We ARE More Than Enough

This world has become all about what we do. It is one of the first questions people ask when they meet each other. However, does what you do really say anything about you? Or is what you are of more importance?

Let me explain. I’ve had the honor and privilege to learn and awaken through observations of nature recently. A robin decided to build her nest on my fence, and as I watched her come back with strands of grass and beaks full of mud, I came to realize a few things. I love her. I value her. I am somewhat attached to her. Why? Was it something she did? Not really. She was just BEing.

So, why is it when it comes to other people and ourselves, we rush around trying to prove ourselves, striving to acquire this or that to define our existence, to mark our success? Are we not even more precious than the robin nesting on my fence—or at least equally so?

We think of people whom we love and what comes to mind? Maybe it is what they do that draws us close to them. After all, actions speak louder than words. But what is louder than actions? It would be what spurs actions. This is the place where motivation is born. This is where I AM lives. It is what people are, the I AMs, which dictate actions.

Example. Your spouse makes you dinner on a night you are exhausted. Is it the act that endears them to you or is it the motivation behind the action? You might respond with the act. However, think deeper. It was the thought, them BEing who they are, that resulted in the action. They considered your needs and best interests.

With the robin you might argue I became attached because she built a nest on my fence. But that would be the action. The thought, the essence of who she is endears her to me. She is peaceful. She chose a spot sheltered by a small tree branch and a fence post. She works hard, but not tirelessly. Her motivation is not to have the best nest in the world, to show off to visitors; it is to have a safe place to lay her eggs and have her babies. For this, she is proud of who she is and what she has accomplished. Every day she sings from the top of my chimney. I swear she is proclaiming her love for the world and her part in it. See what she is, the I AM, is caring, loving, and joyful. These are the qualities that draw me to love her.

Most of us have heard the expression; it’s the thought that counts. And how true. Without the thought, we would have nothing. We wouldn’t have the warm embrace of a loved one or feel their tender kiss and touch. We wouldn’t be inspired, we wouldn’t make our house a home, and on the list goes without end. So the next time you start defining yourself by what you do, by what you’ve done, or by what you’ve accomplished, dig deeper. Celebrate the I AM essence of your very BEing.

CAROLYN ARNOLD is the author of several published novels, including her best-selling Madison Knight series. Her love for writing dates back to her teen years, but it was only in recent years that she was reunited with this love to pursue it with career passion.

www.carolynarnold.net

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Rising Above Heartbreaking Change

Remember your divine "spark" no matter how low you may become.
Use that spark to ignite a fire.

Life changes. It is a fact of life. What was yesterday is not today, what is today is not tomorrow. It is easy to get caught up in these circumstances and situations, to allow them to define us, to give them our power. However, we are infinite beings capable of anything and as such do you not trust your ability to overcome, to supersede, that which you might first conclude as adversity or an obstacle? Instead, as awakened beings, we realize that these changes in life are actually guiding beacons to realign us on our path. If we could not endure a hardship in this life, we would not meet with it. Trust that you have the “toolbox” to make it through or that teachers and “earth angels” will appear in your life. I’ll give you a life-changing event in my life as an example.

Family meant everything to me. To ever think that I would be excommunicated pained me on a very deep level. I swore that I’d never do anything to meet such disapproval from my parents and two of my sisters (my third sister, Sherry, will always accept me for who I am). The thought of this situation ever happening to me hurt too much to consider. How could I hurt them like that and in turn cause such pain for myself? And trust me when it happened, I went through a period of intense heartbreak. My body mirrored this in physical ailments that had me taking different medical tests. The results from these showed that I was perfectly healthy, but that it was stress gnawing on my body. I was so low that I was suicidal. My co-workers at the time never saw it. My husband could not believe what he was hearing when I had told him. Friends who I've told since couldn't believe it. And this is my first time putting it out there in a public forum. However, I want you to know just how low I was.

I had turned to alcohol to soothe my broken heart, but as you know it only makes such things worse. The turning point was when I had quite a few whiskeys and pops. There’s no other way to say it; I was drunk. I fell to my knees and was crying and screaming, “How can they do this to me?” It was at this low point, in the middle of this “tirade”, all right, breakdown, that a spark flashed in me. A voice in my head said, who are they to have this power over me? It was from this darkness, from this very low point (a pit), I realized no one should wield such power over me. I also saw that I was giving them this power and it was time to stop this allowance. This was the turning point on my healing journey. It was not long later that I had the divine inspiration to start this blog. (And, yes, I do believe it was divine. If I can help even one person see the spark they have inside, the power they possess, the beauty they are, then sharing my story and my journey was well worth it.)

When I shared my story about how I “lost” my parents and two of my sisters, I’d meet with compassion. People expressed such things as, I couldn’t never survive that, or I could never treat my children this way. And, who knows, for them, maybe they would not survive such an ordeal? But here’s the thing, if something’s happened in your life, whether it be a direct choice you made or one made by someone else, you have the power and the strength within to deal with it. You do. Trust. Believe.

See I never would have thought I had the strength to deal with this situation. However, it has been two years, and I am a stronger person than I was before—or at least I recognize the strength that was always there. Teachers who crossed my path, such as Jack Canfield, have helped me to realize that to move forward I had to assume 100% responsibility for my life. At first this was hard to accept. After all, look my family did to me. They stopped talking to me because I did not want to worship God the way they did anymore. But it was time to own up to my choices in life. I knew beforehand that by deciding to go on a different path in life, they would react this way, yet I still made the choice. Was it because I was mean or unthoughtful? There were times I carried the guilt—again that is one of the emotions that needs to be purged on the journey to awakening. My motivations were not to hurt anyone. In fact, I still love my family dearly and send them love, light, and forgiveness. But realizing that I had taken back control of my life, by living it the way I want, in following my purpose, guilt, anger, regret, indecision, heartbreak, all of these emotions melted away. In its place were love and forgiveness—for them and myself.

Be blessed and keep shining the light that only you are meant to shine.

Carolyn Arnold

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CAROLYN ARNOLD is the author of several published novels, including her best-selling Madison Knight series. Her love for writing dates back to her teen years, but it was only in recent years that she was reunited with this love to pursue it with career passion.

www.carolynarnold.net

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Interview with Self

One day I asked. Who are you? And … Why are you here?

Self answered:

I am the sparkling-eyed child who first entered the world.

I came to explore and experience this world with child-like wonder and play.

I came to experience emotions, those that feel good and those that do not.

I am an all-powerful spiritual being, using a physical body to move within a physical world.

I came to experience who I am not.

I came to choose again and experience who I am.

I came to remember the spark inside me and its connection with All That Is.

I came to consciously open up fully to this spark, shining for all to see!

I came to assist others who are remembering their spark.

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SHERRY BUIKEMA began learning about energy healing ways and developed a dream. It was a dream of a beautiful place in nature, where friends gather for meditation and self-healing. In 2012, with the help of her very supportive husband, One Place To Be was born.  October 2013 saw the first day retreat, with regular retreats going forward. In line with this dream, Sherry has completed her Reiki Masters and Reconnective Healing® training and is assisting others to reconnect with the fullness of their beings on all levels.

www.oneplacetobe.net

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Time of Rebirth

Year after year the symptoms of winter melt away. The crocuses are the first, brave enough to burst through the soil. Next, tulip and daffodil sprouts cutting through last year’s leaves with determination, rising to the light, eager to grow and blossom for all to see! The grass turns from brown to green. The naked trees become dressed in a costume of leaves. All of a sudden, we notice multiple shades of grey turned to beautiful shades of green in the blink of any eye.

Looking closer we see the birds and animals singing, playing and loving. We see the flowers and plants sharing their beauty, witnessed through sight and smell. We hear the birds and frogs singing their heart songs; while trees stand tall and lush sharing their branches as a party place for all.

Our barren, dismal surroundings come to life! From death-like sleep to awakened; a rebirth of sorts, enlivened and ready to flourish and grow!

As humans, we also flow with the seasons of weather and the journey of life; literally and figuratively going inward during the cold, dark days and coming out when the days turn warm and bright. The sun’s energy has a way of charging up our rechargeable batteries and away we go! We pick up the pace, doing and being all we can be while the time is right!

This is the time, our time to experience beauty, laughter and play! Time for letting go of the limitations we set for ourselves; all the beliefs and programs we have been running which no longer serve. Embracing the dark and light aspects of self, forgiving, accepting, loving, all of it and the journey that brought us to this precious awareness of now. This is a pivotal moment of gathering all the fragmented pieces of our soul, merging the shadows with our magnificence!

We begin standing tall in the light, arms outreached to the beauty and joy of it all; remembering our heart song, singing, playing and loving all those we meet. This is the time. This is our time. The glorious time of rebirth -- shining for all to see!

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SHERRY BUIKEMA began learning about energy healing ways and developed a dream. It was a dream of a beautiful place in nature, where friends gather for meditation and self-healing. In 2012, with the help of her very supportive husband, One Place To Be was born.  October 2013 saw the first day retreat, with regular retreats going forward. In line with this dream, Sherry has completed her Reiki Masters and Reconnective Healing® training and is assisting others to reconnect with the fullness of their beings on all levels.

www.oneplacetobe.net

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Own Your Power and Change Your Perceptions

As a child, we had no problem with our imagination. It ran wild and free. We created worlds without thought. As girls, we were princesses, mothers, or superstars. We had tea parties with our dolls and make-believe friends. As boys, we built forts and slayed dragons. We fought with light sabers (even if they were sticks) and we rode our bikes and jumped off ramps.

But somewhere along the line, we grew up. We went from “playing house” to the real deal—a husband, a wife, children. Instead of being the bliss we fabricated as children, though, being grown up can be anything but fun.

There are responsibilities. There are expenses. You have to get a “real” job. And, suddenly, so many who longed for adult freedom as a teenager are wishing they could turn the clock back.

They are in a job they hate. Possibly they are unhappy in their marriage. They are running on empty with no energy left to take care of themselves. Life has become a hamster wheel and many fear what will happen if they stop running.

So ask yourself, honestly: what would happen?

Maybe your mind floods with all these scenarios—you’ll lose your job, your house, your car, possibly even your spouse. The lifestyle you’ve become accustomed to will combust into ash.

But do you realize what all of this is? That’s right, it’s your imagination. Now instead of using this gift to empower yourself, to help you realize your limitless potential, you are using it to strip away your power and to impose limits on yourself.

Let me ask you this. When you see a new baby, what are your thoughts? Do you look at him or her, their bright eyes, their little lips, hands, and feet, and think, “Welcome to the world. You can work a mediocre job. You’ll never be happy. Your marriage—if you’re lucky enough to find someone—will end in divorce.”

Or, instead, do you find yourself caught up in the rapture of anticipation for the baby?

“I can’t wait to see who you’re going to be and what you’re going to accomplish. You have so much to offer this world. You have the whole world ahead of you. You can do anything you want.”

I think the answer’s a clear one. We are like the second option, in wide-eyed wonder of what this little person will become. We honestly believe they can be, or do, whatever they want. Well, we used to be that little baby, the one others thought these things of. Nothing has changed except for our perception. Close your eyes and imagine looking on yourself as a little baby. Feel the joy and realize the boundless future ahead of you. Breathe in knowing that little baby—YOU—deserve everything and anything you want. Happiness, wealth, abundance in all areas of life. So, ask yourself, am I limiting myself?

Now, let’s go back to that hamster on the wheel. What truly happens to the hamster? He stops. Yep, that’s it. He sleeps there or he gets off.

The same is true for you. You have that power if you want to claim it. It’s up to you to reach inside and pull out your potential.

Here’s another thought, stopping doesn’t mean giving up. It can mean that you’re taking a break to assess where you are in life. Are you happy with your current circumstances? Just like the hamster will stop to rest, you owe it to yourself to do the same. Step back, take time off work, and think your situation through. It might simply be that you needed to have a holiday, to refresh your mind, body, and soul. You might be able to see through the attitude of gratitude that things are not really that off course for you. But, what if stepping back only proves to you that change is needed? Then be brave enough to take that on. Own your power. Trust that you got this.

--

Carolyn Arnold 

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Happiness is a Choice, Not a By-product

We’ve discussed this topic on this blog before, but it’s one that I’ve been inspired to write about again. It’s so common for people to assign things, people, and circumstances as the determining factor in their happiness. They think that once this or that happens, they’ll be happy. They believe that their happiness, confidence, and life’s purpose hinges on other people’s opinions or feelings. They allow themselves to get discouraged by other people’s responses, but remember YOU ARE COMPLETE!

The only one who can determine your happiness is yourself—no one else. You do not require someone else’s approval for the choices you make. Your life purpose is a calling made to you alone and you’re the only one capable of pulling it off.

Can you imagine if a doctor who treated a loved one was discouraged by family members or friends? Maybe they would have given up because of all the long hours involved in receiving their education. What if they decided it wasn’t worth it, because of other people’s opinion, and got a job at a department store? Maybe your loved one never would have found the same treatment with someone else.

Can you imagine if artists never painted? Writers never wrote? Singers never sang? And the list goes on. The world would be a very dull place. Not to mention one that was crippled and didn’t function properly.

Think too of those who were pioneers in their field. The Wright brothers who invented the airplane. The world at that time probably thought they were crazy. What about Graham Bell who invented the phone? Or Thomas Edison who invented the light bulb? What if the Internet was never invented?

Are you getting the point? You are vital to this world. Your life purpose was gifted to YOU for YOU to share with others. Please, choose happiness—it only belongs to you—and live your purpose.

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CAROLYN ARNOLD is the author of several published novels, including her best-selling Madison Knight series. Her love for writing dates back to her teen years, but it was only in recent years that she was reunited with this love to pursue it with career passion.

www.carolynarnold.net

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Do I want this to be my truth?

All through our lives we’re handed ready-made beliefs. “Hard work is necessary for success.” “Being rich is evil.” “Get a real job.” The list goes on.

They are so plentiful that our minds get to the point where they tune out a lot of this natter, but this is where there’s a danger. Just because we might be “tuning” out these limiting beliefs doesn’t mean they have no impact on us. In fact, it could be that they’ve become a part of us. They can be what’s responsible for self-sabotage and why we don’t realize our full potential. 

This is one avenue in which meditation is useful. By quieting our minds and going inward, we can uncover some beliefs we have. We may find that some were built upon things that others had said at one time or another. We might realize we don’t even agree with what’s been said. So, then why are we allowing them to hinder us?

We need to ask ourselves, “Do I want this to be my truth?”

Remember, the beliefs you operate under are yours to choose. You have the power to decide what has control over you, what alters your viewpoint.

For example, if you believe in yourself and your talent, but someone says to you ‘oh, you can’t make money doing that,’ are you going to let them stifle your enthusiasm, your belief that you can? This is where the choice is yours. This is where you take back your personal power.

What's another way to know if something is your truth? Conduct this quick test. Say your real name in this statement, making note of where you feel the meaning. This will be your truth center. The truth is always light. Some feel truth (or "yes") in their head, while they feel untruth (or "no") in their stomach. 

Here goes. Say, "I am *." 
Feel it?
Now, create a fictional name or say, "I am Santa Claus."
Feel it?

So if you're ever stuck and unsure, this can be a quick test to determine your truth.

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CAROLYN ARNOLD is the author of several published novels, including her best-selling Madison Knight series. Her love for writing dates back to her teen years, but it was only in recent years that she was reunited with this love to pursue it with career passion.

www.carolynarnold.net

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