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Everyone has their own issues and dramas to deal with.  Sometimes we get so stuck in the muck that it is difficult to see beyond the challenges of the moment.

We start focusing on the problem instead of the solution.  We may stare so hard at what we think it is, that we don’t see that our limited view may block the awareness of a bigger picture evolving.

And yet, the thing that one person may judge as disgusting cow manure, can be welcomed with gratitude by another to grow abundant crops. It is simply a matter of different perspectives.

When we label things from our personal perspective, we are a hair’s breadth away from judging, because we are shutting out any other possibilities. How often do we not jump to a worst-case scenario whereas the situation turned out to be a blessing instead?

When you get stuck in the drama of life, you need proven tools to get unstuck, and fast! You need to pry the mind loose from its fixation on what it perceives as the problem, and open it to a broader range of possibilities.

When you step back from the situation to consider other possible viewpoints, you allow for other perspectives.  Expanding your viewpoint opens up your perception to other possibilities. It makes space for grace and gratitude to enter. 

Here are some questions to ask yourself to get unstuck:

• What if this situation is a gift?
• What if what’s going on right now in my life is the greatest gift I could ever have imagined, although I won’t know it for another six months or a year from now?
• What if the heat of this situation is exactly what is needed to hatch my dream?
• What if this ignites a passion in me that I would not have acknowledged under any other circumstances?
• What if I’ve been so focused on the terrible things that might happen that I’ve been blind to the good things that are happening in my life?
• What if this situation offered me the best way to let go of what I no longer needed?
• What if this is all a lesson in learning to trust?
• What if all this is simply to help me see what really matters?
• What if this is a wake-up call from my soul?
• And what if I woke up?  What would I be waking up from?  What would I be awakening to?

So, what if the lemons in my life present an opportunity to shift to higher consciousness?

Wherever manure piles show up in your life, look for the gift in it. Give thanks for what shows up - it is an opportunity for you to learn from.

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

Are you joyful today? Are you savoring life’s sweetness, or have the challenges confronting you crowded out your joy?

Joy is an essential part of life.  It brings new hope and meaning, energizing our actions.  The more intense our challenges, the greater our need for joy. And yet, we often get so busy that we neglect the things in life that renew joy.

If you are not exactly dancing through the daisies, don’t despair! Joy can be renewed – and indeed must be nurtured – to provide a counterpoint to life’s harsher realities.

When we are preoccupied with looming deadlines, economic challenges and physical setbacks, it is easy to lose perspective.  That loss of perspective allows joy to slip through the cracks, leaving us feeling flat and enervated.

Recently I had one of those days where it was difficult to find joy in things around me. A few friends were in the hospital, I had learned of three others who had just been diagnosed with cancer, a work project had gotten bogged down in bureaucratic paperwork, an unexpected setback resulted in huge bills not budgeted for, and plans for a much-needed getaway needed to be canceled...... get the picture?

The avalanche of developments left me feeling reeling.  Where does one even start to address the chaos?

I needed to disengage to get clarity and perspective. Stepping into the lush green of my back garden, I was greeted by a chorus of bird song. That’s when it hit me: These birds don’t know where their food will come from each new day – they sing and chirp from a place of innate trust. They trust in the provision of a benevolent universe.

Jesus reminded his disciples that not even a sparrow falls from heaven without their Creator’s knowledge. Likewise, even the hairs on our heads are known and numbered by that loving Presence.

As I took time out from the hectic demands of life, I felt the cool breeze on my skin.  A beautiful butterfly fluttered around the geraniums, and I saw a baby gecko emerging from the vine to sip from a water drop on a blade of grass. In the corner, a humming bird was bathing in the very top of the fountain, tossing the water over its tiny body with one wing and then shaking it off before repeating on the other side.

Little things, and yet they had a huge impact on me.  I realized that joy is always available in the small things of life – we simply get too busy and distracted to notice.

Even when faced by huge issues in life, we can reconnect to joy by noticing and appreciating little things:  the friendliness of a checkout clerk, a handwritten note from a friend, the warmth of a child’s hand, the furry love of a pet, the restorative beauty of nature, the taste of fresh strawberries, the comfort of a bed at the end of the day…

The makings of joy are all around us, waiting to be discovered. They are everywhere in little things that truly matter. Together, they add up to restore our joy. Next time you feel overwhelmed, take time to connect to the little things, and you will find your joy renewed.

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com  This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

Would you like to see more love blossoming in your life? If you're like most people, the answer is a resounding "yes."

We all can use more love and less complaining, more joy and fewer problems, right?

Valentine's Day offers you a perfect opportunity to attract more love into your life by giving thanks for the love you already have.

You see, the simple attitude of gratitude is one of the most powerful quantum energies for manifestation. Energy flows to whatever you focus on and makes it grow.

How much time do you spend in genuine gratitude? In any given day, we tend to notice the things that don't work, that derail or rub us the wrong way. How uplifting is that?!

In our relationships, we are prone to notice what doesn't work, and we ignore the brilliant parts that DO. This Valentine's Day, why not resolve to turn that habit around?

Expressing genuine appreciation for what you have and enjoy each day will make it grow. If you want more love in your life, then, you can make it grow by expressing gratitude for the blessings you already have.

You can give the world no greater gift than to focus on gratitude and make love blossom in your relationships through your genuine appreciation.

Just think of all the things each day that you are grateful for: the smell of coffee to get you going in the morning, a warm shower, sunshine in your face, tantalizing flavors, the ability to breathe, walk and talk, unsolicited appreciation for your efforts? There is so much in life to be grateful for!

Expressing true gratitude is not schmaltzy or superficial. It involves genuinely heartfelt, eyeball-to-eyeball or heart-to-heart connection. In other words, gratitude involves appreciation that is delivered with real meaning rather than some perfunctory mumblings or syrupy platitudes.

Once you start noticing the beauty of life around you, gratitude and love grows. Right now, take a few moments and consider all the relationships you are grateful for.

Reflect on the qualities you appreciate in each of your relatives and friends: the smile on a child's face, the hug of a loved one, the spontaneous playfulness of friend.

Do you appreciate these things? Then express gratitude for the qualities you see and their presence will grow in your life!

I encourage you to go a step beyond that even: write a note of gratitude to the people who have touched your life. Express to them what you love about them and how it makes you feel.

You may have just found the spark to let love blossom in your life year round!

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

You shape your life through the power of your own attention. Whatever you pay attention to, grows stronger in your life.

How is this possible?

Where your attention goes, the energy of life flows – and this is a scientific fact. Scientists have determined that the attention of an observer affects the movement of quantum particles. Your thoughts, emotions and feelings are energetic particles as well, and your attention draws closer to you the particles that resonate with what you focus on.

Whatever you pay attention to (whether by thinking about it, talking about it, worrying about it or fearing it) will increase and multiply until it absolutely affects your life and what you become.

•    If you constantly think about what frightens you, you will become more fearful.
•    If you constantly think about how unfair life is, you will see more and more evidence around you to support this viewpoint.
•    If you believe your life is worthless, your choices and behavior will reflect that.

On the other hand, when you play close,  purposeful attention to what is positive, hopeful, supportive, uplifting and encouraging, your life will inevitably express that also.

This doesn’t mean that every factor in your life is the manifestation of an inner thought. There are always other crucial factors involved as well: social issues, genetic factors, cultural influences and economic issues, for instance, over which you have little or no control. 

Nevertheless, you do have the power to control your response to life!  You have the power to choose what you focus on.  And whatever your circumstances, you can direct your attention to what will most positively support your attitudes and actions.

You can shift your focus – and your mood – in a number of ways:

•    Think about something else entirely: Switch you attention to something that engages and stimulates you.
•    Engage in demanding physical activity: Dance, walk, listen to music, exercise, play, or engage in absorbing activities that minimize negative thoughts.
•    Challenge unhelpful thoughts: Ask yourself whether they represent the absolute facts or whether they are simply your own negative projections, fears and assumptions.
•    List your worries: Consciously write down all your worries, fears and negative thoughts. Then crumple the paper and toss it, burn it or tear it up, visualizing yourself getting rid of the worry thought and negativity as well.
•    Make a gratitude list: List all the positive things in your life that you are grateful for, give thanks for those things, and feel the positive energy shifting you into a positive mindset

Take positive action to direct your focus to things that hold positive meaning and impact for you.  It will change your energy levels, your mood and, ultimately, your life.

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

Is it possible to enjoy abundance during a recession or is that just some kooky form of denial?

The answer depends on your definition of the terms, since we know that definitions are influenced profoundly by our belief systems.
 
How do you measure abundance?  In western society, we are bombarded by messages that success is measured by material goods: a better car, bigger home, and more things.  Yet is this really the only measure of abundance?  

The stuff of the material world is simply that – material stuff.  It is nothing more than that until you attach meaning or emotion to it.

In a society where success and abundance is measured by one’s possessions, people become attached to material stuff.  Without such material ‘proof’ of their success, they tend to see themselves as failures.  

This attachment to material forms of security gives rise to all kinds of fear: fear of loss, fear of failure, fear of not having enough. And fear, when not addressed, can lead to untold suffering because it begets the very things you are afraid of.

Here’s an uncomfortable truth: Fear is a powerful force for manifestation. Its power lies in its magnetic grip on the mind where, left unchecked, it will grow like a weed until it dominates all thoughts. And whatever occupies your focus, tends to manifest.  It’s that simple!

You and I are powerful beings who create our world as a result of the things we focus on. At any moment there are two realities waiting to manifest: the one you attract and the one you resist. Whichever one you feed consciously or unconsciously, is the one that will manifest.

If you wish to enjoy a sense of personal peace, joy and abundance, you need to eliminate fear.

To get rid of the fear habit, it is important to understand that we are all connected and not separate; each one of us forms part of everything that exists. The findings of biochemist and researching pioneer Rupert Sheldrake show how everything in the universe is ultimately connected through fields of consciousness. You and I contribute to that collective consciousness in an endless feedback loop that flows back to each of us.  

On the level of planetary ecology, our pollution of earth’s water resources affects everything that takes in that water through the interconnectedness of all. What happens in one area of our planetary ecology, ripples out in ever wider circles to affect everything else, whether we are aware of it or not. If we want pure drinking water, then we cannot afford to dump toxic waste into the earth’s oceans and rivers.

The ecology of consciousness works the same way.  Every time we pollute our interconnecting field of consciousness with unprocessed emotions of anger, judgment, hate or lack, we dump the equivalent of toxic waste into the quantum field.  Fear is the most toxic and primal of all emotional and mental toxic waste.

Fear is lethal to our well-being at all levels.  It triggers your primal fight or flight response, which will deplete your adrenals over time.  It also contributes to sleep disturbances, addiction, high blood pressure, violence and a host of social evils.  Fear leads to a contraction of energy – the more we fear, the more we close down the flow of Life Force, the Source of abundance. This choking down of abundance contributes to lack in every area of life – in economic terms, it is called a recession.  

Are you content to continue dumping fear and other toxic emotions into the collective consciousness, or are you willing to contribute something more conducive to the stream of consciousness that we all mentally and emotionally drink from?

Fear is a dream killer. It will choke up your faith until all you can create, is more fear.  

Don’t go there!  No economic situation is worth your dreams: not a war, not a job loss, not a stock market crash and not a recession. These economic and political situations are merely transitory aspects of the material world.  

You are much more than that: you are an eternal spiritual being with access to all the resources in the Universe through the collective field of consciousness. And you access this limitless supply of resources through the quality of your emotions and what you hold in mind.

I challenge you to live a life that is admired not for its stuff, but for its passion and its undying belief that all things are possible.  I challenge you to take bold action in the face of fear and to set an example by showing others that out on the limb is where the fruit is sweetest.

Start practicing the proven antidote to fear. Think of everything you are blessed with in the material world and beyond.  Make a list of all the abundance in your life, and return to gratitude.  

©Copyright Ada Porat.
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached. To sign up for Ada's inspirational monthly newsletter, visit www.AdaPorat.com

The teenager at the drive-thru repeated my order: one medium coffee with two creams, no sugar.

At the pick-up window, I confirmed:  “Two creams and no sugar, right?”

“Yes,” she assured me as she handed me the cup.  After pulling into the busy traffic, I took a sip and… you guessed it: no cream and at least two sugars!
 
Now, if you’re used to eating a lot of sugar you may not notice, but I’m not and I did notice. It was annoying – even more so because this was not the first time it happened.

I was on my way to an early morning appointment and could not turn back without running late, so I had a choice to make: was I going to become grumpy about the incidence and let it ruin my day, or was I going to look at it differently?

I decided to focus on what was going right instead: the rush hour traffic was flowing, the sun was shining, and there were many things in my life to be grateful for. I chose to give thanks for all the blessings in my life instead.  Soon I felt my spirits shift from irritation at missing that first cup of java, to feeling happy and at peace.

Forty minutes later, I approached my destination and noticed another fast-food outlet belonging to the same chain. I pulled up to order a drinkable cup of coffee.  When I explained the bungled order to the attendant, she smiled and said: “I’d hate for us to spoil your day – let me get you another cup on us.” 

Wow, what a concept, I thought. She is not getting defensive – she’s choosing to make amends instead! When I thanked her, she said: “I know you’ve got a right to be grumpy about the mistake, and I appreciate it that you weren’t. Have a wonderful day!”

In the span of less than an hour, my emotions had shifted from feeling annoyed to being grateful to feeling great!  And my state of mind had a positive effect on the attendant as well!

What happened here?  I’d be the first to tell you that I’m not a saint, so something else was going on here.

That something was the power of gratitude.

My sincere gratitude had activated the law of attraction to draw to me circumstances that resonated with the vibrational frequencies of what I was focused on, including this pleasant encounter.

You see, everything in the universe consists of energy with a vibrating mass of atoms and subatomic particles at its core. You and I also consist of energy, and each one of us projects into the universe energy vibrations based on our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. This frequency attracts to it resonant vibrational frequencies that determine the events, situations, and circumstances we eventually see manifest in our lives.

So what does this have to do with gratitude?  Everything!

When you are in a sincere state of gratitude, your vibrational resonance is one of acceptance and harmony. That vibrational frequency attracts to you events and circumstances that are harmonious with the high, positive state you are in.

To understand how this works, you can think of yourself as a giant magnet. Whatever emotions you are feeling - be it love, fear, anger, happiness, joy, or gratitude – the emotions you hold in mind create a magnetic force that draws to you events, conditions and circumstances in direct correlation to what you are feeling. Fear of something creates a magnetic force that ultimately attracts more of what you fear. Gratitude for any situation sets up a magnetic force that draws to you more of what you’re expressing gratitude for.  Like attracts like – just like that.

Whenever you’re not grateful for an aspect of your life, you are in essence resisting that aspect.  Your focus shifts to what you don’t want.  That focus on what you DON’T want, creates a vibrational field that draws to you more of what you don’t want or resist! That’s why whatever you resist, persists in showing up.

Gratitude, on the other hand, moves you into acceptance of whatever IS.  It is a powerful springboard that can catapult you into a positive frame of mind, because it focuses on what you appreciate instead of on what appears to be lacking. It is one of the most powerful antidotes to the narcissistic self-absorption and entitlement so prevalent in western society.

How in the world can you be in a state of gratitude when everything seems to be going wrong?

Perhaps the things that appear to be going wrong, are actually going very right… from a Higher perspective!  Here’s why:

The first step to personal freedom always starts with self-responsibility. To lose weight, for instance, you need to first accept the fact of what your current weight is; you have to accept the fact that whatever you have been doing up until now, has been your responsibility - even when it didn’t work. Acknowledging where we’re at is the first step toward change – both in twelve-step groups and in life.

The conditions and circumstances you're currently experiencing are manifestations based on thoughts and emotions you chose at some point in the past. There’s no blame or judgment here, there’s simply the need to accept responsibility for what you have manifested so far, whether consciously or unconsciously.  Remember, you are the one that thinks your thoughts - your thoughts do not think you!

In fact, you created everything you currently experience in your life. You may well consider how it has worked for you.  Not great?  Then don’t despair, because your powers of creation does not stop here…

Since you can (or perhaps did) create and attract undesirable outcomes, you can also create positive results by changing your thoughts and focus. You have tremendous creative potential and when you start consciously working with these principles instead of resisting them, your life will make a dramatic turn for the better.

Current experiences are merely guideposts showing whether you are creating the desired outcomes or whether you need to make some adjustments in your thought processes. Once you see this, you have a choice to make:  are you going to blame yourself or others for what shows up in your life, or are you going to acknowledge what doesn’t work, and choose differently than you did before? 

Before you get mad, please hold off a moment and consider what energy you are resonating through that choice: anger and negative self-talk is NOT the kind of energy that will attract the outcomes you desire!

Your perception of something going ‘wrong’ is only your perception, that is all.  Most often, it is a limited perception based on fear, false beliefs and limited understanding that lacks the Higher perspective to see how EVERYTHING unfolds in your life in perfect order for your personal growth and evolution.
 
From a Higher perspective, nothing EVER goes "wrong." Everything is continuously unfolding in perfect order for the purpose of your growth. Simplistic notions of right and wrong are based on a limited perspective, looking at life through the lens of duality where there are only two sides to a coin.  This is a limited Cartesian perspective that was disproved more than a century ago by the more advanced quantum physic understanding that we actually live in a holographic universe.  In this holographic universe, there are multiple points of view, all forming part of a perfectly evolving universe. 

Whatever point of view you adopt simply reflects your position in cosmic consciousness, and in no way reflects the whole. What you regard as ‘wrong,’ is actually a perfect expression of potentialities emerging from the energies you have put out there.

Everything in your life is a miracle you created, an expression of the potentialities you set in motion. When you learn to recognize that and express gratitude for everything, you will begin to see the life-changing power of gratitude at work, creating much more to be grateful for!

To see this at work, let’s return to the coffee experience. When my coffee order was botched, I was disappointed but I had a choice. 

Had my negative self-talk kicked in with something along the lines of “Oh no, they messed up again. Why do things like that always happen to me? I never get a break!" I would have acted on a negative perception that everything went wrong and my day was ruined. Based on that perception, I would have been correct, because that would have been the outcome I eventually created! Unless I’d been able to change that perception, I would have allowed myself to have a miserable day. In fact, my grumpy mood would have literally attracted events, conditions, and circumstances to ensure my day goes less than stellar.

On the other hand, I chose to not let the experience ruin my day.  Instead, I felt the initial disappointment, and then chose not to blame or indulge in self-pity. Instead, I acknowledged that I did not know all the reasons why the order got botched, and I chose to focus on more positive and productive thoughts instead. The end result was a harmonious vibrational frequency that soon attracted a positive outcome.

Do you see what I mean about perception? Same situation, same actor, different perception, different outcome.

The universe operates in holographic perfection; it doesn't perceive anything from the limited dualistic perspective of good or bad that you and I see; it simply creates outcomes based on your vibrational resonance. Your attitudinal response to everything in your life determines what shows up next. The biblical text expresses it this way, "As you sow, so shall you reap."

We cannot possibly control everything going on around us in the world; but we can and must control our responses to life if we are to bring about positive change. Developing an attitude of gratitude is one of the most important things that you can do to bring about meaningful change.

A powerful way to cultivate gratitude is to focus on what is REALLY happening in your life, rather than falling into the trap of drama and complaining. The basic practice of Naikan, the Japanese art of self-reflection, consists of asking oneself three questions every day:

“What have I received today?
What have I given?
What trouble have I caused?"

List the responses in three columns each night.  You’ll find that there are invariably much more in the receiving column than in the giving column!  We are indeed blessed despite the circumstances we find ourselves in.

Use these questions to cultivate gratitude for what is showing up in your life, forgive yourself for trouble you have caused, and make new choices from a place of gratitude.  You may just find your attitude changing from grumpy… to grateful… to great!

©Copyright Ada Porat.
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached. To sign up for Ada's inspirational monthly newsletter, visit www.AdaPorat.com

Have you been looking for a rock to crawl under or a cave to hide in lately? If so, you’re not alone!

It has been a challenging time for many people - financially, emotionally, mentally and spiritually - and the desire to escape or withdraw is common when feeling overwhelmed by the process of life.  Perhaps you want to run away from the harsh realities of life because you don’t know how to move forward.  You may feel cornered or stuck, and so you look for a place to hide.

While it is normal to pull away from circumstances we experience as overwhelming, there is a very important distinction to keep in mind here. Is that pull a basic drive to escape the pressure, or is it a based on an inner need to regroup?

If you are seeking a cave to crawl into, you may be looking for a way to disconnect from life.  Yet, disconnecting from life will also disconnect you from the Source of life, and will restrict the flow of energy in your life.  It will ultimately leave you even more drained and disconnected!

Pulling away for a while can be very beneficial, provided that we treat it as an opportunity to go within and realign with our Source. There are some beautiful examples of this in the Christian scriptures where Christ pulled away from His disciples to spend time alone in prayer.  He emerged from these times of solitude strengthened and rejuvenated.

If you feel a need to withdraw, acknowledge that as an inner need for renewal.  Give yourself permission to step aside for a bit - not to escape the pressures of life, but to renew yourself. Choose to withdraw from outward activity so you have time for inner reflection. 

As you participate with the process of ebb and flow, there is much to gain.  Effective reflection and regeneration require your conscious participation.  Instead of zoning out, use these basic guidelines to check in with your inner life, and you will emerge renewed.

Reflect on all the areas of your life – the parts that feel smooth and rich, as well as the parts that feel rough and stuck.  Recognize that even in this moment of feeling overwhelmed, you are an eternal soul, and your soul is safe. You are being nurtured and sustained by the very Breath of Life. You have access to the Creator of the Universe, and you are loved beyond what you are able to realize.

Open your heart to the compassion and love of your Eternal Source.  Let compassion flow into you, filling and surrounding you until you are wrapped in its gentle presence like a blanket.  In this space, let the unresolved issues of your life surface one by one.  Instead of resisting them or going into fear, simply observe them from a place of compassion.  Recognize that, despite each one of these issues, you are safe.  You are surrounded by loving compassion. 

Let compassion open up the doorway to forgiveness.  Have you made poor decisions or mistakes?  Forgive yourself.  Have others hurt or wronged you?  Forgive them.

Now take it a step further.  Do you feel scared or overwhelmed? Breathe in compassion and breathe out the fear of these circumstances.  Let all anxiety go as you allow your inner self to re-align with your Source, your Truth and your Peace. Release all the emotions that make you feel disconnected, afraid and alone… and breathe in the boundless love that is available to you instead.

When you feel emptied out, allow Divine love to flow through your being. Give thanks for the healing Presence of your Source as you welcome it into all the areas of life where you need its healing presence: your work, your health, your relationships, your inner being.
 
Step by step, start giving thanks for inner peace.  Give thanks for the things in your life that DO work:  breath, health, food, a place to sleep, the freedom to choose, the ability to move, the gift of love.  Give thanks for the beauty of this earth, for the joy of being alive, for loved ones and friends, for the gifts of hope and healing.  Let gratitude flow until you find yourself carried along its sweet wave of joy. 

Gratitude is the master antidote to fear.  When you give thanks for what works in your life, you move out of fear and worry into a space of faith – a place where miracles can happen.

Once gratitude fills your being, you know that you have been renewed.  You’re ready to step back into life with renewed strength and hope.

©Copyright Ada Porat.
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached. To sign up for Ada's inspirational monthly newsletter, visit www.AdaPorat.com

The birth of a higher global consciousness is right around the corner. But first, the old, obsolete systems need to crumble to make way for that higher consciousness to emerge.

And so, the current global financial meltdown is a sign we have been waiting for. It is heralding the passing away of the old to make room for a new way of living, a new way of doing business around the globe. It is also a call to action for those who’ve already awakened to higher consciousness; a call to step up and lead the way.

This is a time to pull together, not to pull back. It is a time to look around you and see that there is no real distinction between haves and have-nots; between political ideologies and parties; we are all members of one family called humanity and we all share this journey called life.

What happens to one of us, affects everyone else – whether at the personal, community, national or global level. This is not a time to pull back but a time to step out and to bring your service to the world to heal what ails. What you heal in yourself or in another human being, affects everything else on this planet.

This is not the time to look for someone to save us. It is time to ask how we can be of service, and then to reach out and heal the fabric of our community, our society and our world – one step at a time.

It is time to demonstrate by our actions how to live by faith and not by sight; how to live free from fear. It is time to dip down deep into our spiritual resources for inspiration and courage, and then to move forward undaunted by the appearances of things because our focus is on the higher spiritual reality beyond appearances.

This is the time we have been preparing for, and now it is show time! I believe that when we rally together, we can bring about the changes needed to transform the challenges of the present into the highest outcomes ever.

During times of challenge, it becomes essential to refocus on the fundamental truths of life. Refocusing will keep you grounded and balanced.

Today, I’d like to share a few refocusing tools with you, followed by my personal commitment to help our society move out of fear. First, the refocusing tools:

Recognize How Sweet Life is

It really is. Regardless of the cycles we go through. No matter what global markets and economies are doing. Sometimes they go up; sometimes they go down. Either way, it's merely a cycle which will pass.

The true miracle of life is not whether the markets are up or down; it is the gift of being alive. The sweetness of life lies in the recognition of the deeper beauty that is there.

Take time to reconnect to the sweetness of life.

What keeps you connected with your love for life?

Meditation? Running? Reading? Making a difference for others? Playing with children?

Do it! Do it a LOT!

When you nurture your love for life every day, you will become a source of strength for yourself and for everyone around you.

Most people live in scarcity consciousness even when they HAVE money. It doesn't take much turbulence in the market for people to get scared. And those who have lost or are in danger of losing their homes might find it very challenging to recognize the perfection of their situation right now.

And yet, there is perfection in EVERY situation. You can always find it if you really look for it.

You may not see the perfection in the circumstances around you right away, yet from a higher perspective it is always there. There is a spiritual solution to every problem, as Wayne Dyer puts it.

Everything happening in your life is serving your soul and your intentions in some way. When you know this in your bones, you are able to surrender to the grace of the Divine plan unfolding in your life, and maintain your sense of calm in any situation.

Give Thanks

One you recognize that there’s still lots of sweetness in life, take it a step further – give thanks!

Give thanks for your health, your strength, your support system, your faith, the food on your plate. Give thanks for being alive at this time in history and for the opportunity to make a difference at this time. Give thanks for the opportunities to learn how to really trust, how to create positive outcomes by focusing on what you desire rather than what you fear.

Gratitude is the most powerful antidote to fear. It brightens, strengthens and expands your energy. It brings you back into the present moment, where everything is unfolding in perfect harmony.

When you find yourself worrying about the future, bring your attention back to this present moment and notice that in this very moment, you are OK.

Recognize that beliefs around money is just a part of our conditioned story, and be willing to let it go! Then give thanks for being OK in this moment and stay in gratitude, stay in the present moment.

The truth is, your future is not created yet – worrying about the future is simply not constructive. Instead, choose to stay in the NOW, and keep your focus on gratitude and trust.

As you stay focused on gratitude and trust, your energy in this present moment is creating a powerful attractor field, drawing into your reality the very outcomes that you focus on. Focus on what you have, rather than what you don’t have, and your world will expand. Focus on what is going right, and your attractor field will bring you more of that!

Be Of Service

"True wealth is what you have left when all of your money is gone."
- Roger Hamilton, Author of Wealth Dynamics

Money is one measure of wealth, but it is by no means the only measure. In coaching, I use at least nine indicators of true wealth: Knowledge, Experience, Talent, Character, Community, Spiritual Connection, Health, Financial and Relationship.

If your financial indicator is down at the moment, take a look at the other eight indicators and see how much wealth and abundance you still have. Then, get your eyes off yourself and share with others what you have in abundance!

As you focus on sharing your abundance, you are cultivating a mindset of true wealth. Over time, you will notice that you are drawing more and more of that into your life.

Do you want more love? Give love! Do you want more experience? Get out there and immerse yourself in exploration! Do you want more support? Get involved by supporting others!

This is not a time to contract your energy and to play small. Contraction out of fear simply stops the flow of the very energy you need at this time to function! It is a time to help heal our world by doing your part, because each of us has a part to play.

In the process, your involvement offers you wonderful opportunities to develop your skills, gifts and graces, while keeping the energy of giving and receiving flowing in your life.

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.

Transforming Your Life From Within

By Ada Porat

The world you create around you is a direct reflection of the value that you place on yourself.

Before you can have a different life; before you can be happier, wiser, be more at peace and in quiet command of yourself, you must first be different.

Being is everything.

Everything on earth and beyond - animated or not - all forms are an expression of one great Intelligence, Creative Energy or Being.  Even rock and plants have being-ness, a consciousness.  All things created are unique expressions of this One Creator Being.

The being-ness or consciousness of everything that is created, expresses aspects of the Creator through its very nature.  And that consciousness is not fixed. It can be transformed.  Each of us is created with the power to evolve our consciousness through the exercise of free choice.

Your consciousness is in a continuous process of unfolding. It is intrinsic to everything in the Universe to evolve spontaneously in response to prevailing conditions.  So you are creating your life at every given moment, whether you are aware of it or not.  Just how the rest of your life unfolds, is something you can influence through your awareness and the choices you make.

The very first thing to recognize in order to transform your life is the eternal value of your nature.  You are not a simply a blob of bio-plasma:  you are an expression of Divinity and within your very being the spark of that awareness always remains present.

When you find yourself disappointed, beaten down and overwhelmed by the forces of life, it is because you have momentarily forgotten the true origin of your Source and the magnificence of your destiny!  Your intrinsic value is Divine and can never be destroyed!

This point was illustrated beautifully by a well-known speaker who started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill.  In the packed hall, he asked, "Who would like this $20?"

Hands started going up.  He said, "I am going to give this bill to one of you, but first let me do this."

He proceeded to crumple the note. He then asked, "Who still wants it?"  Still the hands were up in the air.

"Well," he replied, "What if I do this?"  And he dropped the bill to the stage and ground it into the floor with his shoe.  Then he picked it up again, all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?"  Still the hands went into the air.

His demonstration drove home a very valuable lesson. No matter what he did to the money, the audience still wanted it because it did not decrease in intrinsic value. It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we made and the circumstances that came our way.  We may have felt damaged or worthless.  But no matter what happens to you in life, you can never lose your intrinsic value!

You are an aspect of the Divine Creator embodied in a physical body, and therein is your value. Don't ever forget it!  Never let yesterday's disappointments overshadow tomorrow's dreams.

The second principle to transforming your life, is to become aware of that secret place within yourself where the Divine Presence dwells.  You must consciously enter that place of power within where your conscious awareness interacts with the Divine Presence.  That is your place of power, the place from where your reality is created moment by moment.  It contains the awareness of All That Is in this present moment.  It is where your inner guidance dwells, in the Eternal Now.

It's only what you do right at this moment, right now, that carries the seed of personal change. And in the endless beauty and mystery of the Eternal Now, this seed of change is held in your Higher consciousness as your on-going reality.

If you choose something in the Eternal Now, you won't have to worry about what may await in the future:  your conscious choice to live in the present moment automatically eliminates the need to strive toward some future goal.  Why?  Because everything you choose in the Eternal Now, remains there for you to experience whenever you are in the present moment – and this is the only time it really matters!

Being in the present moment is critical to manifestation.  If you are locked into regrets over the past or living in anxiety over the future, you will have no place to ground that which you create within.  Creation becomes possible when your consciousness is present in the eternal "Now" of Divine potential, and you align yourself to the unfolding of your highest potential in that space.

The third principle of transforming your life is to consider all your creations with gratitude. Are you grateful for the life you have created so far, or can you only see what is lacking in it?

Gratitude and appreciation connect us to the Divine Source of All.  Just as the Creator pronounced each day’s creation as good before moving on to the next day, we need to take time to reflect over what we have created in our lives.

Why did we choose to draw specific circumstances into our lives?  What do they bring to teach us? Perhaps the breakup of the relationship that we bewail as terrible, offers us the opportunity for further growth and maturing.  And could it be that we created limited finances to experience the sufficiency of the Eternal Now?  When viewed from a higher perspective, everything we create in our lives serves a purpose in the development of our souls.

To summarize, the process of transformation starts with the recognition of your True Nature, is activated by connecting to that Source inside your being, and is nurtured by offering gratitude and appreciation for everything you have created.  Once you understand these principles, you are well on your way to transforming your life from within.  Here are some additional guidelines to assist you:

Step Off The Treadmill

Dare to slow down.  Even at a million miles an hour, anxious thoughts and feelings still take you nowhere.  Instead, take time to be still and to reflect.  If you want to find the timeless, dare to live as though you have all the time in the world.  Step out of the rush and into the Eternal Now.

Take Responsibility For Your Experience

The way you feel toward the life experiences you encounter is a direct expression of who you are and what you value.  If you don’t like what you are encountering, choose again from the core of your values and the awareness of your truest being, and you will find yourself drawing different outcomes.

Refuse To Compromise

Let go of any thought or action that creates conflict in the present moment for the promise of a better feeling to come.  Reality is Now.  There is no later!  You can't find contentment by being divided.  Instead of compromising yourself, choose to be whole in the Now.

Remember Your Connection To Others

Even when it feels like you're the only one in the world who struggles with the human condition, you are not!  Reach out to others and learn from their experiences, draw on their support and offer them encouragement.  We’re all in this together!

Become The Best You Can

Anybody can follow the crowd, which usually operates on the lowest common denominator.  Make the commitment to yourself to live a life worthy of all the potential that is within you.  Dig deep to discover your greatness.  Give yourself permission to shine!

Let Go Of Blame

When your feet hurt because your shoes are too tight, you don't complain that someone else made you put them on.  So why blame another when it's your feelings that are hurting you?  If painful emotions hurt you, then let them go!  You'll feel lots better.

Keep It Light

When the heart and the mind are not in agreement, we can get pulled down into the dense emotions of fear, anxiety or worry. Remember that your true nature is Divine, and that there is nothing Divine to be found by indulging in dense thoughts or emotions.  Instead, allow yourself to skip along the hallways of Life with a song in your heart, and the appropriate doors will open up!

©Copyright Ada Porat.
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached. More information about Ada's integrative approach to body-mind-spirit healing can be found at www.adaporat.com or by dialing US 602-283-4628 (MST).

By Ada Porat

Is Chronic Worry Getting You Down? Scarcely a person in the world is exempt from worry. Why do we worry so much?

We worry over finances, work, relationships, the future and our health. We also worry about the state of the world, the economy, terrorism, our loved ones and friends… there are always plenty of reasons for worry!

While we may not succeed in eliminating all worry from our lives, there are practical tools that we can use to break free from the cycle of worry. At higher levels of consciousness, worry does not have to torment us – instead, we can process it effectively and return to our true state of peace and joy.

In truth, nothing can touch you but God, for God is all there is. What is there to fear, then? As a child of God, all power is within you for guidance, and around you is the Eternal Presence for safety.

What are your greatest fears? Name them and expose them. Notice how insignificant they seem in the light of truth. The presence of God – spiritual consciousness – is the only Power at work. There is no other Power, so allow all beliefs to the contrary be uprooted and dissolved. God is our Source, so what is there to fear? Nothing! We live in a benevolent universe, so let's cease projecting ignorance and false beliefs onto the screen of life.

Our experience of worry and anxiety goes back to where we are in consciousness. God always meets us on the level where we are. The Presence of our Creator eternally radiates into and through us. This Presence manifests as power, love, wisdom, light, substance and energy. It radiates in and through us at every moment in time and space. And our awareness of this Presence is always perceived at the level where our consciousness is focused.

That is why advanced spiritual teachers have taught that we can only do for the world that which we have become. God can do for you only what God can do through you. Spirit is always available; we are the ones who curb its expression because of our limited states of consciousness.

Keep in mind that Spirit always sees us as whole, complete, and abundantly supplied with every good thing – because Spirit sees us as Itself. This is the highest reality about us, yet somewhere along the line, we made the choice to see an illusion and then to worry about it. We see ourselves as experiencing lack and failure when we're not, and in situations of conflict that are real only to us.

What Spirit sees is what Spirit radiates through us, yet we filter that reality through our limitations and beliefs before projecting it onto the world as our perceived reality.

At higher levels of consciousness, we begin to see as Spirit sees and know as Spirit knows. All that the Father is, I am. All that the Father has is mine. Yet many of us sit around worrying and wondering why prayer isn't answered, or why nothing happens in meditation to relieve the situation. We cry tears of frustration and fear, not realizing that God simply meets us where we are at in consciousness!

Sometimes, a miracle does occur. What happened is that in a moment of faith or grace, we bounced ourselves up higher like jumping on a trampoline. We bounced to a level where the spiritual energy radiates more and even though we come back down, sufficient light was assimilated to produce a positive change in our affairs.

To move to higher levels of consciousness and stay there, it is essential that we release the lower emotions of worry, anxiety, fear and distress. Here are some suggestions to help you release denser emotions and to focus your awareness on the truth of your being.

First, it is helpful to meditate on ALL that you are and have, and to absorb the fullness of Spirit like a sponge. Think of a sponge being saturated with water, and focus on the same sensation within as you ponder the energy of wholeness, the substance of infinite supply, and the love of joyful relationships flowing, pouring, and radiating into your personal energy field. Absorb, absorb, absorb, and keep working at it until you are in the realm of mastery and joy.

Then allow Divine energy to shine forth through this higher level of consciousness. Remember that attraction always follows radiation, the manifest good flowing back to you on the rays shining from within. Keep at it until everything comes together in harmony and peace.

When you do this exercise, you will notice the Divine presence meeting you above the quicksand of worry and anxiety. You will watch with awe and wonder as your life shifts dramatically to reveal the work, will, and way of Spirit.

A second way to overcome chronic worry is to meditate on an appropriate affirmation throughout the day. As spiritual beings we are truly subject only to what we hold in mind. Why would we limit the Divine Presence in us, then, by focusing on worry and anxious thoughts? Instead, here are some affirmations that may serve as a focal point for your thoughts throughout the day:

• I focus only on that which is pure, true, and beautiful in life.
• My true nature is Love, and I radiate love to everyone throughout this day.
• I align with the Divine purpose for my life, and every activity of my life is in Divine order.
• I have moved from self-centeredness to self-awareness; and my focus is on Truth.
• I am secure in Spirit; my courage is unshakable.
• I do not fear anything because I trust in Divine guidance; I am optimistic about life.
• I place my faith in God, and not in the material world.
• I face change creatively, and I eagerly look to reap what I have sown.
• The doors to my mind are open, and I am free to follow the highest Truth.

A third way to move beyond worry is to contemplate three aspects of Divinity which are also present in you: love, harmony and peace. The key here is to become immersed in the highest expression of each.

Draw a triangle with Love at the top point, Harmony at the lower left point, and Peace at the lower right. With intention, place yourself in the middle of this triangle and start absorbing the highest levels of Divine love, harmony and peace from the corners of the triangle. Let these energies cleanse and heal whatever worry and anxiety there may be in your life. Once you feel centered and at peace, you may also wish to radiate these energies into your life with a simple prayer:

Let Love flow forth from every heart.
Let Harmony reign in every soul.
Let Peace be the common bond for all.

Anxiety and worry do not have to ruin your life. As you expose your fears to the light; break the ego-connection by understanding there's really nothing to worry about; center your awareness on the Divine aspects of love, harmony and peace; your faith will be renewed to scatter the clouds of worry and anxiety.

©Copyright Ada Porat. For more information, visit www.adaporat.com
This article may be freely distributed in whole or in part, provided there is no charge for it and this notice is attached.