Brad Waters, Guest Writer
Waking Times

Ten years ago this month, Hara Estroff Marano, Editor-at-Large for Psychology Today, wrote in her article “The Art of Resilience”:

“At the heart of resilience is a belief in oneself—yet also a belief in something larger than oneself.

Resilient people do not let adversity define them. They find resilience by moving towards a goal beyond themselves, transcending pain and grief by perceiving bad times as a temporary state of affairs… It’s possible to strengthen your inner self and your belief in yourself, to define yourself as capable and competent. It’s possible to fortify your psyche. It’s possible to develop a sense of mastery.”

If you feel the desire to reflect on the year that was, here is my simple ten-minute way of celebrating and releasing 2014. Three simple questions for you to answer.

You can grab a pen and paper right now and play along as you read, or if you enjoy the ambience of rituals, find a quiet spot at the beach, take a picnic rug to the park or light some candles at home. The setting is up to you.

But remember: It’s better done than perfect.

1. What can I thank the Universe for?

This is your chance to go on a rampage of appreciation, and list everything that made your heart dance this year. It’s a gratitude-fest and all of your best memories are invited.

Why does it matter? 

Because no matter how many goals you kick, goods you acquire, riches you amass or lovers you meet, you will never feel true and sustainable happiness until you master the art of pausing to soak up and appreciate all of your blessings, gifts and successes.

Elina St-Onge, Collective-Evolution
Waking Times

26 years ago in the year 1987, something happened and the world felt it. The first globally synchronized meditation –commonly known as the first “Harmonic Convergence” – took place. Tens of thousands of people gathered all around the world at sacred sites around the planet to co-ordinate their intention. What intention? José Arguelles, who initiated the meditation put it this way:

“There comes a point when things have to change. A vibration signal was sent out. Where the signal was coming from – whether it was coming from our genetic coding, whether it was coming from the Earth, whether it was coming from outer space, or whether it was coming from all of those – this signal went out and people responded to a signal. It is very much like when a species gets a signal to change the direction of its migration pattern.” – José Arguelles

How beloved I, God, am.

I, God of My Beloved One, how loved and loving am I. I reach into your heart, and I warm your heart in My heart. I blow on your heart gently and then place your heart back as I would put a baby in its cradle. Your heart is at home with Me, and your heart feels treasured as it is meant to feel. Your heart is meant to recognize itself as a treasure, a kind of communication point between Heaven and Earth until, in your awareness, that there is no distance or difference between the two just as there is no real difference between your heart and Mine.

There has been a fine mix-up of Our hearts. Your heart is Mine. Mine is yours. The difference is in point of view. The difference is in vantage point. The heart is made of feelings, yes, and yet much more. Your heart is like an over-soul. The physicality is one thing. The essence and clarity of your heart are ever so much more.

Unclothed, unstraightened, your heart is a vast calling-card that you leave everywhere so that it is available to be picked up by everyone in passing. You do not keep your heart so much in reserve. You allow it to be observed, noticed, seen.

Your heart does not give a hard-sell, naturally. It is more that your heart is an offering. No one has to drown in your love. It isn’t exactly that you give your heart away free. Yes, you don’t charge for it, yet your heart is sacred and you know its full value. Your heart is not exactly a candy machine. Your heart is aware of its value to everyone, most especially its value to Me.

by Bob Mangroo

Since December of 2012, planet Earth entered a new energy and a new consciousness. As we look at the world today, it is tempting to think of it as dark and falling apart. We are, however, in a transition process.

Humanity is moving into higher consciousness, and we now have more positive energy on the planet than we have negative. For centuries, we functioned from an old, negative consciousness of war, violence, cruelty, and the need for power. This is now changing. The change may seem slow; but, humanity is shifting toward peace, cooperation, and compassion.

It may not seem this way at this time, but the increased negativity we see is the dark consciousness putting up its last fight for survival. Dark energy will resist change, even if that change is for the better. We are creatures of habit and we tend to like the way things are; or, we often wish to go back to the way things were. We enjoy the familiar, even if the familiar is negative.

The United States Department of Agriculture has approved a new GM potato created by Simplot, which stands among the largest potato suppliers in the US. Many of these potatoes will be purchased by fast food restaurants, which stands no chance at being fairly labeled. Many fast food joints, like Burger King, Wendy’s and KFC are undecided about whether or not they would sell these potatoes to their customers, which is why we need to put pressure on these companies to make the right choice.

Sign the petition: Tell Burger King, Wendy’s and KFC: Don’t serve GMO frankenfries to your customers.

This isn’t the first time Simplot has taken a stab at GMO potatoes. About a decade ago, Simplot attempted to sell GMO potatoes to grocery stores and McDonald’s, but the customers hated the potatoes...

I used to look at people who were successful, healthy and happy, wondering, “What’s their secret? Why can’t I do that?”

After a decade long struggle with eating disorders, addiction, and self-loathing, I realized that the reason I couldn’t be happy like the people I envied was that I didn’t love myself and they did.

For me, shifting from self-loathing to self-love has been profoundly healing and epiphany-inducing. I can hardly believe how simple it’s been for me to quit smoking, eat well, exercise daily, find a loving relationship, and have the career of my dreams. And it’s all thanks to self-love.

Now, I see happy people and I smile, knowing that their lives are products of a series of habits that support their relationships with themselves.

Here are seven things that self-loving people do...