by Karen A. Teeters

Years ago about a year or so after 9 /11 I was enrolled in a personal growth seminar where we  were all assigned to make something happen that  would make a difference in our community or world.

My idea was to get an action group together and  strive to get legislation passed that would declare September 11 as Peace day. The poject was approved by the leader and I had my plan in place. A few days later as I was explaining this plan to a good friend, she told me that the president had already passed a bill to make Septembet 11th Patriot Day.

I was sitting at my desk this morning planning my week and  I noticed  on my calendar that we are all supposed to  be honoring Patriot Day this coming Sunday. It took me  right back to the disappointment I felt when I heard about this  Patriot Day so many years ago. Back then I changed my plan and  decided to sponsor several peace speakers at  a large holistic living event. To me it is all about what is going on inside each and every one of us.

Being a loyal patriot to your country is one thing. Living and expressing a peace filled life is another, more universal concept.

So this September 11th I will be meditating for peace, sending the thought out that inner peace will create outer peace not just for one country but for the people of the entire planet.

Won’t you join me?

“All we are saying is give peace a chance.”  John Lennon

“I hope some day you’ll join us and the world will live as one.”  John Lennon

Your Outer and Innner World

by Guest Blogger, K. Scott Teeters

Greetings…

What’s going on in the world? What’s going on in my life? If you pull back, you can see that there is the “outer world” that we see played out in the news and through observation. Then there is the “inner world” that we experience through our own perception. The outer world can delight, amuse, frustrate, sadden, and anger us. Often the outer world seems out of our control. Our inner world often seems that way as well, but does it have to be that way? Are there ways of creating inner peace and serenity without selling everything we own, and moving to the mountaintop?

People have been asking these same basic questions for ages. Fortunately, the same answers have been coming through inspired writers and teachers for ages as well. They are so common that they have become platitudes to which we do not pay much attention. Expressions such as; “We become what we think about.” – “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” – “We are all One.” In the face of worldly and inner challenges, these words can seem like sayings in a Hallmark greeting card.

But these are inner spiritual perspectives that when understood, lead you to an “awakened” experience of life. While integrating these understandings is a challenging task, it is not impossible. Actually, it is completely do-able by everyone. How do we know this? It is a matter of understanding; that if someone else has done it, so can you!

You start to see a pattern. We are asleep, then we wake up, then we go back to sleep, and on and on. Once you have awakened and know that you have awakened, this seemingly nonstop going back to sleep can be maddening. Living an awakened life can be the most challenging, yet rewarding thing you will ever do. It is the effort of a lifetime – meaning that you will be doing this for the rest of your life.

That’s the bad news and the challenge. The good news is that there is plenty of help. As individuals most of us have marginal impact on the world stage. Outside political and natural forces can most definitely change our experience of life, and sometimes make us feel helpless. However, “we” are in complete control of our inner life. There’s a Zen saying that states, “If you think so… so. If you think not so… then not so.” (those Zen dudes always have an out-of-the-box way of saying things.)

Never before has it been easier to find resources to awakening. Just stop and consider the fact that as little as 50 years ago, if you wanted to learn the secrets of life, you had to first find a metaphysical bookstore then hunt for the books you wanted. Or even more challenging, you would have to travel far and long to find your teacher on a solitary mountaintop or ashram. Now, all you have to do is visit your local mall and visit one of the national chain booksellers. All of them now have large “new age,” “metaphysical,” or “inspirational” book sections. And if you don’t like to read, many of the best selling conscious living/metaphysical books are now on tape or CD. It couldn’t be much easier.

There is a common misconception that once you have had a mystical experience, that’s it! “TA-DA! I have arrived! I got my mantra, my beads, my charged crystals, and I wear lots of purple. But my boss is a jerk, my kid won’t listen or clean his room, and my car is a junker!” As Ram Dass used to love to say, “How do you stay conscious when the stuff hits the fan? Because it will and you can.” It’s called, “normal life” and for a newly awakening individual, it can slam you right back into snooze-land.

Ah, but there is a bright side to all of this. Once the process of awakening begins, there is no going permanently going back to sleep. “Catnaps” will happen from time to time, but completely going back to sleep is out of the question. Fortunately, when it comes to awakening tools, there’s something for everyone.

What Is Awakening?

What is this elusive state of “awakening?” Being “awake” is always a “right now” thing. It’s is being in the present moment with as much awareness as possible. Reflecting on the past and planning for the future are important, but your “experience” of life is always right here, right now. This understanding came to me in the early ‘80s and is something that I have shared with many people over the years. But an interesting thing often happens. I have observed that “rational, linear thinking,” controls our society. Of course, in a technological society, linear thinking is critical. The Space Program is no place for ambiguity or vagueness. Computer software is right or it’s wrong. There are so many places in our culture where linear thinking has produced spectacular achievements that we tend to look toward those achievement as proof that linear thinking is the best.

However, life has many subtle aspects that are outside of rational, linear thought processes. To a linear thinker, talk of the “Eternal Moment of Now” can sound like nonsense. In discussing this with people, many have said to me, “You mean, live for today and the hell with tomorrow?” This is an excellent example of black and white; you’re with us or against us, polarized thinking. When we think in narrow compartmentalized ways, we are missing the shades of gray that are inherent in all things. This is different from the linear model of thinking. A very powerful way of “being” is to use BOTH ways of thinking. It is believed that people who use both the right and left sides of the brain are very balanced and extremely successful in life. Here is a more creative way of perceiving everyday reality.

You understand that you are in the Eternal Moment of Now, but that you also have previous experiences of what was once a “now” experience. You call this your past. You also have events that you have not yet experienced. You call this your future.

While in your current moment of Now, you reflect on your past…look at it… and examine what happened. Don’t judge, criticize, or condemn… just observe. Try to “see” it as clearly as you can. Notice what was right, what worked, what didn’t work, and what was the quality of the experience. This is “learning” from your past, please do not indulge in judging. Our culture is so habituated to judge, criticize, and condemn (because it “makes sense”) that almost all of us do it unconsciously to others and especially ourselves. I would ask that you simply suspend, for the time being, such indulging.

The next step is to envision your future. Motivational speaker Brian Tracy likes to remind us that it is very important to think about your future because that is where you will be spending the rest of your life. But our culture has us habituated to thinking of the future in fearful ways. You only need to look at our fear-laced entertainment to clearly see how we tend to envision our future.

But despite what rational thinking people might claim, this fear is not a requirement. Always being prepared and having an open mind is a good mental habit. In the Middle East they have an expression, “Trust in Allah, but tie your camel.” Or in western terms, you could say, “Trust in Jesus, but lock your Chevy.” Be mindful of Our Oneness, but keep your eyes and senses open.

If you take the middle ground of neither fearing or anticipating your future, and simply look to see what is possible for your life, you will see more possibilities than you had previously realized. This is an excellent place to ask yourself as you start to stay awake for longer periods of time, “What would be my ideal experience? What would I most like to be?” Envisioning your ideal scene and what you want to “be” are powerful tools for manifesting. This is a relatively new wrinkle in goal setting technologies. Quiet your mind and envision what you would most like to be, and your Higher Self will reveal what you originally intended to do and be. All of the things we “do,” we are doing so that we can have a “beingness” experience. You exercise so that you can “be healthy.” You go to school, learn, do a good job, so that you can “be successful” and “be happy.” You work extra and save your money so that you can “be secure.” You groom yourself and develop your personality to attract a partner so that you can “be happy in a relationship.” This is a pattern that maps over in all areas of our lives. We are always seeking a “beingness” experience.

When you start living an awakened life, you work with your past to see what worked and what didn’t and then project your most desired future into your mind’s eye. You become your ideal, no longer judging yourself. Learning from your past while using a projected possible future as a goal, gives you this positive goal to live your life into.

So, Now What?

What does an awakened life “look” like? From an external view, it may not look like anything unusual. Another Zen expression offers this wisdom, “Before Enlightenment, there is chopping wood and carrying water. After Enlightenment, there is chopping wood and carrying water.” A person living an awakened life may still have all of the challenges, stresses, and troubles as before… but with a difference. She sees challenges as opportunities to show herself what she’s capable of achieving or experiencing. She sees stress as an indicator that she’s taking things too seriously and needs some perspective. She sees problems as opportunities for new learning or to remember solutions forgotten. After a time, it will seem as if there is a new person inside of an existing body. Serenity will have a transforming affect on your inner and outer world.

Have you ever been around someone who is supremely serene, peaceful, and calm? In “As A Man Thinketh” James Allen wrote, “Who does not love a tranquil heart, a sweet-tempered, balanced life? It does not matter whether it rains or shines, or what changes come to those possessing these blessings, for they are always sweet, serene, and calm. They are like shade giving trees in a thirsty land, or a sheltering rock in a storm.”

If you have ever been around someone like that, you know that they are unmistakable. Ken Keyes Jr. was such a person. Many years ago, I had a chance meeting with Ken after one of his talks. At that time, I was not familiar with Ken’s landmark book, “Handbook for Higher Consciousness.” Even though he was wheelchair-bound, Ken filled the room with his love and pure presence. Everyone was getting a contact high just from being close to him. Later I learned that Ken was a supremely peaceful and serene man, despite the fact that he was in a wheelchair and could barely move one of his arms.

Living an Awakened Life is simple, but not easy in the beginning. But like the old joke, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice!”, it does get easier the longer you are actively engaged in the process of awakening. So take heart, and remember that what others have achieved, you can as well.

Scott

K. Scott Teeters is t a Reiki Master and author the book of It’s  Time To Wake Up, Reiki and other essential tools for spiritual awakening. You may read more of his articles at ItsTimtoWakeUp.net

Each person’s effort to live sustainably, peacefully, simply on this planet earth will be expressed in a unique manner. We are interdependent of each other and I believe to survive on this planet and to survive as a race that the majority of us need to make a different choice. Saving Gaia, our sumptuous green planet Earth is the biggest benefit of going green,stepping lightly and living simply. It is time to scale the consumption back.

Get out of the rat race and become a human being. You can read articles about how our individual actions effect the earth. But now it’s time for each of us to take action and in our own unique ways, be kinder to ourselves, live healthier and go green. I invite you to comment on my posts as I review books, products, services and resources and  as I share a few of my own insights to help us all create a greener, simpler path.

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Keeping it green and simple,

Karen Ann Teeters

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By Karen Ann Teeters

Consciously do creative things

How do you create a balanced, simplified life? Consciously do creative things for the mind, take care of your body with wise eating choices and fitness activities, and connect to spirit by honoring all living things. This is what we call creating balance while being mindful of mind, body and spirit.

Changes were gradual

Now, I’m not saying that my life looks like this but this is the vision that I hold for myself and that I work towards creating. When I had my “aha” moment more than fifteen years ago, I realized I wanted a more fulfilling, simplified life but of course things did not change overnight. The books by Elaine St. James on simplifying came into my life and made a profound impact. But the changes were gradual.

Many people are awakening and are looking to the mind, body spirit balance. It is hard in our materialistic society where many things related to success are external. It is going against the norm to find happiness and life purpose by going internal.

“I just want peace of mind.”

In my days as a corporate salesperson, it was not unusual during an interview for a new position to actually hear the emphasis from the interviewer with questions about how much you valued material things. They hired salespeople that thrived on more – more things, more money. That is just a symptom of our society. More things make us “more happy” until they don’t. Then we find ourselves saying things like, “I just want peace of mind.” That was me.

“Why do we all need so much stuff?”

Before I started on my path I had challenges. I was making good money and that was fine in my twenties and early thirties. The early forties mid life stage hit and helped to change my philosophy. I no longer “believed” in what I was selling. I looked around me and asked myself,”Why do we all need so much stuff?” Maintaining it, cleaning it, storing it all takes so much time!

But, like many of us, I was used to good money. To change while you are obligated to a certain lifestyle is hard! I did find a more fulfilling position. The money was less but I enjoyed what I was selling and the pleasant environment of a publishing company. Since I was more relaxed, I found more time to create my simplified life.

Happily self employed

Now I find myself the happy owner of my own website design business and the marketing manager supporting my husband’s art and writing talents.  We live in a beautiful community in a wooded area and we love the large canopy of trees in our backyard. The squirrels and birds love it as much as we do. We also share our lives with two older cats. Sitting in my sun room gazing out at the woods and spotting a deer family from time to time is my idea of relating to nature and creating true peace of mind.

Healthy choices

Being selective with my time with meaningful activities and true friends gives value to my choices and I do not say yes to everything and everyone anymore. Making healthy eating choices and buying more organic and less processed foods helps me to feel better and make less trips to the doctor. Making less trips to the mall and really thinking about purchases and buying used when possible all contributes to a smaller footprint on planet earth. All these changes took years to accomplish and I am still learning, reading, experiencing what works for today. My husband Scott and I have gone through some tough financial times and we are still being creative and frugal but it has been worth it.

People who truly make a difference

With a new simplified life, you value who you are and what you do more. You focus on energy to do what you love. So you choose to eat better and exercise. When you love what you do, you value time and spend it with people who truly make a difference and spiritually uplift you. When you honor your creative self, you create the time to think, to read, to honor the higher self, the all that is. The mind, body, spirit balance becomes second nature when you have the intent to create it. And material stuff has less meaning.

Steps to simplify everyday life

In the very beginning of my path, I discovered a classic book on the simple living subject called Living the Simple Life, by Elaine St. James. She shares practical  steps to simplify everyday life. She is as an example of a busy professional who evolved into her happy self-employed state with more time to do what she loves. As a writer who helps others to simplify, she has downsized the fast tracked lifestyle and upgraded to personal satisfaction! She gives us hope when she advises, “ do not fall into the trap of thinking that if you’re not now doing what you love to do, it’s too late to figure it out.” She continues, “…everything I did previously prepared me for what I’m doing now. And what I’m doing now is no doubt preparing me for whatever I may do differently in the future.” Those words rang true for me when I first read them and still do.

Programs to prepare you to simplify your life

There are many programs to prepare you to simplify your life. Changing from the inside out can involve counseling, spiritual work, classes, 12 step programs, personal growth workshops and more. What you need  will come to you for that is the universal law of attraction. Your true potential could lay dormant in you your whole life if you chose. Or you could answer the call and follow your bliss. Help the other timid souls with your shining example of living the extraordinary life by honoring your mind, body and spirit.

Time to decide…Choose the simple life that works for you.

Decide what career choice matches with your values and passion. Decide what to do with your free time and with whom to spend it. Decide where to live and what to buy and what you need. Less stuff usually works better. Once you have fewer things to manage, you have the time to think about what you really want. Look at your spiritual beliefs and read about other cultures’ understandings of the big questions in life.Take your time. Choose the simple life that works for you.

[Karen Ann Teeters is a website designer and writer who lives with her husband, Scott in Medford, NJ. They create and help grow  blogs and websites  for small businesses and entrepreneurs, especially holistic practitioners, coaches and consultants.]

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What is your idea of how you can simplify your life? What steps have you taken? What books have been most helpful?