Observation

What we observe individually, illuminates within us. What we observe collectively, illuminates within us all.

Sometimes we may feel it is our obligation to observe. Sometimes we may feel it is a burden to observe.

Everything that exist in our lives is the result of our personal observations.

Everything that exist in the world is the result of our collective observations.

To not observe, is to live in ignorance. To over-observe, is to live in fear. To manifest what we want to observe, is our right.

Perspective

Know who you are

I was informed the other day that …

“Your body changes over 500 times a day”

My attention was peaked; tell me more. But, the statement that followed next …

“Which can create embarrassing odor causing sweat”

Jolted me back into reality.

It was a commercial successfully doing its job of capturing my attention to emphasize why I need to buy their product. And I am okay with that.

It’s a reminder to me that:

1. Others will often make our greatest qualities seem trivial.

2. Someone may only be interested in our power to the extent that it benefits them.

3. It is our individual responsibility to realize who we are.

Know who you are – Don’t make that anyone else’s responsibility.

Perspective

Invited

People often go where they feel welcomed. How often do we show up for a party that we haven’t been invited to?

When we interact with the world, we mostly visit areas and situations that attract us. The places we encounter, the people we hang around and the professions we choose are the ones that, on some level, invited us.

An environment will always be a direct reflection of the invitation that was sent out.

Sometimes we show up to a party wondering why none of our friends are there. Sometimes we show up to a party wondering why only our friends are there. The better question is, who was invited?

Perspective

Trying

Trying to come up with something to write about is difficult. It creates a distance between me and the desired outcome, building a perception that the treasure I seek is outside of me.

Finding what to write is an opportunity to discover what wants to be expressed. It’s a reminder that everything of value is already within my possession, simply waiting for me to recognize its presence.

Trying is a grasp for something outside of myself, finding is a dive within. The quality of the experience is the difference between the two.

While both may lead us to similar outcomes, trying keeps us focused on something external for the solution, finding establishes a reference point within ourselves that we can go back to.

Perspective

Fog

The weather is foggy when air is being cooled to a point where it can no longer hold all the water it contains.

We become foggy when our personal capacity can no longer support the rate of change that is happening in our lives.

Operating in the fog requires a higher level of attention and care. And unlike a clear day, we must only concern ourselves with the things that are directly in front of us to navigate safely through the dense air.

We can feel restricted by the fog, but it’s opposition may serve a greater purpose? As it passes, exposing the possible limitations that could exist, the fog reminds us to more deeply appreciate the clear day.

Perspective

If you can

Think of the thing you want to do the most. Maybe it’s traveling to a foreign country, signing up for acting classes or leaving a job you hate to do something you love. Now imagine someone you know, who may not even have the same level of passion as you, unexpectedly doing that thing.

If you’re fortunate, that scenario may produce a feeling of , “If you can … maybe I can too?” And on a more unfortunate level it may create the illusion that, “If you can … maybe I can’t?”

Either way, if you think you can, you can – sometimes seeing someone playing with our favorite toy produces that feeling in us. And if you think you can’t, the good news is, you could be wrong.

Perspective

Monsters

For any child who believes there are monsters in the closet, there are.

Last night I had a dream about a figurative monster that was trying to “get me.” To defend myself, I rallied people I trust around me so that they could help me fight it, but felt confused when they started to befriend my perceived enemy.

With reluctancy, I decided to entertain the idea that my figurative monster may not be threatening. And as I slowly put away my weapons and approached with caution, my monster did not change form, but my perceived threat started to evaporate.

The monsters we create are unique to us. If we can feel safe enough to slowly remove our defenses and approach at our own pace, we may be surprised to discover that the threat is most powerful when we avoid or fight it. Either way, for the person who believes there is a monster in the closet, there is.

Perspective

Space

When we are gone, is it a going away from a person or situation or is it a retreat into our desired space? And how do we differentiate the two?

We go away to create the appropriate distance needed to keep us safe. We need our space so we can have the freedom to expand.

When we are in relationships with people that do not give us our space, we may be compelled to go away. When we have our appropriate space, we may be compelled to stay.

When you need distance, is it because you want to go away or do you just need your space?

Perspective

Your place

There are guidelines, often invisible, that define a persons place in the world. The unwritten rules operate well enough to maintain a wide distance between each residence, while simultaneously supporting the misguided perception that the radius we operate in makes us neighbors.

Structures designed by people that know their place, create roads that never get walked, neighbors that never meet, and opportunities that don’t become realized. And minimal effort to explore a new place, keeps us safely in our place.

Exploring a place beyond the defined boundaries is the only way to travel to the truth. Your place is everywhere. There is only the mistaken idea that your place is somewhere else.

Perspective

Meant to become

Yesterday I heard someone make the comment “….Before they became the person they were meant to become.” It was in reference to someone who is historically admired and highly regarded. The statement was made to illustrate the differences in the person’s life before they became the person we recognize today.

What is the difference between who we are today and who we are meant to become? The people we admire the most would probably, more often than not, admit that their actions in the process of becoming their greatest selves were, more or less, basic and ordinary.

But, how do we recognize the distinction between the two? And more importantly, is there a distinction? Do we simply create a distinction to support a romanticized idea that the most admired persons must have possessed superhero abilities and extraordinary circumstances? Detaching ourselves from the responsibility that we may be just as great.

There is no on and off switch for the people we are meant to become. Considering this, all of our actions count, and most of what we do will feel ordinary, even if it is eventually admired and highly regarded by others. Ultimately, we are the person today that we are meant to become.