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The Native Americans have a saying “Walk in Beauty”. I believe the “Beauty” they are referring to is the beauty of Love that is present and available to us in each moment when we are open to its Presence within and around us. The courage and wisdom of our hearts’ knowing helps us stay open to a greater good coming forth in any moment. Listening to our hearts’ wisdom requires an awareness or mindfulness of our thoughts and feelings in each moment. Through mindfulness we may become aware of our acceptance or unwillingness to receive the heart’s wisdom. The mind tends to refer each moment to either past learned experiences or future imaginings, which hold us in a box that almost seems to squeeze the power of Love available to us. The tighter the squeeze from thoughts of fear, anger, resentment, etc., the less capable we are of giving Love’s power the freedom to move to affect positive growth and change for ourselves, others, and any given life situation. Albert Einstein reminded us that “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. ” Every moment, every life situation, no matter how difficult, is an opportunity to be open to abundant possibilities to grow, to remember our full potential as both human and divine, and to choose our hearts’ wisdom and the power of Love’s Presence to transform ourselves, our lives, and the world. Like ripples in water, we can affect millions of lives simply choosing to respond in Love, forgiveness, and mercy in each moment to life’s situations. To do this, we need to be willing to step out of our “box”. The “box” has become a comfortable place for us all. It feels safe from extremely stressful and challenging life situations that seem to inflict physical, mental or emotional pain in some way. We think the box protects us from being vulnerable to further hurt or pain. However, just the opposite is true. Living within the box creates anxiety, frustration, and stagnation. We lose our vitality and joy of life. It is when we are most vulnerable with open hearts that we are strongest, empowering us to affect change for greater good. The heart needs room to stretch and radiate it’s Presence. Lucky for us our hearts have the courage needed to step out of the box and open ourselves once again to life. Rick Foster and Greg Hicks, authors of How We Choose to Be Happy, share an exercise to help us step out of the boxy by recasting our fears and facing our “opportunities for growth”. The exercise helps us receive and accept our feelings and our pain, honoring it all. Once accepted, we can then move into transforming our feelings with insights and new responses. Here are questions from this exercise: Journaling our answers to these questions on a regular basis will open the door wide for our hearts’ wisdom and knowing to guide us out of the box. We may not have immediate answers to some of these questions. It takes commitment to sit in the silence and keep working with them. Sometimes we need the support of loved ones, friends, or a compassionate, objective guide to steer us through what appears to be our darkest times. With loving support, we can surrender and step out of our box, allowing our hearts to boldly open to embrace, love. and heal our minds, emotions, and bodies with a rich wisdom and compassion that only the heart can give. In our surrender and acceptance, we find a peace that carries us through a passage into a more integrated and whole self, ready to create anew in life. The more we choose to embrace each moment as it is, the more fully we are present and alive. The more present in each moment, the more we are able to tap into the resources of our hearts’ bounty. The more we experience the bounty of our hearts, the more joy we uncover and want to share with one another. The more joy we share, the more others are willing to open their hearts, and so the ripple continues on. It all begins with our choice to live and embrace each moment to its fullest, walking in Beauty. Paramahansa Yogananda, founder of Self-Realization Fellowship in California, once said: “Live each present moment completely, and the future will take care of itself. Fully enjoy the wonder and beauty of each instant. Practice the presence of peace. The more you do that, the more you will feel the presence of that power in your life.” May you know the powerful presence of Peace and Love within you, and may you walk in Beauty. Shalom, my friend…Peace. Rev. Aurora Mary Grace Kilai is an Interfaith Minister, Reiki Master, and Educator for Peace offering Spiritual Direction, Compassionate Healing, and Interfaith Services. She may be reached in Brookfield, CT at (203) 775-5824. |