Vol 2, No. 8

"Summer welcomes
those whose need is
to dance and grow."

-- American Zen Saying
by Suzanne E. Harrill

This Month's Issue:

Greetings from the Editor:

HOW I ALLOWED MYSELF TO BE SETUP

Have you ever felt betrayed, angry, and taken advantage of by another? I was last week by a prison inmate I have developed a relationship with over the past couple of years. She lied to me several times about needing money for education. How could I give freely and trust it was being used for classes, you might ask? I am an aware person and seem to have my wits about me. To trust that the money I gave her would be used for classes without checking with a higher authority was definitely unwise. I see that now and will not let it happen again.

Looking at the situation as an outside observer, it was predictable. However, from my own vantage point at the time, the situation was not so clear. Sometimes I can perhaps be too trusting, always giving others the benefit of the doubt. I see this as a good trait in myself. After this experience, I am a little smarter and more aware and will use more discernment in the future when placing my trust in a person. At this point, I see that it serves no purpose to stay in a victim mode and replay the situation over and over in my mind.

I forgive myself for being naïve and see the need for wiser boundaries in this relationship. Only I can set those boundaries. The inmate is unable to do so at this time and is simply doing what she knows best: get her needs and wants met without much thought to integrity, values, or how her actions will affect her in the long run. Over time, she may learn from me that there are healthier ways to get her needs met.

Where is your Achilles' tendon, your blind spot, where do you assume certain things without using your logical mind? As we learn the places where we are vulnerable, we can learn to make choices appropriate to safeguarding ourselves without victimizing others.

Fortunate blessings,
Suzanne

 

Inspirational

Want To Exude Charisma and Be More Attractive?

Express Yourself!

By Sandra Zimmer   

 One of the healthiest things you can do for yourself is self-expression.  People who express themselves fully are healthier, happier, more confident and energetic, and much more attractive.  That’s because expression of your inner thoughts and feelings releases negativity from your body and being. 

(read the whole article)

 

Judith Orloff’s Guide to Intuitive Healing

A book review by Danna Langston   

Intuitive Healing is a wonderful book, giving us five steps to achieve our well-being and how to apply them in various circumstances. It is also autobiographical as Dr. Orloff shares her own experiences openly, allowing us to relate to her journey along the way. She also uses examples of her patients or clients to illustrate the healing process. In my opinion this book provides an enriching story and an extraordinary guidebook for living our life healthfully.

(read the whole article)

 

Special Offer

August Seed Thoughts for Loving Yourself

By Suzanne E. Harrill

MONTHLY ON LINE AFFIRMATIONS.  Affirmations to support self-esteem and spiritual growth now available in monthly installments. This is an updated edition of the seed thoughts and affirmations in the book, Affirm Your Self Day by Day. Only available here on line.

(read the whole story)

 

Suzanne Says

Questions & Answers

Question:  Hi, Suzanne, I always love all your articles and may I ask you a question?  How can one recover from a grief over a loss and you don’t even know what type of loss it is?  I am in my 50’s and have grieved over a “loss” all my life.  I have searched and searched, but I could never find out what it was.  It’s so weird I keep loosing things, even relationships, all sorts of things!  Sometimes I think it’s myself, but I don’t know when, where, or how.  Can you help me?

(read the whole article)

Article

It Is Time to Break Away from the Herd and Choose Individually

by John Price                 

For our meditation time, Jan and I first ponder a few passages from a book, pause for greater understanding, and then go into meditation to open to the voice of Spirit. Recently we were reading in The Workbook for Self-Mastery, originally titled The Planetary Commission. The subject matter was Chapter Seven, "The Choice Is Yours." We were particularly interested in the idea that what we accept in consciousness is a choice. Accepting and choosing are one.

(read the whole article)

Relationships

A New Paradigm for Marriage

By Suzanne E. Harrill

One idea that has prevailed from past generations is that you are attracted to a partner in order to fill in the incomplete areas of yourself. Add to this a partner who unconsciously helps you rework parts of your past in order to heal your wounds. In this traditional paradigm, you look for your other half who will complete you. This works for a while, but only for a while, as people change and grow and heal. As you grow and fill in your own missing pieces, you then become less and less dependent on the partner to fill in these parts. When you fill in enough missing pieces, then the relationship usually becomes unstable, unless that is, you transform your interpretation of your relationship and move in a new direction. 

(read the whole article)

Enlighten Up   --    Humor

If You Can

Author unknown      

Inner Strength If you can start the day without caffeine or pep pills,
If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles...

Cinderella -- A New Presentation

Cinderella is now 95 years old. After a fulfilling life with the now dead prince, she happily sits upon her rocking chair, watching the world go by from her front porch, with a cat named Bob for companionship...

Email from God

One day God was looking down at Earth and saw all of the inappropriate behavior that was going on....

(read the humor)

Goodies

A Prayer from Saint Therese

Saint Therese is known as the Saint of the Little Ways. She believed in doing the little things in life well and with great love. She is also the patron Saint of flower growers and florists and is represented by roses. May everyone be blessed who receives this message...

The Eye of God

The Light on Your Path

by Rev. Ellen Jane Chambers            

I am the vibration of Light in the Kingdom of Heaven in and through the many mansions of your mind. I am your consciousness. 

(read the whole story)