“If you are concerned about the world, the first thing you need to do is transform yourself into a joyful being.” ~Sadhguru
Today I’m grateful for the people who trigger me, the posts that infuriate me, the rude comments that disgust me, the brainwashing that nauseates me, the fired-up fanatics who challenge me. Thank you to the fear, upset, and sadness that have consumed me to the point of tearful breakdowns, inviting me to honor the magical moments of enchanting bliss more deeply. Thank you to the numerous identities we’ve built around ourselves that encourage me to see beyond their superficiality into the boundless light of our souls. Thank you separation for bringing forth a growing hunger for connection.
Thank you to the news outlets which broadcast how absurd and unhealthy the content we consume actually is. Thank you to conspiracies that raise questions and let my imagination run wild. Thank you to social media that offends and sickens but also enlightens and expands my thoughts when I focus on the unique, creative goodness in us all. Thank you shame and misery, which enrich the exact opposites when I meditate on harmony. Thank you sorrow for enhancing joy.
Thank you greed and repulsive consumerism for teaching me how much I can live without and how thankful I am to appreciate the little things. Thank you to the ones who perceive the world through different eyes to show how vast and complex we can be. Thank you to those I view as assholes, who teach me how to shift and improve my judgments. Thank you to the arrogant know-it-alls, who reveal the pain within themselves that we all share. Thank you for the darkness that curiously invites radiant light to shine. Thank you for everything that tosses me into the mysterious pool of my feelings. Regardless of bitter concepts, I invite every channel to increase my faith in feelings instead of denial.
This often confusing tangled mess of our shared human experience has been such a wonderful opportunity to work on myself, to practice compassion even when my ego puts up a great fight and demands I whine or react in angry, defensive ways. I’m learning to sink into how I feel, to lather myself mindfully in that great, emotional, yin sea. That is becoming my preferred way to engage with the matrix outside the fuss of furious action.
(Thank you Pablo Amaringo for this exquisite image)
I’ve been in turmoil, on and off occasionally, wondering why people are so damn concerned with how others live their lives. I try to comprehend why we’re ever hateful as a species instead of supportive and warm-hearted. When I go online, regardless of the optimistic pages I follow, unwelcome downloads of harsh judgment from so many angles gush out, as if we all aren’t on the same side! Repulsed by the senseless concepts of racism and injustice, I still trust our human family to transmute these ugly, negative energies into something meaningful…because we can!
My own personal development lies in honoring the vast spectrum of polarities, both the sadness and joy, the anger, frustration, and fear blending wildly with the bliss and tranquility. It’s not worth relinquishing my peace or power to media or organizations that claim to have my best interest or outside opinions I don’t resonate with, which do an impressive job at affecting me when I’m thrown from my center. The threatening waves of agony are no match for the infinite love and light always present behind our nagging minds. I also know my body is directly affected by my inner narrative, so why not think positive? 
Some days I prance around and rejoice, celebrating the fantasy for unitary peace, the perfect balance of all that is, ever was and will be because I’m certain a divine realm is possible (at least in my visions). Other days I long to hide in the dark in the fetal position crying helplessly. What it boils down to is my own consciousness. Is it nurtured by my perceived reality, or caged in a box? Does it have the freedom to soar? Or is it imprisoned by hopeless despair? The roller coaster of human experience can be scary as fuck! But also ridiculously comedic.
Although I believe we all affect one another to some extent, any twisted mess I witness outside myself can be perceived through different lenses according to my psyche’s wishes. The more I devote my attention to anything, the stronger it becomes. When I see beauty, kindness, care, cooperation, stunning landscapes, little birds, funny-shaped clouds, healing, the colors of the sky at dusk, imagination, dreams, how butterflies emerge from their cocoon, the sound of waves, the taste of cacao, unconditional love, and creation expressing itself, my soul is bewildered and nourished. But it’s an easy avenue into distraction by the opposites which crave attention.
Trained from birth to adhere to the convenient, small-minded labels our minds have created to identify others has become toxic and shallow, detrimental and debilitating. We are more elaborate than any titles meant to define us. The disgusting blame we throw around because it pleases our egos and removes personal responsibility is just more shit our dramatic minds cling to in order to feel safe when really, doesn’t that add to our venomous disconnect and apparent weakness? We are ONE!
Maybe my low tolerance for victim mentality has something to do with ever letting myself succumb to senseless worries. Sacrificing peace for anything falsely dominating on the outside of myself is a waste of precious life force. I don’t expect my world to change when I sit back and complain. That doesn’t work, ever. I also know not everything I think is true so I do my best to be open-minded. I love wisdom gained and wiggle room for growth.
We are each contributing and participating with every word, thought, and action. We’re intricately connected within the marvelous network of existence, little extensions of Mother Earth intertwined on an abundant planet. We are not separate entities in the big picture. Why waste time arguing or getting our panties in a bunch because we disagree? The thirst for drama can blur the subtle messages our bodies, minds, and spirits are continually relaying, which thrive from guiding us on a more harmonious path.
I’ve had a strong desire for the ignorance of our race to “wake up,” to heal and live beneficially with our unique potentials, but that begins with me. When I’m overwhelmed from exposure to anger or hate of others, does that not somewhat stem from my own neurosis causing increased chaos instead of understanding their pain with empathy? Do I ignore, interact with, or transform that energy? The madness is latching onto any mucky stagnation instead of tuning in to a more enlightening vision. There is a choice.
We are not alone. As a tribe of the earth, we are flowing back into the sea, rippling with the waves of one another’s journeys. Paddling against the current of the ego is hard work. Recognizing the harm it does, when I allow it, is fucking tough. But when I become an observer, it seems to fall away and dissolve. This has been my work lately. The crazy labyrinth of the socially-conditioned mind generates shared anxiety but don’t we all have the power to control our reality with increased self-awareness? Can’t our dream for peace outweigh any nightmare of distress? We are not victims of circumstance!
Remembering to listen to our hearts, which never lie, to follow what feels best according to our intuition is where healing happens, always. This is how to grow, to evolve, to assist in the process of life, to uplift the vibrations of the masses, to respect the great magnitude of our souls. Expecting change to happen from the outside doesn’t work, yet every choice we make influences the whole. Our own healing heals the world, the environment, our ancestors, friends, and family.
I grasp for hope and understanding until I realize those come from curing parts of myself attached to pain and suffering, attached to what others think, attached to the garbage spewed from the media, or even what loved ones insist are serious issues which actually force the suffocation of my loving spirit. I won’t participate. I can’t. If something feels icky, it’s clearly not intended to be absorbed. Instead, I envision a paradigm crumbling around us while another, more vibrant peaceful one births forth from our common dream. We are creating every moment of our lives. The human spirit is so resilient! What are our intentions? To mend our severed connection with the Earth and one another or feed the corruption?
When I get discouraged, angry, or sad about the outside world, which lately seems to be in such a fucked up state, when I want to bitch, I turn inwards. I meditate, I dance, I bake goodies late at night, I walk barefoot on the earth, I burn palo santo, I write, I read, I stare at candle flames, I play medicine music, I also connect and/or vent with humans (and plants, animals, minerals and elements) I trust and adore. And oh my goodness is it comforting to know kind souls are out there, support and encouragement are out there, non-judgment and compassion are strong as ever even when my brain stubbornly focuses on the opposite.
Why spend my time consumed in anything less than love? I only know my own reality and I know I can control every aspect of it when I’m centered and calm. I can overcome anything, but if I’m stressed, my entire system is compromised. I take something as crucial as my health into my own hands to prevent me from supporting any industry that might thrive off dis-ease. Our inner guidance is not a liar. Fear is.
In competition with no one but my lesser self, I’m learning to be patient when others’ realities don’t resonate with my own. That entails listening to my inner voice, consciously rooting into the earth, connecting to the global heart, and remaining open to cosmic downloads…but my mind is great at resisting. Letting go of an incessant hold on even minor agony can be a challenge, but recognizing that it’s perched inside me to cleanse and release is empowering. As easy as it is to get distracted with the mass amount of crap out there, I am dismantling any desire to conform to whatever the fuck the norm is if it conflicts with my heart. I am not alone.
Happiness is directly related to how aligned we are, not with the external, but with our highest selves; when our thoughts, words, and deeds are in agreement with our true values, with what feels good, because all else is not worth the struggle. We are in control of everything we allow in and out of our fascinating, busy lil brains. And if our thoughts do create this reality, let’s have a little fun and lighten up the place with some festive, ceremonial, universal, utopian elation!
Imagine if the entire world was focused on healing and health, sweetness and selfless service, appreciation, gratitude, and generosity. My prayer is for us all to expend our immense energy on a frequency of peace and love, equality, sustainability, and global unity… because really, what else matters? We are the masters of our world. That blossoming realization is very comforting and life-affirming when I choose to remember.
Where attention goes, energy flows. Let that sink in.
(I adore this stunning visionary art! Artist credit please?)
“If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro’ narrow chinks of his cavern.” ~William Blake 
“Feelings are not supposed to be logical. Dangerous is the man who has rationalized his emotions.” ~David Borenstein
“Everything that ever happened to you, you experienced right within you. Light and darkness, pain and pleasure, agony and ecstasy—all of it happened within you. If someone touches your hand right now, you may think you are experiencing their hand, but the fact of the matter is you are only experiencing the sensations in your own hand. The whole experience is contained within. All human experience is one hundred percent self-created.” ~
