No Mo’ Samo

No Mo’ Samo

On purpose. Intentionally, or in line with our soul-work. I love how thinking about that phrase makes my brain feel, when both definitions work, and it’s flipping back and forth between them.

On purpose. I meant to do that. And how often, if we are telling ourselves the truth, can we say, “I did that on purpose.”

Most of our thoughts are out of our consciousness. You know when they are talking about how we only use about 12% of our brains? What they mean is that only about 12% of our thoughts are conscious. That’s a whole lot of unconscious material. It’s part of our infinite divinity.

On the other hand, of that 12%, most of it is habit. That means we are just running the same thoughts over and over and over. That means the same emotions, and the same feelings over and over. Samo, samo.

That’s not much “on purpose,” is it.

Why am I on purpose? What makes me choose? How am I aware?

I hear so many of us talking about how fast the time is flying by. It makes sense that there would be so little to differentiate our days that they would feel as water flowing by.

We can slow down our sense of the passage of time. The easiest is to be aware, and think some new thoughts every day. Throw in a new experience here and there, something as simple as a new restaurant, or new food, or a big one, like a trip to a far away land.

We can also use these techniques to speed things up when we feel like time is dragging.

Being aware pulls us back into the moment. I get there by noticing two things, my breath and my feet. I find this really helps when I’m in the middle of rote tasks at work. I also love to do it on my porch, and attend to my breath while I observe my birdies and the flow of my traffic river. Find your favorite ways, and use them daily.

Thinking new thoughts is a little more involved. Why am I safe to think freely?

I used to say that the only thing I did every day was breathe. I have changed that a lot in the last couple years, and to my benefit. How interesting that being more disciplined has given me more freedom.

Deciding to write a response to a Creative Question card was a neat exercise. committing to publishing one every day has been an exercise in spiritual creativity and growth.

Somedays, it’s easy and fun. Somedays, it’s a slow and challenging process. I have two more little creative thought games I now play each day; my secret name of the day, and daily appreciations.

Some people do a drawing or painting every day. Some people write a song a day. You can write a little poem, a haiku or limerick a day, or set and reach a different tiny goal every day. Perhaps you would come up with a new use for 10 toothpicks every day. Make a commitment for a week, or a month. The point is to do something that is creative inside. Two of my favorite things, knitting and cooking, while super fun, don’t quite fall into these categories unless I am knitting free-style or making up a new recipe.

How have I changed from samo, samo to bringing fresh creative thought to my life every day?

(c) Pam Guthrie 2014 all rights reserved 01022014

Creating Playtime

Creating Playtime

I love to play. I love to play pretend. I love to play puzzle games. I love to make up stories, I love to play birdie with my cats and tickle toe with my snails. I love to run about, and goof around on swings and slides.

Play.

Carefree enjoyment. Lighthearted fun. Joyful activities.

My definition of play has changed a lot as I have become a grownup. Now I can find ways to play almost everywhere; from elevators to just driving my car, cleaning the house, writing to you. There is so much fun to be had, all I have to do is grab it.

My play this morning, for example, was to have easy fun at the DMV getting my license renewed, with fast service, and charming helpers. Never mind the awful picture, at least I’m smiling in it.

Then, when my car wouldn’t start in the parking lot, I thought that I could get pissed, sitting in the rain, or play. So I played. I made up stories about all the people in the parking lot, had fun with the AAA guy who had fun, too, and even said so, and shook my hand. Nice. Why do I choose to be happy?

The car had to be towed. What should show up, early, to tow me but the brightest pink tow truck you can imagine. The fellow was a little grumpy, but it fell away when I told him how much fun I was having watching him put my car on the flat bed. What makes me enjoy myself?

My day of running a few quick errands turned into walking only two, and it reminded me how much I love my neighborhood. It smells great. Wonderful autumn smells that shifted from flowery to spicy to lovely damp earth with raindrops the color of diamonds sparkling on the grass.

Life gave me the gift of slowing everything down, and because I’m paying attention these days, I got to enjoy the heck out of it.

Somehow, it seemed like everyone I encountered was cheery. Were they cheery to start with? I hope so, but it’s easy to respond with good cheer when you are greeted with good cheer.

How have I changed from being a negative pain in the patooty to enjoying whatever I can find to enjoy?

When we look at our world as a giant playground, stuff gets easier. We lighten up, get a bounce in our step, and see the good. We don’t let tension take hold of our spirits, and so we can let our spirits soar for the simplest reasons.

Sometimes we are confronted with great grief, or fearsome events, or physical traumas. These are the big lessons. If we allow our life to unfold as it unfolds, allowing our emotions to flow, and consider whether what we are feeling supports us or beats us down, we are taking responsibility for ourselves. When we choose to respond with clean emotions, free from blame or shame, free from guilt or anger, we create a space of peace. Everything moves through, until we latch on and worry it. It’s why we practice letting our thoughts flow during activities like meditation, pulling ourselves back from thinking a thought.

When our thoughts flow, we only have emotions, not the complicated mess our feelings can become. This practice helps us respond to the big stuff when it shows up.

How have I changed from resenting the events of my life to considering how I might play?

(c) Pam Guthrie 2013 all rights reserved 10052013

How to Shine

How to Shine

One of the ways I’m pretty brilliant is about us. I get us, poor little we, with all our stuff. So much fear, and anger, so much mislearning, and grief, so much self-hate. I get us.

I’ve been doing what I do since I was a kid. I have always cared about you, I have a good ear, a big heart, and have always had a pretty good sense of what we are about. It got messed up during the dark ages, but I healed that up nicely.

I also draw pretty well, can do music-y stuff pretty well, and I can write.

As an expert on people’s stuff, I will tell you that, in my experience, everyone is brilliant at something, and even good at other stuff.

Oh, boy, am I hearing some interesting objections. I am not talking about being brilliant at screwing up. I’m not talking about being brilliant at failing. I know this, remember, and just because things don’t seem to be going your way doesn’t mean you suck.

How do you know you are brilliant? What makes you smart? Why are you so wise?

You know you are, deep in your heart of hearts, you know you are. How am I brilliant? What makes me use my smarts?

When we settle down, and just accept that we are brilliant, and in our particular way, we can start to enjoy it. Owning that we are brilliant is fun. Using our brilliance is fun. Being really good at something is fun.

I used to think that being brilliant was about being able to do math. Period. There are so many ways of brilliance, like stars in the sky. My balance of brilliance is unique to me, and yours is to you. Maybe you are brilliant with languages, and can communicate with tons of people. Maybe you are a genius with money, or can write songs that people love. Perhaps your genius is painting, or you are a baby-whisperer. Maybe your cooking is your genius.

Why do I own my genius?

When I settle down, and just accept that I am brilliant, I start seeing your brilliance, and seeing how brilliant you are is a joyful thing. And when we combine our brilliances, our collective magnitudes shine dazzlingly bright, and we can accomplish miracles.

I found that using my brilliance was one of my favorite things to do (“Pam! Stop that socializing!”) even if it wasn’t being valued by others. When I tried to stifle it, I felt miserable, and hobbled. I bet you have, too.

We need to find places to let our brilliance shine, where we get to enjoy our smarts, and feel satisfied with our cleverness. It may not be the job we are doing, but we will be so much more content when we give it a place to run.

How have I change from hiding my light to letting it shine all over?

(c) Pam Guthrie 2013 all rights reserved 09192013