There isn’t a person alive who hasn’t had some upheaval in their life, whether it be short-lived or a turmoil that has lasted for a lengthy time, even years. We all have highs and lows in our lives because nothing remains the same forever. Yet, how we handle those challenging times varies. Some of us dive right into solving the issue, while others may procrastinate or take no action at all. Ultimately, it boils down to how we choose to deal with a problem.

I know that for me, there have been times when I responded emotionally, which usually proved not to be the best answer. As I have gained more wisdom, I have learned to slow down my reactions and examine the issue from as many angles as possible. What I have learned is that the best guidance for me has been to follow my heart. When we are quiet ourselves and clear our minds, the answer awaits us in our inner knowing of how best to respond to any situation, and it is always there in our hearts. Our heart energy is one of love, the highest energy vibration, and our connection to God and the Universe.

Who can deny the power of John Lennon’s words in the song he wrote, All You Need Is Love? He states that where there is love, anything can be done. I’m sure many of you have heard the story about the woman who lifted a car off her son who was trapped beneath it. It was her love for him that gave her the extraordinary strength to do it.

Where there is love, there is also healing. How do we heal our unhappiness and disapproval of what is happening today?

As any of us knows too well, it isn’t easy to discuss our political scene with others when some of those in power are making decisions for us that we don’t like. As a woman, I’m worried about our rights eroding without the power to make our own choice of whether to have a child or not. When influential people are pushing for women to stay home and bear children because that is what they are only suitable for, I worry. When women continue to make less money than their male counterparts, I worry. When the top people in government are white males, I worry, for our society is more than that and is not equally represented.

For all of that, how do we heal our upset? Not by being angry but by sending love energy to all those who can influence change. We know within our hearts that we are supposed to be kind, caring, and treat each other the way we want to be treated. Although not always easy to do when upset, sending love to others does work. Remember, the love energy is more powerful than the hate energy, and so it can open the closed hearts of those who don’t act in a loving manner.

I have to admit that being more loving when I am upset requires extra determination to do what I know is best, and I don’t always succeed on the first try. But I have also learned that it is worth the effort because wonderful things can happen in that higher energy, and I don’t want to miss out. So, if you find yourself in a predicament and are torn about how to react, my advice? Follow your heart.

You most likely have heard various expressions about beauty, such as “beauty is as beauty does” or “beautiful inside and out.” But the term that made me stop and ponder is the expression “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.”

I remember that my first reaction to that expression had been faulty in that I immediately went to that space of thinking that it was up to someone else as the beholder to declare whether or not I was beautiful! After all, we are such an outward thinking society, always looking outside of ourselves to define who we are, that my early reaction had seemed appropriate to me then.

Think about it! From a very young age, we women mainly get messages from all the media that we need to be beautiful, thin, and stylish. And we are given so many choices of beauty aids to help us become someone other than who we are that the message becomes loud and clear . . . you need help! You never see ads or public announcements that say you are beautiful just the way you are … and we begin to believe that we can’t be beautiful unless we use the right products or do the right things to make us so. Pointed out to us in many ways is the message that there always is something we can improve upon, whether it is how we dress, our hair color and style, and, of course, any aspects of our body shape. All of this free advice only stimulates the thought that we are not perfect as we are and probably never will be, even though many of us feel compelled to strive throughout our life to be beautiful – always on another’s terms.

Thank God for those of us who have reached the stage in life where we gave up caring to be perfect and beautiful! And the exciting thing for many of us after getting to that stage in life is that we became more beautiful! How did that happen? What did we do differently?

We began to like ourselves as we are and became aware of some of the living aspects that create an inner glow that lightens our faces and adds sparkle to our eyes.

1. Gratitude
   We became increasingly aware of all our blessings and are grateful for them:  good health, good friends and family, and abundance in many forms.
2. Acceptance of Self
   We have had enough life experiences that taught us we weren’t perfect, and we finally gave in and accepted it. It became easier to say, “So what?”
3. No Comparisons
   We no longer compare ourselves with others, having learned that it might be our turn next if something wonderful happens to someone else.
4. Joy
   We find joy in the little things . . . a bird that sits in the tree and serenades us, a child giggling with a buddy, a call from an old friend, or joy in all those circumstances that bring us happiness.
5. Faith
   We have faith that all is as it should be, and if it isn’t, we have the power and strength to change what needs to be changed. We believe that we are not alone and are always protected by our guides and angels.

Now when I hear the expression “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder,” I know and appreciate who the beholder is – ME!