The Empty Suitcase (By Ruth Bruegger)

It was a typical day in my life. I went to my storage unit to retrieve a suitcase for my husbands impending business trip. I reached above my head to pull down what I thought was an empty suitcase and then it happened.

The suitcase was full of things much to my dismay. This mistake sent me on a physical rehabilitation journey. At the time little did I know this is exactly what I needed to make me stop and reflect on my life.

When I was recovering from my injury I had time to think. I was thinking of my adult child who blamed me for her life. I was thinking about all my failures as a young parent. I was thinking about how my immaturity may have hurt my children growing up.

I was convinced that everything my adult children did that was not in their best interest was my fault. It must be because I made so many mistakes I could not count. I did keep a roof over the heads and food in their mouth.

I didn't call them in sick to school and I wouldn't let them skip school. I thought that having a clean room was right up there with determining whether you succeed or fail in life.

I was a fallen christian, a damaged human being who was not good enough for her own children. At twenty years old and divorced with four children in a time period where a woman was little more than a second class citizen I picked myself up.

I got an education and worked at odd jobs and finally full time. I learned to be strong or at least wear armor for the indignities that I put up with. I worked and lived in a mans world. I couldn't let anyone see me weak after all that was unacceptable.

My son was talking to me and I finally confided him my feelings and how proud I was that despite me how great of a parent he was. That is when he said a sentence that resonated to my soul.

He said, "Mom, you sure are carrying around a heavy empty suitcase, all of your children came from the same house, all of your children are adults and make their own decisions and their own mistakes."

Ironic he would use a suitcase as a metaphor. I was finally free that day to move forward and so my son set me free and became my friend.

Let it go whatever weighs you down and enjoy the present for that is all you have.

https://ezinearticles.com/?The-Empty-Suitcase&id=9327182

Is There an Ego? (By Richard G Harvey)

Is there ego or not? Do we have one? Is it desirable at all? What is it? Why are we so confused with the endless spiritual messages-usually negative-concerning ego?

The word ego simply means "I." It denotes the self-sense; when born a human being we participate in some identity and recognize it as our self. In western psychology it has been judged "a good thing." In eastern spirituality it has been judged "a bad thing." This is because the religions and philosophies of the east have tended to be preoccupied with transcending the world and those of the west have been concerned with preparing in this world for an afterlife. Thus, for example, Indians have a downer on ego, while Europeans tend to rely on ego for mental health. In the west we have overemphasized ego; in the east they have denied ego. One way of dealing with this twin imbalance is to synthesize east and west. Vivekananda did this when he said that Indian boys instead of learning meditation should play football.

In Sacred Attention Therapy, we clarify the process of ego by practically observing and revealing that it has a different role and function according to what stage of psycho-spiritual development we're in. For example, it does little good to say to someone in the first two stages of awakening that the ego doesn't exist-a popular shibboleth for advaita adherents today... and before I get spiritually assassinated by the advaita zealots just allow me enough breath to tell briefly this wonderful story of Ramana Maharshi, the Indian saint who perhaps more than anyone was responsible for introducing us to this profound teaching.

When a Moslem contractor who was harvesting tamarind at Ramana's ashram catapulted stones at the monkeys, he inadvertently killed one. The monkeys carried the corpse to Ramana in their grief and anger to gain his wisdom. After joining with them in and mirroring their distress, he said, "Death is inevitable for everyone who is born. He at whose hands this monkey died will also meet with death one day. There is no need to grieve." Pacified by Ramana's loving kindness, the monkeys left carrying the corpse.

Now, we notice Ramana did not say there is no ego, no body, no self. He didn't choose to slap sense into them. He simply met the situation and reflected the events clearly and compassionately in a way that was appropriate.

Please (this to the advaitists) stop telling all the world that there is no I, no self, no body, and so on. It can only be interpreted by many of us as a nihilist philosophy leading to despair. Some people are fragile in mind and heart, some are damaged and wounded. Some are trying very hard to build a strong sense of self, an ego, and perhaps in time they will find themselves ready to receive the teachings of no-self... but they are not ready, not yet.

You would not teach this to a young child and many of us are still like young children... So don't catapult stones at us.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-There-an-Ego?&id=10010321

Reset the Negativity

Beginning each day through being will bring insights to your life you never thought possible. Everyone around you will begin to take on a new light. That light is that of a being. The substance of the being, the skin, muscle and body aren't quite what you could describe this person as. There is another level, another piece that each human being holds. They are an amazing being with thoughts, worlds and universes of their own.

Use that knowledge. Think about it for the moment. Do all the other parts of life revolve around what has happened in the past? Will what you are doing now effect the future? How big of an impact do you want to have on our species? Beginning to understand what you want and what you ask yourself will affect your future. Be now so that you may begin living in that direction. Would you like to begin to live the life of your dreams? You must begin now.

Let go of the negativity. Open yourself up to a new standard in life. Use your conscious form to live your dreams. We each will have our own meaning so it would be useless to state my dreams here as an example. That has already come to pass and I have begun to just live now. To really let go of all negativity that means that there is only room left for positivity. To live this means to do that which brings the most joy in life. I love writing so I write. You love (fill in the blank). Live in that direction.

Becoming a parent, father, husband, son, brother and cousin means we are a lot of things. If this is just family attach a title or thought to every part of your life and your list will be expanded dramatically. We must just be each of those things as we are each of those title. You state the, "I am," and you can be anything you set your mind to. We are exactly what we want to be. Caution because this means that you can accept bad or negative into your life and build it into a habit. May as well build good habits and live the best that you can. This is an awesome life for each of our experiences.

You can become your perfect life. It is already within you to accept. That is a beautiful part of this great human experience we get to observe. You must not worry about being whole because you already are. Right now, is the best moment to direct your life precisely and with all the passionate love you can muster. Now go out and be great.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Reset-the-Negativity&id=9801102

The Game of LIFE: Winner's Cheat Sheet

With so much division and animosity going on worldwide, humans have lost their sense of reality. We have humans who choose to promote hate and violence against others who do not look, act, or believe in the same manner as which they do. We have humans suffering from starvation, diseases, and other preventable/curable situations. We have humans who have everything, but will not give a lending hand to the next human being. Why?

Have we forgotten that we are all human beings? Have we forgotten that we were all created the same way? Has society altered our views to a point where we are not concerned about the next person? Have we forgotten the true meaning to our existence on Earth?

Well, if you are reading this and have lost your touch with reality, please continue reading because I have found the hidden cheat sheet so we can all win at this game called LIFE.

According to Ashleigh Brilliant, "Life is the only game in which the object of the game is to learn the rules." Unfortunately, there are many rules which may be applied to this game we all play; however, I have 4 rules that I feel will make your experience on Earth enjoyable and stress-free.

Rule #1: Love

"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Love is one of the most powerful forces in our universe because it can change the tide of any situation. On one hand, when humans are given love, they tend to live happier lives. On the other hand, when humans are not given love, they tend to live a life in which they do not want to remain, leading to violence in our society (such as suicides, mass shootings, etc.). If we gave love to everyone, most of our traumatizing situations would have not occurred. Also, it is not hard to love; however, a person cannot express love fully until that person learns to love themselves first. This is the first rule to become a winner of life.

Rule #2: Strengthen Your Mind, Body, and Spirit

"You are essentially who you create yourself to be and all that occurs in your life is the result of your own making." - Stephen Richards

Humans are objects of repeated motions. Good habits are much tougher to establish than bad habits. For example, a person can go to the gym for a month and lost 15 pounds. That same person can sit on the couch and do nothing and gain those same 15 pounds in a week. It is easy to go down the stairs, going up is the hard part. It is easy to sit back and let life pass you by. Making a real effort to make a difference in anything requires real energy. Keep your mind, body, and spirit strong to keep up with day-to-day task as you progress throughout this game.

Rule #3: Work Hard

"I think that my biggest attribute to any success that I have had is hard work. There really is no substitute for working hard." - Maria Bartiromo

We hear it all the time from those who are successful, but why are many humans still lazy? I believe it is because they do not want to win at this game called life. At the end of the day, hard work separates the haves from the have-nots. You cannot expect things to just be giving to you without no effort on your behalf. (Yes, it happens for some people because they are a product of someone else's hard work. However, we are all not fortunate, thus hard work is a must to win.)

Rule #4: Don't Lose Yourself

"When you show up authentic, you create the space for others to do the same. Walk in your truth." - Unknown

Humans have a hard time being themselves when they want to be included in a particular group or community. We play a character so people will "like" us. Sit back and think for a second. Why should you care who likes you or not? If a person does not accept you for who you are then they are not worthy of your presence. You are a gift to this Earth. Don't become something you are not to please others. In the end, you only have the ability to move your piece across the board.

With these rules in place, your chances of winning will increase by a tremendous amount. Don't sit back and let life pass you by. Do it right now. Start winning today!

I challenge everyone who is reading this to make the desire change you wish to see in the world, today!

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Game-of-LIFE:-Winners-Cheat-Sheet&id=9808176

What Will You March for?

I felt strongly about writing about unity this week. Rising above and standing together is essential right now. If we degrade another fellow human being, we are essentially lowering our own vibration. What we put out we will get back. It will without a doubt show-up in your life or business somewhere. From an energy perspective look at the energy being shared underneath your words. This is what you are giving out and therefore what you will receive back. It involves having a clear and ground perspective first, and seeing the world through that lens, instead of seeing the world first and letting it dictate how we feel. Let's be an active participant in what we are creating.

When you start to feel yourself engaging in gossip, remember this is someone's dad, brother, sister, mom, daughter, etc. Let's have love and compassion for our fellow human beings and focus on the changes WE want to see instead. What would you advise your son or daughter to do if they didn't like what someone said on the playground? Would you invite them to talk about them, yell at them, say mean things, etc. No. You would teach them to rise above, to accept them for who they are and be the person they want to be. To treat others how they want to be treated, right?

The course in miracles talks a lot about attachment. When we're in our ego we're coming from a place of separateness, righteousness, and the need to be right and special. We're attached to outcomes and being in control. We all slip into this on some level. Even the most evolved and enlightened people still slip. Because we're human and have an ego.

But let's step into the best versions of ourselves for a second. Who are we at a core level? How do we treat others from this place and how do we like to be treated? We are all worthy of love and respect. This doesn't mean we condone terrible acts, but we can forgive and rise above.

It's okay to feel.

We are still having a human experience, and it's okay to be angry when others say or do hurtful things. It's okay to feel. It's what you do with those feelings that matters. By just allowing yourself to feel how you do without judgement, you are really allowing and accepting yourself as you are, which in-turn creates more peaceful feelings. What is a healthy way to feel and express heavier feelings? What works for you? Journaling and body scanning are great tools that I have learned along the way, and please reach out if you would like more info. on these.

The more we can focus on what we do want the more we will create it.

What's amazing to me is the women's march has been created in response to some heavier events occurring. When was the last time all of these women came together to support one another? This is massive healing on so many levels and a true blessing in disguise.

Much love to you as you sort through what is heavy in your heart today, and I am wishing you peace and love always.

http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Will-You-March-for?&id=9625581

How to Stand Up for Yourself

We are faced with tough choices every single day. Sometimes, the hardest choice is to speak up and stand up for what is right. We all know that we shouldn't let people walk all over us, but how do we actually keep that from happening?

Maybe you weren't raised to speak up. Maybe you are too timid, or nice. Whatever the reason is, it doesn't matter. The following 10 steps will help you say what you need to say AND help others understand where you are coming from with minimum conflict.

Pick your battles wisely

You must choose the situations that negatively impact you the most. If you try these steps EVERY single time you have a problem, you may not be as effective. So, strategically pick your battles. Maybe choose ONE instance per person that is over the top wrong or offensive. How do you pick that ONE instance?

Listen to that little voice inside your head

Your intuition tells you whether a situation is right or wrong. Many times we don't act on it because we want to avoid conflict or confrontation. We will convince ourselves that it's not that serious or we doubt our judgment. If the voice inside your head is so loud, that it's affecting your well-being... THAT's your queue to do something about it.

Don't second guess yourself

It is very scary THINKING about saying something to correct the situation, which makes it almost impossible to work up the courage to SAY something. To avoid the discomfort, we tell ourselves that we are overreacting or flat out think we're not worthy enough to put someone in their place.

I mean who are you anyway? You don't hold the position of power, you aren't the bread winner, you aren't as old, you aren't as smart, your opinion doesn't matter...

WRONG. Your social status has no bearing on your needs as a human being. Your opinion matters and your feelings matter.

What. You. Want. Matters.

Why should anyone else's feelings be more important than your own? They are just as much of a person as you. Everyone has different needs and values in life. It is your responsibility to make it clear what you are not willing to tolerate.

If you can't muster the confidence to stand up for yourself, you really have no right to be upset. Like I said, other people have different values and priorities. They aren't mind readers. You have to SAY something in order to be heard and understood.

Look them in the eye

When the time comes to stand up for yourself, you MUST make eye contact. It is THE MOST important thing when you are dealing with confrontation or conflict. Eye contact will show the other person that you have confidence. It will make it clear that what you are saying is important and force the other person to listen to you.

You may find that they will look away, because they too don't like confrontation. If that is the case, you have the upper hand in the conversation. Own it.

Use your big boy/girl voice

I am NOT telling you to yell. I am saying, project your voice loud enough that the person can hear what you are saying. Do not mumble. Be clear and concise. Your voice should captivate your audience because what you're saying is important for them to hear.

Keep emotion out of it (stick with the facts)

In order to keep the conversation from going south, you MUST state factual information only. Avoid using emotion behind what you are saying.

Crying distracts from the message. Yelling distracts from the message. Condescending remarks distract from the message. Sarcasm distracts from the message... you get the picture.

All of the above EMOTIONAL responses cause people to put their guard up or not take you seriously. They will focus on defense more than the message itself. The whole point of you speaking up is to be HEARD. So try your best to remain calm and speak clearly and concisely with the FACTS.

Keep it simple

Try to dumb down your message as much as possible. The more words you use, the more complicated things get. It also increases the chances of the conversation to crash and burn. Try to make it one sentence.

WHEN YOU DID THIS, IT CAUSED THIS/IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE THIS. Simple.

Stand your ground

The person you are confronting may get defensive. They may try to intimidate you. You MUST remember that what you are saying is IMPORTANT. Do not allow them to sway your opinion on the matter. The fact is that when they did something, it had a negative effect on you. They need to be aware of that, no matter the reasons behind it.

Remain confident

Don't second guess yourself. No matter how mean or belittling they get. They may try to outsmart you. Keep that eye contact and stand tall. YOU MATTER! YOU ARE STRONG! Let them get all bent out of shape. The purpose of you bringing it up was so that it doesn't happen again.

It doesn't matter if they get mad or embarrassed. You said what you needed to say. You remained calm, confident and mature. People don't know how to deal with conflict so they react in weird ways. You did your part by bringing up the problem. Next time they will think twice about doing it again. With that, you win.

Move on/Don't hold a grudge

I told you, people aren't mind readers. When you addressed the issue, it could have caused a rift in your relationship because they never heard that side of you before and they don't know how to act around you anymore... and that's okay! It means that you CHANGED your situation. You stood up for yourself.

I guarantee you, people will have a lot more respect for you... including the person you had the issue with.

When you stand up for yourself, you are fostering an environment for others to stand up as well. You will pave the way and potentially better the surroundings for everyone.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Stand-Up-for-Yourself&id=9427783

5 Reasons Why You Must Find Some Alone Time Every Day

Do you spend some time alone everyday, without interacting with another human being or animal?

We have two types of people; those who love having time for themselves and those who fear being alone.

For me, and I guess for most people of the introvert type, time alone with oneself is the recipe for joy. Nothing can make me happier than the news that I have a whole day for myself, to do my reading, dreaming and writing.

I can never understand why someone might not want to spend time with oneself, much the same way that it might be hard for a person of the extrovert type to understand the joy that this alone time gives.

Yet, I believe that having some time alone with yourself everyday can be good for anybody, even for an extrovert.

Here are 5 reasons why:

1. You get to know yourself

It is in those moments with your own self that you get to know yourself best. When in the company of others, we are always wearing one or more of the hats that life makes us wear, be that of a husband, a father, a boss, a subordinate, a friend, a lover.

But when you are alone with yourself, you don’t have to wear any of those hats and can really get to meet the real you.

You’ll discover a whole lot more about yourself this way, which leads us to point no.2.

2. Being alone can bring clarity to your purpose.

As I said earlier, out with other people, you are always wearing one of those hats and playing out those roles. Even those who have thought about and found a purpose for their life often forget that in the daily role plays.

Some alone time can make you rise above the haze and give you clarity on what your purpose is. If you already have found one, it can help to remind you of it. This will help you re-assess your priorities and make the necessary changes to the direction in which your life is going.

3. You can get your creative juices flowing

More often than not, it is during those moments of being with yourself that your muse comes down to you.

That is when you get your best ideas, your best words and your best strokes of the brush.

Your muse is your personal genie and prefers to come down to you when you can give it all the attention.

4. You can find your way within

I believe that beyond all what the world tells us our goal in life should be, the ultimate goal of every human soul is to find the divine within.

And as anyone who does meditation will tell you, the way within starts with being alone for some time.

Find your own way within through meditation. Even if not for finding the divine in you, meditation can help you relieve all the stress, the pains and turbulence caused by living your daily life and can make you cheerful, and content.

5.Reading can be much more fun when alone

As a prolific reader myself, I do not necessarily need to be alone to read. I read whenever I can, wherever I am. Yet, I have found that reading can be best enjoyed when I’m alone.

Whether it is fiction or non-fiction, reading without the faintest concern for what is going around me is the deepest form of reading and that is when you really get into a sort of conversation with the author.

What is your idea of spending time alone? Do you enjoy it?

http://www.lifeprobabilities.com/2014/12/23/why-alone-time-good/