Stay Calm and Be the Love & Light of the World

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Image courtesy of “Planet With Stars” by artist xedos4. From http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

Whew! What a difference 24 hours makes! Saturday, I was fired up, disgusted, and angry at yet another Trump rant, and ready to fight. Today, I am choosing to embody love, light, and forgiveness – because radical, unapologetic, unrelenting love is what will transform everything that needs to change.

We celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life today and I realized that we all have inherited the radical love and light he possessed. We sometimes forget this beautiful inheritance, when we see an out picturing of hate coming our way or when we, ourselves are acting out. But, as Dr. King said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

If I want things to change, things cannot change with the same energy that it already is. It has to change from the opposite of what it embodies. In this case, when someone is acting like an ass, I need not act an ass along with them. I show them the love that I wish to see and be.

What brought on this change? Two things – exhaustion and my loving Healing Reike Circle. I was mentally exhausted from all the news reports of a certain president elect acting un-presidential – yet again. All of this negative energy caused me to forget my own inheritance of peace and love. I was frustrated, hurt and felt like I was trapped in a country that is hell-bent on self-destructing.

Reike is a healing modality that combines beautiful intention, love, and healing hands to another. Each person gets a turn at having loving, healing hands sending healing love energy and the person on the table gets a chance to receive love. In giving love to my healing circle friends, I realized that just as I can give love to these lovely people, I can give love to others who may not like me or agree with my views. Love will boomerang back to me, because that is the Law of Cause and Effect and the Law of Attraction (like attracts like). What I put out into the world will boomerang back to me and what is attracted to me.

Here are a few tips on being the light and love of the world:

  • Before responding to a negativity, ask yourself if this is even worthy of your energy. If it is, then ask how can love be infused into the situation.
  • Pray for (or meditate on) the person or situation that is causing angst in your heart and life. The power of prayer transforms from near and far, and moves hearts closer.
  • Remember and hold the vision of a peaceful, cooperative, and loving world. You may not be able to do this in the heat of the moment of a debate or rant, but when you have a chance (each day), take some time to envision all that you want to experience. We spend so much time focusing on what we don’t want, that little time or energy is directed towards what we actually do want.

By no means am I condoning suppressing your beliefs to make someone else feel more comfortable or less threatened by different views. But, I am saying to take a moment to ask yourself if you could benefit from hearing someone else’s point of view or at least empathize from where they are coming from. Perhaps once they feel they are heard, they will then be ready to listen. The only way we can move forward is through MUTUAL respect.

No matter what, we still have to keep our inheritance of peace and love close and near, especially because that’s what most of want to have in our experience. Brotherly, universal love was here before the election, and it will be here well beyond four years. We cannot lose sight of the big picture, based on others’ immaturity and ill-will. Even when we have to navigate into and through the negativity, we should remember our birthright and not be so fast to toss our love aside when it is that very thing that will save us all.  Our aim should always be to fly through and above the negativity, not to wallow and roll around in it.

I will try to follow my own advice, especially next time I see or hear something that is not in alignment with what I want to experience. I will ask – how can I be the love and light in this situation?

~Your Curator of All Things Inspirational, Kimberly Jo Cooley

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Whatever Happened to That Blog?

Image courtesy of “Scenery Of The Wooden Pier In The Morning” by surasakiStock. From http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

Image courtesy of “Scenery Of The Wooden Pier In The Morning” by surasakiStock. From http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

Ever wonder where a blogger goes when their blog site goes silent? What has distracted them to the point they are no longer posting?

In my case, my blog fell silent for several months because of a tragic automobile accident with my middle child, Daniel. January of this year, I witnessed a drunk driver strike my 13 year old, nearly killing him. The drunk driver was running from California Highway Patrol in a residential neighborhood and traveling 77 miles per hour at impact. Daniel spent a little under a month in ICU and I spent days and nights by his hospital bed. In the first few nights of his hospital stay, we didn’t know if he would make it. Once we knew he would survive, we were then faced with not knowing whether Daniel would be able to walk again. Needless to say, I was not inspired to write a check or even a Facebook post, let alone a blog post, as I was traumatized and emotionally spent.

Through the highs and lows of first thinking I was going to lose my son, to his miraculous recovery, and the turmoil that is continuing to unfold with the legal wrangling, I witnessed so many miracles – daily (more to come on those beautiful miracles!). These miracles reminded me in my darkest hours that God was still there, guiding my every step. Many days I had to lean on God moment to moment, because I had little else to lean on to. God showed his loving ways through loved ones and strangers and I am forever grateful for those angels (and there were so many beautiful angels from my town!) who showed me love when hate could have easily enveloped my heart.

When Daniel was released, I became his nurse and caregiver, a role I was thrown into by circumstance, but one I was grateful to be in. I connected with my son in a way that will forever bind us both, as he had to rely on me for everything.

While I was away, I still tried to stay in writing practice by putting small notes into a journal, spending precious time with and loving on my three kids like I never had before. My family’s life as we knew it had turned completely upside down – which made me reevaluate what was really important in my life.

To all of my followers and readers – I’m sorry I was gone for too long without any explanation. Thank you to those who continued to stop by my blog during this very trying time.

What’s to come on AbundantLifeInitiative.com and KimberlyJoCooley.com (launching soon!):

  • More inspirational posts on Abundant~Life~Initiative and the invitation to contribute to the blog is still open.
  • Inspirational Podcast and Book Recommendations.
  • Video and Live Streaming – I am being spiritually called to share my face and my voice with the world.
  • My new blog site, https://kimberlyjocooley.com/ is my personal blog that will delve more into my personal writer’s life and the behind the scenes of Abundant~Life~Initiative (the discoveries and frustrations that are often left out of the abundantlifeinitiative.com blog posts). I will also list my own tools and tricks for managing a full work and family life, while blogging and writing along the way.
  • Kimberly*Jo*Cooley is my gift to myself – it’s been so long since I’ve focused on my writing. Now is the time. An official launch of Kimberly*Jo*Cooley will be coming very soon!

I look forward to getting reconnected with my blogging community and getting back to my creative roots of writing. It’s been entirely too long since we’ve last connected and I’ve missed you all.

Many blessings to all of you!

~Your Curator of All Things Inspirational, Kimberly Jo Cooley

Revisit: Thank you Mr. Mandela, for Teaching the Cycle of Forgiveness

I originally wrote this blog post following Nelson Mandela’s death in December 2013 and I needed a refresher on the subject of forgiveness and resentment. This post deals with forgiveness in love relationships, but it really speaks to all situations that is calling for  forgiveness and letting go of resentment. My 2015 self made some edits to my 2013 post :-).

Image courtesy of "Lonely Tree" by Evgeni Dinev, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

Image courtesy of “Lonely Tree” by Evgeni Dinev, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

“As I walked out the door toward my freedom I knew that if I did not leave all the anger, hatred and bitterness behind, that I would still be in prison.”

“Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.”

-Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela passed away today, at the age of 95. Nelson Mandela’s life – long, fruitful, inspirational, fraught with pain and struggle, triumph and victory – is something we all should aspire to be. I thank him for all the teaching moments his life brought to my life and his spirit and legacy lives on forever.

Below is a question posed to me on the subject of forgiveness and my response:

Q. Can you share your thoughts about forgiveness? I’ve always heard how people chose to forgive someone who hurt them deeply in one way or another in order to help them move on. What does that mean and how do you accomplish it?

Letting go. Time truly heals many wounds but in the meantime, how can one work on letting go of a situation? Is it best to force yourself to not think about it, i.e. whenever the thought crosses your mind, change the subject so to speak? Or do you try to keep busy and occupy yourself so as to distract you?

How does one remain hopeful of love and marriage? Is there really truly somebody for everybody?

A. Forgiveness. Such a heavy proposition, isn’t it? Why should we have to forgive those who trespass us?

It’s just as much about you as it is the person whose being forgiven, if not more about you. Not forgiving holds us back, dims and dulls our life’s experiences, and drags us down.

Nelson Mandela’s first quote above is not talking about the brick and mortar prison he sat in for 27 years for anti-Apartheid activities. He’s talking about the prison of our minds – the bondage of holding in resentment. His quote can help us better understand the notion of forgiveness in relationships and how it is necessary for moving on to bigger and better love. If we cannot let go of the pain, bitterness, anger, and resentment, then we will never fully move into the present of the here and now. The here and now is freedom to love.

Resentment comes from a misunderstanding many of us have about a situation or person. We believe they have wronged us and we come to hate a person. Remember that you called this person into your life, or at the very least allowed that person to enter your sphere. Think about the reasons why they were in your life. Acknowledge and appreciate their good qualities you loved about them. And, thank God for showing you the qualities in them that you could very much live without. It is especially the parts of a person that hurt you that has the most to offer you – the relationship is gone and over, but you now learned a little more about yourself in terms of what you want and don’t want in a relationship.

Nelson Mandela had several loves in his life, including three wives. Each of those wives, he loved deeply and considered them partners and soul mates. Two of the three marriages ended in divorce. Winnie Mandela allegedly cheated on Mr. Mandela and was emotionally neglectful to him– yet, he found love again at the age of 77, and died a happily married man at the age of 95. I read that in divorce court, Nelson Mandela smiled at his soon to be former wife, Winnie, but she turned away. He was sorrowful and humbled during the divorce proceedings and he spoke of his love and appreciation for his wife. He knew there was no hope for their relationship, but he chose to not be mired in pain and resentment towards his ex-wife.

Mr. Mandela’s story tells us that soul mates can come in many different forms and times in our lives. There are some loves in your life greater than others because of the chemistry or attachment you have to a person. As many times as you believe your soul mate is out there, is as many times your soul mate is forming and finding their way to you. Many people have great loves in their lives, not just one.

Allow yourself a little time to mourn the demise of a relationship, but write a reminder somewhere you can refer to that says when you’re ready and open, love is available to you. Dwelling in sadness only delays the recovery and the rediscovery of yourself in this life and of future loves to come. Don’t let unforgiveness of the person you once was in a relationship with slow down your momentum to a loving state of being with yourself, someone new, and old connections.

If you’ve ever tried to not think about something, then you likely know that it is almost impossible not to think about that very thing you’re trying to avoid thinking about. Deal with the feelings early and head on. Wallow, watch bad romantic comedies, cry, talk it out with friends and write in a journal. When you spend a little time mourning, remember there is a season for sadness and there is a season for moving. Take a trip, pick up a new hobby, or set up a regular volunteer activity to help move you into your new season of life and love. Don’t ignore your feelings, but don’t let them rule you or your life. Give yourself a break and have fun! Dating and making new friends is an adventure – the hunt for the love(s) of your life should be a good time, with a little contrast here and there. Isn’t that why we signed up for this thing called love and life anyway?

Finally, BE forgiveness. One of the qualities we want in our mates is the ability to forgive and humility. If those are qualities you want in others, make sure it’s something you have inside yourself as well. As a matter of fact, any trait you’d like to see in your partner, bring that energy into your own being right here, right now. BE the forgiveness. Appreciate – even if all you can think of is the negative in a person or situation. The negativity or adversity is only clarifying what it is you really want in your life, so have compassion for yourself and that person. Bless yourself and the other person by praying for you and them to be love and peace.

In relationships, there will be transgressions, arguments, and disagreements. A person who can quickly regroup and forgive is one that will succeed in life and love.

The cycle of forgiveness is necessary to keep mankind in love and in check. The moment you truly forgive, is the moment you are free from the prison of resentment. Forgiveness sets us all free, both the forgiven and the forgiving. The moment each of us wholeheartedly takes part in this beautiful cycle, the moment love blooms and dwells freely inside all of us.

~Your Curator of All Things Inspirational, Kimberly Jo Cooley

Synchronicity of the Universe Revisited

Synchronicity happens at the micro and macro level of our lives. I’m sure you recall the moments that seem like strange, beautiful luck, the irony of the experiences not lost on you. Do you celebrate those moments of revelation? Or, do you shrug them off? Oftentimes, we are so wrapped up in our day to day lives, we miss them.

Think about your last synchronistic experience – what was the micro level of that experience? What was the macro level and the far reaching implications of that synchronistic moment? Perhaps it was the time when everything lined up to your perfect job – a chance meeting with a friend during an interview for a job, or how you met your partner, or even how a vacation idea came to be. The examples could go on and on.

Keeping a broad perspective allows us not to be thwarted by what looks like one thing as it unfolds into something else – something that is bringing us to our Greater Good.

Keep a miracle or synchronicity journal to track these moments. We tend to forget them, so it’s a nice reminder to turn to when you need to be reminded how good God in orchestrating your good to come to you…amazing, isn’t it?

March 3, 2014 Synchronicity of the Universe

Image courtesy of fotographic1980, published on 18 July 2013, Stock Image - image ID: 100185203, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

Image courtesy of fotographic1980, published on 18 July 2013, Stock Image – image ID: 100185203, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

Wikipedia definition of Synchronicity:

Synchronicity is the experience of two or more events as meaningfully related, where they are unlikely to be causally related. The subject sees it as a meaningful coincidence, although the events need not be exactly simultaneous in time…The concept does not question, or compete with, the notion of causality. Instead, it maintains that just as events may be connected by a causal line, they may also be connected by meaning. A grouping of events by meaning need not have an explanation in terms of cause and effect.

Look around. See all the ways we connect? Amazing isn’t it? The Universe has the power to reach out to us and us to It, synchronized for manifesting connections. If it’s too far fetched for you to look for miracles, try, instead to look for the synchronicities in your life, those coincidences that speak to you and inform you that you’re headed in the right or wrong direction.

The virtual world is one of the endless ways we experience synchronicities. Bloggers, how does it feel to be a part of a movement? Internet surfers, how does it feel to receive all the information you could ever want instantaneously? On your terms, creating virtual connections.

In our thoughts and experiences, notice how certain themes come up at the same time, again and again. It is no coincidence – we are all connected to Divine Spirit and it is through this connection that we find we are all experiencing similar thoughts and occurrences, almost at the same time.

The phenomenon of one person writing a piece on alignment then seeing evidence of their beliefs in other written pieces, or their favorite Podcast host is talking about that very subject, or the Reverend has a sermon on it, or someone gives a book on alignment. Some would say all of that is coincidence, but I say it is much bigger – synchronicity – evidence of our connection to the Universal flow of life.

The Universal Flow sends us synchronicities to show us we’re on a Divine Path and in sync with the Universe and its Inhabitants.

Have you ever noticed coincidences around a particular experience? Did you choose to ignore those synchronicities? Or, did you recognize a pattern, that caused you to look outside and within?

~Your Curator of all things Inspirational, Kimberly Jo Cooley

The Biggest Myth

Image courtesy of thepathtraveler, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

Image courtesy of thepathtraveler, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).

The biggest myth is God is withholding your good from you…in fact, YOU are withholding your good from you. Specifically, your beliefs are withholding your good from you.

Another myth is God is waiting for you to be deserving. My beloved, you are already deserving – the moment you were created in the Mind of God, your worthiness was solidified.

What you already desire to come into your “reality” is already “real.” When you embrace this knowing, is when your life is forever changed. You have to step in or be that which you want. Not to look at what you want is outside and external of you, but that it is rising up through you.

Do you believe you can receive all your good? If not, look at why you stand in suspended, incredulous disbelief. The “why” of your disbelief needs to be eradicated from your mind in order to empty your hands of useless, fruitless beliefs – in order to make room to fill your hands with the ever abundant belief that all things in God are possible.

All things. In God. Are Possible.

~Your Curator of All Things Inspirational, Kimberly Jo Cooley

Stop Worrying About the “How” and Just Be in the “Now”

Image courtesy of amenic181, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

Image courtesy of amenic181, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

Your job is to generate and to allow your creative thoughts to come, shaping matter into manifestation. To nurture creative thoughts by being fertile ground for them to sow and grow. To be an allowing vessel for blessings to flow to and through you. To be ever present in the now is to slow down enough to savor what is and to be confident in what is to yet to be.

God/The Universe’s job is to handle the “how” in bringing forth the manifestation or your creative thoughts and ideas.

Your “now” lays the foundation for your tomorrow. If your “now” is filled with worry for the “how” of things you want to create, all you are creating is more worry about not having what you want. We live in affirmative universe, that gives us what we focus on and believe. To effect change in one’s life, one must look at what they believe and are focusing on.

Let your “now” be filled with gratitude and appreciation. Let your “now” be filled with peace and creative moments. Let your “now” have times of respite and reflection. Let your “now” be void of dissatisfaction and boredom. Your “now” should have no room for boredom, dissatisfaction, anger or resentment.

Don’t prematurely pull up your creative seedlings, by allowing doubt, worry, and fear to uproot them. Be like the farmer who tends to his plants, but doesn’t hover over and crowd them. The farmer is patient, all the while knowing that what he has planted will grow in its own time.

The lover lives in the “now,” the worrier lives in the future, and the naysayer lives in the past. The naysayer relies on information about their life from what they’ve seen and only what they’ve seen. The worrier relies on information on fears of what they cannot see. The lover relies on the love they are experiencing right now and will continue to experience. Be the lover. Lover of creativity, lover of life, lover of all there is.

Know that all is truly well and working in Divine Favor for the best life has to offer you. Resolve to enjoy life, right now, and to refrain from needlessly stressing over things, for stressing will never bring what you want closer to you.

~Your Curator of All Things Inspirational, Kimberly Jo Cooley

 

Spotlight on Podcast Everyday Attraction: The Path of Least Resistance

Image courtesy of Maggie Smith, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

Image courtesy of Maggie Smith, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

The Podcast, Everyday Attraction, hosted by Rae Zander and Heather McKay Novak is always chockfull of Law of Attraction wisdom. Their February 6, 2015 Podcast, titled The Path of Least Resistance, moved me to write a blog post of the highlights from their show. They always find the most delicious, awesome Abrahams/Esther Hick’s recordings and distill it into something palatable and easy to digest.

Here are some highlights and discussion points of the Podcast:

Resistance is like going up-stream when everything around and through you is pulling you downstream. Resistance is the constant railing against what is naturally trying to just be. Where are the currents trying to steer you to go? Likely not upstream – so why be so hell-bent on going that way when there’s an easier way to go?

Resistance is vibrational noise, distracting all of your senses.

Once we let go of and stop resisting, we become what we want and what we want comes easily to us. There’s no efforting or trying to force what we want to come – it’s all about reducing resistance and allowing it to come to you. What you want is always coming to you. You do not have to effort towards it.

Our job in the manifestation process is to be joyful. Our resistance barometer is how we feel – if we feel good, then generally, our resistance is low and what we want will be able to easily move into our realm of possibility. If we are angry and frustrated, this tells us there’s some resistance in a particular area(s) that needs to be examined and eradicated.

Resistance is trying to tell you something! Listen and move accordingly.

It’s not about waiting to be okay, or about being worthy to get what you want. It’s about having compassion for ourselves and having some perspective on any and every situation that comes up. It is having open perspective that allows you to see a situation for the blessing it really is.

What is your point of attraction (POA) set on? Are you focused on what you don’t want? Is it time to shift your POA focus to something that feels good instead? Just because you are letting go of something that is angering/depressing/frustrating you, doesn’t mean you’re giving up. It means you’re shifting your POA to what it is you do want to attract.

I loved when Rae said we need to become expert soothers for ourselves. Ask yourselves in any given stressful moment how you can sooth yourself. Having compassion for yourself by allowing your emotions to guide you and your self-talk to steer you back to focusing on what it is you do want.

Compassion for one’s self leads to having gratitude for what has caused us to resist. There’s valuable information we can glean from when we are resisting – pay full attention so you can know what it is and how to let go of it.

Remember, things always work out for your greater good. It is up to you to allow the Universe to bring that good to you – whatever it may be. Learn to release and loosen the grip on having to control everything. Your life of ease depends on it.

~Your Curator of All Things Inspirational, Kimberly Jo Cooley

Perfectly Aligned

To be present in this moment is golden, and what makes life so sweet. Thank you Sheri, for such a beautiful letter to humanity.

Be present. Be aware of the emotions you’re emitting and experiencing. Is that emotion in alignment with your desires for yourself and your life? Or, something else? If you are feeling good, take note, and savor that moment. Blessed Be.

Manifesting and Allowing

Image courtesy of Serge Bertasias Photography. Beautiful Landscape of Scottish Nature, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net.

Image courtesy of Serge Bertasias Photography. Beautiful Landscape of Scottish Nature, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net.

What’s manifesting and allowing?

It’s about shaping your inner and outer environment, making your life-force supple and ready to receive that which you’ve created in the metaphysical world with your creative thoughts. Sometimes you have to quiet the mind, exercise and rest the body, and watch your words in order to be an allowing vessel of your manifestations.

It’s about allowing your creations to come through you into the physical world.

It’s about having a grateful heart, for what is, what has been and what will be.

It’s about awareness of your thoughts and emotions. Are your thoughts serving you? Is your emotions trying to tell you something?

It’s about affirming what it is you have and want and releasing what you don’t want.

It’s about knowing there’s a seasonal cycle for everyone and everything. To resist resisting the seasonal changes that naturally come with everyone and everything.

It’s about managing resistance and understanding contrast’s place in your manifesting process.

It’s about recognizing that your here and now was all attracted to you, by you.

It’s about not plucking your fruits too early, before they’ve had a chance to fully ripen.

It’s about surrendering to patience, while persisting in action steps and right thoughts as you are creating your life.

And, most of all is it’s about walking and talking as if you know you are in a loving, supportive Universe, one that is patiently waiting for you to mold it with your very Being and Spirit.

~Your Curator of All Things Inspirational, Kimberly Jo Cooley

Be Abundant

Image, "Beautiful Seascape" courtesy of foto76, from  http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

Image, “Beautiful Seascape” courtesy of foto76, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

You are already abundant.

Like the oceans, you are inherently abundant. All that you need is in you, and through you by God.

Take a look around. Feel the sensations in and outside your body. Notice your breaths and deepen them. Thank God for each breath and the ability to deepen them – not everyone can. Notice the twitch in your right big toe, or your stomach signals of fullness or hunger, or how you have goose bumps. Behold your extraordinary body! Behold the abundance you already are and that’s around you.

Your body is the vessel for your soul. Nurture it and be grateful for the great health you continuously experience. Be grateful that at age ___, you’re still able to __________ (name something that’s awesome that you can do, no matter what it is and no matter what age you’ve selected).

Your connection to Source is what sustains you – and you are forever buoyed by this Knowing and Being. Your Source is not external of you, but can produce external things as the fruits of your Creative Thoughts and cooperation with Spirit. Source is not just internal of you. It can be anything and everything – the only limitation is the beliefs you continue to hold on to. Spirit is intrinsic of you and you are intrinsic of Spirit.

Be the abundance you seek. Once you realize your Source comes from within and radiates out, then you will know true abundance. Once you know there is an eternal spring of Source to tap into, you will know you are eternally abundant.

Turn within, look within and be within. The answers to your questions, needs and wants are not outside of you, but are within and from within. Sometimes, stillness is where the answers lie, and sometimes movement and fellowship the answers will come. The only way to know which way to go is to look within and see where Intuition and Spirit is guiding you.

It’s important to take a few moments to sit in stillness. Take five to ten minutes each day this week to sit in stillness, keep a notepad close by so when you’re done meditating, you can jot down the revelations you’ve received.

To walk and be in abundance should come easier with this Knowing. This Knowing is evidenced all around you and is a Universal truth so many deny themselves. Don’t deny yourself this truth – you ARE an abundant being.

Image courtesy of manifestprosper.com via pinterest.com.

~Your Curator of All Things Inspirational, Kimberly Jo Cooley