One of the hardest lessons for us to learn is the difference between knowing, understanding and enacting a concept or belief in our lives. There are many things I know to be true, but do I really take the time to understand them? Do I ever take the time and energy to enact these principals in my life? Why is it so hard for us to slow down and use the knowledge we already have?
It seems ludicrous that most humans consistently fail to let their core beliefs guide their everyday lives. But it happens everyday. People who are religious feel the need to judge, hate and scorn their fellow human beings--quite the opposite of what every great spiritual leader who ever was has taught. Those who know with the fullness of their heart that they are supposed to follow a specific passion, avoid their heart's desire every chance they get with excuses and self-made roadblocks--allowing fear to trump love. Couples or family members block out love by refusing to agree on one or two issues, when they know that if they did they could not only get along well, but also, further the growth of their soul.
I think that is the biggest consequence of ignoring knowledge, you are blocking out love, and thus, inhibiting growth. The more you know, truly know, on a spiritual level, the better able we are to love on a spiritual level. Thus, this acceptance, understanding and enacting of knowledge is extremely crucial and in avoiding it, we're avoiding feeling more deeply and being better human beings. Why in the would we want to do that? We wouldn't.
You know something? It has even been taking me a long time to write this blog. I've been avoiding my insight. I had this statement pop into my head in the shower over three weeks ago. I have lots of great wisdom pop into my head in the shower, but that's beside the point. I felt the need to let this pure moment of inspiration germinate for a week before I could even deal with it, even though I felt in that instant with the water pounding against my head, that I was supposed to share it with people. I wasn't even able to take the time to acknowledge this helpful bit of wisdom I was given* until a week later when I realized what had happened and confessed the thought to my friend Diego. A week later I started writing this blog, but felt like I wasn't able to deal with my truth fully, yet again. Finally a week after that, I am here (started again last night and am finishing tonight) putting the final touches on my clear, precise thought that I started three weeks ago with no trouble whatsoever. This was a thought that came to me as if an angel had whispered it in my ear at the exact moment I needed to hear it, phrased in the exact way I needed to understand it, and through it all, this thought somehow seemed to be the hardest thing in the world to articulate. It seemed so hard to speak and write even though, I knew all the information I needed in order to share it. Bam, another example of this simple truth. I knew it, but I had to take the steps to understand it, and then enact it.
Here's another thought, though: What if in each moment of pure inspiration we experienced, we were able to forgo fear and share that bit of our soul with the world? How different would the world be if we let inspiration and love guide our lives instead of fear and the consequences of that destructive emotion? I challenge you all, as I challenge myself, to not sit on inspiration, but rather, let it run free. If we feel an uncontrollable desire (I mean, I am talking healthy desires here, kids--no drugs or the like!) to pursue a person, place or thing, we should give into this driving force in our life wholeheartedly.
We should have the courage to go confidently toward being our best self, and being our best self entails listening to our intuition, and obliging our heart's desires. If you know something to be true, then know it, love it, believe it and enact it. It's as simple as that. We muddy up this simple concept with fear, excuses, comfort, stability and other kinds of grubby lies that constrict growth and enable complacency. Let us take a pledge today to veer toward knowledge. Let us take on the risk, let us endure the awkwardness,let us find the love, let us enjoy the experience of fighting for what we believe in, let us engage in the lessons and let us take on the wholesome pain that leads to growth. Through these revelations we can experience pure truth and love.
Because love, as I was reminded by Dr. Brian Weiss, My Aunt, and Lady Gaga, is the only thing that's real and I'm on the road to love.
I hope ya'll are on that same road, because it is the only one that's real. That yellowbrick stuff might be catchy, but it's all a big sham! That is, unless yellowbrick is code for Love!
I hope this made some kind of wacky sense.
Love you World- Lauren:-)
*I wrote that "I was given" subconsciously. Interesting, eh? I definitely wasn't given this thought by any person, but I do believe that God and the Universe, are constantly giving us advice:-)
Friday, November 25, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
When I have Sung My Songs
Here are the lyrics to a beautiful song my voice teacher out in California gave me to work on:
"When I have sung my songs to you,
I’ll sing no more.
T’wld be a sacrilege to sing
at another door.
We’ve worked so hard to hold
our dreams, just you and I.
I could not share them all again,
I’d rather die
With just the thought that
I had loved so well, so true,
That I could never sing again,
except to you."
"When I have sung my songs to you,
I’ll sing no more.
T’wld be a sacrilege to sing
at another door.
We’ve worked so hard to hold
our dreams, just you and I.
I could not share them all again,
I’d rather die
With just the thought that
I had loved so well, so true,
That I could never sing again,
except to you."
-Ernest Charles
I will possibly speak more on these words later, but as I go through my Thursday I will definitely be filled with wonder thinking of these soul-baring lyrics.
<3 Lo
Thursday, November 3, 2011
You Can't Clutch Your Fate
I've been thinking a lot about life lately. After all, I am in my early twenties, and it seems like the cool thing to do is to deeply contemplate our lives, where we're going, who we are and who we'll be!
Sometimes I wonder though, if in all my contemplation, I've made life out to be a bigger deal than it really is. I am the type who has always taken life and love very seriously. I give it reverence and really believe with the depth of my soul that we must live and love with the whole of ourselves or else not do it at all. I know that sounds really serious, but it is the way I've always felt. Ever since I was little I always told myself I was going to do something big, and that there were no other options. I believed that I was put here to change the Earth, and that was that. I distinctly remember in ninth grade having a sob attack because I felt I wasn't doing enough to make the world a better place.
I was so not normal. While most girls were sitting at home contemplating what boy would like them next or how to get their hair a little bit straighter, I was crying with Oprah over Africa, and wishing I was there to help the kids. Now, that's not to say that I didn't also have a desire to crack the code of the opposite sex or force my wavy locks into a more acceptable upright posture, but what I am saying, is that, I guess I've always had the bigger picture in my mind...And beyond that, I've always felt like I am racing the clock before my time runs out.
I've always felt a sense of urgency in my life--That if I didn't get something done in my youth, then it would be too late.* That the opportunities would dry up, and my dreams would be no more. I guess that's why I've always pushed myself so hard. I've always been afraid that the time would slip out from under me and I would be left yearning for what could have been. I am working on abolishing that feeling because I know deep down that life is limitless, and at any given point you can change and expand your mind. I really believe life is never binding and that you can alter and add to your path as many times as you want. But sometimes while living in a town (and culture) that is so based upon youth and making your mark while you're young, it becomes difficult to break your old way of thinking.
I know I've accomplished a lot, but at the same time, I feel there is still so much work to be done and I grow impatient and question why it hasn't happened yet. In these moments I must remind myself, that at any given point, (unless we've completely ignored every instinct, and please, don't do that!), we are exactly where we need to be in order to achieve the growth we need to further our souls. I need to know that as long as I put out the energy for what I want in my life, and keep doing so, then whatever is meant to happen will reveal itself to me in time. We cannot clutch our future. We are in constant negotiations with God and the Universe battling out over what we want vs. what we need. Why battle? Why don't we make it a conversation instead?
Here Are Three Simple (Color Coded) Steps to Having a Fulfilling Conversation:
1) Be assertive. Know what you want, and visualize it. Put your intentions into the universe and believe in them if that is what your gut tells you. Don't be passive, actively pursue your heart's desires, and if you feel it with the whole of who you are, keep going. What you are meant to do, may not be exactly what you had in mind, but if you pursue your dreams with confidence, then something fulfilling and incredible will show up.
2)Listen. When one path seems to keep appearing in your life, it is probably there for a reason, check it out. See what happens if you start to travel that road. In the same token, if there's something (or someone!!! Ladies! You know what I'm talking about!) you've been pursuing for a long time and it just seems to be going no where, then either reevaluate and pick a different path (or person), or figure out a way to pursue it from a different angle. Don't beat a dead horse. I mean, honestly, I can't imagine anything more inhumane. The poor thing is already gone. Show some respect. RIPH*.
3) Look. When you see an opportunity to open a door you've been waiting to find for a long time, don't be a goon, go ahead and open it up! This takes courage. Opportunity is a double edged sword. If you see it and chose to pass it by, then you are foolish. Likewise if you take the opportunity you open yourself up for unlimited success or unlimited failure. The point is, if you fail to see it, or worse yet, see it and pass it by, you'll always wonder. The previous option is worse than any failure you could encounter. In fact, that so called "Failure," could never really be the dictionary definition of a failure, because it usually turns out to be a stepping stone leading you to your ultimate destiny. And if it works out, well, then, here are your dreams on a platter.
I guess right now I believe in destiny and fate more than ever before. I believe in making plans, and changing them if you have to. I believe in following your heart and not listing to people who try to talk out of that most important intention. I believe in my fellow human beings. I believe in creating a space where your dreams have no option but to come true. I believe in trusting that it will all work out. I guess, as my friends The Monkeys once said, I'm a believer (but I could leave her if I tried). Anyway, all fake 60s bands aside, I thank you for reading my random stream of consciousness, and, as always, if you have any insight, I'd love to hear it.
PS- I didn't feel like proof reading this, so please forgive my errors.
pss-
I don't know how the background got to be grey, but I am not a fan.
<3 Lolo
Footnotes:
*Who knows, Maybe I died too early in a past life? Or maybe I've just always leaned toward the irrational? Who knows!
*Rest in Peace Horse
Sometimes I wonder though, if in all my contemplation, I've made life out to be a bigger deal than it really is. I am the type who has always taken life and love very seriously. I give it reverence and really believe with the depth of my soul that we must live and love with the whole of ourselves or else not do it at all. I know that sounds really serious, but it is the way I've always felt. Ever since I was little I always told myself I was going to do something big, and that there were no other options. I believed that I was put here to change the Earth, and that was that. I distinctly remember in ninth grade having a sob attack because I felt I wasn't doing enough to make the world a better place.
I was so not normal. While most girls were sitting at home contemplating what boy would like them next or how to get their hair a little bit straighter, I was crying with Oprah over Africa, and wishing I was there to help the kids. Now, that's not to say that I didn't also have a desire to crack the code of the opposite sex or force my wavy locks into a more acceptable upright posture, but what I am saying, is that, I guess I've always had the bigger picture in my mind...And beyond that, I've always felt like I am racing the clock before my time runs out.
I've always felt a sense of urgency in my life--That if I didn't get something done in my youth, then it would be too late.* That the opportunities would dry up, and my dreams would be no more. I guess that's why I've always pushed myself so hard. I've always been afraid that the time would slip out from under me and I would be left yearning for what could have been. I am working on abolishing that feeling because I know deep down that life is limitless, and at any given point you can change and expand your mind. I really believe life is never binding and that you can alter and add to your path as many times as you want. But sometimes while living in a town (and culture) that is so based upon youth and making your mark while you're young, it becomes difficult to break your old way of thinking.
I know I've accomplished a lot, but at the same time, I feel there is still so much work to be done and I grow impatient and question why it hasn't happened yet. In these moments I must remind myself, that at any given point, (unless we've completely ignored every instinct, and please, don't do that!), we are exactly where we need to be in order to achieve the growth we need to further our souls. I need to know that as long as I put out the energy for what I want in my life, and keep doing so, then whatever is meant to happen will reveal itself to me in time. We cannot clutch our future. We are in constant negotiations with God and the Universe battling out over what we want vs. what we need. Why battle? Why don't we make it a conversation instead?
Here Are Three Simple (Color Coded) Steps to Having a Fulfilling Conversation:
1) Be assertive. Know what you want, and visualize it. Put your intentions into the universe and believe in them if that is what your gut tells you. Don't be passive, actively pursue your heart's desires, and if you feel it with the whole of who you are, keep going. What you are meant to do, may not be exactly what you had in mind, but if you pursue your dreams with confidence, then something fulfilling and incredible will show up.
2)Listen. When one path seems to keep appearing in your life, it is probably there for a reason, check it out. See what happens if you start to travel that road. In the same token, if there's something (or someone!!! Ladies! You know what I'm talking about!) you've been pursuing for a long time and it just seems to be going no where, then either reevaluate and pick a different path (or person), or figure out a way to pursue it from a different angle. Don't beat a dead horse. I mean, honestly, I can't imagine anything more inhumane. The poor thing is already gone. Show some respect. RIPH*.
3) Look. When you see an opportunity to open a door you've been waiting to find for a long time, don't be a goon, go ahead and open it up! This takes courage. Opportunity is a double edged sword. If you see it and chose to pass it by, then you are foolish. Likewise if you take the opportunity you open yourself up for unlimited success or unlimited failure. The point is, if you fail to see it, or worse yet, see it and pass it by, you'll always wonder. The previous option is worse than any failure you could encounter. In fact, that so called "Failure," could never really be the dictionary definition of a failure, because it usually turns out to be a stepping stone leading you to your ultimate destiny. And if it works out, well, then, here are your dreams on a platter.
I guess right now I believe in destiny and fate more than ever before. I believe in making plans, and changing them if you have to. I believe in following your heart and not listing to people who try to talk out of that most important intention. I believe in my fellow human beings. I believe in creating a space where your dreams have no option but to come true. I believe in trusting that it will all work out. I guess, as my friends The Monkeys once said, I'm a believer (but I could leave her if I tried). Anyway, all fake 60s bands aside, I thank you for reading my random stream of consciousness, and, as always, if you have any insight, I'd love to hear it.
PS- I didn't feel like proof reading this, so please forgive my errors.
pss-
I don't know how the background got to be grey, but I am not a fan.
<3 Lolo
Footnotes:
*Who knows, Maybe I died too early in a past life? Or maybe I've just always leaned toward the irrational? Who knows!
*Rest in Peace Horse
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