Take A Moment...

Trust means allowing yourself a day to be goofy.
I’m exploring my boundaries with balance;
Everything that needs to get done––
Will be accomplished in time.
Or it won’t be.
I’m okay with that... At least in this moment.
#Present

Quality vs. Quantity

I’m an overachiever;
Always trying to squeeze more productivity out of every moment.
Thankfully, over the years I’ve learned that it’s not always about the quantity––but the quality in which I spend my energy.
Sometimes giving one-hundred percent means stepping back from the situation and allowing the momentum build.
Trust that work is happening, even in the downtime.

Now Is Always Here

As an artists, I’m always searching for inspiration––which inevitably leads to an endless loop of reliving memories, revisiting ideas and thinking about how to anticipate what’s next.
I’m constantly resisting the urge to overanalyze. Like getting stuck in an all-night Google search session; you started out the journey looking for one answer, and somehow you’ve ended up reading about the success of your teenage crush.
Tapped in the past, or lost in the future––neither will help me in the present.
Creating meaningful work requires staying connected to what’s happening now; that awareness is the key to evolution.

Life Journey

The most challenging journey that I’ll ever experience, is ongoing;
Life––the ability to stay on course.
One step at a time maneuvering through hopes, dreams, goals, fears, setbacks, accomplishments and processing loss;
It’s not about reaching the destination on this adventure.
It’s about seeking joy, becoming enlightened and evolving as a person.

Easter Light

I went to Easter Vigil mass last night;
The congregation gathered outside the church––holding un-light candles.
The priest read a passage from the bible and then explained the significance of the candle light; he lit the blessed candle, and then the parishioners each lit their candle from the light of the first. Turning and sharing the light that they had received.
We walked into the pitch black church.
I reached an unoccupied pew and stood alone in the darkness.
I felt sadness––I missed my family, friends and Jeff.
Easter used to be full of color, light, family gatherings and joy.
Tears came to my eyes; all of the sudden the watery glaze illuminated the candle I was holding––I followed the glow around the church.  It was beautiful.
The flicker of light finally lead me back to the cross.  I looked up and realized,
I am not alone––I never have been and never will be, so long as I believe in Gods word.
In that moment I felt calm, grateful, supported, and blessed.
My focus for the past three months has been centered on light: seeking light, living in light, shining my light––how appropriate that I decided to attend an Easter Vigil.
I needed to be reminded that Easter is more than past memories, chocolate bunnies, family gatherings and expensive brunches––it’s a time to reflect on the sacrifice that was made so that we could seek the light.

Now or Nothing

The little voice in my head gets louder when I slip away from the present.
Demands and expectations are catapulted from unconscious fears and I lose grip of my awareness;
Nothing brilliant is born from doubt or stress.
How do I confront the inner bully?
I don’t.
I release the noise and refocus on living in this moment.
I can torture myself––agonizing over circumstances that cannot be controlled;
Or I can make the choice to let go.
Nothing is lost when you make the choice to return to NOW.
The past can’t be extinguished any more than the future can be decided;
All we have is the breath in this moment––and nothing else.

Calm

The anxious mind seeks answers;
The peaceful mind seeks stillness.

Remember:

When you breathe and release;
You are at peace.

You Are Here

Mall directories offer the best advice for life:
In the chaos of the Starbucks, Bloomingdale’s, Apple Store, See’s Candy, Foot Locker, Wilson’s Leather, The Gap and Bath and Body Works––there is a giant arrow that points to a location and says: “You Are Here”.
Our lives become so overcomplicated with flashy signs, material desires, social media, and the voices in our head demanding us to relive the past and stress about the future, that we forget about the only thing that matters; the present.
If only we could remember that mall directory when we become overwhelmed;
You are here, now.

Success

I think it’s safe to say that everyone has their version of success;
Some use jobs, connections, accomplishments and social status to determine if they’ve become successful.
Others seek fame and fortune to define their standing;
Then there are those who believe success is found doing what they love.
I used to be one of those people––until I realized that I find more happiness, gratitude and energy finding success in awareness; being awake in the moment and appreciative of the joy that comes from whatever I’m doing in the present.
In doing so, I’m free from any burden of society’s expectations or judgments.
A simple switch in the outlook of success, can offer a lifetime of stress free, fearless blessings.

Joy

Joy is in the simple tasks;
Hidden behind the stress or doubt––a beam of light escapes, forcing you to acknowledge that even the darkest corners of your mind seek positive energy.

Two Words; No Problem

Problems are dealt with out of fear;
Situations are solved through awareness and action.
Simply by changing the way we look at (and label) the same circumstance––we can shift focus, remain positive, and proceed with faith.
Life is either beautiful or devastating, depending on you outlook.

#Positivity

Waking up to fresh opportunities;
The only thing more intoxicating than the aroma of coffee at 5AM,
Is the fragrance of life––and the exciting adventure that awaits today.
#Positivity

The Power Is In Your Hands

The ability to release the guilt from yesterday,
and resist the anxiety of tomorrow––allows us to be more productive today.
The past is gone. The future will never be here;
All we have is the present.
Nothing from the past or future can come in contact with the present;
Unless you enable it to enter your mind.

The Light in You

When the negative energy is overwhelming;
The mind becomes concentrated on giving into the doubt.
When you are surrounded by darkness externally;
Close your eyes and find the light inside––it will always be there.
We have the tools to triumph in even the darkest storms.

Release and Be Happy

When you're holding on to anger;

You're losing the opportunity for happiness.

Breathe In The Climb

Living in the present requires relinquishing control;
For someone who identifies with type-A personality traits, this is similar to a mental expedition up Mount Everest.
Without the proper tools, the trek will be impossible.
Even after doing the research, training and preparation––there is no guarantee that I will reach the top.
That is the beauty of an endeavor so massive;
The fulfillment is not found looking down from above––instead the gratitude is inhaled one breath at a time.
The past is gone, the future is never here––the present is all we have time for.

Ego

My ego tells me I have to accomplish more;
My soul reminds me that my ego is a bully.
The ego fears death;
The soul embraces life.
Live in the NOW!

The Power of Now

The ability to acknowledge this moment:
Accept it without judgement;
Release it without thinking;
Stay present without doubt.

Dive Into Pain––Find Joy.

Some people think that an artist has to live a tortured life in order to create a true masterpiece.
I believe the beauty of a brilliant work of art is not discovered in the pain, but rather through the acceptance of who we are; flawed, insecure, filled with doubt.
Compelled to uncover a deeper sense of joy, artists dive forward into the pain in order to experience the joy that radiates from the awareness––stripped from everything we are all the same: humans in search of inner peace.

Pain To Present

What feels like a deep wound is little more than a scratch.

Once the cut has been cleaned and examined you can distinguish between reacting to a fear based on past experience, and the truth of the moment; the pain is a memory of the past.

As soon as we shift our mind to the present, the pain is released, Now the healing begins.

The Joy of Release

The intoxicating sense of gratitude;
Surrendering to the simple fact: We are in control of absolutely nothing.
The release of expectation––gives way to the joy of abundance.
Walking through the darkest trails only enables us to appreciate the light of a new direction.

The Past Is Gone––Find Your Present!

The most difficult obstacle on the path to enlightenment is accepting that every day brings a new challenge;
How we react to circumstance is directly connected to how we achieve inner peace.
Everything can be resolved with a deep breath––it’s not always the easy choice, but it is certainly the most effective way to release the past and step into the present.

Mind Your Creativity

When my mind is still;
My sense of play is activated––I am free to be creative.
Without fear, my imagination kicks in and I’m off on a new adventure.
The static of life can cause insanity;
Over analyzing a situation beyond thoughtfulness and into the realm of negativity––darkness.
Only in the light can we clearly see the beauty of our inspiration.

Open Here

God provides doors to rooms you didn't even realize existed—until you've discovered that you're ready to enter.

Remember

Inner Peace begins with release;

There can be no enlightenment without letting go. 

Gratitude.

When I feel like complaining I remind myself:
I’m alive, I’m healthy, and I get to follow my passion.
Nothing else matters.

You Are Here.

Release yesterday, it cannot be changed;
Loosen the control of tomorrow, it cannot be tamed;
Breathe in today, it is all we have for certain.
Stand in the beauty of this moment and embrace the unlimited potential that exists, NOW.

Follow Light.

The lighthouse stands tall and bright in the pitch-black horizon.
In total darkness, it is impossible to miss the light.
Whether we seek it or not is our choice;
Follow the light to a safe harbor––or ignore it, and collide with the inevitable.
There are warnings throughout our life, but only those who welcome the light will find a happy landing.

Challenge, Accepted!

Where some people see problems––I see a challenge;
A new adventure that will push me to activate my mind, body and soul.
Stirring creativity and intellect to achieve a new level of awareness and, and continue my evolution as a creator.

When In Doubt...

If you’ve ever experienced a moment that falls into place perfectly once you let go of the fear––you'd want to tap into that ability every time there’s an issue, right?
But human nature will more often than not, have us turn our concern or doubt into fear; if we obsess and panic, it will motivate us?
I used to think if I wasn’t stressing out about something––I probably didn’t care enough.
Thankfully, I’ve learned that the more I care, the more I should release the doubt and Faith it out.
Trust that I have done the work and will know what to do when the time comes; remember that there is a higher power working to guide me where I’m meant to be, and release everything else.