May 22, 2007

Are You Committed To Your Growth?

“I dwell in possibility.”

Emily Dickinson

When we were in Bali, our guide, Ken Ballard, had created an oasis in paradise. All our lovely accommodations were built out of bamboo. When we asked Ken why he used bamboo, which is not indigenous to Bali, he said because it is the fastest growing tree and ecologically it was the best for this environment. I have since learned that the Chinese Bamboo is a fragile plant. If you care for it really well the first year, it grows two inches. If you care for it well the second year, it grows two inches, and the third year two inches, and the fourth year two inches and the fifth year it grows 80 feet tall! Trees have their own growing season just like we do in our personal lives, sometimes very slowly and other times in big spurts.

"Good timber does not grow with ease, the stronger the wind, the stronger the trees. W.H. Marriott

When we plant seeds for our heart’s desires, we need to cultivate and nurture them. Cultivate means: to prepare, to grow or tend, to foster, to form and refine. There are specific tools outlined in my book, Magnetizing Your Heart’s Desire, for this purpose. Writing your dreams and being a Deliberate Creator is the first step. Your outcomes fulfilled can be short and sweet, but writing them down makes them concrete. Vision boards are also very important to out picture your heart’s desires visually so that you become the magnetic point of attraction in action.Sometimes it may appear that our prayers are not being answered or our heart’s desires have not been heard. Faith is the ability to let our light shine in spite of appearances. It has been said that sorrow looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks UP, just like the trees that grow upward in the light.

When I am in the midst of strong life winds blowing, I invest more time in meditating and appreciating what IS working. Taking time to notice and cultivate what is flourishing in our life expands our wellbeing. I am grateful for health, for without it, we have little else. I give thanks for the precious love of family and friends, for their comfort, encouragement, zany sense of humor and heartfelt nurturing that brightens our lives as we grow together. Often the things we only dreamed of, we now have, if only we take time to be aware and remember. We can give thanks to trees for the lumber from which our homes are built. Wood or stucco shelters us from the elements, as well as being a haven and sanctuary for nurturing our hearts and souls. The beauty of walking in nature is soothing. Emerson said it well, “The earth laughs in flowers.” It is certainly that time of year for appreciating everything in full bloom.

Staying true to our self and the values we hold dear keeps us grounded in gratitude and helps us grow more graciously. Trials and triumphs shape our lives, but the bend in the road is not the end of the road unless we don’t make the curve. Humor is important! When people say “Life is hard,” you can respond, “Yes, but I prefer it to the alternative, don’t you?”

“To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.” Dr. David Viscott

It was fascinating when I learned a few years ago that an opal is made of dust, sand and silica, and is full of minute fissures that allow air to be trapped inside. The trapped air refracts the light, resulting in the lovely hues that inspire the opal’s nickname, the Lamp of Fire. When kept in a cool, dark place, the opal loses its luster. When held in a warm hand or when the light shines on it, the luster is restored. It’s a wonderful metaphor for our lives. When we focus on what is shiny in our lives and the warmth of love that surrounds us, we are flowing energy by focusing on what is working.

Hold on to what is good…

even if it is a handful of earth.

Hold on to what you believe…

even if it is a tree which stands by itself.

Hold on to what you must do…

even if it is a long way from here.

Hold on to life…

even when it is easier letting go.

Hold on to my hand…

even when I have gone away from you.

~Native American Prayer~

We can each give a heartfelt thanks to the Universe for computers and the technology we enjoy today. Only a few years ago, we were infants in cyberspace and now look at the connections we have become as a global village. It’s amazing grace indeed!

Remember, plant your seeds and miracles will grow as you cultivate and nurture your heart’s desires.

Shine on in a radiance of JOY!