The Freedom of Living in Modest Circumstances

Removed from the pressures of big city life and big city acquisitions is a relief and a delight.

While we were involved in the big city life of working and raising a family, there were lots of pressures of time and money.

We own much less and love our freedom.

We have much less to take care of.

We have the freedom to spend our time doing things that are more interesting than maintaining so much stuff.

Although we wash the same amount of dishes, it is by washing the same few dishes over and over again.

The dishes never pile up.

I sweep small sections of the floor at a time.

The entire Studio, Shop, Canning Kitchen never needs to be done all at once.

It is easy to care for a small number of clothes.

I experiment with small sections of the yard as I turn it into a self-sustaining tiny food forest.

At some point, there will be no yard to mow.

We borrow more books through interlibrary loan instead of building the vast personal libraries we once had.

Preserving food in bulk reduces an immense amount cooking time.

What we have room for is vast amounts of creative space which are filled to overflowing with ways to carry out our creative ideas.

Every step through our Studio/Shop reveals happiness.

I can’t wait to work on creative projects which are piled on top of each other as I work through their solutions.

I have the freedom to design or sew or weave or knit  or draw or paint  or write or cook at any time of day or night at the slightest stroke of inspiration.

There is nothing I have to do first.

It is the greatest and most satisfying freedom I have ever known.

© 2018 Kathryn Hardage

www.lovedcherishedadored.blogspot.com

The First Peace on Earth (Comes From Within)

Establish it everywhere you go, your own peace from within.

Take your first deep breath, and pause to listen.

Keep your calm, and breathe into it, until you feel it fully.

Let it surround you as you take each step.

You will make your decisions, big ones, little ones, in complete calm, and thus establish your peace around you.

Those you deal with will experience peace first hand as they talk and interact with you.

As you transition between places and events, take your first deep breath of peace, and let it fill you fully.

As thoughts about your next transaction or meeting come to you, infuse them with the peace in you and let it fill out the words you speak.

You will see the meeting take shape in a productive and harmonious way.

Your needs will be taken care of, often in ways no one could have anticipated.

The answer is always in the peace when you let it fill you completely.

Take the time to fill up with peace; then there is no space for disturbance or distraction of any kind.

Measure all that you do by the standard of peace which fills you completely.

You will notice that wasteful distraction simply veers away from you.

You will do what is important and the next step will be clear.

You will meet your production deadlines and everyone involved will pass along your peace and add to it.

You will have calm and anticipated celebrations as your peace dictates how the business is run and how you treat the people on your team and in your company.

Everyone will benefit from the policy of peace in your standard of operations.

© 2018 Kathryn Hardage

www.pebblesofpeace.blogspot.com 

Helping Create Access to the Common Good for One More

During my music teaching career, it was my privilege to work with a complete cross-section of the populace.

I worked from the ritziest suburbs in their gated communities to middle class settings with dual working parents to schools in the poorest communities.

What I delighted in was the fact that my subject, music, allowed everyone to come aboard to take the next step over and over again to a higher level.

Since the combination of coordination, visual training, and ear training all work together in reading and playing music, I knew that I was creating a platform for cognitive and artistic success.

Over and over again, as I would see the next child catch on, I knew that child would be be able to contribute to the common good.

In wealthy areas, the child would be given private lessons, and would participate in a school orchestra, band or choir.

In middle class areas, the child would often be given private lessons and be able to continue throughout her school career in a large ensemble as well.  Perhaps the interest would be so energized as to major in music and become a professional player and/or music teacher.

In poor areas, the child would have a skill which could elevate him/her through playing in a large ensemble.  Depending on the motivation, s/he too, could advance into a performance and/or teaching career.

Because the child was gaining a cognitive skill through music, their ability to make progress in language was being enhanced.  Auditory discrimination between pitch nuances helps language development.

The ability to keep a steady beat and to fit their part in a complex musical event requires more neural connections and enhances word-reading ability.

Demanding small motor coordination in precise timing and accurate pitch is only possible with dedicated self-motivation.

I saw all these things happening, and I could feel the excitement and commitment increase as each child gained confidence and competence.

In my classes, I developed new materials if a child was having difficulty catching on.  I made sure each child could continuing taking the next step.

I created ways for students to work together in small groups and large groups.

I watched the joy, commitment and consistent work ethic to create something of their own.

Every child who came through my early childhood music program was empowered to become part of the greater good regardless of where they started out.

It is worth doing something which touches every child so completely.

Because of my experiences, I know that there are many ways to increase the ability for one more person to participate in the common good, over and over again.

© 2018 Kathryn Hardage

www.sharedglobalvision.blogspot.com 

Choosing Focus

The more I trust myself, the more I can refine my focus.

My focus becomes more powerful as it is concentrated.

Although I continue to participate in the current political and economic scene, my creative focus is my priority.

What am I creating for myself and others which will lift us up?

What am I creating for myself and others which will comfort us?

What am I creating for myself and others which will empower us to do our best?

What am I creating for myself and others which will give us the courage to follow our individuality?

What am I creating for myself and others which will help us steward the earth?

This is my priority and it is my focus.

I am empowered to carry it out as I recognize it and do not get distracted.

Some things move fast and others move more slowly, but they all come to fruition.

“Organizing” my Studio is a key component;  I let everything move at its’ own rate in its’ own flow.

I receive the ideas, I am connected with the materials and others ways of expressing it, I share it.

The ideas are simple although there may be many layers which go into its creation.

The layers combine in a harmonious and distinctive way until they are complete.

Then the idea is released.

Many ideas may evolve simultaneously.

Occasionally there is just one project.

All the ideas are nurtured until they are manifested.

I am a key element in the process.

I am the focal point in expressing the precise ideas which come to me.

That is my reason for existing and my purpose.

© 2018 Kathryn Hardage

www.pebblesofpeace.blogspot.com 

Being Employed

It is important to employ one’s thoughts in useful and uplifting directions.

The most valuable asset we have is our knowledge and our thoughts.

Things which distract us from our true work are interrupting our connection with our deep identity and what it can provide for society.

It is important to make provision for carrying out our work, and to leave the distractions behind.

Our focus on what brings us the most intrinsic satisfaction is the key to employing ourselves well.

We have a feeling of joy, of ecstasy, when we are involved in our deep purpose.

We provide service to society when we follow through on our uplifting ideas.

We engage the best part of ourselves when we bring our ideas into manifestation.

We challenge the existing viewpoint and refresh it.

We refine the current offerings and make them more efficient.

We introduce new meaning along with efficiencies.

We reach more people with our service.

We are more inclusive and benefit more people.

We reach people whose needs have been unaddressed.

We lay the fabric of our society across a wider segment of the population.

We see others who have been neglected by society and serve them.

When we truly employ ourselves, we lift up others.

Our work, in every segment of society, can contribute to making all of civilization live better.

© 2018 Kathryn Hardage

www.lovedcherishedadored.blogspot.com

Including Everyone

What a sense of peace there is when everyone is included.

Through respect, everyone is provided for.

Everyone’s talents and abilities are given room for expression.

Where there was despair, now there is encouragement.

Where there was no respect, now everyone is seen in an individual light.

Through expectation that light is nurtured and expands.

We are all given valuable talents and abilities.

Creating an atmosphere where they can be developed benefits society and civilization greatly.

Creating an atmosphere where it is natural to have respect allows more development of skills and talents.

The sense of security knowing that the basics are taken care of through a normal workday and work duties is immense.

All have the right to perform useful service in ways which provide enough for their families.

It is arrogance to exclude anyone.

Everyone is here to serve a higher purpose.

Structuring society so that people can get their own feel under them is essential.

Then they can explore their potential and encourage others to do so.

A view of people as limited, unimaginative and as existing only to serve corporate interests has produced dysfunction.

Cooperation, appreciation, respect for the intrinsic value of everyone would create a completely different society.

© 2018 Kathryn Hardage

www.pebblesofpeace.blogspot.com 

Expanding Focus

I am grateful to expand my focus.

Everyone I know is grateful to expand their focus.

Everyone I don’t even know, all over the planet, is grateful to expand their focus.

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I am grateful to understand my purpose and my identity and how it can contribute to society and civilization.

I am grateful to find the deep meaning in my life.

The little things I have learned to do well are characterized by their excellence.

Promptness in delivering a project is a natural part of the way I live and work.

Attention to detail gives me an dependable foundation for my work.

Courtesy in how I address others shows my respect for them, even if it looks like they have been dealing with hard times.

All of these elements, going into the community uplift it.

There is no shoddy work, delay, sloppiness or inaccuracy.

There is also no addition to despair or hopelessness.

My attitude and practice of uplifting qualities expands into my community.

Everyone who is able to receive  something of my attitude incorporates it into their day.

In that way, my focus and attention expand into the community in an uplifting way.

© 2018 Kathryn Hardage

www.takethreedeepbreaths.blogspot.com 

Fresh New Ideas

 I breathe in fresh new ideas.

Everyone I know breathes in fresh new ideas.

Everyone I don’t even know, all over the planet, breathes in fresh new ideas.

———————

With fresh new ideas, I have an uplifted viewpoint.

I am able to see things in a different way.

I am not stuck in old habits and patterns.

I can feel the direction to take a new path.

I can sense the way to new solutions.

Everyone is included in the new solutions.

No one is left out.

All are lifted up through the view of fresh new ideas.

Each one has a unique and significant contribution to make.

With a new view, there is room to include all in the solutions to current issues.

A limited view creates limited solutions.

A fresh new view creates uplifting solutions.

There is no drag when all are included in the solutions to current issues.

All have an opportunity to contribute in an uplifting way.

There is no longer a dominating view.

There is an uplifting view.

Upliftment brings all with it.

No one is left out.

Each one’s effort is appreciated.

This creates a powerful momentum which reaches everyone.

When all are considered with respect, it creates a new fresh view with fresh new solutions.

 © 2018 Kathryn Hardage

www.takethreedeepbreaths.blogspot.com 

Originality is Your Freedom

When you discover the immense power and satisfaction of your individuality, you will want to practice it as much as possible.

Your own path gives you the most freedom.

You are free to discover how it leads you as you desire to express your originality.

New resources open up from unexpected places.

A sense of confidence in yourself develops which is different from carrying out someone else’s instructions.

Your own life is the one you can trust.

You are called to bring your vision into manifestation.

Your place in the world is assured in a unique and secure way.

Every step you take is guided in an original way.

What feels different starts to feel comfortable.

When you take on a challenging step, you know you are on the right path.

You feel led in ways that are new to you.

Originality permeates more and more of your life.

You feel more and more confident as you explore the new world you are creating for yourself.

You lose interest in the opinions and distractions of others.

You maintain good and supportive friendships and associations.

You become committed to carrying out your unique purpose.

You align with your own unique and important values.

Your life feels complete and happy on a daily basis.

You solve the problems which come up and gain confidence.

You become convinced of the value you are contributing.

You life takes on an assured, confident and happy tone as you trust yourself in your purpose and manifestation.

© 2018 Kathryn Hardage

www.inspiredpractices.blogspot.com