"Man's chief delusion is his conviction that there are causes other than his own state of consciousness. All that befalls a man--all that is done by him--all that comes from him--happens as a result of his state of consciousness. A man's consciousness is all that he thinks and desires and loves, all that he believes is true and consents to. That is why a change of consciousness is necessary before you can change your outer world. Rain falls as a result of a change in the temperature in the higher regions of the atmosphere, so, in like manner, a change of circumstance happens as a result of a change in your state of consciousness. ----Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans12:2)---- To be transformed, the whole basis of your thoughts must change. But your thoughts cannot change unless you have new ideas, for you think from your ideas. All transformation begins with an intense, burning desire to be transformed." - The Power of Awareness by Neville Goddard (you can actually download this book for free, its in the public domain! http://archive.org/details/ThePowerOfAwareness)
I love reconnecting with some of the basic principles of consciousness studies. What jumped out immediately in this reading was the fragment "...your thoughts cannot change unless you have new ideas..." Some may ask, "why would I want to change what I think" (or believe). It is easy to go to an extreme with a statement like this and think "Does this mean I don't know anything?" which can then result in complete self doubt or defensiveness, "I'm not stupid, I know plenty, I have been making it just fine." What this reading and this statement reminds me of and invites us all to remember is that our thoughts and beliefs create our lives. Here is an example, two people could be going to the same meeting at work about planning for the upcoming employee summer picnic, person #1 is excited about the meeting and looking forward to collaborating with members from other areas in the company to create a fun outing for the entire company, person #2 walks into the meeting thinking "here we go, another opportunity for the company to tell me how to live my life, not only do they tell me how to do my work, now they are going to tell us how to have fun!" The thing is both of these individuals will sit in the same planning meeting and have completely different experiences of Life! What is the difference? Consciousness and belief.
There are times in my life when I am like person #1 and there are for sure times when I am like #2. What's usually an indicator that my ideas, thoughts and beliefs aren't serving me in a given moment is how I feel. So I pay attention to my feelings and in a moment when I feel angry, confused, scared or some other feeling that I associate with not feeling "good", I have the opportunity to pause and ask "what am I believing about myself or someone/thing else right now?"
In those instances, if I do not choose to believe or think a new idea, or at least open myself to a new idea, guess what....I will get more of the same experience. This is what I believe Neville Goddard was referring to in the quote above, "...a change of consciousness is necessary before you can change your outer world." The next time you wish to change someone or something else, take a moment and see if there is a new idea you can open up to. By simply asking that question we open ourselves to new possibilities in life.
This may all sound great on the screen, but you find yourself asking well how in the world do I "DO" this? It all begins with practice, for me meditation and prayer. I meditate everyday and pray everyday. In prayer I affirm the new ideas and in meditation I sit allowing the new ideas to percolate and reveal well...something new.
I also get counseling, mentoring, coaching and other support on a regular monthly basis. If you are seeking support, I would love to be that support for you or point you in the direction of someone that can support you in discovering some new ideas about yourself and how life works.
Feel free to contact me if you are seeking support in discovering new ideas for your life.
Love, Light & Laughter!
Darrell
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Practice the Core of My Life!
The philosophies and principles of what I have been studying for the past 10 plus years ultimately all point to one thing...prove it! We/I can read about all kind of great ideas, philosophy techniques and doctrines, but if we never practice them we will truly never, ever "know" its truth and wisdom. Thus, practice has become the the core of my life. I love to read up on things and have an intellectual understanding of it all, but if I don't practice what I am reading about, it really doesn't mean anything. Often times in classes and workshops I teach, or counseling sessions I offer, a participant will ask "okay, but how do I know this stuff will work?" Well really, you won't?...you won't know unless you try it out and practice it for yourself.
That is why I have invited so many people to meditate during this meditation marathon. I write, try to come up with inspirational thoughts, and quote great minds of old, but my goal with all of this is to guide myself and others into a greater practice of experiencing and knowing the greatness of Love in our lives. One of the greatest ways to begin practicing is in meditation, talking to no one but the self for a few minutes everyday.
One of my greatest teachers Ernest Holmes wrote, "...what the world needs is spiritual conviction, followed by spiritual experience. I would rather see a student of this Science prove its Principle than to have him repeat all the words of wisdom that have ever been uttered. It is far easier to teach the Truth than it is to practice it. But the practice of Truth is personal to each, and in the long run no once can live our life for us. To each is given what he needs and the gifts of heaven come alike to all. How we shall use these gifts is all that matters! To hold one's thought steadfastly to the constructive, to that which endures, and to the Truth, may not be easy in a rapidly changing world, but to the one who makes the attempt much is guaranteed. The essence of spiritual mind healing -- and of all true religious philosophy -- is an inner realization of the Presence of Perfection within and around about. It is the hope of heaven, the Voice of God proclaiming: "I am that which thou art; thou art that which I am."
As a musician, I can read about theory, but until I practice and experience that theory it is simply a bunch of words and notes on a page. As a minister, a counselor, and regardless of title, as a person desiring to experience and know Love, God, Spirit as and in my life, I can read all I want, but until I practice and experience that theory it is simply a bunch of words on a page. I reach out again and invite whomever is reading this to join me in better understanding Love through practicing it!
Looking for support, counseling, classes or workshops to support you in your practice?
Contact me at darrelljonesspirit@gmail.com or call 773-450-3865.
Love, Light & Practice,
Darrell
That is why I have invited so many people to meditate during this meditation marathon. I write, try to come up with inspirational thoughts, and quote great minds of old, but my goal with all of this is to guide myself and others into a greater practice of experiencing and knowing the greatness of Love in our lives. One of the greatest ways to begin practicing is in meditation, talking to no one but the self for a few minutes everyday.
One of my greatest teachers Ernest Holmes wrote, "...what the world needs is spiritual conviction, followed by spiritual experience. I would rather see a student of this Science prove its Principle than to have him repeat all the words of wisdom that have ever been uttered. It is far easier to teach the Truth than it is to practice it. But the practice of Truth is personal to each, and in the long run no once can live our life for us. To each is given what he needs and the gifts of heaven come alike to all. How we shall use these gifts is all that matters! To hold one's thought steadfastly to the constructive, to that which endures, and to the Truth, may not be easy in a rapidly changing world, but to the one who makes the attempt much is guaranteed. The essence of spiritual mind healing -- and of all true religious philosophy -- is an inner realization of the Presence of Perfection within and around about. It is the hope of heaven, the Voice of God proclaiming: "I am that which thou art; thou art that which I am."
As a musician, I can read about theory, but until I practice and experience that theory it is simply a bunch of words and notes on a page. As a minister, a counselor, and regardless of title, as a person desiring to experience and know Love, God, Spirit as and in my life, I can read all I want, but until I practice and experience that theory it is simply a bunch of words on a page. I reach out again and invite whomever is reading this to join me in better understanding Love through practicing it!
Looking for support, counseling, classes or workshops to support you in your practice?
Contact me at darrelljonesspirit@gmail.com or call 773-450-3865.
Love, Light & Practice,
Darrell
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Meditation Marathon Day 7 - What is this? and a specific way to meditate
So it has been a week since the meditation marathon has started and what a great week it has been! I am truly inspired by all of the yes' on Facebook to practicing meditation and the face to face conversations that have taken place in the last 7 days. Some of you have had questions on how to meditate and when or for how long. There has been some discussion as to why call it a marathon. Some want to know how I "plan" what I write and so on.
I put a short explanation of the meditation marathon on the Facebook event page, but maybe I will expand more here. Basically, earlier this year I did my own meditation marathon as I came to the realization that for the last 3 - 4 months of my schooling and ministerial licensing that I needed a constant, steady and focused spiritual practice to keep me grounded as I approached the end of schooling and moved closer to the question "Now what?". I finished school successfully and passed my panels for licensing with ease and grace. I have landed a wonderful new job and continue to explore how my life as a minister, spiritual counselor and teacher can continue to expand. However in the past month, I noticed myself feeling a bit unsettled, anxious and grumpy. I then came to the realization that I needed another constant, steady and focused spiritual practice full of intention to ground me again. So I decided to do another meditation marathon. I intentionally call it a marathon because I am committing to this practice not for a week or a month even but until the end of the year. The practice will for sure go on longer than that, but when I got the idea to ask friends and family to join me in this I thought it would be a good idea to give it some sort of book end and the end of the year felt right. I like the word marathon because it implies distance and endurance.
I don't think meditation needs to be hard, however, to continue to meditate everyday regardless of what is going on in our lives, to me, mimics the focus and determination required in training and the actual running of a race (no I haven't done a full marathon, but I did run a half marathon and trust me...it is no joke! grin). So I don't want to scare or intimidate anyone from joining this practice, but I also want folks to know that this is a powerful journey to commit to. There is no wrong way to do it, there is no one watching and counting how many days you do or don't meditate. The reason I invited folks to do this with me, was it is always easier to do things in groups I have found. AND one of the things I absolutely love is community and I thought "you know there really is a powerful community of folks on Facebook, wouldn't it be fun to see how many people would want to do this and share this experience?" And low and behold there is a resounding yes, literally friends all over the country and world are meditating and joining in this collective meditation marathon...so wherever you are know you aren't alone, if you feel alone simply post something on the event page and I guarantee you will feel the connection.
As for "how" to meditate or for how long, that is strictly up to you. Obviously there is no actual place for us to meet and do this together, so the practice is on your own, at work, home, on the bus wherever, however I highly recommend a space that is special to you. You can meditate for 5 minutes or 50 minutes, the length right now is not important, rather the daily practice is. So as for length, do what feels comfortable and that which allows you to be successful everyday. As for how, I will sprinkle different techniques throughout the marathon, for now simply sit in the silence or with some light music.
The "type" of meditation I suggest for this week is called contemplative meditation. This generally means taking some sort of short inspirational/thought provoking reading and sitting with it, reading it over a few times and then closing your eyes and asking yourself, "what does this reading have to say to me today?" and let your heart, mind and soul take it from there.
Let this quote from Joel S. Goldsmith's Practicing the Presence inspire what you might read: "Every person who has known dissatisfaction, incompleteness, and frustration will some day learn that there is only on missing link in his entire plan of harmonious living. That is the practice of the presence of God(use another word if God pushes a button, try Spirit, Love, Wisdom, Wholeness or Grace)--consciously, daily and hourly, abiding in some great spiritual truth of scripture, and it makes no difference which scripture: Christian, Hebrew, Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist or Muslim. The Word of God, given to man through inspired saints, sages, seers, or revelators--this is what we need, in any language, from any country, just as long as it is a universal truth".
Have a great week all. Meditate and contemplate well!
Love, Light & Laughter,
Darrell
darrelljonesspirit@gmail.com
773-450-3865
I put a short explanation of the meditation marathon on the Facebook event page, but maybe I will expand more here. Basically, earlier this year I did my own meditation marathon as I came to the realization that for the last 3 - 4 months of my schooling and ministerial licensing that I needed a constant, steady and focused spiritual practice to keep me grounded as I approached the end of schooling and moved closer to the question "Now what?". I finished school successfully and passed my panels for licensing with ease and grace. I have landed a wonderful new job and continue to explore how my life as a minister, spiritual counselor and teacher can continue to expand. However in the past month, I noticed myself feeling a bit unsettled, anxious and grumpy. I then came to the realization that I needed another constant, steady and focused spiritual practice full of intention to ground me again. So I decided to do another meditation marathon. I intentionally call it a marathon because I am committing to this practice not for a week or a month even but until the end of the year. The practice will for sure go on longer than that, but when I got the idea to ask friends and family to join me in this I thought it would be a good idea to give it some sort of book end and the end of the year felt right. I like the word marathon because it implies distance and endurance.
I don't think meditation needs to be hard, however, to continue to meditate everyday regardless of what is going on in our lives, to me, mimics the focus and determination required in training and the actual running of a race (no I haven't done a full marathon, but I did run a half marathon and trust me...it is no joke! grin). So I don't want to scare or intimidate anyone from joining this practice, but I also want folks to know that this is a powerful journey to commit to. There is no wrong way to do it, there is no one watching and counting how many days you do or don't meditate. The reason I invited folks to do this with me, was it is always easier to do things in groups I have found. AND one of the things I absolutely love is community and I thought "you know there really is a powerful community of folks on Facebook, wouldn't it be fun to see how many people would want to do this and share this experience?" And low and behold there is a resounding yes, literally friends all over the country and world are meditating and joining in this collective meditation marathon...so wherever you are know you aren't alone, if you feel alone simply post something on the event page and I guarantee you will feel the connection.
As for "how" to meditate or for how long, that is strictly up to you. Obviously there is no actual place for us to meet and do this together, so the practice is on your own, at work, home, on the bus wherever, however I highly recommend a space that is special to you. You can meditate for 5 minutes or 50 minutes, the length right now is not important, rather the daily practice is. So as for length, do what feels comfortable and that which allows you to be successful everyday. As for how, I will sprinkle different techniques throughout the marathon, for now simply sit in the silence or with some light music.
The "type" of meditation I suggest for this week is called contemplative meditation. This generally means taking some sort of short inspirational/thought provoking reading and sitting with it, reading it over a few times and then closing your eyes and asking yourself, "what does this reading have to say to me today?" and let your heart, mind and soul take it from there.
Let this quote from Joel S. Goldsmith's Practicing the Presence inspire what you might read: "Every person who has known dissatisfaction, incompleteness, and frustration will some day learn that there is only on missing link in his entire plan of harmonious living. That is the practice of the presence of God(use another word if God pushes a button, try Spirit, Love, Wisdom, Wholeness or Grace)--consciously, daily and hourly, abiding in some great spiritual truth of scripture, and it makes no difference which scripture: Christian, Hebrew, Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist or Muslim. The Word of God, given to man through inspired saints, sages, seers, or revelators--this is what we need, in any language, from any country, just as long as it is a universal truth".
Have a great week all. Meditate and contemplate well!
Love, Light & Laughter,
Darrell
darrelljonesspirit@gmail.com
773-450-3865
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Distraction, Control & Showing Up- Day 2
Well this morning was interesting. I chose to listen to music this morning as I meditated. It usually allows me a quick deep dive into my heart for meditation...well, not so much this morning. I like to use Pandora's Calm Meditation channel, but one song came on that had chanting that wasn't calming at all, it just irritated me.
So I started fumbling around with my phone (I was using it as the device for music) and it was slow, not pulling up the screen very fast, so I started pushing a bunch of buttons and nothing happened, my frustration began to increase, then...AWARENESS! I was trying so hard to control my meditation this morning it was painful. Then all I could do was chuckle a bit at myself for my need to control the music and came to the insight, "Darrell, all you need to do is show up and that is what you did this morning!"
I was making my meditation time wrong this morning, because my mind was ping-ponging all over the place, and then I remembered that just a couple days ago, I wasn't meditating, now I am....all I need to do is show up and let God, Spirit, Life, Universal Wisdom do the rest.
So I step into my day with the awareness that I like to control things, but all I really need to do is show up and foster my relationship with whatever is and an immediate shift begins to take place.
I set the intention today to simply show up and be aware. In the midst of life's distractions and my need to control and make everything okay, all I need to do is show up and be mindful and everything will be okay...because everything is always okay. I am grateful once again to cultivate a powerful relationship with the spirit of my own being, the Spirit of life itself!
Namaste, Ashe, Amen, And So It Is!
So I started fumbling around with my phone (I was using it as the device for music) and it was slow, not pulling up the screen very fast, so I started pushing a bunch of buttons and nothing happened, my frustration began to increase, then...AWARENESS! I was trying so hard to control my meditation this morning it was painful. Then all I could do was chuckle a bit at myself for my need to control the music and came to the insight, "Darrell, all you need to do is show up and that is what you did this morning!"
I was making my meditation time wrong this morning, because my mind was ping-ponging all over the place, and then I remembered that just a couple days ago, I wasn't meditating, now I am....all I need to do is show up and let God, Spirit, Life, Universal Wisdom do the rest.
So I step into my day with the awareness that I like to control things, but all I really need to do is show up and foster my relationship with whatever is and an immediate shift begins to take place.
I set the intention today to simply show up and be aware. In the midst of life's distractions and my need to control and make everything okay, all I need to do is show up and be mindful and everything will be okay...because everything is always okay. I am grateful once again to cultivate a powerful relationship with the spirit of my own being, the Spirit of life itself!
Namaste, Ashe, Amen, And So It Is!
Monday, September 17, 2012
Making The Time to Meditate
Wow it has been months since I have taken the time to write in my blog.....hmmm, seems like I have said that before about my meditation practice or for that matter everything in my life "wow its been a long time since I exercised, journaled, taken a nap, laughed, cried, danced...insert whatever you like." It seems sometimes, life moves in and something takes ahold of our attention and one day we wake up and say to ourselves, "what happened?" Where did my intention go, what happened to my New Year's resolution, what about my vision board. Why am I feeling so out of sorts, angry, confused, frustrated et cetera. I have found myself in this space over and over again in my life...in fact I am in that very space right now.
I have chosen to live a full life. Any of you that know me or have tried to book a counseling session or even grab a cup of coffee or lunch with me, know I keep a very full schedule. That is partially how I am wired to be this life time, I will always have a full life and a full schedule. However, I have noticed lately that the full feeling is turning into a feeling of bloatedness if that makes sense. Fullness is such a wonderful and beautiful thing, but when I am bloated it is usually indicative of swelling, inflammation, infection or irritation. This is true in my physical body as well as my mental, emotional and spiritual body. When my life feels bloated as opposed to full, I start asking myself questions...lots of questions. Why do I feel this way? What am I doing that is causing this irritation? OR What am I NOT doing that is causing this irritation? Would I choose to feel this way, if not then what am I choosing? The list of questions can go on and on and they often do. The thing that I let myself do is question, there isn't necessarily one single question that is the "right" one, rather the process of inquiry, shakes me up a bit and allows me to open up to some much needed awareness. Sometimes it is deep profound insight, sometimes it is quite simply but still just as powerful.
This time around the question that brought the insight was "What am I NOT doing that is causing this irritation within me? What am I NOT doing that is causing this feeling of my life being bloated?" The simple answer came as I prepared to write this article. I wanted to start writing and found myself a bit scattered in thought and finally took 10 minutes to turn on some soothing music, close my eyes and breath...yes that is right, I took a few moments to meditate. Oh my gosh, how good did it feel! I touched something familiar in those 10 minutes that I hadn't been experiencing much in the past month or so...peace, space, grace, self love and a sense of wholeness and things being right. Man it felt so good to meditate and simply be still...and in the recognition of that feeling good, I became aware that my daily meditation practice had fallen apart. I was dedicated to my meditation marathon earlier this year and was meditating every single date without fail. I attained my "goal" of graduation and licensing to become a minister which was my motivation to meditate. It gave me "reason" if you will as I knew it would be a big time of change and transition and I could use the internal support. I have continued to do some sort of spiritual practice almost everyday, but my dedication to sitting in the stillness everyday started to waiver and eventually fell to only a handful of times a week if that!
Wow, as I sat meditating preparing to write I found myself saying "wow, it has been a long time since I've meditated like this!" As I came out of my meditation I was immediately drawn to this quote from the wise Henry Ford "Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently."
Oh thank goodness! I simply get to begin again, I start another meditation marathon again...right now! Won't you join me. There is nothing to figure out about why we have or haven't been meditating the way we want to, we simply start again. This time I begin my meditation marathon again with a little more intelligence...there is nothing to meditate for or towards really, I simply must meditate. So I begin again....won't you join me?
I have chosen to live a full life. Any of you that know me or have tried to book a counseling session or even grab a cup of coffee or lunch with me, know I keep a very full schedule. That is partially how I am wired to be this life time, I will always have a full life and a full schedule. However, I have noticed lately that the full feeling is turning into a feeling of bloatedness if that makes sense. Fullness is such a wonderful and beautiful thing, but when I am bloated it is usually indicative of swelling, inflammation, infection or irritation. This is true in my physical body as well as my mental, emotional and spiritual body. When my life feels bloated as opposed to full, I start asking myself questions...lots of questions. Why do I feel this way? What am I doing that is causing this irritation? OR What am I NOT doing that is causing this irritation? Would I choose to feel this way, if not then what am I choosing? The list of questions can go on and on and they often do. The thing that I let myself do is question, there isn't necessarily one single question that is the "right" one, rather the process of inquiry, shakes me up a bit and allows me to open up to some much needed awareness. Sometimes it is deep profound insight, sometimes it is quite simply but still just as powerful.
This time around the question that brought the insight was "What am I NOT doing that is causing this irritation within me? What am I NOT doing that is causing this feeling of my life being bloated?" The simple answer came as I prepared to write this article. I wanted to start writing and found myself a bit scattered in thought and finally took 10 minutes to turn on some soothing music, close my eyes and breath...yes that is right, I took a few moments to meditate. Oh my gosh, how good did it feel! I touched something familiar in those 10 minutes that I hadn't been experiencing much in the past month or so...peace, space, grace, self love and a sense of wholeness and things being right. Man it felt so good to meditate and simply be still...and in the recognition of that feeling good, I became aware that my daily meditation practice had fallen apart. I was dedicated to my meditation marathon earlier this year and was meditating every single date without fail. I attained my "goal" of graduation and licensing to become a minister which was my motivation to meditate. It gave me "reason" if you will as I knew it would be a big time of change and transition and I could use the internal support. I have continued to do some sort of spiritual practice almost everyday, but my dedication to sitting in the stillness everyday started to waiver and eventually fell to only a handful of times a week if that!
Wow, as I sat meditating preparing to write I found myself saying "wow, it has been a long time since I've meditated like this!" As I came out of my meditation I was immediately drawn to this quote from the wise Henry Ford "Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently."
Oh thank goodness! I simply get to begin again, I start another meditation marathon again...right now! Won't you join me. There is nothing to figure out about why we have or haven't been meditating the way we want to, we simply start again. This time I begin my meditation marathon again with a little more intelligence...there is nothing to meditate for or towards really, I simply must meditate. So I begin again....won't you join me?
Thursday, July 5, 2012
The Power of Listening...
"Silence is a source of great strength." Lao-Tzu
"If speaking is silver, then listening is gold." Turkish Proverb
"You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time." Scott M. Peck
"Who speaks, sows; Who listens, reaps." Argentine Proverb
There are many ways to say it...there is great power in listening. There is power in listening in a conversation, truly listening not thinking of what to say next, but being fully present to what someone is sharing, whether it is a family member, friend or co-worker. I daily find myself asking "what did you say" or "could you repeat that". The skill of listening is truly that a skill, one that requires attention and constant practice. Challenge yourself today to listen a little deeper and see what your world reveals.
There is also power in listening to oneself, whether journaling, meditating, praying out loud, heck I have even audio recorded myself just talking off the cuff on a thought. When we really listen to ourselves we can really understand and know what we believe, not from an intellectual space, but what is deep below the surface in our subconscious. Create some sort of space for yourself this week a couple of times to listen to yourself, meditate and do your best not to edit what you think, just listen and observe your thoughts. Take 5 minutes to journal on "The greatest joy in my life right now is..." and see what comes to light.
Find somone to partner with and ask them to share something dear to their heart, you could have them share from the statement above "The greatest joy in my life right now is..." and really listen. When they are complete, reflect back to them what you heard and listen again to their feedback on your listening ability. There is nothing right or wrong about this practice, it is simply an awareness exercise.
One of the greatest gifts anyone can give another is the gift of listening. I truly believe that is one of the gifts I am called to give in my counseling practice. Give yourself the gift of being heard and book a session with me today!
Love, Light & Laughter,
Darrell
"If speaking is silver, then listening is gold." Turkish Proverb
"You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time." Scott M. Peck
"Who speaks, sows; Who listens, reaps." Argentine Proverb
There are many ways to say it...there is great power in listening. There is power in listening in a conversation, truly listening not thinking of what to say next, but being fully present to what someone is sharing, whether it is a family member, friend or co-worker. I daily find myself asking "what did you say" or "could you repeat that". The skill of listening is truly that a skill, one that requires attention and constant practice. Challenge yourself today to listen a little deeper and see what your world reveals.
There is also power in listening to oneself, whether journaling, meditating, praying out loud, heck I have even audio recorded myself just talking off the cuff on a thought. When we really listen to ourselves we can really understand and know what we believe, not from an intellectual space, but what is deep below the surface in our subconscious. Create some sort of space for yourself this week a couple of times to listen to yourself, meditate and do your best not to edit what you think, just listen and observe your thoughts. Take 5 minutes to journal on "The greatest joy in my life right now is..." and see what comes to light.
Find somone to partner with and ask them to share something dear to their heart, you could have them share from the statement above "The greatest joy in my life right now is..." and really listen. When they are complete, reflect back to them what you heard and listen again to their feedback on your listening ability. There is nothing right or wrong about this practice, it is simply an awareness exercise.
One of the greatest gifts anyone can give another is the gift of listening. I truly believe that is one of the gifts I am called to give in my counseling practice. Give yourself the gift of being heard and book a session with me today!
Love, Light & Laughter,
Darrell
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Faith makes you whole!
"If you
limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you
disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a
compromise." - Robert Fritz
I am humbled by this quote, for it brings me to the realization how many times I have limited myself by what seems possible or reasonable. It brings to mind the idea of faith.
Here is Ernest Holmes' definition of faith in the glossary of The Science of Mind:
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith is a mental attitude, so inwardly embodied that the mind can no longer deny it. Faith is complete when it is both a conscious and subjective acceptance. Faith may be consciously generated. In spiritual terminology, faith means a belief in the presence of an invisible principle and law which directly and specifically responds to us. "Thy faith has made thee whole."
Our faith makes us whole, when we breathe and even consider beyond that which we know is possible or reasonable we are made whole and full. All of a sudden we are in alignment with the full possibility of life. Regardless of how I have chosen in the past, I choose today to consider beyond what I think is possible.
One of my favorite philosophers Heraclitus said "Unless you expect the unexpected you will never find [truth], for it is hard to discover and hard to attain."
Are you willing to expect the unexpected? I am, but I realize I have to reconnect with this intention everyday.
Let us expect the unexpected and see what reveals through our lives yes?
I would love to hear any testimonies of any unexpected realization and revelations as a result.
Share at darrelljonesspirit@gmail.com or reply to this post!
Love, Light & Laughter,
Darrell
I am humbled by this quote, for it brings me to the realization how many times I have limited myself by what seems possible or reasonable. It brings to mind the idea of faith.
Here is Ernest Holmes' definition of faith in the glossary of The Science of Mind:
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith is a mental attitude, so inwardly embodied that the mind can no longer deny it. Faith is complete when it is both a conscious and subjective acceptance. Faith may be consciously generated. In spiritual terminology, faith means a belief in the presence of an invisible principle and law which directly and specifically responds to us. "Thy faith has made thee whole."
Our faith makes us whole, when we breathe and even consider beyond that which we know is possible or reasonable we are made whole and full. All of a sudden we are in alignment with the full possibility of life. Regardless of how I have chosen in the past, I choose today to consider beyond what I think is possible.
One of my favorite philosophers Heraclitus said "Unless you expect the unexpected you will never find [truth], for it is hard to discover and hard to attain."
Are you willing to expect the unexpected? I am, but I realize I have to reconnect with this intention everyday.
Let us expect the unexpected and see what reveals through our lives yes?
I would love to hear any testimonies of any unexpected realization and revelations as a result.
Share at darrelljonesspirit@gmail.com or reply to this post!
Love, Light & Laughter,
Darrell
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Transition, Change, Uncertainty & Fear
Tomorrow, I end the part time job I have had for the past year while finishing my grad school program. Friday I get on a plane and head to Denver for the graduation ceremony from my program. I return next week to start a whole new job on Wednesday, all the while continuing to prepare for my oral panels to become a licensed minister in August...so in the midst of all this transition, change and uncertainty, guess who came by to visit...fear. One of the greatest joys for me right now having finished my studies, is to read books that have been waiting for me on my bookshelf that weren't directly related to my coursework and reread some of my old standbys. One of them is Ram Dass' "Journey of Awakening". Here is a quote from Krishnamurti
For the past 80 days or so, I have also been meditating everyday and I know that has aided me in staying calm in the midst of uncertainty and constant change. Meditating has created a space for me to be with my fear and learn about it and from it. Meditation has created a space for fear to be okay. Meditating has allowed me to sit with the question, is this fear or concern real or is it something just in my mind? It has liberated me from the immobilization that fear can hold me in.
Meditation has supported me in my living in so many ways, right now I am grateful for the way meditation holds me in moments of uncertainty and fear.
Start your own personal meditation marathon. Do 2 minutes a day everyday this summer until September 1st. Want support on how to do that?
Drop me a line @ darrelljonesspirit@gmail.com.
Love, Light & Laughter,
Darrell
It is not that you must be free from fear. The moment you try to free yourself from fear, you create a resistance against fear. What is needed, rather than running away or controlling or suppressing or any other resistance, is understanding fear; that means, watch it, learn about it, come directly into contact with it. We are to learn about fear, not how to escape from it, not how to resist it through courage and so on.I don't fear that anything bad will happen to me, but I am aware of some anxiety around the unknown. How many hours will I really work, how will I juggle this with that. Will I get everything done I want to before I start my job. Will I forget to "close" anything up with my old work? How will the plans I have made for trips and vacations work out with my new work schedule...oh shoot, I scheduled a lunch meeting months ago for a week from now with a colleague, will I be able to keep that meeting or have to reschedule, the list can go on and on.
For the past 80 days or so, I have also been meditating everyday and I know that has aided me in staying calm in the midst of uncertainty and constant change. Meditating has created a space for me to be with my fear and learn about it and from it. Meditation has created a space for fear to be okay. Meditating has allowed me to sit with the question, is this fear or concern real or is it something just in my mind? It has liberated me from the immobilization that fear can hold me in.
Meditation has supported me in my living in so many ways, right now I am grateful for the way meditation holds me in moments of uncertainty and fear.
Start your own personal meditation marathon. Do 2 minutes a day everyday this summer until September 1st. Want support on how to do that?
Drop me a line @ darrelljonesspirit@gmail.com.
Love, Light & Laughter,
Darrell
Friday, March 23, 2012
The Work of Attention
The title of this post comes out of The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck, M.D. This book was the catalyst to me becoming more aware of who I am, and how my life is shaped by my thoughts, habits, beliefs and choices and regardless of how those thoughts, habits and beliefs formed, I became empowered to choose. I realized I could choose those thoughts, habits and beliefs to be my reality or choose something different. I am forever grateful for my father giving me this book early in my college years, it started me on a road to self discovery that has been and continues to be amazing.
I have made a personal commitment of meditating everyday, my own personal meditation marathon if you will. In The Road Less Traveled, Peck writes, "The principal form that the work of love takes is attention. When we love another we give him or her our attention; we attend to that person's growth. When we love ourselves we attend to our own growth. When we attend to someone we are caring for that person. The act of attending requires that we make the effort to set aside our existing preoccupations and actively shift our consciousness. Attention is an act of will, or work against the inertia of our own minds." He goes on to say, "By far the most common and important way in which we can exercise our attention is by listening."
This listening can take place in conversation with anyone, but in relationship to spiritual practice and meditation, this listening is all in relation to ourselves. In meditation, we are giving attention to or loving ourselves. It doesn't mean we stop thinking necessarily (actually I have only had a few moments of close to nothingness in all my years of meditating), rather in meditation we are giving ourselves full attention, we are as Peck states it working "against the inertia of our own minds." Instead of our thoughts, beliefs, habits and feelings barreling forward out of control and reacting to whatever presents itself, we take a few moments to breathe and observe, we listen to ourselves. In this attentive listening we come face to face to what is running the show, our thoughts, habits and beliefs. The point is not to push anything away or stop these thoughts, habits and beliefs, rather for me the point of meditating is to become aware of them so I can choose them consciously or put my attention elsewhere.
The whole reason I started this mediation marathon was due to the act of meditating. I was getting ready a few weeks ago for class in a hotel room that I was sharing with another classmate, we had big presentations that day to get ready for and not much time to get ready for class, but there he was sitting in meditation, that came first before he did anything else. (thanks Andrew) I sat down right there with him and meditated for a few moments and found peace for a few minutes, but as I got up from the meditation, that peace sustained. I meditate on a regular basis, but became aware that morning that it was time for me to move and stretch even more, so every morning before I leave the house I meditate. My goal is a minimum of 5 minutes. I want nothing but success for myself. I often do a bit longer, but 5 minutes is doable everyday, regardless of what my "to do" list for the day has on it.
I have found and continue to discover greater levels of understanding, insight, inspiration, peace and love for myself and others through meditation. To me meditation is a practice for life. It costs nothing, but rewards me with everything! Join me and give yourself the gift everyday of meditating. Start wherever you are, 2 minutes, 3, 4, 5 or more. The goal is not quantity, the goal is quality and consistency. (BTW, I mean sitting still with your eyes closed or fixed on a candle and doing nothing else, not standing in the shower, sitting in the tub, meditating while you brush your hair or teeth, yes you can mediate doing anything, but there is something particular to being still in our bodies even though our mind may choose to "monkey" around as they say.)
Email me with how your practice is going, I would love to hear. I am also excited to entertain any questions you may have about meditation.
Love, Light & Laughter - Darrell
I have made a personal commitment of meditating everyday, my own personal meditation marathon if you will. In The Road Less Traveled, Peck writes, "The principal form that the work of love takes is attention. When we love another we give him or her our attention; we attend to that person's growth. When we love ourselves we attend to our own growth. When we attend to someone we are caring for that person. The act of attending requires that we make the effort to set aside our existing preoccupations and actively shift our consciousness. Attention is an act of will, or work against the inertia of our own minds." He goes on to say, "By far the most common and important way in which we can exercise our attention is by listening."
This listening can take place in conversation with anyone, but in relationship to spiritual practice and meditation, this listening is all in relation to ourselves. In meditation, we are giving attention to or loving ourselves. It doesn't mean we stop thinking necessarily (actually I have only had a few moments of close to nothingness in all my years of meditating), rather in meditation we are giving ourselves full attention, we are as Peck states it working "against the inertia of our own minds." Instead of our thoughts, beliefs, habits and feelings barreling forward out of control and reacting to whatever presents itself, we take a few moments to breathe and observe, we listen to ourselves. In this attentive listening we come face to face to what is running the show, our thoughts, habits and beliefs. The point is not to push anything away or stop these thoughts, habits and beliefs, rather for me the point of meditating is to become aware of them so I can choose them consciously or put my attention elsewhere.
The whole reason I started this mediation marathon was due to the act of meditating. I was getting ready a few weeks ago for class in a hotel room that I was sharing with another classmate, we had big presentations that day to get ready for and not much time to get ready for class, but there he was sitting in meditation, that came first before he did anything else. (thanks Andrew) I sat down right there with him and meditated for a few moments and found peace for a few minutes, but as I got up from the meditation, that peace sustained. I meditate on a regular basis, but became aware that morning that it was time for me to move and stretch even more, so every morning before I leave the house I meditate. My goal is a minimum of 5 minutes. I want nothing but success for myself. I often do a bit longer, but 5 minutes is doable everyday, regardless of what my "to do" list for the day has on it.
I have found and continue to discover greater levels of understanding, insight, inspiration, peace and love for myself and others through meditation. To me meditation is a practice for life. It costs nothing, but rewards me with everything! Join me and give yourself the gift everyday of meditating. Start wherever you are, 2 minutes, 3, 4, 5 or more. The goal is not quantity, the goal is quality and consistency. (BTW, I mean sitting still with your eyes closed or fixed on a candle and doing nothing else, not standing in the shower, sitting in the tub, meditating while you brush your hair or teeth, yes you can mediate doing anything, but there is something particular to being still in our bodies even though our mind may choose to "monkey" around as they say.)
Email me with how your practice is going, I would love to hear. I am also excited to entertain any questions you may have about meditation.
Love, Light & Laughter - Darrell
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
"Trust Love, trust love, trust God that love is everywhere,
That we are here to be the perfect givers of love and receivers of love
And love will have the final word." - Rickie Byars Beckwith
This is one of my favorite lyrics of Rickie BB. We are here to be givers and receivers of love AND what if the giving and receiving started within ourselves? Yes this song speaks to all of our relationships, we are here to give and receive love to and from our family, friends, children, lovers, spouses and partners, but can we consider ourselves in this giving and receiving? One of the basic principles of new thought philosophy, spiritual psychology and empowerment practices is that we can do, be or give to another only that which we can do, be or give to ourselves.
So on Valentine's day we collectively look outside ourselves to give and receive love, this is not a bad thing, I am just challenging myself today and invite you to join me in practicing self love, giving myself the love first, so I may be that much more of a better lover in the world. Ask yourself the question today, how could I expand my love of self today? This is not an ego stroke exercise of saying I look good, or I am a good so and so, this is an exercise of unconditional self-love. Regardless of what you have or don't have, love yourself today, regardless of what your relationships look like or don't look like, love yourself today. Regardless of the conditions of your life are you willing to unconditionally love the expression of Spirit/God/the Universe that you are?
Trust love, because love, loves to love. It doesn't know how to do anything else! As Rickie BB states, we are here to be the perfect givers and receivers of love. If we truly embrace this idea, love WILL have the final word. And so it is!
Darrell
That we are here to be the perfect givers of love and receivers of love
And love will have the final word." - Rickie Byars Beckwith
This is one of my favorite lyrics of Rickie BB. We are here to be givers and receivers of love AND what if the giving and receiving started within ourselves? Yes this song speaks to all of our relationships, we are here to give and receive love to and from our family, friends, children, lovers, spouses and partners, but can we consider ourselves in this giving and receiving? One of the basic principles of new thought philosophy, spiritual psychology and empowerment practices is that we can do, be or give to another only that which we can do, be or give to ourselves.
So on Valentine's day we collectively look outside ourselves to give and receive love, this is not a bad thing, I am just challenging myself today and invite you to join me in practicing self love, giving myself the love first, so I may be that much more of a better lover in the world. Ask yourself the question today, how could I expand my love of self today? This is not an ego stroke exercise of saying I look good, or I am a good so and so, this is an exercise of unconditional self-love. Regardless of what you have or don't have, love yourself today, regardless of what your relationships look like or don't look like, love yourself today. Regardless of the conditions of your life are you willing to unconditionally love the expression of Spirit/God/the Universe that you are?
Trust love, because love, loves to love. It doesn't know how to do anything else! As Rickie BB states, we are here to be the perfect givers and receivers of love. If we truly embrace this idea, love WILL have the final word. And so it is!
Darrell
Friday, January 27, 2012
Can you be alone with yourself?
Came across this again...The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, enjoy.
It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, 'Yes.'
It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.
It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.
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