our self with the Self

THE SOUL DOES NOT CARE ABOUT WHAT SOCIETY VALUES. IT DOESN'T MEASURE SELF-WORTH BY THE SIZE OF OUR BANK ACCOUNT, THE SIZE OF OUR HIPS OR BICEPS, THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF OUR HOME OR HOW MANY CARS ARE PARKED IN OUR GARAGE. THESE ARE NOT SPIRITUAL MILESTONES, BUT THEY CAN BE MILLSTONES CHOKING OUR SPIRIT. WHEN WE DON’T MATERIALLY POSSESS WHAT WE FEEL WE DESERVE, COMPASSIONATE PATIENCE DISSOLVES ILLUSIONS OF ENTITLEMENT AND SELF-BLAME. WE QUIT PICKING ON OURSELVES, WE QUIT TINKERING WITH SURFACE IMPROVEMENTS AND BEGIN DIGGING DEEP INTO OUR INTERIORITY.  WITH COMPASSIONATE PATIENCE, INSIGHT BECOMES THE INNER AUTHORITY WE LISTEN AND RESPOND TO

Rev. Michael Beckwith

How we choose to measure success, is rooted in how we measure our relationship with God and ourselves. How do we decipher from the voice of our ego or emotional self with the voice of Spirit or our intuition? 

While listening to the sermon this morning from Rev. Michael, it was clear to me that this idea of "letting go" and really choosing to be free from our attempts to control, fix or participate in arguments of limitations is absolute. it is something we really should choose to do. it's more than just letting go of the past or memorizing affirmations to alter our damaging thoughts about ourselves, circumstances or others -- it's about KNOWING we have all that we need and without thinking about much else, focus ourselves on being our most honest and brightest lights through the wisdom, creativity and joy that lies within us. 

we do this with our spiritual practice -- meditation, yoga, prayer, running, cooking, music, art -- whatever lends itself to being still, quiet and grateful. we use our practice to enhance our connection with ourselves, each other and the world. the extensions come with the gathering of like minds -- whom the universe supplies when we are ready!

i'm learning that there are worldly and spiritual meanings to everything, especially success. with intention, today i choose to lessen the grip my ego has when it comes to opportunities, where i usually place weight on my degrees and levels of education -- i know that what the universe opens up, is meant for me. everyday i strive to be a global citizen, working towards changing the conversations and agreements on a global scale. because i believe that love is really all that matters. 

last week-- my work and talents have become bi-coastal in a very unexpected way! my heart is open and i am so excited for what's to come. nyc i'll see you in may :))

xo, me.

to live in the grey!

thinker. thinking. thought

good morning!

i felt the need to share this from my reading this morning -- before heading out for work...

thought it energy.

it is the direct reflection of our actions, speech and emotions -- which then translate themselves into our experiences. 

in other words, that which we think reality to be, is our experience!

have you considered this before? have you thought back on a situation or circumstance and said to yourself -- wow, i gave ALL of that WAY too much power! I know i have. I read recently a quote from Buddah that said, "wherever you are, there you are." 

the present.

this is exactly where we should be placing our power. within the realms of gratefulness for where we are, exactly as we are. this level of thinking gives the Universe permission to handle the rest for us. Our thinking is our power and i know that when i choose to focus on my present be-ing...what's been good, what is good, my openness. i don't have mental capacity for anything else. 

I trust that the Universe will bring me closer to what I need and take away what and whom i don't.

thought is energy.

with intention, we can refocus our thinking, hence refocusing our energy into what's in front of us. letting go of our past and releasing our future.

xo, me. 

our arguments of limitations

morning!
i hope this monday meets you in peace and love :))

how often do you hear yourself arguing or complaining about what isn't working out in your life?

i would hear myself complaining at least a few times a day. something or someone was standing in my way and it just wasn't fair. 

yesterday, i decided to live stream an Agape service and it was exactly what I needed to hear! 

Rev. Beckwith talked about the idea of arguing our limitations -- or making cases as to why we aren't living or acting within our truth. why we aren't pushing beyond the limits we've placed on ourselves and WHY, oh why, we aren't becoming exactly who we are meant to become. 

i decided to meditate on this idea. and lately, it has become so intense, that my dreams have suggested the merging of my subconscious with my conscious. in other words, challenging myself to stop telling myself "no", "i can't", "no money", "no time", etc. etc. and really rely on the knowing that everything i have coming my way, is Universal. It's purposeful. It's one of my many functions of bringing global change, altering the agreements and changing the conversations. 

i woke up today, feeling ready. this readiness has already started to open doors, has brought new people into my life and develop ideas that have me a bit intimated, but i like that. feels different. feels real. 

so this idea of arguing my limitations makes incredible sense now. i HAVE heard myself defend my actions, words, and thoughts that have fueled my powerlessness, doubt, fear and inadequacy. i want something different for myself and i'm sharing this because i know there are others out there that have been arguing their limitations as well :)) let's intend to stop and push beyond the limits we've placed on ourselves. there is really nothing against us -- no one, and no thing. 

xo, me. 

meditative thought...

In our fast-paced society, 

if we aren't scrambling to attain 

or

possess something, 

we label ourselves as lazy. 

However,

when we live 

in a consciousness of trust, 

knowing 

that an invisible hand is always taking us 

in the right direction, 

we are serene, 

creatively active yet patient.

yes! zadie smith interviews chimamanda ngozi adichie!

if you have an hour that you can dedicate to watching this important conversation between  Zadie Smith and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie about AMERICANAH at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library...WATCH!! click the photo and enjoy :))

xo, me. 

You. Are. Beautiful.

it's been a while!
hi :)

i've been blessed with two creative jobs that have been keeping me busy busy! And though i am grateful, i have missed writing in this blog.

So, today, while doing some online research, i came across a website called 'you are beautiful' and i thought the idea was pretty fantastic! This artist, decided to print 200 'you are beautiful' stickers and share them with friends, family, and place them randomly throughout his city of Chicago. The response was overwhelming and so he decided to start selling the stickers which then lead to a movement where murals were painted and his stickers have literally been all over the world!

Then I started to think...wow! his efforts were so simple and with the simplicity of a three word phrase, he is changing the world. I am really captured by the power of YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL and how this reminder, has really made people stop, think and smile about the truth in that statement.

This small, but significant act has really reaffirmed that all of our efforts, no matter how small are important, beneficial, magnificent and we should continue pursuing the things that interest us! We never know the arms and legs that will grow from our work and who it will affect. so keep going!!

xo, me

forever you, my friend

woke up to some sad new today. an old friend passed away, whom i valued and was definitely anxious to see them again. it had been a month since we last spoke to each other, and i remember feeling like things were not okay in their world. as their responses were becoming "okay and good" and typically shorter than i was accustomed to. 

unsure how they transitioned, i am grateful today for the time spent with them. the many conversations, the smiles, the laughter, the late night "what do i do" or "let me teach you how" -- it was worth it. their life was worth the many moments i shared with therm and the countless moments others will be able to claim. 

they will be missed and forever treasured. 

the sun is shining bright today and the sky, as you can see is sooooo blue :)) a new angel!
love and light to all!

xo, me. 

while living in LA!

I have become accustomed to..
the hotness of the sun against my window at 7am
waking up to the sounds of birds, claiming their space within the Universe
yoga + spin classes, all at the same time
my favorite color green, everywhere i look!
fitness as a lifestyle choice
fresh juice shops, literally in every neighborhood
varieties of canyons to hike, as often as i like!
outdoor cafes
days feeling like forever
did i mention lots and lots of sunlight!
and me, happier than i have been in a while....

i can live with that! :))

xo, me.

love.

I find the best way to love someone 

is not to change them, 

but instead, 

help them reveal 

the greatest version 

of themselves...

our gardens...

it's in the 80s today! perfect day to grow some thangs!!!

so, after taking the pups on a morning walk, i decided to start an herb garden. the thought wasn't as fleeting as i'm making it seem, i've done some research on which herbs i'd like to start with and the proper care for each. :) this morning was all about buying the starter plants, soil and pots. 

i decided to start with rosemary, lavender and sweet basil. while at the store, i started to get really excited about this project because there are so many plants i want to include in my herb garden, but i'm excited about these three as i know the process of watching them grow and smelling them, will be amazing! 

this is a love project, and all mine. and i needed that. 

i like to think of myself as a plant, rather a flower that needs proper nourishment to grow and shine. though i don't limit my happiness based on circumstance, i have found pleasure in myself and i know that happiness is a choice. so, today, i am choosing to spread a lil love towards something that i can watch blossom and eventually use in my cooking, sharing with others and more!. 

i think i'm most excited about this journey and how i can share it....

i needed something that i could fully invest myself into. many times, we do just that with our lovers, families and friends. but, i like the idea of giving my love to a plant -- whom like me, needs sunlight, water and nourishment to grow. perhaps this will be an attempt to give myself that same tender love and care, too ;))

and i say that because i haven't been too good to myself in thought and action. i'd like to change that. so, like everything, it will be a process, but this herb garden will be my starting point! 

i picked up an old journal yesterday and found some words i had written, to be really inspiring. perhaps they will be the same for you :))

happy saturday!

"...today will be the most perfect day for my light to shine. my peace is so fulfilling, my love so abundant and i observe transformation. i exist today, perfectly. i am alive!." 

xo, me. 

between logic and action

by GG Renee of AllTheManyLayers 

and author of The Beautiful Disruption and Wallflower

Take a step back for a moment. There is no need to prove anything. The brave face you put forward everyday says enough. 

I hope that when you finish reading this, you feel lighter. You just might be gentler with yourself. Everyone has bad habits. Everyone has blind spots. You will never figure it all out, but you will learn things. There's peace in that.

Read On!>>>
This is a place where cracks and imperfections and testimonies are beloved. Here, to know better does not always mean to do better, and that's okay. I believe and I still doubt. Through it all, I pray, I write and I hold on to myself. I am challenged everyday and I still choose to believe. Here, we tell stories; we don't judge.

I always want to do better. But I also want to allow myself to journey in peace, without constant criticism and judgment. I want to be a soothing refuge for myself. I try to avoid tripping over the same bump in the road more than once, but it happens. I trip. I fall hard often and get bruised. I'm not ashamed of my bruises anymore. I have lived. I am living. There's no need to hide that. I have scars, each one kissed with acceptance. If I didn't have these scars I wouldn't know how beautiful they could make me feel.

I wonder if you are ever afraid to get away. To just get up and walk out. Remove yourself from the madness. Walk out of the insecurity and the urge to compare yourself. Run and don't look back. Stop measuring yourself. Stop keeping track. Do you ever? Have you ever?

I have. But eventually, I look back. I look around and I lose my footing and I trip. I see myself doing things and I wonder when I'll stop. My assumptions threaten me with lack. I know they aren't real but I entertain them and I let them delay me. My mind can be a deceptive place.

My regrets are older than me. I grieve over things I've never seen. I can't remember, but I feel responsible. I feel necessary, then I feel useless. All the world is happening and if I don't shut it out, I can't hear myself. I can't contribute. I sit there with my cracks and imperfections and testimonies and I just breathe. Sometimes that's all I can do.

I'm not going to chase better. I won't hold on so tight that my hands lose their warmth and softness. My definition of success keeps getting simpler -- love, food, shelter, dreams. Everything else is luxury. 

It has become clear to me that forgiveness makes life peaceful. And gratitude, that is what truly makes the quality of life better. Here, we appreciate the puzzles and the dead ends as much as the rainbows and the pots of gold.

have faith?

what do they say? "faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen?"

loosen up those mental chains, let go of the need to control and just be...

there are so many wonderful things happening in the lives of my family and friends -- we are so blessed. i encourage you to be still, listen and observe. the answers are already here! the opportunities are waiting for you!! get out of your OWN way!!

life can be that simple. 

xo, me. 

who are we?!

checking our ego is a necessity -- everyday, all day! taken from yogajournal.com 

Meditating on the question "Who Am I?" for as little as 5 minutes can help you look beyond your ego's definition of you and discover what lies beneath.

1. Settle into your body.
Come into a comfortable seated posture, with your eyes closed, and your hands folded in your lap. Lengthen your back, and let your chin move back so you feel as if your head is being suspended by a cord from the ceiling. Scan your body, noticing and softening any tightness in the shoulders, face, thighs, belly, arms, and hands. Take 5 deep inhalations and exhalations.

2. Focus on your breath.
Become aware of the rise and fall of the breath. Let your breathing be natural and relaxed as it brings you into the present moment. Feel the coolness of the breath as it flows in the nostrils and the warmth as it flows out. Notice where you feel the breath in your body. Do you feel it in the chest and shoulders? In the diaphragm or belly?

3. Quiet the mind.
Sensing the flow of the breath, inhale with the thought "I am." Feel the energy of the words mingling with your breath, flowing into your inner body. Then, with the exhalation, feel the space that these words leave in your consciousness. Continue to repeat the pure mantra "I am" without attaching any other thoughts to it. Stay here for several minutes if you can, allowing yourself to become more and more relaxed.

4. Practice inquiry.
As your mind quiets, begin to drop in the question, "Who am I, without words? Without thoughts? Without memories or emotions?" Pay attention to the awareness that opens up. If words or emotions arise, allow them to be there. Identify them—"thoughts," "sadness," or "confusion"—and return to the question. You're not looking for an answer. Look past the answers that arise to experience the bare awareness that is your sense of being, of pure existence.

5. Rest in awareness.
This sense of pure existence is there, and as you practice this meditation, it will eventually reveal itself. Continue your inquiry, and see if you can gently rest for a second or two in the wordless awareness that immediately follows the question. The opening into awareness may last only for a few seconds. If you get hung up on your thoughts, start over: Return to the breath, and the mantra "I am." Then, ask the question again, and notice what arises. Stay with the practice for as few as 5 or as many as 30 minutes. Then open your eyes, and return to your day.