The Canvas Of Life

In a world of technology and distractions, we forget to step into the canvas of life. Laid before us to enjoy, often forgotten, we fail to embrace all the canvas has to offer. Painted by source, enjoyed by few, free for all to enjoy. Unplug the PC, turn the phone off, and dare not to answer any emails.

While technology can be a great asset it is often a great distraction, pulling us away from what really matters…being in the now. To be in the now does not necessarily mean to be in the know, which often creates an image of disconnect. Not disconnected from source, but from distractions: news, everyday monotony, and often more sadness.  It is time to re-acclimate ourselves with nature and enjoy all the canvas has to offer. Take a walk, ride a bike, do nothing. When was the last time you did nothing?

I had a wonderful discussion with a friend today as we reminisced about the days of youth. We didn’t have cable, didn’t have cell phones, didn’t have email or PC’s to occupy our time. No…none of that! We just went outside and played. Ahhh…the good ole’ days!

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ”I used everything you gave me.~Erma Bombeck

Stepping into the Canvas unplugging from the rest, enjoying life as it were meant to be. In a world of distractions it is even more important to just be our authentic selves, doing what we want to do. Living life to the fullest did not earn itself by riding the desk or surfing the net. Dare to take in nature around you, feeling the breath of life travel in and out of your being…

Taking the Next Steps

When we first identify necessity for change, the first step proves most difficult…making the first step often with resistance. Resistance comes from not only outside  influences, but mainly from the self. Self-sabotage is very common and it is imperative to stay focused on what we want. If we focus on what we don’t want, we attract more of what we don’t want. Why not focus on what we do want?

Focusing on what we want, we attract more of what we are looking for. Now what? Staying focused on what we want, an invisible force steps in to assist. The next steps are very crucial and requires a bit of effort.

”Just the mere observation by the scientist can change the whole outcome.” Wayne Dyer

Tell nobody of our plan, as interjection by another can alter the intended outcome, unless of course they are to encourage and lift us to that new plateau. Time to create a plan. It is a good idea to write out our goals and keep them nearby as to place them in our daily thought process. First our intentions, applied to paper and finally into our daily practice.

By writing down our goals and placing in plain sight, applying imagery, we apply an invisible technology used by many before us. The Mayan and Egyptian societies introduced this to their people and is still practiced today.

Thoughts become actions, actions become things, and things become new reality. Staying on course with our intentions we instinctively change our daily patterns and continuously change our direction with occasional update to our vision board. The vision board holds our dreams in plain sight, allowing us to keep our course.

Stepping into the canvas with new direction, we instinctively change our course and collaborate with dormant forces supplied by not only self but universal forces. Take this opportunity to dream it, take this time to write it, take this time to align with what is most desired…while letting go of previous beliefs. This is our day…make our dreams come true

Broken Canvas

After eighteen motor vehicle accidents, two motorcycle accidents, three bicycle versus automobile accidents, four instances of hanging from a roof for dear life, sliding under a moving car, a bear encounter, two bull shark encounters, and over eighty-four broken bones, I finally noticed that maybe it was time to change my ways.

Some would say that I was clumsy or that a black cloud followed me wherever I went.  The latter of the two is more accurate but who do you think created the black cloud? It was my self-sabotage creating my misery. While I have heard thoughts are influenced by past traumas in life, the easiest answer is this…I attached negative emotions to everything around me and created more misery in my life. As soon as I chose happiness, all was good. Is there a possibility that some negative emotions have attached into the daily lives…creating self-sabotage of personal growth?

At the time of awakening seeing only the positive in all things, as if I could see the silver-lining in every cloud, I began my steps into the active side of infinity. While the hallucinations have subsided, paradise is still a reality. What did I do? Did I change anything? Merely my thoughts. My thoughts controlled everything: my personal life, my Love life, my reality. When we chose happiness our lives will do somersaults…for the better.

Making the choice to stand firmly in what I believe to be true was not easy.  When first declaring my coming out, not what you think, people challenged me daily in hopes of breaking my spirits. We will touch on this subject another day, as it is one of the major sins written…damning the spirit of another. It was as if satin himself came to challenge me…thankfully Christ entered into my life ”through HIM all things are possible”…true strength arose.

While my physical pain subsided, mental anguish often returned. Yet, as I uncover more shadows of my past, reminded of the pain once endured I become healed. These attached emotions of associated pain only created more pain. Once I uncover them, I quickly ask for forgiveness or allow forgiveness to embrace the pain. Through acceptance of pain I Am healed. Yes, even pain of the past can make us strong…ultimately who we are today. Imagine…would we be who we are today without the lessons of yesterday?

Right on time, the book is delivered!

As I began unraveling my hidden emotions, a book suggested by a wise teacher, shows up to teach releasing of my hidden emotions, finding health, Love and happiness. While these too are merely a choice, we can still miss the mark if we have hidden emotions associated with pain. ”The Emotion Code” by Dr. Bradley Nelson, explains that many of our negative traits are associated with negative emotions caused by past traumas, whether mental or physical.

While I am still putting the pieces together, Humpty Dumpty falls one last time.  Broken only in mental discomfort, he quickly climbs back atop the wall. The pain has gone, but occasional mental pain arises. Allowing it into the Canvas, I quickly paint a brighter scene. The beauty of having been broken? I Am healed. Through good or bad situations we grow. Sometimes are greatest teachers comes from times of darkness.

Stepping into the Canvas releasing old thoughts and pain…discovering a new fresh outlook on life. While the canvas may have painted greys and blacks yesterday, it is sure to have splatter of brighter colors today.  Each new day is an opportunity to discover yet another area of canvas that needs Brightening…another area of growth.

Staying on Course

Ever feel like nobody sees your point of view? People just don’t understand you? While this Is very common in our diverse society, it doesn’t mean we have to give up on what we feel is right. Stay the course.

An acquaintance once felt it necessary to revamp daily policy and procedures, which would require other people in his department to change the way they do things. Not seeing his vision for change, they labeled him as a threat to their department.

He stayed on course and implemented many changes.  The outcome, administration viewed as a win-win for everyone. Patient satisfaction climbed to the highest it had ever been, revenue nearly tripled and our friend found himself working closely with administration implementing other organizational changes to duplicate the same result in other departments. The sad outcome, was our friend lost his job. How I this possible? Administration looked so good promotion was inevitable, just not for our friend. While new administration had new agendas and the department that our friend was in still held animosity towards him, his peers immediately began looking for ways to let him go. During a recent downsizing, the department found their way. Our friend, being the highest paid in his area, quickly found himself on the chopping block.

Should he have started the original task or remain status quo?  With our pilgrim/warrior analogy, the pilgrim would have just remained status quo while the warrior always advances with intent of greater good. Our Warrior friend found himself amidst a difficult lesson, but remained true to himself even though it cost his job.

While many would find this disheartening, our Warrior friend found peace among all this as he knew he was right on course with his highest self. Staying true to himself among adversities, allowing true freedom to prevail. While jobs are slim for many, the jobs remain endless for the Warrior.

Stepping into the Canvas with a Warrior attitude, remaining virtuous in every step. Choose not to pay attention to bleak outcomes, but remain centered in endless possibilities. When we align ourselves with this Warrior attitude, the universe returns the favor with endless possibilities.

Beyond The Canvas

You have made the first step into the canvas, taken the second, but left in wonder about what comes next. Stepping into the Canvas means taking an active participating role in our own lives, while inspiring others along the way. Do we have to do anything? The truth is we need to do very little. Even in dissent, we indirectly take an active role In the Canvas of Life.

So if we need to do nothing, why do we struggle day-to-day trying to find our purpose?  A conditioned response to think that we have to change the world and the only way to do so is through action. Action in the normal sense means to actively seek ways towards success. Myth: success is measured by how far we get in life and how much ’stuff’ we accumulate. Truth: success is not defined on how much stuff we accumulate, but how much acceptance to oneself and tolerance for those around us. The world is changing on a daily basis, yet we remain stuck exactly where we were yesterday. How do we make the leap to changing how we see the rest of the world as it changes daily? With a mere thought…stop worrying about what happened yesterday and begin living for today.

If a man in the morning hear the right way, he may die in the evening without regret.  ~Confucius

To be active in the canvas means to seek purpose, but our only purpose is to live fully, and leaving the details to our painter. Nature is the canvas and we are a part of the Canvas. The beauty is in the eye of the beholder. While we have a hand in co-creating our own reality, our only goal is finding happiness. Happiness cannot be found on the outside, but within.

Once we submit to our inner calling, happiness is sure to follow.  Once it is found, give it all away. It is not enough to just step into the canvas, but it is getting beyond the belief that we have to do anything in life other than just be happy. Getting beyond the Canvas is not worrying about the outcome, but enjoying all there is.

The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature.  ~Joseph Campbell

Life is too short…why would we spend it miserable, filled with judgmental thoughts, lacking acceptance and failing to hit the mark of happiness? The bulls-eye to happiness is at the center of our self. Being told to ’do this’ or ’do that,’ we still have the choice to do what we want. Is it monetary value that makes you tick, then go get it. Is it true love you seek, then find it. Whatever it is you are looking for, seek it out and make it true.

There are no extra pieces in the universe. Everyone is here because he or she has a place to fill and every piece must fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle.  Deepak Chopra

Stepping into the Canvas in authenticity. Worrying not about outcomes…worrying not about deadlines. Instead worrying about living to the fullest, leaving the details of life to the Master Painter. We are the Canvas… meant to paint as we see fit. Why not paint a picture you could be proud of?

Just Be.  Ben Merens