Recognize the nature of intelligence

Many people ask, what is intelligence?  Answers sought outside self differ from those offered at soul level.  Where do you look?

In the global marketplace, the economics of supply and demand suggest intelligence is quantifiable.  Participating soceties create imagined needs.  In this way, a person is viewed as intelligent according to practical utility of or marketability of skills or inventions. 

In realms where beliefs reign, intelligence is grounded in principles and value judgements.  Assumptions emerge like those who are more intelligent necessarily have more or less material wealth, health or specific conditions that are not equally accessible, yet widely desirable. 

From another vantage point, intelligence is something earned through experience in this and other lifetimes.  Consider societies that revere elders, reincarnated spirits, cultural history, or rituals and traditions which are practiced and mastered over time. 

Ultimately, people can say things about your body or mind, but does this truly reflect intrinsic value? Who can say anything about soul? What if everyone is gifted with the same infinite, inner knowing, yet accepts this to greater and lesser degrees? Only soul echoes the truth.

Identify that turning point

When an event stands out and you feel confused or get emotional, this is a turning point.  Much like pop singer Bruce Springsteen, you know how it feels to take One step up and then take two steps back. As you hesitate or stagnate, hard lessons jump out.  Are you noticing patterns or history repeating? Are you ready to get the bigger message and move on to new lessons? 

To shift from going backward to moving forward, imagine what it feels like to stop judging yourself or others and sense you are every aspect of the experience.  Even now, you are gradually freeing yourself from being controlled by the past, by perceived pain, from from the idea of assuming everything that appears to bother you is separate.  The energy of this thing/ event guides your movements, the acceptance of deeper feelings.  You only cease resisting, or release whatever holds you back when you begin to accept your role in everything. Watch what happens as you begin to see yourself in the mirror reflected by that which irks or saddens you most.

Why learn to disengage?

As you learn to disengage the senses from being wrapped up in the external world, you learn to switch off external perception temporarily.  How does it help you?  Consider 5 sample ideas;

1) You grow aware of the mind's habit of making assumptions.

2) You realze the acts of labelling & interpreting distort truth.

3) You often judge while still receiving impressions.

4) You sense subtle movement in electromagnetic energy.

5) You discover love and gratitude mobilize energy movement.

Look into the mirror

When you get what you want in your struggle for self,

And the whole world makes you king for a day,

Just go to the mirror and look at yourself,

And see what that person has to say.

For it is not your father or mother, or spouse,

Whose judgement upon you must pass.

The being whose verdict counts most in your life

Is the one staring back at you from the mirror.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years

And get pats on the back as you pass.

But your final reward will be heartache and tears

If you cheated that soul staring back through the glass.

You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum,

And think your a wonderful creature,

But the person in the mirror says you're only a bum

If you can't look yourself in the eye.

That's the person to please--never mind all the rest,

For this being is with you for good.

And you've passed your most dangerous and difficult test

If the person in the mirror is your true friend.

*Borrowed from Bits & Pieces Vol. R/ No.41C

Tom the body piecer & 3 tips to be true to yourself

Traveling on a big city train, I recently struck up conversation with a man who offered some profound insight. I learned this man was a fashion designer turned professional body piecer. He spoke with me during an hour commute into a Toronto suburb.  Based on his life experience, here are three tips he believes would help you be more true to yourself;

1) View yourself as knowledgable in your field. People who perceive themselves as 'experts' are often the kind of people who evolve to become close-minded. To remain open to learning is to admit you never know it all.  Yet, to believe you know little or nothing is a lie to yourself. You have power to boost your esteem without being arrogant.

2) Share what you know. Every experience you have can help other people learn.  In group settings, people learn skills faster and adapt more effectively.  When people have the attitude 'knowledge is power,' and they choose to keep secrets, this does not help others.  In fact, it leads to fear, deception and less productive situations.  Many people undervalue their role as a teacher and the good they can do wherever they already are.

3) Rise above judgement.  People often decide whether they will talk to others based on appearances, assumptions about a job, socio-economic status, life choices or fear.   As you evolve to permit yourself to shatter your own illusions, you move beyond stereotypes and discover what being human is all about.  You have opportunities to learn from everyone about yourself.  Every situation or encounter is a gift.  You invite what you need.

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart." -Confucius