thoughts that occupy the "junk drawer" of your heart rob you of the joy of living in the present. Beneath our suffering lies longing to be loved. The perception that love is absent creates pain. Step back and examine the memories that trigger your sadness. Recognize them as moments in time where love appeared to be missing. Accept that even the perpetrator of your pain was acting out of a perceived loss of love. 

Don't let past wounds take up space in your heart. If you find yourself consumed by painful recollections stop for a minute and breathe. Release the visceral reaction to your memory by breathing deeply into your solar plexus. Say these words silently or aloud: 

"I release and let go. I forgive and free my heart to love. I am loved and loving."

Love and light,

Nora 

When We "Do a Bad Thing"

"We're not bad people but we did a bad thing."

A recent show on Netflix ended with the line above. It stayed with me the following day as I examined my own actions and reflected on recent events in the lives of my clients, family and friends. Haven't we have all done something we regret, something thoughtless, mean or cruel? Each and every one of us has acted in a way that has been hurtful to another. By recognizing ourselves in the statement above we initiate forgiveness. Through atonement we begin to understand ourselves as well as absolve others. Only then can we be free to love.

Part of forgiving ourselves is to recognize that we have made choices and hold ourselves responsible for them. When we blame others for our actions we become victims. Unforgiving judgement fuels a culture of contempt and self-hatred. What if we chose to rejoice in our mistakes? For aren't they truly the anvil on which our wisdom is shaped and formed? Never miss an opportunity to learn from them.

As we stumble so do we grow. Forgive and be free from painful thoughts that lead to living in the past. Cultivate profound healing and love through forgiveness. 

"Was it you or I who stumbled first? It does not matter. The one of us who finds the strength to get up first, must help the other."

Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration