I am grateful for the knowledge that I have the power to jump out and jump back in. That power is how we create our life, if we know we have it, learn how to use it, and practice, practice, practice.

I am also grateful for the awareness that I am either swimming in the water or floundering around out of it. Being fully present in that awareness is how we experience life to the fullest, learn about our inner and outer realities, and access the infinite guidance of the universe, so that we can spend less time floundering, or swimming upstream, and more time going with the flow. Going with the flow does not mean an absence of effort; swimming is still hard work and there will inevitably be dangerous currents, snags, diversions, steep drops, and predators to deal with. That’s why it’s so great to minimize unnecessary effort and build up strength, energy, and awareness so we’re prepared to meet those challenges with the fierce grace of a mighty fish.

I really like the process he breaks it down to:

1. What’s the next step?
2. What’s in the way of taking that step?
3. Remove* the obstacle
4. Take the step
5. Go to 1.

*In many cases, the word Remove can be replaced by Disregard or Ignore

It really is that simple.

Interestingly, I was reading the list of other (many) books the author, Peter McWilliams, wrote and saw Ain’t Nobody’s Business if You Do: The Absurdity of Consensual Crimes in a Free Society. Jeph’s had that book as part of his collection for a long time and as soon as it is out of storage and back on our bookshelves I plan to dig into it.

I went to Wikipedia to read about McWilliams and learned that he grew up in metro Detroit (where we are at present) and studied Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), among other things.  So I continued on to read about REBT and am finding this method of training the mind particularly intriguing.  Here is one passage I pulled from the Wikipedia entry:

There is usually no way to get better and stay better but by: continual work and practice in looking for, and finding, one’s core irrational beliefs; actively, energetically, and scientifically disputing them; replacing one’s absolutist musts with flexible preferences; changing one’s unhealthy feelings to healthy, self-helping emotions; and firmly acting against one’s dysfunctional fears and compulsions. Only by a combined cognitive, emotive, and behavioral, as well as a quite persistent and forceful attack on one’s serious emotional problems, is one likely to significantly ameliorate or remove them — and keep them removed.

Did you see our word for the day “persistent”?!

I really like that it is rooted in the Now:

REBT differs from other clinical approaches like psychoanalysis in that it places little emphasis on exploring the past, but instead focuses on changing the current evaluations and philosophical thinking-emoting and behaving in relation to themselves, others and the conditions under which people live.

So this book which caught my eye led me down quite a rabbit hole of synchronicity and filled my plate with  food for thought.  Thanks A & M for spurring on the opening of doors and providing a refueling station.

“Just do the practice and all is coming.” I read this twice recently. The second time was when I opened up Fully Fertile, re-reading as a refresher. I’ve been back through all the Reiki guidance from Chikara-Reiki-Do earlier and can’t find it there, but I know I saw it earlier; that’s what made me really take notice. Apparently it is a well known nugget of yogic wisdom, but I don’t recall hearing it before. What I take from it is a reminder that all is as it should be and that by trusting the guidance of the universe and focusing our intention, life will flow and we will experience balance and joy.

Here’s what I am practicing:

* nourishing my body to heal and balance and promote strength and vitality; nourishing others
* moving my body and tuning in to it; being active outdoors as much as possible
* breathing deeply and using breath to release/heal/balance/strengthen/clarify/focus
* clearing and stilling my mind; opening myself to guidance from the universe
* releasing blockages in my body/mind/spirit; allowing myself to feel happy and have fun all the time
* recognizing and being grateful for all the blessings of this life
* feeling love for myself and the humans, and creatures, I come into contact with
* forgiving myself and others for not being perfect; recognizing we are all doing the best we can
* freeing myself from living in the past or the future; really being here and now
* having confidence in my ability to achieve all that I desire and focus my energy on; feeling worthy to receive all that the universe provides
* believing in the abundance and infinite nature of the universe
* accepting creative inspiration and channeling it into concrete expression which brings me joy and can be shared
* nurturing communication and developing connections with the world around me

I had a great talk with Norma Jean last night.  Ah – girl time!  It is such a treat (and too rare these days) to really connect with someone, to have their thoughts/ideas resonate and enlighten, and to get feedback that you are really hearing them and possibly even offering something helpful.  I’m grateful for those moments, and those people.

We philosophized about a lot, including getting stuck between realization and action.  She’s there:  aware of what’s bugging her/not feeling good, aware of what she needs to focus on/do to improve, poised to Just Do It.  Waiting for someone to wave the start flag, or something. I can relate because that’s a zone I am pretty familiar with.  There are many reasons one can get stuck there:

• inertia – bodies at rest tend to stay at rest
• being overwhelmed – where to start?  is it humanly possible?
• fear of failure/lack of confidence
• fear of success
• attachment to the present/the known
• overanalysis/overplanning

It can be frustrating.  And sometimes days go by and you wonder if you’re making any progress at all, because the steps you are able to take feel so small and possibly inconsequential.  But that’s the way life rolls sometimes; the pace of the universe, which is futile to resist.  Great progress can be made at that slow-and-steady pace and the results are often more lasting and sustainable than if you had sprinted.

These phases of life are like a thin beam balanced over a big hole, with firm ground on both sides.  You gotta risk falling in order to explore what’s ahead.   And the smartest way to do that is to cultivate balance internally (equanimity), before you even set foot on the beam.  Then, step lightly, and move cautiously while remaining, calm, focused, and patient.  Trembling with fear, hurrying, looking backward or off to the side, letting your mind wander – these are the things that can throw you off.

Keep in mind, always, that falling will not kill you.  In this analogy, the hole is not going to consume you.  If you fall, you will definitely be able to get up and climb back onto the beam.  The only thing which would prevent you doing that, as many times as it takes, is your motivation, confidence, and commitment.  So, please don’t let fear of the unknown (what’s on the other side), fear of falling and staying down, or attachment to the present keep you from stepping onto that beam.Keep moving.  Keep exploring.  You can always go back and visit.

It’s a big world out there, full of exciting things and potentials and much of the good stuff requires walking on balance beams.  By doing it now, and again tomorrow, and maybe the next day…you will become better at it.  It will become easier and more comfortable.  Your confidence will grow.  And you will really be living(!), not just sitting in one spot wondering what else there is.

So, I’m editing the Happy Living Method, outlined in my last post; breaking step 4 into two steps, which acknowledges that planning and implementation are two separate processes.  Here’s the update:

1. identify what you have control over (this will become your game plan, and  it’s also how you choose to react to what comes your way)
2. identify what is beyond your control (this is the thoughts and actions of other people, as well as some of the circumstances which come your way each day)
3. accept and make peace with what is beyond your control and trust  in the universe and its rhythms; then shift the focus to cultivating gratitude for all the good stuff (make a list) and controlling what you can
4. make a plan with clear action steps and timeframes (see #1)
5. start playing the game, following your plan, moving through your action list (crossing off, adding to, adjusting as you go), and reacting to the unplanned (spontaneity is inevitable, and good!), all with confidence in yourself