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Are we witnessing the end of the world approaching? What will happen next? Will we make it through 2012?

I believe that we are seeing the end of an era dominated by self-serving, egocentric living; an era that was mired in the duality of haves and have-nots. I also believe that in the perfect circle of life, new cycles are birthed from the ashes of the old, and we are currently right inside that wrinkle in time where two realities overlap: the dying former reality and the birth of a new era.

Things are changing so fast that many feel stuck, lost and afraid. But are you really?

Take a moment to really feel what is going on. You are not stuck… you are simply constrained. Yes, the old way of doing things no longer works, and you are trying to adjust to radical new ways of viewing life, doing things, and living.

Outside yourself, the whole world is going through a spin cycle. At the macroscopic level, systems and structures that formed an integral part of the old, dualistic Newtonian paradigm are crumbling. They are unable to hold the energy of higher consciousness that is sweeping the planet. On a microscopic level also, obsolete ways of being are falling away, affecting every individual.

None of us are exempt: relationships, employment, institutions and other external forms of security are subject to the scrutiny of a higher awareness that is emerging as individuals awaken from the grand illusion we have believed to be real.

The choice is no longer if we’ll let go of the old ways; it is simply how you will let go. Will you gently release the dense relationships with people, power and money that no longer serve your soul’s evolution so you can make space for a higher reality? Or will you fight to the bitter end, trying to hold on to some semblance of control until things are torn from your life with deep claw marks – your claw marks – all over them?

Resistance brings pain and suffering. Great spiritual teachers like Jesus and the Buddha taught their followers not to resist, but to surrender to the Higher law at work beyond the visible realm.

The truth is that, throughout this time of constraint and upheaval, there are unseen forces holding you steady while you learn to run this new kind of energy… the energy of Oneness with Divine purpose. It is your Divine connection, hosted in a human shell. Long ago, before you ever came into this life, you chose to embody this energy at this time. It is your contribution to the shift of the ages, and now is your time to fulfill that agreement.

The energy of Divine oneness or unity is the most powerful force in the Universe. It is powerful enough to constrain you when you try to separate from Divine guidance at your core and assert your human will.

In the old way of life, we accomplished goals by imposing our human, egoic wills onto external reality. We were conditioned to be willful and determined, wanting whatever we chose to have when we decided to have it.

This way no longer works. When we assert our human, egoic will in the new energy that surrounds us now, there are numerous obstacles constraining us.

To move past these constraints, we have to give up the drive to accomplish things by sheer force of will. Instead, we need to align with the power of All That Is. We need to surrender to trust: trust in the Divine, in Higher Guidance, in Spirit, God… whatever you choose to call the essential Life Force Energy.

When we choose to trust, the ego yields so we align to a Bigger Plan - the Higher picture of Divine perfection. From there, we are able to flow and co-create a higher reality than we could have ever conceived of before.

It is no longer possible to more forward in ego and still make spiritual progress. The constraining force of Spirit will block your movement at every turn - the old ways of doing need to be surrendered to embrace higher ways of being.

Spirit will get you through this time of transition, no matter how difficult it feels.

Those same unseen forces that hold you steady now, can and will lift you out of all the illusion of despair. All it takes is for you to let go of all attachment to the old forms of power, and to embrace the path of alignment, the way of trusting and allowing.

We are living in a very different reality now than even five years ago. The old life with its hopes and dreams is filed away in the archives of All That Is. To keep looking for it, merely deters our progress.

Instead, you need to learn how to commune with your soul to access the inner guidance that is stirring there. Every change that you wish to see in society starts with you and the field of consciousness that you are holding.

Now is the time to embrace what shows up in your life moment by moment.

Look for new ways to reframe things, new tools to do things with.

Go inward.

Drink deep from the wellspring of life.

Let the timeless wisdom and healing energy of sacred teaching wash over you to renew your soul.

Develop a dialogue with Spirit and ask for guidance and clarity.

Stay present in the moment and allow the answers to flow to you through circumstances.

When action is indicated, do it. When circumstances open up for you, move forward. And when doors close, don’t try to break through them. Sometimes, we need to spend a while living in the in-between: learning to let go of the need to control, the need to logically understand.

At times like these, we need to ask ourselves what we really want and why…even as we surrender the need to know how it will come about. We need to simply align to the Eternal Presence and be present, patient, and still.

 

As you consciously evolve in response to the Divine nature within you, you will embody the higher energies of the life force field wherein everyone’s consciousness can evolve.

From the Source of Truth at the microscopic core of you being, the energies of a new and higher way of being will ripple out to touch, change and heal the realities of life on a macroscopic level. In a world crying for hope and healing, there is no greater service you can offer!

©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

As we continue to evolve, many of us struggle with a sense of not quite fitting in with our traditional community or tribe: we may have expanded or changed beyond the borders of its tribal norms, and no longer find the same sense of belonging there. Other members may have tightened the tribal rules to foster a sense of security. As a result, we may feel a sense of disconnection or alienation.

In truth, each one of us belongs to many tribes simultaneously: there is your original tribe – the family you were born into - and then there are all the communities of choice you have joined: your work tribe, your social circles, your faith-based community, your neighborhood, and more. These communities are not static; they are in continuous flux because they consist of individuals who are in continuous states of change. When there is a lot of change happening either in the individual or in the community, a sense of dissonance results.

How are we to deal with this? First, it is important to recognize that tribal allegiances were historically forged for survival. They were adapted over the course of centuries to ensure the safety and survival of the group. Individuation was sacrificed for the trade-off of security as a member of the group. In other words, tribal survival was based on keeping every member in line with tribal rules and norms.

In modern society, the tables are flipped. Whether we enjoy it or not, change is essential for survival at every level of being. The pace of change is driven by technological advances that occur with increasing rapidity: sociologists estimate that more change has taken place in society over the course of the past 100 years, than in the totality of the previous 6,000 years! Individual adaptation is a requirement for survival, and the pace of individual change does not always match the pace at which our various tribal communities evolve. The resulting dissonance can cause intense friction and pain.

Dissonance also results from confusion between the concepts of ‘connectivity’ and ‘community.’ We tend to equate one with the other, when they really relate to different qualities. Connectivity relates to inanimate technology that offers us the infrastructure to build community, but which does not represent the quality of that community. Connectivity simply offers the opportunity to connect with others through the internet, texting, tweeting, or any other social networking options available.

Community is the result of building enduring relationships through meaningful interaction over time. There is no shortcut to community; it is a process that develops when bonds of trust and intimacy are nurtured and honored.

And here lies the caveat. When we confuse connectivity with community, we depersonalize the sacred nature of true community and start relating to people as objects instead. Instead of developing intimacy and respect over time, we may focus on collecting contacts on social network sites, mistakenly equating larger numbers with more community. Yet friending a contact is not the same a nurturing a friendship; it does not create intimacy.

In fact, social experiments indicate that technologically dominated connectivity tends to result in alienation and social collapse over time. In a groundbreaking social experiment conducted by Josh Harris, one of the founders of social networking on the internet, he found that the more people’s personal lives were exposed by 24/7 technology, the more their sense of intimacy and relationship deteriorated until the community collapsed in violence and self-destructive behavior. Harris’ chilling findings are documented in the 2009 movie, We Live In Public.

Perhaps it is time to revisit our concept of community in order to create tribes that offer a true sense of intimacy and belonging.

In his 1987 book, The Different Drum: Community Making and Peace,  psychologist M. Scott Peck described several core characteristics of true community. Beyond the obvious components of inclusivity, commitment and participatory consensus, Peck pointed out the quality of embracing diversity through realism. When each member contributes their unique viewpoint from a place of humility and goodwill, the community benefits from a broader perspective in which to better grasp the full context of a situation. In other words, mutual tolerance helps members to embrace one another’s different viewpoints as an integral part of the whole, instead of imposing a forced compliance to groupthink or cohesion.

In an environment like this, members experience and express compassion and respect for one another. They allow others to share their vulnerability, to learn and grow, and to express who they truly are. When conflict arises, they learn to resolve it with wisdom and grace. Members listen to and respect each others' gifts, accept each others' limitations, celebrate their differences, and commit to find solutions together rather than to fight against each other. Indeed, the true spirit of community is the spirit of peace, love, wisdom and power. The source of this spirit may be seen as an outgrowth of the collective self or as the manifestation of a Higher Will.

Does this description of community sound spiritual to you? It is indeed, because Spirit is the common denominator among all of us, regardless of how separate we feel from others.

As human beings, we often experience a socio-economic sense of separation from others because of different opinions, beliefs, expectations, language, culture, or interests, since each one of us expresses these in a way uniquely different from anyone else. And we continue to differentiate! We are always evolving or devolving in response to life. The tribal community that felt like a good fit last year may no longer work for us; the places where we felt embraced, now may suffocate us. Over the course of a lifetime, we can expect to outgrow and change allegiances to many of the tribal communities we once belonged to.

How can we maintain relationships in such a changing world? We need to find the common denominator between us and others. When we transcend the layers of physical appearance, mental beliefs and socio-economic conditioning, we discover the presence of Divinity as a common denominator in everyone around us. Perhaps it is time to expand our tribal definitions to embrace a spiritual community that includes all of mankind as children of God.

Mother Teresa admonished her nuns to see Jesus in every leper they encountered, to find His presence as they looked into the eyes of the homeless. When we can look past the issues that divide us to find omnipresent Divinity in each other, we will find the foundations of true community there.

This type of spiritual community transcends all socio-economic borders, beliefs and backgrounds. It is inclusive because it operates on voluntary self-responsibility and mutual compassion, and its doors are open to everyone.

Building this type of community takes time: time to listen, to hear, to respond and to participate. As we approach the ending of one year and the start of another, resolve to make time in your life to a sense of true community with the people that matter to you. You are one of the architects of community in your life, and you can participate in building a tribe where you truly belong.

©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.

The rules are changing.

Life is shifting and changing around us, at times in ways that can seem terrifying. Nothing seems stable or secure any longer: natural disasters are striking at unprecedented rates, terrorist activities violate daily life, and economic security seems like a forgotten dream to many.

Banks are not safe anymore, support systems fail to provide support, and job security is an oxymoron... at times, we may even question the rules we have lived by.

What is really happening? Do we even know what is real any more? As old paradigm systems and structures crumble, I often remember these words from A Course in Miracles:

"Nothing real can be threatened.
Nothing unreal exists.
Herein lies the peace of God."

When the chips are down, only that which is real, remains. So, how do we get to what’s real? More than ever, it is time to know: who are your real friends, where are your forms of real security, what are the things to really focus on?

This is a time to recognize the real support system that upholds you with unseen arms and to align with the Higher purpose of your life. It is time to fully embrace your real nature as an eternal spiritual being, so you can access the limitless resources beyond this physical world.

Yes, life in the physical world can be startling, yet your resources and sense of security are not limited to the physical realm. As spiritual beings, you and I have 24/7 access to the vast potential of the Universe. We are able to create a real version of reality distinct from the virtual reality bubbles popping around us in the material realm.

Our true home and resources are in the realm of Spirit, which is the world of cause. The physical world around us is the world of effects, the place where our creations manifest based on what we hold in mind. To change what we see around us in the world of effects, we need to shift our focal point to the world of cause, the realm of Spirit.

Are you focused on scarcity, dualism and fear? Then that is what you will notice around you. Are you focused on the bountiful resources and potential of Spirit? That can be yours too - it’s your choice!

Once you truly grasp this concept, the cloak of fear drops away. Your true resources are as limitless as your Source, so what is there to be afraid of? And since those resources exist as pure energy, they are instantly available in whatever form you need at any given time!

We are eternal beings, created in the image and likeness of our Creator. Just as our Source is without beginning or end, so our resource (our supply and support from Source) is without beginning or end. These boundless resources are available to us in the quantum Field – the higher dimensions where outcomes exist as a limitless field of potentiality, prior to collapsing into physical form.

In this holographic Field, time does not exist as a linear, Newtonian paradigm of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Instead, multiple outcomes coexist as undifferentiated potential. The potentialities respond closely to the wave forms of thought, intention, movement and focus rippling through the Field in continuously.

You and I are adding to this action in the Field every moment by our participatory thoughts, emotions and choices. When one of these potentialities in the Field reaches critical mass, it collapses the wave form and manifests as a physically observable outcome.

Even though our bodily existence is anchored in the physical paradigm of linear time, our consciousness is free to move beyond it. In consciousness, we are able to access the Field – the place where miracles are created. And we access this Field in the present, because that is the only time existing beyond the physical realm.

Whenever the mind strays to the future, the ego responds with thoughts of anxiety and fear. Likewise, when we focus on the past, the ego responds with thoughts of guilt and regret. Simply put, both past and future are the ego’s domain; yet the present is the domain of the Field – the place of Creation and the realm of Spirit.

To put this in a spiritual perspective, the Field is the home of the Creator energies. It is the realm of Spirit where there is only the Eternal Now, without beginning and without end. As we shift our awareness to being fully present in the Field of the Eternal Now, we access a place of deep inner peace. We connect to the realm of possibilities – the source from where our needs are met moment by moment.

Accessing the Field requires us to shift our focus from the material world to the eternal domain of Spirit. The material world is the densest of all worlds. It is the place where things manifest and are destroyed in cycles that follow one upon another throughout history. Nations rise up and are destroyed, civilizations blossom and fade away. Everything that has a beginning – in other words, everything that has been created – also ends. Only that which emanates from the domain of Spirit, has no beginning and no end.

When we limit our focus to the material world, we are severely curtailing our co-creative partnership with the Divine source of creation. The presence of Divinity is not limited to a mosque, church, temple or synagogue – it is in every atom and molecule of every universe, as well as in the spaces among them. Divinity is everywhere.

As human beings, we embody both the temporal, physical aspects of matter and the eternal, timeless aspects of Spirit. Our bodies are created forms that come to an end after they reach their biological expiration date. But you and I are more than just our physical bodies! We are eternal souls – pure consciousness - inhabiting a body, and when we leave this physical vehicle, our consciousness will continue to exist because it is part of our Divine Source.

While in the body, our assignment is to evolve into the highest, purest expression of consciousness embodied in human form. You and I are not just physical bodies; we are eternal souls. Our souls are unbounded by time and space. It is the part of us that most clearly emanates Divinity and when that Presence is able to shine through us, miracles happen.

You and I chose to be present on the planet at this momentous time in history to participate in one of the most challenging and exhilarating assignments ever. Through our evolving consciousness, we are holding a space of light and clarity that shines as a beacon of sanity in an insane world. We were selected to hold this space at a pivotal time in history when the collective choices of humanity are determining the potential that will manifest as our future.

Around you, man-made institutions may be stressed to breaking point; perhaps even crumbling. The false security of the material world is exposed as an illusion, but you need not be afraid.

Remember the way of faith. Faith is the substance of things not seen, the evidence of life beyond the dense material world. Through faith, you came into this world to grow, learn and evolve. Through faith you awoke from the dream of forgetfulness that fell upon humanity, and through faith you are remembering that your destiny is more than mere physical survival.

You have been hand-picked to be on this planet at this time in history as a place-holder for higher consciousness, a beacon that radiates the reality of a Higher way of living. As you clear out your own amnesia and limiting beliefs, that Higher consciousness of Spirit can shine through you with increasing clarity to bring hope, healing and purpose for others.

This is not a time to be afraid – it is a time to remember who you are. It’s time to step into the true magnificence of your being and to apply what you have learned. It is also time to answer the call and aligning with your higher nature, the presence of Spirit in you. Your spiritual nature will magnetize and attract optimal outcomes into your life through your alignment to truth. It is time to stand firm with your head held high, living from your spiritual core!

As each awakened soul unites with fellow awakened ones around the globe, we are creating a web of light holding our planet, her people and her future in an embrace where Divine potential can manifest. Free from fear, we are able to foster the emergence of a higher planetary consciousness that transcends political and religious barriers to embrace all humans as one. Yes, we are all members of the human family, emanating from one common Source despite the color of our skin, the doctrines of our beliefs, or our geographical location.

Together, we can usher in the critical shift in consciousness that is needed to create a new ecosystem: a world where we can co-exist by treating everyone as children of the Divine, instead of creating separation based on nationality, beliefs or color.

The next time you feel overwhelmed by the changes in the world around you, remember the truth who you really are… then realign to that Higher purpose and let your light shine!

©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.

Disasters and upheaval happen in every life. You may have been spared the trauma of earthquakes, terrorist attacks or civil war. Instead, you may be facing work layoffs, mounting debt, or a devastating medical diagnosis. You may feel stuck working at a job you hate but can’t leave because of current market conditions, or you may feel stuck in a seriously dysfunctional relationship. When trauma strikes, it is common to feel overwhelmed, helpless and scared in a world that seems to spiral out of control.

The intensity of your emotional response to a present setback may seem out of proportion to the level of the event, because the current event may have triggered an avalanche of past trauma memories or  flashbacks. Your ability to deal with setbacks depends on many factors, including your natural resilience or ability to cope with stress, the severity of the trauma, and what kinds of support you got from family, friends and professionals immediately afterwards.

When setbacks leave you feeling overwhelmed and vulnerable, it may be tempting to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs. These substances may temporarily make you feel better, but they make things worse in the long run. Substance abuse worsens many symptoms of trauma, including emotional numbing, social isolation, anger and depression. It also interferes with treatment and can add to problems at home and in relationships.

As news of disastrous events continue to unfold worldwide, it is more important than ever to sharpen your coping skills at physical, emotional and spiritual levels. It is up to you to put together your own disaster-preparation kit, so that you can be resilient in navigating winds of change.
 
Here are some positive coping strategies to help you get through times of major upheaval:

Recognize that you may be grieving. Grief is a natural part of the life cycle that follows loss. You may find yourself cycling back and forth through five major stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Cycling through the stages of grief is normal – you are not losing your grip on reality. Allow yourself to grieve for the parts of life that you have lost, and take comfort in knowing that this process will come to completion in due time.

Honor your losses. Loss can show up in many ways. You may have lost your job, a relationship, a loved one, friends, pets, your home, possessions, your dreams, health, or your quality of life. Try writing about your loss or create a ritual to express your sense of loss. Rather than expecting to just "get over it" and move on with your life, take time to honor and affirm your losses - it is a valuable part of the healing process.
 
Talk to someone for support. It is important not to isolate yourself. Instead, make efforts to be with supportive people that you have carefully identified as safe. Face the challenges in your life and identify the most important problems. Then get help from safe friends, family members or professionals to help you address these so you can move past them.
 
Find your new normal. When life as you knew it ends, you may feel as if your entire infrastructure has collapsed, and rules of your previous world no longer hold true. You may find your emotions swinging from one extreme to another, and temporarily lose your sense of what’s normal. When your personal world falls apart, it is important to remember that you are not alone, weak, or crazy. It helps to know your problems are shared by many others who have experienced – and survived - similar setbacks.
 
Break things into manageable chunks. When feeling too scattered to focus, recognize that your mind is trying to cope with your situation the best it can. Instead of putting yourself down or fearing that you are losing your mind, take positive steps to regroup. Slow down. Give yourself time to focus on what you need to learn or do. Write things down and make “To Do” lists. Break tasks down into smaller, manageable chunks. Set one realistic goal or task for each day. And get help if you need it.

Take time out when angry. The stress that accompanies major setbacks can create irritability and anger. This can affect your self-control, health, and relationships. Anger can increase your heart rate so much that you cannot think clearly. Remember that staying angry doesn't work. It actually increases stress and can cause health problems. Burn your anger off in the gym or get professional help to learn how to manage it more effectively.
 
Reconnect to positive emotions. After a major setback, many people have trouble feeling or expressing positive emotions. They may even feel guilty for surviving while others did not. This is a common reaction to trauma. It is not helpful to feel guilty for something you did not want to happen and cannot control. Instead, shift your focus to gratitude for surviving and resolve to live in the present.
 
Practice helpful thinking. Monitor your thoughts. If they cause you to feel stuck or helpless, focus on generating more helpful thoughts. For example, if you find yourself thinking, "I can't do it," challenge yourself with questions such as: "Is it really true that I can't do it?" "Is it ALWAYS true?" "Under what circumstances could I do it?" "Could I do it if I had some help?" Then select a more helpful thought. In this case, you might say to yourself, "With the right help, I can get through this."

Take time to relax. Consciously choose to focus on something positive in your life to help you relax. Some helpful activities include mental calming with progressive relaxation, mindfulness meditation, or conscious breathing; physical exercise such as swimming, walking or yoga; spiritual activities such as prayer, chanting or singing; and other healing activities such as listening to quiet music, spending time with pets or being in nature.

Reach out to help others. Helping others in need or volunteering in your community can make you feel better about yourself. It can relieve stress by taking your mind off your own problems for awhile, and may help you see them in a different light. Providing support for others can also make you feel more connected and empowered.

©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.

“I can’t seem to focus long enough to get unstuck.” This is one of the most common complaints I hear from clients these days.

There are some good reasons why we have difficulty focusing on what is most important to us. With increased levels of hi-tech connectivity, smart phones continuously alert us to incoming e-mails, tweets, text messages and alarms. We are surrounded by electronic media streaming news and information from around the world - and the sheer volume of information can be overwhelming. Add to that the increased pace of life, the challenges of making a living, and the never-ending demands for our time, money and resources – it can get overwhelming.

So what goals should we focus and how do we sustain that focus?

Without clear focus, people commonly go into reactive mode; instead of initiating the change they wish to see, they react to what is happening to them. Amid an endless onslaught of distractions, we can easily spend days without focusing on our true agenda. And we end up losing out on the joy of living a purpose-directed life. Author Deepak Chopra expressed it thus, “The events on the surface of your life distract you from the deeper work of soul-making.”

I have learned that when someone makes the decision to get focused, there are several things that can help support a lasting shift. Here are a few nuggets you may find useful:

Choose To Live Your Life With Purpose. When you work toward something positive, as opposed to running from or being driven by fear, you quickly build up momentum. Why are you here? What do you want to learn, do, experience or share? What’s on your bucket list? If you haven’t created a mission statement for your life, then do it now. It will give you a vision bigger than yourself to focus on when the going gets tough. My mission statement for life is posted right above my computer, where I am reminded of my purpose every day.

Set Priorities. Once you have clarified the mission statement for your life, identify specific related priorities you want to focus on. Next, break those down into smaller chunks until they don’t feel so intimidating and you can envision yourself doing them. 

Focus On One Goal. Still feeling overwhelmed? Overwhelmed most often happens because we try to juggle too much. When overwhelm hits, you can counteract it by simplifying your priorities even more. Break down your action steps or To-Do list items until you can identify the single most important goal to focus on for this hour, this morning or this day.

Analyze Why You Lose Focus. Knowing yourself better allows you to identify what gets in your way, so you can step back and look at these issues in a more detached, objective way. Instead of getting frustrated that there isn't enough time in the day or getting swept up in the flood of activities, dig down inside to discover what is pulling you in and recognize that you can choose a different response. Clear out old limiting beliefs, slash the sabotage programs and dare to create new rule sets that work for you now!

Pay Attention. Learn to observe how you spend your time and stop wasting time on unworthy projects. If your teenager had a big test tomorrow and you saw her doing everything except study, you'd probably have a talk with her about timely preparation and focus. Do the same for yourself! Set one goal for yourself each day to help you overcome procrastination. Start small and review your success every night to reinforce your accountability to your goals.

Slay The Dragon First. Start your day with the thing you avoid the most and get it done. This one principle really moves me forward. Once I have the most dreaded thing out of the way, the rest looks like cake; I’m a dragon slayer, after all!

Stop Interrupting Yourself! Do yourself a favor – turn off the phone or computer ding and disable the pop-up box that tells you, “You’ve got mail!” Instead of losing valuable time and energy by diverting your attention to check on messages, you will have more energy available to focus on the task at hand.

Feed Your Soul. Feeding your soul requires you to detach from the surface world of activity – even if just for twenty minutes a day. It’s during that time of stepping back from the activity at the surface of life and reconnecting with your identity as a timeless soul, when solutions to problems become blindingly obvious. It’s called inspiration – and it arrives when your mind is still, whether in relaxation, contemplation or meditation. One of the most prominent benefits meditators experience from their practice is becoming more focused in their daily activities. Meditation also boosts your intuitive abilities to recognize true priorities and make better decisions. Whatever, your spiritual practice of choice, recognize the importance of feeding your soul, and hence, your creativity.

Do A Brain Dump Before Bed. I write down my “To Do” list at the end of my work day as a part of reviewing the day. Writing it down clears my head and when I wake up in the morning, the list is ready for me to get focused right away.

Stick With It. Whatever you do, don’t give up! Even if you feel discouraged today, don’t give up. All of life consists of energy cycles that ebb and flow. Think of your life as a long journey and the present problem as just a little bump in the road. If you can stick with it during the rough times, just imagine what you could accomplish when you get the wind from behind! Remind yourself that it is progress that matters, not perfection.

And A Few More:
•    Distinguish between what’s important and what is simply urgent.
•    Eliminate unnecessary activities and physical clutter; they stop up your life and drain your energy.
•    Reduce your overhead – financial burdens drain your energy and your vitality.
•    Do projects when they align with your vision and purpose, not because you feel obligated
•    Don't say yes to anything right away; reserve the right to sleep on it.
•    Share your goals with a few trusted friends so they can support you and hold you accountable.
•    Acknowledge your progress and celebrate your successes!

Applying even just a few of these tips will bring about noticeable changes in your life right away. By applying them over time, you will feel more productive, energized, and focused!

©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.

As each of us expands in our own understanding and consciousness, that growing level of awareness raises the level for everybody on the planet. The trick lies in how to open up to your true identity and power so that you can live from the heart without losing your mind, right!

Opening up to Higher Truth requires the ability to peck your way out of the primordial egg of conditioning. With each peck, you break out of rigid structures and beliefs that are no longer appropriate to birth a new you, more aligned with your Truth and power.

This process looks different for each person. And rightly so, since each one of us is a unique combination of body, mind and spirit. Your consciousness always seeks to express itself in ways that are aligned with the totality of your being. When you practice inner awareness and honor the voice of Spirit within, you evolve; when you suppress it out of fear or some such emotion, you devolve.

While everybody’s process of growth looks different, there are some similarities that can serve as helpful mile markers on the journey of becoming. There are three areas which, when addressed appropriately, can be of great help during this time of unprecedented change, growth, and transformation on our planet.

The Buddha taught that the root of all imbalance arises from three toxins – three expressions of ego in our lives that take the form of attachment, ignorance and aggression. When based on these emotions, we engage in actions, speech and thoughts that lead to suffering in our lives, just as planting a seed gives rise to fruit in the future.

These three poisons are the reasons we get caught up in the dramas of life, whether they be spiritual, emotional, or physical. Their presence is seen in the imbalance, dis-ease and suffering in our lives. The conditions in our lives today represent the outcome of the seeds we have planted yesterday.

To remedy this situation we need to transform the three poisons. The process of transformation includes intervention, detoxification through forgiveness or physical cleansing, and a renewed dedication to our spiritual growth.

First, everyone faces attachment of some form. Do you think you are somebody? If so, you are attached to what you think you are. Do you think that you are nothing? If so, you are attached to what you think you aren't. It is only when you realize that you are a part of everything through the presence of Spirit in you that you can finally let go of attachment and find the grace to stand in compassionate detachment; the freedom of your Higher nature.

To free yourself from the bondage of attachment, let go of that which no longer serves you. Realize, as you do, that letting go does not always mean that you are getting rid of that person or object of affection. It simply means that you are letting go of your attachment to expectations and outcomes. Letting go frees you to act from a place of compassionate detachment.

Second, we need to transform our ignorance. Ignorance itself is not evil; it is the actions taken in ignorance, that cause untold pain and misery for humanity.

In truth, everyone chooses the good as perceived through their level of ignorance or awareness – and therein lies the catch. To bring about better choices, we need to raise awareness first.

As we open our hearts to new ways of seeing and experiencing life, we open up to higher levels of awareness. Ignorance is rooted in limited understanding and awareness; the more we come to understand higher levels of truth, the wider our eyes open to the limitless nature of our souls. And when we fully understand that, miracles start happening!

Third, our lower nature uses aggression to defend its limited, ignorant actions. Feeling aggressive toward some person or situation? Try asking yourself what you are afraid of. Aggression is a camouflage for fear.

When we give up the fear, we let go of aggressive defensiveness and open up to the broader interconnectedness of life. Our drive toward aggression is transformed through surrender to the hand of a Higher Power. We align to Higher Truth. We stop resisting and feeding the very thing we hated or fixated on. Instead, our hearts open up to embrace new ways of seeing, being and doing – and we are transformed.

Ultimately, it is not our need but our view that needs to be transformed. Higher Truth will untangle our warped thinking and enable us to align with higher levels of awareness. As we grow in understanding, we move away from the poisons of attachment, ignorance and aggression to embrace the higher states of compassionate detachment, awareness of our True nature and alignment to Higher Truth.

©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.

Have you ever received guidance from someone else about what is going to happen in your life and then it didn’t pan out? Perhaps you were guided to write a book or start a web site and then everything stalled. Did it leave you wondering what really happened there?
 
If you are like most people, you may have started doubting your guidance and wondered if your lucky break will ever come. When the answers to your prayers arrived, you may even have dismissed them because they didn’t fit your expectations.

I would like to present you with another point of view: whatever shows up in your life, IS your answer. If you have prayed, planned and performed, yet nothing seems to come together, the evidence presents you with your answer… even if that is not what you want to hear. The answer to your prayer lies in what is happening in your life now, not in the fantasy of what anybody may tell you is coming.
 
Dreams and “guidance” that are not based on truth, can act like viruses of the mind. They will infect you with wishful fantasies and false expectations, blinding you to the truth of what is really happening in your life. These fantasies and dreams, while alluring, can get you so caught up in illusion that you miss the real answers that show up in your life.

True guidance may come in many ways, but it will never create a separation between where you are and where you are going. In other words, true guidance is always congruent with your path and purpose. There will be a natural flow of synchronicity between where you are at and the guidance you are receiving. True guidance will resonate with your heart’s deep knowing. It may also bring up unfinished emotional business that you need to clear in order to make space for the desired outcome.

True guidance flows with congruence; false guidance deceives. If there is no congruency between the guidance you received and what shows up in your life, it should raise a red flag. As captain of your soul, your job is to discern between true guidance and deception; between guidance that stirs your soul and static that strokes your ego. True guidance will not stroke your ego or feed its expectations; it will always challenge you to fulfill your highest potential.

When someone does not discern between true guidance and illusion, they will start using illusion as a defense against reality. They’ll get trapped in the world of dreams, fantasies and expectations. You have probably encountered some of these unfortunate souls: the ones who have taken every workshop and mastered every modality, holding themselves up as some advanced guru, while in reality they are leeching off the kindness of parents, family and friends because they are so self-deceived. Or perhaps you know some individuals who have lost their way to the illusion of some woo-woo philosophy that promised them an easy life with lots of love and riches, and they cannot come to grips with the reality of what shows up in their lives.

The Buddha taught that reality is your friend. Dialogue with reality and you will come to terms with what is, rather than the illusions of what your ego self craves, wishes for or desires. Another common example of the delusional nature of false guidance often occurs in relationships. Have you ever dated someone because of what you dreamt and hoped for them to become, instead of who they are in the moment? Recognize the red flag of delusion and drop it, or you’ll set yourself up for endless disappointment and hurt!

To stay connected to truth, it is important to look at what shows up in your life and work daily, because change happens continuously. You are in this dense energy for a reason: to grow. There is learning to master, relationships to experience, and growth to embrace. You soul is here for experience, not for security. And you are a co-creator in this process. You are not here to be some transcendent ethereal being who speaks to angels and masters as an escape from the realities of life; you are here to experience life on the earth plane. You are here to impact earth through you conscious participation in this process!

How do you activate your intuition to discern and tune into that process? You pray about things and then use what shows up in your life as a map to align with truth daily. Prayer can truly transform your destiny, and so it is important to discern between prayer that comes from the ego and prayer that emanates from the soul.

Prayer that comes from ego will outline to God what to do and how to solve the problem so your ego needs can be met. Such prayer caters to your ego desires to be loved, comfortable, secure, titillated and catered to. It invokes the interference of ego games, and you will get caught up in attachment and seduction, bargaining with the Universe. When the bottom drops out – as it inevitably will - you need to realign with the truth of your soul instead of the desires of your ego.

Prayer from the soul simply asks for the process to unfold free from agenda; it sees asking and surrendering to the answer as one and the same. It comes from a desire for service and a willingness to surrender. When you have prayed from your soul, you will feel the sense of peace and alignment immediately.

When praying for guidance about something, recognize that true, congruent guidance comes organically and naturally. If you wonder about what you should be doing with your life, ask the question and then watch for answers to show up. If you are looking at something and the doors are not opening, stop wasting your energy on it – the answer is clear. It may not be the right time or direction, so instead of resisting the reality of what is, let it go so you can focus your energy on being open to the guidance that is available to you.

Face the facts and work with what is; it will bring you serenity. If you continue holding out for a miracle, recognize that you are wasting time and energy. If you are meant to be and do something, everything will fall into place to help you accomplish it – you don’t have to doubt or stay in a holding pattern.  Instead of struggling with reality, align with Spirit and surrender the outcome. If things are meant to be, they will unfold and nothing will stop them. If they are not meant to be, your resistance is an ineffective use of energy.

Finally, recognize that Divine timing is not in your control. If you are meant to do something, it will fall into place for you. Stop putting your life on hold for an empty dream; recognize that if reality is not supporting it, it is an illusion. You will have a much more peaceful and serene life if you recognize that you are not in control of timing.  Align with Divine timing instead of trying to force the process.

Accept what shows up, surrender attachment to the outcome, and align with Divine timing. Whatever shows up in your life, is indeed the answer to your prayers!

©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.

I've been reflecting on the powerful current of transformation that is whipping through our lives right now. Can you feel it? Many of us are being asked to change in unprecedented ways. The message from the Universe lately seems to be that change is inevitable whether by choice or coercion: which would you like?

Far-flung and deep-reaching changes affecting every form of life on the planet challenge us to face the myriad ways in which we have meticulously disconnected ourselves from our environment, ourselves, and each other.

When the worldwide economic crisis first unfolded two years ago, the conventional reaction was to armor up with protection to survive. That armor may have taken on the form of denial, withdrawal or attack.  Some of us chose to pretend that the stark realities of life simply don’t exist and therefore don’t require a response from us – resorting to a pathological form of mind of matter. Some bunkered down and withdrew from the flow of life, nursing their deep-seated fears and anxieties from a place of isolation. And others found temporary solidarity in finding scapegoats to blame: the government, the president, big companies, and the like.  

While offering temporary respite, these three reactions all avoid the need to take personal responsibility.  It is a bit like eating cheesecake every day and then blaming someone else for the fact that you have gained ten pounds!

None of these approaches are effective, because they remove us from personal responsibility and dunk us into a place of powerlessness. In order to effectively respond to crisis, we first need to acknowledge our part in it.  Each one of us has participated to some extent in the actions, individually and collectively, that brought us to this place.  Only when we accept this reality as our baseline, can we start making appropriate choices to move ourselves and the collective into a more appropriate direction.

The responsibility-avoiding tactics of denial, withdrawal & attack do not make us immune to chaos and crisis. Instead, they incapacitate us from being proactive and keep us stuck in the role of victim.  When we block out reality around us, we also block out the potential for meaningful change.

Meaningful change requires that we honestly face what is, so that we can choose how to respond in proactive ways instead of reacting blindly. We need to stop asking why, and accept the current reality which is. The paradox is that we need to first have a conscious awareness of a situation in order to be able to address it. And that process requires that we let our guard down and take the blindfold off.  

When we navigate through life consciously, something remarkable happens.  We see the hardship and we feel the pain of circumstances, but we are able to reach through these to connect with the Divine Presence beyond. In the midst of crisis and change, we are able to sink beneath the appearance of crisis to reach a deep awareness of inner peace.  In the midst of chaos and upheaval, we can sense our connection to the Eternal Source.  And from that place, we can respond to circumstances from a place of faith, instead of reacting from a place of fear.

What does an appropriate response look like?  It needs to address the factual content of the challenge and it needs to honor the integrity of the context. An appropriate response may require you to get more factual information upfront.  It may require that you listen to your gut or your inner guidance. It may require that you face some very unpleasant facts: facing up to personal mistakes made, or acknowledging areas of neglect in your life. It may require that you assess your life and get rid of energy drains: areas of unnecessary conflict or relationships that you have outgrown to create space for other options. It may require that you ask for help from a trusted friend, therapist or other professional.  It may even require that you extend yourself outside your comfort zone: short-selling your home or looking for additional work to supplement your income.  An appropriate response may include some or all of these steps, yet it will be driven by faith and not by fear.

Times of crisis and change offer us opportunities for unprecedented growth. What initially feels like a cycle of dying to the old, eventually gives way to a rebirth.  The quality of rebirth depends on how you process the cycle of death and release.  In my own life, I have experienced this cycle of death and rebirth many time, including the past year.  This universal law of death and rebirth applies to all of us - so keep the faith during the cycles of death and decline in your life. Rebirth is sure to follow!

During times of chaos and upheaval, it is normal to feel a sense of disconnection and fear. We have a choice over how we will respond. We do not need another layer of reactionary denial, withdrawal or attack to protect us.

A healthier response is to consciously participate with this cycle of death and change by letting go of the old ways, things and situations that have outlived their purpose. 

We can open our hearts wider, cultivate our faith and reconnect to our Higher truth.  From that place, we can respond proactively to the powerful current of transformation sweeping our planet.  When the old has been cleared away, rebirth is sure to follow.

©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.

One of the challenges of the spiritual life is to remember our Source at all times: during good times, but especially during those times when we feel most undeserving, unworthy and blocked.

When circumstances threaten to overwhelm us, our eyes can move off the goal and onto those frightful circumstances… and all of a sudden, we may feel very small, alone and separate.

In that space of feeling insignificant, we tend to retreat from others, and we step out of the flow of life. We shut out the flow of love and blessing, filled with emotions of dread instead. 

But there’s more to life than the ups and downs of your changing emotions!

You see, when we allow our emotions to lead the way, we set ourselves up for a rollercoaster ride.  Our emotions change with the weather (or sometimes because of it)!

The truth is that you are not your emotions.

You are the consciousness in which emotions surface and subside like small waves on the ocean.  Just as the ocean is not affected by the rise and fall of the waves on its surface, you need not be affected by your emotions… provided that you identify not with your emotions, but with your True nature.

Your True nature is consciousness or Spirit.  It emerged out of the Allness of Divinity to experience and express itself through physicality.

You are not your physicality; instead, physicality is simply the medium through which you choose to express yourself in this life.  You are not your emotions, either; your emotions are the wave forms of expression inherent to the physical experience.

The findings of science and spirituality concur in that we are more than the physical world in which we live. 

Quantum physicist David Bohm expressed existence as an interconnected hologram where each particle contains a perfect representation of the whole; the totality of the whole being implicated in the order of its parts.

You and I proceeded from this Implicate Order into individualized or expression, yet we remain connected to each other and to the Whole.

When the circumstances of your individual experience appear overwhelming, try to remember that you are connected to that Whole, the Source where all begins and to which everything ultimately returns.

Remembering your Source restores your awareness of your true nature and power.  It aligns you to the Origin of all life and possibilities.

Looking at life from that place of connection, things look different. Instead of seeing the divide between you and success, health or other people, you can now focus on the common ground connecting you… and in seeing that, reach out in new and different ways. 

When your remember your connection to your Source, you can choose new actions and outcomes that more accurately reflect your Higher nature.

This is the inner space where miracles happen!

©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.

The coming year will reshape the destinies of every human being on this planet. Simply stated, the forces guiding your life will make it a pivotal year of global and personal transformation.

Why? Because they are already doing that right now!

The essential question each of us should ask is, "How will the forces guiding my life affect me in the next year?"

Because whatever you are working on in your life, is already working on you.  Over the course of time, these forces will shape your life both on the surface and from within.

Nobody’s life is the same at the end of a year – any year - as it is at the beginning. You are building your life from the inside out even as it is working on you.  What are you planning to work on in the coming year?  Getting clear on the purpose and plan for your soul is essential because it will ultimately direct where you end up over the course of the next year.

Business philosopher Jim Rohn put it this way: "If you go to work on your goals, your goals will go to work on you. If you go to work on your plan, your plan will go to work on you. Whatever good things we build, will end up building us."

These are some very profound lessons to be gleaned here.  

First is that life is a process, not a destination. Every year is simply a measure of life, a slice of the big picture. Instead of falling into the trap of reductionism and reducing life to a game of basic outcomes, why not become more conscious of the process, the journey?

After all, you are building a life, not just a year! The kind of life you build is going to be determined by the kind of goals and plans you work on, because they'll work on you.

And that's the second lesson: Your choice of goals and plans mean much more than just what you accomplish. You are choosing what you're becoming, too!

Deepak Chopra has said that the activities on the surface of our lives distract us from the deeper work of soul making. You do not need to caught up in the busy-ness of life to the detriment of your soul!  This year, resolve to see your life as a sacred process of soul making. Let that Higher awareness guide your vision of life’s journey. You are not meant to simply ACHIEVE something, you are here to BECOME something.  And that process happens along the way, not at some magical destination.

The third lesson is this: it's not just the good things we build that matter, it’s anything we build. They all work on us.

So if you use shame, blame, guilt or fear as building blocks for your life, that's what you’ll ultimately have. If you are avoiding the effort of introspection, personal honesty and spiritual alignment, you may think you're not building anything, but you are – and you’re not going to like the result, so why even go there?

On the other hand, if you build toward your highest potential, you facilitate the unfolding of your best life ever.

Reaching your highest potential is your soul's ultimate purpose, and it is revealed to you within the context of seeking to fulfill your highest potential, service and creativity.  Its beauty will radiate from your core when you seriously engage in the work of healing the wounded psyche by dispelling the stories of your past with Truth.

These are skills that need to guide your life now more than ever, for they will reveal the true blueprint of your life. They will direct your path, your purpose and your potential to bring about the highest unfolding of your life.

So if you’re going to build something in your life during the next twelve months, make it something that you like and respect. It'll make YOU someone that you like and respect!

©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.