Building a Toughness That is Not Defensive

When you know who you are, you have a built in strength.

You do not have to be tough.

While you are figuring out who you are, you are in a protective chrysalis, a cocoon.

You have enough to eat.

You have whatever time you need to complete your study, reflection, training, and change.

When you emerge, fully ready, you know who you are.

You have all you need.

You can be strong and tough in a way that bespeaks confidence.

You do not even consider defensiveness.

You have seen your place.

You now occupy it.

There is room for everyone to do this.

That’s what we are here to learn.

© 2013 Kathryn Hardage

www.InspiredPractices.com

More Power to Everyone

In today’s actions, from the Arab Spring a couple of years ago, to young people protesting fossil fuel investment at their colleges, to activists peacefully inconveniencing large disruptive corporate planetary intention, we are seeing a different kind of power emerge.

These actions are some of the ways this power is being expressed.

But the real power comes from the ability to decide how we want to live.

It is showing up on the outside.

But it comes from within.

Do we really want to live in a way dictated by greed?

Do we really want to follow laws that disenfranchise thousands of citizens?

Do we really want to see favors to groups?  Any groups?

Now that we are realizing more and more that we are One, we realize the effects of attitudes, because they turn into actions.

Our deepest attitudes about ourselves are changing, and that is a good thing.

© 2013 Kathryn Hardage

www.InspiredPractices.com

What is Going On Inside and What is Going On Outside

Do not get confused about your own development.

What is going on outside is the result of collective thought, reactions, distractions, media harassment, etc.

What is going on inside is under your direct control.

This includes choosing whether to react or not, choosing your readings, your meditations.

Watch the emotional content of your mind to see which kinds of feelings create the most productive atmosphere for you.

As you create the most productive atmosphere for yourself, you will find the outside taking shape differently.

It will begin to conform to your new self-direction.

Even though you will still confront obstacles, you will be able to decide if solving them or reacting to them is your best course.

Maybe going around them is.

I am learning what my focus is, and even though I have a habit of wanting to jump in and help people solve their problems. 

That is not my job.

They are in the best position to do that for themselves.

No one else can see what I am working on from my viewpoint either.

That is my work alone.

Now that I am not just reacting to crises from my habitual thinking, I can feel a much deeper long-term calm pervading my work.

As I work to further my goals, I am able to build a deeper foundation for myself, one that is more secure for the contributions which I feel drawn to make to society.

© 2013 Kathryn Hardage
www.InspiredPractices.com

Your Own Tune

Are you adding to the the terror, unrest, fear, disturbance?

Or are you adding to the peace?

Reacting to the news or anyone’s opinion on anything can add to the disturbance or add to the peace.

Our lives are completely governed by our very own thoughts.

It is too simple.

But what are we actually thinking?

That is the trick.

Our place in this world is to fulfill our purpose.

We are not here to dance to someone else’s tune, be it pleasant or foul.

But right now, the loudest tunes playing seem to be foul.

It wouldn’t matter even if the tune were pleasant and lulling us to a false peace.

Our most valuable part is the thoughts we contribute.

We can acknowledge that we have a place and part to play in this world for good, for peace, for expression.

Or we can react to the news stories of foul play in the media.

Our lives are directed by what we accept.

We are here to do a good work.

Nothing that is said or reported in the media can take away that fact.

The truth of that fact gives us our place and our role right here in today’s world.

We are living our lives according to the tune that is written within.

Play a wonderful, remarkable, powerful tune.

Show us how to dance to that.


© 2013 Kathryn Hardage
www.InspiredPractices.com

You Have It All

You have the communication skills to gather everyone together.

You know what you need.

You know what you want.

Within you collectively, you have the skills to produce and market whatever you desire.

Food and restaurants.

Poets, writers and books.

Teachers and schools.

Bicycles and transportation.

Car shares.

Tool shares.

Alternative construction skills and houses.

Land share.

Fiber and clothing.

Sewing skills and furnishings.

Fabrication skills and furniture.

Maker Space.

The motivation.

You have it all.


© Kathryn Hardage
www.InspiredPractices.com

Your Cooperative Strength

Rather than the debt of limitation caused by college loans, your generation has so many gifts to share in such expansive ways.

Share your cooperative gifts.

Share a house.

Share a garden.

Share your business skills.

Share your production skills.

You are unlimited.


© 2013 Kathryn Hardage
www.InspiredPractices.com

Create Your Own Peace

You are at a very active time of your life.

You will develop and progress according to how you are living right now.

You can change at any time of course, allowing for how, and with what intensity, you cultivate your thought.

So what do you wish to cultivate?

Wealth?

Fame?

Fortune?

Peace?

If you cultivate peace, it will make room for everyone to do well.

It will create space for everyone to prosper.

It will provide an atmosphere for creativity.

It will allow you to share generously.

It will allow you and others to connect for good purposes and good works.

It will give everything you want for yourself to everyone else.


© 2013 Kathryn Hardage
www.InspiredPractices.com