Considering Others

Every thought we think and every action we take has an effect on the world around us. To be aware of this is to be conscious of our impact on the people in our lives. Sometimes we just want to do what we want to do, but considering the full ramifications of our actions can be an important part of our spiritual growth and awareness. At first, being more conscious requires effort, but once we have made it a habit, it becomes second nature. The more we practice this awareness of others, the more we find ourselves in easy alignment with our integrity.

Our thoughts are an important place to begin this practice because our thoughts are the seeds of our actions. It is not necessary or beneficial to obsessively monitor all our thoughts, but we can perhaps choose one thought or action per day and simply notice if we are in alignment with this experience of integrity. For example, we may find ourselves replaying a negative encounter with someone in our minds. Read more

Shifting with nature’s energy

In today’s world, office jobs and supermarkets have made it possible to work and provide for ourselves and our families regardless of nature’s cycles. While most of us no longer depend directly on nature’s seasons for our livelihood, our bodies’ clocks still know deep down that a change of season means a change in us too. If we don’t acknowledge this, we may feel out of sync, as though we have lost our natural rhythm. These days, autumn is more likely to bring thoughts of going back to school than harvesting, but in both cases, the chill in the air tells us it’s time to move inside and prepare for the future.

We can consciously celebrate the change of season and shift our own energy by setting some time aside to make the same changes we see in nature. We can change colors like the falling leaves and wilting blooms by putting away our bright summer colors and filling our wardrobes and living areas with warm golds, reds, and browns. Read more

How real is your reality?

Below is an excerpt of an article written by Joseph F McCaffrey MD, FACS. Dr. Joe McCaffrey is a board certified surgeon with a special interest in alternative and complementary medicine. He strives to help people reach their maximum level of health and vitality. Visit his website here for a guide to vital living.

Here’s a concept for you to consider.

Our experience of the world isn’t what’s out there; it’s what we perceive to be out there. That means our reality can be quite arbitrary because we sense the outside world through filters. These filters exist beneath our conscious mind. Most people aren’t even aware they’re there. Yet they determine just what we perceive and therefore determine our reality. We need these filters – we couldn’t possibly keep track of all the information coming in otherwise.

For example, if I asked you what your right foot feels like right now, you could tell me. It feels warm or cool or you shoe’s too tight or it’s comfortable or whatever. The point is you could immediately tell me. Yet a moment before I asked, you weren’t aware of your foot. How did that happen? What changed? Is there a little switch in your brain that turned on the nerves to your foot when I asked the question so you could answer it?

[Read more here]

Putting people on a pedestal

When we fall in love with someone or make a new friend, we sometimes see that person in a glowing light. Their good qualities dominate the foreground of our perception and their negative qualities. They just don’t seem to have any. This temporary state of grace is commonly known as putting someone on a pedestal. Often times we put spiritual leaders and our gurus on pedestals. We have all done this to someone at one time or another, and as long as we remember that no one is actually “perfect,” the pedestal phase of a relationship can be enjoyed for what it is—a phase. It’s when we actually believe our own projection that troubles arise.

Everyone has problems, flaws, and blind spots, just as we do. When we entertain the illusion that someone is perfect, we don’t allow them room to be human, so when they make an error in judgment or act in contradiction to our idea of perfection, we become disillusioned. Read more

Change what isn’t working

We have all had the experience of realizing that something in our lives is not working. This knowledge can come as a sudden realization or a nagging feeling of doubt that grows stronger, waking us up to the fact that something needs to change. Some people have a tendency to act rashly and make sweeping changes before even understanding what the problem is. Other people fear change, so they live with the uncomfortable awareness that something needs to shift but won’t do anything about it. Between these two extreme responses lies a middle way that can help us powerfully and gracefully change what isn’t working in our lives.

The first step is remembering that your life is made up of parts that belong to an interconnected whole. Changing one thing can change everything. Because of this, small changes often have a big effect. Read more

Dr. Rob shares the gift of the bump

Dr. Rob takes a few moments before leaving California and heading back to NY to create a video with his brother Ray. They share their thoughts about bumps in the road/life and the gift that they actually are. They are meant to create awareness, bring our attention to where we are going and what we are doing. Pay attention to the bumps and look at them as a gift.

Awareness is a step toward change

Life is a journey comprised of many steps on our personal path that takes us down a winding road of constant evolution. And each day, we are provided with a myriad of opportunities that can allow us to transform into our next best selves. One moment we are presented with an opportunity to react differently Read more

Walking with awareness

Many of us take the benefits of walking for granted. Each day we limit the steps we take by driving or sitting for long periods of time. But walking even a few blocks a day has unlimited benefits Read more

Practice awareness before acting

There is really nothing you must be. And there is nothing you must do. There is really nothing you must have. And there is nothing you must know. Read more