Embracing Change

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Change happens. Whether we like it or not, the only constant in our lives is change. It's happening ever more rapidly now as we approach 2012. Time seems to have sped up-indeed, the pulse of the Earth has sped up and continues to do so. Changes that seemed so slow in coming before seem to manifest almost as soon as we think them. I guess it's important to be careful what I ask for because without a doubt, what I ask for is exactly what I'm going to get.

As a human being, I am hard-wired to want change. I experience things in my life that I like and some things I abhor. Based on my like/dislike experiences, I make my desires known to the Universe for more of what I like. Of course, getting more of what I like necessitates something changing. I get exactly what I said I wanted, but, Oops!-along with what I wanted, everything else seems to be falling apart.

Did I do something wrong? I was working the Law of Attraction to the best of my ability with the knowledge I had. I stated my intention to attract that new car, and within a week I had it. Oh, I felt so good driving around in my brand new automobile. It had everything I'd asked for and more. Then in the mail I got the paperwork. Uh-oh! Now I have to license the automobile. Worse, I have to pay sales tax on it? Oh, and don't forget the insurance required and the personal property taxes that will be due in October... Not to mention maintenance. All I asked for was this perfect new transporation. How could things have snowballed on me?

No, I didn't do anything wrong. I didn't think about the pebble that's thrown into the pond. There's nothing wrong with the pebble being thrown-but it changes everything about that pond once it's thrown. The ripples on the surface of the water, the water creeping slightly farther up the shore... This is what happens-change.

In her book, Living Life Inside Out, Barb Kampbell states, "Change is going to happen with or without your participation." Life is change. I spent so many years trying to maintain the status quo. It didn't stop any of the changes from happening. I only made myself miserable. Even though the world seems chaotic right now, the change I'm experiencing is exactly what I asked for. I see this clearly. But in order to enjoy my own manifestations, I must make friends with and embrace change.

Having spent so many years fighting change, I've decided that change is always good. Granted I may go through some major discomfort during transitional periods; but this new attitude about change-knowing that somewhere in the change lies also the solution for which I've been looking-gives me a sense of anticipation and excitement. And my life seems to flow.

Blessings!

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When Less is More

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We Americans are having difficulty aligning with the shifting energies. As the planet raises Her vibration-this as a result of the humans who live upon Her raising theirs-everything begins to shift and what appears to be chaos reigns. Aligning with these higher energies and staying in alignment as we continue to raise our vibration can be challenging. For me, the most vital component of staying in alignment is staying in a place of gratitude for what is in each moment.

One of my favorite charitable organizations is Heifer Project International. I have gone on several field trips with my children to Heifer's headquarters in Perryville, Arkansas. I am always impressed at how everything-right down to the cow dung-is put to use in a beneficial and balanced way. There is never any waste, and this is what Heifer teaches to those under-privileged people they help. How often do I toss out something that could be recycled? And do it without giving any thought as to how that item could be recycled to benefit the planet...

I was fortunate on one of those field trips to be taken on a tour of the global village portion of the Perryville headquarters complex. This is an area where houses and other structures have been built that are typical in different countries around the globe. Some structures were more livable than others, having been constructed of brick, stone, and straw. One house was dome shaped with a fireplace in the center of the floor. There is a house on stilts that can be entered only by climbing a ladder.

The home that impressed me most, however, wasn't a solid structure at all. It was made of cardboard boxes that were flattened and attached in any way that could be managed. Our guide explained that on weekend field trips, groups of young people are assigned to live in these houses. On a recent weekend, it rained the entire time these children were there, and it was quite a miserable experience for those who were assigned the cardboard house. I was horrified as I realized that people live in situations such as this day in and day out in some places around the globe. It's quite humbling when you come to understand that even the most humble abode in our country would seem opulent to those who live in such depressed circumstances.

During their weekend in the global village, each group is given certain food, supplies and water for their overnight stay. However, one group may get rice and beans but no water. Or no way to start a fire to cook. They are free to go to their neighbors and trade or to work together for the greater good of the entire group. Of course, each group is also free to ignore the others and keep what they have been given to themselves. The groups that do best are those that work together as a complete community so that everyone is fed.

When my oldest son was 15 years old, he went on his first mission trip to Jamaica. The group he was with were helping to build houses for those less fortunate. It's very hard to impress a 15 year old boy. After his week in Jamaica, however, he told me how impressed he was with the Jamaican people. He said, "Mom, they have so little, but they're all so happy. They appreciate what they have, and they appreciated what we were doing for them."

We have so much in this country. Granted, some people have more than others. But I think sometimes we have so much that we aren't able to enjoy those things we have. In my case, the things-the house, the car, all those things I was paying for-owned me instead. I never got to enjoy what I had because I was so consumed with making enough to pay for those things and acquiring more. Since releasing so many of the things in my life a year ago, I've discovered I am much happier. No, I no longer have the home, but I live in a loving home with a beautiful sacred space that is mine. I have food to eat and clothes on my back. My time is no longer consumed with how I'm going to pay for things. I am in constant communion with Spirit and surrounded by people who love me. I have time to savor every moment of each day and to truly enjoy the blessings of life. And for all of this I am truly grateful.

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The Law of Increase

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One of my favorite books is The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity by Catherine Ponder. Like so many authors and speakers on the topic of properity, Rev. Ponder worked the principles she writes about in her own life. She went from having nearly nothing to being quite successful, and now she makes money sharing what worked for her with others.

One of the principles she talks about in The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity is the Law of Increase. Of course, we have to change our thinking about money, success, abundance, prosperity. We have to do our daily visioning and affirmations. We have to take the actions when Spirit shows us the next step to be taken. But if we want to go even further in the areas of both material gain and spiritual growth, we must practice the Law of Increase for ourselves and for others.

It is natural for all of us as humans to want more good in our lives. Whether we want a new or better relationship, the perfect career, a home, more money, or a new car, these desires of our hearts come to us from and are a part of Divine Mind and are therefore divine in origin. Divine Mind is always aware that there is enough for all of us to have everything we desire. Our human experience sometimes causes us to forget this, so we slip into thoughts of lack-our own and that of others. We doubt that we will manifest our own desires and we resent others for their success. What a sad place in which to be...

When I was a little girl, a friend of mine got a new bicycle. I was envious, as I wanted a new bike for myself. In typical little girl fashion I started picking my friend's new bicycle apart-it was the wrong size, a really ugly color, looked like a boy's bike instead of a girl's. My mother, who I am convinced is a closet metaphysician in her own right, listened to this for quite awhile. Then she said, "You know, Martha, it's a lot easier to be sad with someone than to be happy for them." Being the wise woman she always has been, she left it at that.

Oh, wow-did I feel about an inch tall! And at that point, I probably was no taller than that. Instead of celebrating with my friend a gift that was perfect for her, I'd picked it apart. In addition-and I didn't realize it then-I had cut myself off, at least for awhile, from receiving a bicycle that was perfect for me! I made a commitment that day, and I've kept that commitment all these many years, to always, always, ALWAYS celebrate the joys of others as if they are my own. This in itself has brought me more joy at times than if I'd been celebrating my own joys.

A couple of years ago I was working with a student. She had taken several of my classes, and I was very happy with her growth and accomplishments. I had encouraged her to look up Dr. Joe Vitale whose life is another great testimony to how the Law of Attraction works when you really work it. Dr. Vitale also had literally nothing before he began putting the principles of the Law of Attraction to work in his life. Now he makes money by sharing those same principles of success with others.

My student ordered one of Dr. Vitale's CD programs at my urging. She seemed to enjoy it and had signed up on one of his websites to receive his newsletters. Then one night she told me she was angry with Dr. Vitale. She said he was advertising a weekend workshop he was offering for $15,000.00. In her mind, this was wrong. She subsequently unsubscribed to Dr. Vitale's newsletter and returned the CD program to him. I remember thinking that this was a reflection of where my student was at the time and she certainly has a right to her opinion. But how sad that she would cut herself off from her own increased good by resenting the success of another.

It can be difficult when the news is full of talk of a failing economy, unemployment, etc. to have faith in the unseen and unlimited good that is available to us. However, just a slight change in our thinking can have a huge impact on not only our own circumstances but on the circumstances of those around us and globally. I don't have to physically have every experience you have to experience the joy of your having that experience. As I celebrate with you all of your joy-your success, your accomplishment, your acquisitions-your joy becomes my own, and I am open to receiving more of that which I desire at the same time.

Namaste!

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Life is a Gift

My father was diagnosed with colon cancer a year ago. When he received the diagnosis, he was very positive-it doesn't belong there, let's get it out--NOW! During the eight weeks he was in the hospital, I watched Daddy go through a major process. He faced the inevitability of his own physical death, and he took several of those weeks deciding whether or not he would stay on this physical plane.

Of course, the entire family was worrying and scurrying around trying to fix Daddy. I didn't want him to make his transition yet, either. But I knew the decision was his. I waited with him as he made up his mind. I will never forget the day he got a card from his church. It had a cute little dog on the front, and the message inside was quite simple-"HEAL!" As I stood beside his bed laughing at the card, my father looked at me and said, "I am healing." I was stunned. I had never heard my father say anything like that before. I knew when he said it that my father understood a lot I'd never given him credit for, and I was connected to him on a level I'd not recognized until then.

After eight weeks in bed, Daddy was unable to walk even with a walker. He decided to go to a convalescent center for physical therapy. For three months he went to the gym for up to six hours a day. He arrived at the gym before the therapists got there in the morning and did his exercises on his own on the weekends when no one was there. He told jokes and entertained the staff and the residents. He was filled with more life than I had ever seen in him.

Daddy has been home for eight months now. The day we brought him home was one of so much joy and relief. We all realized that had he decided differently we wouldn't have him with us at all. He is still going through his process-aren't we all??? He has come to accept that he will always need a walker to get around, and he's probably never going to use those water skis again. I learn a lot just watching him move through his everyday life. Although the colon cancer is gone, he is in pain 24/7 from arthritis. Some nights he only sleeps for an hour or two before the pain gets him up. Yet even on those days when he's in the most pain and has had no sleep, he greets me each morning by saying, "I'm just so glad to be here."

Scottish medium, healer, and author, Rosemary Altea, shares the story of two Jewish gentlemen who appeared to her during one of her mediumship evenings. They were brothers who had died at the hands of the Nazis in the gas chambers. One might think these two who had died untimely and cruel deaths would share a message of hatred and anger. Instead they told the audience of the joy they'd known. They wanted us to understand that life is never a punishment, even when things are difficult and we can't see our way out. They said all life is a precious gift and reminded us to live each day with joy and love.

I learned last night that a friend of mine took her own life. She was a gifted healer, highly intelligent and quite accomplished in her field. Like my father, she dealt with arthritic pain on a daily basis. And she battled a lot of demons. I can remember the sadness as I watched this beautiful woman lose her will to live. She will remain in the hearts of all of those to whom she gave healing, and I hope that her very tortured soul will eventually find peace. She affected many people in a positive way while she was here, and perhaps even the way she chose to leave will be a lesson to some. There is no judgment for the choices she made. I only wish she, too, could have seen the gift that her life was to herself as well as others. I wish she could have started each day as my father does, saying, "I'm just so glad to be here."

Regardless of the challenges we are facing day in and day out, each of us has been given this sacred gift of life. Our difficulties are not punishment-just things to experience and move through. When I feel discouraged, frustrated and like I can't possibly take one more step, I look at my father and say, "I'm just so glad to be here!"

Blessings!

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