Please Take a Moment and Read This

Sometimes I come across something so profound, so elegantly simple, that I have to share it with my fellow bloggers.

Hannah Brencher’s latest blog post falls into that category. Please take a minute to read:

http://hannahbrencher.com/2013/04/30/we-cannot-stay-here-any-longer/

Then pass it on to as many people as you can. Her message should be heard around the world.

I am slightly chagrined that I did not have the courage to say what she conveyed in her post. And I ask people to ask people to “Dance with the Divine”! So here is my attempt to expound on Hannah’s message of love.

Isn’t it time to move past the old hurts, the imagined grievances and the stories that we have created about events that shaped us? Why not step into that space of knowing, simply knowing that you are a Child of God? No questions, no intellectual arguments or religious references.

Just accept that you are here, at this time and place, to BE a Child of God.

Please don’t complicate this…instead, step into your greatness and allow God to lead you in the dance of life. The music is playing, the dance floor is ready. All you have to do is accept and allow.

 

Invert Your Story

Faithful followers of  my blog know that I talk about “miracles” – not in the religious sense, but as everyday occurrences.  A “miracle” is a change in perception that opens you to the truth of why we are here.  It sounds difficult but it truly is how we are meant to live.

For example, if you made a decision in the past that still affects you or that you continue to feel guilty about, are you open to change?  No, because you are stuck  in your “story.” You will perceive your life through the lens of the story you created around the event or decision.  It is as if you are still making a decision about The Decision!  No amount of persuasion, arguments or manipulation will dissuade you from the decisions you make, based on the story you created about your past.

Is that any way to live?

Stuck in your story, guilty about a decision you made that you now regret, judging yourself for the past.  When you are stuck in your story, you are closed to life’s magic – you can’t smell the flowers because you don’t even see them!  Small joys of everyday life pass you by, almost as if you have blinders on that only you can take off.  But how to step out of your story and be open to love?

Bring on the miracle!

To learn how to implement the miracle process in your life, you will have to read my book, Dance with the Divine.  It is available on Amazon as either a Kindle or paperback book.  Please respond to this blog or leave a review on the book page — it’s all good!

 

The Miracle Worker Mantra

A mantra is defined by Wikipedia as “a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of “creating transformation.”  Before I share the Miracle Worker Mantra, you should understand what a “Miracle Worker” is and what they do in the real world.

When I refer to “miracles,” I do not mean a religious or supernatural kind of event.  Walking on water and healing the sick will remain sacred Miracles that demonstrate Divine Intervention.  Wonderfully inspiring, faith producing Miracles are best left to those capable of creating such majestic events.

For me, a “miracle” is much more mundane and personal.  In the context of this article, it simply means a shift or change in perspective.  Nothing magical or other worldly, just an alteration in your thoughts about a past event or person that opens your heart to love.

Think of it as a gift to yourself. The gift remains inside the box, wrapped in paper of your own choosing.  When you respond with anger or  resentment, the wrapping paper is dark and dense.  When you react with acceptance and love, the paper becomes transparent and it is much easier for you to be aware of the gift, glowing eternally and waiting to be remembered.

Just what is the “gift”?  It is the one immutable truth that remains real throughout the Ages.  It is true for all people born in flesh.  It remains part of your DNA and it can never be lost, stolen or changed, no matter how much you have messed up or how much pain you have caused someone else.

Think of the gift as your Divine Nature Aligned (DNA).  You could no more change the molecular structure of your DNA than you could alter the gift. Both come from the same source and both are immutable, unalterable and real.  Accept that fact and your perspective will shift from fear to love.  The gift is simply stated and easily remembered:

You were created in love by God.

The logic is simple. If you were created in love by God, then so was everyone else.  Every person who has ever walked the planet has DNA as part of their physical body. No one can change their own DNA (Divine Nature Aligned) and they certainly cannot change another person’s DNA. Therefore, the person you are so angry with or fearful of has the same Divine Nature that you do.  They just don’t remember it.  A Miracle Worker does remember it, in every situation.

A Miracle Worker sees beyond the surface of things and remains open to the possibility that she cannot know, really know, the motivation or reasons that prompt a person to behave badly. A Miracle Worker allows the other person to misbehave, without reacting or criticizing. She understands that forgiveness in the moment is the best response and the least likely to enrage or engage the other person.

This technique may sound difficult until you begin using the Miracle Worker Mantra.  Simple to remember, easy to employ, when you train yourself to think of the mantra in any uncomfortable situation, you will begin to think like a Miracle Worker.

The mantra does not give away your power, nor does it demand recompense for a perceived wrong.  Instead, the Miracle Worker Mantra reminds you that you always have a choice about how you react to any situation.  It does not matter how awful the other person is to you; it is your choice on how you respond – with anger (which only increases the potential volatility) or with love (which expands both participants).

Without further ado, here is mantra: when you are faced with a situation that causes your heart to race, or your breathing to become short and shallow, tell yourself the following:

“I can see this differently.”

The mantra works best when it is said with love and openness. Step out of the situation for a brief moment, take a deep breath and gently remind yourself that you have a choice in how you react or behave. Assure yourself that you are loved and in loving yourself, you love the other person.  In that frame of mind, you then step back into the scene and “see this differently.”

The marvelous part of this entire process is that when you become a Miracle Worker, your life is forever changed.  Instead of frustration or anger, you feel only peace and love.  From that standpoint you react differently, which sends out ripples of change to those you encounter. They respond differently to your shifted response, and the cycle of love continues.

Come to think of it, maybe my mundane definition of miracles should include transformation after all!

 

 

 

You are a Miracle Worker (You Just Don’t Remember!)

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle.

The other is as though everything is a miracle.”     Albert Einstein

Miracles are mysterious, unexplainable and inspiring because of their shroud of supernatural power. A miracle is defined by Wikipedia as “an event of divine intervention.”  When I speak of “miracles,” I am not referring to Divine intervention or an interruption in the laws of nature.  No, I will leave those discussions to the theologians and philosophers. My mission is to help everyday people, living their everyday lives, learn how to use miracles to see themselves more clearly.

To me, a “miracle” is also a shift or change in perception.  It is because of that shift that unseen limits are removed, self-imposed bars are lifted and you are finally free to live your life the way you choose.  Instead of your life being governed by someone else’s standards, it is bracketed by your own.  The miracle happens when you remember who you are and what is important to you, and your decisions are based on those guideposts.

Every person alive on the planet has the ability to shift their perceptions and change the meaning that they have placed on events. The ability to shift perception to love and healing and away from limitation and anger is inate in all of us, waiting to be activated.  My mission is to help you activate your abilities to view yourself and your life in new ways that grow and expand your perceptions of your self and your world.

To learn more, please  visit www.areyouamessenger.com website, and search for me as Messenger 110.  You will be taken to my webpage, where you fill find the video I created that explains more about why you are a miracle worker.  It is part of the “Are You a Messenger” project, which will ultimately end with 10 Messengers being filmed as part of a movie of the same name.

If you are inspired by my video, please vote for me or leave a comment.  Sharing the video message with your social network is also a great way to support the project and spread the message of empowerment and love.  It will also help remind others that they can change their lives by changing their thoughts about it.

What a miracle that would be!

 

Make 2013 the Year of Miracles!

As the world spins to a new year, what intention have you set for yourself? Are you going to be more prosperous? Or improve your physical health? Or make more time for loved ones?  All of these goals are fulfilling and beneficial, but may I suggest another layer to add on top of your personal intentions?

Declare that 2013 will be your year of miracles.

What is a miracle? I am not using this word in the religious sense, so please do not click out of this article if you had a negative reaction. The use of this word is more practical and can be easily implemented in the activities of your everyday life.

A miracle is simply a change in perception.  A different way of looking at things.  A new lens, if you will, that you see through before you make a judgment or decision about something or someone.  Sounds simple, right?

The process of living your life as a miracle is as simple or as complex as you make it.  You are “at cause” for everything that happens in your life.  Not “those people,” not the “boogey man,” just— you.  Once you accept that simple truth as a fact, the next realization is that you can change your life if you are not happy.  But how?

That is where the concept of miracles comes in.  You change your perception of an event so that you feel better, happier, more peaceful.  There is a step by step process to this idea of miracles, which is explained more in my book, Dance with the Divine, available at Amazon http://tinyurl.com/bbtll24.  A short description of the process follows.

If there is a certain type of situation that always makes you angry, step out of your emotions and look objectively at the trigger.  Was it a comment from your parents about money? Was it a late notice for a bill that  you forgot, or couldn’t pay?  Whatever triggered your reaction, once you bring it to light, you can decide to change the only thing that you have control of – your reaction.

It helps to remember that all facts and events are neutral, until you intrepret them and give them meaning.  Once a neutral event takes on meaning, your reactions to that meaning define your life.  Since it was you who gave the original, neutral event meaning – you defined what it meant to you – only you can change it.  And that is how miracles occur, one changed thought at a time.

Let’s raise our hands and pledge that we will change our “meanings” and be happier, healthier individuals.  The ripple effects from one changed person can spread far and wide, in unimaginable ways, to the far corners of the world.  One person’s light, shining brightly and shared freely, without fear or expectation of return, can be the source of inspiration and love for all.

Won’t you be that light? Together, let’s make 2013 the Year of Miracles!

May the dawn of a new year bring you much joy and peace.

Love and See the Face of God

“Love someone and see the face of God,” the Monsignor says as he welcomes Jean Val Jean to his final sanctuary. It was a lesson well learned and finally understood by a man who had survived unspeakable horror and tragedy.  A man who made a fatal decision many years before – to forgive.

The complexity of the characters and moral dilemmas created at each turn of the plot is what has made Victor Hugo‘s “Les Miserables” so enduring.  The story of Jean Val Jean is ironic and liberating, deeply moving and touched with grace.  It is the story of one man’s struggle to make sense of injustice, cruelty and hatred. After many trials and tribulations, he must finally face himself and make a choice so fundamental, that it will direct the trajectory of the rest of his life.

Does he believe that God is love? If the answer is no, than revenge, hatred and fear will follow him until his last breath. If the answer is yes, however, then all decisions made after that moment in time will guide him on a different path.  To freedom, to liberty, to joy.  And finally, to love.

It is a fundamental decision you must make, if you are to live your life as it was meant to be lived.  Such a simple question with such profound consequences.

Is God love? Or is love God?

All I have to do is look into a baby’s eyes, so innocent yet so wise, to know that God is love. Or to hear the wind singing through the tops of the trees, causing leaves to shimmer and fall.  Or bite into a juicy peach, sweet with sunshine, to know the answer.  We are surrounded by God’s love, whether we acknowledge it or not.  It is there, connecting us by an invisible thread that spins the patchwork squares of our life into unique quilts.

In calling his masterpiece, “Les Miserables,” Victor Hugo was reminding us that beneath the surface of life, underneath the cruelty and unsympathetic actions, lies a river of love, waiting to be brought to the surface. Misery may exist on the surface, but underneath even the hardest man lies a heart that can be opened — by love.

In the end, what matters is the love we shared.  And if you also see the Face of God, then you truly are blessed.

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

The holidays are here and the perennial question of the “perfect” gift has raised its ugly head. It seems like you just faced this dilemma a short while ago, but it has been almost a year.  Haven’t you figured it out?  The Smith and the Joneses have figured it out, why haven’t you?  What is wrong with you?

If you felt yourself becoming defensive as you read those words…that was exactly my intention.  Before you burn this email in an impulsive act of defiance, please take a deep breath and relax.  As you exhale, release the anger, guilt or whatever negative emotion was just triggered.  Inhale peace and calm and feel your body relax.

Now, isn’t that better?

You just experienced two opposite states of Being in the span of about 15 seconds.  Did you observe how quickly you moved into the anger and how your body reacted?  Your body’s defensive mechanism kicked in and you became agitated and tense. You either wanted to fight or flee (or burn the words that triggered such a reaction).  No matter the degree, your reaction to the judgmental words triggered a physical response that could have propelled you to take action that you later regretted.

Now that you are calm and coherent again, please read the first paragraph again. Ignore the defensive reaction and keep reading.  When you reach the last question, what is your reaction?  Did you believe the words this time, or did you remain detached?  How did your body feel – was it calm and relaxed?

For the sake of this discussion, let’s assume that you did not dive into the anger again but stayed calm.  Why did you have a different reaction?  The words remained the exact same. The meaning conveyed by them was identical.  The only difference was you – the person reading them.  You made a decision to remain detached and observe the words, instead of reacting to them.

And that my friends, is the best gift you can give yourself and others. To learn how to stay calm and peaceful, no matter the circumstances. To know that you are worthy of love and there is no need to act as if you are not worthy. To set aside the childish impulse of reacting first and regretting it later. You have the power to stop over-reacting any moment you choose.  You have the capability to respond differently, peacefully and sincerely. All you have to do is learn how.

Which is exactly the subject of an entire book called Dance with the Divine, A GuiDance Story.”  It is available at Amazon.com in either the Kindle format (which can be read from any computer, tablet or smart phone) or in paperback form.

Give the gift that keeps on giving all year – the perfect gift for yourself and your loved ones. The gift of you, unadulterated and pure, calm and peaceful in every moment.

*************************************************************************

Please feel free to share this story with as many people as possible. Tweet a link, or better yet, let your friends know on FaceBook.  You may also repost this article, as long as you include the following information:

Kathryn Eriksen is the perfect example of a person who has “awakened” to her own spiritual nature.  Raised in a traditional home, she chose the traditional path of college and a legal career.  After 23 years of practicing law, it slowly dawned on her that life did not have to be filled with competition, adversity and limitations.  A zealous advocate for her clients, Kathryn now uses those same highly developed communication skills, laser beam focus and high octane energy to be an advocate for a much higher client – God!

A published author, Kathryn is the author of Dance with the Divine, A GuiDance Story , available at Amazon.com   An inspirational novel, DWTD tells the story of Haven Hartt, a troubled teenager who must decide if she will chose fear or love when faced with a family crisis.  As you observe Haven’s choices, you will find yourself applying the lessons to your own life.  No matter what your age, “Dance with the Divine” is an uplifting step-by-step guide to forgiving the past and stepping forward into your heritage as a child of God. You will be transformed by the powerful lessons shared of living life as if it were a dance and the Divine was your dance partner.

Your Invitation to Dance with the Divine

Your Invitation to Dance with the Divine

By Kathryn Eriksen

Imagine that you were invited to a grand ball, the party of the year.  The invitation was designed and made especially for you, with your name and address written in flowing calligraphy on the envelope.  There was no return address, just a beautiful envelope that felt heavy because of the card inside.

When you opened the envelope and slowly pulled out the heavily engraved card, you began to feel different. Breathless excitement and joy sprang up from a long forgotten place in you and you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was something special.

Intrigued but wary, you continued to pull out the card and read the brief message embossed in gold:

You are invited to be my dance partner at the Grand Ball. 

Please come to 1234 Main Street and I will be waiting.

As the words settled in your mind, you felt a shot of energy that seemed to go straight through you.  Because this was such an unusual sensation, your protective instincts kicked in and you dropped the invitation on the counter, wary and slightly concerned.

For days, you ignored the invitation.  You hid it from view, did not mention it to anyone and tried to forget it.  The business of life kept your mind preoccupied, but that other part of you that jumped for joy when you read the message would not give you peace.  It became a small, nagging voice in your head that challenged you to step beyond your fear and take a chance.

One evening, you were so tired of that persistent voice that you decided to walk by the house where the party was located.  It was more of a reconnaissance mission, something to do that would hopefully give you some peace from the nagging doubt that you had missed something important.

As you walked slowly toward the beautiful mansion located at 1234 Main Street, you knew that you could never attend such a grand event.  Long ago, because of some painful event that you no longer remembered, you decided that you were not worthy.  The invitation with your name and address on it were just a mistake…a fluke…a cosmic joke of epic proportions.

But what harm was there in just looking?

Just as you turned the corner, faint sounds of a party – music and laughter mixed with the sounds of movement – could be heard. As you get closer, you see the stately mansion glowing with lights and energy. You feel like a moth drawn to the flame…you can’t help yourself – you had to peek in the window.  Inside, the party was in full swing – singles and couples dancing, laughing and joyfully celebrating.  It did not matter if everyone had a partner or how they were dressed.  The love and joy on each face was enough to light up the entire room.

As you stand at the window, on the outside looking in, an overwhelming sense of loss washes over you.  You could have been on the inside, having the time of your life!  But you let fear, doubt and hesitation get in the way and you never accepted the invitation.

Because of the choice you made, you missed out on all the fun.

As you turn slowly away from the window, sadness penetrating your very soul, it suddenly dawns on you that maybe you did not blow it after all.  You close your eyes and picture again the embossed invitation and its message.  You concentrate on the words, and then you realize that you were right.  You have another chance to join the party!

Your heart beats with excitement and you run back towards your home, rushing inside and pulling the invitation out of the drawer.  You read it again, take a deep breath and say firmly, “I accept!”  Your heart seems to burst open and your soul dances with the joy of the moment.  You are now part of the dance!

What was that important fact that you identified before you became completely lost in your own misery?  It was a crucial fact that you never thought about until after you saw what you were missing.  You were given the location of the party.  You knew where to go…but you were never told…

The date and time of the party!

God gave you free will.  He is also very patient with his children.  He understands that you sometimes have to make the wrong choice to realize what the right choice is.  God loves you so much that He keeps his invitation to dance with him open and ready to accept at all times, day or night.

He wants you at the party.  He has specifically invited you to be a part of the celebration of life.  He waits for you to accept his invitation, and he will never give up on you.

God created you in his likeness and he made sure that you would have dominion and power over your world by the gift of free will.  You exercise free will whenever you make a choice – whether it is what you will wear today or what goals you will focus on in the next hour.  Your choice makes it happen.  Your beliefs guide your choices.  Your thoughts are the basis of your beliefs.

So what is your choice?  Are you ready to dance with the Divine and create your life?

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Please feel free to share this story with as many people as possible. Tweet a link, or better yet, let your friends know on FaceBook.  You may also repost this article, as long as you include the following information:

Kathryn Eriksen is the perfect example of a person who has “awakened” to her own spiritual nature.  Raised in a traditional home, she chose the traditional path of college and a legal career.  After 23 years of practicing law, it slowly dawned on her that life did not have to be filled with competition, adversity and limitations.  A zealous advocate for her clients, Kathryn now uses those same highly developed communication skills, laser beam focus and high octane energy to be an advocate for a much higher client – God!

A published author, Kathryn is the author of Dance with the Divine, A GuiDance Story , available at Amazon.com   An inspirational novel, DWTD tells the story of Haven Hartt, a troubled teenager who must decide if she will chose fear or love when faced with a family crisis.  As you observe Haven’s choices, you will find yourself applying the lessons to your own life.  No matter what your age, “Dance with the Divine” is an uplifting step-by-step guide to forgiving the past and stepping forward into your heritage as a child of God. You will be transformed by the powerful lessons shared of living life as if it were a dance and the Divine was your dance partner.

Please join Kathryn by visiting her website at http://www.KathrynEriksen.com.

Find Your Voice

 

I do not like to listen to myself on a recording or voice mail.  The recorded voice always sounds like a stranger to my ears, not the voice that I hear as I speak.  Perhaps because our physical senses dilute the true sounds we hear in our head?

Finding your voice is much more than agreeing with the quality of a recording.  External noise can easily drown out the valuable inner dialogue that takes place in any situation.  When the noise of the world intrudes too deeply, it is time to take yourself out of the race.

It is the voice of your authentic self that you seek.

English: Photographs of the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Only it can provide the true north of your dreams.  Listen for it the next time you have a decision to make, whether large or small in scope.  To your inner voice, it is all the same.  And it only asks one question, the very essence of which is answered by your willingness to listen well.

“By this choice, are you reflecting God or ego?”

Your answer will seal your fate.  If your choice reflects God, then it must also radiate love.  If your decision is ego-based, then fear is surely involved.  The question can be asked another way, in another form.

“By this decision, are you choosing love or fear?”

The path lies before you, split into two directions.  One path meanders through a lush forest, dark green ferns dancing in the breeze while the pine trees rustle overhead.  Birds fly silently through the leafy canopy while the silence is so loud that your ears hurt.  Love envelopes you totally from the inside out and you know in your heart of hearts that you are in the presence of the Divine.

The other path is quite different, stark in its contrast and energy.  It looks inviting from a distance, but upon closer inspection, it dissolves into the bleakest desert, the sun beating down mercilessly.  All moisture instantly evaporated and no hope exists in this landscape of fear.  A sense of doom invades your soul.

Again – do you chose love or fear? With every breath you take, you make that choice by the thoughts you think and the choices you make based on those thoughts.

Remember – love always expands and fear always contracts.  When you consider your decision, ask what the results will be – expansion or contraction?

Listen to your inner voice. It will always guide you toward love.

Your Creation Formula

Ever wonder how we create our lives?  Or do you believe that you have nothing to do with how your life looks right now?  For the purposes of this short article, I will assume that you have seen the movie, “The Secret” or that you know about the “thoughts become things” approach to life that is described by Mike Dooley in his various books or at his website (tut.com).

You do realize that time and space are illusions, don’t you?  We are here inside time and space to be creators, and see how that plays out in the mists of time and space.  We are the beginning of the creation timeline, not the end.

We are the cause, not the effect.

Creation always begins with the end in mind.  The “end” or final result is created first in your imagination, then you take action to move towards it.  It becomes physical and manifested when the Universe moves to bring the energy, forces, people and events together to bring it out into physical reality.

The Creation Formula is the following:

1. Imagine the result, feel it, believe in it.
2. Take action toward it – you have to be on the playing field to kick the ball.
3. Allow the Universe to do its job – it will take care of the “hows”

Try it yourself.  Imagine a result you desire.  Take the time to feel the energy of you receiving that result.  Imagine the consequences of the result being manifested, then take action – some action – towards your end result.  Logic or reasoning is good as long as it does not make you detour from your end goal.  Just don’t get too caught up in the “hows” or you will be stepping on the Universe’s toes.

The deliciousness of life is that you decide what you want, but you have no way to predict how it will come to you.  Life is here to support your journey.

As long as you don’t get in the way.

Its like going into the rental store and choosing a movie – is it a romantic comedy or a spy thriller?  Action adventure or a family movie?  You choose what movie you want to see, but you don’t know the intricacies of the plot, the dialogue or events until you watch the movie.  It is the not knowing that keeps you entertained and engaged.

Life is just like that – you choose the general outline and what you want to experience.  But the Universe delivers it to you – always unpredictably but always perfectly for what you want to accomplish or experience.

There is a greater force that supports you!  God loves you and helps you in your creations.  If you choose to be negative, he will support you.  If you choose to be positive, same support.  God does not judge what you choose – you do!  You have the freedom to choose whatever you want – and you will be supported in your choice.

So why not choose deliberately and well?  Why not become who you are?  Why not just BE the you that you came to experience?  Stop playing games and get on with it.