Why Am I So Tired?

 Many folks are telling me they feel tired. Are you among them? It's no wonder, what with all the intensity around the recent Presidential Election on our North American soils.  

 
Whether your choice of candidate won or lost, the election process had an impact on you...months and months and months of an impact, and it's still going. This was the most highly charged election in many decades, so everyone continues to carry strong preferences, opinions and emotions about what they want and do not want.

Now that the election itself is over, people are expressing their glee or dissatisfaction openly. Some are afraid, some are elated, and some are emboldened by a President Elect who supports a "power over" model of leadership. Others are choosing to shine more of their soul light for peace, compassion and union than ever before.

Whatever your response, the reality is that the future is an unknown. It is always an unknown, no matter who our President happens to be, because there are infinite possibilities of what the future can be.

Do not get trapped into the misleading projections of your mind. The mind is ego-based, ever desiring, never satisfied, generally fearful, protective and defensive. It tries to project the past into the present and future, but this habit is useless, inaccurate and untrustworthy, leading to unnecessary suffering. There is no good purpose to indulging in such energies; such an indulgence only serves to magnify and intensify them.
 

Instead, stay anchored in the present moment where all is well. When feeling challenged, I like to use a tool provided by spiritual teacher Marianne Williamson in which she encourages us to allow for the possibility of a miracle to enter the situation. How simple and beautiful is that...? Opening to the possibility of a miracle brings spaciousness for the heart of the Divine to enter and a sacred love-light to emerge within us, shattering the darkness we held.

Whether you were disappointed or excited the day after the election, the world still turned, the Sun still shone, and people still lived their lives like every other day before it. The only drama experienced was what people allowed through their emotional reactions. And the only way reactions can lead us to anything good is if we examine them to find the wound or fear within our Selves that they are tied to. Our reactions are rooted in something within our Selves that is seeking to be healed or resolved. Our reactions are not the fault of anyone or anything outside of us, though the ego likes to drop into such blame...

From a spiritual perspective, there is no need for drama. If all things are in alignment with the Divine, than this, too, is in alignment with the Divine. Something much bigger is happening than our minds can comprehend. But it is our mind's mission to fill in gaps in its comprehension with "fluff and stuff" that does not or need not apply.

The mind likes to believe it "knows" so there will be no surprises and it can protect us. Yet the mind can never "know" since it operates in the past and future. Pulling memories of past experiences into the present moment is the mind's attempt to "know" something it doesn't. It can't know it, because it has not yet happened in this moment. The mind only "knows" how it went in a past moment. 

But the present moment does not have to look like similar ones did in the past. Each present moment is a fresh breath, an opening, an unfolding into the infinite realm of possibilities...unless you allow your mind to lock it into a singular form through its memories. When you allow your mind to lock your thoughts and feelings into a singular past form, you shut yourself off from the glory of the infinite realm of possibility in the present moment.

The mind plays the same game with the future, projecting the past into an unknown realm. But the flow of life force energy through this Universe is dynamic, not static. Everything is always in motion, rendering the future impossible to predict. We can guess and imagine and theorize and hypothesize based on past experiences, but we cannot "know" what the future holds, for like the present moment, it resides in the realm of infinite possibilities, if we honor it as such. This is worth repeating: when you allow your mind to lock your thoughts and feelings into a singular form by projecting the past into the future, you cut yourself off from the glory of the infinite realm of possibility at the hand of the Divine.

Therefore, it is not the mind that bears the truth; it is the heart.

The heart resides in the present moment. It is attuned to the energies of life and linked directly to the Divine. When open, it connects you to the infinite realm of possibilities. As such, listening to your heart leaves you more empowered and less vulnerable than listening to the ranting reactions of your mind. Heart wisdom guides your actions from a place of empowered presence and awareness, rather than outdated memory or imagined fears that define you as a victim. Your conscious, aware presence serves the rest of the world better, too.

So if you are feeling tired, it may be from struggling to make sense of what feels out of alignment with your ego which has abducted your mind. The ego's perspective is exceptionally limited; it leans toward protection and fear. It believes that it knows what is best for you. 

Stop leaking your energy to your ego stories and fears; this only magnifies them and feeds your energy to the ranting reactions of your mind's projections. Make this action instead: shift your awareness from your ego to your heart, allowing new possibilities to arise from the infinite. 

Take your mind back; energize your infinite heart wisdom rather than your finite ego reactions.

Redirect your attention to the center of your heart. Let the past go and drop useless future projections to come present in the now. Change is here; that and death are the only certainties in life because we live in a dynamic, ever-evolving Universe. We cannot stop change but we can accept that it happens and continue to make conscious, aware, heart-centered choices about what we stand for. We cannot force others to change, but we can hold to the truth of our eternal light in the face of perceived darkness.
 
Here are some ways to nourish and center your Self during life's changes:

• Meditate in silence or with your favorite, peace-filling mantra. Sunrise and Sunset are the most powerful times to do so.
• Spend time in nature, replenishing, releasing, listening and learning.
• Bathe yourself with the purifying smoke of white sage to clear heavy energy from your personal energy field.
• Rekindle your curiosity about the infinite possibilities of the future by opening your heart to them. 
• Find a daily practice that centers and nourishes your Being, such as hiking, dancing, making art, gardening, yoga or meditation.
• Drop habits that hinder you and devote yourself to habits that elevate you. Nothing will change unless you change your habits in thoughts, feelings, and actions to align them with a higher vibration.
• Commit to putting love above fear.

May we as a human race choose to walk a compassionate, peaceful, and loving path with one another that serves the present and future of our existence in heart-centered ways. Namaste'

President Elect: 2016

November 8, 2016 was a historic day in the United States of America, not because we chose the first-ever female President Elect, but because a minority of citizens chose the most immature, narcissistic, egocentric, abrasive, fear-based, sexist, racist, violence-oriented, angry, vulgar, divisive, bully of a President Elect in our history. 

These adjectives are my biased assessment based on my  experience of Donalt Trump in the public arena. They may or may not be true of him as an individual overall; they are simply what I have witnessed of him in my limited exposure to his public behavior. I pray that he reveals a more respectable and spiritually mature side of himself once in office.

Note that Donald Trump's nomination as President Elect is not the product of the majority popular vote, but of our voting system by way of the Electoral College count. The majority of American voters actually chose Hillary Clinton: 59,938,290 to Trump's 59,704,886, a staggering difference of 233,404 people, yet still, he became the President Elect.  

As a dear friend of mine from England noted, "there is something undemocratic about that." I agree. There is something very undemocratic about discounting the votes of 233,404 people in this election. I wonder if I was one of them?

 
Emotions are high not only in the US, but across the globe as this reality settles into being within our hearts and minds. Some people are elated; some are terrified. Others are emboldened by the wave of "power over" energy this President Elect advocates. Still others are emanating more light and love energy now than ever before. 

Here is something for consideration: 

In my humble opinion, this President Elect epitomizes the shadowy ego energy of the Human Being - never satisfied, inherently fearful, and therefore a bully, and unconscious (meaning spiritually asleep, lacking in self-awareness, uninterested in personal evolution). He has a punishing attitude and when challenged, readily exposes the anger in his heart. He is a living model of what Eckert Tolle calls "the Pain Body." (Look it up.)

One of the most significant aspects of his character is that he uses his might to exert his will upon those he disagrees with and judges as somehow less than deserving or less than human, taking a "power over" stance to get his way. Many people mistakenly believe this behavior makes him a safe and powerful man.

But "power over" is not rooted in true safety or power; it is rooted in fear. "Power over" energy pits one against another, creating a false sense of separation, isolation, and insulation. It feeds the energy of resistance and division. It imposes punishment for difference. It inspires anger and hatred. Its overall impact is weakening, not strengthening, to the people. It is the typical stance of the closed-minded, closed-hearted coward.

In contrast, true power - a power rooted in love rather than fear - is respectful, collaborative, and compassionate. It feeds the energy of acceptance and unity. It inspires cooperation and love. Its overall impact is strengthening, not weakening, to the collective. It is the typical stance of the open-minded, open-hearted hero.

What kind of leader do you want for this world you share with 7.5 billion other people and 8.7 million species?

Consider that question in light of today's weaponry, with the capacity to annihilate entire countries with millions of inhabitants at the push of a button. The US does not have solitary access to such weapons. Should our President Elect piss off the wrong group, this great country of ours - to date, arguably one of the safest and most free in all the world - is history. 

Believing that our President Elect is somehow immune to this threat is simply naive. His arrogant denial of his vulnerability makes him more vulnerable, not less...which makes all of us more vulnerable, not less.

None of us can know what this event means for our lives, for our country, or for the world at large. We can imagine; we can guess and postulate, but we cannot really know until we know, until it happens and we are experiencing it. In the meantime, if you have to imagine something, imagine the best possible scenario rather than the worst. Lamenting over what you fear does not make it go away. In fact, it magnifies the energy behind the fear, which is the last thing we want to do at this time in our evolution.  

For centuries, great spiritual leaders across the planet have provided us with hope and spiritual guidance during such unsettled times. Ask yourself if the character of our President Elect is aligned with their vast wisdom:

Pope Francis    "Every man, every woman who has to take up the service of government, must ask themselves two questions: 'Do I love my people in order to serve them better? Am I humble, and do I listen to everybody, to diverse opinions in order to choose the best path?' If you don't ask those questions, your governance will not be good."

Pope Francis   "Human rights are not only violated by terrorism, repression or assassination, but also by unfair economic structures that creates huge inequalities."

Romans 13:10    "Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law."

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8   "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails..."

1 Peter: 4-8    "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."

1 John: 4-18    "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment."

Proverbs 10:12    "Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs."

Dali Lama    "The goal is not to be better than the other man but your previous self." 

Dali Lama    "The true hero is one who conquers his own anger and hatred."

Dali Lama    “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.”

Dali Lama    “The ultimate source of happiness is not money and power, but warm-heartedness.”   

Dali Lama    “World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion.”  

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mother_teresa.html

Mother Teresa    "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."

Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mother_teresa.html

Mother Teresa    "Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have recieved and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work."

Mother Teresa    "Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go."

Nelson Mandela    “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” 

As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/nelson_mandela.html

Nelson Mandela    “As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.” 

Mahatma Ghandi    "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

Mahatma Ghandi    "The good man is the friend of all living things."

Mahatma Ghandi    "No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive."

Mahatma Ghandi    "Civilization is the encouragement of differences."

Mahatma Ghandi    "Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit."

Mahatma Ghandi    "Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not even one man's greed."

Mahatma Ghandi    "When you want to find Truth as God, the only inevitable means is love, that is nonviolence."

Mahatma Ghandi    "Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent than the one derived from fear of punishment."

Let these words of wisdom touch your deepest heart. Then, as always, hold LOVE ABOVE (all else, of course!).

May we each and every one of us find the peace, compassion and love that is our true selves, and express that truth into the world. Namaste'

Every man, every woman who has to take up the service of government, must ask themselves two questions: 'Do I love my people in order to serve them better? Am I humble and do I listen to everybody, to diverse opinions in order to choose the best path?' If you don't ask those questions, your governance will not be good.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/p/pope_francis.htmlet these  insights touch your deepest heart

As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/nelson_mandela.htmlNelson Mandela    “As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.”

For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/nelson_mandela.html

 

As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/n/nelsonmand737776.html

As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/n/nelsonmand737776.html