Hey Lloyd,

That was deep and exactly what I needed to hear.

I think I've been placing too much emphasis on my book and I'm not feeling that I'm working to my potential. That's made me contemplate the "Allowing" so that the words will flow from my higher self. Yes, I've been working from the ego - I think I realized that earlier, but I was still unsure how to get out of the way. Part of my problem is that I have high expectations for myself, and I can't see beyond my desire to write this book and have it published. I really thought I'd be much further along by now and that has been playing on my mind as well. And, if I'm not writing, what am I supposed to be doing - I can't just live the life of leisure forever.

When I went to pay my rent at the beginning of October, I forgot to mention that I'd like to extend the lease. I sent an email on Thursday, and it turns out that someone else has rented it for mid-december. I was quite disappointed even though I wasn't sure if I would go home for Christmas. I guess that decisions been made for me - or, I'd have to find someplace else to stay. My passport expires early next year, so I'd have to do something about that as well, but now I don't know if what's next. Do I go home and then come back again - as I did last year, or is there someplace else I'm supposed to go????? Thus the question of allowing! I'm trying to see this as the universe trying to lead me in the right direction, but I'm not so good with the not knowing!

Anyway, I'm in a good place (in my mind and heart). so I'm not stressing about it. But, at the same time, I think I'm still fighting myself, and I know I have to let go.

Ahhh, the joys of becoming - I know we all have ebbs and flows, and I accept it all. I also take responsibility for it all. I'm where I am because this is where I'm supposed to be - fighting the alter ego and all : - )

Really happy to be learning these lessons in Paris,

What does Allowing mean?

Sandy:
I've been pondering the word "allow" and what it means in the context of "allowing" the universe to do what it needs to do in order to assist us.
My question to you is, what does that mean to you? What action, or non-action do we take?

If it means getting out of our own way, how does one do that when they aren't really sure if they are in the way? What does it feel like? I suppose if we aren't making progress, it's because we are in the way - do you agree?

This one has me a little perturbed at the moment.


Lloyd:
To allow is about getting out of your own way, it is about action and non-action.
To allow means acting when you need to act. It means acting and not acting at the same time. Sounds a little confusing eh? But really it is about acting without the personal ego influencing our choice. It is acting from the 'heart', acting intuitively.

It is important to remember that things will happen whether we act or not. We can choose to act based upon many different reasons: fear (of failure, embarrassment etc.), 'goodness', greed, selfishness or selflessness. To allow, means to act out of the ,rightness' of the moment based upon what our heart/spirit is saying - not what our ego wishes. To allow means to act from the spirit not the mind or desire for a personal gain.

In one moment there are a million potential responses/actions to take. The 'right' actions are the ones based upon a spiritual/intuitive 'rightness' in the moment that is not influenced by our 'dreams', hopes or fears. Allowing means removing those actions/responses that are based upon protecting or bringing about an outcome that you strongly desire and is trying to shape your world to achieve.

What if you're not sure if you're in your own way? The signs are:

• Trying too hard to achieve one thing.
• Ignoring or stopping actions that beckon you because you do not see them leading to your desired goal or outcome.
• Having a fixed goal that you must achieve despite whatever else is asking for your attention.
  

So allowing is about being in each and every moment authentically and trusting what action beckons you without the thought of meeting an objective that we consciously have. There are things in motion around you that lets you know what to do next but we must listen without the aspiration/desire to meet a personal conscious end. Working from the intuitive without an immediate goal will allow much to happen that is beyond any goal or ego aspiration that we have developed as our life need/focus.

Your heart follows the flow of the current in the river and allows. Your ego and developed self thinks about where the current of the river is going and whether it needs to change it or not to suit our goal/life mission. Most times the ego wants to change the rivers natural direction and that is when life becomes work - because we are aiming to achieve a specific outcome/direction. To allow is to trust the tide of the river, knowing that you will in the end make it downstream - even when the river appears at times to be going upstream. It is trusting the overall flow of the river and universe despite your ego feeling that it knows best how to get down river.


A thought.