The Universe Loves You and All is Forgiven.

I was in a somewhat meditative state, working with a client when suddenly an energy filled the room I paused for a moment and then heard the words inside of me: The universe loves you. The energy of love began to fill the room. And then the words: All is forgiven. All is forgiven.

And for a moment I stopped and took in the new vibration and words: The universe loves me. All is forgiven. The universe loves me and all is forgiven.

My body relaxed. What would it be like to let myself off the hook for everything? To forgive myself for my mistakes and allow myself to feel the love of the universe?

I’ve been working with this experience this week and thought I’d share it here in case reminding you that the universe loves you and you are forgiven might help you as well.

What might heal in your body if you let yourself off the hook?
What might heal in your life if you let yourself off the hook?

I wrote as affirmation to help me absorb the energy that was coming through this week and thought I’d share it, in case it might help you as well.

The universe loves me. I am forgiven.

The universe loves me.
The universe loves me.

I am loved.
I am loved.

All is forgiven.
All is forgiven.

Feel it.
Embody it.

Act as it.
Feel it as if It is here now.

What would it be like to allow yourself to be forgiven?
What would it be like to allow yourself to take in the love of the universe?

The universe loves you.
The universe loves you.

Feel it.
Receive it.

All is forgiven.
All is forgiven.

You are forgiven for not knowing what you didn’t know.
You are forgiven for not being perfect.

It is okay.
It is okay.

The earth is a school.
You have come for growth and learning.

This is why you are here.

Allow yourself to receive this:
Allow yourself to take it in.

The universe loves you.
The universe loves you.

You are forgiven.
You are forgiven.

Allow yourself to heal.
Allow yourself to receive.

Allow yourself to be at peace.
Allow yourself to be restored.

The universe loves you.
The universe loves you.

You are forgiven.
You are forgiven.

All is well.
All is well.

Out of this situation only good will come.
Out of this situation only good will come.

The universe loves you.
The universe loves you.

You are forgiven.
You are forgiven.
You are forgiven.

Allow the love of the universe to fill you.
Allow forgiveness to fill every cell of your body.

Know that you are loved.
Know that you are forgiven.

Be at peace.
Be at peace.

All is well.
All is well.
All is well.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

What if all of life is a mirror? What if life is mirroring back some part of our own consciousness? For example I have an unappreciative friend. The more I do for her the less she seems to appreciate it. It occurred to me the other day that perhaps she is mirroring a part of me that doesn’t appreciate myself.

I can talk to my friend. I can ask her to be more appreciative. (And maybe I will.) But perhaps I’m trying to change the mirror. If she is reflecting back some part of myself perhaps it would be equally (if not more) helpful for me to address the issue in myself.

How could I appreciate myself more?
Do I appreciate myself or am I self critical?
How could I honor and value myself more?

I’ve been reflecting on all this recently. I do in fact see my friend as a reminder from life for me to love and appreciate myself. The more she models this lack of appreciation, the more of a reminder it is for me to focus on loving and appreciating myself.

In the case of my friend: I have compassion (she is going through hell right now.) And in self respect I’ve taken a few steps back from the connection. But perhaps most importantly I’ve started a self love and self appreciation practice.

What is instead of trying to get the people around us to love, value and appreciate us we gave it to ourselves? What if the more we loved and appreciated ourselves in a genuine way, the more that love and appreciation began to be mirrored back to us? What if all of life is a mirror showing us where we need to heal? What if all of life is mirroring some aspect of our own inner consciousness? What if the only person we are ever talking to is ourselves? What if the only person we are here to fix is us?

And so for today I won’t beg for my friend to see me or appreciate me or value me. (Though I may bring it up if it feels appropriate.). For today I will practice loving myself. For today I will value myself. And for today I will deeply, deeply appreciate myself.

So often we are trying to change the world out there. So often we want others to see us, appreciate us, and value us. And while this is important, what if they are just mirroring back some aspect of our own inner world. What if the real healing is for us to love ourselves? What if the real healing is for us to appreciate and value ourselves? What if the real healing is for us to give ourself that kindness and care?

For today perhaps we can practice loving and appreciating ourselves and then see what shows up differently when we show up differently? For today perhaps we can take the time to really notice what changes when we change.

From this place of self love we may choose to address the issues that present in our lives for this can be an act of self care. But perhaps more importantly we will see the external world as a mirror showing us what we need to change inside of ourselves.

As we love and value ourselves perhaps either the people around us will love and value us more or perhaps some will fall away and new people will arrive. Or perhaps the more we love and value ourselves the less me are affected by those around us and we can give them space to learn and grow.

I’m still exploring this concept. And so for today I will focus on loving myself, valuing myself and appreciating myself rather than demanding this from the external world.

Maybe all of life is a mirror. And maybe, just maybe instead of trying to change the world out there the only person I need to change and heal is me.

My Life in a Harem. (and other happy thoughts)

A beautiful German woman sat next to me at the workshop and I instantly felt drawn to her and I instantly disliked her all at the same time. A Middle Eastern song came on while we waited for the speaker to come on stage and many stood up to move their bodies and to dance. The German woman turned towards me and we began to dance together. We danced a middle eastern dance that seemed to just arise between us. Our bodies fell together as if we had done this dance hundreds of times before.

Suddenly everything started to flicker and my consciousness moved to another place and another time. I was suddenly in a past life. I was transported to a life in a harem. The German woman and I were friends and the German woman and I were enemies. You see we were both in love with the same man. The man in the harem. Some women were just there for the kinship and community but she and I were also very much in love with the man. She and I were friends and we were competitors. Each hoping to be the chosen one.

And in this altered state I could feel her pain and I could feel mine. There was a deep longing in each of us. An almost unbearable lightness of being. She dealt with her pain by becoming more and more beautiful. (If I’m beautiful enough maybe I will be chosen.). I dealt with my pain by becoming more and more independent. (Who needs the man anyway.). But way underneath the surface was the secret longing. The longing for love. The longing for connection. Perhaps a longing that could never be satisfied in this human realm. The pain was there for both of us and I could see beneath the veneer of beauty and independence.

The song subsided and the dance ended and I found myself back in this place and this time, staring into the eyes of the beautiful German woman. Her eyes were piercing and intense. Her eyes were filled with love and hate and depth and intensity. Had she seen the past? Did she remember too?

The song ended and we all sat down. The speaker was onstage now. I looked up and saw him with new eyes. I recognized his instantly.

He was the man from the harem.

Someone asked me recently if I believed in past lives. I do I replied. How could you she asked. I have memories I said. They happen on a regular basis.

I’m still processing what I saw that day. I have repeated the pattern in this life. Dealing with the pain of lose and love and disappointment by becoming hyper independent. But I know the truth now.

I have no easy answers. No quick fixes.

Just awareness. Just allowing the unfolding to continue.

I welcome the pain that lies beneath the surface now. I welcome it deeply and do my best to allow it to be there after lifetimes of hiding from it.

The unbearable lightness of being.

What pain do you hold? Could you welcome it up? Could you sit with it? Could you allow It to reveal itself?

What we resist persists and
Anything deeply welcomed eventually leads to peace.

And so for today I welcome this pain that resides at the depth of my being. I welcome it to accompany me. I welcome it to the surface and allow it to have its way for me.

Today I have no answers,
Just a gentle welcoming of what is arising.

A sitting with the pain.
A sitting with the attempt to mask the pain.

For today I welcome.

I welcome.
I welcome.

I welcome what is.
And:

I welcome the resistance to what is.
I welcome my resistance.

I welcome the sadness.
I welcome the grief.
I welcome the regret.

I welcome it all.
I welcome it all.

I welcome the confusion.
I welcome the disappointment of what could have been.

I welcome not knowing what I didn’t know.

The earth is a school.
I welcome the learning process.

I welcome not wanting to be here some days.
I welcome that I am the wounded healer.

I welcome my wisdom and
I welcome my ignorance.

I welcome the pain of existence.
I welcome it all as best I can.

I welcome because resisting has become to hard.
I welcome because denying had become too unbearable.

I welcome all my experiences here.

The earth is a school whether I like it or not.
The earth is where we come to learn and grow.

I welcome my pain.
I welcome the longing for love.

I welcome my wholeness too.
I welcome my wholeness that lies beneath the pain.

I welcome my wholeness.
I welcome my wholeness.

I welcome the veneer of independence.
I welcome the German woman’s pain.

I see the pain of the man in the harem too.
He is confident and strong but beneath the surface there is pain in him too.

He has loved and lost.
He is afraid to be hurt again and so he spreads himself thin.

I welcome his pain too.

I was told one time that I am here to be a messenger of compassion.
It has been hard earned.

I offer you compassion for your pain as best I can.
A plate of compassion all around for this journey we are all on together.

A plate of compassion all around.
A plate of compassion all around.

Perhaps we can be softer with each other.

Who knows what lies beneath the surface?
Who knows what pain exists from this life time of other lifetimes?

If we knew each others story,
Compassion would be a natural biproduct.

And so,

I am learning to welcome.
I feel more like a student these days then a teacher.

I welcome what is.
I welcome what is.

At the deepest level we are one.
At the deepest level we are whole, healed, complete.

A plate of compassion all around.
A plate of compassion all around.

To everyone.

You never know what someone else has endured.
You never know the story beneath the surface.

The hardest challenge.
The greatest lesson.

A plate of compassion all around.
A plate of compassion all around.
A plate of compassion all around.

~Hayley Mermelstein

Be Love and See Who Comes.

Be love and see who comes.
Embody love now.

Your grand experiment with life.
Change your energy, change your life.

What happens when you change?
What shows up differently when you show up differently?

Be love and see who comes.
Be love and see who comes.

Stop trying to change those around you.
Stop making them your project.

No matter how tempting it is to think the problem is outside of you,
It is not.

Change yourself.
Change your own energy.

Be love and see who comes.
Be love and see what changes.

Some may move further away.
Some may come closer.

Be love.
Be the embodiment of love.

True love can say yes and true love can say no.
True love seeks to serve at the deepest level.

True love can be genuine.

True love does not seek to please the personality.
True love seeks to please the spirit.

Be the embodiment of love.
Be love today.

Be love and see who comes.
Be love and see who comes.

~Hayley Mermelstein

Welcoming limitations and the unlimited

I welcome my human limitations.
I welcome that i am learning and growing.

I welcome that everyone is learning and growing.

I welcome.
I embrace.
I allow.

I welcome my human limitations.
I welcome my imperfections.

We are all imperfect and learning.
I welcome.

I welcome.
I welcome.

i embrace.
I allow.

I also welcome that there is a part of me that in unlimited.
I welcome my unlimited nature.

I welcome the place within in me that is whole, complete, never wounded, and one with all of life.

I welcome my wholeness.
I welcome my beingness.

I welcome my unlimited nature.
I welcome the unlimited.

There is a place within me of unlimiited abundance, unlimited wisdom, unlimited power, unlimited acceptance, unlimited love, unlimited wholeness, unlimited beingness, unlimited humility.

I welcome.
I welcome.

I welcome.
I welcome all parts of me.

I welcome my human imperfections and I welcome my true unlimited nature.

Both are true.
I welcome it all.

As I welcome my true unlimited nature, what I am capable of expands.

I welcome:

Unlimited abundance.
Unlimited wisdom.
Unlimited power.
Unlimited love.
Unlimited acceptance.
Unlimited wholeness.
Unlimited beingness.
Unlimited humility.

I welcome my human limitations and
I welcome my unlimited nature.

Both are true.
I welcome it all.

We are all learning and growing and
We are all divine and perfect.

We are both limited and unlimited.

We are one.
We are whole.

The earth is a school.
We are here for growth and learning.

And we are here to honor our human limitations and explore our unlimited capacities.

All at the same time.

I welcome my limitations and
I welcome the unlimited.

I welcome.
I welcome.
I welcome.

~Hayley Mermelstein

Perfect is the Enemy of Good.

It was evening time and Thanksgiving was winding down. My once very perfectionistic nine year old niece was lying on the carpet and I was rubbing her back. I looked at her and felt compelled to say: 
 
“Ariana, you are a good person. “
 
There was a pause and then she replied: “Really? “
 
And I said: “Yes, really. You are a very good person. “
 
She paused again and then said: “That is nice to hear.”
 
There was another pause and I could feel her wheels turning. I then added: 
 
“You are not a perfect person. No one is a perfect. But you are a good person.”
 
Again, there was a pause and she replied: 
“My mom always says no one is perfect.”
 
That’s right I replied:
“ No one is perfect. But you still can be good.”
 
And then the conversation drifted and turned and it was time to brush teeth and one more snack and please go to bed already, etc…etc..
 
The next day came and we found ourselves in the living room, various conversations happening at once and my 9 year old niece was writing an essay about our family (she is learning to write essays in school.). There was a paragraph for her mom, a paragraph for me and a paragraph for her grandmother (otherwise known as Bubby.). And then there was her conclusion. 
 
I thought I’d share here conclusion here:
 
“All in all, I have a great family and everyone is smart, kind and talented. They are good people. You can’t be perfect, but you can be good.”
 
I guess she was listening. I thought to myself as I read her essay.
 
They say that the only person we are ever talking to is ourself. So I guess this was one of my Thanksgiving messages as well: 
 
You can’t be perfect, but you can be good.
 
And lest you think I had the perfect Thanksgiving with interesting conversation and well written essays, it wasn’t perfect. There was even a moment where I dug a cake cover out of the trash to everyone’s horror and dismay.
 
Thanksgiving wasn’t perfect. But it was good.
 
Have a nice week everyone!

Sincerely,

Hayley Mermelstein
 
 

Welcoming what is.

I welcome what is.
I welcome what is.

Take a moment now and deeply welcome what is.

I welcome what is.
I welcome what is.

I let go of my resistance to what is.
I let go of my resistance to what is.

I welcome what is.
I welcome what is.

When I welcome what is I become calm.
My calm leads to clarity.

And so for today:

I welcome what is.
I welcome what is.

I welcome it to the table as if I had personally invited it.
For today I deeply welcome what is.

I welcome what is and
I am aware of what shows up differently when I show up differently.

I welcome what is and
I am aware of what changes when I change.

I welcome what is.
I welcome what is.

Embody it.
Feel it.

Become it.

I welcome what is.
I welcome what is.

When I welcome what is, I become calm.
When I welcome what is, clarity is a natural biproduct.

I welcome what is without trying to change what is.
I welcome what is without trying to fix what is.

I welcome what is without trying to control what is.
I simply welcome what is.

This is my affirmation for today.
This is my embodiment for today.

I welcome what is.
I welcome what is.

I welcome what is.
I welcome what is.

I welcome what is and I am aware of what shows up differently when I show up differently.

I welcome what is and I am aware of what changes when I change.

I welcome what is.
I welcome what is.

I let go of my resistance to what is.
I let go of my resistance to what is.

I welcome what is without trying to change what is.
I welcome what is without trying to fix what is.

I welcome what is without trying to control what is.
I simply welcome what is.

I welcome what is.
I welcome what is.

Become the embodiment of:
I welcome what is.

As always see what shows up differently when you show up differently.
Be aware of what changes when you change.

I welcome what is.
I welcome what is.

I deeply welcome what is.
I deeply welcome what is.

I welcome what is.
I welcome what is.

~Hayley Mermelstein
From: The Power of Affirmations

I used to be arrogant.

A psychic looked me in the eye not too long ago and said: You used to be arrogant and now you are humble. Do you understand?

There was a long pause and then I replied: Yes, yes I do. I understand completely.

And as I answered I reflected back on my life. I had a subtle arrogance in my younger years. Why is everyone so stupid? How could they do that? I wondered quietly to myself.

I wondered this until I too discovered the challenge of being human and made my own mistakes which took me years to recover from.

The process was painful and humbling. Life is still humbling. It is so tempting to become arrogant especially when things are going our way. But I have found that there is a danger in arrogance. Life seems to favor the humble. When I get arrogant I get the feeling that life feels a need to remind me that I don’t have ultimate control and that everything can change in an instant.

I was reminding myself of all this this morning. I was feeling good. Things have been working out for me lately. It was then I reminded myself: Stay humble. Stay humble. Be appreciative. Be thankful. Be careful not to slide into arrogance. Life is up and down, back and forth. Sometimes the stars are with you and sometimes life brings unexpected challenges. Stay humble. Your life works better when you are in humility.

And so today, I wrote an affirmation for myself about humility. To remind myself of how I want to go through my day. I thought I’d share it here in case you too are working on staying in humility as well.

I am filled with humility.

I am filled with humility.
I am filled with humility.

Feel it.
Embody it.

Be it.

Be humility.
Be the embodiment of humility.

Allow every cell of your body to be filled with humility.

I am filled with humility.
I am filled with humility.

I am humble.
I am appreciative.

I am grateful.
I am kind.

I am filled with humility.
I am filled with humility.

There is a danger to arrogance.
And so I embody humility,

Every day I practice humility.
Every day I remind myself to be humble.
Every day I embody humility.

I do not have ultimate control.
But for the grace of God go i.

I am filled with humility.
I am filled with humility.

Learn to be humble.
Not a false humility that hides a secret arrogance.

Learn to embody a true humility that understands that the earth is a school and we have come for growth, we have come for learning and that no one is exempt.

Be appreciative for what you have.
Be grateful.

But also be filled with humility.
Humility is your greatest protection.

When you are arrogant then one of your life lessons becomes to learn humility. This is not an easy lesson.

And so embody humility today.

Be humility.
Be compassion for the human condition.

Be appreciation.
Be love.

Do not judge.
Do not be arrogant.

But for the grace of God go I.
Everything can change in a moment.

I am filled with humility.
I am filled with humility.

Embody it.
Become it.

Be it.

I am filled with humility.
I am filled with humility.

Take a moment now and affirm:

I am filled with humility.
I am filled with humility.

Be aware of what shows up differently when you show up differently.

So often we wait for the external world to change so that we can feel better.

For today embody humility and see what shows up differently when you show up differently.

Allow this to be your grand experiment with life.

I am filled with humility.
I am filled with humility
I am filled with humility.

Again,

What shows up differently when you show up differently?
What changes when you change?

Really look.
Really notice.

Life is a school.
No one is exempt.

Be humble.
Be kind.

Be love.
And walk your path in humility.

Learn what you have come to learn and
you will be satisfied with your journey.

I am filled with humility.
I am filled with humility.

Humility is my strength and
Humility is my protection.

I am filled with humility.
I am filled with humility.
I am filled with humility.

~Hayley Mermelstein

Being Genuine.

I was meditating this morning and a question arose in my mind. The question was what would help improve my relationships? (and help me feel less “pulled at”). The answer came back rather quickly. I heard the message in my mind: Be more genuine.

I was sitting with the answer and felt compelled to write another few pages in the book i am working on. (its a book of affirmations). I think at this point i am writing it mostly for myself, but felt inspired to share these 2 or 3 pages in case you also might be working on being more real and authentic as you are going through your every day life.

I am genuine.

I am genuine.
I am genuine.

Take a moment and affirm:

I am genuine.
I am real.

I am myself.
I am authentic.

I am me.

I am genuine.
I am genuine.

Feel it.
Embody it.

Become it.

What would it be like to be more genuine?
What would it be like to be more yourself?

What would you say?
What would you do?

Where would you speak up?
Where would you remain silent?

Where would you say yes and
Where would you say no?

What would you change?
What would you do differently?

Affirm:

I am genuine.
I am genuine.

I am myself.
I am authentic.

I am real
I am me.

I express my true self.
I express my deepest self.
I express my deepest truth.

I go deep within and find my highest expression.
I go deep within and express my deepest truth.

I allow this to be a process.
Take a moment now and embody:

I am genuine.
I am genuine.

Be aware of what shows up differently when you show up differently.
Be aware of what changes when you change.

How would your relationships change if you were more yourself?
What would show up differently if you showed up differently?

So often we wait for the external world to change so that we can feel better.

In this model we change our energy first and then be aware of what shows up differently when we show up differently.

For today affirm:

I am genuine.
I am genuine.

I am myself.
I am me.

I am real.
I am authentic.

I am genuine.
I am genuine.
I am genuine.

Be aware of what shows up differently when you show up differently.
Be aware of what changes when you change.

Be gentle with yourself for learning to express your deepest nature is a process.

In a world where we have been separated from our deepest self,
reclaiming the true self is an achievement.

Allow this to be a process.
Allow this to be two steps forward, one step back.

But practice every day:

I am genuine.
I am genuine.

I am myself.
I am real.

I am authentic.
I am me.

I am genuine.
I am genuine.
I am genuine.

Embody it.
Feel it.

Become it.

Practice being genuine today and be aware of what shows up differently when you show up differently.

I am genuine.
I am genuine.
I am genuine.

The Rose

I love myself.
I forgive myself.

Love builds inner strength.
Much like watering a planet strengthens the plant.

Water yourself with much love.

There is no one to heal out there.
Just work on your own healing.

Learn to love yourself.
This is the greatest contribution you can make.

Everyone will benefit from your own healing.

Heal yourself.
Do not look to heal those around you.

Heal yourself.
Love yourself.

And
Take everyone with you.

As you evolve,
it helps everyone.

Be love.
Be compassion.

Be like the rose.

Allowing your perfume to fill the room,
Effortlessly.

~Hayley Mermelstein