This juxtaposition has been on my mind for a while. We all see the difference between both and for sure get the deeper meaning. We are all shaped by life, and by all the influences to which we are exposed in this life until our last breath. And nobody likes it to act against their conviction or personal virtues only to suffice their boss, society, a tradition, or simply some people who take advantage of another person’s helplessness, insecurity, fear, or dependency. Yes, we all know that, but sometimes the line between both is very thin…
Every other week, I am publishing an audio meditation on my website erikakind.com. Usually, I am doing group meditations in person, but due to the Corona situation, I switch to the audio option. However, the topic of this week is bringing clarity, balance, and steadfastness into life. To achieve that, we need to let go of illusions or self-imposed pressure due to the requirements we set ourselves.
I recently enjoyed a singing bowl treatment. If you’ve never had one, you wouldn’t believe what it can do to your body and soul. Before the treatment, we always talk about whether I have any specific requests regarding the outcome. I usually tell her to just do what she feels is necessary. I want to keep my head out of it and let happen what needs to happen. But last time, I wanted her to consistently follow up on any blocks she finds. I told her that I am so tired of a reflexive resistance arising in me when it comes to things that are ridiculous and that lock me up inside. This automatic resistance keeps me from expanding, and I’m so tired of working against it, which only causes more resistance. I said I wanted to be transparent and permeable. After the treatment (which was very effective), she said, resistance is not necessarily a bad thing but rather an intuitive reaction to not letting it all in. That got me thinking.
A good friend of mine opened her new store this morning. She has already been self-employed as an interior decorator and designer. But now she has a beautiful showroom tastefully decorated with perfectly matching items to welcome clients. This way, she has not only the possibility to inspire them and give an idea of what she can do, but she can also sit together with them right there and work out some first ideas. No more visiting them, then preparing drawings and offers at home, visiting them again, and only working with catalogs instead of a choice of samples. Of course, so much went wrong the closer the date of the opening came, but she is such a power-woman. Like a magician, she switched to alternatives that turned out as a much better option than the original idea or order.
Recently, I wrote a lot about how important it is for healing that we don’t turn away from painful feelings but face them. That, to not push them back again into a drawer but to take them out of that drawer and let them go. The reason they show up is that they are ready to leave, and the triggers in the outside world are only coming to support them surfacing.
For today I decided to pick a card from Dennis Linn’s Gateway Oracle Cards. I love those cards since they are like nailing messages to show the way out of a maze. The card I picked is “Accepting What Is”:
We all have our dark spots, subtle emotions that show up in certain situations, inner resistance, old wounds that reopen, scars that keep us stuck in a past situation. As I said before, we absolutely cannot ignore them and sweep them under the rug. Just because I don’t see them doesn’t mean they aren’t still there. But we must be careful not to look only into the abyss of the soul. That is the same misunderstanding as ignoring them.
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There may be times, when the past catches up with us, and it seems that for a long time, we have only these dark shadows around us. We can’t see the light. But the explanation is actually quite simple. Imagine taking a photo of an object that is in front of the sun. It will appear completely dark because of the backlight. You are actually taking a picture of its shadow. If we focus only on the shadows, we miss the fact that there must be a lot of light behind them. The darker these shadows appear, the brighter the light behind them.
As soon as you realize that you ARE the light, the obstacles you are working through lose their dark color because you shine ON them. Then they are just obstacles to be overcome. With this attitude, you begin to see them as tasks on the journey, but not as obstacles that keep you from your journey. Again, you stop resisting and start accepting. You go from “Why me?” to “Let’s go!”.
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Keep in mind that no matter how many dark potholes you may fall into, you will always be caught by the power of your soul. It knows the way, and its light will let you find the way to get back to the surface, just as you need it. Your life is not meant to be dark, and you are not meant to believe that. It is your strong soul that is determined to resolve as much of the past as possible. Only the strongest are confronted with the darkest shadows. There is so much love in them that keeps them going, that makes them stand up and gives them the courage and determination to go on. And those are the ones who encourage so many others to do the same. Beceause we can!
When you feel like looking into a dark hole then remember that your light must shine the brightest. Continue the journey and know that your light will always attract light to accompany you on the way. I honor you for the wonderful soul you are.
Lately, I am digging into working myself through karma. There is quite a lot in motion in my life that provokes me to look back in my incarnation history. It is so amazing how many links I can draw to relationships, my own attitudes or blockages, and the karmic laws. I know, this is something many are a bit scared of since they are afraid of what they could find when looking into one of the many previous lives. Yes, I was quite a bad guy but a blessing as well. As I wrote about two weeks ago, we are going through all kinds of roles in our different incarnations. We build up karma, and we solve it again. By going through hard times, suffering from repeated disappointments, humiliation, or resentments can be an indicator that we are about to resolve a not that nice part from a past life.
I don’t think there is anyone who has never faced challenges, whether they were self-imposed or triggered by something or someone outside – actually, they are always self-imposed, but we’ll get to that later. Also, a challenge to me does not equal a challenge to you. If I’ve ordered a meal and it’s only lukewarm when it’s served, I can make a big drama out of it, politely ask for it to be warmed up, or I can just think, “So what.” A problem is only a problem if I call it a problem. It’s subjective. So, when something is triggered in me to create the image of a problem, it always has to do with me.
What I share here, on my blog, in my books, at my talks, or with anyone I talk to, is my personal truth. It fits who I am, and it fits my progress. I am aware that truth is never final. Each truth is a small stepping stone that leads me to the next particle of truth. It may expand what I have already considered being the truth, or it may put a new face on it. I would never demand anyone believe it because who am I to say what is right or wrong since I believe that truth is subjective. The truth I like to share as part of my inner calling, is a truth that makes me feel good. It strengthens me, broadens my perspective, and keeps my mind curious about what triggers my heart to discover. By sharing it, I hope to trigger something similar in others.
Most of you may know that I have been a big fan of Dr. Wayne Dyer. The first book of his I read has found me miraculously – not the other way around – and it changed my life. I had read lots of great books before, such as The Law of Attraction, The Power of Now, The Secret, and many others. But just this one book was the central piece of the puzzle that connected all the aspects flying around in my little universe into and fundamental basis for my personal journey to awareness.
In 2008 Dr. Wayne Dyer published the book “Living the Wisdom of the Tao”. It contains the 81 verses of the Tao Te Ching. Wayne Dyer wrote an affirmation to each verse to bring the meaning of it to better awareness. I was fortunate to buy that book the first time I experienced Wayne Dyer live at a lecture, and I even got the book signed by the author himself. Still, it is giving me goosebumps to think back to the moment when I was standing in front of him, handing him the book, and got it signed.
“Humans are made up of more than 90 percent stardust. Most of the body’s atoms and molecules were once formed in stars.”
A few weeks ago, I heard this in a movie, and it intrigued me. As a result, I came across some interesting articles on the Internet, for example, one from the Stuttgarter Nachrichten. Here is a short excerpt:
The specific chemical composition turns stardust into a diamond, stone or a plant, a bacterium, insect or a “Homo sapiens”. The cells in our bodies, the oxygen we breathe, the carbon and nitrogen in our tissues, the calcium in our bones – all come from stardust produced many billions of years ago and continuing to be generated.
A few weeks ago, I saw this quote on Carol Anne’s blog. It came at just the right time. I was questioning my emotional reaction to other people’s actions. I thought I was more detached already due to the awareness regarding the quote above. But life showed me that I still have certain expectations I have not worked out yet.
Saying goodbye to a year of big challenges, of overcoming old and new obstacles, of discovering the ability to adjust. Farewell to a year of quite a lot of goodbyes regarding neighbors, relatives, and friends’ relatives.
This post is the last Monday post before Christmas. It would be obvious to talk about remembering the true meaning of Christmas or to relate to the current situation. But instantly there was one single word in my head: Enjoy!
It is interesting what thoughts lead to the next one and the next one, and how they take you to solutions or insights you would never expect them to tell from the first thought. Lately, I was helping someone moving into a new apartment. They moved into our closer neighborhood. While I was driving to that apartment, I was thinking of how the area had changed only within the past 5 years. Many things came to my mind that changed in general during that time, and my thoughts went 20, 30 years back. I began to think of what my life impacted, what pushed me, what directed me, what guided me, and what I myself moved (with or without the influence from outside). Even though I often think that I got stuck when emotions are surfacing which I thought I had worked out when actually, I was only successfully pushing them back.
Aren’t we all disappointed in ourselves at times? We think we “have it in the bag”, or we are convinced about how something works out, but then it hits us unexpectedly that we are mistaken. It can make us lose confidence in ourselves.
What is the problem when someone is craving love? That person is convinced that love is outside of them, something that needs to be earned. They think that they don’t have it and therefore are in a place where they experience a lack of love. When we think we don’t have something, it causes us to feel a lack. That energy is sent out, and the universe will answer with the same energy. It is the energy of the feeling of “not having”. What we send out will come back: not having! The irony is that in not understanding that universal law, those people feel even confirmed by the experience of the consequences, and a long-lasting vicious circle can be the result that affects all parts of their lives.
Insecurity usually manifests itself as shyness, subservience, or weakness in decision-making. But at least as often it shows itself in the form of oppression, arrogance, envy, and dogmatism.
We all are always to discover our potentials, the limitations we set, our abilities, our higher and personal purposes. With everything we see and experience, that journey continues. We find inspiration, pass so many lessons, we feel the joy of life and encounter its challenges. Life can become a routine.
We are constantly exposed to external influences. These influences determine how we influence ourselves. Because in the end, the influence of thoughts and deeds is only by yourself. Being influenced AND influencing happens unconsciously until you understand that your own thoughts do not just happen but can be controlled.
After the crazy busyness and hectic of the past weeks, I am enjoying it even more more to sit on my patio and let my inspiration flow for writing my post. I was just so relaxed that I emptied my spirit… and kept in empty… lol. So, I decided to pick a card getting inspired.
We are talking a lot about unveiling the ego and letting go of its destructive grip. It is much easier said than done. For years, the ego has grown as part of our own development. Of course, it depends a lot on the inner steadfastness we had in our younger years and on how much influence we let happen. Also, it depends on how long we got influenced, and at the time, the ego has gotten to grow from us feeding it with our convictions and experiences which were created through the eyes of the ego again… a pretty vicious circle, isn’t it?
We all have dreams. Even those people who say they had put their dreams at rest. That they still think of them confirms that their dreams are still alive. It happens that life shatters some specific conditions to realize a particular dream or expectation about the future. But only because this one of them cannot come true doesn’t mean we need to throw the whole dream box into the garbage. Sometimes we need to take detours, not knowing where they lead and why they have to be taken. However, no path walked is in vain. Sometimes the greatest dream lies in a sideway.
I shared this post one year ago regarding the importance people grant themselves on social media. Not social media, but the current pandemic made me think of it again. Now that many countries have loosened their strict measures, people seem to go crazy in acting as if everything was already back to normal. But the growing numbers of infections prove that only ignoring a virus doesn’t mean it is not there. We need to follow the little and doable requests like washing or disinfecting hands, social distancing, and wearing masks in crowded places or public transportations. It would be so simple to protect others and ourselves. What many still don’t understand: Wearing masks means protecting the people around me since I cannot be sure that I am virus-free! So, if you ever wanted to do something good for others, it was never easier than today. Wear your mask in the public where it has been recommended or even requested, and follow the hygienic rules.
Lately, I had an interesting discussion with my business partner. He told me that on the way to work, he heard about a study on the radio. When you smile at someone, something begins to change in the brain cells of the other person. They are more responsive which has an effect on that person again who smiled in the first place. Also, there something changes in the brain cells which, in the end, makes both experience feelings of happiness. A smile does indeed connect, but it seems that is is a result of a switch the brain makes. And we know what an influence the brain has on our feelings.
So often, we don’t start a project because we are afraid of failing. We are afraid of being questioned even before we started, or before a result is shown. We are afraid of being criticized for how we do it or even THAT we do it. We are afraid that people are making fun of us because we are doing something they might have never dared to do themselves. Or we are afraid because our project also means to show a part of us which we kept hidden for so long. But there comes a time when all those fears are not strong enough anymore to keep us from going for our dream. They cannot keep us from stepping out of our comfort zone anymore. We are full of excitement and enthusiasm and yes, we try it with all our hearts and passion. And then it happens…. the door opens up!
I still believe that the core purpose of the journey through this lifetime lies in rediscovering our own light, in the way we deal with what happens leads us closer to recognizing who we really are. Joy, pain, drama, success, love, loss, stress, relief shows the results by the consequences of our actions and reactions. Every little incident tells us something about ourselves and the more we experience the more we might see that it is up to us how we experience what happens. Nothing new! BUT…
The deepest moments of happiness are those we experience inside of us. It is when we realize that happiness is not depending on what happens outside but inside of us.
There are so many wonderful peeps on this blogosphere who have always been big lights for me. These days their lights appear even brighter and bigger. Because they are those who share their strength with a grounded but at the same time, a higher perspective. They are understanding with those who do struggle during these extraordinary times. They refuse to let unnecessary negativity that others may spread influence their moods. That is the strength we need.
Two years ago, I wrote a post series “You’ve Got Me All Wrong” that already addressed this topic. But the circumstances we are in these days makes the voices louder again. Why does God let violence, sadness, accidents happen? Why doesn’t God keep us from harm? Has He left us alone in those times? Why does He allow the current situation? Why does He punish us?
I often mention that I am writing my posts quite a while ahead to make sure that I am having them ready even when something gets in my way. What amazes me very often is the fact that so many readers say, how timely the post was for them and probably would not have touched anything in them if it was published right away.
In my post The Opposite Of Fear Is Love I quoted Charlie Chaplin and remembered his beautiful poem. I also remembered a post I wrote about it a few years ago and decided to share it again. Charles Chaplin delivered this speech on his 70th birthday. So much wisdom and experience are lying in these words, reminding that we can lift the curtain of illusion to find the beauty, love and all the answers we have been looking for.
These days many of us are called upon to stay at home as a matter of principle. Some stay together in groups (like family) while some are alone. Both situations can become a challenge over time or even overwhelming when they can no longer “escape”; either from the people they live with or worse – from themselves. The second one is what I want to talk about and what is a general problem. In our routine days it may be easier to get distracted from the fact that they are not able to deal with themselves. But these days there truly is no escape. Instead of throwing themselves into work or party life, they are now forced to deal with themselves. It can be very hard… but also wonderfully healing. To me it feels like a high-speed rehabilitation – wanted or not.
As the years go by we are making so many experiences. Sometimes we don’t even notice how the experiences shape us unconsciously. Happenings in childhood, the way we were raised, the circle of our friends, opinions we create, decisions we make, and the consequences of it all which we put together individually in the mind… which actually forms how we experience what we experience and how we move on.
My post Who Is The Thinker caused some interesting discussions. Hugh of Hugh’s Views & News asked why fear can be the opposite of love. He said he thought it was hate. Before I thought of that theory I felt the same about it. I think hate is the first thing that comes to our minds when we think of the opposite of love. But is hate really the end- or only a by-product when it comes to the opposite of love?
No mountain too high, no river too wide when it comes to realize our dreams. It may not be easy but as long as we pursue the goal there will be possibilities. I wrote a short metaphoric story regarding this topic and will share it with you today. Whatever is now does not define what will be. You can make it, if you only believe.
I took a walk through the forest. It was a beautiful early summer day. The sunlight found its way through the tiniest spaces between the already leafy treetops, and nature seemed to reach out its arms to me, full of energy. I perceived the humid, spicy scent of the forest air, which gave me a feeling of connection with this place. Although birds were chirping exuberantly and something was rustling in the undergrowth now and then, the atmosphere was so peaceful and harmonious that I almost had the feeling of being in a different world.
