Due to recent, tragic events, I've been bombarded with all kinds of media and social media outlets debating the status of guns and gun violence in this country. Most of the time, the only expressions that I hear/see are those of fear and preparing for some "reality" that most people are not facing. I know for myself, in the past, I oftentimes defined my reality to be that of the world around me (what others have experienced), what it Should be, what I Feared it would be, what it Previously was in my past, but these were more my perceptions of reality then they were my actual reality. I also believe that we take on others' realities as our own, sometimes to feel connected and communal, like we're not alone, or because of raw emotions like fear, jealousy, a need for acceptance, or possibly misguided sympathy (and probably many more). So the way I see it is that people misunderstand their FEAR of reality for BEING their reality....
I looked up the definition of REALITY, and it is as follows:
1. The world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them: "he refuses to face reality".
2. A thing that is actually experienced or seen.
So by these definitions, reality is what's right in front of us, experienced by us as individuals or sometimes groups together, but the individuals in the group are experiencing or seeing the same thing at the same time. If we are acquiring gun protection for a perceived threat because of something that happened to someone else, is that our reality? Even if we're pursuing a firearm because of something that previously happened to us, is that our reality now? I think no...my reality at this point in time is that there is no one holding a gun to my head. Luckily, I've never come across this situation, and I live my life as though I will never be in this situation. If I'm afraid of that happening to me, THAT is a fear, not a reality. I don't want to live my life out of fear. Fear by me, only accelerates fear in others, it's contagious, and that's not good if the "others" are armed. However, luckily for us, so are the feelings of love, compassion and understanding. So then what "contagious", emotional message do you want to share with the world? If you are one that feels like you need a gun to have piece of mind, then I'm not trying to say you shouldn't, but I am trying to bring about your awareness to the fact that if you're reading this post, then no one is holding you hostage at gunpoint. The state of things as they actually exist for you is that you are safe, and loved, and hopefully you can live in peace within That reality :-)
Wishing you and your families and loved ones safety and love, always!
Jess
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Monday, December 17, 2012
Time Flies When You're Having Fun!
I just realized that I hadn't posted in almost a week and it seems like time has just been flying! The more I do things that I really enjoy doing, the faster it feels like my life is moving....in a really good way! I used to say that time is passing me by, and where did the last year go? The more I do the things I really want to do, and not waste my time worrying about all the stuff that it never benefited me to worry about, the more I can be happy about all the fun times passing! Like when you're on vacation, it seems like it goes by in the blink of an eye, and before you know it, you're back to life as usual. How wonderful would it be if we could all live our lives like we're on vacation? If we could all make a living doing something that is fun and fulfilling and we all feel like we're making a difference! I'm determined to make my life be like my dream!!
Here's to dreaming big and bright!!
Jess
Here's to dreaming big and bright!!
Jess
Monday, December 10, 2012
We Aren't Going "It" Alone
I was very used to doing everything "myself", never asking for help, and always being quite proud when I accomplish what I set out to conquer. I had a grand plan and I knew wholeheartedly that only I have the ability to make my goals happen. I was certain that all my hard work would pay off big time very soon. I was more than happy to live life this way until, somewhere along the way, things continually started going wrong, and by wrong I mean in the exact opposite direction from my plan. I had SO many things pushing against me that it literally stopped me in my tracks! For this, I am forever grateful because it made me have to consider a different direction. It also made me consider if it was just me in charge of my life? I had to reconnect with the idea that my co-creating Source (God) might just be trying to get me to take another path? I had always believed in God, and I have never doubted that I didn't just spontaneously appear for no reason. For some people that might be acceptable, but for me it just didn't ring true. So it got me really thinking...if God is my creator, and I'm here on Earth to serve a much more important purpose then running a business and making tons of money so I can acquire stuff...then what the heck am I supposed to be doing?
The first thing that hit me was that in all my attempts to be society's definition of 'successful', I was absolutely miserable! In my analysis of what this world teaches us, I was doing everything right, and I'm a pretty good student ;-) So my question then became Is God's purpose for sending me here to be miserable? I thought about that question for a while before I finally decided that I had to disagree. We are here in search of happiness, joy and peace within this great gift of a human experience. I had found my truth. Truth to me is what my heart, on a deeply emotional level, Feels when I say that an amazing, loving, compassionate, kind and creative Source of energy created us all, and that we are all connected, and Source wants us all to be happy!! At that realization, I gave myself permission to actually pursue the things that would feed my Soul and not just my bank account or society's definition of what life should look like....
My next question then became If God created me, and he has a purpose for me, then is he going to help me? The answer to this question came with a resounding "Yes" inside my head. I sounded so sure in my head, but had just asked the question? I had no idea where that came from in my head...after reading a few astoundingly eye opening books, I realized that that answer came from my intuition, which is in fact my Spirit! My Spirit is the God in me, the part that connects me to God, the part of me that will remain when my body is dead, the part of me to which God can communicate. I had been ignoring my Spirit, my intuition, and all of the messages that God was sending me about what I should do in my life. When I started trying to listen to that part, is when I started to make decisions that made me feel good, relieved, peaceful, excited, and inspired. I understood that everything happens for a reason, and we may not know why, but we can trust that it's for the best. I began to measure my success but how happy it made my Spirit and not my Ego. It's a long and sometimes difficult process to listen to your heart instead of your head, and I know I have many lessons to learn still, but I feel like I'm on the right path. I see answers and direction in lots of different ways these days, through nature, cards, crystals, interaction with people, books that come to me, messages in movies...it's amazing how much you can learn when you're open to them direction. I've never felt so loved and supported in all my life, and I know its because I'm now aspiring to fulfill my Soul's purpose. I'm so thankful, have never been more spiritual in my whole life, and I've never been happier!!
Cheers to Soul Searching!
Jess
The first thing that hit me was that in all my attempts to be society's definition of 'successful', I was absolutely miserable! In my analysis of what this world teaches us, I was doing everything right, and I'm a pretty good student ;-) So my question then became Is God's purpose for sending me here to be miserable? I thought about that question for a while before I finally decided that I had to disagree. We are here in search of happiness, joy and peace within this great gift of a human experience. I had found my truth. Truth to me is what my heart, on a deeply emotional level, Feels when I say that an amazing, loving, compassionate, kind and creative Source of energy created us all, and that we are all connected, and Source wants us all to be happy!! At that realization, I gave myself permission to actually pursue the things that would feed my Soul and not just my bank account or society's definition of what life should look like....
My next question then became If God created me, and he has a purpose for me, then is he going to help me? The answer to this question came with a resounding "Yes" inside my head. I sounded so sure in my head, but had just asked the question? I had no idea where that came from in my head...after reading a few astoundingly eye opening books, I realized that that answer came from my intuition, which is in fact my Spirit! My Spirit is the God in me, the part that connects me to God, the part of me that will remain when my body is dead, the part of me to which God can communicate. I had been ignoring my Spirit, my intuition, and all of the messages that God was sending me about what I should do in my life. When I started trying to listen to that part, is when I started to make decisions that made me feel good, relieved, peaceful, excited, and inspired. I understood that everything happens for a reason, and we may not know why, but we can trust that it's for the best. I began to measure my success but how happy it made my Spirit and not my Ego. It's a long and sometimes difficult process to listen to your heart instead of your head, and I know I have many lessons to learn still, but I feel like I'm on the right path. I see answers and direction in lots of different ways these days, through nature, cards, crystals, interaction with people, books that come to me, messages in movies...it's amazing how much you can learn when you're open to them direction. I've never felt so loved and supported in all my life, and I know its because I'm now aspiring to fulfill my Soul's purpose. I'm so thankful, have never been more spiritual in my whole life, and I've never been happier!!
Cheers to Soul Searching!
Jess
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Victim or Perpetrator?
I've really taken to the concept that we truly are the creators of our own destiny. With that realization comes a whole lot of responsibility, not only in the decisions that we ultimately make, but also in the thoughts that go through our head all day, every day. I've come to understand it as a kind of, "If you build it, they will come" way of creating our thoughts. What I choose to think about, either positive or negative, is what I'm attracting into my life, so it's my responsibility to decide my thoughts. For 2013 I'm dreaming big and wonderful without any of those negative thoughts to tell me it can't be done! What kind of changes in your thinking can ultimately help you to create a better 2013...a path for you to achieve true happiness and contentment?
If you're going to decide to be happier in 2013, then you might just have to make some tough choices. It's very common to play the victim and continuously stay in situations because we 'don't have a choice', but the truth is that there is always another choice. Most often, however, we just choose to not give ourselves another option because 'it's not the responsible thing to do' or 'I have bills to pay and a family to feed'. Those statements, true as they may be, are not forcing you to do anything specific in your life. They don't keep you from your ability to listen to your Spirit and dream a brighter and happier future for yourself and your family. The only thing that makes us trapped is our discouraging thoughts about what our souls really want, the dreams we don't let ourselves dream.
If a friendship, for example, makes you miserable and you feel bad every time you are with that person, is it the other person's fault for not being a good friend, or is it your fault for continuing to allow that person to be a bad friend? We choose to stay in the friendship, when maybe it is one that should be ended, not because they are evil, but because it's stopped being a symbiotic relationship (where two people are benefiting). You've heard the saying, "People come and go from our lives..." but sometimes it's hard to actually Let them go. If you're feeling in your gut that you no longer want to spend time with a friend, then let that be acceptable to you and discontinue the friendship. We have no obligation to people, no responsibility to be a life long friend, those expectations are all in our heads and they do not serve us in the long run. Most of the time, if we make the life changes that we really want to make and take care of ourselves (being true to our spirits by always doing what we want, when we want), those parasitic relationships have a way of ending all by themselves. And by the way, doing what you want, when you want is not selfish...it's living your truth! If the people around you are always doing what you want and NOT what they want, then it is their fault for not living Their truth! They hold that responsibility for their lives...
That's only one example! We can make these analysis' on our careers, how much money we expect to earn, the things we own, or owe money for, where we live, our romantic relationships, our extra curricular activities, how we eat, how we expect ourselves to look, and on and on. Back when I was at my lowest point, I think that I was in a bad situation with every single one of those things I mentioned, and I felt absolutely trapped. I gave myself permission to make the decision that would allow me to be Happy, not necessarily the 'socially acceptable' decision. The one where I felt peace. The amazing wonderful thing is that since I've made the tough choices (and continue to do so), and chose daily to live my hearts truth, I've had great responses from the people in my life. It seems that people understand, and often wish they were doing the same thing themselves. The people that don't agree will go willingly and peacefully and move onto the next. First step to changing your life is realizing that You alone are 100% responsible for where you are in your life. The great news following that realization is that you have the power to change your situation whenever you want! So say yes to yourself, make those tough changes and be happy, my friends!
All the best friends!!
Jess
If you're going to decide to be happier in 2013, then you might just have to make some tough choices. It's very common to play the victim and continuously stay in situations because we 'don't have a choice', but the truth is that there is always another choice. Most often, however, we just choose to not give ourselves another option because 'it's not the responsible thing to do' or 'I have bills to pay and a family to feed'. Those statements, true as they may be, are not forcing you to do anything specific in your life. They don't keep you from your ability to listen to your Spirit and dream a brighter and happier future for yourself and your family. The only thing that makes us trapped is our discouraging thoughts about what our souls really want, the dreams we don't let ourselves dream.
If a friendship, for example, makes you miserable and you feel bad every time you are with that person, is it the other person's fault for not being a good friend, or is it your fault for continuing to allow that person to be a bad friend? We choose to stay in the friendship, when maybe it is one that should be ended, not because they are evil, but because it's stopped being a symbiotic relationship (where two people are benefiting). You've heard the saying, "People come and go from our lives..." but sometimes it's hard to actually Let them go. If you're feeling in your gut that you no longer want to spend time with a friend, then let that be acceptable to you and discontinue the friendship. We have no obligation to people, no responsibility to be a life long friend, those expectations are all in our heads and they do not serve us in the long run. Most of the time, if we make the life changes that we really want to make and take care of ourselves (being true to our spirits by always doing what we want, when we want), those parasitic relationships have a way of ending all by themselves. And by the way, doing what you want, when you want is not selfish...it's living your truth! If the people around you are always doing what you want and NOT what they want, then it is their fault for not living Their truth! They hold that responsibility for their lives...
That's only one example! We can make these analysis' on our careers, how much money we expect to earn, the things we own, or owe money for, where we live, our romantic relationships, our extra curricular activities, how we eat, how we expect ourselves to look, and on and on. Back when I was at my lowest point, I think that I was in a bad situation with every single one of those things I mentioned, and I felt absolutely trapped. I gave myself permission to make the decision that would allow me to be Happy, not necessarily the 'socially acceptable' decision. The one where I felt peace. The amazing wonderful thing is that since I've made the tough choices (and continue to do so), and chose daily to live my hearts truth, I've had great responses from the people in my life. It seems that people understand, and often wish they were doing the same thing themselves. The people that don't agree will go willingly and peacefully and move onto the next. First step to changing your life is realizing that You alone are 100% responsible for where you are in your life. The great news following that realization is that you have the power to change your situation whenever you want! So say yes to yourself, make those tough changes and be happy, my friends!
All the best friends!!
Jess
Monday, December 3, 2012
Back to Nature :-)
I've made a new commitment to nature! After a wonderful Sunday trip to Brazos Bend national park, I've decided that I'm going to try to visit the great outdoors at least once a month. By that, I mean get out of town, no traffic noise, no city lights, underneath the big open sky trip back to nature. I'd completely forgotten how calming it is to walk around a hiking trail, and how peaceful it feels to walk barefoot in the grass. I don't think I ever consciously tried to stay away from nature, but I guess in all my bustling city life, I just failed to make time to be in the great outdoors. I liked feeling small and feeling like I fit in as a part of what's natural in this world. It was energizing to see all the animals and hearing their sounds as opposed to the noises of the city and electricity. I felt happy, kind of like a kid again. I was open to amazement and entertainment and I can't wait to go back! When's the last time you went found yourself in nature? If it's been a while, I suggest you take a little trip!
Meet you in the Woods!!
Jess
Meet you in the Woods!!
Jess
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