Maintain Your Inner Independence

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="no" equal_height_columns="no" menu_anchor="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_position="center center" background_repeat="no-repeat" fade="no" background_parallax="none" parallax_speed="0.3" video_mp4="" video_webm="" video_ogv="" video_url="" video_aspect_ratio="16:9" video_loop="yes" video_mute="yes" overlay_color="" video_preview_image="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" padding_top="" padding_bottom="" padding_left="" padding_right=""][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" layout="1_1" background_position="left top" background_color="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" border_position="all" spacing="yes" background_image="" background_repeat="no-repeat" padding="" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" center_content="no" last="no" min_height="" hover_type="none" link=""][fusion_text]Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me. While many of us know this childhood jingle, we cannot all say it rings true 100% of the time. Words are very powerful and typically say more about the person speaking than the person listening. Words change lives, can ignite healing or provoke dis-ease, if they are abusive. This is true not necessarily about what is said, but how we handle or process what is said. However, no one should willingly expose themselves to demeaning or abusive communications from anyone under any circumstances.  No, not even from your employer.  That would be a sure sign that it's time to move on.  But I digress.I haven’t written on my blog post in over a month now and I finally had to admit to myself, what triggered this pause in posting was a comment made by a recipient of our newsletter. In addition to unsubscribing, she took the time to explain why. Her comments pierced me to the core. Due to the fact that we have so few readers who responds to the newsletter or blog posts in writing, it often feels like I’m just talking to myself. Is there anybody out there???  But while readers seldom leave written comments, many have come up to me in person to say they enjoy the newsletter and blog posts.Recently a friend on Facebook mentioned her desire to give up sugar and I referred her to my blog post on the topic - Sugar - The Sweetest Poison of All. This brilliant woman who is a published author, accomplished intellectual, a professor at a prestigious university and wonderful person, immediately shared  with me that she loved my blog. And just those few words really meant so much to me.  In addition to my resolve on this matter, they gave me impetuous to say, please unsubscribe.  I only need to speak with those who are interested in what I'd like to share.It can be very unsettling to allow ourselves to be so easily influenced, like a leaf in the wind. We all know better than that. We would be absolutely miserable if we attempted to live our lives allowing what others say to influence how we feel and what we do based on what they say; when they approve of us then we're happy and if they don't approve of us, then we're miserable. The first rule is, don't take it personally, as it relates to anyone, but particularly with strangers. This customer (and each recipient) has every right to unsubscribe and explain why they're not interested in what I have to share. As the good book (I-Ching - Book of Changes) advises – maintain your inner independence - take not gain nor loss to heart.  These words sound so simple, but depending on what it is you're trying to be centered about and not be an emotional mess, taking this stance can be exceedingly challenging.This is one of the hallmarks of my spiritual journey,  mastering maintaining inner independence. So how I allowed this one comment to throw me so completely off my center, is something I dealt with in my meditation.  Inner independence is a way of saying, be centered.  Let not your emotions determine how you feel and function. In some instances that is easy.  In other instances it can be such a major cross roads, it can be the difference between living life fully or being totally miserable and spreading your misery to others.  So maintaining inner independence can be a very serious endeavor depending on what's happening in your life. I have formulated a number of Spiritual Spritzers to address different challenges in life and one of them is called Centering.  It's perfect to use for those time when you need to maintain your equilibrium. Formulated with both essential oils and tinctured herbs, it instills the energy of oneness, to be single minded, not torn or any matter.  And also it can be used to remind us that all of us are one, from the same one source, God, the Divine, by any name you choose to use.With the help of my meditations, using the Spiritual Spritzer and the kind words of my friend Imani (a name that means, faith or trust) I have reclaimed my center and I'm back!  Please feel free to unsubscribe to this newsletter and or blog if it is not for you. I know how it is.  We have a limited amount of time and we should spend it doing what inspires us.  I realize that what I have to say is of value to someone and if I am able to encourage just one person to follow the road that will bring that person closer to a healthy, wholesome and or enlightening perspective or inspire them to take a closer look at the beauty they share with this world, then I've met my goal. That is my mission. Have a most beauty-filled day![/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]