The Past is Not Prologue

The past is not prologue. Whatever happened up to this very minute has no meaning whatsoever, EXCEPT the meaning that you give to it. Bear with me here. Starting with the concept that you see what you believe, and what you believe is shaped by your experiences (read: the past), then what you believe always comes from the past. Therefore, whatever you believe only has meaning for you because it already happened, and you based your thinking and conclusions on that. The past informed your beliefs. Done.
The future cannot inform your beliefs, because in our world, the future has not yet occurred. Anything that we think about the future is largely conjecture, until it actually happens. Sure, some things are a shoo-in. Leno will be on TV tonight. The milk will be in the fridge tomorrow morning. Gas prices will fluctuate over time. There is a level of predictability that we depend upon. When the world feels unpredictable, as it certainly does in the current economic climate, we have a tendency to color our perceptions with our beliefs - this helps us maintain a level of control or security.

Guest Post by Julia

I love you. You're super- cute and I like how you brushed your teeth. They're very shiny. What kind of toothpaste is that?!!
I really think you should go to a place where there's houses made of cake and flags made of candy canes. Swing seats are cookies and swing chains are licorice, and there are bubble gum balloons. Roses made of cake frosting. You know why you should live in this world? Because those things are as sweet as you.
Thank you!

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness

Today might be a good day to do some serious house-cleaning in your heart. Is there any spare debris kicking around? Unheard grievances? Unspoken anger? What about the walls? Have you put up any walls in your heart with regard to any person?
Your heart longs to be free and at peace. Help your heart achieve that today. You and your heart deserve to be at peace.
Happy Hearts Day!

Open it now!

The present is a gift you give to yourself.

Perspective

When you're feeling overwhelmed by life, it helps to take a step back and look, really look, at what is going on. Perhaps you need to get away for a day or two, in order to get perspective. If you don't have that luxury, you can also spend an hour or two in solitude. Sometimes writing it all down can help. Whatever helps you get a handle on the thoughts you are having!
That is because it is your thoughts that are the crux of the problem. No matter what is going on, it is your thoughts about it that make or break your ability to handle it. Thoughts generate feelings. Sometimes it seems like it's the other way around, but the key to breaking that cycle is to focus on your thoughts. When you get your thoughts in alignment with your desires and goals in any given situation, then the feelings will follow.

Fear, It's Self

Fear is rather selfish, when you think about it. It is based in the ego's thoughts and desires. If you are feeling fear, you are basing your thoughts on something that is outside of you. Your essence, which dwells beneath your ego, does not even comprehend fear. The experience of fear is completely based in earth-bound reality. There is no fear in heaven. Fear draws its energy from the illusion of our separation from God. This is the paradox of our experience. We come from God; therefore, we are completely and utterly safe. We believe that we are separate beings, both from each other and from God. We experience fear in that separation. This takes myriad forms. But all fear is at its core a belief that we are somehow not safe. We harbor this illusion for many reasons. The illusion makes us doing many foolish things. Thus is fear born. When we forget God, we beget fear. When we remember we are of God, we come back to Love. It is an unending journey, around and around, always circling back, continually forgetting and remembering. Today, I remember: I have nothing to fear.