A Beautiful Expression of Love in Spirituality

Such a beautiful expression of why I say "God is Love. Love covers All". Taken from my other blog -

http://lovecoversall-godislove.blogspot.ca/2017/11/an-expanded-view-of-god.html

My blog "Love covers All. God is Love" somewhat reveals my spiritual journey in small bits and pieces. As with this blog, "Protect Your Dreams", it's served as more of an occasional journal than as a blog, but I hope both have served to inspire you to simply Be & Love Yourself As Is, even if/as you continue to grow. I think today's find spans both.

My knowledge of God now certainly goes well beyond Christianity, or mere religion, for that matter. I don't believe all that's out there, but it is so absolutely true that we each hear God directly. I do hope you know and trust that this is true of you, as well - whether or not those around you agree.

This excerpt says a lot of what I currently believe - there's no one group that God loves or connects with above all...

"This spirituality sees that everything in nature has consciousness, and is therefore sacred. That the proper attitude of a human towards the Creator is gratitude. That all creatures are part of the family of life. And that no matter a person’s age or skin color or national origin, and whether living on Earth or resident out among the stars, the ancient Lakota [Sioux] saying handed down over the ages was entirely true: “Mitakuye oyasin!” Everyone is my relative."

Source:

https://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/vida_alien/starkids/starkids05.htm

What a journey of love and well-being this is!

Love, Light and Abundance in all good things.

Crystal-Marie

Reflecting on our Beliefs. Releasing the Kool-Aid

We're all learning, growing, drawing lessons and blessings in each experience that we have in each moment that we're alive. We're all leveraging duality - the aspects of each experience that make you happy and those that are uncomfortable - to get clearer on what works and what doesn't. A part of that process is taking the time to reflect. What have you gotten over the past year? I'd love to hear. Here are a few of mine.

A Reflection of My Beliefs. Releasing the Kool-Aid

Some of what we believe has come from consciously selecting what truly resonates.

Still, some has been fed to us and sits in our subconscious mind, governing some of what we attract in our lives, whether we're aware of it or not.

As I share, I hope you see it as an invitation to see what governs our decisions - to pursue or quit, to step out or pull back, to love or fear. Each path is unique, so not all of these will resonate. Trust your gut. My lessons:

1. Abundance does not mean "redistribution of existing wealth". It means the availability of enough for every appetite - both your perspective of abundance and those who seem insatiable.

2. I deserve to be truly happy and successful in ease and flow, simply because I AM and have the ability to create anything I can think up. So I will be. No one owes me, I'm not "entitled" - a word folks use to berate millennials for having a different experience (and economic reality). 

3. Ease and flow doesn't mean drifting on clouds using no energy, but that when I learn to hear and trust my intuition, my only true 'work' is to listen to my intuition. All action required for success is, then, borne of excitement, an inexplicable certainty and serendipity, attracting mainly opportunities that serve that defined success. 

4. There is little I can teach but by example, and only to those with whom it truly resonates. Everyone is wise. While not all of their wisdom is meant for me, their wisdom is priceless.

5. Positivity is not a part-time gig. If "what you focus on expands" as Oprah says, then positivity would have to a way of life. As Mother Teresa said, she'll attend a pro-peace rally but never an anti-war. To that end, I will face my hurts and fears - absorb the lessons, acknowledge those lessons as blessings, then release any resentment or grudges - then, focus on the good. 

6. Focusing on what creates sanctuary and draws my goals closer, is not selfish. From community to activities, it is what will make me succeed so greatly that all I can do, in that state of success, is overflow, empowering others to achieve the same for themselves.

7. "No" is a complete sentence and requires no explanation. Those who push me in anyway to do what I have not expressly decided in my innermost self to do, good intentions or not, are to be released. 

8. The collective good is borne from the overflow of self care. Beware of any who go to the extreme, as to lose knowledge of what your own being means to lose any ability to contribute meaningfully to any collective. Whole, honoured individuals make for healthy community.

So much more has come to me as I wake up, but this is what has come out for this post.

What sits well with you? What doesn't?

Does it resonate (or not) because you've checked within and it doesn't, or because you were taught to accept (or reject) it? I invite you to freely choose what resonates within, and extend this list in your own journal, heart, art, however you best express You.

To a year ahead that truly serves you,

so that you learn to trust yourself and seek out what propels you, so that you inspire and empower others to step into their own truth, accepting that their truth will likely differ from yours, but be equally as valid - a paradox rather than a conflict.

If you enjoyed this,

there's a calendar for sale (20% goes to

www.aistoronto.ca

) with similar words of inspiration and invitation, to keep you inspired all year long. You can use it to map chores, if nothing else. 😉 [

Printable $10

|

Editable $15

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Both $20

]

In peace, love, joy and prosperity in all things.

--

Crystal-Marie Sealy

Speaker, Strategy & Social Media Consultant at

Successiory

Authenticity. Shedding without Resentment (Part 2)

As you'll see in

Part 1

,

 as you delve deeper into the process of hearing your own voice, you'll recognize the value of your

comfort zone

and you'll know when you're

ready to stretch.

This decides everything, including how well you

form new habits

. 

Part 1

 is the best place to start. It looks at

Authenticity,

hearing and recognizing your voice. 

Part 2

 looks at releasing those who force us down a particular path (real or imagined) as you step into your own life, without resenting them. 

In part 1, I recommended that one way to get back to your own voice was to 

take a month off from reading books, news,

 articles, everyone's opinion (mine included) on social media / e-mail blasts. You have a perspective that's correct for you that, perhaps no one else on the planet can understand. The 3-steps I'd mentioned were to:

1. Get past the fear and anxiety of 'falling behind'. You and the world will be fine. Frankly, those who fall away because you're not 'hanging on their every breath', were sucking up your life's energy, anyway. Let it go. It could take up to a week for you to get 'okay' with just You.

2. Try a brain-dump. Write, audio-record, spill, every 'idea' floating around your head.

3. Now explore. How many of these beliefs do you really share? Really think 10, 20 years later, how will living these beliefs affect your life, your children's lives, the world we live in?

Shedding. An Intrinsic Look at What & Who's Around

Over time, take #2 further, by exploring,

 'where did these ideas come from?', 'how much of your own decision-making have you given over to the person/organization/society that gave you that belief? why?' and 'how do you take it back, and 

set healthy boundaries

 around what that person/organization/society 

is allowed to influence in your life?'

Remember, these things only have power over us when we give it to them - or in some cases, they took it - but Take It Back.

Beyond those who've 'planted ideas'. Also 

explore who you're allowing to hold you back.

Who around you keeps saying 

"baby steps, dear"

, 

"it took me 10 years to get here. You're not the exception, you're the norm"

, 

"you're doing what?? aren't you scared?"

What are You allowing them to keep you from doing? Do you have champions?

 Who around you is saying,

 "why not do <insert dreams here>"

 or 

"let's find a way to make ... possible"

.

Like saplings, few dreams look feasible in the 'idea' phase.

 Even the dreamer is not sure-footed yet, so if they share it with 'nay-sayers' too early, 

those dreams will likely die

 (for the moment). 

It's like icy winds hitting a tiny oak sapling.

 You need to 

grow it internally within yourself,

 then share it when you're strong enough, 

with champions. That's right - still not the nay-sayers.

 Champions are so on-board, that sometimes you can get into idea-overload, and lose sight of the precise vision for your dream. 

Get it clear, then share.

Finally, don't share it with nay-sayers.

Seriously, even if it's your mother!

You're hurting her and yourself,

 by trying to force her out of her comfort zone, and by forcing yourself into a storm unnecessarily. Part of loving ourselves, and those around us, is accepting where we are in our own journeys. 

Let them find out when it's already succeeded.

 Then, feel free to share the journey - it might help them expand. 

Again, just my two-cents.

Shedding. No Resentment. Love & Light, Instead

Truth, it is important to release, first, yourself

 from all the 

"oh my gosh, I can't believe I..."

 moments. You know, those moments that you recall from time to time that you wished you never did/saw/acted on? 

Let... them... go.

 Forgive yourself, laugh it off,

 shake your head and smile. Whatever it takes, acknowledge it for what it is, a learning experience (all mistakes are), and 

love yourself through letting it go.

Now, recognize that everyone else around you

 - including the bullies, the people who aren't sorry they wronged you, the clueless people who've wronged you (yes, not everyone was intentionally viscious) - 

is also imperfect.

 Recognize that 

healthy boundaries (not walls)

 allow us to 

co-exist with all kinds of people and still keep ourselves whole

 (unhurt, healed). 

Forgive them, send them love and light,

 truly, not flippantly, and put them in your boundary categories. 

Now, 

Forgiveness is

 a whole other topic.

You can forgive someone, really, and never speak to them again. Boundaries!

This is another reason that you should be true to yourself.

 The exercise above, where we explored who you allowed to 'plant those ideas' in your head, and why you let them, 

helps us see our own vulnerabilities clearly,

 so we can set boundaries (in love, not fear), to protect ourselves. Of course, as you grow and get stronger in your own identity, your boundaries will need to change to accommodate your growth. 

Be okay with that.

All of this makes you a happier, gentler, more joyful person. Don't let anyone take that away.

Thanks for Reading!

I'd love to hear, if you actually took the time to do this, how it's worked for you. 

Do you feel more empowered?

 More secure in your own decision-making ability? Here's a more empowering post on Authenticity: 

The Disruption of Authenticity

,

 facing the fact that 

not everyone will like it.

I mean, if you don't know your own mind (heart, desires), who's life are you living?

Authenticity. Shedding without Resentment (Part 1)

I'm on a journey.

Let me start with that disclaimer. I do not have it all figured out, and I certainly respect that each individual's journey is unique. What I will say is, acknowledging that,

you have to respect that your views,

your experiences (and/or lack thereof), your values,

are very, very valid.

Part 1

of this series just looks at the Authenticity piece.

Part 2

looks at releasing those who force us down a particular path (real or imagined) as you step into your own life, without resenting them.

I'm also writing this, for myself, to wrap my head around all the lessons life has been throwing my way, lately. It's not a 'brain dump', so you can read it, but it is a 'thinking it through' process. In light of that, I hope it's helpful in letting you do the same. 'Permission', of sorts, to trust Your insights.

Authenticity - Looking Inward

Things Take the Time they Take!

 "Rush, produce, work 8-hour days (yea. sure) and squeeze as much in as possible". Really?

How's that going?

To Women:

 as you're physically built to be creators, you tend to run into your vision for the future. Constantly planning, reassessing, fretting and worrying unnecessarily, forgetting that your strength lies in receiving all their is to receive in the moment. A lot of that has also come from society's negative perspective of that strength, but if you look at all the stress-relieving activities, they ALL take you back to the feminine - living in the moment. Embrace the sights, scents, sounds, tastes, sensations, daydreams that infuse you with joy, because this is your strength. Slow down! Tangible productivity is not the only productivity (creativity). Making time to step into awareness, will help you to be less self-critical (and thus less critical of others) and help you to empower yourself.

To Men:

as you're physically built to be providers and protectors, you likely have less trouble living in the moment. In times gone by, when your inner voice said, "kill that now, or it will kill you", planning ahead was not the priority. Focusing on your strengths, then, let go of the "oh sh!t, how do I save face here!" and just BE. Not "Yes, this is me, 'what are you going to do about it', but "Yes, this is me." Full stop. No apologies, no aggressive defense of your current self, just 'being'. Face your insecurities (it's human), rest in where you are, with a vision of where you want to be as 'possible'.

Now, focus on

whichever one you relate to.

At different times,

in our day, in our lives, we relate to both. Remember, all of this is about embracing YOU! Not the professional, friendly, ogre-like, parent or child version of you, but the whole of you - all of which is lovable with the right perspective.

It's a Process. Get Comfy.

(Craziness. Woke up singing "I'm comfy" this morning. No, it's not a song. Lol.)

 A lot of people will tell you to "get out of your comfort zone",

as if your 'comfort zone' is a bad thing.

Please, please know, that

your comfort zone literally keeps you safe.

 Plus, anything you're not "comfortable" with, will likely not - ever - become a habit, a permanent part of your life. Whether you're:

• Quitting smoking,

• Establishing a new schedule for work

• Trying a new morning ritual

There's a reason it won't 'stick' right away.

Explore this. Have you decided to do this because:

• Intrinsically, every fiber of your being (spirit, soul, body) wants this? OR 

• External reasons, like, 'it's time/you're supposed to/everyone says/you'll go to hell?

Can you even tell the difference,

or have you been doing the "I'm supposed to" dance for so long, that you can't even

hear your own voice anymore?

Comfort and 2 Other Zones

The 'Comfort' zone

is where most of spend our lives -

in the routine

of what we already know and do, whether we're aware of it or not. The

'Stretch' zone

is the zone that

allows us to test

new things within an area where we still feel like

we have the reigns of the situation.

The

'Panic' zone

is where you're

moving faster/further than your

being (body, spirit, soul i.e. mind, will, emotions)

can process or accept.

If you're growing, your 'Comfort' zone expands into your 'Stretch' zone, and your previous 'Panic' zone becomes your current 'Stretch' zone, but

this is very, very individual.

If you're honest, where would you say you spend most of your time?

In the next section, there are some questions that help you answer this, but in this section, I want to focus on

why your comfort zone is so important.

 You keep doing and believing what's in your Comfort Zone. That only changes when YOU want to change it. This means that, no matter how many books you read, how many coaches or friends 'advise' you,

until your spirit, soul and body align to truly want that change,

 it won't stick.

[Note:

the more external ideas or voices you have in your head,

the less room there is for your own.

If you keep that up, it'll be more difficult to change,

even when you want to.]

It's the work you do within yourself

- brainstorming, daydreaming, thinking, making decisions (yes, you, your own decisions) and

taking 'comfortable yet fun' steps, leaps, you decide

- that expands your 'Comfort Zone', before you can

even fathom your own vision for this change.

Decisions to change based on external motives,

often push you into your 'Panic' zone.

This can have physical ramifications.

It's stressful, and this inevitably becomes physical illness.

Please take that seriously.

It's THAT important to know your own boundaries.

What's Your Perspective? Do You Know?

If not, try this.

Take a month off from reading books, news,

articles, everyone's opinion (mine included) on social media / e-mail blasts. Aren't you sick of hearing/saying

"Well, XYZ-Influencer says 'blah, blah, blah', so it's obvious that..."

 No. No, it's not 'obvious that...' Seriously.

You have a perspective that's correct for you

that, perhaps no one else on the planet can understand.

All the more reason to explore it, no?

Maybe the world is suffering because

your real self hasn't come forth to teach us what you're here to share!

1. Get past the fear and anxiety of 'falling behind'. You and the world will be fine. Frankly, those who fall away because you're not 'hanging on their every breath', were sucking up your life's energy, anyway. Let it go. It could take up to a week for you to get 'okay' with just You.

2. Try a brain-dump. Write, audio-record, spill, every 'idea' floating around your head.

3. Now explore. How many of these beliefs do you really share? Really think 10, 20 years later, how will living these beliefs affect your life, your children's lives, the world we live in?

To go deeper with this, go wherever it leads you. If you do it really well, your own inner voice will takeover and you'll follow it along to find more of your own voice.

In part 2

,

how to release those you may resent for 'steering you off course'. Recognise that they have a right to be. Just put boundaries in place to ensure your own right to be, as well. READ ON.