When you shine, you allow others to do the same . . .

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” ~ Marianne Williamson

This incredible passage from Marianne Williamson, found in her best-selling book A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles, has been on my mind for the past couple of weeks. In fact, this entire entry has been percolating for a while now. I guess I was just gathering more information or the Universe was showing me how many people suffer from this need to play small or keep their inner light on a dimmer set to low. Well, finally, I've started to write it and I have a feeling this subject might need more than just one entry.

Like Marianne mentions, we are all meant to shine! We are here on this Earth to shine a blindingly bright light and for this light to reach far and wide! We are all given a set of instructions when we come forth into the physical and nowhere in those instructions are the words "Keep your gifts to yourself and don't let yourself shine in order to not offend or make someone else feel bad about themselves." Nowhere! When we are born, we are the center of attention and we know it. Why? Well, it's not just because we are adorably cute, it's also because we just glow. Babies glow with the knowledge that they have arrived. They are here to have a really good time and make magic happen. It's inherent in all of us. So, what happens along the way to make us feel like we have no right to let this light shine? Why on earth would we start believing that it’s ok to go through life without fully realizing our inner beauty and letting that beauty flourish and radiate?

How many times are you afraid to do something just because you don't want to bring attention to yourself? How many times do you actually do what Marianne says and play small so that others around you won't feel insecure or think you are better than they are? How many times do you go against that inner voice that is always guiding you in the right direction? How many times do you not pay attention?

All good questions . . . I’ll get to them on the next post. Until then, let’s all start taking control of our own dimmer switch. First thing to do is to raise it up a notch. Just a little at first if you’re not ready for a full-blown light show . . . just a little. Shine!

Peace and Light to you and KEEP DREAMING!

Gene-Manuel

Don't put off until tomorrow . . . you know the rest. . .

“Procrastination is the bad habit of putting of until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday.” ~ Napoleon Hill

Although there's a 'should' in Napoleon Hill's quote, and you all know how we feel about that word, I still like it. I have been quite guilty of this for the past several days . . . if not weeks. There has been something that I've needed to do and I've been literally leaving it for the day after tomorrow . . . and the day after that . . . and the day after that . . .

How many of us are guilty of procrastinating about so many things in our lives? Now granted, what I've been putting off isn't one of my main goals or dreams. What I've been putting off has nothing to do with my art or my music or my writing or my myriad of delicious projects. But, at the same time, it is something that has continually been on my mind as THAT THING I have to do that I haven't done and I need to do in order to move on . . . So, something that obviously didn't start as an important thing, has now become this fucking annoying thing that won't go away. Of course, it won't go away because the only way it will actually go away is if I DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE.

To make the entire thing even more ridiculously absurd, when I sat down and finally took notice of what I needed to do, I realized that in actuality, it wasn't that big a deal. WHAT?!!! Yup! It really wasn't the scary, torturous thing my mind had created. This is what happens, isn't it? Most of the time when I procrastinate, I'm really just masking fear. In the case of this latest bout with procrastination, I was afraid of the steps I had to take to resolve the issue and of the resolution itself. Since I wasn't sure of what the outcome was going to be, I was fearing that end result and what that would then lead to. Oh, endless cycle of self-torture. It makes me laugh really. Because when I broke the big issue, I realized how ridiculous it all was. How what I had been fearing was actually what my mind had come up as the big, scary monster. It was all made up! What I'd been fearing was all in my head . . . all made up . . . what a waste of my time and energy.

Well, I've faced the big scary monster and he wasn't at all scary. What I've learned from the experience is to be prepared the next time I feel I'm procrastinating. I have to ask myself why? Why am I coming up with all of the excuses to keep me from doing what I need to do? What are the underlying messages in the experience? It seems to me that whenever I procrastinate about something, that means that I haven't been quite honest with myself about the issue at hand. There is something in the facing of the issue head on that scares me. There are things attached to the issue that I've been avoiding or trying to forget in the hopes that whatever it is will just go away. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen. Things we have to deal with in life don't just go away. They are, almost always, things we have to learn from. These little annoyances are put in our way to teach us a valuable lesson. The lesson might have nothing to do with the actual thing you have to do. But, if we peel back the layers, the gem is revealed. And, it's always a better day once we come to that understanding and hopefully, we learn a little something.

Whenever we procrastinate, we waste precious energy. Energy that could be better spent in manifesting our dreams. That alone is worth the effort to face what we have to face with the full knowledge that everything will turn out fine. No matter what. So, let's get on with it! C'mon!

Peace and Light to you and KEEP DREAMING!

Gene-Manuel

Quick THANK YOU!

Wow! I can't believe it's been so long since my last entry! I do apologize for that. One of my intentions for next month is to start blogging on a regular basis. It's really a matter of time management and I'm confident that with the right intention and mindset, I can accomplish this. So, I thank you all for stopping by and reading and sending me lovely messages about The Daydream Chronicles. From the start of this blog and Day-Dreaming Tuesdays, I always felt that the information would get to the right people. It is still my goal to share my experiences with as many people as possible. I'm on a fantastic, magical, spiritual journey and it's my belief that any journey is more fun when you have a great group of travelers along for the ride.

I thank you all once again for reading my entries and sharing your experiences. This is really a fantastic way to share energy - hopefully, positive, life-affirming, light-giving energy! As I share my little light-bulb moments, I feel the wave of love that is then sent back to me from you. When anything I write about touches you, in any kind of positive way, that feeling that gets stirred in you is directly sent back to me. Let's not even think about how it happens because it's most likely quite beyond our understanding, but believe me when I say that I feel it. I feel whenever a connection is made. Let's continue on this fantasmagorical journey together. Feel free to always leave a comment on any of the postings. Share any blog entries that you think might help someone else. E-mail me with comments or ideas or just to say hi. I'm also open to guest bloggers that would like to share how they're living the life of their dreams! We can always learn from each other. Always.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Peace and Light to you and KEEP DREAMING!

Gene-Manuel

Staying connected to Well-Being . . .

For the past couple of weeks, I've been going through a rather interesting period. I really think, or rather, I feel it's a period of immense transition. Through it, there have been lots of ups and downs in the situations surrounding me. The one constant, which is incredible, has been my attitude towards everything. That is pretty incredible for me to write and say. To actually admit and understand that in the midst of all that's happening around me, I have been able to remain positive, smiling and filled with joy . . . it's absolutely miraculous!

This wasn't really evident to me until last Thursday evening. I was visiting dear friends that live out of town and had a lovely and delicious dinner with them. After thoroughly enjoying my pasta dinner, even going back for seconds, I learned that the sauce in the pasta was a pesto sauce. Well, I am allergic to pine nuts. Not allergic in the sense that my throat closes up or anything like that but, I do get extremely sick. This also doesn't happen immediately. Symptoms start about 2 to 3 hours after I've eaten whatever the pine nut filled food was. So, once I found out about the pesto, I calmly told my hosts that I would most likely be getting very sick, but not to worry. I would keep them informed as to my condition and if it escalated to a need to get rushed to the hospital, I would let them know.

I then proceeded to have my delicious dessert, homemade ice-cream, and continued enjoying their company. There was absolutely no need to worry about what was coming because it wasn't there yet. I didn't try to get the food out of my system prematurely . . . well, there was no chance of that happening. It had tasted too good! I had a choice. Either I was going to continue to spend a good time with friends or I was going to worry about what was going to happen. I chose the first option. For as long as I could, I remained present and in the moment. Then, when the first signs of the reaction began, I prepared to go to bed and took each minute as it came.

The sicker I felt, the more focused on wellness I became. I had very little hope of not actually getting sick so I knew that the inevitable was going to happen. But, I made it a point to see what would happen if I at least was able to reach for better-feeling thoughts. What would happen if in the middle of the nausea and stomach cramps, I would continue to infuse my mind with thoughts of healing and beautiful things? I knew that my body was reacting to what it considers a poison, but I also wanted to try and use a positive antidote to that poison. As my body was working and preparing to get rid of that which was making it sick, I spent every single second focused on healthy thoughts. I refused to feel sorry for myself or scared about what could happen. No matter what, I knew that I would be alright. Whatever the outcome of my allergic reaction, I was going to be fine.

The moment came and I was lucky enough to make it to the bathroom in time. The closest I can get to describing the experience is that it feels like I'm being kicked in the pit of my stomach repeatedly by a powerfully strong opponent wearing combat boots. I'm kicked over and over and over again. Before I can take a breath, another kick comes in to join the last one. And again! And again! And again! All the way to the end. Once my body feels that the supposed intruder is out of my system, then and only then, do the kicks stop . . . Usually, I go through this about three or four times during an allergic episode. This time, everything happened just the one time. I was spared hours of this pain and torture. I was so, so grateful.

Through the entire process I've just described, I was fully present. But, in an interesting way, I was also able to distance myself from what my body was going through. It's hard to put into words but as my body was convulsing and the kicks kept on coming, I continued focusing my thoughts on Well-Being. That Well-Being that is a constant stream in our lives. If I honestly believe that All Is Well, then even in times of great physical pain, am I still connected to that stream? I found out that I am. Through the entire experience, I remained in what felt like two separate states. One, was the absolute physical, the one that felt every single thing that was happening to my body. The other, was the mental state that kept its connection to wellness. The wellness that was and the wellness that I would return to. I remember walking out of the bathroom and barely seeing my worried friends waiting for me outside. I can't imagine what they were thinking. I believe I said something like, "I think I'm done" and giving them the thumbs up as I headed downstairs to bed.

The next morning I awoke to a beautiful day full of sunshine. I felt fine and ready to face the day and concentrate on wonderful and creative things. It wasn't until I was on the bus back into Manhattan that I saw the connection between how I dealt with my being sick and some of the challenges I had been experiencing. Through it all, I've been focused on feeling good, feeling happy, being connected to well being. The more I've focused on that, the better things have gotten. And that's the trick. It's really that simple. Everything goes back to our ability to choose what we want to focus on and think about. In times of stress or disease, why focus on the cause of the stress or the disease? Although it's easy to get caught up in those feelings, if we just take a second and make that shift . . . that will make all the difference. It's just as easy to think about things that make you feel GOOD and at EASE as it is to keep beating the drum of sickness or lack or stress. At every given moment, we hold that power to feel better, think better, do better. Why choose otherwise?

All is indeed . . . WELL!

Peace and light to you and KEEP DREAMING!

Gene-Manuel

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

Happiness can be shocking . . .

"You have everything you need for complete peace and total happiness right now." ~ Dr. Wayne Dyer

Whenever I'm asked "How are you?" nowadays, almost 99% of the time I answer with an enthusiastic "I'm great! How are you?". I can't tell you how many times this simple and honest response gets me the strangest looks. Whenever I answer truthfully and with a beaming smile that I am in fact feeling and doing great, the majority of the time the person on the receiving end of my answer is shocked. Some people don't even know what to do or say in return. I've had people literally stumble backwards and do a double take as if what they have just seen and heard could not have happened. It's usually a clerk at a store or a cashier at Whole Foods.

By now, most of my friends are sort of used to my upbeat mood. Although there are times when I get asked if I'm "high" on something. That always makes me laugh because then I am compelled to answer "I'm high on life!" which always gets a different response altogether. Ha! That answer's not too far from the truth. I am intoxicated by every single day right from the start. My alarm wakes me and from that moment, I start giving thanks to the Universe for yet another day filled with possibilities right at my fingertips. In a half-daze I look at my vision board and pick out a few words that will stay with me throughout the day. That always helps me get out of bed with a feeling of excitement. Today's words were, OM, CREATIVITY and SEA OF GRATITUDE! Now, that's a pretty great message to start the day!

From there, I continue infusing my day with little things to keep my positive mood going. Being grateful and doing a "Thank You Universe" rampage definitely gets me on the right track for the day. Then, throughout the morning and into the afternoon, I consciously make the effort to be on the lookout for better feeling thoughts. The things I choose to read or see on my commute are also geared towards lifting my spirits and making me aware of all the good that is out there in the world.

Even the people I follow on Twitter are a constant source of inspiration. In fact, I make it a point to mostly follow people or organizations that tweet uplifting messages of hope, peace, and love. That in turn makes me want to do the same. On Facebook, I've begun to do a Thought For The Day, where I try to share whatever it is that I'm personally working through or with. I'm always on the look out for interesting and uplifting people to interact with. From these friends I get a myriad of ideas and helpful hints that add to my joy. There are daily affirmations and new YouTube videos to share and view. I have brilliantly creative friends that share their thoughts daily about life. Others share their gorgeous art and photography and beautiful music. It's never a dull or negative moment for me on these various social sites.

I have also made it a point that I will work on my art every single day no matter what. Even if it's 11:30pm and all I have time to do is add a touch of color to a piece, I will do it. Creating is at the top of my list of things that make me extremely, extremely happy so why would I not strive to create every day? How can I expect to manifest a life filled with art if I don't give it some attention? Nothing makes me happier than when I'm working therefore, not a day goes by that at least a moment is devoted to this joy-giving activity.

My point in sharing all these different ways I keep connected to a positive stream is that it takes a bit of effort and imagination to maintain that connection. But, it is so worth it! Once you get started, it becomes easier and easier the more you do it. We know that what we focus on expands. Why not focus on being happy? Why not make it a point to fill your day with as much happiness as you can? Again, the more you do it, the more reasons you will find to continue being happy!

If you make it your daily intention to have an amazing day filled with joy, the Universe will make sure to bring experiences your way that will bring you that joy! Instead of a "same shit, different day" mentality, understand that this simply isn't so. You have not lived this day and everything that you are experiencing on a moment by moment basis is completely new. It's happening NOW and in the NOW, everything is new and fresh and you have the choice to make it the best moment you've ever had.

A simple shift in focus will have a tremendous effect on your attitude. It has for me. I haven't had a bad day in a very long time. Have there been things going on that might be considered not so great? Sure. But especially on those days, my intention to keep reaching for a better feeling thought and exposing myself to positive and joy-filled energy was even stronger. Before I knew it, the rough patch was over and I came out of it with hardly an emotional scratch. It just took concentrating on the good. There is always something good to focus on.

It's my intention to always be happy. No matter what, I know I have the power to choose a thought that will make me feel good. Beauty and love is all around me. It's in the sky above and in the faces of loved ones that are always there for me. A simple smile given to a total stranger will get you one back . . . most of the time. Ending my day filled with gratitude for the day's events only paves the way to more things to be grateful on the following day. Just a little effort gives amazing results. Try it. You'll have fun shocking people the next time you're asked how you are and you can genuinely answer back, "I'M GREAT!"

Peace and Light to you and KEEP DREAMING!

Gene-Manuel

Finish each day and be done with it . . .

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

This quote from Emerson is one of the magnets that adorn our refrigerator. As it happens, we get accustomed to the things that surround us and we forget. So, it wasn't until last week that I stood in front of the fridge and read this quote and was struck by it. What a wonderful message of truly staying in the NOW. If we follow Emerson's advice, we'd have no choice but to live in the NOW. And how amazing to start each day anew without any feelings of regret or "shoulds" and "shouldn't haves".

I do my best to start each day this way but ever since re-reading that quote and consequently posting it on my Facebook page, I have had the words in my mind as a mantra running quietly in the background . To live my life without regrets is something I've been striving for. Regrets are truly a waste of time and energy. That energy can be directed to the NOW, to something that has the potential to lift you out of whatever your current state might be, get you moving forward in life, not looking back. So, I've got to say I've done my share of work on regrets and have arrived at a point where I understand and take full responsibility for the part I've played in my life and how each decision was made to the best of my ability at the time. "When you know better you do better."

What I'm really taken with in Emerson's quote is his advice to forget any blunders or absurdities that are committed during your day. That ability to not beat yourself up for something that you should have done or shouldn't have done. For example, there was a small part of me that felt that this blog posting should have been done earlier today instead of after Midnight. Well, obviously that is not correct. How do I know that? Because it's after Midnight and now is when I'm inspired enough to write it. It's the right time. I can't go against reality. It doesn't matter if I think I "should" have done it earlier because the truth is I didn't.

'Should' is one of those words that can get you in trouble whenever you use it. Louise Hay would like to have it removed from our vocabulary and I have to agree with her. She goes on to say that whenever you use the word 'should', you're either wrong, going to be wrong or were wrong about something. Isn't that the truth! Most of the time when the "S" word is used, it carries with it a lot of judgment and limitations. Emerson would certainly not be down with that! So that's one thing to try and start doing. Get rid of the "shoulds" that don't bring anything positive into your life. That can get you one step closer to the Emerson ideal of being done with your day and going easy on yourself.

Abraham likes to always say "Be easy about it", meaning to just take it easy. Learn to forgive yourself for anything you see as a shortcoming or for the things you think you should have done differently, or better or not at all. Let's start treating ourselves with kindness. We are constantly doing our best. At the end of the day, let's be grateful for every single breath we've taken, and for every single experience we've brought into our lives. As we close our eyes for sleep, let the promise of a bright new tomorrow light the spark of possibilities once more.

Peace and Light to you and KEEP DREAMING!

Gene-Manuel