If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of yourself.  If you want to eliminate the suffering in the world, then eliminate all that is dark and negative in yourself.  Truly, the greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation.- Lao Tzu

As we pursue this story of our spiritual awakening, it dawns on me that a strong desire and a quiet mind is all we need at first.  It is in the unguarded, open moments, that true states of grace are revealed.  Then as we surrender more and more of our ego, it frees up space for spirit to enter.   I know if I don’t hear my highest self, it’s because I am choosing not to listen.

I have noticed that letting go of judgment, criticism and complaint feels sweet.  I have also come to believe that the forgiveness process begins and ends with me.

Carl Rogers said that  “Anyone can cure themselves if only they could hear what they were saying.”  And I believe, if I become your mirror, you can see yourself.  But you have to be emotionally honest and not be buried in denial.  In other words, you prepare yourself to be ready to see whatever it is you need to have revealed to you so you can (through your awareness) come to acceptance. Then you can take action to change and be the truest, most authentic form of yourself, till the next metamorphosis.

The spirit wants to touch our mind and the ego wants us to focus on the body.  I have the choice to learn through Joy or Pain.  I choose Joy.

I choose to transform my negative, fearful thoughts into positive, loving solutions.

And I do want to awaken – I do want to eliminate the dark and let my light glow – I do willingly seek transformation.

It is a miracle that a shift in perception or a change in attitude can be an agent of inner healing, living each moment in freedom, abandoning yourself to love, radiating out like ripples in a lake to others – or you can choose to see only ugliness, make your time here a hell on earth, dying each day with no zest for life, contributing little or nothing to others, imploding inward.  Free will makes it your choice.  Even in the worst of circumstances, throughout history, a strong spiritual center made survivors and heroes out of apparent victims.  Their power lay in their gratitude.  On the other hand, even in the most distinguished or materially wealthy homes, there exists the potential for a sad state of people whom seriously lack a sense of abundance.  Their weakness lies in their self-centeredness.

The choice is always ours. We live in our heads.