Count Your Blessings

We as people have a terrible tendency to only see the bad. I'm guilty of this myself, especially if I'm in a funk to begin with. But not everything is bad. And even the things that are, have lessons for us to learn, which is less "bad" and more of a growth and learning opportunity. The universer will never give you more than you can handle, so trust that. Believe in it, because that faith will get you through some pretty dark times. By seeing opportunity or focusing on the positive, the rest slips away into the background. Whatever we focus on, we emphasize. So what will you choose to invest your energy into?
Sending you love,
SB

Finding Acceptance

Here is a newsflash - you are not in control of everything.

Now, knowing this intellectually is one thing, but truly KNOWING is something else entirely. So let me say it again: You are NOT in control of everything.
This includes day to day events in your life, your interactions with others, the weather - all of it.

But that's okay.

Once you know this, when bumps arrive on the highway of life, you can recognize and release. This doesn't always come easily, when we're emotionally invested in something. You need to have a certain amount of detachment from your experiences, so you can experience them, without identifying with them. Does that make sense? If you identify with every passing experience, every passing exchange with another individual, when those things pass, a piece of you passes with it. This will rob us of the experience. But I digress. I cannot stress enough the importance of the breath during stressful times, or at the very least when things don't go our way. So let's go through an example of finding acceptance...

You have plans with someone, and they cancel. There are a millions reasons for cancelling of course, but the reason doesn't take away from the fact that you won't be seeing the person. (Though "good" reasons will often help us along with our accepting) You can recognize the disappointment within you, honour it. Pretending it isn't there, or denying yourself the chance to experience it will result in much worse. Take a deep breath... if it's a particularly big disappointment, take more than one. (The air is free!) Hold the breath... and release.... Make sure when you exhale that you're pushing out the negativity you're holding within you. With each subsequent inhale breathe in acceptance. Notice how it feels different within you. It should feel lighter. (If not, rinse, repeat) :)

Edit: I posted this late last night, and missed an integral part of acceptance. When we get information, facts, what have you, that show us that something is not as we'd like it to be (could be anything from seeing the weather won't compliment your plans for the day, to finding evidence of infidelity, etc) - don't use these facts to fester on and ruin your day. Of course depending on the situation, it may very well ruin your day. What I'm saying is, don't torture yourself with it: it is what it is. Be grateful that now you know, and use the knowledge to find acceptance. And of course, don't forget to breathe. :)

Finding acceptance plays a huge part in making it through the day without too much frustration. As crass as it is, sh!t happens. And a lot is out of our control. Once you can surrender to the experience, you can release the attachment that you once held, leaving you freer, lighter. So don't be a victim of the things you can't manoever - release, and accept, and move on to the next thing.

Much love,
Seena Beana

Identity is not in your belongings...

I'd like to start off today's post with a quote from the movie "Fight Club". (It was probably in the book too, but I have to admit, I haven't read it yet.)

"You're not your job. You're not how much money you have in the bank. You're not the car you drive. You're not the contents of your wallet. You're not your fucking khakis."

I know when I first heard that, I was like "Yeah!" and then went back to my life of making as much money as I could (even though it made me miserable) and acquired as many things as I could, the more expensive the better. I was fickle, and the reason why I had to keep buying more and more things was because I was trying to fill a void within me with material possesions.

Fast forward to May 2009 and I get brought into my boss's office and informed that due to cutbacks I need to be let go. I was devastated. I hated my job, was completely miserable, but panicked at the loss of money that would be coming in. Now, I'm very fortunate to be living in Canada, and I've been able to receive Employment Insurance which got me through the difficult time. But guess what? It doesn't kick in right away. And do you know what I wasn't doing when I was spending like a madwoman? Saving.

So I had to say farewell to all of my belongings... at least the really valuable ones. My bicycle that hadn't been ridden yet. My beautiful SLR camera that I'd taken with me to exotic (and not so exotic) places. My margarita machine, some furniture, and so on. It was a humbling experience, one I hope to not have to repeat because I think I actually learned the lesson. (Not just about saving, but about what I'm about to say next).

We cannot find true fullfilment outside of ourselves. We are not our jobs, or our belongings. Yes, it's important that we find satisfaction in what we do (this is after all the place we'll be spending a third of our days). Yes, it's important to appreciate what you have, regardless of how opulent or not it is. If we are constantly seeking some kind of validation out of things outside of ourselves (and yes, this does include relationships) then what happens to us when they're gone? Nothing is forever. And I'm not saying to be cynical and view everything as passing. I know too many people who get caught up in what they have or what they do, and if that's taken away from them, well, they cease to exist. If your identity is based on something outside of you - that's exactly what will occur if that outside source is taken away.

This means making a shift in how you value everything from your belongings, to your relationships and your experiences. It's also an opportunity for you to connect your heart with what truly matters. And if your answer to this is "my material things are what truly matters" well, that's just the stage of growth you're in. It is my hope that you'll see things from a bigger perspective soon. :)

Lovingly yours,
Seena Beana

M5

You wish you were invisible
A ghost to those you see
Without trying, you touch the souls
Of so many other than me

You glide the streets so very lost
And careful not to touch
You’re denying others knowing you
And they miss out on so much

What’s blind to you is you’re not a ghost
It’s very plain to see
You fill my life with laughs and love
Refilling what was empty

I fear the gap between us
Is more than just bad days
Your feet aren’t planted here on Earth
Which leads me now to say

The clock is ticking, so when the time comes
For your spirit to slip from this land
I pray it’s caused by ripe old age
And not by your own hand

It’s a selfish act, removing your light
From this Earthly plane
Leaving behind nothing but
Darkness, sadness and pain

Consider this a loving plea
To venture back to me
You’re so much more than a lonely ghost
Just live. Just love. Just be.

The rebirth

I am reborn, a lotus blossom
Beauty birthed from mud
Reaching, rising upward
Grasping for the sun
Each breath makes my petals expand
Each breath the source of life
Each breath comes and feeds the next
Each breath erases strife
Because life as lotus blossom
Is more than flawless perfection
It’s an example for others to find
Within them warmth and affection
If I’m reborn then so can he
And she and he as well
Stories of limitless potential
Are ours to share and tell

Choose

I choose to live a loving life
As a warrior of love and peace
Who opens up her heart to give
A love that will never cease

I choose to live my life so strong
As fearless as can be
Embracing change and taking chance
Still being true to me

I choose to live a happy life
Abandoning my sorrow
Gone are the days of misery
Only joy will fill tomorrow

I choose to live a choosing life
Where pleasure is for the taking
Journeying with loving intention
These choices are mine for the making

Light for the dark times...

Today I was incredibly blessed to spend time with some of the most fantastic people I know. We had some wonderful discussion about everything under the sun, but there was one statement that triggered an opening in my heart that I wanted to share.
From the wise mouth of my beautiful friend Dr. Tanya:

"Just because you've had a difficult past, does not mean you have to have a difficult future."

It comes back to choice, which I've said a million times over. But sometimes, we choose the difficult option. But WHY? It seems nonsensical. There's a few reasons:

1. We still have a lesson to learn. When we find ourselves cycling over and over again in the same situations, it is sometimes because we have something that is left to absorb from the situation. I relate this to my astrological phase... for a stretch, I kept dating men over and over with the same astrological sign. It was kind of peculiar, and I certainly had something to learn from there.

2. We attract these situations. This does happen. It's common knowledge that we get what we put out, and if we are vibrating at a low frequency, we are going bring upon us situations of a similar frequency.

3. (And I think this is the most common) It's comfortable, and familiar. I had a coworker say to me once "Better the devil you know, than the devil you don't." Okaayyyy... but what if the other isn't a "devil". What if, God forbid, there's an actual GOOD option... or what about a FANTASTIC option! We don't have to settle for mediocrity. We don't have to dwell in dark negative places because that is familiar to us. It takes time to flex the muscles, and find comfort in a foreign place (ie: Positivity Land) but isn't it better to invest in the time than to dwell in misery?

So if you get to choose, what will you pick? It is ultimately up to us.
Sending so much light your way to help you in the dark parts of your journey...

SB xo