Living Energy Blog

An interesting article from NPR on how positive perception can enhance performance. The study was done with golfers but the process applies to any endeavor. Exciting to once again see science corroborating what has been

Can You Think Your Way To That Hole-In-One? http://n.pr/HT6Kdt

Clouded by Rita Loyd

1. When you find yourself irritated by others, look inside to learn more about what was triggered in you.

2. Once you are aware of the core issue, reflect on what if anything needs to be done, then consciously focus on releasing the feelings from your mind, body and spirit. Releasing the feelings before you explore the cause can also bring clarity to the cause.

3. Affirm at a deep feeling level: I lovingly allow feelings of internal support to flow through me today.

Image via Wikipedia

The mural above is titled Understanding. There are many things in our world that we wish to understand however a forgotten dimension often is our very own selves!

Our five senses compellingly draw our attention to the outer physical world. With such a strong outer directed focus, it quite naturally follows that we would look for our inner needs to be filled through external material sources. As most are painfully aware, this is usually a short lived and unsatisfying solution. Such an orientation typically leads to blame, criticism, judgments, and compulsivity (repetitive behaviors expecting a different outcome) rather than the outcome we truly desire.

Being outwardly directed also tends to produce reliance on a spiritual being external to ourselves. We beseech this Greater Being to bestow favors upon us –and we continue to define ourselves through the physical, roles and material possessions. This way of being is one of limited consciousness , of not having the full depth, breadth and expansiveness of our inner wisdom/ nature. Paradoxically, it is a mind set that both begins and ends in fear. An outer focus leaves us up one day down the next with no center to hold on to. Life is about change. Consciousness that is attached to the outer world
does not help us to move with the cycles of change. This does not help us to increase our capacity to function in the world in a meaningful way that leads to peace, joy & happiness.

Our sixth sense or intuitive nature draws our attention inward and assists us to truly find the means to resolve issues, release struggle and longing and receive the true fulfillment of our deepest desires.

This inner path allows us to examine thoughts, feelings and beliefs that no longer serve us and lead to problems. It opens the way to creative problem solving. Expanding our consciousness beyond the physical and material world awakens us to who we truly are. From there we can transcend limitations, expand creative ability, and step into true power, tolerance, understanding and vitality.

To view ourselves as energetic entities helps us to understand the nature of the authentic self at a deeper level while providing a
very effective way to actively work with ourselves to be able to live more from that center. However, it is not enough to know that we are spiritual/energetic beings. We need to understand what it is specifically that deters us from living fully from that perspective. We need to know how our life experiences have affected us. Knowledge is a first step toward healing. Our
personal history has helped shape our ways of being in the world. We need to understand the patterns we have formed and have effective ways to release the detrimental effects. Working from a level that incorporates the energy of mind, body and
spirit goes to where the deepest core of our issues lie and helps to release them there where they were embedded.

For instance, you may have experienced deep grief in the past. You understand that this had a profound effect on you. You can describe what happened, how this person was important to you, what (if any) unfinished business there is, and how it is currently impacting your life. If you do not have the means to erase the effects from your mind/body/energy system and install new feelings and behaviors, then you may continue to be affected by the unresolved grief, consciously or unconsciously.

A major pathway toward living more from our authentic self is to experience emotions as they arise, allow them proper expression and have a means to effectively release them from our system. Then all our energy becomes available to us to live in the present  more centered in our true self or nature. It is from that core of being that all else flows!

I have heard many times that emotional imbalances are the root of all illness. It follows that when we dissolve or heal the emotional trigger, we heal ourselves. It sounds easy. In my opinion, however, it is a life-long process. Learning to heal our emotional wounds is what our lives are all about. Every event, interaction and relationship provides ample opportunity for practice.

One of the dilemmas is that the root causes of the triggers are often held in our subconscious, out of our awareness. So how can we deal with something that we aren’t even aware of? This is the Catch 22, the ago-old dilemma. After all, if we were aware of what needed to change, we could choose to change it. Correct? We could also save ourselves a lot of anguish, money, time and energy along the way.

Perhaps one of the problems is that we are using the wrong approach and incorrect tools. Rather than try to continually “do” something or “fix” yourself, maybe the solution is really to simply “be” who you really are. Being who you really are begins with accepting wherever you’re at right now. Accept and acknowledge how you are truly feeling. Once you accept things as they are, resistance falls away and a shift toward wholeness begins.

Accepting things as they are requires accepting personal responsibility for your role in it. This includes your perception of what is happening as well as your reaction to the world around you, particularly judgment of others. Play with the concept that others around you mirror what is happening and provide clues about what you need to accept, acknowledge, shift or change. Play with the concept that no one does anything to you. Those around you are merely a catalyst for things you are doing to yourself or aspects of yourself that you have hidden away. Acceptance and forgiveness provide the way out.

Play with the concept of softening your heart; practice being aware of your experiences and your feelings. Your feelings provide the clues. Any negative, low, tense or dense feelings indicate opportunities for change. Lighter, higher, and happier feelings move you up the scale towards unconditional love.

Healing our hearts in not about always being happy though. We are human. We will have ups and downs throughout our lives. If you can genuinely experience three times as many ups as downs, though, you will be well on your way to healing your heart.

Related articles

• The Difference Between Healing and Curing (pdresources.wordpress.com)

I have been watching the Occupy Wall St. protests with much interest. Although I empathize with the participants and understand their plight, approaching change from a position of disempowerment is simply not effective. It may strengthen the very cause they rally against. Blaming others is low energy that moves in the opposite direction of where the group wants to be. In addition, it is likely to bring a higher level of discontent rather than the change they seek.

Personal empowerment is an inside job. It is something that each one of us must create for ourselves. That said, a group of empowered people moving in unison with common goals can be an amazing catalyst for positive change. Wall St. is about money and profits. Large groups of people have “the power of the purse.” One effective approach would be to identify exactly what they want changed and then begin to make it happen.

If the Occupy Wall St. participants don’t like big banks, then perhaps consciously using debit and credit cards less often will make an impact. Bringing business to small, local banks or local credit unions could be an acceptable alternative. Cash or alternative systems such as bartering could be another answer.

If supporting big business is unsavory, then buy local. Buying local returns money to the community many times over. Buying local could help revitalize Main St. in many communities and help friends and neighbors return to work. Buying local could also help support the growth of healthy and sustainable food supplies that use no pesticides and consume less petroleum.

If overseas jobs are the problem, consciously buy American made goods. ABC News is doing a fabulous job highlighting products made in the USA with their series “Made in the USA.” As a result, many American companies have emerged and put their products on the map, often at very competitive prices to imports. More business enables them to hire more employees and purchase more supplies from American suppliers, expanding the circle of giving and receiving.

Self empowerment can bring prosperity, along with inner peace, health and wellness, life balance, job satisfaction, meaningful relationships, and more. Everything that happens in your life is in relationship to the subtle energy of your heart, the energy that you hold subconsciously, below the surface. As you heal the wounds in your heart (including feelings of shame, blame, humiliation, despair, regret, guilt, anxiety, apathy, grief, fear, anger, hate, scorn, jealously, etc.) your frequency strengthens and things begin to fall into place more easily.  All of this is an inside job and no one can do it for us. It is also a life-long process.

It doesn’t matter where you begin. What’s important is that you DO begin. Different methods work for different people. Some people like to work alone and others prefer to work in groups (such as those participating in Occupy Wall St.). Practice taking positive action and making each day better or a little lighter for yourself than the previous one. What one thing can you do today to lighten up? How about simply breathing, slowly … in and out … for one to two minutes minimum? You can do this anywhere. This practice will slow your heart rate and help ground your energy. It will help bring inner peace, clarity and focus.

Change comes from the inside, from our hearts. One of the benefits of positive change is personal empowerment.

Related articles

• (Quick-hit Reblog) Remaining Human: A Buddhist Perspective on Occupy Wall St.reet (andallmannerofthings.wordpress.com)

The picture in this post is of the Loretto Chapel in  Santa Fe, NM. I was there a year ago and was quite fascinated with the legend that is told about the creation of this staircase. You can read it here: http://www.lorettochapel.com/staircase.html

It turns out that at least part of this legend is not true…the part about it not having any means of support. You can read about that here: http://www.snopes.com/horrors/ghosts/loretto.asp

That still leaves the part about where this carpenter came from, how he came to have lumber that was not native to the area, why there was no bill or record of him buying the lumber from anyone etc. Of course there could be all sorts of reasons for all of this. Be that as it may, I think it is a great legend that points to perhaps the work of the numinous in our world, as well as our need to believe that there are forces beyond our usual awareness that work on our behalf.

Beyond all that however, I think there is something else to be seen in a story like this and that is the power of belief and its effect in our lives. It is pretty easy to imagine two factions presenting their side of the story as to why they believe this legend to be true or not. And it is equally as easy to imagine neither of them budging from their position no matter what! The reason for this is that certain basic beliefs and assumptions that form the foundation for our worldview/perspective are formed early in life  and are assumed to be ultimate truths and are not ever taken out into the light of day and checked for accuracy. People are not generally open to having their foundation shaken. A staunch entrenchment  in basic beliefs results and this does not allow for new information to be absorbed or considered so that perspectives can be updated.

We see this operating in the world all the time in discussions, debates or arguments particularly those involving religion or politics. But we also see them in our day to day interchanges with those around us. This kind of mindset that does not allow for change takes its toll on our time, energy, prosperity, health, relationships,and  the political policies that effects us all.

If we are to evolve both in our lives and in the world, we need to each consider what we can do to move beyond a state where ego, competition and being right are more important than taking a moment to consider that  we may not know everything about any particular topic. We can open our minds, listen to each other and look for win win resolutions to issues rather than a polarized black or white answer. It begins with each of us. And surprisingly, it can turn out to be highly freeing, more fun, less contentious, healthier and more enjoyable  for us as individuals, for our relationships and for our society.

As for the numinous, I suspect it is there, moving in all our lives in ways that maybe we cannot even imagine. If we allow for it, listen, look and feel for its presence and intend to engage it, then we will see its workings in all sorts of magical ways. After All, what is life without a little magic?

If you care to dive deeper into the topic of beliefs and worldview, Deepok Chopra has written a book about beliefs and worldviews with a scientist, Leonard Mlodinow, you can take a look at it here,  http://http://www.amazon.com/War-Worldviews-Science-Vs-Spirituality/dp/0307886883/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318522840&sr=1-3

What if some of the beliefs about yourself and how the world worked were not true or accurate?

Most of us are aware of only the tip of the iceberg in terms of what beliefs are driving us. Of course the good ones are not really of any concern except to notice, strengthen them and applaud ourselves for having developed some wonderful ways of being in the world. And we should do this as often as possible!! Building on the positive is always a good idea.

The beliefs that are a problem are those that were formed at a young age before we had discrimination or all the necessary information; those that took root during times of trauma or duress; and of course the old outmoded ones that were handed us by well meaning adults but that no longer are really useful for our current place in life.

So, what are some of these beliefs?

I am incapable.

I am undeserving.

I am unintelligent and stupid.

I am unlovable.

I am not likeable.

I am inferior.

I am not respected.

I am weak.

I am unsafe.

I am not successful.

I am unworthy, inadequate.

Life is a struggle.

I must work hard in order to be successful.

And the list goes on and on …

These are core beliefs as opposed to beliefs that are specific to a particular situation (such as: I will never get another job; I am not good at sports; I can’t create an adequate income). These beliefs can point to the deeper beliefs we hold. Core beliefs run very deep.   They build up over time (and lifetimes!) and they are imprinted throughout our physical, mental, emotional and etheric energy fields. They run so deep that we often don’t even recognize them.  We don’t even think about them.  We live them as truths.  They become our truth because we are in alignment with them.  We feed and energize them.  Thus they are reflected back to us everyday.  They take a bit more effort to erase but it is worth the effort when you consider what an impact they can have on your life, health and relationships.This is also a part of this process that must be faced but it ultimately allows for a wider embrace of our true and whole selves.

A big obstacle to shifting our beliefs is our fear over what it would mean….what we fear would change if we inspected our beliefs.

Taking some time to explore your beliefs about yourself and how you believe the world works take some time and effort but in the long run frees you up energetically, mentally and emotionally. It is a major way that you can bring your self into the present with all your energy available to live more intentionally and in alignment with your goals and desires.

Related articles

• Examples of Negative Core Beliefs – Growing Aware (the-inside-out-project.com)
• “The Influence of Beliefs on Motivation to Learn” (Topic 3) (mmselsectionc.wordpress.com)

It’s official, we live in an ever-expanding universe! First reported in 1998, the discovery earned three scientists the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics. Half of the prize was awarded to Saul Perlmutter, from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California, Berkeley. The other half was awarded to Brian P. Schmidt of Australian National University and Adam G. Riess of Johns Hopkins University and the Space Telescope Science Institute.

No longer can the concept of an ever-expanding universe be considered new age “bunk.” Measuring light coming from exploding stars, the scientists set out to prove that the expansion of the universe was slowing down and they found just the opposite. Their independent discoveries indicate that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate. Apparently there is some sort of mysterious and invisible form of energy that counteracts gravity and is pushing matter apart. Imagine that! Reiss says that 74 percent of the universe consists of this dark energy.

So what does all this mean? Everything is possible! When we say something is true, it really means that that’s what is commonly accepted right now either because it has been said over and over for a very long time or we simply don’t know any different.

So everything and anything is possible! This is great news. Consider how this applies to your own life …your long held beliefs, thoughts, feelings, habits, ways of being, doing and living. If something is not working for you, change it. Adopt a different set of thoughts or beliefs about the situation. Try something new. Take different action. Expand your possibilities and create new energy. Step into some of the new and exciting energy of the universe.

Stepping into the unknown can be daunting. Among other things, it requires strength and courage. Strength to carve a new path and courage to withstand the naysayers or anyone who doubts new possibilities. Just because something hasn’t happened does not mean it is not possible. Everything is possible. Twelve years ago I left a well-paying corporate career because it felt right. I was ready to do something else. I was excited about the possibility of what was coming next, although I didn’t know what that would be. I just knew it would be worthwhile. Even though I was the family “breadwinner,” I consciously followed my passion and delved deeply into topics that interested me. Professionally, I entered a new field, launched my own business, co-authored a book, collaborated with like-minded partners, co-wrote a newspaper column for 4 years and kept pace with the explosion of technology and the birth of social media. On the personal side, along with my husband, we raised our daughter and became a meaningful presence in her life, led a Girl Scout Troop for 12 years, assisted my parents for 10 years, took more time for pleasure, did some traveling, read an amazing assortment of books, stayed healthy and much more. Now that our daughter is happily settling into college, I’m ready to expand again. The possibilities are endless.

Long ago I realized that we do live in an ever-expanding universe and that everything is possible. It is here for us to claim. It is our birthright. If you aren’t already doing so, experience it directly. Make new and conscious choices for yourself. You may be amazed with what is possible. Isn’t yesterday’s Nobel Prize in Physics proof enough?

Related articles

• Does the Multiverse Really Exist? (preview) (scientificamerican.com)

Cover via Amazon

“My message is always the same: to cultivate and practice love, kindness, compassion and tolerance.” Dalai Lama

This timely quote from the Dalai Lama came to me this morning through HeartMath.

Have you heard the phrase “thoughts create things?” I am a firm believer that words create things too. Tune into the words all around you … your words, others’ words, the words you see and hear.  Notice the messages being conveyed. More importantly, observe how the words both reflect and amplify what is happening. Do the words give power to what we want or are they strengthening the circumstances we wish to change?

Expressing oneself authentically can be a tricky process. How do we consciously choose words that reflect good feelings when our experience is so different?  This is where the cultivation and practice of love, kindness, compassion and tolerance can make a difference. And it begins deep within oneself. One way to begin is to omit the “no’s.” One friend recently lamented: “No job, no prospects, no income.” Well this will probably continue to be the case until this person consciously shifts her energy. A way to express this with more self compassion might be: I’m ready for a job, job prospects and income! Instead of saying “I’m not …,” began to say “I AM …”

Like anything new, there’s a learning curve. Observe everyone and imitate people who communicate effectively in a loving and compassionate manner. Each day provides ample opportunities to learn from others … your family and friends, your workplace, the supermarket and retail centers, public events, community gatherings, the media. Listen with open ears and an open heart. What feels genuine? How can you empathize with others without joining them in a spiral-down conversation? What new ways can you communicate without complaining? There are lots of ways to go about this and there are some wonderful role models. Look for them and I guarantee you will find them. Learn some new approaches and become a role model for others. Two people I admire are Oprah Winfrey and Diane Sawyer. Both have a way of being truly present with people, feeling their pain and conveying their experience with kindness, love and compassion.

Like everything, words carry energy and are quite powerful. Choose your words consciously to cultivate and practice love, kindness, compassion and tolerance. Each day brings an opportunity to develop your skill and get a little better at it. Before long it will be a habit. As your habit strengthens it will become a belief. Once it is a belief, it will become imprinted in your cells and be automatically reflected in your words and actions.

Language is an amazing tool that can change the world and we can all participate. BE the change you wish to see in the world and eventually it will be reflected in your life.

Related articles

• Positive Psychology News Daily ” Wired for Empathy (positivepsychologynews.com)
• The Four Immeasurables (jasontsukahara.wordpress.com)
• The Dalai Lama (marinalovemovement.wordpress.com)

What’s this got to do with energy? Everything! And I figured it would give some a workout re: judgment–refer to previous post as needed.
Those of a certain age—get happy! Research has actually shown that if you have great memories, feel “as if” you did at a younger age—your biological markers reverse! Music can help!
Great shots here of of many…classic Elvis…and the lyrics —certainly bring a smile! I think the beat must open up the chakras though…. Enjoy!

Memories? A favorite? Would love to hear!