Baby Boomer balance has nothing to do with walking a tight rope.

It has everything to do with alignment and walking our talk.

How many times in your life have you verbally committed to doing something and then reneged at some point because something came up - or the memory and focus of the original conversation faded and became a distant glimmer of muffled sound - like a silhouette of a campfire on the beach against a cliff late at night?

Was it your intention not to follow through? Did you actually make the commitment intending not to follow through?

In a peculiar way, this is the truth.

Recently, on a personal level, I have learned about authenticity - living it, speaking it and looking for it. This ties in directly to other aspects of what I am learning that I would like to share with you. See how it sits with you and maybe it will make sense to you the way it is beginning to in my life.

Lately many aspects of emotion are becoming clear in my life.

What emotion is, for example.

As far back as I can remember, emotion has been something usually associated with discomfort - something to “kind of walk around” or to be cautious about not stirring up the mud in the bottom of the pond, so to speak.

Because there was so much turmoil in my household as a boy, it became easier to avoid emotion than deal with it. As a memory, there is a great deal of fighting and negative emotion throughout much of the childhood experience. So looking back at the chain of events in my own experience, I see that inadvertently, as a young man my “internal” system gradually guided me in the direction of avoiding emotion as a survival tool, because many times this was easier than experiencing the emotion that was available there.

It was not a conscious choice, in retrospect.

And looking at that process, it becomes clear to me that a great deal of my subsequent experience around emotion was either directly - or indirectly - linked to the that “unconscious choice” so many years ago.

What is interesting about this scenario is that I have always been a highly sensitive human being with an singular sense of fairness and equity that has always been a major part of my personality. Being a “Cancer” with a heavy emphasis on emotion, this aspect has often been a double edged sword for me.

More often than not, I felt more than the others around me did. Many times it created a situation where I really felt like an outcast - the weirdo, the odd one - that got messages and direction that nobody else seemed to understand - or be aware of. At the age where peer approval was so important to a young man, this was often troubling and confusing. And yet on a certain level, I really didn’t care what they thought either. I rarely listened to what other people had to say.

Talk about confusion…

So here I am as a teenager:

• becoming a master of avoiding emotion while simultaneously
• being highly sensitive to the energy and emotion around me
• angry and aloof - getting tons of “downloads” encrypted in a language that only I seemed to understand

So back to the “truth” of not intending to follow commitments - of having intentions NOT to honor commitments we make - even though we are verbally nodding our heads.

In 2005, at a Wizard Camp (a 5 day intensive seminar not to far from Whistler, BC) I had an epiphany. I learned first hand what commitment means. This took place in the form of a direct experience - but also, I actually saw commitment with my own eyes. I have written about this experience in depth in my book so I will not reiterate it here.

I really got something in that experience that I have carried forward with me since and have grown to realize that it affects everything we do in life - all the time.

To summarize, this is it: Commitment does not exist in the cosmos as ‘partial’. It is all or nothing. We are either 100% committed or we are not committed. There is no such thing as “sort of committed”.

This is the crux of the theme of this post: Baby Boomer Balance.

Lately, as a I mentioned earlier, many aspects of “emotion” are becoming clear to me.

1. I have recently heard this: emotions are the way that God speaks to us.
2. Emotions are the internal guide posts that empower us to choose the right decision.
3. Emotions have nothing to do with pain or fear - both of which stem from our reaction to what our emotions are telling us - rather than what is actually being said.
4. Most of us avoid experiencing emotion like the plague because in much of our experience, when we feel emotion, we feel pain - so we associate it with pain.
5. Emotions are tools to guide us in the decision process. That decision process is very simple: Does this choice feel good? Or does this choice not feel good?

When we pull this understanding into our daily life as an operating tool, emotions make it easy to decide what to do. Esther Hicks and Abraham always talk about “going upstream or going downstream”.

I am learning how simple this is - but it took a long time for me to “get it”.

I am learning to use this tool frequently throughout the day. Any time I start to feel agitation about something I am hearing, or about something I am thinking or a choice I am about to make, I ask myself:

Does this feel upstream or downstream? If I get the feeling that the “thing” is upstream ( a choice that will take me into a situation that will mean “fighting my way upstream”), I choose consciously not to do that thing, or say those words or go that direction. No explanation, no argument and no rhetoric.

If this thing makes me feel “downstream” - like flowing with the current and really going with the flow, that is the choice I make. I find that as soon as I identify internally what feels good and what feels downstream, all sense of agitation and discomfort - in the bottom of my stomach immediately fades away and I feel good.

What a cool way to deal with emotion. It now becomes a tool for choosing our path and for making decisions all the time. And it is so simple - as long as we just listen and do not resist or react.

Now more about balance…

I am finding that living our truth is all about balance.

To be authentic we must live our truth. That means we can not go against what we know is right within us. In other words, we must always choose what feels downstream in order to follow “what feels right for us”. Any time we make a choice other than this, it means that we are making a choice that is out of alignment with who we are.

Maybe this is to please others whom we admire and whose approval we are seeking. Maybe we want a different outcome to be our reality so we think that if we ignore that “feeling” it will come out the way we really want it to happen.

The truth is that we can only make choices in alignment with our “authenticity” if we want to be authentic. Nothing else makes sense. The interesting part is that as soon as we choose this, everybody else around us identifies our authenticity and starts to respect it.

Now how does commitment fit into this picture?

It is very simple yet subtle - much in the same way how easy it is to choose “upstream or downstream”. Yet, perhaps commitment is one of the most misunderstood concepts in modern society at this point. Truly most of us think we are committed when we are not.

Because being committed means that no matter what we will follow through. It means our word is our bond, it is an extension of our truth and it is a big part of being authentic.

How is this so?

If we are truly being authentic, we have to follow through on our commitments. Because when we are following our inner truth, we only commit to those things that make us feel “downstream:” We choose what is right for us at all times and we choose to be in the flow.

When we are authentic, we are choosing that which is alignment with our higher self - which also means we are choosing that which is in alignment with the part of us which is Divine.

When we are authentic, we only agree to commit to anything that we choose to be in alignment with. What this means, therefore, is that it is really ok to say NO.

Simply go inside and ask yourself: If I commit to this does it make me feel downstream or upstream? Then base your commitment on that feeling - one way or the other.

Another aspect of commitment is this. If we commit to something and we do not follow through, we are not being authentic. Either we were not being authentic when we entered into the commitment, or we are not being true to ourselves when we do not follow through to that commitment.

We can not lie to our self and be happy and be “downstream”.

Baby Boomer Balance is important because we are older than many of our counterparts in our daily life. We have more experience and it’s time we start living out truth. We can’t make excuses any longer that “we didn’t know what was going on.”

That argument simply doesn’t hold water any more - not since the internet.

We are the leaders for future generations. What happens is our responsibility. How can we lead these kids and guide the flow “downstream” in the bigger picture if we are not committed to our principles, our values and our integrity?

And how can we expect those who are so desperately needing our leadership to believe us and follow our direction if:

• our walk is not in alignment with our talk and
• if we are not being authentic

We cannot expect them to listen because it will not feel “downstream” to them. And they will blow us off.

We have a chance to make a real change as we head into the magnificent transition into the new paradigm that is coming.

Speaking of Downstream…

On a funny note speaking of downstream, the other night I had a similar discussion with a lady who is friends with a close friend of mine. Bear in mind, this place - in Montana - offers some of the finest fresh water fishing in the northern hemisphere. She started laughing and told me a story,

“I have been thinking about buying a personalized license plate for my car and since I am an outdoor person and love to fish I have been thinking about getting a license plate that “came to me” related to fishing. It seemed appropriate to me, in a cool way, sort of signifying overcoming obstacles and achieving success as a fisherman. The license plate (she started to laugh as she said this) I came up with is: UPSTREAM.” We both started laughing. Then she said, “I can see that I had better change it to: DOWNSTREAM”. Then I said, laughing with her, “Absolutely you have to - otherwise every time you get in your car you will be living life upstream.”

Commit to your own alignment and your Baby Boomer Balance. Being in alignment is a big part of Baby Boomer Balance as well as a major ingredient in Baby Boomer Health. Coming to grips with these issues are not only a component of who were are becoming as leaders, it is also a big part of choosing emotional cleansing and self esteem on a conscious level - instead of an unconscious one.

Are you ready to see it all in a different light and quit fighting the inevitable - upstream?

I am.

Blessings.

Michael Barrett

Hamilton, MT

Baby Boomer Dream Business Review - The Game is Changing

We are always looking for business concepts that can provide Baby Boomers with a way to create a second income stream or as a way to completely replace an existing income. We believe that this company’s model is destined to become a wealth creation tool. This is a theme of Healthy Wealthy Boomer.

A few days ago, I wrote a piece on Boomer Authority entitled, “Awesome Baby Boomer Business” because I think this company, LocalAdLink is just that, an awesome baby boomer business.

LocalAdLink

You can read the above article for details about the mechanics. Or you can watch the video below for a more in depth description of how LocaAdLink is creating a new business trend in the world of local business advertising - that is changing the way local business advertising is done.

There are also several other information sources:

Here is an interview with the founder, Bob McNulty.

If you are looking for a career change with no earnings cap, look at this program LocalAdLink

We are recruiting a national sales team to assist in a massive national expansion coming up.

You can get in the information loop here.

Check it out, you’ll really like this. I do.

You know I just Googled “Boomer Health” and I was appalled at the titles of two of the top four pages:

Here are the search results:

1. Boomers Biggest Health Mistakes
2. 12 Risks of Aging that Boomers Can Avoid
3. Boomer Health
4. Boomer Health Care Dilemma

There is so much emphasis on illness, failure, pain, mistakes, risk and dilemmas. What disturbs me is that there is not more emphasis on successes, good choices, being pain free, creating unlimited energy and feeling great.

We have a tendency as a culture to get sucked into this focus - about all the bad things that are happening and coming our way - that we had better get prepared for. The media loves it.

The reality is that the Boomers Biggest Health Mistake Is Listening to and Buying into an illness mindset.

How about these titles for the top ten Boomer Health results as an alternative:

1. Three Things Boomers Can Do Today to Start Feeling Better Tomorrow
2. The Joy of Getting Older
3. Life Gets Better at 40
4. Choose Your Ideal Weight
5. Create the Baby Boomer Lifestyle of Your Dreams
6. 67 Things You Can Do to Improve Your Life that Don’t Cost a Thing
7. Feel Better and Look Better in 60 Days
8. Why Baby Boomers Make Better Lovers
9. How To Have more Energy
10. Baby Boomer Health Success Stories

People accept failure and pain and illness as the default of getting older.

Pardon the expression - but simply stated - that is a load of crap. The natural default is absolute and abundant health and prosperity. That’s how the universe was created.

As Baby Boomers, we can begin to change our lives today and within a few years can have abundant health and a joy in our physical awareness and experience every day.

There are no limits to your capability and you do not have to accept the media mantra as your default or paradigm.

I don’t.

Here is a video that addresses what I am talking about from a doctor’s perspective. Listen to Dr Cass as she speaks intelligently about baby boomer health.

It’s so simple and so true.

Baby Boomers Revolutionizing Health…

You can start changing your life today and get real results faster than you realize. It starts with a choice.

This is the theme of my book (Healthy Wealthy Boomer: The Plan to Make the 2nd Fifty Years Better Than the 1st) and my passion in life. I really want to help anyone who wants to improve their life and is willing to work at it - to do so.

Let me know what you want help with and join the HWB Facebook group.

I sincerely care about my generation and want to make a real difference.

Wake up Baby Boomers, get involved and shut off the negative media.

Life is fabulous and you are unlimited.

Start making choices that reflect this.

You are all deeply appreciated and loved.

Michael Barrett

EFT is a very effective healing practice that was developed by Gary Craig. You can find out more about it at the Emotional Freedom Technique website.

To quote from the website: Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is an emotional, needle free version of acupuncture that is based on new discoveries regarding the connection between your body’s subtle energies, your emotions, and your health. EFT has been reported successful in thousands of cases covering a huge range of emotional, health and performance issues. It often works where nothing else will.

There are three reasons I am blogging about EFT.

1. EFT is something that everyone - and particularly every baby boomer - should know about and learn how to use. It is a simple yet effective system for emotional cleansing. When I find something this good, I want to share it with everybody. The information is free and the techniques are very effective. Just go the website and download the free manual and get started today.
2. I have known about EFT for quite a while and have used it a few times myself with mediocre success on a personal level. But, because so many experts that I respect have said it is very effective, I included in my 60 Days To Look Better and Feel Better (the companion course to my book Healthy Wealthy Boomer) as a daily practice for emotional cleansing and balance.
3. Today, I was given an EFT private healing session. That two hour session has changed me internally, dramatically. I can not impress upon you enough how much of a difference and how much better I feel. In many respects, I believe it was a re-birthing emotionally and spiritually. I feel so blessed and am so grateful, I wanted to make a public declaration and give credit where credit is due.

Whenever I See Excellence and Grace, It Creates A Sense of Awe

It’s always amazing to me when I cross paths with someone who is really good at what they do - particularly when there is genuine humility and no ego involved. I love mastery and goodness. It never fails to restore my faith in humanity and always reminds me how much unconditional love matters - and how rare it is.

Service to others is usually the primary driving force behind authentic people who really care.

Pamela Gregory is one such individual.

She has been an EFT practitioner for 6 years. In my case, she recognized my situation and the depth of what I was going through and she immediately threw me a “lifeline”. She went the extra mile and took the time to fully communicate with me and really listen.

She stepped in, was firm and very loving and she provided me with a great deal of preparatory information and support. Her session was well directed and executed professionally and with sincere kindness. She acted like a catalyst to open me up. This woman is blessed with an ability and works in Divine Love. She was an angel to me. I trust her completely and recommend her wholeheartedly.

If you have any emotional issues that have been hanging on for a long time or emotional pain, get in touch with Pamela. You will not only love her personally, you will love the results.

I mean this sincerely.

Just as a sidebar, I am not affiliated with Pamela or emofree.com and receive no compensation for these endorsements - just the satisfaction of knowing that everybody wins.

There are two videos she recommended I watch prior to the session to get a real sense of the power of EFT. I did and they are powerful - particularly the one showing veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrone being treated with EFT. I have included it here.

Vets Being Treated For PTSS with EFT

She has a Facebook group called: Forgiveness Healing. In fact this is where I found her and became Facebook friends. If you are on Facebook, go here and join this group.

You can get a Pamela Gregory EFT Private Session here.

If nothing else, go to the EFT website and download the free EFT manual.

Wishing you the best.

Michael Barrett

Health is a composite of everything that we are.

Let me rephrase that. Let’s use the analogy of making bread to describe health.

Everything we think and say and do goes into a big spiritual mixer and gets mixed up like bread dough. Whatever is in that dough determines what the bread is like when we bake it. It can have too much yeast, it can fall during the proofing process. It can be fluffy and light and marvelous coming out of the oven. Or it can be dense and have pockets of air when we slice through the loaf.

It all depends on what we throw into the mixer.

Health is much more than our physical condition. It is also a reflection of everything thing that we are at any given moment - including our physical condition - and it changes constantly.

What we think about is critical because we now know from Quantum physics that when we focus our attention on something we actually affect what we focus on. We literally change the world around us and create the world that ‘we are thinking’. Eastern mysticism has been saying the same thing for centuries.

So it is important that we pay close attention to WHAT we think about and HOW we think.

Our emotions play a big role in our health as well. Recently I read that our emotions are the primary tool God uses to communicate with us. For the vast majority of us earthlings, emotions are complicated. Generally, we associate deep feelings and emotions with FEELING PAIN - something we want to avoid.

This is rooted in our experiences as children. We are taught, in most cases, fairly early on that when we allow ourselves to feel deep emotions and when we feel that is where we get hurt. So as a culture, most of us run from emotions and have a tendency to shut them down or deny them because it is safer - and definitely simpler.

What I have learned over many years is that avoiding emotions is the worst way to handle them because unexpressed emotions are the ones that make us sick. They accumulate in the body and get ’stuck’ if they are not expressed. Year after year they accumulate and in time they become toxic and painful almost like an infection. While we may not be aware of it on a conscious level, these emotions are constantly nagging at us to let them out. Emotions want to be expressed. In time, this turns into physical pain and manifests itself as ‘illness’ or DISease. Notice the word, it really means not-ease.

I heard a definition of emotion by a very tuned in lady in 1984. She said emotions are energy in motion and spelled it this way: E-motion.

Emotions are powerful tools and empower us to really feel and experience the greatest aspects of our lives fully and to feel LOVE to it’s intended depth and capacity. And if they really are the way God talks to us, it seems like we better figure out how to use and understand emotions effectively - just in case we miss something really important.

Aside from the spiritual aspect, which is actually an integral part of balanced health, we need to express our emotions or they will make us sick. And if we have a lot of them bottled up inside of us, it’s a good idea to get them out and clean out the “toxin” they have become.

Energetic health is critical to everything and yet it is probably the most misunderstood aspect of health from the perspective of western scientists, researchers and allopathic medical practitioners (although this is starting to change to some degree).

The Chinese call life energy CHI (QI) and refer to the energy pathways in the body as meridians, or channel chi meridians. East Indians refer to the “chakras” and the energy body. While Western medicine is still waking up - and/or in denial entirely, I can tell you from personal experience that not only are the meridians real, balancing energy, storage and refinement of energy is the real key to good health and longevity.

Spiritual balance is a big piece of the pie. And I am not talking about a particular religion or religious practice. I am talking about becoming spiritual, developing a spiritual awareness and aligning with that part of yourself deep within that knows the truth. It is getting good at remembering your connection to God.

In that context, whatever religious perspective you have, everyone should meditate. It is a key component for health and has a direct and profound influence on so many aspects of health that it could be the subject of an entire book or library.

Health is also the reflection of our physical condition. What we eat, how much we eat, how we take care of our body in all capacities - including exercise, removing toxins, rejuvenation, replenishment, and relaxation - all makes a difference.

Financial health is important in today’s world. Lack of money is the greatest destroyer of marriage today. It create stress, worry and a multitude of problems and most of us are raised with an inaccurate money consciousness. Most of us are taught a poverty consciousness. So part of real health in the 21st century includes recreating our (as Harv Eker calls it) MONEY BLUEPRINT.

To recap, according to my way of thinking and the way I describe it in my book, Healthy Wealthy Boomer: The Plan to Make the 2nd Fifty Years Better Than the 1st, true health is a balance of the:

• Physical
• Mental
• Emotional
• Spiritual
• Energetic
• Financial

aspects of our lives.

Physical health is the real starting point because if we don’t feel good when we get up in the morning, it’s a really poor way to start each day and to live our lives. The body is very tolerant and also very resilient. You can choose health or not, it’s up to you.

Abundance is the true default of the universe - abundant LOVE, prosperity, joy and health. It is our job to remember that we deserve and have the right to manifest everything we want in our life and that we are worthy.

We were designed to be healthy and the universe wants us to have abundant joyful lives in all aspects. Feeling good every day and vibrant health is our right.

I’m serious about making my life everything I want it to be. Right now, I’m working on the 7 Steps to Manifesting the Life of Your Dreams, it’s a free course, it fun and it’s helping me. I recommend you do the same thing. Find out about Manifest Mastermind and build the life you want including amazing health. It teaches you how to use the Law of Attraction to get whatever you want in your life.

It’s not too late for Baby Boomers to change our health and our lives.

First off, I work at it.

I am a baby boomer. I care about people in my age group who are starting to show the signs of wear and tear and who aren’t doing anything about it. I want to help Boomers change this in a big way and I know how.

If you’re wealthy and sick, are you really wealthy? If you had a terminal disease, what would you pay to get your health back? The fact is that millions of Boomers are headed there right now unless they start doing something about it.

For the greater part of my adult life, I have been very consistent about taking care of myself. I love to feel good and I have lots of energy. Ask people that know me well and they will verify my vast reserves of energy and untiring ability to keep going after most people burn out.

I’m not a superstar, just a guy who has a system that works well for me.

I am not a tri-athlete, a marathon runner or a weight lifter. But I have amazing endurance, useable strength and overall excellent physical tone. I can’t run 26 miles but I bet I could walk 100. I can’t lift 400 pounds, but I have a healthy back and that’s what hydraulics are for - not the human body. I’m almost 56 (and that picture was taken less than two weeks ago), but most people think I’m in my 40’s and that’s not just from the way I look, it’s also how I use my body. It’s physical expression as well as surface appearance.

In my book, Healthy Wealthy Boomer: The Plan to Make the 2nd Fifty Years Better Than the 1st, I go into detail. I also wrote a companion course to implement the plan and get it working in 60 days, called “How To Look Better and Feel Better in 60 days.”

I created checklists and instructions that I keep in a binder and check off the list as I follow the program everyday. I have found this to be effective for me because it creates a visual map of my consistency, diligence and where I need to improve my efforts. At a single glance, on one sheet I can see everything I have done (or not done) for 10 days.

Over the course of the last 35 years, I have read and studied all kind of programs and been a diligent student of natural health and how to create a healthy lifestyle with the objective of a primary goal: LONGEVITY.

Here ’s a quick summary of what I do all the time.

• I walk.
• I drink lots of water.
• I eat really healthy food and know a lot about what fuel works best for my body.
• I practice qigong regularly.
• I do Tibetan rejuvenation exercises.
• I stretch.
• I love my body and let him know often how much I appreciate everything he does for me.
• I love myself.
• I focus on positive thoughts and language.
• I think healthy thoughts.
• I work at balancing my emotions and being present.
• I MEDITATE everyday.
• I recognize SOURCE ENERGY as the root of my strength and the source of my health and I express my gratitude every day

I do lots of other things regularly - but not every day. I choose health and always take responsibility for three things:

• What I put in my mouth everyday
• What I think about and the words I use
• How I use my time

I have developed a system that really gets long range results. It is designed to work for anybody - just regular people who want to improve themselves. You simply start wherever you are and get started doing whatever you can handle to begin with. You add more to the regimen as you develop skills, expertise and the ability to handle more.

Nothing extravagant, exotic or difficult to learn.

The key is to get started and keep doing what you can everyday. I can show you how.

I’m no super star professional athlete, just a guy who has figured out how to keep thinking right and really loves to feel good. Most of it is common sense, but it helps to have a coach to bring out the best and learn how to improve - at least until you have the system down yourself.

I’m going to start introducing live workshops, online training and various programs in the near future. I am also now focused on publishing my book with three more coming after that.

For now, if you’re feeling lousy. Do something about it.

• Start walking everyday and increase the distance as your legs get stronger and your breathing improves.
• Drink a gallon of water a day forever. Start with a few glasses of water and work up. I fill a half gallon container up 2 times a day and drink it all day long. You can drink a glass every hour. Whatever works for you. Just do it. Hydration is so important.
• Start eating smaller portions of the food you are eating right now. And eat more frequently. Cut way back on fried foods - period. Eat more raw food and organic is way better.
• Elminate toxic thinking and emotions.

None of that costs anything or is a big transition. Anybody can do what I just wrote.

• Choose to start loving yourself.
• Decide.
• Take responsibility.
• Do it.

You are perfect, whole and complete and you are loved Divinely just the way you are. There is nothing you need to change or be, just to to remember that you are perfect and really believe it.

With some practice on your part, the rest will take care of itself. Before you know it, you’ll be a healthy wealthy boomer too.

It seems as if I have reawakened the Warrior Energy within me lately and it has taken a forward position in my thinking and contemplation.

I have decided to focus on different aspects of meditation for a while because it is becoming more clear all the time that the whole world needs to meditate right now and get things back on track.

It plays such am important role in health. Baby Boomers have a greater need to focus more internally - than externally - just to shut out the noise, the mental clutter and information overload. It is an integral part of achieving balanced health and integrating a healthy lifestyle into today’s world.

Listen to this with headphones on and see what you think.

I find this meditation incredibly stimulating, yet very relaxing.

I call it the Celtic Warrior Meditation but the people who created it call it the Celtic Tranquility Meditation.

Men it’s time to awaken the WARRIOR ENERGY WITHIN YOU AGAIN.

Step into your power, your women need you.

May you be blessed in the Light of Source Energy in strength and serenity.

Aum, Peace, Amen

What a depressing post from yesterday.

Sorry about that.

I started out with an idea that has puzzled me for a long time and got into mind dribble. Then last night, I couldn’t figure out why I felt so down until It dawned on me that it was from focusing on the negative and not the positive.

It reminded me to remember what a friend of mine on Core Team named Adam used to say any time somebody was whining about something,

“What do you want me to do - call the Wambulance ?”

Every time he said that it made you stop complaining and then smile.

Thanks Adam.

When I realized this last, I swore then and there that I would delete it and replace it with something inspiring and uplifting - or at least valuable instead.

So at this point the delete part is done. Not sure about the inspiring , uplifting or valuable yet. It really felt good to hit that delete button knowing why I was doing it.

Really, truly, I apologize. No more whining, promise.

Hey look the Wambulance is here…

Something hit me - dropping into my consciousness - on the way back from taking my grandson to school this morning.

I realized that when I have spoken recently about “emotional brutality” I was mistaken about it in my interpretation. What I got this morning is that the only emotional brutality one can experience is that which we choose to inflict upon ourselves. No one can brutalize us emotionally unless we choose to allow it.

It is totally an inner process and by identifying the source as something outside myself, I am playing victim and I choose not to be a victim. I am totally responsible for every aspect of myself. I have known this intellectually for a long time and have espoused it as part of my philosophy on a regular basis.

But today I really got the meaning and it showed me that I am understanding consciousness in a new way and profound way.

It also means that if I feel brutalized emotionally, there is only one possible cause.

That cause is not loving myself enough and allowing myself to feel brutalized in the first place. As an extension of that understanding, it also means that when I do that it can only occur if I see myself as separate from Divine consciousness. Loving oneself fully is merely recognizing the Divine Light within and living with that awareness.

It is impossible to brutalize Divine Light emotionally. So the whole thing can only exist in my perception of it in the first place.

Kind of a biggee for me internally - although it may not seem so in my words.

I Love Myself.

Opening the heart chakra changes your life - no doubt about that. Sometimes I wish I had never learned anything about energy and the heart chakra - ignorance is bliss and much simpler.

Because…

Opening and expanding is always exciting but it’s also a double edged sword. The more you feel, the more you feel - more joy AND more pain. Being totally vulnerable and allowing a heightened depth of understanding and sensitivity can be a very dangerous place to be.

Pain without defense means it cuts deep and efficiently to the core. Without a reason, there is no need for a defense to be in place and we let our guard down and it’s easy not to see it coming - kind of a double whammi. No wonder many people never allow themselves to open up or let people get too close.

I have a high pain threshold - physically, quite high actually. But I had forgotten how much a pain in my heart can make it hard to breathe, buckle my knees or make me too weak to make make a fist.

Vulnerability is one thing, but I hate being weak.

Being deeply in love, expressing gratitude for it every day and fully appreciating its depth, taught me to forget that kind of pain for a long time.

From a spiritual cost benefit analysis perspective, isn’t it easier not to open the heart chakra this deeply in the first place?  Is the cost really worth the benefit?

Yet loving that deeply - even for a split second - may be worth it. After all, it is irreplaceable. People search an entire lifetime for this kind of love and to some degree doesn’t rarity define value in and of itself ?

I have spent most of my adult life learning how to express my emotions and allowing myself to be vulnerable. At the same time, if it were possible just to reformat and restore all the old blissful ignorance defaults and select the “remain ignorant” option from the drop down list, I might make that choice and live out life on autopilot.

Does this mean that Spiritual growth has to be painful? Does it mean that it is painful because I do not have enough Spiritual purity?

I think not.

There is no elegant way to feel pain. We always heal - mostly - with enough time. But the possibility occurs to me that since feeling true joy is such a vulnerable way to live,  it makes an open heart chakra kind of a scary prospect .

Maybe I don’t want to be that open. Maybe I’m afraid to really let go again.

That’s a weird thought - one I’ve never had before.

The problem is that you definitely can never go back once you start growing. Even so, every choice we make determines what happens in our life. We can always choose how we grow and how we integrate what we learn, unless we are in denial about that truth and choose to deny it.

In the short term, denial is an easier choice. But in the long run, denial is neither easy nor sustainable. The longer we hold it, the more energy it takes. Denial also tends to be a very selfish act because it leaves out how other people feel when your deny their true expression of love by not loving your self enough.

Yes everything happens for a reason and ultimately everything is in Divine order.

In any case,  you can not close your heart chakra once it opens. You can only choose to deny your true feelings and choose separation.