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

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…

I recently started again to journal some thoughts and interesting, or pervasive mind chatter. Occasionally, I recall a dream upon waking.

Most often, I jump in when an “ah ha!” moment hits me, or something I’m listening to or reading stirs a memory, that in effect, brings to mind a realization, or clarification. Other times, I just need to unload some “stuff”, and it’s always an exercise in release, creating some space and energy to move forward in the moment.

I hadn’t considered it a form a meditation, but it makes sense. It is an energy release, a de-cluttering, and also a notepad to hash out thoughts or ideas. It’s a cleansing ritual, with the added benefit of potentially initiating something much larger. In addition to other healthful practices, journaling can be a powerful channel to stream thoughts and feelings, old hurts and new frustrations. Let the unsettled noise flow away, to free up your mind and spirit to return more easily to the now.

As for tools, I’ve been using The Journal, but I’m keen on having an online option, and found Penzu this evening. It has a nice feel to it, and you can’t beat the price. Their site provides a nice page on the benefits of journaling. Check it out! –tb

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Mapping the Inner Journey
Journaling as Meditation

Of the countless forms of meditation we can use, journaling offers its own unique benefits. Most meditations help empty the mind of concerns and bring positive ideas from our mental landscape, but journaling helps us anchor that experience in the material world. Not every person is attracted to meditating in seated silence, and journal meditation is a nice alternative as an active meditation. It allows us to trace our journey and see where we have grown and what lessons we may be repeating. By employing a different part of the brain than creative or inspired thought, writing or typing a journal can create a greater sense of connection and union with our physical selves and the world around us.

Read More…

Source: DailyOM.com
Image: “Art Journal Page” by peregrine blue

There’s a natural process in our lives that goes by many names. Much like our individual cells go through transformation and die, being replaced by the new, updated version, aspects of our personalities, spirituality, character and such also “die” and we are born into a new experience, expanding on what and where we were before. But it certainly doesn’t always feel like we’re getting anywhere…

If you base your self-assessment on what you see in front of you, what you are currently experiencing, then you might not be seeing much of the bigger picture. With every step forward, as ever, the growth and understanding reverberates out and everywhere around you. Subtle changes happen all the time, and even with every thought. However, just as one can build a callous on their finger from continuous guitar playing, you build beliefs and define perceptions.

If, say, for the past 10, 20, or 30 years you’ve observed and understood something in a certain way, it’s pretty much set in your DNA. Now, say you’ve come to a realization about whatever it may be, have that “ah ha!” moment, and are forever changed in this regard. You start to see things differently, but frustratingly, much of your life remains exactly the same! That’s madness, so why bother?

Simply put, without patience and perseverance, no new beliefs (and thus experiences, manifestations, awareness, etc.) will ever take hold, if it is your intention to do so. The energies that surround your experience thus far are a sum of all that you have been and done from day one. You may have some energetic blockages within and without, and those will continue to underlie what you experience with your senses, day to day, until you make that concerted, focused effort to shift it, release it, and let it go. As you’ve probably heard, in various ways before, there’s no good or bad energy… It’s all just energy, and really up to you what to do with it.

Give yourself credit for how far you have come. Don’t discount the little achievements, but don’t also keep score. If you’re temporarily stuck in a dark space, be in that space fully, and go through it. For you wouldn’t know or understand it as “dark” without the light that completely surrounds it. –tb

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Going Through the Opening
Contracting before Expanding

Sometimes our lives contract before they expand. We may be working hard on ourselves spiritually, doing good in the world, following our dreams, and wondering why we are still facing constrictions of all kinds—financial, emotional, physical. Perhaps we even feel as if we’ve lost our spirituality and are stuck in a dark room with no windows. We may be confused and discouraged by what appears to be a lack of progress. But sometimes this is the way things work. Like a caterpillar that confines itself to a tiny cocoon before it grows wings and flies, we are experiencing the darkness before the dawn.

When things feel tight, it’s easy to panic or want to act in some way to ease the feeling of constriction. We might also spin our wheels mentally, trying to understand why things are the way they are. However, there is nothing we need to do at this time other than to be patient and persevering. We can cling to the awareness that we are processing the shift from one stage to another, and the more we surrender to the experience, the more quickly we will move through the tightness into the opening on the other side. Just like a baby making its way down the birth canal, we may feel squeezed and pushed and very uncomfortable, but if we remember that we are on our way to being born into a new reality, we will find the strength to carry on.

Even as we endure the contractions, we can find peace within ourselves if we remember to trust the universe. We can look to the natural world for inspiration as we see that all beings surrender to the process of being born. In that surrender, and in the center of our own hearts, is a willingness to trust in the unknown as we make our way through the opening.

Source: DailyOM.com
Image: “Second Door, Masons Lane” by Neosnaps

The people that arrive in our lives are an amazing, dynamic resource for us.

If you’ve learned to not take anything personally (check don Miguel Ruiz’s book The Four Agreements), then the reactions of others toward you, their insights and thoughts about something that concerns you, or their opinions about you are very telling and powerful – given the right perspective.

Remember, that what people say, interpret and perceive is from a very unique perspective: theirs.

Everything and everyone around us is an indicator of some sort. More specifically – speaking in energetic and metaphysical terms – they are an indicator of your current vibrational level.

So, what does that mean, guru?

Well, consider that everything is energy, and that we, as our physical reality selves, are all vibrational beings; a multitude of universal energy, currently focused consciously into your individual self for this “life time”. So when we refer to a vibrational level (check Abraham-Hicks publications), this reflects our level of understanding, growth, harmony, and/or alignment with our higher (and deeper) selves – that which is ultimately inseparable from “all that is”.

The energy that binds and intertwines us, when you’re centered and silent, makes itself known. That’s the part of us that in a vibrational sense, indicates our level of distance or disharmony, based on how much we live (and limit our lives) in our minds and ego, as opposed to the knowing, graceful and completely-at-ease nature of our souls or spirits.

So back to your best friend. Also, consider your current “worst enemy” in the same regard…

We learn to trust (and/or hate) the opinions of those closest to us. Quite often, our friends will have a hard time saying anything that may put a strain on the relationship. Or, they may say something outright hurtful (to you) in a moment of random honesty. They may warn you about avoiding a certain course of action, being careful, or buying an item you’ve set in your mind as something you’d love to acquire or experience. They may offer an opinion about a person who has come into your life that you’ve taken a liking to. They will comment and critique something you’ve created or shared. Whatever it is, you can heed their words, but more importantly, heed your own emotions, reactions and feelings toward what was said and shared.

It’s all part of learning to listen to, and developing your intuition. Remember that?

The universe wants nothing more than to manifest for you all of your heart’s desires. However, given that we live in amongst the influences of so many, a lifetime of learned filtration and mind manipulation, egoic bombardment, emotional turmoil and all of those fabulous inputs to our senses, it takes a little something extra to step outside the noise to gather your true inspiration, intention, and ultimate manifestation.

And really, it is all so very simple. Start by opening and listening with your heart. The brain/mind/intellect is excellent. But the real influence comes from a deeper, quieter (even non-physical) place. That’s the voice that really guides you.

It is so very easy to have a practiced, reflexive (often negative) reaction, even before someone utters a single word. This is something I’ve personally experienced, in varying degrees (as we all have I’m sure) and have learned to be more watchful of nowadays. There are lessons and guidance all around us, all the time. Use it to your advancement and solace in life.

Image: “Saint George’s Lights” by Jason Pratt

There are elements in our societies and cultures that understand this implicitly, and don’t necessarily have humanity’s best interests at heart.

For example: one glance at nearly all mainstream news and entertainment media and you’ll see a “darker” (lower vibrational; maligned) version of this energy at work. Feel it within yourself; are you more inclined to pick up that paper, or tune into that news broadcast, reminding yourself once again how crappy the world is, or can you step back, think about what really might be going on, and know that even though something made headlines, feeding into the black hole of negativity only serves to bring you down.

Furthermore, you’re sending that energy out to everybody else. Do you actually start your day like this? Or, how about ending your day with it? I would encourage you to reconsider.

As a contrast, consider the “green movement” and how it’s spread across the globe, and we’re slowly falling in love with our fabulous planet again. While I don’t condone all the “climate crisis” noise (see: the previous paragraphs), I’m all for embracing nature, and reclaiming our simplest of connections to our home in this galaxy.

Getting your head around these ideas can really help you “get” what this “power in numbers” reality really means to you, this planet, and all of humanity. –tb

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Power in Numbers
Sending Our Collective Light to the World

Like tiny ripples that merge to form great waves, combined human intent is worth more than the sum of its parts. A single individual can initiate worldwide improvement by emitting conscious frequencies of love, beauty, goodness, and wisdom. A group of people focusing their energy on sending out light to the world can set the stage for positive global transformation. All of us possess the ability to channel love energy, to heal, to be a conduit for white light, and to positively influence our fellow humans from afar. Yet one person can only do so much. Imagine if each one of us took a few moments at the start of each day to send out light to the world from our hearts. Mother Earth would be quickly eased and the planet, as well as every organism and being on it, would be bathed in loving light. The world would be an infinitely beautiful place.

You can help bring about an earth where love triumphs over violence, air and water are nourishing in their purity, and people take pleasure in simply being alive. Alone, the light you emit is a wonderful healing tool, but when you join with others who share your intent to shine compassion and positive energy over the world, a powerful force is created. Your collective consciousness and collective light will wash over the planet, enveloping people, communities, cities, countries, and continents. Inviting others to send light with you can be a daunting task. People may question the benefits of sending light to an already broken world. You will likely need to explain that each person’s light joins with every other, and through the joining all are strengthened. Assure them that what matters is not technique or what religion or beliefs you hold but intent.

As more people come in mindfulness to send their collective light to the world, the power of their planetary gift will increase exponentially. You may already be affiliated with groups that would gladly participate in such a noble project. Children, who often feel incapable of influencing their world yet are reservoirs of innate power are usually enthusiastic about sharing their collective light. As you gather together willing people, your individual intent will become a great and powerful wave, and you will see results in your fellow humans, in the news, and in your daily life.

Source: DailyOM.com
Image: “Constructive Interference” by Clearly Ambiguous

Truth is, focusing on the “good” is not profitable, or so they believe. You can flip through most newspapers and find page after page of dark, nasty things in and of humanity that somebody decided it’d be useful, or expected of them to report on. In between all of that, you find advertising. What a weird combination.

You see magazine covers, with the altered, airbrushed, flawless image of what’s “good” and attractive about our physical appearance. These kinds of influences inundate our senses everywhere we go, unless we make an effort and choice to detach and deflect…

I guess the point is that what we focus on expands. Within ourselves, the energy we create and maintain is largely determined by what’s going on between our ears. Thoughts are powerful things, as we all know. Influencing them is key to making any sort of lasting change, and moving in a positive, evolutionary way toward your desires in life. Training yourself to focus on the good and positive aspects effects immediate results, most obviously in your feelings and emotions. Further to that, your body eases up and loosens its tension. Over time, as with anything, habits settle in becoming new beliefs allowing you a more and more effortless existence. It really is all up to you.

A key aspect to this is to realize that even in something perceived as “bad” there is “good”. It’s tough to see – or even care about – that if you’re stressed out, tired, frustrated, or in any other negatively charged emotional state. If this is the case, remember your breath. The simplest of things, used deftly for a mere 10 seconds can change your life in an instant… Focus on the good. –tb

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Focus on the Good
Raise Your Vibration

Everything in the universe is made of energy. What differentiates one form of energy from another is the speed at which it vibrates. For example, light vibrates at a very high frequency, and something like a rock vibrates at a lower frequency but a frequency nonetheless. Human beings also vibrate at different frequencies. Our thoughts and feelings can determine the frequency at which we vibrate, and our vibration goes out into the world and attracts to us energy moving at a similar frequency. This is one of the ways that we create our own reality, which is why we can cause a positive shift in our lives by raising our vibration.

We all know someone we think of as vibrant. Vibrant literally means “vibrating very rapidly.” The people who strike us as vibrant are vibrating at a high frequency, and they can inspire us as we work to raise our vibration. On the other hand, we all know people that are very negative or cynical. These people are vibrating at a lower frequency. They can also be an inspiration because they can show us where we don’t want to be vibrating and why. To discover where you are in terms of vibrancy, consider where you fall on a scale between the most pessimistic person you know and the most vibrant. This is not in order to pass judgment, but rather it is important to know where you are as you begin working to raise your frequency so that you can notice and appreciate your progress.

There are many ways to raise your vibration, from working with affirmations to visualizing enlightened entities during meditation. One of the most practical ways to raise your vibration is to consciously choose where you focus your attention. To understand how powerful this is, take five minutes to describe something you love unreservedly—a person, a movie, an experience. When your five minutes are up, you will noticeably feel more positive and even lighter. If you want to keep raising your vibration, you might want to commit to spending five minutes every day focusing on the good in your life. As you do this, you will train yourself to be more awake and alive. Over time, you will experience a permanent shift in your vibrancy.

Source: DailyOm.com
Image: “Golden Child” by Appfrica

Every time we experience something we don’t want, the equal and opposite desire is instantly created. A part of you must know, conceive of, and record the desire for you to experience what you really want, and based on this experience (which could be happening again, and again in your life) you now know what you would prefer. You may have witnessed how things are never exactly the same, just like this tree here… Every year it expands and grows, but it’s not a uniform experience. Life can toss us around now and again, but you have to know that it’s all working out for you, if that is your intention.

But, why does this crappy thing keep happening then? Well, beliefs are powerful, and largely unconscious things that are engrained into our experience, possibly learned or established at a very early age. But they’re also created by you, with your thoughts. So the trick is to now use awareness as your way out of the skipping-record routine. You have the universal tools at your disposal already: thoughts, and feelings. Paying close attention to your emotions will open up your life experience in ways that can only lead to healing and growth. –tb

Over And Over Again
Having The Same Experiences

There may be times in our lives when it seems like we keep having the same kinds of experiences. The situation or the people involved may be different each time, yet one experience may feel exactly like the last one and the one before that one. Perhaps we left a job where we were unhappy and we find ourselves experiencing similar challenges in our new job. A relationship with a new romantic partner may start to seem a lot like our old relationship and the problems that we thought we had left behind. We may feel disappointed or frustrated and wonder why the same situations and people keep showing up in our lives. The truth is that the same kinds of experiences don’t keep happening to us. After all, the circumstances and the people involved are always different. We keep having the same kinds of experiences.

Subconsciously, there is great value to be had in experiencing life in the same ways until we are ready to have different experiences. Perhaps we feel unworthy of happiness, or worry that we can’t get a break. Our experiences tend to reflect what we believe about life. After all, most of us don’t like to be proven wrong. We may even derive satisfaction in being right or experience a sense of safety every time we confirm to ourselves that know the way the world works. We may choose a relationship partner who is very different from our last significant other and hope that this time love will turn out differently. Yet as long as we hold whatever beliefs we have that limit the good we can experience in our relationships, we will create the same dynamic of limited happiness with any partner.

We bring ourselves and our beliefs to every situation. If we can figure out which of our beliefs are no longer serving us, we can consciously change those beliefs, make new choices, and start having new kinds of experiences that are in line with what we want in life.

Source: DailyOM.com
Photo: “Pacific Spirit” by lawmurray