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Thank you for your support and I look forward to sharing with you going forward!
Brian
It’s easy to feel good about things, and positive and optimistic about one’s future when things are going well. But it’s a whole heck of a lot harder to do that when we go into a dip in the proverbial roller coaster. I like to call this phase the Pause.
Just like the ocean, life moves in ebbs and flows. During those times when things feel slow, or I am tired and every step I take feels like I am mired in quicksand and my goals aren’t progressing, I can be really hard on myself. And we all know that these times can last for weeks or even longer.
Although it certainly always hasn’t been the case, lately when I find myself in the throes of a Pause, I’ve been really trying hard to simply embrace it and let myself rest, maybe taking that drive up the coast for a few days, refilling my cup. I also trust that things are moving behind the scenes and that this break or permission to take a vacation or a day off will ultimately get me headed in the right direction, giving me the energy and stronger intuitive channels to find myself back in the flow.
I feel like we are given these pauses to provide us the opportunity to grow and release things that no longer serve us. But we have to be willing to do that. It’s human nature to push through or “numb” the Pause. We do all kinds of things to avoid it: shopping therapy, look for someone else to make us happy or validate us, spend too much time on social media, or spin our wheels while trying to work through it.
Usually, I have tried to “work through” or stay busy when I feel a wave of sadness or confusion come over me. But as I become more aware, I will consciously slow down and sit with it. Believe me when I say it’s not easy, one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do is give myself permission to just do nothing for a few days or a week, but if we can just sit with it and allow it to pass, instead of trying to push through it and keep it buried, that is when the magic happens. Giving us permission to pause, to not work through it, allowing time to breathe, and giving our intuition a chance to reveal our next step instead of fearfully trying to force it. When I do honor my feelings, things always seem to pick up quite nicely and move forward after I’ve paused, rested, stepped away for a moment.
Allow yourself to embrace the Pause. Sit with being uncomfortable for a few days or longer, sit with your sadness, and sit with your confusion. It’s okay, it’s part of life’s ebb and flow… the answers will come, trust they are in there and allow them to show themselves. You don’t need to fix anything, let yourself rest, love yourself, and know that you are enough. See what comes up for your own growth process. You will be better for it.
Copyright G. Brian Benson 2017
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Riding on the Freeway of Love
Living in Los Angeles and having to navigate the busy freeways, highways and city streets, I found that this daily ritual offers a great opportunity for me to focus on the art of giving.
Each day I’m given the choice to let people in front of me. Or not. Kind of like the opportunities we are given in life to help one another. I will tell you that when I do let someone in to merge or to switch lanes, it makes the rest of my drive that much smoother and more enjoyable. The actual act itself is quite simple yet it totally changes my energy in a positive way. It makes me feel like I am contributing to life instead of taking from it.
Conversely, it turns negative on those days when I am feeling competitive or ornery and don’t let someone merge in front of me. Why do I do that? It’s not like I was going to arrive late to my destination because I let one person in front of me on a freeway that is crawling at a snail’s pace anyways.
We are all in this crazy, beautiful life together and driving on the freeway is the perfect metaphor for that. By helping each other and looking out for one other, even in the simplest of ways, our own personal journey is much more fulfilling and enjoyable. And believe me…that goodness spreads like wildfire when others witness it.
So next time you’re given the opportunity to let someone merge into your lane while driving, don’t hesitate. You’ll feel better, they will be appreciative and the positivity shared will inspire others to join in the fun.
Copyright G. Brian Benson 2017
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You know, it can be really hard to stay positive when life rains down on you unexpectedly. However, I’ve always tried to expect the unexpected, and stay open. I also always try and stay positive no matter what. Well, that’s not always so easy.
I had recently been living in my place for about a year. I loved it. One day, the owners decided to put it on the market and it sold within the first week! Suddenly, I had to find a new place within 45 days. Well, okay. Not convenient, but not terrible.
However, it was raining in LA, and I don’t mean a little rain. I mean torrential rains up to four inches in one day! A few days later, the house began to smell really musty. I noticed the carpet was wet around all the corners and edges. Unfortunately, I’d stacked boxes of my children’s books in the corners and when I moved them discovered that they were damp and covered in mold and fungi. I was beginning to be concerned about the potentially dangerous air quality. This absolutely meant that I had to move quickly for my health. I was also worried that my things would get damaged. It was time to go.
It really stressed me out. I had always felt like I was a great manifestor and would be able to conjure exactly what I was looking for in my price range. But I kept looking around and nothing I looked at felt right. I was getting to the point where I was willing to sign a lease at a place just to get out of there when a friend of mine contacted me on social media and said her mom was renting a place. I admit I wasn’t feeling very hopeful, but told myself to stay positive. I went to look at it and it was perfect. Eclectic, interesting, comfortable and in a neighborhood that was close to great walks, Griffith Park, and a new coffee shop to work on my laptop. It felt like me and it felt like home almost immediately.
It can sometimes feel really overwhelming when everything happens at once. I think the key is to not give up, no matter how impossible it seems at the time. I’m not saying that’s easy, it takes courage, especially in the face of any kind of disaster. Real life happens to everyone. To you, to me, to everyone; and it’s how we take on those challenges that make us who we are to become. The most important thing is to have faith and believe that something even better is just around the corner.
Copyright G. Brian Benson 2017
“Life can be a wonderful administration of the heart, the mind, and the soul. By listening to your heart and visualizing with your mind, you can come into alignment with your soul.” – G. Brian Benson
Knowledge is power. As we learn, grow, and become more self-aware our world opens up in amazing ways. It’s an ongoing process. We are here to learn and grow and when we are open to that, our lives become much more enjoyable and free. There are always people and situations that come into our lives at just the right moment to help us learn, if we pay attention and listen.
But what if, even when we are trying to always listen from our heart, we just can’t hear the message? What if we find ourselves “bumping into walls” so much that we can’t figure out what it’s about? What if all we feel is our limitations?
That’s also part of what the heart is sharing with you. It can be a steep learning curve. Once we become aware of our limitations, our unhealthy patterns, we can recognize them and begin to heal. It’s not always easy, but if we can stay present and listen and then let it go, we can move back into balance.
I’ve been working on myself for a long time and most of the time I am able to draw on past experiences which I have filed away. This has allowed me to really get to know myself and have the knowledge that helps me be a better me as I move into the second half of my life and hopefully continue to learn from past mistakes. The key I have found is to stay grounded and operate from my heart not from my head. When I operate from my head I often create false stories that lead to nothing but suffering.
Self-awareness is simply another way of listening, of paying attention to our patterns, of opening our hearts, minds and souls to change. Stuff happens to all of us, but having self-knowledge and staying open allows us to flow through it more easily.
Copyright G. Brian Benson 2017
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