The Original You

"Wow! You are amazing!" What is the first thought that goes through your mind when somebody says that to you? Be honest now... I can tell you the first thought that goes through my mind is usually not very supportive. It usually runs somewhere between "If you only knew me", and "Are you sure?" Why this reaction? Why the doubt? I know I am not alone in this. So many of us question the wisdom of fully embracing our greatness. Maybe, it's because we don't want to be seen as arrogant or pretentious. Or, maybe it's because somebody told us that we should not build ourselves up so much. Maybe our confidence was a threat to somebody who didn't feel so great about themselves. Whatever the reason is, this not being willing to embrace our greatness is something that we can change. This is the good news. This doubting ourselves does not have to be a permanent condition. It is possible for us to believe in ourselves. This is where the...

Beyond our mind is a place. It's beyond thinking. It's beyond comprehending. It's beyond believing. It's the place of direct experience. Some of us experience this in meditation. Some experience this while exercising. Some will even experience it while traveling to a new place. I don't know what this place is called, but I know it when I am there. It is a place of deep peace and contentment. It is a place where the opinions of other people don't matter anymore. It is the connection to Source. What is Source? Source is anything that gives you a feeling of safety. It is anything that will give you that feeling of being connected to everything around you. When you encounter your Source you know it. There is never a doubt. Never any ambiguity about what this is. We all have a different name for it. Some call it God. Some will call it The One. Some will call it Nature. Some will call it Mother Earth. Whatever name you attach to it is fine. But, we all kno...

I love sitting on the edge of a river or a stream, and just watching the ripples as the water cascades from one place to another. There is a very natural flow to everything. A leaf floats by. A fish swims past. There is a beautiful rhythm to it all. It all just feels like everything is happening without struggle or stress of any kind. Is life usually this natural? Is there a flow to it? In my life there are days when it definitely does not feel that way. Those are usually the days when I think I know how things are supposed to go. I had a plan. It changed. Now, I'm asking the questions about why things are not going the way I think they should be. These are the days when I'm trying to control. These are the days when I am not letting the natural order of things happen. Why do I think I know how things are supposed to be go? It's a complicated issue, but essentially it comes down to fear. Fear that my plan will not be valued. Fear that my needs will not be met. Fear that I...

How many of us can relate to being distracted? How can we not? Every five seconds there is another notification on our smart phones. And, life just being what it is will always be presenting us with another situation to deal with. It's life. It's reality. It seems that it has always been a struggle for me to simply stick with whatever project I embark on. Whenever I start something, it seems that the follow through becomes challenging. Maybe there is some psychological issue I could look at. Maybe I'm just human. Maybe it's just normal. To stay the course in life I believe requires a commitment to the thing we set out to do. It requires saying to ourselves that we will let nothing ultimately stand in our way. And, this commitment has to be so important to us that we will not let the distractions through us off the path. It's about priorities. When we know what is important to us we will find the resources to make it happen. I absolutely believe in the adage th...

This world is ever changing. From one day to the next what was considered of supreme value doesn't matter anymore. Technology, religious beliefs, laws, career choices, investing choices, and even our feelings about ourselves are ever changing. How in the face of this ever changing world do we find a sense of stability and safety? If everyone and everything is changing how do we find the necessary courage and faith to thrive on this ever shifting foundation? If the foundation is moving how do ever build a house? Let me delve into this a little by telling you that I am scuba diver. As a diver I am told to never swim against a current, but rather to float along with the current. And, if I have to swim against a current only do so when it is extremely mild and will not put me in any danger. Life is like that of diving. It is not wise to try and force a solution to something that will not respond to that solution. I must try another way. Either I change my approach to the ...

We as a society are always looking to something outside of ourselves to fix us. You can call it an addiction, envy, or restlessness. But, we all know what I'm talking about. It's the belief that if we could just be somewhere other than where we are then everything would be ok. Sometimes though when we get to wherever it is we think we should be, we will then want to be somewhere else. There is a tension between knowing that it's good for us to stay and commit to the situation at hand, and knowing that it is healthy to stretch and grow. How do we stay grounded and follow through with what is happening now, and yet still be willing to explore new and uncomfortable adventures? There is so much to be gained by staying where we are. We gain the satisfaction of seeing something through to the end. Whether that be a relationship, a job, or a dream that have had in mind for many years. The daily effort that it takes, and the willingness to be there for a relationship ...

Healing cannot be rushed anymore than I can speed up the growth of a flower. No matter how much I try to encourage a flower to grow I cannot make it grow at a faster rate. Healing is a process that is different for everyone. Each time I am faced with a healing process I get upset. Even though I'm never quite sure how long it will take I'm sure it's not fast enough. The issues become about timing, deadlines, and who we trust. Let me address timing first. It seems that in life an illness or disaster of some kind always comes at the wrong time. I remember getting really ill one time right before an important performance at Christmas time. The timing was terrible. And, there was absolutely nothing I could have done to get myself well in time for the performance. I ended up performing even though I was incredibly ill. The reasons for doing so are interesting. Why I got so impatient about my healing process that I would further jeopardize my health by performing cou...