Pushin' Thru the Shit!

A drop of water on a hot plate takes little time to disappear. It makes some noise and it evaporates.Gratitude in our life seems to disappear even faster. We seem to forget how much we have grown, how much we have received. The mind seeks more and more. And in every wanting of more and more, it forgets the past very easily.So gratitude arises in everybody, but disappears very soon. Today we cannot say that no one is grateful. Everyone is grateful, but for the moment and then it is finished.
Grace is that gratitude which can remain all the time. It is like the snow in the Himalayas that stays throughout the year. It doesn’t just fall and disappear. Whatever falls on the highest peak stays. When there is gratitude, complaints disappear.
 When complaints arise, gratitude disappears, gratefulness disappears. When there is a complaint in the mind, there is discontent, frustration, dejections, depression. All that follows. If you are not grateful, then you will start complaining. You will find fault. Even if there is none, you will try to see it. You will find it. Your mind will do it for you. You won’t even need to try hard. Your mind can easily pick it up. This is the lower journey. Gratitude is the plateau, the middle. And as you rise above that, there is grace. 
When gratitude in you stays, that very gratitude flows out of you as grace. Wherever you see divine grace flowing, there you will find gratitude.
Just relax and be confident at all times. But at the same time, also be wise and practical. You should not think, “Oh! I have abundance of Grace in my life”, and then put your hand in a burning fire. If you do so then naturally your hands will get burnt. Being confident (of Grace) does not in any way mean losing awareness and being impractical. Also, feeling secure and confident should not make you passive and lethargic in life that you end up doing nothing. You should not become irresponsible. Do your job sincerely and attend to all your duties and responsibilities wholeheartedly. Leave the rest to God with faith.

My daddy used to say, “Shannon, what they think of me is none of my business.” I remember feeling slightly appalled, thinking, “You should care what they think. You should care what I think. Isn’t that a sign of love and respect?” 
Fast forward to today. I get it. And while I do care about what others think, and always strive to create more connected relationships of mutual understanding and love – I also understand that we can get caught up pretty quickly, in a web of mistruth that’s generated by our own stinkin’ thinkin’ – based on what you THINK THEY THINK. (Generated from our own un-worth no doubt!)
This can be dangerous. If you paid attention – you could have a running conversation in your own mind about what you “think they think” all day long. Constantly adjusting your behavior, choices and words to accommodate for the world. Constantly in a state of lack and not enough-ness. Constantly staying small out of fear of what they might think about you. Not taking action on what needs acting upon, in fear of what the world might think of you. 
Here’s the problem with that. Not only is it exhausting – not only does it detract from your wholeness and your connection to your Inner Being – what you “think they think” is based on assumptions. What you think people think is that your business? And can you know for sure? 
(Hmm. Probably not.) 
Sure. I honor my hunches, my intuitions, and certainly, when I get non-verbal cues from others. And sometimes, you have to just know what you know. There is plenty of room for that – and deeply trusting yourself. 
But this is different. I’m asking you to address your negative chatter. There tends to be a lot of chatter in our heads about what “we think they think” that depreciates us and sabotages our creation efforts. Can you feel it? 
Here’s the truth. More often than not it’s an indicator of what we think about ourselves. We are really good at projecting how we feel about ourselves in the world. And trust me, I’ve been a professional at this in my life so you’re not alone. I continue to work on releasing my assumptions, my thoughts and my chatter that carries on in my head – that’s really not at all about the rest of the world. It’s all about ME. 
I suggest you own it. Own your imperfection here. We’ve all got it. We are all coming home to who it is we are.
So, how about this – instead of making assumptions on what you think they think or what they might think – how about checking it out? Can you really know, for sure, what they think? And even if you did, (or they actually told you) would you take it on as a shortcoming, or could you use it as feedback to create a shift and stand in your power as a creator?
Unless you ask, can you know what you “think they think” is true? Nope. So, don’t let it run you and get in the way of your pristine vibration. You are LOVE after. 
WORK IT OUT:

Write this: Truth be told, I think people/he/she thinks XYZ about me. (One word will do.) Today, I choose to release “what I think others think,” my own negative chatter – and be conscious about these thought patterns. I’m choosing a MUCH more loving thoughts about myself in this red hot second. Here it is… XYZ.

When someone blames you, what do you usually do? Blame them back or you put up resistance in yourself.
When someone blames you, they actually take away some negative karma from you. If you understand this and don’t put up resistance and feel happy about it, then you drop your resistance. “Oh, good. That person is blaming me. Good. Something is going away.” And when you drop the resistance, your karma goes away. Do you see what I’m saying? 
 So when someone blames you and you put up resistance in your mind, and you don’t react, then you are not allowing them to take the negative karma. Outside you may resist, but inside if you don’t resist, and feel happy, “Oh, good, somebody is there to blame me and take some negative karma,” you will feel immediately lighter.
 How does it feel to you when someone blames you? Do you feel some heaviness? Usually, when someone blames you, you feel hurt and you feel unhappy, you feel sad. This is all because you’re . . . resisting. That is it. What you resist, persists. The ignorant person tells someone, “Don’t blame me because it hurts me.”
 An enlightened person also says “Don’t blame me.” Do you know why? Because it might hurt you. This is a beautiful point. What are the points? You get hurt because you resist the blame. When someone blames you, you resist it inside. Outside you may not resist, but inside when you resist, then that hurts you.
 An ignorant person warns you, “You better not hurt me, you better not blame me because I will feel hurt.” Someone warns you not to blame them because it will hurt them and they’ll do something harmful to you out of revenge.
 An enlightened person says “Don’t blame me because it will hurt you.” So here you say, don’t blame me because of compassion. You can tell someone, don’t blame me out of compassion, or you can say it out anger. Either way, what you resist, persists!

Emily Dickenson said, “I dwell in possibility.” 
Do you know what I love about that quote? The word DWELL. 

It’s not about considering, entertaining, or amusing yourself with possibilities – it’s about dwelling in them. Living in them. Breathing them. Basking in them. Immersing yourself in what is  possible from a place of deep knowing-ness that it will be. 
Fall into this “dwelling place” for a moment. There is no separation between you and possibility. You BECOME it. You ARE possibility when you dwell.
And like all thoughts, feelings and focus – this is a choice. In choosing that, you can transform your vibration, your energy, and attract back to you the possibility and intentions that you desire. Emily was brilliant. Dwelling in possibility is like golden manifestation fuel for the process. 
Here’s the thing – we’ve been told and taught not to dwell, literally. They say, “Stop dwelling on that!” It’s often associated with what we “shouldn’t do.” 
Well, it’s time to make a new association with the word DWELL. 

So, focus on your heart for a moment and find that very special place. You know the one. The place where your dreams have dwelled. You might visit every day, or you may not visit often enough; either way I want you to focus on it, notice the energy here, and then without hesitation, invite your whole self to it. 

What do you see? What lives here? What’s it like to have your WHOLE self here? To detach and just BE in this space? 

It was one of those voicemails that left me rubbing the sides of my head wondering, “Why me? Why today?” I was blindsided by the criticism and felt this would be the perfect time to find a hole and crawl into it.
Criticism hurts. No matter who you are, how many people are encouraging you, and how happy you felt before you got “that call” or “that email,” one drop of critical yuck spreads fast and furious.
Oh how I wish I had a little “criticism antidote” to make it all better. I don’t. But I do have a little sermonette I preach to myself when criticized.
When someone criticizes, I’ve got to quickly discern if they are trying to help me or hurt me.
No criticism is fun, but it can be helpful if it is from a TRULY, HONESTLY wise person speaking words that are TRULY  intended to help us. Proverbs 15:2a says, “The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge …” To me, a wise person is someone who:

• Cares enough about me to get their facts straight and isn’t speaking out of assumption.

• Has talked to God and reflects a gentle, caring tone in their communication.

• And wraps their criticism with grace and humility.

This kind of criticism is given with the intent of sharing helpful wisdom that is constructive rather destructive.
If the criticism is destructive and hurtful, I must remember the second part of Proverbs 15:2b, “… but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.” The definition of folly is a “lack of understanding or sense.”  
We need to remember this kind of harsh and unnecessary criticism says a lot more about their insecurities than our inadequacies.
We can’t fix whatever hurt caused them to lash out. But we can decide to stay calm and not compound the hurt. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1 NIV)
No matter what kind of criticism we get—helpful or hurtful—it still stings. And we might not feel like being calm at first. When I returned the call that left my heart racing and my head pounding, I didn’t feel like being calm. I had to choose to be calm despite my feelings. I’m learning that staying calm is as much of a gift to myself as it is to the one criticizing me. God is not a God of condemnation and criticism. A prayer I pray since several tongue lashings, Teach me to hold my tongue and trust in You when I am hurt by those around me. I want to be able to take the criticism that is helpful and leave the criticism that is hurtful, but I know that only through You can I do this without the weight of condemnation. Thank You for Your gentle conviction and patience with me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Beliefs are powerful. In fact – what you create in your life experience is largely based on what you believe. Why? Because you’ve got thoughts and emotions associated with the belief. That’s it. 
Have a belief that “money is the root of all evil?” Well, you’ve got a myriad of thoughts and emotions about that very belief – and as you think them – and cast out those resonating thoughts to the Universe, they are delivered back to you in some way. (Even in the form of similar thoughts!) As you know like attracts like. It’s basic law of attraction. 

Here’s an exercise. For a moment, think about every belief there could ever be – in yourself, within your loved ones, friends, family. Now extend that to the face of this planet. And now the Universe? Yes, contemplate it all. 

Imagine ALL the beliefs, and systems of beliefs there could ever be thought. 

Who’s right? What’s truth? Could it be nothing is true? Could it be everything is true? 

 If you step outside your own mind for just a moment, and look at the millions of possible thoughts, truths and belief systems – you might just find something that serves you. Think that thought. Assume that belief. You get to choose. 

I love this quote:

“Believe nothing. No matter where you read it, or who said it, even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” -Buddha

This is your work today. Believe nothing. And, I want you to notice that everything is just a belief. It serves you, or it doesn’t. 

What comes up for you? How does that feel when I utter this belief? Does it serve you? Does it free you? Is it scary? Or, is it a match to your limitlessness? 

Beliefs are powerful. In fact – what you create in your life experience is largely based on what you believe. Why? Because you’ve got thoughts and emotions associated with the belief. That’s it. 
Have a belief that “money is the root of all evil?” Well, you’ve got a myriad of thoughts and emotions about that very belief – and as you think them – and cast out those resonating thoughts to the Universe, they are delivered back to you in some way. (Even in the form of similar thoughts!) As you know like attracts like. It’s basic law of attraction. 
Here’s an exercise. For a moment, think about every belief there could ever be – in yourself, within your loved ones, friends, family. Now extend that to the face of this planet. And now the Universe? Yes, contemplate it all. 
Imagine ALL the beliefs, and systems of beliefs there could ever be thought. 
Who’s right? What’s truth? Could it be nothing is true? Could it be everything is true? 
 If you step outside your own mind for just a moment, and look at the millions of possible thoughts, truths and belief systems – you might just find something that serves you. Think that thought. Assume that belief. You get to choose. 
I love this quote:

“Believe nothing. No matter where you read it, or who said it, even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” -Buddha
This is your work today. Believe nothing. And, I want you to notice that everything is just a belief. It serves you, or it doesn’t. 
What comes up for you? How does that feel when I utter this belief? Does it serve you? Does it free you? Is it scary? Or, is it a match to your limitlessness? 

Time is like a river. You will never touch the same water twice because that flow has already passed. So enjoy every moment of your life. 

In Japanese culture, yugen is “a profound experience of the Universe that triggers an inexplicably deep emotional response too mysterious for words.” I dig yugen moments. When you find yourself speechless, vibrating and ONE with the heartbeat of the Universe. When nothing is more beautiful. When you are awestruck and blissed out and in deep appreciation, all at the same time. 
We’ve all had moments of YUGEN. I believe there are two kinds. The ones that take you by surprise, and the ones you choose. Yep, I think you can choose a yugen moment. A yugen life for that matter. The questions are – what are you willing to allow in? Where’s your focus? What are you willing to notice?
Today – notice, allow, expect and create a little yugen. And being in yugen, deserves a little writing rampage, so do it on the forum or in your journal.Start like this, or create your version: Today, I created a little yugen. It went like this. (And describe your yugen moment!!) (Feel stretched? Good. Go for it, don’t hold back.)

Choose to be vulnerable. Contrary to the popular belief that it’s filled with risk and uncertainty – vulnerability is powerful. Sure, you can spin vulnerability to mean RISK. But wouldn’t you rather have it open a window to the greatest love you’ll ever know, each and every day? That’s what you’re in for. What is the energy and true essence behind vulnerability? Feel into this. 

Vulnerability is a sacred choice to be honest, open and trusting. Intimate and gentle. Aware. Willing. Courageous. Unprotected, and in the same breath never apart from the most sacred, divine protection you’ve ever known. It’s knowing that pain, fear, and uncertainty are just experiences. Only through authentic vulnerability do we have the opportunity to move through it. 

It’s to feel unworthy, and be vulnerable enough to see just how worthy of it all you really are. And then some.To be vulnerable is to let go of control, and when you do realize that true emotional and creative control LIVES in your willingness to be vulnerable. 

It means to be in the heart. To release resistance. To release the blocks, the barriers, the mistruths, the lies, and come home to you. Now. Get with yourself for a moment, take a deep breath and say this: “I choose vulnerability. It’s beautiful. It’s okay. And I am divinely safe.” 

What might that look like in your life, today, in this moment, if you were vulnerable? What if you consciously chose to be vulnerable? What would you think, feel, be, or do? How powerful would you really be? 
Follow your guidance here and be VULNERABLE. And as Abraham Hicks would say, “There is great love here for you.” And it’s true.