thought for the day

No Blog Today

For those of you looking for my blog for today, i am taking a few sick days and staying bed, curled up under the covers, and pumping fluids. Hope to be back in action by Wednesday

Thought for the day

Thought for the Day

SPEAKING WITH INTEGRITY

Dear God,

I am grateful for this month of reflecting on my own worth. In doing so, I have been reminded of how important it is to me to speak with integrity. It reminds me of a conversation I had with a colleague recently about knowing when to allow myself to speak and when I need to breathe love into my being and remember the Sufi teaching about the questions I must answer before speaking. Is what I want to say truthful? Is it necessary? Is it kind? It parallels the teachings of Toltec Wisdom and don Miguel Ruiz about being impeccable with my word. When I speak with integrity, I am only saying what I mean and when I combine it with the Sufi teaching; I know that how I say what I mean also comes from an intent of love.

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Thought for the day

YOU ARE WORTH THE INVESTMENT!

The other day I came across this quote from Kevin Ngo and it fit perfectly with the theme for this month. Occasionally we all need a word of encouragement or a reminder that we are worth the investment. That includes me. If, as don Miguel Ruiz suggests we do the best we can in all things, then that is our best. We each have the potential to do our best and to know that we can manifest the life we are trying to create. It is important that we always remember to stay focused on the vision we have for the life we are seeking to manifest. If we work on this vision a little bit every day, then we will achieve it. When we stop taking those daily actions in our lives, we inadvertently or unconsciously create the life we do not want. So stay encouraged and create a circle of support, as encouragement is important for all.
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Thought for the day

Respect yourself to not allow you or others to abuse or disrespect you.

Song of the week

How do you count the seasons of your life? That is the theme of this week's song of the week -- http://inspiritual.biz/inspiritual-song-of-the-week1/

EMBRACING THE CHALLENGE

Sometimes it does not take much to make someone feel loved. However, in my mind everyone is worthy of experiencing the unconditional love of others. A friend of mine has avoided coming over for dinner several times. Her excuse has been that she is a picky eater. The truth is that she is on a restrictive diet to help her live without severe migraine headaches. The other day, I asked her to send me a list of all the things she cannot eat. I asked her if she would consider coming over for dinner if I made a meal that honored her dietary needs.
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Thought for the day

Thought for the day

If we are worthy of being treated with honor, dignity, and respect, then others are as well.

Thought for the day

Thought for the day

Thought for the day

Starting today, stop doing all things that do not honor you. Remember you are worthy of being treated and treating yourself with love, dignity, and respect.

I AM NOT A VICTIM

Dear God,

I would like to thank you for the reminder that everything, which happens in my life, is for the good, even when I do not realize it now. Others may look at my life and see the trials and tribulations. I look at my life and give thanks for all you have done for me. I have actively chosen to believe that you do not do things to me as some form of punishment, but for me as a tool to help me grow and continue to be of service. Yes, I have had others say hurtful things to me, but you have taught me that their words are about them, not me. Yes, I have had others abuse me, but their pain, which they targeted towards me, is about them, not me. It is only about me if I believe it is about me and as you have taught me through the teachings of don Miguel Ruiz. The words and the language I use have power and I choose to use words that create positive realities and energy. It is through my word that I create and this power to create is a gift you bestowed on me.

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Thought for the day

Song of the Week

I had not heard this song in a while until I heard my niece sing a heart warming rendition of it. Had she said yes, I would have shared it, but at her request I am using the Amy Grant rendition insteadhttp://inspiritual.biz/inspiritual-song-of-the-week1/

THE __________ I WILL NEVER FORGET

Those who know me will understand that perhaps my least favorite show on the Food Network is Cutthroat Kitchen. That said, the fifth agreement in Toltec wisdom reminds me that lessons can be hidden in places that we might overlook if we did not listen with a maybe. So, I decided to watch the show last week because it was the first of a five-week series with “superstar” chefs competing for charity. The last two chefs standing were Michael Psilakis and Aartie Sequiera. The dish they were required to make was French toast. French toast is one of those iconic breakfast dishes. While there are a few variations in terms of bread used and whether they are stuffed or not, there are some things you expect to experience and taste when you eat this, regardless of the day or time. 

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Thought for the day

Thought for the day

BREATH LIGHT INTO YOUR DARK SIDE

Recently, a friend shared a song called Secrets with me. It is sung by Mary Lambert. She begins the song by acknowledging some of her secrets, some of what some might call her dark side. The parts of ourselves that we do not always want to like or own. As Lambert says,

“They tell us from the time we're young
To hide the things that we don't like about ourselves
Inside ourselves”

We are all aware of our dark side. We know when we have had dark thoughts, dark actions, or dark behaviors. I can remember in my own life thoughts, actions, and behaviors that I am not proud of. Like Lambert sings, I was taught to hide those secrets inside myself.” Hiding our secrets, our shadows, our dark aspects only strengthens the power of the darkness in our life.

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Thought for the day

Where have you set your level of worthiness?

Thought for the day

Remember that you are worthy of love and of being loved.

Thought for the day

TO MY BIRTH FATHER

Dear God,

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for blessing me with Thich Nhat Hanh’s book Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting through the Fear. I am not sure what I was expecting when I began this book, but I am so grateful for all that is helping me to release and the wounds that are being healed along the way. One of the things he pointed out was that whether we are physically connected to or want to be connected to our ancestors, we are. We need to heal the wounds we have inherited as part of our legacy. One of the things he suggested doing was writing letters as a form of meditational practice to our ancestors and parents. As I thought about this, I realized I had written letters to my parents before and after they made transition. However, never in my life have I written a letter to my foster parents or to my birth parents. Even though I will never meet them, at least not in this realm, I am still connected to them and in their own ways; we will always be connected. So today, I am going to begin with the one that might be the hardest, the letter to my biological father. I am not even sure how you write a love letter to someone you never knew and are not even sure you ever met or ever say me. However, I am going to do my best

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Thought for the day

Remember to tell yourself today and every day that you are worthy!

Song of the Week

Your secrets can only hurt you when you hold them in, so stop caring if others know what your secrets are and release the fear of others finding out. That is the theme of this week's song of the week.

Thought for the day

Starting today, put a high value on yourself. Remember you were designed by the Divine.

THE PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT

As many of you know, the show Chopped on the Food Network never ceases to be a source of inspiration for this blog. Last night was no different, albeit for different reasons. The cheftestants were not those who work as restaurant chefs, private chefs, or even culinary instructors. They were those who worked in non-profit organizations preparing food for those we so often call “the least of thee.” One cooked for the Fresh Air Fund and others cooked for various homeless shelters. It was the story of one of the cheftestants who talked about going from being homeless to being able to cook at the shelter that moved me. It reminded me of a time in my own life when I had almost become homeless. His story also moved me because of how they served their clients in the homeless shelter. Their dining facility did not have line that people went through, but was set up like a restaurant with menus and a volunteer staff that served as wait staff.

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Thought for the day

Are you ready to enjoy a life long love affair with yourself and the Universe? There is nothing to stop you. Just remember you are worthy!

Use It!

In this month’s newsletter, I gave us a few things about self-worth to consider. I asked us to think about whether we knew God loved us just as we are. I suggested we think about whether we see life challenges as confining or empowering. I encouraged us to remember to periodically empty out the emotional, mental, and spiritual clutter and keep ourselves from becoming a “dumpster.” Finally, I challenged us to remember that we are of value to ourselves, others, and our community.  

Sometimes it may feel like your life is not where you would like it to be. Most of us, myself included, have those moments. It is then I remember the words of Ram Dass who said, “Everything in your life is there as a vehicle for your transformation. Use it!” Life is a veritable toolbox to help you achieve whatever you desire to achieve in your life. Use it!

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Thought for the day

Let the journey for finding the indestructible begin.

Thought for the day

Thought for the day

MY UMBILICAL CORD

The last few days I have been feeling as if I was entering a different state of being and have not been able to figure out where this shift is coming from. Then I remembered that this is October, the month where my body remembers to grieve the loss of my god-daughter, the leaving the adoption center, the birth into my family, the severing of yet one more umbilical cord in my life and the creation of another one.

Reading Thich Nhat Hanh’s book on fear has reminded me how you have always been my umbilical cord. When it was time for me to leave the safety of my birth mother’s womb, you were there to protect me. You brought me into your utero for just a moment while they worked on saving my human life and the life of my birth mother. Even when my spirit returned to my infant body, my umbilical cord to you remained attached. When I was moved to the foster home, my umbilical cord to you remained attached. When I was brought to the adoption center, my umbilical cord to you remained attached. When my parents adopted me, my umbilical cord to you remained attached.

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Thought for the day

As the song suggests sometimes we are looking for love and sense of self worth in all the wrong places.  Look within.

Thought for the day

If love is not in your air, change the air you breathe. If it is, then breath love in and breathe love out to all you know. Let's spend this month keeping love in the air.

Thought for the day

Song of the week

This has been our song of the week before, but in this month when we are focusing on self-worth it seemed appropriate to listen to again. We all going through moments in our life, it is not about the challenge before you; it is about how you go through it --

ALL ARE WORTHY

Somebody recently asked me why I continue to write in this blog? How many different connections can one possibly make between food and spirituality? I just smiled and said the connections are endless. They challenged me to make a connection between food addictions and spirituality. As I have a few (olives, pot stickers, sashimi, anything spicy, and seafood), I found this interesting. Just about everyone I know has a food they crave. Recently I saw an article that talked about how fast foods activate similar parts of the brain as drugs. I can say, at least for me, that my addiction to my foods of choice is not about the food. It is about me. There are things about those foods in which I find comfort and a kind of satisfaction that I do not get from other foods, especially at certain times in the semester (grading frenzy), or around the holidays. When somebody offers me the opportunity to eat any one of the three things listed above, my mouth begins to salivate. Even writing about them, I find myself thinking about Guy Fieri when he talks about how the jets in his mouth are turning on while he watches one of the guests on his show cook one of their signature dishes.

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Thought for the day

Remember you are worthy of seeking freedom, love, light, and positive energy in your life.

 

"Great wisdom, through painful experience is an inside job" ~~ Meg Christian 



Rev Dr. Sharon Jacobson 

Inspiritual 

25 Bernie Lane 

Rochester, NY 14624 

585-729-6113 

http://inspiritual.biz 

Twitter @Inspiritual 

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