Compassion starts with the understanding that all of physical life flows from a common Source energy. Call it life force, God, Creator, the Divine, the Universe (the name doesn’t really matter). This Source energy is pure positive, creative, loving energy. Each of us is a unique expression of this energy as it flows through us. Everyone’s spiritual core or inner self is made up of this positive energy.

When we are born, we take on an ego consciousness which supports our lives here in the physical world. The ego helps us survive and thus has a stronghold on our mental processing. Our ego helps us plan our day, such as how to find food, clothing, and shelter for ourselves. It is a good administrator, but was never meant to be in charge. Many people mistakenly think that their ego is their real self. Since ego consciousness is very limited in the functions it can perform, many people walk around with a very poor self image because of this mis-identification. They are afraid to look within because they sense lack there. The good news is that we are not our egos. “Enlightenment” is remembering that we are Source energy at our core.

All of life is made up of energy, including ourselves and the physical world around us. Our personal vibrations can be read by technological instruments, as well as, sensitive individuals. Since our core is pure positive energy, the way to raise our vibration is to shift our thinking to a more positive or expansive perspective. We can use our emotions as a barometer of where our frequency is relative to our spiritual center. If we are feeling good, then we are close to the set point of our spirit. If we are feeling negative emotions, then we are out-of-alignment with our spiritual truth. We all have the same Source energy flowing through us; consequently, there is a continuous spiritual call for each of us to be in alignment with our inner  loving, creative selves. It is not possible to be someone who is mean, self-righteous, and uncaring while being in alignment. Those are sure signs of mis-alignment.

Compassion comes into play when we are feeling mis-aligned or when we encounter others who are out-of-alignment. As we realized that we all are spiritual beings trying to manage our ego mindsets in the midst of the challenges of this physical life experience, we have the opportunity to be more kind to ourselves and others. Being gentle with ourselves is where true compassion begins. As we let ourselves off  the hook, then we are more likely to give others the benefit of the doubt in interactions, as well. No one knows the depths of the issues that someone is dealing with. Being gentle with ourselves allows us to be gentle with others.

SO the bottom line is… as we focus on maintaining our alignment with our inner spiritual core (our Source energy), we become more loving and compassionate with ourselves. In turn, we begin to naturally extend that love and compassion out to others.  This takes practice, but the benefits are worth the effort. Compassion allows us to enjoy our life experiences in cooperation with others and paves the road to a peaceful planet.

Thriving requires a commitment to ourselves – a decision to step into a life plan that is bigger than most of us allow ourselves to be. It requires us to stretch beyond our comfort zones; perhaps new foods, new experiences, new ideas. It includes living consciously with a willingness to listen to our inner guidance and an honoring of the lessons we are learning day by day. Thriving is living true to our purpose – using our abilities to inspire ourselves and others. When we dare to thrive, we express our creativity freely and without fear of judgment from others. Thriving isn‘t something that happens to us; it is a courageous choice to live the life that we came to live. It is an agreement with ourselves to explore all that we are capable of. And most importantly, thriving demands recognition and appreciation of the brilliant Source energies that run through us and through all of the natural world. Thriving flows from a place of respect for the magnificent intricacies of our physical bodies and implies a deep love of the unique life force that is the essence of our being.

It is our nature to thrive. Only our fears can prevent it. When we love who we are and allow ourselves to be what we came to be, then we will inevitably thrive. It is the Divine plan and the promise of Nature. Look around and notice the abundance of flora and fauna that surrounds us season-after-season always renewing itself. We are an integral part of that cycle of life. But unlike the plants, we consciously choose our destinies. Do we choose to be a part of the stream of well-being or do we pinch ourselves off and settle for mediocrity? When we choose to thrive, we align with the powerful forces of the Universe. And as we dare to thrive, we give others permission to do the same.

However, what often gets overlooked in this process is that our narratives are personally created. They are subjective interpretations of what we or others have experienced. They are the mind’s best guess about what is really going on. They rely heavily on past experiences, ours and others. Missing or unknown information is filled in with assumptions and personal projections. Everyone is a story-teller in this respect. Making sense of our lives is important for our survival, but we often forget that we are the ones who have developed this innovative coping strategy. Our selective amnesia causes us to be controlled by our own inner narratives. When we fail to realize that the stories are our creative inventions, they act as straitjackets for our being. We allow their rules and limitations to define who we are and what we can become. When this happens our narratives become the mechanism for continuing our past into our future. Everyone is living their thoughts moment by moment. Our beliefs and expectations flow from the stories we tell ourselves. If we don’t want to relive our past, then we must change our minds and create a new story, personally and collectively.

Rather than focus on our own transgressions or childhood traumas at the hands of others, we can choose a different perspective. We can find ways to soften our thoughts to allow ourselves and others their mistakes. We can give people the benefit of the doubt… they have their own struggles and may be doing the best that they can. We can search for explanations that feel hopeful…a job loss may inspire us to finally do what we have always wanted to do. The Universe is constantly opening up opportunities for each one of us, but we must be in a place to see them. When we release the old beliefs that no longer serve us, we let go of the blinders that have limited our perception of empowering possibilities. We, in turn,  shift our personal point of attraction and become aligned with a more positive future.

It is time to remember we are the story-tellers. We are not victims of fate or fortune. Each of us has the power to choose our story and, in choosing, we determine the quality and direction of our lives. We can focus on struggle and pain, or we can choose joy. So why not choose joy?

Seems like the older we get, the more solemn our outlook becomes. Our culture equates maturity with an attitude of seriousness about life. Taking our responsibilities seriously is a good thing, but often worry and negative expectations get thrown in there, too. It’s so natural these days to worry, that we question the sanity of someone who is optimistic…as if they aren’t facing “reality”. But why is the only acceptable reality one that is full of fear and dread? When we are weary from stress, why not choose a better way to go about our daily lives? We can turn our attention to those aspects of life that are pleasing to us… activities that ease our minds and feed our spirits. A nature walk with a friend or dancing to our favorite songs. Inviting neighbors over for a potluck dinner or indulging our creative juices in a new project. When we allow ourselves space to enjoy the day, we become better able to deal with the more demanding aspects of our lives. Play is essential to our well-being. Just as we need sleep to refresh our physical bodies, we need time for play to renew our mentally overworked minds. Without play our life energy becomes anorexic. As vibrational beings we need creative endeavors and moments of laughter and joy to remind us of who we really are. Play isn’t just for children…it is the key to a balanced life for every one of us.

I spent most of my life pretending I was normal. I tried my best to fit in. I followed the rules (for the most part) and was the perfect student, even class president. I studied life, too. But I never understood why people did what they did. Couldn’t they see a bigger picture? Why did we all have to believe the same thing and put down those who were different? The intensity of the negative responses when I tried to challenge the norm scared me into wanting to belong. So I continued to hide out hoping not to be discovered. I pulled it off for decades until the strain caught up with me. My physical body no longer allowed me to continue the hoax. I fell into a spiral of exhaustion and depression that took me years to recover from. I had tried to shut down my intuition or use it only for myself. My family wasn’t appreciating my insights about life because I wasn’t valuing my gift either. In that dark place, I began to question if the ruse was really worth it?
At the crossroads between despair and hope, I chose to see a new way of being. My only choice… I had to learn to love myself. I slowly began to reveal my sensitivity to energy and my intuitive abilities with those around me. Much to my surprise, others reciprocated with expressions of appreciation for my support and guidance. Acceptance began outside of my family at first and then slowly trickled in. Day by day, like a child learning to walk, I tested my abilities and let others in on my experiences. As my confidence increased, so did my willingness to allow people to see the real me. Over time, my health improved and my life became brighter and more expansive. Those early years helped me find the courage to change. Now I see a world of limitless possibilities and I feel an integral part of it all. I understand that who I am is an essential element in the Divine design of life. I have learned that there is no need to hide because I belong here and there will always be a place for me… just the way I am.

First of all, simple implies the idea or thing that we are thinking about can be reduced down to its core. The “simple” truth represents only the bottom line facts. Nothing extraneous is included. Secondly, when we keep it simple, we are allowing clarity to prevail. The intention is to focus on only the essentials. In this way we bring forth the purest essence of what it is we are focused on in the moment. The word can also be applied to something in its natural state like “simple” beauty. The object of our attention exists in its original form or it can be viewed in a way that allows its various elements to be appreciated as a whole without distractions.

Choosing a simple life allows us to focus our attention on those aspects that are most meaningful for us as we release the rest. Nothing is retained that does not support balance. There is no clutter within our minds or in our environment that demands our attention. We are free to take in the natural beauty and essence of the world around us. Simplicity opens up space in the containers of our lives for new ideas and opportunities to show up. We are available to the ease and flow of life as it moves through us. With the clarity of mind that accompanies simplicity, we can more readily access our innate wisdom. There is more energy, more spontaneity, more joy.

But simplicity as a lifestyle is not for the faint of heart. It springs forth from a deep knowingness that we are all part of a Divine stream of well-being that responds to our requests. It demands trust in our innate worthiness to receive what we need, when we need it. It requires confidence in our ability to allow into our lives all that we ask for and a willingness to let go of those things that no longer serve us. In choosing a simple life, we become a channel for the flow of abundance as it moves through us and back out into the world again. Simplicity allows us to live in the moment with fewer constraints on our time, money and personal energy. As we release our grip on the physical, mental, and emotional “stuff” of life, we open ourselves to receive and appreciate a most precious gift, freedom.

It happened on an airplane during a trip to Florida to visit my in-laws. I had been struggling to recover my health after a bad case of the flu and was hoping that some time in the sun would help me heal. As I boarded the plane I took my seat and began coughing violently much to the dismay of the other passengers. A gentile white-haired lady sat down next to me who seemed oblivious to my condition. She greeted me with a smile and a nod. From the moment she sat down, my coughing stopped and I didn’t cough again the rest of the trip. Throughout the flight she radiated love to me. When I told her things about my life, she smiled and said, “I know, dear.” I wanted to ask about her life, but seemed unable to get the questions out. Whatever information I was able to gather, I couldn’t retain in my memory. As we disembarked the plane, I thanked her for her companionship and then searched for my in-laws at the gate. The next thing I knew, she walked up to my hosts and said to them, “You need to love her.” I explained to them that she was the lovely lady who sat next to me on the plane. As I turned around to see where she was heading, I realized she was gone. No where in sight. She had literally disappeared in the large terminal!

There are people or “angels” in our lives who show up when we most need them. They may be friends or family members or, perhaps, a complete stranger who appears unexpectedly just at the right moment to assist us through some difficulty. Their intention is to remind us that we are loved and supported. And their message is often deeply appreciated. As for me, I will be forever grateful for the kindness of a loving angel who flew with me that winter day.