Do We Differ On Difference?

An old Chinese proverb states, “Different flowers look good to different people.” Each of us views things differently, appreciates different aspects of life, offers different qualities to situations, shares different perspectives to relationships and more. Thank goodness! We each bring different gifts to this world. We all have different work to do in this lifetime. We all face different challenges and handle them differently from one another too. This is a fact of life, yet there are those who find fault in differences.

Some people have a difficult time accepting a person’s differences. They feel threatened, critical, unwelcome or unheard if someone holds a different opinion, role, thought or position. They feel unless there is union and agreement then there is nothing positive to see.

Our lives are actually enriched when we honor these differences. These add energy to what otherwise could become stagnant. Ronald Heifetz states, "...conflict is the primary engine of creativity and innovation. People don't learn by staring into a mirror; people learn by encountering difference." Things will only change in this world by our honoring and celebrating these differences.

Feeling threatened by someone with an opposing point of view obstructs growth. Resenting or rejecting differences creates negative energies for all involved. Exploring possibilities, allowing room for alternatives, creating a foundation for choice inspires, invigorates and supports. What role would you rather hold?

As we become more and more secure in who we are, we develop more compassion for others. We also give way to the differences between us. And even more beautiful, we begin to appreciate, honor and applaud these differences. Our inner truth recognizes the wisdom in this action. Our authentic self is not threatened. Our spiritual connection with one another is celebrated and encouraged. Our differences are what make us rich!

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2012 Lisa Meade

Making Effort Effortless

The anxious student asked the Zen master how long to enlightenment. The Zen Master answered a long time, at least 10 years. The student said, "Well I will work twice as hard." The Zen master said, "Then it will take 20 years." "No!" said the committed student, "I will work three times as hard." "Well then," said the Zen master, "it will take 30 years." Are you someone who believes that it takes work to be a spiritual being and that the more effort and time you put into it the “better” you will be? Well, consider this. You are already a spiritual being. Ok. Consider this, maybe then you will see what I mean. You are already a human. Do you work at being a better human? Probably not. I understand you can improve. You can improve your health, your piano playing or your crossword skills, but overall, let’s face it, we don’t usually approach our daily life that way. But we have been led to believe that there are spiritual beings who are better at being spiritual than we are and that they have spent a good amount of time in making that so.

Your spiritual journey does not require you to get anything along the way. It is a process. It is an evolution. You are where you need to be where you are right now and if you can focus on that and BE with that you can then open yourself up to what is waiting for you to embrace. You are present to open yourself up to who you are already. You create a welcoming space for your truth and your authenticity.

A favorite quote of mine from Meister Eckhart states, "It is not by your actions that you will be saved, but by your being." How do you Be? It is simple. By not believing you must always be Doing. That does not mean it is easy; it is just that simple. So, the next time you hear that inner critic comparing your spiritual path to another’s or shaming you for a mistake or misspoken word or deed…stop doing and just be. Be present, allow the process to unfold, take in any lesson or gift in the moment, be aware of what is your truth in the moment and breathe it in. That is the work that is required. That is where and when you will find evolution, growth, change, beauty, and insight. Not in the pages of a book or an all day workshop.

Books, events, presentations and other offerings are wonderful seed planters, fire starters, inspiration makers and help us feel connected, get our juices flowing and build wonderful relationships with others. They have GREAT importance in our lives and I honor and celebrate and take part in all. But they are not a measure of my spiritual path. They are just stops along the way.

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2012 Lisa Meade

What Is Patience?

Patience has little to nothing to do with waiting. Most people don’t understand this. What patience is about is in possessing the knowledge to know when to act and when to keep still. Patience offers great lessons in protection. You learn to protect your resources, not abuse them. And you also learn how to not allow your problems, regardless of how big or how petty, to overwhelm you. Looking to nature as a teacher; the old oak tree has learned patience. It has grown over the years learning to soak up all the sun it can before the autumn crispness turns its leaves and it awaits for the last of frost to end in the early spring before celebrating its buds. Patience is in the timing of it all. There is no patience in the forcing of things to create the impression of advancement or growth.

Patience also affords us the insight that given time most situations will clear themselves up with little involvement on our behalf. We often get too busy with tasks and problems, conversations and dilemmas and relationships or stories that do not need our energies, our focus or our time.

In the shamanic practice the importance of death is taught. There are many times in our lives that in order for things to change a death of sorts must happen. Something has to come to an end. It could be the death of a relationship, the death of a dream, the death of a job or even the death of our pride.

Pausing and allowing the transformations to unfold makes room for the lessons and gifts to be revealed. It allows us time to absorb, to expand or constrict as needed. It affords those around us time to adjust. Manic problem solving leaves no room for this. Patience is not involved.

Finally, patience offers the gift of living consciously in the now. We do not obsess over what has happened in the past or what tomorrow may bring. We learn to appreciate what is unfolding before us presently. We give it our fullest attention. We pause as it unwinds and unfolds and wait for the next moment…which could hold action or more pause. It affords us a type of grace that brings peace, understanding and calm. We are able to just be, not have to do, do, do.

Blessings ~ Lisa

© COPYRIGHT 2012 Lisa Meade

In The Stillness

I have just returned from a three-week vacation of camping with family and friends on the shore of Cape Cod. What a glorious time was had by all. Lots of space for rest and relaxation, time for rejuvenation and recharge, time for play and laughter and most importantly time for change and growth. Bayazid al-Bistami states, "All this talk and turmoil and noise and movement and desire is outside of the veil; within the veil is silence and calm and rest." I climbed within the veil during these past three weeks. I had plenty of fun and play, but I made sure to sit in the stillness and discover the treasures to be found there as well. Creating the space for this emptiness I was able to find the stillness I needed and hungered for. Here I was able to touch hands with intuitive guidance and listen as my inner truth awakened and rose up within.

Sitting at the water’s edge, creating ritual around beach bonfires, hiking through dunes or even listening for the hoots of the owls that frequented our camp site each early morning created deeper awareness and allowed my imagination to percolate and create dreams, visions and possibilities. Journaling added jucy-ness to these thoughts.

A three-week vacation is not required for these treasures to be revealed. Taking a simple walk out-of-doors. Sitting beneath the shade of a beautiful tree. Finding a sunny spot to sit in with eyes closed as you listen to the voices of nature around you. Finding ways to connect deeper with yourself is vital to living a full and rich life. It opens the door to your relationship with your spiritual self. It gives time for creativity. It provides pause to the chaos and it sheds light onto the mundane and finds magic in the corners of our minds.

I have returned from this time feeling alive and recharged. I am excited for what the days and months ahead hold. I have ideas with endless possibilities and energy that is alive and playful. So much movement was made in my stillness!

Blessings ~ Lisa

©COPYRIGHT 2012 Lisa Meade