Each moment contains tremendous opportunity to completely shift into a spiritual awakening.  

Every day I consciously anchor into a deep intention to be the greatest expression of love that I can possibly be. Living inside this holy intention year after year, I became keenly aware that I was resolving and dissolving old habits of separation that I couldn’t tolerate in myself any more. One habit that’s been so strong in my mind is the habit of making negative meaning out of the interactions that confuse me in my relationships.

When I felt needy and unsure about a relationship and that person didn’t return my call, I would imagine a negative reason for why they weren’t calling. I’d think it had to do with how they felt about me or how much they valued our relationship. 

Several times I did this and later discovered that the reason they didn’t call was that something was preventing them. Something I never would have imagined – like a car accident or a lost phone. And yet I had spent hours and days in upset because I jumped to a negative conclusion. 

I was creating such suffering myself. Little by little I began to be willing to see that suffering is optional. I create it through thoughts of wanting, needing, grasping, hatred and judgment.

People often rush to make negative meaning out of something and then cook up a big pot of resentment stew inside themselves. They ladle this stew all over everything they’re doing that day, that week, that year. When they finally connect with the person whose behavior is so hurtful to them they learn that it was all a simple misunderstanding. 

The entire pot of resentment stew has been labored over, cooked and seasoned for hours or days, months or years, now turns out to be completely fabricated. It was just a big waste of time and energy.

UNLESS, in that moment, of realization – when you see it was all a mis-take, a misperception, you forgive yourself and you DECIDE to harvest the learning and not allow yourself to do that again. You really can give up the habit of making yourself miserable. It takes real focus and attention to unwind these patterns, but there’s a Divine Alchemy that’s yours for the asking.  Spirit does the work for you when you’re willing.

Byron Katie tells us “Fear has only two basic causes: The thought that I may lose what I have or the thought that I may not get what I want.” 

To that I would add, all fear is really the result of thinking we want something other than Oneness of all life. If we value separation, if we think that we want something that cannot be found within us and that we must have it, we will continue to suffer until we change our mind.

We could solve the world’s problems if we all gave up making resentment stew. We could certainly have peace on earth if we decided to give up the habit of making negative meaning out of circumstances. Isn’t that a great intention to set for this precious new year?

Today I anchor peace and love in my experiences.

I’m determined to hold the high watch for myself and for those around me and support them in anchoring too. I intend to do my very best to make positive meaning out of life’s challenges and uncertainties. 

I intend to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, always. In this way my choices bring forth more love in the world on a daily basis and they truly do make a profound difference.

Today I’m living in a new way in order to experience a new day and share it with everyone I meet.

Today I harvest the learning from my experiences as I make positive meaning out of the events in my life. I hold the high watch for myself and choose to be love, to see love and to receive love all the live long day.  I say YES to Love!

Don’t miss this!  Unforgiveness and judgment keeps us playing small, living in lack and limitation.  If you’re willing to make a leap, my Stop Playing Small online retreat is on a super early bird special right now, check it out before the price goes up.

Saturday, July 29 – FREE FORGIVENESS WORKSHOP Forgive the debtors and the trespassers in order to open up the flow of prosperity in your life.  We’ve got a free forgiveness workshop to help you do just that!  It’s a great way to start releasing the blocks and opening up the flow of abundance – won’t you please share with someone now and open the flow for yourself?

NEW PODCAST EPISODE!  The most recent episode of my podcast’s topic is Free Yourself and The World. One of the great benefits of practicing the teachings in the ACIM lessons is that we not only liberate our own mind, we literally heal the sick and bring benefit to all.