It’s time to give yourself some space to explore. When’s the last time you were quiet and undistracted—maybe outside in nature or in a cozy spot in your home with devices off—and allowed yourself to JUST BE, daydream and wander? Allowing thoughts and ideas to arise and travel from one to another without hesitation. Feeling nudges and Spirit-longings come to the surface to be exposed and nourished? We need time and space to hear promptings, to receive insights, direction and inspiration. We have to gift ourselves this time. You are worth it. Yes, the laundry and notifications will still be there, that’s OK. You need this dreamy space to receive, adjust, change, grow—and become the best version of YOU!
Absorb these song lyrics from Limitless by Colton Dixon:
Oh wake up you dreamers Become make-believers This is who we are
We are limitless, limitless Limitless, limitless The power of love Alive in us Is limitless, limitless Unstoppable and nothing less No nothing can hold us down We are limitless
Doubt sees a mountain, no way around it Faith sees a victory, no doubt about it Fear sees a ceiling, hope sees the stars Love be the light inside of our hearts
“Awaken to the storyteller within and share your story with the world. Tell it with joy and flair. Commit to telling it with love and passion. Tell it through living your life fully, doing your work well, and creating the best life you can. Be who you are and love being that. Live your life from your heart. Share from your heart. And your story will touch and heal people’s souls.” ~ Melody Beattie
“… ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’ But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, and his Spirit searchesout everything and shows us even God’s deep secrets.” ~ 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
Hear the deep secrets. Awaken to the storyteller within. Remember you are LIMITLESS = without end or boundary.
“Take time to develop a vision. As above, so below. First it happens in spirit. Then it manifests in the physical. Not the other way around. First we see a vision. Our soul tells us through the words and eyes of our heart. Then the steps become clear and we see the order in which they should be taken. We waste so much time and effort when we try to accomplish something before we have envisioned it. Learn to let the vision come first. Take time to shape it in spirit before you try to shape it in physicalform. If you can’t see something clearly, the vision may not be complete. Take the time you need to think about it, to let it come into focus, to let the vision take shape in your mind. Operating from vision will guide us onto our highest path. It will also make our life and work much easier.” ~ Melody Beattie, Journey to the Heart
Take time to develop a vision for all you want to do. Let your vision guide you. When it manifests itself first in spirit, the physical form will follow.
Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.
Jonathan Swift
The Open Door A door opens. Maybe I’ve been standing here shuffling my weight from foot to foot for decades, or maybe I only knocked once. In truth, it doesn’t matter. A door opens and I walk through without a backward glance. This is it, then, one moment of truth in a lifetime of truth; a choice made, a path taken, the gravitational pull of Spirit too compelling to ignore anylonger. I am received bysomething far too vast to see. It has roots in antiquity but speaks clearly in the present tense. “Be,” the vastness says. “Be without adverbs, descriptors, or qualities. Be so alive that awareness bares itself uncloaked and unadorned. Then go forth to give what alone you can give, awake to love and suffering, unburdened by the weight of expectations. Go forth to see and be seen, blossoming, always blossoming into your magnificence.” ~ Danna Faulds
“Wait. Wonders are unfolding. Cultivate silence. God speaks in silences. A silence, a soft wind, each can be a message to convey My meaning to the heart, though by no voice, or even word. Each word or thought of yours can be like a pearl that you drop into the secret place of another heart, and in some hour of need, lo! the recipient finds the treasure and realizes for the first time its value. Individual efforts availnothing. It is only the work of the Universal Spirit—My Spirit—that counts.” ~ God Calling: The Secret Pearl
Recharging Mudra Flow
We give so much of ourselves everyday and in every way. Remember to take time to meditate, to listen, receiving Divine love, peace, wisdom and strength. Continue to develop your vision and be a radiant offering and blessing to others!
Mudra = seal; an action taken to lock in an intention. 1. Inhale in Anjali (offering) mudra at heart center. 2. Exhale as you cup hands into Kapota (Dove, gesture of peace) mudra. 3. Inhale as you bring fingertips inward to create the budding of a flower. 4. Exhale into Pushpanjali (offering of flowers) mudra; representing your offering or service to others. 5. Inhale lifting hands into Padma (lotus, openness & growth), receiving & recharging in Divine love. 6. Exhale drawing all from above into heart center, Anjali mudra. ♡
Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning circle or spirit. The mandala appears in all aspects of life: the celestial circles we call earth, sun, and moon, as well as conceptual circles of friends, family, and community. “Each person’s life is like a mandala, a vast limitless circle. We stand in the center of our own circle, and everything we see, hear and think forms the mandala of our life. Everything that shows up in your mandala is a vehicle for your awakening. From this point of view, awakening is right at your fingertips continually. But it’s up to you whether your life is a mandala of neurosis or a mandala of sanity.” ~Pema Chodran
Our intention for this week is to invite more interconnectedness, compassion and wholeness into our lives. Yoga Sutra lll.24 (maitryadisu balani) teaches the cultivation of friendliness creates inner strength. Experiencing healthy compassion and lovingkindness toward ourselves and others strengthens our interconnectedness and sense of well-being. I love this passage from The Message, “So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.” (Colossians 3:12-14, MSG)
“We typically think of our emotional range as something that is fixed and unchanging, a reflection of the personality we’re born with. But research is revealing the possibility that we may be able to cultivate and increase our ability to feel the emotional state of compassion. Researchers have found that feeling connected to others is as learnable as any other skill.” ~ Kelly McGonigal
💮 Where and with whom in your life can you experience more interconnectedness and wholeness, lovingkindness and compassion?
💮 Personal transformation occurs in circles, not rows. Who’s in your inner circle, supporting you, yet challenging you to grow?
Awakening Compassion Guided Meditation
Gently close your eyes. Roll the shoulders up, back and down. Take 3 deep breaths. Place your hands in a comfortable position. Settle in.
Imagine the horizon spanning through your chest with a radiant sun rising in your innermost center—your heart. As though being melted by the solar warmth, release tension in your shoulders and across your throat. Soften your forehead and rest your attention inward on the light deep within. Take 3 smooth, even breaths. As you inhale, invite the glow from your heart to expand toward the inner surface of the body. With each exhale, let the light recede. Take another 3 peaceful breaths.
Attuning deeply to your heart center, offer compassion to yourself, honoring your journey wholeheartedly, dissolving all self-judgment, shame and guilt naturally.
As you embrace yourself compassionately, you enhance your ability to offer lovingkindness to those you care for deeply, embracing both their positive and challenging qualities.
Bring into your heart the image of someone you care for deeply, releasing any expectation of how they should be, creating a space of openness in which their transformation, and yours, can occur more easily. Take a full, deep breath.
As you offer compassion to yourself and to those you care for deeply, you gradually develop the ability to offer compassion to those with whom you experience separation or difficulty.
Bring into your heart the image of someone you find challenging, perceiving their authentic being rather than focusing on their actions and beliefs. Take a full, deep breath.
As you hold this person within your heart of compassion, clearly see that all of their actions are based on a need for love, support and security, even if those needs are expressed inappropriately.
By seeing this person compassionately, your feelings of judgment, anger and resentment are released more easily, allowing you to see this person and yourself more objectively, while creating safe and appropriate boundaries. Take a deep, cleansing breath.
Now, open your heart of compassion to all beings, honoring each person’s journey, recognizing that all of us are moving, within the limits our our understanding, toward a vision of love, peace, freedom and joy.
Affirm your growing compassion, repeating the following intention 3 times, aloud or silently: With a heart of compassion, I clearly see that we all share a journey toward love, peace, freedom and joy.
Take a full, deep breath. When you are ready, open your eyes, returning slowly and gently, sensing your heart of compassion guiding your journey.
~ Adapted from Mudras for Healing and Transformation by Joseph and Lilian Le Page
💮 Continue to radiate love and compassion, expanding your life mandala. 💮
You have a true gift. You make a difference each and every day. The practice of offering SELFLESS SERVICE is called SEVA in the Sanskrit language. SEVA is love in action, offering service without expectation of reward. Who has showed up for you? How are you showing up for others? ♡
“Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply use yourself, your life will count for plenty.” ~ Matthew 23:11-12, The Message
Take a few deep breaths and imagine an ordinary day. An average day, with the normal routine as you currently experience it on a regular basis. Where do you go? Who do you see? What do you do? Briefly extend your thoughts to include your week. Now reaching out and extending even further to include reoccurring appointments and plans on your calendar each month. How do you spend your time? Spend a few moments picturing the places, the faces, and the activities that fill your days and nights. What does you life look like? Look at the big picture and then very kindly ask yourself, “How much of that time do I spend reaching out to help others?” Take care with your answer, honestly, gently investigating the truth. Acknowledge any lack of effort or desire on your part, the missed opportunities. Without any shame or guilt simply inquire, “What would love have looked like there?” Bring to mind the gratitude that you have felt when a hand reached out to help you. Remember the feelings of compassion and usefulness when you in turn were moved to serve someone in need. Now begin to shift your focus to the days and the weeks ahead, to that routine that plays out month after month and notice all the opportunities to express love and service in the future. Pay attention to all of the spaces in between, all the moments, the hours and the days with room for a smile, a phone call, a cup of coffee, or maybe even something more. Think of all the big and small ways that you can share and express the joy and love that can be found in every aspect of the ordinary day. ~ Marta Mrotek, Miracle in Progress
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
The Starfish Story (Adapted): by Loren Eiseley One day a man was walking along the beach, when he noticed a boy hurriedly picking up and gently throwing things into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, “Young man, what are you doing?” The boy replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.” The man laughed to himself and said, “Don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make any difference!” After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference to that one.” ♡
“I alone can’t change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” ~ Mother Teresa
“At the deepest level of union with the divine presence flows action, service to others that is freer of self. This service may not be big, showy, or even noticeable. This form of service may be hidden, unseen, but very real to anyone whose perception is refined enough to appreciate it — just like God.” ~ David Frenette
Selfless Service (Seva) Meditation: Sit comfortably with Pushpaputa mudra (open cupped hands).
Breath deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth. Invite the Divine to enter into your meditation. Say to yourself: Divine, help me get out of my own way. Help me be of service to someone else. Please show me who to serve, and how to serve. Sit in stillness and listen to the inner guidance. Now, imagine giving the precious gift of selfless service.
The Simple Path: by Mother Teresa Silence is Prayer Prayer is Faith Faith is Love Love is Service The fruit of Service is Peace.
I have a true gift. My life is filled with limitless opportunities! How am I sharing my time and talents to help and serve others unconditionally? Are there some new avenues to explore? ♡
When you notice yourself feeling unmotivated, stagnant, or stuck — ask yourself, “What am I resisting?” You’ll probably know the answer right away. It might be a change of some kind — your career, a relationship, a decision to be made, or even an unfinished project. Listen to your resistance. It almost always has something useful to tell you. Oftentimes resistance masks fear, or an unwillingness to move deeper. Once you’ve noticed the area of resistance, allow yourself to feel the sensation of resisting. What does the resistance feel like in the body? Now ask yourself, “What do you have to tell me? What is this resistance about? Why are you there?” Ask the questions and then just wait to see what arises. It may be a feeling, a thought, a belief, or a fear. Feel that you are listening to it. Then ask the resistance, “What would happen if I let this go?” Notice what arises. Then ask yourself, “Would I be willing to let this go — just for a moment?” Notice what arises in the wake of the question. There may be a small sense of ease and peace, or perhaps a greater release than you thought possible. Envision the change, the relationship, the decision, or project in a positive light, with even a sense of gratitude, relief, or purpose gained from the entire experience. Adapted from Sally Kempton, Feeling Stuck? Try Self Inquiry for Resistance.
★ “Show up for what’s up so it won’t keep showing up.” ~ Gabby Bernstein
★ Begin to LET GO OF THE STORIES that play in your head that support the resistance — NO Blaming, NO Shaming, NO Judgement.
★ Remember, whatever you resist, persists!
★ There is FREEDOM and MOVEMENT in LETTING GO. When your think you have surrendered, SURRENDER some more.
You used to think you were powerful when you resisted your emotions, when you held back and didn’t express yourself. You thought power came from being who you thought you should be, instead of who you are. Now you have learned that only when you are who you really are, can true power emerge.
★ Sometimes resistance heightens when we feel overwhelmed. We need to disconnect from distractions to be able to listen to the still, small (BIG) voice inside, seek insight, and receive inspiration and direction.
★ What are your current distractions?
★ What would help balance your life? What would encourage clarity and focus?
★ We may need to step back and reevaluate. Oftentimes our dissatisfaction opens up opportunities for change and expansion.
★ Ask yourself, What is thriving in my life?What else is possible?
★ Be the humble witness of what will unfold.
“What’s the greater risk? Letting go of what people think — or letting go of how I feel, what I believe, or who I am?” ~ Brene’ Brown
DAILY GROUNDING VISUALIZATION
Take 3 deep, cleansing breaths, drawing the energy of the breath all the way down to the lowest part of your body. Imagine ribbons extending out from your feet and rooting you firmly in the earth. Take your minds attention into your heart space and follow that attention with another deep cleansing breath into your heart. Ask your heart what color or combination of colors needs to grow out of the flower of your heart to exemplify the energy of your highest purpose, your most open heart, and your most balanced state of being. Whatever colors come to you, quickly just trust that. Allow them to begin to unfold out of the flower of your heart and circulate within the chest area of your body. Breathing gently, but deeply, feel the warmth or coolness, and the unique subtleties of your unique person. Allow this radiance to spread gently throughout your body. Allow it to rise up through your neck and into your head, letting it branch off at your neck and cascade down your arms as it flows out the palms of your hands. Gently circulate the energy and allow it to spiral down your torso, down your legs and out the soles of your feet, all the while gently breathing into your body, knowing that this energy is the aliveness of your being and represents your receptivity to Divine guidance and opportunities. Continue to allow this energy to move and swirl in its own way through your body. You may linger here as long as you wish. When you are ready, take a few deep cleansing breaths, knowing that you are continuing to radiate your most authentic, and magnetic essence.
Allow, by Danna Faulds There is no controlling life. Try corralling a lightning bolt, containing a tornado. Dam a stream and it will create a new channel. Resist, and the tide will sweep you off your feet. Allow, and grace will carry you to higher ground. The only safety lies in letting it all in– the wild and the weak; fear, fantasies, failures and success. When loss rips off the doors of the heart, or sadness veils your vision with despair, practice becomes simply bearing the truth. In the choice to let go of your known way of being, the whole world is revealed to your new eyes.
✨Love ~ Serve ~ Inspire✨ 