Do you know what a waking dream is? My interpretation is this: It is a spiritual ah-ha moment that comes when it is manifested in a symbolic way on the physical plane. Sometimes ironic, at times comical, it’s a game I often play. By example, remember when I wrote to you about the rose bush I planted in my garden representing my closest girlfriends? This is a waking dream. I am reminded of what rare beauties my friends are when each rose blooms. Since waking dreams are often times very personal, it’s difficult to give examples.

But I had one this morning I think you may be able to relate to.

We are fortunate to live in the country – on a gentle slope where the mountains meet the prairie. We have quite a bit of wildlife that shares this land with us. White tailed deer, eagles, owls, ducks, skunks, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, bear, a one-time sighting of a puma, turkeys, and one wild house cat named Pooder.

In the fall, the turkeys, which have raised their young across the creek, begin to gather into large groups. The turkey parades get longer and longer until when the snow begins to fall, over 60 congregate in our yard.

This morning, as I looked out at the beautiful fall colors slowly turning to gold along the creek running through our back yard, there was movement in the underbrush. Here came a long line of turkeys, looking for a way to cross the creek.

There is an irrigation gate behind our house that sends water to the ranchers down below in the flatlands. It is encased in gray concrete walls, which sounds like an eyesore, but in actuality, makes a picturesque waterfall, enhancing the creek’s beauty. One wall starts high on the bank and slopes to the creek, leaving about 12 feet of open water between the other retainer wall.

The leader tom thought this would be a perfect, even though incomplete, bridge across the creek. He began to waddle himself down the slippery concrete. When he got to the end of slab and the edge of the cascading water, he effortlessly flew to the far bank. The others began to line up behind him to do the same. They followed his example, making it to the other side with little trouble.

The turkeys followed each other closely, one right behind the other. It was precision take-offs and landings about every 3 seconds. They lined up like a carnival shooting arcade with at least eight on the sloping concrete. All went well until a young one’s turn came and got to the edge of the water.

He was surprised by the open water at his feet, and it sent him into a panic. His body language said, “What the hell…?” He turned to go back, but there were too many other turkeys at his heels. He caused a panic all the way up the line. They all turned to back up, but it was too late.

His only way out was to fly across the stream, and the turkeys behind him made sure he did. The peer pressure was immense. The panicked flight to the other side was ungraceful and comical. He almost made it to the grassy bank. He landed on the moss covered rocks peeking out of the icy creek. Sloshing, cursing and stumbling, he finally made it to the other side while the others flew over his head.

Besides the purely, comical National Geographic moment I had at the young turkey’s expense, this was also a waking dream.

How many times have we been pushed against our will to do something we didn’t want to do? For example: We took a less-desirable job instead of waiting for the right one. We followed through with marriage plans to the wrong person. We were coerced to volunteer when we wanted to spend valuable time with our family. We couldn’t say no to uninvited company. You get the idea.

When we are forced (by ourselves or by others) to be or to do something that is not in alignment with who we truly are, we flounder and flop and usually make an uncoordinated mess of things. Our heart’s not in it, so how can the outcome be the best it can be? It can’t.

As I mentioned, I make a game out of waking dreams. They show up when I am searching for an answer and looking for a higher meaning.

Waking dreams are snapshots of spiritual lessons we need to hear at that moment. If you open your senses to see what comes, you may be surprised and delighted. After all, until this morning, who would have thought turkeys could be gurus?

Recently, Tupelo and I went to a music festival. I was especially keen on seeing a band again who had the most fabulous fiddle player. She danced and gyrated across the stage to wild Celtic and progressive bluegrass beats. The music, the dance, her body and the fiddle became one. She was amazing.

Since I’ve been thinking of learning the fiddle, I knew she would be the inspiration I needed to finally pick the dang thing up and start screeching the bow across the strings. I couldn’t wait to see her again.

But when the band took the stage (we were sitting right down in front), she didn’t look the same. Blonde hair, not black… no biggie, hairstyles and color change. A few pounds more – okay … it happens to the best of us. She dressed the same, but I couldn’t make this woman look like the fiddle player I’d been eagerly waiting to see.

When she began to play, the notes were fast and furious, and in excellent tune. But no jumping. No dancing. Was she just having a bad day? No. As the set played out, it was obvious this was not the same woman.

I was so disappointed, and had a hard time enjoying the band’s show.

Later that night, a legend in bluegrass took the stage. We had seen him two years before at a bluegrass festival in the Tetons. His backup band then was two extraordinary women. It was harmonies from heaven, and the best bass player next to Edgar Meyer.

Imagine my disappointment this time when he stepped on stage with four guys. Four well-known guys, to be sure, but definitely not who I was expecting. And it was nowhere near the show we had seen before.

Later, when asked how the festival was, I heard myself whine about my two biggest disappointments. I bemoaned the fact that what I had paid good money to see, wasn’t there at all.

I hate people who do that, don’t you? Yet, here I was one of them. My preconceived notions almost ruined the festival for me. If I had gone with the intention of enjoying myself, no matter what, then guess what? I would have loved every minute.

I would have noticed what a fantastic fiddler the blonde was – definitely an inspiration to learn the instrument myself. I would have been thrilled seeing well-known elders of the bluegrass scene join in harmony with the icon of the ‘70s.

Whining of what I thought should have been, is not who I truly am. I’m not a whiner. I think of myself as one who accepts circumstances, no matter what. I’m not willing to have experiences diminished because of small mindedness. But here I was doing it. When I caught myself, I was appalled.

I’m grateful that I at least made it that far – to notice. But that’s not enough, is it? Next – I had to realize why this was so out of line with my true self. Third, I vowed to do better. From now on, I will curtail the urge to form preconceived notions because I want to glean the good out of my life’s experiences.

Wish me luck.

A beautiful, young woman from Brazil sipped her beer as we sat under a thatched roof in Costa Rica, dabbling in small talk. We had just met that morning. It had been one of the best days ever – a full day on the river, shooting Class 4 rapids. I was sunburned, tired, and content.

“How long have you two been together?” she asked.

I said, “Almost thirty years.”

We looked at each other. It’s always a shock to hear it said out loud. Surely, we’re not that old. But, yes, it’s true. Our new friend looked shocked too.

“Really? I would never have guessed.”

“And why is that?”

“Because you’re so kind to each other. You act like you’re really in love.”

Imagine that. Still in love after all these years – and treating each other as if we like each other too – what a concept.

She told us about her lost loves and disastrous relationships. She had given up on finding a true life mate, thinking it was an impossible dream. She were the first couple she had met that had given her hope that it was possible.

“How do you do it?” she wanted to know.

“I believe I have a good theory,” I said. (Don’t I always?) “I think that when you’re with someone, you not only have to love and like them, but you also have to love and like yourself in that relationship.”

When two decide to come together, we are no longer two individuals co-existing side by side. A large part of each of us melts to become one. One may be more dominant, but still the combination becomes something else altogether. In that combination, we must ask ourselves,

“Do I like who I am in this combination?

If you truly like who you have become, then the partnership becomes deeper and more enduring. It is never suffocating or demeaning. It magnifies your good. It brings out the best in you.

Together, you are stronger. Together, you are more balanced. Together, the years fly by so fast, you age as if you are dancing a slow dance, and the two of you are the only ones on the dance floor.

Dance with grace. Dance with respect. Dance with kindness in your voice. Love the dance just for the sake of the dance and who you are becoming.

I need to know how . . . at least I think I do. It must be programming – long established, deeply anchored patterns of thought in my brain’s left hemisphere. The logical, systematic part of me insists upon knowing the step-by-step details of exactly how a thing is to be done.

Understandable, I guess. After all, that’s what school was all about – methodology and left-brain thinking. The attributes and benefits offered by the right-brain were mostly ignored. This was probably due to a large-scale lack of understanding.

The intuitive, touchy-feely right-brain approach to life is a new realization. As more people (and more educators) grow to understand it, I’m hoping our kids will eventually receive a more balanced, holistic education. (For a fascinating and inspiring look at how all this right-brain / left-brain stuff works, check out a previous article and the linked video: “Inspiration from a Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor.”)

According to my current understanding, the right brain interfaces with the world through inner guidance, hunches and feelings, with the help of coincidences and serendipities. All that sounds like an adventurous approach to life, but I must admit it’s not exactly the scientific world view pounded into my head by the educational system.

“Coincidences are a true paradox… on the one hand they seem to be the source of our greatest irrationalities–seeing causal connections when science tells us they aren’t there. On the other hand, some of our greatest feats of scientific discovery depend on coincidences.” – Josh Tenenbaum

The current educational system was designed and implemented by wealthy industrialists whose motivation was to train their labor force to keep the wheels of industry (and their profits) healthy. We were trained to be effective employees – well-greased cogs in the wheel. As a result, much was omitted from our education.

An example of a significant piece of the puzzle glossed over in school is the Law of Attraction. When I think back over my life, I realize how much I’ve benefited from learning about the Law of Attraction. I look around and see the results of my partial grasp of this powerful principle. (For details, see previous article: “The Law of Attraction.)

In a nutshell, the Law of Attraction says to focus clearly on WHAT we want to manifest into our lives and trust the infinite wisdom and inexhaustible resourses of the universe to work out HOW. Even after a few decades of being aware of this powerful principle, my WHAT is still accompanied by thoughts of HOW. They still come as a seemingly inseparable pair . . .

Peanut Butter and . . . . . . Jelly.
Abbott and . . . . . . Costello.
Pride and . . . . . . Prejudice.
What and . . . How.

I’d like to believe I’m getting better at it, even though I recognize I’ve got a ways to go. Hopefully, the realization that I could do it better is the first step to making it so.

In the past, when I was freshly brainwashed by the system, my thinking went something like this: “I want that . . . but since I can’t see any possible way to get it, it would be easier to just give up and pretend I don’t really want it. So, never mind about that thing I thought I wanted. I’ll try to only want things that I can understand the HOW.”

These days, I endeavor to approach it a little differently. Whenever I think, “I want that” . . . I’ll honestly admit that I don’t presently understand HOW it could be possible, but I choose to suspend disbelief.

Deliberately Suspend Disbelief

That seems to be a key point to this whole Law of Attraction approach to making dreams come true. Instead of pretending you really don’t want something when you know you do, allow the desire to remain. Don’t judge it. Don’t label it grandiose or improbable or impossible. Just acknowledge it and let it be. Declare a peaceful co-existence with it.

It’s not necessary for you to immediately know anything whatsoever about the HOW every time you desire a new WHAT.

You don’t even have to work at convincing yourself that you believe in all this right-brained, new-age woo-woo.

All you have to do is refrain from disbelief.

Be Neutral.

Your commitment to neutrality gives the Law of Attraction the benefit of the doubt. You honestly acknowledge what you want (instead of pretending you don’t) and you gently let it be. This approach gives YOU the benefit of the doubt too, because you’re not working against yourself.

Because of our predominant left-brained training, most of us try to manifest our desires in a very awkward manner. We typically work against ourselves in two important ways . . .

1) Whenever a new desire surfaces, if we don’t immediately see the HOW, we turn our back on the desire and pretend we really don’t want it. That’s bullshit and our inner self knows it.

2) If the HOW is not apparent, we believe the desire is simply not possible. This quick-to-adopt “belief” is not based on fact – it’s simply an uninformed opinion. It springs from a narrow, suffocating, self-defeating attitude.

This premature “belief” that something is impossible makes it so. Once again, if you are absorbed in the left-brain approach, you’re working against yourself. If you can’t count on yourself to be in your own corner, then who can you count on? Why would you do that to yourself?

Fortunately, quality resources are becoming available where we can learn how to approach our desires (and our lives) with a more balanced, holistic style. We can still benefit from the important left-brain mechanics we learned in school, but we can add the powerful right-brain skills now being taught as the The Law of Attraction and The Secret. (In fact, Bob Proctor, Jack Canfield and Michael Beckwith of “The Secret” fame have joined forces to teach these powerful skills. See their SGR website. Impressive!)

Realizing our education was rather one-sided is only half the battle. Next, we’ve got to do something about it. It’s important to be proactive and learn these life-enhancing skills deliberately. A recent experience brought this point home . . .

A couple of good friends recently told us they were going to England for a whirlwind tour of some of the sacred sites including GlastonburyTor and Stonehenge. Their friend is going too and she just happens to be a retired professor of language, archaeology, anthropology and. . . quote . . . “the world’s foremost expert on ancient mystery schools.” Our friend also mentioned (in so many words) that her intuition tells her we are to accompany them and provide an important song.

This friend has always been very inspiring. She never worries about HOW. She just listens to her intuition (closely) and lives her life accordingly. It’s a rare skill and one worthy of emulating.

In the old days, I would have said, “Yeah right . . . $3000 for the plane tickets, another grand for hotels and ground transportation, and blah, blah, blah . . .” My knee-jerk, left-brain response would have choked off the potential before it ever had a chance to bloom.

Fortunately, this time I remembered to approach it like this . . . “Hell yeah, of course we’d like to go. I have no idea HOW, but this sounds like a trip of a lifetime.”

I chose NOT to believe it was an impossible fantasy. I chose to shift into neutral and hang out with the desire and enjoy how good it feels to think about it.

A few days later, a new song was born called, “The Quiet Waits Forever.” Immediately I knew this is the song our friend alluded to. When she heard it, shed knew it too. It came easy and quick, so it seemed only natural to keep an open mind and be on high alert for coincidences.

“Coincidences are spiritual puns.” – G.K. Chesterton

Long story short – the trip was made possible in a way that we never would have anticipated. A new friend heard us talking about the unusual circumstances, and was moved to offer an amazing gift. She offered her frequent flier miles to cover our plane fare because she has “lots and lots and lots.” (Thank you Francie!)

Coincidence? Serendipity? Law of Attraction? Dumb Luck? I don’t know what to call it, but I do recognize that it would never have happened with my old left-brain approach. It’s easy to guess what would have happened if I would have immediately written it off as an impossible pipe-dream because the HOW was not apparent with the WHAT. With that attitude, nothing could happen – no coincidence, no serendipity . . . nothing. That closed-minded approach is self-defeating. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.

“We could call it a coincidence, if that would be better for you,
But the way that it all fell into place was more than I could do.

Is that a glimmer of recognition, fleeting in our eyes,
A random act of happenstance, or a miracle in disguise.

I’m counting on a miracle, expecting a surprise,
Insight right between the eyes, or a miracle in disguise”
- from the song, “Miracle in Disguise” by Tupelo Kenyon

Instead, we just savored the idea of a wonderful journey, and lo and behold, the universe worked out the details and handed it to us. We didn’t even have to profess a belief in the woo-woo. All we did was chose not to dis-believe.

Little by little, I’m learning. Try it, and see what magic shows up in your life . . .

* Recognize what you want.

* Don’t deny you want it just because you don’t see HOW.

* Release disbelief in the possibility.

* Imagine what it feels like to manifest the desire (now, in present tense).

* Enjoy the process, and quit pretending you know more about the details of HOW than the entire universe. (For all you know, the universe may be conspiring on your behalf behind the scenes to bring you everything you desire and allow.)

Another important realization:

Even if all this new-age, right-brain woo-woo turns out to be poppycock, so what?

It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter what others think. Your thoughts and your feelings matter. What matters is living a satisfying, adventurous, love-filled life.

Your life. Your way.

Whatever it takes and whatever you call it, regardless of the belief system you adopt, your quality of life is the bottom line.

So allow your desires to see the light of day. Work with them and not against them. (See previous article: “The Dilemma of Desire.”)

Celebrate life with a sense of awe and wonder. It’s good to be alive. What a grand adventure!

While reading, did you choose to hear the relaxing instrumental music linked at the beginning of this article? To learn more about it, click here.

Listen FREE to the songs below . . . chosen to enhance the ideas in this article.

Miracle in Disguise Synchronicity is such a positive and hopeful idea, it begs the question, "Why not actively look for it and even expect it, as long as it feels good?" http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor11 Don’t Tell Me No Just don’t do it. It’s better that way . . . for both of us! http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor3 Time of Our Lives Time is so fleeting, so elusive, it’s good to remember the importance and power of living right now. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor7 Take the Plunge Their advice is "for your own good", but the last thing you need to hear is their worst-case scenario. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor11 No, Yes! Examines the folly of continually holding conflicting thoughts at the same time. Yes I can. No I can’t. I want that. But do I really deserve it? Around and around it goes. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor10 Traveler Hearing about another’s experiences can be inspiring, but to really know for sure what it’s like, there’s nothing like personal experience. "Go, so you will know." http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor4 Just One Step Just begin. If you will just get underway, the project itself gains momentum and carries you along to its completion. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor12 Celebrate Life Create your own personal celebration of life by your choices, rather than allowing life to be something that merely happens to you, or around you. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor2 Songs by Tupelo
	Manifestation Fill-In-the-Blank Formula Here’s a simple technique you can adapt to your own style. First, I’ll give you the formula as I currently use it. Next, I’ll discuss each word so you’ll see how it has evolved into its present state. Then, I’ll add some supporting information to provide you with a ready-to-go affirmation for your own experimentation. This manifestation technique is built around one simple sentence . . . The Law of Attraction With anything as important as the law of attraction, it’s a good idea to hear it described many times from many different angles. This article looks at it from several viewpoints as well as revealing how to get the understanding of the law of attraction from the prime source. Many links are provided including links to streaming mp3 songs that incorporate the principles of attraction in the lyrics. Celebrate life with an ever-clearer grasp of how the law of attraction determines your life experience. The Dilemma of Desire What is desire? Where does it come from? Why do we have it? Does it serve us in a positive way, or does it distract us and keep us perpetually in discontent? This article sheds some light on these important questions so that each of us can find our own answers. Goal Setting or Let Go and Let God There are two approaches people use to manifest their desires. Some set goals. Others surrender and presume the universe is conspiring to deliver to them their every desire without strain, in its own way and in its own time. Which way is better? Can these two methods be used together? Balancing Desire with Contentment It’s a fine line we walk between wanting more and feeling satisfied with what we have. Desire is unavoidable – it comes with the territory. So, the trick is to find the balance. There’s a middle ground to be found where deep feelings of contentment and satisfaction are spiced with the delicious excitement of something more on the horizon. How to Live the Life of Your Dreams Through Intuition Intuition feels good. That should be enough of a clue it’s something that can be trusted. But, our culture has done a thorough job of instilling doubt about the wisdom of following our instincts. Instead, we are taught to think things through and be logical. These mental tools are important, but they were never intended to be used instead of intuition. They work better when used in conjunction with intuition. If we are open to it, we get nudges and insights to move us in the direction of our greatest joys, our most valuable contributions, and our most satisfying life. Those quiet whispers and gentle taps on the shoulder are examples of inner guidance in action – intuition. How to Accelerate Manifestation Whenever a new desire or grand plan is born within us, the tendency is to share it with others. Every time we talk about it, the energy of the dream seems to deflate a little more, until it becomes merely a topic of idle chatter. Why is that? How can we add to the excitement and urgency of our dreams instead, and speed up their manifestation? Inspiration from a Stroke of Insight from Jill Bolte Taylor You’ve heard about the "right brain" and the "left brain," right? The left brain is all about logic and sequential thinking and the right brain is all about the abstract flow of consciousness and how it relates to "the big picture." Have you ever heard a description about watching from a peaceful, detached viewpoint as the cognitive brain functions slowly quit functioning? Have you ever heard anyone talk about what it feels like when the inner chatter finally quits and all that’s left is awareness? On this video, you will. Articles by Tupelo

Silence is a rare commodity these days – especially in the west. Around the clock, cars, trucks, airplanes, cell phones and all kinds of machinery disrupt the silence.

We have to deliberately seek and preserve opportunities for total quiet. It’s a worthwhile pursuit . . . otherwise we might forget the powerful, regenerative benefits of peace and quiet.

“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature–trees, flowers, grass–grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence…we need silence to be able to touch souls.” – Mother Teresa (1910-97)

Most people are “tellers.” They’ve got stuff they need to tell you. Often, it’s not so much they have something to say as they have to say something. It’s cultural conditioning. As a race, we’re out of touch with our silent center, so we compensate with an endless string of words.

Of course, language skills are important. Our development as a species was a direct result of our ability to cooperate, which was made possible by our ability to verbally communicate. Our relationship with words is neither good nor bad – it has just become out of balance.

The superficial use of words contributes to our alienation from one another. The words we use are often like masks . . . they shield us from who we really are. Especially when we are out of touch with who we really are, we use words – and lots of them – to compensate.

“Some people talk because they think sound is more manageable than silence.” – Margaret Halsey

When you re-enter the silence, you lessen the dependency for continual yak-yak-yak sessions. Comfortable with the silence, you’re no longer driven to get attention from those around you, and you let down your guard . . . take off your mask.

When you’re once again connected with the silence, it’s easier to connect with people in meaningful ways. When you’re coming from the place of stillness and the power of silence, you can connect with people at a place beyond your personal story and beyond their personal story. Instead, you can feel the connection at a deeper level where you are already connected . . . at a place where you have much in common . . . that inner place of quiet, stillness and peace.

“To communicate through silence is a link between the thoughts of man.” – Marcel Marceau (b. 1923) – French mime artist

Mums the Word

As a spiritual exercise, have you ever declared a day a word-free zone? The idea is to go all day without muttering a single word. Of course, it’s much easier if you are around people who understand what you’re doing. If you’re around just a few people, that’s even better . . . especially at first. After you get the hang of it, you will become comfortable even in crowds. But let’s face it, from the everyday perspective of the average person, a word-fast is just plain weird.

“I have always thought it would be a blessing if each person could be blind and deaf for a few days during his early adult life. Darkness would make him appreciate sight; silence would teach him the joys of sound.” – Helen Keller (1880-1968)

I experimented with this silent treatment often, especially in my twenties. I enjoyed an advantage of living in the Alaskan wilderness, so there was nobody around to comment on how weird it was. I’ve done it a few other times when I’m around people, and although it’s not as easy, it’s still a fascinating experience.

If you are silent with a friend or spouse, it’s interesting to experience how your communication doesn’t suffer. In fact, it feels like deeper, more meaningful communication can be accomplished without words getting in the way.

“Silence makes the real conversation between friends. Not the saying, but the never needing to say is what counts.” – Margaret Lee Rumbeck

Beyond Words

Taking a sabbatical from words is the fast track to learning the subtle intricacies of facial expressions, body language, gestures, tones of voice, and the hidden meanings often obscured by words. When your thinking process is all about words, your mind functions at a certain level. It is capable of so much more. When you agree to make words off limits, even for awhile, you’ll find your mind settling into deeper, more peaceful levels where you feel a closer contact with everyone and everything around you.

“True silence is the rest of the mind; it is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment.” – Sir William Penn (1621-70)

During my speechless days, I would carry a paper and pen with me for those rare occasions when a word or two seemed absolutely necessary. But it was rarely needed because other, more direct ways of communication soon came to the rescue when required.

“Don’t talk unless you can improve the silence.” – Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986)

When you are silent, it’s easier for others to be silent. You both get the feeling it’s okay to be true to yourself without masks, games, or any kind of coercion involved. Without words, it’s easier to connect at a more fundamental level where nobody needs anything from anyone else.

“Silence is as full of potential wisdom and wit as the unhewn marble of a great sculpture.” – Aldous Leonard Huxley (1894-1963)

First, Listen Quietly

Being in touch with silence is about listening. It’s a rare person who actually listens from their deep connection with the silence. Many of the people I’ve met seem to listen only long enough to determine whether or not the ideas match their own opinion. As soon as there is anything less than a perfect match, the listening is pre-empted by busy mental activity.

Quickly, a rebuttal must be composed to voice as soon as there’s a break in the conversation. And, we all know people who can’t be bothered to wait for a break in the conversation. Their opinion and their words and their story is so important, they interrupt to inject it with great urgency. . . repeatedly!

Did you ever feel like saying this? “Pardon me for continuing to speak while you were interrupting.”

Whenever I catch myself interrupting, it feels good to know that I am aware of it, at least occasionally. That’s the first step to allowing a little more silence and a little less ego into the conversation.

“I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strange, I am ungrateful to those teachers.” – Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931)

The ego-based, one-upmanship style of “communication” is superficial compared to the profound contact made by people comfortable with sharing the silence. Silence is more than an absence of words. Much more. It’s a characteristic of the great nothingness from which we all came and to which we return.

“Silence is deep as Eternity; speech is shallow as Time.” – Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881)

The Great Stillness

By “nothingness,” I don’t mean “empty.” It’s a state beyond things, beyond words, and beyond all attributes of physical reality. When you connect with this great stillness, it’s easier to connect with others in a profound way, beyond the limitations of ambiguous methods of communication . . . like words.

“Silence is the language God speaks, and everything else is a bad translation.” – Thomas Keating

Silence can be the answer to many kinds of problems. Many “problems” are nothing more than mental constructs. They are word play, repeated and multiplied by the intensity of emotion attached to them. Silence is beyond all this. It is beyond the realm of words. Re-connecting with the great peace of total silence helps provide perspective for all aspects of life.

“To make the right choices in life, you have to get in touch with your soul. To do this, you need to experience solitude, which most people are afraid of, because in the silence you hear the truth and know the solutions.” – Deepak K. Chopra (b. 1946)

There’s a time and a place for everything under the sun . . . a time for frivolous chatter, a time for the precision teamwork made possible by articulate verbalization, a time for deep philosophical discourse, a time for the release of humor with jokes, puns, and silly word-play, and a time for deep silence.

“Silence at the proper season is wisdom, and better than any speech.” – Plutarch (AD 46?-120?)

When our dependency on words is tempered by our sessions of silence, the idea of conversation takes on a new dimension. In a word . . . profound.

While reading, did you choose to hear the relaxing instrumental music linked at the beginning of this article? To learn more about it, click here.

Listen FREE to the song samples below . . . chosen to enhance the ideas in this article.

Blue Water Water and the sea are such perfect metaphors for the larger reality we are all immersed in. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor6 Where Only Freedom Flies To be together and feel free at the same time is the essence of a relationship of mutual personal growth. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor13 Ten Purdy Word Song The style and mood of the song matches the flow of the words themselves, painting a colorful word picture that is easy on the ears. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescAnth.html#Anchor14 Take My Hand Companionship and the sharing of love is the thing, whether it lasts a moment or a lifetime. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescAnth.html#Anchor19 Low Maintenance Relationship Life seems to be all about relationships . . . to our friends, families, lovers, and to our creator. There’s always room for improvement. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor7 Songs by Tupelo
Good Listener Secrets – Listen with Your Heart When someone is talking to you, do you hear with your ears, monitor with your mind, or listen with your heart? Invest a few minutes thinking about the importance of listening well – a deliberate conscious act – and watch your relationships grow to a new level of closeness and understanding. How to Keep Your Word This article is a poignant reminder of the power of your word. Celebrate life by honoring your word . . . and therefore the people with whom you interact. Meaningful Spiritual Relationships – Namaste Matters Behind the faces, beyond the reach of social conditioning, deeper than individual egos, we are identical. We are presence, consciousness, pure knowingness – the awareness of “I am.” We are life itself. Celebrate life with this insight on how to take your personal relationships to a whole new level. Articles by Tupelo

Why bother? Isn’t it a lot of extra energy and effort to do your best?

When you look around, there seems to be a lot of people doing only the minimum to get by . . . they are doing only what is expected of them and no more. This is not the way to enjoy feelings of personal satisfaction.

We do our best for one simple reason. It feels good. In fact, doing our best is the most efficient way to continually feel good about all aspects of life. When we are committed to doing our best, there is no room for regrets.

Second-Guessing

If you give something a half-hearted effort and it fails, you will always wonder about it. The inevitable problems that always accompany grand plans often overwhelm luke-warm effort. You will always have a nagging regret that it may have turned out better, if only you had done your best.

“A problem is a chance for you to do your best.” – Duke Ellington

If you do your best and it fails, oh well . . . at least you did your best. No regrets. If you did your best, it’s easier to let it go, move on and do your best at something else.

As an example, let’s say you’re interested in starting a new business. You decide to dabble a bit, try a couple of methods, and see what happens. If it doesn’t work out, you will always wonder what might have happened and what additional freedoms and abundance you might be enjoying now, if you had only done your best then.

Instead, if you are committed to doing your best, you either do it and give it your all, or you don’t do it.

“There is no try. Only do.” – Yoda

If you did your best and the business fails, there will be no lingering doubts about your level of involvement. No fault. No blame. No foul. You did your best. It didn’t work. So what? Release it, move on, and find something else that you would enjoy giving your best to.

“It is not enough to do your best; you must know what to do, and *then* do your best.” – William Edwards Deming (1900-93)

Your Best Is All About Enjoyment

When you do your best, it’s not drudgery. It’s not a chore. It’s not a prison sentence.

It’s a dance you do with the universe . . . it’s your way of allowing life to flow through you without ego getting in the way and pinching it off. That’s what doing your best feels like. It feels effortless, painless and easy.

When you do something you don’t want to do, it’s all too easy to feel coerced, manipulated and resentful. When you give something a half-assed effort, it’s not satisfying in any way.

Even if you perform such an action just to get it over with, upon completion, you still don’t feel good about yourself. Why? Because you didn’t do your best. There was no flow, no feeling of being in the zone, no personal satisfaction . . . either during the action or upon completion.

Your Best Changes

Your best gets better with practice. Also, your best is better at different times of the day. Maybe you’re a morning person. Your best at midnight probably isn’t up to par with your best before noon. With practice, you learn when you can perform your best and plan your most important actions to make the most of your prime time. It’s simply a matter of maximizing your effectiveness based on your experience of knowing when you can deliver the best of your best.

At other times, you don’t have to be concerned about it. Why? Because you did your best. No regrets. End of story.

Your Best is Good Enough

It’s self-defeating to try to do better than your best. For instance, if you fixate upon meeting the standards of someone else’s idea of best, you run the risk of burn-out. You may deplete your energy reserves and do more harm than good by trying to live up to some fuzzy standard of someone else’s best. If you go over the top, trying to do better than your best, you introduce unreasonable expectations, which adds stress and makes it more difficult to do your best.

“Success has a simple formula: do your best, and people may like it.” – Sam Ewing

Your best is good enough. Just do that. Some will like it. Others won’t. But you will feel good.

That’s the bottom line anyway. We all want to feel good about what we do, how we do it and who we are. Feeling good begins with doing your best. No less and no more.

Guilt-Free and Blameless

By doing your best, nobody can blame you, or pronounce you guilty, or judge you . . . especially yourself. Your commitment to doing your best at whatever detail you are doing now is enough. So cut yourself some slack.

No self-guilt. No self-judgment. No self-blame. Just do your best and silence all those energy-sucking internal voices forever.

Like a Reed in the River for Water to Flow Through

When you do something, you are providing a conduit for the energy of the universe to experience the pure joy of action. When you get out of the way, and allow your best action to flow, everyone and all of life wins. Action allows you to express who you are.

“A reed in the river,
For water to flow through.
A hallow reed.
It’s just as it has always been.
And I am only a reed, a reed in the river,
A reed in the river of life am I.”
- from the song, “Story Belt” by Tupelo Kenyon

Do Your Best to Manifest through Action

Ideas, schemes and dreams are a dime a dozen. But taking your best action on your ideas is an expression of life on the physical plane. Without your action, manifestation has its hands tied.

Focus your thoughts, feel your passion, then act upon your dreams by doing your best with single-minded purpose. That’s the recipe to enjoy the power of creation flowing through you.

Do Your Best Now

You can’t do your best yesterday, and you can’t do your best ten years ago. Your commitment to doing your best is applied to this present moment. Don’t dwell in the past.

Take a brief glimpse backwards now and then, just long enough to notice how your best may have produced better outcomes. Return to the present and apply that thought to right now, and do your best now so you’ll never have to wonder about it in the future.

Some people look back and say, “If only . . .”
Instead, look forward and say, “What if . . .?”
Do your best and find out.

While reading, did you choose to hear the relaxing instrumental music linked at the beginning of this article? To learn more about it, click here.

Listen FREE to the songs below . . . chosen to enhance the ideas in this article.

Story Belt Celebrates the importance of keeping things in perspective while being a part of the bigger picture. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor8 What Would Love Do Now It’s tough to remember to ask yourself this question in the heat of the moment, but it can pay big dividends. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor10 Love is Who You Are "What is love, anyway?" Is it something you give or get, have or make? Or could it be, down deep, simply who we are? http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor1 Be Kind Your example and the kindness shown to others can have a rippling affect that goes on and on. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor9 Songs by Tupelo
Right Action at the Right Time Perpetual pondering without action is also known as daydreaming. Being consumed by action without the proper mental and emotional preparations is ineffective at best and a waste of time and energy at worst. How do these two components of manifestation work together and how do we determine when it’s time to quit thinking about it, roll up our sleeves and get to work? Get a Broader Perspective – Do It Different and Work Smarter When I think of the view from our broader perspective, to me, it means the viewpoint of our inner self . . . who we really are. Without the filters of our ego, the world looks quite different. The problem is . . . this lofty viewpoint seems illusive. People occasionally identify with broader perspective with no apparent effort or intent, but it’s rare to arrive at such a viewpoint accidentally. More commonly, brief glimpses are caught deliberately by intent, and repeated by personal discipline and the use of clever techniques. Why Completion Feels So Good and How to Get it Done Half-done tasks and unfinished projects have a way of taking on a life of their own. They are needy reminders of your past, pulling at your attention and depleting your energy. They are mental nags, getting in the way of you living fully in the present. Instead of bogging down in the remnants of the past, clear it out and be receptive to the creative process. Fill your life with things and experiences in sync with where you are going, rather than where you’ve been. Persistence and Perseverance for Winners – Losers Just Quit Giving up is easy. Most people make a habit of giving up. In fact, they make a life of it Persistence through a solution-oriented attitude is for visionaries, dreamers and other winners who refuse to take “no” for a final answer. Action and Satisfaction A satisfying life includes time for doing balanced by time for being , embracing and celebrating all aspects of life. Being, doing, having . . . all these things are important ingredients of our package of life experience. Denying any aspect of it only serves to diminish our joy of living a full, inspired, and satisfying life. Quarter Million Dollar Idea for Productivity Some people get things done and some don’t. Why is that? We all have the same number of hours in the day. Supercharge your productivity with this simple but powerful idea. One man actually paid a quarter million dollars for it (and felt he got a steal!). It’s yours free if you can prioritize the time to take a look. Articles by Tupelo

]]> http://www.tupelokenyon.com/2008/05/30/why-do-your-best/feed/ 0 http://www.tupelokenyon.com/2008/05/23/right-action-at-the-right-time/ http://www.tupelokenyon.com/2008/05/23/right-action-at-the-right-time/#comments Sat, 24 May 2008 00:04:50 +0000 Tupelo http://www.tupelokenyon.com/?p=115 For instrumental music while reading, choose: hi-fi (broadband) or low-fi.

When is it best to ponder, and when is it best to take action?

Perpetual pondering without action is also known as daydreaming. Being consumed by action without the proper mental and emotional preparations is ineffective at best and a waste of time and energy at worst.

How do these two components of manifestation work together and how do we determine when it’s time to quit thinking about it, roll up our sleeves and get to work?

Effective Learning Involves Thinking . . . AND . . . Doing

Doing allows us to internalize what we are learning and really “get it.” Until we actually do it, we only possess a mental idea of it and don’t actually know it.

“I hear, I forget.
I see, I remember.
I do, I understand.”
– Unknown

In medical school, they use this method:

See one.
Do one.
Teach one.

Just seeing something or hearing about it isn’t enough. To understand it, you must do it. To thoroughly understand it, you must teach it.

“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.” – Joel Barker

How Does it Feel?

When learning something new, you’re opening yourself up to new ideas, new sensations, new understandings and new emotions. All of these must be assimilated along with the raw information.

To take effective action on what you’re learning, you have to feel good about it. Your feelings are providing you with immediate feedback about how well the new information fits with your current idea of intention, passion and purpose.

If you are contemplating a new action based on something you’ve recently learned, this is a good time to pay attention to how you’re feeling. If you think about the course of action spawned by new information and you feel excited, inspired and enthusiastic, you know you’re on the right track.

If it makes you feel despondent, hesitant or doubtful, that’s giving you a good clue. If you feel uninspired, depressed or have no energy to act on what you’re learning, it’s important to pay attention to that. Either continue with more in-depth learning to see if enthusiasm dawns naturally, or change course. Learn something else that motivates you to take inspired action.

Yak Yak Yak

Taking action about what you’re learning is a good way to assimilate the information . . . up to a point. Continuous chatter without action is an energy drain. If it fits and it feels good, what are you going to do about it?

At first, discussions may help to gather your ideas, energy and momentum to help launch you into action mode. At a certain point, if discussion drags on, action fizzles out. The energy leaks away and the potential for momentum evaporates.

“What you do speaks so loud, I can’t hear what you say.” – Unknown

It’s common for us to form committees, organize focus groups, cuss and discuss our problems, ad nausium. With this exponential focus, problems grow. The Law of Attraction can be described as . . . whatever you give the most attention to, related to any subject, grows in your experience.

“Sometimes the situation is only a problem because it is looked at in a certain way. Looked at in another way, the right course of action may be so obvious that the problem no longer exists.” – Edward de Bono

That’s why people of action, accomplishers, highly functioning individuals rarely indulge in talk-fests. Once the new information has been reasonably synthesized, and the internal guidance system has given the green light via feelings of inspiration and enthusiasm, more talk just gets in the way. It’s time to get to work. Do something.

“Think like a man of action. Act like a man of thought.” – Henri Louis Bergson (1859-1941)

Even if the initial actions are not optimum, do them anyway to begin accumulating momentum. You can always come back later and re-do anything you’d like to improve, in light of additional experience. But for now, just begin.

Learn a little. Do a little. Repeat.

“Be cause . . . it’s more effective.”
– from the song, “Celebrate Life” by Tupelo Kenyon.

“What really distinguishes this generation in all countries from earlier generations … is its determination to act, its joy in action, the assurance of being able to change things by one’s own efforts.” – Hannah Arendt (1906-75)

When you feel inspired and enthusiastic, by all means . . . do something. Often, the first steps are the most difficult, but if you time those initial activities when your enthusiasm is peaking, you’ll have a tremendous advantage to break the inertia of inactivity and tip the scales toward action mode.

One action will lead to the next, and the next, and so on. Soon, your activities will take on a life of their own and the completion of one task will suggest the next.

Continue to monitor how it feels for clues about when course corrections would be beneficial.

Remind yourself what a blessing it is to have the freedom to chart your own course. That’s infinitely valuable, and it’s something not available to all people in all places and all times. It would be a travesty to take it for granted. A good definition of freedom is the ability to spend your time acting on your choices, rather than reacting to the choices of others.

“A life of reaction is a life of slavery, intellectually and spiritually. One must fight for a life of action, not reaction.” – Rita Mae Brown (b. 1944)

New outcomes are manifested by a combination of new information, well-learned, with attention regularly directed toward how you feel about what you are learning. This honest and objective feedback from your internal guidance system can help you take the right action at the right time.

While reading, did you choose to hear the relaxing instrumental music linked at the beginning of this article? To learn more about it, click here.

Listen FREE to the songs below . . . chosen to enhance the ideas in this article.

	Don’t Tell Me No Just don’t do it. It’s better that way . . . for both of us! http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor3 What Would Love Do Now It’s tough to remember to ask yourself this question in the heat of the moment, but it can pay big dividends. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor10 Take the Plunge Their advice is "for your own good", but the last thing you need to hear is their worst-case scenario. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor11 Be Kind Your example and the kindness shown to others can have a rippling affect that goes on and on. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor9 Do What You Love Discovering what we have a true passion for, and then figuring out a way to build a life around that passion is one of life’s greatest feelings of accomplishment. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor10 Just One Step Just begin. If you will just get underway, the project itself gains momentum and carries you along to its completion. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor12 Hell or a Whole Lotta Fun Nothing to do? How about too much to do? Our attitude seems to make the difference. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescAnth.html#Anchor16 Songs by Tupelo
Get a Broader Perspective – Do It Different and Work Smarter When I think of the view from our broader perspective, to me, it means the viewpoint of our inner self . . . who we really are. Without the filters of our ego, the world looks quite different. The problem is . . . this lofty viewpoint seems illusive. People occasionally identify with broader perspective with no apparent effort or intent, but it’s rare to arrive at such a viewpoint accidentally. More commonly, brief glimpses are caught deliberately by intent, and repeated by personal discipline and the use of clever techniques. Why Completion Feels So Good and How to Get it Done Half-done tasks and unfinished projects have a way of taking on a life of their own. They are needy reminders of your past, pulling at your attention and depleting your energy. They are mental nags, getting in the way of you living fully in the present. Instead of bogging down in the remnants of the past, clear it out and be receptive to the creative process. Fill your life with things and experiences in sync with where you are going, rather than where you’ve been. How to Live the Life of Your Dreams Through Intuition Intuition feels good. That should be enough of a clue it’s something that can be trusted. But, our culture has done a thorough job of instilling doubt about the wisdom of following our instincts. Instead, we are taught to think things through and be logical. These mental tools are important, but they were never intended to be used instead of intuition. They work better when used in conjunction with intuition. If we are open to it, we get nudges and insights to move us in the direction of our greatest joys, our most valuable contributions, and our most satisfying life. Those quiet whispers and gentle taps on the shoulder are examples of inner guidance in action – intuition. Action and Satisfaction A satisfying life includes time for doing balanced by time for being , embracing and celebrating all aspects of life. Being, doing, having . . . all these things are important ingredients of our package of life experience. Denying any aspect of it only serves to diminish our joy of living a full, inspired, and satisfying life. Work – Just a Job or Visible Love Do you love what you do and do what you love? Here’s a step-by-step method on how to put your passions to work and start living the life you were born to live. How Do You Feel – About Inner Guidance? Is it a hunch? Is it a voice in your head? Is it something you feel? Don’t confuse what you feel with who you are. Once you are able to access this awareness of pure being and identify yourself with it, you won’t get carried away by whatever emotional cloud happens to be passing by. Celebrate life through one of the more subtle forms of communication available to us – inner guidance. Quarter Million Dollar Idea for Productivity Some people get things done and some don’t. Why is that? We all have the same number of hours in the day. Supercharge your productivity with this simple but powerful idea. One man actually paid a quarter million dollars for it (and felt he got a steal!). It’s yours free if you can prioritize the time to take a look. The Law of Attraction With anything as important as the law of attraction, it’s a good idea to hear it described many times from many different angles. This article looks at it from several viewpoints as well as revealing how to get the understanding of the law of attraction from the prime source. Many links are provided including links to streaming mp3 songs that incorporate the principles of attraction in the lyrics. Celebrate life with an ever-clearer grasp of how the law of attraction determines your life experience. Articles by Tupelo

]]> http://www.tupelokenyon.com/2008/05/23/right-action-at-the-right-time/feed/ 1 http://www.tupelokenyon.com/2007/11/23/ego-or-soul-whos-driving/ http://www.tupelokenyon.com/2007/11/23/ego-or-soul-whos-driving/#comments Fri, 23 Nov 2007 12:00:21 +0000 Tupelo http://www.tupelokenyon.com/2007/11/23/ego-or-soul-whos-driving/ For instrumental music while reading, choose: hi-fi (broadband) or low-fi.

I’ve found it helpful to think of two separate entities who inhabit my body. First, this is an important distinction. You often hear of someone claiming to “have” a soul. The viewpoint inferred by this choice of words begs the question, “If you have a soul, who is having it? The body? The mind?”

To me, it seems more accurate (and more useful) to think about it the other way around. That is, soul is who I am (who we all are) and we now have a body.

Even though I identify my sense of self with soul, there seems to be another “something” inside forever jockeying for position and making its presence known. This is the ego.

What’s the difference? How can you know which one is in charge? What are their characteristics?

Soul’s Attributes

Soul is all about peace and contentment. Soul perceives the outer world through the five senses via the mind. Soul perceives the inner world through knowing, feelings, emotions, hunches, nudges, dreams, daydreams, inner sight and inner sound.

“Thinking, understanding, reasoning, willing, call not these Soul! They are its actions, but they are not its essence.” – Akhenaton (d. c.1354 BC) – Egyptian king

Ego desperately needs to be right. If it can’t be right, the next best thing is that it needs others to be wrong. Ego is alone and unconnected to others. It is driven to compete with all the others, so that it can be recognized as best. If not best, at least better. The ego’s sense of self is wrapped up in titles, awards and achievements. It must be continuously recognized by others for its accomplishments and special-ness.

Ego’s Characteristics

Ego needs stuff – the more, the better. It is identified with possessions and the perceived prestige that accompanies them.

“Many could forgo heavy meals, a full wardrobe, a fine house, et cetera; it is the ego they cannot forgo.” – Gandhi (1869-1948)

The ego is engaged in a never-ending striving for more. It is never satisfied, never content, and never at peace. In fact, those things are considered threats to the ego – if you were totally peaceful, why would anyone need an ego? Ego may delude itself into thinking its striving, pushing and shoving is driven by a longing for peace, but the truth is, its striving is driven by the love of striving.

Ego Needs – Soul Is

Peace and contentment is the domain of the soul. Soul doesn’t “need” anything and is perfectly happy just to be. Soul is fulfilled by its attention on the present moment and whatever circumstances come with it. Soul has no longing for things or awards or recognition or outcomes. These are all in the realm of ego. Whatever it takes to remain peaceful, that is the objective of soul.

Soul does not shrink from experience – in fact, it relishes experiences that allow it to grow in awareness. Therefore, soul doesn’t mind possessions – it just remains detached from them with the understanding that they are all temporary.

“The self-controlled soul, who moves amongst sense objects, free from either attachment or repulsion, he wins eternal Peace.” – Bhagavad Gita (c. BC 400)

All possessions are loaners, to be enjoyed in the moment, and easily released when it’s time. Possessions come and possessions go – the sense of being “I am” remains to experience each of them in the moment of now. From the viewpoint of soul, all things are temporary playthings, capable of providing amusement and a richness of experience, but never to be allowed to get in the way of peace and contentment.

Relatively Peaceful Coexistance

I notice both of these viewpoints active within myself on any particular day. Even though I have made the conscious decision to identify with soul, ego elbows its way to the forefront quite often with its petty needs and inconsiderate attitudes.

It doesn’t have to be an on-going, internal war between the two. To function in the world, we seem to need both soul and ego. The problems arise when the ego is allowed to run amuck in an unsupervised manner. When ego is under the watchful eye of soul, a workable balance can be achieved.

“Our ego is our silent partner–too often with a controlling interest.” – Cullen Hightower

Shrinking Ego / Growing Soul Visualization

When I was first learning the benefits of meditation about forty years ago, I often pondered these two seemingly opposite viewpoints that co-existed in my head and heart. I realized that ego could be put under the control of soul and eventually began to enjoy occasional success at deliberately choosing soul as the captain. It’s not easy (ego is a relentless competitor), but with diligence and discipline, an ever-increasing percentage of moments had soul in the driver’s seat.

“To make the right choices in life, you have to get in touch with your soul. To do this, you need to experience solitude, which most people are afraid of, because in the silence you hear the truth and know the solutions.” – Deepak K. Chopra (b. 1946)

In meditation, I focused my attention on a mental image of soul and ego. In my mind’s eye, I saw each of them as glowing orbs of light roughly equal in size, filling the mental screen. I noticed as I was successful in diminishing the size, power and importance of ego, its orb shrunk and soul had more room to grow into. It seemed so simple . . . as “A” shrinks, “B” is allowed to expand.

It was a helpful image that now, forty years later, I still use. I don’t think of it as an inner battle that will someday be won or lost. Instead, it is a spiritual exercise that reminds me that both soul and ego are necessary to function in the world.

“Meditation is the soul’s perspective glass.” – Owen Felltham (1602?-68)

Since I prefer peace to mayhem and contentment to perpetual, blind striving, my goal is to keep soul in the driver’s seat as often as possible. Instead of an either/or situation, I like the idea of soul and ego peacefully coexisting in a manner that best serves the greater good. Communication between the two is encouraged, so as often as possible, balance is the outcome.

“The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.” – Emily Elizabeth Dickinson (1830-86)

In my meditations, I still envision the ego shrinking which automatically allows more “room” for soul to grow into. And whenever I notice a strong desire to be “right” or notice a thought of superiority or an urge for needless competition, I try to remember to take the old ego down a notch and allow soul to resume its rightful place in the driver’s seat.

While reading, did you choose to hear the relaxing instrumental music linked at the beginning of this article? To learn more about it, click here.

Listen FREE to the songs below . . . chosen to enhance the ideas in this article.

	May You Have Joy Have you ever felt a warm appreciation for someone in your life, and just wanted to wish them well? http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#anchor12 Who is the Watcher Explores the silent witness within and the idea that life occurs in this present moment. Always. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor-14 A Heartbeat in Eternity’s Highway In the grand scheme of things, what’s the difference between a single moment and all of eternity? What’s the point of reference? http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescX.html#Anchor17 Soul in the Stars It feels good to try to see the bigger picture once in awhile,and to focus on gratitude for what we have, rather than the frustration of what we are lacking. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor4 Blue Water Water and the sea are such perfect metaphors for the larger reality we are all immersed in. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor6 Story Belt Celebrates the importance of keeping things in perspective while being a part of the bigger picture. http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHere.html#Anchor8 Love is Who You Are "What is love, anyway?" Is it something you give or get, have or make? Or could it be, down deep, simply who we are? http://www.somemusicmatters.com/DescHB.html#Anchor1 Songs by Tupelo
How Do You Feel About Inner Guidance? Is it a hunch? Is it a voice in your head? Is it something you feel? Don’t confuse what you feel with who you are. Once you are able to access this awareness of pure being and identify yourself with it, you won’t get carried away by whatever emotional cloud happens to be passing by. Celebrate life through one of the more subtle forms of communication available to us – inner guidance. The Dilemma of Desire What is desire? Where does it come from? Why do we have it? Does it serve us in a positive way, or does it distract us and keep us perpetually in discontent? This article sheds some light on these important questions so that each of us can find our own answers. Action and Satisfaction A satisfying life includes time for doing balanced by time for being , embracing and celebrating all aspects of life. Being, doing, having . . . all these things are important ingredients of our package of life experience. Denying any aspect of it only serves to diminish our joy of living a full, inspired, and satisfying life. Integrity Through Self-Reliance When you live your life as if the whisperings from your soul really matter, you are living life in your own way, on your own terms, based on your own realizations on what is right . . . what is good . . . and what is true for you. You are tuned into your own station. The signal you are receiving and the message you are broadcasting with the story of your life are both on the same frequency. You are joyfully and gratefully choosing your favorites from the buffet of life. Balancing Desire with Contentment It’s a fine line we walk between wanting more and feeling satisfied with what we have. Desire is unavoidable – it comes with the territory. So, the trick is to find the balance. There’s a middle ground to be found where deep feelings of contentment and satisfaction are spiced with the delicious excitement of something more on the horizon. Articles by Tupelo