As we continue through A New Earth, we look at some key points to Chapter Three and the core of the ego.
"Anything that you resent and strongly react to in another is also in you."
“What we react to in another we strengthen in ourselves. One of the things the ego needs to survive is reacting against other people. What you react to in another you strengthen in yourself…”
“What we react to most strongly in others and what we most strongly condemn in others is usually something that we also have, a trait that we also have but that we are unconscious of in ourselves. So when we, for example, become upset if we encounter somebody who is very greedy, or we could become upset about somebody who is dishonest, no matter who, the force of your reaction usually tells you that something in you that you need to look at.”
Question: Who in your life do you consider an enemy? What lessons and blessings have you to learn from that person?
“Whatever you fight, you strengthen and what you resist persists.”
“Complaining is one of the egos favorite strategies for strengthening itself. Every complaint is a little story the mind makes up that you completely believe in… Some egos that haven’t got much else to identify with, they can survive on complaining alone. So the continuously you are condemning other people, you’re continuously criticizing, condemning or judging negatively situations that you’re in, your surroundings, other people.”
Question: Who would you be if you did not complain? How would your life be different?
It is not too late to register for the Webclass at Oprah.com. Just sign up and join in the conversation. You can also revisit past episodes in audio or video. Take part in creating a spiritual shift in consciousness across the globe.
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Chapter Three: The Core of Ego
Chapter Two: Ego: The Current State of Humanity
Hopefully you have had the chance to watch, listen to, or read the transcript of Class Two/Chapter Two of the A New Earth Webclass. In Chapter Two, Eckhart talks about the ego; but Oprah and Eckhart began the webclass with a moment of silence. Silence is something that many of us are not comfortable with. Just stopping and listening to our own breath – this can cause some people to go nuts! We must be wired and attached to something – mobile phones, blackberries, iPods (unless you are listening to A New Earth Podcast).
One of the things that the ego does not align with is silence; because as Eckhart says, it is taking attention away from the thinking mind which feeds the ego. I have said that stopping is a spiritual action – taking the time to just be.
Being aware of your surroundings is also difficult for some of us. How many times have I had to grab someone who was about to get run over by a car because she was so engrossed in her phone conversation or her blackberry messages?
So, if we cannot be still and silent or aware of our present moment, then how do we manage to have engaging relationships? Do we really know who we are relating to? Are we really aware of what we are eating during our lunch breaks? Or do we talk on the phone while shoveling food into our mouths? Especially here in New York, I see this all the time.
What would it be like if we just went out to a park and sat? No mobile or wireless devices, no distractions, just be? I do this at least once a week – my artist date. After having that time with myself, then I can think, analyze or create.
My challenge to you is to set aside some time in the next few days to just be. Go to a park or some other quiet place where you can have no distractions. Just notice your surroundings. Notice the sounds, the smells; take it all in and then let it go. Don’t label it, don’t judge it. Just be with it.
Share with us what the experience was like. Was it difficult to just be? Were you itching to react to the vibrating mobile device in your pocket? Could you turn it and everything else off for the time?
Stay in the moment,
Coach Carolyn
Awakening to Life's Purpose
The Becoming a Woman of Purpose Meetup Ladies got together last Sunday to discuss A New Earth. There was lots of discussion, even from those who has not yet read the book. That is exciting!
One of the things we discussed was Eckhart’s starting question: “What does life want from me?” A few of the women had been asking the question the other way round, of course – what do I want out of life? Yet, Eckhart says that this is the more profound question. When asked in this way, we can let go and relax a bit more, trusting that the Divine will show up with just what we need to do in this life.
For myself, I know that my mission is to equip, empower and encourage women to live lives of inner peace, passion, purpose and prosperity. What I don’t know is how that will play out from day to day – and that is the exciting part. I trust that the Divine will lead me exactly where I need to be at exactly the right time to fulfill my mission. And this changes from day to day. (the Divine knows that I have a very short attention span!)
So if you are struggling through life, perhaps it is because you are not allowing the Divine to guide you to where you need to be, but you are trying to fit into a space that has not been made to fit you. When I feel that I am struggling, I know that I am also not trusting enough. Not that I won’t take any actions; believe me, there is always something to do. When I can take time to stop and listen to what is going on inside of me, then I can hear the inner promptings and know what I am to do next.
Are you allowing the Divine to guide your life, or are you afraid to give up the control and let go? What comes up for you when you ask, “What does life want from me?”
Live in the moment and awaken…
Coach Carolyn
Celebrating Women’s History Month with Blogs, Wikis and Facebook
One of the most loving ways we can honor one another as passionate women of purpose is to support other women bloggers. Blogging has become a medium that allows women to be strong and out-spoken, yet still remain true women. We are allowed to show our authentic selves and truly shine.
For me personally, a whole new world has opened up as a blogger, and in particular a woman blogger. Since my work is directed towards women, this is especially wonderful for me. Though in this country, women have made terrific strides and advancements, I do feel we tend to take that for granted.
“Old woman,” the young woman asked, “What is the heaviest burden a woman has to bear?” And the old woman answered her, “Young woman, the heaviest burden a woman has to bear is to have no burden at all.”
This month, as we celebrate Women’s History Month, let us reflect on how far women have really come in this world. Yet, let us not forget how hard it is for others.
Some of the issues the United Nations and International Women's Day have focused on include the following:
~ About 25,000 brides are burned to death each year in India because of insufficient dowries. The groom's family will set the bride on fire, presenting it as an accident or suicide. The groom is then free to remarry.
~ In a number of countries, women who have been raped are sometimes killed by their own families to preserve the family's honor. Honor killings have been reported in Jordan, Pakistan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and other Persian Gulf countries.
~ According to UNICEF, 100 million to 140 million girls and women have undergone some form of female genital mutilation. Today, this practice is carried out in 28 African countries, despite the fact that it is outlawed in a number of these nations.
One way to honor other women, especially women bloggers, is to support the work of the W Magical List of Women Bloggers. It has been for me a labor of love and a tremendous honor to connect with so many women who share themselves unselfishly.
Remember in this world of love and abundance, there is enough to go around. There is plenty for each of us. We receive more blessings when we can share our blessings in gratitude. I am extremely thankful for all the women of the W Magical List, and to those who have yet to join the conversation.
Two women I want to acknowledge because I am in such deep gratitude for their initiative, their love and their support: Valeria Maltoni and Toby Bloomberg. Without these two ladies, the conversation would not have been given the wings to fly. I toast you both.
And to all the women I have been graced to connect with, on the wiki and on the W List Facebook Group. Peace and blessings to you all.
If you haven’t yet done so, please take a moment to join the wiki for the W Magical List of Women Bloggers and add your name and blog. Also, come join the W List on Facebook. And when you arrive, look me up and I would honored to be your friend.
Chapter One: The Flowering of Human Consciousness
Okay, by now I hope everyone has had a chance to either view or listen to the first class of the Oprah and Tolle A New Earth Series. You can go to Oprah.com to listen or download the class.
One of the things we talk a lot about here at Becoming a Woman of Purpose is our thinking; that is, our limiting beliefs that contribute to the thoughts we have – what Tolle calls the voice in the head or our conditioned thinking. These thoughts were conditioned by our past, our childhood, our upbringing and by the culture we were raised in. all of those things contributed to the condition of our thought processes. When the awakened process begins, a lot of the old voices in the head, the old thoughts still come up.
For myself, the old voices constantly came up, especially in situations where I had to do something new and different. Now, as I begin to awaken, though the conditioned thinking still comes up, I have techniques to keep them in check and keep myself from being controlled by them.
How have you managed your conditioned thoughts – the inner critic or the voice of doom?
Please share your AHA Moments here and help your fellow sister (or brother) on the journey. You can also join the online discussion board at Oprah.com.
Keep flowering,
Coach Carolyn
