Without
distress, lack, time, expectation, attachment
life becomes
calm, abundant, spacious, connected, free.
~Brenda Adams
Monday, December 13, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Herbs That Restore Adrenal Function
Feeling tired, depressed, sick all the time? Read this!
Herbs That Restore Adrenal Function
The adrenal glands are two tiny organs that sit on top of the kidneys and produce hormones and neurotransmitters. The cortex, or outer layer of the glands, produces cortisone, cortisol, aldosterone, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone; the medulla, or inner section, produces adrenaline and noradrenalin. These hormones regulate the body's stress response and many other functions. When the adrenals are overstressed, you may experience fatigue, appetite loss, depression and a compromised immune system. Herbs can help reduce stress and restore optimum adrenal health.
Astragalus
Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), also known as milk vetch, is an important herb in Western and traditional Chinese medicine, where it is used as a tonic for the immune system. James Balch, M.D. and Phyllis Balch note that immune deficiency is a symptom of "adrenal burnout," and they recommend astragalus to improve adrenal function and reduce stress. Do not take astragalus if you have a fever.
Milk Thistle
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is an herb indicated for treating liver problems or for toning the liver. Balch and Balch recommend it because a properly functioning liver will reduce the body's toxin load and relieve stress on the adrenals.
Valerian
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a popular herb to treat sleep disorders that relate to stress. Valerian may calm the nerves, promote sleep and enhance adrenal health.
Borage
Borage (Borago officinalis) is an aromatic herb used in cooking and herbal medicine. Borage essential oil has mild anti-depressant actions and is used as a general tonic and to treat stress. Balch and Balch state that borage tones and balances the adrenals. Borage contains alkaloids that may damage the liver if taken in excessive amounts over a prolonged period.
Siberian Ginseng
Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), also known as eleuthero, is considered to be an adaptogen, that is, an herb that regulates hormone production and helps the body cope with stress. It is used to treat disorders that result from adrenal exhaustion, including poor memory, low endurance and immune deficiency. In the book "Medical Herbalism: the Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine," herbalist David Hoffmann recommends Siberian ginseng, citing the herb's eleutherosides, chemicals that bind to hormonal receptors, as the core ingredients in the plant that impact the adrenal medulla.
Licorice
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) contains glycyrrhizic and glycyrrhetic acids, which have a chemical structure similar to the natural hormonal steroids produced by the adrenal glands. Glycyrrhizic and glycyrrhetic acid bind to the cortisol and aldosterone receptors and mimic the effects of those hormones. Licorice has been effective in treating Addison's disease, a disorder of the adrenal glands. A study published in the 2007 issue of the Annals of Clinical Biochemistry found that the glycyrrhizic and glycyrrhetinic acids in licorice enhanced the adrenal production of hormones and prevented kidney failure in a patient with Addison's disease. Licorice can raise blood pressure and should not be taken if you have hypertension.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/91634-herbs-restore-adrenal-function/#ixzz162RqjzTE
Herbs That Restore Adrenal Function
The adrenal glands are two tiny organs that sit on top of the kidneys and produce hormones and neurotransmitters. The cortex, or outer layer of the glands, produces cortisone, cortisol, aldosterone, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone; the medulla, or inner section, produces adrenaline and noradrenalin. These hormones regulate the body's stress response and many other functions. When the adrenals are overstressed, you may experience fatigue, appetite loss, depression and a compromised immune system. Herbs can help reduce stress and restore optimum adrenal health.
Astragalus
Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), also known as milk vetch, is an important herb in Western and traditional Chinese medicine, where it is used as a tonic for the immune system. James Balch, M.D. and Phyllis Balch note that immune deficiency is a symptom of "adrenal burnout," and they recommend astragalus to improve adrenal function and reduce stress. Do not take astragalus if you have a fever.
Milk Thistle
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is an herb indicated for treating liver problems or for toning the liver. Balch and Balch recommend it because a properly functioning liver will reduce the body's toxin load and relieve stress on the adrenals.
Valerian
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a popular herb to treat sleep disorders that relate to stress. Valerian may calm the nerves, promote sleep and enhance adrenal health.
Borage
Borage (Borago officinalis) is an aromatic herb used in cooking and herbal medicine. Borage essential oil has mild anti-depressant actions and is used as a general tonic and to treat stress. Balch and Balch state that borage tones and balances the adrenals. Borage contains alkaloids that may damage the liver if taken in excessive amounts over a prolonged period.
Siberian Ginseng
Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), also known as eleuthero, is considered to be an adaptogen, that is, an herb that regulates hormone production and helps the body cope with stress. It is used to treat disorders that result from adrenal exhaustion, including poor memory, low endurance and immune deficiency. In the book "Medical Herbalism: the Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine," herbalist David Hoffmann recommends Siberian ginseng, citing the herb's eleutherosides, chemicals that bind to hormonal receptors, as the core ingredients in the plant that impact the adrenal medulla.
Licorice
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) contains glycyrrhizic and glycyrrhetic acids, which have a chemical structure similar to the natural hormonal steroids produced by the adrenal glands. Glycyrrhizic and glycyrrhetic acid bind to the cortisol and aldosterone receptors and mimic the effects of those hormones. Licorice has been effective in treating Addison's disease, a disorder of the adrenal glands. A study published in the 2007 issue of the Annals of Clinical Biochemistry found that the glycyrrhizic and glycyrrhetinic acids in licorice enhanced the adrenal production of hormones and prevented kidney failure in a patient with Addison's disease. Licorice can raise blood pressure and should not be taken if you have hypertension.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/91634-herbs-restore-adrenal-function/#ixzz162RqjzTE
Going Easy
Going Easy
Go easy. You may have to push forward, but you don't have to push so hard. Go in gentleness, go in peace.
Do not be in so much of a hurry. At no day, no hour, no time are you required to do more than you can do in peace. Frantic behaviors and urgency are not the foundation for our new way of life.
Do not be in too much of a hurry to begin. Begin, but do not force the beginning if it is not time. Beginnings will arrive soon enough.
Enjoy and relish middles, the heart of the matter.
Do not be in too much of a hurry to finish. You may be almost done, but enjoy the final moments. Give yourself fully to those moments so that you may give and get all there is.
Let the pace flow naturally. Move forward. Start. Keep moving forward. Do it gently, though. Do it in peace. Cherish each moment.
Today, God, help me focus on a peaceful pace rather than a harried one. I will keep moving forward gently, not frantically. Help me let go of my need to be anxious, upset, and harried. Help me replace it with a need to be at peace and in harmony.
You are reading from the book:
The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie
Go easy. You may have to push forward, but you don't have to push so hard. Go in gentleness, go in peace.
Do not be in so much of a hurry. At no day, no hour, no time are you required to do more than you can do in peace. Frantic behaviors and urgency are not the foundation for our new way of life.
Do not be in too much of a hurry to begin. Begin, but do not force the beginning if it is not time. Beginnings will arrive soon enough.
Enjoy and relish middles, the heart of the matter.
Do not be in too much of a hurry to finish. You may be almost done, but enjoy the final moments. Give yourself fully to those moments so that you may give and get all there is.
Let the pace flow naturally. Move forward. Start. Keep moving forward. Do it gently, though. Do it in peace. Cherish each moment.
Today, God, help me focus on a peaceful pace rather than a harried one. I will keep moving forward gently, not frantically. Help me let go of my need to be anxious, upset, and harried. Help me replace it with a need to be at peace and in harmony.
You are reading from the book:
The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
What I dream for women and young girls
Here is what I submitted to Minnesota Women's Press to be included in the December edition. It answers the question: "What do I dream of changing for women and girls?"
I dream of changing for women the way they view and love themselves. I desire to be an encourager, a healer, and a guide for them to live out their true, authentic selves and to really know the meaning to honor, respect, cherish, and love themselves. For women to honor authenticity, expression of their gifts, creativity, and knowing and embodying their power to heal and change the course of history. For women to know the powerful role models they are to young girls. I want women and young girls to be free to be....themselves. The beautiful, amazing, and powerful creatures they are. I dream of changing the way women view themselves and then in turn change the way that young girls view themselves. Beauty revealed in truth, realness, self-expression, and love. It is my mission to help set them free....to be.
I dream of changing for women the way they view and love themselves. I desire to be an encourager, a healer, and a guide for them to live out their true, authentic selves and to really know the meaning to honor, respect, cherish, and love themselves. For women to honor authenticity, expression of their gifts, creativity, and knowing and embodying their power to heal and change the course of history. For women to know the powerful role models they are to young girls. I want women and young girls to be free to be....themselves. The beautiful, amazing, and powerful creatures they are. I dream of changing the way women view themselves and then in turn change the way that young girls view themselves. Beauty revealed in truth, realness, self-expression, and love. It is my mission to help set them free....to be.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Awaken to the ordinary beauty
Awaken to the ordinary beauty...
Our lives are filled with demands, responsibilities, expectations, places to go, people to see, things to do. We may get so caught up in the next task that we miss the golden moment happening right now. No matter where we are or what we are doing, if we stop to breathe slowly and notice our surroundings, we will find something to appreciate. We may see a glint of light reflecting off a pane of glass, the look in a friend's eyes, or a small thoughtful thing that our partner does.
Spiritual development is nourished by our senses. The sights, sounds, tastes, touch, and scents in our immediate surroundings are the doorway to awe and mystery. When we awaken to the ordinary beauty in our everyday lives, warm and loving parts of ourselves grow and extend out to those we love.
Quiet yourself for a moment, slowly breathe in and out, and focus on something you appreciate.
An excerpt from: The More We Find in Each Other by Merle Fossum and Mavis Fossum.
Our lives are filled with demands, responsibilities, expectations, places to go, people to see, things to do. We may get so caught up in the next task that we miss the golden moment happening right now. No matter where we are or what we are doing, if we stop to breathe slowly and notice our surroundings, we will find something to appreciate. We may see a glint of light reflecting off a pane of glass, the look in a friend's eyes, or a small thoughtful thing that our partner does.
Spiritual development is nourished by our senses. The sights, sounds, tastes, touch, and scents in our immediate surroundings are the doorway to awe and mystery. When we awaken to the ordinary beauty in our everyday lives, warm and loving parts of ourselves grow and extend out to those we love.
Quiet yourself for a moment, slowly breathe in and out, and focus on something you appreciate.
An excerpt from: The More We Find in Each Other by Merle Fossum and Mavis Fossum.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Yeast Free Ketchup Ingredients
Yeast Free Ketchup Ingredients
2 – 6 oz cans tomato paste
1/2 cup water
3 packets sweet leaf stevia
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1 /2 cup lemon juice
pinch cinnamon (optional)
pinch ground cloves (optional)
pinch cumin (optional)
Yeast Free Ketchup Directions
Thoroughly mix all ingredients together. You can adjust spices according to your taste.
2 – 6 oz cans tomato paste
1/2 cup water
3 packets sweet leaf stevia
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1 /2 cup lemon juice
pinch cinnamon (optional)
pinch ground cloves (optional)
pinch cumin (optional)
Yeast Free Ketchup Directions
Thoroughly mix all ingredients together. You can adjust spices according to your taste.
Friday, August 27, 2010
My new favorite inspirational writing
The Awakening
by Sonny Carroll
There comes a time in your life when you finally get it... When in the midst of all your fears and insanity you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and through a mantle of wet lashes you begin to look at the world from a new perspective. This is your awakening.
You realize that it is time to stop hoping and waiting for something, or someone, to change or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that there aren’t always fairytale endings (or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you. Then a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.
So you begin making your way through the “reality of today” rather than holding out for the “promise of tomorrow.” You realize that much of who you are, and the way you navigate through life is, in great part, a result of all the social conditioning you’ve received over the course of a lifetime. And you begin to sift through all the nonsense you were taught about:
* how you should look and how much you should weigh
* what you should wear and where you should shop
* where you should live or what type of car your should drive
* who you should sleep with and how you should behave
* who you should marry and why you should stay
* the importance of having children or what you owe your family
Slowly you begin to open up to new worlds and different points of view. And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really believe in. And you begin to discard the doctrines you have outgrown, or should never have practiced to begin with.
You accept the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are... and that’s OK... they are entitled to their own views and opinions. And, you come to terms with the fact that you will never be a size 5 or a “perfect 10” Or a perfect human being for that matter. So you stop trying to compete with the image inside your head or agonizing over how you compare. And you take a long look at yourself in the mirror and you make a promise to give yourself the same unconditional love and support you give so freely to others. Then a sense of confidence is born of self-approval.
And, you stop maneuvering through life merely as a “consumer” hungry for your next fix, a new dress, another pair of shoes or looks of approval and admiration from family, friends or even strangers who pass by. Then you discover that “it is truly in giving that we receive and that the joy and abundance you seek grows out of the giving. And you recognize the importance of “creating” & “contributing” rather than “obtaining” & “accumulating.”
And you give thanks for the simple things you’ve been blessed with; things that millions of people upon the face of the earth can only dream about a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed and the freedom to pursue your own dreams.
And then you begin to love and to care for yourself. You stop engaging in self-destructive behaviors including participating in dysfunctional relationships. You begin eating a balanced diet, drinking more water and exercising. And because you’ve learned that fatigue drains the spirit and creates doubt and fear, you give yourself permission to rest. And just as food is fuel for the body, laughter is fuel for the spirit and so you make it a point to create time for play.
Then you learn about love and relationships, how to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away. And you allow only the hands of a lover who truly loves and respects you to glorify you with his touch. You learn that people don’t always say what they mean or mean what they say, intentionally or unintentionally and that not everyone will always come through and interestingly enough, it’s not always about you. So, you stop lashing out and pointing fingers or looking to place blame for the things that were done to you or weren’t done for you. And you learn to keep your Ego in check and to acknowledge and redirect the destructive emotions it spawns; anger, jealousy and resentment.
You learn how to say I was wrong and to forgive people for their own human frailties. You learn to build bridges instead of walls and about the healing power of love as it is expressed through a kind word, a warm smile or a friendly gesture. And, at the same time, you eliminate any relationships that are hurtful or fail to uplift and edify you. You stop working so hard at smoothing things over and setting your needs aside. You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK and that it is your right to want or expect certain things. And you learn the importance of communicating your needs with confidence and grace. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that eventually martyrs are burned at the stake. Then you learn to distinguish between guilt, and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO. You learn that you don’t know all the answers, it’s not your job to save the world and that sometimes you just need to Let Go.
Moreover, you learn to look at people as they really are and not as you would want them to be, and you are careful not to project your neediness or insecurities onto a relationship. You learn that you will not be, more beautiful, more intelligent, more lovable or important because of the man on your arm or the child that bears your name. You learn that just as people grow and change, so it is with love and relationships and that that not everyone can always love you the way you would want them to. So you stop appraising your worth by the measure of love you are given. And suddenly you realize that it’s wrong to demand that someone live their life or sacrifice their dreams just to serve your needs, ease your insecurities, or meet “your” standards and expectations. You learn that the only love worth giving and receiving is the love that is given freely without conditions or limitations. And you learn what it means to love. So you stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn that “alone” does not mean “lonely” and you begin to discover the joy of spending time “with yourself” and “on yourself.” Then you discover the greatest and most fulfilling love you will ever know. Self Love. And so, it comes to pass that through understanding your heart heals; and now all new things are possible.
Moving along, you begin to avoid Toxic people and conversations. And you stop wasting time and energy rehashing your situation with family and friends. You learn that talk doesn’t change things and that unrequited wishes can only serve to keep you trapped in the past. So, you stop lamenting over what could or should have been and you make a decision to leave the past behind. Then you begin to invest your time and energy to affect positive change. You take a personal inventory of all your strengths and weaknesses and the areas you need to improve in order to move ahead. You set your goals and map out a plan of action to see things through.
You learn that life isn’t always fair and you don’t always get what you think you deserve and you stop personalizing every loss or disappointment. You learn to accept that sometimes bad things happen to good people and that these things are not an act of God... but merely a random act of fate.
And you stop looking for guarantees because you’ve learned that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected and that whatever happens, you’ll learn to deal with it. And you learn that the only thing you must truly fear is the great robber baron of all time FEAR itself. So you learn to step right into and through your fears because to give into fear is to give away the right to live life on your terms. You learn that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophesy and you learn to go after what you want and not to squander your life living under a cloud of indecision or feelings of impending doom.
Then, YOU LEARN ABOUT MONEY... the personal power and independence it brings and the options it creates. And you recognize the necessity to create your own personal wealth. Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never ever settle for less than your heart’s desire. Then a sense of power is born of self-reliance. And you live with honor and integrity because you know that these principles are not the outdated ideals of a by-gone era but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build your life. And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting and to stay open to every wonderful opportunity and exciting possibility. Then you hang a wind chime outside your window to remind yourself what beauty there is in Simplicity.
Finally, with courage in your heart and with God by your side you take a stand, you FAKE a deep breath and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can.
A word about the Power of Prayer: In some of my darkest, most painful and frightening hours, I have prayed not for the answers to my prayers or for material things but for my “God” to help me find the strength, confidence and courage to persevere; to face each day and to do what I must do.
Remember this: “You are an expression of the almighty. The spirit of God resides within you and moves through you. Open your heart, speak to that spirit and it will heal and empower you.” My “God” has never failed me.
© Sonny Carroll, 1999. All Rights Reserved.
Posted with permission of the author, Sonny Carroll. For permission to post, contact sonny@waketolife.com and visit her website, Wake To Life
by Sonny Carroll
There comes a time in your life when you finally get it... When in the midst of all your fears and insanity you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and through a mantle of wet lashes you begin to look at the world from a new perspective. This is your awakening.
You realize that it is time to stop hoping and waiting for something, or someone, to change or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that there aren’t always fairytale endings (or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you. Then a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.
So you begin making your way through the “reality of today” rather than holding out for the “promise of tomorrow.” You realize that much of who you are, and the way you navigate through life is, in great part, a result of all the social conditioning you’ve received over the course of a lifetime. And you begin to sift through all the nonsense you were taught about:
* how you should look and how much you should weigh
* what you should wear and where you should shop
* where you should live or what type of car your should drive
* who you should sleep with and how you should behave
* who you should marry and why you should stay
* the importance of having children or what you owe your family
Slowly you begin to open up to new worlds and different points of view. And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really believe in. And you begin to discard the doctrines you have outgrown, or should never have practiced to begin with.
You accept the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are... and that’s OK... they are entitled to their own views and opinions. And, you come to terms with the fact that you will never be a size 5 or a “perfect 10” Or a perfect human being for that matter. So you stop trying to compete with the image inside your head or agonizing over how you compare. And you take a long look at yourself in the mirror and you make a promise to give yourself the same unconditional love and support you give so freely to others. Then a sense of confidence is born of self-approval.
And, you stop maneuvering through life merely as a “consumer” hungry for your next fix, a new dress, another pair of shoes or looks of approval and admiration from family, friends or even strangers who pass by. Then you discover that “it is truly in giving that we receive and that the joy and abundance you seek grows out of the giving. And you recognize the importance of “creating” & “contributing” rather than “obtaining” & “accumulating.”
And you give thanks for the simple things you’ve been blessed with; things that millions of people upon the face of the earth can only dream about a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed and the freedom to pursue your own dreams.
And then you begin to love and to care for yourself. You stop engaging in self-destructive behaviors including participating in dysfunctional relationships. You begin eating a balanced diet, drinking more water and exercising. And because you’ve learned that fatigue drains the spirit and creates doubt and fear, you give yourself permission to rest. And just as food is fuel for the body, laughter is fuel for the spirit and so you make it a point to create time for play.
Then you learn about love and relationships, how to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away. And you allow only the hands of a lover who truly loves and respects you to glorify you with his touch. You learn that people don’t always say what they mean or mean what they say, intentionally or unintentionally and that not everyone will always come through and interestingly enough, it’s not always about you. So, you stop lashing out and pointing fingers or looking to place blame for the things that were done to you or weren’t done for you. And you learn to keep your Ego in check and to acknowledge and redirect the destructive emotions it spawns; anger, jealousy and resentment.
You learn how to say I was wrong and to forgive people for their own human frailties. You learn to build bridges instead of walls and about the healing power of love as it is expressed through a kind word, a warm smile or a friendly gesture. And, at the same time, you eliminate any relationships that are hurtful or fail to uplift and edify you. You stop working so hard at smoothing things over and setting your needs aside. You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK and that it is your right to want or expect certain things. And you learn the importance of communicating your needs with confidence and grace. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that eventually martyrs are burned at the stake. Then you learn to distinguish between guilt, and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO. You learn that you don’t know all the answers, it’s not your job to save the world and that sometimes you just need to Let Go.
Moreover, you learn to look at people as they really are and not as you would want them to be, and you are careful not to project your neediness or insecurities onto a relationship. You learn that you will not be, more beautiful, more intelligent, more lovable or important because of the man on your arm or the child that bears your name. You learn that just as people grow and change, so it is with love and relationships and that that not everyone can always love you the way you would want them to. So you stop appraising your worth by the measure of love you are given. And suddenly you realize that it’s wrong to demand that someone live their life or sacrifice their dreams just to serve your needs, ease your insecurities, or meet “your” standards and expectations. You learn that the only love worth giving and receiving is the love that is given freely without conditions or limitations. And you learn what it means to love. So you stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn that “alone” does not mean “lonely” and you begin to discover the joy of spending time “with yourself” and “on yourself.” Then you discover the greatest and most fulfilling love you will ever know. Self Love. And so, it comes to pass that through understanding your heart heals; and now all new things are possible.
Moving along, you begin to avoid Toxic people and conversations. And you stop wasting time and energy rehashing your situation with family and friends. You learn that talk doesn’t change things and that unrequited wishes can only serve to keep you trapped in the past. So, you stop lamenting over what could or should have been and you make a decision to leave the past behind. Then you begin to invest your time and energy to affect positive change. You take a personal inventory of all your strengths and weaknesses and the areas you need to improve in order to move ahead. You set your goals and map out a plan of action to see things through.
You learn that life isn’t always fair and you don’t always get what you think you deserve and you stop personalizing every loss or disappointment. You learn to accept that sometimes bad things happen to good people and that these things are not an act of God... but merely a random act of fate.
And you stop looking for guarantees because you’ve learned that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected and that whatever happens, you’ll learn to deal with it. And you learn that the only thing you must truly fear is the great robber baron of all time FEAR itself. So you learn to step right into and through your fears because to give into fear is to give away the right to live life on your terms. You learn that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophesy and you learn to go after what you want and not to squander your life living under a cloud of indecision or feelings of impending doom.
Then, YOU LEARN ABOUT MONEY... the personal power and independence it brings and the options it creates. And you recognize the necessity to create your own personal wealth. Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never ever settle for less than your heart’s desire. Then a sense of power is born of self-reliance. And you live with honor and integrity because you know that these principles are not the outdated ideals of a by-gone era but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build your life. And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting and to stay open to every wonderful opportunity and exciting possibility. Then you hang a wind chime outside your window to remind yourself what beauty there is in Simplicity.
Finally, with courage in your heart and with God by your side you take a stand, you FAKE a deep breath and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can.
A word about the Power of Prayer: In some of my darkest, most painful and frightening hours, I have prayed not for the answers to my prayers or for material things but for my “God” to help me find the strength, confidence and courage to persevere; to face each day and to do what I must do.
Remember this: “You are an expression of the almighty. The spirit of God resides within you and moves through you. Open your heart, speak to that spirit and it will heal and empower you.” My “God” has never failed me.
© Sonny Carroll, 1999. All Rights Reserved.
Posted with permission of the author, Sonny Carroll. For permission to post, contact sonny@waketolife.com and visit her website, Wake To Life
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