Let Your Inner Lion Roar

Today as I write this I am in Day #14 of our new normal life in isolation during the global Covid-19 pandemic. A few weeks ago I started to write a post about how we've been living "caged" existences, long for a freer life that is both exciting and inspiring. I believe most of us have a Lion within us that longs to be released to ROAR now more than ever!

In a conversation over lunch at our favorite Indian restaurant a few weeks ago, my close friend Jeff was conveying his deep frustration and how he dreamed of experiencing more adventure and freedom in life. He is in his early 40’s with a wife, 2 kids, a mortgage and a stressful career. Yesterday he texted me asking : “Are we having fun yet"? We had a subsequent phone conversation laughing about the good old days 2 weeks ago when we could freely meet up for a meal, coffee, go to the gym or skiing, We even miss being able to go to our offices. No doubt our lives have been totally turned upside down! Talk about "caged" existences, we are indeed in uncharted territory now!

As I reflect on the time of life when I was at the same stage of life as Jeff, I had the 3 kids under the age of 5, a marriage that was going flat, a mortgage on the big suburban house and a career in a toxic family business. I was frustrated too, adored my kids yet felt trapped. In reality life seems to go even faster than we were told it would when we were young. I adore my kids as much if not more than ever! They are in their 20’s, grown up and live independently. Two them are far away now and I’m blessed with a beautiful new grandson who luckily lives nearby.

I'm in my 60's now, feel young & quite healthy, So much has changed as I’ve grown older. For the most part, I have a much greater sense of serenity and inner peace. I’ve endured many of life’s challenges, divorce, heartbreak, the loss of loved ones and friends as well personal struggles with addiction and depression. While this time in isolation is challenging, I am grateful that I have many tools to maintain that peace of mind.

I relate to what my buddy is experiencing. In that stage of life we are mostly outwardly focused, busy building our careers, families, homes and status. We aren’t as focused on the inner work needed to experience a truly fulfilling life. As I reflect back at that time and compare it to how life is for me today, what is totally different is that I am more inwardly focused now. What used to seem so important no longer matters. Giving much of my stuff away and living a simpler less cluttered existence brings me a deeper sense of serenity.

In these days of solitude it might be tempting to get negative and fearful. What I am choosing is to take the time to dive deeper within , listening to the songs of my soul. My LION is roaring with love, hope and gratitude, We will get through this time with a much greater awareness of what truly matters in liife,

Be the LOVE you seek and let your inner LION roar!

Rebel, It’s Time to Care Less

These days it’s difficult not to focus on the vast array of outrageous news that bombards us from far too many sources. There are the President’s non stop mostly ridiculous and outrageous tweets that cable news and social media are intent on repeating ad nauseam. What if we consciously decide to stop giving up our serenity by paying so much  attention to him? I have wasted countless energy discussing how he and his administration are going to destroy our democracy, the environment and start World War III! I’ve recently come to the realization that we will endure this presidency, survive and most likely thrive in the future.

All the mass shootings are tragic and quite disturbing indeed . And what about the threat of terrorism that politicians want us to believe we are in imminent danger of at any moment. These two issues are are almost one and the same.  While they are real dangers, chances are we are more likely to have a piano fall on us than be killed by a terrorist attack or mass shooting. Don’t misunderstand me, I am an advocate for reasonable gun control. What I am trying to convey is that these issues loom so large because they have become viral, grabbing our attention from whatever screen we happen to have our face in. If we gave much less attention to them, they wouldn’t necessarily stop occurring but much of the energy that fuels them would dissipate.

You see whether it’s Trump, the Terrorists or the Mass Shooters, what they all share is an obsession with being the center of attention and the media especially viral social media only feed their obsession. 

When we place too much of our focus on the sensational and all too often disturbing events that are in our daily news feeds, we give up our connection to our soul’s inner tranquility. I’m not saying to bury your head in the sand, I care about mankind’s well being. Just place more of your focus on truth beauty and goodness and care about the  best things in life that really matter. 

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Forgiveness is Rebellious

As I strive to live in a higher state of consciousness, what has come up for me recently is the healing power of forgiveness. I've known for years that resentments of any kind are huge impediments to inner peace.  A new realization about what forgiveness truly is has enabled me to open up to how it works in our lives. To be clear, forgiveness doesn't mean we just "turn the other cheek" or overlook the wrong done to us or what we may have done to ourselves. It's a process in which we take complete responsibility for every aspect of our lives. We see everything and everyone as reflections of ourselves. Coming to this realization takes a willingness to face our victimhood and the courage to transcend the limitation of that mentality.

You may ask why forgiveness is rebellious. Our egos thrive on being victimized and holding on to resentments. Within all of us is an inner guide (rebel) or higher power. Many refer to it as our soul, spirit or God within. Whatever we feel comfortable calling it, I know it exists from personal experience. The process of tuning in to it requires an awareness of the ego's hold on our minds. By becoming more aware, we are rebelling against the ego and the chaos and havoc it so often wreaks.

To live a life of higher consciousness, truth and peace requires a discipline to discern the difference between our ego (lower) mind and our inner guide (higher) mind. I rebel against my ego by actively seeking conscious contact with my higher Self taking regular time for myself in quiet solitude with meditation, contemplation and prayer. To embrace forgiveness is like crossing the bridge from darkness to light, chaos to true peace of mind. We will then find ourselves on the road to a life of true happiness, with a real connection to the wisdom of our inner guide.

*Photo courtesy of Mehosh Photography: http://www.mehosh.com