Love In Your Life

As we look out into the world, it's so easy to lament the loss of things we thought we had. For example, I thought we had conquered racism. No, not every single bit of it, but I saw us living peacefully together as one, no longer mired in the horrors that I once saw reported in the news and depicted in movies on the screen. I only knew of it, never was witness to any violent behavior that we would characterize as racism. The closest I came was in hearing people refer to others in unappealing ways, mostly due to their character and not their race alone.

So I keep going back, in my mind, to what is this injustice here to reflect back to us about what are we doing to ourselves for ourselves. Because I am of the belief that things happen for us not to us, I keep considering the message.

To me, COVID's message has something to do with our separation, our division, we need to stay "distant." Well, isn't that what got us there in the first place?

The more we insist on our division, separation from one another, the more we consider our differences rather than our oneness, being separated is what we will have. It's not far-fetched to draw these connections and conclusions. It makes total sense. It's like the universe is saying to us, okay, so you're separate, then being socially distant and cut off from the opportunity to connect intimately with conversation, sharing a meal, and celebrating holidays and joyous occasions won't be a problem! It's what you want, isn't it? But that's what was evident in your thoughts and actions!

Change our thoughts and we change the world! What world do you want to live in, the one guided by Love or Fear?

Which challenge are you most disturbed by right now? Is it the riot that occurred at the Capitol, where a mob mentality resulted in causing devastating damage? Is it your mental health that has been taxed with personal issues on top of a global pandemic? Maybe it's just the pandemic itself, that pushed you out of work and out of business? Perhaps you feel strongly that you are being lied to and controlled by those in this country's leadership? You lack trust and do not feel that anyone is listening, that your voice is not being heard.

Just writing the litany of our recent issues makes me feel a sense of gloom and doom. But here's why we can't and shouldn't give in to the hopelessness that may arise in us: We have every right to expect that change is not only possible but probable.

Who is it up to?

Us!

Each and every one of us has the power to change our circumstances and be a part of the solution. Find it in your heart to remain open. As Michael Singer, the author, tells us: Do not let anything to close your heart. He says that closing your heart blocks your energy flow, which is how you are a source of light for all those around you.

Another of my favorite quotes by Booker T. Washington: "I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him." That (hating) would be a perfect example of closing your heart!

There is so much more that unites us than divides us. What does it take to convince us?

We don't realize how powerful we really are! We think that our lives reflect what others think about us and do to us, but that isn't true. We are in charge of our lives; we are responsible for the results we experience. This is not speculation or theory, it is real and true. And it's great news!

Depending on how we respond to good and bad events, we either learn from them or we get discouraged, often giving up the possibility of ever trying again.

We want love in our lives and we can keep love, but it does depend on how we choose to hold our experiences. We have a choice in how we respond to all that happens.

Thoreau said, "What lies before us and what lies behind us are small matters compared to what lies within us. And when we bring what is within out into the world, miracles happen."

Many of us enjoy movies with a message. Since it's Christmas time, I was reminded of my own joy in watching old Holiday movies that remind me of valuable life lessons. Two of the best ones, as far as I am concerned, are A Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life.

When we first meet George Bailey, the protagonist of It's a Wonderful Life, we can't help but like him. He is an ethical, hard-working son from a good family, who happens to save his brother's life.

One of the first things we learn about George is that his passion is world travel. He is an "explorer" at a very young age and just can't wait to spread his wings to travel the globe. It's all he talks about. His determination held out even as a brief tragedy, the death of his father, delayed him. His younger brother gets to pursue his dreams ahead of him.

By now, viewers are feeling a bit sad and frustrated on behalf of this super guy. We want him to have his dream, to get out of Dodge and see the world.

But his plans are once again dashed when he falls in love with a local girl. Between that wrench and the dilemma of "doing the right thing" by his Dad's legacy, he settles into a life of domesticity and small-town existence. He doesn't even get to have his thoughtfuly planned honeymoon!

George's life bears little resemblance to what he may have envisioned, so is what happened his true purpose? Or did his life's meaning take a detour? How are we to assess his life, other than by the results that unfold and demonstrate his value to so many? How else could his true purpose be revealed other than precisely how it did? ?

Does everyone live the life that is "intended" for them, even when it doesn't look that way? Or do some of us get that wrong, and have to repeat our lessons in the next life?

We often hear it said that the life we have is full of intention. Our purpose is evident in the unfolding of our time here. What happens is prescribed for the unique evolution of our souls.

But then we have examples of those with whom we are familiar, living lives of quiet desperation. Are we to believe that this was their prescription? Did they really come here to suffer in a particular way that gets them the limited progress intended for them this time, which they then must continue in their next life?

We all experience suffering; it's part of the human condition. But it does appear to be true that while some seem to get it quite right, others appear horribly off track. It is often the case that these folks admit to being off the mark; they're not happy.

Maybe, no matter what it looks like, life is as it should be for each of us. If we feel an "imbalance," maybe we are using the wrong evaluation criteria. Maybe, it all gets balanced, with sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. Maybe it doesn't matter a hill of beans, because this experience, where we believe we separated from our Source, isn't true at all. What we need is to come to that conclusion on our own, though, even if true.

No one is spared suffering but perhaps much of it is a matter of choice and perception.

Passion leads to purpose, so does this mean that if I don't know my passion, there is no purpose to my life? Of course not!

Viktor Frankl wrote, " Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose." This is a reminder that no matter what our life circumstance is, we will be okay, but if we fail to be and do what was intended for us to be and do, our lives will become unbearable.

Discovering what we love to do, what we're good at, and what we are noted for, gives hints to our passions. And doing that work will reveal our purpose in a direct way. It will answer that question about why you were born.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said that "good luck is another name for tenacity of purpose." Keep your eye on the ball of your intention to live your purpose and "luck" will seem to find you.

After you define your purpose, blend your talent or gifts with service to your world and you live with love in your life every single day. It's the only way to live!

Mark Twain said "The two most important days in your life is the day you were born and the day you find out why."

You came here for a purpose. It's your job to discover that purpose. When we listened to last week's show with our passionate teacher you had to have heard the joy she expressed in doing work that fulfills her. She said that being a teacher "lit up her soul."

I have often said that we are each one of three types: The one who knows for sure what they are meant to do at an early age, the one who begins down a particular road and somehow "falls into" work that they love, and the one who never quite feels at home with what they do for a living.

Those in this third category are no different than those in the first two, in terms of having a distinct purpose. One might ask why they are a member of this third group? How did they come to choose this rather unfulfilling path? Are they doomed or can they still figure it out for themselves, no matter how old they are nor how long they have been working disconnected from their heart's calling?

What is blocking their ability to hear and see what is in their hearts?

Here's the thing: Heart messages are only revealed once we are open and willing to accept what is for us. Meaning, it's not that there is no such message for you; it's that you aren't hearing or seeing it.

Lindsay walks us through her story. From her choices in pursuit of higher education to her first job, to where she is today, we hear her thoughtfulness in the discovery process.

There were steps and missteps, but in the end, she chose the proper fit in the field of education. She tells us exactly how she uncovered her passion, asking herself the right questions, and being willing to pursue the direction where she felt "most fulfilled." She reflects, on " the moments when (she) was happy" as she reviewed her work life.

How many of us are so thoughtful in our career decisions? How willing have we been to ask ourselves the right questions, hear the answer, and then act upon it? It takes courage and belief in not only the personal benefits of doing what we love but also in how we can bestow our unique value to the world.

Here is advice directly from one who has done just that. Listen and be inspired to pursue your own dreams!

Why is it important to know and understand the difference between the true and the false self? Do we all have both and how can we live in alignment with our true selves?

Our false self is nothing more than our body and all that is connected to our ego structures. I call it our name, rank, and serial number. That's who most of us, at least for a time, think we are. But who our parents are, where we grew up, and what schools we attend are all interesting but they are not who we are. Our true identity, in fact, has nothing at all to do with what we look like nor how smart we are, or how much money we have.

Our authentic selves are stable and unattached to this world. It has been referred to as our soul or the face we had before we entered our mother's womb. Our true selves are unchangeable and have no end. Living authentically can allow us an incredible life journey!

Maybe instead of asking ourselves what we want to DO for a living, we ought to ask what we want to BE. That's a much more pointed question and could get us at the "right answer" quicker than expecting us to know what we want to DO in choosing a suitable career path.

Doing is activity; being is a state of identity. The dictionary states that "being is the nature or essence of a person." We can't possibly know what we want to do before we understand who we are and what we want to be. Optimally, we want to align our choice with our nature or essence. That correlation must feel like home to us. Could it be that in questioning ourselves in this manner, we would get closer to the truth of who we are and what we are consciously accepting as our destiny?

Asking the question of being inserts the authenticity of the soul's purpose, while the doing could easily involve more elements of our ego, which we know is highly influenced by worldly factors that have little to do with who we are.

We already know that we are not taught much from either parents or teachers on how to go about an internal reflection of heart and soul on the matter of career. That is up to us as individuals to seek out and choose. It is a responsibility that we can neither deny or afford to ignore.