Awakening Talk Radio

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How many of you get stuck because of something really simple? We are talking about an everyday occurrence like your child loudly chewing food with her mouth open two feet from your ear while you are trying to meditate, or having the internet connection break down because of some unknown reason and all of a sudden everyone in the house is under suspicion, especially your wife and definitely the cat. For me, the preceding instances hit really close to home, as in today in my home. Getting stuck means different things to different people. Our actions leading into getting stuck and back out vary widely. The more present we are, the harder it is to get stuck. The more frustrated, under pressure, and stressful our lives are at a given moment, the easier it is for us to get stuck and stay stuck. So, how can I remember who I really am when stuck happens? First, acknowledge the situation for what it is, not the story you are telling yourself, or even the story someone else wants you to buy into. Do this and you are well on your way back to the present. Did you by any chance have an outburst related to the event that created the stuckiness? Was the outburst out of proportion to the event? Good things for us to look at because the more disproportional the outburst, the more stuff probably floating around in your mind that you need to let go. So remember, when stuck happens, let it happen. Avoiding stuck always creates more stuck. Next, move on. Who you really are is always really available - just take a moment. And if you remember the TV Show “The Beverly Hillbillies," during their end theme song, they say with only a slight variation:Hillbilly, that is, set a spell.Take your shoes off! Y'all come back now, y’hear? Here is a good place to be. Please join us tonight when we discuss how to take your shoes off even when you are still wearing them.

We don't have to look very far these days to see contraction in all its forms circling around us. Everywhere we turn there appears to be ample reason for contracting, and depending on your circumstances, even to become fearful. Contraction creates tension, anxiety, and often pain in many shapes and forms. For instance, many of us are experiencing financial difficulty that we can also see reverberating on a global scale. If you are one of the many caught in the middle of the housing and job crisis - life is not pleasant at the moment. Yes, it is much nicer (depending on your personality and disposition) when things are going smoothly, the is sun shining, everyone is healthy, and your bank account is overflowing with money. Just writing that makes me laugh because for many of us, including me at this time, it is a dream. The problem is that even if all those wonderful things are real for you, the mind will step in at some point to detract from that experience. Our mind will try its best to cause a form of contraction because the mind loves drama more than anything, and as most of us experience on a daily basis - it normally succeeds in creating it. The good news is you have a choice. What if you made a conscious (I like that word) decision to meet everything on some level that is happening, around you, and to you, and on you, and on top of you - with openness, with expansiveness, with deep breaths, with love, with hope, and with the joy that is always available inside you and ready to manifest itself under the most arduous of circumstances right at this very moment. Openness does not mean that you start running around the room and kissing everyone, and jumping up and down on the couch because you lost your job, but then again, maybe that's not a bad thing to do since losing your job, or your money, hair, or anything else is already in the past. Try choosing to be connected, here, and welcoming to possibility. If anything, you will feel better. Openness ha

I recently picked Murrie up after school and as she got in the passenger seat next to me, she seemed like she wanted to talk about something. And she did. "Dada?" "Yes, Murrie, what's up?" And then it starts to spill out in a jumble like it's been on her mind for awhile, "Well, you know how Mom is always complaining about having no money and always borrowing from me? Sometimes she goes in to search my room because she knows that I keep some money hidden. She does this even when I tell her that I do not have any. She never returns any of the money, and often buys stupid stuff like donuts which I don't want after she tells me that she needs the money for groceries so that we can eat" I'm thinking to myself that things have to be confusing enough for an 11 year old without being caught in the middle of this drama. "Okay" I say and continue... "I knew about the borrowing, but not about her never paying you back, or telling you that she was going to use the money for one thing, then spending it on something else. Most of us, including me at one time or another, may talk about doing one thing and then doing something different. This happens when people are under stress. I know that your Mom is under a lot of stress. When someone is under a lot of stress they also often do things without thinking about it. Murrie, this happens when someone let's their thoughts take over everything going on in their brain. You end up focusing on all sorts of things and reacting to things you are thinking about that are not actually happening right at that moment. Staying in the moment, or present, is similar to you being aware of sitting next to me right now as I am speaking. I believe that you can feel your backpack wedged between your body and the seat, which looks pretty uncomfortable from here (Murrie starts to laugh). So when people are not fully here, they often end up doing things that don't help them or you, like with you and Mom. Do you ever say anything to poin

"Dada, I need a bag to take my project to school and it looks like it might rain" said Murrie, my almost-12 year old daughter. "A bag, okay, try looking under the sink,” I comment. "Dada, the ones under the sink are too small,” she shouts up the stairs. "Okay, let me look in the garage when I come downstairs before taking you to school.” When I get downstairs, Murrie is waiting for me. "Where is it?" she asks. "Just a minute,” I say. When I go into the garage, the only plastic bags are fairly big. The kind that are meant for a large garbage pail, and smaller than the kind you would use for your lawn clippings. I pull one out and walk back into the hallway. "Here it is, Murrie,” I say. "Dada, the bag is way too big and I need to go to school.” At this point I just take her project and put it in the bag myself, being careful to fold over the plastic in a way that makes it easier to carry, then hand it to her. "The bag is still way too big,” she says. Now we get in the car to go to school. "Dada, the bag is really big.” "I know, the bag is really big,” I say. "That's right, the bag is really big and I can't believe it. Why do I have to go to school with my project in such a big bag?" "Because, Murrie, it was the only bag I had, and the other bag was too small, and you needed a bag for your project.” "I know,” she says. "But the bag is still too big.” At this point, I’m getting a bit ruffled. "Murrie, if you say that the bag is too big again, I’m stopping the car and you will walk the rest of the way to school.” "You wouldn't do that,” she huffs. "Try me!” I say. And for the rest of the car ride, all 5 minutes of it, Murrie is quiet. When we get within 3 blocks of the school, Murrie starts up again. "Dada, the bag is too big and because of you I am now going to be late.” It was actually just 8:00 AM and she was 10 minutes early. So I replied "Murrie, all I know is, is that the bag is really big and I can't believe you had to put your project in it, and I hope

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No one can ever take away your best moment¬--that moment when you are connected, alive, smiling, and maybe even grateful. The problem is, knowing what a 'best moment' is and not letting it pass you by, but instead enjoying it for all that it is, and all that it is worth. When we get caught up, not only do we move further away from a stream of 'best moments', we also move further away from who we really are. By moving away from our ability to enjoy the moment, we are buying into something that our mind/ego is creating for it to be in control. I laugh when people say to me that it's the simple things that bring me the most joy from day-to-day , because it's absolutely true! For some, their best moment may be the day they won the big game, or had sex with that man or woman of their dreams, or please by all means plug-in your own real or imagined 'best moment' fantasy. But the truth of the matter is that it's enough to be alive. And too often we lose sight of this simple understanding. Please join us this week as we discuss this and other simple understandings to help you recognize and have 'best moments' all the time.

There are always many thoughts running through my mind. And I would imagine it is the same for you. One perpetual thought I have is that you really do get what you either wish for, or focus on 'secretly' - Yes, I said: Secretly. We tell ourselves things all the time, but our inner most thoughts ultimately play themselves out in both positive, negative, or even surprising ways. This is why it is so very important to 'do the work' to make yourself 'whole,’ expansive, and present. This is the most important work that you can do because the benefits of being here have the greatest ability to effect the most positive changes when we are clear. There are the positive thinking schools of thought, prosperity consciousness schools of thought and so on. No matter what the school of thought, to be ready to grow, or move on, or deal (as my daughter likes to say) requires that we do the 'work' and keep on 'getting till we get there.’ That expression came from me asking directions onetime while I was driving in Georgia years ago, lost and in the middle of nowhere. I saw a gas station with a truck driver sitting in front. When I told him where I needed to go, he said to me "Do you see that road over yonder?" "Yes" I replied. "Well, just follow that road and just keep getting till you get there.” Please join us this week at Awakening Talk Radio as we discuss ways to follow that ‘road' to consciousness and in general, to just help you to 'keep getting till you get there.’

your afflictionis your addictionto the ego's fiction Yes, the ego's fiction?a great topic and a great story/wonderful lesson/fortunate occurrence?to relate to you this week. My wife and I were recently in New York to attend a family function. We were on our way from Manhattan to New Jersey by train and were in the waiting area. When the train was announced we quickly mobilized to get to the gate and find seats. The train departs and about 20 minutes later my wife jumps up and looks around frantically. "What is it?" I ask. What's wrong? "I left my purse in the waiting area. When we left to board the train, I felt light, like something was missing" she replied. At this point, she is frantically calling every possible number to see if someone could look for it, or maybe turned it in to the lost and found at Penn Station. This goes on for 30 minutes with no luck, a lot of frustration, and certainly turned what should have been a pleasant train ride into something much less pleasant. I told her that we'll call the credit card companies, and replace what we need too, but obviously we were not happy. We arrive at our destination and get off the train. My wife is in the process of canceling her credit cards when a call from her own cell phone from the purse comes through. The voice at the other end asked for my wife by name. It turns out the purse, with all of the contents, was turned in and I was thankful and crying, and feeling very fortunate. We made arrangements to pick up the purse in the morning. When I got back to the hotel that afternoon, out of nowhere my wife says to me "when we first sat down in the waiting area, I looked around to see who was sitting near us. There were some people sleeping, and it was clear that many of them came from all walks of life, and I thought to myself I was not going to judge them. They are probably good people with their own stories and jobs and doing whatever they do.” I was amazed after hearing this, because when I sat

Welcome to the first Awakening Talk Radio Newsletter of 2009! We hope that you had an enjoyable Holiday, and got at least a little rest. As we move into a brand new year filled with our latest hopes/dreams/desires, what better way to begin 2009 than connecting with the ultimate self source. There is never a need to delay moving into this loving union connection, or to think about putting it somewhere on your 2009 resolution to do list. This union is always available to effortlessly move into?Right now! When I am not present and start moving into mindful drama created by one thing or another, I have forgotten what is most important?my connection to the 'source.’ When I am connected to the 'source,’ my ability to 'see' things improves, and my circumstances are revealed as just what they are?'circumstances' that are no more or less temporary than my body. Please join us this week as we discuss ways to move toward the ultimate ‘intercourse’ at any time of the day or night and in any country, state, or situation, to kick off the New Year!