Tag Archives: Don Miguel Ruiz

Gratitude & More Silent Blessings

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We cannot go a day without encountering an unfriendly or another golden opportunity to share loving kindness. It is not how they treat us that determines who we are, but it is in the reactions we give them. We can be emotionally attached to their words or we can merely let them go. In letting them go, we are listening to the words or actions while taking proper steps to guard against darkened tongues.

Don Miguel Ruiz gives ancient Toltec wisdom while teaching the “Four Agreements.” My favorite of these agreements is “never take anything personally.” This single lesson removes all attachment to negative words by our transgressors. In letting their words remain meaningless, we are free to be as happy as can be. In the process, hopefully the unfriendly will be infused with a hint of happiness…setting off a time-bomb towards happiness.

One never really knows what to expect in life.

We may never live to see tomorrow,

Or we may never get to see the sun set again.

The question one must ask…did I live this day,

As the best day ever?

When the world tries to knock the wind out of us,

We must stand tall and breathe the breath of life.

Calmly walk forward making every step count.

Do this and our reward will await us.

Do this and no one can harm us again.

For me, I have been spat upon, kicked and dragged through the mud

Ten fold, but I will not allow them to conquer me.

I will quietly send them blessings and pray that one day they find happiness.

For them, happiness is in the numbers,

For me it is all around.

I cannot be more grateful for today,

For I know that I gave my best day ever.

There will be no one to judge me,

But it shall be known by me and my beloved.

I thank you Father for showing me the way,

I hope that others will follow suit.

~Joseph

Whatever our encounters of the day, they are opportunities of growth. Whether friend or unfriendly, every person has a lesson to bring. See these lessons and we shall know everything we need to know. Just as the blessing of a butterfly, we are blessed with gentle occurrences. Frightfully, we are just as blessed by the aggressive encounters of the tiger.

Stepping into the Canvas with Gratitude and more silent blessings. With every step into the Canvas of Life, may it be in gratitude. With gratitude in our hearts, even during difficult times, we find ourselves in a happier disposition…giving silent blessings. It is said…those hardest to Love need the most Love…why not share Love and compassion with them?

The Irony of Man

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The Irony of Man is not a new problem, but a repeating cyclical behavior passed down from generation to generation. Aristophanes referred to this as eiron, Greek word for Irony, and applied its usage to any shady or annoying characters. The Irony in itself was that Aristophanes himself was a ‘jokester’ and often annoyed others within his time. Classic case of projecting shadows onto another.
Carl Jung proved the shadow effect to be that of projection of oneself onto another: In some cases we see positive in another, wishing we could be more like them; In others we see negative aspects of ourselves we do not care for, commenting on them as “Ironic” or as Aristophanes called annoying. The first example is self-explanatory as we want to be more like that which we desire to become, thereby causing a natural gravitational pull towards positive people in our lives. The second is not so apparent.
Our thoughts and attitudes need persistent training
in a world so intent on convincing us that we are who we are not
and that we are not who, in fact, we are.
~Debbie Ford
While projecting Shadows, we not only display judgment through bitterness but also express malicious verbal accusations of another. Failing to realize we are merely looking into the mirror with our own reflection projecting onto others, we find disgust with not just them but subconsciously ourselves. Those who remain in their own shadows either stay in darkness or turn towards the light.
We can chase our shadows of doubt
or we can turn our attention towards the source of Light,
leaving our shadows behind us for ever.
~Joseph
Our shadows have ability to shine brightly, as the source of Light, through which awareness and mindfulness is achieved. Remain in the shadows and that is where we remain. Turning attention towards source energy, we receive lessons of acceptance for all (you, me, he, she, we, they). Acceptance for all ironies of life, finding humor in the ironic behavior of man.
Isn’t it ironic that we pay for gym memberships when we could easily walk outside, getting more fresh air, vitamin D and an over-whelming feeling of well-being? We pay for ‘Coaches’ to tell us how to live, when we need only sit and ponder our lives. We want to get healthier but are unwilling to make changes in diets or lifestyles, instead paying someone to keep us on track. We have known health issues, but fail to change our ways…further paying someone to aid us with our health…usually in the form of a convenient pill. Our lives are filled with ironies.
Is it a case of laziness or subscribing in a belief of doing something every moment, forgetting to reconnect with the Canvas of Life. The Canvas of Life has no rules, but has consequences. We can choose to take our time while painting our canvas or we can rush through it, splattering paint everywhere with little care in how it falls. One can yield a peaceful, tranquil moment while embracing the Canvas and the other yields chaos, angst often misery. Misery brought on by deadlines and timelines…always living for the clock… missing the beauty provided by the Canvas.
While our moments may not always be what we expect them to be, it can be enjoyable no matter what. The Irony of Man does not have to complete the cycle anymore. We can actually break the cycle of Irony and begin a new cycle. A cycle that includes awareness, forgiveness, gratitude and Love. Wait no longer…change our worldly view. Turn from the shadows of darkness and turn towards the light.
If all we have in our hearts is Love,
there can be room for nothing else.
~Joseph
While the Pilgrim subscribes to the Irony of Man allowing the cycle to continue in his lineage, the Warrior (Ani Po) subscribes to a new irony…one of serendipity. On a personal level it can change with a single thought. On a global level, same thought. We find in ourselves, and in others, that not one human being is perfect. In this recognition we find perfection in all the imperfections.
Stepping into the Canvas serendipitously. With every step, every thought…may it be aligned with the seven generations. With our ability to alter the cycles, we align our thoughts with that of source energy. Focusing on our shadow, we remain in darkness: focusing on Light, we Shine On into another day. Shine On!