Pace Yourself

I most often get this weekly post done by Sunday evening, though this time it’s a little later than usual. Every time I sat down to write and asked for a message nothing came. I kept trying, but nope, nada. All I wanted to do was lie on the couch and watch movies. I was tired and really didn’t want to sit and write. And truthfully, it was a little unsettling when I wasn’t able to connect to any information. The panicky thought actually came into my head, “Oh my god, what if I’ve lost my connection?! Holy sh**!”

After I peeled myself off the ceiling and allowed myself to watch American Graffiti, another thought came, “What if this is exactly what I’m supposed to do? What if that, in itself, is the message?”  So I did, and then was in bed before 9:00 without writing my post.

In the shower this morning lo and behold popped in the message. Funny how that works. It was definitely a good reminder in how if you don’t allow some downtime burnout out sets in. And there’s nothing as unsetting as burnout affecting something you love to do.

Wishing you all your own type of rest and relaxation…

With Love.

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From Over There

“Motivation is a combination of understanding the individual’s own energy patterns coupled with continued desire. This understanding of your own individual energy patterns is vital to keeping on the path to pursuing that which you desire. Disregard of these patterns can lead to increased fatigue, stress and overall lack of vitality. This, in turn, removes joy from the process of achieving and demotivates when fatigue accelerates.

It is imperative that one pursues beloved activities – those activities which bring pleasure simply from the act. This, coupled with an understanding of one’s own individual energy patterns and requirements for balancing rest with activity will keep one motivated to act and inspired to continue.”

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Featured Guest: Will continue next week…

Hey, I’m tired!

I Have a Dream

This week’s post is dedicated in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his dream of racial equality. Although we’ve come a long way, there’s still plenty more to go, and when I reflect on his dream I like to think that it has unfolded to include all races, genders and sexual orientations. To put it bluntly, I don’t look at his message as just a black and white issue, but as an overall human issue.

I recognize that being white has brought me a level of social privilege and that being straight has meant that I haven’t had to fight for the right to express my love in the way I see fit. And I also am acutely aware that – aside from being female – I haven’t really had to define myself by race or sexual orientation as a means to overcome social or judicial bias. Though one thing that has always bothered me are titles like “African-American” and “gay marriage”. Shouldn’t I then be defined as a Scandinavian-American who used to be in a straight marriage? Shouldn’t we all have to subscribe to the same structured definitions? Better yet, no definitions? I know, easy for me to say as I sit here living in the liberal-peace-love-and-understanding mecca of the US, but it’s just a thought. And you know what? I can dream too…

Sweet dreams to you all.

With Love.

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From Over There:

“To be exclusive of any segment of humanity based upon gender or ethnicity creates a fractured sense of wholeness within oneself. To be exclusive of those whose lifestyle conflicts with one’s sense of morality – when the behavior deemed offensive brings harm to no one – creates a state of separateness in viewpoint upon the world and a skewed sense of moral judgment. This creates a world view not solely based on love, but one of fear and need for retribution. This moves one further away from love and further away from a connection with the spirit. It is in recognition of the interconnectedness of all that one forges a deeper relationship to the spiritual aspect of oneself. It is through this connectedness that brings understanding and a harmonious existence for all.”

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Featured Guest: Dr. Marin Luther King, Jr.

Here is a link to Dr. King’s famous speech, “I Have a Dream”. I’d like to think that today this dream to move to a more just and inclusive society includes equality for everyone, regardless of skin color, sexual orientation, gender, or spiritual beliefs.

Act, Responsibily

This week I’m pulling from the archives and giving you a truncated version of a previous post. The reason for this is that in doing so it conveys more closely what I want to talk about, being responsible with your energy. What I mean by this is simply taking responsibility for your reaction to having a bad day, or bad extended period, whether from occasional mood swings, dealing with emotional trauma or something more physically related.

I bring this up, because for the past few weeks I’ve had the experience of witnessing a few people who were going through some sort of painful issue and the varying degrees of responsibility they took for how they processed it. On one hand was individual who was very in a bad way, but took full responsibility and acknowledged the effect their turmoil had on those around them. The end result was that everyone rallied support, and this individual took an active role in getting help. They took responsibility – even while in a vulnerable state – for their actions and now is on the path to wellness.

On the other hand, I’ve also witnessed someone who consistently choses to throw their energy around in the form of bad moods and overly dramatic displays of emotion without care of how it affected anyone. To top it off, they’re completely unwilling to see or take responsibility for any of it. It’s really unfair, and quite frankly, draining.

At the end of it all the most we can do is hold ourselves accountable for how we are in the world, be compassionate when someone is having a bad day, and keep interactions with toxic people at a minimum.  

With Love.

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From Over There:

"Worthiness of a desired outcome arises from action coupled with responsibility. When one takes action toward the creation of a desire and full responsibility for its implementation - whether seeking help or completing the full process individually - one moves into a state of worthiness. This includes action without harm, since the act of responsibility carries with it the consideration of others.

Entitlement is the feeling of deservingness without appropriate action or responsibility to outcome. It is in this state that the individual can never be satisfied. It is in this state that respect for others and their needs diminish. It is a state of demanding, not compromise.

  

Working toward a desired outcome with action and responsibility creates a sense accomplishment, self-respect and worthiness for the individual - and it is the way toward greater peace for the whole."

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Featured Guest: Marshall Rosenberg

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is based on the principles of nonviolence-- the natural state of compassion when no violence is present in the heart. NVC begins by assuming that we are all compassionate by nature and that violent strategies—whether verbal or physical—are learned behaviors taught and supported by the prevailing culture. NVC also assumes that we all share the same, basic human needs, and that each of our actions are a strategy to meet one or more of these needs. People who practice NVC have found greater authenticity in their communication, increased understanding, deepening connection and conflict resolution. To learn more visit cnvc.org.

Designer Labels

In my family I was known as “the baby” (aka youngest) growing up. At the time I wasn’t a big fan of the title, as to me it conveyed that my age somehow implied that I was inferior due to my lack of the experience or knowledge. Now that I have plenty of years behind me, I have absolutely no issue with this label and have to admit sometimes taking pleasure in reminding my older siblings of it. I think this is a good example of how we can interpret the meaning of a label we’re given and how we associate with that interpretation. It shows that it’s not so much the label itself, but the power that we allow it to have over us that affects us. I realize that the label “baby” may not be the most inflammatory, and that there are much harsher things that we as a human race label each other with. I won’t go into it too much as I’m sure you’re all very aware of the labels you’ve had to overcome in your own lives, though I know it took me a couple of decades to rid myself of the not-so-endearing names thrown at me in my youth.

The thing is, it seems every time we turn around there’s an opportunity for a label to be thrust upon us via the media, family, work relations, etc., etc., etc., and as a culture we have such a strong need to put a label on people and things so we can categorize them. How do we rise above it? As a culture we're most likely not going to stop labeling anytime soon so the best we can do is be conscious with how we use our labels – of ourselves and of others. Labeling can be used to uplift or degrade, or empower or imprison. It’s up to us as individuals first to decide the power we want to give to them, and what type of power that is. And if you have to label, why not give yourself and others a few to inspire and encourage?

My label for you all today is…”beautiful”…and it’s yours to do with however you’d like.

With Love.

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From Over There:

“The human need to label is unnecessary, though it is human nature to label and categorize in order to form identity. What one chooses to identify with creates a perspective and world view based on that identification. It is up to the individual how to use this perspective to interact with those around them.

When one releases the need to categorize oneself by identifying with a particular culture or label, one allows for perspective that is based on personal knowledge and spiritual wisdom, not on indoctrinated philosophy.  It is choice of the individual whether to adopt the cultural teachings around them, or to form their own independent perspective. It is those with the independent mind that are able to reside within a cultural group and retain the ability to dismiss the collective beliefs that feel misaligned with their spirit.

The self-identification with labels – whether self-made or created through cultural dynamic – may empower or disempower the individual. It is the evolved spirit that seeks cultural principles based on unifying humanity with kindness and personal responsibility.”

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Featured Guest: Guy P. Harrison

Guy P. Harrison is a writer dedicated to promoting science and reason. He is the author of five highly acclaimed books with critical thinking themes. This week I’m featuring an article he wrote, Four Simple Reasons Smart People Shouldn't Believe in Races, using anthropological references to describe how we really are just one race and that the concept that we are made up of different races is just a cultural creation. I found it very interesting and much food for thought. Could this just be a humongous form of labeling one another?