The Change in Truth

Someone once told me that change happens when we sit with our truth openly and publicly and universally. If we can live our truth without comparison, shame, judgment or denial, then we can begin to change and grow and evolve. We sometimes hide from our truth. It can be for a wide number of reasons. Some hide from truth because they are afraid of how big they can be. Some run from the truth out of fear of the pain. There are those who judge themselves so harshly that when they begin to step into a puddle of truth they recoil. It is important for us to know ourselves fully. When and how do you cover up or hide from your truth.

Once you have a better understanding of what you do, then you may be able to explore why. Let’s face it, the better we understand our selves, our reactions, our needs and our faltherings…the stronger we then can become. Learning to accept that we are not perfect beings, that we have stories, or that we hold onto fears and pain can only free us in the long run. The acceptance of these facts and the embracing of them as part of our unique qualities is the key to our way of unlocking our authenticity. We do not need to pretend to be someone we are not. We do not need to stuff down feelings. We do not need to be so harsh on ourselves.

It is not easy to be this transparent. It takes time and practice. It means asking tough questions and waiting on the answers. It can also mean having a support person to help you as you uncover your truths. As a spiritual life coach, I spend a good deal of my time with my clients offering this exact kind of support. Everything that the client needs to be their fullest and brightest self is already within them. They just may need support in discovering it and revealing it. They also may need help in becoming comfortable with their truth.

Once this process has begun, it seems to often takes on a force of its own. The truth bubbles to the surface more freely. The heart and mind accept it more willingly. The human in us embodies it more gracefully and our awareness and consideration grow so that we can hold others in their truth more compassionately. Like many things of spirit, the beauty lies in the simplicity of it. We do not need to complicate it. If we learn to just be with it and not try to explain it, resolve it, rate it or whatever else we tend to do…but to just be with it and allow the gentle unfolding occur; that is when our connection to source is at its strongest and the brilliance of our personal truth shines brightly.

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2012 Lisa Meade

Reflected

A day of reflection did a world of good for me. I sat quietly and took a look over my life’s shoulder. I looked back on my life and asked myself some important questions. Here is what I discovered. Was I happy with the direction my life was going in? Yes was the answer. I may have gotten here my own way and had a few obstacles along the way, but they were the best teachers on my path. I also had to circle around the block a few times here and there until I got it right and understood what the Universe was bringing to me. But I have learned that that is sometimes the only way.

Did I feel happy with the choices I had made? Yes was the answer again. I really try to live without regrets and look at every decision as the best I could make at the moment. It may have been that at the time I did not know any other way, or that I needed to learn more. If I made a poor choice it was another opportunity to learn. Knowing this takes a little pressure off. Everything I do in life is not defined by right or wrong, but instead of now or later.

Am I living authentically? Yes again. I do my best. I try to have my actions match my words. I check in regularly with my intentions. I am the first to step back and take another look at my behaviors, my expectations and my ego. I know when I am off tract and usually am quite uncomfortable staying in that place for too long. Once I know my truth, it is difficult to continue being false, challenging to deny, and unauthentic to play a game with myself or others. I just don't have it in me.

I want to be able to look back on my life one day and say to myself, “You did good! There were moments here and there, where you stumbled or sidestepped, but you got back up, got back on track and kept going. You gave more than you took and you answered the call.”

I don’t know what the future has in store. I am excited when I think of all the possibilities. But in the meanwhile, I live in this very moment, right here, right now. As i look into my reflection of Self I see my imperfections as beautiful reminders, my mis-steps as part of finding my rhythm and my pauses as opportunities to go deeper. Perhaps you see a bit of yourself in this reflection as well. I get excited when I think of the connection we share on some level. I trust that the Universe is weaving between us a bond that is necessary for the good of us all; to be able to relate to one another and to support, celebrate and share what the next step may be. Onward!

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2012 Lisa Meade

Speaking Your Truth

How do you speak your truth when someone differs from you? I faced this challenge recently. Let me first begin with this important fact, what I believe is true, what I know is true, right now and here … is my truth, but being a evolving human, I have to leave room for the possibility that it is not the universal truth of my whole being. That said how do you stay open to possibilities while holding on to what you see as your truth? It is a challenge. It is often uncomfortable. We, most of us anyway, do not enjoy conflict or disagreement. We don’t enjoy drawing negative attention to ourselves. And if we are disagreeing with someone who we respect and is respected by others, what does this say about us, to the relationship and the truth? How can we remain present in the moment?

In my recent differing of opinion, I felt as though the facts were not quite correct and I needed to clarify. Even later in my clarification, there was an attachment by the other person to an interpretation that was not authentic to me. I held fast, all the while honoring the fact that I will go back and revisit the moment and see if perhaps I am not viewing things and recalling my feelings and facts accurately.

This does not happen to me often. But when it does, I learn a new lesson every time. People can be wrong. I can be wrong. And that is all it is. No drama or hurt feelings. No power struggle. No resentment. My respect remains the same or even grows. This person has entered my life for many obvious reasons and quite possibly many I am not yet aware of and may never be.

Unfortunately, there are those times when regardless of how authentic and clean you attempt to be, others will not respect your truth. They are not willing to let go of their need to be right. They are in struggle and process for themselves. But there are those times when there is little else to say, no point to be made, no struggle to be had…your truth is just not being respected and in congruence to that, neither are you. You then can choose where to go with this relationship. For me, if there is an ongoing pattern of this lack of respect…I move on. I learn my lesson and remain in integrity, never wishing ill will or holding negative emotions towards this person, but I do remove myself from the drama and toxicity of the relationship.

I will sit with this. I will go deeper with it and ask myself questions that peel back layers for me. It is work I have spent a lifetime doing. I owe it to myself, I owe it to this relationship, I owe it to my future work and I know no other way. I have grown comfortable with this process…even when it is hard or confusing. In the end I receive clarity and insight. And that is hugely important to me.

So, I continue to speak my truth, even in disagreement. I continue to honor the path sharers, teachers, leaders, and wise souls in my life. I continue to ask them to challenge me, to ask me the tough questions and to push me when I need a push. All is well. We are always each other’s teacher. And in this case I am the most fortunate student, I learn and grow, no matter what the outcome!

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2012 Lisa Meade

Opportunities For Change

I think I have always had a soul that asked questions. I like to put the pieces of my life together like a beautiful puzzle and look at how they were unique to me, what they mean in regards to my purpose in life and how I live. My spirituality matches this fact. I have looked at the way Spirit resonates within me. I have released old wounds and patterns. I have embraced traditions, awakenings and lessons. I have shape shifted into who I am today, morphing and merging into what feels comfortable for me, while still allowing room for me to stretch, grow, and rest. Learning to live consciously and in the moment does not mean that life does not stir things up within me like a brisk autumn breeze from time to time; old memories, thoughts and feelings reeling and swirling about. I have learned to be present, not to create story around these questions and theories and with time they settle themselves down, quietly into a stillness that life affords us if we wait for it. I have learned to not need to be reactionary in every moment. Instead peace and calm sit beside me and it is a place that feels true to my soul and supportive to my whole being.

As big as our world feels we are really walking our paths together. When you suffer, I feel it, on some level. When there is war or hardship across the seas, my spirit aches for the unknown and the loss that is resulting from the violence and brutality. I do not pretend that my soul does not pick up on the reverberating energies of suffering that are in the lives of so many. Likewise, I am blessed daily with the celebrations of life, the opportunities of abundance and the goodness that lives in so many hearts.

So how do I bring my spiritual connection out and put it on the table to become effective and powerful? How do I put it to use for the good of all, not just myself? If we are truly all connected, every breath I take, every thought I hold, every blessing I cherish matters.

I cannot sit by, day by day, without leaning in and getting my hands dirty. I cannot help but feel stronger and more whole as I bring all of my self to the day. I bring my conscious living, I call forth healing energies, I send supportive prayers of compassion and kindness, I put action to my words, and I listen closely to what the world needs. I cannot live any other way. If I don’t do this, what is living? If I do not participate fully, what part of me is showing up? If not today…then when?

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2012 Lisa Meade