What Do I Want?

One of my friends has a signature on her e-mail that states “The happiest people don’t have everything…they are just happy with what they have.” Noble words yet they always leave me with an unformed question in the back of my mind. Today her phrase came to mind again as I was allowing a critical assessment of a happening in my barrio to consume my thoughts.

The tranquil Sunday morning had been suddenly shattered by the sound of an amplified siren, followed by the piercing blow of a foghorn. The assault continued for some time augmented with Riga- tone music; a kind of Latin Rap. All of this was being projected from disco speakers about a block away from our house. Even though this is typical of Hondurans for parties, advertising a business or just a beckoning customers, my mind immediately went into its “stink” mode. I began condemning folks willing to sacrifice the quality of life of their neighbors for a few Lempira income.

As soon as I became aware of those thoughts I began to put on the brakes by asking myself, “What do you want?’ ‘What did you have planned today that the celebration would interfere with?’ Since that would probably be what was happening; the location of the music would make it be part of a birthday, wedding or such. I should be grateful that I do not live across the street and just focus on something positive until a neighbor who speaks the language better complains to the right person and gets the noise toned down.

And that’s obviously what happened. As I write this a mix of Caribbean, Popular Spanish and Ranchero music floats through the yard at an easy volume for anyone in the neighborhood to easily hear but not suffer from … minus the amplified sound effects.

Outside of my negativity I heard my rational mind ask; ‘What do I want?’ I realized it was asking what would it take for me to release critical judgment of the actions of others? I learned years ago that material things don’t make people happy. Even more, that any material thing I wanted could be attained just by deciding on it and then holding the positive intent. As my friend’s statement says being happy with what you have is important since that satisfied state helps create more. Negative thoughts are constricting.

So, there it was, the question that insisted I bare my soul of ego and stand naked and venerable before the trappings of the world. I could feel fear rise to protect my heart. Yet as I put aside the fear and allowed the question presence with each ensuing question, I was finally guided to the eventual answer. I want to achieve my ultimate potential; the answer that becomes its own question.

Let Go of All You Fear to Lose

I’ve just returned from holding workshops in the States. It is alarming to see the condition of sadness and despair that fills so many communities. The news media only reinforces this negativity by sensationalizing unhappy events associated with the process of change that is happening. This is probably why I was impressed to start doing the “TOOLS FOR TRANSITION” workshops.

One of the greatest things about facilitating workshops is that I get to learn so much; and I had many opportunities to test my beliefs with this one. In the business of preparing and marketing a class (especially at this long distance) it’s easy to lose sight of the positive outcome I want to see from these travels. Deadlines, communication stalls, media coverage promoting tales of terror are all distractions from the intent I have placed on my work. And yet the “work” helps me remember to USE WHAT I TEACH.

This past trip to the Phoenix area was definitely a test of the tools I teach from last minute changes in my meeting room, unedited advertising that offered my class for FREE, flight itineraries that took me to another region of the nation to begin my return with only a half hour between each of the three connections. I found myself thinking that my luggage would never make my final destination with me.

As I realized the negative spiral of my thoughts I immediately stopped. Erasing them, I replaced them with positive images of the outcomes I wanted: harmonious people attending my workshop and my luggage sitting at my feet in Honduras as I waited for my husband to pick me up.

Try this experiment: think of one thing that is making you sad or unhappy and allow yourself to erase the image and replace it with one of the outcome you want. Don’t think about HOW you will get there, just see it completed as you want. In letting go of the fearful image and replacing it with with one of faith, you have made the first step in bringing about change. Now, hold on to the new image.

Weaving a Dream

It’s difficult for some people to get a picture of what is happening when they read or hear the term “Dream Weaving.” I think part of the confusion comes from the popular Native American dream catchers. One, the dream catcher, is passive and the other proactive.

I’ve been tempted to address this confusion for some time but have been busy working on a new book teaching the use of spiritual principles to produce a new reality. The title is “Let the Rain Come Down: spiritual tools to affect change.” This morning the term dream weaving was questioned again. As I heard my words offered in explanation, I realized I was spouting the same components I have been writing about. Universal principles are the very fibers to turn the vaporous facets of dreams into a physical reality.

Much like the beautiful textiles of Mayan and Peruvian weavers, they are woven strands of colored cotton or wool that create a finished picture the world can understand. The casual observer sees only the assorted spools of color; they have little form or interest. Yet even before the first strand is placed the finished picture exists in the weavers mind.

With the cosmic laws of polarity, vibration and mental gender it is possible to lay a dream foundation. Our mind, being part of the greater Divine Mind is supported in each and every wish. Still, so much of our reality is reflective of our perspective. It is the resposibility of each weaver to willingly release past pains and tainted truths to clear the fabric for the new picture (reality) to appear. Forgiveness, faith and gratitude become essential threads.