“Breathe in the heavens. Ground to the earth. Open your heart. Smile. Repeat.”

On a consultation call yesterday, I was asked if anyone actually lives a life that reflects my social media posts. She went on to say that while it all sounds lovely and she would like to live her life with such grace and poise, she wasn’t convinced that it was possible with all of the demands and responsibilities of day-to-day life. When I told her that my clients are my primary inspiration for my original quotes, she asked for the story behind the above quote I posted in the early part of December last year. This is what I shared with her.

Meet Ann

For the sake of privacy, we’ll call my muse behind this quote, Ann. Ann is a mom and a wife with a full-time job and several horses. She knows all about the stress and pressures so often attached to money and time. We’ve worked together for quite a while now, weaving spiritual and personal development into a focus around starting her own business. She has come quite far.

Back in December, she came to a session asking for my perspective on a particular situation she was facing. Someone had taken credit for her insight and she was angry about it. She went on to say that she realizes it had no real impact on her life; it was only her ego that was bruised. “So why am I still angry?” she asked. “It’s been two days.”

Breathe in the heavens

Ann has conditioned herself to recognize when her ego is showing up before reacting. When her ego is at play, she chooses to take a step back, rise above it and look at the bigger picture.

Ground to the earth

From this space, Ann has a clear view of how the circumstance is affecting her reality. What she learned through this higher perspective was that there was no way she could truly know for certain the intent of the individual. Maybe she intentionally took the credit, maybe she didn’t. With Ann transcending her lower ego mind, however, the person’s intent did not matter.

Open your heart

What did matter was that no one was hurt as a result. Additionally, in this realization, Ann naturally experienced empathy and compassion for the person whom she felt betrayed her.

Smile

“Why am I aware of all this yet still angry?” she asked.“Because you’re human,” I simply replied. After a brief moment of silence, she laughed. And in that moment, Ann was no longer angry. Poof! Just like that.

Some of us have this vision of ourselves someday being so enlightened and wise that we never know lower emotions such as anger and resent. Regardless of whether that is achievable or not, we need to give ourselves kudos for the moments we feel our feelings without impulsively reacting to them. We need to honor ourselves every time we choose not to hurt someone else because we are hurting. We need to take a moment of appreciation of who and what we are when we empathize with one another as opposed to judge and belittle.

Repeat

Imagine if every single person responded to life’s less than ideal moments the way Ann did. Imagine if we were taught to cope with life’s stressors in this manner from our youth.

I don’t know about you, but that gives me a lovely view of what’s possible for us as a society. A view I call, “Peace on Earth.” Thank you, Ann!

Michelle Caruso is an Empowerment Coach, Reiki Master, Kabbalist and initiate with the Modern Mystery School. She uses her experience and expertise to support others in getting the most out of life, relationships and business. http://www.InfinityLifeDesigns.com