Seeing Darkness in New Ways

How do we put the darkness that exists in our world into perspective?

If we see the universe as filled with loving energy that unites all our hearts, then darkness is only a shadow. Each of us is here to learn during our lifelong journey. The darkness in and around us is created by blocked energy, forgetfulness, and our own limiting beliefs. It exists as an opportunity to learn, not as an effort to obstruct or suppress. Without the dualism of negative and positive energies, how can we learn to shed light on the negative while we remain focused on the positive?

It takes an initial leap of faith to trust that love and light surround our world. When we see evil, negativity, and darkness, we can remind ourselves that these are only shadows caused by forgetfulness of our spiritual connection to each other. We can imagine ourselves surrounded by a protective light that repels these negative energies away from us. We can imagine light from above shining into the dark areas, illuminating and shrinking the darkness. We can look within to tap the energy in our heart that is aware, but not lost in… or swept away by … ugly experiences. We can focus on expanding that light within to release any negative energy we have consciously, or subconsciously, absorbed. Amazingly, we will suddenly feel lighter. Try it! Test it out! It works!

Hugs--tc

The Virtuous Qualities of Happiness

The movie "Happy" illuminated how "happiness" really comes from within, regardless of money, appearance, and social expectations. Living life by the virtuous qualities of happiness--is this the key? If so, then “Creating Love and Joy: Uplifting affirmations to strengthen your spirit,” identifies 33 virtuous qualities and helps us to implement them in our life. :-) Hugs--tc

Magical Coincidences

Each day, events take place that shape and influence my life. When I intentionally create my day, little things happen that are the result of my creation. I call these “magical coincidences.” I choose to recognize these positive influences, as evidenced by these magical coincidences, and feel the joy that comes with my newly found insight. I permanently release and replace any discordant thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and actions that might arise with the pure loving energy that envelopes the universe. In this way, my efforts are much more than just a positive thinking veneer covering a mountain of negativity—I am creating new, healthy synapses in the brain. Each day I grow stronger, and more powerful, until my confidence in my ability to create all that I have and experience far exceeds any lingering doubts. Hugs--tc

Creating our Day

I am light protecting me from all harm. I choose to take this moment to create my day. I trust that all my thoughts, feelings, actions, and beliefs affect the quantum field, thereby creating all that I experience. I know the universe is full of limitless possibilities and magical coincidences. I choose to bring these into my life in a peaceful, fulfilling way so that I can joyfully recognize the positive influences that I am creating, and permanently release all doubt, fear, resentment, rage and judgment. I permanently replace my discordant thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and actions with the pure loving energy that envelopes the universe. Hugs--tc

Join me Mar. 12 at 12:30 - UofA Mall, Tucson Festival of Books

Please JOIN ME for this fun, FREE event!
WHAT: Presentation of Creating Love & Joy
Book signing after the presentation
Special event price: $15 (cash or checks only, please)
WHEN: Sat., March 12 at 12:30pm
WHERE: 2011 Tucson Festival of Books (TFOB)
The University of Arizona campus
UofA Alumni Authors Tent on the mall
FREEBIES: bookmarks & magnets – while they last!
Linda B. Lynn, one of the photographers for the book, plans to be there, too!
Enter the UA Alumni drawing to win skybox tickets for the UA vs. ASU football game, Nov. 19, 2011.
Did you know the TFOB is now rated the fourth-largest event of its kind??!! It is the biggest literary event in Arizona.
There’s something for everyone – games for kids, food, beverages, live music & dance, and presentations by many famous authors
Start planning now - visit the website for a detailed schedule:
http://www.tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/

Teresa invited to TFOB - Mar. 12 at 12:30!

Exciting news! Teresa has been invited to present her book, Creating Love and Joy, at the 3rd annual Tucson Festival of Books (TFOB)! She will be featured in the University of Arizona's Alumni Authors tent on Sat, Mar. 12 at 12:30. After the 20-25 minute presentation, she would be happy to sign books. This is a photo of Teresa and one of the photographers (Linda B. Lynn) at the Author's Pavilion during TFOB 2010.

Did you know that the TFOB is the fourth largest book festival in the country? This 2-day event is filled with workshops, speakers, book signings, food and entertainment. Mark your calendar to join us Mar. 12-13th!

Hugs--tc

Social media -- I'm G*L*A*D* (see, SARK!)

Social media can be fun, playful and innovative. SARK, the author of "Glad No Matter What," posted a social media activity on her website:

"Be GLAD No Matter What - Give Lovingly And Daringly

This does NOT mean feeling glad when you don't - how annoying. It means finding the glad parts in as many of your feelings as you can and then finding ways to help the world with your GLAD heart. Blog or post your GLAD offerings on social media. It might be large or tiny, common or uncommon. One of my GLAD heart gifts was singing Amazing Grace in the DMV office until everyone joined in!

Write or post a video or art on your blog or social media about your GLAD heart gift and be entered to win a signed copy of the book and a 15 minute Scoop of SARK"

So...here's my artwork--the footprint of "Creating Love and Joy." I'm GLAD social media has come about--it brings the world closer together. It's fun to piggyback on each other's ideas and share our creativity. Hugs--tc

Gratitude

Many thanks to Changing Hands bookstore for displaying “Creating Love and Joy” on the shelf marked “Recent Favorites”(4th shelf, second from the right.) My hope is that readers will see the eye-catching cover and buy the book as a gift for themselves or a friend. Did you know that Changing Hands was rated as the best bookstore in the country by Publisher’s Weekly? They regularly have well-known authors like SARK, Meadowlark Lemon, Valerie Bertinelli, and Apolo Ono in for book signings! Thank you, Changing Hands, for supporting “Indie” publishers! Hugs--tc

Acceptance, Enjoyment, Enthusiasm

I just finished reading Eckhart Tolle’s book, “A New Earth…,”and he says the three “…modalities of awakened doing are acceptance, enjoyment, and enthusiasm. Each one represents a certain vibrational frequency of consciousness (p. 295).” By staying centered in the present moment, and trusting that we are in the right place at the right time, successfully engaged in the right activity, we can ENJOY the holidays. It’s a treasured time with family and friends! Hugs--tc

Some experiences can't be relived...

We read in many different ways that it is so important to remain present in the moment. We never know what gift it can bring, and our presence brings a fresh new energy to each situation when we are focused on our lighted energy.

My cousin from Spain unwittingly provided a reminder of this recently. He sent news that the Puente Del Diablo (Devil's Bridge) near the lighthouse in Santander, Spain, had collapsed during the early morning hours. Fortunately, nobody was injured.

Last March, he and I hiked out to where this bridge once stood. He asked me to stand in a certain place so he could take my picture. It was only AFTER he had the pictures that he invited me to hike down so I could see where I had been standing. The view was breathtaking. The ground felt solid and sturdy. We took several pictures that day.

Now...less than 6 months later, the bridge no longer exists. The second photo is from a magazine article where the photographer was looking down onto the portion where I once stood.

Some experiences cannot be relived or replaced. By keeping our attention in the moment, we can bring the best of who we are at all times to every situation.