The Four Agreements Help Define Spirituality
So Glad There are Only Four! 
I love The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. His book has helped me with my definition of spirituality. But I must say, these agreements are not for wimps! I have adopted the agreements into my way of life, my values. My partner and I use them as a way to keep our relationship strong and communication open and clean. They also keep me on my toes. Not a day goes by when I haven’t been in a situation where I will tap these bits of wisdom from the Toltec tradition.
Be Impeccable with Your Word – I’ll be on the phone, or in the middle of a conversation when I am about to say something snide. Perhaps a bit of gossip, or a comment that might give me a temporary sense of smugness. I forget myself, it’s true. And then, these words save me, “be impeccable with your word.” They bring me down to earth. They save me from my own worse self. In these moments, to truly be impeccable with what I say, I need to bite my tongue and swallow my words along with my pride.
Don’t Take Anything Personal – I am so grateful for this agreement. It allows me to let go of my notion that the world revolves around me. I also get to let other people’s comments and opinions roll off of me like water on a duck’s back. Having always played the role of rescuer, it’s such a relief not to be responsible for what others say or do.
Don’t Make Assumptions – This agreement has stopped me in my tracks more than once. I didn’t realize how much of my life I created from my own fantasy! I could make up my entire world out of wrong assumptions. It’s not always a pretty picture! To really practice this agreement, I am challenged to be more conscious. It is with consciousness that I observe my assumptions about other peoples words or actions.
Always Do Your Best – This goes along with brush your teeth and say your prayers before bed. At least that was how I was raised But really, one of the most freeing things about this agreement is that “doing my best” is all relative. My best on a low-key, sleepy day might not measure up to my best on a day when I am energetic and out to conquer the world. By allowing myself to do my best for today, I can let go of my own judgements. So, if I don’t’ wash the dishes tonight, you’ll know why!
I may make light when writing of these powerful lessons, but I do take them seriously. Miguel Ruiz has bridged these ancient words of wisdom to this modern time. I know my life is richer for them!
The Powerful Concoction of Intention, Firewalking, and Spirituality
Firewalking is now on my bucket list!
I have been inspired by the recent Oprah story on Tony Robbins. Tony Robbins has been one of my all-time favorite teachers. His matter of fact approach to life and practical guidance has made him my longtime personal coach. Oprah decided to do a story on his seminar, “Unleash the Power Within.” As she sat in her seat with the intention of a journalist, she got swept up in the frenzy to challenge herself, her stories, her willingness to push through it all. She came as a reporter and left a changed woman. That’s saying something considering it was Oprah.
What inspired me most was the firewalk. In that moment, I lived vicariously through Oprah. I felt her anxiety. You could see it in her eyes. I cringed with her cringe. I pumped myself up with each pep talk she gave herself. And then she did it! She faced her resistance, said YES at the top of her lungs, and walked across the fire. Here, watch for yourselves!
Oprah Walks on Fire Life coach Tony Robbins says fire walking helps you do what you’ve been putting off in your life and break through. After 12 hours at Tony’s “Unleash the Power Within” seminar, it’s 12:30 a.m. and the burning coals have been laid…is Oprah up for the challenge? Watch Oprah and Sheri Salata, president of Harpo and the Oprah Winfrey Network, psych themselves up for some fire walking!
Firewalking has its first recorded history from India, around 1200 BC. It is likely that the origin is with the indigenous people of Africa, it has been practiced in many countries all over the world. It stems from many cultures and symbolizes an array of meanings. Firewalking has been practiced as a religious ritual, a healing, or a rite of passage. Today, firewalking has become a means to personal empowerment. Many workshops and seminars use this experience to drive home the message of power over resistance.
So, no, I understand that Oprah is not the first to do this. But, I felt changed from witnessing her experience. I now feel compelled to do it for myself! Why? Because if I can face the fear I have to walk across fire, I can face my other fears. I can push myself beyond my limits. I think of it as preparing a personal brew of transformation. The mix of exhilaration, body chemistry, and consciousness can be a powerful concoction! I am ready to feel that potency.
I will turn 60 next year. Perhaps I will celebrate by walking on fire. It just could put my whole life in perspective!
Check out some of the available books of Tony Robbins
My Definition of Spirituality: “Love Like You’ll Never Be Hurt”
Dancing, loving, singing are key ingredients to my definition of spirituality.
I was in a girls bathroom, washing my hands, at a middle school last week. As I was soaping up, I glanced at the wall above the mirror. Much to my delight, there, in big bright, bold letters was the words to this verse:
“You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching,
Love like you’ll never be hurt,
Sing like there’s nobody listening,
And live like it’s heaven on earth.”
It seems that there is a bit of uncertainty to just who may have actually written this verse. I have found reference to William W. Purkey, Mark Twain, Father Alfred d’Souza, and a few anonymous authors with various renditions. Among the added lines I read, “work like you don’t need the money.” Sound like the definition of abundance!
These words of wisdom touch the heart of what stops us from living life to the fullest. Fear stops us in our tracks. Why else am I so self conscious of dancing? Why would I not sing out? Basically, it’s my fear.
When it comes to love, I am blessed. I am loved and love others, deeply. Yet, there is something so poignant in the words “love like you’ll never be hurt.” I find this to be the measure of health in one’s heart and soul. If we can love like we’ve never been hurt, then likely we can do anything else.
Perhaps we should challenge ourselves to live up to these goals. I might think doing so would indeed be enlightening!
The Spiritual Teacher, the Dalai Lama, Welcomes Desmond Tutu
The spiritual teacher and leader, the Dalai Lama, welcomes Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
This promises to be a special moment when the Dahlai Llama welcomes Desmond Tutu to India. Tune in!
A Graceful Definition of Spirituality
By Your Grace is a beautiful tribute to many spiritual teachers and their definition of spirituality.
I am a believer that the roads to all spiritual beliefs and religions lead us to our own heart and soul. If we distill each down to it’s bare-bones, as it were, we would find that they are all of the same source. As I watch By Your Grace, I feel affirmed that this is true.
Watching this is pure meditation. Many thanks to Cathy Ginter, who produced this video.
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FDyIeHPxdUg
What Deepak Chopra Has to Say About the Definition of Spirituality
Deepak Chopra certainly has something to say about the definition of spirituality.
I was delighted to come across this short video where he answers the question “Is There Any Definition of Spirituality That Science Could Ever Accept?”
I love his response. He basically says that spirituality is something only you can answer for yourself. Gee, where have I heard that before? He proposes that science cannot answer questions we have about the definition of spirituality.
Watch for yourself how he addresses this issue.
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deepak-chopra/is-there-any-definition-o_b_980184.html
I agree that science cannot answer our questions about spirituality. But, science does play a big part of helping me to define spirituality for myself.
I use science to help me understand how the universe works. This in turn helps me to become more knowledgeable and aware of who I am and what I am capable of as a human and beyond form.
But, I am not looking to science itself to come up with a definition of my spirituality. Here I must agree…we can only do this for ourselves.
From Nursery Rhymes to Spiritual Podcasts
I have a real jones for spiritual podcasts.
It started with audio books of my favorite spiritual authors. Come to think of it, it goes back further than that. I can still picture myself as a child, sitting in my little rocking chair, with a big’-o-pair of headsets attached to a reel to reel tape recorder. I would rock for hours, listening to recordings of nursery rhymes my father had gotten me. Who knew I was on the cutting edge back then! My apologies if you are not sure what a reel to reel is…I really am dating myself.
While I am not sure how mother goose might have fulfilled my inner needs, what I am drawn today are the many spiritual teachers who post podcasts of their dharma talks. I also enjoy podcast shows where the host interviews teachers, authors, psychologist, scientists, and others who have had spirituality cross paths with their profession. I wanted to share a few of my favorites with you.
Here are just a handful of my favorite podcasts, available through iTunes:
Sounds True: Insights at the Edge – Tami Simon is the founder and publisher of Sounds True, offering a free podcast series of interviews with authors who typically offer unique and wonderful stories and information. Admittedly, I have a small crush on Tami. You just have to experience her interview style and brilliant mind to know what I am saying. You may want to check out their site to see how many amazing teachers and topics they cover.
Tara Brach - Tara is western vipassana meditation teacher and therapist, making for a unique blend of emotional healing and spiritual awakening. She is the senior teacher and founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington. Each Sunday evening a new dharma podcasts is available. Besides listening to her talks on a regular basis, I have read her books and attended her meditation retreats and workshops.
Zencast - Zencast is a collection of dharma talks, mostly given by Gil Fronsdal , of The Insight Meditation Center. (based in Redwood City, CA.) These are also updated on Sunday evenings. Gil is a the primary teacher at the Center, with a varied background, but with special training in Zen and Vipassana. There is something soothing about his voice and pleasing about his insights. Not surprising given his early training with Jack Kornfield. Jack is a guest teacher on occasion.
Oprah.com’s Spiritual Channel - We all know who Oprah is unless you have been living under a rock (no offense to those of you who do so.) One of the ways I appreciate her is for bringing spiritual teachers and information to the mainstream. If you haven’t followed this series when it was active, check out the archives on iTunes or through her Spiritual Channel . I especially enjoyed the early shows, which included conversations with Eckhart Tolle, interviews with Jill Bolte Taylor (the brain scientist who had a stroke,) talks with Wayne Dyer, and so many others.
Now my headset is nothing but a pair of ear-buds and I am not tethered to the reel-to-reel from my little rocking chair. But somehow, I get much of the same pleasure. I do ponder now and then if there was something mystical about the cow jumping over the moon!
It would be great to learn what some of your favorites are. Please do share.
Spiritual Wealth is Not an Oxymoron!
Imagine using wealth to empower yourself and others. This is what I call Spiritual Wealth
Don’t let the 1% hijack prosperity and abundance
There is absolutely nothing to gain by holding onto guilt about having money or by living a downwardly mobile lifestyle. As a matter of fact, there is so much more we can do for one another with money than without it. Many of us have shame about money. Many of us hang onto beliefs that are keep us from being okay to have it.
We learn money is evil – mostly because we resent all the people who do such selfish things with their wealth. The 1% seems to be full of people who use their riches for power-over others. We tend to notice all the examples of people who oppress others with their money. We can thank the media for that. We tend to only hear about the ways people use their wealth to pay for politicians, bankroll special interests, buy ostentatious jewels and mansions.
But think again…
There are many examples of people who use their money for the good of others. They align their spirit and their values with their energy around money. Not only do they live the life they want but wealth gives them the freedom to invest, promote, seed ventures, empower foundations and enable communities.
You can have money in your life, living within your values. You can spread your wealth in ways that enable friends and family to create, imagine, engage, and sustain their visions. Isn’t that what you would do with your wealth?
All the spiritual teachers on my path are making money…even the Dalai Lama is making money – Good for them! They are modeling for us that you do not have to compromise spiritual values to have money.
So, how do we get there? How do we acquire wealth to empower ourselves and others?
Wealth doesn’t just come because we will it to appear. Money doesn’t fall out of the sky. Visualization plays a role, but beyond the vision, and the intention, is taking action. Action is a key ingredient of the Law of Attraction.
We must take action to launch our intention. We must take action in whatever form is unique to who we are. Our actions will be many small steps, several strides, and a few giant leaps of faith.
We have to change our mindset about money. We can’t hang onto the destructive beliefs that hold us back from our wealth and our potential. One of the most important lessons I have learned in shaping my life in an intentional direction, is to make my unconscious beliefs conscious. Once I am aware of my beliefs, I can assess them. I can determine if they are serving me for my own good. I can change them as I need to. I am changing my beliefs about money.
Our beliefs create our thoughts and actions. Our thoughts and actions are what create our reality…the lives we live.
If we believe that we will never have money, we won’t. If we believe that money is the root of all evil, it will remain out of our reach…that’s the way the universal laws work.
Decide today that you are going to change your mindset about money, your beliefs about wealth…change your life!
Don’t let past beliefs keep you from attracting the money you deserve. Yes, everyone deserves money. But, you not having it, doesn’t do anyone any good.
Money is nothing more than energy, a tool. Money itself is not evil.
Do what it takes to change your beliefs that shape your thoughts and actions. This takes commitment on an interpersonal level.
Make a decision right now to explore your options. There are two choices right here on this page. Take your first action right now and check them out.
Negative beliefs about wealth are barriers to living the life you want. These barriers keep you from having all the money you want and need.
We just don’t need to live like that!
Here’s to our collective wealth!
Bridgett
PS: The Money and Spirit Online Workshop with Brent Kessel and Spencer Sherman. Begins March 21, 2011
We’re All Gurus on This Bus!
Just in case you thought I had declared myself a guru….NOT!
We are all gurus on this bus through life. Now that I have “come out” as a spiritual being, I am hoping we can work through the stereotypes. This just might prove to be tougher than being a lesbian.
I’m not talking about religion here…I’m talking about how we experience the universe. I’m talking about how we think IT all works. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a “spiritual being”, we all have basic beliefs. You might believe in a deity, the graces of nature, or in absolutely nothing…it’s still your belief.
Our beliefs shape our thoughts and our thoughts our actions. I want to know my beliefs consciously so that my thoughts and actions are with intention rather than by default. To me, this is spirituality.
If you get what I’m saying say ” I LIKE!”
What the Aspens and MLK Teach Us About Spirituality
I have always appreciated the life lessons of the trees and their influence on my own definition of spirituality.
I attended a community event yesterday in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. The room was packed with 400-500 colorful faces of all ages. Not bad for a small town in upstate New York! The keynote speaker eloquently shared a message of our interconnectedness, our oneness. The image she painted was that of the Aspen tree, a beautiful example of a an organism that appears to be many but in reality is one.
You see, the Aspen grove appears to be many trees living together, sharing their lives in the soil, growing among each other. In fact, the grove is one tree that clones itself through an elaborate root system. From one seedling, there can be 100′s of trees. In Utah, the oldest know aspen clone is known as Pando. It is considered one of the worlds largest organism spreading over 100 acres, with an estimate weight of 14 million pounds. It is believed that Pando is nearly 80 thousand years old!
What the Aspen teaches us is that life is not as it appears. We may think we are individual, unique beings, living our own lives in our own way. But in reality, we are interconnected. This is evident in how we depend on one another for the food we eat and the products we buy. There are so many things we come to take for granted like someone plowing our road or expecting entertainment with the flip of a switch. There are more heartfelt examples, but you get my point. Whether you are a recluse or socialite, there are very few who are not indirectly dependent on other human beings.
I think Marin Luther King would appreciate the analogy. What are the signs of interconnectedness in your life?
