A lesson about living in JOY . . . no matter what!

"The basis of your life is FREEDOM. Your quest is JOY!" ~ Abraham

This past Tuesday, in the midst of a beautiful Day-Dreaming Tuesday as a matter of fact, I found myself in the middle of an interesting predicament. I found myself without any money. There was literally $1.50 or so in my bank account. My wallet was absolutely empty and since I don't have credit cards, I didn't have the option of using them. This meant that I was out in the world, at my day-job without the ability to buy any lunch or a way to get back home. By the time I had realized my situation, I was already at work. Maybe if I had seen this coming, I would've packed a lunch or asked my partner Jhon for some money, but I hadn't seen it coming. Well, it was a possibility in the back of my mind but I kept ignoring it for some reason.

So, there I am and it's a little past Noon. I get a text from Jhon and he asks me how I'm doing, hoping I'm having a great day. I answer back that I was indeed having a great day even though I was starving and had no money for lunch. Being the extremely loving and caring human being that he is, Jhon immediately sends me a text back. He's worried about me and he says that he is so sad. What I wrote to him made him very sad. I understood his concerns because if it would have been the other way around, I would've felt the same way.

For some reason, this is what I wrote to him: "Don't be sad. All is well. I'll find something to eat. Don't worry. I love you! It's a beautiful day!! Spend it in JOY! I'll be fine."

Jhon at first didn't understand this. He said that how could he find JOY when his favorite person was going hungry?!! I asked him to just trust that everything would be alright. To please join me in seeking out joy and beauty and happiness in the day. He reluctantly agreed . . .

So, I went about my day. I kept working. I kept daydreaming. I kept feeling hungry. Most importantly though, I never let go of my connection to feeling GOOD. Even when I came to the point where I felt a bit dizzy as I moved about my office, I was still in JOY. Sounds crazy, I know, but I had made it my intention to remain in a constant state of happiness, no matter what. This experience had presented itself for a reason and I was determined to live through it and learn from it.

I wasn't really hungry!! The possibility of going without food for 8 or 9 hours is nothing compared to the millions of people on this planet, right this very instant, that REALLY have nothing to eat. Eventually I was going to be able to get some food. Eventually, I would have money in my bank account, or in my wallet. So, this temporary state was just that . . .temporary. There were lessons to be learned and I looked forward to those lessons.

One of the most important things I learned on Tuesday was the truth behind the messages of always looking for a better-feeling thought. That was exactly what I did all day. I have to admit that I had started my day in a pretty good place. But, once I found out my monetary status, I didn't let that bring me down from that place. In fact, I used the experience to get me to an even higher vibration. I used my time to give thanks for everything that I had. The money and the food would come, but at that very moment, how many things did I have to be grateful for? How many incredible people were in my life? What could I be appreciative of? I found out that the list was pretty long. Everything was perfect just as it was. I accepted the situation and thanked the Universe for it. I continued to daydream of all the amazing projects and opportunities that were already here for me. I lived "as if" in a world filled with abundance and constant joy. I saw myself looking back on this day and feeling those hunger pangs and laughing. Everything was just perfect.

The outcome of all of this is pretty remarkable. As it turned out, I was able to find $5 that enabled me to get myself a large cup of coffee and a lovely and delicious piece of chocolate pound cake. I have never, ever, enjoyed anything more. Every single bite of that cake was a religious experience. It was as if I had never in my life eaten this before! The coffee, one of my favorite things, was one of the best coffees that deli across the street has ever made! When I finished, I was full and satisfied. And, I still had enough left over to get myself home.

Right after finishing my meal, I received a text from Jhon. As it turned out, extra money had literally just been handed to him. This wasn't money he had been waiting for or expecting. This was extra money that was presented to him without explanation. It was a beautiful thing!

When I got home and had a delicious dinner and we went over the day's events, it was pretty obvious that our attitudes during the day had made all the difference. Instead of allowing ourselves to wallow in misery and poverty and beating the drum of "NOT ENOUGH MONEY", "NO MONEY", we both made it our intention to beat the drum of FEELING GOOD! We looked for ways of being HAPPY, especially in our current situation. I believe this made all the difference. The things around us changed to meet up with our intentions. Situations and opportunities presented themselves to match our better-feeling thoughts.

I was also able to learn a few things about why I found myself in that situation. Even though I wholeheartedly believe that anything is possible, I found out that a lot of the time, my vibrational offerings are matching up with a sense of lack. Although I'm not constantly beating the drum of poverty and not enough money, I do let those thoughts play in my mind enough times that I found myself in that predicament. I'm still learning from the experience since its manifestation in my life means I was fully responsible for its presence. At the same time, I am so grateful for it.

Therefore, in times of challenge, do your best to keep a connection to well-being and feeling good, being happy! Whatever it takes, do it. Like Abraham says in the video above, it is our quest! We are here to find and live JOY! And in those times of hardship, if we can simply ease into the moment and reach for a thought that feels better, miracles will happen. From nothing, something will appear. All you have to do is trust that you will come out the other side in one piece. All is well.

Peace and Light to you and KEEP DREAMING!

Gene-Manuel

A tree . . . really isn't a "tree" . . .

"When you don't cover up the world with words and labels, a sense of the miraculous returns to your life." ~ Eckhart Tolle from A New Earth

As most of you know, I'm a big fan of Eckhart Tolle's work, especially A New Earth. I've read that book twice now and took part in his Webinar with Oprah last year. The entire book had a huge impact on my life and there are passages from the book and moments from the webinar that are still with me. One of those messages has to do with the subject of labels and words in general. There was a point in the webinar in which Eckhart took a call from a mom in, I believe, Sweden. She was wondering how she could start teaching her son to start understanding about ego and not be become attached to material things and possessions, etc. Eckhart advised her to start getting him in contact with nature and while she was pointing things out to him, such as trees or birds, etc., to say to him, "We call this a tree or we call this a bird." He explained that a tree, really isn't a tree. We don't know what it is. Tree is the word we've assigned to it but in actuality, nobody know what it is. He went on to say the same thing about us. We're not "humans." Human is just a word assigned to our species to be able to identify ourselves.

I swear to you my mouth dropped when I heard this discussion. Up until that point, I had never realized how true this was. Of course a tree isn't a "tree." We are not "humans." We do not know what a tree really is or a bird or a dog for that matter. Our dogs and cats probably look at us and wonder why we keep calling them these words. This really opened up my mind to new ways of thinking and viewing the world around me.

This new way of thinking made one of Eckhart's exercises even easier to do, which was to go out in nature and just . . . be. I remember spending a Sunday afternoon in Central Park with Jhon and attempting to do the exercise. At first it wasn't easy. We are so accustomed to noticing something and immediately knowing what it is. But, the more I spent time not thinking about what I was looking at but instead conjuring up a feeling of wonder and awe, the easier it became. I particularly remember this tall tree that had all these different markings and colors. I walked up to it and just placed my hand upon it and walked around it. I made it a point to not even bring up the word "tree" to mind. This was just some thing that I had stumbled upon. I pretended that I had never seen anything like it before. This experience was nothing short of magic. There was an energy and vibrancy in that moment that I find hard to explain. In fact, this was over a year ago and right now, as I sit here in front of my laptop, if I close my eyes, I can see every single detail of that tree trunk and the surrounding area. By being as present as is conceivable and really placing my attention without judgement or preconceived notions on the object in front of me, everything about that moment just popped. There was energy and life!

Ever since then I make it a point to do that exercise as many times as possible. I've written before about how on my way to catch the bus, I look up at the sky and take in the clouds, etc. I do this exercise and every single day I am in awe because it's always a little different and I'm never sure what I will see. This practice also opens your eyes and mind to the beauty that is always around us. A beauty that we sometimes take for granted because we're so used to it just being there. How many times do you pass by a tree or a garden and not even notice it? Next time, make it a point to stop and just observe the miracle that is before you. Without immediately acknowledging what kind of tree or flower you are looking at, just take it all in. View it as if you are seeing whatever it is for the very first time. Notice how the miraculous and the ethereal in a flower becomes evident. I promise, if you approach this exercise with an open mind and with the sense of wonder of a child, you will reap amazing benefits.

My Flowers (22) by Llima Orosa

You see, there is an even more important reason to do this exercise. Eckhart advises to start in nature because it's so much easier to look at trees or birds or animals and not immediately label them or put them in a specific category. The ultimate goal of this exercise is to then do the same to people. How many times do we encounter others and immediately place them in a certain box in our mind? How does this affect our interactions with each other? How does this affect our relationships with ourselves?

I'll go into this next time. There are valuable lessons to be learned from viewing our fellow human beings as just that, humans . . . being. Everything changes when you can truly understand how we are all ONE. Until next time, go out there and be as present as you can. Be as open and full of wonder and excitement as you can. Look at the world around you as if you were seeing it all for the very first time. Get rid of the names and definitions for things and just observe them. You'll notice how even that annoying fly that sneaked into your apartment can be a mysterious and fascinating thing.

Peace and Light to you and KEEP DREAMING!

Gene-Manuel

Life in the COMPLAINTS FREE ZONE

If you have time to whine and complain about something then you have the time to do something about it. ~Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book

Alright, so I've been really focusing on zero complaints since last Tuesday morning, at 10 AM to be precise. As I mentioned in my previous post, I really have been living with a minimum of complaining for quite a while now. Even in my past, when I was living in full-time depression, I kept the complaining about minuscule things to myself. I'd spew words like "I hate my life" and my favorite, "I caaaan't", many, many times during the day, but complaining about every single annoyance wasn't my style. I mean, those two sentiments were enough, don't you think? They kept me quite unhappy and miserable for a very long time.

So, I started to really live in what I've started to call the Complaints Free Zone (CFZ) last Tuesday, and I was confident that it was going to be quite easy for me. And, while that has proven to be somewhat true, I still found out that there are plenty of times when I've stepped across the line to "A Little Complaining." It's been just little things but if you add the little things, they can become a larger issue. The past five days have really taught me to be more vigilant over my thoughts and actions. I hadn't been aware of how many times a day I complain . . . just a little, but I do it. There is this sound I make with my mouth, which my mom calls it, "friendo un huevo". It's hard to explain, but it sounds like you're frying an egg. That sizzling sound it makes? Well, when I make it with my mouth it usually happens when I'm a little exasperated with something. Maybe I missed my bus or something fell from my hand, etc. It can be anything, but when that happens and I make that sound with my mouth, you can be sure I'm complaining. Even if, like I mentioned, it's something really small and I immediately forget the thought.

While focusing on living in a Complaints Free Zone, those instances of exasperation turn into a complaint. Even if it's a wordless complaint, it's complaining. So, I've been more aware of those moments. They've happened less and less. Even when this morning's eggs fell from my hand and broke on the floor. I just looked at them and managed to save one. That's pretty good! I saved an egg and cleaned up the other. No big deal. I was still asleep and my eyes weren't quite open. Oh well.

I did fully step out of the CFZ this past Friday though. I was home and working on my art, which, as you all know, I love, love, love to do! But, I had promised to stop by my parent's house for lunch and pick up my contacts from the eye doctor. These were really nothing to get worked up about, but I saw them as distractions from my art. At this moment in my life I do a few things that I hope to change and not have to do. So, I think I associated these "distractions" with yet another couple of things taking me away from working on my art. So, yeah, I cursed and huffed and puffed as I got ready to leave the apartment. I didn't want to leave and why, oh why had I agreed to lunch and picking up the contacts . . . waaaah waaaaah waaaaah

This lasted about five minutes, but it was enough to show me the difference it caused in my energy and the energy surrounding me. Jhon was here and he immediately asked me what was wrong. My entire body was going through something. I felt as if I were in a bit of a fog, a gray haze. I immediately started to reach for better feeling thoughts. I got outside and started to appreciate the day and the beautiful sun that was shining. This led me to start a "Thank You Universe" Rampage which only added to the shift in energy from LOW to HIGH. By the time reached my folks, I had already made the connection. I just kept on seeking out wonderful things to be grateful for. The more I looked the more they appeared. My mom had made this delicious meal and they both looked well. I enjoyed my time with them instead of wasting that time and energy on wishing I were home working on my art. My energy was completely different and that in turn, made everything else around me change as well.

Another wonderful thing that has happened, is my focus on my dreams and desires has intensified. Without spending serious energy on complaining, even on those teeny tiny things, there is more time available to devote to what's really important. I'll keep you posted on how that evolves.

I've been back in the CFZ full-time ever since. So far, this has been an amazing experience. I think I'll stay in this zone. There is this new group on Facebook that is doing the same thing, starting next Tuesday. They will be doing 21 Days of No Complaining. Sounds great to me. I'll be continuing my own Zero Complaints living while adding a little something extra which I'll write about on Tuesday.

Some of you have contacted me and have decided to join me on the CFZ. I'd love to know your experiences, so please, either comment on the blog or send me an e-mail at gene-manuel@whirlingart.com. Let's continue spreading positive energy into this world. Starting with the small things, such as the little complaints we do each day. From changing the small we can change the larger world around us. There is great power in the energy we emit. Make sure it's positive and uplifting.

I look forward to your comments and finding out how living in the Complaints Free Zone has been for you.

Peace and Light to you and KEEP DREAMING!

Gene-Manuel

COMPLAINT FREE ZONE!

"We all sorely complain of the shortness of time, and yet have much more than we know what to do with. Our lives are either spent in doing nothing at all, or in doing nothing to the purpose, or in doing nothing that we ought to do. We are always complaining that our days are few, and acting as though there would be no end of them." ~ Seneca

On my way home, I usually take my time and walk from Chelsea to Port Authority. The walk is approximately 20 minutes if I go at a leisurely pace. I used to listen to my iPod in an attempt to block the world but I rarely do that now. I found out, it's a much more interesting walk without it.

The things you can overhear out in the streets of New York are notorious. There are books & blogs written about them. And, it's all true. Some of the things I've overheard have even shocked me and I'm not easily shocked. I won't go into any of these here because like I mentioned, there are countless books and sites devoted to such things. But, I have noticed something that has been a constant ever since I started my walks: people complain. They complain ALL THE TIME! I once counted how many overheard conversations were people complaining and I got up to about eight or nine people. Most of them were on the phone others were talking to whoever they were with. Some were complaining to themselves (they were alone.)

Whenever I see this happening, the same questions come up for me. What would we do if we couldn't complain? What would we think about? What things are we not dealing with or focusing on when we're spending that time and energy complaining? Is it helping? I know all about venting frustration and the like but, is all this venting, in public, in private, on websites, etc., doing any good? Is the complaining doing anything to change the world or help each other? I could go on with questions but I'll stop here.

I've decided to try a little experiment. For an entire week, I'm going to not complain about a single thing. Not only will I not complain, but I will not join in or agree with anyone else in their complaining. That's right. For one week, I will focus my energy on other things that have nothing to do with complaining or finding fault with things. I guess criticizing of any kind is out of the question as well. And, this includes the complaints that never make it out of our heads. When a thought pops in that is anywhere near a complaint, I will stop it and think a better-feeling thought instead.

I'll be honest and say that I already sort of live this way. I grew up with a mom that practically lived her life complaining. Granted, she had her good reasons for some of them, but most of the time, her complaining was for nothing. I grew up realizing that complaining didn't do much. Nothing got resolved by it. Most of the time, the only person that was hot and bothered and all upset was my mom. That was the extent of any kind of resolution her complaining brought about!

Therefore, even though I do my best to not complain, I do have my moments when I either make a small comment, even if it's constructive, that can definitely constitute as a complaint. I'm also guilty of joining in with either a nod or a few words of agreement when others are complaining. I think this is something we naturally fall into doing, especially in work situations where you feel a sort of unity with your colleagues. This too shall stop.

I'm curious to find out what this will do to my thinking patterns? Will this aid me in focusing even more on the positive things in my life? Can I even stop any complaints in my head before they have the chance to come out of my mouth? How will my world improve in a NO COMPLAINTS Zone?

I'm starting right now! It's Tuesday morning at 10AM. I'll let you know how it goes and I encourage you to join me in this little experiment. Let's see how productive we can be in our own lives when we stick to our business: Feeling Good! Concentrating on our beautiful lives and adding to the joy in it!

Peace and Light to you and KEEP DREAMING and STOP COMPLAINING!

Gene-Manuel