Guest message from Kimberly Schneider (written prior to Grand Jury announcement)
Happy (almo
st) Thanksgiving! I hope this email finds you hopeful, happy and overflowing with gratitude!
My heart is full this morning, and I’m also very aware that a lot of people in my own city of St. Louis are feeling scared today.
As you are most likely aware, a few months ago in Ferguson, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, a white police officer shot and killed an unarmed black teenage boy named Michael Brown. That event was tragic, not only for Michael Brown and his family, but also for the police officer and his loved ones, and the entire Ferguson community.
Many people have been protesting Michael Brown’s death and the circumstances surrounding it, hoping to raise awareness and bring about transformational change in race relations, especially in regard to interactions between the police and the citizens of color. Unfortunately, although the vast majority of protests have been peaceful, some individuals and groups have been exploiting the situation to create chaos.
Right now our city is awaiting the grand jury’s decision on whether to indict the police officer who shot Michael Brown. Rumors are flying, police presence is highly and increasingly visible throughout our region, and many local events are being changed or cancelled because people are scared about what will happen when the indictment decision is announced.
Whether or not you live in St. Louis, I think this is a good opportunity for all of us to take a deep breath and remind ourselves of something:
The world is what we make of it.
Intense fear gives us clues around where we feel vulnerable, where we are most in need of love and connection.
Whenever we feel scared, there’s an opportunity for real transformation.
It is natural to respond to feelings of fear by looking for control. We all do whatever we can to feel safer.
Unfortunately though, while defensive strategies may give us a short-term illusion of safety, all of these measures only serve to reinforce the ego’s illusions of separation. Over time, we are forced to build more and more walls around our hearts (and perhaps even our homes) to feel safe.
And “the way things are” continues to be the way things are.
What other choice do we have?
We can choose to be present to our fears, allowing them to teach and transform us.
We can recognize that ultimately, every one of us is doing what we can to experience happiness.
We can remember that each of the human beings we encounter wants to be free, to be happy, to feel peace.
And when we have the courage to do that, we have new options. We can create the world we want to live in. We realize that there is nothing to fear because the Essential Self, the most expansive part of who we are, has always been, and always will be.
What do you fear?
Where do you seek control?
What does courage look like for you today ?
How can you un-arm your heart?
Where can you reach out and make a connection?
Your I AM is right here.
Everything you need is right here.
If you want to experience some peace right here and now, I created a short little guided meditation this morning to help.
You can listen here: http://www.audioacrobat.com/play/WRv3MffW
Or download it from here: http://kschneider.audioacrobat.com/download/WhenYouAreScared.mp3
May we all be peace.
May we all have the courage to love ourselves right through our fears.
Blessings,
Kimberly
http://www.KimberlySchneider.com
The Manifestation Maven
