MUSE-INGS: There is hope for humanity! by Rosemary Bredeson

January 18, 2011 — Rosemary

If we can all bring our focus away from what divides us and, instead, work with the energies that unite us, we can solve the problems of humanity.

The evolutionary spirit of human beings depends upon an understanding of the connectedness of all Life.  The evolutionary process did not stop when a man chose to walk upright on 2 legs, or when the hairy beast lost some fur.  We continue to evolve and the Heart-Mind Center that is appearing in Conscious Humans is another sign that evolution is still at work on the species.

We NEED this evolutionary change at this time!  We need to figure out some new ways of being because a lot of the old ways no long work in the 21st Century world we live in.  The only important question is, Are you willing to evolve or are you struggling to hold on to the old ways of being?

How wonderful that we are being given a new energy center to help us in this process.  How kind of the Universe to help us along.  Are you willing to work to develop this energy center in yourself?  What does that entail?

Loving yourself is the first step.  Take care of yourself – body, mind, spirit, energy.  Many people are going to the gym but how many are going inside and meditating?  Many people are studying or delving deeply into intellectual topics but how many are expanding their spiritual understandings?

Loving yourself isn’t just about taking a spa vacation or taking time to be entertained.  There is an active quality about loving yourself that requires that you continually move in the direction of your highest good.  What stretches you to greater spiritual understanding?  What increases the Love in you that can radiate outwardly to others?  How can you come to a better understanding of the concept that All are One?  Do you ever wrestle with questions like these?  Do you have others with whom you can explore these ideas?

It is time to find community, a tribe, a collection of people who, like you, are explorers in the realm of Consciousness and who are open to learning that previously held ideas may no longer be valid.  Do you sometimes feel that you are the only one in your community who holds ideas that are considered heretical by some?  You are not alone even if it feels that way.

Humanity is waking up.  Eyes are being opened.  Hearts are reaching out for a purer vibration of Love.  Minds are questioning longtime notions that seem to have served their purpose and no longer apply to the 21st Century world.  Every time you start to question something you or others once believed, you are joined by others who are also questing after new knowledge.  The Heart-Mind Center is the point of connection between you.  Play with this concept and explore.  Find someone to ask who can explore with you.

All are One.  Every question in you is also in others.  Find them.

And remember that you cannot shut down your evolving Heart-Mind Center.  If you are part of this community and are reading these words, then the time for you to evolve is upon you.  Reach for your highest good in all things.  Many of us are reaching with you and for you.  You are supported.  The changes that are coming will be good for you if you keep your focus on growth.

All are One.  You are never alone for that would be a violation of the Law of Nature that All are One.  Take my hand and together we can walk forward and upright.  Then we can reach out for other hands to bring them along with us.

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BOOK LIGHTS: from “The Prophet’s Way: A Guide to Living in the Now” by Thom Hartmann

January 12, 2011 — Rosemary

“Try it for a day or two: notice the world in the now.  Whenever you notice that your thoughts have dragged you off into a not-now-world, use that as a reminder to look around, listen to the world, and feel the presence of here and now.  And in that moment, try saying, “Thank you.”
It sounds simple, but is not; this is a very difficult teaching.  It’s also – perhaps because of its difficulty – extraordinarily powerful.”

from The Prophet’s Way:
A Guide to Living in the Now
 by Thom Hartmann

This is a great exercise to help us stay focused on the Now and to let go of that which distorts our vision, our dirty lens.  Feel the richness of  ‘here and now’ and revel in The Light!

Rosemary

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MUSE-INGS: What are your ‘old pajamas’? by Rosemary Bredeson

January 11, 2011 — Rosemary

That dirty lens can really distort what we see!

So many of our experiences seem to hang around with us.  Have you ever talked to someone who was clinging to some story from the past, telling it over and over but never seeming to be able to move beyond it?  I think some people in support groups like to tell their story over and over because it allows them to continue to think of themselves as a victim and they don’t see their way clearly beyond that state.

Or do you know someone who is ‘not talking to’ someone else because of something that happened years or even decades ago?  And isn’t it laughable when they can’t even remember exactly why they made that decision but they’re sticking to it?  We trip ourselves up this way all the time.  We cling to something from the past until it is like a pair of old pajamas, comfy but probably so ragged it should be relegated to the rag pile.

Why are we so ready to stay with the comfort of the familiar even when it isn’t truly that comfortable?  We do it all the time.  We choose the familiar when we have a choice because we know what it feels like and the ‘new’ has an unknown quality about it that might be worse than what we know.  How are you doing this in your Life today?  What is the ‘old pajamas’ in your Life that you are holding onto beyond its useful time?

In a literal sense, mine is an old [at least 25 years old!] Redskins nightshirt.  You can probably read the New York Times through it but it’s my comfort choice.  What’s your metaphorical Redskins nightshirt?

When I work with some clients, they are amazed at the ideas that are clouding the lens through which they are looking at Life.  We make decisions about what to believe when we are little children and those decisions continue to shape the way we see ourselves and our lives.  We relate to our families and friends and co-workers and we take in, at an unconscious level, what we perceive to be their attitudes toward us.  We may not even be correct in these assessments but we make decisions based on these mind-reads and they continue to have an emotional impact on us.  And we do not understand what is going on at the level of the unconscious mind if we don’t shine a light there and examine it.

Spend some time asking yourself if you have any ‘old pajamas’ in your Life.  What are you clinging to, what story or belief or thought about yourself, are you holding onto because it is familiar, even though it may not be in your highest good to continue to hold it?  The answer can be startling.  I’ve seen people remember something that happened when they were 5 or 7 or 11 that has colored how they see themselves since that time but they were unaware of that influence.  You might have relationship or business or spiritual issues that are stemming from some belief that you have held in your unconscious mind for most of your Life that you didn’t realize was at work on your emotions and your decisions in the present day.

Take a look around the closet of your mind and decide what you are ready to relegate to the rag pile.  Get some help with this if you need it.  ‘Old pajamas’ don’t need to be the only ones you wear!

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BOOK LIGHTS: from “You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself” by Harry Beckwith & Christine Clifford Beckwith

January 5, 2011 — Rosemary

“A life in marketing confirms the wisdom of to thine own self be true.  Ultimately, it will feel more comfortable for you; you don’t have to think about how you want to be seen.  Being authentic works better for you, too: you earn trust and comfort, the keys to enduring relationships.”

from You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself
 by Harry Beckwith & Christine Clifford Beckwith

Are you being your authentic self?  Do you even know who that is?  Answer the ‘Who Am I?’ question for yourself and then you can BE that essence in all your relationships!

Rosemary

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MUSE-INGS: “Who Am I, Really?” by Rosemary Bredeson

January 4, 2011 — Rosemary

What a great exercise this is!  It is so easy to get disconnected from our essential self in our busy lives.  We move through the days without understanding motivations or deeper meanings and then we’re exhausted and only interested in getting enough rest to tackle another tiring day tomorrow.  But how important it is to hit the pause button in Life sometimes, to take a break from the running around, the supercharged and busy life that has us moving on only 2 speed options: full speed ahead or full stop.  Maybe the most important thing we can learn in these busy days is to take time to pause.

So how will you take the suggestion in the message today and apply it in your life?  Will you take time to do the exercise and get in touch with your essence?  Do you have some other method that you use to do exercises like this?

I don’t think the methodology is as important as the commitment to Self to take time to go inside and see what we find.  I had a major insight in a class where I was doing a mandala exercise, drawing something in a blank circle.  I looked at the circle on the paper and ‘saw’ the image of a pyramid that extended beyond the edge of the circle.  I colored outside the lines for the first time in my life!  It was tremendously freeing to give myself permission to do this.  To you this might be funny as you’ve always done this, but to someone who has always been a ‘color inside the lines’ kind of person, this is huge!

Some people start journaling and find that their hand almost has a mind of its own as it writes things that were never before revealed or disclosed on paper.  Others find art exercises or walks in nature or meditation experiences that unveil previously hidden parts of Self and create their own ‘aha’ moments.  What is your favorite way to gain insights into yourself?

Whatever method or methods you decide to use, make a choice today to give yourself some time for inner work, self reflection, in the near future.  Find the time, commit the time, make the arrangements and then keep that commitment.  You will be richly rewarded for doing an exercise in getting in touch with your essence.

And this is not something that you just do once.  Commit to doing this more than once.  What frequency feels good to you?  Is this something you want to do once a week for awhile?  Every day?  Once a month on the Full or New Moon?  Ask yourself what feels most beneficial for you and then put the time on your calendar and allow yourself to follow through.

What other questions would you like to ask?  These exercises often lead us to asking other questions when we feel as if we are stuck or are hitting a wall.  When you feel something going on ask yourself, ‘What is behind this?’ and then ‘What is behind this?’ again until you feel that you have reached the real center point.

In tense situations the question might be, ‘What is this?’  Keep asking the same question until the energy shifts.

Come up with your own process, your own questions, and see what happens.  All you need is a few moments of your time and a curious mind/heart.

‘Who Am I?’ is a good place to start!

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MUSE-INGS: You’re #1 [Priority!] by Rosemary Bredeson

December 28, 2010 — Rosemary

How often do we hear that we are supposed to love ourselves?  And how often do we NEED to hear it?

When we get really busy, around holidays or our work’s busy season, for example, we tend to put taking care of ourselves on the back burner.  For whatever reason, and we can certainly come up with some good excuses, we just don’t get around to that ‘taking care of ourselves’ stuff!

So today I am going to ask you to join me in moving forward in the commitment to put taking care of Self at the top of the priority list.

Do you make lists?  To-do lists?  Shopping lists?  Gift lists?  Who determines the priorities on those lists?  From my studies of neuro-linguistic programming and hypnosis I’ve learned that our unconscious mind is in charge, whether we know it or not and whether we like it or not.  We can write a list of priorities that look the way we consciously want them to look or as we feel we ‘should’ prioritize our values, but it really is more important to determine what really matters and what really motivates us.  The list might look different, and usually does, when we work with our unconscious mind to determine our values and our priorities.

So what can you do to make sure that loving yourself makes it to the top of your priority list?  Decide.  Commit to yourself.  And do the work to examine your unconscious mind and its priorities.  Keep track of your activities one day.  Watch how you spend your time.  What is so urgent that it bumps other things off your to-do list?  See if you can put something on the list that is only about taking care of yourself. Does it get done?  Does it stay on the list or does it get pushed aside by emergencies?  Just notice.  This is not about beating yourself up but about becoming curious about exactly where your motivating forces reside within you.

Now try scheduling that ‘me time’ that you need.  What would you do with an hour, a half-hour, 15-minutes of ‘me time’?  Make an appointment with yourself for this and keep that time sacred.  It could start with a simple 5-minute meditation or a walk around the block or 15 minutes without answering emails or the phone.  I frequently take ‘tea time’ for myself.  I make myself tea and get a piece of fruit or a graham cracker and sit with a book and sip tea.  I don’t jump up to answer the phone.  I step away from the computer.  I’ve learned that everything that tries to intrude on my ‘tea time’ can wait a half-hour to be handled.

It might take some practice to ignore a ringing phone, but we do have caller ID now so, if it is an emergency you can probably detect it.  You can set certain times each day that you check email and facebook and keep to that schedule so that those activities are not eating up your ‘me time.’  What activity really feeds your spirit?  Do you like to write or read or play piano or make jewelry?  I like to do all of these things and sometimes I just need to go to the piano and play one song to give myself a break from pondering a problem or getting things done.  It’s like a meditation to get lost in the music for a few minutes.

Decide what feels good to you and then do it no matter what else tries to claim your attention or your time.  You’ll find that the energy you gain from taking time for yourself makes you more productive in your other activities.  If you break away from doing for others for a bit you can be more fully present to them when you move back into that shared space.

Let’s make Self-Love a priority and do the work it takes to keep it at the top of the list!

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BOOK LIGHTS: from “A Rake’s Guide to Seduction” by Caroline Linden

December 22, 2010 — Rosemary

“Too often, regrets spring from the things one could have done but didn’t, and the chance that those actions might have led to success.”

from A Rake’s Guide to Seduction
by Caroline Linden

Who would have thought that a little regency romance novel would contain this pearl of wisdom?  But how often do we focus on regrets and what might have been rather than learn the lesson available and vow to make different, more informed choices if that situation arises again?  Remember to learn the lesson without judging yourself, and without regrets!

Rosemary

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MUSE-INGS: “Seek the Light in the Dark Feelings” by Rosemary Bredeson

December 21, 2010 — Rosemary

Sadness?  Grief?  Loss?  Who wants to think about those things?

But, if we are committed to living a Conscious Life, then we must be aware of our feelings for they do represent important guidance for us along the path of personal growth.  How comfortable are you with those feelings in yourself? How about in another person?  Is it hard for you to experience another’s grief or sadness and really be present to them when they are feeling those feelings?

I know it can be hard to stay with what is uncomfortable but that great growth is the blessing in learning to do this.  There is always Light on the other side of that which appears to be darkness.  The Light is in there somewhere.  Searching for the Light requires that sometimes we must make peace with the darkness.  It is like allowing your eyes to become adjusted to the lack of light in a room. Once you have adapted, you can see far more than you could see initially.

It’s the same with feelings that we might be tempted to judge as ‘dark.’  When you stay with that feeling, keeping your eyes open and seeking what is available within the feeling to help you grow, you will become immersed enough for your vision to clear and show you the lesson.

A good friend will be present with you when you are feeling these feelings.  A really good friend will hold you in a healing space and help you to stay in the feeling long enough to learn the lesson.  The temptation to joke or lighten up the mood takes us away from the honesty of what we are feeling.  And honesty is the necessary quality in order that we might go deeply enough into our feeling to learn the lesson that lies there.

Can you give yourself permission to be honest with yourself?  Can you suspend judging yourself and those around you for feeling what feelings are coming up?  Learning to recognize feelings and to work with them becomes a part of the process of personal growth.  A very important part.

Feelings emerge from a place deep within us.  Often feelings look as if they are about something going on around us at a particular time.  But sometimes those feelings are attached to something from the past and we are fooled into thinking that they belong in the present moment.  If you have suffered a hurt in the past and something arises that brings up that past hurt, you might be tempted to react as if the past and the present events have merged into one.  This can increase the feelings so that they are no longer appropriate for that one moment.

Losing someone can be linked, in the unconscious mind, to previous experiences of abandonment and the feelings of loss can be increased because of this linkage.  Becoming conscious of the source and depth of our feelings puts on in a place where we can be effective in learning from the entire experience.  If we know that there might be something in the past that is still begging for our attention so we can learn the lesson then we owe it to our self and to our personal growth to stay with that feeling until the lesson is revealed.

But all of this does not mean that we must wallow in sad feelings and cling to them while ignoring the life around us.  As in all things, we must find balance in our lives.  Clinging to feelings without doing the processes of working with the feelings, learning the lessons, is a form of self-centeredness that can drive people away from us.  Feeling the feelings, working with them, moving forward in our personal growth – this is the path with the most reward.  For when we choose to actually DO the work of growth then we can move through and beyond the feelings that we are feeling.  It is in refusing to do the work that we become stuck.

Decide today to choose growth over being stuck in your feelings!

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BOOK LIGHTS: from “Traveling with Pomegranates” by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor

December 15, 2010 — Rosemary

“Outside the cathedral, our eyes adjust to the daylight. On our trek back to the hotel, we stop in a patisserie and I buy a chocolate éclair.  I walk, and eat, and think.  I hear that poem in my head.  My St. Michael ‘voice.’

“Give up all the other worlds/ except the one to which you belong.”

from Traveling with Pomegranates
by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor

Remember that there are many ways to live your life with gusto. Live fully in the moment. Enjoy the chocolate éclair. Focus on the world ‘to which you belong.’ Being in the Now can bring the most enjoyment to your life, wherever you are.

Rosemary

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MUSE-INGS: “Breathe. Focus on the Light. Breathe Again.” by Rosemary Bredeson

December 14, 2010 — Rosemary

Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it?  So is this all it takes to live life with gusto?

The answer is ‘yes.’  Isn’t that wild?  Everything in your life doesn’t have to be perfect.  You don’t have to have the perfect partner, job, home, health.  You just have to breathe with a focus on the Light.  I have a friend who is losing her sight and she has the most amazing ability to smile and joke and talk about clothes.  I just love being around her because she is living life with such gusto – without sight but WITH gusto.  Think how much easier life is for us with our eyesight intact and yet SHE is living with gusto.  Are you?

It’s a decision.  You can choose how to look at your life.  You can feel sorry for yourself or you can look for something about which you can feel gratitude.  You can say ‘Woe is me’ or you can say ‘Whee!  Ain’t life grand?’  Which will you say today?

Remember that life isn’t about what happens to you.  It’s about how you respond to what happens to you.  When something seems to trip you up how do you respond?  Do you look for the opportunities in the situation or do you whine?  Does whining ever get you what you want?  I believe that opportunities abound for us to grow and to explore and to learn but whining and feeling sorry for ourselves keeps us blocked from the growth, exploration or lesson.

In my life I am all about learning the lesson as quickly and easily as I can.  I try to avoid 2 by 4s to the head so I constantly scan the horizon looking for lessons.  I want to live life with gusto so I am grateful for the opportunities to learn that I discover along the way.  I smile so that I might lift up another person’s day.  And in that experience I find I am the one who is uplifted.

Think of the cultures who enjoy life with a richness and fullness to that enjoyment.  The Italians, for example, have a wonderful saying – ‘Dolce far niente,’ which means ‘How sweet to do nothing.’   Sitting with friends, enjoying some wine, doing nothing.  It all adds up to living life with gusto.  Do you give yourself permission to do nothing?  Are you taking time to really enjoy yourself?

You don’t have to take a big vacation or be doing something spectacular to be excited about your life.  Take pleasure in the little things in the moment.  Enjoy the bite of food that is in your mouth.  Smile at the person you are passing in the corridor or speaking with on the phone.  Look out the window and enjoy what you are seeing.  Choose in this moment to relish whatever the reality of this moment might be.  Be grateful that you can breathe.  Be happy that there are other people around you who are in your life for a reason.  Enjoy the moment without judgment or perfectionism but just as this moment is unfolding for you.  This is what living life with gusto means.

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