So I had someone say to me that this stuff I'm writing is too touchy/feeling and that spending time pondering these things is essentially a waste of time. That instead of thinking about it all, I should be out their LIVING life ...
I recently became aware of how often my judgments about others are really just a reflection of what I don't like or am afraid to face within myself. I realized that once I decided to embrace every aspect of my personality and accept all of my emotion as a natural part of being human, then I could be content in my own skin.
I could also let others express and be themselves with less judgment and more acceptance. Respecting the fact that we all have the same feelings, we just express different ones in different degrees...
I realized that when I am judging someone else for what they are doing or feeling all I am really doing is judging myself... Now I looked to people to be a mirror for me. To help me to learn and to grow in understanding of who I am and what I need to look at.
So to all of you that continue to challenge me, thank you for helping me grow. I hope to be your mirror as well.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Forgiveness
I forgive you. How many times have you actually said or received that from someone? I hear and have given "implied forgiveness" quite a bit. Things like: it's okay, forget about it, water under the bridge, no worries, etc....
But what about when the wounds go deeper and resentment or anger has developed? These resentments use up a lot of our energy and make us miserable.
I think one of our basic human desires is to be content on a regular basis. Who wants to carry resentment and anger around with them? But sometimes letting it go seems impossible.
Forgiveness is the cure for resentment, and the gift of forgiveness is humility.
The key is, getting to a place where the concept of forgiveness goes from an intellectual understanding, to a heart felt desire. This in itself can seem incomprehensible.....But it can be done. Consistently going within and asking for a change in perspective, will over time (or for the lucky few, all at once) change our perspective on forgiveness and we will begin to feel it.
Humility then comes with the knowing that we are all human and that we are all struggling with our own demons. Some people have what seem to be, scarier and stronger demons. Or perhaps they have less faith and courage. Who knows? But if we find a place of compassion, as opposed to resentment and judgment for them and their shortcomings, maybe we will receive the same grace when our faults are exposed.....as they surely will be from time to time.
So for now I will continue to go within and ask for this change in perspective until I can feel it move from my head to my heart.
much love,
g
But what about when the wounds go deeper and resentment or anger has developed? These resentments use up a lot of our energy and make us miserable.
I think one of our basic human desires is to be content on a regular basis. Who wants to carry resentment and anger around with them? But sometimes letting it go seems impossible.
Forgiveness is the cure for resentment, and the gift of forgiveness is humility.
The key is, getting to a place where the concept of forgiveness goes from an intellectual understanding, to a heart felt desire. This in itself can seem incomprehensible.....But it can be done. Consistently going within and asking for a change in perspective, will over time (or for the lucky few, all at once) change our perspective on forgiveness and we will begin to feel it.
Humility then comes with the knowing that we are all human and that we are all struggling with our own demons. Some people have what seem to be, scarier and stronger demons. Or perhaps they have less faith and courage. Who knows? But if we find a place of compassion, as opposed to resentment and judgment for them and their shortcomings, maybe we will receive the same grace when our faults are exposed.....as they surely will be from time to time.
So for now I will continue to go within and ask for this change in perspective until I can feel it move from my head to my heart.
much love,
g
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
A Matter of Perspective
How does it go....? Have ten people attend the same event and ask them to tell you what happened....what you will get is ten different versions of the same thing! To me that is wonderful! Each one of us has our own unique impression of each thing we see, say, hear and do.....
There may be nothing in this life that we have total control over and only a few things we have some degree of control over.... I believe perspective is one of the things we have some degree of control over. It's tricky though. Because awareness has to come before perspective. And there are so many levels of awareness.
For example.... If I adamantly oppose or support something then that is my perspective....or the way I see it. But if I don't have awareness behind it, is it really my perspective? I think it's common for people to be unaware of the reasons that they oppose or support something. They just do what they do because "that is what they do" or "have always done". If that's the case, then isn't the perspective really adopted and therefore someone else's?
"Pushing" a perspective (consciously or not) is how people try control others. Religion, politics, laws, even down to the different "clicks or groups" in high school.....Adopting someone else's perspectives without awareness can be dangerous and can also be an easy way of checking out of life by giving the responsibility away.
I say this because that is what I did. And that is why, I feel, it is so important to know yourself. Bring awareness to all areas of your life by knowing "why" you see things the way you do. If, as an individual your continuing to cultivate your understanding of yourself and your perspectives, then as a collective it creates freedom, more tolerance, less fear and more love.
There may be nothing in this life that we have total control over and only a few things we have some degree of control over.... I believe perspective is one of the things we have some degree of control over. It's tricky though. Because awareness has to come before perspective. And there are so many levels of awareness.
For example.... If I adamantly oppose or support something then that is my perspective....or the way I see it. But if I don't have awareness behind it, is it really my perspective? I think it's common for people to be unaware of the reasons that they oppose or support something. They just do what they do because "that is what they do" or "have always done". If that's the case, then isn't the perspective really adopted and therefore someone else's?
"Pushing" a perspective (consciously or not) is how people try control others. Religion, politics, laws, even down to the different "clicks or groups" in high school.....Adopting someone else's perspectives without awareness can be dangerous and can also be an easy way of checking out of life by giving the responsibility away.
I say this because that is what I did. And that is why, I feel, it is so important to know yourself. Bring awareness to all areas of your life by knowing "why" you see things the way you do. If, as an individual your continuing to cultivate your understanding of yourself and your perspectives, then as a collective it creates freedom, more tolerance, less fear and more love.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Believe in Nothing?
A friend of mine gave me a "little gift" to ponder....He says "Believe in nothing."
So I got to thinking, is believing in Nothing still believing?
Seems to me that it takes as much energy to believe in Nothing as it does to believe in something. You have to take time to defend that Nothing. To describe why Nothing is better than Something. To debate this Something as a "worthless waste of time" ...
I am a firm believer that if it's working for you and you like your life and the way things are going, then cultivate what you have. Change within your own paradigm. If not, take responsibility for your own happiness, open your mind, research the possibilities and if you find some things that ring true; adapt them into your foundation. An ENTIRE philosophy doesn't need to be adapted...take what you like and leave the rest.
It's NOT about believing in the "right" thing or the "mainstream" perspective. It's certainly not about adopting a religion, with someone elses set perspectives and rules....It's about developing who you are and knowing what you're about. Being comfortable in your own skin.
I say "To each his (or her) own"....If Nothing makes you happy....then who am I to tell you how to be happy. By all means go ahead, embrace and live with... nothing?
Much love,
Gabi
So I got to thinking, is believing in Nothing still believing?
Seems to me that it takes as much energy to believe in Nothing as it does to believe in something. You have to take time to defend that Nothing. To describe why Nothing is better than Something. To debate this Something as a "worthless waste of time" ...
I am a firm believer that if it's working for you and you like your life and the way things are going, then cultivate what you have. Change within your own paradigm. If not, take responsibility for your own happiness, open your mind, research the possibilities and if you find some things that ring true; adapt them into your foundation. An ENTIRE philosophy doesn't need to be adapted...take what you like and leave the rest.
It's NOT about believing in the "right" thing or the "mainstream" perspective. It's certainly not about adopting a religion, with someone elses set perspectives and rules....It's about developing who you are and knowing what you're about. Being comfortable in your own skin.
I say "To each his (or her) own"....If Nothing makes you happy....then who am I to tell you how to be happy. By all means go ahead, embrace and live with... nothing?
Much love,
Gabi
Monday, June 26, 2006
The Butterfly
Ok, so I get asked all the time why I have so many butterflies around me, why the butterfly is my business logo and generally why I like them so much... well the butterfly is my personal metaphor. Here it is from my perspective.....................
A butterfly starts out as a little worm-like creature; a catarpillar. And while it may still be cute and fun to play with, it's not all that interesting. It's perspective is limited to what is right in front of it. It seems to be living only to eat and sleep. But somewhere inside of it, it works hard to sustain its life because it knows something important is going to happen to it. So it crawls and climbs to eat and sleep, all the while being careful to stay out of the way of predators.
Then when it is tired of living this way and has matured enough to feel another way calling it.......the caterpillar cocoons itself up in a safe place to "digest" its' life thus far and to process the information it has collected. It goes deep within itself to find its true Spirit which lives at its core. Then, after some time of introspection and rest, it re-emerges as this new creature...with bright beautiful colors and of all things....wings!
It takes flight and realizes there is a whole new world to see. Bouncing and flying from flower to flower....branch to branch, it sees so much more than what is right in front of its nose now! Even though they are the same being, the butterfly has a completely different perspective than the caterpillar.
Now with wonderful new opportunities and adventures before it, the butterfly is filled with gratitude and faith. It knows that being what it was, has made it what it is.
A butterfly starts out as a little worm-like creature; a catarpillar. And while it may still be cute and fun to play with, it's not all that interesting. It's perspective is limited to what is right in front of it. It seems to be living only to eat and sleep. But somewhere inside of it, it works hard to sustain its life because it knows something important is going to happen to it. So it crawls and climbs to eat and sleep, all the while being careful to stay out of the way of predators.
Then when it is tired of living this way and has matured enough to feel another way calling it.......the caterpillar cocoons itself up in a safe place to "digest" its' life thus far and to process the information it has collected. It goes deep within itself to find its true Spirit which lives at its core. Then, after some time of introspection and rest, it re-emerges as this new creature...with bright beautiful colors and of all things....wings!
It takes flight and realizes there is a whole new world to see. Bouncing and flying from flower to flower....branch to branch, it sees so much more than what is right in front of its nose now! Even though they are the same being, the butterfly has a completely different perspective than the caterpillar.
Now with wonderful new opportunities and adventures before it, the butterfly is filled with gratitude and faith. It knows that being what it was, has made it what it is.
Do your role models serve you?
This morning I was asking for answers to some questions....
I feel like I am changing at what feels like a snails pace in certain areas of my life...
When I meditated on this question "how do I find peace and acceptance around (this area) of my life" I was given this to ponder in return;
"See if your looking to a role model that doesn't serve you any longer".
At first I didn't get it...but as I thought more about it I realize that I have "role models" that have been unconscious role models. No one likes to think they would pick a role model who emulates disfunction and unhappiness right? Well, in trying to receive love - especially as a child- I believe we can put a person (disfunctional or not) on a pedestal. That person becomes a "role model" simply because we think, "if I am like them they will love me"...
It's an interesting day when you realize you've spent your life subconsciously trying to become the person you've been trying your whole life not to become!
I have an immense amount of gratitude for the guidance and awareness I have received and look forward to seeing how this will change my perspective.
I feel like I am changing at what feels like a snails pace in certain areas of my life...
When I meditated on this question "how do I find peace and acceptance around (this area) of my life" I was given this to ponder in return;
"See if your looking to a role model that doesn't serve you any longer".
At first I didn't get it...but as I thought more about it I realize that I have "role models" that have been unconscious role models. No one likes to think they would pick a role model who emulates disfunction and unhappiness right? Well, in trying to receive love - especially as a child- I believe we can put a person (disfunctional or not) on a pedestal. That person becomes a "role model" simply because we think, "if I am like them they will love me"...
It's an interesting day when you realize you've spent your life subconsciously trying to become the person you've been trying your whole life not to become!
I have an immense amount of gratitude for the guidance and awareness I have received and look forward to seeing how this will change my perspective.
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