August 7, 2007
At Any Moment I DECIDE!
If something you are doing isn’t working,
doing more of it will not work better. Source unknown
In my close knit circle, it seems there is an unusual amount of crisis afoot, which of course brings either “danger” or “opportunity.” It essentially means we can create harmony out of conflict once we understand we have a choice in crisis.
Crisis is Energy for Change
Crisis is a turning point and always means energy for change. Change comes from a Latin word meaning to exchange. Change does not mean losing—simply exchanging—usually for something better, although we may not be aware of it in the moment. Most of us resist change because it often puts us temporarily into the “wobbles” of uncertainty or the unknown. And most of us have a fear of the unknown because the known may feel more secure in the moment. However, crisis serves a purpose because CRISIS AWAKENS!
Crisis initially frightens most of us, and we want to turn away from its intensity because of the potential unknown consequences. Usually it occurs when we didn’t leave enough room for change or pay attention to the signals around us. When we understand that crisis literally means to sift or separate, we also come to know it is a decisive turning point or crucial stage that can be an ally to compel and propel us energetically into new opportunities or solutions. We become what we resist. Thus it is important to listen carefully to our hearts, have clarity and create an active alliance with our desired outcomes.
The Healing Magic Is Attention
Crisis can be an empowering process because it causes us to become more conscious. In his book, The Seven Spiritual Laws, Dr. Deepak Chopra clearly speaks about intention and attention. Intention is your decision and attention is your focus. What looks like our greatest limitation, in the moment, can become our greatest empowerment. When we reflect on our life experiences, most people realize some of our greatest growth came through crisis and contrast. It is the cosmic nudge which pushes us to new levels of awareness.
A butterfly beautifully illustrates the transition state from caterpillar, then into the interim chrysalis stage and emerges as the transformed higher species of the butterfly. Often we have been strengthened through the “ordeal” of emerging in a similar way to the transformation process of a butterfly, which a caterpillar may view as a crisis while it is occurring! It moves into the unknown on its way to a higher outcome not yet seen.
“The Present Moment is a Powerful Goddess” Goethe
I recently read that in the Babemba tribe of South Africa, when a person acts irresponsibly or unjustly, he is placed in the centre of the village, alone and unfettered. All work ceases, and every man, woman, and child in the village gathers in a large circle around the accused individual. Then each person in the tribe speaks to the accused, one at a time, each recalling the good things the person in the centre of the circle has done in his lifetime. Every incident, every experience that can be recalled with any detail and accuracy, is recounted. All his positive attributes, good deeds, strengths, and kindnesses are recited carefully and at length. This tribal ceremony often lasts for several days. At the end, the tribal circle is broken, a joyous celebration takes place, and the person is symbolically and literally welcomed back into the tribe.
This story beautifully illustrate what an innovative and creative way we can deal with crisis by changing our focus to a different or higher vibration. If we stay locked into our problems, they build and stay with us because that is our point of attraction. Then any higher outcome is precluded in bringing a solution or resolution.
There is the positive side
and the negative side.
At any moment I decide.
and the negative side.
At any moment I decide.
From my heart, 
Sharon A. Warren, M.A. Copyright © 2007 All rights reserved
1 Comment on At Any Moment I DECIDE!
August 10, 2007
Talk about serendipity! “At Any Moment, I Decide” coincides with a lot of what I’ve been thinking about lately. Since this past December, a lot has happened in my life. I had to put my horse (28 years old) to sleep and it absolutely devastated me, my father had triple by-pass and spent two weeks in the hospital, my mom got sick with strep throat and had to be taken by ambulance to the hospital 50 minutes away, I lost my job through downsizing, my toy poodle (my child) had knee surgery, and now I’m moving to another town. But you know what? It’s all good. I’ve learned to look for the blessings, or the good, in everything that happens to me. Even though I may not see it at the time, I know the “hindsight” moment will come at some point, and I will see the good that came through my experiences. One of my favorite sayings is, “nothing has meaning except for the meaning that I give to it.” Only I can decide. Knowing that everything that happens to me, good or bad, has a blessing, has helped me not to take life so seriously. It may not be easy at the time of the crisis, but I know that if I hang in there, the “aha” moment will come.
A friend of mine experienced a major crisis about a year ago when her brother committed suicide by shooting himself in the head with a shotgun in a secluded barn. She insisted on seeing him right after it happened. A year later, she is still having troubles getting over the trauma and is, herself, afraid that she may follow the same fate. I wish so much I could do something to take away her pain, but all I can do is be there to listen and to offer my love. She is not ready to see the blessings. And that’s fine. She will when and if she’s ready.
Yes, there seems to be a lot of crisis in the world right now. I really believe, though, that if we look for the blessings, we will find them. I also believe that we have crisis in our lives and in the world to remind us how much we really are a part of each other. For some reason, when things are going well, we tend to forget this. We need to find the love within ourselves to reach out and touch people’s lives, as well as our own.
Like diamonds, we need to be chipped and sanded in order for us find our own beauty. Otherwise, we’d just be a rock with no meaning. Our crisis’s chips away at our being, molding us, and shaping us into the beautiful human/spiritual beings that we really are.
Thank you again, Sharon, for another great article!