A Sensational Soul Journey

A friend of mine was driving through an intersection one day and his little four-year-old son was in the car with him. The car door flew open, and the little boy rolled out of the vehicle right into the middle of traffic coming from four ways.

The last thing my friend saw was a set of car wheels just about on top of his son--moving at a vary fast rate of speed. All he knew to do was cry, "JESUS!" As soon as he could bring his car to a halt, he jumped out, and ran to his son, who was perfectly all right.

But the man driving the car that had almost hit the child was absolutely hysterical.

My friend went over to him and started trying to comfort him... "Man, don't be upset!" he said. "My son is all right, he's okay...Don't be concerned about it. Just thank God you were able to stop!"

"You don't understand!" the man responded. "I never touched my brakes!"

"Son of man, mark well, see with your eyes and hear with your ears...translated "set your heart to understand."

"There is a deep subtle healing that takes place when our eyes and ears are opened and our hearts begin to understand."

"Listening is grounded in wanting to truly understand what is being conveyed for our spiritual growth."

"We come to understand that obstacles are blessings"

When Spirit asks.."Do you understand?" What does this question mean??

The dictionary says the following:

Under - in, at, or to a position down from; lower than; below; from a lower place; beneath the surface, so as to be covered, enveloped or concealed; subject to the control, limitations or influence of; planted with, sowed with.

Stand - to stand, be placed, cause to stand, supported on the feet and/or in an upright position, supported on a base or pedestal, to grow upright, to rise to an upright position; remain unchanged, intact, enduring, hold a course.

"Set your heart to understand" could merely mean - to remain fixed and supported in those things that which are concealed from you. We simply remain steadfast and diligent in our faith.  It's admitting we are not in control of our lives but we "understand" there is a much higher power working for the best of everyone."

Know my truth is within YOUR heart... Do YOU understand?

When we listen to our hearts, we under-stand the strength of faith, hope and most of all love... we are enduring to influences that are greater than ourselves.  Obstacles are blessings because we under-stand the importance for our spiritual growth and the vast roles that others play, that influence us in the game of life.  We, thus, have true compassion and healing within the ability to under-stand.  When we hear and listen within the heart, we fully understand.

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week, but he wanted to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go & asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but over time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, "This is your house... my gift to you."

The carpenter was shocked!

What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we would do it much differently.

But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Someone once said, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Your attitude, and the choices you make today, help build the "house" you will live in tomorrow. Therefore, Build wisely!

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man  was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour a day to drain the fluids from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and   families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military  service, where they had been on vacation. And every afternoon when the  man in the bed next to the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed would live for those one-hour periods where  his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and  color of the outside world. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake, the man had said. Ducks and swans played on the water while  children sailed their model boats.

Lovers walked arm in arm amid flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite  detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.  Although the other man could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive  words. Unexpectedly, an alien thought entered his head:   Why should he have all the pleasure of seeing everything while I never get to see  anything? It didn't seem fair.

As the thought fermented, the man felt  ashamed at first. But as the days passed and he missed seeing more sights, his envy eroded into resentment and soon turned him sour. He   began to brood and found himself unable to sleep. He should be by that  window - and that thought now controlled his life.

Late one night, as he lay staring at the ceiling, the man by the window  began to cough. He was choking on the fluid in his lungs. The other man   watched in the dimly lit room as the struggling man by the window groped for the button to call for help. Listening from across the room, he never moved, never pushed his own button which would have brought the nurse running. In less than five minutes, the coughing and choking  stopped, along with the sound of breathing. Now, there was only silence--deathly silence.

The following morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths. When she found the lifeless body of the man by the window, she was saddened and called the hospital attendant to take it away--no  words, no fuss.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the man asked if he  could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his   first look. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.


The pursuit of happiness is a matter of choice...it is a positive attitude we consciously choose to express. It is not a gift that gets delivered to our doorstep each morning, nor does it come through the window. And I am certain that our circumstances are just a small part of what makes us joyful.

If we wait for them to get just right, we will never find lasting joy. The pursuit of happiness is an inward journey. Our minds are like   programs, awaiting the code that will determine behaviors; like bank vaults awaiting our deposits.

If we regularly deposit positive, encouraging, and uplifting thoughts, if we continue to bite our lips  just before we begin to grumble and complain, if we shoot down that seemingly harmless negative thought as it germinates, we will find that there is much to rejoice about.

Is your life out of sync with your priorities?
Do you feel like you’re a hamster running on a wheel?
Have you forgotten who you are?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, read on. Learn to listen to your inner voice—the essence of who you are—by following these five steps:

1) Check in with your heart.
Social conditioning teaches us to be logical and “use our heads.”  When you only use your head, your experience of yourself and the world is limited. You miss out on the vital information the rest of your body, heart, and soul is giving you.

Benefits: the same neurological tissue found in the brain is found in the heart. The heart is a second “brain” and our emotional center. Listening to your head and your heart is crucial to good decision-making about your life, your business, and your relationships. New Focus: Put your hand over your heart and focus there—what is it telling you? 

2) Connect with your body.
Your body gives you a tremendous amount of useful information of which you may not be conscious. For example, when your mother-in-law visits, does your stomach tie up in knots? When your boss yells at you, do your shoulders turn to stone? When you feel passionate and alive, does your chest feel warm and open? When we ignore the body’s message, we lose out on valuable information designed to let us know what works for us and what doesn’t.

Benefits: For many people, fear manifests as tightness in their chest. This is valuable information, especially if you aren’t aware that you are afraid. When you search for passion, your body alerts you to what feels passionate and what doesn’t. The body is a fount of wisdom designed to tell you when you’re on the right path and when you aren’t. 

New Focus: Notice the messages your body is giving you. Try a self-massage to find areas in your back, neck, or shoulders that are tense or knotted. What other areas of your body feel tight? Which ones feel relaxed and loose? Use this information as another key to listening to your inner wisdom. 

3) Listen to your intuition.
Intuition is simply knowing something without understanding exactly how you know it. Connect back to a time when you had a “gut feeling” about something—the job that you knew you shouldn’t take, even though it looked good on the surface, or the relationship that just felt right for you.  That’s your intuition talking to you.

Benefits: Gut feelings are a wealth of information. Remember, your intuition is never wrong, although your interpretation of it may be incorrect. When your intuition calls to you, trust it. Practice makes perfect when it comes to using your intuition effectively.

New Focus: The next time you need to make a decision, check in with your intuition. Experiment with trusting it. When you follow your intuition, what happens? When you hear it and disregard it, what’s the outcome?

4) Notice your inner critic or saboteur.
The inner critic is our very own special saboteur. The saboteur is the voice in your head that says, “You are not good enough”  “Who do you think you are?” “If you take this new job, everyone will find out what a fraud you are.” The job of the inner critic is to protect you and ensure that you don’t take risks and make changes.

Benefits: Learn to distinguish between your voice and the inner critic’s mumbo-jumbo. Notice how the inner critic drives the choices and decisions you make.

New Focus:Simply notice the negative voices playing in your head. Notice the times when they crop up. Recognize that the voices aren’t you and they aren’t true. Learning to separate your own voice from that of the inner critic is a powerful and life-changing tool.

5) Identify limiting beliefs.
We each carry a set of beliefs that we live by. Certain beliefs you hold consciously, while others are mainly unconscious. Beliefs develop out of past experiences and our interpretations of those experiences. Some of the conscious and unconscious beliefs that you develop limit your ability to grow and move forward in your life. For example: One of your goals as a successful entrepreneur is to make a lot of money. You discover that you have a belief—a limiting one—that it’s wrong to make a lot of money. Until you begin to alter your beliefs about money, it will be more difficult for you to achieve that financial success you desire.

Benefits: Learning to notice a limiting belief allows you to become conscious of it, and then change it. Releasing a belief that limits you puts you back in the driver’s seat of your life. You, rather than an old belief, make the choices that are right for you and allow you to fulfill your potential.

Ways to spot a limiting belief: 

1. You tell yourself that you only have one or two choices in a situation, or “no choice” at all.
2. Your inner critic expresses his or her opinion. The inner critic’s opinion is generally based in a limiting belief. 
3. A decision may appear to be black and white to you, or an either/or situation.
4. You have decided, “This is the way the world is.”
5. You make a decision based on fear.
6. You feel constricted and your view of a situation lacks clarity.

New Focus: How does your belief allow you to attract what you really want in life? How does it prevent you from attaining your goals? When you reach an obstacle in your path, make sure it’s not an old belief in your way.

When important questions like “What do I want?” or “What’s the right choice for me to make?” surface in your mind, consult your inner voice. You possess the answers you need to live a life that feels successful and fulfilling. Listening to your inner voice can lead you on a path that feels deeply satisfying. Your business and personal lives will flourish with this new level of trust in yourself. 

Why I know I am perfect

How do I know I’m perfect? Everyone tells me I am! Well, maybe they don’t directly say so, but they certainly suggest it. What they really say is, "Chuck, you’re nobody!" And as you know, nobody is perfect, so if I’m nobody, I’m perfect!

Despite my less than perfect humor, I, like you, was born perfect. We all were. Anyone who watches infants will become aware of this fact. For infants are trusting, loving, and courageous. They don’t have any hang-ups. They are not plagued by a lack of confidence, burdened with anxiety, or poisoned with hatred. They reveal our true nature, which is happiness. Yet, many of us are unhappy and troubled by all manner of problems. So, what went wrong? How did we lose our natural state of happiness? Where did all the pessimists come from? Why is there so much negativity in the world? What happened to us?

Although not true for everyone, many of us had a less than perfect childhood. Our caregivers foisted their opinions on us. Opinions like, "You’re a naughty child. You’re clumsy. You can’t do anything right. You’re stupid. You’re incorrigible. You’re helpless. You make me angry." We were immersed in a sea of negativity daily. To children 1 ~ 5 years old, their parents are like gods. How can they doubt the words they hear? At such an early age, they lack critical thinking skills. So, if mommy or daddy tells them they are stupid, it must be true.

So, not knowing any better, young children come to accept the negative opinions of their caregivers. The opinions of their parents become their own opinions. In fact, the opinions crystallize and become beliefs; they are no longer opinions; they are now facts. The children now believe, "I am stupid. I’m worthless. I’m afraid of everyone." They have long forgotten their early state of perfection. They now identify with a FALSE SELF. The false self is also called the wounded self, inner child, or conditioned self. It is based on lies. Weighed down by so much baggage, is it any wonder children give up learning how to fly to their dreams?

The false self is the filter through which the children view the world. It becomes a worldview, their perspective, their attitude. And it is a negative one. Although they were once free, they now live in a world of limitations. Filled with self-doubt, they can go only so far. It is as if there were a chain preventing them from reaching their potential.

Now that the children believe they are worthless, what are they to do? You don’t expect them to rejoice and tell everyone, do you? No, on the contrary. They want to conceal their perceived worthlessness. Like an artichoke protecting its heart with thick outer leaves, the children build walls to hide behind. They build fortresses to keep out the criticism of others. Unfortunately, the walls also keep out the good intentions and kindness of those trying to help.

When they do have to venture beyond the walls of their fortress, the children (and the adults they become) wear masks to shroud their ‘ugliness.’ The irony of it all! What can be sillier than that of a beautiful woman wearing the mask of a beautiful woman so she can pretend to be beautiful? There’s nothing to pretend about. She is beautiful and doesn’t need a mask. The trouble is, she doesn’t realize it.

We wear masks because we are ashamed to expose how ‘worthless’ and ‘undeserving of love’ we think we are. But the mask comes with a heavy price. Whenever we wear it, we fracture ourselves. We divide ourselves into the person we believe we are and the person we pretend to be. We give up our integrity and abandon all hope of being honest. This lack of integrity causes us to experience shame and guilt. The pain of believing we are worthless is bad enough, but now it is compounded by what we believe to be practicing deception.

So, what are the lessons to be learned? First, understand the staggering impact of criticism and negativity on children. Some people never get over the harm done to them. Never! Our obligation is clear; we must rear our children with love. The baggage that we carry may make our job difficult, but for our children’s sake we have to rise above our weaknesses and fill them with the confidence we lack. We do so by recognizing their value and regularly reminding them of it.

Second, when others treat you with disrespect and are unkind, remember the source of their cruelty is their false selves. They have lots of baggage. They’re screwed up. They need understanding and compassion. So, don’t add to their pain. Lighten their load by being forgiving.

Third, and most important, heal yourself. Not only for your own sake, but for the world’s sake. The world needs you to spread happiness around. And you will find it by returning to your TRUE SELF, which is also known as your higher self or unconditioned self. How can you distinguish between your true and false selves? That’s easy. Anything negative, anything that is limiting, holds you back, or causes fear is an attribute of your false self. While anything positive, anything that is liberating, advances your cause, and brings you joy is a characteristic of your true self.

When you were a child, you simply accepted the opinions of others. But now you are an adult. You can question the negative opinions and prove them to be wrong. Take small steps, one at a time. Do what you want to do, but were afraid of trying. Watch your confidence grow. Watch your happiness increase. Start shedding weight. The weight of the baggage that became a part of you. Rediscover your true self, not by trying to grasp it, but by letting go of your false beliefs. It is never too late to start blooming into your full potential. As we start reclaiming our true, unlimited, self, we will be able to remove our mask, integrate our personality, and live with integrity. We will discover the freedom to be who we are and the joy of accomplishing whatever we wish. Before I end, let’s listen in on a conversation...

The disciple asked his spiritual teacher, "What prevents me from being happy?"
"Fear," came the reply.
"What is the cause of my fear?"
"False beliefs," came the answer.
"What kind of false belief?"
"The belief that the sweet-smelling flowers surrounding you are poisonous snakes."
"How can I cast aside my false beliefs?"
"By opening your eyes and seeing."
"Seeing what?"
"That there isn’t a single snake around."

Beloved Ones,

You know that you are not alone, nor is this concept even possible outside the illusion of the 3D world. It is impossibility. And so this is very important to remember during these times that so easily cast doubt and fear. You know that it is the realm of illusion that holds the great fears that bind you: lack, suffering, solitude, disease and even death. These are not living in the realm of truth! So do not let them live within you, for they keep you small and locked in a self-imposed prison that holds the sting of deceit from the collective consciousness that it is true when it is not!

You see, it is like living in a cartoon that was created by a limited consciousness and after a while (like a soap opera) there is only so much story that can be told within that framework…and the characters get bored with themselves and begin to awaken to the truth that there is more outside their boxes. Not only is there a Greater Truth, but the part of them that is awakening is more true than the script they have been playing out! It feels like betrayal, but it is actually the beautiful birth that all have been waiting for – the most miraculous twist in the plot! Not only do the characters figure out that the drama isn’t true and the script is old and limited, but – right in the midst of a great climax in the story – they realize that they are the creators of the story and so, thinking on their feet in each moment, they are collectively able to “play” themselves out of the drama by each expressing their own truth being born in their hearts while acting in the best interests of the whole. Hmmmm…sound familiar?!

It is the most beautiful plot there is – the reality born from a play within a play within a play! The playwright incorporates the actors’ remembrance that they are the original play writer and the story turns back around again. (Or full circle to begin again in the minds of the actors who begin to write about the playwright!) And yet the story does not end there, for it is just being written by the actors at this very moment for, having been everything in every twist of every prior plot, they can chose which aspects and more, they will keep in the new creation.

And so, your role is to pay attention to the yearnings of your heart that sort what is real and what is not, and just keep choosing! Stay still and know that the truth is always held in the light of your heart, and that every choice you make frees you from the illusion to work you and your compadres out of the old story and into the new self-created beautiful world! There is no greater outcome, no greater role than the one you are playing at this now moment. The role that brings you to your authentic self and your authentic expression for all. The victory will be yours; the highest outcome is possible, just pay attention to every choice in every moment, for it is creating the new. This is the Great Escape, or better named, the Great Awakening! So know that while the outcome is assured, the turn of the big dramatic plot is unfolding now, so be sure you do not get caught in it by believing it is the truth. Begin to make your changes in the story now…and it will become you!

Send light to the fall, not for the fall which is already well fueled, but for those who do not understand this perfect twist in the plot. Send love to your brothers and sisters who are still caught in the drama, for you well know its pain…you have just become aware sooner of its purpose, that’s all. Forgive and bless, forgive and bless. Love is always the solution, no matter what the problem, so throw love at it. Don’t get caught in it. Make sure that your quiet moments are secure in the truth so that your public conversation does not act out the old drama. Trust and know that all is well. You are never alone, nor could not be if you tried! Know that you are always taken care of perfectly, and this will be so. Know that this is the twist in the plot that you have been waiting for, so watch it with compassion for those playing it out, and hold still – hold true – to your awakened purpose in creating the new world in every now moment. And the moment is now. The answer to external chaos is to deepen your internal resolve. Do that now.

You have awakened to the truth. You know you are supported. You know that you are creators and you know the story that you wish to unfold. Make it so.

The serious aspect of this is the urgency of the moment. Before you were given reprieve and now the time that you have perfectly trained for is here. Keep your mind, your heart open and your intent clear. Do not, for a moment, forget who you are and what you are here to accomplish. It is the most beautiful story never written!

With abiding love and support and belief in all that is possible, we are

The Council of Light that is Within

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday."

Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

"Jack, did you hear me?"

"Oh sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.

"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.

"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.

"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.

"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important... Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.

Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time.

The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture... Jack stopped suddenly.

"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.

"The box is gone," he said.

"What box?" Mom asked.

"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.

Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention.

"Mr. Harold Belser" it read.

Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.

Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved:

"Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."

"The thing he valued most...was...my time."

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.

"I need some time to spend with my son," he said. "Oh, by the way, Janet... thanks for your time!"

When you get upset or angry, or when you experience pain and suffering, it is only because you want something different from what life has given you. Learn to accept what is. It is only from that preliminary recognition that you can improve anything.

I read a story years ago about a man who was an inspiration to one much younger than himself for his calmness and wisdom. The younger one once asked him his secret. For his reply, the other showed him a small, very fragile sea shell.

"This is my secret," he said. He then explained:

"I used to be very wealthy. Then I lost everything in the stock market crash of 1929. I decided the only solution was to commit suicide. I packed my family off on a vacation, and then rented a small cabin by the ocean. My plan was to walk out into the water until the waves took me.

"I began walking out, but my plan was thwarted repeatedly by strong waves that beat me back to shore. The last time I fell, beaten down by a wave, I saw this little shell swirling close to me. It was completely unbroken. I picked it up. How, I asked myself, was it possible for this fragile thing to go churning safely through the waves when I myself was thrown back by them every time I tried to go forward? The answer was obvious: The sea shell hadn't resisted the flow! Might this, I reflected, be a lesson pertinent to my own case? Perhaps I'd been resisting the waves of my own destiny!

"I decided from then on that I would live, and that I’d go with the waves instead of resisting them. You see me now: successful again in business, but even more than that, happy and at peace."

Be a Mental Surfer

Contemplate that last thought, and make it your meditation. Think of life's circumstances as waves over which you have no direct control. Meditate on the thought of riding them. Don't fight or resist them. Be a mental surfer, going with the currents of life, but seeking always, as you ride them, to select the best wave, and the best current. You can ride wisely or foolishly, but you can never command the waves to be as you want them to be, or to go where you want them to go. Learn to flow with life, not against it, if you want to win through to freedom.