Grievance: a real or imagined wrong giving cause for complaint; or a strong feeling that you have been treated unfairly. (Also known as “bellyaching”. )

It’s easy to pickup and carry around grievances. Our ego encourages us to store as many as possible to separate us from the light that is our salvation. Complaints and hurt feelings can create a heavy cloud and keep us in a dark place. The words we speak to ourselves and others, either perpetuate the scenes that play out around us or change them.

I try to be aware of my thoughts and words and change them quickly but recently I got caught up in a perceived wrong and started bellyaching about it. Then another situation arose with something done to a family member and I added it to my bellyaching. Vacillating between feelings of anger and sadness clouded my thoughts until I recognized the effect it was having on my other interactions. This morning I took time to clear my mind and heart. To change my thoughts. To let go of the grievances. To see and feel from a place of love.

The light of Love pushes back the darkness bellyaching brings.

When we focus on and speak about perceived wrongs done to us, or others, we will see more wrongs to complain about. When we focus on words of encouragement we will see more encouraging things surround us to speak about.

I encourage you to take a moment today to release your grievances. Stop your bellyaching. Imagine taking your hand, reaching up and moving the dark clouds of perceived wrong weighing you down. Imagine parting them and pushing them to the side as a bright light begins to shine through. Imagine that light is pure love, God Himself. As the light shines brighter and surrounds you the clouds evaporate until you feel the darkness gone, your heart and mind refreshed. (If it helps you can imagine I am there with you, helping you move the clouds.)

Allow your thoughts to change to those of our Creator, who wants the best for you and is always encouraging. You have free will and can control what you think about. What you think about impacts what you see. You can choose what you see. You deserve to see the light of Love and others deserve to see it in you.

God’s love is always right there waiting to save us from ourselves, but we have to accept it.

E.A. Fussell
07.08.2023

Sometimes we come to realize something we have been taught isn’t completely accurate. Maybe it was distorted by cultural, religious or generational beliefs. Maybe the person who taught us wasn’t properly taught themselves.

Did you ever think about the fact that most of our understanding was taught to us by someone else. When we were learning to speak others taught us what to say, the names of people and objects, and how to act (probably the same way others taught them). We started school and others taught us how to use our brain and how to act (probably the same way others had taught them). We went out into the workforce and others taught us what to think, what to do, how to act (probably the same way others taught them).

Most of the interpreting our mind does is based on what others have taught us. We seldom have a truly original idea of our own. We look at our future filtered by our past teaching and experiences and seldom give ourselves space to quiet our frantic chattering mind and look with fresh new insight.

As I grow older I realize I see nothing as it really is, I see it the way others taught me to see it. This can be overwhelming to my soul.

A practice of prayer and meditation help clear or clarify the decades of others understanding we have been taught with. As we ask for Divine guidance, setting aside our initial programmed reactions to the thoughts that come up and allowing ourselves to hear the ancient wisdom within, we are able to determine what we think and not just what others have taught us to think.

You’re never too old to start thinking for yourself. 💕

E.A. Fussell

06.16.2023

It’s easy to get caught up in using circumstances as excuses. Excuses hold us back, keep us stuck, prevent us from realizing our dreams.

It’s not selfish to have dreams. When we hold ourselves back from attaining them we miss out on helping someone who needs the person we could be.

When we let go of excuses and look past our circumstances we open the door to miracles. Opportunities begin to appear, we think of new ways to get where we want to go, helpful people show up, and new insight comes in.

Difficulty only limits our dreams if we let it. Release excuses, think outside the box, embrace your possibilities. Someone somewhere is waiting. They need help from the person you might be when you attain your dreams.

E.A. Fussell

06.14.2023

Remember playing outside when we were kids? Running around playing games, riding bikes, swimming, fishing, or just laying in the grass looking up at the clouds as they floated by. Then one day we grew up and movement was called exercise and seemed to be more of a chore than a pleasure. What would it take to reinvigorate movement that once brought you joy? Working out does not have to be cumbersome. Find something you enjoy that moves your body, even if it’s just a little bit… and if it gets you outside into nature that’s a priceless bonus.

Video taken on my evening jog in Lago Vista, Texas. (my run times are naturally slow 🐢 but they would be a little better if I didn’t pause so much to enjoy the scenery; oh well, I’ll never be a fast runner so I might as well be a joyful one)