I am reading this wonderful book by James Van Praagh called "Unfinished Business. What The Dead Can Teach Us About Life".
Mr. Van Praagh is a Medium who communicates with individuals that have passed from this realm into the Light. The stories he relays in his books are eye-openers and very poignant to the challenges and questions of the living. In this book, he deals with issues such as Guilt, Regret, Blame, Forgiveness, Fear and much more.
One part that really spoke to me is in the Regrets chapter. It deals with Judgment. I was happily reading along, enjoying the stories, when I ran across these two sentences, and they hit me right between the eyes.
"It is so easy to judge another, because judgment places us in a position of power. When we love ourselves for who we are and love others for exactly who they are, there is very little reason to judge."
In my life, whenever something hits me that hard, it usually means there is a message for me personally, or to share with someone. This one was personal! I stopped reading right there and began to skim through my life and the different ways I judge. I allowed myself to feel what those judgments felt like in my body and spirit, and found he was right! It DID make me feel more powerful when I judged others opinions and thoughts next to mine! I mean, it's all about who's right and who's wrong . . . right? It also made me feel heavy, anxious, and physically I could feel my muscles tense up and my stomach start to feel queasy.
And, oh, the justifications that started forming in my mind! Talk about resistance!
"Well, can't I even have an opinion?" I asked my Wisdom, as I puffed out my chest (and felt my mouth drooping into a frown). The answer was simple yet profound and gave me a new way to approach this whole subject.
Of course, I can have my own opinions. They just don't have to agree with anyone elses opinions. The difference is, what is my thought process when I don't agree? Is it one of arrogance in KNOWING I'm right, or is it a more loving stance to accept that, even though my opinion differs from others, it's all okay.
So what if someone is raising a child; treating their spouse; buying their groceries differently than I would. What if they eat junk food, or health food; drive a Chevy or Ford. It does not make me right and them wrong. It only shows the beauty in our diversity.
You can bet I will watch for my judgmental thoughts from now on and choose to change them into acceptance and love. Have you been judgmental in your life? If so, what will you do about it? Will you continue to dogmatically stick to your "judgment", or will you choose to seek the better feeling of love and acceptance?
Whatever you decide . . . I love and accept you no matter what!
The other day, I told you about my vision of Farmer's Markets and people living their lives in wonderful little communities where giving and receiving was the norm. I brought up the fact that we all as individuals have the power within ourselves to create our world the way we want it. I also suggested that if we as a collective group of souls put our thoughts together, perhaps, just perhaps we could really make a difference. I told you I had a plan, so here it is.
First of all, I feel the need to tell you that none of us can make any difference in this world unless we make a difference in our own lives to begin with. In fact, that IS how we make a difference in the world, by minding our own business and doing what brings joy to us as individuals. So how do we create peace in our own world? Well, I have a few suggestions. Very practical suggestions that include everyday habits we can change without much ef
fort.
Hold onto your seat, here goes!
Turn off the TV! Okay, I'm thinking mostly of the news broadcasts. I know we all have our favorite TV shows. In fact, I can't get through the week without seeing Melinda Gordon free some earthbound spirits in "Ghost Whisperer" every Friday evening. What I'm talking about is listening to other people tell us their view on what's happening in the world and telling us constantly how horrible everything is. Just think about it. How do we feel after watching the news? Uplifted? Encouraged? Ready to be inspired to help others around us? If the answer to any of these questions is "no", then what good is it doing our very sensitive and beautiful spirit? Why feed our mind things that do not and cannot serve us in a good way? So, stop watching the news! After that, perhaps we need to examine the programs we watch. I'm not suggesting we give them up, but just notice how they make us feel. If it's any less than encouraged, perhaps we should ask ourselves if that's still okay with our spirit.
Along the same lines, stop reading the news in print or on the Internet. Stop listening to it on the radio. This will go along way in changing our vibration to a lighter more joyful one. After all, everything we read, watch, and hear are only other people's opinions and thoughts. The media, no matter which station or paper you subscribe to is biased. The "Right" wants to tell you how terrible the "Left" is and the "Left" wants to tell you how terrible the "Right" is. Does this really promote unity? And if we put ourselves in the middle of that vibration, how do we help ourselves feel better, much less anyone else.
"But we can't put our heads in the sand. We have to know what's going on around us."
Okay, so we know this person is blaming that person for the horrible economy and that person is blaming someone else. How is that helping the economy or us? In fact, as most of us know "like attracts like", so if we want more of a bad economy, just keep bringing attention 
to it. What would happen if we determined in our own heart that the "bad economy", was not going to effect us, and we focused on what brings us joy instead? Don't you think that would go a long way to raise our vibration out of the muck everyone else is in? And what do you think would happen if all of us did that. If we all just began to attract joy and happiness into our lives and appreciate what we have right now. If everyone did that, the economy would not be a problem. In fact, I'll bet many of the "problems" that are perceived in this country would vanish!
So, let's think individually for the moment instead of globally. When we think globally, we put our noses in other people's business and try telling them how to live their lives. Instead, just live our own lives in the most joyful and appreciative way we can.
I'd love to challenge you to try this for one week! No news, or news programs, or talk radio, or newspapers; and while we are on the subject; why not turn the volume down on the TV whenever one of those drug commercials comes on.
What do you think? Can you do it? Let me know how it's going.
I love Farmer's Markets!
I love the diversity of the people; I love the display after displays of fresh fruit and vegetables; I love the fragrances as the food vendors cook up their specialties; I love the energy!
Farmer's markets are the reason I love Saturday mornings! I plan meals for the week with fresh veggies and delightful fresh foods in mind.This morning, I wondered why I enjoy them so much and I remembered a few years ago being in a group of participants who under hypnosis traveled into the future. We were to report back what we saw.
Unfortunately, the person who did the hypnosis told us beforehand what he thought the future looked like, so that was the thought that was in most every one's minds as they went into trance. I, however, being the rebel I am, did not like what he said, so refused his 
vision.
What I saw was wonderful Farmer's Markets! There were no more big grocery stores, but fields and fields of fresh vegetables, fruits and grains. There was also fresh fish in some communities and fresh meat. Everyone bartered and traded either goods for goods or some other energy exchange. All was peaceful and the energy was delightful! That is what I saw then and that's what I see now, when it comes to thinking about the future.
I don't see a big ka-boom and the world ending in 2012! I don't see blood and destruction all over the place. I don't see fighting, and waring, and skyscrapers on fire. I see peace and camaraderie. People getting along, each in the community they have chosen to live. Accepting and being accepted. Then I thought about the power we have as individuals. Individually, we can create our world as we want it to be. So doesn't it seem reasonable that collectively, if we all concentrate our thoughts on peace and serenity, we can actually bri
ng this world to that state instead?
I've got an idea! Join me here tomorrow and I'll share with you a plan! I'm excited to see what you think. Can we really do it? Stay tuned!
