Tag Archives: love

THERE IS HOPE

What a magnificent time we live in. As much hate, corruption, hurtful & judgmental behavior social media vomits there is HOPE.

I witness daily human beings making a difference dedicated to living life from their heart. Their journey is not easy. Despite the flood of negativity they are not fooled.

They easily spot the crazed beast with its many disguises that tries wrapping its ugly tentacles around them sucking them down deep into a vortex of confusion, hopelessness, and hate.

These spiritual warriors see beyond the fear and are changing the world by training their minds to be led via their heart. They know, because of the inner work they’ve done, they were born to help end suffering. As their awareness has heightened, their ability to risk stepping into uncharted territories has grown.

Compassion, empathy, acceptance of others, love, new ideas to heal the planet, are taking root all over the world and in places you’d least expect it. Heart-led actions for healing are occurring every day.

If you’ve been discouraged don’t be. We have the capacity to step out of dark thoughts and into the light, every one of us.

Today be a cycle breaker, start the inner work it takes. Be a spiritual warrior and walk your values proudly. Be a model of well being to others. Be a change maker for the good.

How? Offer a kind word, a gentle smile, recognize how hard the clerk in the store, the waitress or wait person, the maid, your co-worker, colleague, works and tell them how much you appreciate them. Start small and watch your kindness grow becoming a habit. You are changing your community for the better.

But always beware of the crazed beast of negativity. If you recognize its presence tear off its tentacles. Its greatest talent is to try and squeeze out hope and twist our mind into a million anxious depressing thoughts.

Let’s join with those who see beyond fear and become determined to be a flashlight for our Creator.

Good is happening. The more good you see the more good you will see.

SHINE FORTH

SHINE FORTH
Our first breath was a gift from God. Imagine the power of that Divine Love able to awaken us into this world. That Love is in us and always has been. For years we walked around not realizing it’s even there or the purpose and power of its presence.

We have within us a Love that far surpasses our emotional love. Many times we don’t know it’s there because we’re caught up in the pains of the past or situations where we feel powerless. But it’s there, we’re still breathing, it will always be a part of us.

The spiritual journey is about remembering and discovering this powerful gift given at birth by the One who makes this earth shake.

To develop the awareness of this Love is a worthy cause. Via that awareness we become a beacon of light for God. The more inner work we do to clean up our emotional house and gather self-care resources the brighter the Light shines forth.

What a blessing it is to serve self and others in this capacity. So simple yet so hard. It takes work, we’re human, but it’s always there ready for our embrace. Know matter how it feels in the moment no one can take this gift from us. This Love is beyond feelings.

Today allow yourself to be the sunrise in someone’s darkened world. Love. Shine forth.

Sandy Powers, Life Coach

NEGATIVES SERVE TOO
A spiritual practice is not about eliminating every perceived negative, but about recovery from the emotions they cause by tapping into the heart where the Sacred dwells. It’s about how quick we come back into balance after falling hard into the pit of helplessness.

Dedication to my practice is ongoing. When things are going good is when my best work is done. When I’m not under the weight of a negative I am able to develop and anchor in a multitude of self-care resources that I can lean on when things hit the fan.

Life is life. We are human. We are the good, the bad, and the ugly. We are hit with pain and suffering by things outside of us and we are also the cause pain and suffering to self and others. If we can step back and quit judging our behavior and hammering in how awful we are there’s an opportunity to turn an awful situation into a healing experience. No one is perfect, no one can escape negative emotions, so lighten up, recognize you’re human, and get on with it.

The not so fun emotions are not bad guys. They are only parts of us screaming for attention. The longer we ignore their voices the louder they scream. When we listen beyond the obvious reason for the flare up we’ll find there is more to the story. It is never just about what’s happened, inevitably it’s linked to some ugly experience we wanted to forget from the past.

Remember triggers abound. There is no escape, but we can minimize our triggers by paying attention to our emotions, our feelings, and get to work and heal.

Why, is the quintessential question that becomes our personal Sherlock Holmes. Why? Why? Why? Why keeps us digging within. When triggered I constantly remind myself there’s more to the story, keep going and usually without fail I find some past hurt that carries a like energy. When I get to the bottom of it, it’s liberating.

Spiritual work, is about listening, finding the calm within, and figuring out how to access it. When we do our lives are filled with more peace and joy. With more peace and joy, we win, those around us win, our community wins, and so does the world.

Life is good even the negatives.
Sandy Powers, Life Coach

COMPASSIONATE LISTENING IS PEACE IN ACTION

COMPASSIONATE LISTENING IS PEACE IN ACTION

It is a direct connect to the heart where the deepest wisdom is found.

Building a Compassionate listening practice requires three components.

Self-awareness
Self-knowledge
Self-care

Benefits of these three components.

More peace and joy.
Get needs met.
Self-confidence.
Self-healing.
Healthy boundaries.
Ability to get raw and real with self and others.
Healthier relationships.

Self- Awareness

Reduces negative self-talk
Motivates to build new coping tools.
Identifies areas that need healing.
Starts the process of moving from victim to victor.
Helps you to quit beating yourself up.
Makes you aware of habits that don’t serve.

Self-Knowledge

Shows you where a habit or belief started and gives you an opportunity to see if it still fits with your life today, or if it needs to be changed.
Gives understanding and compassion to areas of yourself you may have judged harshly.
Offers an opportunity to remove guilt and shame.
Reflection and contemplation increase self-knowledge which allows healing to occur.

Self-care

Raises toleration.
Allows the virtues of patience, compassion, and love to flourish.
Increases times of happiness, peace, and joy.
Creates space for awareness to take priority.
Gives you more energy to offer self and others.

Benefits of Self-Love

Healthier coping skills
Knowing love is strong not weak.
Healthy boundaries.
Healthy relationships.
Relationships are transformed.
Unhealthy relationships fall away on their own.
Healthy relationships deepen.
Intimacy and connection is felt by both parties.

Next steps

Create a daily practice.
Work with a friend who will hold you accountable.
Hire a Life Coach or Counselor to help you in each area.
Join a group, or find a way to practice with others who are working on living authentically.

The above is from a program I facilitate – Mastering the Art of Compassionate Listening. It is my hope this handout will take your Compassionate Listening skills to the next level.

The goal of becoming a Master Compassionate Listener is to connect to self, and others on a deep level. Respect, understanding, and compassion are three qualities this type of listening increases.

Compassionate listening serves all relationships and increases the quality of your life.

Sandy Powers, Life Coach