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The Third Step -- REFLECTING -- takes conscious awareness of the flow in and around us. Often our attention is focused on our own "needs" and we are unaware of our relationships. While driving a car, conscious awareness helps us blend the speed of the car, the winding road just ahead, the ice and rocky condition of the road, and the on-coming traffic into a coherent picture. Now we can flow safely on our way.
We are constantly sending out thought waves, electromagnetic currents and emotional signals. At the same time we are receiving like emanations from everything around us. Whatever we send out is reflected back to us. "Reflecting" requires more than focused attention. It requires conscious awareness of our surrounding relationships (physical, emotional, social, and spiritual). In order for our life to flow on a daily basis, two things are needed. First, a sense of direction or purpose that gives us a reason for living. We must structure our goals, making sure long term and short term goals are attainable, clear, and not conflicting. By breaking the journey into small segments, we can celebrate victory many times each day. The second necessity is to make feedback adjustments. As we study the flow, we see what is working and what is leading us away from our goal. To flow, we must be fluid and flexible...willing to make necessary changes. Don't expect others to do all the changing. Remember, the road is still uphill and winding (for growth), whether we like it or not. Work to set up a Win-Win situation (cooperation not competition). One other word about reflecting...reflect upon your own Inner-Chatter and discover the distortions in your old belief systems. You are the driver and need a mental and emotional road map that is up-to-date (not filled with outdated doodlings from your childhood). Enjoy the ride. The trip is everything! Wherever ... whenever we find our destination ("Heaven") it will be found in the Now. So Many Thanks, Ben Rumbaugh The Second Step -- SURROUNDING -- gives us the energy needed to live a "Heavenly" life. Imagine a glowing white light surrounding you, filling you, and protecting you from all harm. This embracing light warms you, lifts your spirits, and gently pushes you into fellowship with others. What is the secret of the light? It is the power of Love. Surround yourself with total acceptance without judgment. Your Creator has this love for you, just as you are...in this moment.
As you learn to surround yourself with this unconditional love, you accept yourself and no longer need psychological masks to protect your fragile ego (self-esteem). Now you can be authentic...show the real "YOU"...reflecting the image of your Creator in your own unique way. As you warm up to love, you can reflect the light of love to those around you. Being protected by God's unconditional acceptance of you, you can love yourself (and others) and be ready for the challenges this day may bring. This is the freedom of love (Heavenly energy??) The first step -- RELEASING -- is the most difficult. Everything we have learned (tape recorded) in the past is available to make us (or break us) in this moment of time. The past projected into the future can create a crippling mind-set of fear (again in the present moment). By learning the art of releasing, we open ourselves to enjoy living in the eternal NOW (Heaven perhaps??)
Begin by releasing all expectations. Not dreams, but the judgments we make of ourselves and others. Throw away the labels and condemnations we place on people and situations. Stop blaming...get rid of the "Should's" and "Ought to's." And above all, don't expect people, power or possessions to make you happy (is "Happy" another word for "Heaven"?). To make your dreams come true, do what you can today, and release the results. In the NOW, we must release the fears of the future. This becomes easy when we let go of our expectations. As we learn to take responsibility for the present; moment, we find the future is not so threatening. The final releasing deals with the past. As we release the hurts held captive in our memory, we experience the cleansing power of forgiveness (letting those who have abused us off the hook). As we release the painful memories from the past, we must also deal with our feelings of guilt. Make amends when you can, but always keep a forgiving spirit Forgive Yourself. It is only in the present ;moment that we can be healed. The wisdom of the ages becomes clearer when you see how those who share that wisdom live this lives. My Dad was indeed one of the kindest and wisest men that has been alive. You can look at his life, his loyalty, his honor, his love and you can see that his wisdom is worth taking an honest look at to see if you want to apply it to your own journey.
I recently discovered some of his writings and want to share them with you as the life he lives proved his genius. We will start here HOW TO GO TO HEAVEN WITHOUT DYING BY Ben Rumbaugh Sounds impossible doesn't it? We all hope to go to heaven...and everybody dies. Where's the shortcut? Why can't we go to heaven without dying? We carelessly throw words around, with little sense of what we mean. "Heaven" is one of those words. Maybe a better question would be "Can we go to 'Heaven' without really Living?" -- Or is "heaven" any state where we experience the thrill of being "alive?" Someone has said that we forget what we have been taught, and only remember what we have learned. Maybe we can learn how to really "live"...instead of letting our life be shaped by our fear of dying. It may be easier than we think. To enjoy living in NOW, we need to learn to do three things. Key words for these steps are: (1) Releasing, (2) Surrounding, and (3) Reflecting. Notice the "ing" (present participle) endings. This brings action into the present moment, continuous action. Really living is not something you can get perfected once, and then forget it. There are lapses in our "Togetherness," but the constant drive of life propels us into a sea of constantly shifting currents. We must learn to keep on releasing, surrounding, and reflecting. |