2012 - Be the change!

'Embrace Change' by Kim Dreyer.

© Km Dreyer 2012. All rights reserved.

Wherever you go, one of the main topics on most people's minds is 'What is 2012 going to bring?'  'What's going to happen?'  The challenges we face may be our greatest yet on this planet.

There are almost as many opinions as there are people.  But it seems like the overriding factor within all these opinions is that there is going to be change, or more specifically, there has to be change.  And I agree.  Globally our systems are proving to be outdated and are not based on sustainable foundations.  We see the same people getting richer and richer yet more and more people dropping below the breadline.  We see pollution and destruction of the natural world reaching epic proportions.  But change is starting to happen.  The question is though, will it be enough and will it be in time?  AND what are you doing to assist in making positive changes?

I believe that each one of us has to look at the following 3 aspects of our lives in order to manifest positive change.  And there is no better time to start than the present.

The three aspects are; Choices, Responsibility, Change.  All are undeniably linked and it's how we look at and integrate each one into our lives that will make the difference.

CHOICES:  We have a number of difference choices for every situation that we as individuals or as a group are faced with.  In many aspects of our lives, institutions like governments and religions manipulate us into making choices that are in their interests, at the expense of ours.  And we believe that is the way it has to be.  But it doesn't and it shouldn't!  A wise man once said:  "Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely".  And sadly no country in the world seems to be exempt of this fact.  The choices then that we make as individuals are more important than ever.  For if we continue to hand over our lives, our futures, our personal power to those who exploit it for their own benefit, we can only lose.  And at the end of the day it will be our own fault for neglecting to do something about it.  So the secret is to find the courage to stand and live in your own power and make the right choices that will benefit the whole, even if at times it seems that you are the only one standing up to the system.  What is of utmost importance is that we take responsibility for the choices we make and for the lives we lead and not place the blame on someone else or expect others to fix things for us.

RESPONSIBILITY:  When we take responsibility for our lives, we soon learn to make the correct choices.  The responsibility I speak of is not only towards ourselves, but to our children, our fellow human beings and our home - Mother Earth.  From a young age we are taught to shrug our responsibility by placing blame on others.  We are taught a very warped version of responsibility.  We are taught that if someone does something bad to someone else, we must keep quiet - 'whistle-blowing' is bad.  Especially if it's someone you know.  But this teaches us to 'bury our heads in the sand'; 'sit on the fence'; or 'not get involved' and this doesn't solve any problems.  Wake up people, THIS IS YOUR LIFE! - Everything affects everything and everyone!  So you need to carefully think of the consequences of every choice you make.  How they will affect, not only you, but your family, your community and the world.  Only you are responsible for your own happiness.  There are people out there who love and support you, but ultimately you have to make your own responsible choices in life and either reap the benefits of them or face the consequences. 

CHANGE:  We've all been told a million times that change is inevitable and that's true.  If there are aspects of your life you do not like, you personally need to start taking steps to bring about the changes you wish to see.  You needn't go through these changes alone, but you have to make the choices on your own and they must be your choices, not someone else's.  As the saying goes, "You have to be the change you want to see."  The human spirit and psyche are powerful forces on this planet, embrace them and live your life from a position of strength, courage and love.  By making responsible choices you can bring about positive change and help make 2012 the turning point to a brighter future for all on this beautiful planet.

Seeking the Truth

Intelligence without compassion is not true intelligence.

Without applying a feeling to your knowledge,  (connecting your intellect to your heart) your knowledge is superficial.........there is no true understanding of the knowledge you have gained.

Scientists now know that the heart is far more complex than originally thought.  The heart has it's own, measurable, electro-magnetic field which mimics that of the earths'.  Our hearts electrical field is 100 times and its' magnetic field is 5000 times stronger than the brain.  Yet our focus is on our brain and we tend to 'switch' off our hearts.

Our educational and religious institutions, governments, corporations and media dumb us down.  It would be impossible for those in charge to have total power over us if we thought for ourselves; if we questioned everything instead of blindly accepting and believing everything we are told.

And how do they dumb us down - by teaching us 'parrot-fashion' and spoon-feeding us information - the WRONG information which plays on our fears and insecurities.  Eventually we loose the ability to think for ourselves and expect someone to do our thinking for us.  We become lazy and complacent.   We believe the promises politicians make during election campaigns and the information companies tell us about their products in their TV commercials.  We believe everything a preacher tells us, because 'he's a man of God, so he must be telling the truth'.  But this is not how the real world works.  They are people with flaws and man's greatest flaw is his greed and hunger for money and power.

We need to start connecting heart and brain.  When you receive information, no matter from what source don't just accept it at face value.  Open your heart to that information.  Ask yourself - Does it feel right?  Does it resonate with me?  Not everything that is written in black and white or that is uttered from someone's mouth (irrespective of their training or status) is necessarily true.

Individuals and organizations have, for centuries, used information as a tool to get what they want, to satisfy their own greed.  The world is full of big lies and little truths - so continue to always question EVERYTHING you hear and read.  Seek out those little truths.  For if we continue to seek the truth with heart and mind, we will find it.  And we can then take back the power over our OWN lives.  We can then become powerful creators of our inner and outer worlds.

Be Inspired, Be the Inspiration

We are all guilty of not doing something because we are worried about what others might think, or we feel that it's too impulsive, or it's something we just normally wouldn't do.

The other day I felt like baking something different, but couldn't find the right recipe.  So I left it.  The next day I had the same urge to bake something different and realised that the previous day I hadn't done so because I was afraid it would taste lousy and I would have to throw my experiment away and waste the ingredients.  But then I realised, if I continued to procrastinate, the fresh ingredients I had bought the day before would spoil and be wasted anyway if I didn't do something with them.  So on went the apron and I got stuck in.  With a bit of mixing, adjusting and tasting I came up with something I thought was acceptable, but it still needed to set in the refrigerator.  Two hours later I was rewarded with one of the tastiest, most decadent flavoured, but still healthy, Strawberry and Coconut Cream deserts  I have tasted in a long time.  Nothing was wasted and I had learnt more than just a new recipe.

I realised -  I need to do this with every aspect of my life.  I must never be afraid to try something new or different.  For in trying you not only learn and grow but you can inspire others to do the same.  The more doors you open to new opportunities and possibilities in all areas of your life, the more you will experience and live life.  Not just exist but actively be the orchestrator of your own life.  And so what if it doesn't always work out the way you planned, or you don't get the response you expected.  Would you rather never try anything new or different and always fret about the opportunities you've missed?!  I know I wouldn't.  Trying something new and different is invigorating, exciting!

So don't hesitate, try something new, share it with someone you care about, inspire them to open themselves to wonderful new opportunities waiting out there for them and remember YOU are the Creator of your own life.

Sometimes others just need a tiny bit of encouragement to find the inspiration to try new things.  So when a friend or family member asks your opinion as to whether they should try 'that new thing' they have been thinking about, think first, before you answer.  Is it YOUR fear of trying something new that is the basis for your reply or will it be an inspired response, encouraging them to 'go for it', to open themselves up to new opportunities?

Be inspired every day and be the inspiration to others.  Do not ignore the real you that is bursting to come out and be seen and heard.............a truly unique and beautiful being with SO MUCH potential!

You Are Blissfully Unique

 'Find Your Bliss'
Artwork copyright Kim Dreyer 2011.

I believe that one of the most powerful gifts we as humans have is our individual uniqueness  - our differences.  These differences are on all levels, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.  It is this uniqueness that we should all be celebrating and sharing.  But society tries to fit us all into the same box.  We are expected to think, dress, eat, feel, LIVE the same.  We are often made to believe that our uniqueness is a fault, something that needs to be changed..................we are expected to conform.  Sure society has created a number of different boxes to fit us into so we have the perception that we are different.......but our true, deeper differences are not those which we carry on the outside, but those we have on the inside and these cannot be boxed!

It is usually those who are the most fearful who will point fingers at or ridicule those who are strong and determined enough to 'walk their walk' and 'talk their talk'.  Pay no attention to people like that - often their nastiness is based on the fact that they are too afraid to follow their dreams, their truth.

Finding the true you underneath all the fashion, ingrained beliefs, fears and insecurities is not easy but it can be done.  There are people out there who have gone against the grain, gone against all odds and achieved amazing things.  But each and every one of them acknowledged their unique talents, their unique spirits.  Acknowledging and celebrating your uniqueness is extremely powerful and uplifting.  All it takes is to believe in yourself and follow your passion - that which makes you happy!  FIND YOUR BLISS in life - and you will gain access to amazing joy, inspiration and drive - it will give you purpose in life. 

There will be times when one is challenged - that is all part of our physical existence - but one must stand firm and stay true to yourself, especially at these times.  Sometimes challenges appear, to nudge us into thinking 'out-of-the-box' or to try something slightly different.  But when one is doing what one loves, challenges are no longer insurmountable hurdles and we are able to find the determination to work through them.  So follow YOUR dreams,  find YOUR bliss and be the wonderful gift to humanity that YOU are!

The Secret Flaws of Abundance

'Abundance' - artwork by Kim Dreyer.

Copyright © Kim Dreyer 2011. All rights reserved.

For a long time now I have wanted to write down my thoughts on Abundance.  In fact, ever since I first saw the dvd 'The Secret' when it came out a few years ago.  (Yes, sometimes I do procrastinate a bit much).  Anyway, since then every time I hear or see the word Abundance, I cringe!!

The basic concept behind the dvd is the Law of Attraction.  However, the further I got into watching it, the more I became concerned about the end message.  The message, running through much of the dvd was Abundance.  Fine.  But the abundance focussed way too much on money and materialistic objects - a fat bank balance, a fancy mansion, large expensive cars, tvs, fancy furniture, etc, etc, etc.  Stuff that requires, in it's manufacture, large amounts of seriously dwindling resources from Mother Nature!  And then there is all the pollution that is produced in the manufacture of all these products.  Is this what I want to manifest using the Law of Attraction - definitely not!!

What is abundantly clear, to me at least, is we cannot and must not continue on this mindless drive to own possessions to justify our worth, or feel we have accomplished something in life.  Just imagine if everyone on this planet had access to the materialistic abundance talked about in the dvd.  Take motor vehicles for instance - currently there are around 1 billion cars in use.  If every adult on this planet had a car, this number would probably rise to around 5 billion cars.  What would this do to the quality of our already polluted air, never mind the effect on the resources required to  produce all these new cars.   More and more factories would churn out more 'stuff' AND more pollution.  Would there be clean air to breathe, pure water to drink??  Would there be anything left of the natural world?  I think not!

We HAVE to get this mindset out of people when talking about abundance.  Associating abundance with materialism is NOT cool!!  Sure, I do understand that we all still live in a world where we cannot get by without money.  There are certain basic material requirements that we all need to live.  But once these needs are met, rather focus on financial Abudance in order to do something positive with it, like feeding the hungry; caring for abused animals; or cleaning up our planet, etc.  We certainly don't need it for a new wardrobe of clothes every season; a new gadget, just because there is a new version out - the list is endless.  We are slaves to our possessions and can't even see it.  Or perhaps we see it, but don't have the will to do anything about it.   We are too caught up in this vicious cycle of 'make money - buy stuff,  make more money - buy more stuff'.  But it's high time we did something about the way we live.

So how about next time we call upon the Law of Attraction and request Abundance we think a little more carefully on what that Abundance will entail.  Money and possessions?  But remember along with the materialistic possessions come, pollution and depletion of natural resources, so we'll be manifesting this too.  Or?  Health and happiness; clean rivers and oceans; pure, fresh air; forests and fields teaming with wildlife.  Things that will help us live sustainable lives, in harmony with our home - Mother Earth.  After all, if we trash her (as we are currently doing) - there is nowhere else to go.  We don't have a brand new earth waiting 'next door' for us to move to!

Which world of Abundance would you like to live in and create for your children to live in?

MORE ON SPIRITUALITY

Crown Chakra by Kim Dreyer.

Copyright © Kim Dreyer 2011.  All rights reserved.

Today I wanted to share more of my thoughts and feelings on spirituality.  The following is the result of a few minutes of automatic writing which I felt I needed to share on this blog.  Automatic writing is something I have not done for a very long time. Thanks Sue for reminding me of this!

When you lift your spirit and connect to your soul, you no longer have the need for approval from others.  The only approval worth receiving is that from your inner Divine self.

Many feel they have reached a high level of spirituality, only to still feel that there is a void, something still missing.  Deeper reflection will show that part of that spirituality is not of the heart but of the mind.  The ego is still holding on, reluctant and fearful of releasing it's host.

One may think that one is meditating enough; doing enough spiritual exercises such as yoga or tai chi; that one is thinking and saying the right things, but this very act of thinking about it often negates much of the effort.

It may seem almost impossible to let go of the act of thinking but it is not.  Connecting fully to your inner Divine self and living from the heart center may be one of the most difficult things to do, especially due to how society has shaped us (how we have allowed society to do so).  But it will be the single most important and most rewarding achievement we will ever accomplish in our lives.  For all that we are and all we will ever be, is programmed deep within our core and as long as we live a life focused on our outer being - our physical  and all that pampers to our physical existence, we will never be truly happy or content.

The materialistic aspect of our lives and even parts of our body can be removed or damaged by others or by events, but when we live fully connected to our heart and soul, no one can take that from us.  Then simply 'being' will bring us all the happiness and contentment we will ever need.

LIVING FROM THE HEART

 Heart Chakra by Kim Dreyer

Copyright © Kim Dreyer 2011.  All rights reserved.

So much of what I read and hear these days has to do with living from your heart center, not your head - love not fear.  Below are my thoughts and feelings about this.  I have found it quite difficult to put them in the right words, because for me so much of it is more a feeling than a thought.  But here goes....

It is time for us to move from a life based on fear to a life based on love.  This is something that has been written and talked about for ages.  And it seems, more and more the message is coming through stronger and stronger, that we need to do it sooner rather than later.  We cannot carry on living on this planet the way we do.

Our minds drive and control our fear.  But it is in our hearts where we need to be, where love is.  It is generally agreed that  when we live from our minds and allow our thoughts to control our lives, we fall into a pattern of fear based experiences.  Along with fear comes all the other negative emotions - anger, hate, jealousy and many more that most of us struggle with daily.  These negative emotions also bring with them stress, dis-ease and suffering.

If we lived from our heart center, these negative emotions and the miriad of dis-eases they cause would disappear.  But it is not easy to change from thinking with the head to feeling with the heart.  Especially if others around us are still living a life based on fear.  After all, we have all been brainwashed into this way of life from the day we are born, so it is what we know and what we are used to.

We are taught to live from a position of fear from our parents and as we grow up we get this same message from our educational systems, our religious institutions, from government and large corporations, even in the advertising we see on TV!  Eventually this fear effects our thinking to the extent that we can no longer see things logically, nor think clearly for ourselves.  And all these negative emotions control every aspect of our lives.  From our relationships to our careers, our happiness and our health.

But the big question is, how, after a lifetime of living from our heads and fear, do we change and live from our heart centers.  There is no easy, quick-fix.  It takes a lot of hard work and dedication as well as many hours of soul-searching.  But the most important thing is you must WANT TO!  And not 'want to' because you think it is the right thing to do, but really 'WANT TO', a feeling from deep down within you.

Most of us probably wouldn't even know when we are in our heart centers.   So we need to teach ourselves to 'think' through our hearts.  When a thought comes into our heads, we need to move it down to our heart and FEEL it.  If this thought feels right once it is in your heart, then that thought should resonate with love, if you are being true to your heart. If it does not, the thought is still being controlled by your head/mind.   You could also think back to a situation when you felt  that warm glow in the center of your chest.  When your mind wasn't thinking about anything, but your heart opened up to a feeling of joy, love, contentment.  Perhaps it was when you saw a loved one you hadn't seen for a long time; or someone did something for you when you were sick or sad that made you feel loved and cared for; or the joy you get when your pet showers you with a loving welcome when you return home from a days work; or the peace and contentment we get sitting in nature.  We all DO have these 'heart feelings' tucked away somewhere.  We just need to reach within and bring their energy, the feeling, back to the present and experience it.

I believe that if we can use our hearts to go back to a time when we felt this way, when we felt an unconditional love and then allowed that warm feeling in our hearts to grow and then learnt to keep it there for as long as we can, we are a step closer to living in our hearts.  All we then need to do is to 'go there' every day and soon we will be able to bring that feeling back in the blink of an eye.  The trick then would be to keep that feeling for as long as possible and at the same time go about our daily lives with that feeling of love held in our heart.  Even if we feel we do not have these feelings or find it difficult to bring them out, we can teach ourselves to feel unconditional love from deep within our hearts - it just takes will and practice.  Soon it would become such a natural thing to do that one would be able to stay in the heart and eventually live a life based on love and not on fear.