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Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda (V3 P1)

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Inherently, within each and every one of us, is a template from which our lives will unfold. The base template is filled with human characteristics and includes a sprinkling of “extras” from the universal field. It is the proverbial clean slate. It is ours to change, edit, transform, progress from, regress from, beautify, desecrate, etc. Our free will allows us to mold that template into something beautiful and everlasting or terrible and decaying.

If we think about all of the alternative paths and meandering routes that we have in life, it is pretty eye opening. Spending some time before making those pathway decisions is crucial, for then and only then can we alter the template for better or for worse. Stagnation has no effect other than to maintain the present state of the template. Moving forward with perpetual molding of the template is the only way to change oneself. The question is, will the change be for the betterment or the worsening of the template.

Should we think of our lives deeply and consider not only what we would have done differently, but plan to take action to change for the better from here forward, we can really take command of our future and of ourselves.

The decision process from here forward, however, is clouded by two very distinct alternatives. One being what we could do – because of our freedom to act, speak and live; and one being what we should do – because of what we know deep down to be right, and just, and impactful for our souls and for the world.

We could use our time in pursuit of leisure, materiality, the finer things, making our social status envious to others, trying to fit in, trying to stand out, etc. These are the “coulda” items that so many of us are bogged down in for both the short term and the long haul. Life passes, memories and material accumulations are gained and enjoyed, but has anything really fruitful taken place?

Instead, can we not think about what we should be doing. Soul searching, praying, lending a hand, giving to others instead of receiving a perceived entitlement, building a base of hope for ourselves and those that we love, being a good example in all ways that we know really mean something, smiling and acknowledging others in our lives and others that cross our paths in life, trying to analyze world events by asking what is right for mankind and what is horrifically wrong, etc. We should be evolving in a positive manner, each and every day, and in doing so helping the world and mankind evolve in a positive manner as well.

We cannot do this by thinking of ourselves and living under the spell of surface things, but rather only by being selfless and living under the infinite glory of substance and righteousness. By doing so, we do not really sacrifice anything that we should be truly missing in our lives. By doing so, we will have everything that we truly want, need, and desire in our paths to spiritual evolution and true happiness.

Think about this. Because we can does not mean that we should. Because we should does not mean that in doing so, we will be missing out. In fact, we will inherit the earth.

KGM

 

Addition by Subtraction (V2 P3)

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multicolored abacus photography

Photo by Skitterphoto on Pexels.com

Addition by subtraction is an interesting concept and one that deserves some in depth analysis and serious consideration for placement into the spiritual evolution process.

As one reflects upon the state of their spiritual being, there should be some resulting scorecard in which areas of progress and achievement are separated from areas of struggle and those in need of improvement. As discussed in several posts from V1 (2017), the importance of focus on the core and the attempt to minimize and eliminate the periphery clutter around us is greatly aided by this periodic accounting of one’s spiritual progress. This will invariably lead to an assessment of what next to prioritize for improvement in life.

One of the quickest and simplest forms of growth, step by step success, and spiritual component achievement is not to jump into pro-active improvement in several areas deemed to be “in progress” or “under developed” but rather to pro-actively eliminate from your life the negative forces that have accumulated in your spiritual garden.

The choices may be difficult to follow through on as they may include distancing yourself from “friends”, parting ways with habits and routines that are dragging you down but none the less difficult to break away from, and making clear cut choices that you may have previously dodged due to indifference or inability to accept as part of an overall negative part of your persona.

But you will find that once these areas negative or anti-spiritual development are identified, your true inner self will shed the emotion out of the equation and provide you with the impetus to use logic, reason and spiritual meditative learning and reflection and move forward in your evolution by letting go. Let go of the negative and the scale of your spiritual being will inherently tip further towards the positive.

You will shed darkness and more light will appear. You will shed greed and more generosity will fill your heart. You will shed anger and hatred and calmness and love will envelope you. You will part ways with negative and self-serving beings and you will be surrounded by more positive and selfless supporters and true friends. It cannot fail for the very thought of pulling something off one side of the scale will open your eyes to the soon to be heavier and more weighted other side of the scale.

If your complete state is 50/50, removing from the negative side will tilt the balance to the positive side. Without pro-active seeking to add to the positive side of the equation, your removal of the negative will make the positive tilt that you, as a spiritually evolving being, will feel and thrive on. In time, you will add more positive because your focus will be minimized on and your previous bad habits will be shifted away from the negative aspects of your previous spiritual state. The focus away from the negative and to the positive elements of the universe that are here for you to learn from, absorb, and develop from will result in an exponential change in your spiritual state.

Eventually, you will indeed be pro-actively focused on accentuating every positive aspect of your spiritual being and on pursuing a path towards gaining more positive elements previously missing from your spiritual life because over time your mind set will have completely shifted. The negative habits and routines, negative energies and persons, that you made a determined effort to subtract out of your life not only left you with a less corrupt and cleaner spiritual state, but the act of removal made a permanent change to your mindset in all that is important to you and all that you will attract into your life as a spiritual being.

Addition by subtraction. Consider it. Let the concept immerse you and put it into practice. We are spiritual beings in a physical body and the true priority should be positive evolution of that spirit. All else, barring basic and simple necessities, is clutter along your path. Much of the “all else” is truly negative and a road block along your path. Take the time to remove it and enjoy the soon to be cleared and wondrous path towards your slow and organic spiritual march.

To become one with God. Is that even attainable? To be closer to God – this is not only attainable, but your spiritual evolution can lead you only towards that end. The tie that binds you (sons and daughters of God) with God is indeed the Holy Spirit. Allow that universal spirit to aid you in your path, your journey, your longing for true spiritual perfection.

KGM

 

Summers End – Day at the Beach (V1 P20)

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The gentle pulsating and relentless sound of the surf. Wave after wave. It is one of the most relaxing and hypnotic of nature’s portfolio of beautiful and meaningful sound.

I long for it rarely, but once under its spell I vow to myself to not let the separation between this beach visit to the next be more than minimal. Sometimes life works out and other times not so much, but it is always worth the wait.

The time for me here is fleeting, as I write this. My family dreads but embraces the final last few hours before our departure back to our home – 6 1/2 hours away by drive. We try to finish with a flourish, but the knowing of the impending end of our trip is somber. But the memories seep out and stories in stories on the way back home and they become lasting and impactful. Our daughter has grown up from a kindergartener to a 7th grader with stops each summer along the way at this Michigan respite. She has the alluring call of the small lakeside town in her veins now and perhaps will until she has children and can share this place with her family.

There is a time and a place for all of the things that comprise our lives. And the times for get away family time, vacation from the work and school life, a respite for body and spirit, are all probably chosen with care and planning. As they are precious and make up a minority of all the time on our schedules. We have and will continue to choose this place. For all of the wants, needs and desires that it fulfills with flying colors. We come, we savor, we depart and we yearn for the next time(s).

I, of course, love my family. I love the down time that we can share together. I know that they also enjoy these moments. It is one of the ties that binds us together as a family.

In a few weeks, I will be taking my oldest son on a different kind of trip to a vastly different place. We will celebrate his 30th birthday. I hope our love for each other grows as we share this time together. I hope that he will take part of me with him as I share my time and fatherly wisdom, as best I can, with him at this milestone of his young life to date.

All is good at the tail end of summer.

KGM

Down to the Core (V1 P19)

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core-values-blackboard-cloud-words-black-chalkboard-65245027

All short term and long term progress is only attainable if one has identified the core values and principles that one will strive to uphold and attain/achieve throughout their lives. 

Who are you? What are you all about? What drives and motivates you? How do you strive to be seen by yourself upon deep and honest reflection? 

Identify the core values that you represent and that you hope to represent in the future (aspirational values). All of your decisions should be predicated upon that set of values that comprise your Personal Mission Statement (PMS). If something does or does not align itself with your PMS then the decision should be clear cut. This set of principles should be your road map to physical and spiritual evolution. 

Companies hire and fire by the doctrines that make up their Corporate Mission Statement, or at least they should if they are truly dedicated to furthering their adherence to those core values. Whenever possible, you should do the same. Sometimes you may need to make short-term exceptions to this in order to satisfy basic necessities. But, when faced with a choice, the path upon which to embark should generally be that which is in alignment with the core values of your PMS. 

The basic foundational principles should be core and be present throughout your life. Some values will evolve and change over time. Short and long term goals and objectives will come, be attained, and then be maintained and substituted for newer aspirational values. All of which should not be counter-productive to your PMS. 

Focus on the basics, the extreme core, and work from the inside to the outside – your inner core to other important but less vital values. Think of concentric circles in which at the center resides your core foundational principles upon which your PMS is built. Which each adjacent circle from the center towards the outside come goals and ambitions, long and short-term, that are in alignment with your PMS. Outside of this series of circles lie things that are either out of your control or that do not align with your PMS. Do NOT enlarge your circle to encompass them – but rather continue to focus on what is within your sphere of control, your core spiral, your inner circle or sanctum. 

All of the power to maintain and manifest the core attained and aspirational values within your Personal Mission Statement resides within you. But you must maintain focus upon and within the concentric circles which comprise the extreme core of what you are and what you hope to become. You can and will manifest this evolution – both physical and spiritual. You are what you choose to be. 

KGM

The Holy Trinity (V1 P17) – An alternate meaning to consider

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th9TJBAIQ0The Holy Trinity. The Sacred Trinity. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One God and three persons. Surely, you have heard about this concept and have dwelled on its meaning.

Are you a true believer? Are you a doubter? Have you dismissed this idea altogether? Have you considered alternate meanings of this concept?

Barring atheism, it is safe to assume that most ideologies believe in one all- powerful life force – a Creator. The universe and all of its inhabitants owe their very existence to God, the all powerful entity, by whatever form or name you assign to it.

How and why did this idea of a Holy Trinity come about? Can we ascribe an alternate meaning to it than that which we have been conditioned to believe?

Traditional Viewpoint: God the Father = God, the all-powerful; God the Son = Jesus Christ; and the Holy Spirit = the Holy Spirit. One God – three persons.

Consider the following alternate viewpoint: God the Father = God, the all-powerful; God the Son = the God that resides within each of us, our soul; and the Holy Spirit = the space between us and God, the spiritual tie between our souls and God.

God, the all-powerful and omnipresent being, the Creator – similar under both viewpoints. That Life Force that is responsible for all that was, that is, and that will be.

Jesus Christ, God’s likeness in the form of man, the Son of God. Human beings, or God’s creatures – are we not sons and daughters of God. We are His creation, we serve him, all of our lives are due to his having bestowed upon us His gift of life. The God that is within us = our soul.

The Holy Spirit, that light and connection and bond, that guiding force between God and Jesus. Or alternatively, between God and our soul, between God and us. Our guardian angel, our spiritual guide, our intuition, etc. All of the God sent assistance that we need, that our soul needs, to evolve spiritually.

God – outside of us. God – within us (our soul). God’s presence between God and our soul. Father                        Son                                           Holy Spirit

Absorb that possibility. Feel the sense of purpose that comes with true understanding of the direct tie from God to us. God, the all-powerful; through his Spirit; to our soul. The God outside/without us; the God inside/within us; God between God and our soul – His guiding light and guiding force that dwells between our God and our soul.

To me, it makes sense and it resonates within me – driving me to better understand what my purpose is in this life that God has bestowed upon me.

God is for all to share. God is within us all. God provides us with a spiritual guide to assist us in our spiritual evolution. Consider the alternate meaning of the Holy Trinity.

KGM

 

 

 

Strive for Selflessness (V1 P16)

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It is extremely difficult to put your ego aside… completely aside. Think about that for a moment. Work backwards in your mind and think of the events that took place in your life over the last 24 hours. What was acted upon by you with others being at the forefront of your concern? What was acted upon by you with yourself at the forefront?

It is on the verge of impossible to master this exercise in one’s life. But the greater portion of your life’s pie chart dedicated to serving and putting others first, the great the rewards to you – in this physical life, in the evolution of your spiritual being, and in the next stages of both.

Practicing daily mantras, praying, and just keeping the focus of your purpose on helping and serving others will keep you from tipping the scales in favor of the ego. The useless and counter productive results derived from a selfish and self centered existence will be replaced by the refreshing, uplifting and perpetually improving results that will be derived from a life more heavily weighted in selflessness.

Think, meditate, focus on your trust life’s purpose. Act with kindness and love towards others. Provide a smile, a helping hand, an arm upon which to lean on or grab onto, an invitation to join you and others when applicable – all of these can by life changing acts for both you and the recipient(s) of your kindness and unselfish gestures.

The more that you give, the more that you will be given. Strive to be a positive force, a warm and shining light, a difference maker in the lives of others. Become as close as you can to being one with the universe by giving, listening, and offering kindness to all of God’s creatures.

Within this realm of selfless kindness you will also be creating an environment within which you will indeed thrive and evolve. Your rewards will be exponentially greater than that which you have disbursed from your kind and loving self.

Only by sharing of yourself can you share in the infinite and abundant treasures of the universe.

KGM

 

 

Personal Values/Mission Statement (V1 P15)

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what-your-mission-26684732Much time is spent by businesses, some successful and some not so much, on defining and attempting to do business by CORE VALES. Money, time, energy and much soul searching is spent on trying to do just that. The ability to do this successfully generally results in profit, employee retention, and passionate customers. The failure of one or both of these objectives will generally lead to declining business results, negative workplace energy, fragmented company culture, and a confused and dwindling customer base.

How much time have you spent on defining and living by your core PERSONAL VALUES? Have you a personal MISSION STATEMENT? Are you succeeding in this life task?

One must break down those core values that they wish to represent to themselves and to others. It is okay and also it is essential to a system of perpetual improvement to include aspirational values. Those consist of those values that one does not yet have in their tool belt as a functioning human – but that one aspires to one day obtain and display. Think. Reflect. Dwell on all of the qualities that you would like to exude as both a physical and spiritual being.

Your core group of values can be few in number or it can be extensive. The key is that they make up the “you” that you are striving to become. This set of personal core values will change over time as one evolves along their life’s journey. You should never be fully satisfied and should constantly try to improve. But you should still take great satisfaction upon attaining and exuding each of your personal core values.

Celebrate your personal and spiritual growth. This spurs on continued and greater success as you aspire to be more. Never stop challenging yourself to keep improving. Never shy away from defining a true aspirational value for yourself. Never surrender to the fear of failure.

This can be as simple as “Be respectful, have a strong work ethic, and have faith”. It can be as broad or detailed as you would like it to be. It is yours to shape and mold throughout your life. Define it, embrace it, and live by it.

Periodically review your personal values and personal mission statement. Celebrate it. Add to it and modify it to reflect the “you” that you are now, at this moment, striving to become.

It is one of the most important things that you will ever do. Don’t shuffle it off to some future date. Embrace this task and just do it. Your life’s journey requires it and your evolution as a spiritual being will continue to benefit from this exercise.

KGM

 

 

 

Note to Self – Be On Time (V1 P14)

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time-lost-cannot-be-regained-text-remember-antique-pocket-watch-64486583Some words to live by: Be on time.

Respect your time as well as the time of all others. Do what you must in order to always be on time. If you must get up earlier, leave sooner, add buffer time to your planning – whatever you must do and whatever works for you, you must do it. Force yourself to always be prompt and ready when the time has arrived to be, do, or say somewhere or something.

By not doing this, you are making a statement to yourself and to others that you do not care enough about the person or event, or both, to do what is necessary to be there on time. This is truly a toxic statement and will only result in hurt feelings, negative energy, and a loss of respect in you and what you represent to the world.

Embrace your responsibility to be on time. Be confident that it is beneficial and will be a positive element for you to participate and be present. Accept the small sacrifices that you may have to make as character building and TAKE PRIDE IN BEING ON TIME.

Just a light thought to end on. Yesterday was Ringo Starr’s 77th birthday. Ringo, as steady a drummer as there ever was, is referred to by Joe Walsh as “a human metronome”. Truly, one who took pride in being “on time”. Happy Birthday Ringo! Peace and love, as he always says.

KGM

 

Precious (First Thing in the) Morning (V1 P13)

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foggy-sunset-tree-landscape-early-morning-fog-nature-trees-grassy-hills-91988378Embrace the day. Seize the day. Awaken with passion. All of these may seem like meaningless sayings – but they hold truth and powerful sentiment towards how you face not only the coming day but life itself.

Think about your daily routine. The hours that you may spend getting ready to go somewhere (work perhaps), commuting to and from somewhere, taking part in activities that you are responsible for (as a parent, student, co-worker, interested party), etc. There are hours spent refueling your body through food and drink. There are hours that sleep requires each day to rejuvenate you and provide you with proper rest. There is not a whole lot left in a day when you factor in all of the items within your fixed and variable daily routine.

The first hours of the day provide the best opportunity for you to actually “own” a portion of your day. It is yours. It is the BEST time for quiet reflection, meditation, private thought, and prayer. It allows for an endorphin boosting walk, run, stretch or swim. There is not much, if anything, going on around you in the way of distraction and interference.

What is going on? Sunrise, sounds of nature around you beginning to buzz as animals greet the day and plants glisten in the dew, the beautiful chimes of a nearby church clock signaling the early hours of the morning. All things to take in, to be thankful for, and to admire in their morning habitat.

I like to rise now at about 5:00 AM. This may seem late for some and too early for others, but it works for me. I get outside and take a 20 minute walk or run. Prayer, dreams remembered, and other reflective thoughts run through my mind between short bursts of pure silence and observation of the beauty around me. The world seems like a different place at this hour as traffic is scarce and the pressures of yesterday and/or today are not really at the forefront of my mind. This is my time. It is all about what I choose to make of it and it seems to provide me with a mega boost of energy and positivity.

I follow this up with about 15 minutes of stretching, a shower, and then off to the office. I am now usually heading out earlier than before I began this routine, in a much better mood to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of me, and feeling physically, mentally and spiritually recharged.

There is something magical about the morning. All of its secrets are there for you to partake in – it unmasks itself before you and lies quietly at your feet. It has no choice.

Embrace the day by enjoying the early hours of the morning. It will be a positive change in your life and you will truly enjoy these precious hours that belong only to you.

KGM

 

One Step at a Time (V1 P12)

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612014766The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Baby steps. Slow and steady wins the race. Dip your toe in the water. All of these are meant to show the importance of just beginning and not being overwhelmed by the sometimes overwhelming enormity of the task at hand or of reaching your goal. Just get started – one step at a time.

I have been discussing with some of my readers their past challenges of becoming locked up because they have looked at the final destination as so far away and potentially so difficult to navigate that they fail to make steady progress. It is vital to remember that the journey is sometimes never ending and that successful spiritual evolution is not reaching the final destination but rather making steady and perpetual progress as a human.

Start slowly and focus on your core beliefs – that which is most important to you. Work slowly outward from this inner circle and act upon your inner thoughts that guide you and walk you from A to B. If it is physical manifestation that makes up part of your life’s journey at this point in time – realize that doing something, anything, no matter how small will take you to a place a bit closer to point B. Any progress in the space between builds upon itself and will make it easier to take the next step(s). Progress will produce results that will be noticed and that will propel your mind, body and spirit into the positive acknowledgement that you are making inroads towards achieving your goals.

Similar to the placebo effect – you, having witnessed progress no matter to what extent, will be feeling positive about the progression from Point A to Point B and will exponentially build upon that progress. Your belief that you will get there will parlay the real results to date into exponentially greater results tomorrow. Faith, belief, positive thought, prayer – all powerful stuff, to be sure.

Always move towards your goal. Be in a state of perpetual improvement. Shoot for the stars and even if unattainable you will have made inroads on a path between yourself and the stars and the space between will be noticeably and forever changed.

KGM