Inspired Possibility Blog

Showing Up

2/4/2024

Guest Blog by Steve Aman
There is a shadow that lurks in me that often whispers “you’re not good enough.” That shady shadow might add “what makes you think you can do that?” or some other diminishing words of gloom. It has taken many years for me to learn how to speak back to that voice. Today I can tell it, “thank you, but I don’t need you right now. Step back and I will get to you later.” In the meantime, I discovered that when I just show up, things move along pretty smoothly and even incredibly.

Some time back I learned a universal truth. When we come into this world, we arrive with our own unique set of gifts and challenges. Truly, there is no one else on this earth with an identical mix like our own, and I have no doubt that this is no accident. When I compare myself to another, I automatically withhold some of my gold, and that is not what I came here for.

On the other hand, when I simply show up and open myself to the flow of energy, what I call Spirit, and I trust that flow, I cannot go wrong. Some folks call this energy intuition. I call it “hollow bone” energy. When I allow myself to become the conduit, or the hollow bone, between Spirit and this physical world, magic happens. The most challenging part of this for me over time has been to trust what I am hearing or feeling. “You want me to do what?” I have often asked. And, when I simply showed up, trusted that there was something bigger than me behind the scenes so to speak, it has never failed to turn out beautifully. Indeed, it seems that paying attention to that energy often turns out to be a significant gift for someone involved.

Please join the conversation:

Do you have internal messages that keep you from showing up?
What have you discovered when you've overcome the doubt or fear and shown up to give your gifts anyway?
Is there an opportunity for you to show up where you might feel a little hesitant? What will it take to do it anyway?

Please share with us in the comments below. Thanks for adding your wisdom!

Meet Steve:
Steve is a retired farmer and has been deeply in love with the Earth his entire life. He and his wife of 53 years, Mary, live on a wondrous bit of creation in upstate New York that includes woods, meadow, wetland, stream, farmland and pond.

Steve has been deeply immersed in teaching nature awareness and primitive skills for decades, and is currently co-developer for the Resilience and Acceptance in the Face of Collapse course (https://acceptingcollapse.com/) currently being offered across the globe. He strives to live by the maxim "balance is the key", and recognizes that absolutely nothing provides meaning like being of service.

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Heart Revolution

3/1/2022

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Today I come to you with a birthday wish… cause, yeah, it is my birthday! But, before we get into all of that - how's your heart? Right now? In this moment? Go ahead… stop reading and doing whatever else you're doing and check in. I like to place a hand or two on my heart to help bring to me to this center within. What does your heart need in this moment? How can you tend to your heart this day? Because we need you and we need your heart to be well-loved, well-supported, and well-resourced for what I'm about to invite you into. ❤

Now, my wish… will you please, pretty please, join me in a Heart Revolution!? I'm not even entirely sure what that means completely yet, but it's revealing itself to me bit by bit over these past few days so I'm going to try to share it with you here. As I write, know that I'm writing to myself and my heart as well as to you!

Birthdays always invite me to pause and reflect – reflect on the past…what life has been, and also to look ahead to what’s possible.

This week I took an hour and wrote a letter to what I am calling Beloved, a source of wisdom beyond my small self – for 30 minutes I poured my heart out about concerns, desires, questions that were within me. Then I took another 30 minutes to write a letter from Beloved to me (and, interestingly, she also called me “Beloved.”) As I wrote, I felt myself surrounded by a loving powerful presence. It felt good to take that time to tap into this wisdom, and I was reminded to give myself truly nourishing grace and space. So, I did.

I gave myself a period of time with no expectations. No pressure. No filling of the time with tasks or work. Our time here in Hilton Head is winding down, and I have 2 full days of training this week, so I want to allow myself to move through the other days moment by moment. I’m looking at all the work and books I brought with me (of course more than I could possibly do or read in these couple of months – I always do, because I like choices). I can be disappointed and upset with myself and focus on what’s undone or unread, or I can appreciate what I have gotten done and that I’ve allowed the books and projects to call to me. I can remember that January was largely consumed with grief and the energy that that required, and I can be grateful that I was able to give myself time to be with that.

The to-do lists will always, always, always be never-ending! There will always be work that could be done, classes that could be taken, chores that are waiting. And so, we have to work to actually choose life! We have to actively claim moments to enjoy life.

There will always be pain and sadness and suffering in our own lives, in people we love, and in the world at large. And, there is also always love, peace, joy, goodness, and generosity. We can choose where we direct our attention and what energy we bring and spread in the world.

The world needs an infusion of hope, love, compassion, and possibility right now. When we focus on what’s possible rather than on what’s wrong, we become part of the solution, part of the sea of change. I believe in us as humans, in our inherent goodness. In our ability to grow and evolve. I believe and know that we are more than what we see on the news.

There will always be fear, anger, and horror while simultaneously there is prayer, loving kindness, and compassionate aid. Join me in brightening the tapestry of humanity by looking toward what’s possible, healing, and coming together. We are more than we know. We can become greater than what we can imagine, and not through power over or cruelty, hatred, or division, but through love, compassion, kindness and an understanding of our connection to all beings.

This does not mean bury your head in the sand. No. Honor your pain. We must face head-on the reality of what’s before us, of the things that trouble and horrify us, and absolutely do what we can to assist. This is not a spiritual bypass or toxic positivity. It is a call to look at what’s here and bring a fierce compassion to it, refusing to get on the bandwagon of hatred and division, so that we as a people and a planet become better, stronger, more resilient, and better able to survive. We become part of the healing.

Destruction and devastation coexist with transformation, new birth, growth, and evolution. As things are torn apart, new possibilities arise. We do not live in a static world…things are constantly in motion. Nothing stays the same. So, we get to choose, moment by moment, our role in this grand play.

It’s why coming home to ourselves is where we must begin. Find your ground, your center, and speak and act from that place – solid within, connected to both Earth and Universe. Tap into your own guiding light of purpose, integrity, alignment and ask, "What would Love do? What is my action to take to contribute to the greater good?"

We can do this on a personal level and also for greater community and global crises. I guess that's why I wrote about Filling Your Own Cup last time. We need to be filled up, rested, nourished in order to show up in this way.

Find your faith. Pray your prayers. Send your good vibes. Believe in hope and possibility. Allow yourself to dream of a better tomorrow. Be part of a revolution of humanity, compassion, and love. Each day this is the opportunity. Feed the fear, frenzy, aggression and division or bring love, peace, care, calm, and connection. Begin right here in this intentional moment. It will lead you to the next.

When you begin to spin, react, get caught in the madness, come back. To breath. To life – it’s happening right here. Re-center. Re-ground. And, begin again. Choose to live for those who can’t.   Send strength and love to those in need. Be a beacon of light and a force of love. Do what you can to make a difference in the way you can in the place you are called to.
Each and every one of us matters. Each and every one of us makes a difference, for better or for worse – our energy ripples out. In this moment you get to choose. No one else is in charge of how you show up to life and for life. That’s on each one of us. No matter what.

Who do you want to be? How do you want to be? Deep down inside… for real. Bring that! It’s more than enough. Just be real. With all your heart. The revolution begins within, and then with coming together with other inspired, empowered beings ready to be part of something better - those who dare to dream, who dare to see the humanity in one another no matter outward appearances, who know and respect the beauty of the land and all of her inhabitants. People who dare to love despite the certainty of heartbreak. Now is not a time to stand silent. Now is a time to show up boldly, bravely, in places you are called.  Let’s be part of a heart revolution!

Your invitation (should you choose to accept it):
Take some time to quiet your mind and connect with the wisdom of your heart. If writing is your way, write. If you prefer to paint or draw, do that. If you’re a visionary, allow the vision to come to you. But, find a place where you can sit quietly and ask for insight, guidance, fresh perspective, and new ideas for a problem in your life or in the world. Allow your mind to be open, let yourself be surprised, and see what comes. Ask to be shown. Listen. Allow it to flow to you and through you so that you become a vessel of this wisdom.

Remember Neale Donald Walsch’s Conversation with God books? Each one of us has access to a Wisdom beyond our mind. Each one of us can tap into a wisdom that comes through our heart. When we act from this place, we surprise even ourselves with what’s possible.

Dare to dream. Dare to hope. Dare to ask. Write down your question or what you’re struggling with before you go to sleep and allow insights to come in your dreams.

Together we will rise. Here's a meditation to support you. And, here’s a powerful and beautiful song from Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile to inspire, uplift, and encourage you onward!

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Showing Up

Heart Revolution

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