Speaking of Spirit

Dr. Barbara Fredrickson is a noted researcher into the science of positive thinking and well-being. Internationally recognized and respected, she offers people an opportunity to re-train our minds to see and create positivity, thereby, increasing our overall well-being. Needless to say, I was drawn to her work. I, also, believe that by keeping a positive attitude, we can cope with life better. As Dr. Fredrickson says, this doesn't mean that bad things don't happen. What it means is that we are better able to maneuver through difficult times without getting lost in pain, grief or despair.   For the next two weeks, I will be hosting a Facebook event to help us all learn techniques for increasing the "meta-moments of positivity" in our lives. The accumulation of these moments is what changes our body chemistry and our minds. (Join us here:   https://www.facebook.com/events/269054740231593/  ) May we all learn to see the small gifts of kindness given us througho...

Let's Be Brave by Edgar A. Guest Let's be brave when the laughter dies And the tears come into our troubled eyes, Let's cling to the faith and the old belief When the skies grow gray with the clouds of grief, Let's bear the sorrow and hurt and pain And wait till the laughter comes again... Let's be brave when the joy departs Till peace shall come to our troubled hearts, For the tears must fall and the rain come down And each brow be pressed to the thorny crown; Yet after the dark shall the sun arise, So let's be brave when the laughter dies. May all those who have battled the ravages of hurricane, cyclone, floods and earthquake be blessed with quick relief, loving aid and compassionate hands to help them through this dark time.

  The news this week has been horrific.  I know that I cannot stop the hate, the poverty, the wars, the disease or the oppression.  I also know that continual immersion into the negative aspects of life eats away at ones ability to remain hopeful.  This is why I disconnected my TV after 9/11.  The hate mongers were terrorizing me in my own home and I wasn't going to remain placid. In many of the scriptures from various faith paths, followers are reminded that during times of pain and sorrow to "turn your eyes upon the Lord/Beloved/Source of Hope/Creator/Almighty/Light of the Divine." But how can we do this? What are our alternatives? For me, the answer came as I left work after the 9/11 attacks.  I was working at a hospital and needed to see a patient facing surgery.  As I walked across the parking lot to the hospital, my mind and soul were struggling to regain balance.  In desperation, I prayed, "God help me!"  At that moment, I no...

Choices!  Everyday, we face millions of them.  Some are split-second, done without even thinking; others we deliberate on for hours; still others can be so agonizing, we feel we have no choice at all. "Everything in your life is a reflection a choice you have made.  If you want a different result, make a different choice." (Author unknown) The thing is, though, when we are in the middle of untenable situations, the entire world grows dark, or rather, appears to grow dark. We can make the choice to fall deeper into the darkness or turn around.  We can walk back down the tunnel we entered, as difficult as it may be, walk towards the light until we emerge from the pain and suffering that seems to overwhelm us, or not. The choice is ours. Author, Mandy Hale said, " Growth is painful, change is painful, but nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don’t belong." Unfortunately, many of us think that we somehow belong in a place of pain and suffering....

  By Marcusmoseley (Own work)  via Wikimedia Commons Blessed, Holy Source of All, once again we are shocked by the violence - senseless violence. Once again, we call to you to mend our broken hearts - our broken lives. Once again, we search our beings for hope -  for forgiveness. Blessed One,  help us to look at the true cause for this insanity. Help us to see into the heart of such unspeakable evil. Help us to face the demons of our making and stop  that which seem unstoppable. Holy Parent, teach us to stand against those in power that refuse to make the changes needed. Teach us to stand strong against those who live in hate with the world. Teach us to stand in loving-kindness, even when all around us run away. Great Spirit, hold those in South Carolina close to your Heart. Hold those who have suffered from hate and violence in your Love. And, hold us all in your Grace so that we can do what needs to be done  to end this insan...

A popular song in my family of four daughters is "We Are Family." In one of my English as a second language classes, my multi-national students adopted the song to express their delight in finding friendship in other women whose cultures were so different, yet so similar to their own. We ARE family!  Therefore, when one of the members of the family is in pain, or trouble, or is hurt, we all feel for them.   Over the past year, too often, we have been faced with images and stories of members of the human family who are suffering in unimaginable ways.  As in any family, there are times when we are helpless to change the suffering.  But, we can do something...we can pray.   I know from my own life that prayer works.  Prayer changes situations that at first seemed impossible.  One thing to remember, though.  Prayer always gets answered, but not always the way WE want.  So, we much carefully form our intentions and when we p...

When we become ill, our entire spirit is lowered.  We are more susceptible to human failings like anger, and despair.  We make unreasonable demands on ourselves as well as others.   Chronic illness - the kind that lasts, and lasts and never goes away - is the most insidious, especially if, on the outside, the person looks "normal," for instance, someone with migraines or chronic pain syndrome. They look OK, but they are hurting beyond most people's understanding of the word pain. We also know that there are many people who become total infants when they get sick.  They moan and groan, demanding everyone cater to them.  They bark angry orders at those that are trying their best to give care.  They worry, needlessly  for the most part, that something awful is happening but no one is telling them.  What to do? First, we must realize that our spirit is being lowered - our energy level is being drained by our body, which is doing its be...