If you’re looking for a book to assist you as you navigate the ups and downs in life while you peel away the layers of worldly expectations, this read may be for you.
Have you ever wondered about your life’s dreams and what happened to them? Have you ever had dreams for your life? This book is a wake-up call. A reminder that it is never too late to fulfill that desire burning deep down inside of you. The piece of your soul that is ready to shine and light up your life! Inside the pages of Living, Loving, & Unlearning, I’ve created an easy to follow guideline for you to do just that. As you discover the purity of your own soul, and purpose of your existence here on earth, you will begin to feel the freedom to live your life, your journey, and your truth.
To listen to my talk at Book Passage in Corte Madera, CA, please click here. This will give you an inside look into Living, Loving, & Unlearning, how it came about, and how it may help you in your own healing. As an added treat, my brother, Norm Weintraub, also performs a very special song about our Dad and his impact on our lives.
To order your copy of Living, Loving, & Unlearning, please go to my website at cynthiabrennen.com.
“Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
It is often said that faith is the the opposite of fear. Both are unseen, created by our beliefs, and both have the potential to effect our lives in very different ways. My belief is that fear is afraid of faith, just as darkness fears the light. Fear cannot exist in the presence of faith, and therefore cowers in its presence. Reminding us of the strength that is realized in the letting go of illusion.
Faith is a surrender. A trust that all will be well. A knowing deep within yourself that what you focus on expands and boomerangs back to you. When you believe in yourself and trust the process of life, every step you take aligns with your desires. Even when your anxieties seep into the crevices of your mind, your recollections will remind you of how far you’ve come. Your worries of yesteryear never came to fruition, reminding you of this reality. It’s the falsehoods we tell ourselves that get us in trouble, paralyzing our momentum until we succumb to the imagined fear. What if we allowed our imagination to fly in faith and empowered our hearts to lead the way?
Many years ago, I heard an acronym for FAITH as Find Answers In The Heart. Moving into the heart of the matter where our intuition resides will open up the pathways to our universal connections, creating an opening for our desires. Will those thoughts be based on fear or faith? Be mindful of what you wish for as the mind is a powerful tool and will catapult those wishes extended from your inner self.
The final, and most important question is, do you believe it when you see it, or do you see it when you believe it? Believe in yourself and nothing will be beyond belief. It’s already created and just waiting for you to step into it. All you need is faith.
Unlike the 1960’s when flower power was in full bloom, this tower of power leans into the knowing residing within each one of us. When you think of the word “success” what comes to your mind? Is it external accomplishments, internal feelings, or maybe a combination of both? One thing is for certain, all of it will lose its meaning if we are not able to tap into the flow of our internal power. That is, the comfort in being the soul you came here to be. It doesn’t involve the physical tangible things in life, the only requirement is presence.
When we were born into this world we encompassed this pure power. It was a knowingness, free from bondage, expectations, guilt, and any other pressures we learned to pile upon ourselves over time. It was free-flowing and full of love and certainty. And then, the unconditional became conditional. We learned how to navigate these expectations through our human responses in hopes of rewards and recognition. We forgot about the nature of our eternal power. The power within all of us as created in God’s eyes.
You are perfect just as you are, even with all your flaws. Especially with those as they bring you to the brink of the angst necessary for your personal growth. The most important piece is to recognize the purpose of your angst. Will you learn and grow, or will you become stuck and shrink? We all have a choice, the question is, will you allow your mind to lead.
The mind may be a terrible thing to waste but the mindfulness of the soul overpowers any thought your mind can create. Trust this insight and your life will have more peaceful moments than your thoughts can imagine. No more monkey mind where you lay in bed at night thinking of a thousand different things you don’t control, but through all the jumping thoughts in your head it’s controlling you! Wouldn’t it be such a relief to finally release your hold on these musings? There comes a time when you must realize they are boulders holding you down, and you’re meant to fly, not sink.
I’ve learned to think of my mind as a separate entity from my soul. Unlearning this tethering hasn’t been easy, and I still struggle with it at times, but the more I practice this observation the easier it becomes. When that monkey gets into my head I allow the thought to pass through me and reel myself back to the center of my soul, where my home resides. I’ll often repeat my favorite angel prayer over and over until I feel a calmness deep within. It is then that I become the power flow~er, flowing through this passage called life with the ease and joy that is meant for me, and for you.
Why is it we fear emotional discomfort so much? Is it we’re afraid we’ll never recover from that uncomfortable feeling? In reality, emotions are fleeting and free flowing, if we allow them to run their course. Just like anything in life, emotions move like the ocean. Sometimes calm, sometimes rolling, and sometimes tumultuous. It’s when we freeze in fear of the feeling that we become stuck in the muck. What if, every time we felt this discomfort we allowed ourselves to become the observer of that emotion? We simply step back, take a breath, and recognize its presence. We can then encourage it to move on through us like a wave, recognizing its fluidity and seeing it for what it truly is. An illusion created by our minds.
If our minds are powerful enough to create turmoil then it clearly has the ability to create peace. With each tear felt, and every grip of the heart, we encompass the wherewithal to move our emotions to a place of serenity. I chose the photo above for that exact reason. Although she reveals the sadness she feels, expressed through a tiny tear streaming down her cheek, she is surrounded with the images of soft bunnies, beautiful bluebells, and tender butterflies, bringing her solace. We all hold the power to bring this peace into our being. We simply need to recall our soul’s path and all it entails. Some of our experiences wouldn’t be considered enjoyable by any means, but they are certainly required for our internal growth. While we roll inside of that dark tunnel we must remember light always shines in the distance. And then it becomes brighter and brighter as we glide into the knowingness of our spirit.
Our souls know what is needed for our spiritual growth. It knows how long to sit in grief, how long to contemplate taking action, or not, and how long to wait before looking for the light again. It is always wise to sit with those feelings and listen for the answers. Your intuition will guide you and comfort you where the discomfort lies. Trust this ability you have within yourself and follow the path you came here to live. All the bumps and bruises will illuminate the meaning behind your fears, and open the gateway to your Light. Trust it. follow it. Be it.
It’s amazing how fast six years flies. But then again, it feels like an eternity. So much has happened in those gut-wrenching joyful years that I completely forgot to write. I recently wrote Sacred Selfpartly to see if I would have the strength to push the publish button. Writer’s block? More like one big life block. I went through a divorce, moved from New York to Florida, closed up my practice and started over again; and then the whirlwind of March of 2020 began. That sent us all into a tailspin of sorts, but who knew it would manifest so many happenings in the way that it did. Almost like a tornado that spins out of control, and then when everything and everyone drops, the wreckage is so overwhelming you don’t know where to begin. Instead of waiting, I’m choosing to put my foot in the stirrup and begin again.
Interestingly, I’ve been preparing to write for the past few months. I even created a beautiful writing room decorated in pinks and greens surrounded by photos of all that I love. The room is certainly delicious eye candy but I couldn’t bring myself to sit in my lovely green velvet chair and peck the keys. My recently injured knee was even screaming at me to explore what the heck was holding me back, literally feeling stuck in the bowels of cement. A piece of this exploration led me to an amazing Shaman who so clearly directed me toward the center of my healing. The first words I spoke to him when I walked into his space filled with serenity and breathing crystals were, “I’m feeling stuck.” He looked at me and said, “You need to be writing.” Those five words shook me to the core. My soul screaming, “Finally, now listen!” More healing evolved in that session as I laid down on the warm amethyst crystal mat, my legs literally vibrating as we moved into sound healing ringing with tuning forks. With every deep breath, angels began surrounding me, especially Archangel Raphael who is the healer of spiritual and physical ailments. We then delved into a few of my past lives which opened me up to more healing, bringing me full circle to challenges and joys in this life. I left the session with a new perspective and understanding of my sticky stuckness.
There are times in life when we get thrown. As someone who rode horses in my younger years, I couldn’t have imagined how the phrase, “when you fall off that horse, you get back on”, would play out in my life. At 12 years old I took that very poignant phrase quite literally. Every time I fell off I did get back on that horse, fearing I may never get back on again. My memory brings me back to a time when I was jumping through a series of hurdles and my sweet horse, Early Aurora, tripped and threw me through the air, landing with a loud thud. It knocked the wind out of me, which was very scary. If you’ve ever had this happen to you, you know what I mean, you think you’ll never breathe again! Thankfully, I was at a horse show so they were prepared for these kinds of accidents. I remember hearing the whirring siren of the ambulance coming closer and I began thinking, “No, no, no, breathe and get back on!” My fear of giving up was greater than living in fear. What is life, after all, if we live it feeling fearful. Aren’t we here to experience it all, every risk, bump, and bruise? That’s what I was thinking as I lay on the ground. I caught my breath and stood up just as the ambulance reached me. My expression determined, I walked over to Aurora (who was patiently waiting for me), put my foot in the stirrup and got right back on. She was always my fellow warrior so it wasn’t surprising that with renewed resolve, we held our heads high, looked at the jumps once again with our focus clearer this time, flew through them and thrived!
And so it goes, we move forward in this world with the intention to thrive. We all have the ability, the only requirement is to live in faith and trust, knowing that first step builds the monument to your dreams. Every dreamer deserves that castle in the sky, and it is with love of ourselves and others, that that Light in the sky becomes a reality. What is your purpose here on earth? Take that first step; put your foot in the stirrup, focus, gather your strength, and jump! Your Spirit will thank you.
Aurora and I thriving at the Philadelphia Spectrum, circa 1973
*If you’re looking for an amazing heart opening, shamanic experience, click here to schedule a session with Don Reed Simmons at the Om Shoppe in Sarasota, Florida. More information can be found about Don on their website if you scroll to the bottom of the main page and click on “Our Staff/Team”. Happy inner exploration!
Addiction is a nasty bug and once it gets its hooks in you it refuses to let go. Add in the ego which thrives on weakness, and you have a lethal dose of insanity. As the genius Albert Einstein reminded us many moons ago, “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” Many people have the misconception that ego is full of confidence and direction but it is quite the contrary. Ego is an insecure little child who wants what he wants and will stop at nothing to claim the attention that he craves. Often, attention one never received in his formative years. This starvation reaches toward outer avenues to feed the hunger. The mind trains itself (fostered by ego) to think that if I take that drink, or have sex, or eat that hot fudge sundae, or purge, all my problems will go away. Any of you stuck in this cycle know that it is, once again, a trick of the mind and a temporary fix that only gets worse and more chaotic down the road. When you wake up from your inflicted numbing your problems are still there and you’ve only created more problems feeding your addiction. How much energy does it take to cover your tracks? How much chaos have you created along the way? How many loved ones have you hurt keeping up with your craving? How much hurt have you inflicted upon yourself? There is hope. All this energy put into feeding this monster can be redirected and geared toward healthy choices in your life.
It has been said that you remain stagnate at the age you were when you first started using your “drug.” Growth cannot, and will not, occur until you get clean and mature with the tools you need to recover and claim a healthier lifestyle. The first step is admitting you have a problem. That is when humility steps up and pushes ego aside. The second step is reaching out and asking for help. There are many rehabilitation facilities and programs to assist you in staying on your course to sobriety. The third step is staying on your course, one day at a time. There is a better life for you if you take these steps and stay with it. This I can promise you. Allow Spirit to guide you, step outside of yourself, have faith, and your hope will not be lost.
Below are the 12 steps followed by many programs dealing with addiction. The steps were developed by Sam Shoemaker and Bill Wilson, originally printed in the book, Alcoholics Anonymous, back in 1939. It has saved more lives than can be counted.
The 12 Steps
Step 1 – We admitted we were powerless over our addiction – that our lives had become unmanageable
Step 2 – Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity
Step 3 – Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God
Step 4 – Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves
Step 5 – Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs
Step 6 – Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character
Step 7 – Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings
Step 8 – Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all
Step 9 – Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others
Step 10 – Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it
Step 11 – Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to carry that out
Step 12 – Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs
“From A Distance” was my Dad’s favorite song shortly before he left this earth. It’s no wonder, as he grew even closer to God, the message rang true and clear. May it be a reminder for all of us…peace to all people on earth. Love is a guide. Love is a healer. Love is all there is….
“There’s a wonderful Turkish proverb that succinctly relates a message underlying both the movie version of The Shift and the book of the same name. It says, “No matter how far you have gone on a wrong road, turn back.” It doesn’t matter how long we’ve allowed ourselves to travel the road of our false self. We know when it isn’t leading us to a sense of purpose and significance, and we can admit we’re on the wrong path. The awareness that our life lacks Meaning is more than enough evidence that it’s time to make a U-turn.
In The Shift movie, I relate how I found the road that resonated with the calling of my soul. I did so by listening to what I was feeling deep within me, rather than what my ego was saying to me about how to capitalize on my fame by writing books to make more money. By trusting my inner excitement, I was able to make a big shift in my life, a real U-turn, away from writing about psychology to writing about living life from a spiritual orientation. That shift away from the Ambition of ego, which tried to control my writing and speaking career, put me on the path of Meaning.
When you turn away from ego control, what is it that you trust to guide you? There are three markers to look for on this road—trust in yourself, trust in others, and trust in the Source of being. When you trust in yourself, you listen to your soul speak and hear what your intuition or the “voice within” is saying. When you trust in others, you practice noninterference and free yourself from trying to control others who have their own inner voice to follow. When you trust in the Source of being, you trust the mystery of creation. The universal Source of all creation, invisible though it may be, guides you just as it guided your development in the womb. When you trust in Divine intelligence, you cooperate and invite the shift to Meaning. ” ~ Dr. Wayne Dyer
For those of you who know me, you know that I have loved Wayne Dyer for many years. He is a caring, giving being walking this earth with so much love in his heart. No matter your lot in life, he encourages one to find their heart’s desire. Their truth. No judgment along your path, only acceptance, wherever you are. His books, DVD’s, and CD’s have carried me through so much in my life. His voice is calming and his wisdom is comforting. My sister and I had the pleasure of seeing him speak in person a few months ago, what a numinous night that was! Love was entering from ALL directions, including our Dad. Thank you, Wayne, for being the angel that you are! Namaste…
“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” ~ Albert Einstein
The intuitive self. An amazing tool, if used. There are many gifts residing within each and every one of us. It’s just a matter of tapping into our inner voice. The conscious mind steers our rational, trained thoughts. The unconscious mind allows what the soul knows to come through. ALWAYS trust the soul’s wisdom, it will not let you down. When a thought comes to you out of nowhere, don’t ignore it. Sit with it, allow the thought to show itself and FEEL what enters. Your intuition is sharpest when your mind is quiet. Racing through your day with no meditative breaks will push away whispers from your soul. Take the time to sit in the quiet, meditate, write in your journal, listen to soft music while sitting in the garden. Find your quiet place and allow your intuition to work its magic. It will guide you, all you have to do is listen and follow it! I have found that my intuition is at its peak when I write. The practice of tuning into my inner thoughts and living everyday in spiritual practice has opened my spirit up to the universe. I am in awe of the love, kindness and generosity that has boomeranged back to me.
Where is it that your intuition “hits” you the most? Funny enough, mine is in the shower as the water streams over me. No surprise as I am the fish, a swimmer most of my life and a Pisces. There is just something about the water that calms me and allows all pathways to enter. I imagine it washes away other unwanted energy as well. Thoughts come to me when I’m riding alone in my car or sitting in my kitchen writing, as I am now. Find your place that allows your connection to Spirit to flow. Take some time out everyday to tune in. Ask your servant to go sit down and allow your gift to overflow. Fulfillment will follow.
“Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving” ~Kahlil Gibran
What are you grateful for in your life? Write your gratitude list and you may be surprised how full your cup is. There is so much around us, even on those difficult days, that remind us how wonderful life truly is! Make your list, write it down, LOOK at it, feel it and allow your heart to fill with LOVE!
“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.” ~Denis Waitley
Cynthia Brennen, LMSW 