It seems that many people are in a rush these days, like we live in a ‘fast food’ society of instant gratification. From fast food joints, to driving on the highways where everyone is pushing around the next guy to get ahead, to the instant communication tools we have at our disposal in the form of smart phones, tablets, etc., speed is the name of the game. It even seems as if time is speeding up, which if you ask anyone else if this is the case in their own experience, most would agree so.

Also it seems as if there is a pattern we humans have built up to normalize this constant quickening pace of society and life. We have structured time and our work schedules to accommodate this ‘rush’ and speeding up effect. We have even labeled the term – rush hour, to describe the periods of the day when the demands of traffic and business are at there peak.

I guess there is nothing wrong with getting things done faster, or having faster service. Sometimes faster is better in fact depending on the situation.  I don’t think it is necessarily a question of right or wrong, but more of a question of what and why. More of a question of awareness. What are you sacrificing as you rush through your day if indeed you do? Things to ponder.

As the old saying goes, ‘slow and steady wins the race’ or ‘stop and smell the roses’ is another popular one. Many times we rush to go somewhere or get something done that we forget important things in the course of doing so, and even sometimes have to start over. I’ve done it so many times myself I’ve lost count! It also just seems to me that everyone is in such a rush to get ahead of the next guy, or be the first one to get something done, that our society praises these types of people that do, so its no wonder why it’s the norm.

The other day for example we got hit with a snow storm and I just felt this pressure at one point in the day that I needed to go out and shovel because every one else was doing it, although I didn’t feel quite ready to yet. Maybe it’s just me, but it almost seemed like a race of who was going to get their area shoveled out first. There were people shoveling before the storm was even over. Like I said before, getting ahead is not a bad thing and in a lot of cases can be a good thing. A lot of times we can even miss out if we wait around too long.

So it’s a balance in my opinion. My main point is that we shouldn’t allow others to pressure us into the fast paced rush of the world that is becoming the norm these days. Of course we have to adapt, we all have deadlines and timelines to meet, especially regarding work. The problem lies in when we end up rushing through the things in life that don’t need to be rushed. It starts to affect, and infect all areas of our life.

The quality of our life experiences can take on the form of a blur, where it seems we also miss out. You hear people say it all the time, I can’t wait until… (insert blanket statement). But we end up missing out on the moment and being present when we approach life this way. It seems peoples patience has become shorter as well and many of us just want to rush off on vacation somewhere just so we can slow down and take our time. Maybe we should integrate this type of pace more into our daily lives when possible.

So again awareness is key, and in the rush of the fast paced flavor society has taken on these days, sometimes doing the opposite of what most others are doing and slowing things down can help us tremendously in ways we don’t yet see. So when you can, stop and take a deep breath or a few, take a long look around, smell the air, feel which way the wind is blowing, slow your motions down, take a drive in the slow lane, forget about time, let it all go by you and just observe without judgement.

I think I’ve said it before, but as one of my old martial arts teacher used to say, ‘the slower you go, the faster you’ll be’… I put my own spin on this and say, ‘the slower you go, the more aware you’ll be’.

Sometimes navigating life some days feels like you don’t have all the verbs and the nouns in the sentence, or like you are working with one word that can have a variety of meanings. In short, like you do not have the full context. You do not have all the pieces and are looking for context clues as a source of information to help understand the world in which you are living—what is happening around you and why is it happening.

With so much change going on around you it can be easy to feel out of context with your life, or to start defining yourself by your circumstances. What is the perspective you hold on your life? Do you see yourself as interesting, capable, adventurous, fun, bright, etc., or do you see yourself as struggling and not successful? Which context would serve you best? Do you focus on the content of your life versus the context?

Here’s an example. Often we make (like New Year’s Resolutions) measurable, concrete goals (the content) without the context. Context is the setting for an idea or experience and the way in which it can be fully understood. Context impacts the setting of the content. 

When we talk about making change in our lives this often involves deep reflection, setting intentions and accepting ourselves—but sometimes we miss the context piece. And it can be quite tempting to identify yourself by your circumstances.  So the question that rises to top is how do you shift how you view and define yourself? It should not be by your circumstances or how others define you.

Look closely at how you describe yourself—who you are and how you contribute. This is a big clue to how you see the context of your life. For many of us we identify ourselves by our role, our job, where we live, where we came from, etc.  Taking a fresh approach to describing yourself requires you to look deep inside yourself—how you see yourself, how you feel about your value to others and how you want to contribute to the context of your life.

The good news is that you can cultivate who you want to be. And a first step is to value your individuality. Remember also that you are not your surroundings. You are not your body. You are not your circumstances. As Leo Babauta, Zen Habits, says, “Being different is what makes you who you are. It means you’re daring to live your own life, on your terms, with your values. It means you have courage to stand out from the mainstream. It means you’re interesting. Hug those differences, be grateful for them, own them. Be proud of them.”

“Harper was suddenly overwhelmed with the need to make an impression. She didn’t want to be forgotten, even if it was for all the wrong reasons.” 

~ Elizabeth Craft, Bass Ackwards and Belly Up

 

With change so prominent today many struggle with what is their place in the world and their life—in their job, community, relationships, etc. This often manifests itself in some looking for answers, solutions and direction from others, and the associated behaviors often get misconstrued as being entitled, “owed,” and demanding.

Relevance is defined as the quality of state of being closely connected or appropriate. In a world where the aspirational “American Dream” mentality has essentially trained us to want the “best,” to want instant gratification and service and where household debt is rising, are signs of peoples’ struggle with being relevant.

Some people want “important” titles, promotions and raises. Some want designer clothes, fancy cars and big houses. This list of wants can go on, but these wants and sometimes the sense of entitlement that often accompanies them have their roots in people wanting to be relevant—to be connected, to belong and to be recognized.  People feel lost and untethered and they don’t quite understand why—which leads to external blame, projection and loss of being genuine or true to oneself.  

In a world where institutions set the “rules of the game” and where the masses unconsciously buy into these rules, the values and beliefs of many are derived from unrealistic and unfounded expectations or fear that if they do not follow the rules or meet the expectations they are no longer relevant. Somehow being relevant got blended with one’s purpose, and one’s purpose got viewed through a concocted formula for success and happiness.

In reflecting upon this I started to contemplate how do we transcend this—how do we find our relevance outside of the labels and categories we put upon ourselves that are influenced by others? How do we change our thinking that fulfilling our superficial wants will make us relevant as defined by others?

A first step is to check in with yourself regarding your wants and demands and to explore their origins. What is driving them—is it really a feeling of inequity or injustice?  Do they stem from fear, jealousy or anger? Are they driven by wanting to fit in or to illustrate success?

Next is to examine them from a want and a need perspective. Yes, we all like nice things and to live comfortably, but are you overextending yourself for something that is more a desire vs a necessity?

Being relevant is being grounded in you—in being true to yourself. Your relevancy is already built into you. But there are times we often lose sight of that and when we succumb to the expectations and pressures being promoted by others.

Being relevant is not wrapped up in titles, where one lives, what one does and how much one has.  Being relevant is about being true to the very best that is in you and living your life consistent with your highest values and aspirations.

“At times the whole world seems to be in conspiracy to importune you with emphatic trifles. Friend, client, child, sickness, fear, want, charity, all knock at once at thy closet door and say,—’Come out unto us.’ But keep thy state; come not into their confusion. The power men possess to annoy me I give them by a weak curiosity. No man can come near me but through my act.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Increasingly today we get to choose our distractions. We intentionally choose to check our text messages, email and who is following us or “liked” us on any social media app. For some there is a pleasure in being able to take action and “freeing’ themselves from daily worries, work, boredom and routine. This is one level of personal intentional distraction.

There is another type of intentional distraction that is created and perpetrated by others in which we willingly engage, thinking it is by our own choice and under the guise that we are paying attention—paying attention to something bigger than ourselves, something important, etc.

This art of intentional distraction has been in practice for centuries, if not millennia. Consider this. Distraction is defined essentially as the process of diverting the attention of an individual or group from the desired area of focus and thereby blocking or diminishing the reception of desired information.

There is distraction that is caused by the lack of ability to pay attention or a lack of interest, and then there is distraction of great intensity or attractiveness of something other than the object of attention. This is intentional distraction driven by the elitist-run institutions, ranging from the media, finance, education to governments and international organizations, that is in place to keep us compliant, mindlessly occupied under the illusion that we are doing something or caring about something important or even causing us to doubt ourselves.

These are intentional distractions that are established so that the masses focus on a topic, idea or activity that the “compliance leader” feels supports their mission. The intention of these large scale, institution-driven intentional distractions are essentially to keep us occupied while hidden agendas are driven. These so called leaders do not want all to evolve or change—to ascend—since they believe that they are more entitled to advancement, wealth, success, etc., than what they may consider the average citizen, under the guise that they know what is best for the general population. 

These “leaders” create whole ecosystems of rules, criteria, policies and processes rooted in expectation and fear to keep the “average citizen” out or keep people second-guessing themselves—and sometimes it is done under the veil of entertainment or to keep people safe.

These distractions can take many forms in which most people get entangled.  Think about it—social media, reality TV, smart phones, over-priced sporting events and concerts, over-priced college education—not to mention now fake news, and the list can go on. Some of these “things” become obsessions and some become aspirations. We probably all know of someone who waited in line for hours to get the next i-gadget, who go into extreme debt for higher education to get that dream job, or who want to be like a deemed celebrity, or believe everything of what they hear or read on established news outlets.

Now is the time to wake up and question everything and to examine the distractions in your life and why you are participating in them. Now is the time to question the allure of them. Everything going on today is not what is appears to be. Great change is happening and the power and information brokers, the elitists and those in the institutional establishment want to control the message, to preserve what they believe is their earned right or stature and resist a change where all ascend.

There is a great enlightenment unfolding. We see real-world signs of it everyday—protests, debates, up-risings; discomfort with the establishment; the questioning of duality: and the rise of paradox. It is so important in the midst of this, to center yourself, reflect and to be careful not to get distracted from what is really important to you and your values–and to question everything.

“. . . And we are enabled to apprehend at all what is sublime and noble only by the perpetual instilling and drenching of the reality which surrounds us. The universe constantly and obediently answers to our conceptions; whether we travel fast or slow, the track is laid for us.”

~ Henry David Thoreau, Walden

 

Omnipresence. The concept alone can be overwhelming based on its traditional definition of being present everywhere at the same time.  And we struggle with how to be in multiple places at the same time. It seems elusive since we are overlaying our current perception of literally being physically in many places at the same time.

The other lens through which we view omnipresence is that of mind and emotion, where we want to be wholly in the moment of the mind, body and soul. Simply put to not be distracted and to be in a state of mindfulness where we let thoughts flow in and out of our minds with no judgement.

The concept of omnipresence that I would like to explore with you is the omnipresence of you. We are all divine beings that possess omni-attributes. These are all-knowing, all-powerful and present everywhere. The Universe—you—knows the track laid out, where you have been, where you are and where you are going. 

You know what needs to be done or not done, where to be or not to be, who to be with or not to be with; what feels “right,” or not right for you; and when to take a risk or try something new or not. These are your instincts and they make you all knowing. Plus, all your experiences in this lifetime and others have given you infinite wisdom.

You are all-powerful. You have the power to do—to follow your instincts, make decisions and take action. And you will always be wherever you need to be to put your actions into motion, therefore omnipresent.  We sometimes lose sight of the omni-presence of ourselves since we view ourselves as being restricted to a given place at a given time.

As part of the Universe and being divine you are present everywhere. You are pervasive and infinite. Your mind, body and soul cannot be confined to one place or one time. You are not limited by time and space. You/your energy is constant. It dwells where you have been and with people you have met. The impact of you is forever lasting.

You are completely present in the Universe.  You will draw near to anyone who draws near to you. On your path or track—past, present and future, and all the moments of your daily existence—you are present as if you were nowhere else.

“A bird that fears turbulence will never know how high it can fly.”

― Matshona Dhliwayo

 

When you fly a plane through the clouds, turbulence often occurs. The plane starts trembling and bouncing. You see people grabbing a loved one’s hand or the arm rest, closing their eyes and praying, or even the look of panic comes across their face. But once the aircraft breaks through the clouds or the pilot adjusts the plane’s altitude, sighs of relief are heard and felt.

As a passenger on that plane, especially if the turbulence is more severe, frequent or long lasting, it can be an unnerving, even frightening experience. Thoughts of maybe this is not normal begin to dominate the mind, you feel air sick or you may begin to think the worst.

Many will have enlightened moments during these experiences making commitments to change—to not work so many long hours, to spend more time with friends or family, to take that vacation, work toward well being and a healthier life, to be more in the moment, etc.  But inevitably once the turbulence has passed and the plane has landed safely people resort back to the way they were and often the resolutions, commitments and intentions are left behind.

This happens in everyday life as well. Many times we have a scare, be it personal health situation, a close call driving on the highway, an argument or misunderstanding over which we lose a friend, a sickness or death in the family, a layoff threat at work, etc., that makes us evaluate our lives and how we can be better or change.  But often as time passes and the adrenaline from the scare subsides or as time passes and emotions stabilize, we resort back to old habits, routines and comfort zones and the promises we made to ourselves and even to others disappear.

In times of turbulence in our lives we are making promises to ourselves when we are in distress, when there is noise and even fear.  They are reactionary and therefore are difficult to sustain. Further, it sometimes feels easier to go through your life not being an active participant, to just live in your comfort zone although you are not happy or seem to want to make change or to be driven by the noise and the fear.

It takes effort to truly reflect and understand yourself, including what motivates you and what you really love to do; to accept where you are now and to envision where you would like to be; to let go of the past and the people or things that are not working in your life; and to be clear on your intentions.

In the moment of turbulence there are moments of clarity and the commitments and promises you make to yourself are meaningful and true. They present to you what is important to you and provide you insight into the change you would like to make in your life.  But all too often we think there will be other opportunities or time to keep those promises or at least work towards them.  At best we keep them on a to-do list and at worst we let them fade away.

Turbulence in our lives—although most often not life threatening—is normal but more so it is a wake up call or reminder to pay attention to you, your life and to be an active participant in your life. They bring with them experiences that call upon you to reflect and to sort through emotions. They challenge you to live your life and experience some of the choices you have been making, and to make course corrections. They help you see the power in your abilities, to break cycles and evolve.

Embrace turbulence, but when the dust has settled and calm seems to have been restored, remember your moments of clarity during the turbulent times and put them into thoughts, words and action.

“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” 

― Jalaluddin Rumi

 

Sometimes in our lives we need to let ourselves collapse into immobilization as part of our natural healing process. Letting yourself become immobilized is an important step in the healing process, be it from a physical injury, an emotional hurt or both.

After an injury or sickness or a frightening, disturbing, upsetting or traumatic experience, the mind and body need time to rest and recover, and it is best to allow this process to unfold uninterrupted.  The amount of time will be different for everyone. You need not compare yourself to others or put undue pressure and timelines on yourself.

Through this time of immobilization you do need to be kind to yourself and remove any thoughts steeped in should haves, ifs, and or buts. Replaying over and over in your head scenarios with different outcomes or what you did or did not do to cause the situation in a mindset fueled by low vibrating energies and emotions will hinder the ability for you to move forward. 

An immobilization period does help protect you as you heal, and provides you with time to reflect and do energetic grounding. Energetic grounding will help you get in touch with your body and your emotions.  It will help loosen the tight and constricted muscles and clear your mind.  It will help the energy flow more freely through your body.

When you are in your immobilization period it is important to know what you want as an outcome and to set your intentions.  It is best to let the wisdom of your brain and the power of your body set the direction for your recovery and healing.  With this it is so important to listen to your mind, body and soul. It is important to remove the noise and distractions and to focus on your healing and envisioning yourself healthy and strong.

Through this process your mind and body need to go where they need to go.  Do not let an inner voice of doubt, fear or uncertainty dissuade this.  It is also wise not to let external influences or expectations of others interfere with your healing process.

As your mind and body recover there will be times that, yes, you will need to push yourself through feelings of frustration, sadness and pain.  But you do have inner strength to do this, guided by your angels and the Universe. Never lose sight that you are here to experience, to learn, to grow and evolve.  Sometimes our paths are not easy and hurdles are put in front of us, but so are horizons.

In watching President Obama’s farewell speech this past Tuesday, he made a statement of “. . . that change only happens when ordinary people get involved, and they get engaged, and they come together to demand it.” That one statement referring to ordinary people struck me as odd and troublesome since ordinary means for the most part with no special or distinctive features.

The use of ordinary to essentially describe a population or community of people that can do great things seemed misplaced.  I am not commenting on the speech or the President, but more so on how what seems like benign use of words or carefully chosen words can reinforce beliefs that we are ordinary or lesser than others, and in this particular case that it is inspiring to be ordinary because even ordinary people can do good or extraordinary things.

Aren’t we all extraordinary? Do not each of us bring unique talents, gifts, perspectives and experiences to the communities in which we live and to the world? Agreeing that you are ordinary is denying the gifts that are uniquely yours. Labeling yourself as ordinary diminishes you, and having others in what some might say are in positions of power or leadership labeling you as ordinary seems like a power-broker move. 

No one walking on this earth today is ordinary. Far too often we lose sight of the remarkable beings we are and the energy and power within ourselves to create not only great lives for ourselves but for the world around us. I think many today often resign themselves to mediocrity, unconsciously going about their days and not being in the moments of their days because they believe they are ordinary or listen to an inner voice that is caught up in fear or doubt.

Many believe that the “great ones” among us—in art, politics, business, etc.—are different, better, special, extraordinary, and either strive to be like them or think we can never realize that level of extraordinary. The truth is each one of us is special and extraordinary. We all have great purpose, and amazing potential. We all have authentic power to impact many, and we have the ability to break through doubt, fear and excuses.

So do not let anyone, including yourself, refer to you as ordinary. Thinking, believing and acting that you are ordinary limits you and your ability to make change and to be a creator.  Remember, the words we use have a staggering power to create our reality. I am not ordinary, and neither are you!