In studying the 5th chakra I realized how much the lessons here are a part of my life and recognize that I am much further along on my spiritual path than I was a few years ago. The 5th chakra teaches us a lot about judgement, the power of the words we speak, and about faith.
I have always had this fear of being judged. As a younger person it was wanting to fit in--very typical as we struggle through the social challenges of adolescence. I talk to my kids a lot about how each one of us is so special and unique, quoting Forrest Gump--"I am as God made me." We each have many gifts and if one of us were not here, the world would be very different.
As an adult I was afraid others would think I wasn't an attentive enough mother, that I hired too many babysitters, that I had one too many glasses of wine, or that I neglected the cleaning of my house or (gulp) my car. But if I am okay with myself, then I can't be judged. I can't allow other people's "stuff" to determine how I feel about my choices or my life.
In turn, I try not to judge others. I have learned, oh have I learned, that until I walk a mile in someone else's shoes, I cannot know what it is like to live their life. And I believe that most people do the best with what they have to work with. As Maya Angelou said--we do the best with what we know, and when we know better we do better. For that reason I don't think it's fair to gossip about other people. Why do we take pleasure in other people's struggles? If we spoke healing words or words of concern, healing energy can find them. But words of judgement and condemnation just reflect back on us and cast a shadow on our light. I'm not saying I never fall victim to the temptation to butt in to someones business, but I know it is far more productive to interact face to face with people than behind their back. That's how I want people to treat me--it's the Golden Rule, right? Treat others as you want to be treated. So simple yet so challenging in today's competitive world. But how do we have room to love someone if we're judging them? (Mother Theresa -- I'm full of them today!)
I think sometimes this competitiveness comes from fear. Fear that we ourselves are not doing a good enough job (in who's eyes?--I challenge us to ask). Also fear that someone else's success will somehow diminish our opportunities for success. There is enough happiness/love/success/joy/peace for all of us. Having faith that if we follow the right path we will have the life we dream of is a big step in spiritual growth. We might not get handed lemonade every day, but the sugar and water of most days help us to see the potential for the lemons on those other days. (Even if it means trading them in for limes and making margaritas!)
I know that I have a blessed life and that I have many angels looking out for me. I know I have a tremendous power to spread good in the world--we all do. And every night I rest my head knowing I did my very best that day. Let us all be gentle with our words, generous with our love, and faithful in our ways.
peace, love, and acceptance~
Friday, June 11, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Let Loose and Love
After a week of having my kids home for summer break I am reminded of the range and freedom of emotion that children have. They cry, laugh, whine, and scream alternatively throughout the day - everyday - repeatedly. I'll admit that many days I feel the pain, glee, frustration, and anger that they feel but as an adult I've grown to control the outward expression of these emotions. Imagine if adults didn't develop that control--what a mess we'd all be!
For me, knowing that each experience I have is there to teach me something eases me from one challenging moment to the next. This is easy to do when the salsa spills on the carpet or I stub my toe on the kitchen table for the 100th time. I may have an immediate outburst, but am able to move on and maintain some sort of emotional equilibrium. But what about the really big wounds? Those damages that happen that don't cause us to yell out, but rather cause us to yell in. These are the hurts that really damage us. And it's not the action or event itself that can start the negative spiral, it's the way we internalize the pain. We hold on to it, bury it, maybe even forget about it on a conscious level. This "injury" becomes part of who we are. The negative currents affiliated with the feelings of hurt or betrayal or violation that we hold on to penetrate our cells and become part of our physical selves. Not only can it cause illness in our bodies, that energy also pulsates outward and attracts more of the same damaging energy right back to us. We all know someone who was in a bad relationship and continues, time after time, to chose other ill-fitted partners.
In a way, our kids' approach probably works better. They let it out and let it go. Our challenge as adults is to find a way to do that as well--in order to set ourselves free from that weight and that burden. The 4th chakra is the place where the emotional meets the spiritual, and that is where this work is done--in the heart. Compassion and forgiveness are the tools we use to release us from the negative spiral and lift us toward a more peaceful place. There is risk involved by becoming vulnerable and putting ourselves out there. It requires a level of maturity and, as I often discuss, self-love. Forgiveness is a gift to ourselves, not to our offenders. We release the power outside occurrences have over our well-being and give ourselves permission to heal, learn, and continue on wiser. And looking with compassion at the people we would otherwise judge gives us the wonderful opportunity to learn something about the world, about ourselves, and to experience deep gratitude for all that is good in our own lives.
Living in the role of a victim is no way to live. The word victim is defined as "a person who is deceived or cheated, as by his or her own emotions or ignorance, by the dishonesty of others, or by some impersonal agency." "...as by his or her own emotions or ignorance..." Open your heart. Take charge of your emotional well-being. Give yourself the gift of forgiveness. Look with compassion upon the world. Live out loud and let go. Risk. Give thanks. Laugh big. Cry hard. Feel what you need to feel and allow yourself to get through to the other side. This will make us whole, and this will heal our hurt, and this will offer us the opportunity for the greatest happiness.
peace, love, and more LOVE...
For me, knowing that each experience I have is there to teach me something eases me from one challenging moment to the next. This is easy to do when the salsa spills on the carpet or I stub my toe on the kitchen table for the 100th time. I may have an immediate outburst, but am able to move on and maintain some sort of emotional equilibrium. But what about the really big wounds? Those damages that happen that don't cause us to yell out, but rather cause us to yell in. These are the hurts that really damage us. And it's not the action or event itself that can start the negative spiral, it's the way we internalize the pain. We hold on to it, bury it, maybe even forget about it on a conscious level. This "injury" becomes part of who we are. The negative currents affiliated with the feelings of hurt or betrayal or violation that we hold on to penetrate our cells and become part of our physical selves. Not only can it cause illness in our bodies, that energy also pulsates outward and attracts more of the same damaging energy right back to us. We all know someone who was in a bad relationship and continues, time after time, to chose other ill-fitted partners.
In a way, our kids' approach probably works better. They let it out and let it go. Our challenge as adults is to find a way to do that as well--in order to set ourselves free from that weight and that burden. The 4th chakra is the place where the emotional meets the spiritual, and that is where this work is done--in the heart. Compassion and forgiveness are the tools we use to release us from the negative spiral and lift us toward a more peaceful place. There is risk involved by becoming vulnerable and putting ourselves out there. It requires a level of maturity and, as I often discuss, self-love. Forgiveness is a gift to ourselves, not to our offenders. We release the power outside occurrences have over our well-being and give ourselves permission to heal, learn, and continue on wiser. And looking with compassion at the people we would otherwise judge gives us the wonderful opportunity to learn something about the world, about ourselves, and to experience deep gratitude for all that is good in our own lives.
Living in the role of a victim is no way to live. The word victim is defined as "a person who is deceived or cheated, as by his or her own emotions or ignorance, by the dishonesty of others, or by some impersonal agency." "...as by his or her own emotions or ignorance..." Open your heart. Take charge of your emotional well-being. Give yourself the gift of forgiveness. Look with compassion upon the world. Live out loud and let go. Risk. Give thanks. Laugh big. Cry hard. Feel what you need to feel and allow yourself to get through to the other side. This will make us whole, and this will heal our hurt, and this will offer us the opportunity for the greatest happiness.
peace, love, and more LOVE...
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