”…When you recognize all the repetitive actions you take every day, many of them without awareness, it is easy to understand why making the larger changes of creating new thought patterns and beliefs, such as unconditional self-love and self-acceptance, can be so challenging. Just the simple act of making little changes in your daily routines can help you remember that you have a choice in how you live your life and remind you of the magnificent creator you are.
Creativity comes naturally when we are living a life of awareness.”
—-Don Miguel Ruiz Jr. Living a Life of Awareness p.105
Don Miguel Ruiz Jr
Morning Trip (364)
“Self-judgement is the root of our suffering. When we self-judge, we aren’t able to see and enjoy who we really are at this very moment, because we are constantly evaluating ourselves by an illusory standard set by our own agreements. We have been conditioned to believe that our self-acceptance relies on our accomplishments.”
—-Don Miguel Ruiz Jr., Living a Life of Awareness
Morning Trip (361)
“Then as you get distracted by everyday life, you begin to forget this new perspective and your focus slips from your Person Dream to the Dream of the Planet. Your harmony is shaken as you give in to the illusion. But before long, you have another moment of clarity, and you start the process again—-this time with a little more resolve and a little more experience.”
—-Don Miguel Ruiz, Jr., Living a Life of Awareness, p.196
Morning Trip (352)
“….If you view life through the eyes of the judge and conditional love, then life is no longer a work of art; rather, it becomes a series of goals to achieve and contests to win. You are happy when things go ‘right’ and upset when they go ‘wrong.’ Viewing life this way can make for a very difficult experience.
With awareness, notice how you view the ups and downs of life today. Are you trying to ‘win,’ or are you living in the realization that everything that occurs is an artistic creation of life? Be the artist, not the judge.”
—-Don Miguel Ruiz, Jr., Living a Life of Awareness, Daily Meditations on the Toltec Path
Morning Trip (301)
“Your mind, like all minds, tends to identify and label things automatically: tree, stranger, yellow. Without realizing it, you then begin to anticipate what you are going to see next based on what you know. When this happens, your awareness grows duller, as the lazy brain overlooks distinctions. People lose their unique identity and richness, and experiences are compared to what ‘was’ rather than being explored for what is now.
When you look at life without any labels or expectations, all the wonders of this precious moment reveal themselves.”
–Don Miguel Ruiz Jr.
Daily Reading: Remembering Our Choice
“It’s easy to blame, the media, our culture, or our community for perpetuating unrealistic images of what it expects of us. But at the very core of these expectations, there is no one to blame; because a commercial, like self-judgement, has no power over us unless we agree with its message. It is only when we willingly attach ourselves to these images and distortions that our happiness is compromised.
We do not need to take the blame for these self-judgements. We can simply become aware that they have been developing in our lives since childhood through the process of domestication.
Once we are aware of our self-judgements, we can regain our freedom by choosing for ourselves to transcend the reward and punishment model that has been imposed upon us and eventually arrive at a place of self-acceptance. We have a choice. That is our power.
Practice: How many of your ideas and beliefs about the world and yourself are results of domestication and outside influence? Do you assume things should be or look a certain way because that’s what you’ve seen on TV or in your community, and it seems normal? With awareness question those assumptions today. Ask yourself if things might be otherwise and if you could be happy without these rigid ideals of perfection.”
Taken from: Living a Life of AWARENESS Daily Meditations on the TOLTEC Path by Don Miguel Ruiz Jr. ISBN: 9781938289231
Morning Trip (242)
“Passion is a beautiful thing. It is the motivator by which we can realize our dreams. But the fear of failure can create such a strong vision that it will paralyze our intent and extinguish the flame that fuels the passion. Simply put fear can keep us from living the life of our dreams.
One way to overcome this fear is to question it by asking yourself things such as:
What am I afraid of?
Where does the fear come from?
Am I willing to let fear keep me from pursuing my passion?
Focusing on all the steps it make take to achieve your final goal can have the effect of fanning the flames of fear. Instead, just take one small step forward in the direction of your passion. With this step, you become aware of the strength of your intent, and the fear begins to fade away…”
–Don Miguel Ruiz, Jr., Living A Life of Awareness
Morning Trip (209)
“Awareness, or the practice of being in communion with this moment and my present environment, is the key.”
–Don Miguel Ruiz Jr.
Elisa's Spot 