Notes on Consciousness

Maneuvering through the morning slowly,

enjoying small sips of coffee, wrapped in a quilt outside.

It's overcast, and cool.

 Still.

 Peaceful.

The porch decorated in chalk dust and graffiti from last

nights "lets-go-draw-on-the-porch" moment.

Bundling into sweatpants, hoodies and grabbing quilts to wrap in.

Twinkle lights and moonlight.

Goofiness and laughter.

Simple joys with my grand-girl.

I'm re-visiting some books I read before my coaching course.

Before I went on my own journey of being coached.

I had a twinge of "before and after" ,

and a prayerful celebration of the 

things I've left behind.

Sharing this out of the book:

Letting Go

The Pathway of Surrender

by David R. Hawkins M.D. Ph.D.

3years ago...a special friend/teacher/guide shared this book with me. 

Sometimes we just need the right information to

tug at our truth, and help us to see more clearly.

We don't know, until we know.

" Apathy and depression are prices we pay for having settled for 

and bought into our smallness.

It's what we get for having played the victim & allowed ourselves to be programmed.

It's the price we pay for having bought into negativity.

It's what results from resisting the part of ourselves that is loving,

courageous, and great.

It results from allowing ourselves to be invalidated by ourselves or others;

it is the consequence of holding ourselves in a negative context.

In reality, it is only a definition of ourselves that we have unwittingly

allowed to happen. 

The way out is to become more conscious."

"What does it mean to become 'more conscious' ?

To begin with, becoming more conscious means to 

start looking for the truth for ourselves, instead of blindly

allowing ourselves to be programmed,

whether from without or by an inner voice within the mind,

which seeks to diminish and invalidate,

focusing on all that is weak and helpless.

To get out of it, we have to accept the responsibility that

we have bought into the negativity and have been willing to believe it.

The way out of this, then, is to start questioning everything."

"As we become more aware, we begin to realize that we have a choice.

We can stop giving authority to all the mind's thoughts,

begin to question them, and find out if there is really any truth in them

for ourselves."

(great book if this interests you)

Journal notes:

"You are not alone; there is a great big world out there

waiting to champion you and help you live your very best life."

'The root cause of hesitancy is due to how you feel about yourself.

Remember who you are.

You have all you need to achieve every goal before you.

You don't have to fear.

You can do this.

Stop wrestling with your anxieties and get the job done.

Begin living your life with joy, and assurance of God's 

unlimited resources.'

You are free to live your honest story in the way it was meant to be written.

"We are defined by the narrative we write for ourselves every day."

Talk to yourself with love.

Your main work is to clear out debris and clutter,

making room for your Spirit.

Release and receive.

Go through your days distracted by everything going on around you,

or live fully engaged, and look for the beauty in life.

"You get what you repeat."

...finally she decided to stop suppressing her true nature.

be well...

xoxo

💗

"If you call forth what is in you,

it will save you.

If you do not call forth what is in you,

it will destroy you."

~Gospel of Saint Thomas~

"I never wanted to be the best.

I just wanted to be the best damn me."

~Lily Tomlin~

 

Small Changes

Sitting in the yard on a quilt with my notes, and the computer in my lap.

Kids laughter, and squeals of delight coming from the playground,

the sun is shining, a gentle breeze is blowing, and the windchimes are filling

the air with what sounds like church bells.

It is 69 degrees...and perfect.

I wanted to write. 

My journal pages are filling up, along with my heart.

It's been 642 days of digging in deep, clearing and detoxing sugar,

bad habits, beliefs, thoughts and clutter from my daily living.

It takes effort. 

It has been an extreme labor of love...

and it continues.

Lately I have been in an euphoric state.

It's like the feeling you get when you

are falling madly in love with someone.

Only it's all inclusive.

I am madly in love with life, and all things in it.

It could be that the days have been filled with gorgeous weather.

It could be the little things, and the small changes that are happening, 

like finally getting the hang of my Tai Chi movements, and 

learning 2 more.

It could be the time I've spend volunteering with equine therapy,

& children that can ride backwards, hand-free,

 on a moving horse 

while catching a ball.

(but struggle to catch on their own)

It could be the little nudge I get on a beautiful day

to forego errands,

 take my camera and go for a walk at the zoo instead.

It could be calling my Dad on his 83rd birthday,

 him sharing that he's taking up skiing again this winter,

 and I share the eagle sighting in a near tree as I'm driving by.

'Eagles appear to inspire you to reach higher, and become more than you 

think you are capable of.

Be courageous. Stretch your limits and see what you can do.'

It could be new connections, reconnecting with the old,

or the phone call just minutes ago from a friend back east,

 letting me know I'm in their thoughts.

It could be that I've picked up my camera again, 

and am always on the search for beautiful little things,

or the way the leaves dance as they fall to the ground,

the feel of change in the air,

 or the Asian lady beetles landing in my hair. 

It could be hearing my kiddo chuckle during a conversation,

 or the coffee house music that plays in the background during chores.

"Sometimes we're drawn to music in a given time, that we literally are."

Or it could be that I am simply grateful right now...

in the truest sense of the word,

and my heart feels wide open.

Journal notes:

Don't underestimate the value of making small

improvements on a daily basis.

"Temporarily, while we strengthen our relationship

with our minds, we can take steps to avoid triggering

places & people by adjusting what we see, listen to,

read, absorb."

'Your greatest power is self-control.

Train your mind to focus on your conduct.

Focus on what you want regardless of distractions.'

Change begins with the words inside your head.

'Scan the horizon.

Take a look at your life.

Identify what's working and what isn't.

Drill down and take a look at specific areas.

Chunk it up.'

Take one step at a time.

Be proactive and responsible

rather than languish in wishful thinking.

Don't let your well being depend on your circumstances.

Strive for personal accountability.

Recognize what you get right.

"Perseverance must finish it's work so that 

you may be mature and complete, not lacking

anything."

James 1:4

 

be well...

xoxo

💖

"Happiness is a conscious choice that lights a fire within

and fans the fire outward.

It is not something that you acquire from others

 or discover outside of yourself.

What makes you happy?

What makes you feel lighter?

What experiences make time seem to fly by?

Do more of these things-

often.

Seek out experiences that set your soul on fire.

Cultivate happiness daily in small ways.

A happy life is simply all of those smaller

happy moments combined."

 

Dreams & Things

This weekend I picked up my camera, 

and took pictures of  the Queen Annes Lace and clouds in the pasture.

Searched for lost calves in the tall grass.

Witnessed Blondie having a senior moment, and Buddy

racing to go along with her for moral support.

Received dermabrasion on my left hand via Buddy kisses.

Had a good cry watching the true story about a bear,

( A. A. Milne's inspiration to write Winnie the Pooh),

and followed a nudge to visit a new church.

(which I loved!)

Today, I will 

clean out the wildflower bed,

 and let my thoughts roam. 

I'll consider what is, and what isn't but could be,

and dream beyond where I am.

 

"I was told one time, when you wake up
look at yourself in the mirror & scream.
No, that's not it...
smile. It helps make your day."
Aunt K

Journal notes:

When gratitude fills up your heart and mind,

you will not be tempted to complain.

Work at developing a grateful mindset, 

and you will perceive life's gifts more clearly.

"We can't compromise and walk in the promises"

~church~

Instead of disappointments dragging you down,

 transform them into opportunities for good.

Reframe setbacks as opportunities.

Attain a better perspective.

You will gain much more than you lost.

'It won't be the big things that surprise us in life,

but also the massive number of small things that affect our days.'

"Handling difficulties courageously involves

relinquishing your demand to understand."

"Live like your days are uncertain,

but your future is secure."

Have fresh encounters with life.

To renew your soul, and propagate hope.

'Trust that God is working in your life,

even if you don't understand what is happening,

and things don't turn out as expected.'

'....dreams peer around the corners of our lives &

right into the places where we live, giving us clues

to how we can grow.'

be well...

xoxo

💖

"Some people care too much.

I think it's called love."

"Weeds are flowers too, 

once you get to know them."

"Do you ever stop to think,

and forget to start again?"

~A. A. Milne~

 

 

Little Things

Dusty boots, dirty hands, and brisk autumn air.

It's Fall calving season,

 and my favorite time on the farm.

Having a moment...

...and this.

Little Polka-dot-guy.

I'm completely smitten.

They are my muse.

Journal notes:

You can chose to think about excellent, praiseworthy things

or about terrible, upsetting things.

 

Each day contains moments when you are free to 

choose the focal point of your mind.

'Love isn't a limited resource. 

Bring what you've got-

and there's more than enough for all of us.'

Avoid the mindset of the world.

Keep it simple.

Keep it real.

You live in a world rigged to distract you.

Rejoice in the tiny triumphs,

and they will increasingly 

lighten up your days.

"The only limitations that you have

are the ones that you've imposed on yourself."

"Be here now. Be somewhere else later.

Is that so hard?"

'Go inward. Learn to surrender to life as it is,

right where you are.

Learn to be still, to bless & embrace it all,

without limitation, without escape.'

....and then one day things become clear.

be well...

xoxo

💖

"Proof that some of the best medicines are free:

Hugs

Sunsets

Sunrises

Laughter

Gratitude

Stretching

Kind words

A good cry

Meditation

Nature walks

Deep Breathing

Listening to the birds

Looking up at the stars

JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out)"

~Dr. Will Cole~

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble...

think about such things."

Philippians 4:8

"What you watch, read, and listen to shapes your brain.

Inputs become thoughts;

thoughts become habits;

habits become health."

~Dr. Josh Axe~