Have you ever done a remodeling job in your house? Remember the experience, the frustration? This is how it usually starts for me, I start to get an idea about a project that I want to do because I have become tired of the decor or it is outdated and old and needs remodeling.
I can't help but think that this is what we find ourselves in as the changes in our financial system and those around the world are collapsing.
Ouch! That hurts to even write that.
But we can not have that new room or new kitchen without tearing everything down and replacing everything.
Is that not what we are facing globally? Remember what it was like during the construction? If you have never done a remodeling project let me give you a brief synopsis.
The wonderful idea usually at some point turns into what feels like a disaster and a never ending project.
As you live in the dust and the mess of the debris (if you have not been smart enough to move out) you start to question your sanity and "what were you thinking!" Well this is what is happening and the harsh reality is evident every day as we open the newspaper and read the headlines and watch the news on television.
As much as this creates a sense of anxiety and angst in me I can't help but correlate this to my remodeling projects.
How will we have something better if we do not tear the old down and replace it with the new? We are beginning to read the financial analysis of our current state of affairs and all the information points to this same fact.
If we are to resurrect out of the ruble of this disaster then we must do away with the old in order to have something better.
As this is all happening on the larger scale of our world, each and every one of us is a world unto ourselves.
I once heard the phrase, "You do not exist in the universe the universe exists in you.
" Think about this for a moment.
If we really understood what this means we would realize that the key to changing what is happening around us really begins with ourselves.
This has never been more evident to me on an individual level as it has been these past few weeks.
Call it coincidence or call it the astrological influences or plain old it was time to tear things down in my head.
Yes, I had started a remodeling project on myself, one that started many years ago on my path to self discovery and spiritual enlightenment.
Except that this project has been long in the making and as with all remodeling projects it came with its usual dose of frustration and delays in the time line.
Hindered by procrastination and denial, continued endulgement of limiting beliefs, fears that no longer served me, lack of self confidence etc.
etc.
Sound familiar? Yes very much like the remodeling project.
At times questioning whether I REALLY could change.
Was it really worth it, was I ever going to accomplish becoming the person that I envisioned myself to be, that I want to be.
Well as in the remodeling project somehow you manage to get through it with the final result being that beautiful new room or kitchen and even though you swear you will never do one again when it is finally complete you finally stand back and admire the end result.
Then you realize it was worth it after all.
Yes we are having to do the same with our financial systems and on a more individual level we do not realize the power that we hold to actually influence what is happening on a macrocosmic level.
We must begin with the universe within ourselves and evaluate how am I handling money, what is my relationship with money, what are my thoughts about money, do I feel that there is enough or am I constantly thinking," I do not have enough.
" How am I handling my energy resources? What kind of relationships am I in, am I in relationships that nurture me and feed me or suck the energy out of me? What am I doing to create more energy for myself, am I exercising and eating right to fuel my body with healthy energy.
Where am I being wasteful, am I not appreciating the things in my life or constantly bemoaning my circumstances or am I utilizing every opportunity that presents itself to me as a challenge to grow and become better.
How am I valuing myself? Do I see myself as a valuable individual with something to offer? Do these questions not also reflect the issues we are dealing with globally? Think about it.
I mean really think about it and the implications of this.
Do I want this world to change? We must begin to ask ourselves these hard questions and tear down the old and it needs to begin with each and every one of us.
It has been a painful process at times for me; I can't say that there is any easy way to change things about yourself there is no magic wand.
There is only the will and the determination.
This financial crisis is painful, at times a remodeling project is painful but eventually with that will and determination we can emerge as new individuals, as a new nation.