This morning I noticed a beautiful sprout on top of a big rock in front of the house. It looked so happy. It had no fear. It was in its total fullness.
The message was very simple – have trust. The one who has helped you sprout, will also appear in the form of soil, air, water, sunshine. And the truth is, it does appear, against all odds. We were all born somewhere and we are all here today. Every day, every moment, some form of nurturing has appeared for us and supported us in the world.
When we stay connected to that gratitude and appreciation for the blessings in our life, we are truly connected with our strength. But when our attention goes away and we focus on what is lacking in our lives or what could make us happier, we forget our strength and forget what we already have.
So often we hear something that sounds good, we try it for a day, and then go back to our old way of being, our old pattern. How can we create lasting change in our lives? The real work is inside.
Pay attention to the patterns that you have created in your mind. For instance, the tendency to focus on what is lacking in your life or whatever negative way of thinking you fall into that saps your energy or lowers your self-esteem. When you feel yourself moving in a negative direction and you find yourself falling into the same old pattern:
Stop. Take a step back. Take a deep breath.
With total awareness, total determination – acknowledge the thought pattern for what it is. Don’t get lost in it. Move yourself. Go somewhere else.
It sounds very easy – too simple to really be effective. But actually, this is a very powerful practice. We become victims of our mind. The mind will say, “Oh, this is very simple. It’s not going to work.” The mind will throw that kind of suggestion and then we stay stuck in the old pattern.
The truth is that hidden within that bad habit is a tremendous amount of energy. Instead of being a victim of it, can you redirect the energy that is pushing you in a negative direction towards something higher? In my tradition, we never look at ourselves as a victim of circumstances. We look for the Shakti or power that is hidden in any negative pattern or situation. It’s up to us – can we utilize it towards other things?
Honor yourself, love yourself, and respect yourself. It has been said “You have no right to worship anyone else, except yourself.” To worship yourself is to live your highest. Bring in a solid routine that is good for the body, mind and spirit. Live a life of gratitude and remembrance, with lightness in the heart. Once you are able to recognize that you are complete and whole unto yourself, your thoughts become focused on the happiness and welfare of all, and you create a wonderful world around you.
Even bad habits or negative patterns are resources that you can draw upon. Instead of being victim to them, use the energy that is behind them towards creating new patterns of faith, trust and gratitude.
As the seasons merge, there is a special energy that is available to us to make lasting changes in our lives. The celebration of Diwali, the Festival of Lights, will be coming later this month. It’s a time when people put lights around their house and property – even in all the forgotten corners. It’s a perfect time to reflect within and bring a light to all of the dark corners inside yourself.
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