The Beauty Of Having A Clear Conscience

Everybody talks about having a clear conscience. Teachers tell their students to act conscientiously, ministers teach about conscious behavior, counselors guide their clients on how to be more conscientious and society itself praises upstanding, conscientious behavior. It's something we should focus on it because it is important.

In this article, I will touch upon why it is important from a personal standpoint to have a clear conscience. This is a topic I've worked on most of my life and it's probably a topic you've heard about in one way or another for most of yours too. So here goes!

First, having a clear conscience lifts you up energetically. Everybody knows that when they do bad things, they feel bad. They perceive life in a much more negative way. When you know you're doing things for the right reasons it lifts you up. It makes you feel better about yourself and life in general. A clear conscience is a pathway to more happiness in life.

Second, a clear conscience facilitates peace. We all know the feeling of having done wrong, of having said negative things to ourselves and others. When we come from a negative viewpoint, the result is a negative outlook. Once we do the right thing for the right reasons and live positively according to what we do and say, we are much more peaceful. It's a natural process and a great way to live.

Third, a clear conscience promotes healing. Have you ever tried to feel better while negativity swirls through your mind and heart? It's not an easy process. When we feel crappy, we act crappy. When we have guilt over our actions or motives we live on a level of dis-ease in all types of forms. A clear conscience gives us the ease and peace we desire, therefore facilitating health and healing.

Another reason why having a clear conscience is awesome is that it opens us up for new possibilities. Why? Because when we clear negativity and turmoil from our lives, peace moves in and we think more about our dreams, our goals and our perception of things. When we are in a space of openness mentally and spiritually, we are more aware of beautiful people and things around us. Therefore we are more awakened to bigger and better things.

Number five touches on the same idea. A clear conscience opens us up to our hopes and dreams. Not only because we are more aware of things around us but also because we are in a more positive space. We are more readily able to dream and facilitate actions that will bring our dreams into reality.

Another great reason why a clear conscience is a beautiful thing is that a clear conscience will bring you freedom. How? Because you're not stuck in the muck of "should've, would've, could've" and false beliefs. Negativity clouds the conscious mind like black smog. If you spend time contemplating false belief systems, (things like, "I've been hurt so badly I'll never recover" or "My life has been so hard I'll never be happy"), you'll see very easily understand why clarity of your conscience will bring you freedom. If you embrace forgiveness, love and the possibilities of good things happening to you, you will feel much lighter. As if a breeze of peace blew into your consciousness. You'll get a taste of freedom and you'll be addicted to it!

Lastly, a clear conscience allows you to change your belief systems. And that's a biggie when it comes to the pursuit of happiness! If you're feeling guilty, tied down by negativity, shameful and angry, you naturally feel that life is bad. You are depressed and downtrodden and believe things will never change. However, when you turn the tables on your mental processes and start doing things for the right reasons and motivations, you will feel the upswing of positivity begin to flow in your life. And as your conscience clears, VOILA! You suddenly have renewed hope and vigor! You believe you can change your beliefs. And that needs to happen before your beliefs will ever change.

A clear conscience is a beautiful thing and requires work. But there are so many benefits to living in that type of mentality that it's worth all the work that's required. So face your demons, put them to rest and begin the process of conscious living! You will be eternally grateful that you did!

Love

This was a write up in my February newsletter I recently published.  My editor loved it (she is also my friend.)  She encouraged me to put it on my blog, which I have now done.  I hope it helps you to find more peace and meaning in your life.

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Love. We've heard so much about it during our lives. "It is more blessed to give than to receive." "Treat others as you would like to be treated." "True love keeps no record of wrongs." These things are all very true but sometimes hard to achieve.

Everyone is tested. We endure fiery trials of one form or another. The trick is to always bring it back to a loving attitude at the end of the day. How is that possible in some instances? Sometimes, only by the power of God Himself is it possible.

I have suffered, as some of you know, through differing forms of abuse. I have felt like I had nothing left to give, like everything had been taken from me. And yet, I was expected to love. If you've read my book Breaking The Silence, you know my story. It has been excruciating...and still is sometimes to this very day. The best advice I can give is do your best in the time given. Ten years ago, my best wasn't as good as it was five years ago. And five years ago, it wasn't as good as it is now. I still have a long way to go, but as long as I'm on my way, I know it will continue to get better day by day.

Don't beat yourself up if you have trouble being loving. Especially at times when you are hurting. Nobody is perfect and nobody can be 100% loving 100% of the time. It's not a human capability. Luckily, God is there to hold your heart in His hands as He molds and makes you into who you really are made to be as you progress through your existence on this planet. Humans are frail and fallible. But we are also very capable of learning. So keep that in the forefront of your mind. Do the best in the day you are given.

And be forgiving. Forgive yourself and others for not consistently living up to difficult standards. Sometimes the best way to show love is to forgive. And to know perfection is not attainable. Once you let go of "should, must, have to" it gets a little easier to be a loving person.

February is a time of hearts and candy and flowers. Those are all wonderful, but it is my experience that the expectations we put on ourselves and others are the most primary causes of either happiness or disappointment. So remember, we're all here to learn and grow. Enjoy it as much as you can without beating yourself up over it at the same time!

Happy February! May every day this month be your Valentine's Day!

Feeling Alone

I am convinced that feeling alone is one of the hardest things to deal with as a human being. We were created for love and fellowship. When we don't have those things in a genuine way, it tears at our inner beings. Isolation is a desperate feeling; hopelessness is even worse.

We constantly crave a companion; someone we can bear our heart and soul to who loves us unconditionally. We crave a hug that reaches our pain and takes it away. If we are left alone for too long we even begin to go crazy and imagine things.

I used to wonder why. What is so important about someone who is there and who believes what we say? Why is friendship and compassion so necessary to the human condition?

It's actually quite simple. Because we were made to need it as a necessity in life. We were created to bond in love and have a purpose for living. We were created to be one with God and His creation.

That is why nature is so soothing. It was created for us. That is why love is so healing. It too was created for us. It is an inherent need woven into the fabric of our hearts; a compelling drive and desire to be accepted.

It is really quite simple. Simply profound. With understanding and discernment, we can achieve our truest and highest calling, which always involves love. Never has hate achieved those purposes. Hate tears apart and brings pain and corruption. Love builds up and brings healing and wholeness...purity too.

Love makes the world a better place. It cares and it shares. It holds goodness and mercy. I wish that for everyone reading this blog. May you find the peace, joy, healing and mercy that only love can bring. Because it is essential to a life well lived.

Namaste!

Preconceived Notions

I think one of the biggest problems that we have in our society concerning happiness is the factor of preconceived notions. We think we need to conform to society's "norm" in order to find success, peace and happiness. We need that house in the suburbs, a nice car, at least two children, a good job and friends and family who support us. And yes, if we have all of these things it is wonderful but not a guarantee of happiness.

True happiness comes from inside of us. A car, a house and a job will not make us happy unless we are content in our hearts. How do you become content in your heart, you ask? Here is what I have found out about the subject in my own life.

First, you must accept yourself for who you are. You can't compete with the neighbors or your friends or relatives. Or the checker at the grocery store. Or the teller at the bank. We are each unique and we each have our own quirks and talents. It is impossible to compare yourself to another person because no two people are exactly the same. Television and magazines tell us we need to be the same but we don't. Be grateful for your differences. If we were all the same, what a boring world this would be!

Second, don't let greed or envy eat you alive. If you want something bad enough, strive to make it happen. Don't hate your neighbor or relative or friend for what they have. Many times we think we need something in particular when in fact we may not. Let go and let God. Trust that what you need will come to you as you aspire to find it. We all are here for unique situations and reasons. Don't force someone else's reasons upon yourself and think you have to comply. That will only guarantee unhappiness!

Thirdly, have an open mind and get rid of those preconceived notions! Seek to be better, happier, and everything will eventually fall into place. Don't think it has to be a certain way, because it doesn't. Sometimes the most unexpected surprises in life bring the most joy and purpose.

Fourth, forgive. Yourself and others. You don't have to be perfect. In fact, it's impossible to be perfect because only God is perfect. Do your best each day to be the best that you can be and walk in love to the best of your ability. When you send waves of kindness into the world they will find their way back to you. Don't fret and worry. Trust that your love and kindness will manifest in just the perfect way when it finds its way back to your heart. Life has a funny way of doing that when you let go of expectations.

Lastly, accept the shortcomings of others just as you would like them to accept your shortcomings. When you let go of high expectations, there is less to disillusion you and less of a chance for unhappiness. There is also more of a chance for peace because you aren't expecting certain situations and outcomes to occur.

Life isn't easy. But when you walk it in love and acceptance it does become a lot more fun and a lot less disappointing. Just imagine the possibilities and keep your dreams in the forefront of your mind; strive each day to make them happen. Some day you'll turn back and look behind you to find a beautiful path having been paved in your wake....what a beautiful legacy to leave for the upcoming generations!