Peace Begins Within

 

A man in a grassy field with the sun shining on him in a meditation pose

© AlenD/shutterstock.com

 

Most of us would admit that we long to live in a world of peace.  Yet all we need to do to become aware of the hostility, violence, and turmoil within our physical world is to focus on the news and to give most of our attention to the people and situations within our lives that are causing the most disruption. The truth is that if we truly want to experience peace, we need to stop looking for it to appear in our exterior world and begin to create it within our own personal lives.

 

The emphasis is on the word create because peace is a sense of well being that originates from the inside, beginning with the intention of the heart. If we are “looking” for it, we will not be able to find it because peace is not a place that we can find outside of ourselves.  The condition of our physical world is a giant mirror reflecting back to us the collective thoughts of every person who is part of our earth family. Since thought is creative, whatever we focus on expands. Therefore, what we are seeing in the non-peaceful aspects of our world is an indication that a large portion of our human society is predominantly focused on judgment, violence, greed, and crime.

 

We can point a finger of blame wherever and to whomever we want, but it does not change the truth that each one of us has played a part in creating the condition of the world in which we live.  Perhaps it has been in seemingly minor, passive ways, such as getting caught up in the turmoil and conflict of the world by watching and listening to endless news reports of violence and acts of desecration. Or, it could be as intensively aggressive as being a perpetrator in a massive heinous crime.  Judging who is “most wrong” renders us powerless and only creates more separation and discord between us and within our lives.

 

We can only change the quality of our collective personal reality by taking personal responsibility for the part we have each played in creating it. Since all change begins at the level of self, when we change our individual lives, the world around us changes as well. To create peace within your own life, try some of these basic ideas. You will be amazed at your power to create peace within your own life.

 

Meditate – Create a space of at least 20 minutes every day to sit in a place of peace and quiet.  Your meditation can be as simple as sitting on your sofa and focusing on your breath.  The importance of this cannot be overstated, for it is within the silence that you can remember your mind and body connection with Spirit.

 

Pray – Ask for divine guidance as to how you can best bring peace to the world; envision what a peaceful world looks like. Most importantly, imagine the feeling of peace within your own heart.

 

Forgive –  Let go of the need to be right.  All conflicts, whether it be in personal relationships or between countries, originate from the perception that one party is “right” and the other is “wrong.”  Would you rather be right or do you prefer peace? (You may find it helpful to read my blog on Forgiveness, April 23, 2013.)

 

Live Consciously – Align your thoughts, words, and actions with the spiritual values of love, respect, peace, and cooperation.  This requires diligent practice and is the most effective way to live a peaceful life. Be mindful of what you feed your mind – stop watching violent entertainment shows and videos and modify the amount of time you spend following the news. There is a difference between being informed and immersing yourself in the fear consciousness of the world.  Instead, spend more time reading, watching, and listening to information that inspires you and nourishes your soul. What you put into your mind is what it feeds back to you.

 

Commune with Nature – Spend more time outdoors in the beauty of nature.  Nature innately regenerates your body, mind, and soul and balances your energy.

 

Even though the status of the world may seem overwhelming and out of our personal control, we each have the power to contribute to world peace. It begins with our personal lives, starting in this present moment.  Every person makes an enormous difference in creating harmony within the world.  Like a drop of water, every single thought we have ripples out into the massive sea of the collective thoughts of all humanity.

 

By choosing thoughts of love, we automatically unite with other like-minded souls in forming a field of energy that has the infinite power to exponentially create a world of peace.

 

Love and Light,

 

Sandra

 

 

Sandra Brossman is the author of The Power of Oneness, Live the Life You Choose and the featured presenter in Live the Life You Choose DVD.  To learn more about how you can align your life with spiritual truth, order the book or DVD box set at  http://www.thepowerofoneness.com/products/

 

The Ultimate New Year’s Gift: Self-Love

This is the image of a chalk board with the text, "I Love Me" written

© YuryZap/shutterstock.com

New Year’s is the time of year for reflection and for making life changing decisions that bring about improvements in your life.

 

Many of us spend the first day of the year living in regrets for things not done and focusing on unfulfilled dreams.  Dwelling on the past is likely to cause you to feel powerless and judgmental about yourself.  More importantly, dwelling on mistakes of the past deprives you of focusing on the golden opportunities of the present.

 

This year, vow to give yourself the ultimate gift – self-love.  Self-love is not about narcissism, vanity, and ignoring the needs of others.  Self-love is about being kind, respectful, and forgiving of yourself.

 

Where do you start? Grab a pen and tablet!  Doing the following four very simple exercises will help you to start your New Year in a wonderful, healthy self-loving way:

 

  1. Make a list of everything for which you are thankful.  Gratitude opens the soul to acknowledging the many blessings you already have.  This is not just the “big stuff,” like getting a promotion.  It also includes the basics we take for granted, like having food, water, and a warm place to call home.  We tend to forget how many people in the world do not even have the basics to survive in life.

 

  1. Write down 10 of the biggest “mistakes” you think you have made over the past year.  Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and one-by-one, forgive yourself.  Honestly, it is as simple as saying, “I did the best I could with what I knew at the time – I forgive myself NOW.”  This is perhaps the most healing thing we can ever do for ourselves because we free ourselves to move into present time, where all new possibilities exist!

 

  1. Write down at least 10 major lessons you learned from the “10 biggest mistakes” (item 2) –  Success is so much more than the absence of failure.  It is about learning and growing from every experience we have – both “good” and “bad.”

 

  1. Write down 10 things you choose to accomplish this year.  Be sure to begin each statement with “I am (the ultimate words of creation), state it in the positive, and say it as though it already is accomplished, i.e. “I am increasingly treating myself with love and respect, and I am attracting people who love and respect me in all my relationships.”

 

It is never too late to bring in the change that you have always wanted to see around you. Let this New Year be the one that will see you being at the forefront of introducing new ideas and new concepts to make the world a better and safer place.

 

Happy, Healthy New Year!

 

Sandra

 

 

Sandra Brossman is the author of The Power of Oneness, Live the Life You Choose and the featured presenter in Live the Life You Choose DVD.  To learn more about how you can align your life with spiritual truth, order the book or DVD box set at  http://www.thepowerofoneness.com/products/

 

How Would You Change Your Life Now If You Knew You Had Only One More Year To Live?

This is a gold image telling you to change your life now.

© oleschwander/shutterstock.com

 

We all know that no one is going to live in this lifetime forever.  Sooner or later, we all need to face that, for better or worse, our lives here on earth will inevitably come to an end.  It’s kind of like the “pink elephant in the room” expression indicating that we are sometimes uncomfortable discussing the obvious.

 

Ironically, we tend to become most clear about what really matters in life at the end of our lives, not when we are born.  It really is a paradox:  Although we have to live life going forward, we can best understand life by looking back.  This fact is evident in that many people, when nearing death, are gifted with a phenomenal clairvoyant retroactive vision in which they totally comprehend the parts of life which were most important to them.

 

So how about if we reverse the sequence and tap into the wisdom that people have shared at the end of their lives and use these insights to guide us to live our lives to the fullest in present time?

 

Bronnie Ware is an Australian nurse who spent several years working in palliative care, caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives. She recorded their dying epiphanies in a blog called Inspiration and Chai.

 

“When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently,” she says, “common themes surfaced again and again.”

Here are the top five regrets of the dying, as witnessed by Ware:

The most common of all was:

 

1. I wish I had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the one others expected of me. Most had not honored even half of their dreams. She found that they went to their death realizing that this was a choice they had made, and they deeply regretted having never really lived their dreams, or even part of them.

 

2. I wish that I hadn’t worked so hard. This came from many male patients she had nursed. They regretted missing their children growing up and the companionship of their spouse or partner. She primarily worked with elderly men because this generation didn’t have as many women who were breadwinners. All of the men deeply regretted spending so much time “on the treadmill” of work and giving in to the drive to get ahead. As I suspected, no one ever said on their death bed, “I only wish I had worked harder.”

 

3. I wish I had the courage to express my feelings. Many had repressed their own feelings to keep the peace, either with a spouse or family members. As a result, they settled for a mediocre life and didn’t realize their own potential. She said many had developed illnesses related to carrying the resentment and bitterness for so many years.

 

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. They would realize, too late, the importance of close friendships and in the last stages of life didn’t have the time to track them down to tell them how sorry they were. They were caught up in their own lives and let important friendships slip and realized too late how deeply they regretted this. She observed that love and relationships were ultimately the only thing that mattered to all of her patients in the end.

 

5. I wish I had let myself be happier. She said this was surprisingly common and that many did not realize that happiness is a choice they could have made all along. Because of their fear of change, they pretended to themselves and others that they were content. Deep inside they longed to really belly laugh and be silly and not care what others thought. On their deathbed, what others thought was not important.

 

I would add two more very important suggestions for living life to the fullest measure:

 

1. Forgive yourself for any ‘mistakes’ you think you have made.

When you forgive yourself, you can forgive everyone else, and nothing creates more peace than forgiveness.

 

2. Say, “I love you” to as many people as you can – Expressing your love is the greatest gift you can ever give to yourself and to everyone you meet.

 

Having read this blog, we have come full cycle back to the question in the beginning:

 

“How would you change your life now if you knew you had only one more year to live?

 

I welcome your insights.

 

Love and Light

 

Sandra

 

 

Sandra Brossman is the author of The Power of Oneness, Live the Life You Choose.  To learn more about how you can align your life with spiritual truth, order the book at http://www.thepowerofoneness.com/products/ 

 

Give Yourself Permission to Feel Your Feelings: Part 2 of 2

This is the image of a little girl holding her beloved cat who offers unconditional love for her to share her feelings

© Vinogradov Illya/shutterstock.com

 

In last week’s blog, we discussed how we all experience different versions of pain in our lives and that it is extremely essential for your well being that you allow yourself to express your feelings.

 

While this is true, it also realistic to say that our daily routines are typically so demanding that we find ourselves in many situations and places where we need to suppress our hurtful feelings. It is socially acceptable to laugh and smile in public, but what about all the “negative” emotions we have, like: anger, sadness, depression, and anxiety?

 

It is certainly not appropriate to cry, scream, or be physically aggressive when we are in school, at work, during social occasions, or in public places.  When we are at home, we are preoccupied with a myriad of other responsibilities, such as: parenting, housework, errands, and, let us not forget, being emotionally and physically available to our spouses and partners.  It seems like just having the time and space to express our negative feelings is a luxury.  As a result, we typically “stuff down” the anger we feel about an argument we had with a friend or family member, the grief we feel about the loss of a loved one, the betrayal we feel when we have not been supported by loved ones during a very stressful time, and the list goes.

 

Where do all these repressed emotions go?  I believe we store them in a mental file which I call, “feelings to be dealt with at another time.”  Of course, unless we create the time to get these feelings out of our minds the energy of our negative feelings accumulates and eventually manifests as mental and physical disorders.

 

So how do we constructively manage our feelings?  The following are some suggestions on how to manage your emotions in healthy ways:

 

    • Create a daily quiet time and space for yourself– This can be for as little as 10 minutes a day – perhaps the first thing in the morning or the last thing before you go to bed.  This is time that you are sanctioning as a healing time for yourself.  If you do not declare a daily “healthy me” time and space, you can be quite sure that everything and everyone else in your life will take priority.

 

    •  Close your eyes and breathe –  Inhale deeply into your lungs to the count of 5, hold the breath to the count of 5, then slowly exhale to the count of 10.  Repeat this at least 5 times.  This automatically calms down your “fight or flight” response.

 

    • Identify your feelings  –  Many times we are unaware of what emotions we are holding in. Ask yourself, “What am I feeling?”  Is it grief? Feeling unimportant? Abused?  Becoming conscious of your feelings is important because you are the only one who can access the emotion(s) that you need to express.

 

    • Accept whatever you are feeling – Just observe whatever you are sensing with absolutely no judgment.  Feelings are not “right” or “wrong.”  It is just energy which, by its very definition, is constant motion.  Feelings are not meant to be stored – they are meant to be expressed.  Pain is actually blocked energy.

 

    • Interpret the connection – Is this a familiar feeling that is based on a present time situation, or do you sense that it is linked to a previous event?   Perhaps you are having a major response to a minor situation because you are associating it with an event in the past that caused great trauma.   For example, if you are breaking up a friendship, is this the same feeling of abandonment you had when your parents got divorced? If so, the time has come to deal with the underlying source of your emotional trigger.

 

    • Pay attention to how your body is feeling – Mentally scan your body. Are you feeling this emotion in your heart?  Is your throat tight?  Is your head pounding?  Then inhale a deep breath of energy into your heart and exhale it out into the areas where you are feeling the pain. You may discover you are holding the pain in many parts of your body. Take your time – there is no rush.  What you are doing is unblocking the energy by creating movement through your breath.

 

    • Express your feelings verbally – It may help you to journalize your feelings, talk to a compassionate friend, or seek the services of of a spiritual healer or professional counselor.

 

    • Express feelings physically – Spending time in nature and playing with a beloved animal companion are wonderful ways to balance your energy.  Physical exercise is also a very effective way to vent your feelings in a constructive way.  Some other effective outlets for pent up energy:  Find a private place and cry as much as you want; or, if you are angry, get in your car, find a place that is away from the crowd and scream your head off!  Honestly, as strange as this may seem, screaming can be a very cathartic, healing experience.
    • Review your options – Ultimately, there are only a few ways we can manage any situation that is causing pain:  Sometimes we can remove ourselves from the situation or away from the person. If not, we can change our perception about the situation. If neither of the above is possible, we can choose to accept things as they are.  Anything else is a choice to stay stuck!

 

These are just a few ideas for honoring yourself by giving yourself permission to express your true feelings.

 

Remember it is human to feel a huge range of emotions.  Our stress is not caused by the actual events and situations we experience; rather it is how we choose to respond to our life challenges.

 

I welcome your input on how you have effectively managed some of the many challenging experiences that have come into your life.

 

Love and Light

 

Sandra

 

Click to read last week’s blog, Give Yourself Permission to Feel Your Feelings: Part 1 of 2 

 

A portion of this message is an excerpt from the book, The Power of Oneness, Live the Life You Choose.  To learn more about how you can align your life with spiritual truth, order the book at http://www.thepowerofoneness.com/products/ 

 

Give Yourself Permission to Feel Your Feelings: Part 1 of 2

This is the image of a young girl in sunlight holding her cat with open arms

© Vinogradov Illya/shutterstock.com

 

We all experience different versions of pain in our lives.  Whether it is the pain that comes from a broken relationship with a friend or family member, the ex for whom we still long, the death of a loved one, or the physical pain of trauma, illness, and disease, negative feelings are a natural part of life.

 

While we do not always get to choose the particular painful experiences we have, HOW we manage these situations is a choice.  Perhaps this is the meaning of the saying, “Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.”

 

Most of us tend to deal with pain primarily with our minds.  The mind’s typical response when faced with pain is to immediately focus on fixing the problem.  When we do this, we use our energy to resist the unpleasant thoughts, feelings and sensations of grief, hostility, frustration, anxiety, depression, guilt, and resentment that naturally accompany painful situations.  What we resist persists, so many times our attempts to bypass the feelings that we are having will actually intensify the pain.  This is because we have overlooked an extremely important step in our healing process – we need to FEEL our emotions with our hearts before we can effectively deal with them on a mental level.

 

Simply stated, when we avoid expressing our feelings, we are not honoring our Whole Self – body, mind, and soul.  Our bodies physically register the ease and dis-ease within our lives in a very apparent way.  Feelings are energy, and energy is constant movement.  Therefore, if we do not EXpress our negative feelings, the energy of pain will IMpress itself into some part of our bodies.  For example, if you continue to stuff feelings of being heartbroken, you may eventually develop a heart disease.  If you take on other people’s burdens without appropriately expressing your own feelings, you may constantly have pain in your shoulders.

 

Repressing our feelings also has a negative impact on our minds.  Without a constructive outlet to express our feelings, the mind will recycle the problem over and over without coming up with an effective resolution.  While you may be dealing with only a few problems, the constant mental repetition will cause you to feel like you are dealing with a thousand problems.  To complicate matters, we then tend to become even more mentally overwhelmed because we begin to judge ourselves for even having the emotions.

 

Our feelings are an essential aspect of our human experience.  Emotions are the barometer that measures the “distance” between the quality of life we really want to live vs. the experiences we are actually having.  For example, if we are attracting a lot of abusive people into our relationships and we want to experience a loving relationship, the emotions we feel will be very painful.  Another example is that we may be longing for abundance, yet our actual experiences are indicative of lack.  Again, our feelings will register the discrepancy between what we really desire vs. what we are physically experiencing.

 

You have the power to expand your present life experiences to match with the quality of life you choose to live.  In next weeks’s blog, Part Two, we will discuss how to constructively express your negative feelings rather than avoid them.  We will also review how you can develop the perceptions that will guide you to the actual experience of living the quality of life you choose.

 

Remember, BE KIND TO YOURSELF!

 

Love and Light,

 

Sandra

 

A portion of this message is an excerpt from the book, The Power of Oneness, Live the Life You Choose.  To learn more about how you can align your life with spiritual truth, order the book at http://www.thepowerofoneness.com/products/ 

 

Self-Evaluation of Seven Basic Beliefs Underlying Your Perceptions of Life – Part 7 of 7: Trust in the Universe

This is the image of hands reaching out to the light

© STILLFX/shutterstock.com

 

Welcome to Part 7, the last of a 7 part series in which you are invited to become aware of the Basic Beliefs Underlying Your Perceptions of Life!  Even more importantly, you are offered the opportunity to transform your self-limiting beliefs of separation and fear into self-empowering beliefs of oneness and unconditional love.

 

Our basic beliefs are the fundamental concepts we have formed about ourselves and the world around us, based on the mental input we have received throughout our lives. They are the underlying thought forms deep within our psyche that support all our views of life.  Our basic beliefs have a profound impact on the quality of our lives because they are the core of our personal values governing absolutely every perception we choose.

 

Many of our basic beliefs generate self-limiting thoughts because they are framed within our childhood perspectives, rooted in societal training, and do not reflect our whole self.

 

This week I invite you to become aware of your beliefs about your TRUST IN THE UNIVERSE.  Trusting in the universe is extremely essential in our spiritual evolution because it is our faith in the unknown that bridges our physical, third dimensional world of separation and the spiritual world of oneness.

 

Most of us are experiencing extremely challenging times in our lives right now.  We are experiencing turmoil in exactly the areas which, in the past, seemed to have provided us the most stability.  Many areas of our lives are feeling threatened, such as:  job security, personal relationships, positions of power, financial stability, and physical and mental health to name a few.  There seems to be a relentless hunger deep within us that cannot be satiated by the usual physical gratifications of food, money, power, sex, and fame.  It feels as though the very foundation of our security is vanishing!

 

If we are looking for our outer, material world to provide us with security and validation, we are most likely feeling disoriented, skeptical, and downright frightened about the radical changes we are feeling and seeing everywhere. While we may believe that the universe is taking things away from us, in truth, the universe is helping us to heal by removing the things in our lives that we have artificially depended on for our security.  As a result, we are compelled to look within our hearts and to trust in something greater than our material world to find our source of inspiration and regeneration. In essence, our egos are being dissolved to open the pathway to the realization of who we truly are on a soul level.

 

The following is a Self-Evaluation of Your Beliefs About Your Trust in the Universe.  As you scan through the questions, simply ask yourself, “Do I relate to the statements of separation, or do I relate to the statements of oneness?  The perceptions of separation correspond with fear and lock us into self-defeating behaviors, while the perceptions of oneness resonate with our spiritual truth of unconditional, universal love and open us to our greater potential. 

 

It is best to trust your immediate, spontaneous responses to these questions.  When we analyze ourselves and deliberate over the answers, we run the risk of falling into the trap of self-judgment rather than pure awareness.

 

Remember, this evaluation is not an exercise in self-criticism, nor does it involve judgment of others.  It is merely a tool to shed the light of self-awareness on the foundation of beliefs upon which we base our view points of life.

 

BASIC BELIEF #7 – TRUST IN THE UNIVERSE

 

Do I believe that I am supported by a higher spiritual reality that transcends the realm of our physical world?

 

Separation:  Feeling that we are all separate from each other and from our outer existence;  viewing one’s human potential as being limited to the physical plane of existence; believing that what is apparent to one’s physical eyes is all there is to reality; believing something can only be real if proven by logical concepts.

 

Oneness:  Believing in a personal, spiritual connection with a divine field of universal love and light beyond our human, physical existence; trusting that the universe is unconditionally supportive.

 

Which statements do I most relate to – separation or oneness?

 

Where does this belief originate?  (i.e. parents, family culture, religion)

 

Is this my own personal truth now that I am an adult?

 

DO I CHOOSE TO CHANGE THIS BELIEF?

 

The following are affirmations to transform your perceptions of separation and fear into affirmations of oneness and unconditional love:

 

Feeling of Separation: There is no reality beyond this physical world.

Affirmation of Oneness:  I am open to perceiving universal truth.

 

Feeling of Separation:  I am afraid to trust and let go.

Affirmation of Oneness:  As I trust and let go, I open myself to receiving love and universal guidance through my intuition.

 

Feeling of Separation:  I feel lonely.

Affirmation of Oneness:  I am open to experiencing a connection with a higher spiritual reality.

 

Feeling of Separation:  I can’t depend on anybody.

Affirmation of Oneness:  I open myself to the benevolent abundance and support of the universe.

 

Feeling of Separation:  How can I believe in something I cannot perceive with my five senses?

Affirmation of Oneness:  I am open to expanding my perceptions.

 

 

Every single belief that you have stored into your brain is the result of constant repetition that has come from yourself – as well as from others.  YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR BELIEFS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF AFFIRMATIONS.  It does not matter whether you initially believe your affirmations.  Affirmations are a mental stretch moving toward spiritual truth.  With enough repetition, you will come to believe your affirmations of oneness.

 

Trusting in the universe means we choose to remember that, on a soul level, we are all connected with each other, and all that is, through a higher spiritual life force that is governing the universe through the energy of universal love. We each have access to the infinite potential and universal wisdom that is inherent within this field of creation.

 

While we cannot perceive this spiritual world with our five senses, we can all access it  through our intuition.  Our intuition is our spiritual GPS that is constantly guiding us to choose thoughts and beliefs that are aligned with spiritual truth.  It comes through to us with gut level feelings, flashes of imagination, dreams, and feelings of expansion and lightness.

 

As we TRUST THE UNIVERSE to provide us with this spiritual guidance, we discover that our authentic “security” is and always has been our direct soul connection with the love of Spirit.  Through this remembrance, we become empowered to work together to move beyond our present physical world of separation as we harmoniously work together to create a new reality of love, peace, health, joy, and abundance for everyone.

 

What a wonderful time to be here on our dear planet Earth!

 

I pray that you have enjoyed expanding your belief systems as much as I have enjoyed sharing the healing process with you. I encourage you to continue to consistently practice transforming your feelings of fear into affirmations of love. Aligning your basic beliefs with the truth of spirit is the basis for all healing.

 

Remember, no matter how confusing and murky this transformation process may feel, the loving guidance of the Universe is unconditionally available to us every moment of every day.  Our path to Oneness is already there for us – we need only open our hearts and minds to seeing it.

 

Love and Light

 

Sandra

 

A portion of this message is an excerpt from the book, The Power of Oneness, Live the Life You Choose.  To learn more about how you can align your life with spiritual truth, order the book at http://www.thepowerofoneness.com/products/ 

 

Self-Evaluation of Seven Basic Beliefs Underlying Your Perceptions of Life – Part 6 of 7: Openness to Change

This is the image of a blackboard with blue chalk writing asking if you are open to change.

© Krasimira Nevenova/shutterstock.com

Welcome to Part 6 of a 7 part series in which you are invited to become aware of the Basic Beliefs Underlying Your Perceptions of Life!  Even more importantly, you are offered the opportunity to transform your self-limiting beliefs of separation and fear into self-empowering beliefs of oneness and unconditional love.

 

Our basic beliefs are the fundamental concepts we have formed about ourselves and the world around us, based on the mental input we have received throughout our lives. They are the underlying thought forms deep within our psyche that support all our views of life.  Our basic beliefs have profound impact on the quality of our lives because they are the core of our personal values governing absolutely every perception we choose.

 

Many of our basic beliefs generate self-limiting thoughts because they are framed within our childhood perspectives, rooted in societal training, and do not reflect our whole self.

 

This week I invite you to become aware of your beliefs about your OPENNESS TO CHANGE.

 

One sure way to limit our potential is to resist the flow of change in our lives.  This is a very self-deluding perception because the process of change is the essence of life – we can proactively participate in it or we can just let it happen to us. Change tends to be something we want everyone else to do.  In truth, the only person we have the power to change is ourselves.

 

If we are resistant to change, life becomes a waiting game.  It is like hiding in a closet and waiting for a guarantee that everything will be forever safe outside before we agree to come out.  We tend to dance back and forth between feeling guilty about the past and frightened of the future, believing that it is either too soon or too late to change careers, move to a new area, buy a house, have children, or take a trip.  The one place in time in which we are absent is the only time that is real – the present.

 

The following is a Self-Evaluation of Your Beliefs About Your Being Open to Change.  As you scan through the questions, simply ask yourself, “Do I relate to the statements of Separation, or do I relate to the statements of Oneness?  The perceptions of separation correspond with fear and lock us into self-defeating behaviors, while the perceptions of Oneness resonate with our spiritual truth of unconditional universal love and open us to our greater potential. 

 

It is best to trust your immediate, spontaneous responses to these questions.  When we analyze ourselves and deliberate over the answers, we run the risk of falling into the trap of self-judgment rather than pure awareness.

 

Remember, this evaluation is not an exercise in self-criticism, nor does it involve judgment of others.  It is merely a tool to shed the light of self-awareness on the foundation of beliefs upon which we base our view points of life.

 

BASIC BELIEF #6 – OPENNESS TO CHANGE

 

Am I flexible and willing to go with the constant flow of changes within my life?

 

Separation:  Resisting the flow of life; being stuck in the guilt of the past and the fear of the future; afraid to make decisions; trying to make life so secure so as to avoid having to face new challenges; waiting for changes to happen.

 

Oneness:  Greeting life with fluidity by choosing to be in the present; seeing life as a process of change and growth; having the courage to make decisions; being open to new opportunities and situations; going with the flow of life events.

 

Which statements do I most relate to – Separation or Oneness?

 

Where does this belief originate?  (i.e. parents, family culture, religion)

 

Is this my own personal truth now that I am an adult?

 

DO I CHOOSE TO CHANGE THIS BELIEF?

 

The following are affirmations to transform your perceptions of separation and fear into affirmations of oneness and unconditional love:

 

Feeling of Separation: I am afraid to change.

Affirmation of Oneness:  I am safe as I flow with the creative, loving energy of the universe.

 

Feeling of Separation:  How do I know what choices are “right” for me?

Affirmation of Oneness:  I know that every choice I make contributes to my growth and wholeness.

 

Feeling of Separation:  What if I make the “wrong” choices?

Affirmation of Oneness:  I am willing to express my genuine self.

 

Feeling of Separation:  I’ll wait until tomorrow.

Affirmation of Oneness:  I choose to be in present time.

 

Feeling of Separation:  I will just wait and let fate decide.

Affirmation of Oneness:  I am aware of my inner power to choose perceptions that are aligned with universal love.

 

Remember:  Every single belief that you have stored into your brain is the result of constant repetition that has come from yourself – as well as from others.  YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR BELIEFS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF AFFIRMATIONS.  It does not matter whether you initially believe your affirmations.  Affirmations are a mental stretch moving toward spiritual truth.  With enough repetition, you will come to believe your Affirmations of Oneness.

 

Affirmations help us to develop the habit of consistent, positive self-dialogue.  By making a commitment to the ongoing practice of repeating affirmations of self-love, you have the power to transform your self-deprecating beliefs about yourself into self-respecting perceptions that reflect the truth of your Oneness with Spirit and universal love.

 

When we open our hearts and minds to accepting the inevitability of constant change, we are able to move into the infinite potential that only exists in the spiritual reality of present time.  When we are open to change, we are working in harmony with the laws of nature, and our lives begin to experience a synchronous flow of life’s blessings moving in and out of our lives.  A new life is awaiting you – are you ready to receive it?

 

I welcome any questions or insights you would like to share regarding your self-discovery process as you become conscious of your beliefs about your willingness to be open to change.

 

Love and Light

 

Sandra

 

A portion of this message is an excerpt from the book, The Power of Oneness, Live the Life You Choose.  To learn more about how you can align your life with spiritual truth, order the book at http://www.thepowerofoneness.com/products/ 

 

Self-Evaluation of Seven Basic Beliefs Underlying Your Perceptions of Life – Part 5 of 7: Commitment to Be Your True Self

This is the image of clouds in the sky with the words "Yes You Can" written in cloud font.

© phloxii/shutterstock.com

 

Welcome to Part 5 of a 7 part series in which you are invited to become aware of the Basic Beliefs Underlying Your Perceptions of Life!  Even more importantly, you are offered the opportunity to transform your self-limiting beliefs of separation and fear into self-empowering beliefs of oneness and unconditional love.

 

Our basic beliefs are the fundamental concepts we have formed about ourselves and the world around us, based on the mental input we have received throughout our lives. They are the underlying thought forms deep within our psyche that support all our views of life.  Our basic beliefs have profound impact on the quality of our lives because they are the core of our personal values governing absolutely every perception we choose.

 

Many of our basic beliefs generate self-limiting thoughts because they are framed within our childhood perspectives, rooted in societal training, and do not reflect our whole self.

 

This week I invite you to become aware of your beliefs about your COMMITMENT TO BE YOUR TRUE SELF.

 

“Commitment” is making a conscious choice to genuinely step into life by fully expressing your authentic self.  This sounds incredibly simple – “so all I have to do is just be who I am?”  The answer is a resounding “YES!”  So why do we spend so much time and effort side stepping, withholding,  and even avoiding openly contributing our unique gifts and talents with the world?  Most likely, it is because we are going in circles with perceptions that are filled with self-judgment. This results in an endless list of paralyzing rationalizations:  Perhaps we are saying that we are not good enough, not smart enough, not wealthy enough, not healthy enough, not young enough, and/or not attractive enough to come out into the light and be seen for the unique person we were born to be.

 

The bottom line is that when we do this, we are making an unconscious decision to wait until we are perfect before we pursue our passions and dreams of what we really want to do with our lives.  Demanding that we be perfect is a form of self-attack in which we focus on our flaws.  Withholding the expression of our true self is a behavior which causes us pain at every level because we are constantly in a state of contraction.

 

When we shift our perceptions to focus on our strengths, gifts, talents, and passions, we are focusing on our light within. We can then use our energy to express more of who we ARE, rather than who we ARE NOT.  This perspective creates a state of expansion because we are freeing ourselves to live from the core of our inner spiritual truth.  When our thoughts, words, and actions are based on our spiritual values, we then begin to attract people, opportunities, and resources that support our mission to share our genuine self with the world.

 

The following is a Self-Evaluation of Your Beliefs About Your Commitment to be Your True Self.  As you scan through the questions, simply ask yourself, “Do I relate to the statements of Separation, or do I relate to the statements of Oneness?  The perceptions of separation correspond with fear and lock us into self-defeating behaviors, while the perceptions of oneness resonate with our spiritual truth of unconditional universal love and open us to our greater potential. 

 

It is best to trust your immediate, spontaneous responses to these questions.  When we analyze ourselves and deliberate over the answers, we run the risk of falling into the trap of self-judgment rather than pure awareness.

 

Remember, this evaluation is not an exercise in self-criticism, nor does it involve judgment of others.  It is merely a tool to shed the light of self-awareness on the foundation of beliefs upon which we base our view points of life.

 

BASIC BELIEF #5 – COMMITMENT TO BE YOUR TRUE SELF

 

Am I committed to sharing the gift of who I am with the world by expressing my true self and my unique talents?

 

Separation:  Holding back on one’s creative potential and true expression of feelings; being emotionally armored; being a perfectionist; judging self harshly.

 

Oneness:  Having the courage to express one’s unique and authentic self; being open and honest; being willing to enthusiastically share the gift of one’s self with the world.

 

Which statements do I most relate to – Separation or Oneness?

 

Where does this belief originate?  (i.e. parents, family culture, religion)

 

Is this my own personal truth now that I am an adult?

 

DO I CHOOSE TO CHANGE THIS BELIEF?

 

The following are affirmations to transform your perceptions of separation and fear into affirmations of oneness and unconditional love:

 

Feeling of Separation: I don’t even know who I am.

Affirmation of Oneness:  I am an expression of universal light and love.

 

Feeling of Separation:  I don’t know how to express myself.

Affirmation of Oneness:  I am spiritually guided to express my true self.

 

Feeling of Separation:  I am afraid to express my real feelings.

Affirmation of Oneness:  I am willing to express my genuine self.

 

Feeling of Separation:  My creativity is blocked.

Affirmation of Oneness:  I am an open channel for receiving and expressing my divine creative energy.

 

Feeling of Separation:  I am afraid I will fail.

Affirmation of Oneness: I am completely supported by the universe when I express my truth.

 

Remember:  Every single belief that you have stored into your brain is the result of constant repetition that has come from yourself – as well as from others.  YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR BELIEFS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF AFFIRMATIONS.  It does not matter whether you initially believe your affirmations.  Affirmations are a mental stretch moving toward spiritual truth.  With enough repetition, you will come to believe your Affirmations of Oneness.

 

Affirmations help us to develop the habit of consistent, positive self-dialogue.  By making a commitment to the ongoing practice of repeating affirmations of self-love, you have the power to transform your self-deprecating beliefs about yourself into self-respecting perceptions that reflect the truth of your Oneness with Spirit and universal love.

 

Simply stated, making a commitment to express your Genuine Self is your mission in life.  No one else in the world has your unique personality, physical structure, brain function, gifts, and talents.  Each one of us is a vital piece in the puzzle of the wholeness of humanity.  What could be more important?

 

I welcome any questions or insights you would like to share regarding your self-discovery process as you become conscious of your beliefs about your commitment to being your true self.

 

Love and Light

 

Sandra

 

A portion of this message is an excerpt from the book, The Power of Oneness, Live the Life You Choose.  To learn more about how you can align your life with spiritual truth, order the book at http://www.thepowerofoneness.com/products/ 

 

Self-Evaluation of Seven Basic Beliefs Underlying Your Perceptions of Life – Part 4 of 7: Inner Power

This is the image of a young woman on a beach at sunrise with her arms open feeling joyful and empowered

© Maridav/www.shutterstock.com

 

Welcome to Part 4 of a 7 part series in which you are invited to become aware of the Basic Beliefs Underlying Your Perceptions of Life! Even more importantly, you are offered the opportunity to transform your self-limiting beliefs of separation and fear into self-empowering beliefs of oneness and unconditional love.

 

Our basic beliefs are the fundamental concepts we have formed about ourselves and the world around us, based on the mental input we have received throughout our lives. They are the underlying thought forms deep within our psyche that support all our views of life. Our basic beliefs have a profound impact on the quality of our lives because they are the core of our personal values governing absolutely every perception we choose.

 

Many of our basic beliefs generate self-limiting thoughts because they are framed within our childhood perspectives, rooted in societal training, and do not reflect our whole self.

 

This week I invite you to become aware of your beliefs about your INNER POWER. “Power” is a word that generates unease within many of us. This is because when we think of “power,” we typically think of “power over,” not “power within.” If we are stuck in the “power over” belief system, we are subscribing to the illusion that we can control others or that others can control us. Depending on our personalities, we may be acting out the aggressive side of this belief system in subtle ways, such as criticism and judgment or, more aggressively, through overt attack and intimidation. If we are acting out the passive side of the “power over” model, we may tend to withhold our affection, attention, or approval of people in an attempt to get them to act in ways that conform with our expectations. Holding the belief that power means we have control over others is a perception of separation and fear that is bound to perpetuate many choices that are hurtful to ourselves and others.

 

Inner power, on the other hand, is the creative energy of universal love that is seated within the heart of every human being. While we each have a human body, we also have a personal soul connection to the energy of Spirit, which is unconditional, formless, unlimited infinite potential. Every one of us has the capability of tapping into this universal field of love every moment of every day through meditation, prayer, and mindfully choosing perceptions of love and oneness throughout our everyday lives. Remembering that we each have access to the oneness of spirit is extremely self-empowering because it provides us with an indomitable sense of inner stability regardless of outward circumstances.

The following is a Self-Evaluation of Your Beliefs About Your Inner Power. As you scan through the questions, simply ask yourself, “Do I relate to the statements of Separation, or do I relate to the statements of Oneness? The perceptions of separation correspond with fear and lock us into self-defeating behaviors, while the perceptions of oneness resonate with our spiritual truth of unconditional universal love and open us to our greater potential.

 

It is best to trust your immediate, spontaneous responses to these questions. When we analyze ourselves and deliberate over the answers, we run the risk of falling into the trap of self-judgment rather than pure awareness.

 

Remember, this evaluation is not an exercise in self-criticism, nor does it involve judgment of others. It is merely a tool to shed the light of self-awareness on the foundation of beliefs upon which we base our view points of life.

 

BASIC BELIEF #4 – INNER POWER

 

Do I believe that I have the power to create changes within my life, based on the perceptions I choose?

 

Separation: Believing that one does not have the power to choose personal perceptions and that thoughts and actions have no energy or impact on anyone; or believing one has the power to change other people.

 

Oneness: Having awareness and profound respect for one’s ability to direct divine energy through the power of thought; believing in personal inner power to create changes within one’s personal reality.

 

Which statements do I most relate to – Separation or Oneness?

Where does this belief originate? (I.e. parents, family culture, religion)

Is this my own personal truth now that I am an adult?

 

DO I CHOOSE TO CHANGE THIS BELIEF?

 

The following are affirmations to transform your perceptions of separation and fear into affirmations of oneness and unconditional love:

 

Feeling of Separation: Life’s a game – I’ve got to stay on top.
Affirmation of Oneness: I choose treat myself and others with kindness and respect.

 

Feeling of Separation: I am telling you this for your own good.
Affirmation of Oneness: I choose to help others by being a compassionate listener and setting a good example with my own life.

 

Feeling of Separation: I’ll tell you what’s wrong with you . . .
Affirmation of Oneness: I am open to seeing the spiritual goodness in all people.

 

Feeling of Separation: I want you to change.
Affirmation of Oneness: I am aware that the only person I have the power to change is myself.

 

Feeling of Separation: You should . . .
Affirmation of Oneness: I choose to release all judgment and criticism of myself and others.

 

Remember: Every single belief that you have stored into your brain is the result of constant repetition that has come from yourself – as well as from others. YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR BELIEFS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF AFFIRMATIONS. It does not matter whether you initially believe your affirmations. Affirmations are a mental stretch moving toward spiritual truth. With enough repetition, you will come to believe your affirmations of oneness.

 

Affirmations help us to develop the habit of consistent, positive self-dialogue. By making a commitment to the ongoing practice of repeating affirmations of self-love, you have the power to transform your self-deprecating beliefs about yourself into self-respecting perceptions that reflect the truth of your oneness with spirit and universal love.

 

Keep practicing – you have the power to heal your life!

 

I welcome any questions or insights you would like to share regarding your self-discovery process as you become conscious of your beliefs about your inner power.

 

Love and Light

 

Sandra

 

A portion of this message is an excerpt from the book, The Power of Oneness, Live the Life You Choose.  To learn more about how you can align your life with spiritual truth, order the book at http://www.thepowerofoneness.com/products/ 

 

Self Evaluation of Seven Basic Beliefs Underlying Your Perceptions of Life – Part 3 of 7: Attitude

This is the image of a lovely blue sky with clouds with the words "Attitude is Everything" in cloud font

© phloxii/shutterstock.com

 

Welcome to Part 3 of a 7 part series in which you are invited to become aware of the basic beliefs underlying your perceptions of life! Even more importantly, you are offered the opportunity to transform your self-limiting beliefs of separation and fear into self-empowering beliefs of oneness and unconditional love.

 

Our basic beliefs are the fundamental concepts we have formed about ourselves and the world around us, based on the mental input we have received throughout our lives. They are the underlying thought forms deep within our psyche that support all our views of life. Our basic beliefs have profound impact on the quality of our lives because they are the core of our personal values governing absolutely every perception we choose.

 

Many of our basic beliefs generate self-limiting thoughts because they are framed within our childhood perspectives, rooted in societal training, and do not reflect our whole self.

 

This week I invite you to become aware of your beliefs about your ATITUDE. Your attitude is the lens through which you view everyone and everything in your life. Many people say that if there is divine pre-destination in life, what does it matter what choices we make? The answer is that even though we do not get to humanly choose every situation and circumstance that we encounter in life, the quality of our life journey depends on whatever attitude we choose.

 

We can choose to be pessimistic and concentrate on everything that is “wrong” in our lives which, given this perspective, is potentially everything. When we make it a habit to anticipate resistance in everything we do, we are very likely to encounter the very difficulties we imagined. In fact, if we choose to primarily focus on our problems, we can be sure our bleak philosophy of life will be consistently validated because we will attract people and situations that resonate with our negative thinking.

 

We can also choose to manage the infinite number of challenges we encounter with a positive attitude. Scientific studies consistently indicate that our stress levels are a reflection of how we choose to perceive a problem, not the problem within itself. When we are positive, we move out of the polarity of judging ourselves and our situations as “good and bad” and “right or wrong,” and choose, instead, to see every challenge as an opportunity to become more whole. Adopting an optimistic perspective is not a naïve behavior. In fact, it requires a great deal of emotional maturity to see the value of everyone and everything you encounter in life.

 

The following is a self-evaluation of our beliefs about your attitude. As you scan through the questions, simply ask yourself, “Do I relate to the statements of separation, or do I relate to the statements of oneness? The perceptions of separation correspond with fear and lock us into self-defeating behaviors, while the perceptions of oneness resonate with our spiritual truth of unconditional universal love and open us to our greater potential.

 

It is best to trust your immediate, spontaneous responses to these questions. When we analyze ourselves and deliberate over the answers, we run the risk of falling into the trap of self-judgment rather than pure awareness.

 

Remember, this evaluation is not an exercise in self-criticism, nor does it involve judgment of others. It is merely a tool to shed the light of self-awareness on the foundation of beliefs upon which we base our view points of life.

 

BASIC BELIEF #3 – ATTITUDE

 

What is my outlook on life in general?

 

Separation: Having a negative attitude; expecting the worst; viewing life as a difficult “win/lose” competitive event; feeling life has to be hard; a survival attitude.

Oneness: Having a positive attitude rooted in spiritual strength; leaving space for optimistic outcomes; seeing life as a process of learning and growth; viewing life with imagination and enthusiasm.

 

Which statements do I most relate to – Separation or Oneness?

 

Where does this belief originate? (i.e. parents, family culture, religion)

 

Is this my own personal truth now that I am an adult?

 

DO I CHOOSE TO CHANGE THIS BELIEF?

 

The following are affirmations to transform your perceptions of separation and fear into affirmations of Oneness and unconditional love:

 

Feeling of Separation: Life is an endless struggle.

Affirmation of Oneness: I take responsibility for the perceptions I choose and how they affect my life.

 

Feeling of Separation: It will never work.

Affirmation of Oneness: I am open to success and positive outcomes.

 

Feeling of Separation: The world is a rotten place.

Affirmation of Oneness: I choose to see divine will and goodness in all things.

 

Feeling of Separation: I have to fight to get what I want.

Affirmation of Oneness: I choose to experience peace and harmony in my life.

 

Feeling of Separation: I can’t do it.

Affirmation of Oneness: I choose to believe that anything is possible.

 

Every single belief that you have stored into your brain is the result of constant repetition that has come from yourself – as well as from others. YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR BELIEFS THROUGH THE PROCESS OF AFFIRMATIONS. It does not matter whether you initially believe your affirmations. Affirmations are a mental stretch moving toward spiritual truth. With enough repetition, you will come to believe your Affirmations of Oneness.

 

Affirmations help us to develop the habit of consistent, positive self-dialogue. By making a commitment to the ongoing practice of repeating affirmations of self-love, you have the power to transform your self-deprecating beliefs about yourself into self-respecting perceptions that reflect the truth of your oneness with Spirit and universal love.

 

Keep practicing – you are making progress!

 

I welcome any questions or insights you would like to share regarding your self-discovery process as you become conscious of your beliefs about your attitude.

 

Love and Light

 

Sandra

 

A portion of this message is an excerpt from the book, The Power of Oneness, Live the Life You Choose.  To learn more about how you can align your life with spiritual truth, order the book at http://www.thepowerofoneness.com/products/ 
The e-book version, regularly priced at $9.99 is presently being offered for only $1.99.