Favorite Newsletters
Honesty
Such a simple word,
rolls off the tongue so easily.
But to feel it, to live it, to express it … I think it scares us.
What will people think, how will they respond.
Maybe it is something we want to keep hidden,
not to share our feelings and vulnerabilities … heaven forbid.
Do not want anyone to see that side of us, embarrassement, shame.
The mask effect … showing what we want people to see (the false side).
How honest to be with others?
When to be quiet and when to speak up.
Where / what / how to be “the balance”.
First of all, as far as I am concerned …
When it has to deal with our opinion of others and their actions
I believe that they have “free will” and their own agenda of “life lessons”
As they continue their earth walk with their own personal spiritual families and life agenda.
I do my best to be supportive, show by example, and not to judge.
It is not honesty but rather my “reaction” to their lifestyle and decisions.
Honesty here: Learning to be observant and silent.
Only sharing advice when asked.
Boundaries
When the actions of another affects my life path.
Hurts me personally, takes up my energy in an unhealthy way.
I am learning to recognize “the energy” between two people.
Are they coming to me for an “energy feed”?
Sharing and supporting should not feel like a burden or a sacrifice (negative exchange).
A positive exchange is where both sides benefit.
Recognizing healthy boundaries is important to my well being.
I am learning to honor myself and the energy I have to share.
Me being honest is to sometimes say “NO”.
Emotions
Our emotions always know even when our minds do not.
They can lead us forward as geiger counters towards the treasures we seek.
Anger is often suppressed honesty, and the body raging as it explodes into “NO MORE”.
Tears are a build up of grief and overwhelming expectations that we can put on ourselves.
Fear is often unknown territory, yet how can we know if we do not at least try.
The feeling of heaviness often is connected to us sacrificing our energy
when we do not honor our feelings.
Feeling physically lighter is a sign that we are heading in the right direction.
Joy is freedom … being in the moment.
Happiness is success.
As we continue to learn our individual responses to life situations and opportunities,
When to say yes, when to say maybe and when to say no.
I feel that when we are honest with ourselves
There is a feeling of peace within, a contentment, no decisions to make.
For at that moment … there is a gentle quietness.
As the mind and body are in agreement.
So I encourage you To feel what is inside you.
Pay attention to what excites you, attracts you, brings you joy.
For they are guiding emotions that will lead you to answers / directions that you seek.
Yeah, it can be scary.
It is new for us.
Getting away from the ways that we were taught.
And go into the unknown of exploring and new discoveries.
We are but babies.
Figuring out The innocence that is within us
The joy that is around us to discover
As we break free into 2012
A new way
Honesty … pass it on For a better life!
Written by Carol Layton
January 2012
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Success
How does one measure success?
Is it the amount of money we have in the bank?
Is it the appraised value of the house we live in or the toys we have collected?
Is it being able to afford to go on expensive vacations such as Las Vegas?
Is it the position we hold in our family or community?
Is it the groups we organize, the community work, the fundraisers?
Is it the position title we hold at our place of employment?
Is it the respected opinion of others?
I see so many of us struggle to … break through into the level of “success”.
When really I do not think that we know what success is.
Success
As written in Osho Zen Tarot
“Watch the waves in the ocean.
The higher the wave goes, the deeper is the wake that follows it.
One moment you are the wave, and other moment you are the hollow wake that follows.
Enjoy both – don’t get addicted to one.
Don’t say: I would always like to be on the peak.
It is not possible.
Simply see the fact: it is not possible.
It has never happened and it will never happen.
It is simply impossible – not in the nature of things.
Then what do we do?
Enjoy the peak while it lasts and then enjoy the valley when it comes.
What is wrong with the valley?
What is wrong with being low?
It is a relaxation.
A peak is excitement, and nobody can exist continually in an excitement.”
The zen attitude towards life is that of laughter of living, of enjoying, of celebrating.
Zen is not anti-life. It is a life-affirmative.
It accepts all that is.
So I encourage you to not see life as good or bad.
Nor as abundant or scarce.
Or as joyful or sad.
But as a combination of waves: peaks and valleys.
Do not allow yourself to drown in the valleys, hold on for the ride.
For what is to come after a valley, is always another peak!
And the timing is that of the universe and the divine.
We as humans do not have the capacity to see the whole picture.
The lessons, the consequences, the victories, “the entire effect”.
Patience my friend, stir in a little faith and trust.
Add a little love, and a bit of humor.
And ride the wave to your next “peak of success”.
Let’s support each other, hold hands.
So those on the peak can help hold those in the valleys.
Let’s evolve and grow together!
And then as a group we are always successful!
So my definition of success is: the ability to embrace the wave and all it has to offer!
To live this experience called LIFE
written by Carol Layton
November 2011
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What is Love?
Sharing Love
I love my children, I love my dog, I love my partner, I love chocolate cake.
I listen to the radio … how they sing about love in beginnings
and sadness when a love cycle ends.
Emotions that stir the soul.
I listen to the many definitions and interpretations.
My favorite song line: “Love is life and life is love” by Glass Tiger (Diamond Sun).
I watch Michael Jackson in his last (almost) production “This Is It”.
How freely he talks about love, love to the earth, love to his staff, love to everyone.
Such openness and gentleness around him,
but somehow a language that seems ahead of its time.
But he shares openly, and boldly, with enthusiasm and … BEAT.
Ummm… as I watch around me, feel, and listen.
To me, love is a genuine feel in my heart. I feel it!
Like a peacefulness, a beauty, sometimes a pulse of pride, truthful and honest … pure.
Sitting by a stream, connecting to the earth, being aware of
the presence of trees and vegetation, sun streaming warm and gentle.
Connecting to animals: my dogs – their tails wagging in delight,
sitting in my pen of rabbits as they hop around my feet.
Petting a horse’s face, seeing a deer walk out into a field
or a raven call out as if beckoning my attention.
The joy, pride and overwhelming sense of connection to my children and family.
My partner as I lay quiet and safe in his arms
after sharing with each other the events of our day.
Good friends, where would I be without them?
God, Spirit, and the Creator combined.
Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do…
but how much love we put in that action.
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Relationships
The yearnings of the soul
to love and to be loved
a soft place to fall
trusted support and guidance
sharing.
As we all at one time or another
reach for such perfection
Often feeling let down, hurt or betrayed.
Do we trust again?
Why isn’t independence enough?
To stay, to go, to settle, to start again … confusion
What do we want?
I hear it over and over
I see it also in myself
As we as individuals share our victories and our sorrows
Growing together one day at a time
I look up, around, within for answers.
Today I listen, I write…
“My dear sweet little one
To live is to experience
You have free will to how you want to learn in this life
There are no mistakes, all learning
What is it you want to learn?
Choose who you want to learn with
However to learn is not to walk forward with a closed heart
To love is to love unconditionally
The whole experience
Love with a full and open heart
When it is time to move onto a new relationship experience …
Give gratitude, and move forward with no guilt and no regrets.
For this is to live with passion and fullness
Genuine, open and honest
Share your soul, your dreams, your “life dance”
Encourage others to do the same
Dare to live from your heart
From there “you” will be the relationship you have been waiting for
And then … and only then
Will you discover what you have been searching for.”
(channelled by Carol Layton with love)
The Psychic Tarot by John Holland
Card: Harmony (The Lovers)
This card signifies the possibility that a deep spiritual initiation,
partnership, or union is taking place.
This does not always represent a love affair,
but could signify other forms of relationships.
Remember, not all partnerships have to be one to one.
They can be forged with a group, an organization, a pet, or even a situation.
The Harmony Card is calling to let you know
that it is time for you to make choices in certain relationships.
The bonds that you form with others are really about you
even in the most difficult situations.
They are meant to be mirrors for you, always reflecting back what you need to see.
Ask yourself: What am I learning from this relationship?
What new qualities am I developing? Is this partnership for my highest good?
How can I make it stronger? Are we teaching each other?
What have I discovered or am I still uncovering about myself through this union?
Are the people in my life empowering me to be all I can?
All relationships have a destiny.
Each is a sacred teacher with a valuable lesson to learn.
Relationship decisions can be overwhelming
My advice to you is to take it simple, one step at a time
Honoring yourself, working through or walking away from pain, always to love and joy
Realizing you deserve it! Everyone does
(Asking for professional guidance when needed)
What are you being guided to do TODAY
Every morning: check into what feels right (divine guidance), as you plan this day
One step at a time, one decision at a time
And when you sit on your rocking chair reflecting back upon your life.
Be able to say “I did it!”
No regrets
Thank you to my family, friends and colleagues
Who have helped me numerous times on my relationship journey.
Love is Life’s most important gift.
