Pride or excuses can paralyze you
Posted by Joan
Pride, a strong ego, can sometimes confine us. Too often, we get caught up in the words, “I can’t do this because I may lose this or that,” or “I can’t move there because I will be away _________ fill in the blank.” There are opportunities in life that beg you to take full advantage of, but because you are so focused on reasons or excuses that stop you, you become paralyzed in the “what if’s” and the “I cant’s”. Do not become that person.
We become so attached to a feeling, a person or some event in our lives that we do not see any other new opportunities or pathways to progress to the next level. Some people love their pain, whether it be physical or emotional so much so, that they are afraid to let it go because then they will not know what to do to get the attention from others that they crave.
A strong ego or continual excuses often begets complacency, which stops our movement and/or progress. Negativity leads to undesirable consequences. Don’t let your arrogance and depressing attitude set you up for lack-that is, lack of joy, happiness or inner peace. Each one of us has the power to choose our destiny, our experiences. If you are stuck in a repetitive lifestyle and you seem to be going backward or in circles, then heed this: Open your eyes and open your mind. Raise your awareness through meditation, time in nature or prayer so that you can begin to see the potentiality that exists around you. Know that pride or arrogance can be an awesome feeling, but it takes a humbling experience to truly see the possibilities that surround you.
You have the power to shift your attitude and behavior for the better
Posted by Joan
I believe we are in a crisis in the world today and many people feel caught up in worry, fear and anxiety so they act out foolishly to numb their discomfort. There are more people drinking too much today, taking drugs and smoking pot than ever before in our history. There are a lot of mixed signals through the media and the entertainment world that filters into our everyday lives. Many of us have lost our ability to make sound judgment and don’t know how to differentiate between what is real and what is fantasy.
Because of all of these factors, families, children and even people in the workplace are having a hard time functioning at their optimum. Instead they are lashing out in anger, resentment and violence and feeling justified for their behavior.
Self-expression and our ability to ask questions in a healthy manner is using our higher intelligence correctly; however, knowingly harming or injuring others because of our poor behavior or attitude is destructive and wrong. If we want to live in balance and harmony within ourselves and with others, we must cultivate an open willingness to listen to the other side of the story and be tolerant of others. This is the natural progression of how life is supposed to flow. Just like the ocean waves. They all flow in harmony but each wave expresses itself in a different way. When the wave has completed its creative expression, it simply flows back to the whole. There is no violent eruption or disruptive change in there patterns. This self-expression is a natural and normal way of growing and learning. All of us need to broaden our thinking and transform it so we can realize a more pure sense of being as we filter out for ourselves a sense of meaning in our lives. Without a sense of meaning and purpose, we become ill and disjointed both individually and collectively as a world.
I believe it is time for each one of us to do a reality check. To slow down, quiet the mind and seek the guidance from within. None of us are ideally capable of helping others until we deal with our own hurts, pains and dysfunctional behavior.
This is the time to open our hearts and souls to accept and acknowledge the truth that we have the power within to achieve a life full of great joy and peaceful co-existence. It is possible when we choose to move into a consciousness that God has gifted us with, an opening to our true self and purpose.
Knowing that we cannot force another to do something they do not want to do or respond to, we certainly can lead and teach by example. Take responsibility for your actions and behavior and continue walking with love in your heart. That is a wonderful way to ignite change in the world.
Posted by Joan
How do you see life?
Do you see the magic that surrounds your life or are you caught up in the doldrums of daily living? Too often we tend to make our lives more difficult by adding on high levels of stress and anxiety mixed with rage or anger and even discontent. We are living the so-called fast paced life-attempting to keep up with everyone and everything else that we soon lose our way as to what really matters in life and why we are here.
Sometimes all we need to do to get our thoughts on target is to look at the beauty of nature and the simple joys that surround us daily. There is magic in a sunrise and a sunset. There is magic in the twinkle of someone’s eye, in the giggle of a baby and in the softness of a pet who is coming to snuggle with you. How do you see life? Are you able to smell the fragrance of a beautiful flower and hear the chirp of the birds 
that fly in the air? All this can bring a smile to your face and help you to slow your mind down so you can simply enjoy the moment. A moment that allows you to breathe in slowly, enjoy a deep sigh or even possibly close your eyes for a minute to just smile and be with yourself.
Just turn on the news reports around the world and you will be getting your fill of the dark side of life, the emotional seesaw that captures out attention. The news makes up a large part of our lives. It feeds our minds, heart and soul with information that can either fulfill us or drag us down. We all see and experience those dark emotional scenes that fill our culture and environment on an increasing and alarming pace. We, as a Human species, are prone to imitate what we see and hear on a regular basis. If you doubt what I am saying, just look around you because no matter where you turn, violent acts and negative behavior is becoming more of an epidemic in the world. Add all of that to your own personal emotional struggles and you start to experience a breakdown in your own personal psyche.
If we want to experience a happier and healthy lifestyle for ourselves and the world we live in, we need to wake up and shift our focus and our attention from those experiences that breed conflict and darkness and start building up your courage and strength so you are better prepared to face your core issue(s)-the root of your sadness, unhappiness and discontent. It takes effort and a conscious and open heart to welcome the beauty and magic that surrounds us daily.
When we are out of balance and harmony, we open the channels where negative and dark cells come alive and start to take over our lives. Those dark cells can show up as cancer, heart disease or many other variables. If, we individually want to live a life more fully, we need to make room and space within our core where health and healing energy can thrive, be nurtured and live to its fullest. I encourage you to take a look at the direction you have chosen to follow for your life. The power lies within you to bring forth the change, the healing energy and the shift that is needed if you want to experience a more whole and perfect existence. Our website and facebook fan page offer daily inspirational messages that can help uplift you and your outlook. If you and all of us sincerely want to experience a strong sense of inner peace and joy in this lifetime, each one of us need to work at it. True consciousness doesn’t just happen-it needs to be feed, cultivated and worked at daily. Then and only then can you sincerely look at your life and see the magic that is right in front of you.
Life is a process— stop fighting it!
Posted by Joan
Too many people seem to think that they go to school, get an education, pass all the tests and the rest should be easy. Unfortunately, that thought process is false. The whole of life from the moment of conception to the moment of death is a learning process and somewhere in between we suffer from the growing pains and trials. Our growth process is comprised of a series of creative ideas, skills and talents and a lot of determination and right choices. 
I believe we are always in the state of becoming. We go in one direction, follow a path which ultimately will lead to another pathway and door. We are constantly opening and closing doors and that is the way it should be.
During my lifetime, there have been some roads that I’ve traveled that weren’t easy or comfortable yet in the end I realized that they were needed for me to travel so that I could get to a better place, a better experience that was waiting to be revealed to me. I have discovered that if I want to enjoy inner peace and contentment, I needed to let go of those experiences or obstacles that were holding me back so that I would be able to grow and soar.
If you are a seeker of greater joy and happiness then you, too, must be open and willing to release the past, forgive all those who have done you wrong and forgive yourself, too, for the emotional baggage that has weighed you down and slowed down your progress. Too many people love holding on to their old ways because they are comfortable, familiar and feel safe yet once you become vulnerable and open to new possibilities, you soon realize and discover that all that old stuff was only wearing you down, making you sick and unhappy and most of all stopping you from realizing your best life yet. I often wonder why we fight so hard to hold onto the old when the freedom of realizing the new is liberating and fulfilling.
I encourage you to make time for yourself to reflect on your process of life and begin to examine the direction that it is taking. Are you on the right path or are you fighting change, the process and the journey that has been designed for your highest and best good and in the highest and best way? I have said often: “We all make choices daily-some are positive and healthy and others cause us to suffer. I encourage you to choose wisely!
Your thoughts really matter
Posted by Joan
The reality that you are living right now can talk you out of your hopes and dreams for your tomorrow. They can cause you to move into fear and doubt and begin yelling at God or even wondering whether or not He even cares about you? But I am here to tell you that when you believe in the Power of God and believe that all things are possible with Him and through Him, God will change your outcome. For me, just the knowing that what looks impossible with man is not impossible with God is most comforting.
God has never let me down, and in fact, He has always taken care of my needs. I may not have all the wants that I am seeking but I do believe in the right time, I will experience my greatest joy. If you are a believer and a seeker for all that your heart desires, it would behoove you to release the problem, the situation to God and know without a doubt that there is a better way and that GOD knows what He is doing. Even if you don’t see a way, God has a way and He can give you a miracle, because He is not limited by the facts that we humans see or experience daily. Continue to say: “Nothing is impossible with God.”
If you are fighting a sickness or addiction or anger and hatred over your life situations, maybe even resentment that you haven’t found your significant other yet, I encourage you to move away from the logic and facts that are dictating your life and believe that one favor from GOD can change everything. DARE TO BELIEVE! You can be victorious and free from your doubt and fear but yes, it takes faith-trust and belief that God can change anything.
Stop focusing on the facts that are staring you in the face and start believing that God can and will make it happen if you truly believe in his Power, His clues and His messages. I know that often in the natural world, things look bleak and impossible but if you believe in the supernatural God and know that His power is greater than any force in the material world
you will get His attention and His favor. Your job is to shake off the doubt, the limiting beliefs and know that God is in control. Your mission is to consciously focus your thoughts on having strong faith, trust and belief mixed with a strong sense of hope that God has a brilliant plan just for you. When you walk in that knowingness, you will win and you will receive God’s best for your life.
