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Why We Need Friends, Allies, and Community

We are Drawn to Feel Connected

Friendship, allyship, and community are part of a healthy existence. 

We need people who get us—who really see us, or at least try to. This concept of being seen is a form of validation and part of our personal growth process.

Our attachment to outside validation can be problematic, holding its own set of lessons, but when it happens without attachment, and perceived through the awareness of our Divine Self consciousness, it can be a form of spiritual confirmation. Under these conditions, we are able to recognize our own truth, share it, and have it acknowledged by others. These moments of recognition are important and affirm our path.

We need people to witness our experiences, both the good and bad, because this contributes to our growth and healing; those who are the witness are similarly transformed.

What we witness becomes part of our awareness—the effect of this act is three fold. 

First, we validate their experience when we witness it and it becomes a type of shared experience. Second, what we witness prompts our own memories and ability to relate; this can be displayed as empathy. We can also be triggered by what we observe. Here, we tap into deep seeded memories that reflect the sentiment, “I know this emotion or experience—I’ve been there.” When this happens, the feeling experienced is visceral and cannot be readily explained. The memory might be obscured, but the intense emotion is very much present. Third, through our observation and shared experience, we solidify the event in the field of the Collective Consciousness. Here, the emotions felt, beliefs created, along with the healing that can transpire, are passed on.

Being of service as a friend, ally, or community member is part of our spiritual calling. 

When we know ourselves and our faith, we embody more of our humanity. We seek out meaningful connections and relationships. We want to do good and make a difference. We are drawn to acts of unity rather than ideas that create more separation within and without.

Here are three affirmations that you can work with that support these aspects of connection and growth:

  1. I nourish myself; I nourish the collective.
  2. I transform myself; I transform the collective.
  3. I free myself; I free the collective.

You can meditate on these ideas and use them as part of your breathwork mantra practice by saying one verse on the inhale and the other on the exhale.

Here are thought and journal prompts to integrate your understanding of these mindful ideas:

  1. In what ways have you stepped up for a friend and how did it affect your relationship? What did you learn about yourself through this experience?
  2. How do you understand allyship and where can you practice it meaningfully now?
  3. What are your thoughts around community? How can you be more in community with others? What type of community environment is calling to you and why?

We invite you to share your thoughts on friendship, allyship, and community below.

Peace be with your friends.

With love,

Sureya-Jeanne

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How Will You Respond?

Most are familiar with the adage, “When life gives you lemons—make lemonade!”

This is great and timeless advice! Because here, we learn to accept what is and respond.

To accept our present and mindfully respond is a recipe for meaningful interaction and a sure pathway to new possibilities.

With this stance, we release our tendency to judge our circumstance; it frees us from reacting from our past pain or future worry.

When life gives you “lemons,” a.k.a. things that you don’t like, refrain from reacting with judgement and frustration, instead, choose to make something positive, palatable, and perhaps even more important—create something that gives joy to you and others.

Alchemize those lemons!

Turn that irritation into inspiration. Flip that disappointment into an opportunity. Work with it like God blessed you with those bag of lemons!

(Because God, as you, did.)

A mindful response to any circumstance begets a better outcome.

When we choose to respond from a grounded place, we have an interaction that creates heart expansion: a scenario in which we feel good, have no regrets, and move in a direction we desire. When we judge and react from our pain, fears, and trauma, this creates heart contraction: a situation where we feel bad, have regrets, and stay in similar circumstances.

In the path of Unification, both instances are teaching tools: your fear-based reaction or mindful response equally teaches you about life.

The real issue at hand is–how do you want to experience life?

Do you want more of the same?

Do you want to keep getting lemons, and basically, continue to stockpile and complain about your “bad” situation? Or, will you make lemonade and see where the possibilities take you? Because in this scenario, you won’t be repeating the same old thing. Once you make “lemonade” from something you didn’t like, it is no longer a lemon, i.e. a useless, broken thing—it has become something that can quench a thirst and satisfy a need.

We are at a time where many of us are juggling a whole bag of lemons.

How we respond will dictate the possibilities we have or don’t have.

How will you choose to respond to your present?

How will you choose to respond to the lemons humanity is faced with?

Written for those with ears to hear and know how to make lemonade!

With love,

Sureya?Jeanne

Photo by zhenzhong liu on Unsplash

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The Gravity of Ego

Our ego has gravity; it can pull and hold us to maintain certain behaviors. The longer we have behaved a certain way, the stronger the pull of that behavior.

Our behaviors are based on our beliefs. Often, our beliefs are rooted in trauma; they also arise from what we learn from society. These beliefs are deeply embedded in our psyche.

The gravity of ego is most apparent when we are trying to embody a new way of being.

As we aim to change something about ourselves, we somehow still end up reacting as we did before—like our old self is still our default attitude. Simply put, it is challenging to become a better version of ourselves. Also, because of our effort to try and act in a new way, we are keenly aware when we fail at our attempt. We then judge ourselves for not healing and changing fast enough.

In the practice of Unification, we ground ego to our Divine Self consciousness to support our effort at changing our beliefs and behaviors. Here, the gravity of ego is no match for the strength of God.

By bringing our Divine Self forward, we anchor our ego to the light and wisdom of God which has the effect of making us stronger and more resolute. It also brings our concerns to the present which helps to see the situation more clearly, and with less attachment and judgement. In contrast, when the solitary ego tries to improve itself, it has the tendency to waiver—being ungrounded, the ego cannot stand firm. The ego is likely to revert back to its old existence because it is trained to measure its circumstances by the results of its past.

In unifying with our God consciousness, we are strengthened, emboldened, and made capable to hold our transformations. In this way, the gravity of ego is lessened and we feel the freedom to change.

The gravity of ego is a teaching tool.

It appears to show us where we need to put our attention. It is there to remind us of our yet unhealed wounds. It is also a marker of our humanity and thus should not be overlooked. Instead, when the gravity of ego pulls you in, surrender, and ask God, as your Divine Self consciousness, “What can I do to make peace with this? How can I love, forgive, and accept myself as I am?” Then, allow yourself to be guided by God.

Just as the gravity of the earth is essential, the gravity of ego is important. When the pull to be our old self makes an appearance, it is a chance to practice self-compassion. It is a moment to become more present. It is a pathway to know ourselves and commune with God.

May we see with eyes to see. ?

With love,

Sureya?Jeanne

Photo by Lucho Renolfi on Unsplash

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It’s the Action that Counts

Most are familiar with the saying, “it’s the thought that counts,” which means that the intention behind the act was good, but the execution or outcome may have fallen short of expectation. In such cases, we show our understanding by acknowledging the act was well meaning.

When I suggest that it is the action that counts, I’m speaking of our ability to course correct—that we can fulfill our good intentions and make amends when we fall short.

Specifically, we can apply this idea to our goals and resolutions. Whether you had set a goal last year that you didn’t accomplish or you made a new year resolution that is already falling by the wayside, I propose you can right your actions. It’s never too late to course correct!

Additionally, when we look back on our well meaning intentions, we may judge ourselves for missing the target, but instead of judgement, I recommend that we atone. In the practice of Unification, atonement is to ask for forgiveness from God, our Divine Self consciousness. Here, through our self-forgiveness we grow in compassion and love. In our atonement, we see that we are free to rise, fall, and rise again without ever losing our wholeness or worthiness. The act of atonement is for the benefit of ego because God never judges, and so there is nothing to forgive. Simply put, judgement is the domain of ego.

We can atone for the reasons we go off course, forgiving and loving ourselves for our so called “failures.” In truth, nothing is a failure if we learned something from the event. In Unification, all our experiences contribute to our growth.

When we understand that it’s never too late to course correct, we can can change our actions so that we achieve our goals and fulfill the promises we made to ourselves. We can accept our lessons, shift our beliefs, and refocus our effort.

Seeker, make your actions count!

May we see with eyes to see. ?

With love,

Sureya?Jeanne

Photo by Kid Circus on Unsplash

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Finding Freedom in the Breath

Through the breath we can find more life freedom. By noticing our breath we can feel centered and become more present. Here, we can choose to go deeper and connect with our Divine Self consciousness to feel the love, support, and guidance of God. No matter where we are, the breath can help us experience groundedness and spaciousness.

We can experience different levels of freedom and this is due to our beliefs. It is also our beliefs that influence how we perceive reality. Though our beliefs may be different, each of us, through our own breath can alter, and in most cases make better, our individual situations.

By paying attention to our breath at any given time, we can change how we view and act in that moment.

This allows us the freedom to respond in a new way rather than reacting from conditioned beliefs.

Taking the time to breathe during certain circumstances can give you the clarity to see things differently, the emotional bandwidth to experience the moment fully, and to behave in a way that supports your highest good: your growth.

In the time and space that occurs when we bring our awareness to our breath, we give ourselves a pause—a temporary stop where we collect ourselves. We set ourselves to right and come back to our heart and to the core of who we are. In the practice of Unification, to choose to have this emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual pause is the behavior of the grounded ego.

Through the breath, we turn our focus inward.

We feel the breath process in the body. We sense the rise and fall of our chest and stomach. As we breathe deeply, the body relaxes, our shoulders lower, tension leaves the face and neck, and we may release a deep and relieving sigh. After a few more breaths, we can notice a tempering of our mental and emotional state. Our thoughts settle down, and our emotions become more balanced.

Attuned to the body by our breath, we can connect to our heart, which is the pathway to God, our Divine Self consciousness.

Connected to our God consciousness, we can sense our freedom. Centered and grounded, we are present. In this state, we have the ability to pause and respond to all circumstances in a mindful way.

It is through our Divine awareness that we are able to release the judgments, conditioning, and illusions that hold us to a way of life where we think we are lacking in freedom. Many times, for the ungrounded ego, its sense of freedom is obscured by its thoughts of the past and future. Ego is “stuck” as it were in its mental time-traveling ways and it is unaware of the freedom it possesses in the present.

This freedom of which I speak is your spiritual freedom. It is your belief in your spiritual freedom that will set you free from the shackles that bind you, be they physical, mental, or emotional. No matter the reality in which you exist, you are spiritually free because you are of God and thus, are infinite. To truly understand and accept this Truth is a game changer.

Seeker, acknowledge your sacred breath, and find freedom within. ?

With love,

Sureya?Jeanne


Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash