What are your 4 Agreements?

Recently I ran across my copy of "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz. For those of you that haven’t read it, in Don Miguels book he shares what he believes are the 4 characteristics of personal freedom.

~Be Impeccable with your word
~Don't take anything personally
~Don't make assumptions
~Always do your best

Pretty basic and self explanatory, right? I believe they are what every parent looks to teach their children. They’re also the foundation for creating my own Personal Agreements – adding to his list that which helps me better serve humanity in every way possible. These agreements increased my capacity for joy, love and bliss in my life.

• Live with gratitude. The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is thank the universe for another breath, another day. If being grateful doesn’t come easy to you, begin practicing it slowly, like the first time you rode a bike. Something good will happen in the next 24 hours, guaranteed. Sometimes you might have to look a little harder than others.
• Practice Generosity of Spirit – Give of yourself freely, without expectation of anything in return, tangible or intangible. Generosity is a quality of the spirit that is motivated by Love. Practice Generosity of Spirit. Give your time and your talents, especially if you can’t give money. Simply give love and a smile. Sometimes that’s all we have. True generosity of Spirit is giving without expecting anything in return.
• Move your energy – Everything is energy; where and what we put our energy into expands, sometimes beyond measure. When that energy is not moving, it becomes stagnant. Tune in to what both your body and your mind need to thrive, to feel alive.
• Choose Bliss! - Yes, we have a choice. Choose to create more moments of joy and bliss in your life. What we focus on multiplies. Simply decide to focus more on what’s working, what feels good and notice the difference it makes, not just in your life, the life of those around you.
  

Try making your own personal agreements as to how you plan on allowing and continuing the process of life and love to unfold in an upward, joyful manner. Move your energy :):):)

"Our biggest fear is taking the risk to be alive - the risk to be alive and express what we really are.” Don Miguel Ruiz

#Trust 30 Day 15 - 100 years to live

Do your work, and I shall know you. Do your work, and you shall reinforce yourself. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Take a moment, step back from your concerns, and focus on one thing: You have one life to achieve everything you’ve ever wanted. Sounds simple, but when you really focus on it, let it seep into your consciousness; you realize you only have about 100 years to get every single thing you’ve ever wanted to do. No second chances. This is your only shot. Suddenly, this means you should have started yesterday. No more waiting for permission or resources to start. Today is the day you make the rest of your life happen. Write down one thing you’ve always wanted to do and how you will achieve that goal. Don’t be afraid to be very specific in how you’ll achieve it: once you start achieving, your goals will get bigger and your capability to meet them will grow.

(Author: Colin Wright)

There are no “re-dos” in this life time. We are half way through that 100 year cycle. What’s next?

After doing our work as parents, a job that never ends, providers, spouses, employees, contractors, care givers and more for the last 20 something years we find ourselves at a cross road. The last of our 5 children has graduated from high school and is off on her next adventure. Jeff, at the young age of 49, is taking a “forced early retirement” to save the positions of 3 of his colleagues, beginning July 1. For a few months, he will not have an income. Yes, that’s a little frightening – or is it?

Opportunities abound! Over the last few days and weeks the question has been, “If money were no consideration, what would you do? What will you do in these next chapters of life? How will you do it?” This is an exercise I look forward to, individually and collectively. With the thought of only 50 years left in this lifetime, it really is high time to get down to it! More to come :):)

Blissings…

(Disclaimer: This post is part of the free #Trust30 - 30 day writing challenge. Check it out and jump in. What are you afraid of?)

#Trust 30 - Day 14 Opening up to new pathways

Alternative Paths by Jonathon Fields
Photo by Jeffrey Williams, Jawdroppingphotography.com

When good is near you, when you have life in yourself, it is not by any known or accustomed way; you shall not discern the foot-prints of any other; you shall not see the face of man; you shall not hear any name; the way, the thought, the good, shall be wholly strange and new. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The world buzzes about goals and visions. Focus. Create a vivid picture of exactly where you want to go. Dream big, then don’t let anything or anyone stop you. The problem, as Daniel Gilbert wrote in Stumbling Upon Happiness, is that we’re horrible at forecasting how we’ll really feel 10 or 20 years from now – once we’ve gotten what we dreamed of. Often, we get there only to say, “That’s not what I thought it would be,” and ask, “What now?” Ambition is good. Blind ambition is not. It blocks out not only distraction, but the many opportunities that might take you off course but that may also lead you in a new direction. Consistent daily action is only a virtue when bundled with a willingness to remain open to the unknown. In this exercise, look at your current quest and ask, “What alternative opportunities, interpretations and paths am I not seeing?” They’re always there, but you’ve got to choose to see them.

May I be open to new paths!

Oh yes, “choose to see them”, be willing to see what is there, with an open heart and open mind. Every day when I open my eyes I thank the Universe/Source/Spirit for another day and the opportunity to serve the highest good of all, with a willingness to be open to, and see how and what shows up.

At the end of this month my husband will be out of a job, a profession he has been in for over 20 years. He took a “forced early retirement” to save the jobs of 3 of his colleagues. We have so many options and opportunities. Every day a new one is presented. This is exactly the exercise we are practicing daily, continuously asking, “What alternative opportunities, interpretations and paths am I not seeing?” Here’s to choosing to be open to this next adventure in our lives and embracing the new path and turns in front of us.

(Disclaimer: This post is part of the free #Trust30 - 30 day writing challenge. Check it out and jump in. What are you afraid of?)

#Trust 30 - Day 13 - How will you surprise yourself this week?

I will not hide my tastes or aversions. I will so trust that what is deep is holy, if we follow the truth, it will bring us out safe at last. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Think of a time when you didn’t think you were capable of doing something, but then surprised yourself. How will you surprise yourself this week?

(Author: Ashley Ambirge)

Don’t just follow the truth, live it; live YOUR truth.

At one point I was afraid of what my truth might really be. I realized “ignorance is NOT bliss.” In order for me to be who I really am, I need to accept both the angels and the demons, or “The Bliss Lady and The Pissed Lady” that make up who I am.

What does that mean? That facing my fears, angers, and frustrations, sitting with them, accepting them, doesn’t’ separate me from spirit, it simply reminds me that I have a choice to live in love, and that no matter what, I will always ‘arrive safe’. I’m not sure how I will surprise myself this week – maybe it’s simply showing up!

Bliss ON!!

(Disclaimer: This post is part of the free #Trust30 - 30 day writing challenge. Check it out and jump in. What are you afraid of?)

#Trust 30 - Day 12 - Facing fears

These are the voices which we hear in solitude, but they grow faint and inaudible as we enter into the world. Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Is fear holding you back from living your fullest life and being truly self expressed? Put yourself in the shoes of the you who’s already lived your dream and write out the answers to the following:

Is the insecurity you’re defending worth the dream you’ll never realize? or the love you’ll never venture? or the joy you’ll never feel?

Will the blunder matter in 10 years? Or 10 weeks? Or 10 days? Or 10 minutes?

Can you be happy being anything less than who you really are?

Now Do. The Thing. You Fear.

The voice that speaks loudest

The voices that I hear are many. The voice that speaks loudest is my inner self who constantly and consistently tells me that living anything less than my “bliss” or with source is a sham. On a New Years Eve, several years ago, I remember driving over a very long bridge, which always terrified me, with my children in the car, on a stormy, snowy night feeling lonely and afraid. I was in the process of getting a divorce and was so afraid of being alone, not knowing how I would feed my children, where we would live, how we would live. As my car started to slide a little I thought to myself, “You (as in Spirit/God/Source) gave me life and you gave me 2 additional lives to care for. I know there is nothing I can’t do and there is nothing to be fearful of.” I realized, among other things, that I am never truly alone, and I am always taken care of, exactly as I need to be. As I straightened my car out and slowed down some, I crossed that bridge with a smile on my face and have crossed many, many more since then.

What keeps me facing those fearful moments, key word, moments, is a deep knowing that “I’m stronger than the fear, anxiety and rage that may be creeping in” and always, always connected to love. I also know that I don’t want to be on my death bed wondering “why I didn’t do the things I wanted most to do or why I didn’t be what I really wanted to be - ME”.

Do, be, and live love!

(Disclaimer: This post is part of the free #Trust30 - 30 day writing challenge. Check it out and jump in. What are you afraid of?)

Day 11 #Trust 30

Imitation is Suicide. Insist on yourself; never imitate. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Prompt

"Write down in which areas of your life you have to overcome these suicidal tendencies of imitation, and how you can transform them into a newborn you – one that doesn’t hide its uniqueness, but thrives on it. There is a “divine idea which each of us represents” – which is yours?"

There are days when I am not sure “what I will be next” as in, what role I may play in my day to day life: wife, mother, friend, and confidant, pet lover, business advisor, healer and more… many hats! They are all a part of who I am – a unique child of an amazing universe that continuously brings new light to the world every day. Why would I ever want to dim that light or be anything less than me?

There was a time I hid my true self. I may have different names and different titles – I am always me. There are many that may not understand who I am or where I come from and there was a time I was afraid to show who I am because of that. It’s okay. I am BLISS – or as my friend Lori calls it – love – ultimately Source. I don’t want to be reborn – I just want you to know who I am.

"And I don’t want the world to see me

Cuz I don’t think that they’d understand

When everything seems to be broken,

I just want you to know who I am

I just want you to know who I am"

From City of Angels sound track, Iris – Goo Goo Dolls

Blissings...Teri

(Disclaimer: This post is part of the free #Trust30 - 30 day writing challenge. Check it out and jump in. What are you afraid of?)