A Fresh New Year -- A Fresh New Hope

It’s been a while since I have written anything and it’s amazing to hear that people actually like some of my work, so I decided not to hold back anymore.nnToday, I write about hope as we approach the New Year. But, why does it have to start with a new year – why can’t it just start with a new day – or better yet, a new moment?nnSo much is going on in this world right now – it’s almost as if the world is speeding up. The economy is suffering, people are losing their homes, investments and jobs, companies that have been in business for decades are going under, and there are more divorces than ever.nnA change of administration has given some a new hope. That’s a big burden to place on the new cabinet. The damage will take many years to unravel. More than likely, the new president will become a scapegoat when things don’t change quickly enough. Everybody loves a scapegoat!nnThe hope that we seek is not on the outside but on the inside. It’s in our belief system. As people become afraid – even if the economy doesn’t have any affect on them – they start to panic and spend less. Everyone becomes immersed into the negative way of thinking and this creates a group dynamic of economic crisis. I can’t tell you not to do that – but at least, I ask you consider that you are doing that.nnI believe that we do create our lives – good and bad – and we can change things with our mind and with prayer, faith, and trust. If you believe the economy will be bad for you, then it will. If you believe that you can do well despite a bad economy, you will. You might now be saying to yourself: “this person is nuts, my job is lost, my home is lost, my wife has left me” but is it possible that, perhaps, things happen for a reason?nnWhat if the job you were doing was a chore you went to every day and you were a prisoner to your work and to your debt? What if losing it will somehow force you to change careers to something you have always dreamed of doing – such as working in the helping field? What if your spouse was not the right person for you – wouldn’t they still be with you if they were? What if there is somebody better out there – a better connection – a better person who cares more about you than your money, someone with whom you can now grow and change, someone who truly cares about you from a different perspective – a soul perspective. What if this person supported you in all ways -- not just financially -- but emotionally -- as you support them. This is the ideal relationship and the one that is very hard to find.nnIs life about money, power and possessions or is life about growth, kindness, compassion, helping others? The loss that is happening now is a result of the greed from the many years of a good economy. However, the pendulum must swing in both directions of pleasure and pain and in equal proportion. We should not blame the banks for writing bad loans – what about individual responsibility of not biting off more than we can chew? We are so quick to say “This house is not big enough” or “This car is too old” when the house is more than enough or the car is only one or two years old. By the way, my car is 14 years old! My boyfriend’s car is 18 years old! Yes, this is extreme and yes, we do want to get new cars – but I mention this to raise the point that you can’t always give in to your desires or you will end up with nothing in the end..nnA monk does not know extremes – he lives a humble, non-materialistic, simple life. I am sure that monks are not suffering at this time.nnBuddhism philosophy says that attachment leads to suffering and we are seeing that now more than ever. The more someone has had and the more they are attached to what they had, when they lose it, they struggle. Their whole self-worth is put into their “things”, their marriages are about what they can buy their spouse or get from their spouse, their life is based on money and there is no spiritual awareness. We all need to get humbled in some way – so we can learn – those who lived their lives based on only possessions and not on being kind are all being humbled right now. The simpler a person has lived, the less attached they are to having the best of the best, the more they value the simple things in life, the less they will struggle.nnI just realized that the title of this is called “A New Hope” and I have gone on and on about the suffering of the world – so now to move forward.nnHere’s where the new hope lies – in waking up. Wake up and commit to your soul’s growth this New Year – no, better yet – right now – this very moment. Are you just your possessions or is there something much deeper? You are much more than that. You are a spirit and a soul in a human body. You are here for so much more than your possessions. You are here to learn, to grow, to love. You are here to help others as much as you possibly can. You are here to better yourself and your life. It’s only your ego – the selfish separate self part of you – that wants to stand in your way to true, true, true happiness.nnDon’t be deceived! Don’t fall for the tricks of the mind! Identify your delusions for they only hurt you! Be open to seeing all aspects of yourself – for yourself! Let go of all your negativity, your hate and your control of all others. We all must do this. Start to wake up to how we all might hurt others at any instant – the way we cut them off when we drive, or the way we tail-gate to push people to go faster, the way we vent our anger on our spouse, the clerk in the store, our neighbor. Let it all go – because it is only going to come back to hurt you. I am also still working on changing aspects of myself but the difference between me and most others is that I want to hear about my issues to better myself. I am open to change and have changed over these years. It’s not fun but it’s not that bad, either, and the outcome is, ultimately, joyful. Come on, if I can do it (and I am one of the most resistant souls ever on this planet) you can do it, too!!!!nnYes – the new hope is in waking up – and this also means waking up to the possibility that we are all connected and that we must all help each other, and that in helping others, we help ourselves. There are other metaphysical “helpers” out there and they are working very hard to save our planet before it is too late. Pray to them for help to ease all suffering and have faith that we will make it through these hard times, stronger, better, with much more compassion and concern for everyone. Once you can connect to this, no money in the world will be important anymore…just a wonderful gift to have at that moment. Once your soul awakens to the understanding that there is so much more than money, you will be happy and free of all suffering. Therein lies our hope for this New Year!nnWishing you and this planet a happy, healthy, and most importantly, peaceful New Year!