Because I am the Light (& You are too!)

The sun sets in streaks of red and orange gently fading into purple. The sky darkens. The stars appear one after the other. In the inkiness of the world, I feel a shiver of fear run down my spine. Breathing in I remind myself that fear I feel has little to do with the dark and everything to do with my perception of what creeps in the blurring shadows.

Resolute, step by step, I journey deeper into the shadows. One realization has me stepping further into the shadows. That inner knowing? I am the light. I need no external light to guide me down the path of the unknown. For when I trust myself, I am led by even the tiniest glow shining from the core of my being. 

When the darkness casts shadows that flicker in confusion, I breathe in courage and exhale curious daring. With warrior energy I become the guide of my life. No, I do not come out with a mighty sword ready to slay my perceived enemies. I am a warrior of peace and compassion vowing to spend time in the silence to gain objectivity.

Objective perspective is my weapon of choice. And, I use it to befriend the wounded parts of myself that clang in resonance to the shadows. This is not a calming resonance but a dissonant wake up call. Louder and louder it becomes until I can no longer ignore it. I step closer to that which I fear — my imperfections and illusions — hoping to resolve the discord.

Instead of allowing the illusion of who I am not really to overwhelm me, I grow in my light. My light shines brightly on my imperfections. It shines with my truth. With the light of my truth, I make allies of each illusion, each shadow, each imperfection that is me — until it is not. 

Once allied, I no longer fight against who I am not — who I can never be. I listen and learn from each illusion, each shadow, each imperfection. Each conversation ends in gratitude for those parts that are not me. Each of them challenge me to discover who I really am. And, in this exploration become the best person that I could be. 

In the learning, I recognize my compassion warriorship. I am not a warrior who fights battles and slays enemies. No, I am a warrior to befriends my flaws, acts with courage, and steps into the world with curious daring. I am a warrior not because I see the light of hope and grace, but because I am an unwavering light of grace and hope. 

In this knowing lit by my light, I shed tears of transformation into a world illuminated by my light’s reflection. Will  you do the same? 

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is a Neural Synchrony™ facilitator, professional speaker, and author who weaves her inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are A Constellation of Connections: Contemplative Relationships and Engaging Compassion Through Intent & Action. Vanessa assists clients in navigating their life paths with intuition. Contact Vanessa @ vanessa@intentandaction.com for keynotes, programs, and consultations. 

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Twitter: @fyrserpent / ©2019

Is it just stuff?

It’s just stuff. It’s just a job. It’s just words. It’s just a distraction.

This seems to be one of those weeks when I am being assured by others using the phrase “It’s just [fill in the blank]” followed by “Don’t be so invested. Don’t care so much. Just be. Let it go.” And, I found myself frustrated even as I thought, “Easier said than done.” Then I found myself wondering is being too invested is wrong. Is it a crime to care?

I’m a passionate person who often gets hooked in my emotions and the feelings of others. Whatever I do, I give it my all. And, that might be a problem. Often I look at others and perceive that there are giving what they can. They aren’t are invested. Even as I write those words I feel judgment seeping from my socially constructed reality (SCR). If I do not pull myself back, I go into full judgment mode. Stuck in the unrealistic parts of my SCR creates unhappiness.

An SCR is our perception of the world. It can be a tricky thing. While some of it is based on accurate perceptions; there is a lot based on our judgments, assumptions, and beliefs. Those skew our perception what is really happening. If unchecked, we are triggered and react. I react based upon my interpretation of facts instead of doing what Merton suggests — “looking at the factors behind the facts.”

Those factors behind the facts provide the real information. I might see someone who is habitually late for work and believe they have a poor work ethic. The truth may be somewhere in the gray. Because of finances they may need to take a bus and cannot control its timing. They may have family responsibilities or something else that has little to do with who they are and everything to do with external circumstances.

When I bump up against someone who says, “it’s just [fill in the blank],” I recognize that my SCR is not in alignment with theirs. They do not view what I see with as much importance. Does that make my SCR more accurate than theirs? Or, is their SCR a more accurate world view? No to both. Those words, their SCR, provides me with opportunity to reflect and introspect on my SCR. I dig deep into its soil to discover the roots of my reactions. Those roots? My judgments, assumptions, and beliefs.

So, instead of getting upset or anxious because I’ve failed to realize the importance or lack of importance of an event, I can look at the item, the relationship, or the situation and honestly figure out what I am hooked by. When I name the hook, I can decide for myself what is truly “just” or what deeper meaning it has in my life. 

What in your SCR catches you?

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is a Neural Synchrony™ facilitator, professional speaker, and author who weaves her inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are A Constellation of Connections: Contemplative Relationships and Engaging Compassion Through Intent & Action. Vanessa assists clients in navigating their life paths with intuition. Contact Vanessa @ vanessa@intentandaction.com for keynotes, programs, and consultations. 

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Twitter: @fyrserpent / ©2019

A Tale of Wisdom Seeking & Wisdom Keeping

There is a book of knowledge and wisdom  and grace. Its pages are filled with great love, unwavering compassion, deep sorrow, and piercing suffering. What is the name of the book? Where can it be purchased?

The book's name is woven with mystery, magic, and grace. It is not found in any bookstore or on the shelves of a library. It is not available as an ebook. In fact, this book hasn’t even been published. It is written in each moment of every day by the experiences of our soul on the pages of our heart. 

Consciously, and unconsciously, we choose the topics, the plot, and each resolution. Although an event or person may appear unexpectedly, we decide how to weave them into our story. Sometimes this weave is uneven reaction; at other times, it is a seamless transition weave of response. No matter how uneven or seamless, we learn from each reaction and response.

Although we are the author of our unique book, its unfolding is by no means a solo venture. We gather ink of wisdom, love, and grace wherever we are and whomever we connect with. In fact, each page reflects the ways we shine our truest, most best self in the moment. We seek wisdom, we keep wisdom, we write our story sharing our knowledge, wisdom, and grace with our self and the world.

To be a wisdom keeper and a wisdom seeker is to be the power behind the unfolding tale. While we may be shaken by disheartening events and unexpected shifts in our plot line, we do not give up. We travel the detour looking for meaning and opportunity in what happens. As we heal from inevitable wounds inflicted, we rise to greet the next moment with wisdom and grace. That is all that is required. 

Each day brings an ending and a beginning. We knot the words of what is done while blessing the learnings. We tie on new threads of grace welcoming each colorful strand as a new opportunity to learn and grow and live. But, mostly, we weave ink to paper knowing that each day is time unfolding bringing us closer to the grace of who we are. We share the treasure that we are with the world. That treasure? An outpouring of peace, compassion, and joy.

In this newness, I wish you an infinity of ability to gain wisdom and live large in each unfolding moment. 

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is a Neural Synchrony™ facilitator, professional speaker, and author who weaves her inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are A Constellation of Connections: Contemplative Relationships and Engaging Compassion Through Intent & Action. Vanessa assists clients in navigating their life paths with intuition. Contact Vanessa @ vanessa@intentandaction.com for keynotes, programs, and consultations. 

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Twitter: @fyrserpent / ©2019

Imperfect in an Uncertain World: Being Nonviolent

Imperfect. Uncertain. A Gate.  Original Unity. My Message. My Life. What do these have in common? Each is a component of living a nonviolent life. When we accept that each of us is imperfect, live in awareness of the uncertainties in the world; when we live without the barriers of divisiveness, our life becomes a message of hope, compassion, and nonviolent engagement. We recognize that through our imperfections, we can fashion a nonviolent response to the uncertainties in the world. 

This journey of nonviolent presence begins when we accept that we are imperfect beings living in an uncertain world. Our imperfects may be illusions about our self. They may be judgments or deep seated fears. We recognize that our imperfections are not who we truly are. They are opportunities to become who we truly are. 

Illusions are at the base of our reactions. When we acknowledge that another person is not the trigger of our reactions and subsequent violence, our illusions, judgments, and fears at the base of our imperfects are revealed. For example, we might have very different political beliefs than another person. We may react because we feel attacked by that person during a conversation. Or, instead of feeling attacked, we might recognize how our imperfections are triggering us, hear what the person is saying, breathe through the potential reaction, and respond with compassion. 

No matter how much we ignore our imperfections, they do not disappear until we meet their challenges and learn their lessons. Shifting our perspective from imperfections as unwanted flaws to important life tools, we get unstuck from feelings of failure and unattainable expectations for our self. We become our best, authentic self.

Our paradigm shifts from imperfections as a bane of our existence to imperfections as vehicles of growth. This paradigm shift is paramount to healing our woundedness and living nonviolently in an uncertain world. Healing our woundedness, we break free from our imperfections. Our authentic self is then reflected in each thought, word, and action. Any acts of violence are met with a self compassionate response. We heal the world by first healing our self. 

Ready to heal your self and the world through nonviolent living? Join us beginning January 2, 2019, for 4-week online course: Imperfect in an Uncertain World: Being Nonviolent. 

Excerpt from the book Imperfection in an Uncertain World: Being Nonviolent by Vanessa F Hurst, ms. Available on Amazon. 

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is a Neural Synchrony™ facilitator, professional speaker, and author who weaves her inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are A Constellation of Connections: Contemplative Relationships and Engaging Compassion Through Intent & Action. Vanessa assists clients in navigating their life paths with intuition. Contact Vanessa @ vanessa@intentandaction.com for keynotes, programs, and consultations.

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Twitter: @fyrserpent / ©2018

Don’t Stop Believing

Don’t stop believing. The world may resonate harshness and despair, but don’t stop believing in the beauty of your soul. Life is uncertain. It is easy to slip into noticing the harsh; to become hypercritical. It bogs you down until that one precious moment where the twinkle of another ignites the ember of your spark. Don’t stop believing in the goodness that resonates from yourself and others. 

What we think has been extinguished in a downpour of suffering flairs to life through one act of kindness. The hope in goodness, the belief in better fuels the flame of our self on its climb to authenticity. As our soul burn brighter, we attract souls both dim and light to our self. We become the twinkle of hope in a desolate world. Joining with others, we become one flame in a bonfire of hope.

Belief burrows beneath the fragile crust of anger-irritation. We recognize what lurks just beneath the surface of suffering. And, we vow not to allow suffering to diminish the flow of compassion from our heart. We understand that unless we lower the shield of our compassionate presence, our light will not be lessened. 

There is always a choice to burn brightly or for our flame to ebb. When we choose compassion and nonviolence, we become a light of determined hope that cuts a widening swatch of light through a barren land. We understand that we cannot bring life back to every centimeter of the world, but we can minimize the impact of violence in our corner of the world. 

I believe that the only way to extinguish the suffering in my soul, is to cultivate quiet peace. The quiet is a beacon that lights the way with sounds and sights of pure joy. It rolls over my disquiet. I am sustained by my light. You can be, too. 

I believe that at the foundation of all the good that we do is found in the calming of our chaotic heart. For within the calm, violence leaches from us. What remains is love. Love tempers even the greatest violence and prepares our heart to respond with compassion. 

Belief is what propels us from the light of day through the dark of night back into the light of day. Journey with me. Together our lights shine brighter. Together our lights lift us from the disparity of uncertainty and launch us into a place where the power of nonviolence and compassion thrives. 

I believe. What you do believe? 

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is a Neural Synchrony™ facilitator, professional speaker, and author who weaves her inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are A Constellation of Connections: Contemplative Relationships and Engaging Compassion Through Intent & Action. Vanessa assists clients in navigating their life paths with intuition. Contact Vanessa @ vanessa@intentandaction.com for keynotes, programs, and consultations.

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Twitter: @fyrserpent / ©2018

Compassion Asks, “What Do We Really Need?”

Let’s reframe “how much do we really need?” to “what do we really need?” Or, how do we live a truly abundant life that has little to do with the size of our bank account and everything to do with the size of our heart?

To answer these questions, we remember that we are body, mind, spirit, and heart. To truly live in abundant simplicity, we engage the rhythm of living in the physical realm, listen to the roots of our thoughts, embrace the wild passion in our emotions, and understand life’s unfolding through our connection to all. 

Body. This is perhaps the simplest yet the most difficult aspect to address. There is so much stuff in the world; so many shiny things that tempt us until self imposed clutter overwhelms us. Bit by bit, we seek ways to live simpler while asking, “Do I really need this?” before bringing home another thing or giving away what we have.  

Mind. Of course, it is inevitable that we clutter our physical life. Instead of shaming, getting frustrated, or being angry, we listen to the rant of our internal monologue without reacting to it. We rescript the words to be gentler, kinder, to our self and others. We listen for the words that create scarcity driven by harm, hurt, and suffering. Changing our internal monologue creates a new avenue of responding to the world.

Heart. We feel emotions and identify those that raise us up and those that harm us — the fears, anger, angst, sorrow, and depression. We feel but do not allow our self to be caught in their trap. We dig deep within us to find a spark of compassion. Blowing gently on this spark it flares up incinerating the hurtful emotions through acts of self compassion.

Spirit. We are connected to every person, each part of creation through the sacred thread of self. Compassion flows upon these connections touching sacred in all. Within our spirit is the unifying power of our four aspects. But, compassion is greater than that — it nurtures an abundant community where there is plenty for all.

What you need, what I need, what we need collectively, is fluid and shifting. It is never scarcity creating; it is always abundance growing. To discover our needs, we look deep into our heart, discover with our mind, connect with our spirit, and live our choices through our body. The simplest yet most difficult path to abundance. 

May each of us honestly discern our simple abundance and live with joy. 

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is a Neural Synchrony™ facilitator, professional speaker, and author who weaves her inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are A Constellation of Connections: Contemplative Relationships and Engaging Compassion Through Intent & Action. Vanessa assists clients in navigating their life paths with intuition. Contact Vanessa @ vanessa@intentandaction.com for keynotes, programs, and consultations.

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Twitter: @fyrserpent / ©2018

Compassion, Imperfection & Being Who We Truly Are

I awoke to the realization that I could navigate this crazy jumble of life. I could follow any tangle, slip through a knot, and be exactly where I needed to be. This realization took some getting used to as I often found myself not where I wanted to be but exactly where I needed to be. I chafed at my needs. Wondered why they couldn’t align with my wants.

The chafing caused friction. Soon sparks flew and my internal violence erupted into the external world. “Not again,” I thought as the world lit up with my reactions. Humbled I realized that I was not so different from those I had othered as a result of their harmful and hurtful behavior. I was a transgressor, too. 

I awoke to the knowing that I was as imperfect as others. And, I acknowledged that I did not fair so well in the uncertainty in the world. I wondered with more than a tinge of despair how I could learn to navigate the uncertainty without being triggered. How could I calm my internal life so that I did not explode outward? 

The answer to that question lays in a life long challenge. We have to be prepared for a detour or twelve on the journey of soul purpose. As we enter into the adventure of detour, we understand that a detour is not a path of avoidance. Rather, they force us to acknowledge our imperfections and learn from them. The detours are avenues of rescripting our life to reflect our best self. 

In doing so, our imperfections become less unwelcome strangers and more faithful friends. They tell us the cold, honest truth that we do not want to admit. We fear that truth will break us into a thousand shards of unquiet. In reality, the honesty is a wake up call for us to set aside who we do not want to be and become who we truly are. The honesty does not break us; it makes us stronger.

Imperfections cannot be ignored or wished away. In order to grow, we must acknowledge them, learn from them, and lovingly let them go. When used as tools, imperfections are impermanent means to live our soul purpose. When we no longer have need of them, they vanish — another knot loosened in the tangle of our life. 

What are your imperfections? How can they help you live an increasingly nonviolent life? That is to be found in the fashioning of your lived experience. (Want to learn more? Join us for Imperfect in an Uncertain World: Being Nonviolent. A four week course beginning January 2, 2019. For more information: (Tickets on sale December 9.)

Vanessa F. Hurst, ms, is a Neural Synchrony™ facilitator, professional speaker, and author who weaves her inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are A Constellation of Connections: Contemplative Relationships and Engaging Compassion Through Intent & Action. Vanessa assists clients in navigating their life paths with intuition. Contact Vanessa @ vanessa@intentandaction.com for keynotes, programs, and consultations.

Website / LinkedIn Profile / Facebook / 

Twitter: @fyrserpent / ©2018