Author Archives: hayleymae

Learning to forgive

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Below is an excerpt from a guided meditation I am working on on forgiveness.  Sometimes it is best to forgive from afar. Sometimes it is best to forgive up close.  Allow the heart to forgive and wisdom to guide you in appropriate relating.

“We must all learn to forgive. There is no one on the earth who hasn’t felt hurt, betrayed, and disappointed at times. It is up to each one of us to decide how we will respond to the various hurts and disappointments that we will encounter. Will we respond with anger? Will we respond with an eye for an eye? Or will we learn to respond with love, with light, with compassion, and with understanding. The choice is ours. One choice keeps us locked in a world of competition, of anger, and a world where there is no peace. The other choice, the choice of forgiveness offers another way. It brings us into a world of peace, of compassion, of love, of forgiveness, and of healing.

What is the world you wish to live in?

Begin the practice today of offering forgiveness both to yourself and to others. Forgive so that you can feel peace. Forgive so that you can feel expansion. Forgive so that you can feel love and light. And forgive so that you can step into an elevated awareness and can be a force of good in the world. Forgive so that you can be an agent for peace on the planet. There is a cloud of anger and unrest that fills your world. Forgive so that you can begin the process of dispelling that cloud and bring peace to the earth. Let this process begin with you. It is easy to wait and want others to go first. Especially if you feel that you were wronged. Be willing to take the high road. Be willing to forgive first. Be willing to lead the way. The world needs spiritual leaders. To be a leader in this way you must be willing to lead in love and light and compassion and understanding. You must be willing to go first and you must be willing to hold these spiritual principles even if you hold them alone. And so do this for yourself and do this for your world. Practice forgiveness daily. Let this be a process for the act of forgiving often takes time and repetition.

And so forgive daily and step into an elevated awareness. Step into an elevated point of view. Step into your radiance. Step into your light. Step into your love. Step into your compassion. Step into the person that you were meant to be. Step into the highest version of yourself. Step into the life that you were meant to lead.

At your core you are a radiant being of light and love and compassion and understanding. Step into this elevated version of yourself and be a true force for good on the planet. This role is a big responsibility and takes vigilance and discipline of the mind and body. Begin your endeavor today.

See yourself as a being of light and affirm:

I am a radiant being of light.
I am a radiant being of love.
I am a radiant being of understanding.
I am a radiant being of compassion.

I radiate light.
I radiate love.
I radiate compassion.
I radiate understanding.

This is my daily practice and this is my daily discipline.

I offer light.
I offer love.
I offer compassion.
I offer understanding.

Sometimes I offer this from afar and sometimes I offer this up close.

I am a healing force in the world and all who come into my presence are healed.

I am a radiant being of light.
I am a radiant being of light.
I am a radiant being of light.

~Hayley Mermelstein

c.2014

“The quieter you become, the more you hear.” Rumi

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Learning to quiet the mind is a valuable tool that opens you up to guidance from a higher source. Learning to quiet the mind allows you to hear the whispers of your own inner spirit as well as the whispers of spirit all about you. I had a client call me on the phone this week for a phone session. This client was in the process of making an important work related decision. When she called me on the phone, I thought to myself, that I really didn’t want the responsibility of influencing such a big decision so I decided I would practice deep listening with this person and hope that the very act of “listening deeply” would help this person come to their own conclusions about what would be best. (There is a whole school of thought about this actually where the very act of listening deeply to someone helps them get in touch with their own inner wisdom and clarity).

Anyway, this client called and I began the endeavor of listening deeply. She told me the pros and cons of the decision that she needed to make. I listened deeply and heard the panic in my clients voice and felt my own head start to spin. From a purely intellectual point of view we could make a case for either choice.

I talked to my client about the value of deep listening. I told her about how as a culture we have been taught to think through our problems but that there is another way. We can learn to ask for guidance and then listen deeply for an answer. My meditation teacher, Ellen Tadd, calls this asking and listening. I asked my client is she would like to try asking and listening. She said she was open to anything that would help.

Since my client was open I took a moment and walked her through a short-guided mediation exercise. I instructed this client to take a deep breath and remember who she was. I instructed her to remember that at the core of her being is a place of great wisdom and great clarity. I reminded her that there was a place within her that already knew the answer to her problem. I had this client imagine that waves and waves of gold light were shining down upon her and that this gold light was filling her with wisdom and clarity and was shedding light on this situation. I had this client sit in this waterfall of golden light allowing the light to bring illumination and calm and peace and clarity. Once my client was relaxed, I simply instructed her to allow everyday brain chatter to quiet down and to simply ask, her question. I instructed my client to allow her mind to quiet but at the same time to be open to insight and clarity coming from a deeper source. We both then sat in silence together and listened deeply. After a minute or two of listening deeply together, I guided my client to bring her attention back. When she came back I asked her about her experience. She said that she heard the message to not let fear rule her decision making process and in addition, she received an answer to her question. My client was somewhat shocked by how clear the answer was. The explanation she heard in meditation made total sense to her but was something she had not thought of when “thinking through” her problem.

I share this story here with you today because in our culture we have been taught to think through our problems, weigh the pros and cons and analyze the facts. And while this approach to problem solving has some merit, I have been taught another way. I have been taught to ask and listen. I have been taught to connect to a deeper source of wisdom than our analytical brain. The brain is a wonderful resource but it has limited awareness. On the other hand, when we ask the universe to guide us we open to deeper levels of awareness and understanding that transcend the limited mind alone.

Practice today opening to something bigger. If there is a decision that you need to make consider the facts but then ask the universe for assistance and guidance and then quiet your mind so that you can hear the whispers of spirit that are all about you.

Life becomes quite interesting when you learn to ask and listen and allow yourself to be guided down the path that is most appropriate for you. Again, the analytical mind is useful but has its limitations. My client had gone as far as she could weighing the pros and cons. She found she needed to open to something deeper. When she got quiet and listened rather than continually think about her problem she quickly received the guidance she needed to make her decision.

Practice today the simple task of asking and listening. Practice pausing between events to simply listen. What is the universe trying to tell you? Open to guidance and you will receive a plethora of insights about every aspect of your life. All of life is speaking to us, all we need to do is learn to listen so we can reap the benefits of a source of wisdom that goes beyond our limited intellect.

If you would like help with learning to ask and listen feel free to join our weekly Thursday night meditation class where we practice this skill frequently or contact me directly to schedule a private phone session that will greatly assist in deepening this capacity.

I look forward to hearing from you! Have a good week!

Hayley Mermelstein

When we feel betrayed

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I was home sick with a cold for much of this week and this gave me some time to think and reflect.  Memories of time when I felt betrayed by a friend rose to the surface.  I felt waves of disbelief and anger rise within as I allowed myself to relive old memories.   How could this have happened?  How could someone I trusted turn on me in such unexpected ways?  Questions surfaced and feelings of blame arose:  How could she have behaved that way?

And then I remembered hearing that when we are feeling anger, sadness, regret, blame or any imbalance to turn to deeper levels of self acceptance and it is there that we will find peace.  This advice made no sense to me on the surface and I found myself thinking, what, my friend betrays me and I need to focus on greater levels of self acceptance??  But despite my skepticism I found myself curious about what would happen if I focused on accepting myself more in this moment.  And so I turned my attention away from my former friend and began to fill myself with a feeling of complete self-acceptance.

I repeated the affirmation:

I accept myself completely.
I accept myself completely.
I accept myself completely.

As I went more deeply into self-acceptance I had a sudden flash of insight.  I realized that the original imbalance lied within me.  I realized that I had a habit of seeing the best in people.  An admirable habit except that I also had a habit of not honestly looking at their weaknesses.  As I result I’ve been blind sided when the weaknesses revealed themselves.  I realized that in this case I had given my trust to someone who wasn’t trustworthy.  This friend has left a trail of broken hearts behind her and I knew that but hadn’t registered that she would ultimately do the same with me.  I hadn’t been willing to look honestly at this persons strengths and weaknesses.

I had a choice, I could blame her for betraying me or I could accept myself more deeply and take responsibility that I hadn’t been discerning enough in the relationship to see this persons strengths and weaknesses.  If I had looked honestly I wouldn’t have been surprised at all by this persons actions.  I would have expected it and seen the potential all along.

We always have a choice.  It is easy to blame others and focus on “what they did”.  And we may even be justified.  But their imbalance is their imbalance and their karma too.  Experiment for today with dropping the focus on them (whoever they might be ) and bring the focus back to yourself.  Fill yourself with a feeling of complete self acceptance and affirm:

I accept myself completely.
I accept myself completely.
I accept myself completely.

What is it that you need to accept about yourself?  What are you dodging by focusing on them?  What is it that you are to learn from this situation?

And so go deeply into self acceptance. Instead of focusing on the imbalances of others learn instead to focus deeply on accepting yourself.  Every time your feathers are ruffled, every time you find yourself focusing on what they did experiment with turning your attention back to yourself and accepting yourself on deeper and deeper levels.  This does not mean to turn a blind eye to the imbalances around you. Look honestly but then return to a place of complete self acceptance.  As you accept yourself on deeper and deeper levels you will grow calm.  When you are calm you will see both yourself and others more clearly.  When you see clearly you will have a deeper understanding of your own responsibility in the situations that you find yourself in and you will feel less blaming and judgmental of others as well.  When you accept yourself you will see the lessons that you are learning.  You will see the purpose of all that is transpiring.  And so make this a daily practice.  Fill yourself with complete self acceptance as you go through your day.  When faced with your various challenges of the day turn to deeper self acceptance.   When faced with the imbalances of others accept yourself on deeper and deeper levels.  Again, your increased self acceptance will bring you calm and your calm will bring you greater levels of clarity.  And so make this your practice for today.  Be gentle with yourself for learning to accept yourself in your entirety is a process.  Learn to accept both your strengths and your weaknesses for everyone has strengths and everyone has weaknesses.  Learn to accept the fact that you, like everyone else are learning and growing for the earth is a school and you have come for learning and growth.

Accept yourself on deeper and deeper levels and learn to look honestly at those with whom you relate.  In this way you will not be so caught off guard by the imbalances of others but instead aware of the nuiances of each relationship, aware of the strengths and weaknesses of those which you engage and aware of level of trustworthiness of those with whom you interact.

Affirm frequently:

I accept myself completely.
I accept that I have strengths.
I accept that I have weaknesses.
I accept that I, like everyone else, am learning and growing.
I accept myself completely.

I am a being of great compassion.

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I am a being of great compassion.
I am a being of great light.
I am a being of great wisdom.
I am a being of great love.

I am a beacon of compassion.
I am a beacon of light.
I am a beacon of wisdom.
I am a beacon of love.

I am a pillar of compassion.
I am a pillar of light.
I am a pillar of wisdom.
I am a pillar of love.

I am a being of great compassion.
I am a being of great compassion.
I am a being of great compassion.

There is a place of great compassion that lies within.  Your spirit your true self is filled with compassion, filled with wisdom, light and love.  Aspire to connect with this place of compassion that lies within.  Feel the deep compassion of your spirit.  Connect with your true nature now.  Experience the compassion of your spirit.  See yourself as a beacon of compassion.  See yourself as a pillar of compassion.  Recognize that you have come to bring compassion to the earth.  Recognize that you have come to be a way shower.  Recognize that you have come to be an anchor for compassion, for love, for light and for wisdom.  This is a sacred duty.  You must learn to hold yourself to a higher standard.  You must learn to be comfortable leading the way.  Seek to embody as much compassion as you can.  Seek to be an anchor for love, for wisdom, for light and for compassion, for the world needs those who can hold the spiritual principles.  The world needs those who can lead the way.  The planet needs a shift in consciousness.  See yourself as someone who has come to help facilitate this shift.  The shift lies within you.  The shift happens when you begin to hold these principles more and more. Do not worry about what others are doing or not doing.  Instead place your full attention upon yourself.  As you are better able to hold these principles your world will change.  Make this your project now.  Make this part of the work that you came to do.  Focus on your own transformation and your world will transform.  Focus on your own healing and you will contribute to the healing of the planet.  Be willing to go this alone. Be willing to be the one who can hold compassion.   Be willing to be the one who can love despite not being loved.  Do not confuse this with being nice or a push over or being weak.  There is great power in compassion.   There is great power in love and in light and in wisdom.  When you are in a state of true compassion you will aspire to do that which best serves the oneness.  Sometime what serves is to say yes and sometimes what serves is to say no.  When in a deep compassion you will naturally know what is needed.  When in a deep compassion you will see the kindness in saying no to something that doesn’t serve.  When in a deep compassion you will see yourself as part of the oneness and will aspire to include yourself in the circle of compassion.  And so embody a deeper compassion today.  Know that everyone has a story.  Know that everyone has a reason why they behave the way they do..  Seek to embody this compassion today and seek to go forward in love and light and wisdom.  Seek to be the best that you can be today.  Make this your daily aspiration.

 

 

 

I am filled with devotion.

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And so ask everyday how may I best serve the oneness.
Your life will answer this question more and more.

You each have a choice.
You can live in fear or live in service.

And so devote yourself each day to service.
This is the antidote for much of your fear.

When you are in a deep devotion, you will know what to do. When you are in a deep devotion, you will know what is your job and what isn’t.

And so devote yourself to service everyday and then listen deeply to that which is yours to do.

Your devotion to service will move you through your fears and move you through your uncertainties into a life of fulfillment and contribution.

And so devote yourself daily to that which is yours to do.
Be devoted and be true. Allow your devotion to lead the way.

Know that you can accomplish that which is yours to do.
You will be assisted. You will be aided.

Take time everyday to sit in devotion. When you are afraid, devote yourself to spirit. When you are uncertain, devote yourself to service.

In this way you will more easily open to the guidance that is all around you.
And so devote yourself to service everyday.

You are needed. You are needed. Your contribution is needed.

Your laughter is needed. Your wisdom is needed.

And so step forward now in strength and in confidence and in deep listening and know that you will be guided in your path of service.

Step forward now in true desire to offer your full contribution and your path will be illuminated.

Hold back no longer. You have the strength. You have the wisdom. You have the tools. Step into the life of actualization and accomplishment that you are meant to live.

Be patient but be persistent and you shall be successful. Know that your devotion to service is your protection.

Your devotion to service will draw powerful beings of light to your side.

Your devotion to service will draw both spiritual guides to your side as well as physical helpers. Your devotion to spirit activates the seen and unseen worlds to aid you in behalf of all of society.

We want you to be successful. We want you to bring your work out into the world.

When fear creeps in (which it will), turn to devotion.

Devote yourself daily to offering your full contribution in all circumstances, were ever you find yourself whether it is in line at the grocery store or with a friend or with a client or with a family member.

Opportunities for service exist everywhere and so seek out and look for the opportunities to serve.

Sometimes the service is a kind word. Sometimes the service is the turning of the check. Sometimes the service is a helping hand. Sometimes the service is saying yes and sometimes the service is saying no.

You must listen deeply so that you will know what is truly yours to do and what isn’t.

The line is fine between service and enabling others and so again listening deeply is the clue. And so set your sail toward devotion. Spend your day in devotion to spirit, in devotion to service.

Again, sometimes your greatest service to all of humanity is to rest and to rejuvenate and sometimes your greatest service is to sacrifice the needs of the self for another.

It is through deep listening that you will know what is yours to do and what isn’t.

It is through deep listening that you will know what is the attunement of the moment. And so fill yourself with a feeling of devotion now.

Devote yourself to spirit. Devote yourself to service. Devote yourself to offering your full contribution in all that you say, in that you think, and in all that you do.

Ask, do these words serve the oneness? Do these thoughts serve the oneness? Do these actions serve the oneness?

As you begin to refine your thoughts, your words, and your actions, you will raise your vibration and elevate your awareness.

As you raise your vibration and elevate your awareness new levels of opportunity will be drawn to you. And so elevate now. Elevate your thinking. Elevate your use of words.

Elevate your actions and watch you world transform. It is through the elevation of your thoughts, words and actions that your life can change. And so elevate now.

Elevate. Elevate. Elevate

. Allow yourself to have an elevated perspective.

Make this part of your news years aspiration today: to elevate your thoughts, your words, yours actions and your perspective.

There will be challenges, there will be struggles but within the challenge and struggles you have a choice.

You can meet your challenges with fear or you can meet your challenges with an elevated perspective and with devotion to spirit and service.

And so choose the elevated pointed of view. Choose to elevate your thoughts, your words, and your actions. Choose through all circumstances to cling to your devotion to spirit and to service and to the evolution of all of humanity.

And in this way you shall be successful regardless of external outcomes.

And in this way you shall be successful in the attainment of the actualization of your true self and the offering of your full contribution.

Devotion and elevated awareness are the themes and the way forwarded in all that you think, say and do.

Be at peace. Be patient. Be true. And the way forward will be revealed.

I am a radiant being of light.

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Deep inside of each one of us is our spirit, our best self, our enlightened self.  Deep inside each one of us is a spark of divinity. We are here on this earth learning to actualize our spirit.  Learning to actualize our best selves.  Learning to actualize our divinity.

Our personalities are evolving.  We are learning and growing.  We make mistakes. And yet there is this place of wholeness with in us.  A place that is untouched by all that has transpired in this lifetime, a place of certainty, of wisdom, of never ending compassion.  I would like to share a guided meditation now to assist you in connecting to your spirit, assist you in connecting to your wisdom, your power, your beauty and your strength. I would like to do a meditation now to assist you in connecting to the light that resides within.

Guided Meditation:

I would like to begin by imaging a pillar of light.  Imagine this pillar of light starting at the top of your head, traveling down your spinal column, down your legs and out your feet.  This is the light of your spirit, your best self, your enlightened self.  Your spirit is wise and your spirit is compassionate, confident and strong. Feel the strength of your spirit.  Feel the confidence of your spirit.  Feel the wisdom of your spirit.  Feel the compassion that resides deep within you and feel the light that resides within.

Affirm:

I am light.
I am light.
I am light.

Feel this light deep within you and remember who you are.  You are a being of light.  You have come to be of service, you have come to learn, to grow, to enjoy.  You have come to share your light with the world.

Affirm now:

I am light.
I am light.
I am light.

See the light with in you growing brighter and brighter now.  Allow this light to fill every cell of your body, every cell of your body becoming illumined with the light of your spirit.  Feel your body filling with light, every cell filling with light.

I am light.
I am light.
I am light.

Allow this light to expand and fill your mind now.  Your thoughts are becoming uplifted, positive, creative and infinitely wise.  Any limited thoughts or attitudes are dissolving in the light of your spirit.  You are becoming brighter and brighter, more and more illumined.  Your mind is filled with the light of your spirit now.  This light is awakening your brilliance, awakening your magnificence, awakening your creativity, awakening your wisdom, awakening the genius within.

I am light.
I am light.
I am light.

Feel this light filling your emotional body now.  Your emotions are becoming balanced, positive, peaceful and serene.  More and more light filling your entire body.

I am light.
I am light.
I am light.

Now allow this light to expand out beyond your body.  Radiating out and filling the room you are sitting in.

Affirm:

I am a radiant being of light.
I am a radiant being of light.
I am a radiant being of light.

You are shining brighter and brighter now, your light becoming more and more radiant.  Remember who you are.

You are a beacon of light.  You have come to bring light and healing to the world.   See yourself as a shining star.

The world needs your light.   Offer your full contribution.
The world needs your light.   Offer your full contribution.
The world needs your light.   Offer your full contribution.

Remember who you are.  Remember who you are.  This is not a time to play small.  This is a time to shine.  Shine brightly now.  Be a light a mist the darkness.

I am a radiant being of light.
I am a radiant being of light.
I am a radiant being of light.

Connect once again to the light within.  Go deeper and deeper now and experience your light.  You are a radiant being of light. You are spirit.  You are the light of the world.  You are divinity itself.  Remember who you are.  Remember who you are.

I am a radiant being of light.
I am a radiant being of light.
I am a radiant being of light.

I am a radiant being of light.
I am a radiant being of light.
I am a radiant being of light.

I am a radiant being of light.
I am a radiant being of light.
I am a radiant being of light.

Homework:

Take time this week to remember who you are.  Work with this guided meditation and work with the affirmation: I am a radiant being of light.  Repeat the affirmation often and embody it as you go through your day.  Take a walk.  What does it feel like to walk down the street remembering that you are a radiant being of light?  How does your body feel as you embody this affirmation?

Speak with a friend.  How do you speak when you hold this awareness? Do you speak up more?  Are you quieter?  Perhaps you are more discerning about when to speak and when to listen.

Be aware of how you respond to challenges during the week when you remember you are a being of light and that you have come to bring light to the world.  Be open, be flexible and see where this affirmation leads you.

I am filled with appreciation

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And as we enter the season of Thanksgiving, I’d like to take a moment and thank all of you for taking the time to read my posts and blogs, for allowing me the great pleasure of doing the work that I love to do and for being in my life as clients, friends, and family members. Thank you for your words of encouragement and appreciation. And thank you for giving me a venue to explore the world of healing, writing and creating. I wish each of you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Today’s guided meditation is on appreciation:

Lets take a moment now and begin with the affirmation:

I am filled with appreciation.
I am filled with appreciation.
I am filled with appreciation.

Take a moment to fill yourself with a feeling of appreciation.  Cultivate appreciation as a state of being.  Cultivate appreciation as a way of being in the world.  Cultivate appreciation so that you may notice all that you have.  Cultivate appreciation so that nothing in your life is taken for granted.

I am filled with appreciation.
I am filled with appreciation.
I am filled with appreciation.

Feel your depth of appreciation growing now.  Allow appreciation to rise up in you.  Sit in the depth of your appreciation now.

I sit in the depth of my appreciation.
I sit in the depth of my appreciation.
I sit in the depth of my appreciation.

Look around you now.  Look around and begin to appreciate everything in the room around you.  Appreciate the chair that you are sitting on.  Appreciate the people who assembled the chair.  Appreciate the people who delivered the chair.  Appreciate the store that sold you the chair.   Look around you and appreciate each object in the room.  Appreciate the beauty.  Appreciate the effort.  Appreciate all that has been given to you.

I am filled with appreciation.
I am filled with appreciation.
I am filled with appreciation.

In the hustle and bustle of today’s world it is easy to overlook all the blessings and gifts that have been handed to us.  Make it a daily practice to pause and appreciate.  Make it a daily practice to pause and give thanks.  Make it a practice to express your appreciation on a daily basis, not just to yourself but to others as well.

Take a moment now and think of the people in your life.  Take a moment now to appreciate the people in your life.  Take time today and verbally thank five to ten people for their presence in your life.  Thank loved ones, thank store clerks, thank the random acts of kindness and give thanks for the bigger acts of generosity.  Remember to say thank you both to spirit for all that has been given and to say thank you to others for all that they bring to the table. ( Be extra sure to thank your mother this thanksgiving!)

I am appreciative.
I express my appreciation easily.
I express my appreciation often.
I express my appreciation frequently.
I make the expression of appreciation one of my top priorities.
I am appreciative.

And so thank 5-10 people today and then thank 5-10 people tomarrow and then the next day and the next.  See if you can cultivate an attitude of appreciation and a habit of offering appreciation frequently.  Do this both for yourself and for others.  As you appreciate what you have you will be given more to appreciate.  And as you appreciate others you will offer encouragement and love and deepen the quality of your relationships.  And so be generous with your appreciation and remember to notice the little acts of kindness as well as the larger acts of generosity.

I am filled with appreciation.
I am filled with appreciation.
I am filled with appreciation.

And now take a moment to sit and simply appreciate your life at this moment.  Yes, there is still much to do and accomplish, still much work to be done on the self, still many things left to learn and yet there is also so much to appreciate.  As you focus your mind on appreciation you will build your confidence, raise your vibration and set in motion the forces of life so that you will find yourself with even more to appreciate.  And so reflect now on five things that you appreciate about your day today or 5 things that you appreciate about your current life circumstances.  Remember that as you cultivate an attitude of appreciation you raise your vibration.  As you raise your vibration you will draw even more to appreciate into your life.

I am filled with appreciation.
I am filled with appreciation.
I am filled with appreciation.

Feel your appreciation deepening now   Feel your appreciation expanding now.  Feel your appreciation radiating out into the world.  Again, cultivate appreciation as a state of being.  Do this for both your own vibrational health and for the benefit of others as well.

And this time, I would like you to offer appreciation for the things you desire to manifest in your life.  I would like you to give thanks now for things, people and life circumstances that are on there way to you.  As you give thanks in advance you help to draw in that which you are working to manifest.   As you give thanks in advance you will draw in that which is meant for you.

I give thanks.
I give thanks for all the love in my life.
I give thanks for my ever increasing prosperity.
I give thanks for my ever increasing health and wellness.
I give thanks for my increased spiritual connection.
I give thanks that I am growing everyday.
I give thanks for the healing of my relationships.
I give thanks for the seen and unseen blessings in my life.
I give thanks.

And so make your own list now.  Give thanks for the blessings that are on your way to you.  Give thanks for that which you wish to manifest as if it is already here.  Give thanks for the seen and unseen blessings.  Give thanks often.  Give thanks frequently.  Let the cultivation of appreciation be of the utmost importance to you.

I am filled with appreciation.
I sit in the depth of my appreciation.
I express my appreciation frequently.
I notice small acts of kindness.
I appreciate all that I have and all that I have been given.
I appreciate seen and unseen blessings.
I appreciate blessings that are on their way to me.
I live a life of appreciation.

And now take a moment to appreciate yourself.  Appreciate the work that you have done.  Appreciate where you are.  Appreciate the efforts made.  Appreciate the places of ease within yourself and the places of struggle.  Take time to appreciate yourself.  As you appreciate your strengths, they will grow.  And as you appreciate your places of growth and learning you will offer yourself a balm that will assist in healing the places that are wounded.  Be honest with yourself but be kind.  Appreciate all that you are learning.  Appreciate all that you bring to the table.  Appreciate your strengths and appreciate the places of weakness.  When you appreciate your weaknesses you will realize that your weaknesses are deepening your compassion for the human condition.  For all have strengths and all have weaknesses.  And when you appreciate yourself in your strengths and weaknesses, it will be easier for your to appreciate others for their strengths and their weaknesses.  All are learning and all are growing and no one is exempt from this process.  And so appreciate it all now.  Appreciate the strengths and assist in calling them forward.  Appreciate the weaknesses and offer yourself and others healing.  Appreciate the weaknesses and allow your appreciation to open your compassion for the human condition which we all share together.

And so open the flood gates of appreciation this thanksgiving season and everyday.  See how much appreciation you can bring into your daily life.  Start an appreciation journal and write down 5-10 things you appreciate each and everyday.  Do this for one year and see what transpires. Take time to express appreciation daily.  Take time to express appreciation for all that you have and remember to give thanks in advance for blessings that are on their way to you.  Let appreciation lead the way today.  Say thank you often.  Appreciate yourself and appreciate others.  Flood the world with appreciation today and begin the process of healing yourself and others.  Allow the appreciation that resides deep within come up to the surface now.  Sit in the depth of your appreciation and radiate your appreciation out into the world.

I sit in the depth of my appreciation.
I appreciate myself and I appreciate others.
I appreciate all that I have.
I appreciate the many gifts in my life.
I express my appreciation to at least 5 people per day.
I keep an appreciation journal.
I give thanks for the seen and unseen blessings in my life.
I give thanks in advance.
I am an appreciative person.
I sit in the depth of my appreciation, and I radiate my appreciation out into the world.
I sit in the depth of my appreciation.

I open to more

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I open to more.
I open to more.
I open to more.

I open to more love.
I open to more abundance.
I open to more light.
I open to more adventure.
I open to more vitality.
I open to more depth.
I open to more wisdom.
I open to more work satisfaction.
I open to more contribution.
I open to more new experiences.
I open to more friendships.

I open to more.
I open to more.
I open to more.

Take a moment to appreciate all that you have, and then take a moment to open to more. Take a moment to open to the life that you are meant to live. Take a moment to open to your divine destiny. Take a moment to open to fulfilling the highest potential in each area of your life. Take a moment to open to the universe and open to life. As you release your blockages and open you will drawn in all that you need to fulfill your destiny and achieve your highest potential.

~Hayley Mermelstein

I am filled with the power of spirit

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Take a moment today to connect with the infinite well of power that lies within.  There is a place of great strength that lies within.  There is a place of great power that lies within.  There is a place of great confidence that lies within. Take a moment now and connect with the power of your spirit.  Feel the power that lies within you and seek to bring this power forward more and more in your every day life.  Use your power for the good of all humanity.

See yourself as a powerful being of light who has come to make a powerful contribution.  Some will make their contribution through their work.  Some will make their contribution through the raising of a child.  Some will make their contribution by bringing more joy or more compassion or more love or more wisdom to the world.  We each make our contribution in different ways and so do not compare or limit your contribution by making it only related to your work.  Sometimes your contribution is related to your work and sometimes it is related to how you do your work. Sometimes your contribution is to be a healer or a builder or teacher and sometimes your contribution is to spread joy or love or compassion or wisdom.  Seek to offer your full contribution in all that you do, whether it with a kind smile, the forgiving of an offense, the writing of a book, or in doing your job well.  Know that you are more powerful than you realize.  Know that great power lies at the core of your being.  Know that as you focus on the power that lies within you, you will manifest more of your power.  Devote yourself to service every day and use your power to assist all of humanity.  Affirm frequently:

I am filled with the power of spirit.
I am a powerful being of light.
I am powerful, and I use my power for the good of humanity.
I am powerful, and I use my power wisely.
I am powerful, and I radiate my power out into the world.
I am filled with the power of spirit.

~Hayley Mermelstein
Founder of TRCB

Everyone has a story

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I attended a conference this past weekend, and as I arrived I joined a group of about 75 people who were mingling in an open auditorium.  The conversation was animated and I found myself in the middle of an interesting discussion when suddenly a meek voice quietly shouted out for everyone to be quiet because he had an announcement.  This person lacked the authority in his voice to sufficiently quiet the crowd, and so the crowd basically went on talking.  He sort of whined again, will everyone please be quiet.  I quieted now as did a few others but found myself annoyed with this man.  I could quiet this group, I thought to myself, somewhat arrogantly.  Why doesn’t he speak up, speak with some authority.  He again asked for everyone to be quiet and at long last the group hushed.   This man was obviously not used to working with groups I thought to myself, again in a somewhat judgmental and impatient tone.

Anyway, the day proceeded, and I went to the first talk and then to talk number two.  The speaker at the second talk was the man who was unable to quiet the crowd in the morning.  I thought, oh no, as he started to talk because I wasn’t overly impressed with his ability to manage the group earlier.  The first words out of his mouth were: “My mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor when I was 9.  She spent two years really sick and in pain.  She died when I was 11 years old.  That event changed my entire life.”  The audience became very quiet.  I grew quiet inside of myself.  Oh damn, I thought to myself, as I cringed inside, if I had known that your mother died when you were 11 years old I would have been nicer to you when I first arrived.  I began to feel a bit like a jerk, to put it mildly.  Its not that I would have done anything different externally, it’s that I would have had been more compassionate and patient when this man was struggling to get control of the group.  I quickly shifted focus and continued to listen to this mans story and the information that he was imparting.

After the talk was over, and as I write this now, I realize that the most important thing I got from this person was the reminder that everyone has a story.  I remember my meditation teacher, Ellen Tadd, saying that if we saw deep enough into someone and if we knew their story we would naturally be flooded with a feeling of compassion.  In this case, my impatience and judgmentalness was quickly replaced with compassion as I heard this mans story.

So often, we don’t have the opportunity to hear someone’s story.  Our lives are filled with quick encounters and quick interactions.  We get annoyed or judgmental or impatient but perhaps if we did see deeply enough or knew someone’s story those feelings would be replaced with patience and compassion.  And so for today I am taking time to remind myself that everyone has a story, whether I happen to know that story or not.  Everyone has suffered.  Everyone has experienced great pain.  For today, I remind myself of the words of Plato who said:  “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”

And so I share my little story with you to remind you as I remind myself:  Everyone’s got a story.  Everyone has suffered.  Everyone has experienced loss and pain.  And so for today let’s work on embodying a deeper compassion for the human condition.

As I write I hear this message:

“Life can be challenging and everyone is engaged in some kind of battle and so train yourself to bring more and more compassion to your daily life.  Start with compassion for yourself for despite your best efforts you will fall, you will be impatient and judgmental.  The important thing is to pick yourself up each time you fall and challenge yourself to hold compassion for longer and longer periods of time.  Devote the next ten minutes of your day to compassion.  With each interaction and with each person that comes to mind, see if you can hold compassion for that person, no matter how annoying or irrational or just plain wrong they may seem on the surface.  Do not confuse compassion with sympathy or with being overly nice or accommodating.  In compassion you may say yes or you may say no.  But when you hold compassion you will recognize that everyone is learning, everyone is growing and that everyone has a story.  When you are in a true compassion you will want to do what most serves the growth of the individual.  When in a true compassion you will stay patient with the learning process that everyone is involved in.  And so remember today that everyone has a story.  Remember that everyone is fighting a battle, whether you can see it or not.  Remember that everyone is learning and everyone is growing and everyone is on a long, long journey home.

Aspire to bring more compassion to your daily life.  Aspire to be a beacon of compassion.  Aspire to be the one who sees.  Aspire to be the one who understands.  Hold yourself to a higher standard than is commonly expected in your culture.  Hold yourself to a standard of excellence.  Focus on compassion for yourself and focus on compassion for others.  In this way, you will become a beacon of light for many and offer healing by your very presence alone.  Your world needs more compassion.  Your world needs more understanding.  Seek to be the one, instead of waiting for others to lead the way.  Set a new tone.  Hold a higher standard.  Aspire daily to bring more compassion to your daily life.  Let this be your experiment this week, and be aware of how this transforms and heals you and how it affects your environment. “

Affirm frequently:

I am filled with compassion.
I am filled with compassion.
I am filled with compassion.

I am filled with compassion for myself.
I am filled with compassion for others.
I am filled with compassion for all of humanity.

Everyone’s got a story.
Everyone’s got a battle.

I aspire to a new level.
I hold a new standard.
I hold a vibration of love and compassion more and more everyday.

I am filled with compassion.
I am filled with compassion.
I am filled with compassion.

Work with this affirmation through out the week and remember that everyone’s got a story. Remember that everyone is learning and remember that everyone is growing.  Know that if you knew the story you would naturally be flooded with compassion.  And so remind yourself daily that everyone has a story.  Sometimes the story has taken place in this lifetime and sometimes the story has taken place in a previous lifetime.  But know that everyone has a story.   Everyone is learning and everyone is growing.

“As you grow in your ability to hold compassion this will positively impact you, your health, your vibration, your level of awareness, how you manifest in your life and will impact your relationship with others.  Aspire daily to an elevated awareness.  Aspire daily to bring more compassion to your world. Aspire daily and you shall be successful.

Affirm frequently:

I am filled with compassion.
I am filled with compassion.
I am filled with compassion.

And continue to remind yourself that everyone, including you has a story.  As you grow in your compassion you will emanate a vibration that will assist in transforming not only the people you interact with but you and your life as well.  Compassion is the pinnacle spiritual principle, aspire daily to bring more of it into your life.  Do not be so concerned about how others are treating you, instead turn your attention to how you are treating others.  In the end it is your own thoughts and behavior that you will need to account for and so do not try to control others instead work on your own evolution and know that there is an force of life that is working with each individual.  As you grow and evolve you will naturally bring others along with you who will learn from your example and emanation.  And so do not worry so much about the actions of others, seek to be the best that you can be and allow others the space they need to learn and grow.  All shall eventually be successful.”

Work with the theme of compassion this week and allow it to transform you, your environment, your relationships and your quality of life.