Lesson Eleven: Solitude...

I saw something today that got me thinking, and to some extent, I do agree with and wanted to share with everyone.

Keeping my previous post in mind, there is a fine line between solitude for the purpose of listening to one's own soul, and 'depressed solitude', the later of which is never a good thing.  We must learn how to withdraw within ourselves for growth, not isolation.  Knowing the difference can be tricky, but often times it is the later of which that leads to the growth our souls need.  If you find that you are down on yourself, feelings of worthlessness, failure, overwhelming sadness and despair, seek help for depression.  There are many sources available to everyone going through these things. I've included some in my previous post. 

But, if it is spiritual growth you are looking for, then solitude IN NATURE and/or quiet meditation is what you need to seek, because then, and only then, can you perceive the 'bigger picture'.  Then, and only then, can one get in touch with their higher selves and reach the epiphany we need to actively changes our lives.  We are the purveyors of our own destiny.  It is within our own hands and our own selves that we find everything we need to change our lives for the better. 

Law of attraction works!  If we are negative, then we will continue to attract negativity.  If we are over dramatic, we will continue to attract drama.  If we are positive, then we will attract positive people.  If we are a positive influence, we will continue to be inspired by the positive acts of others.  

By the same token, if we are not happy in our lives, we need to take a step back, and within ourselves, to find out why.  We cannot look to others to make us whole or happy.  If we cannot be that on our own, by ourselves, then we will not be happy or whole even if we do have another in our lives.  First we must fix what seems to be broken and we cannot do that by putting the responsibility on someone else's shoulders when it belongs squarely on our own.  We must first find and fix ourselves, and love ourselves, before we can offer our true self and love to others.  

If we feel that 'Life' is testing us, know that it is.  Also know that there is only one question on that test: "What are you going to do about it?"  And if we simply continue our lives without making changes for the better, then we will fail this test over and over again.  If we make a change and things start going, seemingly, right only to immediately go back to our old ways, then we are not growing our soul... we are only frustrating it.   

Be reflective.  Let the mirror's image be a reflection of what you want in your life.  If you are happy with your life the way it is, and there is no room or need for improvement, congratulations!  But, if you find yourself longing for something more... NEEDING something more out of life, you only need look inside yourself to find all the answers you need for this life, and the changes you need to make.  

Are you doing what you want to be doing with your life?  No?  Then determine what you need to do to get there and do it, whatever 'it' is and so long as "IT" is legal.  LOL I don't ever want to encourage wrong doing. Just remember that Rome wasn't built in a day. It's going to take time and effort as well as planning, and discipline (I'm still working on that part) to get where we want, and what we want, out of life.

I'll tell you like an old friend once told me:  "Your ship HAS come in! It's in the harbor waiting for you to claim it."  and I'll add:  Just don't take too long, though... dreams always find a way to manifest, if not with you, then with someone who is willing to do what it takes.  If you want it, claim it, and do the work it's going to take to get it.  You're never too old to for your dreams... and if you feel you are, or cannot for whatever reason you are holding yourself back for, then you have already failed and will repeat the same lesson in your next life.  

Are you ready to do what it takes?  

Please remember to be kind to others... most especially yourself.  Namaste'. 

Peace, love, light, and blessings.

~Jenna

Depression...

I've been busy over the last week, and I've also had a lot on my mind pertaining to recent, and very sad, events.  It's time I break my silence on the issue.  In honor of the late Robin Williams.

Depression is a very DANGEROUS thing that a lot of people suffer with, including myself.  But not everyone can understand what it is to suffer with this affliction.  Regardless of whether you're the wealthiest, most respected, sought after, admired celebrity in the world, or the poorest, most often ignored homeless person living under a bridge somewhere.  Depression hurts! Depression KILLS!

If you've never suffered from depression and just don't understand it, I encourage you to click here and read these stories.

On August 11th, 2014 the world got a little darker when someone who had been making us laugh for decades took his own life in a way in which to ensure there was no resuscitation.  It's sad to think, but it is a very true statement nonetheless, that the ones who make us laugh most are generally the ones who need to laugh themselves.  They are generally the ones who suffer from depression, anxiety, addictions, financial woes... they are the ones who usually take their own lives when all seems hopeless.  

After news of Robin William's suicide, I think the world took a collective gasp.  There are so many iconic roles this man has been in through the course of his life that made me question if he ever thought of the lessons taught by those roles before taking his life, or was he in so much despair that he couldn't think straight. Pictures of him with these iconic quotes from these iconic movies have flooded the interwebs, fueling my questions and all the 'what if's' and 'I wonder...' Questions we will never have the answers to.  Regardless of his mindset, he was a great genius of a man who has touched the lives of many, including myself, and he will be sorely missed by most of the world... most especially by his family.  

If you are reading this and are feeling that your life is meaningless, that you don't matter, if you're thinking of ending your life, I urge you to reach out to someone... a family member that matters most to you... a friend you trust... a complete stranger... it doesn't matter to whom, just reach out and talk to someone that you know will listen.  Even if you think that you don't, YOU matter!!  Your life matters!

There is the National Suicide Prevention hotline: 1-800-273-8255 and there are even help-group organization, non-profit, that can help you, just click here. 

PLEASE! REACH OUT NOW!

If you are someone who is concerned for a friend or family member, there are usually precursory warning signs.  Read more about them here and/or here.

Though you may feel it, you are not alone.  There IS help.

PLEASE! REACH OUT NOW!



In honor and remembrance of the great genius that was Robin Williams.  May his family find peace in their hearts.  May you find the peace you need in yours.

 

Please remember to be kind to others... MOST especially yourself.  You are so loved!

Peace, love, light, and blessings.  Namaste'.

~Jenna

Lesson Ten: Realization.... We Are One!

So, over the last couple of days, I've been thinking about what to write when, last night, an old childhood friend posted a video on FaceBook and tagged me to see it.  I cannot say what it was that I was expecting from the short video, but I wasn't really expecting what I saw and heard.

Granted, music and imagery have a lot to do with the 'feel' of the video.  I'm sure the lecture wasn't AS moving in person, UNLESS Mr. Alan Watts lowered the lights and played similar imagery and music when he lectured, which, given the time that he was with us in this form, I doubt happened.  Regardless, I couldn't NOT share this video here and leave you with a bit of my thoughts on the matter.

What can I say?  I LOVE THIS!!  I cried!  But not for reasons that one would think. You see, for me, this video is an affirmation.

All my life, I've always felt and known things to be different than what we're all raised to believe and think and feel. The first time I watched the movie "What Dreams May Come" I cried for the same reason. All I could think was "OMG! I'm not alone! There are other's out there who think and feel as I do." It was an affirmation... a validation... that everything I'd always known and felt to be true and real IS.  I think that was when I woke up and embraced the fact that we are all something so much more than we think we are.

Hmm... in retrospect, I guess it's taken me this long to get to the point where I am because I felt a sense of obligation to change the way everyone thinks and feels to match my own awareness... or perhaps because I simply didn't know how to let go and cope with my own awareness.  You see, for most of my life, other's opinion of me ...mattered!  A LOT more than it should have!

Within the last decade or so, I am often reminded of someone that I'd met when in high school.  For the life of me, I cannot remember his name as I've always been terrible with names, but I remember that this guy didn't like me very much.  I tried everything I could think of to change his opinion of me... to no avail... which quite perplexed me.  I got rather disheartened and frustrated, and finally went to talk to him; the conversation went something to like this:

Me: Why don't you like me? I haven't done anything to make you dislike me, but have tried everything to get you to like me.  I don't understand?

He actually looked at me with what I took as compassion in his eyes, as I'm sure he could see the tears forming in mine despite myself, and he said something that I have never forgotten:

Him: You know how, sometimes, you can just look at someone and they instantly get under your skin? You just don't like them?   

Me: Yeah..?  I guess so...  

Him: Well...  not to be mean or anything, but you're kinda that way for me.  

I tried to be brave, but a rouge tear ran down my cheek as my ego (which was already pretty damaged) took yet another blow.

Me: Oh... I see.  

He gave a sympathetic pat on my shoulder and went on to explain:

Him: But, it's ok to not like everyone you meet.  It's ok if everyone you meet doesn't like you.  It's nothing personal; no one's opinion matters but your own.  Just be you.

He again patted my shoulder and gave me an encouraging smile before walking away.  

His words were so wise they astounded me coming from one as young as he was (about 17-18 years old).  I walked around numb and distracted the rest of the day, thinking about... processing...  what it was he'd said to me. I thought I got it, but didn't really put it into practice until much later in my life.  After that day anytime we passed each other in the hallways we would simply smile and nod, but we never spoke again.  It wouldn't be until sometime between the age of 35 and 38 that what he said would finally sink all the way in and I would finally start living me life accordingly.

I found myself in a very similar situation with a co-worker that perplexed me in the same manner.  I remember going home and being upset that this person simply did not like me when I'd done nothing to warrant that kind of reception from this person. I found myself wracking my brain trying to think of ways to win them over when suddenly, those wise words spoken to me so long ago came back to me, hauntingly so.  It was a startling realization that hit me hard, and I found myself initially feeling the same way I'd felt when he'd first spoke those words to me.  Then I smiled, and even began to laugh at myself for having been upset when I shouldn't have been. "I get it now! I FULLY get it now," I declared aloud.

I think that is when my inner healing really began... when the opinions of others stopped mattering to me... well, at least their opinion of me.  Over the years, I've simply adopted the mindset that everyone is entitled to their own opinions. If they like me, that's great! If they don't like me... well, they're entitled that opinion.  I just wish I could remember this guy's name so that I could thank him for his wise words all those years ago.

The important thing to remember here, is that the burden of enlightenment is not my burden to bear, nor is it yours... it is the burden of the unenlightened.  We can do everything in our power to try and turn the light on, but some are determined to stay in the dark, no matter what we do. The trick is to find like-minded people and surround yourself with them and to especially remember that you become like the people you surround yourself with.


Please remember to be kind to others, most especially to yourself.  Namaste'.


Peace, Love, Light, & Blessings.

~Jenna