The should.  They’re oppressive and they’re almost always pure judgment.  They aren’t helpful, they’re hurtful.

On this Camino Adventure, I can feel how the shoulds come up for each one of us.

People think about what time they should get up, what time they should go to bed.  They think about what they should and shouldn’t eat and drink.  It goes on and on, just like at home.

People are planning the ideal and the shoulds creep in – the ego thought system is like a spider web to catch us in body identification and leading us to feel bad about ourselves or feeling superior to others and then that leads, inevitably to feeling bad about ourselves too.

There’s the temptation to say that every morning I’m going to get up super early so I can hit the road early and avoid the midday heat.  But then it’s nice to stay up talking and enjoying the beautiful places we’re in and the camaraderie.

There’s the temptation to say I’m not going to have all the things on the beautiful breakfast buffet – the meats, cheeses and pastries that are so tempting – but then if we don’t allow ourselves to enjoy what’s there are we depriving ourselves?  Punishing ourselves?  It’s all subjective.

More and more in my life, I simply enjoy being in the moment – what would I like to do?  Yes, I’d like to get up super early, and yes, I’d like to stay out late.  I can’t do both, so let me do what I feel like NOW, in this moment.

No matter what – I refuse to feel guilty or bad or wrong for the choice I’m making now.

If I’d like to taste 3 things on the menu, I’m going to order them and taste them and I don’t have to eat them all, I can just have a little of each.  It’s not something I do all the time, and it’s what I feel like doing now.  I’d really like to taste that cheesecake, but then 2 bites is plenty, it’s all I really would like, no need to eat more.  I’m satisfied.  I don’t have to feel guilty for wasting the rest.  Maybe someone in the kitchen will eat it.  

Maybe we think we should do more or less, but we feel like doing something different – go with the feeling – stop finding reasons to feel guilty, bad and wrong.  That’s my policy.

I used to think that I might run amok if I just did what I felt like, but it’s just the opposite.  When I do what I feel like I’m in the moment now and that’s where the Love is.  When I make it wrong, that’s where the past is running me.  

I feel healthier and happier not making things wrong.

I notice I eat healthier and live healthier not making things wrong.

I enjoy life more, and I make smarter choices when I’m not making things wrong.

This IS finding Freedom in the mind, and that’s where Freedom is.  It’s in the mind.

The shoulds are the anti-Freedom thought form.

Let’s get out of our heads, into our hearts and find Freedom right where we are.

I’ve got several things coming up you may find fun and helpful:

• Finding Freedom From Fear Spiritual Bootcamp based on ACIM principles starts October 16
• Forgiveness Retreat in the NY Catskills November 9 to 12 – this is an absolute BARGAIN – only 497. Plus a great rate on lodging and meals! CHECK IT OUT!
• Spiritual Counseling Training Intensive in the NY Catskills November 13 to 19.
  If you’re interested in the training, consider coming to the Forgiveness Retreat too to have a MAJOR shift and a big discount!

Let’s make a quantum leap together.
If you’d like my help developing a spiritual practice of Self-care that clears out the old patterns of past beliefs in order to move out of the unconscious guilt and punishing yourself, blaming others, living like a victim or a martyr, feeling guilty and ashamed, and into feeling more connected with Spirit, please check out my Finding Freedom From Fear Spiritual Bootcamp class – it’s designed to be a rocket booster for your spiritual journey.

If you feel you’ve been holding yourself back and letting fear decide, this might be your answered prayer! If it’s right for you, you’ll know. Trust your intuition!

Not sure if one of my programs is right for you? You’re invited to schedule a free Exploratory Call with one of our certified spiritual counselors to get your questions answered and see if this program can bring you the results YOU would like!

NEW PODCAST EPISODE!  The most recent episode of my podcast’s topic is The Undoing of Fear. Fear is the direct result of how we choose to see the world. The Holy Spirit can undo our perception if we’re willing. In this episode, Jennifer shares how to undo the habit of fear, and to more quickly wake up to the truth of the Love that we are. It’s not hard. Living in fear is hard.