‘awareness’ Category

Personal Freedom – The Message of Social Uprising

 

Whether we see uprisings in countries that have dictators or corrupt and brutal governments, or whether we see the occupy movements taking place in the U.S., the message is ultimately the same. Humans fear any growing power that indicates a manipulation or an attempted control of personal freedoms.

Personal creative expression is at the heartbeat of all of life. This is the perfection of the never-ending unfolding of creation in all of its forms. This creative energy when restrained will fight vigorously for its life in the effort to make sure that any threat is aware of what will not be tolerated. It is exactly why people will camp for months through rain or sleet or snow down on Wall Street. This is not a group looking for hand-outs or giveaways but rather a group that feels that who they are on their journey and struggle to survive in a capitalistic society has been marginalized and dismissed by minds or groups of people that can only see the color green, and we are not talking about environmentalists here.

This movement like all the movements taking place around the globe is really about a much bigger line that has been drawn in the sand regarding the difference between a “we” mentality and an “I” mentality. “We” does not mean socialism but rather a more balanced respect and approach towards all people of a given society. “We” believes that it is important to see that we are all on this journey together. “I” mentality or the “every man for himself” mindset that is often an unfortunate byproduct of capitalism, is narcissistic and lacks a fundamental regard for life that can seem “soulless” in its choices and actions that ultimately negatively affect millions of people.

Like all movements in the universe, this one will eventually find its way closer to an acceptable state of balance. How long it takes and what chaos has to emerge before it happens is yet to be seen. However, a bigger message that continues to emerge, just like it has for thousands of years previous, is that the more we try and separate ourselves from our fellow man and women, plants and animals earth and stars, the more we keep getting shown that we are more connected then we could have ever imagined possible. Even more vitally important, the quality of each of our journeys through life is directly related to the awareness, respect, love and honor of this eternal truth.

Peace to all.

 

Howard Falco is a spiritual teacher and author of a powerful new book on self-awareness titled, “I AM: The Power of Discovering Who You Really Are (Tarcher/Penguin) http://www.thebookIAM.com He teaches and speaks on the power of the mind and the creation of personal reality. More about his work and schedule can be found at www.HowardFalco.com

The Value of Suffering

Why do we suffer? This has to be one of the more frequently asked of the larger questions about life. Millions across the globe fall peril to daily suffering that often seems senseless. There is hardly a soul alive today that has not faced some form of either physical or mental suffering along the road of life. So where is the redemptive value in this pain?

Since life is a never-ending process of the expansion of awareness, the direction this expansion takes is based on our intents and desires. There is a certain process of gaining the knowledge necessary to achieve these creative desires. Suffering is simply one part of this process. These desires could be as simple as wanted to eat and stay sheltered or as more complex as building a large business or sharing your creativity with the world, either way there is a process to accomplish these ideas.

When information hits your senses that is not in line with what you believe is true about yourself, you suffer because of it. For example if you believe your particular job is the only way you can provide for yourself and you lose the job, your suffering will be a result of a mind that says I will not be able to provide for myself. However, if your belief is that you will always be able to provide for yourself and you lose your job, you may not suffer at all but actually may become excited about the new opportunities that may unfold for you. The suffering in this case is to represent to you that what you believe about how you provide is NOT true.

The previous example can be used for any circumstance including the loss of a loved one, physical illness, financial concern, family troubles, relationship issues etc. The point being offered is that the value in the suffering is in the underlying message it is sending you regarding what you believe to be true. Suffering is telling you that the belief you hold that causes the suffering is NOT THE ULTIMATE TRUTH ABOUT WHO YOU ARE. There is a greater truth that is waiting to be embraced and when it is embraced suffering dissolves and peace and tranquility are yours to be experienced.

This is not presented due to a lack of empathy or compassion for what anyone is going through in the world today. It is just the opposite. It is out off the greatest empathy, compassion and love that this information is offered as the way to experience the greatest amount of joy, peace and creative fulfillment along the journey of life.

Suffering births questions. It is these questions that lead you to more of the answers you are truly looking for as you continue on your creative path. Suffering is simply a more pronounced way that the universe nudges you towards the great gift of self-reelection and self-awareness that allows you to experience more of the grandeur, magnificence and possibility of who you really are. The more you can see this the less you will suffer as you will see that life is always working with you and your deepest of desires.

Howard Falco is a spiritual teacher and author of a powerful new book on self-awareness titled, “I AM: The Power of Discovering Who You Really Are (Tarcher/Penguin) http://www.thebookIAM.com He teaches and speaks on the power of the mind and the creation of personal reality. More about his work and schedule can be found at www.HowardFalco.com

 

The Power of Your Perception

In the age of 24 hour news and the internet it can seem hard to escape the barrage of negative events occurring around the world on an daily basis. This can often lead one to wonder and seriously question what is going on in the world? These events include wars, terrorism, famine, disease, political division, nuclear crisis, financial crisis, global pollution, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes volcanoes, wildfires and on and on.

One’s faith in the purpose of life can surely be tested when witnessing the suffering that these events cause on seeming innocent people. The terms bad luck, poor fate, and an idea of a certain randomness of events are often the rationalization many use to make some sense out of what seems like extremely senseless and disturbing images.

What if there was a new way to look at these events? A much more empowering way, where you realize your role in the conditions that create what happens next?

You see, the only person that these events are really happening to is You. You are the one who interprets, feels, responds and reacts to what you experience. The reason this understanding is so critical is that it allows you to see how important this process of awareness is to what you believe about your world. There is nothing more important than what you truly believe to be true. These Truths shape every bit of information enters your consciousness and in turn directs every bit of energy that goes out from you that affects and influences the world around you. How you decide to experience your world is key.

Do you see despair, hate, randomness, sorrow or fear? If you do you will certainly send an energy out that looks for more of it. It’s not your fault it is simply how life works. You must work to confirm what you believe to be true.

Or, do you see, opportunity, faith, perfection, joy and love? If you do you will certainly send an energy out that looks for more of it. It’s not your fault it is simply how life works. You must work to confirm what you believe to be true.

This is not about willful ignorance towards what you see, actually it is just the opposite. It is about knowing what you see and believing strongly in your power to change things to be more in line with what you desire to see in your world. This is when you will exhibit the true power that you have within to create more of the conditions necessary to experience these desires for your world. It always begins and ends with you.

Having empathy and compassion for others and their challenging situations? Yes. Exhibiting an inability to understand that there is perfection to all things and a losing hope and faith? No, not if you really want your world to change. You must always believe in more possibility from life and there is no better time than now to exhibit this belief. In doing so you may just surprise yourself with how fast and wonderfully your world changes.

Howard Falco is a spiritual teacher and author of a powerful new book on self-awareness titled, “I AM: The Power of Discovering Who You Really Are (Tarcher/Penguin) http://www.thebookIAM.com He teaches and speaks on the power of the mind and the creation of personal reality. More about his work and schedule can be found at www.HowardFalco.com

Theh Search For Bliss

For so many on the spiritual path to greater wisdom, the goal seems to be achieving some idea of bliss, nirvana and the peace of complete transcendence from the suffering of mind. Fixated many become in this conception and the idea of a better state in which to experience life. One who desires this will do almost anything in the effort to achieve it. Meditate for hours, give up worldly possessions, stop eating meat, taking medicine, drinking or even having sex. The idea is that purity in the physical will lead to purity of mind. While there is nothing right or wrong with these ideas or practices, none of them have anything to directly do with the bliss or where it truly comes from.

In 2002 I experienced this bliss. Not once but twice. The first experience lasted for a week. The second one occurring a few months later lasted a full year. Today the mere thought of what produced it brings it all swirling back, lighting up every cell in my body, welling tears up in my eyes and causing the hair on the back of my neck to stand on end. When this happens all words and thoughts simply stop as I close my eyes trying to hold onto this feeling for as long as I can. Invariably, as soon as I try to hold on, it fades as quickly as a rainbow does when the sun stops shining on it.

What I can offer about the path to this experience is that it has nothing to do with some idea of purity, whatever that means to you. I wasn’t meditating in any traditional sense, I was eating meat, occasionally having a drink, taking medicine when necessary, and married with a healthy sex life. What I learned regarding these different experiences is that the impact they have on you achieving bliss or awakening have nothing to do with the activities you are engaged in and everything to do with your intent in doing the activity. Something to contemplate.

That being said, what is most critical to coming to the experience of this sought after state of being is your DESIRE to ask questions about a greater idea of who you are and your WILL to accept the answers when they show up in your reality,(Here’s a hint: they are always showing up in your reality) (Here’s another hint: This moment is no different). It is in your quest for greater self-awareness and your will to embrace what’s offered that the biggest door opens for you.

Everyone has the same access to this knowledge and the freedom of mind it offers. It is the understanding that leads to the liberation of mind from the idea of death or a “finite” nature that results in the bliss. It is the liberation of mind from the idea of “time” that result in the feeling of nirvana. It is the liberation of mind from the idea of “imperfection” that leads to the kingdom of heaven.

The understanding of these powerful ideas is what awaits you on your journey of life. Take heart, you will not be denied for this path is your destiny. What you do have free will over is the speed at which you come to these realizations. In your own time and at your own desired pace. There is no need for rush or pressure. You are right where you are supposed to be. The universe will always be ready when you are…

Howard Falco is a spiritual teacher and author of a powerful new book on self-awareness titled, “I AM: The Power of Discovering Who You Really Are (Tarcher/Penguin) http://www.thebookIAM.com He teaches and speaks on the power of the mind and the creation of personal reality. More about his work and schedule can be found at www.HowardFalco.com

The Quantum Field Responds

 

I have recently begun to take questions about life from people dealing with the challenges of their everyday reality. These individuals are looking to understand how to incorporate a greater sense of awareness and perception into their situation that leads to real change. Presented here are this months selected questions and the responses offered.

QUESTION # 1

I understand so much of what is being offered by this new thought movement logically, but I can’t seem to embrace it emotionally for real change. I feel like I should get this by now. How do I overcome this?

First let me just say that you said, “I can’t seem to embrace” which is a present tense creative statement. You may want to say it as ,“I haven’t yet been able to embrace…”

Secondly, remember you are always right where you’re supposed to be because there is no other place. Give yourself a break, accept and love where you are in the process. Anything else is denial. There is no timetable or benchmark on your personal evolution of consciousness.

Third, once you are in this balanced, loving and accepting state of mind, ask yourself what it is exactly that you haven’t yet been able to embrace in this moment. This has been your point of resistance.

Well, saying that I’m right where I’m supposed to be doesn’t exactly feel good when where I am right now is in pain.

Accepting where you are right now is not the acceptance of it for your future. Ironically, your acceptance of it is actually what will liberate you from the experience of it in this moment. If you don’t understand that right now, this is where you are, regardless of the circumstances that got you here, you will use all of your energy to defend yourself against this truth by holding up woulda, coulda and shouldas in your mind, rather than to use your infinite supply of energy to take the action that actually changes what is true for you. Denial will get you nowhere.

Ok so I’m supposed to be in pain?

You are wherever you decide to be based on how you interpret the circumstances of your world and your personal story.

Well I’m sorry, but struggling financially and feeling tired and unhealthy is not where I want to be.

So where do you want to be?

Financially stable and healthy.

Then choose to be this now. Begin in this moment to make new choices in relation to how you make and how you spend your money. Begin right now to love and honor yourself in a new way where you generate the positive energy that heals your soul and cleanses your spirit giving you renewed energy and vitality to go after any job you truly desire. Start yourself on a path where you never give up….ever.

Most importantly, if you cannot do this ask yourself why? Discover the false beliefs you hold of imperfection or lack. This is the coding that is driving your current experience of reality. On some level your thoughts about who you are contain the current limits you are experiencing in life. Challenge them and choose to replace them with new ideas for who you are that contain abundance and vitality.

And if I do this and nothing changes?

The do it again. Do it until you finally have learned all you need to learn to change the reality. You cannot fail. The truth of your beliefs, however, will always be your experience at any given moment of your reality.

And the part about embracing these ideas more in my daily life?

You will take this understanding from your head to your heart when you are finally tired enough of what you currently experience. When your desire for change outweighs your fear of the unknown. Moving this information from your head to your heart is the change and this is what you are protecting yourself from. You are always pacing the unfolding of your consciousness and the essence of your experience of time. You are always in charge of the creative energy you release to your world.

QUESTION # 2

The economy is horrible and it is really affecting me. How do I deal with this? I am a realtor and the market is terrible. How do I turn it around?

Tell me what turn it around means to you.

I’d like to make at least 60% of what I made in a good market.

How hard were you working in a good market?

4 days a week but the phone was ringing off the hook with buyers looking for homes. Now the phone barely rings.

So you will have to change what you are doing. You might have to work 6 or 7 days a week and begin a new marketing campaign to get your phone ringing again.

But I don’t want to work 7 days a week and marketing plans cost money.

I understand.

I just want it to be like it used to be.

Used to be is an illusion. There is only what is, here, and now. You refusal to be here and now is what will keep you stuck in the illusion of time.   When your stuck in time nothing changes for you while everything changes around you.

I am here and now and I say its not fair!

It is not a matter of fair it is a matter of the acceptance that you live within a universe of constant change. If you desire to be at peace by creating an income of 60% of what you used to make then you will have to accept the conditions that are now present and make new decisions from this present state awareness. With a strong desire for your stated goal nothing will stop you from the actions that will create what you desire and probably much more.

So stop fooling myself with wishful thinking?

You can always have wishful thinking but at the same time if you want things to change it starts and ends with you. You cannot operate from an illusion and experience a new reality. What you will actually get is another bigger illusion. You can only operate from an acceptance of the current reality and then from this present accepting state, with clarity, begin to create a new one.

How do I begin?

You already have begun by asking the questions. All you have to do now is be aware of what is presented to you and if you so choose to, take the next step.

QUESTION #3

Why can’t I find someone I enjoy to share my life with?

Yet.

What?

You made a present tense statement which will be used to create your future. I added yet to the end of the sentence to offer you that the first step is to open you up to the possibility of it happening in your future.

You’re saying that I don’t see it as a possibility and that’s why it’s not happening?

I am not saying it, you said it. I am only offering you what your words reveal about your true thoughts. It is your true thoughts that create your experience of life. The more you can become conscious of a previous subconscious belief and creation process, the more you have creative control over your life.

Yea well that’s great and all but the only people I meet are creeps.

So be it.

Oh I see another present tense statement?

Exactly.

So how do I change it?

Partly by what you are doing right now.  By becoming more aware of what you believe so that you can ask yourself if the beliefs you hold serve you now.

But I do believe that I am worth meeting the right person!

That’s great. So now let’s do a litmus test to see if this is true. Tell me five things you have done in the past week that validates this belief.

Reluctantly, I signed up for an online dating service. I went out with my friends the other night. Ummmm….

That’s ok, lets start first with the word reluctantly.

Well you’ve heard of all the horrors stories haven’t you?

I’m sure they exist but I have also heard of all the success stories as well. Thousands of people who are making beautiful connections each day. The point is you can have preconceived notions that jade your perception and keep you from possibility or you can open to faith and belief and allow magic to happen. Either way you’re controlling the input and output.

The big question is do you love who you are enough to KNOW that you are going to meet the right one. Because when you do you will be open to all possibility in every second of every day. The universe will become your co-creation partner in the deal and you will see all the things that enter your reality as the universes responds to what you asked for. Each will be seen as a condition that is needed to get you where you asked to go. Just like this one right now ;)

Howard Falco, is the author of a powerful new book on self-awareness titled, “I AM: The Power of Discovering Who You Really Are (Tarcher/Penguin) http://www.thebookIAM.com He is a spiritual teacher and speaker on the power of the mind and the creation of personal reality. More about his work and schedule can be found at www.HowardFalco.com

The Essence of Gratitude


Gratitude is a word that has been used a lot lately in teachings offering the “spiritual” path to others. It is especially offered as a concept to those looking to manifest more in their lives. The standard line is something of the order of “You just need to practice being grateful for everything you do have in your life”. Now, while it is true that a shift in perspective from an ungrateful state of mind to a more grateful state of mind helps one to temporarily feel more at peace, it is also true that any concept offered without the root understanding of the concept is likely to be misunderstood, misused, and lead to eventual frustration.

Gratitude is not a practice, it is an understanding. As a practice it is forced, as an understanding it flows. Therefore, it is always the deeper nature of self-discovery and self-inquiry that leads to a deeper and more expansive self-love that results in gratitude.

This is a love that comes from the understanding that right now You are the perfection of all your past perfect choices, thoughts and actions. If you hadn’t made all those past choices you wouldn’t be on the path you’re on now coming to the amazing understanding that you are leading yourself towards each and every day. You would be delaying your evolution rather than expanding and evolving, asking questions, receiving answers and transforming into more of a peaceful, conscious creator of your life and a powerful master of your reality.

True gratitude comes from the realization that every situation in every moment, as much as it can seem against you, is always and forever FOR You. For example, in this moment, who else could these words be for? How you choose to respond, react and feel, based on what you desire to create and experience in this lifetime is your “free will”.  You are the infinite and priceless observer and creator of life, and everything you can see, feel, touch, smell and hear is here to support you in your creative effort.

When you see all persons, places and things in your daily walk as the tangible matter that gives your life its meaning and growth, your judgments will disappear and the gratitude and love you have for all of it will know no boundaries. This is the gratitude that sees all as perfection, feels itself as part of the perfection and manifests from the unlimited and unrestricted nature of this perfection. From this state of grace the great mirror that is the Universe has no choice but to respond in kind…

With endless love & gratitude,
Howard

Howard Falco, is the author of a powerful new book on self-awareness titled “I AM: The Power of Discovering Who You Really Are (Tarcher/Penguin) http://www.thebookIAM.com He is a spiritual teacher and speaker on the unlimited creative power of the mind and the creation of personal reality. More about his work and schedule can be found at www.HowardFalco.com