Bliss? Love? If your struggling in your business or stuck in your life or even if you are content and want MORE, you may find your greatest gift sitting on a street corner. As many of you know I have been traveling the country like a vagabond, a nomad for over a year now and love is a theme, Pure BodyLove, The Love Society, More Love. My latest excursion took me to California to do some deep healing and spiritual work. I left the retreat in Sonoma in a glaze of bliss and wonder to the new expectations on my life and the new turn in my business.
In the mode of BEING more and DOING less I had canceled the appointment with the next “coach” I was supposed to hire and said NO. The message from my Intuitive Intelligence was “you know enough” follow your true path. My true path? I felt like I knew what it was but did I really?
What I learned from two homeless men living on the streets in California taught me more about the oneness of life, love and joy and the truth of my bigger vision than any coach, textbook or course could ever teach me.
I will never forget the fateful meeting of Steven on the streets of Costa Mesta. My newly found soon-to-be friend Ali asked me if I wanted to meet her as she took portraits of a man she met on the street. I sat quietly observing two strangers, her and him, and I was in awe of the experience. This frail older man with scabs and bruises on his head talked of gratitude and laughed. As Ali asked him questions and when he shared his story of family he was so proud. Family? I thought? So much love and gratitude for those that have abandoned you?
I couldn’t help but wonder what secret he knew that the world seems to miss.
This man by all of society’s standards should be depressed, sad or something other than the smiling, laughing, jovial self he was.
No belongings and more joy. Full of gratitude and love.
I began to ponder the simplicity that is changing my life.
Instead of
- how can I pay my bills?
- make more money?
- pay my employees?
- how will I create the next thing that will bring success?
I began to think
- how can I create more joy?
- serve more?
- give more?
- how will I follow my bliss?
It sounds simple in practice but extremely difficult in practice when running a business and the fear creeps in again what if? What if I stop doing and then I stop earning?
What I learned from this encounter. I felt I KNEW these things but really did I?
- Happiness is not about your circumstance. It is a choice.
- Look INSIDE. Therein lies the answer it will not be found in any achievement or thing externally
- Follow your bliss and your life will follow.
Stop. Pay attention. Listen.
As I journeyed to Venice Beach a few days later I was faced again with a message of synchronicity so subtle I would have missed it had I not turned around and gone back to the man sitting on the street with a small cardboard necklace sign. A petite cardboard sign with crayon-colored bubble letters struck my attention. It was resting against a grey-haired man with doe eyes and a subtle grin. He was positioned cross-legged on warm cement. The cardboard square wrote: more love.
The message pierced my heart because of its authenticity and simplicity. I was pulled into the presence of this man; whose name I eventually discovered was David. He made me promise that if I took this necklace and exchanged money for it that I must wear it for a full day in the next 30 days.
For the time we spent sitting together under the California sunbeams, my heart was again transformed forever. His message was delicate, but dimensioning of any ego. He saw through the accessories and additives we so heavily indulge into, and proposed the planets resolution in two words: more love.
His brilliance grounded me into a whole new dimension of conscious caring. The world revolves around love, I know this and now intimately am being sent the knowledge.
Manifesting abundance and beautiful creations is our birthright, but we must first clarify our intentions. David’s message was that with whatever you desire to project into your reality, know that it is illusive if it is not rooted in love.
I strongly believe that our heart’s desires are directly from source and benefit the greatest good of society and the universe. Trusting in your heart’s truth and provide it with the compassion is yearns for.
David projected himself into this reality of minimal physical possessions, because at his heart’s core—he wanted to prove the power of love. With love, he was free. With love, he was enough. With love, everyday was beautiful.
I realized with this connection with these two homeless men that as I progressed in my journey of manifestation I must remain grounded in the agenda of love and joy or else it would simply be just smoke and mirrors. Both Steven and David were men of sparse belongings, but they were rich in gratitude and joy. Steven laughed more than anyone I had ever known—and it was genuine, belly-rooted laughter. Neither of these men needed to own anything in order to dwell in unconditional love of their lives.
It was a reminder that:
- Love is an inside job
- Wisdom comes from the SOUL and can not be explained by the mind
- EVERYONE is EQUAL. We are all messengers to this extraordinary life
- Be KIND to every person- Our greatest gift is listening with compassion
Have we become so clouded with a yearning for ownership that we’ve overlooked the fact that ownership itself is an illusion? And is it no less than essential to discover bliss within the Now despite external materializations?
This extraordinarily and emotional circumstance has entered my life and expanded my perception. All that we truly have in this world is love. All that we need is love. With love everything is enough. With love, our journey of life itself is much more vivid and abundant.
Happiness is internal and found within the Now moment without judgment. After placing your focus and intention here, you will be able to manifest more and more abundance of joy and love and that is what you will radiant into the world and into the universe. It is such a simple conclusion, but it is truly the foundation in which our experience depends upon.
We must purify our motivations so that they are entirely founded on love and service to elevate the energy of our manifestations. We must trust and honor our intuitive intelligence, and not allow ourselves to be distracted by short-term situations or drama.
We must devote ourselves to what is dear to our hearts and honor its truth and influence, and realize that there is always a peaceful alternative to conflict. How can you add more bliss and love to your life? How will this change the way you show up in your life’s work?
And so I leave you with this contemplation: if you were to take away all of your material items and luxuries, and simply reside on the streets of Venice Beach—what would your message be? Tell me in the comments!
GOD IS GOOD
Love this wise reflection, Melissa. I think my sign would say… kindness. I will be looking for love and kindNess today in every interaction. Thank you
Thank you!
Cleaning my home of needless objects that do not add to my life is my top goal in achieving a soul-centered life.
It is a lot of work to do this and I am committed to doing this so I can have less clutter in my life and feel grateful that I can give it away to those who cannot afford to have nice things.
I love this! I went through a complete de-cluttering a year ago. It was profound!