To Plan or Not To Plan

Parades, air shows, sports games, and festivals saturated the day with activities for tourists and locals. I wanted to attend some of the events, specifically the air show, but did not want to be surrounded in the chaos. I had forgotten about the parade today as I would have enjoyed attending it. It was just around the corner and it was a free event filled with significant local history. It seemed I missed out on some exciting activities today by forgetting to plan.

I like having free time however when I have a prolonged period of free time I become too consumed by my own thoughts and some of them begin to spin out of control. Unfocused thoughts tend to cause me worry, anxiety, and fear. Problems are created where there were none. Getting out of my own head and being productive in some way, shape or form is what is drastically needed at this point in time. If I give myself too much free time, my mind becomes unproductive.

I am searching for a balance between being care free and structured. If I plan too much, I try to control life, which is not possible. If I plan too little, life governs me, which is unacceptable. Much like a surfer, I am looking for that perfect wave. “The perfect wave is something that provides an absolutely effortless ride. It peels across the ocean for what seems to be an eternity, a ride we hope will never end...It’s pure bliss at its very best, the type that puts an ear to ear smile across your face.” (Quoted from True Success: Find Your Perfect Wave by Srinivas at The Skool of Life)

There is something magical about the way a surfer and a wave become mystically indistinguishable. In essence, they become one. In doing so, they flow forward in a moment easily and effortlessly. Life is filled with many waves and I am looking to find a balance so I too can ride those waves with ease.

Tomorrow is another day for me to begin again.

What Am I Doing This For?

We do not need to know “how” or “where”, but there is one question that we should all ask whenever we start something: “What am I doing this for?”
~Paulo Coelho

(This is a great free writing exercise to do! I asked myself a lot of what and why questions about the things I wanted to do and found some interesting answers. It provides useful insight and gets rid of any doubt or confusion.)

I have wanted things in my life to change for a long time. I was not happy what I was doing in my career or where I was living. I felt stuck and did not know how to change anything mostly because I did not know what I wanted to do next. I was lost, confused and felt alone and scared. Although I was not sure what I wanted to do next, I was certain I had to take action. I had to take the necessary steps for change to occur. I began to change one thing by leaving my career even though I had no idea what would come after. That decision created a domino effect and spurred forth a momentum of transformation.

The decision to make the change followed by the deliberate action of making a change allowed more opportunities to come into my awareness. In my previous state I was experiencing tunnel vision and could not see past my own circumstances but initiating change allowed me to open up to new possibilities and see beyond the limitations I had set on myself. My new vision ignited old dreams I thought could never be resurrected. I could see an infinite amount of possibilities for myself. I knew that as long as I had breathe in my body I was in an opportune position to do, be, and have anything my heart truly desired.

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” Almost everyone I know, family and friends, hold a perspective that I do not identify with anymore. They are focused on lack, worry, struggle, and survival. Some say they believe but their actions prove otherwise. It is not enough to say you believe. You need to follow that belief in action. When you truly believe, you will be able to stand strong behind that belief even when others try to dissuade you. Your passion will be so strong that no one will doubt your faith. I would like to show them that anything is possible if they would only trust that an unwavering belief in anything creates a certain reality.

I did not have to have all the answers to begin to change things in my life. All I needed was the desire and the courage to take one step toward the direction that made my heart happy. René Descartes famous philosophical statement, “I think therefore I am,” can be revised into, “I believe therefore it’s real.” What is real exists because it is believed so. To the people I know I say, “Look what I created because I believed I could. And do you want to know a secret? You can do it too!”

Coming Out of the Shadow

“To come out of the shadow become self nurturing by finding what brings you joy and fulfillment. Be willing to “not know”, to be empty, so that you may be filled with expanded consciousness. Befriend your mind.” This was sage advice I stumbled upon recently through an automated decoder. I was not expecting the results to resonate with me but in fact they had. I am still in this transition period where I am focusing on what brings me happiness or rather adds to my happiness. I have spent most of my life in the shadows where my heart’s needs were not met and I did many things that hurt my spirit for the sake of providing for my physical and emotional needs. I stayed in a career I loathed because it paid my bills. I remained in a city that depleted my energy because I was afraid to leave the familiar. I kept hurtful people in my life because I thought I did not have a choice to be free from them. This period of darkness was not without purpose. It allowed me to come to a point in my life and realize enough was enough. I finally recognized that I deserved to have joy and feel fulfilled in my life.

I learned that when I found one thing that made my truly happy that more discoveries soon followed. Writing has opened the path to joy and fulfillment for me and so has an impending move to a new city. Living in the present, and not knowing the future, was difficult for me to become accustomed to and still some days are easier than others. I am definitely someone who likes to know as much as possible but learning to surrender and allow great things to happen helps one become closer to God, Universe, Spirit, and Love. By remaining open to the unknown I have become aware of new interests. I am looking forward to delving into some new hobbies I never dreamed I would be interested in doing.

And lastly, making friends with your mind is a wonderful idea for anyone. There were many times when I let my mind get the best of me and sometimes it still tries. It would spiral out of control and become consumed with fearful thoughts. Instead of making the mind an enemy, I would suggest making it a friend. If something fearful comes up, treat your mind as your ally and try to understand where the fear is originating from. Ask yourself questions and intently listen for the answers. I make an effort everyday to live in the light so the shadow does not overcome me because in truth the shadow will always be there. I choose to focus my energy on the light.

Faith in Words and in Action

I do not think faith is something that God tests us with. I do not imagine that God is sitting up in Heaven with a scorecard on every human being. We either choose to live in faith or we don’t. But like everything else, it is always our choice.

There is this…if we truly have faith that God/Universe/Spirit will provide for us now and always then we should have nothing to fear. I have come to believe that it is not enough to just say I am faithful but it is also vital to act in a faithful way. Isn’t it stated that actions speak louder than words? Or, I am not what I choose to say, I am what I choose to do.

Anyone can say they are faith filled but it is even greater when someone lives what they speak.

I was staying in a career that made me so miserable but hung onto it because I was waiting for God to create another opportunity to appear before I left because I did not believe I would be okay. That was not acting in faith. Faith is not putting requirements on faith or demanding that God prove Himself by asking Him to do something my way. If I only believe after I receive, then that is not faithful.

All of my actions only supported the act of staying in a career I despised. My actions not only contradicted what I felt in my heart, they were not aligned with the new life I wished to create. God may have had something greater in store for me but was waiting for me to act first. God could not call up all my clients for me and tell them I was closing up; that was my job. In hindsight, God was sending me signs to go ahead and close up but I was not paying attention to them. He was nudging me to act but because I was not in a state of awareness I only saw what I wanted to see which was nothing.

If I really believe God will guide and help me in my life then He will. My role is to be patient, be aware, and act when guided to do so. It’s not about making things happen but letting them happen. I trust that everything I need will come to me exactly when I need it. I live my life being grateful in the present and know that the future will unfold exactly as it is meant to. Living in faith is not always easy but it is possible. In my mind, I have set up a scenario to remind me to let go and let God. I picture myself behind the steering wheel of a sailboat and I am standing there knowing where I want to go but not knowing the best way to get there. I think “hands off” and trust that God will take care of the ‘hows’ by letting the wind guide me through the best route. When I am close to my destination, I know it is safe to grasp the wheel and bring her in. While living in faith, I always work together with God and His angels.

I sense most people are too scared to leap so they stay in a place of false security never really soaring as they were meant to; fear has restrained them. All I can say is that I took that leap of faith back in January and nothing bad has happened to me. I am still here and of course will always believe.

Thank you for reading! If you have a story/message that you would like to share and it fits into the topics on Always Believe, please email us. Guest Writers are always welcome!

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“Like the body, the soul must also be nourished daily.”

What Can I Do Now?

Hoping, dreaming, thinking, planning and focusing on the future changes about to occur should be enough to keep the mind busy. Surrendering to the belief that the details of the future would take care of itself, I still needed something to do to keep me grounded in the present so I would not worry about events to come. Then it made sense to ask myself what I could do at this very moment to support my intended future. My future consists of moving so logically it made sense to get ready to move even if the details were still hazy. I began to look for boxes on Craigslist under the ‘Free’ section and had no luck and then thought it silly to start packing up before I knew for certain where I was going.

The following day, the message became clear about what I could do now when my friend asked me if I wanted some boxes. She graciously dropped off the boxes and said even though things were not certain I could still start packing some things up to be prepared for the future. I began packing my things and used up all the boxes. A few days later, my friend dropped off even more boxes. So this past week I have been packing things up, clearing things out, letting things go, and preparing to move forward to a future that is not completely known as of yet but one that is happily welcomed. The last time I moved was abrupt and I was not given enough time to say goodbye and was dreading the future that was to come. I am grateful this time around is different and I am able to move through this change with joy and excitement.

What can I do now? What am I able to do this moment? What am I capable of doing right now? What am I willing to do in the present to support my future? These are all great questions to ask when you are in that in-between time or in a changing phase in your life. There is always something that can be done now even if you think it is insignificant because really it is not. Every little action matters. Little swells lead and contribute to the big waves to come.

Attracting and Manifesting from the Heart

Every Friday, a grand prize trip to Hawaii was given away by my favorite radio station to a committed listener. Monday through Thursday from 7 am – 11 pm, the DJ would say a word every hour which people had to text in to the station. If you were the 97^th texter, then you would qualify to be entered in the grand prize drawing that week and the radio station’s morning show would call you at 7 am on Friday to let you know you had won. At the end of every week the slate was wiped clean and people had to re-qualify to win the next grand prize.

This was the fifth week in the radio contest and I was determined to qualify for the final prize. This week the grand prize was a seven night trip to Waikiki. The first two trips were getaways to Kona for five days and the 3^rd and 4^th trip were to Maui for five days. I thought how fitting this prize would be for me since I had been to Waikiki before and loved it. I could go back to my island by the sun; a place which was like heaven for me. I thought that if I could just qualify, I could win the grand prize but qualifying was not easy. For some reason, Hawaii had been on my mind a lot, even before the contest, and I wondered if she was calling me back. My first trip to Hawaii was divinely orchestrated back in September of 2009. Prior to my first trip, I received many signs that I needed to go to Hawaii and with a surprise financial blessing I went. This time, I certainly did not have the funds to go again but I could feel an indescribable pull her way almost as if she was summoning me to return.

It was Thursday, the last day to qualify for the grand prize. It was around 9:45 am when I plugged in my straightening iron so it would be ready to flatten my curly hair after I checked something quickly on the computer. The radio was on as I was checking my email. I was about to get up to go do my hair when I heard the familiar radio promo that let me know the DJ was about to announce the word to text. I thought I might as well give it another shot before getting ready for my day so I waited for the word. I texted in the word ‘Yell’ three times and continued to check my email as I sat and waited for the results. A few seconds later, my phone went into its familiar text tune and I went to look at it without much expectation. I was so used to seeing, “We’ve gotten our winner,” that I could not stand to look at those words anymore. I focused in and I felt my eyes widen because something was different. The return text said, “Congrats you are the winner.”

I did it! I qualified for the grand prize! My heart began racing and my body became so excited I started shaking. I quickly called the number to enter my name for the trip to Waikiki. As I was talking to the DJ, telling her how ecstatic I was, my voice became higher and my words came out faster than ever. I gave her all my information, thanked her, and hung up. I jumped up and down rejoicing over my win and realized I rambled on and on and had no clue as to what I just said on the air. I went to the bathroom, where my straightening iron was as hot as could be and I was standing in front of the mirror amazed at what just occurred. My body was filled with so much enthusiasm I felt it buzzing. I had never been this excited before. It felt strange but spectacular. And then another feeling rushed through my body. It was a knowing feeling coming from my heart. As I picked up the iron, I looked at my heart chakra in the mirror and said out loud, “I’m going to win this trip!” It was not a wish I was making but a fact to be affirmed. The statement just flew out of my mouth causing my mind to be stunned by those very words that seemed to bypass all thinking. My heart was speaking to me and had just declared its intention. I fully trusted my heart and knew in my mind I would win as well.

The rest of my entire day was filled with thoughts of returning to Waikiki. I thought about where I would go again and places I would see that I missed last time. I pictured myself in Hawaii’s healing water and then basking in the sweet sun. Since I already visited the hotel that is included in the grand prize, I was easily able to picture myself there. I walked through its lobby, visited its stores, and sat on its benches. I considered what to pack in my suitcase and saw myself in the dresses I had bought in Hawaii. Every thought was filled with this new found enthusiasm. I then went online and visited the hotel’s website. I also logged onto the live webcams located in Hawaii. All of my senses were immersed in my visualization. I was in Hawaii. If a negative thought even tried to enter my mind, and some did try to creep in, they did not last. Since every ounce of my body was filled with this magical powerful passion, one tiny contrasting thought did not have a chance of survival. I was in such a high vibratory state that negativity was just bouncing off me so I did not have to give it a second thought. I also pictured myself jumping up and down screaming with joy and gratitude when the morning show from the radio station called me to tell me I had won. I saw myself happily updating my status on facebook to let everyone know I had just won an amazing trip. I could see myself cheerfully texting my friends and calling my family. The stage had been set and everything was done. As it is above, so it is below.

When it was time to go to bed, I had a hard time relaxing. The excitement would not wane. I imagined myself resting peacefully on Waikiki beach to trick my body into submission. I fell asleep somewhere around midnight only to wake up at 3:36 am. My body was still buzzing. My mind was engrossed in all things Hawaii. I began to laugh and thought, “Let 7 am come already so I can win my trip and relax.” I laid there wide awake and just let my mind and body did what they wanted. At 5:45 am, I turned on the radio and listened to the morning show settle into their usual routine. It was 6:30 am and I had to get up. I had to do something so I turned on my computer and waited for it to boot up. A few minutes later, I opened up an article I was working on the previous day and began to make revisions. It was now 6:45 am and the alarm I had set last night to be ready for today’s news was ringing so I got up and turned it off. My body began to get this nervous excited feeling similar to the butterflies in the stomach sensation. My palms felt clammy and my heart was starting to beat faster. I kept editing. It was 6:58 am and a song was playing. I knew when it was over they would return and be ready to give away the grand prize. The song was over and it was 7:03 am when I heard them say they were calling the winner now. In a blink of an eye, I heard my cell phone ringing and a smile quickly emerged on my face.

I jumped up from my desk and looked at the number knowing it was them. I immediately grabbed my phone and ran from my bedroom to the living room where I get better reception. I answered it and heard my name and I began to scream and jump up and down in total bliss. They did not even have to tell me I won because I knew. As I was screaming and rejoicing I kept shouting, “I knew it, I knew it, I knew I was going to win!”

In the midst of the joy and celebration the DJ asked, “How did you know you would win?”

And of course I earnestly replied, “I just did.” I thanked them and completed in reality what I had already done in my mind. I shared my news with everyone like I imagined I would. My vision was realized. What I knew in my heart would happen just manifested into my world. I was in awe of this phenomenon that just took place. I looked up and thanked God and my angels. I was connected to the Universe, God, and the angels like never before and I was humbled.

I have read many books on the law of attraction, manifestation, and the importance of visualization, belief, and enthusiasm. When I was actively doing all these things the day before, I did not consciously choose to do them. The process just began to happen so I know I had divine assistance to help me through this course of action and understand this lesson in manifestation. I considered myself to be excellent in the art of visualization and fully dedicated to my beliefs but having this winning experience has opened up a whole new appreciation for the importance of unrestrained enthusiasm and completely believing whatever your heart desires is already yours. To be so enthused that your body is literally buzzing was a first for me and something that was missing in my ability to manifest. And what is just as significant is the fact that I just needed that first triumph to open the door for me. After I qualified, there was a push within, a divine thrust that excelled the momentum of absolute enthusiasm and conviction. I had no idea why or how I was going to win but I did know for certain. Any other outcome was not a viable option. I could feel that knowingness coming from my heart. Something else occurred to me too. I was the fourth qualifier of the day on the fourth day of the contest. For those familiar with numbers you know that when fours appear angels are near. Afterwards, I could feel them celebrating with me wishing me their congratulations.

After this amazing experience, I felt miraculous. I felt that I successfully worked with the spiritual realm to draw to me what I desired. If I could do it once, then I can do it again. So what does my heart desire next? What do I passionately desire so much that it will create my body to buzz with enthusiasm, let my heart know it already is, and make my mind surrender to my heart and see it as done? From here on out the possibilities are endless.

Thank you for reading! If you have a story/message that you would like to share and it fits into the topics on Always Believe, please email us. Guest Writers are always welcome!

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“Like the body, the soul must also be nourished daily.”

Overpowered By Anger

She can feel her heart racing. Her breath becomes shallow and short. Her head then becomes lightheaded and feels like she could almost pass out. She notices her clenched jaw and that every single muscle in her body is tightening as the seconds pass. An increase in body temperature causes her skin to flush and she feels her blood begin to boil. She begins to tremble and forms her hands into fists. Adrenaline surges through her body and explodes as she raises her fists over her head and bangs them down on the desk while shouting profanities like there is no tomorrow. This woman is livid. She is utterly enraged at someone who has played on her last kind nerve. She wonders if this irritant she is talking to could be as brainless as his words have proven to be. The niceties she tried to display in a calm and clear manner have been replaced with harshness and contempt. This normally cool, collected and kind-hearted woman is infuriated at his irrational reasoning where he has concluded that his mistakes are her fault. She is exhausted trying to reason with the

unreasonable. She will not waste one more minute entertaining ignorance. She disengages and realizes she has allowed herself to be overpowered by anger.

Whoever has felt like this raise your hand?

I felt like this the other day when I was trying to communicate with someone. After the conversation ended, I was so angry at them but I was also angry at myself. I could not believe I allowed my anger to control me. After all I have learned, in that moment of provocation, I forgot how to conduct myself. This person was already angry and became accusatory so I became defensive. I could have talked to this person until I was blue in the face and they still would not have understood what the real problem was. I should have never engaged with this person to begin with knowing full and well their acerbic state of mind. My affirmations: When I come across someone who is angry, I will calmly choose to tell them I cannot talk to them in this state and I will walk away and only resume a conversation when their serene mindset returns. I will rise above the situation and set a positive example. I will not be swallowed by their anger or allow my own anger to control me. I am calm, relaxed, and always in control of my emotions.

Anger is a natural emotion experienced by all human beings at some time. To immediately stop the threatening behavior of someone, anger chooses to emerge. One can be angered by a person, an event such as a traffic jam, a personal problem or a past incident. When a person feels attacked it is instinctive to want to become defensive and fight back. Anger is not a bad emotion as long as it does not hurt anyone and is expressed in a healthy manner. If one is angry at someone it is important to express one’s needs in an assertive way without being aggressive. The first thing to do would be to calm down. Remember when you were upset and someone advised you to count to ten? They knew that returning to a calm state would allow the heart rate to return to normal, the muscles would relax, and clarity of mind would reappear. In a calm state, one’s needs can be clearly described and being able to come to an agreement about how those needs can be met in a respectful way benefit everyone. Anger in one usually instigates anger in another and although you cannot control another’s emotions it is important to always remember that you can control your own. Those who can rise above destructive anger are the ones who know how to remain in control and not relinquish power over to anger.

Anger becomes not only becomes destructive if aggressively taken out on someone else but it also is harmful if one chooses to suppress anger. Anger turned inward can cause people to become angry at themselves. It can also lead to serious medical problems like high blood pressure or depression. If one chooses to restrain their anger it can turn into passive aggressiveness and a hostile, critical disposition. Some individuals have issues with anger and need help on managing anger. Anger management classes are helpful for those who are easily angered, frustrated, or annoyed. People learn how to recognize triggers for anger, understand the source of their anger, and learn how to channel their anger in a healthy way. For instance, my brother was a “hothead” and he told me that he liked getting angry. He liked the feelings of anger building up within him and described how good he felt when he exploded. In this instance his source of anger could be physiological. The adrenaline rush he feels when he gets angry could be addicting. Other things that affect his anger could include factors in his immediate environment. Through therapy, he has learned to control and express his anger appropriately.

When anger arises, acknowledge it, calm it, then let it go through healthy expression.

“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” ~Buddha

Lean This Way

I love you, I am sorry, and I need help are said to be three of the hardest statements to say to someone else. All three invoke a state of vulnerability. Anyone who expresses their love for another is open to rejection if the other person does not feel the same way. Those who express their remorse for causing pain to another brave the chance of being denied forgiveness. A person in need of help, who already may feel guilty asking for assistance, may be exposed to someone who turns them down.

In the illusion of the ego driven world, being vulnerable is parallel to being weak and weakness in our society is deemed inexcusable. We are brought up to be the best and the brightest we possibly can be. We are raised in a competitive environment where there has to be a winner. Looking out for number one and separating from the group are thought to be good methods to achieve success.

For myself, my vulnerability would reside in asking for financial help. If I need any other kind of assistance, I have no problem shouting out a request for help from the mountain tops but asking for money turns my insides out. If I need financial support, I feel like a failure. I think about how I should have made better decisions and had planned a smarter financial portfolio for myself. I never learned about financial planning and my parents certainly never taught me how to manage money. I learned to do as they did. I could balance a checkbook but my savings account rounded zero more often than I would like to admit. Growing up with a single parent, money was always scarce and living paycheck to paycheck was common place. I grew up and repeated the same pattern. I was always working in order to live. I was a slave to money and its abundance was always out of reach. The last time I had to ask my mom for money, I cried. I cried in shame and in remorse because I knew she needed her income to pay her own bills. I was an adult and thought adults were supposed to be able to handle their own responsibilities without asking for help. I felt like a disgrace and a burden.

I thought about my feelings surrounding myself and money and was bothered by them. Financial abundance can never come into awareness with the underlying belief that money is hard to get or always out of reach. If one part of me thinks that money is a horrible master always inflicting pain and suffering on its servant, then abundance in all its glory is not anywhere in sight. If I think asking for financial help is shameful, then how can the Universe align me with it? I cannot ask the Universe for abundance and expect to get it if I really think I am doing a disgraceful thing by asking for it. The Universe does not differentiate between who I ask but in my sincerity of the request.

New thoughts and new beliefs were needed in how I related to money. First I needed to look at my feelings when I asked for financial help. At any point in someone’s life, no matter how much one has planned, unexpected events can happen where a person finds herself in a situation that requires her to ask for financial assistance. This humbled person courageously places herself in the hands of another in hopes that her request will be answered. Another’s ability to answer and accept the request shows compassion but the blessing comes in two parts. The first blessing was that the person was around to serve as support for her and the second was that the person had the means to provide assistance. Furthermore, I needed to believe that money did not define who I am. It does not outline my character or my worthiness as a human being. I needed to believe that money was an abundant blessing in my life and I am blessed to be able to pass on that blessing to others. In Doreen Virtue’s recent newsletter, she writes, “…when you allow yourself to receive, you have more available to give to others.”

I am blessed to have a support system to lift me up when I am down. We are a group and if one of us falters there is always someone to step in to encourage and provide assistance. If my supporters needed my help, I would gratefully offer it because I know how hard it is to ask. Some go a long time without needing support and forget what it feels like to reach out when it becomes necessary. When someone achieves victory, success does not depend on one; it is the accumulation of support given by all. Support comes in many forms and it is a gift to have a support system to lean on in times of distress. God is alive and well in this support. Depending on the season, sometimes a person is one who serves as the support system and at other times is the one who is supported.

I dedicate this to all of my supporters especially my mom and dad who are my two favorite heroes which I love deeply and hold in the utmost respect. I love all who have ever been there for me. I apologize to anyone in my past who I did not support or anyone I made feel like a burden. I was wrong and am happy to have seen the error in my ways so I never do it again. Please feel free to lean on me and I promise to stand strong until you are able to do so on your own. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Friend and Foe

There are various reasons why people choose to stay in relationships which no longer serve either person. Maybe one does not want to feel alone, one is too dependent on the other, one feels the other cannot survive without them, or one feels deserving of the misery the relationship brings. The reasons are many and truth lies in none of them. A person can get to the root of their beliefs to understand why they have participated in a relationship that has run its course. She may use therapy, self-reflection, divine help or have a clear moment of thought such as an epiphany.

At the beginning of my spiritual transformation, I asked God to remove all the people in my life who no longer served a purpose or supported my spiritual development and He did. He also replaced them with great people. One friend, who was part of those who were removed, recently popped back into my life with a problem of her own making but one in which she blamed others for. I had not talked to her since she last called me many despicable childish names and wrongly accused me of transgressions heard through hearsay. She indifferently requested my help as if nothing had occurred between us. I struggled with her materialization and thought maybe she had been working on herself and was ready to move forward along her journey like I had. Giving her the benefit of the doubt, I made contact only to find nothing had changed. I was confused as to why she was back and then I understood. Although she had been removed many months ago, I did not learn the lesson or rather was not aware of the overall lesson regarding friendship, so she had to reappear. I was humbled by this revelation and certainly grateful for it.

I had my own “a-ha” moment. While my spiritual transformation continued, I found that certain friends were no longer supportive of who I was becoming. They could not understand or relate to what I was going through even when I tried to explain it. They were not where I was and no amount of explanation on my part could get them there. Their spiritual development was not developing as mine was and I could not wait around expecting them to catch up because that would be a disservice to me. It was not my duty. Each person is responsible for their own spiritual development and some choose to never go down that path.

I also had concerns with the character of certain friends. Some did things I could no longer ignore. I did not feel comfortable with friends who thought it was okay to lie or steal. I did not like being in the company of friends who participated in idle gossip. I did not appreciate friends who took no accountability for their actions, especially for mistakes that had been made. I did not understand why one would not choose to take responsibility for her life and always saw fit to blame others for everything that went wrong in her life.

I then stopped and looked at myself because when you are transforming it is important to understand where you have been and why you were there. Why was I friends with people like this? I was their friend because I felt a responsibility or rather a loyalty to be their friend. I never asked myself whether I really wanted to be their friend; instead I just assumed that position and in doing so made the assumption that all of their actions were acceptable. I came to resent them and became angry at them and myself but never understood why until now. They made plenty of mistakes but so did I. I never should have put myself in a passive position. I should not have been the one friends always depended upon to solve their problems. I made myself less than important by always putting their problems before my own. I also hurt them by not letting them solve their own problems, impeding their growth to learn how to resolve issues on their own. I should not have always turned the other cheek when a friend hurt me. I should have stood up for myself and held them accountable for their actions. I disrespected myself by not honoring my feelings. I let them believe that it does not matter how you treat people; something I am firmly against. It always matters how you treat others! Everyone deserves to be treated with respect. I let them use me and allowed myself to be used.

Well, it’s no wonder why I was so angry. I am still transforming and learning but I am becoming wiser everyday. I hold values and beliefs that are an important part of who I am now. They are not just words to preach; they are words to live by. I respect who I am and in doing so will gain the respect of others. I understand and take responsibility for the mistakes I have made in my friendships. I forgive all who have hurt me and apologize to all whom I have hurt. I also forgive myself. I fully release past relationships that no longer reflect who I am and send them all love and many blessings on their chosen paths. I am ready to move forward with more heart centered friendships.

During a spiritual transformation, certain relationships will come to an end because they do not support or enhance the spiritually connected person you are becoming. Whomever you are parting from is not a “bad” person but their spiritual development is not aligned with your own; so as you are growing and moving forward, the other person is moving along at a different pace which creates distance. Confusion, discord, and detachment can be found in this distance and instead of blaming each other, one or both, can choose to separate so each is still learning and emerging as they were intended. Although it would be lovely if each could grow together, spiritual development is designed specifically for each individual. Everyone experiences their path differently and mistakes, lessons, and understanding come at different times for each. The good news happens to be that the Universe will provide another relationship that is almost equivalent to where you are along your path. The Universe does not remove without replacing. Support, compassion, joy, and appreciation will be the foundation for all new relationships so your journey can be continued with greater ease. New friendships formed are created from the heart.

Find Fulfillment in Work

To do something you truly love, to find fulfillment in your career, to impact someone else’s life by touching the deepest part of their soul through your work, has to be a great part of living the most amazing dream. I know it is mine.

Pat Monahan, lead singer in the band Train, describes this feeling:

"I still remember what it's like to paint houses," he recalls. "I had fun because I loved the people that I worked with, but it's really not what I want to do – not because it's a degrading job or anything, but because when I'm on stage I feel so much more connected to who I think I truly am. I just want to stay connected to the highest level myself can be and I think it comes through music.”

I believe when we are truly in tune with the divine, especially in our working life, we connect with something that is so ethereally magical that it manifests in the most beautiful ways. It connects people, mesmerizes people, it touches people’s hearts and stirs their emotions. By being connected to the divine, you also connect them. These people who are in sync with this power are said to be brilliant, talented, and gifted and indeed they are. They have discovered their divine gifts to share with the world and in return not only have they been blessed, we have been blessed by them. Their gifts shine brightly, not to diminish anyone, but to inspire others to find their own light. Some people know their gifts immediately and other people’s gifts lie dormant within waiting to be discovered. Even though I have always written, I never considered it to be a part of my life purpose. It was not until I was guided to write and share my story with others that I became aware of how this gift of writing affected and helped others. It helps heal the reader and author at the same time. Writing has been a true blessing in my life. I consider writing to be one of many gifts to be uncovered for my life purpose. Writing connects me to who I really am. It is never too late to go after your heart’s desires and if you think it is then a change in perspective and belief may be on the horizon. Everyone was born with gifts to share so do not let them depart this life with you. As stated by many, “Don’t die with your music still in you.” People can realize their dreams and achieve all the happiness and success they deserve.

Great inspiration below…

Click here to see a boy who discovered his gift at age six: The Child Who Paints Like An Old Master

Experts have said that the six-year-old's atmospheric paintings, which began with harbor scenes and expanded to include rural vistas, animal portraits and landmarks, have perspective, shadow and reflections that demonstrate an ability well beyond his years.

At age 73, Ken Mink has made a triumphant return to college basketball. Not as a fan or a referee, but as an actual member of the team. “OK, my dream’s coming true,” he said. A fine example of never being too old for a second shot. Click here to read his story: At 73, he’s oldest player shooting college hoops