What a ride it was in 2009! For some, it’s a relief that it’s over. For others, there can be regrets of good times passed or loved ones leaving. For all of us, this is an opportunity to look at the past year to understand the Soul’s purpose during this time.
As we move forward into the New Year, our thoughts are often filled with the hope that making our annual resolutions bring. We make statements such as, “This is the year when I am going to____________________.” “This year my goal is ___________.”
or, “This year I plan to stop_(fill in your own addiction here).
For many of us, we continue to make variations of the same resolution, and sabotage them with the same patterns over and over. We attempt to move away from the old situations, the year past, without collecting the learnings that these situations brought to us, changing the patterns that no longer work, or opening up to the gifts that are present for our growth. We continue to do what we swear we’re never going to do again, and then beat ourselves up for it. Shame is never a good motivator for lasting change.
On our soul’s journey, we move through many situations that seem difficult, even traumatic in this physical form. However, every situation and person that we have encountered thus far, no matter how difficult, was part of our soul’s purpose to help us grow and evolve. So, we can begin to open up to a new way of looking at our lives.
To begin to understand your soul’s purpose, it is helpful to ask yourself some questions to bring this information to your awareness. Think back over the past year to some of the significant events or patterns that occurred. From a place of inner stillness and non- judgment, ask yourself the following questions: What were the times and places I gave my power away and stopped being responsible to myself? What internal resources or beliefs would have been helpful to me in those situations? How have I grown because of this? What themes kept reoccurring? What was the gift or blessing that came forward as a result of my experiences in 2009?
Now, stop for a moment, take a deep breath, and look through the eyes of your Soul, knowing that it holds no fear or judgment, but experiences only the purest Love. As you are looking through these loving eyes, open up to your Soul’s purpose in all of this. What was Life asking of you here? Was it to open your heart? To trust yourself? To move forward with courage? The soul’s purpose is often beyond our physical senses, but is always working for our highest good, guiding us toward our destiny. When the soul’s purpose can be seen in the patterns of our lives, life becomes a celebration. Begin to trust that we are all part of something much larger than our physical being, and that everything that happens is for our highest good. Our job is to cooperate with our soul’s expression.
If you sailed through 2009 with abundance and joy, and handled all challenges with grace and ease, that’s awesome. Continue doing that in 2010. If, on the other hand, you are holding on to regrets, anger, or longing for days passed, then you might find some of the following suggestions helpful. Some of these may take some time, but when you set your intention to do what’s for your highest good, these changes begin to take place.
Fist of all, sit quietly and slow down your breathing. Think of a time when you really felt loving for something or someone, and open up to that feeling now. Hold that experience as you think about the following:
1. Imagine the you of 2009 out in front of you. Send that loving energy to him or her. Express appreciation for all that you did. Send that energy through your whole timeline of 2009 to change the vibration.
2. Take responsibility for the choices you made. Forgive yourself for any judgments you’re carrying about what you did or didn’t do.
3. Love those parts of you that continued to repeat old patterns. Know that you’ll change when it’s time, and that you’re learning and being strengthened during it all.
4. Change the questions you ask yourself, as that’s where the wisdom lies. For example
• Instead of why did this happen to me? Ask, what was my soul’s purpose?
• Instead of whose fault was this? Ask, what am I to be learning here?
• Instead of why do I keep screwing up? Ask, what qualities do I need to handle this differently?
5. Visualize yourself having the qualities that you need. Re-experience a situation you’re holding on to in a new way to help you transform it.
6. Set your intention to let go of what no longer serves your Highest Good.
7. Live in the moment, as that is the only place change occurs.
8. Trust that everything happened for your learning and growth, and that you were supported throughout the year.
Think of who you are now compared to the you of a year ago. Chances are, you’re not the same. You’ve lived, loved, experienced disappointment, maybe even heartache. And you’ve grown on levels you’re not even aware of. Often, you’ve been “sandpapered” into a better you. And your soul has been leading you on this journey. It has been your biggest fan and cheerleader. Always present and loving it all.
Happy New Year to us all. May this year be filled with love, joy and laughter!
Dixie Clark, MS, MSS, LPC is Director and co-founder of Morning Star Center, a holistic well center. A licensed counselor and ordained minister, she holds a masters’ degree in both counseling and spiritual science, and is currently obtaining her doctorate in spiritual science. With over 26 years experience in mind/body therapies, she combines psychology and spirituality to help people release emotional blocks, heal past trauma and change limiting beliefs.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Soul’s Expressions
"Your Soul is never diminished. It is never broken. It is never handicapped or sick. It does not die. The Soul thrives entirely, and it thrives on everything in life.”
You Are the Blessings, by John Morton
There are many ways that we can express ourselves. And the manner we choose may vary, depending on the situation or the people we’re with. Often times our ego/ personality decides what and how this expression occurs. It decides just how much people get to know about us, how vulnerable to be, what is safe to share. We often attempt to control the situation or others’ perceptions of us through our expressions. Our ego believes that in order to be safe we need to justify and defend who we are. We can become like shape shifters or chameleons, trying to fit into the expectations and opinions of others.
At some point, we begin to sense that there is more to life, that there is more to us. That within us lies a greatness just waiting to come forward. And we are right. There is a radiant spark of the Divine within each of us called the Soul. That is our true nature.
Our soul expresses itself frequently in our lives, although it can be very subtle. We often move in and out of this energy so quickly that we miss it.
The expressions of the soul come in the form of love, joy, laughter, enthusiasm, acceptance, authenticity, innocence, expansion. Common every day moments. Common every day expressions of the Divine. And we often let them slip by without realizing that in that moment, our greatness just came forward.
These expressions can be seen in the way we love our children, how we greet our friends, how we allow ourselves to openly deal with the pain of a loss and then find the courage to move forward. They can be seen in enthusiasm for a project or idea, creativity, whether that be through the arts, or simply a new way of doing something. It can be seen in laughter, in play, in just being silly. It is seen in the grace of forgiveness, sitting with a loved one who is sick or dying, in opening our heart and receiving fully from life.
These are the keys to the meaning of life. To be in the moment in loving and acceptance, and to know that everything is coming forward for our highest good.
We live with our personality as our center for a long time. It creates illusions that separate us from ourselves and others. Through our fears and judgments, we can constrict this soul energy. The Soul will just stand back allowing us to suffer and struggle and think we’re alone in all of this if that’s what we choose. It is there in total loving, learning what it needs to, knowing it’s safe.
At some point the awakening to our true nature begins, sometimes it comes in the form of restlessness, frustration, loneliness. It’s as if the part of us that knows is saying, “Wake up…..remember….
Our greatness lies in opening to this Soul awareness and allowing that expression to be our center.
Think about your life today. What are the ways you block your soul’s expression? How do you constrict that energy? What are the patterns and negativity that keep you small?
What are you ready to let go of in order to allow your soul to come forward more fully?
In what ways is your Soul asking you to express yourself? At the deepest level, who do you want to be in the world?
We can begin to claim our own Divinity by simply becoming aware of those soul moments in our lives and connecting consciously to this energy.
Each of you may have your own method of connecting to this greater part of you. This is one process that I find helpful for me.
Call in the Light, or say a prayer of attunement.
Find a quiet place and be conscious of your breathing.
Focus your attention inside your head, about 2 inches behind the bridge of your nose (this is where the soul energy gathers)
Just sit quietly and open up to a loving feeling
Ask to become aware of your soul’s presence
Don’t force it or have expectations, just allow it to come forward. Be patient.
Spend time connecting with that energy. Allow it to expand. Open up to that unconditional loving.
You can take this a step further once you have fully opened up to this level:
Think of a situation in your life you’ve been holding on to. Look at it through the eyes of your Soul. What was the learning for you in this? Go through this situation from this higher perspective and allow the soul’s expression to come forward in a new way.
Living a soul centered life and opening up to our soul’s expression is not a one time process and we’re done. It’s an ongoing path of discipline and devotion to releasing negativity and opening to loving. It is our birthright when we’re ready to claim it.
“Through my stillness, the door opened.
Through my allowing, my Soul became present.
Through my loving, we became One.”
Dixie Clark, MS, MSS, LPC is Director and co-founder of Morning Star Center, a holistic well center. A licensed counselor and ordained minister, she holds a masters’ degree in both counseling and spiritual science. She is currently in the doctoral program in Spiritual Science. With over 26 years experience in mind/body therapies, she combines psychology and spirituality to help people release emotional blocks, heal past trauma and change limiting beliefs.
You Are the Blessings, by John Morton
There are many ways that we can express ourselves. And the manner we choose may vary, depending on the situation or the people we’re with. Often times our ego/ personality decides what and how this expression occurs. It decides just how much people get to know about us, how vulnerable to be, what is safe to share. We often attempt to control the situation or others’ perceptions of us through our expressions. Our ego believes that in order to be safe we need to justify and defend who we are. We can become like shape shifters or chameleons, trying to fit into the expectations and opinions of others.
At some point, we begin to sense that there is more to life, that there is more to us. That within us lies a greatness just waiting to come forward. And we are right. There is a radiant spark of the Divine within each of us called the Soul. That is our true nature.
Our soul expresses itself frequently in our lives, although it can be very subtle. We often move in and out of this energy so quickly that we miss it.
The expressions of the soul come in the form of love, joy, laughter, enthusiasm, acceptance, authenticity, innocence, expansion. Common every day moments. Common every day expressions of the Divine. And we often let them slip by without realizing that in that moment, our greatness just came forward.
These expressions can be seen in the way we love our children, how we greet our friends, how we allow ourselves to openly deal with the pain of a loss and then find the courage to move forward. They can be seen in enthusiasm for a project or idea, creativity, whether that be through the arts, or simply a new way of doing something. It can be seen in laughter, in play, in just being silly. It is seen in the grace of forgiveness, sitting with a loved one who is sick or dying, in opening our heart and receiving fully from life.
These are the keys to the meaning of life. To be in the moment in loving and acceptance, and to know that everything is coming forward for our highest good.
We live with our personality as our center for a long time. It creates illusions that separate us from ourselves and others. Through our fears and judgments, we can constrict this soul energy. The Soul will just stand back allowing us to suffer and struggle and think we’re alone in all of this if that’s what we choose. It is there in total loving, learning what it needs to, knowing it’s safe.
At some point the awakening to our true nature begins, sometimes it comes in the form of restlessness, frustration, loneliness. It’s as if the part of us that knows is saying, “Wake up…..remember….
Our greatness lies in opening to this Soul awareness and allowing that expression to be our center.
Think about your life today. What are the ways you block your soul’s expression? How do you constrict that energy? What are the patterns and negativity that keep you small?
What are you ready to let go of in order to allow your soul to come forward more fully?
In what ways is your Soul asking you to express yourself? At the deepest level, who do you want to be in the world?
We can begin to claim our own Divinity by simply becoming aware of those soul moments in our lives and connecting consciously to this energy.
Each of you may have your own method of connecting to this greater part of you. This is one process that I find helpful for me.
Call in the Light, or say a prayer of attunement.
Find a quiet place and be conscious of your breathing.
Focus your attention inside your head, about 2 inches behind the bridge of your nose (this is where the soul energy gathers)
Just sit quietly and open up to a loving feeling
Ask to become aware of your soul’s presence
Don’t force it or have expectations, just allow it to come forward. Be patient.
Spend time connecting with that energy. Allow it to expand. Open up to that unconditional loving.
You can take this a step further once you have fully opened up to this level:
Think of a situation in your life you’ve been holding on to. Look at it through the eyes of your Soul. What was the learning for you in this? Go through this situation from this higher perspective and allow the soul’s expression to come forward in a new way.
Living a soul centered life and opening up to our soul’s expression is not a one time process and we’re done. It’s an ongoing path of discipline and devotion to releasing negativity and opening to loving. It is our birthright when we’re ready to claim it.
“Through my stillness, the door opened.
Through my allowing, my Soul became present.
Through my loving, we became One.”
Dixie Clark, MS, MSS, LPC is Director and co-founder of Morning Star Center, a holistic well center. A licensed counselor and ordained minister, she holds a masters’ degree in both counseling and spiritual science. She is currently in the doctoral program in Spiritual Science. With over 26 years experience in mind/body therapies, she combines psychology and spirituality to help people release emotional blocks, heal past trauma and change limiting beliefs.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
The Art of Letting Go
Each of our lives has its own unique rhythm. There is an ebb and flow, and a time for stillness that continues to repeat itself throughout our lifetime. The art of letting go is about honoring this rhythm. About knowing when to hold in stillness, and when to move forward, even if the way isn’t clear. Letting go is really about opening up to receiving. It is living in this moment, honoring who you are. It is a process of trust.
When seen from the soul’s perspective, there is beauty and grace in the life story we play out. There is absolute perfection in each step of the way in what comes forward for us to handle.
Our soul works in cooperation with Spirit to bring exactly what we need in perfect timing. And since our soul holds the blueprint for our destiny in this lifetime, it brings forward the people and situations that are necessary for our evolution.
When our soul has learned enough from a person or situation, it is ready to move on. It has absolute Trust in the way the journey unfolds.
The other parts of us, however, are not always on board with letting go and moving on.
When we first receive that inner stirring or outer message that things are changing, we often go into a place of fear and resistance. Questions arise such as “what will happen to me?, How will I survive? How can I live without him/her?” Or resistance takes the form of denial, of dishonesty with self or others, of hanging on to something even when the joy is gone or it depletes our energy.
So, we resist the flow of life out of our fears, and the belief that “I am safe only when I am in control, or when things stay the same as they are.” And the result is living in the shadows, not fully alive, yearning for something more.
Letting go can mean physically leaving a person or situation, or just shifting your perception. It can mean changing a lifestyle or to give up the need to be right. It can mean just surrendering to what is.
Letting go does not mean to ignore responsibilities or to become disconnected or apathetic. It means releasing any thought, action, emotion or belief that keeps you from being fully present in this moment, loving yourself unconditionally. It means opening up to the Divine presence that resides within, and trusting that there is a plan for you.
If you are ready to practice the art of letting go, you may choose to do the following process on a regular basis:
Look at your life from different levels. What are you holding on to, and where can you let go? Do this in the privacy of your own mind. Take your time, and be honest with yourself.
Physical: Resentment, resistance to change, hanging on to the past can show up in physical aches and pains or ailments. What are you holding on to? What are you leaving incomplete? Are there foods or other substances that do not support your physical health? Is your body a metaphor for past resentments and hurts? What “shoulds” are on your to do list?
Emotional: Are there emotions or reactions that you’re holding on to that no longer serve you? Are there relationships or situations that are not fulfilling but you resist changing? What are the people and patterns that are draining your energy? Do you keep yourself from acting on inspirations out of a fear of failure or what other people might think?
Mental: Are your thoughts of yourself loving and supportive? Do your beliefs allow you to expand and be open to abundance? Do you hold on to beliefs that keep you small? Are you spending time on your priorities in life? What patterns regarding money, relationships, and your place in the world are holding you back?
Spiritual: Are you resisting any connection to something greater than you? Does your ego hold on to its “rightness” out of a fear of surrender? Do you have a limited definition of God? Are you able to see yourself as part of the Divine?
We each need to find our own ways of letting go of what no longer serves us. Here are some simple suggestions:
• Do a brief meditation/prayer throughout the day. Take a few deep breaths…Let go of any thoughts of the past or of the future. Just be fully present in this moment.
• When you have identified something that you’re resisting, simply ask yourself, “What would it be like if I let this go?”
• Spend quiet time each day listening to the inner guidance you are receiving.
• Find a message you can continue to repeat to yourself such as,“I am safe to trust and let go.”
• Look at your life through the eyes of your Soul to see where you are holding on.
• Have your prayers include “Give me the courage and clarity to let go of what no longer serves me.”
• Know that everything is happening for a reason and that you are completely protected.
This is one of my favorite quotes that I find helpful:
Faith…
When you come to the end of all the light that you know and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen…there will be something solid for you to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.
Author unknown.
When seen from the soul’s perspective, there is beauty and grace in the life story we play out. There is absolute perfection in each step of the way in what comes forward for us to handle.
Our soul works in cooperation with Spirit to bring exactly what we need in perfect timing. And since our soul holds the blueprint for our destiny in this lifetime, it brings forward the people and situations that are necessary for our evolution.
When our soul has learned enough from a person or situation, it is ready to move on. It has absolute Trust in the way the journey unfolds.
The other parts of us, however, are not always on board with letting go and moving on.
When we first receive that inner stirring or outer message that things are changing, we often go into a place of fear and resistance. Questions arise such as “what will happen to me?, How will I survive? How can I live without him/her?” Or resistance takes the form of denial, of dishonesty with self or others, of hanging on to something even when the joy is gone or it depletes our energy.
So, we resist the flow of life out of our fears, and the belief that “I am safe only when I am in control, or when things stay the same as they are.” And the result is living in the shadows, not fully alive, yearning for something more.
Letting go can mean physically leaving a person or situation, or just shifting your perception. It can mean changing a lifestyle or to give up the need to be right. It can mean just surrendering to what is.
Letting go does not mean to ignore responsibilities or to become disconnected or apathetic. It means releasing any thought, action, emotion or belief that keeps you from being fully present in this moment, loving yourself unconditionally. It means opening up to the Divine presence that resides within, and trusting that there is a plan for you.
If you are ready to practice the art of letting go, you may choose to do the following process on a regular basis:
Look at your life from different levels. What are you holding on to, and where can you let go? Do this in the privacy of your own mind. Take your time, and be honest with yourself.
Physical: Resentment, resistance to change, hanging on to the past can show up in physical aches and pains or ailments. What are you holding on to? What are you leaving incomplete? Are there foods or other substances that do not support your physical health? Is your body a metaphor for past resentments and hurts? What “shoulds” are on your to do list?
Emotional: Are there emotions or reactions that you’re holding on to that no longer serve you? Are there relationships or situations that are not fulfilling but you resist changing? What are the people and patterns that are draining your energy? Do you keep yourself from acting on inspirations out of a fear of failure or what other people might think?
Mental: Are your thoughts of yourself loving and supportive? Do your beliefs allow you to expand and be open to abundance? Do you hold on to beliefs that keep you small? Are you spending time on your priorities in life? What patterns regarding money, relationships, and your place in the world are holding you back?
Spiritual: Are you resisting any connection to something greater than you? Does your ego hold on to its “rightness” out of a fear of surrender? Do you have a limited definition of God? Are you able to see yourself as part of the Divine?
We each need to find our own ways of letting go of what no longer serves us. Here are some simple suggestions:
• Do a brief meditation/prayer throughout the day. Take a few deep breaths…Let go of any thoughts of the past or of the future. Just be fully present in this moment.
• When you have identified something that you’re resisting, simply ask yourself, “What would it be like if I let this go?”
• Spend quiet time each day listening to the inner guidance you are receiving.
• Find a message you can continue to repeat to yourself such as,“I am safe to trust and let go.”
• Look at your life through the eyes of your Soul to see where you are holding on.
• Have your prayers include “Give me the courage and clarity to let go of what no longer serves me.”
• Know that everything is happening for a reason and that you are completely protected.
This is one of my favorite quotes that I find helpful:
Faith…
When you come to the end of all the light that you know and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen…there will be something solid for you to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.
Author unknown.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Enough Already!
There’s a little game that many of us play, called, “I’m not enough.” Some of you may be familiar with this.
The premise of this game is that, on the deepest level, those of us who are playing believe we’re not enough as we are. So, we need to spend our time overcompensating, getting validation from things and people outside of ourselves, or living in fear that others will see us as frauds. Although these patterns can overlap, they each have certain qualities, or some variation.
Overcompensating: “I’m not enough, so I have to do more.”
People involved in this pattern often feel a need to be perfect. There is a need to do more or be more. Maybe even to be the center of attention. There is never enough success, money, accomplishments to satisfy or convince. It is not okay to relax or to take care of self. Mistakes are not allowed. It’s almost as though we have to prove or justify our existence.
Getting validation from the outside: “I’m not enough, so I need you to tell me that I am”
People involved in this pattern believe that others must approve of all they do in order to be okay. If others disapprove, disagree or judge, that can trigger fear, anger, indecision. If we’ve given our power away to another to let us know we’re okay or “doing the right thing,” and they don’t do that for us,, that affects our sense of safety and security. We question who we are and what we do or have done. We’re always seeking to keep the peace, make others happy, or make others like us. We feel a need to control others in order to feel okay about ourselves.
Living in fear of other’s seeing who we are. “I’m not enough as I am, so I can’t let people really know me
People who are involved in this pattern often live in fear of being seen, heard or noticed. Even if some may be in public eye, there is a concern of being exposed, of people seeing beyond the mask. It doesn’t feel safe to be vulnerable. There’s a belief that if “people really knew who I am, they would leave me.” So, sometimes we become like a chameleon and mirror the other person’s expectations, other times we retreat from relationships and connections . And there are times we may hold back the truth of our expressions out of fear that others will abandon us if they know us on the deepest level.
As part of this belief of “I’m not enough as I am,” we often use judgment as a motivational tool. There’s a fear that if the judgment ends, we’ll get complacent, and forever stay where we’re at.
There’s a concern that if I accept myself as I am, I’ll stop growing. I’ll continue to do all these crazy things that have made me so unhappy all of my life. Or, I’ll just settle for less than who I am. So, we have some variation of the below conversation with ourselves.
“I need to change because I’m not enough as I am. There’s something wrong with me. When I accomplish more, or lose ___pounds, or stop doing_____, or start_______, then I’ll be okay. Then I’ll accept myself as I am. Until then, I must overcompensate, hide or be told that I’m okay by others.”
Actually, we don’t need to change because there’s something wrong with us the way we are. We will change when we’re ready simply because we are so much more. Our soul can’t not continue to expand and move forward.
When we are open and allow it, there is always soul energy of enthusiasm and joy working through us. In order to keep that flow open, it’s important to be aware of the motivations behind our decisions and behavior. “Am I doing this out of fear or am I doing this as part of my soul’s expression?” When we are truly honest with ourselves, we are able to discern the difference.
If we give our power away to others to let us know we’re okay, then we have to constantly be on alert. We are always on guard to threats to our safety and sense of worth.
Paralysis can set in until we get the “green light” from something or someone outside of ourselves that it’s safe to proceed. As those of us who have played this game for awhile know, there is never enough praise, accomplishment, security from outside of us to remove that fear. There is no safe place to hide. There is only the opening up to the truth of who we are. There is one prime directive that we all share. And that is to learn to love ourselves and know ourselves as Divine. Everything else is just the path we choose to get there.
From the Soul’s perspective, we are part of the Divine. We are enough just as we are. The soul sees each step of the journey as a joyful, loving adventure. We are here to learn and come in to a place of wholeness. Sometimes we learn first by experiencing who we aren’t before we can learn who we are. There is no need to hide, defend, or justify. We will stop playing that game when we’re ready to move forward.
Dixie Clark, MS, MSS, LPC is Director and co-founder of Morning Star Center, a holistic well center. A licensed counselor and ordained minister, she holds a masters’ degree in both counseling and spiritual science. With over 26 years experience in mind/body therapies, she combines psychology and spirituality to help people release emotional blocks, heal past trauma and change limiting beliefs.
The premise of this game is that, on the deepest level, those of us who are playing believe we’re not enough as we are. So, we need to spend our time overcompensating, getting validation from things and people outside of ourselves, or living in fear that others will see us as frauds. Although these patterns can overlap, they each have certain qualities, or some variation.
Overcompensating: “I’m not enough, so I have to do more.”
People involved in this pattern often feel a need to be perfect. There is a need to do more or be more. Maybe even to be the center of attention. There is never enough success, money, accomplishments to satisfy or convince. It is not okay to relax or to take care of self. Mistakes are not allowed. It’s almost as though we have to prove or justify our existence.
Getting validation from the outside: “I’m not enough, so I need you to tell me that I am”
People involved in this pattern believe that others must approve of all they do in order to be okay. If others disapprove, disagree or judge, that can trigger fear, anger, indecision. If we’ve given our power away to another to let us know we’re okay or “doing the right thing,” and they don’t do that for us,, that affects our sense of safety and security. We question who we are and what we do or have done. We’re always seeking to keep the peace, make others happy, or make others like us. We feel a need to control others in order to feel okay about ourselves.
Living in fear of other’s seeing who we are. “I’m not enough as I am, so I can’t let people really know me
People who are involved in this pattern often live in fear of being seen, heard or noticed. Even if some may be in public eye, there is a concern of being exposed, of people seeing beyond the mask. It doesn’t feel safe to be vulnerable. There’s a belief that if “people really knew who I am, they would leave me.” So, sometimes we become like a chameleon and mirror the other person’s expectations, other times we retreat from relationships and connections . And there are times we may hold back the truth of our expressions out of fear that others will abandon us if they know us on the deepest level.
As part of this belief of “I’m not enough as I am,” we often use judgment as a motivational tool. There’s a fear that if the judgment ends, we’ll get complacent, and forever stay where we’re at.
There’s a concern that if I accept myself as I am, I’ll stop growing. I’ll continue to do all these crazy things that have made me so unhappy all of my life. Or, I’ll just settle for less than who I am. So, we have some variation of the below conversation with ourselves.
“I need to change because I’m not enough as I am. There’s something wrong with me. When I accomplish more, or lose ___pounds, or stop doing_____, or start_______, then I’ll be okay. Then I’ll accept myself as I am. Until then, I must overcompensate, hide or be told that I’m okay by others.”
Actually, we don’t need to change because there’s something wrong with us the way we are. We will change when we’re ready simply because we are so much more. Our soul can’t not continue to expand and move forward.
When we are open and allow it, there is always soul energy of enthusiasm and joy working through us. In order to keep that flow open, it’s important to be aware of the motivations behind our decisions and behavior. “Am I doing this out of fear or am I doing this as part of my soul’s expression?” When we are truly honest with ourselves, we are able to discern the difference.
If we give our power away to others to let us know we’re okay, then we have to constantly be on alert. We are always on guard to threats to our safety and sense of worth.
Paralysis can set in until we get the “green light” from something or someone outside of ourselves that it’s safe to proceed. As those of us who have played this game for awhile know, there is never enough praise, accomplishment, security from outside of us to remove that fear. There is no safe place to hide. There is only the opening up to the truth of who we are. There is one prime directive that we all share. And that is to learn to love ourselves and know ourselves as Divine. Everything else is just the path we choose to get there.
From the Soul’s perspective, we are part of the Divine. We are enough just as we are. The soul sees each step of the journey as a joyful, loving adventure. We are here to learn and come in to a place of wholeness. Sometimes we learn first by experiencing who we aren’t before we can learn who we are. There is no need to hide, defend, or justify. We will stop playing that game when we’re ready to move forward.
Dixie Clark, MS, MSS, LPC is Director and co-founder of Morning Star Center, a holistic well center. A licensed counselor and ordained minister, she holds a masters’ degree in both counseling and spiritual science. With over 26 years experience in mind/body therapies, she combines psychology and spirituality to help people release emotional blocks, heal past trauma and change limiting beliefs.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Living Your Soul's Intentions
“I recognized, finally, that I had always been in touch with my Soul and divine nature. I had never been separate from it. It had always been present, as the best part of me. It was my laughter, my loving, my enthusiasm, my devotion, and so much more. It was the part of me that I really liked.”
When Are You Coming Home? A Personal Guide to Soul Transcendence
John-Roger with Paula Sanderson
Think back over the last week. What were your intentions for yourself? Are you aware of what was motivating you? Was your day filled with a sense of purpose, or did you make decisions out of judgment, negativity or fear? We often live life on autopilot, living out old programming, other people’s opinions, or wait to act until we’re guaranteed success. Just remember that “energy flows where our attention goes.” So, if we have a positive intention for a situation or for our life, and continue to put our attention and devotion to that, our energy becomes very focused to support it. And, if we have no conscious intention, or have negative expectations, our energy goes back to the old programming that’s there, which can often be of a negative or limiting nature.
Let’s look at this from the soul’s perspective.
Beneath the fears and negativity of our ego/personality lie the intentions that our Soul has for us in this lifetime. Intentions are different than goals or resolutions. They have some very specific qualities:
• Energy of expansiveness
• Can be experienced at any moment
• An inner quality that comes through all you do
• Aligns you with your Divine nature
• Serves as a beacon through life
These intentions can be one word, such as…..joy; clarity; loving; acceptance; mindfulness. Or, they can be a phrase, i.e.….. “Accept all parts of myself;” “Live in balance;” “Loving service to self and others” “Be a joyful, loving being;” “Stand in the Truth of who I am;.” “Live in Grace;” “Open up to abundance.”
The qualities of these intentions are not something we need to learn or develop. They are the essence of who we already are. This is the life force that shines from our Soul when we allow it. When we open up to the intentions from this soul level and bring them forward in to our daily lives, we begin to create an energy field in and around us that’s of a higher level. They become the guiding Light in our lives. And when our energy, thoughts, emotions and actions are in line with our intentions, we begin to open to the flow of life, living “On Purpose.”
If I have an intention of “being a joyful, loving presence in the world,” and continue to devote myself to that and put energy into it, my experience each day is going to be totally different than if my goal is to “not screw up today.” Or, if I live by the belief that “others must approve of all that I do in order for me to be ok”, I am giving all my power away to things that are not in my control. Whereas, if I have an intention to “Love and accept all parts of myself,” my self worth comes from within. By living our soul’s intentions we become the positive co-creator of our inner experience in situations, rather than feeling like a victim or blaming people and things outside of ourselves.
I have no magic formula for accessing this information. Each of us has our own way of communicating with ourselves on the deepest level. I do have some questions to ask yourself that may assist you. Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed. Put on some soft music if you find that helpful. Go in to a meditative state or say a prayer of atunement. Turn your attention inward, and silently ask yourself the following questions. Don’t think of the “perfect” answer, just allow whatever’s there to come forward.
• Who do I want to be at this stage of my life?
• What qualities do I need to open up to within myself ?
• What values do I want to guide me?
• When I look back on my life at the time of my death, what do I want to be able to say about how I lived my life?
• What is my soul’s intention for me?
You may get immediate information, or it may come later. When you identify an intention, allow yourself to feel the energy of it. The vibration of it will be unique to you. If your intention is to “be at peace with myself” or “joy”, you can begin to have that inner experience now. You don’t need to wait for something outside of yourself make it happen. It’s already there underneath the illusions we’ve created.
Every day there will be people and situations that will pull us away from this alignment with our intentions. So, everyday we need to become aware when this is happening and direct our energy back. The more devoted we are to living our intentions, and the more time we spend in that vibration, the stronger this energy becomes. And each time we get pulled out of balance into negativity, we have a choice, “Do I want to stay in my suffering, or am I willing to sacrifice this in order to live my intention?”
And, through it all, our Soul waits patiently.
When Are You Coming Home? A Personal Guide to Soul Transcendence
John-Roger with Paula Sanderson
Think back over the last week. What were your intentions for yourself? Are you aware of what was motivating you? Was your day filled with a sense of purpose, or did you make decisions out of judgment, negativity or fear? We often live life on autopilot, living out old programming, other people’s opinions, or wait to act until we’re guaranteed success. Just remember that “energy flows where our attention goes.” So, if we have a positive intention for a situation or for our life, and continue to put our attention and devotion to that, our energy becomes very focused to support it. And, if we have no conscious intention, or have negative expectations, our energy goes back to the old programming that’s there, which can often be of a negative or limiting nature.
Let’s look at this from the soul’s perspective.
Beneath the fears and negativity of our ego/personality lie the intentions that our Soul has for us in this lifetime. Intentions are different than goals or resolutions. They have some very specific qualities:
• Energy of expansiveness
• Can be experienced at any moment
• An inner quality that comes through all you do
• Aligns you with your Divine nature
• Serves as a beacon through life
These intentions can be one word, such as…..joy; clarity; loving; acceptance; mindfulness. Or, they can be a phrase, i.e.….. “Accept all parts of myself;” “Live in balance;” “Loving service to self and others” “Be a joyful, loving being;” “Stand in the Truth of who I am;.” “Live in Grace;” “Open up to abundance.”
The qualities of these intentions are not something we need to learn or develop. They are the essence of who we already are. This is the life force that shines from our Soul when we allow it. When we open up to the intentions from this soul level and bring them forward in to our daily lives, we begin to create an energy field in and around us that’s of a higher level. They become the guiding Light in our lives. And when our energy, thoughts, emotions and actions are in line with our intentions, we begin to open to the flow of life, living “On Purpose.”
If I have an intention of “being a joyful, loving presence in the world,” and continue to devote myself to that and put energy into it, my experience each day is going to be totally different than if my goal is to “not screw up today.” Or, if I live by the belief that “others must approve of all that I do in order for me to be ok”, I am giving all my power away to things that are not in my control. Whereas, if I have an intention to “Love and accept all parts of myself,” my self worth comes from within. By living our soul’s intentions we become the positive co-creator of our inner experience in situations, rather than feeling like a victim or blaming people and things outside of ourselves.
I have no magic formula for accessing this information. Each of us has our own way of communicating with ourselves on the deepest level. I do have some questions to ask yourself that may assist you. Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed. Put on some soft music if you find that helpful. Go in to a meditative state or say a prayer of atunement. Turn your attention inward, and silently ask yourself the following questions. Don’t think of the “perfect” answer, just allow whatever’s there to come forward.
• Who do I want to be at this stage of my life?
• What qualities do I need to open up to within myself ?
• What values do I want to guide me?
• When I look back on my life at the time of my death, what do I want to be able to say about how I lived my life?
• What is my soul’s intention for me?
You may get immediate information, or it may come later. When you identify an intention, allow yourself to feel the energy of it. The vibration of it will be unique to you. If your intention is to “be at peace with myself” or “joy”, you can begin to have that inner experience now. You don’t need to wait for something outside of yourself make it happen. It’s already there underneath the illusions we’ve created.
Every day there will be people and situations that will pull us away from this alignment with our intentions. So, everyday we need to become aware when this is happening and direct our energy back. The more devoted we are to living our intentions, and the more time we spend in that vibration, the stronger this energy becomes. And each time we get pulled out of balance into negativity, we have a choice, “Do I want to stay in my suffering, or am I willing to sacrifice this in order to live my intention?”
And, through it all, our Soul waits patiently.
Self-Forgiveness
“The basic thing we need to do is forgive ourselves for forgetting that we are divine. That is the real message to open up the channel for our return to Spirit”
John-Roger
We are born into this world carrying a light called soul that holds our purpose and our mission in this lifetime. It is a beacon that directs us each step of the way in our evolution and on our way Home. This is the spark of the Divine. Our true nature.
We can disconnect from this essence through our misinterpretation of situations which creates limiting beliefs and fears that we hold on a cellular level.
Each of us is on a journey to return to this essence and enfold into who we truly are.
From the moment we’re born, we begin to form limiting beliefs and judgments about ourselves, about life and our safety. We hear messages that cause us to think we’re not enough, that we need the approval of others in order to be okay, that there are certain criteria to be met in order to be “worthy.”
We have forgotten that we already are all of that. And by our judgments, we create a separation from Spirit and our true nature.
We create these illusions that separate us and then believe they’re real. We believe the suffering, the scarcity, the loneliness is real. We forget who we are and whose arms embrace us each moment. We look outside of ourselves for our fulfillment and sense of worth, instead of turning inward.
Think about the conversations you have with yourself during the day. Are they respectful and loving? Or are they filled with judgment of yourself and others? For many of us, our thoughts, language and beliefs are filled with negativity. “I never get anything right.” “What will people think?” “I can’t believe I did that.” “I can’t stand the way I look.” “I hate myself.”
All variations of “I’m not enough as I am.” All illusions.
When we look at why we hold on to these judgments from the lower level that created them, it makes perfect sense. That’s the level that doubts we are worthy of forgiveness. That’s the level that fears we’ll repeat the same mistakes if we don’t constantly berate ourselves for how we “screwed up”. We use judgment and shame as a motivator to be better. In a strange way, we use the judgments against ourselves as a way of bringing us into balance. And, even though that doesn’t bring about lasting change, we continue to do it anyway, because that’s all we know on that level of consciousness.
These judgments do not help us grow or evolve. They simply keep us stuck in the lower levels. And, as uncomfortable as it is, we can become comfortable being in this negativity. Until our soul begins to awaken. And we begin to remember or dare to believe the truth of who we are.
Because we are already part of the Divine, there’s nothing we have to learn to do to be “Spiritual.” We already are. We just need to release the judgments that have created this separation. One of the most powerful tools to assist with this is self-forgiveness. By forgiving ourselves for the judgments we have, we open the pathway to our Soul. Self-forgiveness gives instructions to our unconscious of our intention, and gives permission to our High Self and Spirit to bring in the higher vibrations of Light to transform the old belief. This simple, loving process unlocks the heart, and allows us to begin to walk in grace and be at peace.
Think of a judgment that you made against yourself this week. And, simply start with “I forgive myself for judging myself.” Take a deep breath and let it go. Then, check inside. You may notice lightness, or simply feel a little better. Or, you may feel nothing at all. This process is most effective if you are in a state of prayer or ask to be surrounded by the Light of the Holy Spirit before you begin. Hold the intention of being ready to release this judgment, and do it with a loving energy. You may need to be more specific, and go to a deeper level. Here are some examples:
“I forgive myself for believing that I’m not enough just as I am.”
“I forgive myself for abandoning myself in order to please others.”
“I forgive myself for believing that I’m responsible for others.”
“I forgive myself for believing that it’s not okay for me to get what I want.
“I forgive myself for forgetting that I am Divine.”
This is a very powerful process to do at the end of the day before you go to sleep. Go back over your day and notice what judgments came up. Do self forgiveness statements to begin to release this negativity. After a while, you begin to notice all the judgments that govern your life and you can begin to free yourself of them.
Is this simple? Yes. Is it easy? Yes and no. We are so conditioned in our negativity, that it is an ongoing process of recognizing our judgments and limiting beliefs, and forgiving ourselves. This is a process of lifting all the ways we oppress our Spirit and keep ourselves small. Of healing the wounds that have kept us stuck and in the dark.
May we all become aware as our Soul is aware.
John-Roger
We are born into this world carrying a light called soul that holds our purpose and our mission in this lifetime. It is a beacon that directs us each step of the way in our evolution and on our way Home. This is the spark of the Divine. Our true nature.
We can disconnect from this essence through our misinterpretation of situations which creates limiting beliefs and fears that we hold on a cellular level.
Each of us is on a journey to return to this essence and enfold into who we truly are.
From the moment we’re born, we begin to form limiting beliefs and judgments about ourselves, about life and our safety. We hear messages that cause us to think we’re not enough, that we need the approval of others in order to be okay, that there are certain criteria to be met in order to be “worthy.”
We have forgotten that we already are all of that. And by our judgments, we create a separation from Spirit and our true nature.
We create these illusions that separate us and then believe they’re real. We believe the suffering, the scarcity, the loneliness is real. We forget who we are and whose arms embrace us each moment. We look outside of ourselves for our fulfillment and sense of worth, instead of turning inward.
Think about the conversations you have with yourself during the day. Are they respectful and loving? Or are they filled with judgment of yourself and others? For many of us, our thoughts, language and beliefs are filled with negativity. “I never get anything right.” “What will people think?” “I can’t believe I did that.” “I can’t stand the way I look.” “I hate myself.”
All variations of “I’m not enough as I am.” All illusions.
When we look at why we hold on to these judgments from the lower level that created them, it makes perfect sense. That’s the level that doubts we are worthy of forgiveness. That’s the level that fears we’ll repeat the same mistakes if we don’t constantly berate ourselves for how we “screwed up”. We use judgment and shame as a motivator to be better. In a strange way, we use the judgments against ourselves as a way of bringing us into balance. And, even though that doesn’t bring about lasting change, we continue to do it anyway, because that’s all we know on that level of consciousness.
These judgments do not help us grow or evolve. They simply keep us stuck in the lower levels. And, as uncomfortable as it is, we can become comfortable being in this negativity. Until our soul begins to awaken. And we begin to remember or dare to believe the truth of who we are.
Because we are already part of the Divine, there’s nothing we have to learn to do to be “Spiritual.” We already are. We just need to release the judgments that have created this separation. One of the most powerful tools to assist with this is self-forgiveness. By forgiving ourselves for the judgments we have, we open the pathway to our Soul. Self-forgiveness gives instructions to our unconscious of our intention, and gives permission to our High Self and Spirit to bring in the higher vibrations of Light to transform the old belief. This simple, loving process unlocks the heart, and allows us to begin to walk in grace and be at peace.
Think of a judgment that you made against yourself this week. And, simply start with “I forgive myself for judging myself.” Take a deep breath and let it go. Then, check inside. You may notice lightness, or simply feel a little better. Or, you may feel nothing at all. This process is most effective if you are in a state of prayer or ask to be surrounded by the Light of the Holy Spirit before you begin. Hold the intention of being ready to release this judgment, and do it with a loving energy. You may need to be more specific, and go to a deeper level. Here are some examples:
“I forgive myself for believing that I’m not enough just as I am.”
“I forgive myself for abandoning myself in order to please others.”
“I forgive myself for believing that I’m responsible for others.”
“I forgive myself for believing that it’s not okay for me to get what I want.
“I forgive myself for forgetting that I am Divine.”
This is a very powerful process to do at the end of the day before you go to sleep. Go back over your day and notice what judgments came up. Do self forgiveness statements to begin to release this negativity. After a while, you begin to notice all the judgments that govern your life and you can begin to free yourself of them.
Is this simple? Yes. Is it easy? Yes and no. We are so conditioned in our negativity, that it is an ongoing process of recognizing our judgments and limiting beliefs, and forgiving ourselves. This is a process of lifting all the ways we oppress our Spirit and keep ourselves small. Of healing the wounds that have kept us stuck and in the dark.
May we all become aware as our Soul is aware.
Loving Your Heart Open
Loving Your Heart Open
“A simple choice to be loving, even just for yourself, changes your life forever.”
John Morton
Think of a time when you truly felt loving for something or someone. A time when you loved unconditionally in the moment, with no expectations………… There is nothing on this planet that is stronger than this loving that comes from our Soul, fills us up and goes out into the world. This energy has the power to heal, to ease any pain and move us into higher levels of consciousness. This is not something we need to develop or learn to do. This is our birthright and our destiny, and always available to us. Our soul sees everything through the eyes of love, with no judgment. That is the journey of the Soul. To help us return to this place of innocence and unconditional loving for ourselves and all of life. To come in to a place of balance and oneness. .
So, what blocks us from always having this available? On this physical level, we have all experienced disappointments, rejection, and betrayal. We’ve had our heart broken in many ways. We often respond to these situations by losing trust, not fully engaging in life and shutting down our heart. We create illusions and form limiting beliefs about what love is. We have a very narrow definition of love.
• We learn that people withhold love if we’re “bad.”
• We learn that we receive love if we do what is expected.
• We learn to abandon ourselves in order to stay in a relationship or please others.
• We learn that it’s not okay to love ourselves just as we are.
• We learn that it’s not safe to share our loving.
Because of our experiences and narrow definition of what love is, we often believe that we’re not loveable. We learn to seek love outside of ourselves as a way of filling this hole, often recreating unhealthy patterns that we learned early on. We disconnect from parts of ourselves that we find unacceptable, and use love as a form of control.
We lose touch with that sweet softness and innocence that is our Soul. Our true essence is one of loving and joy. When our heart is closed, it creates a void that can only be filled from within. Even in the most horrific situation, Love asks us if we can keep our heart open and trust. Even in the darkest hour, can we turn to the Light?
As always, our first step in any change is awareness of the current pattern. In the “privacy of your own mind”, honestly answer these questions:
Do you withhold your love if someone doesn’t do what you want or when you feel hurt?
Do you shut down your heart in order to be safe?
How do you handle loneliness?
Have you let go of past hurts and any feelings of being abandoned?
What parts of yourself and others do you judge?
Is your love for yourself conditional? Do you plan to love yourself when you….. lose weight, make more money, get married, let go of anger. (fill in the blank)
As we become aware of our motivations behind our expressions of love, we may begin to see that we do not always have the purest of intent. This is part of the human expression and ego. We can let go of any judgment of that and know that it’s all part of our learning. Once we set our intention to not be controlled by negativity, to let love in, to express this loving in our daily life, miracles begin to occur. They may not be the kind of miracles that are visible on the outside. These are the miracles that heal past wounds, remove the separation we feel from others, and, allow us to know that we are enough just as we are.
Opening up to this loving may seem like a daunting task. For some, it may be letting go of a lifetime of resentment. This may have been used as an armor of protection, and there can be fear of being hurt if the heart is opened. We don’t have to do it all at once. Here are a couple of suggestions as a way to start. Trust your own inner guidance for other ideas that may be better for you.
1. Each morning, set your intention to open your heart and be in your loving for your highest good. Access a time when you felt that loving, and imagine yourself going through your day in this state. If you get pulled in to negativity during the day, simply love the part of you that’s angry or anxious or guilty.
2. At the end of the day, when you’re lying in bed, once again access that feeling of loving, and send it throughout your body. Be in gratitude and appreciation for all parts of you.
This loving energy will take on a life of its own once we set our intention of allowing it in, and continue coming back to that. That is our True Nature.
Life can be very difficult, with many challenges. Our job is to learn how to bring Loving
in to these times. As we begin to love more, we begin to see all of life as sacred. We begin to see that the beauty, pain, successes, mistakes are expressions of God, and learn to honor it all. We can open our heart and be still, and let our soul’s expression guide us in our choices.
“You may not always be clear in your direction, but if you keep moving and let love lead, the direction will clarify itself.” John-Roger
“A simple choice to be loving, even just for yourself, changes your life forever.”
John Morton
Think of a time when you truly felt loving for something or someone. A time when you loved unconditionally in the moment, with no expectations………… There is nothing on this planet that is stronger than this loving that comes from our Soul, fills us up and goes out into the world. This energy has the power to heal, to ease any pain and move us into higher levels of consciousness. This is not something we need to develop or learn to do. This is our birthright and our destiny, and always available to us. Our soul sees everything through the eyes of love, with no judgment. That is the journey of the Soul. To help us return to this place of innocence and unconditional loving for ourselves and all of life. To come in to a place of balance and oneness. .
So, what blocks us from always having this available? On this physical level, we have all experienced disappointments, rejection, and betrayal. We’ve had our heart broken in many ways. We often respond to these situations by losing trust, not fully engaging in life and shutting down our heart. We create illusions and form limiting beliefs about what love is. We have a very narrow definition of love.
• We learn that people withhold love if we’re “bad.”
• We learn that we receive love if we do what is expected.
• We learn to abandon ourselves in order to stay in a relationship or please others.
• We learn that it’s not okay to love ourselves just as we are.
• We learn that it’s not safe to share our loving.
Because of our experiences and narrow definition of what love is, we often believe that we’re not loveable. We learn to seek love outside of ourselves as a way of filling this hole, often recreating unhealthy patterns that we learned early on. We disconnect from parts of ourselves that we find unacceptable, and use love as a form of control.
We lose touch with that sweet softness and innocence that is our Soul. Our true essence is one of loving and joy. When our heart is closed, it creates a void that can only be filled from within. Even in the most horrific situation, Love asks us if we can keep our heart open and trust. Even in the darkest hour, can we turn to the Light?
As always, our first step in any change is awareness of the current pattern. In the “privacy of your own mind”, honestly answer these questions:
Do you withhold your love if someone doesn’t do what you want or when you feel hurt?
Do you shut down your heart in order to be safe?
How do you handle loneliness?
Have you let go of past hurts and any feelings of being abandoned?
What parts of yourself and others do you judge?
Is your love for yourself conditional? Do you plan to love yourself when you….. lose weight, make more money, get married, let go of anger. (fill in the blank)
As we become aware of our motivations behind our expressions of love, we may begin to see that we do not always have the purest of intent. This is part of the human expression and ego. We can let go of any judgment of that and know that it’s all part of our learning. Once we set our intention to not be controlled by negativity, to let love in, to express this loving in our daily life, miracles begin to occur. They may not be the kind of miracles that are visible on the outside. These are the miracles that heal past wounds, remove the separation we feel from others, and, allow us to know that we are enough just as we are.
Opening up to this loving may seem like a daunting task. For some, it may be letting go of a lifetime of resentment. This may have been used as an armor of protection, and there can be fear of being hurt if the heart is opened. We don’t have to do it all at once. Here are a couple of suggestions as a way to start. Trust your own inner guidance for other ideas that may be better for you.
1. Each morning, set your intention to open your heart and be in your loving for your highest good. Access a time when you felt that loving, and imagine yourself going through your day in this state. If you get pulled in to negativity during the day, simply love the part of you that’s angry or anxious or guilty.
2. At the end of the day, when you’re lying in bed, once again access that feeling of loving, and send it throughout your body. Be in gratitude and appreciation for all parts of you.
This loving energy will take on a life of its own once we set our intention of allowing it in, and continue coming back to that. That is our True Nature.
Life can be very difficult, with many challenges. Our job is to learn how to bring Loving
in to these times. As we begin to love more, we begin to see all of life as sacred. We begin to see that the beauty, pain, successes, mistakes are expressions of God, and learn to honor it all. We can open our heart and be still, and let our soul’s expression guide us in our choices.
“You may not always be clear in your direction, but if you keep moving and let love lead, the direction will clarify itself.” John-Roger
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