The Mayan Calendar ends at the end of this year and a lot has been written about this, some unfortunately negative. I have read much on this subject myself and feel that it heralds a positive change for humanity. I am hoping that 2012 is the year where as a human race we can become even closer to world peace and looking even better after our environment as well as each other.
Something I did on New Year’s Eve, after discovering the idea from Yasmin Boland’s writings, was to write a list for all I am grateful for from 2011. This I felt fitted so well with being Solution Oriented.
I often hear people at years end complaining (and I have been guilty of the same in the past) that ‘the year just past was all dreadful and thank goodness we are into the new’. I know that at times we have such sad or difficult times it can be really difficult to say anything else, however, as humans we do rather tend to join the negatives and forget about the good that happens in between, so to write a list of all one is grateful for in a past year is a good way to discover those in between moments and truly appreciate! I found I had two A4 sheets full!
I then wrote my Intentions for 2012 and again that was over two A4 sheets of paper. It is not too late to give this exercise a go, like me, those I have suggested this to who have done this, have really got a lot out of the experience!
For me, last year was one where I invited PEACE into my life, so anything that bought up anxiety was worked upon (except my Tax aaaggrh!, but I will do it soon!) be that addressing an issue, getting on with some task or using BE SET FREE FAST (BSFF) to blitz some excess of emotion.
Joshua Stone PhD in his book Soul Psychology states “Psychological health is the process of letting positive, spiritually balanced thoughts into our minds. Psychological health is like physical health. If we want to be physically healthy, we put good, healthful food into our bodies. If we want to be psychologically healthy, we put good, healthful thoughts into our minds”.
So he speaks of pushing negative thoughts out and replacing with a positive. For me I use BSFF and thinking one could follow Joshua’s suggestion if using BSFF with your Cue for not only blitzing the negative but adding the positive. Then again, from Yasmin Boland a simple gesture that many find useful and I also like (which anyone can do), is the physical imagination of grabbing the negative thought from your breastbone (Heart Chakra) and literally throwing it away into the air away from your body saying “Dismiss!” as you do.
Yasmin Boland by the way is a down to earth Aussie Astrologist who is full of great little hints! You can Google her, I do every now and then and always discover something of interest she has to say!
Back to what I am thinking for myself which may be of use to some…This year I will still take PEACE with me, but continuing with FAITH and utilizing that in blitzing fear more consciously! I very much believe that LOVE vs FEAR and have spoken of this before in Newsletters, but I have also experienced in my life times where I have put complete FAITH in God when realising I need to make a major change that feels too big for me on my own. I have always found this to be totally empowering in the moment and that things always work out when I do. Even if they don’t seem to at the time when I am in the middle of it all, in hindsight I can always see the journey.
So, whatever in life is held back by fear, this year I want to be more conscious of and attempt to live completely in the moment and overcome this and truly believe that I am where ever I am meant to be at that moment and view all experiences as lessons, whether they be ones of joy or ones that need to be worked through for one’s self growth. But I will endeavour to look for the lessons in all experiences and follow my heart and truth.
I have been in this beautiful area now for three years and the isolation from family and friends (although very difficult at times), has been so good for my own self and spiritual growth in my journey for this lifetime, I feel I have now gained what I needed to for this stage in my life from living here. The environment is so nurturing here.
The arrival of a long awaited grandchild, Louis is very much creating a pull to be closer. When I last saw him he was a newborn, but he is now three months old, smiling and looking very much more little boy from the photos I receive! I feel I am missing out! Other Grandma’s out there can no doubt recognise this feeling!
So 2012 could see some more courageous life changes for me. Over the years I have discovered that I am a person who requires ‘sea air’. I felt starved of this when I lived in Ballarat, even though Ballarat is a very beautiful place, energetically it did not suit me. So, a return to Victoria would have to be somewhere along the coast that wasn’t too far from Ballarat, so I can see lots of my family and friends. I will need to find a job also to fund myself when I arrive, so that will influence where I would move to. Though in reality I also have friends in Melbourne, Bendigo and Daylesford, so to be not too far from them either would be ideal. When looking for an area to live one needs to be able to feel that ‘aaah’ feeling I believe. I certainly have that here in Brunswick Heads!
One thing that is certain, life never stands still, things always change and there is always more to learn! Something I have experienced in my life’s journey time and time again (and mentioned before in Newsletters) is that the teacher appears at the time that is right for me to learn more for my personal self. As I have said before, this might be a person, a book or even a course that suddenly presents itself. You will recognise this as it excites you!
I often find what I am reading reiterates what I have come to believe from experience or is part of a belief I have and that is always a nice experience!
I have just been reading some of Caroline Myss PhD and in making choices for myself and thinking about others here, I believe her writings certainly ring true. She says habit is a hell to which people cling in an attempt to stop the flow of change. Also, that there are points at which we must choose to change or stagnate and that these points are our greatest challenges.
I believe there are times when we come to crossroads in our life’s journey and at these times it can take a lot of courage to make a change that is necessary for our best. Sometimes that courage for change is picking up the phone to make an appointment for counselling. Or it may be that one is about to give up a long term addiction and one is unsure how life will be without this, often fearing the change. Sometimes it can involve taking a completely different turn in your life, leaping and trusting the net will appear.
Myss would ask are you filled with fear or faith. She states that every choice we make contains the energy of either fear or faith. This fits so well with my own beliefs for me and where I find myself in this point of time as I stated earlier in the Newsletter.
For those of you out there who might be making a decision for change, she also says a spiritually mature person can act according to Divine guidance that would strike the financially motivated person as foolish or risky and that nowhere in the spiritual literature is there one reported incident of a person regretting following Divine guidance.
There are many stories one hears or reads of, where people make a complete change in their life and for some time go through hardship but eventually things go well and these people always appreciate the road they have travelled with all the experiences.
For the person considering suicide the old saying ‘The lowest ebb is the turning of the tide’ speaks of both the fact that things will change (as they always do) and offers the opportunity for faith that it will. One of the great difficulties in being in a suicidal place is that the person does not believe at that moment that things can get any better, they have a complete absence in that moment of ‘future orientation’ and as therapists it is important in our listening skills to notice when that is absent and check where the person is at.
It may be interesting to note that a survey was done on people who had survived jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco USA and all appreciated that they did not die in the experience. Life wherever you are at, if you sit for long enough does change! Something that can be useful for some in this space is to sit and write a foolscap page on what you are grateful you are not experiencing in this life and what you are grateful for in your life. This exercise comes from the Dalia Lama. I have witnessed this exercise turn people around instantly. But also I would urge you to contact your doctor, local psychiatric service or if in Australia, Lifeline 13 11 14 if you are considering suicide.
I assume there are similar services to Australia’s Lifeline (a free one off, phone counselling service) in other countries and would be happy to list these if any of you out there reading this would like to send me the numbers for your country.
For something completely different, another little gem statement from Myss also was that putting faith before money reduces money from its status as leader to that of service, its more appropriate position. I like that thought!
So lots of food for thought here if you are a person reading this here and wanting to make some changes.
I have made huge changes in my life at times and not regretted any of these and of the more major, they have often felt to have some sort of Divine guidance involved, coming through ‘aha moments’ dreams and meditation for me.
It can also take some time to make a decision for change and I often feel as if my unconscious mind is like a sieve dripping thoughts through to my conscious and then when the drips join to a pool the ‘aha moment’ arrives!
I believe if we listen to our heart and follow our truth we follow the best path for ourselves. As also stated in another Newsletter from my friend and colleague Maree’s process of ‘what makes you feel light’ is a good one for following the heart.
I tend to be extremely private regards my spirituality because for me it is a journey of discovery for self improvement. But some of the literature I read is just too good not to share! However, these are just thoughts written here and I am not saying here that these are how it is, rather how I see things that can be thought about for change if you choose. I see myself in my work with others as a ‘Change Agent’ so felt it appropriate to share my thoughts here and hopefully they are of some use to you if you are looking at change for yourself.
Oh, and my New Years Resolution is to finish the book ‘A Course in Miracles’ before the end of the year! For those who have read or are attempting to read this piece of literature, I know you will understand why I am letting it take so long! Loads of ‘food for thought’ that requires digesting on the way! I am only one third through. It certainly fits my philosophy, I love it!
As always, I love to hear any comments or thoughts from you, so please do email me if you should feel motivated to do so.
All the very best for 2012, I think it is going to be a great year of changes for many!
Being as courageous as possible…
Jenni
