How Do You See It?

"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." -- Wayne Dyer

Do you believe that? I do and I can tell you that today is one of those days when I am encouraged by the truth of that statement. It feels strange to be writing this post because I am actually writing it to myself. I have been somewhat out of sorts lately, and I have to confess that I have allowed certain recent events and conversations to create within me an outright uneasiness. It crept in without my having the consciousness to detect it. Man that hurt to say. And it would be easy at this point to give myself a hard time, but I am actually ok with taking my own advice.

I realize completely that I had simply gotten lazy and lowered my vibration by falling back into some old thought habits. I finally decided enough is enough. I love myself and I love my life. I am the master of my thoughts and I hereby take charge once more and allow myself the opportunity to get over it. (Sometimes I do this daily until it sticks.) This post is as much about positive affirmations as it is a personal confession. I have discovered that the outer reflects the inner and I have stopped my "stinking thinking." The way I look at things is changing as I write because I have also discovered the healing that talking about something can bring about. I cannot blame anyone for the way I was feeling. It never helps a situation to point a finger when the other four are pointed back at me :O

I take full responsibility for me and I offer this post as a reference in action for your free consumption. Always be good to yourself and even if you begin to think something less than positive, just stop. S.T.O.P. Stop and take a moment, take three deep breaths and remember who you are. Remember what you are about. Love yourself through it and change you mental image of the situation. It isn't magic, but it works in similar fashion. Everything, and I mean everything that we see is what we choose to see. Our experiences remind us of how we are seeing things and by responding in a positive way and changing our minds, we become our own personal healer. God I am glad I did because I feel better already!

Positive thoughts and affirmations are so important during stressful times, and I cannot even adequately impart to you how much better I feel. It is good to take responsibility for ourselves. It is sometimes a good idea to take a good look at our surroundings as well. It might even become necessary to stop hanging out with the same people if those people are the source of, or a reminder of the uneasiness. It can be painful I know, but it is not selfish to take action out of respect for our own well-being. It is not easy but it is healthy and leaving behind individuals who can't get their own lives together is quite possibly the only thing we can do. They cannot be of any assistance to us when we are struggling if they can't help themselves.

Take time out right now and reflect on your personal situation. Is everything just like you want it to be? If not, is there something or someone that is making things cloudy for you? Is there a situation that you've been close to that now needs to be dealt with differently, maybe as if it were dead and buried? Is there anything better than having the power to choose?

My friend, if you have allowed someone to take your power, reclaim it Now. Stand on your own feet, hold your head high and say, "No more." Indeed, change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change. The bible refers to this as repenting. My Christian friends who don't do their own due diligence, and instead rely on preachers to define terms like this may not like the connection, but look it up for yourself. Oh never mind... here is the truth about the term "repent" in the exact way Christ used it, borrowed from our friends at wikipedia -- "The Greek term for repentance, metanoia, denotes a change of mind, a reorientation, a fundamental transforma­tion of outlook, of man's vision of the world and of himself, and a new way of loving others and God."

It feels good to look at things through our own eyes, clear and bright, with no clouds in view.

Now on a personal note, remember that Jesus, Emmanuel, the Christ was always positive in his perspective. He even saw the good in those who were in the process of killing him. "Putting on the mind of Christ" means just that. He never judged, lest he be judged. Think before you refer to that Mind. Don't speak about it unless you know something about it. If It is in you, you will have no difficulty seeing the world you wish to see. Then maybe you can find the peace that seems to elude you. Thanks, Jeff. I really needed to hear that :-)

"I can see clearly now, the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It's gonna be bright, bright, sun-shiny day." -- Johnny Nash

That's an old song, but man, that's good stuff!

Peace is the only way. Create some today. It will help you see better. -- jb

Power Outage

Last night as the full effects of Tropical Storm Fay literally inched closer to our home, we found ourselves facing ever increasing torrential rain and strong, gusty winds. My wife and I were just hanging at the house watching all of it when suddenly everything went black. We live outside the city and even with the electricity running in normal fashion, it is very dark at night. Last night it was as black as crude oil. So black was this kind of darkness, in fact, that it was dangerous to try and walk around in our own home for fear of tripping.

We like to think we're pretty prepared for things. We got out a flashlight, turned on the weather radio, located some candles, and provided our own light. It was adequate for seeing where we were going, but the amount of light necessary for normal function was not available to us. It seemed that no matter how many candles we lit, we were still short on the amount of light we desired. Hmmm, I smell a ramble.

As I sit here now in reflection, which is my favorite thing about Sunday mornings, I am conscious of an analogy regarding light and dark and how the two play into our daily lives. I should add that for me there is no such thing as actual darkness. It is simply the absence of light. How's that for eternal optimism? I am also fairly certain that scientists concur with that statement. :) And when I refer to light, I don't necessarily mean physical light, although we certainly depend on it to see. What I'm really talking about is the kind of light required to see what is really happening.

I am on the other side of a very difficult event which culminated late this week with what I felt would be a wave of relief. Instead, I have sensed a subtle difference between the feeling of relief I expected and what I am actually feeling, which seems to simply be a strong connection with appreciation. It really took until last night for all of that to sink in. Up to that point, I still struggled with some of the remnant emotions related to that event and the impact all of the uncertainty has had on me. I have been looking for things in my life for which appreciation has not been the operative word, and I am finding the process very healing. On a personal note, I am especially appreciative of our dear friends the Johnsons. They know me and they have always been here for me. They allowed me to further my processing this weekend without judgement, and it has played an important role in my getting my head out of my rear end. Thanks guys! You are both good and true; two very needed elements in today's world. These two qualities alone, when uncovered in an individual, constitute a strong foundation for the act of light bearing.

For me, it has become inescapably true that being in the light is good for me. I am honored to be a light bearer when it is my duty to do so, but I am at the same time a willing and hungry soul longing for that kind of light to be poured into and all over me. I never want to be in the dark although it would seem that it is sometimes unavoidable. I like being able to see. I want to really see what is really happening, and I have discovered that seeing is only possible when there is sufficient light. :O

There are many among us living in a sort of darkness that restricts our ability to see. It is disturbing to watch. Sometimes we are not successful in sharing love and light in these situations. This shadow is so overwhelming for some of us that it has the the potential of reaching a point of becoming almost debilitating. We are all responsible for our neighbors, and when we encounter these specific souls, it is imperative that we do all we can to share our selves with them. Lift up your head and look around. It is a beautiful world filled with beautiful people... our extended family, and we are all connected to each other whether we choose to believe it or not. We are truly living in the light when we recognize and see our brothers and sisters as we look into the eyes of those whom we meet in our everydayness. Give yourself away today. I mean it! No hidden price tag connected with just giving yourself away as completely as you can to the one you see who needs it. There is no greater gift than to give your life away in service to another. Your love, your money, your time -- your life.

Peace for the heart of your Sunday, love for the fuel of your mind, no thoughts of self, only for "them" and begin to see your Spirit soar ;-) jb Join my blog network on Facebook