Most of your thoughts are past thoughts. This then means that the busy, overwhelm and stress are related to the past, yet the moment you are in is the present.
The Tao asks “Can you coax your mind from its wandering and keep to the original oneness?”
In the spirit of the Tao, practice awareness of your thoughts to reduce your overwhelm and stress.
Today try this: set your alarm for three random times today. When it goes off, notice what you are thinking. Is it a new present moment idea or is it a thought of the past? Only two percent of the time will it be new. If it is old, consider repeating this statement from ACIM for a minute, “My mind is preoccupied with the past.” This practice will bring awareness of thoughts in the present.
In 2018, I read and reflected on the Tao Te Ching,and shared daily inspirations to inspire improved wellbeing. After my fifth reading, I transitioned to A Course in Miracles. Now, we continue our wellbeing journey together with ACIM in a Tao state of mind.
Today’s Tao reflection was inspired by Lesson 8 of ACIM.
Original image by Erin Alder.]]>
Before healing there is hurt.
Pleasure is known in contrast to displeasure.
And things must first be small in order for them to grow.
Cease resisting the moment you do not like to hasten the moment you desire. It is unwise use of energy.
The course will be run and at the appropriate time, the transformation will become apparent.
LIVING THE TAO: Today, I invite you to reflect on the first, second and third interpretations along with this fourth and ask, are there any shifts you are prepared to make today in relation to aligning with the art of living as shared in the Tao?
My 2018 focus is to intentionally live the Tao Te Ching. This is my fourth reading of Stephen Mitchell’s translation. I share my daily interpretations hoping to inspire you to do the same.
Embrace your journey. Experience bliss. Live the Tao.
Original image by Ilona Ilyés on Pixabay.]]>
All things begin and end. In between are the processes of growth then return. They can happen with ease when surrender is the choice.
All beings arrive and return.
What then is the purpose of your being?
LIVING THE TAO: Today, take time to consider if you are maximizing your life. If not, why not and what needs to change so you can?
My 2018 focus is to intentionally live the Tao Te Ching. This is my third reading of Stephen Mitchell’s translation. I share my daily interpretations hoping to inspire you to do the same.
Embrace your journey. Experience bliss. Live the Tao.
]]>The wise maintains her focus on the Invisible Source that sustains her. It is what gives her light and life.
Though it cannot be seen or grasped, her focus is fixed through the way it moves her from experience to experience.
And although it is invisible, its compassion that flows through her is what makes her shine, and its inexhaustible breath gives her life.
Source extends beyond your concept of time and space; it is an ever-flowing existence of which we are a wave of its flow.
Like the wise, maintain your focus and experience your flow with the gifts of light and life.
LIVING THE TAO: Today, contemplate your breath for a few moments. Where has it come from every moment of your life from birth until now? That pondering will help you maintain your focus.
My 2018 focus is to intentionally live the Tao Te Ching. This is my third reading of Stephen Mitchell’s translation. I share my daily interpretations hoping to inspire you to do the same.
Embrace your journey. Experience bliss. Live the Tao.
Image courtesy of Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.]]>
Fame, money and worldly success: they are all outward appearances of fulfillment, yet they are not. Seeking fulfillment from outside creates emptiness. Depending on materiality for happiness creates discontent.
Your happiness begins within. Become content with this moment. Everything you need for life is in it. Live this way moment to moment and you will find the happiness you seek.
LIVING THE TAO: Today, stop for a moment, take a deep breath and think about everything you essentially need to experience life in that moment? Do you have it? You will find that you do. Practice this several times throughout the day to bring more awareness to authentic fulfillment.
My 2018 focus is to intentionally live the Tao Te Ching. This is my second reading of Stephen Mitchell’s translation. I share my daily interpretations hoping to inspire you to do the same.
Embrace your journey. Experience bliss. Live the Tao.
]]>The world has its own rhythm. Hands are not able to control it.
In this rhythm flows all things in their allotted time.
There is a time for leading, a time for following; a time for movement, a time for stillness; a time for gentleness, a time for roughness; a time to retreat inward and a time to speak out. All phases have their time.
Rather than trying to rush through or alter the moment or experience, center yourself in the moment knowing that it will pass in its time.
LIVING THE TAO: Today be aware if you are rushing an experience by anxiously awaiting it’s end or saying a statement like, “I can’t wait.” Recognize that (1) your desire has no power to speed up or slow down time, and (2) with each passing moment you are moving closer to your end. So, appreciate the moment you have right now with the knowledge that it will pass.
My 2018 focus is to intentionally live the Tao Te Ching. This is my second reading of Stephen Mitchell’s translation. I share my daily interpretations hoping to inspire you to do the same.
Embrace your journey. Experience bliss. Live the Tao.
]]>When you sense your mind rumbling with thoughts, know that you are in the past or future. Bring yourself back to the present with one sobering thought: your Source. In the end you will return there, so why allow your mind to be troubled in the present when the past is gone and the future is illusive?
Living in the past invites depression. Living in the future invites worry. Being in the moment welcomes serenity.
Embracing the finiteness of life transforms daily fears into amusement, impatience into endurance, and lack of confidence into courage.
Therefore, center yourself in the present, so that all experiences become contributions to your moment to moment evolution.
LIVING THE TAO: Today when you begin to fret over something, stop. Inhale, focusing on the feeling of the air in your nostrils. Exhale, appreciating the impermanence of your breath, then accept that all is as the flow of life has made it, in this present moment.
My 2018 focus is to intentionally live the Tao Te Ching. This is my second reading of Stephen Mitchell’s translation. I share my daily interpretations hoping to inspire you to do the same.
Embrace your journey. Experience bliss. Live the Tao.
]]>Yesterday I made the very conscious choice to stop what I was doing to simply experience the moments without feeling tied to commitments.
I drove for an hour to a specialty store to be able to sit in the warm sun an enjoy 100% all natural chocolate.
I drove some more then parked the car to be able to stroll the city with my love.
Then, I drove another hour to sit by the pier to watch the sun set.
While we sat I noticed two ducks swimming toward us. Of all the people on the pier they swam to my feet and just sat…and sat…and sat. After a few moments, instead of being nervous, I whipped out my phone to capture the moment. Then I became curious. I asked, “I wonder what ducks symbolize?” So of course I went to Google.
I chuckled when I landed on the first line of the first site I visited as I read this words, “The spiritual meaning of the Duck speaks the message: Be in the now, be in the moment, for this is where all of your power exists and is available to you.”
I’m not debating whether this meaning is valid or not, but I do want use this experience as a reminder to you to be in the moment.
It is so easy to be in the past–thinking about what you should have done or what they could have done or how something could have been done differently to make now better. It is equally as easy to be in the future–worrying about what needs to be done or your ability to fulfill your future commitment or will you be able to complete a task well enough to meet others standards. But it is not as easy to remain focused at length for this present moment.
Being fixed in the past can create anxiety. Being focused on the future can create fear. But being in the moment creates peace, and when you are at peace you have power–power to deal with anything.
I read recently that humans’ attention span is less than a goldfish…8 seconds…YIKES! That being said, here’s a personal challenge: right now in this moment stop what you’re doing, close your eyes, take a deep breath and focus on the fact that right now, you have the power to focus…and do this for 12 seconds.
If you think you can’t, I’d suggest you keep practicing until you know you can. When you do, I suggest you reward yourself with the experience of being able to say, “I AM in the moment.”
Finally, you can smile knowing that you focus is better than a goldfish! 
So how do you feel? Let me know below.
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There is a saying, “You sleep when you’re dead”.
I AM alive.
And there you have it!
My hope is that her words will inspire others. If she’s inspired you pass on the love by sharing in the “Share Your Inspirations” section on my page. I am sure that you will inspire many!
]]>If we do an audit of our thoughts we are likely to find that we are mostly in the past or in the present. We are either thinking (or fretting) about something that happened or thinking (or worrying) about something that may happen. But what about what is happening right now?
Once while in a yoga class, I was supposed to be aware of the movement and my body’s response to it. Instead my thoughts were into the next week. I was missing the moment! What the heck?
Then I thought, “my moments are limited, so why aren’t I in them?” From that moment I promised myself that whenever I become aware that I am in the past or future, I will get present. I am not perfect at this yet, but with practice it’s getting better.
Minutes before writing this message, a friend texted me sharing how she was feeling about an experience. In her message, a phrase stood out. She said,
We’re okay…we’re exhausted and just taking it moment by moment.
Moment by moment.
Her words have inspired this yogic exercise I am sharing with you now.
So now, get silent and do this:
- Inhale – feel the breath filling your lungs.
- Exhale – hear the air leaving your body.
- Inhale – feel the life force entering in.
- Exhale – release that which no longer serves you.
- Inhale – feel your appreciation for your breath.
- Exhale and say, I AM in this present moment.
My hope is that you have been inspired. If so, please share your inspiration below to inspire someone else.
Namaste 
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