Day 14_Fulfilling My Dreams Fulfills my Spirit

"To thine own self, be true." Shakespear.

If I follow my deepest desires, then the source of that desire must be my spirit. It's my spirit that quietly speaks to me through my thoughts, dreams, and actions. My body is my spirit's vehicle. It uses me to create and manifest all things in form. It lives within me to lift me up and help me understand how I am loved and protected.

Everything in my life happens as it should, no matter how it materializes. The unfoldment of my dreams, whether they might be relating to my finances, health or relationships, is Spirit's way of living through me. It guides me through my darkest hours and most difficult situations.

When I was a young girl, I was taught to go to church and ask for forgiveness whenever I was punished for misbehaving. I was expected to pray to God and ask him to remove all my sins. However, reciting the regulation prayers felt insincere and false. I never had a Spiritual experience kneeling in that church.

Today, I find that meditation is the best conduit to Source Energy. I have a personal connection to Spirit and have had many spiritual experiences during my meditations. This personal relationship is my truth. It feels right for me.

In the past, my understanding of spirituality was that God existed outside of me and if I were to know and feel him, it would take a miracle. Today I know that True Source lives within me, deep in my heart. There is no separation between my God and me, we are one. The wondrous miracles that keep showing up in my daily life are all the proof I need to validate my understanding.

Peace, Love, Namaste.
Clarita

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Day 13_ Manifesting From Your True Self

Spirit has infinite intelligence and will guide and direct us if we let it.  Recently, I had the experience of feeling frustrated and angry about a situation wherein I had no control. I was brokering a business deal which required cooperation from a third party before it closed.  I pleaded and gave my best argument as to why my idea would work for all the parties involved, and yet, my plan was rejected. 

This resulted in me feeling betrayed, unappreciated and dismayed.  The deal hinged on a "yes" from these people, however, as a result of them saying "NO," a better opportunity arose.  I was able to double my gains on a deal I thought had been lost. Had the third party agreed to my original plan, the new and more lucrative deal would never have manifested. I was able to witness first hand through this experience that Providence supports my desires and reveals its best solutions for me.

Trusting in the Cosmic Intelligence allows me to believe it will take care of my needs.  I can spend less time worrying about the things I cannot control and trust that I can accomplish whatever I desire.  My belief and trust in this Intelligence allow me to rest peacefully.  I have no power over other people's lives nor the choices they make and know that the only power I have is over my own life.  Although I can make a difference in my world by being of service to others and my community, I can only do that with the grace of this Cosmic Intelligence.     

That prompts me to think of the story of two friends walking along the shore of a beautiful, white, sandy beach. They came to a place where the receding tide had exposed thousands of stranded starfish to the blistering heat of the sun.  One of the friends began picking up and throwing the starfish, one by one, back into the ocean.  The other friend said, "What are you doing?  There are thousands of stranded starfish here, throwing a few of them back into the sea won't make a difference."  His friend continued his rescue mission, and as he threw another starfish into the sea, he retorted, "Well, it made a difference to that one."

We cannot possibly understand all the reasons why our lives unfold as they do.  However, if we show up for life fully present and, participate in it to the best of our ability, then the Universe will help us manifest our dreams.  If we have "good" intentions, treat others well, as we would have them treat us, then our true desires will be met.  

My greatest frustration today is how long it is taking to complete my Costa Rica project.  However, if I am honest with myself, this is just a "snag" in the completion of my dream.  I have nothing to complain about.  

What are you trying to bring to fruition in your life?  Does it stem from your true self's desire?  Comment below.

Love, Peace, Namaste,

Clarita

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Day 12_Living Manifestation

We come into this life from Spirit fully developed in a natural state of human awareness.  We grow and mature by learning skills to attain our desires.  And when our attention is placed in a flexible and focused state of infinite consciousness, it's natural to think we can co-create with our internal guiding Power to attain our greatest dreams.   

I was taught, early in life, to believe this world and humanity are unfair, scary and violent. My family immigrated from Cuba to the U.S. as political refugees escaping Castro's communist regime. Fear dominated my world for many years, and still, today, I find that most of my limiting beliefs stem from that fear. Consequently, my nature, which is loving, kind, gregarious and free, is at odds with that fear. 

What I want most is to be loved, protected and free. Unfortunately, many of my life's experiences showed me that the what I was to experience was the opposite.  Abuse, oppression, and abandonment became part of my story.

I reacted by separating myself from the world and fearing that expressing my true nature would cause pain and misery.  Walls were formed, I began lying to myself and hiding my vulnerabilities. I learned how to appear hardened and ready for battle to protect myself from the harsh, cruel world and the pain it brought me. The more I suited up with the armor of cockiness and obstinance, the darker and denser the burden of carrying these untruths about my nature became, and, my recourses no longer served me.  I finally had to succumb to the pain of living that lie and revealed my genuine, natural state of being, which was intrinsic to the Power of Love and Generosity.  I began the transcendence of growing beyond the pain and realized the bliss of a Universal Power.

In reality, what I am discovering as I mature in this body, mind, and spirit, is that the light will always obliterate the darkness. My true nature will always shine brightly, even through the darkest times of my life.  There will be challenges, that is the nature of existence in this dimension.  What I have come to realize is that the sun shines justly no matter if there is war or peace in our hearts.  We must have the insight and patience to wait until the dust of battle that obliterates the light settles.  Soon, we begin to see the steams of light beaming through the clouds shining over all souls and warming the harshness of humanity.  Then, we become reborn with a new awareness of peace and harmony that is ever present in Spirit.  

Creating a life of easy manifestation requires me to take care of myself first.  I need to be willing, to accept my true nature.  I am loving, happy and free.  If someone or something wants to take that away from me, there's a never-ending supply of more from Source Energy.  I can surrender it, give it away lovingly, and be recharged and fulfilled by the abundance of the Universe.

What determines my trajectory in life are the little things I do every day.  How I carry myself and treat others.  How I care for myself, my body, mind, and spirit.  Living a clean life, eating healthily, wearing comfortable, simple clothes, surrounding myself with positive people, and how I prioritize my activities each day as I set out to interact with the outside world.

I find that taking the time to sit with Spirit and immersing myself in its abundant, free-flowing energy, that these are the things that create harmony and peace in my life.  I co-create an environment for the growth and enrichment of my spiritual nature. 

On the other hand, if I overlook my basic needs for self-care, little by little, I begin to feel the burdens of everyday life weighing me down. Fear begins to override my natural loving instincts, and I see the people in my life as the enemy trying to keep me from reaching my full potential. I begin to believe that the outside world is what's preventing me from attaining my true desires and that life is just too hard. Maybe if I move, find a new partner, indulge in eating and drinking in unhealthy ways, I can forget how horrible my external circumstances are by artificially altering my state of mind.

The truth of the matter is that I am in charge of my attitude and the choices I make in my life. No outside person, place, or thing can affect my serenity unless I allow it.  The only thing that disturbs my peace of mind and internal harmony is me.  My expectations of how the world should revolve, how others should behave and my need to control all aspects of my life, is what displaces my inner peace.  The reality is that I am the only one who can accept myself and my truth.  

If I stay connected to my loving, kind and gregarious nature, nothing from the outside world can alter my peace and freedom.  If agitated and fearful, I can stop my activity, transcend this body, and move into the cosmic realms.  All I have to do is take a deep breath, close my eyes, center my body and mind, and in my heart, be with Spirit. There I am genuinely protected, loved, cared for and free to feel eternal bliss.  I can suspend my beliefs of fear and doubt and bask in the glory of freedom, peace, and tranquility.

Peace, Love, Namaste,
Clarita

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Day 11_The Matrix of Manifestation: Flexible Consciousness

Awareness is fungible, not fixed.  It is always changing, flexible and flowing.  If we expect it to stay the same forever, we limit our understanding of the subtle nature of fluidity and free-flowing energy. 

A great example of how awareness can be flexible is the experience of making a lifestyle change.  For instance, changing your eating habits by eliminating consumption of unhealthy foods and substances, like sugar, processed foods, alcohol and other chemicals known to be toxic to your body.  That change can cause misery and pain. Going through detox is not fun.  When one develops unhealthy habits, depriving the body and mind of the things it craves can cause headaches, stomach cramps, and a general sense of unease and discomfort about your body.  Sometimes, the pain of going through a change in habit can tempt one to abandon the idea.

On the other hand, once the body adjusts to this new way of eating, a new kind of freedom is found, it feels better.  One begins to relax into this new way of living and basic needs like sleeping, breathing, evacuating, and autonomic bodily functions return to homeostasis. Soon one finds that the pendulum has swung in the other direction, and free-flowing energy begins to compel you to make healthier choices.  However, if you are not diligent about creating these new choices daily,  you will find yourself sliding back towards those old habits of consumption which took you out of balance in the first place.

Change comes to me in waves. If I stick with the process, I usually understand that the benefits will outway the negatives.  My commitment to writing this blog and reflecting on Deepak and Oprah's 21 Day Meditations, is a NEW addition to my day and a change in my usual meditation practice.  Sometimes I balk at having to sit down and set my mind to the task.  However, if I embrace the process and override my inclination to say, "forget it," I begin to trust that, through it, I will learn about myself.  The benefit will result in me learning a new discipline and possibly change the course of my life.  What if, through this process, I have a breakthrough understanding of my underlying motivates for the choices I make?  Then the "process" becomes a tool for change which, at worst, can improve my writing skills, at best, becomes a catalyst for reaching a higher state of being.  

   

Remember the example of the weed pushing through the slab of concrete to lift itself up and out into the sunlight?  That's what it feels like when I work on building my desire to become my Absolute Best.  I can change, grow and turn towards the sunlight of the Spirit each and every day, even beyond the 21 days of this challenge.  No matter how hard it feels to plow through this, I know I will have a breakthrough and come to a deeper understanding of who I am.

Life's journey ebbs and flows.  The events we experience are like the waves on the ocean, they come, we navigate the ride, feel the surge of the energy beneath us, and, innately ride along with the great Power that propels us over it.  The sea of awareness is like the ocean. We can learn how to feel that Spiritual Wave coming towards us and learn to ride it to the end.  Then, when the ride is over, gently come down into the womb of the Universe and prepare for the next one.  Or, we can get distracted, lose our focus, be unprepared to ride the wave, and when it comes, find ourselves crashing down into the surge of an immense force that tosses us about like we were ragdolls. 

Meditation can be very similar to riding that ocean wave.  My mental and bodily state while I do my practice determines whether I ride that wave and gently settle into its end or, become distracted, crash and get tossed about.  It's impossible to shut off the many thoughts in my head while I'm meditating.  However, if I sit quietly and "observe" them as they pass by my mind's eye, I begin to calm down. The tension starts to slip away and time stands still. 

On the contrary, when I hold on to a thought and begin building another "story," such as, "I always have to take care of everyone else's problems," or, "I'm running late again, I can't stand the thought of getting on the 405 freeway," I tense up.  My shoulders elevate up to my ears, my heart rate increases, my breathing becomes shallower, and I get out of sync with Spirit.  Spirit will not interrupt my busy mind, it waits for me to invite it in.  However, I can only do that if I'm not engaged with my story.

The only way for me to escort in the free-flowing nature of Spirit is to ease my breath, release the grasp on my thoughts, relax and just exist on my couch, NOW.  Not tomorrow, later today, but NOW.  Now, is when I can embrace the magic of my heart, notice it's gentle beating, feel the expansion of my lungs as they breath in and out, and observe the wonder of intelligence and magic of my body's autonomic systems. Only in the NOW can I hear the sound of the ocean in my head, sounds of nature all around, soft music in the background, warmth on my skin and the cool breeze hitting and cooling it ever so gently. Only in the NOW, I can feel the flow of life.

Meditation feels like a hug from the Universe.  Receiving love from Source reminds me that I am not alone and that there's a more significant purpose for my existence.  The surge of that Power is electric, and the more I gravitate towards it, the more my energy becomes recharged and ready to power through my day.  The charge makes it easy to make the right choices for my body, mind, and soul.  Whether those choices are to eat or drink more healthily, choose like-minded, more positive people to surround myself with, or focus on activities that drive me towards my highest purpose, they bring me fluid and flowing energy Powered by Spirit.  So daily, I chose to ride the wave of life by living life in wonder and amazement.

Peace, Love, Namaste.
Clarita

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Day 10_The Matrix of Manifestation: Focus

This meditation demonstrates how our focus allows us to drill down and get to work on our desires.  It facilitates our drive to concentrate on the task at hand.  We become one with the act, there is no separation between the doer and the doing.  Focusing on what we love is straightforward, but what about when the job is less enjoyable?  Then, the tendency for distraction begins to creep in and we quickly lose our focus.

I remember loving school, for the most part, except for math.  I missed a class in 3rd-grade when our lesson for the day was learning how to carry over numbers.  My grades were always A's until that dreadful day.  When I came back to school after my absence, I had no idea how the teacher was converting a seven to a six by borrowing one (really a ten) from it and giving it to the five, which sat to the right of it, converting the five into fifteen.  That way, we could subtract six from the original five because now, it was fifteen.  We could solve the problem of subtracting a larger number from the smaller one.  What??  Can you manipulate numbers on a whim just to solve the problem?  I did not understand, I missed that lesson!  How did these new rules work?  I could only solve the problems by counting on my fingers!  I didn't get the memo and, the teacher could not or would not explain.

It took me a long time to get up to speed with math.  It became my worst subject, taking my grade on a nose-dive; from an A to an F!  There went my confidence, I shut down, lost my focus and was unable to grasp math for years after that experience.  It wasn't until I took remedial math in 9th grade that I finally had an "ah-ha" moment and things began to shift.  I was able to focus and once again, became willing to learn.

On the contrary, that was not my experience with dance class.  There, I was always focused.  If I didn't understand, I would ask questions.  If I couldn't execute the move correctly, I would try and try again until I mastered and excelled in my technique.  The difference between my fear of numbers and my love of dance was like night and day.  My ability to focus, learn and grow with a subject I was interested in, loved and was fascinated by, created laser focus in my mind.  It allowed me to develop creativity, build strength in my body, bend and mold it into the dancer I am today.

Even though my skills for understanding numbers are nowhere near the level of a mathematician's, they play a crucial part in my success.  The focus of my business is derived from my gift of dance, my desire to be of service and sharing my understanding of health and fitness with others.  The love of dance is what allows me to thrive and make a good living. Teaching others how to take care of the body, mind, and spirit forces me to focus on keeping my books in order.  It forces me to work with those numbers that used to boggle my mind.  I must continuously check my bottom line, determine which aspects of my business bring me the best R.O.I. and have the discipline to decide where to place my money and energy for continued growth.

I believe the Universe can be our best teacher.  Whenever there is a need for us to grow and learn, it provides the vehicle for us to better focus our energies.  We, in cooperation with this Power, can expand our knowledge and understanding in the areas of our lives where we are weakest. Through adversity, we become stronger.  What seems to be our biggest obstacle slowly begins to cooperate with us and starts tearing away at the barriers and distractions which hold us back from our highest purpose.  We become willing to accept the Power within us that moves us towards the light.

Nothing can hold back the heart's desire.  Focus, strength, and determination will push through any obstacle in its way.  The weed that wants to break through to the surface and bathe in the sunlight cannot be stopped; by any means.  Even a slab of concrete cannot tamp it down.  It will find the tiniest crack to break through, and once it does, nature will take its course and help it continue to grow, expand and thrive.

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Day 9_The Matrix of Manifestation: Unbounded Awareness

Feeling that connectivity to Source is unbounded awareness.  I love walking down to the river by my house in Costa Rica, finding my favorite swimming hole, taking a refreshing dive into the crisp, clean water, watching the rippling streams of cascading waterfalls and basking in the sun on my favorite hot, smooth rock.  When I sit there, quiet in meditation, feeling grounded, connected with the earth and Cosmos, that's when, most often, tears of joy stream down my face.  It is then I know I am home, in my heart, in Unbounded Awareness.  It's the place where the Universe lives in me and my sense of being lives within It.

So many moments in my life have proven to me that Grace does exist and I am part of that matrix.  When I dance, my body is transformed into an expression of my thoughts and feelings; the telling of my story transcends my movements.  When I write from my heart, the words flow out, seemingly, without a thought, as if I'm receiving a download from the Cosmos and through me, the information is transcribed.

Those out of body experiences are where the awareness of my existence breaches the confines of my skin and merges with the great beyond; beyond body and mind into pure Spirit.  Spirit dances, moves and communicates with itself through me.  The matrix works to form my reality.

That fullness of experience is so revealing that it can't be missed.  I remember a time, way back in my memory, as a young girl when I was racing the 50-yard dash.  I wanted to win.  I remember pushing myself to, what I thought, was my maximum capacity and then all of a sudden, something shifted and it felt like I was no longer the one doing the action.  My legs were literally moving on their own, without my power.  I glanced down at them and saw how they were pumping hard and fast, up and down, my feet hitting the track at a rapid pace, the wind against my face and simultaneously, pulling back and feeling like I was suspended in midair.  I can remember that feeling like it was yesterday.  The memory seared itself into my mind giving me the gift of Unbounded Awareness very early in life.  I learned to believe that great Power exists within me and I can do anything I put my heart, body, mind, and soul into.  And yes, I won!

Where in your life has the matrix of Unbounded Awareness presented itself?

Love, Peace, Namaste,
Clarita

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Day 8_The Royal Road to Manifestation

"Intention" is the focus of today's meditation.  "My intention holds the key to fulfillment," says Deepak.  This meditation guides us through understanding that our desires are seeds for our intention.   And, in order to manifest our desires, we must care for the seedling.

I find that, for me, simple desires such as satiating my appetite or purchasing a dress are easy to attain. However, when the goal becomes a BHAG (big hairy audacious goal) my tendency is to freeze, procrastinate, blame others or begin negative self-talk.  Sometimes I catch myself saying, "Forget it, that BHAG is too much trouble, I'm over it."

This meditation shows me how limited thinking becomes ineffective and thwarts my determination to take action towards my dreams.  Thinking that my desires come from external sources, rather than from the Universal Source, underminds my awareness and makes me believe that my dreams are unreachable.

If I find that I am feeling frustrated and exasperated, not getting what I want, unable to attain my goals, in most instances, those are the times when I'm moving outside of my comfort zone.  Just noticing that I'm uncomfortable forces me to STOP, go deep within, and reach into my heart.  That is the only way I can reach Source Energy and truly co-create my life's dreams with the Universe.  It is through my true intentions that I will reach my dreams.

Realizing Divine Source, finding its nature seeded deep within my heart, affects a connection with the Universe.  That Power, through meditation, becomes embodied within and, when I become fully aware of that bond, boundless ability and strength override my limited thinking.  I gather the confidence to take action and move towards those BIG goals.

And sometimes, the action that comes to mind during meditation is to do NOTHING.  Just sitting, pausing, contemplating, and watching for an indication from the Divine as to what might be the best "next step" to take is, sometimes, the best course of action.

Dealing with negative people who are uncooperative, defiant, and obstinate are by far my greatest challenge.  So many people take what they need and never give back.  That frustrates me to no end.  I tend to lose my cool around them because I foolishly try to convince them to see the errors of their ways.  I get heated and my voice gets louder, I interrupt because, of course, I know what they're going to say and it's wrong.  By the end of these of confrontations, I'm the one who's exhausted and beat.

However, when I let go and release them and their refusal to cooperate up to the Universe saying, "Ok, I know Source Energy has something bigger and better in store for me that does NOT include these people.  Help me find a way around this impasse."  Then, a weight is lifted and all becomes peaceful.  I surrender. 

I always admired Barak Obama when watching how measured he was when dealing with difficult people.  I never saw him lose his cool.  How I wish I could handle myself like that, calm, collected, cool, no matter how obstinant others might be.  That is a learned skill and I desire to master carrying myself in that manner.  I know that if I continue to meditate regularly, envisioning myself handling tough situations with difficult people in that same fashion, I too can reach a natural state of temperance.  All I have to do is have the intention, then, care for the seedling.

Peace, Love, Namaste,
Clarita

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