Who Am I, Now?

This is the end of 2020 and we have been forced inside to protect ourselves from the pandemic and this has caused many of us to become self-reflective. Maybe you are watching too much TV or are caught in social media polarization and so angry or fear filled AND not engaged in self-reflection. If you have not avoided getting slowed down and so learned more about yourself, what have you discovered? Who are YOU Now?

2020 has stripped away your “normal social life.” Work has changed. Habits have had to change. Most likely your activities with family and friends have under-gone some change in your travels, indoor get togethers, eating in your favorite restaurants, even frequency of shopping trips. Kids are not in school. Our freedoms to enjoy social contact, music, movies, and other forms of entertainment have been impacted. We even have to be more careful washing our hands, covering our faces, and keep “social distances” from people as we walk on the sidewalk or trails. Even, or especially, we can not hug parents or grandparents without considerations like never before 2020.

Even in most Western countries, the political polarization and economies have created huge change, along with more fear and anxiety. This is not happening to one country or one state or one city, this is a worldwide concern. We are all in this together and yet we are “isolated” and feeling unsupported. We are wondering where all the plans we have made have gone and if we will ever get back on track.

The track is different. Our world has changed. AND, our lives are different. We are NOT going back to pre-2020 lifestyles. So, who are we, going forward? Can we grasp the power and the excitement of the possible freedom moving forward into the dawning of a new world? Is this exciting and joyful or too scary to consider? Have you learned to meditate and to connect with your deeper self (or your Higher self) even though you miss the old culture created persona you have developed as your disguise to “fit in” with cultural expectations? Many of us are struggling to accept the “new me” in the face of an externally changing world.

It is way too soon to be happy with all that has happened (and continues to happen.) The practice of “Allowance” may be the lesson. Not Acceptance, exactly, but willingness to sit more patiently on the sidelines and watch what is unfolding. Not “trying” to control the uncontrollable but observing and creating new strategies to be our new selves. Humans are adaptable, if nothing else. We can live in any and every hostile environment on our planet. We can evolve and adapt. We can migrate. We can learn from the other cultures we bump into. Heck, we can even get old and live with physical diminishment’s. YOU are Amazing. Now what are you going to do to be of service in our new and evolving world. Let the light of your evolving spirit burn as brightly as possible. Share your wisdom from experience and support the other stumbling pilgrims you encounter.

When presented with new information or “facts,” do your research. Check your sources. DO NOT believe everything you hear, even from “trusted” sources. Yes, DO NOT BE LAZY! Things are changing so rapidly that what you heard as truth yesterday may not be true anymore. Except, know that you are loved. You are so much greater than your human drama. You and your soul are Perfect, and necessary!

It is a never ending process to “Know Thyself” as we continue to grow and become more aware as we interact with our world. There are variables. You may “Be” someone in one environment And some else in another place. Based on life experience even your “values” may change (example: from Liberal in Youth to Conservative later in life.) And, your consciousness of your connections with Divine Spirit will change as you have Spiritually Transformative Experiences (STE’s.) A dramatic experience like a NDE (Near Death Experience) will dramatically change 99% of people who happen to go through this kind of event. And, living consciously through 2020 has triggered many unusual experiences which have created opportunities to learn more about ourselves in our human incarnations. Remember, with major change, it requires some time to most fully integrate the changes or new consciousness into our human lives.

No matter where you are on your human journey, YOU are a Miracle! Thank you for being you.

Thanks for your time and consideration. Your insights and experiences are unique and a blessing, so please share these…

If you are READY and looking for a supportive community where you can share your story, your wisdom, and grow spiritually in a non-religious environment, consider Masters of the Journey.
You are a Blessing! You are a Master! Your wisdom from your life experience can have great value to other pilgrims on the path toward awakening and enlightenment.

The Masters of the Journey has events which are updated on our Facebook page which is found at: www.facebook.com/mastersofthejourney Please comment on this blog and share, if appropriate. More of our blogs are based on spiritual consciousness and can be found at www.dstress.com/blog

Dawning of the Age of Higher Consciousness

Happy New Year! Good bye to 2020 and looking to the Light for 2021…

As we transition from the year of “Torment” (2020) into the new year are we on the verge of the a New Age? Will this be the beginning of the New Consciousness or a further descent into separation and destruction of our home planet? Has the 2020 Pandemic offered us a chance to step back from cultural hedonism and conspicuous consumption or just a break from the headlong course over the ledge into mutual destruction? Will we learn from historical events regarding the decline of past civilizations or are we destined to follow the same path into a dangerous global decline? My hope is that we can remember the past human history and remember our Divine Spirit and so change course before we ruin our Earth irreparably.

Our leading cultures admire and seem to worship selfishness and individualism at the expense of the “greater good.” The power is driven by an economy (and the 1% of the population who control most of the wealth) which feeds excessively on natural resources and the servitude of a struggling working class which is an unsustainable situation. Greed of money and power is not the focus for a world growing in selfishness and is not healthy for our Global community. Future generations, if they survive, will look back on these very days as a moment of choice. These future cultures will either celebrate or demonize our cultures and leadership for the course of human civilization that is in the balance as we end the darkness of the year of 2020. Our Pandemic, our politics, our economy, and our consciousness will be revered as a positive time of growth and change or as the nail in the coffin of human civilization. Time will tell but our lessons will be critical for survival of life as we know it on Earth or as a “tear-down” and rebuilding era.

Metaphysical philosophers and Astrologers are suggesting the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius. The potential for positive redirection into a higher consciousness which can change the path of humanity. We are polarized and fighting for opposite values. These are exciting and interesting times. The travel brochures for spirits in the higher realms read, “See It (our Earth) Before Its Gone…” The “Adventure Travel” from the Higher Realms into human incarnation seems fraught with danger, excitement, and peril. But, this is nothing new for living on Earth. However, today at the end of 2020, we have the technology to either take the Earth down and allow the cockroaches to rule our planet for the next million years OR we can work together to build a more evolved civilization and consciousness. Historically, humans are headed for a horrendous apocalypse as a pattern which will lead to destruction of current civilizations. (example: remember the Roman Empire’s demise…) Oh well. Nice Try!

There is so much room for “learning” as incarnated humans. And, we tend to learn more from hard times so this will be a great opportunity for growth… It does not have to be so dark and we may find, and then follow, a path toward the Light. So, let’s jump on board and see where this train will take us. Keep your eyes, and minds, wide open. Support your fellow pilgrims as best you can because we all in this together, sink or swim… And, Love is a great option compared to fear.

Consider, loving support over greed. Consciousness over narrow polarized selfishness. Do Not buy in to conspiracy theories or we are digging a hole (do REAL research before you believe what you read on Social media even from “trusted” sources.) Giving rather than taking. Be the Light instead hiding in the shadows or basking in someone else’s light. Connecting with the Divine rather than living in the 3 dimensional ego driven mind. Remember your connection and oneness with all souls rather than building walls of separation (and hoarding wealth and power.) AND, most importantly, know and Love our planet Earth as the Miracle Jewel it is in our Universe.

My Mind writes these words and finds form for the Human drama that is playing out in our Earthly world. My heart feels a seemingly opposite sensation. My heart dances in the light of Joy “Knowing” and “Remembering” the Divinity beyond the travails of Human drama. This part of my human consciousness has access to the “what is possible” in being alive in these challenging times of human history. These words may help to rally the souls touched by these blogged thoughts and we can reach out to support each other to most gracefully learn from these challenges and raise all consciousness by doing so. I ask you to look for, and find, Joy each day you are blessed to live. Look especially deep into the moments which seem darkest to find the Light of these important lessons. (We came to the Earthly plane for the human dramas our lives create. We desire these opportunities to learn and to grow beyond our 3 dimensional limitations.) Express unconditional Love, more acceptance, less judgement, and remember our connection to the Divine Spirit and all souls…

We can do this! We can create the “Light” out of the seeming darkness which pervades our human existence. And, this means finding Joy in the blessings of our challenging learnings while releasing fear and mind created separation.

No matter where you are on your human journey, YOU are a Miracle! Thank you for being you.

Thanks for your time and consideration. Your insights and experiences are unique and a blessing, so please share these…

If you are READY and looking for a supportive community where you can share your story, your wisdom, and grow spiritually in a non-religious environment, consider Masters of the Journey.
You are a Blessing! You are a Master! Your wisdom from your life experience can have great value to other pilgrims on the path toward awakening and enlightenment.

The Masters of the Journey has events which are updated on our Facebook page which is found at: www.facebook.com/mastersofthejourney Please comment on this blog and share, if appropriate. More of our blogs are based on spiritual consciousness and can be found at www.dstress.com/blog

Time for Grounding

Are YOU spinning like a top? Is life swirling and creating an energetic maelstrom which is blowing you about? Are the multiple life dramas you are working through feeling overwhelming or maybe depressing? Well, welcome to the club! Yup, we are being pushed 24/7 to our limits AND we are feeling it! So, what do you do to get back in control or to mellow out? Recently, I was chatting with a group of people and discussing this common phenomenon and a discussion regarding how best to “Ground Out” came up…

Grounding out suggests that there is an excess of energy (maybe anxiety) within you (your body or your consciousness) and that, like electrical energy, it can be released by grounding into the Earth. Lighting rods offer this grounding to a discharge of electrical energy called lighting… (Your science lesson for today.) But, your release of emotional energy can be very important for this excess energy may distract you and keep you from focusing upon what life requires. So, grounding can be a very important and life preserving endeavor.

Everybody is triggered by their own unique set of circumstances. Everybody holds their stress and anxiety in their own way. And, “letting go” or grounding out will also be a unique experience. So, you will find your own way to do this and perhaps, you may even remember to use these tools/techniques. Using these preventively can become a positive habit which can work to keep you healthy, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. If you do not know how to begin to find your way then I have some suggestions to attempt.

Suggestions:
1. Be present: “in the moment” Easier said than done but well worth practicing. Too often we can find ourselves reliving a moment (of upset or negativity) from a past experience. Or, we can dread an unknown on the horizon off in our future. Enlightenment is often demonstrated by “being” in the present moment which is easier said than done…
2. Breathe (Most important to help find your way back into your body AND the Present Moment) By focusing on an essential physical act and controlling this moment we can lead the body into relaxing and becoming more present. Perhaps, you can attempt to breathe slowly, feel cool air as you inhale, pause a moment, then release/exhale the warmed breath as you slowly and fully exhale. Imagine that as you exhale you can release any excess energy or anxiety, letting it flow out and away. The next cool, soothing inhales can begin to fill you with a calming sense of peace…
3. Yoga or Stretching (releasing built up muscle tension and increases body awareness.) Yes, breathing and slowly stretching to release tension can be a tool for regaining your presence.
4. Meditation or guided relaxations (see Stress Education Center) Slowly and gently focusing on breathing and “letting go” of thoughts can be a wonderful practice. Intuition can be enhanced. Most people can benefit from practicing this long enough to be able to releasing distractions from thoughts drifting through the mind.
5. Walk in Nature (ground out with each step and be “present” to enjoy the miracles you will encounter in a natural setting.) Savoring your moments in nature and then acknowledging your Gratitude for these moments can be very healthy for you and your emotional well being.
6. Stones, Crystals or Minerals (I have a small collection of pocket polished stones. Each has its own energy and purpose. You discover which ones work best for you and your energy.) Every person is attracted to their own required energies and each mineral has a unique signature. So, find the ones that “feel” best for you.
7. Earthy hands on hobby (clay, wood work, natural wool, gardening, petting your pets, etc) The Earth knows what to do with any excess energy. You allow yourself to release this excess energy through connecting with a natural, Earthy endeavor.
8. Absorbing a High Consciousness Story – not too much Drama (We have enough. Taking in the story by reading or viewing from source of higher consciousness is both healing and provides perspective like, “Autobiography of a Yogi“)
9. Hydro therapy: bath, shower, hot tub, swimming, or a walk near a lake-river-ocean
10. Gentle discussion and support from a highly conscious communication partner (again less: drama, interruption, and gossip) Also, gently sharing your story can offer a new perspective on a past moment that you found challenging or brilliantly uplifting… Any grief which comes up, and then out, can be healing. Playing a victim to your grief is not a great long term strategy so explore the amazing Joy found in the “lesson” you have been offered…

AND, spend time in Gratitude! Acknowledge the beauty and the miracles which surround you. Your connection with the Divine Spirit is perfect though the “Veil” may shroud your knowing/remembering of your pure connection to “Source.”

So many more…
Find ways which work best for you. Get a coach if you can not find one that works for you.

Avoid:
1. Coffee/caffeine, for many, sugar or highly processed foods
2. Traffic/Chaos/Excessive Media/DRAMA
3. Television and politics… Loud media grabbing your attention.
4. And, when possible, angry, negative people if you are attempting to ground out…
5. Negative Self-Talk and being stuck in Victimhood
6. Loud or shrill Humanity
7. Outsiders Expectations of you. Internal expectations of yourself also
8. Speeding through life and breath holding. Slow conscious savoring can be good.
All of these are easier said than done. So, consider these strategies and use them as needed for you to feel most present and in control of your consciousness. If you have children share these, best by role modeling…

YOU can do it! NOW, You can remember to do your grounding program regularly, even before you get too “spun out.” Breathe and be Grateful for the Miracles of Life that present themselves and Love freely (without expectations.) AND, be the role model for your children, your spouse, your co-workers, and your family and friends. This will create a healthier environment for all of you…

You are a Miracle! Thank you for being you.

Thanks for your time and consideration. Your insights and experiences are unique and a blessing, so please share these…

If you are READY and looking for a supportive community where you can share your story, your wisdom, and grow spiritually in a non-religious environment, consider Masters of the Journey.
You are a Blessing! You are a Master! Your wisdom from your life experience can have great value to other pilgrims on the path toward awakening and enlightenment.

The Masters of the Journey has events which are updated on our Facebook page which is found at: www.facebook.com/mastersofthejourney Please comment on this blog and share, if appropriate. More of our blogs are based on spiritual consciousness and can be found at www.dstress.com/blog

I am Sad and Depressed Everyday

How would you respond? What words can you convey to be of service? Can you feel empathy?

Comment which was received anonymously from a past blog posting:
“I am extremely sad and depressed everyday. Cry a lot. Think about suicide all the time. As a 54 yr old female, I am wondering how to achieve enlightenment to elevate my soul and spirit…”

How do YOU respond to this comment… So this is the Response from Guidance:

“Thank you for your comment. I am sorry that you feel sad and depressed everyday. Life is a Miracle. Living can be brutal. Perhaps you can set out everyday to find one miracle in your world. Look for it. Find it. Feel it. AND, Know it…
This may be difficult to believe but even though you feel unhappy, you are a Miracle. You are amazing. No one else could do what you do. If you shared your life’s story, people would think that you are a SuperWoman to have survived. You have wisdom to share AND do not miss the opportunity to share your wisdom, even if what you share is what not to do… Your warning may change someone’s life.

By answering your comment, my day has been changed. Thank You.
You are a Blessing!
When possible, find Joy even in the darkest day or the most difficult challenge. This is easier said than done BUT you can get good at this… by… looking for the miracles and the good there is to find…

Please take good care of yourself. I am sending you my love and my thanks.”
———————
Additional thoughts from Guidance:

Most people find times in their human lives which do not feel happy. It is part of our challenge to live as humans in a world which often teaches through pain or fear or anxious uncertainties. Perhaps we survive and feel stronger and more resilient. Perhaps we survive and feel scarred and broken. The difficulties we face are part of the “drama” we sign up for as spiritual beings come to have “human” experiences. And, Pain is real, suffering is optional…

Life has its physical, emotional, and spiritual pain. These lessons are essential. How we deal with our losses, our pains, and our life challenges is an option we have. If you want to carry your victimhood as suffering, you have that as a choice AND as a lesson.

“That which does not kill us, makes us stronger” is attributed to the German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche and delivers wisdom worth sharing. (It also reflects upon our life experience as an affirmation of resilience.) No Guide from the Divine ever said that human life would be always easy or fun. The times when we often learn the most are when we are most tested. However, living life in a state of constant sadness or depression is probably not the intention for every soul walking the Earth. We are tested and true “Enlightenment” often includes the ability to find light and joy in every dark corner of our lives. Not as a Pollyannaish response but as a reverence for all lessons, especially the tough ones.

Even the wealthiest humans amongst us can NOT buy eternal happiness or, more importantly, spiritual satisfaction and wisdom with their financial wealth reserves. In fact, for many people, wealth or the desire for wealth can get in the way of the deepest spiritual insights. (Consider the story of Siddhartha.) Wealth is not bad however its focused pursuit can get in the way of being most fully “present” and then acting on the path toward “Enlightenment” in your human incarnation… (This reflects My opinion based on my guidance…)

“Enlightenment” includes non-judgement, empathy, acceptance, and equanimity of other pilgrims and the interactions which occur. The practice of an Enlightened being includes unconditional love of all souls even the ones who you bump into who teach you lessons as your seemingly polar opposites. A common lesson on the path to “Enlightenment” entails taking full responsibility for the path you are following. No one else has made the choices you have made and you empower yourself by assuming your responsibility to both “good” and the difficult circumstances you may experience along the way. YOU have more power to create than you are consciously aware of in your human existence! (If you do not like your life’s path, change it! If people do not like you, you could change or find new people or learn from this difficult and awkward situation. Quit making the same mistake over and over or accept this condition in your temporary incarnation.)

Depression and Sadness are not uncommon human experiences. Our choice is to “suffer.” On the other side of living a human life, there are miraculous experiences and joy to be found in every day which you are blessed to live.

YOU are a Blessing! You are a Miracle! No one else can do “You” better than you and the Divine Spirit would be incomplete without what your soul brings to our Universe. Thank you for being you… You are LOVED!

You are a Miracle! Thank you for being you.

Thanks for your time and consideration. Your insights and experiences are unique and a blessing, so please share these…

If you are READY and looking for a supportive community where you can share your story, your wisdom, and grow spiritually in a non-religious environment, consider Masters of the Journey.
You are a Blessing! You are a Master! Your wisdom from your life experience can have great value to other pilgrims on the path toward awakening and enlightenment.

The Masters of the Journey has events which are updated on our Facebook page which is found at: www.facebook.com/mastersofthejourney Please comment on this blog and share, if appropriate. More of our blogs are based on spiritual consciousness and can be found at www.dstress.com/blog

What Might It Be To Be God?

What would it be like to be God? Consider this not as blasphemy or as an Ego trip but through the Heart of the Divine Spirit. And, putting aside that your humanness, your brain, and your three dimensional limitations which do not easily allow such an expansive view of our Universe, you, your spirit, are at the core of Divine Wisdom. You are the perfect manifestation of the Divine, incarnated into a human life. You can back away from this responsibility but it does not change the fact that you and God are one. (You are an unexplainable Miracle.) Now, what do you do with this concept?… Beyond your struggle to know or to remember, and your denial, and to finally surrender to this “knowing,” is a theme for your enlightenment…

Imagine for a fraction of a human second what it would be like to be at the source of all dimensions of all of the Universe. In the “Higher Dimensions” a fraction of a second goes on forever AND a human life is but a blink… and Time and space, as humans understand, does not exist in the Higher Dimensions. The Human mind has limitations which boxes it in due to the belief that linear time, sequential time, exists and that all reality is found within 3 dimensions. In the Higher Dimensional Realms, “time” does not exist so you can be anywhere, in any dimension, perhaps even in multiple lifetimes in every moment. This is difficult to get your mind to understand because this is far beyond most human understanding. Likewise, it is not easily possible to “realize” that you are not confined by space in three dimensions. You can be anywhere, everywhere, simultaneously.

So, to imagine that your human mind and your human ego is put aside and you are the “Creator” of the Universe becomes a tremendous challenge for a frail human being. If you have had an “Awakening” like a Near Death Experience or a spiritual Epiphany, you might be more conscious of what is possible without human limitations. (Look up STE, a Spiritually Transformative Experience.) This is not the ego driven thoughts of unlimited power like in the movies. It is a more complete “Knowing” of omnipotence. So why is any of this important to you? You have a critical role in the Divine Spirit. You are a unique piece of the foundation of the Universe and all of the Divine. You are a multidimensional being living in a human incarnation but NOT limited to the human boundaries you have agreed to participate within in this drama of your human existence.

Putting your limitations of mind and ego aside, YOU are a piece of God. YOU are God! You are a living manifestation of Holy Spirit and have access to all of Divine Wisdom. AND, you are shaking your head in disbelief because it is too much to comprehend and there is too much responsibility that is enfolded in this consciousness. You might assume that if you were God, you would have to behave “God-like.” You could not have flaws in your humanness. AND, you fail to see the perfection of your imperfections along with the human lessons and challenges you are here to experience… You are “here” to be a crippled human, blind to who you really are. And, if you were to transcend your human limitations to realize your Divinity, you may have to live each moment within God-like expectations. Forget this expectation. You are NOT here to live 24/7 as God, though you may want to move closer to that possibility. Your purpose is to serve other souls in their quest to “remember” who they are, where they come from, and where they will return at the end of their human incarnation.

YOU can NOT get this wrong! You are Perfect! You are a Miracle! Your struggle in being human is your lesson and it is “our” lesson to get you as far along as possible in consciousness within the human existence you have chosen. So, at some point, imagine yourself in the higher dimensions. Free from time and space. As a multidimensional spirit you are surrounded by light and consciousness. You are enveloped in unconditional Divine Love. You are fully accepted for the perfect being you are. You are connected to all other spirits because you are “one” with them as part of the Universal Divine Spirit. You have the freedom to be anywhere and in any dimension and in any Earthly life at any moment. You can manifest your reality AND this is always perfect (if only as a lesson or challenge for you to experience.) In a meditation, you may have a brief remembering of this reality and this opens the door for your consciousness to walk through to have a greater realization that you are most perfect and at the core of all Divine Wisdom. For an instant, your human mind may know a small piece of what it is like to be God.

No matter what you believe about what you just read, Guidance has drawn you into consideration of these words and these concepts. You can not un-see these words or undo these thoughts. You will have your own path to enlightenment and you will find your own unique way to share these rememberings. The challenge will be to live your life with this wisdom and in some micro-seconds of your human life, know that you are the Divine. You are Loved! You are connected and so “one” with all the Universe. Though your mind and your ego wants you to think you are separated from all consciousness, you are but a flash of insight from the core wisdom. Now, you can not ever go back. What will you do differently after you are exposed to this concept?

BTW, my scribing these words from my Divine Guidance is done in an act of service to developing consciousness, to express a point of view you may have some difficulty finding. There are moments in my waking humanness when I “know” these concepts as reality and I struggle to find my way to live with Divine Consciousness in more of moments I am allowed in this lifetime… We will go hand in hand down this path to greater awareness and expanded enlightenment…

You are a Blessing! Thank you for being you.

Thanks for your time and consideration. Your insights and experiences are unique and a blessing, so please share these…

You are a Blessing! You are a Master! Your wisdom from your life experience can have great value to other pilgrims on the path toward awakening and enlightenment.

Note:
This posting is not created to denigrate your religious belief in God or your religion. In fact, in many cases, religious philosophy can have laws and rules which limit the way you understand or perceive of the Divine Spirit and this posting offers an expansive and inclusive view of what is possible… You have free choice to mentally understand your life philosophy in this human incarnation. Your choice of human thoughts and then your behaviors are a part of the lessons and the challenges we all are here to learn from. So, be responsible for your own thoughts and feelings and behaviors. Learn from your reactive responses and strive to move forward on your pilgrimage through this life. As stated above, these lessons are “perfect” and of service. Thank you for your service.

“The Choice,” Your Choice

You have a choice! Perhaps you have been a victim of a bad situation but YOU have a choice to not live in victimhood! Recently, I was given a copy of the book, “The Choice: Embrace the Possible,” by Dr. Edith Eva Eger. It was painful to read her account of surviving the unspeakable horrors of “living” through her 16th year in Auschwitz in the last year of World War II (1944.) Dr. Eger tells her story of emotionally burying the horrors of her experience for decades until she sought out treatment and support and then to realize she had a “Choice.” She needed to do the work to free herself from her own prison. Her story is remarkable AND not an uncommon dilemma for many of us traumatized by the brutal lessons of our lives.

Why do many of us feel more comfortable remaining in our pain filled life dramas? Sure, it is familiar. Sure, we may think we “deserved” this self-constructed prison because our self-esteem is less than it could be. And, many of us have learned a coping strategy which is successful in dragging other compassionate people into our web of “attention seeking” victimhood as a way to get our emotional needs met. BUT, (a big but) we can choose to not be a victim in our own self-constructed web. We can take some responsibility for how we respond to our life’s traumas.

As I write this blog, Dr. Edith Eger is 90 years of age and has found her way to serve humanity by sharing her story and then sharing her discovery of the choice she has had to make in teaching her lesson from this horrific life experience. This extreme example is supported by her clients working to recover from their life traumas. Each of these stories reflects different discoveries and the advances which she has moved through. No matter what nightmare YOU have experienced, even horrors beyond your control, you have a choice. How YOU respond from the lessons you have survived is up to you. No one else… Her book, for me, was hard to read in her recounting of the holocaust she lived through in the 1940’s. It triggered memories and emotions that could have been avoided but facing her painful memories puts many other life learnings into perspective. Taking personal responsibility is never easy. It is so important if you want to learn and grow most fully. Dr. Eger was opened 25 years after her release from Auschwitz by reading Vikto Frankl’s account of his time in Auschwitz in his book “Man’s Search for Meaning.”

Childhood traumas are reflected in many of the client stories which are shared. These are not an uncommon life experience even in sheltered childhoods. We come into our human lives to live, and then to learn, from the “dramas” and the traumas we experience. I was hit as a child by my father in his frustrations. I learned that I never wanted to hit my sons and perhaps this behavior has been extinguished for our descendants and future generations in our family. The world needs this behavior to be extinguished!

Consider the choices you have in your life, your behaviors, and your responses to the difficult experiences you have found in life. Even PTSD responses can benefit from understanding the possible choices you can have. And, if you are a reader,
“The Choice” is available online or locally. The link to the Amazon advertisement is: at Amazon.com and through many other outlets.

Perhaps consider, YOU have a choice to find Joy in every experience and in the interactions you will experience. Even if these encounters may be difficult or even painful to live through. The lessons which you find may be a main piece of your purpose as you follow your path through this life.
Hang in there….

Thanks for your time and consideration. Your insights and experiences are unique and a blessing, so please share these…

If you are READY and looking for a supportive community where you can share your story, your wisdom, and grow spiritually in a non-religious environment, consider Masters of the Journey.
You are a Blessing! You are a Master! Your wisdom from your life experience can have great value to other pilgrims on the path toward awakening and enlightenment.

The Masters of the Journey has events which are updated on our Facebook page which is found at: www.facebook.com/mastersofthejourney Please comment on this blog and share, if appropriate. More of our blogs are based on spiritual consciousness and can be found at www.dstress.com/blog

Whose Lesson are YOU Learning From?

Recently, I chose to join a team supporting a friend who is battling with cancer. Have you ever participated in a community of support persons for a family member or friend dealing with a difficult disease? Chances are you have or have become familiar with such a support community. My question to you asks, was there an important lesson for you in your desire to serve as a supporter? In every interaction we share, there is much to learn especially if you are conscious and viewing these interactions with awareness.

So, I discovered, upon my reflecting upon my recent involvement, that my desire to support my friend is more complicated than I care or that I want to send some positive energy. My lesson is a multi-dimensional learning. It does feel good to participate in sending Love or possibly healing energy to my friend but I have had to stop and ask myself why. Why am I involved? Why is my friend sick? What is her lesson in this disease process? What is my lesson in participating in her disease challenge? What lessons, experiences, or information will present themselves so I can increase in value toward the people I bump into in my future? So, how does this expand me with a story to share? I “know” that every person touched by this health event has some purpose and some important lesson to take away.

Caring about my friend is the simple reason and a small part of the answer. My history includes a battle that my wife and I “fought” with cancer over 8 1/2 years and there are many important lessons learned from this past experience that now resurface and contribute to my purpose in involvement in this present supportive community. The “first” time through (with my wife’s illness,) fear and anxiety of the situation and the unknown were on the front burner for me. Now, I can serve as a more experienced supporter or even an elder in the current “fight.” This is NOT about my friends health challenge, it is a test for me born out my past traumatic experience and for the lessons learned. At a level of spiritually, one of my purposes is to see a bigger picture and ask questions which are bigger than simply dealing with symptoms, healing my friend, and the current disease.

Whose lesson is it, really? How is my friend’s condition serving as an important learning process for every one of us who have chosen to be involved? And, with this perspective in mind, how is my friend, consciously or unconsciously, in a broad way of huge service to this extended community of supporters and caregivers. I ask this because I wonder if we all are more consciously aware of the broader lessons, we can ALL find more Joy in the amazing gift of learning we are all participating within!!!???…

Can this drama in life be viewed with less anger, anxiety, depression, fear, and concern for the unknown future if we bear this positive learning in our awareness? Can this positive awareness then bear a positive impact upon the results of this health challenge? This may be too complicated to fully determine in these few thoughts and words. You are participating with your concern and YOU are Loved for your positive intentions and attention.

Finally, no matter the outcome, can we find Joy in the challenge we see unfolding? Are we free to celebrate the Divine Wisdom which is being gifted to us as we plod along in our human drama?

By the way, in my opinion, one of the greatest gifts you can “Give” to another person is the “Gift” of allowing them to give to you… (Not manipulating another person but requesting a sincere assistance.) This can warm the heart of both sides of this request and can create a bond for two pilgrims walking the path through life’s dramas. Create a healing story by giving and by receiving a gift…
Thank you to all the souls who have allowed me to be of service.

You are a Blessing! Thank you for being you.

Thanks for your time and consideration. Your insights and experiences are unique and a blessing, so please share these…

If you are READY and looking for a supportive community where you can share your story, your wisdom, and grow spiritually in a non-religious environment, consider Masters of the Journey.
You are a Blessing! You are a Master! Your wisdom from your life experience can have great value to other pilgrims on the path toward awakening and enlightenment.

The Masters of the Journey has events which are updated on our Facebook page which is found at: www.facebook.com/mastersofthejourney Please comment on this blog and share, if appropriate. More of our blogs are based on spiritual consciousness and can be found at www.dstress.com/blog

Too Overwhelmed to Act

Chances are if you found your way to this blog posting and have read it this far, you are an empathetic consciousness seeking soul. As I write in February, 2020, our culture is in major upheaval and in the three dimensional world we live, we are surrounded and pounded by “Drama.” Politics, world health, climate change, homelessness, crime, racism, sexism, and all forms of polarizing mayhem happen to us or at us, everyday. We can hide our heads in sand and live in a quiet prison of self-constructed oblivion or be “concerned” about what we are “supposed” to do to make the world a better place. We may not be Billionaires with unlimited resources of time and money and energy so we may feel inadequate… We may just feel empathetic and “overwhelmed.”

You can do nothing and pretend to be unattached to the current situation. You can choose to be paralyzed by your overwhelm and do nothing, feeling bad about this option. You can go “observer,” running on “equanimity,” where you are too mellow so that all you do is watch and stay uninvolved… Or, you can do something short of violence, getting arrested in protest, or running in circles… You can change the source of this discord by changing the energy which feeds this polarizing and anxiety producing mayhem.

Let’s back up. We can do something more than pray, set a positive intention, and smile ineffectively and unattached at the world condition. First, we can be “fully present” and in the moment. Not in fear of the future or living with some past fearful trauma. (Easier said than done, BUT doable.) Next, we can realize that we are all connected and in this together. Yes, even the people who trigger you. Especially, the people who push your buttons of anger and/or fear. We are all equal and a part of the Divine Spirit. We all have our roles to play in the Drama we have chosen, spiritually, to live within. To make a positive impact on the world condition we can do something. Even if we do not have time, or money, or even energy, we do have a way to serve and to change the “Energy” that drives the mayhem. So…

Consider calming yourself. Finding your way into the present moment. (Both of these require some practiced dedication…) AND, then start, slowly and easily to connect with the other souls you bump into. Start easy, with the checker in the grocery store or with the server pouring your coffee, or the ticket taker at the movie theater AND, being present and loving, make eye contact with them and remind them, “yes, Out Loud,” that they are a Miracle, or that they are Perfect, or they are Loved, or that they are Blessed… You can get good at doing this. It will not harm you or them. After you are good at this, you can now begin to share this with the “difficult” people in your life, like your family, or your boss at work, or with the objectionable political “jerk” (an unnecessary judgement) who thinks the other political candidate is correct…. Yes, even these people are connected in the Divine with your soul AND they are a Miracle even as they “push your buttons.”

Looking the homeless person in the eyes, connecting with them and their disabilities, and reminding them that they are Loved and a Blessing is how you can begin to change the energy of our world. One eyeball to eyeball connection at a time… This requires practice and dedication. You need to step out of your ego and your fear (or anxiety/anger) and do the “right thing.” Bless them for the lesson they can teach to you, IF you are willing to be open and to listen. Please, help to dissolve the fear and the anxiety which caused the separation. Please, allow your heart and positive intention to tear down the walls! You can do this. Even with few resources, YOU can be a shining beacon of Love and Light! You can BE the change you wish to see in the world!

Do NOT be Too Overwhelmed to Act! You can take these small steps to improve this world one connection at a time.

Thanks for your time and consideration. Your insights and experiences are unique and a blessing, so please share these…

If you are READY and looking for a supportive community where you can share your story, your wisdom, and grow spiritually in a non-religious environment, consider Masters of the Journey.
You are a Blessing! You are a Master! Your wisdom from your life experience can have great value to other pilgrims on the path toward awakening and enlightenment.

The Masters of the Journey has events which are updated on our Facebook page which is found at: www.facebook.com/mastersofthejourney Please comment on this blog and share, if appropriate. More of our blogs are based on spiritual consciousness and can be found at www.dstress.com/blog

Every Step You Take

Every day most of us, who are lucky enough to be able to walk around, take thousands of steps as we plod our way through this world. It is important to be more conscious of each moment and each step. My offering to you is to be more present and mindful of each step. This is not possible for most of us BUT just raising your consciousness to considering 1-2% of your steps would be a “Step in the Right Direction.” (Sorry, for this Pun.) However, focusing on a few of the many steps you take each day can pull you in to your body and the present moment in a positive way.

As a stress management trainer and coach, I have shared a technique from Za-Zen which creates more Mindful living. It is simple and effective. If you want to attempt this technique to trigger a more mindful and relaxed life then follow this instruction a couple of times per day over a few of your busy days. First, consider your “intent” to be more mindful. Stop and take three slow deep breaths. Focus on the cool air as you inhale, then pause for a moment, and exhale fully and completely. Perhaps you can notice the warm air that you exhale. After those three breaths continue breathing slowly. Then begin walking, a bit more slowly than you normally walk. This control of your pace can assist you to get present. Now, as you walk more slowly and carefully, or “Mindfully,” feel your foot as it touches down. Does your toe hit first? Or, does your heel touch first? Roll your foot down into a complete step and repeat this for 20-30 steps. To consider 20-30 slowed steps requires a little time but can change your conscious consideration of the pace you “normally” live at.

As you practice this technique, notice how this allows you to feel. More in control of your body and your life? More present in this moment? More aware of your tight shoulders or jaw or forehead? Consider just “letting go” of judgement and allow yourself to “feel” who you are at this moment in time… This simple, but powerful, awareness technique can have profound benefit for you. Challenge yourself to give this a try and then consider how this can impact the rest of your day, your attitude toward your life, and the life that you have allowed to slip below your consciousness. You may even be amused as you watch other people as they scurry, busily through their lives. Wow, you are leaping into a consciousness that can assist you with your empathy and your “being in the moment” in a new way.

This only takes a few moments from your “busy” day. However, it will expand your control over your life and even your thoughts. Focus on a slow and more conscious breath as you stroll through your day and even find the joy of living in your present body. You are a Blessing!

Thanks for your time and consideration. Your insights and experiences are unique and a blessing, so please share these…

If you are READY and looking for a supportive community where you can share your story, your wisdom, and grow spiritually in a non-religious environment, consider Masters of the Journey.
You are a Blessing! You are a Master! Your wisdom from your life experience can have great value to other pilgrims on the path toward awakening and enlightenment.

The Masters of the Journey has events which are updated on our Facebook page which is found at: www.facebook.com/mastersofthejourney Please comment on this blog and share, if appropriate. More of our blogs are based on spiritual consciousness and can be found at www.dstress.com/blog

Distracted by the Loud Voices of Fear!

It is difficult to not be distracted by the small, but loud, voices of fear which our mind uses for self-protection! Rather than being allowed to be undistracted and focused on my path toward higher consciousness, I find myself ruminating on some smaller, myopic event or situation which, in the long run, is simply a test of my ability to be fully present and engaged in a more Universal vision. Sure, I do not want a bus to hit me as I cross the street but after I step back on the curb, is it necessary to turn all my consciousness to that near accident for the rest of the day? Can I return to being more fully “present” and continue down my path of learning and serving the Greater Good?

Can I return to remembering that I am a Miracle and child of Consciousness rather than a victim to fear? Wow, much easier said than done this letting go of fear process!

Fear bubbling up from the past or anxiety regarding the possible challenges we face in the future are two of the largest distractions we experience. Playing the “What if Game” in its negative or fear filled way are so common and for most humans causes us to suffer. Do not think that I am taking a difficult challenge too lightly when I say, “What is the worst that can happen?” For the mind and the ego, we might not physically survived the experience. For our soul, we can know the challenge and say in equanimity, “the worst that could happen is that I die and get to come back into another lifetime.” We come full circle and get to live another lifetime with the pleasures, the joys, the sorrows, and even the painful lessons which make living in human form so wonderful, at least as a learning experience.

I am told by many sources that the thing which is a regret most reported by people in their final transition is that they did not push through their fear and live their emotional and spiritual desires. They played too safe. They went for the “golden ring” of financial success rather than chasing their passion. That they lived up to other people’s expectations and not their own! Try to NOT be the person who on your death bed regrets that they played it too safe or spent too much time chasing financial success BUT missed out the greatest relationships or travel or adventures. But, no worries, you will get to come back and try to remember this lesson so in your next incarnation you will get to choose a path which will lead you to the highest adventures and greatest challenges so you can push the limits and engage in the lessons which will assist you to move closer to 24/7 enlightenment.

Do not “sweat the small stuff.” When you catch yourself ruminating on the petty experiences in life YOU ARE HALF WAY THERE! Yup, you have the “Awareness” that you have chosen to fixate on fear or anxiety. The very next step is to learn to let go. To meditate on BEING FULLY PRESENT! You think this is easier said than done and if you do think this way then you are caught in the trap. The mental/emotional trap which has created this limitation. In an instant, you can let go and find the joy in living even when you find yourself in a painful situation. It is a joy to learn and move through your pain. You have learned a valuable lesson that can assist you AND everyone else you can share this experience with. You are here to serve and it is better to have lived the tough lessons so you have valuable experience to share in the stories you can tell.

So next time you catch yourself being distracted by the LOUD voices of Fear, honor your new awareness, take a deep slow breath and become more fully present. Perhaps even laugh at yourself because you caught yourself cycling again in a petty rumination AND bless the experience as you find the JOY of living most fully. You are a Miracle! You are a Blessing! NO ONE else can do YOU as well as you do you! Your role is to interact with your environment and with the people you bump into in the most conscious way you can find.

Thank you for reading this far into this message. No one said, or really meant, that life was easy! The challenge is a test. You are here to learn and to grow. Your life is truly amazing! And, you will remember where you came from and that you are an essential piece of the Divine Spirit! Where possible, share your lessons. Support other pilgrims and allow others to support you. This is a great gift in allowing others to give to you. You know how good it feels to give!

If you are READY and looking for a supportive community where you can share your story, your wisdom, and grow spiritually in a non-religious environment, consider Masters of the Journey.
You are a Blessing! You are a Master! Your wisdom from your life experience can have great value to other pilgrims on the path toward awakening and enlightenment.

The Masters of the Journey has events which are updated on our Facebook page which is found at: www.facebook.com/mastersofthejourney Please comment on this blog and share, if appropriate. More of our blogs are based on spiritual consciousness and can be found at www.dstress.com/blog