by Cynthia Bischoff | Aug 22, 2015 | Heartliving
I’ve had many roles in this life, but one that I enjoyed very much was the teaching of literature which I did for over 10 years. I always appreciated how literature can reflect well crafted slices of life. For example, in this quote from Shakespeare in All’s Well that Ends Well, the line reads: “The web of our own life is of mingled yarn. . . .”
I’ve always loved these words because they give me a visual image that is comforting about our lives. I do see my life as a tapestry—-and this tapestry at times can seem full of loose threads and knotted yarn. I sometimes reflect on how one painful or joyful thing is contributing to the bigger picture.
All of us experience challenges that may at times seem overwhelming, and I think we all wonder at times, how can I possibly overcome the circumstances I am finding myself in?
But we do overcome. And we find along the way that the greatest challenges almost always lead to the greatest growth. Or I like to say, the stumbling blocks on our path can become the stepping stones.
So if we go back to this tapestry we are weaving that we call our lives, we can hope that at the end of our lives, when we turn our life’s work of art over, we will witness a picture that is perfectly what it needed to be.
The knotted yarn, the loose threads–all of it had a purpose,
and in fact, in the end, without the presence of these seeming imperfections, the picture would not be as clear or as perfect as it ends up being.
So, you see from this point of view, we also understand that everything in our lives is happening with some sort of purpose—-all of it—-so that we may grow and learn, and create our world’s meaning.
Now, I am in no way suggesting that life is predestined, but rather that through the choices you make throughout your life, you are discovering not only your world, but also yourself.
Many blessings on this journey of self-discovery!
by Cynthia Bischoff | Jul 25, 2015 | Heartliving
The following ideas are suggested as ways that we can stay young by challenging our minds and hearts:
1. Try new ways to exercise. Dance!
2. Love your plants, cultivate a garden, play with and love animals.
3. Eat more vegetables (said to slow down brain decline).
4. Mentor a person or teach a lesson.
5. Have fun and most of all, laugh (don’t take things so seriously).
6. Live in the moment (focus on what you are doing right now).
7. Read an interesting book, learn a new idea, or try a new skill.
8. Do crossword puzzles or brain teasers that challenge you.
9. Go with the flow and be more spontaneous (do something a different way).
10. Share your feelings, especially in group process. Connection is so important!
by Cynthia Bischoff | Jul 11, 2015 | Heartliving
Your soul’s essence is connectedness, and it thrives on relationship. Ancient people knew this instinctively and recognized that their survival depended upon each other—-they needed to cooperate to thrive in their world.
When we understand that we are related to every form of life on this planet and we become a partner with the Universe, we can then begin to act on behalf of our world.
So whether it is your co-worker, partner, or relative–or the stranger in another country–you will respond differently to others when you feel a sense of connectedness rather than separation. In fact, when I teach in Japan, I have learned that it is believed that “all pain is a result of separation”–whether that separation occurs in your community, family, or in your body.
When we remember the value of oneness and cooperation, we begin to look at one another differently. We find that our lives become calmer, and we are less attached to specific outcomes.
As a result, we can decide to give up arguing—-one argument at a time.
We can choose to be peaceful rather than right.
by Cynthia Bischoff | Jun 27, 2015 | Heartliving
“People and things do not upset us, rather we upset ourselves by believing that they can upset us.” –Albert Ellis
“We become what we think about all day long.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson
“There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.” –Shakespeare
Do you sometimes catch yourself verbalizing thoughts that are self-defeating? Do you hope desperately for something yet limit what you think you deserve, thereby dividing yourself against yourself?
Or do you understand that your thoughts do, in fact, create your reality, yet still feel unable to move your awareness about this into any conscious action to change?
It is my view that awareness is a first step toward conscious living. So how do you move through awareness into action? A necessary second step is willingness–that is, the willingness to hold consciousness in the moment toward what you wish to have or be. Remember that your knowledge is not complete unless you act on what you know.
For example, I may desire a better financial situation. My desire may not be congruent with my thoughts. Throughout the day, I may be lamenting that I do not have enough money and focusing on this lack.
So what can I do to align my thoughts with the reality that I wish to create?
An important step would be to act as though you already are what and where you would like to be. You would then concentrate on what it would look and feel like to have or be the desired result.
You can use the power of visualization to support your conscious thoughts. See yourself manifesting what you desire. If you wish to be out of debt, visualize yourself with all that you need financially, visualize a “0” debt balance. Add an affirmation that you repeat consciously each day: “I draw wealth to myself. I have all the money that I need to bring good into the world.” Choose words that resonate with you and match your positive visualization.
It would also be important to take note of what you do have–enough water, food, sun, air, clothes, shelter, friends, love, work. If you find yourself lamenting over what you do not have, remind yourself of two important things that you do have.
When you are able to take delight in what you do have and feel grateful, you will draw more to yourself. Energetically, it is as though you open yourself up to a state of flow and abundance.
Remember that positive changes are most often ignited by our willingness to believe in them!
Want to learn more about the power of positive thinking and manifesting your best life? Then attend Heartliving’s upcoming workshop, “The Art of Manifesting: Creating the Life You Desire”, to be held on Saturday and Sunday, October 24-25,2015, at the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel and Conference Center, Virginia Beach, VA. To learn more about this life changing program and to take advantage of the “Early Bird” discount click here: Register
by Cynthia Bischoff | May 30, 2015 | Heartliving
Looking for signs around you is the most natural act in the world. Humans have always used omens or signs to figure out the world around them.
Examples abound of how our ancestors used signs to understand their world. Our seafaring ancestors needed all the help they could get to navigate the seas. Birds, for example, indicated that land was nearby. An equally important divination tool was to use the stars and planets to understand the world. Astrology was the study (ology) of stars (astro).
Our ancestors paid careful attention to the land, seas, skies, and also the seasons, connecting with the rhythms of their times. The clouds were seen as a kind of mirror in which people could see themselves and receive messages.
In our current day, we can still benefit from using our intuition and paying attention to how it expresses itself in the signs around us. Perhaps you are driving and thinking about a certain situation. Have you noticed certain license plates around you that seem to be giving you a message? Subway signs, radio songs, billboards–simply “ask” for a sign and you will receive one. So what if you receive a sign? How might you interpret it? Let’s take the letter “C” for instance. It might mean:
–The letter “C”
–The Spanish word for “yes”
–A word beginning with the letter “C”
–The Sea (water)
–Something shaped like the letter “C”!
Connect with and understand the way in which your world can communicate with you. It will bring a little magic into your life!
