This past year I have been engaged in an experiment. I have re-entered the world of classical music after having spent several years of my own meditations as well as taking part in an intensive personal development group.

One of the primary things I learned in this period of time is that WE are the authors of our own reality. Every day, every hour, every minute and second … we author the world around us based on the programming we have received over the course of our lives.

What we’ve been taught from birth. Traumatic experiences that have shaped us. The families we were born into … etc. etc. These are the filters for how we view the world … and thus how we create our personal reality.

But you don’t HAVE to let this be your reality. You can learn how to go within and bring resolution and peace to those inner conflicts and burdens that so shape your current existence. You can be your own author of whatever story you choose.

So, I re-entered the world of music with a very specific promise. I was going to take whatever opportunities presented themselves to me, and do my absolute best with each one. No worrying about the future or fear of rejection to sabotage me … just staying in the present and doing my best with what unfolds.

In order to do this I basically had to let go of results. I let go of worrying about success or what others would think of me so that I could simply focus on keeping my heart open and doing the best that I know how to do. As long as I do those two things … I am a success!

The results have been fairly mind-blowing. By the time a year is up (still several months away) from having made this promise I will have performed roles in seven operas … that’s more than I’ve ever done in one year.

Even still, there is fear and anxiety … what happens after this year? What if nothing else comes along and I’m right back to ground zero? What if opera is not the world for me as I once feared and wondered? What if, what if??

Sometimes I get lost in those “what ifs” … but all that developmental and meditative work I have done has shown me that all I have to do is stop, open my heart back up again and continue doing the best I know how.

Whatever the result of all that is … doesn’t matter. Happiness and contentment are a result of living life in such a manner, as opposed to the outcomes I achieve.

My results don’t define me, the manner in which I choose to author my life does … and I choose to be an open-hearted conduit of Love. Wherever that takes me, I am happy to go.

Peace and Love

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• pic by MarlouJ

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Religion4All is an idea: that every human being (no matter their race, religion, sexuality, social status, lifestyle, or any other possible factor) is LOVED by God; just … as … they are.

We all are loved by God, and NO religion or person has a monopoly on it. Every single person on this planet is loved equally by God … SO many are cut off from God because they are told they don’t belong. God loves everyone … we ALL are beautiful creations … we don’t need to cringe when we hear the words “God”, or “religion”, or their judgments … God LOVES us all!

There is no requirement to change in order to be LOVED by God, or to LOVE God. God is LOVE, and LOVE is God … period. There is no one who God loves more than anyone else … there are only those who choose to LOVE more … to love God more, and consequently then to love each other more. In doing so, we grow closer to God … and know God.

By opening our hearts, and minds to God (free of boundaries like religion, or social trends); by LOVING God … we are exactly where we are meant to be. If we maintain that openness, never allowing any person or event to make us close our hearts, we will be guided by God to be who we are meant to be.

In that space of openness we can then live a life of LOVE, and be guided to where we are meant to be … forever in LOVE.

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