Expect Nothing, Appreciate Everything.

Expect Nothing, Appreciate Everything.

I wanted to share this thought with all of you today. It is something I have kept in my own heart and gently reminded myself of throughout my life.

When we have a simple appreciation for everything in life, from the most major of things to the silliest of things - then we are in a state of bliss.

Even when we are going through the "crap" that life always seems to throw at us... - By learning to find the appreciation for it while you are going through it. That is how we keep feeling that bliss, no matter what stuff is going on around us.

By finding that still quiet side of ourselves (that may be a small part right now) but is in everyone one of our hearts - knowing that nothing. Yes - nothing - can truly allow you to move into a space that is not of love --- UNLESS --- you allow it to - that is when we feel the bliss.

For an example, and I am sure many of you reading this have experienced something similar in your own lives... 

How many times in life have you had an experience that just seemed awful to go through? Then when you reflected on it in the future, you found hidden blessings that came from that experience? I know for me - I can tell you many stories of things happening in my own life that when I finished going through all of it - I reflected and was actually grateful for the experience. Typically when I reflect on a "bad experience", I find some new appreciation or really just feel like, wow, that whole experience is such a blessings because out of it came something wonderful.

I think the trick to this is to be in that state of appreciation and not feel upset or angry or annoyed or any of the other myriad of emotions that come from the ego while going through the negative experience. Just accept all of the stuff that we have to go through, finding that still quiet place and being anchored in that, in your heart - that is the trick to really feeling blissful in your life!

I know this doesn't usually happen for people - in an instant - but why can't it? 

Why can't you just say to yourself - I am done with the drama, anger, judgement, frustration etc etc, and I am flipping the page and starting a new chapter. It really is that simple. When you slice and dice it all up, if you decide to let go of those fearful feelings, those judgements, those things weighing you down  - there really is a moment in time that you simply have to let it go.

Why not let that moment in time be right now?

So why not set a conscious decision for yourself - RIGHT NOW - and get centered in your heart and not let all the perceived problems of the world bog YOU down. That is what really happens when we let the lower side of us take over, we get bogged down and feel bad, or get sick, or whatever negative stuff that happens around us. If you just allow all that stuff to happen, kind of like a movie, and do not engage in the drama of it all, then you start to awaken into this feeling of bliss, this feeling of non-attachment and letting go - it is quite a peaceful place!

When we are in this space of love and appreciation for everything around us, even the crap - our attitudes change, a softening occurs and our hearts open wider allowing the love to flow in and radiates outward.

Many people are searching for that *true love* but have neglected to find that true love for themselves and their surroundings. Therefor they are unable to simply radiate love to find love, or get hooked up in relationships that are destructive because essentially when we let the lower side of ourselves be in control - that is what happens.

Appreciating the love and the negativity - all of it - and not expecting anything other then appreciation and love to flow into your heart - allows us to feel the bliss that comes from being in this state of appreciation.

I know, it seems hard, but it really isn't - it is a choice, we can choose to be blissful through the crap, or we can hold on to that which is all unreal anyway, the lower - ego side of ourselves.

Now, let me be the first to tell you, all this I am speaking is straight from my own experiences and understanding of life in general. I am no saint when it comes to this, but I work on myself continually. I get that we are human beings, we have egos - we will until we die, but we can choose to let the ego side of ourselves be in control - or we can choose to allow ourselves to be happy, blissful and peaceful at any given time. The more that you practice this sort of behavior, the easier it becomes!

Just some pondering's for your morning, afternoon, day or night!

Namaste ~Starlene Breiter

http://www.StarleneBreiter.com 

Infinity

I love how the Universe operates. 

When you release something that has worn out its use, you learned all the lessons you could from it - whatever it is. You are left wide open to infinite possibilities and are given many beautiful prospects 
right in front of yourself.

It is always important to take inventory of things we have around us, including physical things, like clothes, unwanted furniture, old thought patterns, old relationships that have run their course, lingering fears or doubts -- and goodness known what else we have "stashed away" - skeletons in the closet...~ and astrology helps us to understand those patterns and the infinity that is part of all of us.

If it serves no purpose anymore, bless it, thank it - and give it away - out with the old - just wait for the new, it is coming - you will see!

♥ ~Starlene Breiter

http://www.StarleneBreiter.com 
http://www.RockStarAstrologer.com 

10 Questions to Ask Yourself Regularly

Questions to Ask Yourself, Regularly

Someone once observed that you learn more by the questions you ask than by the answers you give. Call it Socratic learning, if you will, but I find that asking questions of myself helps keep me on track. Here are ten I ask regularly.

What am I resisting?
The seeds of growth lie in your resistance to what is new, unfamiliar, or unpleasant. All too often, the very things we resist most are the things that force us to grow the most. So, be attentive to those subtle gut-tightening signals that hint of an opportunity for learning

What is the lesson here?
There's a second step that is needed to reinforce the insight gained by asking the first question. In order to really benefit, we have to actually seek out the lesson, demonstrate that we really want to hear, and be willing to follow the often-subtle guidance that comes.

Have I been here before?
Often our most pressing issues are thinly disguised versions of problems we've failed to solve in the past. Different names and faces maybe, but the same underneath, destined not to go away until we meet and resolve them once and for all. If your answer to this question is, yes, then maybe it's time to get to the bottom of the issue and solve it!

Am I losing energy to this?
We pay a price for every negative thought we entertain, and it's measured in decreased energy, heightened depression, reduced immune function, and sometimes serious illness. Although you may believe otherwise, we have to reach the place where anger, frustration, worry, and criticism have no place in our experience. Until we do, we are losing energy, diluting our focus, and rendering ourselves vulnerable.

Am I holding on to something I need to let go of?
One of the most difficult tasks of this life consists in letting go-of our attachments, of ego, of our need to be right, and ultimately, of this life. You cannot fly unless you are willing to relinquish your firm footing on earth; flying requires that sort of faith, and commitment. The surprising thing is that, when we really let go, we begin to grow.

Am I in the present?
Every moment you spend regretting the past or worrying about the future is a moment of the present, lost. Yes, we need to complete the past, wind up our unfinished business, and be attentive to trends that portend of future events, but we can take action only in the present. So, that's where your full attention needs to be, and staying in the present is a full time job.

What do I need to do now?
To act or not to act, that is the question. Whether tis nobler in the mind to take action against a sea of troubles and so by doing, prolong them, or to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous inaction and so gain clarity. (Shakespeare would sue for what I've done to Hamlet's timeless prose) Put the question differently: is there a NEED for action now? Often, we act because we're afraid that, if we don't, things will get worse. The truth is that deliberate inaction is action, and it is often a way to allow a cloudy situation to become clear.

Who's in control here?
True or false?: It's important to be in control of your life. Control can be a big issue for some people, especially if they feel they don't have it. So, granted, it's perfectly reasonable to want to feel in control. Letting go of the past, staying in the present, and taking action (including no action) are all ways to develop a sense that you are in control. But, let me suggest that there is a step beyond control. It is to recognize that, ultimately, you are NOT in control-that you are always subject to a higher authority. Paradoxically, this recognition and your acknowledgement of it can free you from the need to always be IN control.

What is my responsibility here?
Have you noticed how some people have a need to involve others in their problems? If it's your boss, your significant other, or your child, it's normal to conclude that your have to do something. But, that something doesn't mean becoming part of the problem! Your responsibility, in this case, is to maintain a level of detachment that will enable you to see the situation clearly, and this clarity pertains not only to the solution, but to the extent that you should be involved in the problem in the first place.

Am I at peace with this?
Do you know when you're at peace with something? Chances are, it's when you can look at an issue, person, or problem and feel no charge, no subtle or sudden surge of emotion. But peace is something more. It's about balance, an inner certainty that you are untouched by it, him, or her. The peace-check is a key element in gaining closure, in ascertaining that the situation is complete.

The Ego and The Spirit

Greetings!

I begin my journey with this blog in hopes of sharing and my knowledge and learning from others. I intend live in Spirit while here and leave the ego checked at the door...
I hope to make lots of new friends while here, feel free to comment or share your thoughts with me. I try my best to have a mind that is open to everything and is attached to nothing!

Namaste, Star

www.lightandlovereiki.com

The Ego and the Spirit

The ego looks for peace — the spirit rests in it

The ego looks for love — the spirit gives it freely

The ego is in constant search for happiness — the spirit is absorbed in joy

The ego looks for control — the spirit is totally free

The ego looks for longevity — the spirit is immortal

The ego accumulates information — the spirit is Supreme Wisdom

The ego is limited by space and time — the spirit is boundless

The ego is only a player in a show — the spirit is life itself

The ego is false — the spirit is real

The ego wants more and more — the spirit has it all!