Tuesday Affirmations ~ Transformation

 

It is Tuesday again…already! And time for Tuesday Affirmations! I have my deck “The Gift of Affirmations” by Amy Zerner and Monte Farber here….and am shuffling the cards as I ask for our weekly message. The card that comes to my hand for us today is:

The Gift of Transformation: “I Have The Power To Transform My Life”

Message: “Use this gift when you notice resistance, either in yourself or others, to the idea of being able to change your life. Profound change usually comes in small increments over time. Keep a positive attitude and you will be able to undo years of negative affirmations in record time.”

from The Desk of MarDrag:

Life is full of many different types of events and circumstances. We experience an array of them every day…and handle them in many different ways as well. Some of those events and circumstances are difficult, painful or we do not have a good understanding of them…and so we resist them and resist taking action or dealing with them. When we do this, it stalls the momentum of our lives and jams a cog in the ever turning wheel that our life paths are on.

I think what this affirmation is telling us is that, if we would believe in ourselves, we have the power to transform our lives…to transform that which we resist, if we look at it with a positive eye. With resistance, we are usually looking with a negative eye, wanting to deny or avoid what is affecting us or a problem we do not see an answer for. If we can remember that we have the power to change whatever it is that we resist…there would be no need to avoid it. In those moments of resistance…we forget the gifts, abilities and power that we have to be used in the situation.

If we make our gifts, abilities and power bigger than that which we resist…then we have what we need to transform our lives. If we make that which we resist bigger than our gifts, abilities and power…then it wins over.

Believe in yourself…and that you have an innate power in a positive attitude that can transform anything in your life, and your life, anytime you choose to use it. Make yourself and all your wonderful qualities bigger than anything life can throw at you…and you will Transform!

Blessings!

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The Life We Would Live

 

“I’m not in search of sanctity, sacredness, purity; these things are found after this life, not in this life; but in this life I search to be completely human: to feel, to give, to take, to laugh, to get lost, to be found, to dance, to love and to lust, to be so human.”   ~ C. JoyBell C.

“Choose your battles wisely. After all, life isn’t measured by how many times you stood up to fight. It’s not winning battles that makes you happy, but it’s how many times you turned away and chose to look into a better direction. Life is too short to spend it on warring. Fight only the most, most, most important ones, let the rest go.”   ~ C. JoyBell C.

“There isn’t any such thing as an ordinary life.”  L.M. Montgomery

“Be comforted in the fact that the ache in your heart and the confusion in your soul means that you are still alive, still human, and still open to the beauty of the world.”  ~ P. Harding

“Life has its own forces which you can only discover by living.”  ~ Soren Kierkegaard

“All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.”  ~ Havelock Ellis

“One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.”  ~ Dale Carnegie

“Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.”  ~ Khahil Gibran

“Happiness can not be traveled to, owned, earned, worn, or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.”  ~ Denis Waitley

from The Desk of MarDrag:

There was this quote on Sunday’s inspiration blog that caught my attention: “We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” ~ Joseph Campbell. It culled my notice because I had been speaking with a few of my clients this past week about this very subject. And so, it has inspired the theme for the posts this coming week.

It is such a fine line to walk, when considering where to lay the threads that are woven into the tapestries of our lives. Which direction do we wish them to be sewn into? And do we have a say in it, should we draw out the pattern….or do we let destiny and the Higher Powers direct the weaving of those threads on some invisible pattern we know precious little about yet. Do we take action, or do we let life come to us? Thoughtful questions.

And those questions bring to mind the line from “The Serenity Prayer”…”God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

You see, I believe there is a time to take control, take action, and make things happen. IF it is with the things we have the courage to change, and they are changeable. But I also believe that there are some things in our lives that cannot be changed, no matter how hard we wish they could or would or how hard we work to make it happen. Sometimes they are not ready. If it is not changing, there is a reason for that, and we must accept it and look to another direction or opportunity. The wisdom is in knowing the difference…and not fighting the truth of it.

We all have pictures in our minds and desires in our hearts of what we want our lives to be, to look like. But, what we desire is not always what is best for us…or what is true to our souls. Our true life. So we must be willing to let go of those visions, and ask the better question…”what is right to happen for me”? It is a tough one, because we think we know best for ourselves, and mostly we do, but as another quote above says…”Life has its own forces”…and we cannot deny those forces. For if we do, they will end up working against us. Or it will appear that way. What’s more, many times what we have planned for ourselves is not near as great as what the Higher Powers have planned for us and what comes to us is far more amazing than we could have imagined.

As Havelock Ellis says…”the art of living is a fine mingling of letting go and holding on”. Look at what you are holding on to. If it is working and moving you forward, hold on and take action. If it is stalling, not working or changing, and not advancing your life to a better place, then perhaps it is time to let go of it and look for what is right for you and your life. There are so many opportunities and we have so many gifts within us to use…do not limit your life!

In order to do this, we must…Surrender. Which is not what you might think. So this will be the topic of the next post for the theme this week of…The Life We Would Live.

Blessings!

Sunday Inspiration

Good Morning! It is Sunday and the coffee is brewing, breakfast is cooking, and loved ones are around us or in our thoughts. As the day begins, here are some thoughts to turn our minds to pondering and embracing the gift of life on a languid Sunday Morning. Have a beautiful day!!

Remember to…

And then…

If you are experiencing a difficult time…

It is so important to hold on, because just as you think you can not go on another moment, that moment passes, and you DO go on…and it makes you ever stronger. Gather power from every moment you “go on” from, and know that you will, in fact, move forward.

Sometimes, we have a vision or images about how we expect or want our life to be. But…

Most of the time, the life that is waiting for us is so much more amazing than the life we could have ever planned. Let it come!

And also…

When you have done that…Listen To…

And believe that…

Just by being YOU, you make a difference in this world. Be the best you, and strive to find out just who that is by listening to the story your thoughts have to tell you. You were meant for this life, you have a purpose…Live It!

Blessings!

The Balance In Thinking

 

“No matter where you go or what you do, you live your entire life within the confines of your head.”  “~ Terry Josephson

“The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”  ~ Albert Einstein

“The more you over think the less you will understand.”  ~ Habeeb Akande

“Stop imagining the worst. If you insist on predicting the future, why not assume the best?” Denise Ryan

“You never know what the future holds. Something that seems bad today could end up to be something good tomorrow. You might meet the love of your life at the second job you had to take to make extra money. The Universe works in mysterious ways. Your only job is to keep showing up and staying open to hope.” ~ Denise Ryan

“We can not solve our problems with the same thinking we used to create them.”  ~ Albert Einstein

“Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.”  ~ Zig Ziglar

“If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you will never get it done.”  ~ Bruce Lee

“Thinking: the talking of the soul with itself.”  ~ Plato

“Sometimes I think and other times I am.”  ~ Paul Valéry

from The Desk of MarDrag:

In recent weeks, as I am inspired to write on the topics for this blog, the inspiration and messages have sometimes taken on a theme for a particular week. This seems to be one of those weeks. And the theme that has wrapped itself around the posts is…Thought.

Tuesday’s Affirmation spoke about how busy and crazy our lives have gotten…and how distracted…and how we seem to have grown into a habit of not spending enough time, energy and consideration on our Thoughts. Yesterday’s post encouraged us still, to find that quiet moment in our day to ponder our “meaning of life” and how our thoughts shape that life.

In today’s post, we take a natural progression in the conversation to the “other” point…and that is Over Thinking…which can be as detrimental as not Thinking enough.

I firmly believe that we create our realities, our lives in fact, through our Thoughts. Words and Thoughts hold great Power. If we consistently think in the negative, we will create negative energy and events in our lives. If we think in the Positive, we draw in positive energy and see the world in a more positive frame. When we are unhappy with our lives and negative Thoughts swirl in our minds all day, we are likely to treat other people negatively also, as our misery spreads out from our Thoughts. Flip the coin and, if we are happier with ourselves and give positive Thought a chance, we are likely going to want others to feel good too, and treat them with positive attitudes. This follows with events in our lives, creating successful relationships, careers, home environments, and the space we ourselves live in on a daily basis.

One would “Think”, that everything grows and creates…from a Thought!

So…if we Over Think and obsess on our Thoughts, it stands to reason that it would create a dynamic that would “stall” our growth and creation. If we are always in “Thought” mode, we have no time or motivation to “do” anything with those Thoughts…and more importantly…we can create fears and anxiety that take over and paralyze us from doing anything at all.

The idea here…is Balance. As the quote by Paul Valéry says above, “Sometimes I think and other times I am.”  In other words, there are times that it is appropriate and necessary to spend in Thought, and other where it is necessary to quiet our Thoughts and either act, or clear the mind and just be. The key is in Discernment.

If you find your thoughts swirling and tripping over each other, constantly pounding in your mind, causing you stress, worry or fear and anxiety…then it is time to quiet your Thoughts and strive to get centered and balanced. Then you can return to your Thoughts with a clear mind and an ability to sort them out and take action.

But, if you find yourself resisting Thought, putting it off and not wanting to take time to consider an issue, or your life in general…that is when you make time to ponder why you are avoiding your Thoughts and allow them to surface and tell you the story they are wanting to tell you, the story you need to know to move in the right direction.

Our Thoughts DO tell us a story, the story of our lives. And if we listen closely to that story, it will tell us exactly what we need to do to be happy and content with our lives. They will guide us to our Destinies. And they will always have the answers we need.

And a simple Thought…has the Power to change the world!

Whether, for you, it is more or less…strive to Think better.

Blessings!

Thursday ~ Thought For The Day

 

In Tuesday’s Affirmation post, it spoke of taking the time to think things through in our lives, and give our thoughts value and consideration. As I was thumbing through a book I often look to for bits of wisdom last evening, I found this bit of insight I wanted to share with you today, as a Thought For The Day, to hopefully inspire your pondering. I have referred to this book before on this blog, titled “I Am The Beloved” by Reverend Joy Dial. The thought I wanted to post is this:

“Always go beyond the obvious. There is Divinity within the smallest detail of physical reality, and magnificence within your most trivial thought.”

I like this quote as it says again, so simply, that we should give our thoughts much more attention, time, energy and effort than we seem to do these days. With rushing everywhere, and scrambling to “get things done”, we forget that one of the greatest gifts we have to improve our lives…is our thoughts. With them, we can achieve anything, change anything, and make anything better.

So, consider this Thought For The Day….and think beyond the obvious of what is just right in front of you. Look and think deeper today…and see what magnificence can emerge from the smallest detail, the smallest thought, that you might otherwise miss!

And now…I leave you with one small example of Profound Magnificent Thought, going beyond the obvious:

Blessings!

Wednesday ~ “Getting Over The Hump Day” Humor

It is Wednesday and the Humor Blog is back! We missed last week…but we are due for a good laugh this week and I have been saving these just for you. So, grab your belly and have a good chuckle or two! I hope it helps you get through the mid-week blues! Love & Blessings!

Tuesday Affirmations ~ Illumination

 

It is “Affirmation Tuesday”, and this week, we get to hear another sound piece of information to take us through the week. As I take the deck of cards by Amy Zerner and Monte Farber in my hands, I feel the warm energy from my palms infuse them. And as I spread them across the glowing dark wood of my desk, they fan out, and I can feel their heat as I ask the question, “What is the message for us today”?  My hand scans over the cards, back and forth from left to right, and then stops, hovering over one in particular. My fingers tingle as they scoop up the card that would give our piece of wisdom in the form of today’s affirmation. The card that comes to us is:

Affirmation of Illumination: “I Am Flexible And Can Adapt to The Challenges Of Our Modern Age”

Message: “Use this gift when information overload, constant change, and other aspects of the rapid pace of modern life threaten to overwhelm you. Modern “conveniences” have eliminated the cushion of time necessary to properly absorb and consider information and concepts. To achieve true knowledge and wisdom, you must take time each day for quiet reflection”.

from The Desk of MarDrag:

“Rapid pace of modern life”! I like that…it is such an understatement in this day and age. Time has accelerated so much these recent years with technology, social media, and world events ramping up into a whirlwind. I am old enough to remember the days where we had one phone with one line and we spoke to one person at a time. Shocking, I know! I am a dinosaur! But it is interesting because I have seen first hand the evolution of technology and the increase in the pace of life as the next new invention takes us over. Part of me is wistful for the “kinder, gentler, slower” times…when we had the time to read, talk and think.

Today, people clamber over each other, always in a hurry to get somewhere or do something before anyone else. Or to create something first, or to get their 15 minutes of fame somehow. It doesn’t really matter how anymore…just get there, just do it. And in my humble opinion, this lifestyle has left us lacking in some very important ways. Like the affirmation says, “the cushion of time necessary to absorb and consider information and concepts” has diminished. We move faster, think faster, and talk faster. And most importantly, we make choices and decisions faster, and sometimes, that can be to our detriment. And, this is all because we no longer take the time to think things through, to consider their impact on our lives, or to listen to that Wiser Voice inside us that is trying to guide us in the right direction.

It is interesting to consider the times of some of the great philosophers like Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Confucius, or Descartes in which they took the time to contemplate and gather their thoughts, sometimes spending hours just thinking, and then writing…and some of the most profound life lessons and messages came from these minds. Not to say that there are not brilliant minds today that offer profound lessons and messages just as important…but I wonder how today’s social climate would have supported the evolution of these philosophers. And how our lives would be changed because of it.

So, now, I am waxing philosophical and perhaps wavering from the point of today’s affirmation. But, I believe what it is trying to tell us…is that if we want to gain true knowledge, vision and wisdom in our lives…we must slow down, and give ourselves some time in each day for reflection. Time to ponder and consider the meaning of our lives and the things that happen to us. We rush to judge the events of our lives without giving them time to integrate and tell us what they mean and what their purpose is, so that we can understand ourselves better…and thus make better choices and decisions.

Our conscious minds, and our ego voice, do not always know best. Yet, we spontaneously believe all they say and proceed with that information…when some quiet reflection might bring thoughts and ideas to the front of our minds that we would not otherwise have…but for some time to think.

So give yourself a gift…a gift of time…for even 15 minutes a day. Turn the phone off, turn the music off, turn the television off, close the email and put the computer on stand by…and find a peaceful place, even amid the chaos, to sit and contemplate, reflect, consider and think…or even to empty your mind of everything…and allow the thoughts to come to you. Don’t try to think…think to try. That is, allow those voices within you some space to have their say. You would be amazed at the wisdom, clarity and knowledge they have to share…and it may change your perspective for the better. It is all in a thought. Take the time to think it.

Blessings!

Of A Mind To Heal

 

Healing Says: “I’m here. I love you. I don’t care if you need to stay up crying all night long, I will stay with you. There’s nothing you can ever do to lose my love. I will protect you until you die, and after your death I will still protect you. I am stronger than Depression and I am braver than Loneliness and nothing will ever exhaust me.”  ~ Elizabeth Gilbert

“Pain is a sudden hurt that can’t be escaped. But then I have also learned that because of pain, I can feel the beauty, tenderness, and freedom of healing. Pain feels like a fast stab wound to the heart. But then healing feels like the wind against your face when you are spreading your wings and flying through the air!”  ~ C. JoyBell C.

“As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation — either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course.”  ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”  ~ Rumi

“The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world.”  ~ Marianne Williamson

“We have to heal our wounded world. The chaos, despair, and senseless destruction we see today are a result of the alienation that people feel from each other and their environment.”  ~ Michael Jackson

“Just like there’s always time for pain, there’s always time for healing.”  ~ Jennifer Brown

“History dressed up in the glow of love’s kiss turned grief into beauty.”  ~ Aberjhani

“Hearts rebuilt from hope resurrect dreams killed by hate.”  ~ Aberjhani

“Within each of us is a light, awake, encoded in the fibers of our existence. Divine ecstasy is the totality of this marvelous creation experienced in the hearts of humanity.”  ~ Tony Samara

“The human heart has a way of making itself large again even after it’s been broken into a million pieces.”  ~ Robert James Waller

from The Desk of MarDrag:

It has been an astonishing week. There have been so many world events in the news, so much emotion, anticipation and anger and despair to be felt. The end of the week has left us feeling spent, confused, and unsure how to go forward. There are things to consider and answers we would like to have. There is a part of us that would like to go back to how things were before this week ever began. And then, there is the part of us that knows that the events of this week have changed the world, have changed us, forever. Do we allow that to happen? Do we accept that change and move on? Or, do we stay steadfast to the idea that we won’t let these world events change us at all and we will stay the same, no matter what comes.

Yes…Confusing. Because Change is inevitable…and it is the one and only thing we can count on to happen. Do we flow with it, or stand against it?

But, these questions aside for the moment…there is something that needs to happen before we consider Change…and that is the Healing.

Wounds have been opened, hearts torn asunder, and minds tested to absorb. There has been great pain inflicted, and along with it, an inability to understand why and how. And yet, even as those questions hang in the air waiting to be answered…the Healing begins. For as soon as a wound is sliced open, as soon as the air hits it, the natural act of the flesh and blood is to begin the Healing process…with the blood thickening, and tissue beginning to form a scab in order to protect the wound as it Heals. Though it is still painful, the Healing does begin, even before we realize it or acknowledge it.

Our hearts, minds and souls are no different…if we choose to see them that way. They are capable of great Healing, and even the fragments of a broken heart will seek each other to become whole again. Rumi’s quote above says that the wound is the place where Light enters you…and this is true. And another quote says that we have a Light encoded within us, which is also true. So, if we let those two Lights come together and form a great Light to shine, it will be of a Healing nature, and we can heal ourselves as well as the world itself. Focus on that Healing Light going forward. That is the move we need to make.

Martin Luther King Jr. says that when faced with suffering we can “either react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force”. Seek your Healing and make your choice. As Elizabeth Gilbert tells us, Healing would have us know that “I am stronger than Depression and I am braver than Loneliness and nothing will ever exhaust me”. So, we need not fear that Healing will not come…for as she says, it is always there, and stronger than anything else. Healing always occurs.

So go forward into your week Knowing this, Believing it, and Healing will begin. As for all the rest…time will tell…but we will manage, for we will have been made even stronger for the Healing that has come to us.

Blessings!

A Gentle Friday Message

 

[UPDATE!] In view of what I just now see is happening in Boston, it is more important than ever to channel our energy toward calm…and to stay as centered and balanced as possible. It is difficult not to be angry and upset…but there is enough of that energy out there. Try not to add to that energy…instead…draw on the well of Love, Light and Calm energy that we all have deep within our core and send that out there to blanket Boston and all of us. We will make it through this!! I send so much Love & Light to All of you!

~~~~~~~~~

It has been a long tough week. There has been so much happening and we all may be feeling tense, raw and tired. So…while we are all doing what we can to help the energy, support those who are in need, send out our stream of Light to combat the dark forces…all while taking care of our families, loved ones and ourselves…I wanted to end the week on this blog with A Gentle Message. We need it. We need to take a breath, and a moment of Gentle Kindness for ourselves and those around us. Here are a few images and quotes to help us do just that:

Going into the weekend, remember that you are a Magnificent Being and just by taking care of yourself and Shining Your Light, you make the world a better place. It is hard when many suffer…but do something gentle for yourself this weekend so you can continue to be there for others…and so that your Light will be replenished, ready to shine more brilliantly…because the world needs it now more than ever.

Blessings and Love To You All!!

In The Aftermath ~ Shine

 

It is Wednesday…and usually I post my mid-week humor blog to give you a break in the midst of your work week and the thought blogs I post…but this week, it seemed to soon, just yet, and I could not put the page together. I know that humor helps us and gives us respite from the harder, deeper emotions when facing the reality of what happened in Boston on Monday…but still, it seemed too soon. Rather, as I gather my thoughts to write this morning, the inspiration comes to me to share this.

Reality is setting in. Another senseless tragedy has taken innocent lives so close to us. If you look at/read the news…it is happening everywhere. For those of us in the U.S., it has hit our land again…but I have seen the same kind of reports about other countries last week and this week and truth be told…I had a moment of despair. Me, the most positive soul and champion of the Light you would meet. Those of you who read here “hear” that in my posts. But yes, I had a moment of despair that our world has come to this. That hate and violence would take such a place on this planet that is such a gift to us. BUT, in that same moment of anguish, I saw this too…

…and I knew, that no matter how dark it gets, and no matter how much negative energy there is or dark forces that would force their hate and anger on the world…there is always still…The Light. Light cannot be vanquished. Night will always turn to day. In the dark, there is always still that point of light that shows that it is dark. By the very laws of the universe, the polar sides are ever present…so we can come out of the darkness back into the Light. And the way we do that is by each individual focusing on their own inner spark, their own inner Light, and shining that Light as bright as they can out into the world…believing that it can make a difference. Because it does. Darkness would have us believe otherwise….but why would we listen to that? Believe what we know to be true…that Light cannot be vanquished…and within that Light is Love, Compassion, Respect and Care for one another.

This is the moment where we all must look at ourselves, our lives, and what we focus on each and every day. Is it our intention to lift ourselves with Love and Respect and lift the others around us too? Or is it our intention to spew misery and hate amongst ourselves because we are being fed that in media and otherwise. Would we let this phenomena take us over? Or would we open our eyes and our hearts and see that it will only lead us to ruin. Love, Compassion, and Respect are the things that would save us.

Consider that, this lovely planet that we live on, hanging here in the cosmos, with the perfect mix of air, water, earth and atmosphere just right to support our human minds and bodies…is a gift from the universe just so that we can have life, so that we can live our lives and have our families and realize our passions and our joys and sorrows. Who are we to slap that gift in the face by perpetuating hate and violence on the very landscape of the gift that gives us the life that allows us to make those choices?

We must wake from the slumber and distraction we have been enamored in. We must stand up in the face of the darkness that thinks it can prevail and say no…I choose the Light. This is the moment to make that choice and take action. Any action…that is toward the Light. When you would put someone down, choose not to. When you would shout, choose not to. When you would hurt someone, choose not to. When you would give in to the darkness, choose not to.

Within us ALL is the capacity to be good, to do good…it is why we are here. We must not succumb to the hate and violence that would destroy us and this beautiful planet we have been given to enjoy our lives on.

Today…you can make a difference! Today…Shine Your Light! Even if your sorrow is so great that you think you can’t do it…Choose To Shine! Let us show those forces that dare to think we can’t do it…that we can. When we Link by the Light of our Souls, we will create a mighty Strength and Power that will take us into a better future. Believe in that. And Shine!

Blessings!