Be Kind

Our reality is merely a projection of ourselves, filtered through our beliefs and perceptions of what is ‘real’. Practice compassion and understanding whenever you receive any sort of negativity (anger, jealousy, persecution) because this person’s battle is not with you, but with themselves. If they blame their state and situation on you this is an illusion, and you will not help them if you play along.

It would be so magical to have a world full of compassionate, understanding souls who help those suffering these battles through their emotions and fears, rather than meet an eye for an eye.

“LOVE your enemies and PRAY for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? BE PERFECT, therefore, as your heavenly father is perfect”
– From the man himself, Jesus (Matthew 5:43-48)

The Power of Perception

Hi readers!,

I have finally discovered my niche (what inspires me most to write about) and so I have created a new blog to express it all via. If you are at all interested in spirituality, self-empowerment, self-discovery, healing yourself, living a life of peace, challenging yourself or living your dream please check it out!

Here is a taste of what I have to say:

Ever wondered what it would look like living your dream? Healing yourself from your illnesses and diseases? Throwing away your rose-coloured glasses and seeing the world through clear lenses?

“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.”
― Wayne W. Dyer

The only thing you have complete control over is your own choices. Once we stop trying to fix the things around us and we start making choices for ourselves that are self-honouring, self-loving, it is amazing and so powerful what we can do and achieve. The Ego says ‘I will be at peace when everything falls into place’ but the Spirit says “everything will fall into place when I am at peace”.

Albert Einstein said that the most important decision we would make is whether we live in a supportive world or a hostile world because you will continually look for evidence to support your hypothesis. You either focus on love or on fear. Bruce Lipton says that it is this perception, this decision, that determines whether we will grow and change, or protect yourself and degrade.

“We can control our lives by controlling our perceptions.”
― Bruce H. Lipton

My name is Emily and my vision is to spread this knowledge and empower people to live the life they desire. I have spent the majority of my life as a people pleaser. Once I became aware of this, of what I was creating and what I truly desired, I realised how I had been merely functioning as a robot. My actions and choices had been programmed into my subconscious mind by the limiting beliefs and perceptions of my parents, my teachers, my doctors, my friends, the media, and the government. This had been happening from the moment I was born, I was completely unaware that my life was a regurgitation of these habits. I was on the road to not living a life of 70 years or 80 years, a life living the same year 70 times. Over and over.

Read more here: http://empowerofperception.wordpress.com/

The conscious thoughts of the bodies on this planet oversee the energy of this solar system

“If we all had the quality of our lives as our first priority, the earth would not need to make the changes that it is making in the present, such as clearing the planet of people by earthquakes etc. The earth is a living organism and it is about to assert itself and free itself of people who do not love themselves. They judge themselves and everything, therefore they do not respect earth.” – Annette Noontil.

I find this quote (taken from The Body is the Barometer of the Soul) to hold a lot of truth. It is evident to me that our planet is in  desperate need of healing.

Many choices are made aligned with the ego (or the devil or fear or whatever you would like to name it): blame, guilt, anger, vengeance, shame. And the majority of the time, the perpetrator isn’t aware of the origin of their behavior. For example one may think that stopping a loved one from doing something they don’t agree with is love, but a lot of the time it is actually fear of the consequences (of losing them etc. ). Some do not see the selfishness of vengeance and blame and guilt. Yet they see loving yourself as selfish when in reality, you cannot love others until you love yourself. You cannot help others until you help yourself.

Addiction is a big part of the ego. We spend so much time and money and energy fulfilling ourselves with the physical world, yet few of us are aware that you will never be satisfied.

Sex, drugs, alcohol, tv, comfort food, relationships; these are just a few things we use and abuse. Even as I am writing this I am chomping away at a block of chocolate way past the point where my body has gotten all that it needs from it. I am now abusing myself because I am addicted to this substance that I believe will add more enjoyment to me. But it never does.

This is the ego. It tricks you into thinking that it will provide you with everything you ever wanted and needed but somehow you never reach the point of complete satisfaction. It keeps you on your toes, gnawing for more and more.

However, if we turn inwards into our divine selves, our soul, we start to realize that we are filled with love, light, peace and joy. It is an abundant, never ending supply. This is because it is sourced from the spirit (or God, if that rolls with you better). My friends, you will surely find satisfaction here.

This place is difficult to find and keep. As they say, it is a narrow road and few may enter. However, seek and you shall find.

I believe whole heartedly that addiction can be cured. I know that it can, if you are willing to let go of the ego. I know people who were alcoholics, drug addicts, criminals and have been released from their prison (which, may I add, is all mental).

So if we are to heal the world, we must heal ourselves first. Love ourselves first. Help ourselves first.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if we made enough room on that narrow road so that everyone could walk down it together?

I have been praying for a miracle in my life for a long time. I was sick of the blame, guilt, anger, and judgement surrounding me so I gave up. I surrendered completely to the Holy Spirit.

I found my space and said “Lord, Here I Am” and I surrendered. I found that He wanted me to live in happiness. I created space for Him in my life and we danced together, we ran, we felt the earth under our feet and laughed openly together. I will never forget that day.

Ever since, I have been waiting, WAITING, for a miracle. I thought that it would come to me, that He would show me the way, my next step. Yesterday, however, I learnt differently.

I opened my emails and found an unread one that intrigued me so I opened it. I learnt that “A MIRACLE IS A CHANGE OF MIND.” (A Course in Miracles); “YOU are the CENTER from which everything happens”.

This got me thinking – maybe God is trying to tell me something. I cannot wait any longer, my miracle is me.

So I sat down and got out my visual diary and my oil pastels. I prayed that He show me what he wants me to see, I told Him that this drawing was for Him, and I put pastel to paper.

God put an image in my mind of a woman and this is where I started. The picture on this page is where I finished.

Not long after I finished I was talking to a friend of mine and I happened to mention that I had just finished a drawing. Naturally, he asked to have a look and so I showed him.

He said to me “it seems like this is giving the message that in darkness there is always a light”.

And so it goes – my miracle. Thank you Lord :).

This image is of a woman surrounded in darkness, in chaos, confusion, suffering. She is reminded that “even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is a light to you” (Psalm 139: 11-12). God is encouraging her to step into His light and trust in Him – in darkness there is always a light.

Oceans (Hillsong United)

Walk of Life

Sometimes I find myself walking on sand. My grounding beneath my feet crumbles away making it hard to take a step forward.

It is a struggle at first but after a while I forget what it’s like to walk on sturdy ground. If I am lucky I may temporarily come across a patch of firm sand. Here I can balance myself easier – it comes as a relief. I find it easier to take a step forward. I no longer slip as far backwards as I push-off.

Every now and then I may encounter some quicksand. You cannot see it coming but you step right into the midst of it. Maybe one day I will learn to recognise these areas in my walk and choose a different path.

I am forever waiting for the day that I reach the pavement. I hope it will come soon. Maybe someone will guide me there. I will realise how strong I have become. How my mind and body have adapted to the challenge to make me well equipped for my next journey. How my spirit has emerged surrounded by an intense light that radiates as I walk.

I will no longer be focused on moving one foot in front of the other. I will be able to spare some awareness for the beauty surrounding me. I can feel and taste and touch again. I can expand my consciousness to perceive greater things.

And maybe – I can assist others in finding the pavement too.

META Health

It’s not about returning to how it was, it’s about creating your life to be greater” – Adam Oldmeadow

For the last two days I have been hidden in a cave – a dark, warm, loving room with a very welcoming and open-hearted atmosphere; sharing knowledge and inspiration with the most amazing people. Formally known as a MetaHealth Introductory course.

I must say out of all the courses I have done in the past year – this one resonated with me the most. Everything that came up really struck a chord with me – whether it be my beliefs, past experience, or how I can apply the knowledge practically. And besides the wonderful content – it is the people and the atmosphere that made it.

Experiences are very hard to recreate in words – giving aural, visual, tactile imagery can not accurately reproduce the moment. However – I will try my best to set the scene for you.

Imagine stepping into a different world at the start of your day – a different dimension maybe. The rigid social structures of our society do not exist, there is no judgement of any of God’s children, everyone is equal and although they may not nessecarily know each other, they have a deep connection.

Compassion and love are very prominent in this environment – expressed by the heart and opening perceived and received by people within the field. Many connections are formed at a deeper level – resulting in understanding on more levels than the more obvious or superficial. It’s similar to having realisations or epiphanies or sudden understanding and wisdom of a situation – but more frequent. It was like not only my mind and emotions were satisfied – but my soul too. And although my body wasn’t focused on as much, it suited my situation because I have glandular fever and cannot take on anything too strenuous anyway.

At the end of this day – you open the curtains, open the door, step out of the cave and realise that there is a physical world out there. A world that has continued on living despite the revelations that are occurring in your head. A world full of beauty and you become grateful of this. You step outside and the gentle breeze whispers in your ear, the sun kisses your cheek. You start to mobilise your limbs and bring yourself back to the physical world where you can bring all of your revelations into action.

This is the world that I have entered the last two days. Learning the holistic perspective on health and illness, incorporating mind, body, spirit, social and environmental levels of disease. How traumatic moments in our lives can manifest themselves in our mind, body, and spirit and store as energy on all levels creating illness. How amazing our body is that we have all of these natural processes to help up thrive and survive, that when our survival is threatened we make physiological changes in order to be able to deal with the situation better the next time. I learnt how important our heart is in perceiving and receiving information – even before it has come to our conscious awareness.

Most of all I learnt that we will not change until we believe that the pain and discomfort of change is less than the pain and discomfort in our current situation.

I would to thank my Meta-Heath coach Adam Oldmeadow for creating such an inspirational, electric, and caring environment to learn in, and for helping me to understand health in a greater way.

Be true to yourself

“Above all, be true to yourself, and if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it.” – Hardy D. Jackson

I had a dilemma in my life recently where I had to choose between this: be true to myself and let go of a massive opportunity, or keep on soldiering on and let others down.

I had been offered to take a group fitness class once a week at the place that I had completed work experience at. At first I felt honoured. I was focused upon the benefits of this opportunity – the experience I would gain, the extra money I could save up. I never once asked myself “am I compatible for this?”

So as time went on, I attended a class a week to shadow my trainer and learn through observation. This was all good and dandy while I was watching from the side-lines. However, I found that when I was asked to help him out in a more involved way, it no longer looked nice and dandy. I am not a shy person, I love meeting new people. It has become one of my many hobbies. However, I do not possess the persona required for the task I was being asked to complete. And yes, experience and hard work can help to get me there, but was this honouring myself?

There was one day when I knew that I had to attend the session – and take the warm-up. I wasn’t dreading it as such, however I wasn’t physically able to move. I recognised that I must have known deep down inside of me that this is not the path that I wanted to take. I called up my trainer, informing him that I was ill and unable to attend. What he said to me in reply surprised me: “If you are not committed to this, you will have to let me know soon so that I can get someone else to replace you”. Wow – I was not aware that others could see it in me too.

I thought over it for a while, never quite reaching a decision as I was torn between the two options. I prayed over it, and talked to friends about it, desperately hoping that someone would give me the answer as I was too indecisive to make it myself.

One night, after I had sent up my prayer, I got a phone call from my mum. She told me of an inspirational speaker who was speaking at a church service at St Michael’s, a church I have never visited. This church is situated in the CBD and I was hesitant to attend the service as it takes a while to travel into the city from my house. However, something was pulling me towards it and so the next day, I found myself sitting on the train on my way to St Michael’s.

When I listened to the speaker – I was amazed. The topic of her speech was ‘Do you know who you are?’ and was based a lot around our life’s purpose. She accentuated how to be capable of finishing a task, we have to be equipped for it. We have to possess all of the qualities and skills that it takes to finish the task. Sounds simple right? She gave examples of people who became physically ill when they were ill-equipped to finish a task, or it was simple not true for them.

I remember thinking to myself – is this my prayer being answered right in front of me? Is this God looking down upon me and saying “Em, this task you have given yourself is not your true path”?

I was still not convinced. I was aware of the wisdom that this particular speaker had shared with me as I sat in that church. However; I needed more than this. So I called upon a friend of mine.

This friend that I speak of has only known me for a month or so. Even so, I feel as if he has known me forever. He seems to know me deep down into my soul. He picks up things in me before I recognise them myself. A true gift if you ask me.

This is what my friend said to me after I explained my situation to him

“It’s obvious to me mind you that your heart isn’t truly in it. Honestly, if you keep prolonging the situation at hand you will keep letting yourself down. And that’s ok, look at it like this, if you dismiss yourself from it then you are genuinely helping someone else out who really wants the door of opportunity to open in this area of their life. You will be helping them with out them even knowing it.”

Ok, I said to myself. Now God has answered my prayer. All I need to do now is end this thing once and for all!

Lesson of the Day III: Emotional Intelligence

Call me a nerd, but I would like to share this passage from a book I just started. I’ve spent months pondering over endless ways of how to help people in our world. I find that this does create a sense of satisfaction and achievement in my life while improving others’ at the same time. Today I picked up this book from my floor. Actually, I more like delved for it through the mess that covers the expanse of my room.

Anywho, I ended up with this book in my hands friends. It goes by the name of “Emotional Intelligence” and was written by Daniel Goleman. I haven’t even gotten past the opening passage because it’s already taught me so much. It’s amazing the magnitude of lessons that can be learnt from another’s words if one chooses to listen (or in this case, read). It struck me how easy it is to brighten up someone else’s day. How even something as small as a smile, or a ‘hello’ can impact on another’s perspective of the world, or their mood at that particular moment.

We do not need to conquer great things to help others. We do not need to build an orphanage in Cambodia, or volunteer for months building mud huts in Africa. As the man in this story shows us, we can make a difference by using our job, no matter how boring, to our advantage. I can’t imagine that becoming a bus driver would involve years of study, mountains of qualifications, or money and resources to travel.

So here’s my lesson of the day:

“It was an unbearably steamy August afternoon in New York City, the kind of sweaty day that makes people sullen with discomfort. I was heading back to a hotel, and as I stepped onto a bus up Madison Avenue I was startled by the driver, a middle-ages back man with an enthusiastic smile, we welcome me with a friendly, “Hi! How you doing?” as I got on, a greeting he proffered to everyone else who entered as the bus wormed through the thick midtown traffic. each passenger was startled as I, and, locked into the morose mood of the day, few returned his greeting.

But as the bus crawled uptown through the gridlock, a slow, rather magical transformation occurred. The driver gave a running commentary on the passing scene around us; there was a terrific sale at that store, a wonderful exhibit at this museum, did you hear about the new movie that just opened at that cinema down the block? His delight in the rich possibilities the city offered was infectious. By the time people for off the bus each in turn had shaken off the sullen shell they had entered with, and when the driver shouted out a “So long, have a great day!” each gave a smiling response”

– Daniel Goleman

Lesson of the Day: Look Internally Part II

Lately I’ve fallen into a trap where I find myself relying on others for support. I’ve created an illusion that this will provide me happiness and peace with my life. Having been through a few men this past year (and even in previous relationships) and cursing myself for it, I tried a different approach.

Last night I was lying in bed crying, asking myself what is it that’s inside of me that constantly drives me to this state? How do I end up becoming so attached to a person and subconsciously depending on them for my happiness? So that when all is done and dusted, I’m left with one less piece of myself. After bursting out into another round of tears (and another, and another) I finally found some strength within myself.

Earlier on that day I was with a friend. One who, in my eyes, is the most pure and honest example of an angel on earth (if example’s can be honest?). Whoever decided that I am worthy enough to call her a friend is an absolute god. I seriously cannot express how amazingly strong she is (let alone intelligent, you should see her grades!). So in my moment of distress, I thought about my friend. How she never is swayed by love, or sex, or relationships, or any sort of attachment what-so-ever. My mind flicked back to a conversation we had earlier on that day, and it hit me. She doesn’t search outside of herself for these things. This kind of fulfilment lies within us. My friend also has faith in god, that he will always be by her side.

When I was younger I used to think that religion was a stupid idea – to put it plainly. I thought that it was for the weak – an imagined explanation as to why we are on earth so that we feel we have security and direction in life, and we are not simply a product of science, evolution, and chance. But now I see differently. It is those who believe in something or someone beyond who are strong. To believe in something without proof that it exists, but only intuition and experience, is strength.

I’m not saying that god does exist (that’s an argument for another time), but those who believe in something beyond themselves are more likely to find peace.

So back to my story, I found strength in my friend. In my bed, I started to talk to god (and no, I’m not crazy). I soon realised that it was not the relationships that were the problem, it was me. And if I were to be truly happy for the rest of my life, regardless of who was supporting and interacting with me externally, I had to be my own best friend.

Another friend pointed this out to me a few months back. He was my mentor and taught me new things every day about personal development. He once told me that he was going to become his own best friend, because that way he wouldn’t need anyone else no matter what happened. At the time I just quietly nodded my head and smiled, not realising the significance of the words he had spoken. It was not until I had experience this myself that I found value in the idea.

So today I have woken up on the right side of the bed and stepped on the sunny side of the street. I have amazed myself at how resilient I have become. And this amazement has created a state of ecstasy inside of me (who needs drugs?). I am convinced that Seasonal Affective Disorder exists, because everyone I have met today seems to share my drug. This positive attitude has already started to create so many more possibilities in my life. A simple example I would like to share is when I went to the Physiotherapist this morning. I started a conversation with the receptionist on the way out, inquiring about business cards for personal training and group exercise on the desk. Our conversation ended up in me possibly having a future job at the clinic. Even if this plan doesn’t actualise, the possibility is still there. I knew there was a reason why I hurt my shoulder!

After announcing to yet another one of my friends yesterday (yes, another friend) that I was going to create a pact with myself that would prevent me from getting hurt again and throwing myself into uncomfortable positions, I updated her on my thoughts:

“I’m not creating a pact because I’ve realised that from everything I go through, I am constantly learning. And from these experiences I can also help others, which is what creates the ultimate happiness for me. What’s the point of life if you do not grow, learn and adjust? I’ve amazed myself at how mature and resilient I’ve become, but I’m also not going to stop acting like a kid at times (e.g dancing in shopping centres as if it were my private studio) because I don’t get that extra joy. Lesson learnt.”

My friend, who is a couple of years younger than me, replied “EXACTLY! You’re a brilliant role model because you don’t do what is socially expected, you do whatever you want because it makes you happy. And that’s what I want to be like. Don’t ever doubt yourself or limit yourself because you’re perfect just the way you are”.

So to repeat my previous post on this topic:

We are constantly looking for external sources in our lives that will provide us with satisfaction. Whether it be money, love, or comfort. We all have the capability to fulfil these needs ourselves. Looking externally will not end in peace because we are constantly searching for something that is not a part of us to complete ourselves. We all have the strength to be at peace with ourselves if we recognise that this peace lies within us.

Don’t ever underestimate your own strength!