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.

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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.

Fathers are All Around Us

Today is Father’s Day, a time to celebrate the men who have played an important role in someone’s life.  Whether he is a dad, step-dad, caring uncle or concerned grandfather, men who love someone younger than themselves all display characteristics of “fatherhood.”

The concept of  “blood relations” has fallen away in the realities of today’s social and moral standards.  Adoption, same-sex marriage, and blended families make it almost impossible to adhere to strict bonds of blood.  That may have worked in feudal times, when life’s complications boiled down to survival with your “clan” but it surely does not apply in today’s world.

So that leaves us with the question of how to define “fatherhood.”  I think it boils down to this…if you are a man who has established an emotional relationship with someone younger than you, and you guide by loving advice, provide consistent, unwavering support and encouragement, then you qualify to be called a “father.”

But the best way to find out is to ask the other person.  You might be surprised by their answer!

Go Within, or Go Without

Have you ever heard the saying, “If you don’t go within, you go without?”  I never quite knew what that meant, until I posted the quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson yesterday (please see my previous post).

If what lies within is so much larger than what lies behind us or before us, doesn’t it make sense to cultivate and focus on “what lies within” than to worry about the external?  But that presents a dilemna of whether we can discover, cultivate and know what it is that lies within. 

Inquiring minds still want to know…what is it exactly that lies within?

The answer to that question, dear reader, will determine the quality of your life.  What you discover by going within, determines how you perceive, connect and explore your  outer world.  Your inner view sets your outlook on life.  It is as if you are looking at the world from the inside-out, through a pane of glass or lens.  Your external world is colored by your internal world.

For example, if you believe that you are generous and kind, you will display those qualities to others.  If you believe you are not worthy of love, you will act in ways that are not worthy of love.  It is your own self-definition that defines your life.

Look closer at why you believe what you do about yourself, especially if it is negative and sets limits on your willingness to live fully.  When did that belief or limit first take hold in your consciousness?  Was it because a parent or teacher said it to you and you believed it? Or did you cast judgment on yourself after a particularly painful insident?  Whatever the root source of the negative belief, you can change your thoughts about it.

Underneath the false assumptions you may have about yourself lies a pure, innocent place that never changes and can never be lost.  No matter what you have done in your life.  Never.

Let the finality of these words sink in — you are and always will be a child of God.  You are and always will be loved by God, the Creator.  You are and always will have a connection to God as his heir.  You are God’s child, loved beyond all measure and a joy in his sight.

Spend some time today just being quiet, allowing yourself to relax and breath in this special space – the space within.  Spend time with God and you will hear the “Still, small voice” that lets you know you are worthy of love.  Release your worries in this place and breathe in the knowledge of your inheritance.

Be still and know God.

You are to love yourself first, then go out and love your neighbor.  Connect within then go forth and connect with other.   Go within, then go out in the world, secure in your  knowledge of who you are.

Check out My 40 Day Journey

I have not posted in awhile, because my thoughts have been recorded on a companion blog called “Walk With the Master.wordpress.com.”  I felt compelled to begin a new project — read a short Bible passage then write about it during the 40 days of Lent.

So forgive my decreased attention to this space…it is still in my heart to share with you ways to “dream big and live large.”  It is only for a short while.  Thank you, my friends, for staying with me.

May God’s blessings rain down upon you… and may you accept them!

 

Who Do You Appreciate?

Remember being in high school and sitting at a football game.  The cheerleaders would try to get the crowd excited and hungry for a victory.  A line from one of the cheers went something like this:

Five, Six, Seven, Eight…Who do we appreciate?

I suspect that the word “appreciate” was used because it rhymes with “eight,” but this line is a great reminder on how to live a joyful life.  Because the one person you should be appreciated the most is…YOU.

Have you ever noticed that you have to perceive something first, before you can notice it in the world?  Before you can emotionally resonate with another person or thing, you have to have seen it in yourself.  It is your decision about yourself that determines your world.

For example, if you wake up and immediately think of the millions of tasks you have to accomplish, and wonder how you are ever going to get them done, don’t you feel a sense of anxiety – even dread? If you see yourself as a “person-who-has-too-much-to-do-and-how-in-the-world-am-I-going-to-get-it-all-done” then that is how you will be in that moment.  If you hold onto that thought, there is no doubt that you will “be-come” that thought as you move about your day.

Who wants to live in a state of anxiety or dread?  Certainly not me…or you either, or else you would not be spending precious time reading these words.  Since you stopped by and you reached this far, stay for a bit longer, O.K.?

Let me ask you a question: How do you see yourself in this moment? Who are you in this drop of time as we share our thoughts?  Has your opinion about yourself colored how you perceive and interpret the meaning of these words? (O.K., that was three questions…)  Some people may doubt these words, others will embrace them.  Whatever your reaction, you can trace it back to how you perceive your place in the world.

If you see yourself as a seeker of truth and an adventurer in this game of life, you will read this article much differently than someone who feels that life is a struggle and asks, “Why is it so hard?”  Either way, the filter of your self-perception determines your world.

Remember, the first relationship you ever have is with yourself.  Love yourself and you will see love in your world.  Hate yourself and you will see…well, you get the idea.

So the first step in changing your world is to first identify how you see yourself in it.  Write down your thoughts about yourself for a day and you will have taken a momumental step towards a better life.  For once you identify how you define yourself, you can take steps to change that definition.  Be on the lookout for judgments you make about yourself.  Write those down too, because they cement your ideas about yourself.

After one day of recording your thoughts about yourself, look on what you have written as if it came from your best friend.  Treat yourself with compassion and love.  You do not need to judge what you have written (which also contains judgments!)  Your answer is your answer. There is no right or wrong.  You own your perception of yourself. You created it and you “be-come” it as you move about in the world.  And here is the secret to a happy life:

No one can change it but you.

But remember this…your answer is your answer.  It will determine how you see the world.  For what you see in yourself, you see in the world.

Which brings us back around to the high school cheer.  Who do YOU appreciate?  If your answer is not YOU, then you will not see your place in the world as secure, joyous and loving.  Instead, you will see fear, lack and competition.  If there is lack of appreciation of yourself, you will see lack in your world.  Think about it, and then change how you think.

Now…stand up and say it with me…One, two three, four — Who are you fighting for?  Five, six, seven, eight – Who do you appreciate?

YOU!