Patience

I Corinthians: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

I was reflecting about love and patience this morning. We are all working on things, as we are all in lesson. I certainly know that patience is something I have in my work, since change is often slow. As a therapist, I sit and watch as people avoid making changes or when they do make changes (or when changes are forced on them), it takes time to adapt, learn and acclimate. I know that I have had to learn to be patient with myself, since I often want changes to happen immediately, and although some changes can happen quickly, other changes take a lot more time. I guess the lesson I was reflecting on this morning has more to do with patience in my personal life with friends, and family. The Virgo in me gets impatient and says, "come on, get to work and lets get this done." That's often how I approach things, but others do not. I have to resist judgement on that (and its hard) because others process things more slowly and methodically. My boyfriend and my oldest son are slow processors. They think about change for a long time. My son doesn't really like change, but once it happens, he adjusts pretty quickly. My boyfriend, on the other hand is a Cancer, and he thinks about changes for a long time, and changes when he has to. Most people only change when they have to. I too have had changes forced on me and ultimately, it was for my highest good. I realized today that I need to be more patient with others. Growth takes time, like a flower growing from a seed. Just because you cannot see visible change doesn't mean change isn't happening. Sure, some people may be stuck and stagnant. They may not be growing in any visible way, but being stuck may be their lesson. Perhaps being stuck will ultimately teach them something valuable about choices. Change is a choice, being stuck is a choice, and both require a great deal of patience. Its funny, I think most people wouldn't realize that I can be impatient, because I often exude lots of compassion and patience around me. Trust me, I do have large stores of patience but when I cannot sit by and watch my kids and boyfriend stall, avoid and make excuses any longer, then I push. I push in love, but I do push. I won't stop pushing, since we all help each other on our journey and my job is to inspire change and growth in others. I will however forge ahead with an ultimate respect for patience. I have been inspired lately by some growth in loved ones that happened overnight, yet those changes actually took years to nurture. Change takes time. change requires patience and love is the water that nurtures others to trust enough to change. Change is always possible, just be patient, loving and kind and watch your relationships grow in ways you never thought possible. 

Change and Alchemy

This is an interesting time in history. We have upheaval, protests, violence and our country is divided. The media is driving a fear laden agenda. People feel angry and hopeless. Yet, it is a chance for growth and incredible change. People are tired of the old order and that means personal and overall transformation is now possible. Alchemy is about transformation, literally translated as medieval chemistry concerned with turning metal into gold. The idea of alchemy in ones life is to transform your heart and soul into gold. In the book, The Alchemist, the character sets out on a journey to find a treasure....but the journey turns out to be the treasure and the pot of gold is within him. We are all on our journey to transform, become present, conscious and fulfill each of our own destinies. As Eckart Tolle wrote in, The New Earth, "A reversal of your priorities comes about when the main purpose for doing what you do becomes the doing itself, or rather, the current of consciousness that flows into what you do." He states that, "The modalities of awakened doing are acceptance, enjoyment, and enthusiasm." The idea of acceptance is simple, that we begin to take responsibility for everything in our lives. When we take responsibility for what we are doing and for each moment we have, we become empowered. That is not to say that you may not want to stay in the current situation you are in, but it is accepting that you are there in the present moment until you can shift the situation fully. There is no "victim" energy or "poor me" or any type of suffering if you enter into a state of acceptance. The media wants people to be afraid and to abdicate their power. Helpless people are controllable. Being empowered means you tune out negative influences, you are discerning about the messages you take in and you shift into an understanding that you are an empowered soul. The idea of alchemy also is to release ego from dictating your state of being and again, allowing a state of empowerment. Enjoyment is all about channeling joy into everything you do. Yes, there can be a state of enjoyment in vacuuming as well as going for a hike. Enjoyment is also a state of being, when you are in a conscious and spiritual state of being in the present moment and bringing the energy of joy into life. It is not seeking out activities that bring you joy. Then the state of being is outside of you, not in you. If joy is in you, then you bring it to everything that you do! "Enthusiasm means there is a deep enjoyment in what you do plus the added element of a goal or a vision that you work toward (Eckhart Tolle)." Everything in your life should be able to enter one of the three categories, acceptance, enjoyment or enthusiasm. If you cannot stand something in your life and you truly cannot accept it, then you might want to stop that dynamic or activity because it is clearly not helpful for your personal or spiritual journey.  We all have things we need to accept until the time comes to shift the situation or circumstances. This political climate is beckoning people to wake up, to step and to become empowered instead of disempowered. Evaluate your life and shift your perception to being more conscious and aware. What can you accept, rather than resist or complain about? Surrender to acceptance and take responsibility for your life. By being more conscious you can also bring enjoyment to everything that you do. What simple activities can you allow yourself to enjoy? Life is so much more fulfilling when you can consciously, accept and enjoy each and every moment. With that said, the more fully present you are, then you make room for enthusiasm to enter your life which brings you to an even higher state of being. Allow alchemy in your life.........shift your awareness into the present moment and allow the transformation of your spirit to shine through everything you do. While others are fearful, hateful and spewing negativity, you are inspiring others through your light that there is another path....one of love, strength and compassion.