Things Will Never Change...

It seems lately that the same phrase keeps rolling off my tongue in a variety of conversations, “Things will never change unless you do things differently”. I have said it at least six times in the past three days. And each time the situations and the circumstances were different. Stop for a minute and think about it. Isn’t it the truth? When we feel stuck, the best way to get the energies flowing is to step off the beaten path and look for ways to create a new path. Staying in a place of stuck and complaining or fretting or getting angry over it….that gets us nowhere.

It takes a bit of bravery, a little courage to do this. I am not saying that it is easy. We find comfort in the familiar, even when the familiar is not really working for us. Creating a new path may take some calculated risks, it may take some asking for support, it may take some pause and reflection and NOT doing…and sometimes these are scary things for us.

To pull a new key out of our pocket and open a door that has been locked to see what we need to face on the other side is not always a choice one is happy to make. It takes hard work, it takes honesty, it takes truthfulness and it can be exhausting. But what if it is worth it? What if that is the very next step to reaching your greatness, your potential, to embracing your next lesson, or to receiving your next gift? What if?

Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is something we are not taught in life very often. We live in a very complacent society. The same old spins around and around. Living beyond the expected takes great intention and focus. It takes a healthy soul that has been tended to and cherished. It takes community that offers inspiration. All of that takes time and effort too. But, I ask myself, I ask you…if not all that, then what is left? The same old, same old. And I am up for the adventure of life. I am answering of the call of service. I cannot do it any other way, nor do I want to. Life is too short each time around. It is time to do things differently. So let this time be full!

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2013 Lisa Meade

There Is No Comparison

I have raised five beautiful children and been involved in communities with many other children and young adults where I was a mentor, role model and friend. I have always been the one to hold this conversation with the young ones: there is no comparison. It seems that many people spend a good amount of their time and days comparing themselves to others. They compare their looks, their knowledge, their beliefs, their values, their possessions, and their faults among other things. I am puzzled by this activity as I only see it as a terrible loss of time. Comparison gets you nowhere. We are all meant to be unique and have our own personal special qualities, so why would we want to compare? To see the contrast perhaps? Usually what I find in these conversations is that the comparison often leads to disappointment in self. Or worse it leads to negative judgment of the other. Not what I consider a good use of one’s time.

Instead I propose that we compare ourselves to ourselves. How have I changed since yesterday, last month, or two years ago? How have I let go what does not serve me? How have I moved on to face my challenges? How have I grown in my strengths? These are worthy comparisons. These put one’s time to good use.

In these conversations, when this point is made, if it makes its way through some of the drama of the moment, the pain that is being held on to, or the old patterns of behavior…I see a twinkle in the eye. I see a relaxation of the brow and the corners of the mouth begin to create a small smile. What a better and more powerful place to be. Our journey has many pieces that are beyond our control and we learn to trust that what is happening is happening for a reason. But how we react to the happenings is fully within our control.

I recently shared an image with a client. Emotions do not rule us, they simply flow through us. Imagine a wave rolling onto the shore. It builds momentum, just like an emotion, it increases with speed and intensity. We can brace ourselves to receive the wave, firmly standing there or use our judgment and if we feel the wave is too big to withstand we can back up a bit, move to a safer place before we get pulled under. So is the case with our emotions. We can ground ourselves firmly and prepare for them to roll in or we can step aside, retreat a bit and put distance between the emotion and ourselves to prepare our reaction. Pause and space helps. It gives us the opportunity to allow the wave of emotion to flow through us and then beyond. We can be in control and not need to spin comparisons to cling to.A comparison does not make a good life raft!

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2013 Lisa Meade

Our Inner Mirror

Have you ever noticed that a group of people can all witness the same scenario and each will have a different essence to what occurred, bring a different viewpoint on the hows and whys things occurred as they did and why people reacted the way they did? Have you ever wondered why you react differently or certain emotions are triggered in you that are not in another under the same situation? We all have our unique personal experience and outlook that we bring to our observances. We all have a mirror within in us that reflects an essence of our experience, our healings and our wounds. It reflects where we have come from and where we are moving to. It mirrors our inner beliefs and feelings.

What this means then is the outcome of many of our life situations are built upon these reflections. Our perception resides within this view that we bring to our day. Have you ever noticed that if you are having a fabulous day, surrounded by optimistic people, hitting every green light of the day and the sun is shining…that even if you experience a negative situation or person…you seem to have the ability to roll with it much more smoothly and with grace and ease. Our inner mirror is reflecting the positivity we have accumulated throughout the day.

So that means the viewpoint we have on life’s circumstances is often reliant upon what we choose to see and what attachment we bring to the mirror. That is why being in the moment brings us so much freedom. If we let go of the baggage that old wounds have, the negative hold that angers has upon us and the abrasiveness that ill feelings bring to our heart we may be able to shift our personal perspective on life and its unfoldings.

Paying attention to your inner mirror and keeping it focused on the positive in life can help with our outer reflections. Not allowing our baggage to weigh us down with negativity keeps us balanced. Our soul brings to life many of the images in our mirror. Tending to our soul’s needs keeps our mirror smudge free and clear. The light it reflects back to our day becomes brighter and our focus is clearer. We can then see things the way they truly are, unattached to the emotions and stories we attach to them. We are able to be present, alive, open and free.

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2013 Lisa Meade

Onward!

Oh how good it feels to be back in the groove! Between the holidays and all the festivities, visiting family and friends and a major head cold to boot…well, let’s just say I slacked on maintaining the measures I take to keep my body tuned up and revving. Granted the head cold made exercise move quite low on the list of things I could do. BUT the extra treats and odd schedules and parties and so on and so on…you get the picture. So back on track I am and my body is celebrating! The head cold, though still a sniffle here and there, is backing off. I am back to exercising an hour a day and it feels WONDERFUL. Lacing up my sneakers puts a smile on my face. Working out with my husband does my heart good knowing we are taking good care of ourselves for now and for the future. Preparing our favorite organic vegan dishes once again, my body is satisfied, full and responding with zeal!

Why is it so easy to get drawn away from such a bliss filled place for my body! It doesn’t help that nearly every month of the year has some major celebration in it, then add on birthdays, anniversaries, weddings….ahhhhhh! And the fact that many celebrate with food, and it usually is not a micro green salad with vegan Caesar dressings and tamari sunflower seeds! It is a challenge.

I am committed though. I won’t beat myself up. I won’t look at it as a set back, just a pause. I will begin fresh each and every moment! And that is all I need to remind myself of. We need to remember that every moment begins NEW and that is where we need to place our focus. We don’t need to wait until tomorrow or Monday or the first of next month…why should we, when we have right now!

Onward ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2013 Lisa Meade