When our world falls apart

People are like stained glass windows: 

They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, 

but when the darkness sets in their true 

beauty is revealed only if there is a light within.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Clinging to the Core

When Our World Falls Apart

When it feels as if your world is falling apart,  know at your core that you are a strong being of light.

There are times when our whole world seems to be falling apart around us, and we are not sure what to hold onto anymore. Sometimes our relationships crumble and sometimes it’s our physical environment. At other times, we can’t put our finger on it, but we feel as if all the walls have fallen down around us and we are standing with nothing to lean on, exposed and vulnerable. These are the times in our lives when we are given an opportunity to see where we have established our sense of identity, safety, and well-being. And while it is perfectly natural and part of our process to locate our sense of self in externals, any time those external factors shift, we have an opportunity to rediscover and move closer to our core, which is the only truly safe place to call home.

The core of our being is not affected by the shifting winds of circumstance or subject to the cycles of change that govern physical reality. It is as steady and consistent as the sun, which is why the great mystics and mystical poets often reference the sun in their odes to the self. Like the sun, there are times when our core seems to be inaccessible to us, but this is just a misperception. We know that when the sun goes behind a cloud or sets for the night, it has not disappeared but is simply temporarily out of sight. In the same way, we can trust that our inner core is always shining brightly, even when we cannot quite see it.

We can cling to this core when things around us are falling apart, knowing that an inexhaustible light shines from within ourselves. Times of external darkness can be a great gift in that they provide an opportunity to remember this inner light that shines regardless of the circumstances of our lives. When our external lives begin to come back together, we are able to lean a bit more lightly on the structures we used to call home, knowing more clearly than ever that our true home is that bright sun shining in our core.

Source: Daily OM

"Step on onto the ledge with faith in your heart and you will see that hidden beneath your fear are a fresh pair of wings waiting for you to take flight!" 

- Mastin Kipp, founder of TDL

Source: The Daily Love

It doesn't matter who you are, what your status is in life, how much or how little money you may have . . . there will be times in everyone's life when it feels as our world is falling apart.

The news of the past few weeks have put me in a very anxious state . . . it is the helpless feeling when it comes to world affairs and natural disasters.

Perhaps there is a family matter that seems to be spiraling out of control . . . or maybe it is a health issue that doesn't want to go away no matter how much you would like to "wish it away" . . . it just is and it must be dealt with.

In these times, I personally find it difficult to keep the faith.  However, that faith is what keeps me together and gives me hope that everything will be as it is supposed to be.  I'm a strong believer in fate and destiny . . . so why do I fret over those things I have no control over?  Like world affairs . . .

Hope and faith work together to keep that inner light shining when surrounded by darkness.  It is in those times of darkness that being grateful for those little things that bring joy and happiness is so important.  Being grateful and aware of everything that is good and positive is the fuel that fires hope and faith.

It is so important to not fall 

apart when our world falls apart.

How do you cope with difficult times?

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The Domino Effect

You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.

Sarah Ban Breathnach
Simple Abundance

We go through many changes in a lifetime.   The greatest change I made in my life is described in quote above, the life of simple abundance.  Being grateful for the moments in time that are joyful and peaceful . . . it is not a promise, they are gifts that should be cherished.  As humans, we don't always remember this and take so much for granted.  Today I am so grateful beyond words for so much.

The news is not good today.  Mother Nature is hitting the earth with a vengeance . . . the effects are far reaching.  It is the domino-effect, the devastating earthquake in Japan causing tsunami damage on the west coast of the United States and as I listen to the news, there is now flooding on the east coast of the United States.  The images are haunting and they have just begun to flow in . . . the breaking news is horrific.

What about the nuclear reactor problems in Japan?  

Very scary indeed!

The thought occurred to me that we are so small and helpless as humans when pitted against the ravages of nature.  Nature does not play favorites and we are all subject to nature's fury, no matter where we live.  Just thinking about the earth splitting apart in one part of the world and affecting another part of the world sends shivers up my spine.

In times like these, being grateful for everything good and bad in my life sweeps over me, along with sadness for the devastation being endured by so many.  The domino-effect will continue for these people, as those grateful to be alive begin to rebuild their lives.  Keep them in your prayers.

This post was originally published April 20, 2008

in one of my blogs that is now closed

I woke up in a very sad mood for many reasons and the sadness intensified as I watched the coverage of the Pope's visit with the 9/11 victim families at Ground Zero. It so touched me and I have been crying since, not able to stop.

On days like today, it is so much more important to be grateful for what we have been blessed with and not look at what we don't have. Lamenting does not bring people back to life or solve life's circumstances that make us sad.

I am so grateful for those weeds that need to be pulled that helps to let out aggression.

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Keep The Lamp Burning

This is an older post that I wrote back in 2008 on an older  blog that is now private . . . in my opinion, it is one of the most important and profound posts I have ever written.  It has been somewhat rewritten to reflect my present life situation, which is the best of my life.  As important as the message is, there is another message within the message . . . good things come to those who wait . . . it is all about keeping the faith, no matter what.

If we want a love message to be heard,

it has got to be sent out.

To keep a lamp burning,

we have to keep putting oil in it.

Mother Theresa

There is one lesson in life I have learned about love 

if you are truly in love, you need to shout it out to the world 
what good is undeclared love?

Prideful love is unhappy love

Even if you don't shout it out to the world and make declarations as I do through my blogs, let the person you love know how much you love them, what their presence in your life means to you . . . make them feel special . . . they are the most high, the most special.

True love is the most special emotion in existence

It is something that I am aware of every moment of every day.  After all the years without meaningful love in my life after suddenly becoming a widow, my sweetie is the greatest treasure in my life.  I am a new person with a renewed faith that good things come to those who wait.  It doesn't get better than that!

I love the lines from Mother Theresa, especially to keep putting oil in the lamp . . . it is so important to keep love alive. Make sure you never let that lamp burn out . . . that is what tragedies are made of.

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Social media burn out!!

No doubt this happens to all bloggers . . . burn out.

Not only is it blogging burn out, I just don't have the desire to be online this morning . . . PERIOD.

Because I have a restless type of personality, I bore very easily.  It could be the reason I enjoy maintaining multiple blogs.  On a normal day, I love everything that is involved with creating, maintaining and marketing my blog.  

However, this week the burn out phase has been creeping up on me, which is very unlike me when it comes to my online activities.

Tuesday night, as I pondered my Wordless Wednesday for the week, I decided to drop that activity from my routine.  Too much work for a little return, so I won't be hosting the linky anymore.  Maybe it is the burn out talking . . . I don't know.  The linky is no longer free, which helped my decision.

There is the possibility that spring fever has hit me and I secretly desire to spend more time doing stuff around the house and getting out in the awesome weather we are experiencing in Florida.

All I know is that this morning, I have gone from one task to another and have gone in a circle of going to the next thing before finishing, which is normal to do that with a few tasks, but not all of them.

It seems as though all of the social networks, I'm including Blogger, are going through "improvements" . . . which totally messes everything up before making it better.  It has become ponderous to give my blogs a facelift with all the recent problems on Blogger.  I was so motivated to redo all of my blogs and actually finished Subtropical Gardening, and almost finished this blog.  I hate the header on PLH and want to change it, but I hesitate because I don't want to encounter problems.  It ruins the fun.

The Captain and I are collaborating on a new blog and I was going to give his blog a facelift.  Now I don't want to bother with it because I will encounter those problems.  Facebook is a total mess as I started to set up my blog fan pages . . . lots of new followers with no easy way to keep track of them and follow back.  

Seems like they decided to randomly place messages on the wall, in no chronological order.  You can't make a post to the wall and have it be the first thing to show up on the page.   Twitter access has been intermittent and slow since they are rolling out the "new Twitter".  

Did they all get together and decide to make the total social marketing experience a drag?

It is human to go through burn out at some time or another, we all go through it.  As far as the social media / blogging experience, I am more than charred . . . it is more like total burn out.  I'm not going away since I need to keep my ad networks going, but the need to slow way down is necessary for me.

It all started when my I was recovering from my external hard drive failing, immediately followed by my hard drive completely going out and all the work associated with that activity that I have not completed.  Then the social networks went into "improving their sites" . . . 

Isn't a hobby supposed to be fun?  

I'm questioning the whole process . . .

Am I the only one feeling like this?

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The Transition Zone

“When we feel stuck, going nowhere . . . even
starting to slip backward . . . we may actually
be backing up to get a running start.”

Dan Millman

Changing from holding on to those old habits or circumstances in life can sometimes be difficult since they are comfortable. The transition zone is not in the comfort zone . . . it is the unknown.

Seems like life circumstances can put you in the comfort zone and out of the transition zone. Having to deal with a life and death situations throw me into the comfort zone, making it difficult to eat, sleep or just function normally . . . as if I have been momentarily paralyzed into the comfort zone.

I’m still dealing with the death of my spouse and several close friends and family within the span of a few years and really, I was thinking about how well I was dealing with grief, but now I don’t know what I am feeling . . . it is like everything has come back to haunt me.  It comes and goes . . . even though I have moved on with a new love and my life is happy.

The past couple of weeks have found me dealing with several health issues that have gotten me down with so much to do and not much energy to do it.  

Although I am feeling stuck, going nowhere . . . more like suspended in time . . . and yes, I feel as though I have slipped backward, but I am having faith that I am just backing up to get a running start.

Do you have times of teetering on the edge
of the transition zone and the comfort zone?

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Leaving Baggage Behind

A serious sensibility may come over you today, prompting periods of self-reflection. You may be overcome by an intense curiosity that compels you to delve into your past in order to determine how your personal history has influenced your life in the present.

As you contemplate what you consider to be the important episodes in your life, you may discover that emotions you imagined were no longer exerting influence over your life are still a part of your experience. In order to cleanse your karma and reestablish your soulful equilibrium, you may need to analyze the emotional baggage you are carrying and then discard it. You can achieve true closure today by recognizing those parts of your previous life experiences that add no value to your life in the present. 

As you clear the emotional baggage that has accumulated in your soul over time, you will gain an unimpeded and consequently optimistic view of your future. Each of us is gradually saddled with more and more of this type of baggage as we move through life and eventually it begins to weigh heavily on our spirits. Clearing emotional baggage frees you from the limitations and patterns of thought imposed upon you by circumstances from your past. As you discard this karmic waste, you will attain a state of mental clarity that allows you to see life’s wonders for the miracles they truly are and divest yourself of habits and behaviors that add no value to your experience. Your soul will be rejuvenated today as you release your emotional baggage.

 Source: Daily Om

Letting go of emotional baggage has been one of the most difficult areas in the healing process of my life. Grief, the associated guilt and the pain of past hurts that sweep over me when I least expect it sometimes knock me down. 

Through the years, my coping mechanisms have made it easier to pick myself back up, even though the waves of emotion sometimes make it difficult.

It is easy for someone not going through the emotion to simply say, "pack it up and put it away" . . . easier said than done although not totally impossible. The healing process of emotional baggage is a "one day at a time" kind of thing.

The key is to remember you are in control of the present, despite the past.

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Emotional Baggage

“Our feelings are our most genuine paths to knowledge.”

Audre Lorde

This is an updated older post
from another blog that I have closed.

Emotions and intuition speak to us and can be our greatest guide if we are willing to experience them. However, many of us instinctively block or resist these feelings . . . and they turn into the trap of emotional baggage, bringing perpetual discomfort, stress and anxiety.

On the other hand, jumping to conclusions, actions or reactions is not a good thing either. Allow them to speak to you, acknowledge and deal with them as they come . . . pay attention and be aware. Just deal with your emotions and don’t bottle them up to fester into emotional baggage that takes peace of mind and throws it out the window.

The lesson I have not learned is to think before I speak.  It is sometimes difficult to differentiate between genuine intuition and paranoia.  What I am learning is there are different perspectives to all situations and not everyone has the same reaction or emotion which should be considered before speaking.  It is that delicate balance of compromise and considering others as well as being true to yourself.

My greatest peace comes from analyzing my emotions, why I react to situations in a certain way and determine the way back to the comfort level of peace of mind.  

Take time to know yourself and your emotions . . . be rid of that emotional baggage that weighs you down.

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