What if you are not waiting for anything?

During the holiday season, millions of people convince themselves they await that special gift, look forward to preparing or hosting the memorable family meal, anticipate that annual visit from a loved one,  and expect that tingly, effervescent feeling that bubbles up throughout the body.  What if it turned out that you do not really await anything?

Well, for starters, if you decided you have no deadline, then you would probably learn to relax more.  Your energy focus would change. The shopping frenzy often has people scurrying around all stressed out because of issues like cost, availability of the right item and delivery time.  It may turn out you really do not need what you thought you wanted.

Another thing: if you harbour no expectations, then you eliminate the prospect of disappointment. Who really wants to experience that? Consider the mindset of a monk who believes he has no reason for getting anywhere at a set time.  He nurtures flexibility and learns to readily adapt to change. To develop transferable skills always does you well.

When it comes to travel, certain times of year are more hectic and more prone to storms.  Why do so many people thrive on this chaos? You can appreciate people any period of the year.  Remind yourself how it feels to receive a letter, visit or phonecall out of the blue.  If you know emptiness or loneliness, then you view loved ones differently.  

Ask yourself what triggers a sense of trouble in the world. It tends to be counter-productive, human emotions.  The remedy for ignorance is insight.  Learning about the underlying nature of things and yourself is the key to disciplining the mind.  Every moment, you are becomng more discerning about your real needs, desires and illusions.

5 Tips to help you weather your current storm

Regardless of where you live, you know the feelings evoked by an internal storm. You may be astonished by the perceived severity of an instant. Part of you may feel discouraged or, not know what to do.  That you become aware of this frame of mind is the first step to working through it.  Consider 5 tips to help you weather your current storm;

1) Recognize each storm takes you on a meaningful journey.  Take a breath and discipline your mind. You already know what to do.  You explore the mysteries of spirit.

2) Realize imbalance and discomfort reflect incompatibility. Customs, laws and belief systems draw your attention to who you are. To sense you disagree with how you consciously think or behave reminds you of conditioning and brings you back to nature.

3) Choose to believe the storm will not consume you. You will not be defeated unless this is your choice.  You can decide to reject negative energy and shift core awareness.

4) Value a period of solitude.  Learn what it means to become more alert and mindful of why you have evolved to create your current conditions.  Find good things in them.

5) Rediscover the power of wakefulness. This state is often lost, but never forgotten completely.  It is unearthed deep within the soul.  Whomever senses it is unable to describe it in words. Whomever does not experience it is unable to grasp the mysteries.

Fear not the process of learning differently

Analysis of dream submitted by Anonymous in New Brunswick, Canada.

Dream- I was in a chemistry lab.  I approached my former chemistry teacher and showed her a historic, hardcover book from a bag.   I thought she would offer me answers.  The book was being consumed by invisible creatures that left bites in pages. As I touched it, paper fragments turned to sawdust. She was indifferent. After I had left, he phoned someone whom she asked to assassinate me. I sensed I was being pursed and initially struggled to evade the person. Eventually, I turned to face him. I refused to give up my book. I threw it into a room where the man who sought the book could not find it. Then I managed to distract him enough to get away.  He was questioned by someone about me.

Predominant emotions- fear, hope, determined, alert, troubled, apprehensive, resolute.

Interpretation- part of you fears learning and another part of you is learning at a more vigorous pace.  Your mind is shifting to align the divergent levels of awareness and understanding. This could symbolize conflict between your conscious and subconscious or ego and true self. Different parts vy for more control. The ego in particular fears it will be ignored or destroyed and triggers emotions to distract you from doing just that. 

Whenever you seek wisdom outside yourself, you forget what you already know or hide from your conscious self.  External guidance can lead you right to what is required, if you listen.  You must also become open-minded enough to read between the lines of what is unfolding.  Someting is "eating at you" from the inside. The more you ignore it, the more it will go out of its way to get attention.  Emotions are only symptoms of the truth.

Books represent knowledge.  The sources of what you learn are themselves teachers.  Transparency is always desirable. As you become more honest with how you feel, what you think you want and the direction you pursue, then your sense of obstacles and conflict will dissolve.  When all is said and done, all that you have to fear is fear itself.

5 Ways to reframe broken relationships

Human beings learn more through experience than through any other means. Therefore, you may evolve to find something good related to every relationship you have ever had.

You may not realize that your higher self is involved in helping you create each of your relationships.  That is, part of you has motives and intentions that your conscious mind only realizes at the right time.  Consider 5 ways to reframe broken or past relationships;

1) What if you created a relationship which would teach you the value of your self-worth? Allowing yourself to be mistreated or exploited is a lesson in defining boundaries. Only you ever determine  your own self-worth.  No one ever intimidates you without your consent.

2) What if you attacted a relationship based on your lingering broken heart? If you attract a person who acts such that painful history repeats itself, then that person bears some responsibility.  Yet, that person would also be encouraging you to grow.

3) What if you enter into a relationship that does not work out due to your naivete or inexperience? This may draw your attention to how not to perceive yourself as a victim. 

4) What if you have faith that your partner will change to suit you and this does not happen? This reminds you that you are only ever able or meant  to change yourself.

5) What if you evolve away from or outgrow your relationship? People grow in different directions.  People who choose to grow together tend to stay together.  People who do not choose to understand or support another are choosing to stay where they are.

How do you deal with mood swings?

If you  are the type of person who dreams of leading a more peaceful life, then you may wonder how you may deal more effectively with mood swings.  This does not only mean your own.  It also means how you can evolve to deal with people around you.

Everything begins with attitude. How aware you become of how you feel is related to how aware you becomes about how other people feel.  What is your experience with mood swings? have you known anyone who has had a temper? Have you found yourslef indifferent or unaffected?  Share an example of a lesson you have learned about emotions.