Smokey Mirror

Blessed are you,
stranger
that carries the light
of being.

Blessed are you,
stranger
that opens the door
to heaven.

Blessed are you,
stranger
that is my brother,
my sister,

me.

Already as a child,  I was taken with the idea of being an instrument of God. There was nothing in the world I wanted more than to let him work through me. I prayed for this incessantly. I tried hard to be a good person, being honest and kind, helping whereever my help was needed or wanted. Most of all I tried very hard to find the right job for me. In this job, I imagined I would make a contribution to mankind by using my godgiven talents. I tried so many things but nothing worked. At a certain point, I just didn’t know what to do any more. I had almost given up.

Only recently, I figured out where I went wrong all these years.  Growing up, I had made up all kinds of ideas on what it means live a life of service, what is useful and meaningful, how to make a contribution, which talents are needed.  I wanted nothing more than to be an instrument of God, I prayed incessantly, but I never heard his answers, because I had not learned to listen to his voice. All these years, I had listened to my mind instead of with my heart.

Listening with my heart, hearing the whispers, I’ve learned that all I need to do to make this Universe a better place, is to be me. Fully and completely me. I’m learning to do what my heart urges me to do. I feel like I have arrived, as there is nowhere I ‘d rather be, nothing I ‘d rather do, no one I’d rather be than who, what and where I am today. I trust that when I do what my heart tells me to do, the Universe is unfolding through me.

Don’t look any further.
Close your eyes
and find stillness within.

Just stop for a minute.
Quiet your mind
and follow your breath.

Be here, be present.
Feel your body expand
beyond its physical limits,

and find eternity
now,
in this always present moment.

I am learning to go with the flow. Taking the path of least resistance. Doing what is natural to me. By recognizing what I’m feeling. By being aware of the level of energy that is flowing through me.  Understanding that the nature of my feelings and the level of energy I experience are one. 

I am learning to live on love. Taking the path of least resistance. Doing what is natural to me. By practicing gratitude and generosity. By recognizing Love will guide me, it will lead the way.  Understanding that Love is the highest form of energy, never resisting, always giving. 

I am learning to be one with the Universe. Taking the path of least resistance. Doing what is natural to me. By celebrating the greatness of all things created. By being open to all the Universe has to offer. Understanding that the Universe creates through me, using my body and mind as a vessel for creation.

*
*
*
*
*
Even
after
all this time
the sun never says to the earth,

“you owe
me.”

Look
what happens
with a love like that,
it lights the
whole
sky.

 Hafiz

May I be wise like a river finding its way without effort, innocent like a lion killing without guilt, safe like the unborn baby in a woman’s womb, strong like the mother heaving a car to free her child, beautiful like an old woman dying without regrets.  May I be all this, and more, knowing I’m like the Universe, always expanding.

May my life be an open book to anyone who wants to read it. Where my mistakes will show you that I, too, am simply human, I did not love myself enough. Where my triumphs will open your heart to the possibility that you too are a child of God, meant to shine brightly, like the sun. May my life be inspiring. May my presence be healing. A gift to all. Amen.

Hidden in the chaos of these past weeks was the greatest gift of all. Buried under layers of pain, my soul’s intention was waiting to be found. Use this lifetime to become whole. Accept the truth of who you are.  Be true to the essence of yourself. Live with integrity and everything else will fall into place.

Pain is the great purifier. Like a fire, if you let it roar, pain will purge your soul of all that is not true. However sharp and almost unbearable at times, this pain will destroy all that is keeping me from being who I can be. What I know for sure right now is that this pain will allow me to become a clearer manifestation of Life. 

These last weeks, I learned that there is no wrong and there is no right, there is just the way things are. My emotions tell me one thing, my mind another and in-between on a higher level resides the awareness that tells me ‘that it is all right not to know, that I will find my way, that everything will work out just fine.’ 

I know Life is perfect, even though my life feels chaotic and painful in this moment.  Life is as it is. I may not like it, I may wish things were different, but these thoughts won’t get me anywhere. To go on with my life, I need to befriend this moment, this pain. I need to make peace with this moment, the chaos. I need to accept I have created this moment by not being true to myself. 

I don’t know what the future will bring and that’s okay. I know Life is everchanging. I know Life will unfold through me when I stop resisting, stop fighting. Life will lead me when I trust everything will be all right, when I have faith this moment can teach me all I need to know to grow into who I really am, to be true to myself.

I  don’t know what to do right now and that’s okay. I lay down all wants, needs and expectations. I will do nothing, I will make no promises, I will not try to make things work, I will not be who I’m not. Instead, I will trust Life to lead me. I know the answers can be found within. All I need to do is be still and listen. I will pray and meditate. I will open my heart to all the possible answers the Universe has to offer. And I will trust my heart to pick the answer that is right for me.

When in stress, stop fighting. Stop resisting. 
Take a deep breath. Connect to your breath.
Be grateful for it to flow through your body,
to supply oxygen, to give Life.

Right here, right now, embrace Life,
your life, your thoughts, your feelings.
Accept your reality for what it is.
Know that everything will be all right.

All you need to grow into you,
you have right here, right now.
Take a deep breath. Connect to your soul,
to this part of you that is eternal and wise.

Let your heart and mind be filled
with what your soul has to offer,
wisdom, courage and faith in abundance.
Feel that everything is and will always be all right.

Then you do what needs to be done.
Life will lead you.
Life will leave you stronger and wiser.
You will be all right

Many years ago, I was enlightened by hearing dr Stephen Covey say ‘love is a verb’. Love is something you do. This was an utterly alien notion to me at the time, but I was willing to give it a go. Being desillusioned by the fairy-tale concept of love that makes great movies but awful lives, and with my marriage on a slope, I committed myself to little acts of love on a daily basis. Thinking of my husband in a loving way, waking him with a cup of coffee and a newspaper, sending him an e-card at work, cooking a meal he loves. These simple actions have changed my perspective on marital bliss a 180 degrees. By loving each other and by extending that love, we have created a strong and lasting love. Our life together is not hollywood material, but our love is the stable background to everything else that goes on in our lives.

The same is true for happiness. Happiness is something you do. Being miserable, and with my life on the line, I decided I’d better find happiness in my life and be grateful for it, soon. At the end of every day, I would write down 5 things I was grateful for, and at least two of them had to be about me. At first, it was so hard. All day long I would be in alert mode, scanning my surroundings for something I could be grateful for. As with everything, finding happiness in my own life got easier with practice. Looking at my life differently, I learned to find happiness in the smallest of things, birds singing, clean sheets, a stranger’s kindness, the sparkle in my eyes, the flexibility of my mind. Nowadays, I only write the list now and then to remind myself of its purpose.  It’s a simple list, but it has turned around my perspective on life. By bringing happiness, gratitude and awe to everything I do, I have created an eternal source of happiness in my life. Make no mistake, I have my off days, but happiness is always within hand’s reach.

A fairer House than Prose -
More numerous of Windows -
Superior - for Doors -

Of Chambers as the Cedars -
Impregnable of Eye -
And for an Everlasting Roof -
The Gambrels  of the Sky -

Of Visitors - the fairest -
For Occupations - This -
The spreading wide of my narrow Hands -
To gather Paradise -

Emily Dickinson

of your life 
be filled with

the unconditional love and
pure joy of a two year old

imaginative play 
and unbridled creativity

fresh beginnings
and new opportunities

constructive thoughts
and positive energy 

a happiness
that comes from your core

a holy awe that 
opens the mind to being

the spiritual freedom
to express your true self

the awareness of
a purpose greater than you 

God’s presence
and eternal being 

 the deep peace
of knowing God

Do you love Life? For better, for worse? Are you grateful? In good and bad times? Are you happy? No matter what? What if loving Life unconditionally creates happiness?

I have learned that accepting all its lessons with grace, creates maximum opportunity for gratitude Being grateful for everything that comes your way, creates abundance in unimaginable ways. Recognizing the abundance in everything, ruins the illusion of loss and scarcity. Without fear, true happiness will be yours, it will be the undercurrent in your life.

When you love Life as it is, you will know, again, the unshakable core of your being.

Change doesn’t just happen. It isn’t even something you do. For change to happen, we need to understand that happiness and abundance are available to all of us. That each and everyone of us has the power to recreate their lives.  We can be agents of change. You and me. Even in circumstances that are seemingly beyond our control, we can choose how we react. Change happens when you and I decide to take full responsibility for our lives.  When you and I decide to think and behave in a constructive and effective way. When we allow ourselves to develop our full potential. When we  allow ourselves to be who we are meant to be. Change happens when you and I believe we have the power to create a different reality. Then, together, we will create a new earth.

Every question that truly matters to you, will be answered. You may find the answer in a different place, through a different voice or in a different package than you expected. The answer may be ‘no’ or ‘later’. Ask anyway. Ask and let go. Of your wants, of your expectations, of your needs, even your need for an answer to that question. Ask and be ready to receive. You may not receive an answer now, not tomorrow, in a week or even a year. Ask and know that the answer is already there. Be still, listen.

Understand that everything comes from one source. Everything is, has been and will always be there. You are part of a timeless and giving Universe. Ask with faith and passion and your consciousness will expand to the origin of everything, the space before creation, where all potential lies dormant, where time and space are irrelevant. The answer to your question was there all along. Open your heart and mind to all the possible answers the Universe has to offer.  Be be grateful for the opportunity that will present itself.

can be found anywhere, anytime. Even in the backgarden, uncomfortably on your knees, looking through the lens of a camera.

What if life is perfect? What if, no matter what it looks like, your life is perfect?

I know life can seem far from perfect. It can seem chaotic, troublesome and painful. It can even seem not worth living.

Still. What if life is perfect? What if circumstance is only external appearance? What if this day, this hour, this moment right now can teach you all you need to know to grow into who you really are, to feel whole again?

What I know for sure. When you see life as an opportunity for growth, Life becomes meaningful. When you look at what life has to offer, Life becomes abundant. When you find the blessing in a disaster, Life becomes peaceful.  When you accept life as it is, Life becomes perfect.

Jesus, the Buddha, Joan of Arc, Mother Teresa, the guy on the street,  you, me, your crappy boss, the jerk that cut you off in trafic,  the triple murderer on death row and even Hitler, we’re all made of the same light. We are radiant beings. We are meant to shine.

Some people shine so brightly, they are a shining example to others. We are drawn to these people because of their healing light. We want to be with them because through their lives we recognize our own potential greatnes.

The light of some people, however,  is so obscured it seems extinct. We instinctively avoid these people. It doesn’t feel good to be around them. Their presence depletes us. They rob us of light. 

Whichever quality your light may have, know that it is always there. It may be weak, obscured by past trauma, by lies and shame, but it is always there. Whatever your story, know that you’re not broken. You are whole. You are light. You are meant to shine.

Just shine your light as bright as you can and your light will grow. Shine your light and it’s truth will set you free. Accept it’s invitation to go through the dark into the  light. Let it lead you through your pain and you will be healed. The veils that shroud your light will be lifted, if you consciously be the best you can.

For the greater part of my life, I put my life on hold, looking for meaning. This past year, I finally learned that in order to find meaning,  I first have to give meaning. What you give, you get. It’s as easy as that. This rule applies to people as well as life in general. The energy and attention you give, will determine the quality of the outcome.

Life’s beauty and unlimited potential are available to me always. All I need is to be present. Be prepared to meet Life in everyone I encounter. Be willing to see Life in everything I come across. Life is omnipresent. To acknowledge its presence in everything, even the seemingly unimportant, creates meaning in unimaginable ways.  Namaste.

There have been times that I my body didn’t function as I would like it to. Not being able to take part in the daily bustle of life. Learning to give in, stop resisting and find fulfilment in days passing by with nothing done. Finding the strength to give my best despite being in pain and worn out. Embracing life as it is, being truly grateful for all the things I could do. Not taking the seemingly ordinary for granted.

Nowadays, I feel the energy move through my body, fueling my thoughts, energizing my moves. I feel renewed, having a deeper appreciation for the simplest things, like waking up refreshed, being able to go for a walk or even doing something as mundane as weeding or cleaning.

I have learned that doing and being are one, two extremes of a continuum. When done with attention, there is doing in being and being in doing. When I let go of any resistance I feel and simply go with the flow, doing and being get lifted to a higher level. Cleaning becomes as fulfilling as sitting in the sun. Life has never been this peaceful.

Life is now, only now.
While cleaning the bathroom,
or enjoying a rich chardonnay,
life is now, only now.
Smell it. Taste it.

Life is now, only now,
in the middle of a crisis.
On  a lazy afternoon
life is now, only now.
Accept it. Live it.

Life is now, only now.
When struck with grief
or crying tears of joy,
life is now, only now.
Feel it embrace it.

Life is now, only now.
With every breath you take,
aquaint yourself with this moment.
For life is now, always now.
Know it. Love it.

 Years of saying to myself ’This is not personal’ when people (or life for that matter) were behaving differently than I wanted has opened up my life in ways I could  have never imagined. I have learned that the fruit of not taking life personally is to live free of expectations. This, to me, is nothing short of a miracle.

Not expecting people to be or situations to unfold a certain way. Being open to the infinite possibilities of this moment. Knowing the outcome will be good no matter what. Trusting it will be exactly what I need right now. Seeing the perfection in everything. Being grateful, always. Knowing that I am blessed. And so are you.

May these sunny-colored houses brighten your day.  

I believe everything is made of energy. Through this energy we are all interconnected. You are part of me and I am part of you. For this reason, I am responsible for the energy I emit. I can choose for it to be poisonous or healing, to be angry or loving. I can choose to give or take, to fuel or drain you.  

I believe my energy can be bright, my presence a loving awareness, my intentions pure like the Light that is within all of us. I believe I am a Light, meant to shine like a beacon. And so are you. So are you!

Acceptance of any unwanted situation leads to the peace of mind one needs to get out of that situation. Acceptance brings about clarity, a goal and the power to act. I may not like where I am today, but such thoughts will not help me get out of here. Instead I try to focus on what is good, to give my best at any given moment. Because it is only in this moment, right now, that I have the power to take one step in the right direction. It may be a small step, and that’s okay. Even the smallest step, when repeated, leads to the promised land.  

Over the last year, I’ve become a firm believer that my thoughts and emotions create my reality. A few weeks ago, I learned an even deeper truth.

During my time in France, I learned that one man on our campsite was suffering from colon cancer. I honestly was perplexed as the man in question seemed the healthiest of all. Almost automatically, I started thinking of him as a man with cancer.  And it felt wrong. All of a sudden, I knew it would have been better for this man if I had not known about his illness. It would be best if I perpetuated to see him as this healthy man I had imagined him to be.

With children it is true that they live up to your beliefs.  They are formed through the energy you invest in them emotionally, the deep beliefs you hold true, positive and negative. I am convinced it is the same with everything else.  With my thoughts and emotions, I not only create my reality, I create our reality, I co-create your reality. I’d better make sure I envision the best for us, for you.

As for the man on our campsite, whenever he crosses my mind, I try to think of him as the man who’s caravan was rammed by an other caravan, the youngest of two brothers, the man who took his bike in the morning to fetch a pain, a healthy man. Period.

I just spent three wonderful weeks at the French Riviera with my partner and daughter. We didn’t do much. We went to the beach occasionally, we ate fresh French bread and stinky cheeses, drank some yummy rosés, and we read some thrillers. But mostly, we ran after our one and a half year old daughter who was exploring a new and exiting world. She even learned to say ‘bonjour’ and ‘au revoir’. Needless to say, the French adored her.

I even learned some precious lessons these past weeks, which I will be sharing with you shortly. Hope to hear from you again soon. With love, Norea

P.S. One of my posts - Question everything - has been spammed enormously. I have taken it off the air. Grant, my apologies for the inconvenience!

Whether I’m 35, 62 or 89, I will always be a work in progress. I may, at times, feel like I’ve reached my destination. Until one day, I feel I need to move on. The change may be catapulted by some crisis or may have evolved slowly. When I do, I know I am only passing by. There are no final destinations, only stopovers.  Periods of growth alternated by periods of maturation.

My life is very quiet now.  I am content living my life. Everything is equally important. It feels like nothing is going on and at the same time I’m living the most precious life possible. For the first time, I’m consciously mastering a new stage in my life, preparing for something new to come. New periods of growth will come, when my life will feel chaotic, when I don’t know what to expect next. I will welcome these times, knowing nothing ever really changes. With every challenge, I have the opportunity to grow into me. With every stage, I become more transparent, a clearer manifestation of Life.