When you think about all the advertisements and magazines and commercials that encourage us to buy and be made-over and to do this and that to improve ourselves, it’s a wonder there’s any individuality left at all! We tend to want this actor’s hairstyle and that model’s figure – or that politician’s power and this athlete’s paycheck. All of these “things” are held up to us as the ideal. And yet, we know, deep inside, that what is REAL is so much more than that. Though we’re inundated by the mega-media machine, we must keep reminding ourselves that what we have to hold onto is who we are, and that is invaluable.
-Lissa Coffey

The key word here is “appear.” So many times it’s just easier to put on a mask, to play a role, to go along with what is expected of us. But the courage is in being authentic, in being true to ourselves and our convictions. Being true to ourselves is one thing – but showing the world who we are is another. Do we dare risk judgement? When we are authentic we answer to ourselves, we know that to appear to be anything other, anything less than “what one is” is heart-breaking.
-Lissa Coffey

The topic this week is “authenticity.” I love that word. Authentic means genuine, real, true – and when applied to people it means being true to yourself, being your TRUE self, expressing yourself, and nothing less. We sense when people are authentic, just as we can tell when they are imitating, or role playing. When we are authentic, our light shines through, and our path is illuminated. “This above all…” Shakespeare says. It is important to be authentic, important for our well-being and for our spiritual growth.
-Lissa Coffey

It’s okay to change directions. People have been reinventing themselves since time began. This is a good thing! When our heart leads us somewhere, it's always for a reason. We need to follow and find out what that reason is. Usually this change brings us closer to who we really are, it allows us to discover our true self, and to be more authentic.
-Lissa Coffey

We are always growing and evolving, and we can never go back to where we were once we’ve grown past it. We’ve glimpsed the realm of spirit, we know the peace and joy in our hearts, and we want more of it, every day. It is ours! To experience, and to express… be aware of this wondrous gift!
-Lissa Coffey

It’s kind of like that song that goes: “You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone…” Know what you’ve got – you’ve got SO much!!! We have everything, all of nature, all of creation, all of the infinite possibilities for our lives. And we’ve got it right here, and right now – open up your awareness to it, accept it, embrace it!
-Lissa Coffey

Is today your day? Sure it is! Why wouldn’t it be? Expand your awareness to include all the beauty and joy and love and peace and goodness that is in you and through you and all around you. Today and every day is your day – recognize it, and enjoy it!
-Lissa Coffey

Our spiritual pursuits open up our awareness to everything – and sometimes that can be difficult when emotions come to the surface, and stress bubbles up and away. When we know that this is all temporary, and a part of the process, we can observe its happening without allowing it to get us caught up in the drama of it all. We can focus on the big picture – we can see what is truly important, truly real. It is exhilarating, and liberating!
-Lissa Coffey

We’re always hearing new “definitions” of beauty – whether they are cultural or based on our own generation. But this simple statement explains it all so clearly. It’s like the two words are interchangeable. The truth is what is, not what is not. Beauty is. God is.
-Lissa Coffey

Ah, Socrates! Wisdom is beautiful! You are beautiful! Who would argues that this great philosopher wasn’t beautiful? It’s like a supermodel wishing to be more photogenic. We are all beautiful simply because we ARE. We are here, on this beautiful planet. We cannot be MORE beautiful, because we are already all that. Yet we can recognize that beauty, cultivate it, cherish it. We can express beauty, and show gratitude for it.
-Lissa Coffey

Beauty is everywhere, all around an in each one of us. Yet where do we put our attention? On what we have decided is “wrong?” On what we think needs to be “fixed?” There is beauty in these things, too – if we would only look for it. There is a lesson, a gift, a treasure to be found in every situation and circumstance. We can acknowledge it or turn away from it – but it is there nonetheless.
-Lissa Coffey

We always seem to be striving for MORE. More money, more time, more patience, more love… when we have so much and don’t even know it. Or if we know it in the intellectual sense, we don’t really believe it enough to live it. We have all of this abundance and more available to us – it is ours to claim and enjoy and celebrate! The beauty of our world, God’s world, is in us and all around us at all times. At some point, we come to respect that, and appreciate it, and know that it is plenty enough.
-Lissa Coffey

Blessings have no monetary value, and yet, they're priceless! We're showered with an abundance of nature and love, a bounty of blessings just waiting to be harvested with our hearts. Indulge!
-Lissa Coffey

Stevenson says "do not grasp at the stars" as if to say- don't worry so much about things you don't have, things that are out of your reach. Instead, focus on the task at hand, and see the beauty and the blessings which are right here, right now. We can't appreciate what is right in front of us if we are looking off into the distance.
-Lissa Coffey

Think of the odds, think of what it took to get us here, in this particular body, at this particular time. So many events had to occur exactly the way that they did for us to exist right now. What if your mother hadn't met your father? The "what ifs" are endless! But somehow everything fell into place miraculously to create this life that you're living. So now we're here - and what we gain from this experience, how we learn and grow and make this blessing really count, is all up to us!
-Lissa Coffey

We accept the first gift just by being born. We learn more of the second gift all throughout our life, and we give and receive love. The third gift seems to be more of a challenge for us to accept. We tend to want to impose our interpretations, our judgements on circumstances and behaviors rather than seeking to understand. It takes a certain spiritual maturity to really let go embrace this blessing. We have this capacity- let's unwrap this gift!
-Lissa Coffey

The body really is such a miracle. It’s just beyond comprehension how all of our organs can work so effortlessly on our behalf to keep us up and running. We don’t have to think about breathing, or pumping blood – it just happens! Life is so precious. The body is its keeper. It’s up to us to nourish and nurture this sacred vessel so that we may wisely use our time on earth learning and growing. The more time that we’re here, the more time that we have to expand our awareness. Our bodies allow us to do that.
-Lissa Coffey

Dancers know, as Martha Graham so beautifully states, that our bodies respond to the attention that we give them. When we take care of the body with nutrition and exercise and personal care, we can trust the body to function optimally.
-Lissa Coffey

“Movement never lies.”
-Martha Graham, Blood Memory 1991

We express ourselves with our bodies. Our body “language” tells things about us that we cannot hide. Our emotions are broadcast to the world through our posture and our physicality. Our bodies are our instruments – and we can play them with dance and athletics and joy!
-Lissa Coffey

The body definitely gives us signals, but do we pay attention? We should! Look at all we can learn from the body! It tells us when we’re tired, under stress, hungry, nervous. We may try to fight it, or ignore it, thinking we know better – but there is an innate intelligence at work in our cells that we can benefit from. This “gut instinct” that we get, that’s Spirit talking right to us. Listen up!
-Lissa Coffey

The world is changing… and we are changing the world by our actions whether we realize it or not. Just a thought can change things, make things better. So the idea is that the more people who are growing spiritually, the more people who are consciously seeking this change, this improvement to our world, the more easily and quickly this change will occur. It’s happening already.
-Lissa Coffey

We see change everyday. We see it in the seasons, the weather, in our rapidly growing children! The nature of life is to grow, and in that growth is change. And then there is the constant in our lives, the one thing that is always there, unseen, yet unchanging, and that is Spirit. As we go about our busy lives, adjusting to the changes that occur all around us, we can find comfort and peace in the stillness knowing that this is where all of life, all of creation, is connected.
-Lissa Coffey

When we change our perspective, things look differently to us. We may think that they have changed, but it is really our point of view that has changed. We tend to put our own labels and definitions on things, yet those change when we see things a different way. The value that we put on things changes, too. And isn’t it all just this subjective, arbitrary notion? Different people will have different opinions, that’s just the way it is… and yet, the “thing,” whatever it is, is what it is. Opening up our minds to other people’s perspectives allows us to change and grow and become more accepting and understanding.
-Lissa Coffey

It is our nature, and really our responsibility, to change things for the better. Some causes resonate with us, we are compelled to help, we can’t help it. Some causes come to us – through an illness, or a friend or relative whom we love. There is always some way we can invoke change, some way we can make a difference. When something moves you, go with it as an opportunity to learn and grow, and change the world.
-Lissa Coffey

“Character” is an interesting word. We’re all known for our character, those traits that we have embraced and exhibited as a part of who we are. In the movie and theatre world, a character is one of the participants in the film, or play – and since we have little time to get to know that individual, his personality is amplified by a few traits that sets him apart from the other characters. If you were to write a play, and write yourself into this story, how would your character be portrayed?
-Lissa Coffey

Everything that we have gone through in our lives has come to shape our character. How we assimilate these experiences into our personality determines the strength of our character. Life is not easy – and it’s not boring! Every day offers us up opportunities to learn and grow and develop into the person we aspire to be.
-Lissa Coffey

“A man’s character is the reality of himself. His reputation is the opinion others have formed of him. Character is in him; reputation is from other people – that is the substance, this is the shadow.”
-H.W. Beecher (1813-1887)

“ If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself.”
-D.L. Moody (1837-1899)

I just had to include all three of these quotes together. These were taken from three different sources! I don’t know if these people knew each other, or were commenting on their statements – but it sure sounds like it. That’s the way spirit works sometimes – all these events happening in different times and places that somehow mesh together seamlessly. Notice the contrast that each draws between character and reputation. Where do we place the most value?
-Lissa Coffey

Every day our characters are formed by the choices we make. What do we think about? How do we spend our time? What do we value? Our characters are a reflection of our life lessons. How well have we learned?
-Lissa Coffey

There's nothing like the child-like joy of Christmas morning! Everything is new and fresh and waiting to be unwrapped by eager little hands. Life can be like that every day. The world awaits us, and we approach, uncertain of what we will find in store for us. Each day is a present, filled with present moments. Indulge!
Merry Christmas!
-Lissa Coffey

There are so many lessons we can learn from children! The innocence, the open-heartedness, the sheer joy of discovery. Time spent with children is blessed time indeed. Where did our child-like nature go? We can find it again in shapes of the clouds, in a toasted marshmallow, or a shared giggle.
-Lissa Coffey

Every child holds a promise, every child IS a promise - a glimpse of what life is all about. Who doesn't melt when holding a tiny baby? Our hearts fill with awe at the sight of this spectacular little being. It's a miracle. Each one of us is that miracle, too. We are still children, learning and growing and finding our way.
-Lissa Coffey

There's a saying: "out of the mouths of babes" because children tend to speak the truth so clearly, just when we need to hear it. Are we listening? Are we getting the messages of love, and hope, and peace? We can learn so much from our children, and all children are our children, because we are all one.
-Lissa Coffey

I don’t think there are any “bad” colors – just different emotions and connotations that we associate with them, just like we do with anything else. Red it interesting that way- it’s vibrant and bold – and yet can signal danger, and heat. Like anything, it’s our own perception that we impose on it.
-Lissa Coffey

The first thing that comes to mind when I think about yellow is the sun – beautiful, life-affirming, skin warming sunshine! I also think about old-fashioned wooden pencils and school buses – and sunflowers! It’s really a happy color, isn’t it? Yellow seems to be attention-getting, and in color therapy, it is used to harness attention. Wearing a citrine, for example, is supposed to help you concentrate. And whoever invented the original Post-It notes must have made them yellow for a reason! If this were written in color, I’d send a bright yellow happy face today!
-Lissa Coffey

Brown isn’t one of the colors in the rainbow- and yet, could you imagine a world without it? To me, brown represents nature – tree trunks, dirt, things that are real. And chocolate! No, I couldn’t imagine a world without it…
-Lissa Coffey

Black is elegant, and mysterious. Black is often said to be the absence of color, but I think it deserves a place as a color itself. The fashion world certainly couldn’t function without it! Maybe black has gotten a bad rap because it is associated with the villain’s hat – but black, like white, is like a canvas, and we can paint on it most vividly!
-Lissa Coffey

There’s no place like home! Was it Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz who first said that? Whenever I travel I always find myself appreciating so much the comforts of home upon my return. There’s just something about the familiarity of it all that is so reassuring, so cozy! It’s nice to have things around us with which we have some history.
-Lissa Coffey

With Mother’s Day coming up on Sunday, I thought this quote was particularly appropriate. Is there anyone more comforting that Mom? I don’t think so! When a child is hurt, he wants his mother. When an athlete waves to the camera, he says “Hi, Mom!” We are each and every one of us our mother’s children. That never changes, and in that we can find comfort.
-Lissa Coffey

What I get from this is that there is such a thing as “too comfortable” and that’s not necessarily a good thing. We need a certain amount of change, and renewal in our lives to keep things moving, to keep things active. Life spurs us on – and one way it does that is by making us uncomfortable sometimes. We feel the need to seek comfort, and that causes us to grow.
-Lissa Coffey

This passion seems to be particularly prevalent today – you can see it on “Survivor” and “Fear Factor” and shows like that. So what’s the spiritual message here? I guess we could look at it several different ways – but let’s choose one: When we challenge ourselves, and break outside of our comfort zone, we discover things about ourselves and reap rewards!
-Lissa Coffey

Lifework. Isn’t all of life work at times?! Commitment does take work, but because we get so much out of what we put into it, it becomes a pleasure. Our relationships need attention, and the ones that get it help us to grow. Our lives are built on our commitments – to ourselves, our relationships, our work, and our communities.
-Lissa Coffey

Commitment is 100%. You can’t hedge a little and say that you are committed. Your actions speak for themselves. Commitment is tied to so many other good things, like integrity – you say you will do something and then you do it, that’s integrity, that’s living up to your commitment. Commitment brings achievement, and success.
-Lissa Coffey

Commitment is 100%. You can’t hedge a little and say that you are committed. Your actions speak for themselves. Commitment is tied to so many other good things, like integrity – you say you will do something and then you do it, that’s integrity, that’s living up to your commitment. Commitment brings achievement, and success.
-Lissa Coffey

A commitment isn’t something we have to talk ourselves into. It’s identifying something we believe in so much, and want for ourselves so much, that it becomes a part of who we are. A commitment involves caring, and dedication, and loyalty beyond any distractions.
-Lissa Coffey

It seems so idealized, but it really is possible. A world community. It just takes a change in mind-set. We are all connected. We have much more in common than we have differences. If there is no time or space, there is no perception of separation between us - we really are all one… one family, one humanity, one spirit.
Lissa Coffey

It helps us to know, from an early age, that we're not in this alone. We crave that love and support from other human beings. This is how we learn about people, and how we learn about ourselves.
-Lissa Coffey

We can really see the connections between people and between communities more and more as we open our eyes to it. The internet is an interesting thing. In some ways it has isolated us, as we sit alone on our computers. But in many other ways, it has helped us to establish and build relationships with people, and to create communities that we otherwise may not have been a part of. It has opened up avenues of communication that hadn't existed before.
-Lissa Coffey

This week we're talking about community. When we think of the whole grand concept of "we are all one" - it's kind of a stepping stone to think first of our own communities. We belong to lots of little groups - our families, our neighborhoods, our clubs and organizations. And these communities all function because of the people involved with them! They become an entity unto themselves. They have a life of their own. And these smaller communities are all part of larger communities, too - which in turn interact and grow with others. It all starts with each of us as individuals, and expands to include the entire planet.
-Lissa Coffey

Compassion is not limited to the human experience. Although, as intelligent beings, we can understand and express compassion and extend comfort to one another. My friend Maryanne sent me an article about a herd of elephants who appeared to be mourning one of their own who had died. They cried. I don’t know if elephants can understand with their minds just what they were experiencing, but they certainly were able to understand with their hearts. And we can empathize with them, we can project our own feelings of loss onto this situation and learn and grow from it.
-Lissa Coffey

Compassion moves us beyond our own immediate needs and concerns and shows us how important it is to look at the big picture. We are all in this together. When one of us feels pain it affects the whole. When one of us extends ourselves to ease that pain, the healing reverberates to affect the whole.
-Lissa Coffey

As the world grows spiritually, we will grow compassionately. The Bible tells the story of the Good Samaritan. We know this is an example for us to live by. If we would all practice compassion, follow our hearts to help others in need, then the real world would be a lot a lot less scary place to live.
-Lissa Coffey

Compassion carries with it emotion. We feel it in our hearts. Compassion spurs us to action. It shows us the best of who we are, it allows us to move past our own issues and focus on the contribution we can make to our fellow human beings.
-Lissa Coffey

Guess what? WisdomNews is one year old now! And I could say the same thing that Isaac Newton said… We’ve had a full year’s worth of messages, and I feel like it’s just day by day, little by little, paying attention to all these wise people throughout time has helped us to make some valuable discoveries about ourselves. It’s these little habits, these personal spiritual practices, that help us to concentrate on what really is important in life. Happy First Anniversary, everyone!
-Lissa Coffey

My friend Joe Buttita is a golf pro, and I thought of him when I saw this quote. I remember one time he was coaching my son I said: “He just needs to concentrate,” and Joe said: “No, he just needs to relax and let it happen, you can’t force it.” Wise man! All of the teachings, the lessons, the practice – it becomes a part of us. There is a time to concentrate and learn, and there is a time to relax and let it happen. We know what to do. And when we quiet our minds we can do it!
-Lissa Coffey

There are so many different things that command our attention every day. Radio stations, billboards, advertisements, television shows, politicians… our jobs, our families, our friends, our responsibilities… the list goes on and on. This is why our spiritual practices are so important. If we just listened to the news we would probably start living in fear. But when we balance our lives, and listen to our hearts, we can separate out what it is important to concentrate on. Keeping a routine of spiritual practice makes it easier for us to stay on the path.
-Lissa Coffey

We are wholly complete and capable human beings. Perhaps our
greatest lesson in life is to understand this. We don’t need to look
outside ourselves for anything. All that we have, all that we are, is
more than enough – it’s perfect!
-Lissa Coffey

There are no dualities, there is nothing outside ourselves. We are all One.
Our connection to each other is reflective of our connection with God.
There is no beginning, there is no end. It is ever-present and eternal. We
are not alone in this life, ever. We are bound together, to learn and grow
and help one another. It is our purpose, it is our privilege.
-Lissa Coffey

So, just where do we go to see “the truth?” If there were a cruise to get there
I’ll bet we’d all sign up! But we don’t have to get on a luxury ship to see the
Truth. We don’t have to go anywhere. We just need to go within. It’s all there.
All the answers we seek. All the miracles we chase. Look within. You’ll see.
-Lissa Coffey

A conscious heart: that’s something to strive for! I have heard it said that the longest distance is the distance between the head and the heart. Why is this?
Why do we not trust our hearts? We “think” we know better, but do we? We
feel alive, energized, and happy when we feel love and gratitude. Our treasures
are all around us and within us. We have only to open up our hearts to it, to
open up our awareness to it.
-Lissa Coffey

This week's topic is conscience. I remember Jiminy Cricket singing "and always let your conscience be your guide." And I can still hear his little cricket voice from the Disney cartoon, I must have heard that dozens of times when I was a kid. I think the simple explanation I was given at that time was that your conscience would always tell you the right thing to do. If you listened to your conscience, you wouldn't give in to temptation and do something you would regret later. I may not have understood that completely when I was a child, but I get it now. Sometimes it takes some life experience for us to really learn the lesson. Gandhi is saying here that you can't please everyone, so you've got to please yourself by doing what your conscience tells you is the best thing to do. Then basically let the chips fall where they may.
-Lissa Coffey

"Conscience is God's presence in man."
-Emmanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772)

If conscience is that still small voice inside our heads, where does it come from? Who put it there? Our conscience is strong, and speaks to us loudly enough that we can't ignore it. It commands us to pay attention.
-Lissa Coffey

Our conscience tells us which way to go, it points us in the right direction, just as the needle of a compass does. Why would we purposely go astray with something so reliable helping us? This is something we can count on.
-Lissa Coffey

A conscience is a very individual thing. We can't peak inside someone else's mind to find out just how they arrive at decisions. But we can look at our own thought process. "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a book that really explores the whole concept of conscience. I'm glad that my son will be reading it in school this year, we will have some great conversations about it. I can't help but picture Gregory Peck as Atticus. I love the way he portrayed this man who was so compelled to follow his conscience. I love the example that this character set for his children.
-Lissa Coffey

At one important scientific conference, a group of scientists announced that with all of the new technology and their vast knowledge, that they could create life all on their own, with no help whatsoever from God. A reporter in the room challenged them and asked for proof. The scientists, confident in their claim, invited everyone outside for a demonstration. There, in an open field, one of them scooped a handful of earth, and said: “This is where we will begin.” And God’s voice was heard from above and He said: “Use your own dirt!”

This is a cute joke, and it calls our attention to the fact that we are creative beings, and that creativity comes from the Source of All things.
-Lissa Coffey

Creativity is freeing. It is exploring the great “what if” out there. When our imagination is unleashed we can soar to ever-greater heights. We experience our connection to the Universe in a profound way, with timeless awareness and innate wisdom.
-Lissa Coffey

Part of our purpose in life lies in our creativity. We are each an individual expression of God, and we each have a special contribution to bring to this planet. What makes your heart sing? What do you love to do? When you are doing that, you are expressing the divine presence within you. It’s joyful, it’s glorious!
-Lissa Coffey

What is certain anyway? If anything, certainty is habit, and it can get boring! It’s time to break the mold, shake things up, create a new paradigm! There are infinite possibilities out there, and within each one of us… let’s start trying them on for size!
-Lissa Coffey

Interesting word, "desire." It evokes a lot of feeling. No wonder so many pop songs use it to describe a heart's yearning... can't you just hear the Backstreet Boys now? "You are my fire, my one desire!" Desire is man's great motivator, it spurs us into action! Through action comes experience, achievement, accomplishment, and many great things.

So, you have a desire... now what do you do with it? Of course, you want to fulfill it! We are busy fulfilling our desires everyday, and sometimes so easily that we aren't even aware of what we are doing. Let's look at the mechanics of desire fulfillment:
1. Recognize the desire.
2. Evaluate the desire - do you REALLY want it?
3. Create an intention to fulfill the desire.
4. Release the desire to the universe - state your intention clearly.
5. Give up any attachment to the outcome... anything can happen, and
it's usually better than we ever could have anticipated.
6. Let the universe handle the details - don't try to control or
manipulate how things happen.
7. Express gratitude!

-Lissa Coffey

Our desires tell us a lot about ourselves. Ask yourself today: "What do I want?" Look at that carefully and ask again: "What do I REALLY want?" Then look at that and ask: "Why do I want that?" Oftentimes that question will get you to the true answer of what you REALLY want! And how would you change your life if you had that? What would be different? Can you do that now? Play "what if" a little and see if you can get yourself closer to your goals right now.
-Lissa Coffey

What extraordinary vehicles indeed! It's us! Every one of us. We each are here for a reason. Sometimes we know the reason, sometimes we don't. Sometimes we just have to go along, doing our stuff, knowing that when we follow our hearts it leads us to where we need to be. And wherever that is, is not only for our own good, but for the collective good. We learn from each other, and somehow, everything works out.
-Lissa Coffey

"All I was doing was trying to get home from work."
-Rosa Parks, on refusing to move to the back of the bus, televised interview (1985)

I had to put these two quotes together because both of these two women showed such courage. They both saw the "big picture" and understood their role in it. Although these events happened centuries apart, one could say that they were destined. Things could not have continued the way that they were going, and each of these women had a part in changing things. They could have backed down or shied away from it - but instead they chose to step up and be where they were, where they felt they were "supposed" to be.
-Lissa Coffey

How do accounts balance? It's simple - what you put into it you get out of it. It's just like the law of cause and effect. It's a principle of nature - and that's just the way it is. In Eastern philosophy, the accounts may not necessarily balance in one lifetime, but over many lifetimes. It's looking at that big picture again. Life may not seem "fair" at one particular time - but it generally is when you look back over the long run.
-Lissa Coffey

To me this says that we are here on this earth at this particular time for a reason. We have kept our appointment. What we do with the time we have here is up to us. The rewards are not necessarily material, but much more valuable- our spiritual growth, the love and fulfillment we find and create for ourselves. We have choices in how we spend our time, and the lessons we learn along the way are our bounty.
-Lissa Coffey

We can look at our dreams, and learn from them. And what we learn is more about ourselves! This is just another way that God speaks to us – it is just another opportunity for us to grow. And it’s all open to interpretation, just like life. What do we see, what do we feel, what do we experience? It is different for each of us – and isn’t that great?
-Lissa Coffey

What is real? It has been said that the first three states of consciousness (sleeping, dreaming and waking) are just an illusion. That “reality” comes with higher states of consciousness, when we can see God in all things, and when we can see the Oneness of all creation. When we “wake up” to reality, we will see the beauty of life all around us at all times.
-Lissa Coffey

Whether we’re talking about dreams that occur in our sleep state, or dreams as ambitions, we have these experiences for a reason. Dreams become a part of us, a part of who we are, and a factor in the decisions that we make. Embrace your dreams, pursue them, and watch them change and grow as you do.
-Lissa Coffey

Dreams are a place where we can figure things out about ourselves. They help us to see what motivates us, what our true desires are, and where we are headed. They help us to become more of who we really are!
-Lissa Coffey

Full effort is mindfulness. It’s being present in the moment, concentrating on the task at hand and not on the results. When we’re in that space where we’re putting in effort, doing our best, we lose track of time and experience the now. That’s a victory!
-Lissa Coffey

It usually takes something to motivate us to make that effort. It’s like we begin with the end in mind – that’s our goal, what we are working towards. But along the way, things might change. We certainly change and grow from the experience – and maybe that’s just what we really need. We can find some of the most amazing spiritual messages in our own music. Are we listening?
-Lissa Coffey

Yes! This is totally encouraging! In the choices that we make, we have the ability to change, and improve our lives! Where are we choosing to put our efforts? What endeavors have we chosen to pursue? I found another quote said: “Rowing harder doesn’t help if the boat is headed in the wrong direction.” (Kenichi Ohmae, 1989) If we happen to re-evaluate and decide that this particular endeavor has not rewarded our efforts in some way, we can choose again, change direction! And we take with us our experiences and newfound knowledge.
-Lissa Coffey

Everything worthwhile involves effort. And it’s true that we get out of life what we put into it. Put in nothing, get back nothing. Put in some effort and love and reap the rewards! If we want a rich life, spiritually and otherwise, we’ve got to go for it! Doing our practices, whether it is prayer, meditation, volunteer work, reading, or anything – takes effort, takes time. But we feel the good at work in our lives. We see things from a different perspective. We know we are growing and learning and it is all so worth it!
-Lissa Coffey

Since I have been teaching meditation, many people have said to me: “I can’t meditate, I have too much energy!” Energy can be our ally, it gives us the vitality we need to accomplish, to excel. And yet, if we can’t tame our energy enough to allow ourselves to sit still and just be, then that energy can be counterproductive. Yes, energy is good! And we can make much better use of it when we spend some time in silence.
-Lissa Coffey

It’s all about balance. If we are in that “go go go” mode all the time then we burn ourselves out. We need time for silence, we need time to recharge our batteries. Then we can come at life from a new, fresh perspective.
-Lissa Coffey

Energy is one of those things that seems to be contagious! Have you ever noticed how a low-energy meeting gets revved up when someone comes up with a great idea? We feed off each other’s energy all the time! How great is it to be the one who can light up a room?! Let’s do what we can to lift the energy around us every day – it could be as simple as sharing a smile.
-Lissa Coffey

Sometimes when we’re feeling down or tired, the best thing to pick us up is a brisk walk! A little exertion of energy gets the juices flowing – then we can think more clearly and make better decisions for ourselves. We need to strive for a balance between quiet and activity. Too much of either one gets us out of kilter.
-Lissa Coffey

There are so many things that we could be enthusiastic about, but do we let ourselves get worked up? Too often we hold back, we say we don’t want to “get our hopes up” or we’re afraid to jump into something when we might fall back on our behinds. But there’s a reason why we get enthusiastic about the things that we get enthusiastic about – and that’s to lead us toward happiness! Enthusiasm is a cue for us to participate, get involved, “just do it!”
-Lissa Coffey

Remember that formula! When we’re really excited about something, if we want to make something happen, all we need to do is to share our enthusiasm, use common sense, and don’t give up! It’s that simple. Success begins with enthusiasm.
-Lissa Coffey

Can’t you just picture this scenario? A fisherman who LOVES to fish doesn’t just love those moments when he actually lands one – he loves the whole process. Similarly, an actor with an enthusiasm for acting is just as happy doing a part in a community theatre production as he would be handing out resumes, taking a scene class, or starring in a feature film. It’s the whole process that generates enthusiasm when we truly love to do what we do.
-Lissa Coffey

Knowing that enthusiasm fuels our fire and keeps us going, it is up to us to maintain the enthusiasm necessary to keep ourselves on track. Enthusiasm can be found, and it can be created. So if you can’t find it, make it!
-Lissa Coffey

So where do these insights come from if not from experience? They come from the infinite wisdom of the Universe. We can tap into it at any time through meditation. Everything we need to know is right there for us. Meditation gives us direct experience of the spirit.
-Lissa Coffey

There are all different ways of learning and growing. There are amazing works by brilliant people available to us at any time. And we can gain so much from the words of our fellow man. But where did they get these insights? At some point, the knowledge has to be experienced to be understood. And when it is understood, then it can be expressed. We all know what lessons we have learned from our experiences. And this is a big part of why we’re here – to experience life, to learn and to grow.
-Lissa Coffey

And many years later, John Lennon said: “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” This is why “going with the flow” is such an important concept for our spiritual growth. We never know what we are going to encounter along the way! Our experiences help to shape our perceptions; they help us to discover more of who we really are. What are we looking for? It doesn’t matter… what we find, through our experiences, is ourselves.
-Lissa Coffey

We learn from our experiences. And it is our privilege to share those experiences with other people. We’re here to help each other. Whether or not we learn from each other is an individual choice. The gems of experiences that are collected over the years form a treasure chest of wisdom that longs to be distributed. Why not tap into that wealth? And in turn, we’re giving someone the gift of being recognized and valued.
-Lissa Coffey

Sometimes we want something so badly, yet we’re afraid to really go for it. That’s when we’re told to take a leap of faith. Wow. That leap can be a pretty big one, too. But it is good for us to do this! It is only when we embrace the unknown and venture out into the field of infinite possibilities that we discover what is out there for us.
-Lissa Coffey

Faith is knowing. It’s not believing or guessing or hoping, it is KNOWING. It is complete trust in the Divine. There is an organizing power in the Universe. That power is also within each one of us! When we set our goals, the Universe - through us - orchestrates the avenues by which we reach those goals. We don’t need to question, or fret, we just need to have faith and know that it is already done.
-Lissa Coffey

“Connected” and aware of our connection, is how we all want to live. Faith is all the evidence we need of that connection. When we turn to faith, we feel it. It is calming, comforting and all-knowing. We can’t always see it with our eyes, but we can feel it with our hearts.
-Lissa Coffey

Just as we have faith that the sun is behind the clouds on a rainy day, we can have faith that whatever problems seems to be presenting themselves at the moment will be resolved. And they will. When we don’t know what to do – we can always have faith.
-Lissa Coffey

When we hold on to our grudges, when we refuse to forgive, the only one we are really hurting is ourself. Why cause ourselves unnecessary pain? Where is the spiritual lesson in that? We can choose to release these grievances and choose to create a miracle. Forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves.
-Lissa Coffey

Think of this from a purely economical point of view. When you invest in blame, judgement, criticism and victimization, what do you receive in return? Does an attempt at making someone else feel bad bring any real benefit to you personally? Or could it actually cause you harm? Now, knowing that we are each responsible for our own choices and responses, think about this: When you invest in forgiveness, acceptance, understanding and harmony, what do you receive in return? Here there are many rewards! Among them: peace of mind, coherence, stability and love.
-Lissa Coffey

Whatever we turn our attention to increases. So focusing on the good increases the good. Our “reality” is just a perception of things as they are – so choose to look at what we want more of. There is always more than one way of seeing, or thinking about someone or someone’s behavior.
-Lissa Coffey

I’ve heard this quote dozens of times, but I never knew who said it! We are spiritual beings living in human form. We are capable of all things divine – and prone to all things human. We make mistakes. We mess up, we blow it – and sometimes stupidly, too. But the divine in us knows that this is all a part of the process, that we are growing and learning and finding our way every day. When we forgive ourselves, and others, we are tapping into that pure potential of divinity within each one of us.
-Lissa Coffey

If there is a lesson in our struggle for freedom, (and there always is a lesson,
in any struggle) then it is that there is no separation between us. We
are all one. We are not truly free until each and every one of us is free.
-Lissa Coffey

Freedom is all-encompassing; you can’t have one “kind”
of freedom without all the others. I remember Deepak Chopra
talking about the 25 qualities of the Unified Field. Scientists have
studied this Field, which could also be called “all of nature,” and identified
25 qualities that it has. Because we are one with this Field, these
are qualities inherent in each of us, too. Number 24 on the list: Freedom.
-Lissa Coffey

One of my children’s songs has a line in it that says: “You gotta be you and
you gotta do what you love to do.” That’s freedom. Freedom lets us be
ourselves. We often take freedom for granted – it feels so natural to us. But
we need to recognize it every once in awhile, and celebrate it.
-Lissa Coffey

There is no middle ground with freedom. It’s an all or nothing proposition.
And it is a great responsibility. We can practice it, live it, respect it, and grow
from the experience of freedom every single day of our lives.
-Lissa Coffey

Friendship is ours to give. It is a gift that multiplies when it
comes back to us. Friends help us to be more of who we are, they
help us to feel our connection to the world. With the support of
friends we can achieve more, enjoy more, and appreciate more. And
we can do the same for our friends! Friendship works both ways.
-Lissa Coffey

Have you ever noticed that some new friends you don't just "meet," but you "recognize?" It's as if we can see ourselves in that person.
Maybe it's chemistry, feeling that connection of oneness - or maybe
it's memory of a past life together or something. Whatever the reason,
the discovery of this new friendship often leads to great things. Find
out just why you were brought together. There are no coincidences!
-Lissa Coffey

Some people say that we can't choose our parents or our children, but
we can choose our friends. I don't know if that is entirely true. I
think there is some reason we have the family that we have, either
by divine agreement or for learning purposes. I also think that our
friends are our friends for a reason, too. We're making choices all
the time, and our friends are making choices, too. And somehow, those
choices brought us together. And because we are brought together, we
grow. We experience more of what life is about. Understanding is
huge! To find a friend who truly understands is a magnificent gift.
-Lissa Coffey

It's interesting that one of the top-rated TV shows right now is called "Friends." I think it's because that's what we all want. We all want people in our lives whom we love and who love us back. People we
can count on, people we can laugh with, people who appreciate us for
who we are. The theme song for that show says: "I'll be there for you"
and that says so much! We need to cherish our friends, both old and
new, and pay attention to those relationships, and nurture them because
they are important to us.
-Lissa Coffey

So many people have said the same thing: when you give, you receive. Whatever it is that you want in your life, give that. Somehow, it comes back to you, in a bigger and better way. Somehow, what you are looking for finds you. You have to put it out there; it has to circulate. Rather than hold on to something, set it free. Let it live, let it breathe, let it grow. Giving is good for everyone.
-Lissa Coffey

In this season of giving, let’s look at the process, and how much the simple, and natural, act of giving contributes to our spiritual growth. Giving opens us up, it opens our hearts. The more we give, it seems, the more we want to give, because we experience that current in our lives and are energized by it. It just feels good!
-Lissa Coffey

Most of us have too much “stuff.” We could probably give half of it away and not even notice. It doesn’t “mean” anything to us. Giving isn’t necessarily just distributing stuff into another person’s hands. The best gifts are thoughtful and heart-felt. The best gifts are personal, given with the receiver’s needs and wants in mind. The best way to give is to give of ourselves.
-Lissa Coffey

God’s gifts to us are bountiful! Yet how many of them do we recognize, how many do we use? All the riches of the world are available to us right here and right now. We have only to graciously accept them into our lives. Is there any work of art more valuable than a sunset? It is ours to gaze upon every day! Giving makes us rich, by allowing us to experience the good we can do in the world. Receiving God’s gifts makes us rich, because we understand that there is nothing that we lack.
-Lissa Coffey

God is omnipresent, without borders, without limitations. Everywhere we go, God Is. Everything we see, God Is. Everything we touch, smell, hear, taste and sense... it's all God's creation. When we tap into the God energy that is with us here, now, and always - then we are without limitations as well. There is nowhere that God is not. God is all-encompassing, we can never be outside of God's circle.
-Lissa Coffey

"Glory" is a great word! Glory, glory, Halleluah! :-) It's a glorious day today and everyday that we see it as such. God doesn't hide, the glory of God is vibrant and wants to be experienced! Enjoy it!
-Lissa Coffey

We could wax on and on about all that God is... because God is All there is! But it seems that any definition, any kind of label we could attribute to God, is limited by its meaning. So we just need to know that God Is. That's it. God Is.
-Lissa Coffey

There is so much more to life and to living than we could ever comprehend. All we can do is to keep growing, keep learning, keep stretching our capacity for wisdom, and trust that all that we need to know is available to us when we need to know it. We can dream big dreams, and know that there is yet more beyond that, even if we can't see it right now.
-Lissa Coffey

I have a beautiful little niece named Grace. When I read this quote, it was easy for me to think, “The breeze of God’s Grace is blowing continually,” because, like most children, Grace has a lot of energy. She’s always dancing around, full of joy and light, and it’s so contagious. You can’t help to catch that breeze and sail along with her. Children are wonderful reminders to us of the beauty and fun that are a part of our world every day.
-Lissa Coffey

This is the simplest definition of “grace” that I found. Webster’s defines grace as: “an attractive or pleasing quality; good will.” And yet there are so many meanings attached to such a little word. There is the “grace” period, which means a temporary extension of a deadline. There is the “grace” that we say at the dinner table before we eat. There is the “grace” of a dancer’s movements, or a swan’s gentle glide across a pond. All of these are wonderful things. Look and see where you can find grace in your life today.
-Lissa Coffey

All is grace – yes, that’s it! Everything, the all – it’s a blessing, it’s a virtue. I wrote a book called “Getting There With Grace” and my editor titled the book after it was already written. I thought it was really interesting that she chose that particular word, “grace.” And when I thought about it, it made perfect sense. Grace to me conveys a sort of ease, an effortlessness. And that’s the way it is when we understand that we’re not in it alone. We’re never alone. All of creation, ALL of nature, is here to support us in our dreams and desires.
-Lissa Coffey

First we glimpse it, then we recognize it, then we know it as ours. Then we embrace it, and bask in its beautiful glow. And then it starts to radiate from us, and we see it as a part of who we are. This is the process of our spiritual growth. With grace comes love and patience and acceptance and reverence. It’s awesome!
-Lissa Coffey

The only way to truly give is to give without expectation. And that includes any expectation of gratitude! We may not see, or hear, the immediate results of our giving, but the universe does. Whatever we give is ultimately a gift to ourselves. We can be grateful for the opportunity to give, to better ourselves and our environment without expectations.
-Lissa Coffey

We give without expectation, and we give thanks without expectation... and then watch in amazement and wonder at all the gifts we receive from the universe. It is a beautiful thing.

Tonight I am attending a special Interfaith service of light. Many different faiths and religious holidays will be represented, and the common theme among them all is gratitude on this Thanksgiving eve. I am grateful for this spiritual community, and the opportunity for all of us to come together and give thanks.
-Lissa Coffey

I read a comic strip this morning and had to laugh - a grown son was disappointed that his parents were taking a vacation over the Thanksgiving weekend. His wife said that she was glad that the parents would be enjoying themselves. The son said: "Thanksgiving is not about enjoying yourself, it's about family!"

No matter where we are in life, either physically or spiritually, today is a day for some recognition of our blessings. And our families, whether they are our genetic family, our church family, our neighbors or friends, help us to grow. Some families create conflict, but conflict often leads to growth, understanding and acceptance. Other families provide unconditional love and support when we need it the most. We have the relationships we have for a reason. And if we're truly honest with ourselves, we know that we're given exactly what we need, when we need it... even if we don't think so at the time!
-Lissa Coffey

For many of us, giving comes easy - we are natural "givers." But for some reason it is not as easy for us to be on the receiving end. We feel awkward, uncomfortable. Why is that? Do we feel that we are undeserving? Look at it this way: by receiving a gift, or accepting someone's gratitude graciously, we are actually giving one of the most valuable gifts of all! We are GIVING that person the opportunity to GIVE! Allow them that. Without receiving, there is no giving - the two go hand in hand. So accept the "thank yous" that come your way with a loving heart - and enjoy how good it feels to be appreciated. And you'll also see how good it feels for that other person to express gratitude.
-Lissa Coffey

If we want to be reminded about what happiness looks like, all we have to do is go to the park and watch a child at play. Here is a great example of being "in the moment!" Innocent, loving, sweet - that's how happiness feels. It is a wonderful thing to be child-like... Children know that there is a lot to be happy about without even thinking about it.
-Lissa Coffey

Happiness is a choice. We can CHOOSE to be happy! If we are not choosing happiness, what are we choosing? Happiness is one of those things that many of us tend to shy away from. Maybe because we are afraid that happiness doesn't last - that if there is "happy" there is bound to be "unhappy" at some point. But it only works that way if our happiness is attached to someTHING or someONE. When we understand that our happiness is inside ourselves, and we can tap into it independently of any situation or scenario, then we can allow ourselves to choose happiness anytime!
-Lissa Coffey

How many times have we heard: "I'll be happy WHEN... I get that new job, new relationship, new car, computer, etc." WHY??? Why are we postponing our happiness? When we live for the future, happiness never comes... because happiness can only be experienced in the present moment. Choose to be happy NOW, because now is the only time there is.
-Lissa Coffey

It is true that no one can make you happy except yourself. So, how do we do this? First, we make a choice to be happy. Then, we express ourselves in a way that helps others. When we see the difference that we can make in the world, when we see that there is something that we can do to make this world a better place, we feel worthwhile - and we can't help but feel happy about our contribution.
-Lissa Coffey

Heaven is not just “out there” but it is “in here.” Heaven is not just “someday” but it is “now.” We can “get there” but we can also “be here!” Be present in the moment and recognize Heaven all around. Everything we see, touch, experience… it is all such a blessing, it is all such a gift.
-Lissa Coffey

We hear this all the time. We’re all in this together. Heaven is not a lonely place; ideally, it’s a place where everyone lives in harmony. We can create heaven on earth by reaching out to each other, helping one another, supporting, accepting, and loving one another. We can open our doors, and open our hearts, to a new vision of community.
-Lissa Coffey

Where is Heaven? Within you. Within me. Within each one of us, right here and right now. We don’t have to look anywhere outside of us to find God’s love. All of God’s possibilities and blessings are at hand – we have but to recognize this divine Truth to make use of it.
-Lissa Coffey

So, what is Heaven? It’s something different to each of us. Maybe it’s the joy that comes from watching your team win the World Series. Maybe it’s the passion you feel when you look into your spouse’s eyes. Maybe it’s the laughter on a family outing, or the sweetness of hot fudge over an ice cream sundae. There is no set definition of Heaven – it’s whatever we feel it is at the moment. And it is always available to us.
-Lissa Coffey

This is where we live; this is our home. Wherever we are, wherever we go, this planet is ours to enjoy and take care of. All of nature calls for us to notice. Whether we sleep under a roof or under a canopy of stars, we live here together – with the animals and trees and all of creation.
-Lissa Coffey

“Home” itself is a very spiritual word – as it contains the primordial sound “om.” And the words associated with home: like “mom” and “father” have the “ah” sound. These words because mantra-like to us in that they represent a kind of security, a peace, a presence. Our homes are a reflection of how we express ourselves, and how we feel about ourselves. Look around and see what your home says about you – and what your home says to you!
-Lissa Coffey

A home is more than a place of shelter. It is a place of comfort, a place of peace. This is where we can take refuge from the world, where we can relax, and where we can grow. A home can be a “safe environment” where we can learn without fear of criticism, and where we can explore and express our feelings. The person, or people, inside that space is what makes a house a home.
-Lissa Coffey

Even after the most marvelous vacation – we usually return and say “it’s so good to be home!” There’s something about the comfort and familiarity about our own personal space that keeps us coming back. Remember Dorothy clicking her heels together in The Wizard of Oz? It doesn’t have to be anything grand or spectacular. Just having our own little defined area makes us feel a part of something bigger. I love what Jimmy and Rosalind Carter have started with Habitat for Humanity. By helping to build homes for families that need them, they’re giving so much more than financial assistance. They’re giving a sense of pride and permanence that is invaluable.
-Lissa Coffey

Do you remember the TV show “My World and Welcome to It?” It starred William Windom as James Thurber. This was many years ago, so it may be that he played a James Thurber “type,” (I was very young and can’t remember the details. ;-) I loved that show! And I loved how the lesson was that there was always something to laugh at, some funny way of looking at something that we might not have thought of. Sometimes when we’re going through something really awful or embarrassing, we’ll look at one another and say: “Someday we’ll look back on this and laugh.” And doesn’t that happen! Some of our funniest moments come out of our most human foibles. We are funny people, and we can enjoy ourselves.
-Lissa Coffey

We can rise above all of our problems. We are bigger than any of them anyway! When things get rough, we have a choice – we can be devastated and beat down, or we can face it head-on and say:“Okay, here we go again. I can take it. I can learn from this. I am growing and I can handle this!” Having a good sense of humor gets us through a lot. It’s just a different way of looking at things, one that recognizes the power that we have over our problems, not the other way around!
-Lissa Coffey

Sure, Joanne Woodward can talk – she’s married to Paul Newman! But look what she really values in her husband: his sense of humor. Our sense of humor will take us far in this life. Laughter is like medicine – it keeps us healthy and feeling good. It’s a way of experiencing joy, and a joyful life is a spiritual life, recognizing and appreciating our connection with the Divine.
-Lissa Coffey

We need humor to balance out all the other “stuff” that is going on in the world every day. Where would we be without our ability to laugh at ourselves. Situation comedies have always been popular on TV because they depict “situations” that we’ve all been in and can relate to – but they do it in such a way that we can see how funny the whole thing is! Today look at the world this way: “My Life is a SitCom!” Of course, you are the star of the show! And all your friends are relatives are supporting players. I’ll bet you’ll find lots of punch lines in the script!
-Lissa Coffey

Ideas are so ethereal- we wonder where they come from, how we "get" them. There is one school of thought that says that there are no new ideas- that every idea ever conceived is floating around in the universe and it is up to us to tap into that intelligence, and kind of "download" it into our consciousness. It makes sense that ideas come from God. But then we have to wonder if God "gives" us these ideas, or if we go out there and "find" them from our own creative pursuits.
-Lissa Coffey

When we get a really good idea, we can tell that it is a really good idea because it won't let go of us. We think about it, dream about it, and pursue it until we can make it a reality. It's like the Universe is tapping on our shoulders, saying: "This is it, come on, let's go!" How could we resist?
-Lissa Coffey

Imagine the ridicule that the Wright Brothers must have had to put up with. But did that deter them? Obviously not! Anything new and innovative might be regarded with fear or suspicion because it is untried, unproven. I guess it's just a part of our human nature to be skeptical. Thank goodness there are those among us who follow their dreams regardless of their critics! From just one idea, when it blooms, many seeds spring forth, and a whole garden of ideas can then grow and flourish! That's progress. And we can do the same thing spiritually, too.
-Lissa Coffey

The quality of the thoughts we have, and the ideas we get, is reflected in our lifestyle. Whether it's writing, or selling, or manufacturing, or any kind of business that we're in, we're dependent upon fresh ideas to keep us moving forward. When we're aware of that, and make time and space in our lives to nurture ideas through silence and meditation, our lives become that much more peaceful and efficient.
-Lissa Coffey

Since the 4th of July, Independence Day in the U.S., is this week, I thought we'd look at the topic of independence. It's a big word, and one that held a lot of meaning for our forefathers who wrote the Declaration of Independence 227 years ago. It seems like a long time ago, but then it's so relatively recent compared with some of these quotes we read here, some dating back thousands of years. I remember when our country celebrated it's bicentennial in 1976. In my hometown, Palo Alto, California, all the fire hydrants were painted red, white and blue to celebrate! I was just a little kid then, so I don't think I really understood the significance of that day. But I do now. Independence is indeed a blessing.
-Lissa Coffey

Independence could also be called self-reliance, or self-sufficiency. We must know that we are each whole and complete. We can count on ourselves, we belong to ourselves.
-Lissa Coffey

It shows great spiritual maturity to be independent, to know that universal laws prevail. There's a self-referral that goes on with true independence. We answer to ourselves. We don't need the written out, voted and agreed on laws to guide our behavior- we know the right thing to do, and we do it. It doesn't need to be written in a book, it's written in our hearts.
-Lissa Coffey

I guess this is another way of saying "Go for it!" This makes me think of my favorite book, Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. Jonathan was certainly independent. He lived by his own rules, he learned and grew beyond the expectations of society, because he felt compelled to do so. He followed his heart, and he later became a teacher, passing his wisdom on to younger generations seeking inspiration. Why be content to walk, or even run, when it is in us to soar? We get to make the choice because we are independent thinkers.
-Lissa Coffey

This is what spiritual growth is all about. When we are inspired to learn we grow so much. Our inspiration is our calling to grow, to bloom. It is a gift; it is a blessing.
-Lissa Coffey

Writers and artists often speak lovingly of their “muse.” Love is a muse that all of us share. What could be more inspiring? When we are “in love” we are “in spirit,” we feel our connection with God. Yet that connection is omnipresent. So when we feel that connection, we can have that same feeling of being “in love” and use it to inspire our selves!
-Lissa Coffey

Inspiration can come to us… but more often it is something we go out and find. And we can find it just about anywhere! Spirit is everywhere, in everything. We may have to change our scenery once in awhile to wake us up to that fact. But look around – we are living amongst the richest treasures of spirit all the time – choose to be inspired.
-Lissa Coffey

We are in spirit, and therefore inspired, all the time, even in our sleep. All we need to do is recognize this, and use what is available to us.
-Lissa Coffey

This is what spiritual growth is all about. When we are inspired to learn we grow so much. Our inspiration is our calling to grow, to bloom. It is a gift; it is a blessing.
-Lissa Coffey

We can look at intuition either scientifically or spiritually, but it is there, and significantly so, nonetheless. When we get our minds involved, analyzing our hunches, that's where we get ourselves into trouble. We think too much, when sometimes we need to just "feel."
-Lissa Coffey

Where is this intuition coming from? Whether it's from the deep recesses of our memory or from the intelligence of the universe, it is worth listening to. Maybe we can't explain intuition, but we can see the benefits of it at work in our lives.
-Lissa Coffey

I love this! The nose doesn't "think" - it just senses- our brain then translates what scent is coming through. Our instinct is the same way- sometimes we don't know why we know something, but we just do. So rather than try to translate or decipher this information in the brain, it might do us well to just go with it every once in awhile, and find out just where our intuition leads us.
-Lissa Coffey

This is such a powerful concept. Look at how this relates to the work community. One resume may be loaded with experience, while another has just the bare bones. Is that more important than the impression the job candidate makes in the interview? When we meet someone face to face we get a "feel" for how we can relate to that person, how we would like to be around that person every day in the work environment. These are the kinds of things that can't be put down on paper, we have to use our instincts.
-Lissa Coffey

Phil Jackson is the coach for the NBA Champion Lakers, and he obviously has a winning attitude. When you watch him on the court, you can see that he is fully engaged in coaching his team. He is focused, involved and very "in the moment." Joy has a way of inherently bringing success with it! Where do you find your joy? Go there! Immerse yourself and reap the rewards.
-Lissa Coffey

Joy is always present, but do we choose to see it, feel it, experience it? Make that choice today... choose to let joy bubble up and express through you! How many times have we heard "have a good day!" and thought nothing of it? We can have a good day every day, it's simply a matter of making that conscious decision. By recognizing love, peace, and joy, just by bringing it into our awareness, we lift the energy around us and make the world a better place.
-Lissa Coffey

It is truly amazing that as we learn and grow and attain more wisdom, that we understand more and more the real value of the most simple things in life. Kindness is precious. It is healing and life-affirming and contagious! And kindness is readily available at all times. If there were a prescription for happiness, kindness would be one of the ingredients. It all starts here - show kindness and see what happens!
-Lissa Coffey

Therein lies the challenge! Sure, we can be kind to children and animals. We can be kind when someone is kind to us. But to maintain our centeredness and be kind in spite of conflict, animosity, anger - ah, there's our real opportunity for spiritual growth!
-Lissa Coffey

A kind word, a smile, a friendly gesture - sometimes that's all it takes to totally turn someone's day around. If we can turn a day around so easily, couldn't we turn a life around? We can certainly turn our own lives around. It's these little things that add up in big ways and make the big differences in the world.
-Lissa Coffey

It is our nature to be kind. And most of the time, kindness comes easily to us, especially when we're on the path and everything is going our way. The difficulty comes when we encounter an obstacle - maybe a large, rude, imposing obstacle! Those are the times we need to remind ourselves to be kind. Those are the times that some may say we are "tested." How kind are we really? How patient? How loving? How understanding? Because we are human, there may be times when we need to make a greater effort to express kindness. But the more often we do so, and see the far-reaching effects that kindness has, the easier it gets.
-Lissa Coffey

This is really interesting to think about. Is our language of spirituality clear, accurate and exhaustive? So many times, when asked about our beliefs, it seems it's hard to put into words. It's difficult to define any big concept like that because the meanings of words can vary based upon the experience of each person. But we have to start somewhere. It might be a good exercise to write up some of our own definitions just to see what kind of language we come up with to express ourselves. We might just discover something about ourselves long the way, too. Start with these: love, joy, peace, faith.
-Lissa Coffey

The words we say carry weight, carry meaning. And it's not only which words we say but the way that we say them, too. Look at the "spin" that can be put on things in advertisements and in political speeches. There are ways that we can make this concept work for us in our spiritual growth. Affirmations, for example. We use words and language to change our thinking, and we can change our lives. We create our own reality.
-Lissa Coffey

This is so funny, and so true! I had this experience when visiting Australia. I felt a little bit like Alice in Wonderland! I could understand every word that people spoke, and yet many times I had no idea what they were talking about! The Australians still use the more traditional English terms, and somehow in America we've found another way. Is it a boot or a trunk? A bonnet or a hood? A footpath or a sidewalk? A trolley or a cart? A serviette or a napkin? And there is the same kind of communication "gap" between American adults and teenagers a lot of times... Is it good, bad or sweet? Hot, hip or cool? I could go on and on, but as they say, "a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet." What matters is that we talk with each other, the rest is "details!"
-Lissa Coffey

My older son is going into his junior year in high school, so he's starting to study for the SAT tests and doing all the preparation that he has to do to get ready because those scores are so important when it comes to applying to colleges. When I spoke with a tutor about it, he said that students who are well-read typically do better on the test. That is because they develop a larger vocabulary, and a broader base of general knowledge. That makes sense to me. When we read we learn, and when we learn we expand our use of language.
-Lissa Coffey

And why does man deserve to be laughed at? Because we take ourselves entirely too seriously! Think about it – we’re running around with our ear glued to a cell phone, dashing through parking lots, stressing about deadlines. All the while missing what’s really important in and all around us. And we do this daily. We can’t help it, we’re creatures of habit! Well, it’s time to get into some new habits, and we can start by realizing just how silly we really are!
-Lissa Coffey

Most of comedy is built on tragedy – the slip on the banana peel, the pie in the face, the big misunderstanding. And we laugh because we can relate – we’ve been there. In movies there can only be so much drama before we’re offered up some “comic relief.” Writers know that audiences need a break in their emotions or they just go numb. Yes, life is tragic, and life can also be hysterically funny. Have you ever had one of those things happen where you say: “We’re going to look back on this and laugh one day?” We all have. And you know what? That day does come when we laugh – and it feels good.
-Lissa Coffey

Laughter heightens our senses so that we feel joy. And when we feel joy, we feel our connection with God. Having that feeling of oneness is like a prayer, it’s comforting, it’s cleansing. Laugh, and share the joy.
-Lissa Coffey

Norman Cousins discovered personally, and wrote eloquently, about the healing power of laughter. Laughter is good medicine. When we laugh, we can’t help but feel good. We feel good around people who laugh, people who enjoy life and can express themselves so freely. Here’s a little story I heard that might get you giggling:
A wealthy man dies and goes to Heaven. He brings with him all of his earthly belongings when he meets St. Peter at the gate. St. Peter says: “Oh, my… you know, you can’t bring any of that in here.” The man pleads his case, he worked so hard for everything and can’t bear to leave it all behind. Finally St. Peter agrees to discuss the situation with his boss, who says, “Fine, let him bring in just one suitcase.” The man is overjoyed! He goes through everything and loads up one of his largest bags and presents it to St. Peter for inspection. It is filled to the brim with solid gold bars. St. Peter looks at his quizzically and says: “You brought pavement?”
-Lissa Coffey

Great leaders see the greatness in the community. They understand what the community has to offer and they seek ways to express that. We can each be a leader, right where we are, just by noticing all the good around us, and bringing it to the attention of others.
-Lissa Coffey

In turbulent times, we often find that the best is brought out in us. When there is a need, we rise to the occasion. All of our natural instincts kick in and we help, and serve, and show compassion and empathy. It happens time and time again. But we don’t need to wait for a crisis to help each other. There are opportunities for us to do so every day.
-Lissa Coffey

It has been said a million different ways, a million different times: we’re all in this together. Great leaders understand this and show us just how much we have in common. Together, with all of our talents and intelligence working as one, we can accomplish so much, more so than we ever could alone.
-Lissa Coffey

Now is the time for us to take initiative. We could wait forever for someone to tell us what to do – or we could just go out and do what we know needs to be done! We are each the leaders of our own lives. We decide. We choose.
-Lissa Coffey

Simple steps. And yet the unfamiliar often scares us, so that first step is the most difficult! Why not just step into the unknown? If we really want to grow, we’ve got to learn, and that means that we might have to start doing things differently to make space for that in our lives. No risk, no reward.
-Lissa Coffey

The most important ingredient in learning is an open mind. We need to approach each experience willing to take in the lesson and see the growth in ourselves. We can begin anytime, we can begin right now!
-Lissa Coffey

We often call life experiences the “school of hard knocks” because we learn from going through those rough times. And we end up being better people because of it! As hard as it may be at the time, we can be grateful for the tough times, because they give us the opportunity to learn and grow.
-Lissa Coffey

Michelangelo was a master – no one would dispute that. And yet, he knew there was always room for growth. I think we go around a little too confident in our own skills, and then we get reminded that we still have much to learn. We drive around everywhere, especially here in Southern California, almost on auto-pilot, not really aware of what we’re doing… until one day we get a ticket, and our attention turns to the laws of the road while we’re sitting in traffic school. There are spiritual laws that we know about, too, but are we paying attention to those? We can always learn more.
-Lissa Coffey

Leisure is our topic this week. We're in the midst of summer and I hope it is what on our minds at least some of the time! Remember the "Leisure Suits" that were so popular in the 70's? As if we needed the appropriate attire to lounge around in… It seems funny now, but it was so stylin' then! But maybe the real point was that we didn't necessarily need the suits, but we did, and do, need the leisure. In some strange way, that was brought to our attention. When I saw this quote was from Thomas Hobbes in the 1600's - I thought - it could very well be from another famous Hobbes from the late 1900's- Hobbes the tiger from the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip! Bill Watterson doesn't draw that strip anymore, but there are so many classics of his that make the same statement. Maybe that's how he came up with the name?
-Lissa Coffey

Spiritually, we know that there is no such thing as time. And yet, here we are, living this existence, and we have these constraints to deal with. There is only so much time, so many hours in a day, so many vacation days in a year. So, how do we spend out time? And more importantly, how do we spend our precious leisure time? If we take Thoreau's advice, we spend that time in spiritual pursuits, and then we understand how wonderful leisure can really be.
-Lissa Coffey

By this definition it sounds like leisure is the opposite of stress. Ah! So, maybe there is an antidote after all! Perhaps we can choose to work leisurely and enjoy the time we spend getting things done - rather than work under stress, wishing we were doing something, anything ELSE! Perhaps it is a state of mind, one that we can tap into for our own benefit.
-Lissa Coffey

A woman said this, so we can assume that she naturally meant every man and woman's spirit! And this is so true. We care for the health of our body by eating right and exercising. We care for our mental health by learning new things and solving problems. The best way to care for the health of our spirit is to enjoy some time at leisure, doing what we love to do. It's refreshing and invigorating!
-Lissa Coffey

Can’t you just picture that? It’s so true! Here we are, living our lives, not really knowing what we’re doing until actually doing it. We’re finding our way, step by step, day by day. We will stumble, hit some sour notes, learn a few lessons, and write our own songs. An audience may reject our music, or embrace it, but we keep on playing because the instrument is there for us. And someday, with enough practice, we will be a master life-liver, a virtuoso!
-Lissa Coffey

We go about our lives trying really hard to keep everything in order, all the plates spinning: jobs, family, friends, community responsibilities, etc. But every once in awhile something happens that is beyond our reach, out of our control. Maybe someone we love gets sick, or we have a bad financial setback. Now our attention is elsewhere, and it seems that everything else gets out of balance, too. The truth is that we can’t control everything, and that we probably wouldn’t be any good at it if we could! But we can control our responses to these unexpected situations. We can use our problems as opportunities to learn and to grow. These are the times when we find that reserve of strength that was there all along. We discover more of who we really are, and what we’re really capable of.
-Lissa Coffey

There’s no doubt that life can be hard. And yet life is poetic. What we learn in our time here is beautiful. All that we really take with us is the wisdom we garner. Life is full of joy. We were blessed, against all odds, to be here, in this time and place, in this particular circumstance. It is our duty to live this life and to get all that we can from the experience.
-Lissa Coffey

We need to ask ourselves: Are we living the life that we want to live? If not, then make some changes! Life is too short, life is too precious, to miss out on. Every moment is holy. It is there for us to embrace. How many moments go by without notice? Are we spending our time analyzing the past, which is done and gone – or planning for the future, which is changing every instant? Or are we living, truly LIVING in this moment, NOW, where our life is taking place? It is not enough to exist, choose to live!
-Lissa Coffey

Many people say God IS love. And love certainly pervades the Universe. Love is something we all understand, something we can all relate to. Every mother knows what it means to love a child. Every person is capable of giving and receiving love. In A Course in Miracles, fear is defined as the absence of love. Much like darkness is the absence of light. Let's light that fire, and light up the world with our outpouring of love!
-Lissa Coffey

Love has been the subject for poets throughout the ages. In contemporary times, think of how many songs we hear that are all about love! According to the lyrics, "Love is all there is," and "Love can move mountains." Love brings us to the movies, where we can see love
acted out larger than life and feel our emotions stir. We are drawn to love because that is what we all crave more of. And we crave love because that is what we are made of! Love brings us to our true nature. We are consumed by it because we want to know who we really are, and love allows us to experience that.
-Lissa Coffey

Love and Law are two sides of the same coin. Everything is love, and at the same time, everything has that organizing power that we can totally count on. There is a reason why we love someone or something. There is a creative purpose to our love. We are not under some spell like the characters in "A Midsummer Night's Dream." We love who we love because God, the Universe, brought us together to learn and grow and experience more of our Selves. Love is divine, and yet love is totally practical.
-Lissa Coffey

Is there anything more powerful than love? Love is creative; with love we can accomplish anything. With love we have accomplished everything! Love is the great up-lifter, the strongest force there is. Love heals. Love grows. Love is the basis for life itself. Love is invisible, and yet ever-present. Love is the most valuable gift we will ever give or receive, and yet love is perfectly free.
-Lissa Coffey

We hear time and time again that good luck is all about hard work. But isn't life like that, too? We get out of it what we put into it.
-Lissa Coffey

Is there such a thing as luck? It's hard to argue against it. So much of what we go through can be explained away by luck, either good or bad. One famous saying is that luck is when preparation meets opportunity. I think most of the time we find, or even create, our own luck, just by being ready for it. What if you knew that today was your lucky day? Where would you go, or what would you do, to find your luck?
-Lissa Coffey

Go ahead and carry that four-leaf clover, or pick up that lucky penny- it couldn't hurt! But meanwhile, we need to take the necessary steps to create our own opportunities. By being opening to what presents itself, we become lucky - we recognize when the universe is working to help us realize our goals, and we go along with that plan.
-Lissa Coffey

We need to be ready and willing to take that chance when it comes along - seize the day - take hold of the opportunity! And then, see what happens! Whether or not it turns out the way we had hoped, maybe that has something to do with luck. But we'll never know unless we try. And we'll learn and grow and stretch ourselves by taking those chances - and isn't that lucky anyway?
-Lissa Coffey

It’s all about balance. Rather than getting inundated by the buzz of the world, we can tune in to the silence, turn on that higher frequency and experience what really matters. And then the beauty of meditation is that we bring that experience of stillness back into our activity, and find that life is just so much easier and more fulfilling. We are better able to feel the joy that is always there.
-Lissa Coffey

All the wisdom of the universe can be found in silence, can be experienced through meditation. When we are quiet, we allow spirit in, we are in-spired! This is how we get the answers we seek, this is how God communicates with us.
-Lissa Coffey

Meditation is, quite simply, one of the best things we can do for ourselves and our spiritual growth. Our souls need silence the way our bodies need the air we breathe. Because we are so bombarded with activity and “noise” in our busy lives, we much actively pursue this silence. We must seek it out, and take it in, and then we will understand the good that is does for us.
-Lissa Coffey

There are so many different ways of meditating. The key is to find one that works for you and then practice it regularly. It is through the regular practice of meditation that we experience its benefits. We learn more about ourselves, and our world, and can see things so much more clearly and calmly.
Lissa Coffey

Have you ever watched a television game show? In most of the games, there is an element of time involved. You’re up against the clock. You have 2 minutes to race through a grocery story, or 30 seconds to come up with the right answer. If you happen to be the person playing that game, you realize just how precious each one of those moments are! You focus your attention, and use the time wisely to win the game. Well, we’re lucky that life is not a game show! We have all the time we need to learn and grow and accomplish what we need to in this life. And we can start anytime, so why not start now? The prizes are all around us, just waiting to be won.
-Lissa Coffey

There are no ordinary moments – each moment is new and unique, so each moment is extraordinary. We can fill that moment with extraordinary thoughts, extraordinary deeds, extraordinary attention. We can choose to think of peace, to recognize beauty, to experience joy. This moment is ours, and we can choose what to do with it.
-Lissa Coffey

John Brodie is the famous former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. How do I know this? My brother and my father were BIG fans when we were living in the Bay Area. Athletes know how important it is to be fully present in the moment when competing. There are too many factors that have to fall into place to succeed – and the only way to get them to do that is to be there: mentally, physically and spiritually.
-Lissa Coffey

Love the moment. Isn’t that great? As you’re reading this, take one moment right now and love it, just simply love it. That energy is just extending beyond your circle of influence out into the world – whether you realize it or not! ‘Spontaneous moment-loving’: now there’s a concept! Imagine how the energy of the whole planet would shift if we all did that at the same time…
-Lissa Coffey

There’s always been this sort of pressure on mothers, from society and from ourselves. No matter what we do, how “good” we are, it never seems to measure up to how good we think we “should” be. Mothers take the heat, and are the subject of many sessions at the therapist’s office! But we’ve got to remember that we’re all just doing the best that we can. We are each on our own path, mother, son, daughter – and where our lives come together we live and grow and help each other the best that we can.
-Lissa Coffey

I can honestly say that I have learned more from the experience of parenthood than I have from any other experience in my life. There is nothing as challenging, or as rewarding, as raising a child – living with this growing and expanding young soul as it finds its place and recognizes its divinity. All of the trials and episodes and celebrations that we have been through have strengthened my spirit and given me daily evidence of God’s presence.
-Lissa Coffey

I can honestly say that I have learned more from the experience of parenthood than I have from any other experience in my life. There is nothing as challenging, or as rewarding, as raising a child – living with this growing and expanding young soul as it finds its place and recognizes its divinity. All of the trials and episodes and celebrations that we have been through have strengthened my spirit and given me daily evidence of God’s presence.
-Lissa Coffey

We have the mother that we have for a reason. We have the children that we have for a reason. There are no accidents and no coincidences. Cherish your mother. Cherish her presence in your life for reasons known and unknown and beyond understanding.
-Lissa Coffey

Does a mother ever stop being a mother? No. It’s as simple as that. There is always a connection between us, there is always a feeling of “unfinished business” because a mother considers her child a “work in progress!” And with the most loving intention, she wants what is best for us. To all moms out there: “Mom, I have what is best for me, I have you for a mother. You taught me to make good decisions, and I want you to know that you can trust me to make the best decisions for myself. I love you. Happy Mother’s Day! And yes, I will clean my room!”
-Lissa Coffey

When we listen very carefully to the silence we can hear the songs of the universe. These songs are playing all the time, yet we are unaware of them because so many other things are going on at the same time. When we take the time to slow down, and “tune in” to these beautiful sounds, we are enraptured. God is a musician.”
-Lissa Coffey

Whatever we create comes through us. It is our own expression of music, or any kind of art, that makes it unique and original. Music is a part of the universe, and when we take the time to listen, we can channel it through to our everyday lives. There are infinite possibilities before us, and music is one way that we can experience that.
-Lissa Coffey

We’ve all had that experience of driving around in the car, flipping around the radio stations, when a certain song comes on that takes us back to our junior year in high school, the dance, the gym, our “crush” at the time. Music has a way of doing that. It creeps into our memory and imprints itself onto our psyche. When we hear a familiar song again, we can repeat the lyrics, even if has been years since we last heard it play. That’s one reason why couples have “their song” – to remember the romance and take themselves back to the time when they were falling in love.
-Lissa Coffey

Writing music is a spiritual experience. It comes from within and bubbles forth. I know people who are musical geniuses, expressing music is their dharma. It’s an amazing experience when you’re in your dharma, and doing what you’re really supposed to be doing. It comes easily, effortlessly, with timeless awareness. And when you’re done you look at what you’ve produced with amazement, like someone else must have done it. Where did this come from? The same place everything else comes from – God.
Lissa Coffey

Who taught the grass to grow, or the bird to sing? Who makes the wind blow, or told the lion roar? It is nature. It is nature being true to Itself. Does the bird aspire to roar? Or the lion “really want to direct?” We can learn from nature, to be true to ourselves, to let our natural talents and instincts shine in endless song. And then, to grow and change and go with the flow, knowing that all of our roles in this life eventually turn from one beautiful form into another.
-Lissa Coffey

Everything we have, everything we see, everything we are, has its roots in nature. We are all made up of the same basic materials! Look at your desk, the paper, wood and wicker that come from the trees, which grow from the earth. We feel disassociated from nature when we work in an office, and yet we can never get away from it. The water that runs through the rivers, and through our taps, and through our bodies, is all a part of nature. We are connected to the planet, and to each other, in ways seen and unseen.
-Lissa Coffey

Nature can nourish us, refresh us, and replenish us. Time spent with nature helps to still the mind, to quiet the activity of our thoughts. Nature provides us with everything we need for our bodies with its bounty of fruits, grains and vegetables. Yet nature’s “food for thought” – its pure silence, is just as necessary for our health, mentally, physically and spiritually.
-Lissa Coffey

It is true that we are constantly changing. We understand and even welcome change when it comes to nature. We look forward to the warmth of Summer after a rainy spring. We do not mourn when Autumn turns to Winter – because we realize that it is time moving forward, that it is all a part of the cycle necessary for growth and evolution. And still, as humans, we tend to resist change, to deny it, or fight it. But Nature and its laws understand that we all fit into the big picture, and so we are along for the ride, like it or not! We might as well enjoy it, appreciate it, and learn and grow from the experience.
-Lissa Coffey

When we learn to look at the world optimistically, we see that there is some evolution going on, some growth spiritually that just naturally takes place. We might lose sight of it at times, but because we are growing spiritually, things ARE getting better! And they're getting better all the time.
-Lissa Coffey

When life gives you lemons... you know the rest. The sweet lemonade quenches our thirst. We can turn around a situation to benefit us. When life gives us scraps, we can make a blanket! That is so beautiful... a blanket represents warmth, security, comfort. We can literally make something real, something substantial and useful from what might be perceived as "nothing." Look around, what scraps can we turn into blankets today?
-Lissa Coffey

A person with a good attitude is the kind of person we all want to be around. He or she knows how to bring warmth and light to any situation. We can be that kind of a person, too. It's just a matter of looking at things positively, of finding the good that others might not see. Good is always there, and it grows when we put our attention on it.
-Lissa Coffey

Our thoughts have so much power - we can color our day, and our world, with the thoughts that we think. So why not think optimistically? Why not think only of the best, the brightest, the most beautiful outcome in any given situation? We can make it happen. Anything is possible, ANYTHING... so let's not defeat ourselves before we've even started by thinking negatively. Be an optimist, and let those optimistic vibes out into the world today!
-Lissa Coffey

Some people say that there is nothing original anymore, that it’s all “been done.” But how can that be? There are infinite possibilities out there, even the “same thing” can be done in infinitely different ways. The originality comes from ourselves, and what we bring to the task at hand. We can be inspired from those whose work has come before, but we can never re-create it in exactly the same way.
-Lissa Coffey

I think that this is what inventors have in mind when they come up with all these original concepts. It’s all about progress, growth, building on what has been done before and expanding on what we have learned. And isn’t life like that, too? With human relationships, and our own spiritual growth, we want to “do things better” and improve ourselves and our circumstances. We read books, and take advice, but how we apply it is individual and original to ourselves.
-Lissa Coffey

Each of us has eyes through which we see the world, and no two visions are exactly alike. But because we are conditioned to go along with the crowd, our vision gets blurred, and starts to look like everyone else’s. When we close our eyes, tap into our Source, and let Nature’s creativity and intelligence flow through us, we can restore our vision and our originality. We allow our inner artist to shine through!
-Lissa Coffey

Sincerity is honesty, truth, meaningfulness. And when we share who we really are, we are absolutely original and true to ourselves. What a wonderful thing it is to be an original!
-Lissa Coffey

I find this to be true every day of my life. We're each living our individual lives, going about our business, and our families- and when we take time to connect with each other, we find out that so often we're going through the same things! We can relate to each other, because in a way we're living out the same scenarios. It helps to share our experiences, rather than to feel that we're in it alone.
-Lissa Coffey

Isn't this so true? It's one of those "forest for the trees" examples. There is joy and love and beauty all around us, and right inside of us… and yet where do we look? Many of the great spiritual teachers answer every question they are asked with the same statement: "Look within." They might say it in hundreds of different ways, but the meaning is the same. It's so simple, and yet so complex- what a paradox!
-Lissa Coffey

If you look at the universe from the beginning of time - (and yet was there a beginning?) until as far as we can imagine into the future - each little action we take may be considered insignificant. And yet, it's not. Every action we take has some impact on our spiritual growth. It might seem like little tiny baby steps when we're wanting to take great leaps and bounds- but each step, large or small, is significant nonetheless. We've got to keep going.
-Lissa Coffey

In "The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success" Deepak Chopra writes about "The Law of Least Effort" and tells us that we can actually do less, and accomplish more. He talks about working with the natural intelligence of nature, going with the flow. If you haven't read the book before, I recommend it- it's one of those books you can read over and over again and get something different out of it each time. Nature is a great example for us - it doesn't struggle, it just is. Eagles don't wish to be tigers, tigers don't try to fly.
-Lissa Coffey

Something within us helps us to find our passions. It’s not like a conscious choice, like looking through a catalog and picking a hobby or something. We are drawn to things that we feel passionate about. We can’t help but move towards things that give us that drive, that energy, that life force that is so all-encompassing. We have the desires, and the passions that we have for a reason. And pursuing our passions is one of the most important things we can do while we're living our lives.
-Lissa Coffey

Passion is often associated with fire. It feels “hot.” It feels like it could consume us. We need to pay attention to the things that we feel passionate about. Our passions are tools which help us to learn and grow. When we are pursuing our passions we feel alive, we are living in the moment, taking it all in and savoring each experience. The are the times when we are more of who we really are, and we know it.
-Lissa Coffey

It’s probably a very good thing that we can’t stop our true passions! Passion is exactly what drove Einstein, Madame Curie, Mother Teresa, and many more people who have had a positive impact on our world! Passion helps us to progress; it keeps us going despite the invariable obstacles. Every great achievement began with someone’s passion, and was carried forward by that momentum.
-Lissa Coffey

This is so beautifully said. That’s one of the things that makes poetry so amazing – that with just a few words you can get an image, or a feeling across. We can imagine the sun’s feelings, and recognize them as our own. This passion is fiery like the sun, but also strong and proud and everlasting.
-Lissa Coffey

Ah, this sounds almost like an offer, doesn’t it? Maybe we have a choice – instant, yet temporary satisfaction now – or a more long-lasting and genuine appreciation if we but wait a little bit. Patience brings its own rewards. When we are children, we want everything NOW! It is difficult for us to sit still and wait for anything. But as the years go by, we understand that some things are worth the wait. We begin to put great value on patience.
-Lissa Coffey

Sometimes we need to just get out of our own way and let nature do its thing. The seasons know how to change. It does no good to try to “hurry things up” so we can fit in one more vacation or whatever! So many things in this world just take care of themselves. There is an organizing power to the universe. Shouldn’t we allow this power to work for us? All we have to do is be patient. Everything will work out the way that it is supposed to.
-Lissa Coffey

Look at people who are patient. Along with patience comes a kind of calm, a deep faith, a beautiful presence. Compared with people who are impatient – who seem stressed out, angry, and hurried. Who has more strength? The patient person can do anything because that person recognizes his or her connection with the Universe. Patience can move mountains!
-Lissa Coffey

Aren’t we all together in this search for Truth? Our quest for spiritual growth is impressive! And that’s what will get us there – the way that we surmount those obstacles and continue on. We know that we must be patient with our journey, and patient with ourselves. We know that there is no “instant” answer, but that answers unfold before us with wisdom and grace. We know that our patience is rewarded continually as we grow and experience more of who we really are.
-Lissa Coffey

In turbulent times, where is our attention? On the problem? Or on the desired outcome? What can we do to help the world situation, while we are here comfortable in our homes and we know that others are suffering? We can't all go out and battle, nor would that help even if we could. We must think peace. We must bring our attention to peace. We must create a unified consciousness of PEACE ON EARTH, GOODWILL TO ALL. We must build a class consciousness of love and caring. Starting right here and right now, with each one of us.
-Lissa Coffey

It is wonderful to think of peace as a prayer. Peace is one of those amazing things that grows when it is out in the light. Share peace, distribute it freely, be generous with your portions and there will be lots more to go around!
-Lissa Coffey

With everything we've been through these past few months, these words ring true, loud and clear. Peace is a process, an ongoing movement that doesn't stand still. We are all a part of this process, and our contributions to a peaceful society make a difference.
-Lissa Coffey

What I like about this quote is that while President Kennedy was obviously talking about the world situation, about establishing world peace, it also works really well if you apply the worlds toward INNER peace. Isn't this the process that we all go through to attain higher states of consciousness and become at peace with ourselves? We change our minds, and our thoughts, to reflect what we learn and experience. We gently and quietly build new patterns and practices that help to bring peace to both our inner and outer worlds.
-Lissa Coffey

This is something we can all visualize. We've all had glimpses of what peace feels like. Imagine if everyone in the whole world could have that feeling all at the same time. Possible? As an optimist, I have to say yes. Peace is real, it is inherent in each one of us. And there are an infinite number of possibilities that could lead to world peace. One by one we are creating a world where peace comes naturally, and stays.
-Lissa Coffey

Isn't it amazing how we can each see the same thing in an entirely different way? It's because of our perceptions. Our past experiences help us to formulate some kind of definition to our current experiences. Yet we can change the way we look at things. We can choose a different perspective, see things from someone else's point of view, or from a higher vantage point. And when we broaden our scope and look at the "big picture" then we can see more clearly what is real.
-Lissa Coffey

We're each looking through different eyes, bringing our own experiences and emotions to whatever it is we're looking at. This is perception. Perception can change. The TRUTH remains the same... but do we see it? Do we see spirit in everything and everyone? We must recognize the spirit within ourselves and then we will see it reflected back at us everywhere we go!
-Lissa Coffey

Basically, the consensus of social perception is what shapes our "reality." What we see in the media is a reflection of what the general population has "agreed" is "the way things are." But... things are changing! There is a subtle shift towards a more spiritual life. Sociologists have recognized a growing number of people as "Cultural Creatives" who are leaders in developing all kinds of trends. All of us out there reading spiritual books, doing yoga, serving the community, showing kindness and pursuing our own spiritual growth - we are the cultural creatives! By sharing ourselves and our experiences, we are making a difference in the world... and the difference is good!
-Lissa Coffey

Our perceptions are all in our mind. So it makes sense that if we change our mind, we change our perceptions. And when we change our perceptions, we change our reality! We can experience more of the Truth of this wonderful world, the beauty, the peace, the prosperity, the abundance, the clarity. Choose to see it. Choose to live it!
-Lissa Coffey

Our perception tends to be that growth is hard, that it is a struggle, that it is work. But the truth is that we are only making it hard on ourselves. We cling to the past, try to control our futures. Are we willing to get out of our own way and just let it be? It could be so simple! Look at the flower. Learn from the flower. We can bloom just as easily.
-Lissa Coffey

A big trend in decorating right now is making things looked aged, worn, or imperfect. This adds a sense of history and comfort to a room. The theory is that when everything is new and perfect, it isn’t as relaxing to be in that space. Here we are, living in the space of our imperfect human form – let us see the beauty in our imperfections, that is where our souls shine through!
-Lissa Coffey

Is it our nature to seek perfection? Or can we understand that it is our imperfections that make us perfect! We are here on this earth to learn and grow and experience. If we were already “perfect” what would be the point? If we were already perfect wouldn’t we be bored? We can always strive towards being the best that we can possibly be as human beings – knowing that a perfect human being is must by design be imperfect in some beautiful way.
-Lissa Coffey

What man is. Not what man does, says, earns, drives, etc! Each of us, each man, woman and child, IS perfect, simply because we are. How cool is that? When we know the truth, and live it, then we know how cool it is, and how cool we are!
-Lissa Coffey

Perfection is sometimes given a ranking – like a perfect “10” in gymnastics, or a 6.0 in a figure skating competition. But think about it. A lot of people can do a cartwheel, a lot of people can ice skate. These are not extraordinary things. But the way that they are executed in these world championships are! That’s how we can have something to aspire to. Those athletes are the role models for “perfection” in that sport. And yet, those athletes always see room for improvement in some way or another. So, in life, as we aspire to perfection in our spiritual world – we have role models, too. We’d probably give Gandhi or Mother Teresa a “10” – but, they would be the first to say that they were not perfect! Part of our spiritual growth is recognizing that there’s always more to learn.
-Lissa Coffey

Remember the old joke, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" The punchline is "Practice, practice, practice!" Funny, but oh, so true! How do we reach that peace of mind, how do we get to that spiritual place that we're looking for? The answer is the same: Practice, practice, practice! We're going to get better at seeing ourselves as who we really are the more we practice actually being it. Whatever practice you choose, practice on a regular basis, practice every day, twice a day or more so.
-Lissa Coffey

The divine Presence is with us always. Here, now and always. It's just that we are not always aware of that presence. We're so busy getting things done and just handling life that our attention is elsewhere. That's why it is so important to spend time on our spiritual practices. During that time, we remind ourselves of who we really are, and of what is really important. Taking some time to center ourselves with spiritual practice helps everything in our lives flow more smoothly.
-Lissa Coffey

Our spiritual practice is as essential to our soul as food is to our body. Practice provides us with the fuel which gets us through those difficult times. It leads us to peace, clarity, wisdom, and so much more. And just like a car, we can run out of "gas" when we're stressed out from going for a lot of miles without a break. Make it a point to incorporate your spiritual practices into your day every day, and watch the difference in how you feel.
-Lissa Coffey

We know, conclusively and scientifically now, thanks to Dr. Paul Pearsall, that the heart has intelligence. Our hearts can literally "think!" We can listen to our hearts, we can follow our hearts. The best way to become sensitive to the heart's messages is through our spiritual practices. Take time to connect, to settle in and be peaceful. Allow your heart the time and space it needs to communicate! Rather than merely educating our hearts, which intuitively know what is best for us, spiritual practice is about educating ourselves to tune in to that intelligence.
-Lissa Coffey

Every once in awhile we need to give ourselves a pat on the back. We’re each working so hard, doing our thing, and making our way. Too often we don’t get the praise we think we deserve. But that’s okay – because we can recognize our accomplishments and praise ourselves! And we ARE doing pretty well with all we’ve got going on. Kudos to you, dear friend!
-Lissa Coffey

I guess this is another way of saying that your work speaks for itself. But I think it means more than that, too. It means that when we put the best of ourselves into something, we know it – it shows. And even if no one else can see it, we can be proud of our efforts.
-Lissa Coffey

We must not get too caught up in the teeter-totter of outside commentary on our works. There will always be some who appreciate what we do and others who disparage it. The ego is what gets caught up in this game of needing approval. The soul is wise, and knows that life is a balance of opposites. The soul itself can’t be affected by praise or blame.
-Lissa Coffey

We’re bound to receive criticism, either positive or negative, no matter what we do in this lifetime. It’s inevitable. So whom do we answer to? Only ourselves! We have to decide what is right, and what is right for us. We’re all doing the best we can.
-Lissa Coffey

There is no “right way” to pray. There is no “right time” to pray. Prayer is an ongoing dialogue, a soul connection with spirit, a fusion of physics and metaphysics. Prayer is our expression of gratitude, despair, longing, appreciation. It is one means of communication and communion with All That Is. Sometimes we’re praying and we don’t even realize it. Our actions reflect our thoughts; our thoughts are prayers. What are we thinking? What are we doing about it?
-Lissa Coffey

Martin Luther knew that with so much work to do that he needed help. And he knew where to go for help and guidance. The more clear our thoughts, the more direction we allow ourselves to receive, then the faster and easier we will get there, and the more we will accomplish with the least amount of effort.
-Lissa Coffey

Long before Prozac, there was prayer. Can you see the prescription now? “Pray two prayers, twice a day until symptoms subside. Then continue the treatment over the course of a lifetime to prevent symptoms from recurring.” Prayer is a remedy. We can turn our burdens over to God and feel the weight drop from our shoulders. Why do we feel the need to carry around all that heaviness? Pray. And then pray some more. And then keep praying. And feel the lightness return.
-Lissa Coffey

We have learned, over and over again, that whatever we pay attention to becomes more important in our lives. When we pray, we are paying attention to our relationship with God. With our attention on the Divine, we see the infinite possibilities, the presence of the God, everywhere we go – because God IS everywhere and everything! We feel that presence, and it comforts us, and enlightens us.
-Lissa Coffey

“We are tomorrow’s past.”
-Mary Webb, Precious Bane, 1924

We can’t change what has happened in the past. We can learn from it, and grow from it, and ultimately go on from where we are now. we cannot predict the future – it is filled with infinite possibilities. the best we can do is to live, and love, the moment we’re in. Life is like Disneyland – if we are thinking about the next ride and how we’re getting there, we can’t enjoy the ride we’re on right here and now!
-Lissa Coffey

This is such a powerful concept that entire books have been written on this very topic – Eckhart Tolle’s “The Power of Now” is just one example. Now is the only time there is, and when we live in this very moment, all of our potential can be realized.
-Lissa Coffey

I love it when I go to a large shopping mall or an amusement park, and there’s this big directory to help us find our way around. It’s like a map, and to help us get our bearings, there’s a big arrow that says “You Are Here!” How true is that?! Everything we’ve done in the past, every decision we’ve made, has led us exactly to this place and time. And from here, we go on. The choices we make now affect our future. When we live in the present moment, we make better decisions, we know where we are and where we are headed.
-Lissa Coffey

We do become more wise as we get older – and part of that is understanding the precious value of the present moment. Maybe it is because we have more of a past to look back on, so we can see just where and when we experienced the most beautiful times of our lives. And maybe it is because we have had more time to enjoy the moments, and we know how good that feels.
-Lissa Coffey

Progress is learning more about who we are. Progress is understanding and relating and empathizing with other people because we realize that we are all in this together. There is no separation between us. When we can truly experience that Oneness, we will have made real progress!
-Lissa Coffey

One day at a time. One step at a time. Sometimes this journey is a struggle, like we’re trying to conquer some huge mountain. But as long as we keep going, we make progress. And our progress encourages us to keep going. We’re flexing our spiritual muscles, and getting stronger all the time.
-Lissa Coffey

Sometimes we need to take a few steps back in order to get a running start. We make mistakes, and as long as we learn from those mistakes, we progress, we grow. Eventually we get to a point where we can look back and see how far we’ve come. Then we can turn back around and see how far we have to go!
-Lissa Coffey

To progress we must make the effort. We must forge ahead. We must put ourselves out there and be open to experiences that challenge us. We can start right where we are, by knowing where we want to go.
-Lissa Coffey

There is a divine organization, an intelligence to all of creation – and here was are, a part of it all. It makes sense that we are here for a purpose. Life has meaning, and each life is meaningful.
-Lissa Coffey

We have discovered the truth in this statement. We are actively pursuing our spiritual growth and consciously living our lives in such a way to accelerate that process. We know the importance of prayer, meditation, silence, and wisdom. And we have experienced the growth that comes with doing “what is right.” This is our purpose, and we can do nothing less.
-Lissa Coffey

This is from my favorite poem, “The Psalm of Life” which starts “Lives of great men remind us, we can make our lives sublime, and departing leave behind us, footprints in the sands of time.” It’s about following the examples laid before us, and at the same time, making our own way – becoming a new example, a new light to guide others. Longfellow understood that we need to keep going, to keep pursuing our spiritual growth, because that is our ultimate purpose.
-Lissa Coffey

We each make our own way, even though it might seem like a crazy way around to others! But as long as we’re learning and growing and having a good time, that’s all that is important. We all ultimately “get there” and realize that our own unique journey was the perfect one for us. We learn to go along purposefully and experience what we need to as we grow.
-Lissa Coffey

We’ve often heard the phrase “harsh reality.” As if reality can smack us in the face. But that smack could just be a wake-up call to alert us to the bigger “reality.” When we stub a toe, we’re brought immediately to the present moment! Living in present-moment awareness we can more clearly see what is real and what is not, what is important and what is dispensable.
-Lissa Coffey

Love, joy, bliss, peace – we experience all this in our interior world, yet we cannot draw a picture or take a photo of exactly what it looks like. Our interior world is so vast, so filled with amazing gifts. Yet where do we place our attention? We’re busy trying to make our apparent world, our exterior world, look good. When we look within, we find the abundance that we so desperately seek. It is there all the time!
-Lissa Coffey

Appearances change. Nothing in this exterior world stays the same. Have you ever gone to visit a place, only to return several years later and not even recognize it? Buildings go up and down, tenants move in and out, trees grow, signs change. People change, too. We all start out as babies, and our features mature as we age. Our hairstyles and clothes change with the trends. But what stays the same? Spirit. We can trust that love never goes out of style, and never moves away.
-Lissa Coffey

Have you ever been to Disneyworld? It’s a beautiful place – colorful, clean, fun, and full of surprises! And when we’re there, we know that it is all illusion – that it is all there for our enjoyment. We experience the rides as entertainment, even the scary roller-coasters. Yet when we’re in our own “world” we tend to take things so seriously. What would happen if we approached life as our own amusement park? Knowing that one ride takes us for a spin and another shakes us up and another lets us sit back and relax? What a concept! Then we could stop looking for reality all around us and start finding it inside of us.
-Lissa Coffey

We are each whole, complete, and perfect just as we are. None of us needs another person to be fulfilled. There is no “other half” that needs to be found. Our primary relationship is with ourselves. And we can choose to share our selves, because we know what an unlimited supply of love is available to us! We learn and grow and give and receive from our relationships – and that is beautiful.
-Lissa Coffey

There are some people we just “click” with. Maybe it’s love at first sight, maybe it’s some kind of karmic recognition. But when this happens, it is usually a sign to pay attention – that this is an important relationship. We are here for each other. There is so much for us to accomplish together here in this space and time, and we are brought together to do just that.
-Lissa Coffey

A relationship is a living thing. It grows, evolves, and no two are the same. We need to care for our relationships, and that can mean different things in different circumstances. We need to pay attention to relationships that are important to us, and know that in return the relationship nurtures us.
-Lissa Coffey

“Forgetfulness” goes beyond forgiveness. First you forgive, then you forget. This is present-moment awareness in action! The past is history – it’s gone, and it can certainly be forgotten. As we grow and change, as our relationships grow and change, forgetfulness can be a welcome accommodation!
-Lissa Coffey

Last year, the images of 9/11 were vividly presented to us on television – so much so that we couldn’t get them out of our minds. We were consumed with information, and watched with tear-filled eyes and we tried to make sense of it all. Now some time has passed, and we’re starting to feel normal again. But this anniversary has brought up a lot of the same sadness and questions that we experienced one year ago. It is important for us to take time for reverence and remembrance, to acknowledge the events that took place and the far-reaching impact on our lives. And then, as time goes on, it is important for us to move on, too – knowing that the memories remain, there for us to call upon and reflect upon at the appropriate times.
-Lissa Coffey

We remember our sorrow because we felt it so deeply. It is also important to remember our joy. Think back to a time when you felt truly joyful… maybe when you first fell in love? When your child was born? When you accomplished an important goal? Life is filled with these joyful moments, and they are there for us to enjoy not just once, but many times over through our memories.
-Lissa Coffey

We remember our sorrow because we felt it so deeply. It is also important to remember our joy. Think back to a time when you felt truly joyful… maybe when you first fell in love? When your child was born? When you accomplished an important goal? Life is filled with these joyful moments, and they are there for us to enjoy not just once, but many times over through our memories.
-Lissa Coffey

Our memories make up a big part of who we are. They help to shape us. We carry our memories with us wherever we go, and we share them with people who want to know us. We can cherish our memories, even the sad ones, because they are ours.
-Lissa Coffey

Here on earth, in this physical realm, life is constantly changing. And as people, we are changing and growing and living and learning all the time. This is why we are here! Embrace change, step boldly into the unknown, this is a journey of discovery and self-discovery.
-Lissa Coffey

Spirit is all-loving, all-encompassing, unbounded, immortal and invisible. And this wonderful energy is available to each one of us, within each one of us! Is it any wonder that we are powerful, beautiful and creative beings? Know it… and enjoy it!
-Lissa Coffey

Who do you think you are? Depending on the tone of the person asking that question, you could choose to be insulted or intrigued. But really, do you know who you are? Are who you know yourself to be and who you think yourself to be the same person? We each create the lives we lead, and we’re doing this all the time with our thoughts and our actions. Think about it.
-Lissa Coffey

Spirit is always within us and all around us, it can’t go away. There is nothing that we could possibly do to make it go away! We don’t have to knock, we don’t have to call, we don’t have to call out – it is already HERE! Welcome it, love it, use it, appreciate it.
-Lissa Coffey

Our resolutions carry power! We can do anything we set our mind to. Ask yourself: do I mean it? Do I want it? Am I committed to taking action to accomplish this? If the answers are "yes" then make that resolution! It's as good as done.
-Lissa Coffey

A resolution is a commitment - it's a commitment to ourselves to grow, change, achieve, accomplish. We can make that commitment to ourselves this new year, and we can honor that commitment as time goes on and obstacles are thrown onto our paths. It all starts right here, right now.
-Lissa Coffey

Once we set our minds on something, we make our resolution, then we can just let it go and watch the universe handle all the details. Things just seem to fall into place when we are aware enough to notice. Situations and circumstances orchestrate into one big conspiracy to fulfill our desires, and put us into a position where we can take action. We just need to keep our destination in mind, we don't need to control what happens every step of the way. We will get there.
-Lissa Coffey

We are blessed with choice, with free will. We are not puppets at the disposal of the planets, but strong, intelligent creatures who are here to learn and grow through our experiences. The more we grow, the more we understand that we are creating our lives every minute of every day. Through our resolve, our will, our intentions, our decisions, we are making and changing our experiences all the time.
-Lissa Coffey

There are so many things to learn in this life. We spend years in school studying algebra and history, science and literature. All of this is fascinating, and helps us to grow. And yet, when you know yourself, you know everything. It all becomes so simple. We can see the connections, we can feel the balance of it all. Garner wisdom from books and teachings, and also, look within.
-Lissa Coffey

Does the world change when we understand who we are? No, but we see it more clearly. Do we change when we understand who we are? No, but because we can see ourselves more clearly, we may start to make different choices in our lives. So our lives may change dramatically. Once we start this growth process, we can’t go back – like a flower reaches toward the sunlight we continue our journey within.
-Lissa Coffey

Sometimes one single event is all it takes to totally wake us up to the Truth that is here all the time. But for most of us, it is a process that gradually unfolds, giving us clues, hints, and glimpses of Reality in small doses so that we can assimilate them into our lives. We become familiar with who we are, we get to know ourselves day by day, as we come to understand and accept that we are much more than the roles we play.
-Lissa Coffey

I guess from one point of view, life would be easier if we just had to get up and go to work everyday – we could pretty much be on auto-pilot and navigate through life without much effort. But what a waste of time and energy that would be. And how boring, too! Sure, spiritual growth takes effort – we need to make time to meditate, read, serve and take care of ourselves and the planet. But isn’t that the best part about this life? Once you get started on “the path” and see all the wonders that a spiritual life offers, you want to keep going. Sure, self-knowledge is difficult, messy, challenging, and inconvenient – but it is also the most magnificent and amazing gift that life has to offer.
-Lissa Coffey

As we start learning more about ourselves, and realizing more and more who we really are, we begin to understand just how much we really have in common with one another. We’re all in this together, and there is so much we can each to do help one another. As time goes on, we naturally become more compassionate, because we can empathize with a more broad range of experiences.
-Lissa Coffey

I like this because Shakespeare says here “I have made the choice- I have chosen to change” - and that is such a powerful statement. We always have that choice. We can always “reinvent” ourselves. And when we mean it, it works! There are a lot of people in the media who are examples of this – the former “loose image” actress turned mother and Sunday school teacher – the former rock-n-roller who is now a gospel singer. Part of this is knowing who we are – and understanding that how the world perceives us, how we present ourselves, is totally up to us.
-Lissa Coffey

A lot of times we tend to separate our “outer life” from our “inner life.” Maybe we’re working at a job we hate just for the money, while our heart aches for something more. Or we can’t seem to find that certain relationship we’re longing. We can come up with all kinds of justifications for these things. But there’s always a solution. To fully integrate ourselves, we’ve got to make our outer life an extension, or an expression, of our inner life. We’ve got to develop that rapport spiritually within so that we understand how much power we have to create anything in our lives.
-Lissa Coffey

You are a star! You are a shining star! I wrote a song once with that title, and the rest of the lyrics in the chorus go: “You are my shining star, you are who you are, you are special to me! No matter where you are, if it’s near or far, you shine bright as can be!”
-Lissa Coffey

Besides helping other people, service has the added benefit of helping the person doing the serving! How could this be? Because service makes us feel good, it helps us to grow spiritually, it helps us to gain compassion. Service helps to make our society a better place, and it’s a place we all share! Because we are all one, what we do for others, we do for ourselves.
-Lissa Coffey

I believe that it is our duty to serve. I also believe that it is our nature to serve. We are here for each other, we are here to help each other. Many times, I think it is easier for us to help someone else than to ask for help for ourselves. But when we need help, we absolutely should reach out for it. When we need help, we are providing another person with the opportunity to serve, and this is truly a blessing.
-Lissa Coffey

It’s all about empathy. We are all one. We share so much that we can understand another person’s heartache or sorrow. We can relate to each other. We want to do what we can to alleviate pain. This is how service begins.
-Lissa Coffey

We are here as angels, emissaries, to do God’s work, to help each other. We can hear one another’s prayers if we just listen. We are all one in spirit, and we all want the same things – love, respect, acknowledgment, a purpose. Think about all that we can do for each other to provide those very important things. It could be so simple, and so beautiful, and mean so much.
-Lissa Coffey

Sharing is not limited to material things. We can share our memories, experiences, and knowledge for example. The beauty in this is that we aren't giving those things away - we couldn't if we tried! But they are so valuable, and they become even more valuable, when we share them other people. The most simple advice can be such a treasure. The fact that we are open and willing to share what we have learned can make this journey more beneficial for all of us.
-Lissa Coffey

True friends share things without even realizing it sometimes. When one of us feels joy, that joy is shared by our friends - we are happy for each other! Whether it is good news or bad news, it feels good to share it with a friend, with someone who will feel the emotions and help us through it.
-Lissa Coffey

With the world in such a state of flux, it might be difficult to imagine ALL the people sharing all the world… but it is not impossible. There's a saying: "Think Globally, Act Locally." If we each started there, kind of a "grass roots" or "backyard" approach, imagine the impact we could make house by house, neighborhood by neighborhood, community by community.
-Lissa Coffey

What's the point of having a big screen TV if you can't have some friends over for an NBA play-offs party every once in awhile? I don't think Seneca the Younger had that specifically in mind when he wrote this, but I'm sure they had something of the equivalent in his day! Whatever we have is more sweet when it is shared.
-Lissa Coffey

Silence gives birth to so many wonderful things. It is from this space of infinite possibilities that all great works flow. It is from this realm of vast wisdom that we all learn and grow.
-Lissa Coffey

Are we really listening when we are in silence? Or are we “thinking” and listening to our busy minds? Stop the chatter for awhile – breathe – get quiet – and allow those thoughts to pass as clouds drift across a blue sky. Then listen, and hear God.
-Lissa Coffey

More can be “said” in a few moments of silence than in volumes of literature. Some things are beyond translation. I could go on and on about this… but I’ll be quiet and let you find the silence instead. You’ll see.
-Lissa Coffey

We all have a strength that we may not even realize. But it is there, deep within. It gets us through the most difficult times, it give us courage, and persistence when it seems that all is lost. We can tap into that strength at any time, and use it to achieve our heart’s desire. And we can find that strength in silence.
-Lissa Coffey

Some people might think of silence as empty, or lonely – yet it is anything but! Silence is so filled with love and truth and wisdom that is fills our spirit to overflowing.
-Lissa Coffey

It’s not just our houses and our desks that are cluttered – often times our minds are cluttered, too! Let’s treat our thoughts, and our words carefully – let’s choose them as we would pick out produce in the market, discarding the ones that are stale or bruised and selecting instead ones that are fresh and fragrant and full of life. And let’s just take what we need for now, we can always go back for more. One thing at a time!
-Lissa Coffey

How many ways can we say this, or hear this? “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” “Look at the big picture,” “All’s well that ends well.” The beauty of Japanese art is in its simplicity. Artists know that the empty spaces are just as important as the brush strokes. So much can be expressed with just a few lines. Musicians understand that just a few notes can convey an emotion, they don’t need a whole symphony every time. And poets need just a few words, not an entire textbook. Is there anything more beautiful than “I love you?” Life can be simple, sweet and oh, so beautiful, if we just allow it to be.
-Lissa Coffey

Another word for simple is “easy.” With ease, doesn’t that sound like a great way to live life? It’s our choice. We’re the ones who have been complicating our lives. Look at what’s really important. Sort things out, give yourself the space to see what is really there. You’ll be surprised at just how perfect “simple” really is.
-Lissa Coffey

What’s real? Schedules, deadlines, hassles, arguments, conflicts, “fine print,” details? Those things sure command our attention – but are they real? Or do they take us away from what is really real? Where is the love? Put your attention there. Ahhhh, that’s better!
-Lissa Coffey

To appreciate solitude we need space and time. We need space to be by ourselves and time to enjoy our own company. And from there we can experience silence, and go beyond space and time! Here there are infinite possibilities for us; here is where we find inspiration and creativity. Here there is peace, and joy, and bliss.
-Lissa Coffey

No one can know you as well as you know yourself. And yet, how well do you really know yourself? Are you your own best friend? Spend some time with yourself, just you, and pretty soon you’ll discover just how wonderful you really are!
-Lissa Coffey

There comes a time when we realize that there’s no escaping it, we have to live with ourselves! How do we treat ourselves? Are we kind and loving, do we show appreciation and forgiveness? Too often we’re our own worst critics! We’re hard on ourselves when we really need a break once in awhile. Let’s work on being the kind of person whom we want to be with – and spend some time being ourselves, by ourselves.
-Lissa Coffey

So the secret is out! When we understand that we can never be “alone” because God is always with us, then we will never be lonely. We will cherish our solitude, and consider it time alone with God.
-Lissa Coffey

Any attempt to define the soul inevitably brings with it a connection with the Universe. So it follows that each soul, while connected to the Universe, is also connected with each other soul – by association, if nothing else! We’re more than family, we are all One.
-Lissa Coffey

Yes! Our connection with one another is there, and we are seeking to experience it. And by experiencing our connection with one another, we can experience our connection with God. God expresses through each one of us. Do we notice? Are we listening? Each person we come into contact with has something for us, some piece of the puzzle large or small. We are searching for ourselves, so why don’t we make it easier and stop hiding from ourselves?
-Lissa Coffey

The physical world is temporary and transient. It is ever changing. What is true and constant and utterly reliable is that God is ever-present. And our connection with that Source remains even when the physical fades away.
-Lissa Coffey

Our spiritual growth is such a beautiful thing. We bloom into ourselves and extend loveliness and sweetness out into the world. Like the lotus, we become more soft and gentle as we unfold into more of who we are– and we also become more “layered” in our experiences and challenges.
-Lissa Coffey

Peace is reason enough for each of us to pursue our spirituality, and to encourage and support others who wish to do so, also. We experience inner peace through prayer, meditation, and spiritual activity. And that peace radiates outwards to affect our homes and communities. The more of us who live spiritually, the more peace there will be in the world!
-Lissa Coffey

We are spiritual beings, and in this human existence, where we encounter conflict and stress, we often feel like a fish out of water. We must immerse ourselves in our spirituality, and let it be our home. We find solace in our spiritual practices, whatever they are for each one of us. And then we can bring that good energy into all aspects of our lives, so that feeling of spirit is always with us.
-Lissa Coffey

Sometimes following our spiritual practices can be a challenge because we are so distracted by the demands of everyday life. This is true for everyone – there never seems to be enough time, or enough quiet, to set aside for prayer, meditation, or contemplation. It is so worth it when we do! And yet, spirituality does not have to be a separate experience from the rest of our lives. We can choose to hear the beautiful song of the crickets’ voices as a gift from God. We can choose to express gratitude for the full and exciting lives we lead, however busy we may be!
-Lissa Coffey

Spirituality takes less effort than we think. We don’t have to try and try – we just have to commit to it, recognize it, embrace it! It’s all about connecting with God, and knowing that God is the One really doing all the “work.”
-Lissa Coffey

Dreams might come to us, but success is something we must go after. Inspiration strikes, then it’s up to us to take action. We could buy all the great works of literature, but it we don’t actually read them, what is the point? I we feel that success is eluding us, then now is the time to evaluate our activities.
-Lissa Coffey

There is a lot to be said for persistence and perseverance. How much drive and enthusiasm have we put into our efforts? When we pursue something “whole-heartedly” then we simply can’t give up. When we invest our Selves into our plans, we can’t help but succeed!
-Lissa Coffey

With this definition, it doesn’t matter what industry you work in, or how much money you make. It doesn’t matter where you grew up or who you know. This says that success is all a matter of our own efforts, and how we see how we are doing. And it leaves room to say that we are “becoming” – which is great, because we are all changing, and growing, and succeeding every day, every minute!
-Lissa Coffey

Present-moment awareness. Being awake and aware and alive to the beauty and abundance in and around us at all times. Wow. How could that be anything less than success?
-Lissa Coffey

It is true that one of the best ways to learn is to teach. It gives us a better understanding of the material from the ground up. If we can take something complicated and distill it down so that someone else can learn it, we are mastering the concept ourselves. In addition, in the role of teacher, we are asked questions - questions we might never have thought of on our own. In finding the answers, we learn more about the concept, and about ourselves. So the students become the teachers as well. We are all teachers, just as we are all students.
-Lissa Coffey

I think we all need some sort of a mentor, or a role model, or an inspiring teacher in our lives. We may have one, or we may be fortunate enough to have several. Great teachers can give us more than we can get from books or history lessons. When we form a personal connection with a teacher, we also learn from that teacher's life experiences. It is meaningful to us because we understand that the teacher is invested in our learning, he or she cares. That inspires us.
-Lissa Coffey

All of the knowledge and wisdom of the world is available to us at all times. We have only to tap into it to make use of it. The truth is that we don't need anyone to tell us anything! But… until we can fully make use of our gifts, we could use someone to show us the way. Life is hard enough trying to make it on our own. Thanks goodness that we have teachers to guide us and give us some direction.
-Lissa Coffey

We have teachers all throughout our lives. I can remember just a handful of the ones I had while I was in school, and that is because I knew that they cared about me. As an adult, I studied at The Healing Arts Center, and my teacher there was Louise Taylor. I am so grateful to Louise for sharing so much of her knowledge and wisdom with me. And she taught me, and all of her students, by example as much as by her classes. Louise is a wonderful, caring, compassionate mother, friend, and businesswoman. She radiates integrity, creativity and love. Those are qualities of a good teacher!
-Lissa Coffey

Do we worry because we want to? If everything is a choice, and it is, then why would we choose to worry? When we stay present, we can’t be worried, because this moment is all there is. One moment at a time, we allow ourselves to see the perfection of the Universe, in all its glory! The present moment is where we are, it’s where we find out who we really are.
-Lissa Coffey

That’s the kind of world I want to live in, one that is “stupendous, awesome, mysterious and unfathomable!” Imagine having that on a travel brochure? We’d all want to go to a place like that! And here we are! Do we recognize it, do we experience it every day? Do we make every act count? Every moment count? This is our world, this is our moment. Embrace it!
-Lissa Coffey

When we live in present moment awareness we’re living with heightened senses. We’re awake to the many miracles all around us, all the time. We can find joy in peeling an orange: filling our nostrils with the sweet and tangy fragrance, feasting our eyes on the brilliant fiery color, coating our fingers with the sticky and succulent juice. The orange is a gift, and we are blessed. When we are grateful, we are in the moment, and life is good!
-Lissa Coffey

How many golden moments have gone by while we were worrying about the future or fretting about the past? If these moments were our nourishment, how well fed would we be? Now is the time, this is the moment, to begin living in present moment awareness. Before we starve ourselves, let us partake of each moment as if it were a divine delicacy, because that is exactly what it is!
-Lissa Coffey

Even way back when the bible was written people were talking about the heart’s intelligence. What do we KNOW in our heart? What conviction do we carry with us? It is important to recognize these thoughts, because they make up how we are, and who we think we are.
-Lissa Coffey

Our thoughts direct our lives. The path we are on begins in our heart and in our mind. Each step we take moves us toward our greater purpose if that is where we want to go. We can become the person we want to be, the person we know that we truly are.
-Lissa Coffey

Our minds are so constantly busy that we often forget that we actually have a choice in the matter. We can choose our thoughts! And by choosing our thoughts, we are choosing our experiences and creating our futures. And we need to remember that our reactions are thoughts, also. Instead of letting our emotions ride on auto-pilot, we can choose to take a breath and take inventory rather than giving in to an impulsive reaction. In this way, our thoughts can lead us in a much more productive direction, one that creates solutions rather than problems.
-Lissa Coffey

How often do we think about the QUALITY of our thoughts? We obviously have an abundant quantity of thoughts – but how many of those are thoughts of absolute quality? Which thoughts are like little gemstones that we want to treasure and save, to bring out again and again to wear with pleasure? Maybe it’s time to do some mental housekeeping. All those old, dusty, dinghy, non-productive thoughts that just end up making us feel bad… throw them out! They are no longer useful to us! Now, replace those old thoughts with new, efficient, beautifully clear thoughts. And watch how our outside lives begin to reflect the shiny new thinking that is going on inside.
-Lissa Coffey

“Measure, time and number are nothing but modes of thought or rather of imagination.”
-Benedict Spinoza

Whether analog or digital, clocks and watches are man-made inventions. We follow along, agreeing to the certain standard measurements of time, when it is really only a perception of what has transpired. When we understand that there is no such thing as time, we will stop running out of it. We have all the time we need. Just as we have all we need in every area of our live, if we’d only recognize it!
-Lissa Coffey

There is so much truth in this… I’ve been getting Christmas catalogs in the mail since August! Our society has gotten so retail oriented, so marketing savvy, that we’re always months ahead of ourselves. Whether it’s holiday sales, or movie previews, or upcoming specials, we’ve been trained to think ahead or be left behind. So we can’t really enjoy the moment we’re in because we’re too busy planning for the time that’s yet to come. How sad. But we can do something about it! Resolve to live in the now. Experience this moment of time fully. Now is the only time there is.
-Lissa Coffey

Some might joke that John Mason was a lawyer, but he was actually part of the clergy. Lawyers tend to bill by the fraction of the hour, and literally, their time is money. If you think about time that way, you get a different perspective. Every moment that we spend here on earth is precious. Not so much for the money that we can make, but for the lessons and experiences that we go through which help us to grow. It is important to be respectful of people and their time, to arrive promptly for meetings and not keep someone waiting. This is just part of being a responsible spiritual citizen. And, if we are the ones who are kept waiting, we know that we can use that time and not waste it. We can take a few moments to notice things, to breathe, to feel gratitude. No moment is ever wasted when we are living in the now.
-Lissa Coffey

How do we live our lives? How do we spend our time? Are we learning and growing, serving and loving? We are given this magnificent gift of time, and how we use it is up to us individually. We’re making choices constantly. Choose wisely, with intention.
-Lissa Coffey

Things change. That’s for sure! ‘Things’ change – and times change… but spirit remains the same. And our values, as we come to a higher consciousness, must necessarily change as we experience this. That’s evolution. We’re getting better as we grow!
-Lissa Coffey

Heavy, dark experiences change us. They shake us to our core and cause us to re-evaluate our lives and our values. So, it is understandable that a transformation can come out of that. And sometimes it works the other way around. Sometimes a transformation occurs – maybe we’ve been working on it for a long time but then suddenly there’s a shift – and we need some time and space to assimilate it into our consciousness. We need to see how we can fit our new selves back into our old lives. It can feel like a dark night of the soul – but it’s only temporary. The light shines through.
-Lissa Coffey

We’re all connected. There is a unity that can’t be denied. When one person changes, it can dramatically affect those around him or her, causing more changes, more transformation. Our lives impact each other; we can’t help it! So, let’s make it work for the good of all of us.
-Lissa Coffey

We are wired to grow and improve and to experience more of our true selves. This is something we crave! It is our instinct, and it leads us towards transformation.
-Lissa Coffey

Truth is the great clarifier. I think of Jack Nicholson in “A Few Good Men” being grilled on the witness stand by Tom Cruise – it’s obvious that Jack’s covering something because the pieces aren’t falling into place. And he gets frustrated and yells at Tom: “You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth!” It’s one of those great moments in film where you get that “ah-ha!” and then the truth comes out. The truth might not always be pretty – but it is what it is, and it wants to be discovered.
-Lissa Coffey

Of course, we know that there are infinite possibilities, but in our human experience we can only conjure up a portion of the possibilities based on what we’ve been exposed to. That’s why when some things happen we just can’t believe it – we can’t comprehend how such a thing could happen. But when we seek the truth, through prayer and meditation and spiritual practices, we see many more possibilities. We open up to answers and solutions that were once beyond our realm of understanding.
-Lissa Coffey

Truth is beyond time and space. Truth is always available to us, now, and wherever we are. Truth is unchanging and eternal. Truth is not biased or preferential – truth is the same for each one of us, it is there for all of us.
-Lissa Coffey

Truth – just five little letters and yet such a big word. It’s so powerful, and so real. Truth is something we all revere – we all search for it, we all believe in it. Truth is pure and simple. It makes everything make sense. Truth is a guiding principle that can’t steer us wrong.
-Lissa Coffey

Isn’t this uncertainty such a great concept? It sure helps us out when we make a mistake! We can change things, make them better. Nothing is set in stone, that’s just the way it is – life is fluid, moving, changeable – and that is good for us. There is great potential in uncertainty- it means that ANYTHING, and everything is possible.
-Lissa Coffey

Why is it so difficult for us to just accept the unknown? We tend to feel like we have to “make” things happen. Sure, we must take action, and work towards our goals – but at the same time if we could also relax and know that however things turn out, that’s the way they’re supposed to be. The process itself is really where we learn. And at the same time, since everything is changeable, and everything is possible, we can always start again!
-Lissa Coffey

We live in a world of uncertainty. No matter how hard we plan or schedule or try to control things, the truth is that anything can happen, at any time! We can embrace that, and take what comes- or we can live in a state of apprehension. But we can’t change the “unknowingness” – that’s just a part of life, so we might as well enjoy it!
-Lissa Coffey

I think this is kind of like “necessity is the mother of invention.” What makes us learn and grow and propels us forward is uncertainty. If everything were certain we would get lazy pretty quick- Instead we are constantly challenged to find solutions and better our conditions.
-Lissa Coffey

Some things seem beyond our understanding. Certain algebraic formulas, for example – or the mentality of terrorists. This is a complicated world we live in. And we may not understand all of it. But we can expand our faith to accept what understanding we do have, and to build on that. We can take what we know, and learn and grow from here.
-Lissa Coffey

True understanding is knowingness. We don’t have to be able to put it into words, we just know. In our heart, in our mind, in our very being, some things just ARE, and we understand. It’s kind of like how we can feel when someone loves us. We know it without that person having to say it. We don’t have to think about it and analyze the situation, there is just this understanding that is there. That same understanding, that same knowingness, comes with the presence of Spirit, omnipotent and omnipresent.
-Lissa Coffey

Where do we find understanding? It doesn’t just come from education. It isn’t just in books. How easy that would be it if were so! Understanding is not something that is generated in our minds. It starts with our mind, but whatever it is becomes understood when it finds its way into our heart. We understand because we can relate, we can identify, we can see that we are not separate from that which we seek to understand.
-Lissa Coffey

For all of us to get along and live together in this world requires a certain amount of understanding. The more we learn and discover and understand about ourselves, the more we can understand other people. We are really all much more alike that we are different. Given our different circumstances and situations, it’s easy to forget that.
-Lissa Coffey

Since this newsletter is called WisdomNews I thought we’d start off the new year talking about wisdom. Wisdom goes beyond knowledge. We often hear wisdom associated with sages, people who seem to know and understand those things that sometimes have no explanation. Maybe it is recognizing that connection between all things that makes everything miraculous. Wisdom is attainable, all the wisdom of the universe is at hand right now.
-Lissa Coffey

Hard to argue with that, huh? Silence, meditation, time with nature, self-reflection… all of these things lead us to wisdom. Have we taken that first step? Do we listen? Do we remember? Do we practice? Do we teach others? We all know what we must do, yet how often do we really do it? We get so distracted by our daily activities that we forget how important it is to just sit down and be quiet for a change! Yes, it is important – wisdom is important! Wisdom is necessary to lead the kind of lives that we say we want to lead. The first step is silence.
-Lissa Coffey

This is so true! Don’t we all give better advice than we take from ourselves? Because we can look at someone else’s problems objectively, and we are so caught up in our own emotions that it’s hard to step back and look at our own problems with the same wisdom. But it is possible! As we learn and grow and spend more time in silence, we make better decisions, we become more wise.
-Lissa Coffey

This is another example of the more that you give, the more that you have. One of the best ways to learn is by teaching! Wisdom is not something that can necessarily be measured, but it can be felt, and it can be shared.
-Lissa Coffey

What would we do without language? This is how we communicate. Words by themselves are so innocuous, but when we put them together, combine them together in such a way, they can be bitterly poisonous, or powerfully healing. Words can carry with them so much meaning. Through words we can express tenderness, and compassion.
-Lissa Coffey

We all know what it feels like to get lost in a really good book. What magic there is in that! What a gift that is available to us, to be able to share our thoughts and feelings and experiences with each other – to express our concerns and joys. All this is possible because we have the words to do it. It doesn’t matter if it is the spoken word, or the written word – written on a computer or by hand – in block letters, a smothe cursive, or even Braille! Words help us to learn more about ourselves, and about each other.
-Lissa Coffey

When we communicate, we want to choose our words carefully to be sure that we are completely understood. And yet, when we want to express our feelings, sometimes it helps to just let those feelings flow, to think with our hearts more than with our heads. The words that come from our hearts are so true and real that they can’t help but have an effect on anyone who hears them.
-Lissa Coffey

Another way of making a promise is by saying: “I give you my word.” When you do what you say you are going to do, you are being true to you word – you are being honest, and showing integrity. It is important for people to be able to trust each other. And when once a word is broken, the trust that comes with it is broken, too. We can gain trust, and show that we are trustworthy, by being true to our word.
-Lissa Coffey

That's quite some advice from one of the top businessmen in American history! Yet how many of us really take this to heart? I've heard so many times from people who say that they are working just for the money and that what they REALLY want to do is something else entirely. This isn't productive. So our choice is to either find a way to love the work that we are at least temporarily required to do, OR find a way to make money doing what it is that we love to do. Both of these are valid options. Work can be a ministry. No matter where you are or what you're doing, there are people you can reach, people you can help. And we also know that when you truly love what you are doing, nothing can stop you from doing it!
-Lissa Coffey

Another famous American businessman who literally changed the world! Henry Ford knew how important it is for us to help each other. And the amazing thing is that whenever we help anyone else, we are also helping ourselves. We're helping ourselves to learn and grow and reach out to connect with others. The more we all do this, the better off we all will be!
-Lissa Coffey

"Dharma" is a sanskrit word that loosely translated means "purpose in life." To have found our dharma is indeed a beautiful thing! Dharma can be more than one thing, and dharma can also change and evolve as we do. But basically, we know that we're in our dharma when we love what we do, when we feel fulfilled, when we are unaware of the time that goes by when we are working. True dharma is work that we enjoy and that also helps people in some way.
-Lissa Coffey

It's great to plan, to pay attention, to have intention, to dream, wish, and visualize. Yet there comes a time when we must take action! Work is how things get done. Because we live on this human plane, work is how we learn and grow. Whether it is by studying or through our experiences, our activities take us to new places mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
-Lissa Coffey