Author: Karen Lang

Counselor/Energy Healer Grief Mentor/Mindfulness teacher/ Author of two books.

Step out in Faith

by Karen Lang, posted in Uncategorized

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

The great leaders of the world were often alone in their vision for the future.  When you have a strong intuition of where you are going in life, it can be difficult when no-one else shares your dream.

There are many times in life when we find ourselves walking in the dark, faithfully moving forward, yet unsure of where we are heading or what obstacles we will bump or stumble into along the way.

The only way to navigate through the uncertainty of life is to have faith in something greater than ourselves.  That strong intuition that we call our “gut feeling” is often the one we listen to the least and yet, it is there to guide us.

“Sometimes the things we cannot change, end up changing us instead.”

I didn’t realise how wise and strong my intuition was until I started to listen to it.  It was only when I took the time to be still in meditation and yoga, that I was able to connect and be guided by this amazing source of wisdom.

I am still learning to trust in my intuition and yet, I understand there is a flow in life that is perfect for me when I connect to my higher spirit.  Even though at times I doubt my decisions or feel alone, I am finding that when I step out in faith, there is a bigger and better picture that unfolds for me.

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”  – Mother Teresa

Don’t let your fears or past hurts stop you from moving forward and stepping into the unknown.  It takes courage to act on your intuition but in doing so, you will find strength and a wonderful new belief that the universe is truly limitless.

 

Gratitude

by Karen Lang, posted in Uncategorized

“There is no one as strong as a person whose heart is always filled with gratitude.”– Daiksu Ikeda

Have you ever noticed, that when a room full of people are whingeing and complaining about life and someone says something positive, how that suddenly changes the entire mood of the room and makes everyone consider their next words.

Gratefulness is a gift.  It can shift the most difficult moment or help overwhelming sadness come to a lighter place.  Overtime, if you practice gratitude, you will find it is easy to see the good in every situation.  Gratitude shifts your focus from what your life lacks to the abundance that is already present.

In addition, behavioral and psychological research has shown the surprising life improvements that can stem from the practice of gratitude. Giving thanks makes people happier and more resilient, it strengthens relationships, it improves health, and it reduces stress.

“Sometimes we complain without thinking much of it, but the frightening thing about complaining is that every time we do, a cloud descends over our heart, and our hope, appreciation and joy gradually wane”.

Why is it that we wait until we have lost before we are grateful for what we had?  In the face of adversity ask yourself: “What’s good about this situation I am in?”, “What can I learn from this?”, and “How can I benefit from this?”  These are difficult questions to ask when you feel let down in life and yet, in becoming conscious of these questions we can shift our negative belief into a positive.

The first step is to become aware of how much you complain.   Just for three days, make a conscious effort to see how many times you are not happy during the day.  If you find it is more often than you were aware of, make a conscious effort to change your negative thoughts into grateful thoughts.

Have some perspective as well.  Ask yourself, “Are you dying?”  “Are your children dying?” and then reconsider how bad life is?  We can learn a lot from the poorer countries, who always seem content even amongst the chaos of their environment.  They grow up with so little and yet, are appreciative of the smallest blessing.

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”  – Epicurus

Life is a gift.  The fact that people lose their loved ones everyday should awaken you to the fragility and preciousness of life.  Every morning try letting the first words you say be”thankyou” and the last words you say before bed be “thankyou.”

Turn every situation into a gift of gratefulness and realise that even though some days are harder than others, everyday is another opportunity to start again.

“It is this sense of appreciation that elevates, enriches and expands the human spirit. A lack of gratitude is actually a sign of arrogance.” – Daiksu Ikeda

 

 

 

 

Sloth – Conquered by Courage

by Karen Lang, posted in Commitment to Dreams, Discovering your Destiny, Knowing there is more, Understanding and Listening to ourselves

“What is easily done can be easily undone. To move steadily forward on one’s chosen path, step after step, whether or not others are watching; to meet difficulties with the steady, relentless strength of ceaselessly flowing water—such firmness of purpose, such integrity and perseverance builds a foundation that can never be compromised.” – Daisaku Ikeda

Sloth and apathy come into our life when we stop growing and learning.

At no point in our life is there a time where we can sit back and say “There’s nothing more to learn.”  Every relationship or partnership involves give and take, surrender and negotiation, and at times this is very challenging.

We say to ourselves “If only everyone would think like I do and just come along with my plans, life would be easier.”  That illusion may seem possible in your world but the truth is we have to work with the whole for the whole to work.  We are all different and deserve to be listened to and considered.

Overcoming laziness, or the ability to do things that we do not want to do, is a crucial part of gaining success. Things simply have to get done and relationships have to be worked on. When we come to terms with this fact, that in order to grow we will have to face our fears and feel uncomfortable, life becomes easier.

Sloth is about expecting that all we have worked for and achieved will last forever because that is what we deserve.  We feel entitled to put our feet up and let someone else do the hard work.  There is nowhere to go in life when we keep this attitude.  We need to take responsibility on every level, emotional, physical and spiritual.

Making empty promises and indulging in avoidant behaviours that distract you from what you really should be doing, keeps you occupied, and unable to see your true destiny.

Courage will take you to places that you never believed possible.  It instills confidence and intuition and the ability to surrender to our ego and connect to a higher self and purpose.

The courageous learn to participate mindfully in life, focusing on what they can do in this moment rather than sitting back and scripting the same story, “If only……”

The courageous choose to explore who they are and who they can become in their relationships and in life.  They recognise that they are on this earth to experience love and that their courage will help them face their fears and adapt to the ever-changing circumstances that life presents.

There is never a more perfect time to start then in this moment.

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that
something else is more important than fear.”  – Ambrose Redmoon

Unknown

by Karen Lang, posted in Uncategorized

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” – Corrie ten Boom

Whenever I have a change in life circumstances or take on a new project, I find it hard to trust in a process that is higher than my control.

Someone once compared trusting to breathing, you need to know and trust that it will happen automatically without our intervention.

“None of us knows what might happen even the next minute, yet still we go forward. Because we trust. Because we have Faith.” – Paul Coelho

“Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time.” – Maya Angelou

In order for you to trust, you must understand you have the wisdom and intuition already within you and this will guide you to know what is best for you in every situation.

 

Be Patient for change

by Karen Lang, posted in Uncategorized

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Chinese Bamboo plant has a very unique growing pattern and I think we can learn a lot from how it develops.

It starts from a tiny seed.  You plant the seed in the dirt, and you need to water the seed everyday and yet, very little seems to happen the first year.  Despite your efforts, only a tiny shoot pokes out of the ground.

In the second year you continue to water everyday and fertilize and protect the seed…..Nothing happens.

In the third year you continue to water everyday and fertilize and protect the seed…..Nothing happens.

In the fourth year you continue to water everyday and fertilize and protect the seed…..Nothing happens.

In the fifth year you continue to water and fertilize and protect the seed.….Finally, during the fifth year, the Chinese Bamboo plant begins to grow.

In fact, it grows 90 feet tall in just 6 weeks!

The question is, did it grow 90 feet in six weeks or in five years? The answer, of course, is that it grew 90 feet in five years.

It took five years to grow the root system that would one day support a 90-foot plant.

A wonderful story and metaphor about our journey in growth.  When we first decide to make changes in our life, we are often excited and enthusiastic in our approach towards change.

As time goes on, we don’t always see the growth and changes we expect, even though we are committed to practicing a new routine.  This can be disappointing for us at times and although it’s good to set big goals for ourselves,  the journey towards them is just as important.

To see the amazing growth changes like the Chinese bamboo, we need to plant a solid foundation long-term.

I promise that when you do, you will feel 90ft tall, because you will begin to see how limitless the universe is and you will be rewarded for paving a strong foundation towards your dreams.

“Life is a journey, not a destination.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson