Leaving the City of Regret by Larry Harp

I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet I found myself packing rather hurriedly.  This trip was going to be unpleasant and I knew in advance that no real good would come of it.  I'm talking about my annual "Guilt Trip."

I got tickets to fly there on Wish I Had airlines.  It was an extremely short flight.  I got my baggage, which I could not check.  I chose to carry it myself all the way.  It was weighted down with a thousand memories of what might have been.   No one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the Regret City International Airport.  I say international because people from all over the world come to this dismal town.

As I checked into the Last Resort Hotel, I noticed that they would be hosting the year's most important event, the Annual Pity Party.  I was not going to miss that great social occasion.  Many of the towns leading citizens would be there.

First, there would be the Done family, you know, Should Have, Would Have and Could Have.  Then comes the I Had family.  You probably know ol' Wish and his clan.  Of course, the Opportunities would be present, Missed and Lost.   The biggest family would be the Yesterday's.  There are far too many of them to count, but each one would have a very sad story to share.

Then Shattered Dreams would surely make an appearance.  And It's Their Fault would regale us with stories (excuses) about how things had failed in his life, and each story would be loudly applauded by Don't Blame Me and I Couldn't Help It.

Well, to make a long story short, I went to this depressing party knowing that there would be no real benefit in doing so.  And, as usual, I became very depressed.  But as I thought about all of the stories of failures brought back from the past, it occurred to me that all of this trip and subsequent "pity party" could be cancelled by ME!  I started to truly realize that I did not have to be there.  I didn't have to be depressed.  One thing kept going through my mind.  I CAN'T CHANGE YESTERDAY, BUT I DO HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE TODAY A WONDERFUL DAY.  I can be happy, joyous, fulfilled, encouraged, as well as encouraging.  Knowing this, I left the City of Regret immediately and left no forwarding address.  Am I sorry for mistakes I've made in the past?  YES! But there is no physical way to undo them.

So, if you are planing a trip back to the City of Regret, please cancel all your reservations now.  Instead, take a trip to a place called Starting Again.  I liked it so much that I have now taken up permanent residence there.  My neighbors, the I Forgive Myselfs and the New Starts are so very helpful.  By the way, you don't have to carry around heavy baggage, because the load is lifted from your shoulders upon arrival.  God bless you in finding this great town.  If you can find it--it's in your own heart--please look me up.  I live on I Can Do It Street.

I AM... Enough

Are you enough? This is a question I frequently asked myself consciously and probably unconsciously. The answer to that question on one level or another was often "i" am not enough. This belief either drove me to the point of physical or emotional exhaustion or often stopped me dead in my tracks. I discovered to truly remember who and what I AM determines if I AM... Enough!


There is an aspect, a small "i" that will always want to prove to myself and others that I am enough. This aspect, no matter how hard it tries, no matter what it does or doesn't do, very rarely feels it is enough. I also know that "i" can't control this aspect. (Living in a culture that values productivity above all else feeds it.)  I've learned to accept it. I no longer run from this part of myself but surrender it to a greater part of me that lies within and without. I allow this fearful aspect that shouts.. "Not enough, not enough, not enough," to be embraced by my own compassionate nature and by a power that is larger than me. There is no greater freedom.

In my daily prayer/meditation I state clearly that I surrender all aspects of myself to the "I" that is greater than me. I lift those frightened places within me to Light and Love. I state that I align "my" will with "My" will and ask for Divine assistance for my day. This is something I just have to do on a daily basis! If "i" do not, the proverbial... "Not enough, not enough, not enough," raises its ugly head.

I often journal the messages that come through from the "I" when the smaller "i" quiets itself to hear. The following is what was received after a particular plea for help for feeling I was not enough...

"Know that you’re more than enough just as you are. There is nothing you have to prove to yourself or anyone else to claim your worthiness. You were created in the image of God-I AM with your own individual expression and unique gifts.  Your own personal gifts are enough! It does not matter what gifts others have. Focus on yours! You have everything you need within you to create a purposeful and rich life.

What undue pressures you put upon yourself! Do your best each day and know it is enough. Some days your best may seem better than others. Knowing you are enough does not have to be based on how much is accomplished on a daily basis. Each day you are enough. When you remind yourself of this, you will feel confident and self-assured. You will feel lighter and more joyous! Those around you will sense your joy and will feel more joyous themselves."   *

Are you enough?  The truth is, you are! Everyday and every moment, if you have to, surrender the aspect of yourself that says differently to that greater part within and without, to the power of Love, the Creator of all, I AM.  You are enough.  I AM... Enough!

Copyright 2012, Denna J. Shelton

*TwentyGems, Journey to the Self, (Gem #15) soon to be released.

My favorite "MiniGems" on Worthiness...

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Gratitude Power

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."~Thornton S. Wilder

Life is more complex and unpredictable than ever. Things are changing so drastically, both personally and globally, that sometimes it's difficult to assimilate it all.  Some of us are deeply concerned about the economy, the threats to our security at home and abroad, the environment, and education.  Others have serious family, work, and health issues or a combination of the above.  It is easy, especially these days, to be consumed with fear and laser focused on the negative.  Is it possible to hold a grateful heart in the midst of all the negativity we are bombarded with daily, primarily through the media?  Perhaps not easy initially, but certainly possible!  And not just possible, but actually imperative for our own well-being and the well-being of the whole.  There is power in gratitude that creates emotional and physical health.

Author and Researcher, Dr. Robert Emmons conducted eight years of intensive research on gratitude.  He found people who view life as a gift and consciously acquire an "attitude of gratitude"  will experience multiple advantages.  Here are just a few:

• Strengthened relationships
• More kindness
• Better able to deal with tragedy and crisis
• Exercised more regularly
• More optimistic
• More alertness, enthusiasm, determination
• More love of self and others

In a study of adults with neuromuscular disease, a 21-day intervention of gratitude resulted in a greater amount of energy, positive mood, a greater sense of feeling connected to others, better sleep duration and sleep quality, relative to a controlled group.  It is also important to note that all the grateful people in the study were grateful regardless of whether special events happened in their day or not.  Again, it was their grateful attitude.

Here are just a few ways of practicing gratitude that I've gathered over the years that work for me.  They have continually proven to shift my perception to the beauty that is all around me even on the worst days:

1. Recording things to be grateful for in a journal which was implemented in the above mentioned study.
2. Deliberately finding ways to thank others in my life.  For example,  "Have I told you lately how thankful I am for you?"
3. Not discounting kind compliments from others.  Pausing and deeply looking into their eyes with a heartfelt "thank you."  (This is very powerful for both parties!)
4. Taking my focus off the past and future and embracing the moments of the day with simple gratitude for everything.  This requires mindfulness--being aware.  (Also really requires a lot of practice!  I'm getting better.)
5. Beginning my meditation/prayer with a grateful heart.  (Much more loving experience than beginning with a plea.)

I believe more than ever we are needing to take a daily, active role in off-setting the negative that is happening in our world today.  Consciously choosing to be truly grateful in a heartfelt way is one powerful way to do just that. When we have emotional and physical health which a grateful attitude can provide, we feel happier. When we are happier, others around us tend to be happier as well.

Gratefully,

Denna

PS  My favorite Gems on Gratitude

Copyright 2012, Denna J. Shelton

Don't Die with Your Song Still in You!

"More important than learning how to recall things is finding ways to forget things that are cluttering the mind." ~ Eric Butterworth




I've found there is one clutter, above all others we must eliminate from our minds if we want to begin living the life of our dreams. It's worrying about what other people think! Worrying about what other people think! If we eliminate this one clutter, then we will be free to follow our dreams. So what can you do to clear the clutter; to stop worrying about what others think? I have two steps that worked for me!

#1 Monitor your "inner speech," make sure it is your own and it matches your dreams!

There's probably a long list of people, most of them relatives I'd bet, who have strong ideas about what you should be doing, who you should become, how you should act and how you should be thinking. If your thoughts are cluttered with what others expect of you, you'll continue to live a life that is not your own. So whenever you hear yourself saying anything like - "What would they think of me," or "what would people say," and "people will laugh at me," realize what these thoughts really represent. They are other people's opinions that you are allowing to prevent you from following your dreams. It was Dr. Seuss who said, "Say what you mean and act as you feel, because those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter." Monitor your "inner speech," make sure it is your own and it matches your dreams!


#2 Step out of your comfort zone and ACT toward you dream. In other words, you must DO, ACT, SAY whatever it is that you need to follow you dream without regard to what others think.

It can be a simple statement to someone you trust about your dream. It may be to enroll in a class that pertains to your dream. It may be to buy a book about your dream. It really doesn't matter what you do, so long as you DO something to get the ball rolling and keep it rolling. There's an old Irish Proverb that says, "You will never plough a field, if you only turn it over in your mind." Step out of your comfort zone and ACT toward your dream. You must DO, ACT, SAY whatever it is that you need to follow your dream without regard to what others think.

What makes you happy? What makes your heart sing? Not the heart of your relatives, friends or co-workers, but your heart? Whatever it may be, you can have that life, that dream if you will only stop worrying about what others think and take the simple actions steps toward that dream.

The world now more than ever is in need of your dream, your song. You have a song to sing! Don't Die with Your Song Still in You!


Affirmation:    "I AM free to sing my song!"


Denna J. Shelton, Copyright, 2012

JOY is You at the Deepest Level...

"Joy is you at the deepest level, and your joy is one with the infinite timeless Joy of this unbound universe."~Robert Ellwood



Recently,  I was invited  by a friend to attend a darshan by Mother Meera in Boone, NC.  She made it seem like a big deal and a privilege that Mother Meera had chosen Boone as the location of her first US visit. I didn't know anything about her or what a darshan was so I searched the Internet.  Mother Meera is Indian and considered a Divine Mother by her culture and followers.  A darshan is a ceremony whereby she bestows a blessing on the attendees.   She states very clearly that she is not here to convert anyone to her religion but to open your hearts to the Light.   Although still somewhat hesitant and skeptical, I was very curious. "What could it hurt?" I asked myself. 


Once I was nestled in my chair with about 200 other people in a conference room at a hotel in Boone and watched the staff demonstrate how the darshan would be done, I knew then just what it could hurt.  My knees!  During the darshan there is a continuous line of about a dozen people kneeling in front of the stage where Mother Meera is seated.  The line keeps moving until it's your turn to kneel in front of Mother Meera and receive the blessing. Of course, for those of us who have bad knees there's an option to stand while in line and to sit in a chair in front of her instead of kneeling.  But given I am about twenty years younger than those who actually took that option, I decided to endure the pain of kneeling.  Nothing like your own prevailing pride at your first darshan!


Once Mother Meera entered the room, you could have heard a pin drop and it remained that way the entire two hours while she blessed all 200 people.  I heard no coughing, sneezing, whispers, fidgeting in chairs, not anything.  Unbelievable silence!  My turn arrived and I was placed in the line with the other dozen people and I bent to my knees.   Cursing myself as I walked on my knees to the stage because I did not take the standing option, I was suddenly knelt before Mother Meera.  She placed her fingers at my temples for about 15 seconds then lifted my head and gazed into my eyes for about another 15 seconds. It seemed much longer or as if time stood still.   I do not know how my experience compares to others, in general, but here is mine:


I saw her big brown eyes as transparent.  It was as if I climbed right into them!   I felt my essence completely merged with hers and knew I was connected to her spirit.  I felt complete Oneness.   In that Oneness, I felt unadulterated Joy!  In an instant I knew that I , my spirit, was the same Joy as her spirit! I saw and felt the radiance of Light and unconditional Love with complete acceptance and non- judgment.  I've had many beautiful spiritual experiences in my life, from my baptismal as a young girl to Reiki attunements, prayer and meditation, but nothing quite like this. 


Conceptually and experientially, I've known our true nature is joy and love.  I've had many experiences of God's/Christ's unconditional Love and have experienced His/Her Joy.  I've believed and known that we are created in the likeness of God and that all the same attributes of Him/Her lie within us.  But experiencing the darhsan of Mother Meera has brought my knowing to a higher level.   Any doubts that my ego places in front of me about who I truly am, are shattered by choosing to remember the Joy, the Universal Light, that I saw and felt that day; to remember and most importantly FEEL - I AM... Joy! You are Joy! We are the Joy we seek! 




Gem #3,  I AM...  Joy video clip with upbeat music and joyful affirmations.   Digital downloads or DVDs of TwentyGems series available at http://www.twentygems.com/.

MINI GEMS ON JOY...  http://bit.ly/cbvgCg

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www.YouTube.com/Twentygems2020

Alice Inspires Me to Prune...

I've met a very lovely lady in the mountains of North Carolina, my relatively new home, who grows the most beautiful roses I've ever seen.  (The roses you see are from her rose garden.)  Her name is Alice.  She is 80 years old and has always lived in the house where she was born.  She and her husband of sixty years have raised five children of their own there.  She is a petite, very pretty lady of average height and wears her beautiful white hair about shoulder length.  She always looks impeccably groomed and stylish.  She is amazingly active and  sharp as a tack mentally.   I've told her that I want to be just like her when I grow up!  In admiration of her and her roses, she has inspired me to tackle the old and unkempt rose bushes at the side of my cottage. 

In all my enthusiasm to begin creating beautiful roses just like Alice, I purchased a very large book on roses.  It is chock full of information on every rose created from original species roses to recent hybrid teas and grandilofras, from bushes and shrubs to ramblers and climbers, and from tree roses to miniatures. I had no idea there were so many types of roses! 

It took me a while, actually, to understand exactly what kind of roses I have.  More than once, I thought there must be a rose book for dummies!  However, after much debate, I think (not certain) I have rambling roses and oh, what a mess they were in!  As I began chopping, cutting and pruning, I felt pretty certain I had bitten off more than I could chew.  It also didn't take me long to realize, just brilliant on my part too, that  I needed long sleeves opposed to my bathing suit top!  Hey, I was hoping to get a nice tan while tackling this project. 

As I finally got into the rhythm of pruning, I continually thought, "These poor rose bushes!"  Their roots and canes had not seen the light of the sun in who knows how long.  Their stems were horribly overgrown and entangled.  No wonder they were no longer producing beautiful roses.   There were many dead canes that weren't  capable of producing roses at all.  Their soil was certainly depleted of any nourishment.

Later that evening after reading another chapter on rambling roses in my rose book, I began reflecting on my pruning job earlier and how great it felt to clear all that entangled mess.  It then dawned on me that metaphorically, many of our habitual and frequent negative thoughts and beliefs about ourselves cause  entangled messes as had my rose bushes.  We become so confused and conflicted in our minds that we no longer produce beautiful words or deeds. The darkness created by our thoughts allows very little room for the Light of God to permeate our hearts. 

It's springtime--time for new beginnings!  Are you in need of pruning old beliefs or negative thoughts that produce no beauty?  Have you forgotten the very roots from which you blossom?  In Truth, you are a beautiful creation of the Creator of All.  God-like qualities reside in you!  You are an unique expression of the Divine!   Only your negative thoughts make it seem not so!  Prune the negative thoughts and beliefs that create feelings of separation and lifelessness.  Allow the Light of God to permeate your heart, correcting your own thought system, and producing new growth!  It will feel great to clear all that entangled mess!

I'm feeling confident my rose bushes are going to produce beautiful roses in just a few weeks.  When they do, I will invite Alice over to showcase her inspiration!   My mental pruning after my rose bushes experience has brought me new fruits or feelings of Joy, Love and Peace.   May the Light and Love of God beam strongly upon you! 


Video clip of Gem #7, "I AM... Love" from "TwentyGems" series...

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http://www.twentygemsworkshops.com/

www.YouTube.com/twentygems2020

Copyright 2012 Denna J. Shelton

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone - Building a Stronger Mind, Body & Spirit

Today at the gym as I thought about moving up in free-weights, I dreaded the challenge.  I knew there would be a lot more effort, awkwardness, frustration, and uncertainty.  I also knew that it was beyond time for me to step out of my comfort zone where I was currently training, if I wanted to create more muscle and strength.  I had become stagnant in my workouts. 

As I moved up the dumbbell rack and looked behind me at the lower free-weights which I had grown accustomed and comfortable, I reminded myself that I would get comfortable again in moving up. I also knew the rewards and gratification I would achieve by pushing myself forward with courage and discipline.  I'd have stronger bones, a leaner body, more endurance, more strength, and a higher metabolism.  I'd have overall better health.   Then it hit me like a ton of bricks!  There's a direct correlation between muscle growth and mental/spiritual growth.  I needed to move up by once again stepping out of my comfort zone for mental/spiritual growth.  I had become stagnant here, as well.

"Stepping out of your comfort zone for personal growth" is not a new revelation by any means.  It has been said over and over again by many famous and successful people such as Brian Tracy, "Move out of your comfort zone.  You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new."  But today, the analogy of building muscle to building mental/spiritual growth really hit home for me.  Here is why:

To build muscle you have to progressively overload.  You must push the muscle to its limits or to fatigue by the last repetition.  In doing so, the muscle fibers tear or break down.  Technically, you become weaker while you are actually lifting.  While you rest is when the muscle fibers rebuild and become stronger than before in preparation for the anticipated demand or workout.  The key to building strength is to break down the muscle fibers with progressive overload of the targeted muscle.

I believe the same process happens for mental/spiritual growth.  Although, I don't believe it is necessary to "overload" or push yourself to "fatigue" in order to grow, I do believe you must move out of your comfort zone.  To do this, there is a breaking down, just like in the muscle, that must occur in order to become stronger in who you truly are  -- a magnificent expression of the Divine!  The "breaking down" is often needed in your belief systems or patterns that hold you back.  So how do you change these beliefs or patterns that hold you back from expressing your divine magnificence and rebuild new ones?

First of all, you must become aware of these beliefs or patterns.  Awareness is monumental for growth and positive change.  The surest way to obtain awareness is to spend quiet time with your Self - your Soul!  Find a spiritual practice or a form of meditation that quiets the mind chatter and allows you to listen to the gentle voice within.  It will always reveal to you the truth and provides divine guidance which empowers your life.  Then you must choose to act upon this guidance by stepping out of your comfort zone.  Even  though you know it won't be easy at first, you'll be shaky, uncertain of your ability to perform and probably frustrated at times.  But you also must know there are wonderful rewards and gratifications by pushing yourself forward with courage and discipline.  You will experience tremendous growth, expansion and become stronger mentally and spiritually; living a life of joy, passion and purpose.  This also greatly affects those around you in a positive way which is so desperately needed for the well-being of the world.

You are a divine expression of your Creator.  You have unique talents and gifts that only you can deliver in your own special way.  Do not underestimate the power that God has given you and the effect or difference it makes in your own life and in the lives of others!  Growth does not occur by settling or being comfortable with the status quo.  You must step out of your comfort zone with all of its awkwardness and doubts.  The rewards that follow are so worth the effort; a life full of joy, passion and purpose!  I know what I must do next and I am ready.  How about you?


A video clip to affirm Perfect Health in Mind, Body, & Spirit...

For more video clip samples with positive affirmations, click here

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Denna J. Shelton, Copyright 2012

I AM... Love, Gem #7

"The most important thing in life is to learn to give out love and to let it come in." ~ Morrie Schwartz


Everything and everyone is a component of Divine Love. Each person you come into contact with is either giving love to you or asking for love from you. Be aware of the "love flow" factor: the amount of love coming in versus the amount of love going out, and then seek to balance the flow of love in all of your relationships.

When you act in loving ways toward yourself and others, you are expressing your true self--Love. When others demonstrate kindness to you, they are acting according to who they truly are. The opposite is also true. When we do not act in loving ways toward ourselves and others, we have fogotten that we are Love.

If you detect a weak flow of love, check to see if you are holding onto anger or resentment. Releasing the anger and forgiving yourself or others will create the flow of love you both desire.

Remember... You are Love!


Affirmation:  I AM... Love. I openly receive and give Love. I love myself and others. My love is unconditional. Love flows freely in my life.  I AM... Love.

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