January 1

Awakening

Each morning as we awaken, we have the opportunity to begin our lives anew, with a fresh perspective gained from what we learned the day before and the refreshment from our night's rest.

The beginning of each new year represents a special opportunity to awaken to a new level of awareness, with all the wisdom we have gained from the previous year's experiences. Day by day and year by year, we proceed on our journey of awakening into consciousness.

Each day, and each year, I am awakening to greater consciousness.

The journey of consciousness

Becoming conscious means becoming increasingly aware of what's going on inside us and around us. We've all lived in a certain level of denial, and we are in the process of awakening from that unconsciousness. Consciousness is not about fixing ourselves or improving ourselves. It's about coming to know ourselves in all our many aspects and thereby living life more fully. The journey of consciousness is lifelong. But when you really think about it, what else is there to do?

I am on a lifelong journey of conscious awakening.

Honor yourself

You are unique. You are a valid and special part of the universe. You are important. You are here to create in your own very special way, a way no one else can. Know this, in the deepest core of your being.

I am unique. I am contributing to the universe in my own special way, right now.

What do you want?

We all want certain things, although we may not always be conscious of what they are. If we can get in touch with what we want, we can create it. Because simply by becoming aware of our true desires, oftentimes we can begin to manifest them in our lives.

I am becoming conscious of my deepest needs and desires.

Set goals

Once you are conscious of what you want, you can begin to take the next step, which is setting goals. To receive what you desire, you must take some action toward it. This action is not complicated. Simply write what your goals are for the coming year and for the next five years. Writing them doesn't mean you have to stick to them. Your goals are always evolving and changing. But you must recognize and acknowledge what they are now. Then you can begin to move forward.

What are my goals for this year? For the next five years?

We get what we desire

The universe is designed to give us everything we need and want. It's really our own fears and our feelings of unworthiness, shame, and doubt that keep us from receiving the incredible abundance and fullness and goodness of life.

As I learn to trust in the universe, I am receiving everything that I desire.

We create our own reality

We create our own reality every moment, whether or not we're conscious of it. If we're not conscious, we create it out of habit and old patterns. As we become more and more conscious, we are more able to create what we truly desire.

I am creating my own reality, every day.

Our lives are our creation

We need to acknowledge how incredible our lives already are and, therefore, how powerful we are. We have all created a great many unique, interesting, even amazing experiences in our lives so far. We have attracted a number of fascinating characters into the drama of our personal reality. These people and experiences are all mirrors of our creativity. Although we are all capable of creating even better and more satisfying realities, what we have already manifested is strong proof of how powerful our beings really are.

My life is an expression of my own creativity.

Life is simple

Life is much simpler than most of us think it is. We struggle so hard trying to improve ourselves, trying to grow, trying to become conscious, trying to achieve in the world. We need to relax, open up, and allow ourselves to receive from the life force within us and all around us. Life is always trying to bring us everything we want and need, but most of the time we're moving so fast and trying so hard that we don't notice!

I am open to receiving whatever comes my way today.

We each have a direct line to the truth

We each have the wisdom of life within us, and we each have a direct line to that truth at every moment. If we can listen to and trust our intuition, it will guide us. It will show us, step by step, what we need to do and what we need to know, every moment of our lives, if we let it.

My intuition is guiding me through life.

Life is an exploration

Life is an exploration. We need to liberate ourselves to think of it that way. We tend to take everything we do too seriously and feel that every action must produce the desired results. When we can instead think of life as an exploration, we're free to try more things. We can explore our options and discover many different aspects of ourselves in the process. This attitude creates more possibilities for us.

If some of the things you try don't work, just let them go. Don't think that if you start something you must finish it. It's okay to explore and learn from that process of discovery.

I am willing to explore something new.

Live with passion

What do you do out of guilt or because you think you should? Ask yourself instead what it is that you truly desire to do. Do what feels right, and that will bring you satisfaction. Live your life with passion, in a way that is meaningful and fun.

How can we create a world of fulfillment and joy unless we begin to live so in each moment?

As I let go of "shoulds" and the feeling of guilt, I do what brings me joy.

Spontaneity

Spontaneity is the quality of living in the moment and truly following our own energies, moving fully and freely with the life force. It's a wonderful feeling to allow ourselves to be totally spontaneous at times.

Our culture generally values structure, planning, and discipline over spontaneity. Spontaneity is equated with childhood. Even as children, many of us were forced to control our spontaneity. Certainly, as adults we are expected to behave in a rational, contained manner, so most of us have lost our connection with our true spontaneous spirit. One of the most profound things you can do in your healing process is to reconnect with your natural spontaneity.

Each day, I am learning to move more fully and freely with the life force.

Loss of spontaneity contributes to addiction

One way some people deal with the suppression of their natural spontaneous spirits is by using drugs. Alcohol and certain other drugs temporarily paralyze the "censoring" part of the psyche that tends to repress anything that may not be socially acceptable. This allows for a temporary outburst of spontaneous energy. Unfortunately, this outburst takes place in a distorted, unnatural, and destructive way and ultimately leads to further suppression.

The healing process requires that we give up manipulating ourselves...