Stepping beyond the canvas is about seeing Life as something far greater than our conditioned lives and making appropriate shifts to align ourselves with a higher power…one of Love. We were taught happiness comes from going to school, establishing a career and living the American Dream by purchasing our own home. While achieving all of this something still remains missing. What is this void we all yearn to fill? It is the void of Truth. The void of Truth is the empty feeling we have when we continually seek more of something that gives us a false sense of goodness.

We get a house, a couple of cars and maybe some nice little toys.  We are happy for a moment, but continue to battle bouts of depression, anger, fear and sadness. Something is still missing.

The void is our lack of belonging, happiness or self-actualization of being On Purpose. We must learn to accept happiness no matter the circumstance, seeing the silver-linings in every cloud. Finding a sense of belonging, even when we do not…that is the struggle. Continually trying to fit in, with a delusion that our happiness is found there. The secret is…we all belong and our happiness comes with a mere choice. When we arrive at a level of pure happiness, we arrive at the level of Love. At this level…All Things are Possible.

“Never look up to the people who have the painted-perfect lives, because try as they might, can never see beyond the canvas.” Moira Hallsom

It is possible to have it all:  the big house, loving family, more money than we know what to do with, but meaningless without finding happiness. People try to buy happiness, but  walking in flesh focuses on meeting the lower of Maslows Hierarchy of needs…physical pleasures. While walking in Spirit, our focus elevates to higher needs of self-actualization…find Happiness, enjoying all that life has to offer. Once established, we can co-create the life we want.

What matter is seeing beyond the delusion, without taking necessary steps towards our happiness?~Ani Po

Dare to Step Into the Canvas today, living the life meant to…taking an active role in creation. You are a co-creator of this beautiful place…you are the master of your Canvas.

Stepping into the Canvas we admire the beauty God has painted, accepting it for what it is while co-creating a painting to our desires. Stepping Beyond the Canvas shedding light to painted pictures and their imperfections, then applying a higher power of Love. When we see the canvas for what it truly is we accept it as imperfectly perfect, enjoying the beauty that life has to offer. Focus on our own Canvas, Painting that which we most desire.

Learning to Fly

Ever wonder what it would be like to fly?  Do you ever just sit and watch Geese fly overhead? There is much wisdom learned from these feathered friends. For one they unite no matter what. No judgment, no excuses…just unity. Next they look to share space with other geese, allowing them to lead the way or drift behind. Milton Olson does a nice job explaining these lessons…

Lessons from Geese by Milton Olson

As each bird flaps its’ wings, it creates an “uplift” for the bird following.  By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71 % greater flying range than if the bird flew alone.

Lesson:  People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the “lifting power” of the bird immediately in front.

Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks, and sharing leadership  with people, as with geese, we are interdependent on each other. The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Lesson: When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it is able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out on their own, with another formation, or catch up with the flock.

Lesson: By learning from the example of our winged guides, all of us can feel empowered to feel the strength of others moving alongside you, as their presence lends power to your wings during this journey across the sky of life. When buffeted by unexpected gusts, we can choose to find refuge in the loving shelter of co-workers, friends, family and the Holy One. We may even marvel as an otherwise difficult day passes by like a swift wind, as a kindred spirit charts a way for us through the clouds and rain ahead. If your wings begin to ache on your journey, look around for somebody else to fly at the front for a while. All of us move faster when we move together. Let your ego drop earthwards as we all soar ever higher.

When I asked my son what geese meant to him, this is what he said, ”I think of poop, green and white poop. Everywhere, having to watch my step when I am at the park.” Such wise words from our children. Lesson from my son: Step with Care.

As we learn to co-create in the Canvas of Life, we begin lifting others up while lifting ourselves to greater heights. Higher and higher we fly, only to soar like the mighty Eagle. Who we soar with is left to the self, but ‘Step with Care’ as my son states, for there will be those who try to keep us grounded. Stay with the geese…soaring and soaring to greater heights.

Stepping into the Canvas ”with Care.” As my son reminds us, we all benefit from his wisdom. When we are mindful of our actions fully in the moment, we instinctively react like that of our Brother and Sister geese. We instinctively work together, share together and extend collaboration in every aspect of our lives. As we collaborate…we become One.