But what is clarity? Sure, you can decide “once and for all” that it’s time to finally pursue that dream or passion. Or, you can make a resolution that “this year is the one” for whatever it might be you’ve been putting off, shelving as a hobby, or dabbling with for most of your life.

That’s all well and good. And isolating the idea, placing it in front of you as a singular focus is important. But, how long will it last? Are there emotions, feelings or other inclinations immediately brought to the surface simply by stating this intention? For most everyone, this is the instant side-effect of stepping forward in faith, confidence, and giving the universe the ultimatum of your newfound clarity.

This, too, is how we inhibit and defeat our potential, without any extra effort – and without being conscious of it. The mind and ego are in constant battle to keep you “safe” (which essentially means stalled, blocked, or small and unsure), so when you’re intent on this clarity, it’s important to realize that your old friends and lifetime companions, defined as “beliefs”, will have something to say about it. So, immediately, you have new choices to make, and your resolve may need a stronger foundation upon which to base the next step in your journey.

True and complete clarity is possible only if you allow the simplicity of what it is you desire to be all that is given any energy of thought or consideration. It requires that you empty your creative space entirely of conflicting requests, so that the purity of your singular focused intention will have plenty of magnetic potential to manifest as quickly as possible.

This, of course, is generally easier said than done. It really depends on how you’ve lived your life thus far and how much mental or spiritual “baggage” might be impeding your ongoing efforts to simply be and approach your journey with ease, grace, lightness and joy. Notice what rises to the surface. Be with it and perhaps take the time to finally address the underlying energy that keeps it anchored in your body, mind, or spirit. Isn’t it time to let it go?

If you live in a consumer-driven, or materialistic culture (as we do in the West) then the effects are even more dramatic. There is an overriding conditioning that handicaps much of your mental and spiritual clarity by default, and your first steps must be to unwind that blindfold, enabling you to ease up the constricted mind, body, and spirit. It’s important to reclaim the power you’ve given away to objects, circumstances, or other influences in your life…

Thus, clarity can be achieved! Then, witness how easily people, places, and events manifest to aid you, urge you, and entice you to expand, explore, and dive into what it is you truly desire to experience in this lifetime.

Steve Pavlina has an excellent blog post about this topic: 11 Ways to Gain Clarity

Source: DailyOm
December 15, 2009

Read More…

Manic Times with the High Riders

There is power in your voice.

In fact, some would boldly state that your voice is the vibration of your soul.

So, considering this, is it any wonder why it hurts you physically and emotionally when you don’t express your truth? Even in the simplest of conversations – which may at the time seem banal, redundant, or ridiculous – this awareness arms you with the knowledge that what you choose to speak can change your world. In truth, what you choose to avoid speaking is just the same.

Notice how often you have to clear your throat. Notice, perhaps, how often it is sore, dry, raspy or otherwise congested. Your body is manifesting physically what it’s like to hold it in; to stifle your own personal song, and to squash your spirit, again and again.

In my experience, I know it’s easy to practice resistance of personal expression, and I know it well. But those who know me, know that I don’t often hold back an honest thought, because to do so, would do us both a disservice. Our society and culture puts an odd amount of power into the hands of this idea of “politeness”, and by extension “political correctness”. Thing is, filtering out an honest thought, based on what you believe someone else may interpret from it, is an exercise in head-against-wall-bashing, metaphorically speaking. How can you possibly know what someone will really think about what you’re about to say, especially if your intention is only to share your true thoughts? Even if you intend to humble someone with your verbal prowess, the sting may really be very short-lived, but the reverberating effect profound. (That being said, you may also realize that it was not they who needed the humbling, really…)

Let it “come out wrong” and in the same instant, laugh at how easily the tongue (read: language limitations) can betray you. Laugh at how strange the words sound, even though they were once stewing on the inside. Diffuse the bomb by negating its creation. But, instantly know as well, that the next time will be easier, as the mechanics of pure, simple and unfiltered expression refine and define themselves whenever you choose to become genuine. There is little to no effort required once you lose the need to cloak your meaning in pretty words or unripened emotions. Just say what you mean, and in the spirit of community, your listeners will understand.

Best of all, you’ll be one step closer to getting what you really wanted in the first place. –tb

= – = – = – =

Freeing Our Inner Desires
Using Our Outside Voice

Each of us has developed an internal filtering process that helps us choose which parts of our constant inner monologues get voiced outside of our heads. Sometimes the choice is based on what we consider to be polite or appropriate, using subtlety instead of directness to try to get our point across. Other times the choice is made based on our expectations of the other person and what we feel they should know about us, our feelings, and our needs. But our best chance of getting what we need is to communicate specifically by converting our inner voice to our outside voice.

Read more…

Heaven is between the lines
it’s understanding
not just demanding
for the whole of your life
is far beyond mere words

Heaven is here and now
it’s in the waking
not just partaking
’cause the whole of your life
is instantaneously gone

-tb

Using the power of intention is most effective when you have a singular focus, uninterrupted by conflicting thoughts or beliefs.

Quantum physics suggests that there are infinite possibilities (potential outcomes) attached to your every thought. So again, it is through purposeful clarity that one manifests into their reality what they truly desire. Regardless, you’re either consciously, or unconsciously creating, and co-creating, all of the time.

All of this applies to the individual (even down to the individual cell within you) as well as the community, and the collective.

The trouble with resistance, is that it comes in many forms, often under the guise of a better intention (ie. you’re desiring more prosperity, yet there is negativity within you toward the idea of money; you want a compatible life partner, but you have unresolved resentment toward your parents, or close relationships in general). Also, if you’re constantly influenced and stimulated by forces all around you, it can further cloud your natural ability to attract into your life that which would best serve you, in any given moment. We tend to fall into a lower gear, or vibration, and live on a day-to-day, and/or reactionary basis; life happens to you, instead of for you. Regardless, whatever does show up, you invited, and it will serve you, if for nothing else, but to help clarify what you’d rather experience or have.

The challenge then is to hold off on any judgment toward what has presented itself, and unemotionally observe it instead, for what it really is – being that resistance can be hiding behind unrelated, or deeper issues. What now represents your life experience is the outward expression of the multitude of your amassed thoughts, beliefs, and actions. However, seeing it from a more detached point of view can again reclaim for you the infinite power of choice.

And, even that may stir up another form of resistance…

The rest of me
sometimes
Sits very quietly
sometimes
Awaiting patiently
sometimes
I remember

-tb

Kahlil Gibran
(1883 – 1931)

Do what you love, and love what you do.

Wayne W. Dyer
from Wisdom of the Ages

Though my eyes were closed
I could see and feel
The setting sun flicker
A dance of sparkle and light
From a million, million waves

I don’t know if it was the future
Or a fantasy
A premonition
Or a dream
But in that moment
It was now

And that’s all it means

tb – 09/09

Moving to Nelson, BC in June was unexpected. Well, not entirely true. I knew I’d be moving in June, but was unclear exactly of the destination, and hadn’t physically prepared for it. In the end, I had to uproot and move within a few days. Regardless, once I was here, and started raving about how it was such a serene abode and landscape – in stark contrast to where I was living before – I still didn’t clue in. Not, at least, until a few friends said “Hey man, that’s good news – exactly what you wanted!” Hmm… What?

Seems we don’t always pay attention to our requests, and their eventual manifestation in our lives (oh, what’s the “law” called now). At least, I wasn’t doing so in this case. It forced me to step back and observe what had transpired in my thoughts, had begun months previous, and landed me here when it did. The physical location (as far as maps go) wasn’t what I was imagining, but everything about this place was pretty much bang on, including my view out the studio window.

Intriguing. And, I did it to myself again, just this week.

Even within the first few days in this small town, I knew I’d be moving again soon, and October jumped out effortlessly from my brain. Splat! All over my mental calendar. Fine, as it would give my sister time to heal up a broken leg, me to do some healing myself, and to figure out the next step: to move, or to stay the winter. The latter was an automatic “uh, no.” And not surprisingly, an opportunity “popped up” for – nearly word for word – a cottage in a small town similar to this, but by the ocean. Honestly, it caught me off guard, even though a part of me should have known better. It was precisely what I’d planted in the soil only 3 or so months previous, and at the exact time it’d be required.

Intriguing. And, I wasn’t prepared… Had to pass on this one, and not surprisingly, it was no longer available within a day or so. Learn, learn, learn.

Today’s lesson to everyone: if you’re going to start trusting the process, and allowing whatever you need to appear when it needs to, then start actually trusting the process. Don’t insult your higher self by saying “oh, wait, um…”