ego

What to Do When Past Pain Resurfaces

February 16, 2014 by SpiritMedium Leave a Comment

As we go through our lives working through challenging personal situations, healing from them, and accepting them for the lessons they taught us, the old pain that you released may rise to the surface again when we least expect it. Days, months, or even years after you think you have successfully handled the feelings and emotions from the past, you may encounter a situation that is reminiscent of the ones you thought you had a handle on.

Thrown Off Balance
At first, you may be thrown off balance as thoughts and emotions from the past threaten to overwhelm you. However, you are not encountering this situation for the first time. You have already been through this, and you have already learned better ways of handling this situation. For instance, let’s say you are in a situation in which you feel that a person with a forceful personality is trying to manipulate you by insulting you, belittling you, demeaning you, or twisting your words around to suit their needs. Having dealt with this in the past, you are more likely to recognize the manipulative techniques that this person is trying to employ. While it may make you upset to find yourself dealing again with someone who displays this type of negative behavior, you may actually be handling it better than you think.

Reacting Differently through Assertiveness and Love
In this particular situation, it is important to note that the person who is attempting to be manipulative is acting from a place of fear and ego. He or she is not acting from a place of love. It is this person’s intention to force you to bend to his or her will because he or she is afraid of losing power. What this person does not realize is that the perceived power has already been given away the moment he or she decided to allow fear to take over his or her thought processes. When you recognize this, you can choose to react in a manner that does not feed into the fear that this person is projecting. By knowing who you are, you can stand up for yourself in an assertive manner, which is representative of the love that you have for yourself. It is important to note that reacting with aggression, rather than assertion, will only feed into the negative behavior of the other person and drive the situation away from a positive resolution. Stand strong and confident in the love that you have for you, and for the positive and fair resolution of the problem for all involved.

Forgiveness Ushers in Healing
Try not to be upset with yourself if you initially get angry or distraught over the circumstances you are facing. It can be very challenging to deal with situations that are similar to those that brought you pain in the past. Allow yourself to acknowledge your feelings, and then release them. Be at peace with yourself. In your heart and mind, forgive yourself and the person who treated you in this manner, and let go of toxic feelings. Holding a grudge will only serve to hurt you and prevent you from moving forward. Pray for this person’s health and happiness, and let go of the negativity by recognizing that this person has not yet learned to operate from a place of love. Your prayers may help them to move forward, which will mean one more person in this world who embraces the light and love of which we are all a part.

Help Is Available
If you need help working through the emotions and feelings that have arisen from the situation that triggered the resurfacing of past pain, ask God and your angels for help, and speak with friends and family members who are supportive of you and your goals.

Silver Linings
No matter how negative a situation may appear on the surface, there are positive reasons for why they occur in our lives. Once we have lived through the challenging circumstances, we can look back to see what we have learned and decide which route we are going to take if we encounter them again. Situations that rehash pain from the past is not a punishment, but rather an opportunity to put into practice the lessons we have learned and to confirm the growth that has taken place within our spirits.

Namaste!

With Light and Love,
Karen T. Hluchan
Spirit Medium, Motivational Speaker, Reiki Master, & Author of How Have You Loved?

www.HealingSpiritWithLove.com

The Purpose of the Human Ego and How to Manage Its Effects

February 2, 2014 by SpiritMedium Leave a Comment

When our spirits are in heaven, negativity does not exist. It does exist on earth because it was built into the program for beings to experience an accelerated path for the growth of their souls toward enlightenment. The human ego, the driving force behind earthly negativity, is a mechanism that is built into us when we receive our human bodies. It is placed within us as a personal obstacle that challenges us on a daily basis with its pessimistic views that have the potential to drag us into its shadowy depths. It is important to note that the negativity, worries, fears, regrets, and self-doubt it projects upon our psyches is all an illusion. None of it is real. It certainly feels real, and it certainly can have a very real effect on our lives if we allow it to take over our thought processes. It is the most significant and persistent challenge we face as spiritual beings on a human journey.

By knowing that the negative voice of the ego is an illusion designed to make us examine our belief systems and thought processes, we can learn how to manage its negating and self-destructive effects. This can be accomplished through thought management, love, and examining our souls for the true lessons that are behind the challenges we experience in our lives each day.

Thought Management
We have the power to control our thought processes. It may not appear that way when negative thoughts, concerns, worries, and regrets seem to race through our minds, blocking out all of the positive beliefs and thoughts we hold in our minds. You can learn to manage negative ego-based thoughts by first recognizing their presence and then acknowledging them for what they are—an illusion. Ego-based thoughts are the ones that tell us that we are not good enough, that we are failures or that we will never succeed, that our ideas are worthless, or that we are unlovable. None of these statements are true, and should not be believed because they are borne out of the ego which projects fear as a challenge. Fears are obstacles that are meant to be overcome. By dismissing these thoughts, we can step beyond the illusion of fear that clouds our vision, in order to see the true spirit that resides within us. We were designed by our Creator as perfect beings of light that are capable of accomplishing any task that is placed before us. We have dreams and goals that we are meant to achieve, and can do so because we have been given every tool that we need to succeed. Our first task, though, is to manage the effects of the ego in a way that opens our minds, hearts, and spirits to the potential that lies within our own souls.

The Power of Love in Its Purest Form
The opposite of fear is love. It is through the power of divine love that our spirits were formed. We were born out of love, and are the true essence of love in its purest form. Our memories of this are veiled when our spirits take on the human form. This is done in order to allow us to learn the lessons associated with the human ego. As we evolve and expand our conscious thoughts, we can break through the veil of the ego that conceals this knowledge from our spirits.

To do this, we need to manage the negative effects of the ego, and learn to truly love ourselves for who we are. Any perceived flaws in our human forms have been placed there as a challenge. We are here to love ourselves, flaws and all. As with our spirits, our human forms were created to be unique. These differences show the beauty and value of our individuality, and should be embraced with acceptance, love, and respect for the unique path that each soul has chosen for his or her divine growth and enlightenment.

When you love and respect yourself for who you are, you are more inclined to make decisions that are more in line with you and your dreams. Circumstances that may have brought you down in the past will no longer have the same hold on you, because the love and respect that you have for yourself will help you to remove yourself from situations that have the potential to bring you harm. Loving yourself gives you the strength and compassion you need to stand up for yourself, and to make the decisions that will bring you the most joy and happiness.

Examining the Lessons
Each experience we have on earth is designed for the growth of our soul. We make choices every day about how we will proceed, and how the events that occur will affect us. We are in control of the choices we that make; we are the masters of our own destiny. By examining the circumstances we have encountered and are encountering, and the choices we have made and are in the process of making, we can begin to see the patterns and lessons that are behind our experiences. For example, we may have had a childhood in which one of our parents was overly stern or harsh in their treatment of us. The negative voice of the ego may say that we deserved to be treated that way because we are unlovable. Instead of giving the ego free reign to spread its fear, we can look at the situation as a lesson in learning how not to treat others. It is also an opportunity to learn how to extend forgiveness toward those who have not yet learned to love themselves or manage the effects of the ego that led them to act out of fear and bring harm to other souls.

All of our experiences have positive reasons for occurring. If we take the time to examine them from a viewpoint of love and determining the purpose of life lessons, we can see the step-by-step progression our souls are making toward enlightenment.

Blessings to You on Your Journey
Be patient with yourself as you learn how to manage the ego. It takes time to break the habit of giving in to the negative chatter that the ego spouts. It is a persistent voice that tried to demand and command your attention in a manner that is similar to a toddler throwing a tantrum. Like the toddler, the ego yells and screams until it is appeased, or until it realizes that its unacceptable behavior is being ignored. And also like the toddler, if you give in to the ego’s unrealistic demands, then you will be rewarded with more tantrums. If you learn how to ignore the ego’s negative rants, it will realize the futility of its efforts, and will begin to recognize that something greater than it is in charge—the true and loving spirit that resides within you.

Namaste!

With Light and Love,
Karen T. Hluchan
Spirit Medium, Motivational Speaker, Reiki Master, & Author of How Have You Loved?

www.HealingSpiritWithLove.com

Ending Situations That Bring You More Harm than Good

January 5, 2014 by SpiritMedium Leave a Comment

Each one of us has experienced painful and challenging situations that we wanted to end, such as an unhealthy relationship or job situation. Fear of the unknown or of loss can sometimes make us feel as though we are trapped with no pathway to freedom and happiness. The illusion of being caged in is a product of our egos, the negative voice of fear that does its best to prevent us from believing in ourselves and our dreams. It will keep you locked in its dark grip if you allow those fearful thoughts and emotions to rule your life. The choice is entirely up to you.

In each situation you encounter, there are positive resolutions available. The challenge is to quiet the negative voice of the ego, in order to look at the situation from a more objective point of view. Nothing in this world is impossible. It is our beliefs, thoughts, and motivations that determine our destinies. While you may not be able to control external factors, you can control how you act and react to situations you encounter on a daily basis.

When you are faced with an important decision, take the time to think about your true desired outcomes. At the heart of it all, what is it that you really want? Is it a job in which you can utilize your skills in an environment that is supportive of you and your career goals? Is it a loving relationship in which you and your partner enjoy mutual respect, love, and passion?

Take an objective look at your current situation. Are you already receiving what you desire but have not been recognizing it because of petty disagreements and nitpicking? Or is your job or relationship truly dissatisfying at a very deep level because your essential needs and desires are not being met? Have you shared your concerns with your employer or partner? Are they willing to work on improving the situation or have your requests for cooperative efforts been ignored?

If small issues are clouding your vision, these can be worked on as they are temporary problems that can be overcome with compassion, forgiveness, and efforts to meet each person’s needs within the situation. If the problem is much larger than that and your requests for assistance have gone unanswered, then this is an important sign that a significant change needs to be made. You need to decide whether it is better for you to remain miserable or to end the situation in a respectful manner and take a chance on the unknown with the hope and belief that there are opportunities for better jobs or relationships for you.

Making a significant change in your life does require a leap of faith. It may seem as though it is an uphill battle, and some sacrifices will need to be made; however, if you make these changes for yourself, you and others in this situation will be rewarded in the end because you are taking responsibility for your own happiness, which will also release others to find theirs. Taking this leap requires that you trust and believe in yourself, your feelings, and your ability to make decisions that are in alignment with your soul plan.

You do not have to walk your path alone. God and the angels are there to help you during this time of transition. Share your true desires and intentions with them. Let them know what it is that you really need or are looking for in your relationships or job situations. They know your heart and hear your thoughts.

God and your angels want what is best for you. They will answer your prayers if you allow them to step into your situation. The answers they provide will come through your intuition, repetitive thoughts or ideas, and external signs. Pay attention to the conversations that you have with others, the songs that you hear, repetitive symbols and signs that have meaning for you, and your gut feelings. These are some of the methods that they will chose to send their answers to you. For instance, a stranger may start up a conversation with you in line at the grocery store and he mentions that he is so much happier now that he ended a relationship or left a dead-end job situation, friends or acquaintances may tell you about a job opportunity that matches your skills, or you may even meet someone who has many of the characteristics you desire in a romantic partner.

As you release the past, and extend forgiveness toward yourself and others for situations that did not work out the way you envisioned, remain alert and aware of the messages you are receiving. In this way, you will be guided toward situations that are much better suited to you and the outcomes you desire.

With great blessings, love, and peace to those of you who are facing important crossroads in your lives. May you see the light that is guiding you toward your dreams and true happiness within your heart.

Namaste!

With Light and Love,
Karen T. Hluchan
Spirit Medium, Motivational Speaker, Reiki Master, & Author of How Have You Loved?

www.HealingSpiritWithLove.com

The Benefits of Building a Strong Relationship with God

October 6, 2013 by SpiritMedium Leave a Comment

When you build a close relationship with God, you begin to see things through his eyes. It is a bond that is forged in love and nurtured through continual communication and trust. By stepping back and putting your complete faith in God and the outcome of all of your affairs, you are inviting him into your life with loving trust and friendship. As your relationship deepens, you begin to see how God truly does oversee your growth as a soul and how he steers your course as you navigate your way through this lifetime.

Great Plans
God already knows what your goals are and what you are to accomplish while you are here. That was carefully planned with your consent before you were born on this Earth. Your destiny includes a series of soul contracts that define the lessons that you are to learn. How you accomplish them, and if you do, is entirely up to you. Awareness of your contracts, as well as the knowledge that you have gained from a multitude of lifetimes, is masked by the ego when you are born. One of the tasks that we have as a spiritual being on a human journey is to break through the veil that appears to separate us from that knowledge and the universal truths that are accessible through soul communication.

Mistakes can be Beneficial
As we live our lives every day, God lovingly watches over us. He knows the paths our lives are taking and the effects of the choices we make, as well as the best way for us to go. He sees when we deviate from that path. He exerts his power with a loving hand to guide us back to the paths that are in line with our soul plans. As a Spirit in human form, we become frustrated when we see ourselves or others going down a path that will ultimately cause more pain. With God, he views our errors and mistakes as learning lessons. It is beneficial for us to view our setbacks and missteps in the same way. God extends great love and compassion toward our souls. We give ourselves the greatest gift of kindness and love when we extend the same courtesy toward ourselves and others.

Free Will and the Effects of the Ego
As our Creator and heavenly parent, God wants what is best for us. He also knows that as his children, we must be free to make our own choices in order to exist and grow as a spiritual being. That is why we have the gift of free will. Mistakes and errors are as much a part of the process as our greatest achievements. One of the most important aspects of our soul evolvement is to stretch ourselves beyond what we perceive to be our boundaries and limitations. To do that, we need to find the courage that is stored within ourselves to overcome the effects of the ego.

On Earth, we have been given the ego as a part of our human existence. It is the negative voice that challenges our decisions by injecting counterproductive thoughts into our heads. This is the voice of fear that impregnates our mind with doubts and worries. That voice was placed within our minds as a challenge to be overcome. When we elected to come down to Earth to live this lifetime, we did so in order to speed up the evolution of our souls. In Heaven, ego and fear do not exist. We learn lessons for the evolvement of our souls; however, it is from a completely different perspective.

We cannot escape from the ego while on Earth but we can learn to manage it, work with it, and minimize its negative effects. Recognition and acknowledgement of the negative thoughts and fears as an illusion is the first step in negating its effects. When you know within your heart that it is only a mechanism that is meant to challenge you, you can face it with positive determination and thoughts that override its influence.

It is a lifelong challenge to learn how to manage the ego because the ego only disappears completely when our physical bodies expire. However, managing its effects becomes easier over time if you work diligently to recognize its encroachment upon your happiness. We are not meant to live a life of misery, but one of joy and happiness. Our dreams are achievable in this lifetime. The only thing that holds us back are the illusions of fear that are planted there by our egos.

He is with You Always
You are not alone on your journey. God is there to oversee and lovingly direct your path. The best way to hear him is to invite him into your life. Speak with him, pray to him and with him, share your thoughts and your gratitude, ask for guidance, and be open to his answers. God resides within you. He does not punish you with seemingly negative situations. Some circumstances are part of a soul contract while others are the result of how we treat ourselves and others. Negative thoughts and actions ripple across the Earth, causing reactions and events that directly affect our lives. God sees this happening. He intervenes when it is appropriate for him to do so. There are times when lessons need to be learned. At those times, it may seem as though he is not listening or that he is punishing you with hurtful or painful situations. You might even ask “Why doesn’t he save me from this experience?” He may not be removing you from it because, if he did, it may hamper your growth as a soul and hurt you more in the long run.

When you feel that you are in need of assistance, call on God to help you get through the tough situations you face and be open to his guidance. The Archangels are there for you, too. Still the fears within yourself by embracing the love of God and know that he will ensure the best outcome for you. It may not be the outcome you had hoped and prayed for, but then again, maybe it will. Remain calm and feel the peace within your heart that is given with grace to you by God. His love permeates your being at all times. When you push past the negativity of the ego, you can feel love in its purest form. It is a glorious feeling of divine joy that is almost overwhelming in its power. When you experience it, you will know that it is sent to you directly from God.

Enjoy Your Life
As you build your relationship with God, your trust and faith are rewarded with spiritual strength, love, knowledge, and peace. As a result, you may find yourself emulating the very characteristics that God displays toward you, including a significant capacity to extend love, forgiveness, understanding, and compassion toward yourself and others.

My heart has found great peace through my relationship with God and it has transformed my life in ways I never even dreamed were possible. Share your love with God today and let him into your heart. In this way, you can experience the beauty and benefits of your divine relationship with God, our Creator, for yourself.

Namaste!

With Light and Love,
Karen T. Hluchan
Spirit Medium & Reiki Master

www.HealingSpiritWithLove.com

Utilizing Your Intuition

April 14, 2013 by SpiritMedium Leave a Comment

Illumined Mind There are no coincidences…bumping into a friend at the grocery store, meeting a new person, being in the right place at the right time to land your dream job, winning the lottery, etc…these events occur as answers to our prayers, whether as a necessary step in the evolution of our souls or the actual realization of our dreams. We can utilize our intuition, the inner voice of knowing, to decipher the signs and events that are placed before us.

The circumstances that lead to seemingly coincidental situations are orchestrated by Spirit. When I say Spirit, I mean God, the Angels, our deceased loved ones, Past Spiritual Masters, and Spirit Guides. They provide us with “invisible” help as we go throughout our days. They speak to us through our intuition. Their timing, attention to detail, and orchestration of events is an amazing phenomenon that we experience every day, whether we are aware of their assistance or not. The more aware you are of the presence of Spirit in your life and the way that they operate, the more you can see the wonder of how they play a significant role in the evolution of your life.

Too often, we are told by naysayers that the mundane world is all there is – that the supernatural does not exist in this world and that miracles are rare occurrences that only happen to a select few. That is the chatter of the ego, the negative voice of our subconscious, that blocks us from the light and from seeing the wondrous world that exists beyond the ordinary surface of experience. We can choose to let our ego take over and give in to the belief that what you see is what you get or we can choose to break through the veil that covers our awareness in order to see the extraordinary that permeates our lives everyday.

Breaking through the veil means learning to perceive life in a different way. Learning how to utilize and listen to our intuition is a great place to start. There are many books out there about intuition; however, for people starting out on this path or looking to improve their skills, I usually recommend that they read “Practical Intuition” by Laura Day (Note: I have no affiliation with her or her book. I recommend it because it was very helpful for me.). Laura’s book helps you to recognize the signs around you and to retrain the way your mind processes the information it is receiving. The more you work with your intuition, the better you will become at reading the meaning of the signs, as well as their purpose.

If you feel that you are struggling with the concepts, feel free to ask your Angels for help. They will be glad to provide you with the assistance you need. Keep an open mind and have patience. Everything will come to you at the perfect time for your development. This does not mean that it will come at the time that you think is perfect, but what they determine as perfect. Remember, they see and know much more than we do. Have patience, be open, and know that help is on its way.

Enjoy your journey, whether you are just starting out or have been tuning into your intuition for years. An illumined mind that is attuned to the gift of intuition can reveal the threads that link your life purposes with those of others, while providing a map to guide your way.

Namaste!

With Light and Love,
Karen

www.HealingSpiritWithLove.com

Live in the Present

January 13, 2013 by SpiritMedium 1 Comment

Living in the present is a way of life. By focusing on what it right in front of us now, we give open ourselves up to the opportunities that are present right in this moment of time. People often wonder why, when we get older, time seems to disappear before our very eyes. We turn around and weeks, months, even years, have passed.

I used to think that it was the increase of responsibilities as we got older that made time fly. As children, we have no concerns except for living in the moment. That is when I realized that it is our worries, regrets and fears that rob us of our time and experiences.

By worrying about what could be, we are not living in the present or paying attention to our immediate surroundings because we are too busy creating scenarios in our heads. With regrets, it is a replaying of life videos in our heads which block our vision. Worries and regrets are the parents of fear and fear is what prevents us from taking positive action in our lives.

To clear your head and live in the present, start by making yourself more aware of your patterns of thinking. When you catch yourself getting wrapped up in worries, regrets or fears, stop the mind chatter and remind yourself to “be here now” because right now is what living is all about.

This doesn’t mean that you never look forward or back. From time to time, we need to look forward to make plans and back to learn lessons from our past. Make plans, look back to see what you could’ve done better and then let it go. You know what to do now and plans are set. There is no need to obsess about either the past or the future.

Open your eyes. Look around. Be grateful for what have in your life at this very moment – whether it is for the warmth of the sun, a friend sitting beside you, the blessing of good health, or the roof over your head. Savor all blessings large and small and recognize the joy of the moment within yourself. You can even share it out loud.

There are wonderful people, signs, and opportunities right in front of you. By keeping your eyes open and your mind on the present, you give yourself the opportunity to make the most of your time. You may even find, like I did, that time seems to slow down. When you savor each moment for what it is, you are fully living your life.

Most importantly, by living in the present, you give your Angels and Spirit Guides an opportunity to step in and help guide you in decisions that lead to your greatest happiness. They place opportunities and signs in front of you all of the time. All you need to do is open your eyes to the wonders of the present to be the beneficiary of these great gifts.

With Love and Light,
Karen T. Hluchan

ego

Footer