Inspiration in Daily Life...
Where do you find your inspiration?
It seems to me that inspiration is found in all areas of our lives if we look with an open heart. I have found the obvious to be true more often than not. I am an avid reader. I read every day, and often find inspiration in the thoughts and words of others.
I find inspiration through listening. Listening to music, listening to the collective sounds of others, listening to words expressed through others, listening to animals, and listening to nature. I find inspiration through sight. Seeing the world around me, watching others, watching animals, and especially watching nature. I find inspiration through smells. The smell of cooking, the smells erupting from a campfire or the gentle wafting of the diffused essence of nature's gift of essential oils, the smell of nature in all its grander. I find inspiration through touch. Touching the world around me, the touch of another's hand or hug, the touch of an animal cuddling, the touch of a child snuggling, or the various textures given as gifts through nature. While all of these bring with them certain inspiration, mostly, I find inspiration in silence. The silence as I experience the art of quieting my surroundings through the focused intention of traveling inward. The silence of quieting my mind seems to bring the most inspiration to me yet.
This inspiration gathered from the quieting of my mind allows for the barrage of outside information to quiet down and slowly fade away. As I quiet my mind, and allow the thoughts to find their way to me, inspiration seems to come automatically. Through this inspiration of silence, I am able to express through written words that which I could not express otherwise. The inspiration gathered from a quiet mind seems to allow the thoughts to transform to words and gently transform onto the writing medium in front of me, almost if by the quieting of my mind, the echoes of silence are shouting to be heard.
This silent inspiration can be interrupted by conforming to the walls imposed by technique, but when allowed to fully bloom, they are easily molded into the form that allows for their conveying themselves to others.
As for now, I listen to the echoes of silence reverberating for all to hear...
Friday, June 29, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
The Stool
The little stool was nervously awaiting performing it's first unstated duty as a stool. He knew that the moment someone sat on him he would feel fulfillment, a sense of completeness. No one had ever sat on him before, and his thoughts raced uncontrollably every time someone would walk near. "Is this the first one?", " Will I be up to the task?", "What if my legs give out?", the list of thoughts raced around like little boys on the go cart track for the first time. He was oblivious to anything else. He wanted so much to matter, to be of use, to accomplish what mattered most in life. He waited anxiously to feel the joy he knew would come when someone finally sat upon his eager little self.
Alas, these thoughts seemed like wasted energy, as no one had yet to christen his calling in life, providing a much needed service to those souls looking for a little time of relaxation. The little stool was so desperate to experience his very first job, and yet he was terrified at the same time. Day after day, he would fret and fret endlessly. Never knowing what it felt like to have his wish to be of use finally fulfilled.
Everyday the little stool would look to the stool to his right, she seemed to not have a care in the world. Never giving credence to the fact that no one had desired her talents at supporting their body weight as they chose to rest, as no one ever had. Then there was the stool to his left. He was always able to fulfill his purpose, everyone seemed to gravitate towards him. Smiling obliviously to everything around him, he seemed so satisfied, so sure of himself.
The little stool did not understand this at all. "Why didn't anyone want him?", " Why did everyone always choose the other stool?" Both of them had come packed in the same box, they were put together by the same person, they were even the same color! Why didn't anyone want him to fulfill his purpose, by providing a wonderful place for them to sit and rest?
The little stool conjured up all kinds of stories about being 'The Chosen Stool', 'The Popular One That Everyone Wanted'; these made up stories swirled constantly in his mind. His imagination was definitely fruitful, images running rampant through his head with dreams of his life purpose being fulfilled. They always to come to a screeching halt with the stark realization that as of yet no one had chosen to sit on him. This made the little stool so very sad. He didn't understand why he was always passed over, never being the preferred stool. Soon, the little stool began to feel great resentment towards the stool to his left. The little stool could feel anger rising up within him, bitterness, anger, and of course jealously.
The little stool did not like feeling this way. The stool to his right never seemed to care, in fact she was always happy! The little stool could almost feel the heavy cloud of darkness that always seemed to surround him. Day after day, these negative feelings kept growing larger and larger, and he kept right on feeding them. His only wish in life never being fulfilled.
Until one day, feeling the overwhelming weight of his negativity, the little stool fell over. Lying on his side, he knew that the stool to his right would possibly be the only one willing to help him. The little stool begin to cry, wondering if the stool to his right would hear, and positive that the stool to his left would not even notice that he had fallen over. He didn't want to ask for help, because he was sure he would never get it. He didn't want to admit defeat and certainly didn't want to bother anyone. He fretted and stewed as the anger, resentment, and negative energies kept building and building. Finally, the little stool could not even face himself. He cried out in repentance feeling so unworthy, certain that his behavior warranted his never being rescued. He came to the realization that he needed to change his negative and destructive thoughts. Wallowing in despair, it seemed he would lie there forever, lying on his side, forever spewing out what felt like poison.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, he burst out in laughter, releasing all those pent up feelings. He laughed and laughed until he thought he might start crying. The thought of what he might look like, lying there on his side swimming in self pity, while laughing hysterically, made him laugh even more. He realized that his laughter came from deep inside his soul, where he had finally realized that all those useless negative and destructive feelings were not accomplishing what he wanted most in his life, to be of use.
Just as suddenly as he realized this, he immediately felt strong hands reaching for him, firmly grabbing his legs, picking him up and then, being flooded with an overwhelming joy as he realized that the body whose hands had reached down to upright him, was soon sitting on him.
It quickly dawned on the little stool; anger, bitterness, resentment never enabled him to accomplish his life's purpose. Feeding day after day upon negative and destructive thoughts and feelings, had kept him locked in a prison of sorts. He understood then that when he changed his thoughts and was able to express laughter, that made him feel good, that's when everything changed. Those strong arms set him upright, and then their owner sat down on the little stool! He was ecstatic, and vowed from that day on, to always keep his heart full of laughter, never allowing any space to be given over to negative or destructive feelings.
From that day forward, whether anyone sat on the little stool or not, he always greeted each day with a smile and laughed as much as possible. His life purpose was finally realized, and he understood that it wasn't what he thought it was at all, He understood that what was important, was that he be able to find joy no matter what the circumstance.
Oh that we would all learn this lesson from the little stool. Negative or destructive feelings and energies will not manifest what you want. Laughing and being positive will always welcome the desired outcome, when you assume the feeling of your wish fulfilled.
Alas, these thoughts seemed like wasted energy, as no one had yet to christen his calling in life, providing a much needed service to those souls looking for a little time of relaxation. The little stool was so desperate to experience his very first job, and yet he was terrified at the same time. Day after day, he would fret and fret endlessly. Never knowing what it felt like to have his wish to be of use finally fulfilled.
Everyday the little stool would look to the stool to his right, she seemed to not have a care in the world. Never giving credence to the fact that no one had desired her talents at supporting their body weight as they chose to rest, as no one ever had. Then there was the stool to his left. He was always able to fulfill his purpose, everyone seemed to gravitate towards him. Smiling obliviously to everything around him, he seemed so satisfied, so sure of himself.
The little stool did not understand this at all. "Why didn't anyone want him?", " Why did everyone always choose the other stool?" Both of them had come packed in the same box, they were put together by the same person, they were even the same color! Why didn't anyone want him to fulfill his purpose, by providing a wonderful place for them to sit and rest?
The little stool conjured up all kinds of stories about being 'The Chosen Stool', 'The Popular One That Everyone Wanted'; these made up stories swirled constantly in his mind. His imagination was definitely fruitful, images running rampant through his head with dreams of his life purpose being fulfilled. They always to come to a screeching halt with the stark realization that as of yet no one had chosen to sit on him. This made the little stool so very sad. He didn't understand why he was always passed over, never being the preferred stool. Soon, the little stool began to feel great resentment towards the stool to his left. The little stool could feel anger rising up within him, bitterness, anger, and of course jealously.
The little stool did not like feeling this way. The stool to his right never seemed to care, in fact she was always happy! The little stool could almost feel the heavy cloud of darkness that always seemed to surround him. Day after day, these negative feelings kept growing larger and larger, and he kept right on feeding them. His only wish in life never being fulfilled.
Until one day, feeling the overwhelming weight of his negativity, the little stool fell over. Lying on his side, he knew that the stool to his right would possibly be the only one willing to help him. The little stool begin to cry, wondering if the stool to his right would hear, and positive that the stool to his left would not even notice that he had fallen over. He didn't want to ask for help, because he was sure he would never get it. He didn't want to admit defeat and certainly didn't want to bother anyone. He fretted and stewed as the anger, resentment, and negative energies kept building and building. Finally, the little stool could not even face himself. He cried out in repentance feeling so unworthy, certain that his behavior warranted his never being rescued. He came to the realization that he needed to change his negative and destructive thoughts. Wallowing in despair, it seemed he would lie there forever, lying on his side, forever spewing out what felt like poison.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, he burst out in laughter, releasing all those pent up feelings. He laughed and laughed until he thought he might start crying. The thought of what he might look like, lying there on his side swimming in self pity, while laughing hysterically, made him laugh even more. He realized that his laughter came from deep inside his soul, where he had finally realized that all those useless negative and destructive feelings were not accomplishing what he wanted most in his life, to be of use.
Just as suddenly as he realized this, he immediately felt strong hands reaching for him, firmly grabbing his legs, picking him up and then, being flooded with an overwhelming joy as he realized that the body whose hands had reached down to upright him, was soon sitting on him.
It quickly dawned on the little stool; anger, bitterness, resentment never enabled him to accomplish his life's purpose. Feeding day after day upon negative and destructive thoughts and feelings, had kept him locked in a prison of sorts. He understood then that when he changed his thoughts and was able to express laughter, that made him feel good, that's when everything changed. Those strong arms set him upright, and then their owner sat down on the little stool! He was ecstatic, and vowed from that day on, to always keep his heart full of laughter, never allowing any space to be given over to negative or destructive feelings.
From that day forward, whether anyone sat on the little stool or not, he always greeted each day with a smile and laughed as much as possible. His life purpose was finally realized, and he understood that it wasn't what he thought it was at all, He understood that what was important, was that he be able to find joy no matter what the circumstance.
Oh that we would all learn this lesson from the little stool. Negative or destructive feelings and energies will not manifest what you want. Laughing and being positive will always welcome the desired outcome, when you assume the feeling of your wish fulfilled.
Victoria Cureton's Bio
Victoria Cureton's Bio
Talent: Transformational Psychology Mind/Body Wellness Practitioner
Education: Southwest Institute of Healing Arts
Favorite Healing Modality: Whatever facilitates healing within my client
Favorite Quote: “Where there is space, there is movement. Where there is movement, there is energy. Where there is energy, disease cannot exist.” Dr. Henele
When Did You Know You Had Found Your Passion? In 2008 I was injured at work that prevented my return to my passion of teaching. I did a lot of soul searching and questioning, when a friend commented that I had always had a passion for holistic health and asked why I didn’t follow that path. I immediately dismissed that idea, but the seed had been planted. After time the idea had germinated, and realizing that, although I love teaching, I have always had a passion for health, my own as well as others.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)