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Cultivating the Crops
Thanksgiving started as a harvest celebration with prayers of thanksgiving for provisions, and safety. Over the years it has evolved and changed but it has remained a day for giving thanks.
Most of us do not grow our own crops for food -- we just go to the store and buy what we need. But we do cultivate the crops of our lives. As the saying goes, "As we sow so shall we reap."
We begin as a seedling at birth. As we grow, we become conditioned by our parents, authority figures, friends and society in general. By the time we reach maturity, many of our decisions and reactions are based on this conditioning I call this being on auto pilot. When you respond/react on auto pilot, you come from the past, not the present moment and not from your true self. In order to be present we must come from love, using our hearts and intuition. Coming from anywhere else is not who we truly are but who we have become from this conditioning.
Once habituation has set in, our thoughts, behaviors and actions continue to guide us on the same path, whether or not it is the right path. Recognizing that we function this way is not usually taught to us and only comes to light through a journey of self-discovery.
Over the years I have seen the benefits of becoming aware of this auto pilot way of living. Through this awareness I have found that I can change my behaviors and actions. Through awareness we can all begin living more in the present moment.
Near the beginning of my journey of self-discovery, I began to notice how I unconsciously create my life. Through awareness I started to consciously participate in creating my life. This is a continuing process of paying attention to my thoughts and responses/reactions to others and experiences I have in life. It requires changing behaviors that are not for my highest good and do not support my life in a positive and healthy manner. This requires intention, discipline and commitment to change.
Happiness--or unhappiness as the case may be--is not predicated on our circumstances as much as it is by our perception about those circumstances. I admit that this is not always easy and sometimes feels like it is out of our control. But I know from experience that in any moment we can change how we are feeling about any given situation. And it is in our control at all times -- even when we think it is not.
How many of us take the time to notice what we are thinking and cultivating each and every day? Most of the time it goes on without conscious input on our part and we run on auto pilot. What seeds are you planting today?
What can we do to turn off our auto pilot and start living more in the moment? Well, this is the juicy stuff of self discovery and exploration, something I’ve had experience with through my alcoholism, physical challenges and emotional issues. I really believe that none of us escape these types of life challenges in one form or another, so why wouldn’t we want to explore ways of living through the human condition with more ease and grace? Oh yes, it’s not easy. But is it any harder than not doing it? For me there is only one answer for that: NO!
Here are some things you can do to begin to turn off the auto pilot syndrome.
Physical activities:
Yoga, Pilates, bodywork, hiking, walking and any other activity or healing modality that brings joy to your heart, mind and body.
Change your self-concept and build self-esteem – See Tim’s Tips
Try a new life style:
Quit smoking, change your eating habits, start exercising, meditate etc.
Increase your motivation - See Tim’s Tips
Work with acceptance and forgiveness – See Tim’s Tips
Question authority, your thoughts and all things that you believe to be true.
These are only a few things that we can do to begin the journey. Realize that this journey does not end but becomes a way of living life to the fullest. The old way of thinking is that the best way to change is to drudge up the past and dig through the muck. I realize that this CAN be effective, depending a lot on what you do with the muck once you dig it up (see work with acceptance and self-forgiveness in Tim’s Tip below), but we are moving to a much higher order. And now is a good time to focus on the light. Put our attention on what we want and quit focusing on what we DO NOT want in our lives. This does not mean to ignore what is going on but to refocus our attention, thoughts and intention to manifest what our birthright gives us, lots of love and light, not stress, pain and plight.
There is always opportunity to grow, change and let go of the past no matter what state you are in. The light is always shining brightly for you, even if dark clouds obscure it occasionally.
This work is licensed under a Creative
Commons License.
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