CHANGE IS INEVITABLE …

Change isn’t always bad. Sure, we hope traditions will survive the tides of change. We are creatures of habit, and in being habitual, we are taught that our traditions define a very important piece of who we are.

But what defines us when traditions fall to the waist side of those who don’t hold it in the same esteem? Do we decide to hate the game, throw a fit, and take our ball home or do we find something to anchor our old traditions with their new doctrine of thinking?

We cling so tightly to what was that we don’t see what can be. Grow or perish, sink or swim, flourish or shrivel up,  we can’t expand our experiences if we keep embracing stagnancy. We must move, we must grow, we must move forward. WE MUST CHANGE, IT’S INEVITABLE!

If I have to be the one to break the news, so be it …  STAGNANCY ISN’T AN OPTION. You must bend and sway or you will live your entire life miserable. And who wants that? (put your hand down!) Nobody in their right mind says, “Ummm, I think I wanna be miserable today.”  At least, nobody, I know. When you spend your time looking back at what was, you will end up tripping over what can be.

Listen, take it from me, the de la O’s have had some pretty hard couple of months. My family hasn’t lived in stagnancy at all. We’ve endured so much pain and suffering, we’ve lost and found only to lose again. It doesn’t matter at this point what happened or what is still happening, what matters at this point is what we decide to do with what keeps showing up in our lives. It’s picking up what was and seeing how we can take the part that matters to us and leave the rest behind.  And even though it seems like our lives are spiraling out of control, we have to find the parts that serve our highest and best good. We have to place our feet on the floor and take that first step into the day. It’s hard, believe me, I know. But we have to give it a shot. Change is inevitable.

Things fall away, new things show up, it’s uncomfortable, it’s irritating, it’s life. In the last couple of months, I haven’t given thanks for the day the Universe has given me. I’m embarrassed to say, I’ve been asking what next, God? What are you throwing my way today, Universe? More death? Pain? Suffering? Chaos? And I’d be damned because that shit I was asking for kept showin’ up! More chaos, more pain, suffering, and yes, even death showed up in my life. I spent so much time cowering to the idea that some “other shoe” was going to drop that I’ve been living in the effect of my thinking instead of being the creator of my thought.

I’ve allowed the conditional thinking of yesterday paint today’s landscape. I’ve been so conditioned by events in my life that I totally forgot that I have a choice. I can choose my reaction. I get to choose the way I react to life. Sure bad things are going to happen, I’m gonna struggle through events, and yeah, I’m going to lose people and things I love. It’s life, and being my life I have to choose how I react. It’s my life and I’m responsible for it. Today, for the first time in a long time, I feel like I am strong enough to take responsibility for my life again.

With LOVE and COMPASSION,

Gretchen de la O

Take Responsibility

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

It’s time we all took responsibility for our actions. It time to stop dodging behind the words and actions of others. Stop hiding behind the illusion that our lives are more important than anyone else’s. It’s not. 

The laws of nature apply to everyone equally. There aren’t special circumstances for someone because they seem to have everything fall into their laps or they’re better or worse off than you. Nature doesn’t have discretion, it can’t choose one thing over another, it is bound by scientific law. It doesn’t have volition. 

Nature is a producer, it gives to whatever it is asked to give. We can’t plant an oak tree and have a redwood sprout. That would be against all the laws of nature. We can’t plant a tomato plant and dictate to nature how many branches, leaves, or tomatoes it’s going to produce, that’s nature’s job. Our part was planting the tomato seed. 

When we plant a calla lily, the soil, water, and sun conspire with the laws of nature to help that calla lily grow to its full potential. The only thing it is subject to is its environment--other than that the calla lily is bound by its truth. 

Same for all living things, including human beings. We are bound by the laws of nature. We are subject to our environment, and we will produce exactly what the laws of nature dictate. And if our environment isn’t healthy, everything that is conspiring for our highest and best good will produce the best of what it can in our unhealthy environment. And when I speak of environment, it isn’t limited to the physical. Our environment also includes our minds. 

We are thinking, independent, viable, beings with the capacity to make decisions based beyond our intuition. We aren’t subject to instinct, (although there are times instinct will rule over volition). 

We were born to make manifest the magnificence of our lives. If we never choose to take responsibility for our actions, we will live our entire lives subject to our environment. This is where we can use the laws of nature to create our heaven or hell. 

When we make the decision to rise to the occasion instead of kneeling to the condition, we put into motion the law of cause and effect and the law of nature must obey. Nature can’t play favorites, it doesn’t look at a situation with a consciousness, that’s a human trait. Just think of nature as the, yes man, it can only produce what is asked of it. It can't decide to help one person and neglect another. Nature works for all in the same way.

Our actions dictate our experiences, and our thinking creates the perfect soil to plant our seeds of love or hate, compassion or contempt, prosperity or poverty, success or failure, and our happiness or sadness. Truthfully, the only thing we can control is our reaction to the outcome. Other than that, we can’t control how others react, we can’t stop the world from suffering, and we can’t continue blaming someone else for our life and expect it to change. We want our lives to change, we have to look within and see where we keep stumbling. What old belief or idea that keeps us bound to the same crappy experiences. 

We have to dive deep into the uncomfortable, find that old crappy belief and uproot it. Thrust our hands into the soil of our lives, let the dirt get under our fingernails while we discover if the soil in our consciousness is the right type. If it isn’t, we must go out and get the right soil. Nobody is going to bring it to us, we have to work for what we want. PERIOD. Everyone is subject to the same laws. 

Maybe you’ll find a book that leads you to you, catch a lecture that empowers you, surround yourself with positive people who lift you up. Let go of those ideas that don’t serve your highest and best good, anymore. 

Listen, nobody can save you, you have to be the one to decide to rise up. You must determine if you’re done or not. Nobody can fix you. They can show you, they can give you the tools, but it’s up to you to build a better life or not. It’s an inside job, a change of consciousness, a makeover of your thinking, and a lot of work. 

Life is never stagnant, you can’t learn something new then think that you’ll master it because you did it once. You have to keep working on it, honing your skills, practice it until it becomes automatic, and even then, you will have to keep doing it so you don’t get rusty. Same with your thinking, same with your life--you must keep changing your consciousness so you can create a better life for yourself. Even if your life appears perfect, you must continue to work at that appeared perfection. 

So how do we do it?

It’s individual for each of us, but one thing I know for sure is to start seeing the positive in the world, focus on the good, let the rest go. Stop embracing the negative in the world, stop feeding the beast of judgment, hate, anger, and indifference. Be honest, and embrace your grace. Take responsibility for your actions and life. 

If you messed up, stand up admit it, and move beyond it. You don’t have to become yesterday’s mistakes by admitting them, and sure, you might be uncomfortable for some time, but in the long run, you will strengthen your consciousness and by strengthening your consciousness you’ll begin to see your life change for the better. You’ll have deeper more quality relationships, and you’ll experience your inner truth. You’ll be reminded every day that you are God’s greatest gift to this world. Because you are! You are the miracle the universe produced. A million to one miracle. 

Take today into your heart, sit silently for a couple of minutes and see what comes to the surface, that will be the first thing to look at and decide if this idea is serving your highest and best good or enslaving you to a life of discontent and pain. If it isn’t serving your highest and best good, come up with the opposite and start thinking upon that. You’ll be surprised how fast your mind can replace a negative condition with a positive way of life. 

Soon you'll discover that beneath what appears isn't what is. You are you, and you are enough, it's time to start believing in yourself again! 

With LOVE and COMPASSION, 
Gretchen de la O

STOP TALKING ... START LISTENING ... AND REPEAT AFTER ME!

We all face obstacles, moments where we wonder, "How am I going to survive this?"

We struggle to find out why, we fight for answers, and sometimes we just decide to give up. We come from the "flight or fight" mentality because it's all we know.

We all have those experiences where we either come out swinging or we bury our heads in the sands of denial. It's human nature, it's the way we've been conditioned.

It's hard to face criticism for things we wish would go away. It's hard to hear the truth when we want it to be false. And a lot of us become fatalists when we let our minds wonder into the future that hasn't even happened yet. That's right, we project an outcome before the event even takes place.

Why?

Why??

and

Why???

Because it's easier to kneel to the condition than to rise to the occasion. WE THINK, it's easier to expect pain instead of healing, chaos instead of peace, poverty instead of prosperity, failure instead of success.

We let the world's conditions dictate our outcome.

We are not the world's conditions, We are not our neighbor's story.

Our lives aren't written in permanent ink!

We are ALWAYS changing, events and experiences are never the same, and just because history has dictated certain outcomes in other people's experiences, doesn't mean that's the end-all-be-all story of our lives!!

People bend perceptions and expectations all the time. Things evolve and change because we do. Technology changes and we discover new and inventive ways to create, produce, and execute better more efficient ways of doing things.

There are so many moments in this life where we bend perceptions and make them a reality. Where facts that we thought were law become the stepping stones to pushing precedence and limited thinking.  That's right, just because a precedence has been set doesn't mean that's the be-all-end-all. It never is.

It's time we stop saying we've lost the race before it's even started. Stop looking at the hare and thinking because it has long strong legs it's going to win the race. <---we already="" how="" know="" out.="" span="" story="" that="" turned="">

We aren't limited by what has happened. We aren't the outcome of what appears to be. We are exactly what we decide we are going to be. It's time to let go of what the world thinks we are and start embracing the Truth of who we are!

First Person POV Statement....

(read aloud if you need to)

**************************

I am a mighty moving force. I deserve all the good, all the grace, and all the love waiting on my discovery. I am a gift living in the present. I am the miracle the universe produced and keeps producing with every breath I take.

I let go of my old ideas and embrace my new thinking today! I release the fear, guilt, pain, shame, and anger that doesn't serve who I am.

Today I let love, peace, health, abundance, compassion, happiness, gratitude, and grace fill my cup until it's running over. Today I recognize that I am a blessing not only in my life but in the lives of everyone I come in contact.

The goodness within me greets the goodness within everyone I interact with today.

I am worthy of living a positive life.

I am worthy.

*****************

You are worthy! You are the biggest gift to this world, no matter your past mistakes or accomplishments.

Today, the world is blessed to have you in it! Remember that.

With LOVE and COMPASSION,

Gretchen.

DOGS AND BEES CAN SMELL FEAR...

DOGS AND BEES CAN SMELL FEAR ...

Well, so can our thinking! Our minds react and produce from whatever thoughts we think. If we come from fear, then our actions and reactions will manifest from fear based ideas.

Hear me out...

We have within us the power to produce exactly what we want in our lives. It's how and why we react that creates our experiences. If something devastating happens to us, it's within our scope of how we react that will manifest our experience.

Tragedy strikes so many people, and why is it that some seem to handle it better ... scratch the word better ... how about differently than others?  How come some people can find peace in the most tragic moments of their lives while others simply can't?

We are born without baggage, without fear, doubt, and conditions. We are an empty slate, waiting to be filled with all the wonders of this thing we call life.  We enter this world and are born to parents that are conditioned to living in a world or chaos, constant change, socialistic pressures, and demands put upon them that they must believe, act, and become conditioned to the world.

Without malice or hate, but out of love and compassion, most parents rear their children to fear actions of others, bend to the beliefs of others, and give into the conditional thinking that they have been brought up to believe is the truth. WE ALL DO IT. We aren't wrong for doing it, we can't live in guilt or shame for doing it, it's in our nature to protect, teach, and control those beings we've brought into this world.

But as we grow up, and we learn that we are separate entities from our parents, we begin to discover we were brought into this world already possessing everything we need. We are powerful beings, we are the only living things on this planet that actually has volition and are self-aware with a consciousness. We can actually rationalize our actions, and reactions, and we don't have to rely upon just instinct.

When we set out to discover the limitless power that resides within us, we begin to see how our actions, reactions, and inaction effect the situations in our lives. We learn that the law of Cause and Effect is real, powerful, and nobody is immune to it. The Law of Reciprocity, within our thinking is a very real and powerful thing. What we put out into the world, the thoughts we think, the actions we take, will produce a result. It's a 100% non-negotiable law of nature.  

Think about it ... how many times have we feared something was going to happen and boom, it happened? Sure, we can say, "well, I've had that happen before, so I knew it was going to happen again." But see, there is the challenge. Why did it happen in the first place?

Let's look at precedents... Yes, precedents, something that sets the bar of what to expect the next time... We are taught to believe that if a precedent is set, that is all that we can expect to happen. We reach for that bar and when we get there we believe that's the best we can achieve because nobody has gone beyond that... until someone does.

It was believed nobody was faster than the 4 minute mile until someone broke the record. It was believed that we couldn't break the sound barrier ... until someone did it. And it was believed that a human being couldn't survive jumping out into the stratosphere in just a spacesuit and float back down to earth ... until someone did it.

We are all conditioned to believe we are limited in our actions, that we can't stand on the edge of what was done before and leap into what can be done now. We are conditioned by fear, by lack of belief, and by the conditional thinking of the world.

When we react or act from a fear based belief, we are giving into the idea that we aren't worthy enough, that we aren't good enough, that we don't deserve the best that life has to give us.

Truth is ... you deserve the best of everything! You deserve happiness, you are worthy of love and compassion, you have a right to live the best life you know how to live. It is within your power to challenge that which has been done before and work to reach beyond it. If everyone lived within the belief and fear of the world, imagine the world we would be living in.

I'd be pissed if some dude was still dragging my a$$ around by my hair. We wouldn't be communicating with people from around the world today, and we would be stuck in the conditional thinking that innovation didn't exist.

It's easy to say, don't let fear rule your life, don't let the feelings of inadequacy plague your thoughts, and don't let the words or actions of others steal your voice, but it's another thing to act upon it.

So, what I'm saying is, take baby steps. Take one moment at a time and ask yourself, do I really need to fear this? Are the sharp, painful words of that person really the truth of who I am? Why am I allowing the conditional thinking of those around me, define my experience?

Because the truth is, you are the most important person in your life. Without you, you wouldn't be here... your life wouldn't exist, and that wouldn't be acceptable. So take the time and learn to love yourself, honor who you are, respect yourself, and change your self-talk, your limited thinking, and your unworthy thoughts. You are the miracle of life. You are the prize the universe gave to the world. Take a moment today to discover the limitless potential you have within you, waiting on your discovery of it. You'd be surprised what you are capable of, when you give yourself a chance to believe in your inner strength and limitless power.

May PEACE and LOVE be yours today!

Love,

Gretchen

#BigO #O #OlongOLongPost #PowerToYou #PlugIn #BeTheChange #YouAreAwesome #DontGetDerailedByLimitedThinking

DID YOU REALLY EXPECT THAT?

(long but did you expect anything less! LOL)

====================

====================

Don't be let down by missed opportunities or lost moments. Sometimes things or events don't happen for a reason.

When what you expect to happen, doesn't, maybe, just maybe the Universe has a better plan for you!

Expectations can be a blessing or a curse, but within the paradox of what type of expectation it is, when it doesn't occur, you have to wonder if the Universe knows better than you.

It's tough when you expect something to go a certain way, or you've played the "story" out in your head over and over again ... and it doesn't go the way you thought.

The key in disappointing moments is patience and forgiveness. PERIOD. When things don't go the way we expect, if can we step outside of the moment we're in and look at it from the outside, we will use a different mindset. In using that different mindset, we'll actually see that the outcome is for the best.

When things don't go our way, instead of reacting from the outcome, or the result, if we actually looked at the cause or gave up our idea of what we think should happen, we empower ourselves to overcome the unnecessary stress of disappointment. When we stop reacting to the results, we evoke within us the ability to see things from other perspectives.

Listen, people who love us, don't set out to hurt us. They don't intentionally say to themselves, "Hell, yeah! I'm gonna hurt Gretchen today, cuz I luv her so much." And if people are doing this, well, that's something we need to re-evaluate in our relationship with them. Maybe expectations are not crystal clear.

We get hurt because our expectations were shattered. The players in our "story" didn't fit into the protocol of the plot line. Let's just say they "missed the memo" about script changes! The trouble with this situation, (which we ALL have experienced at one time or another in our "stories"), is we didn't inform the other players that we made some changes in the script/expectations. We didn't have a script supervisor around to "feed" the people in our story the right lines to say.

Our expectations can really mess up a relationship, an event, an experience. It can make us angry, hateful, stressed and riddled with anxiety. Who wants to feel that??? Why then, oh why, do we allow these expectations to feed that side of us? We have no control over another person, to have these unrealistic expectations are only hurting ourselves.

So, this is what I say to this situation ...

Stop expecting perfection. Stop setting yourself up to be hurt. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, guess what my dear, loving friends, it's a freaking duck. If your relationships are always tumultuous and you're tired of it, stop expecting it. THAT SIMPLE, YES, IT'S THAT SIMPLE. (Sorry for shouting, but you need to see that.)

If your expectations are set that everything in your life will be hard, guess what? EVERYTHING will be a struggle. Your expectations are the whispers you feed to the Universe and since the Universe is a "YES" woman/man, ---he he he, THEN, everything you whisper with expectancy will be acted upon. PERIOD, END OF STORY.

What you put out to the world, comes right back to you. It might not come back to you through the same avenue you sent it off, but trust me, it comes back. You might not get it back right away, but eventually it comes back. See, the Universe doesn't know time, It's a timeless and omnipotent, limitless Energy. When you toss your expectations into this Energy, It acts upon it exactly according to your belief. So, today look at what you're expecting.

Decide if your expectations are feeding your soul; are they giving you a better life? Or is your expectation feeding your ego? Is it giving you an excuse to remain angry, bitter, cold and frustrated? If it doesn't serve your highest and best good, let it go... let it go, my dear sweet loves. The only way someone can hurt you, is if you give them permission to hurt you. ---Yeah, I'm really working on this one myself. Re-evaluate your expectations today; are they too high? Are your expectations so out of reach that nobody can fulfill them, not even you? If so, take them down a notch. I'm not saying don't have expectations, just give them a bigger "strike zone". Allow room for something greater or different to show up. Because, when you do that, you'll be pleasantly surprised that something even greater is waiting to happen.

LOVE you and may PEACE be with you today!

‪#‎UniverseItEnergyGod‬ ‪#‎KeepYourChinUp‬ ‪#‎TrustLove‬‪#‎ScaryButOnceYouLetGoAndLetLifeOccurSomethingMagicalHappens‬‪#‎YesItsHard‬ ‪#‎LifeIsPerfectlyImperfect‬ ‪#‎Expectations‬‪#‎StopExpectingCrapAndItWillStopShowingUP‬ ‪#‎BigO‬ ‪#‎O‬ ‪#‎GreenHearts‬

As You Give, So Shall You Receive

For the last couple of years I’ve been changing. Okay, well, I’ve been changing and growing my entire life. But lately, for the last several years I’ve gone through a mental growth period. A Spiritual journey that if I look back, I can see how its unfolded slowly, sometimes painfully, sometimes perfectly, sometimes even prolifically.

In the last couple of months, intentionally or otherwise I’ve really started to embrace the idea of trying to live a selfless life. See, I’ve been wrapped up in the idea that if I produce or do something, I look for what’s in it for me. Normal, or what society has trained me to think. If I do something for someone, what’s in it for me? Whether it comes from that person or someone else, if I give, I’ll be given back to right?

Such a delicate balance/dance with the Universe. We are told give and ye shall receive. You sow what you reap. BUT, what if we aren’t meant to? What if we aren’t designed that way? What if we are designed to sacrifice, surrender, and give without expectations? What if in the act of giving selflessly, without expectations is the key to eternal mana from heaven?

“As you give, so shall you receive.”  

What if it isn’t about WHAT you give but HOW you give?

I think about that, ponder that statement for a deeply, personal, real moment and decided it isn’t what I give, but how I give. It’s about my attitude when I give. Am I looking for something in return? Am I giving because I believe the more I give the more I get back? Or, am I in the right state of selflessness when I am giving? Am I doing the act of giving so I will be acknowledged for doing something? Do I post inspirational posts to get the responses that feed my ego or do I give my words to people selflessly? It’s a real dilemma for someone who wants to give without restraint. It’s a real moment of awakening when looking back at my life and evaluate myself honestly, openly, and without judgment.

This isn’t a moment designed to make me feel guilty, or helpless, actually it’s empowering to discover where my true power resides. My real, raw, inner power doesn’t reside in the giving of the “thing”, my real raw power resides in the thought behind it, my intention.

Am I being selfless in what I give? Am I giving without restraint? Giving without conditions? Giving without any forethought of, what’s in it for me? If I can’t honestly answer those questions with a yes, then the actions, the condition, the idea of a selfless, enlightening, freeing moment won’t exist in the action.  

It’s the Law of Cause and Effect. My giving, whatever it is, time, talent, treasure is the Cause and what is produced, what happens when I give is the Effect.

“As I give(Cause), so shall I receive(Effect).”

When I give, that is the reward! No matter what. The smile, hug, the thank you, the “things” that return to me are just an added bonus.

I know this seems radical to some. Some people may think, “But G, people will take advantage of you.” Well, to those who believe that I will say this … not really. If I’m not focusing on the effect of my action, but the cause of my giving, those things “added unto me” will be wonderful but not the reason I did the act in the first place. If I am truly pure in my intentions the results can be nothing less than pure. If appearances are on the contrary, then that is in the eye of the beholder and not the one acting out of pure intention.

Listen, I’m far from perfect in this concept. This is what life is for, to practice and keep practicing and when I feel I’ve gotten pretty good at it, continue to practice this concept. Does it mean I say yes to everything? Absolutely not. But when I am inspired to give, inspired to help, asked for something, and I find I’m doing it for nothing more than because I want to, without conditions, and without expectations then I’ll know I’m on the right track.

I strive for freedom from disappointment, from expectations, from pain, hurt, jealousy, suffering, conditions. Living in the moment, being present in a moment, without worrying about 5 minutes, 5 hours, 5 days from now. How empowering would that be?

I must let go of ego. I must let go of outcomes. I must let go of expectations. I must be fully present in the moment with the person, or people I’m with. It’s about striving to live a pinpoint, in the moment type of life. If I trust the Universe to put me where I’m supposed to be, then I need not worry about the future. Every action and reaction, every intention will build, put in place and be made ready for me.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and rely not on your own wisdom. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6.

It’s time I started trusting in the power of intention, trust that the Almighty has every answer to every question I could ever possibly ask. It’s time to let go and let God. This Omnipotent Presence will not lead me astray but point me in the right direction to my highest and best good. I don’t have to rely upon my own idea of what I believe should occur. I don’t have to try and figure it out. All I have to do is know, with all that I am, right and perfect action is taking place and the path of my journey will be made easy, straight and with ease.

Thanks for hanging out and reading my ramblings!

LOVE, Gretchen.

 

Fear of Failing

FEAR OF FAILING 

When we stand on the precipice of a new day, a new moment, a new way of thinking and leap off into the unknown there's a moment of uncertainty that arises. It's that particular point in time as we're flying through the vast open space of the moment, where our future is just a speck below us, and our past is left up on the cliff, and we ask ourselves, "What the hell did I just do?" 

At that moment of realization we discover fear is a real powerful emotion. So powerful in fact that it has cemented us into the exact space we struggle to overcome. 

People holler to us ... don't worry, be brave, discover your passion, do your best. And as we are sailing through this wide open point of discovery we ask ourselves, what if regret appears to be my best? What if crippling fear shows up as my best? What if buckling to the pressures of life seems to be my best? What if failure is all I am going to experience?

To those of you who are sailing through the vast space of "oh sh*t", let me say this... Sometimes we don't have to be the best, all we have to do is show up and be willing to participate.

In order to manifest, produce or overcome the results of the world we have to stop looking at the world as the barometer of our life. We become so caught up in the fear of failure, that we lose the idea that it's our inalienable right to do so. When we glide through the air in our leap of faith and the wind is catching our hair and it is brushing our cheeks, and causing our eyes to water, there's a point in us that will discover that in order to move forward we must be willing to first leap and second be okay with failing. 

It isn't the act of failing that dictates our outcome, it's our reaction to it. ~ G. de la O.

In other words, well, actually in Albert Einstein's words, "We can't change a problem with the same consciousness that created it." 

When you fail at one thing, own it, hold your head up high and be proud of it, because it that point of failing, you leapt. You took a chance where you invested in something greater than fear. You opened yourself up to growth and you expanded your consciousness. You succeeded at knowing what NOT to do the next time.  

We live in a society where our children are terrified to fail. They are scared to try because they don't want the world to crush them, judge their attempts, or shame them for not succeeding the first time. 

It's time that the pendulum of discovery swing back the other direction. We must let our Future see that it's okay to fail and that fear is okay when you know what to do with it. We must show the young that failing is inevitably the biggest sign of living. They need to see that we can bounce back, regroup and try again. Failure isn't the last train station of your life. The track is endless, the train keeps going. 

Failure is nothing more than a jumping off point to discover you can rise up from the ashes and start anew. We don't have to fear the act of failing because in every action and every reaction there is a gravity of love, compassion, intelligence, openness, discovery, and growth.

Leap off the edge of who you were yesterday and embrace the feeling of letting go of the process you think it must do. There is a power greater than you, that knows what to do and how to do it. 

Let today, be the best November 24th, 2015 ever!

Thanks for hanging out and reading my ramblings! 

Love,
Gretchen

There's No Place Like Home (Wizard of Oz Pt. 2)

 There's No Place Like Home. (2nd Installment)

Dorothy Meets the Scarecrow...

(Highly recommended you read the 1st installment--- here)

There are moments during Dorothy’s journey where she finds herself walking or skipping along the wide winding road laden with bright yellow bricks of promise without issues. Her journey is a peaceful one with Toto (her little dog), scampering at her feet. And yet, just as the moment where comfort outweighs her fear, she comes upon a fork in the road. Undecided on which way to go she talks to herself out loud, and that's when she's startled by a talking scarecrow in a field of corn. The Scarecrow tries to direct her the best way he knows how, but in the end comes off as confused. However, Dorothy listens to his story, and shows empathy for him by bending the nail down on which he is hung and frees him from his paltry existence. The Scarecrow asks if he can join her on her journey to see the Wizard, his hopes pinned on the idea that the wizard might give him some brains. It’s the perfect situation which allows her to express her compassion for something unlike herself. She tells him that she has a wicked witch after her and shows concern for his safety but when he tells her he’s determined to go with her, she agrees to his joining her and Toto’s journey to Emerald City.

I believe miracles show up in all different ways. Now, I’m not saying on your journey down your ‘yellow brick road’ you’ll come across a talking scarecrow that only wants a brain, I believe in a lot of things deemed miracles, but that ain’t one of them. What I am saying is, you may come across someone during your life's journey that may need your help, or need your attention, or someone who may not be as fortunate as you. It's wise for you to remember, it isn’t the work of your hands that makes you memorable, but how wide you open your heart.

Like the scarecrow, there will be people in our lives who feel dumb, they believe or have been told they aren’t worthy, or they’re stupid and have no business doing what they are doing in life. It’s a sad fact in which the words flung upon the young and innocent leave the deepest wounds. For all I know you could be reading this and blurt out, “Gretchen, Oh.My.God, I’m the scarecrow!”

But let’s make something clear, something we should all be aware of … people come into our lives for a reason … PERIOD. Sometimes they are fleeting, sometimes they come in and stay for a short blip of time, and sometimes we meet people and they’re in our lives up until we take our last breath. It’s my belief that everyone’s brilliant and life affirming and intelligent with a special place in this universe. I know, I know, we’re all measured to a standard that for some is unobtainable, but let me say this, some people are book smart, while others are street wise, some may have mastered how to run a household, while others are better building things with their hands, but the fact of the matter is, we each have something to contribute to the betterment of this world. Each and every one of us possess this capability; it’s just that we’ve lost our confidence along the way. As a society, we’ve lost the ability to connect with the potential which resides deep within each and every one of us. We’ve been told not to be vulnerable, or show weakness, we’ve been told we shouldn’t be too confident, or come across arrogant. We’ve been “shoulded” on our entire lives! 

It's time to STOP “Shoulding” on yourself and others. It’s vital when people come into our lives to remind them of how brilliant, loving, dynamic, joyous, and smart they truly are. It’s imperative that we keep reminding ourselves of how brilliant, loving, dynamic, joyous and smart we are too. Dorothy, never once agrees with the scarecrow! She heard his woes-me story, gave him her ear to listen , and then when he invited himself into her journey, she agreed to his company, wholeheartedly.

Every answer to every question we’ve ever had lies deep within us. Either we’ve never been told about our potential or or we keep forgetting about it because we are constantly bombarded with definitions and phrases that convince us or train us to believe we are limited, less than, or weak. When Dorothy asked the scarecrow questions he answered, when she couldn’t free him from the post he was nailed upon, he told her what to do. Maybe it’s the simple fact that we’ve never been taught how to stop and listen, or we merely forgot the mechanics of becoming still and knowing. Self confidence, inner peace, love, harmony, and personal strength can’t happen so long as we keep building soundproof walls that continue to isolate us in a self-induced prison of shame, guilt and blame.    

Why do we look upon the less fortunate as “less than”? Who wouldn’t fall in love with a singing scarecrow without a brain? Why must we define others by what they don’t have or what they are lacking in their lives? When our actions speak louder than our words we will truly understand the dynamics of reaping what we sow. When we celebrate the strength in those around us, we are uplifted in our own lives. Dorothy’s heart was large, bigger than those whom she met, and yet never once did she make anyone feel inadequate.

You see, even though the scarecrow thought he didn’t have a brain, he sang about all the things he’d do if he had a brain. The scarecrow had his entire existence all “plotted” out if he ever “got himself some brains”. What he didn’t realize was he already possessed the abilities he sung about. He had within him the potential to do everything he wanted, if he’d let go of the idea that he wasn’t smart enough. Could it be that we too, have our own ideas of what we need or should be in order to be, successful, happy, healthy, loving, abundant, and joyous? We, like the scarecrow believe we don’t possess the potential to be greater than we are right now. Doubt aside, how often have we talked ourselves out of something because we believed we weren’t worthy enough, strong enough, intelligent enough? If we keep following the same patterns that got us to where we are, we’ll never embody our true potential.

It’s time to bend the nail that pins us to the post of our past beliefs and slide off the splintered beam that keeps us bound to our old ideas of who we used to be. Stand with those people who believe we possess the capability to be whatever our heart’s desire.

You and only you know what’s right for your life. You may start your journey heading one way on the, ‘yellow brick road’ and find it’s not the right path. That’s okay, because at least you’re starting to recognize what you want and what you don’t want. You’re beginning to live life consciously! Strengthen those legs you thought weren’t strong enough to carry you through, start believing that within you lies infinite possibilities in which you have an all access pass dangling from a lanyard for all to see. You are the believer that creates the beliefs in your life. You have the ability to change your mind and dance on the ‘yellow brick road’ of your journey.

It’s your life,and your opportunity to be anything you want to be. When you stop allowing others to define who you are and what they think you should be, you begin to embody your true potentiality. When you discover the limiting ideas, which have been seared across your brain are nothing more than a false belief you’ve unknowingly allowed to be planted there, you can begin to uproot them, weed them and replace them with the fruit producing positive ideas that strengthen who you are.

Dorothy never once believed what the scarecrow told her about his plight of being brainless. She heard him out, disclosed to him the struggles he may encounter if he went with her, and then let him decide for himself if he was going to join her or not. It’s time to have someone in your corner believing in you, telling you, you can do whatever you set your mind to; it won’t be the easiest thing you’ll ever do, but what’s gained if nothing is tried? You can climb back up on that rusty ol’ nail and hang from that splintered post, or you can tread along the ‘yellow brick road’ of your existence and see what happens. The choice is yours.   

Thanks for hanging out and reading my ramblings. 

***Stay tuned for the 3rd installment when Dorothy meets the Tin Man.