I love a list and this list on Whatcherlsaid’s blog has wonderful reminders and new information on how we can live our best, most fulfilling lives right now. Enjoy!
Tag Archives: Inspiration
Freedom Consciousness: Part Four – Freedom to Dream Big
Image courtesy of pixtawan, published on 19 February 2012, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/
The definition of a dream: A strongly desired goal or purpose.
It takes courage to trust, and trust evolves into faith and knowing. So, for those who are in the shaky first steps of their spiritual journey, it may seem farfetched and ridiculous to dream big. If we remember to first sense what it is we want, believe it will come, then the natural step is to trust and allow the Universe to bring what you’ve dreamed of into fruition.
Where many of us get tripped up is in the trusting and allowing. Some of us may get tripped up in missing the divine signals from the Universe to take action or to be still. While others get tripped up in not dreaming at all.
When was the last time you took inventory of your dreams? Dreams do not have to be lofty, out of reach and only for the select few who can achieve them. Dreams are a strongly desired goal or purpose that you can have. You can first have it in your mind as you daydream about it, then you can later have it in your reality. Finally, you can have it in the memory of experiencing the dream in reality.
What does your dreams say about you? Are they in alignment with the essence of who you are? Or, are they symbols of someone else’s reality? Your dreams should reveal a lot about who you are and where you’d like to be. Are your dreams authentic or generic – soul or ego driven?
You will know when you have an authentic or ego driven dream by how it makes you feel when you think of it. Whenever I think of an ego driven dream, like when I used to desire buying large homes, I felt a slight pang of anxiety from wondering how it was ever going to happen, then worried how I’d take care of and fill those homes. When my dreams shifted to wanting a cozy, warm space, that was perfect for my family and a sanctuary for myself and others, I felt peace and a knowing of already having it in me – my authentic dream.
Dreams that are in alignment with your soul will come to be. Dreams that are ego driven may or may not come, but in time, they may not be sustainable if they are not in alignment with your life flow and the essence of who you are.
Here are some ways to stay in touch with your dreams and to make them a reality for yourself and others:
- Create a dream journal and scribe every single dream you have. Periodically read your journal’s pages – when you feel good and when you feel less than good. As you grow, so will your dreams, both in manifesting and your faith they will come true. In time, you will see pages of dreams fulfilled and your dreams will also become more tailored to who you are and where you want to go.
- If you are in the shaky first steps of having faith your dreams will come true, look to your smaller dreams to blossom so you can start to have faith in the bigger dreams. Baby steps in your dream making will help you build the trust and faith in Divine Spirit to hasten your dreams to come true.
- It is okay to start with small dreams, but don’t remain in a place of limiting your dreams to small ones. Dare to dream big, so the Universe has more ways of getting Its good to you.
- Action – deliberate, good old fashioned baby steps towards your goal. Leaps are wonderful, but baby steps will get you there, too.
- Thank God for placing those dreams into your heart and be thankful whether they have manifested in physical form or not.
- There’s varied advice on whether or not you reveal your dreams to others. I see the benefit in holding your dreams close to you, just as I see the benefit in sharing them with others. It is all in how you feel about sharing your dream. Some are meant to be known immediately by others, while other dreams need to remain close until close to fruition. For me, I do both. Many of my dreams, I share with others so a) my dreams can escape the confines of my mind and b) to encourage others to dream as well.
- Honor your dreams by acknowledging them, celebrating when they move in the direction of manifesting, and dwell in a state of mind that creates more and more dreams.
- Do not be a dream crusher to others – instead, uplift others by encouraging them to pursue their dreams and celebrate with your friends on their accomplishments. It is people’s dreams and pursuits of their dreams that makes the world better. And, what makes the world richer are those who support others in making dreams come true.
We are blessed to have the ability to dream. So, I dare you to dream wild, dream often, dream big!
~Your Curator of All Things Inspirational, Kimberly Jo Cooley
References:
“Dream.” Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 17 Aug. 2014. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dream>.
I Am Spirit ~Ernest Holmes
Image courtesy of samarttiw, published on 13 September 2013 Stock Image – image ID: 100201296
There is a spiritual body that cannot deteriorate. This spiritual body is already within you; as much of it appears as is recognized. Spiritual perfection always responds to your consciousness, but it can respond only in such degree as you become aware of it. It is because this inward perfection is so insistent that you maintain a physical body, and because you are in an individual with volition, you can, as it were, hang a curtain between your physical life and spiritual cause.
Spiritual realization helps you withdraw this curtain. Every statement you make about your body or belief you hold about it that causes the mind to accept Spirit as the substance of the body tends to heal.
Say: I realize there is a Divine Presence at the center of my being. I let this recognition flow through my entire consciousness. I let it reach down into the very depths of my being. I rejoice in this realization. I am now made vigorous and whole. I possess the vitality of the Infinite. I am strong and well. Every breath I draw is a breath of perfection, vitalizing, animating, and renewing every cell of my body. I am born of the Spirit. I am in the Spirit. I am the Spirit made manifest.
-Earnest Holmes, 365 Science of Mind: A Year of Daily Wisdom from Earnest Holmes, August 12th
~Curated by Kimberly Jo Cooley
God May Be All You Have…And That’s Enough
Image courtesy of instapray.com.
Who is your source? How do you tap into the God’s Universal Flow? Who do you lean on when things seem to be going awry? Who supports you? Who carries you, when you’ve finally surrendered?
As a child of God, you have an umbilical cord that cannot be severed from God. The only separation is the one that Man conjures in his mind.
From a manifesting standpoint, you have to know who your Source is. And, that Source is God Source. When you look to jobs, people, or anything outside of you and God, then you are not understanding the ever living and lasting supply God has for all of us. God delivers the means to support us through jobs, people and other ways, but it is never the other way around.
~Your Curator of All Things Inspirational, Kimberly Jo Cooley
Blog Series: Freedom Consciousness
Image courtesy of http://www.freedigitalphotos.net
Abundant Life Initiative’s next blog series explores freedom consciousness. We will explore the following:
- Freedom in your spirit
- Freedom in your affairs
- Financial freedom
- Freedom to dream big
- Freedom to be who you want to be
- Freedom to choose
So many of us know and experience the physical form of freedom, but are we toting that same freedom consciousness in other areas of our lives?
- The first installment is Freedom in your spirit. What does it mean to be spiritually free? We will explore how many of our old belief systems adopted from our teachers and parents’ own spiritual interpretations shaped what we believed. Do these old beliefs still serve you, or are they limiting and minimizing who you are as an evolved person? Some beliefs may still work, while others may need to be let go. In this post, we will explore how religion and limiting beliefs shape and many times hinder a person’s spiritual growth instead of evolving or enhancing it.
- The second post discusses freedom in your affairs. Your affairs include your personal and professional experiences. Are you enjoying your job and where you work? If not, why? What about your personal relationships and experiences in your everyday life? Let’s explore what makes you feel more restricted and less free in your business and personal matters. What will it take for you to feel a little more free each day?
- The third blog installment discusses financial freedom. Some people seem to have it all and never have to worry about money. There are those who do not have a lot of money and express how rich they are anyway. Then there are those with or without money that bemoan what little they have. Abundance is more than just money in the bank, it is maximizing on what you do have, while making spiritual and physical room to receive more from the Universe. The best part of the abundance cycle? Sharing what you have with others! We will explore different ways to look at your situation so you can become more grateful for the financial freedom and abundance you do have.
- The fourth blog post explores freedom to dream big. Dream big, but take measured, action steps to get to what you want. Dreaming big, then bigger, then biggest prepares you to receive more. Often people are too afraid to dream big, for fear of getting let down. Are you constantly dreaming too small or becoming too narrow in your search for what you want to manifest, limiting the Universe to give you bigger and better? Lets find ways for you to begin to dream big and dream often.
- The fifth installment discusses freedom to be you in any and everything you do or encounter. Do you find yourself changing your tone and personality from person to person, and then losing your own voice in the process? What is it about you that makes you run away from becoming the person you truly want to be? Knowing your worth allows you to stay true to yourself and your values. We’ll explore how to always be your authentic self and why it’s good for manifesting.
- Finally, the sixth installment deals with the freedom to choose. Choice and free will is God’s gift to mankind. My people, we can choose! Now, it is time to learn how to practice this freedom and to rely on your intuition to always guide you to where you want to go and where you need to be.
I will include blogs and Podcast recommendations to further deepen our understanding of ways to incorporate more freedom in every area of our lives. I love hearing from my readers, so please share your thoughts on the upcoming freedom blog posts or suggest other topics we can discuss in the future.
~Your Curator of All Things Uplifting, Kimberly Jo Cooley
Reader Appreciation Award
My fellow blogger friend Eric from http://hunt4truth.wordpress.com nominated my blog for the Reader Appreciation Award and I thank you Eric, for sharing this with me. For my readers, please check out Eric’s blog for some wonderful, spiritual insight and revelation.
This award came with no strings attached, just a note of appreciation. I know some bloggers have a “no awards policy” because of all that can be entailed with receiving them, but to me, it’s a nice gesture for someone to think of your blog when they see an award.I will post this award proudly on my about page.
I appreciate all of you for reading my blog, taking the time to drop me a line from time to time, and for keeping me inspired to keep writing. Many thanks to all of you.
~Your Curator of All Things Inspirational, Kimberly Jo Cooley
Freedom and What it Means to You Today
Image courtesy of http://www.freedigitalphotos.net.
America has summertime holidays of freedom – Juneteenth commemorates the announcement of African American Slaves freed from slavery; we also celebrate freedom from British rule on the 4th of July. As we look upon these holidays as reminders of our freedom, we should also review what freedom means to each of us today, in terms of physical, emotional, financial and spiritual.
Have you assessed how free you are to be yourself? Do you feel restricted in any areas of your life? If so, what areas and where are these so-called restrictions coming from? Do they feel like outside forces crowding in on you or do you feel like it is yourself that limits the freedom you feel in a situation?
Make a list of what in your life right now allows you to feel as free as you can possibly be. Now, make another list of areas where you are restricted or feel in bondage. The things that make you feel free in some areas of your life has the ability to make you feel free in ALL areas of your life.
For example, you may feel free when you are writing stories, none of which are published yet. On the other hand, you may feel bonded and limited in your ability to make more money at the current job you have. When you start focusing your attention and intention on what is making you feel your true, authentic, abundant self, you are closer to living a life that is free and supportive of your desires. By sticking to writing your stories, you will get better and more confident to submit them to be published. Next thing you know, you are feeling free in a new area of your life – money is coming in from your publications! One area can bleed into other areas, both positively and negatively.
It is important to always check in with yourself on your freedom gauge in your life. How free do you feel in any given moment? How can you adjust that freedom gauge up in areas where it is turned all the way down? Visualize yourself turning up the freedom nozzle in your life and watch how your demeanor, mood and influence change.
The truth is, we are only as free as we believe or allow ourselves to be, no matter what outside forces are doing. Our beliefs shape how and what we feel about freedom. Yes, even those imprisoned can have a freedom state of mind.
In the spirit of freedom, assess how free you are today and what it will take for you to feel even more free from today forward. As God’s children, we are free. Now, it’s time for us to start expressing freedom in a new and powerful way.
~Your Curator of All Things Inspirational, Kimberly Jo Cooley
The World Is Your Stage and You’re the Lead Role
Image Courtesy of Salvatore Vuono, published on 17 December 2009 Stock Image – image ID: 10010671, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net
“Everything changes once we identify with being the witness to the story, instead of the actor in it.” ~ Ram Dass
I’d like to add to this quote – Everything changes once we identify with being the witness and knowing that not only can we be the observer, we can choose to be the actor, too. And, when we become master manifestors, we can change between observer and actor with ease and grace.
Life would not be as fun if we just sat in the observer role. The observer in us is the “going general” aspect of our spiritual being – we can be removed from the fray of life, and be able to look ahead to see the storm is already passing.
Being in the actor role can also be exhausting and comes with a limited understanding of what is unfolding. The observer position can see at a higher vantage point of things to come. The actor position gets to play out each manifested experience, as they unfold.
It takes practice to be able to move from stage to nose bleed seats and then from balcony seats back to the stage again. Just as it can sometimes be difficult climbing up, so can navigating the steps back down to the stage. No one point of view is more important than the other, because each allows us to express ourselves and to learn from each vantage point.
Next time you are having a difficult time, go to the Witness or Observer Self, to help guide you back to peace. Like adjusting binocular lens, the observer can then see things in a situation they were unable to see in the actor role.
Or, if you have been blessed with a great vacation, but you are not enjoying the smooth or bumpy spots to getting you there, time to get into the actor role to become more present.
Everything does change when we know we can adjust our vision, allowing us to see not just the minute details of life, but to also be able to see the whole picture when we need to.
~Your Curator of All Things Inspirational, Kimberly Jo Cooley
Desperation or Inspiration?
Image courtesy of markuso, published on 27 March 2012 Stock Photo – image ID: 10078194, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net.
The root word of desperation is despair, which is defined as “to lose all hope.” The root word of inspiration is inspire, which also means, “in spirit.” Ask yourself today, where are your desires coming from?
I was listening to June 20th’s Rae Zander’s Everyday Attraction podcast and she played a snippet of Abraham by way of Esther Hicks, where Abraham asked the person in the hot seat whether they were motivated by desperation or inspiration. I realized that if I looked back on some of my “desires,” many of them may not have been coming from an “in spirit” or inspired place, but rather a place of desperation.
When I sat down four years ago to write my desires for my life, I was in a rough, desperate place. I was in a very stressful job, I was overwhelmed with a mortgage payment and single parenthood, and I was in anxiety mode all the time. Sure, I manifested some of my desires, but to this day, some still elude me.
When I asked for six figures to plop into my life, that came with a conflicting belief that I was not going to get it – no matter how much I thought I desired it. Not only was it not a comfortable desire for me to embrace, it was not coming from inspiration.
I had to look at why I wanted a six figure salary – was it to bring happiness? Security? Happiness and security comes in many forms and blessedly not just through having lots of money.
I was inspired and guided by my Inner Spirit to soul search what made me happy about my stressful job, and I was able to identify qualities that I enjoyed, like writing. In my stressful job, there was minimal writing in my everyday routine. From there, I found out that in the company I worked for, there was a job that encompassed my desire to write all day. I was led by Spirit to prepare and apply for that job. Now, I am very happy and successful in my current role for the same company where I was stressed out just four short years ago. See the difference between inspiration and desperation? Desperation had me going after any job (including similar ones to the stressful one I was trying to leave), whereas inspiration led me to where I truly wanted to be. Thankfully the jobs that I was searching for out of desperation never panned out.
We often ask for lofty desires because we think it will bring us happiness. Instead, we have to start from a happy place and sometimes it could be as basic as we’re happy to be alive and loved by family. From there, inspiration and creativity grows.
When your desires are aligned with your true values, creativity can flow easily to and from you. It is your creativity and inspired desires that bears the fruit of abundance. Your abundance comes as a result of following your true desires.
If our desire is not rooted in our unique values, what we want will have a hard time manifesting. We have to examine why we desire a particular thing and ensure that it is coming from your Spirit and not just ego.
Examples:
- Is wanting lots of money another way of saying you want to feel secure and worry free? You can enjoy being worry free today – without having millions in the bank. A decision to feel abundant with what you do have, creating a realistic budget, finding time to seed and grow your dreams (baby to big step), all could help you feel secure. Gratitude for what you do have goes a long way.
- Is finding a soul mate to marry another way of asking the Universe you’d like companionship? Then take it a step further, and find yourself being content with being your own best friend and cultivate your talents and interests. The loneliness begins to dissolve, making room for more companionship from others and eventually your mate.
Do not limit or underestimate the power of God and your creative God in you. All you have to do is know what your values are, stick to them, and pay attention to where a desire originates and whether it represents something else entirely that you probably already have access to.
When we are manifesting, we have to ask ourselves where are our desires really coming from. Is it out of desperation? If so, we need to look at the essence of that desire and find what it is we are truly looking for.
The truth is, when we clear space in our hearts and minds for love and happiness, creativity flows easily and then abundance follows. When we desire material things first, it is not coming from a sustainable place. But, your boundless creativity is and does sustain forever.
The source of our desires holds the key to our ability to manifest them. Be sure your desires are not coming from a lack-filled, desperate place and begin to focus on desires that are truly inspired by the essence of who you really are.
~Your Curator of All Things Inspirational, Kimberly Jo Cooley
Lighthouse to Your Soul: Your Focus and Your Words
Image courtesy of Serge Bertasius Photography, published on 05 September 2012
Stock Photo – image ID: 100101374, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net
Thoughts are powerful – especially when boosted by focus and intention. Your spoken words, no matter if they are dominated by positive or negative thoughts, will send signals on what you intend to manifest.
You have to be vigilant in watching your focus and your words. What you primarily focus on, is what will take root and manifest. Refrain from uttering anything that you do not want to manifest or perpetuate.
As you send negative words out, the people you are speaking to are receiving and resonating their own feelings about your negative speech and vibration. So now, you’ve involved others into your negative creative process, which hastens the undesirable manifestations to come and cycle about you – until you are ready to shift your focus onto something more desirable.
Instead of sending negative words into the Universe, send positive ones. Catch yourself before you say something that lowers your or someone else’s vibrational energy. Positive words have the same ability to magnify and resonate your intentions, just as negative ones do, too.
If you must dwell on a negative emotion, thought, or word, do so quickly and understand that you will be wrapped up in that problem for as long as you wallow in it. Instead, shift your focus to your desires, to feeling what it would feel like to have a solution – even if you don’t know what the resolution will be.
There are thousands of thoughts and it is not easy to monitor every single one of them. However, spoken words can be monitored. How you choose to perceive and receive information is also within your capability. Choose wisely.
~Your Curator of All Things Inspirational, Kimberly Jo Cooley
Abundant~Life~Initiative 