Release the Golden Handcuffs

The title "Release the Golden Handcuffs" came from a phrase i found in a great little read called: Happy, by Ian K. Smith. In this book I have made some profound connections with my own life. Sometimes you read on in books hoping to find a connection and some "enlighten" statements, and it just doesn't always happen. I had to explain why i think this is.
Where we are on any given day can be, putting it mildly, over the top crazy!
So, the day i picked this book up i really had no intentions of having any revelations, just loved the look of the book! Really, it just spoke to me, and of course the title is a bit catchy: "Happy".

So as i read i do have occasional wow moments and sometimes i just really don't even know what i read. That is normal, right?
Today, i felt like writing, i feel like sharing this piece of "Happy" because i think it speaks to me now and i wonder if it speaks to anyone else. Here you go. This is what i got:

How much does materialism distract you from the important things in life?
I am looking at large properties, large car bills, large credit card bills, all of which, at some point, were subconsciously taught, were virtues of materialism and brands of necessity.

We associate brands with status and status with instantly  recognizable admiration.  I grew up with very modest means, i also grew up noticing the very stark difference between them and me. Them being the wealthy "status" me being the modest "status".

I desired as a child to fill my "status" with the materials they had, i would work hours to earn enough for the izod shirt, the new sneakers with that fancy swish!

Today, i understand that in my youth, i wanted something that stated and gave me "status". I didn't consider any of the qualities "status" may have i only saw a sort of designer need.
Today, i also understand i have an obligation to move these believes around a bit to be fully aware where they may be still playing out. I could become handcuffed to the idea of having the brands that are understood as "status" but i wonder what it all means today. Does owning that Louis Vutton really make me a "cut above the rest" or part of some special society that only we Louis owners belong? Do my possessions represent who i am?
Here is what i know today, today i have some leftover "status" believes that are hard to break.  I have some clear need to search for that understanding. I truly want to raise my children in a reality that items, things, materials are only pieces of a marketed and materialized advertising that says "buy me" all the time!  I want them to know the real "status" is what lies deep within them that will be seen only by those whom connect with them at a heart level. Your "status" is something that belongs to you while on this earth that is to be shared with all that are in need. Can we start to shed the material "status" and grow the internal "status" that can't be bought.
Today, i see my "status" under construction. I am searching for ways of moving out of the "Golden Handcuffs" and moving toward a "status" of the heart.

Moments like this are what make me "Happy".

Karen~

Life can be fulfilling. But when are you full?

I was reading some interesting articles based on lifestyle and life. What really struck me was the understanding (or lack there of) life. When you ask yourself are you living a fulfilling life? Many questions may come up, they did for me.
So i started reading more. I found a profound statement:

"A Great Life is Attractive; a Lifestyle is Usually Seductive" ~

So i have to ask do we know the distinctions: attraction vs. seduction?
Here are some great finds from statements made by Thomas Leonard.

A life is based on YOU. A lifestyle is based on externals.

To be fulfilled is to radiate your positive feeling consistently. To be gratified is to consume experiences, resources, or people.

Finally there is one that made all the clarity to me, and an enlightening statement that i shall carry with me until i master the meaning.

A fulfilling life sustains YOU; you don't have to manage IT.


Don't get me wrong, i desire to live an amazing life. I do have a responsibility to myself while here to know the difference between love and lust.
Life and lifestyle can move together beautifully as long as your intention and clarity are in focus. Not letting lust be a servant, and allowing love to be abundantly open and free. A practice which will take close attention at all times.

I'll leave you with this today.

"Attachment is the great fabricator of illusions; reality can be attained only by someone who is detached." ~ Simone Weil


Live.

Visualization, you'll be surprised!

None of us are given visions for our lives that we can't fulfill-

whether it's having a healthier body or a loving relationship or a more satisfying job or making a difference in the world.  If we didn't have the ability to fulfill an authentic desire, we wouldn't have the desire in the first place.

Your mind (brain) doesn't know the difference between fiction and fantasy, dream and reality. If you've created it then it must be true.

Make a vision map, let go of fleeting desires, hold on to the pure true thoughts that are your authentic self. You will have choices along the way stay focused and intent on what you want. Be determined to take action and support your goal.

Our souls wouldn't yearn for the experience, and we wouldn't continue to long for it year after year.
You have choices and you have a desire combine the two and become even more focused. Keep on pursuit, keep on the path, and never let the "gremlins" take you down a different path.

Start small if the mind is in doubt. Nurture the visions to becoming realities, then the visions become larger and your ability to follow them with true intentions become alive, real and true.

Dream On!!

Why not today?

Many times we are weighted down emotionally around our "to do" items. We think of this list as a "chore" and a "drag". When we choose to take this perspective we can see the thought of a chore is certainly a negative thought.
When we take a moment to re frame the thought with a different tone of intention, we might feel a bit different about our to do list.

Lets place a new word to define our to do list could be called Done or Released!
Just saying the word "DONE" we get a sense that it is a positive action, not a negative one. Many times we look at our list, our responsibilities with a negative thought to it when in reality, just change the thought to a new "word" of a positive nature will make the list look very different.

A nice treat to yourself would be to ask yourself a question, "Is there other areas in my life that I have attached negative words to that create a negative thought?"

Today, look for the opportunity to find a new word. Look for your emotions to shift around a "chore"! You may be pleasantly surprised by your new outlook on the very innocent "to do list". You may even begin to look at it as your Get It DONE list!!

Step into it with just changing one word. Be present to the possibly shift.

This was a small step on our "Latter to Growth".

Warmly,

Karen