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April 20, 2020April 20, 2020

Reactions: A Story & A Song

I’m noticing two major reactions to the “stay-at-home” orders.

Which one is your way of coping?

Get really busy with projects, walking, cleaning, etc. or
Veg-out with TV, reading, music, and other “less active” diversions.

Guess which group I’m in?? The latter. Aside from the essentials (connecting with family and friends, meditating/praying, and light exercising), what’s keeping me “busy?” NOTHING!

After a life-time of achieving this and that, my reaction is to just relax, and indulge in whatever tickles my fancy. And I’m loving it!

For example, I just spent a couple hours on the lanai listening to two of my favorite entertainers: the beloved Brazilian crooner, Caetano Veloso and our Michigan favorite, Vienna Teng. Here’s a story from Brazil and a song of hope from Teng.

Seen in Brazil: A Puzzling Crazy-Quilt

In 1974, I lived in Sao Paulo while my second husband worked with IBM computer systems.

One day, I accompanied a Brazilian friend to her dentist appointment. Up, up we went to the 40^th story of one of the many famous Niemeyer skyscrapers dotting the Sao Paulo skyline.

While in the waiting room, I read an article about the survivors of a recent “towering inferno” fire in this very same town. The scandal was that this modern-era skyscraper had no fire-protections and, as a result, many lives were lost.

Perhaps it was this story that drew me to the window to peer down from the great height. At first, I couldn’t make sense of what I saw: a multi-colored quilt of shiny turtle-tops.

What could it be? As I studied the image far below me, I realized I was looking at many hundreds of Volkswagen “bugs” parked in a huge dirt parking lot.

At that time, about 80% of Brazilians owned VWs, with only a few color choices. Imagine the difficulty of finding your very own yellow bug (the color of mine) in a huge parking lot!

The inventive “Paulistas” had solved this urban puzzle by parking all the yellow cars in one section, the blue ones in another, and so on. The result was this bumpy, shiny quilt seen from the dizzying height above. I wish I had taken a picture!

A Song of Hope from Vienna Teng

“The Atheist Christmas Carol” isn’t only about the holidays and it’s not really “atheist.” It’s about HOPE, the best reaction we can have during uncertain times. Listen to this gorgeous song here, posted with its lyrics!

Savor these lines especially. “Don’t forget, don’t forget, I love, I love, I love you.”

Vienna reportedly said, “I don’t have enough faith to be an atheist.” Hmmm.

Gigi Langer, 34 years sober, holds a Ph.D. in Psychological Studies in Education and an MA in Psychology, both from Stanford University. Through her writing, coaching, and speaking, Gigi has helped thousands of people improve their lives at home and work. A former professor of teacher education at Eastern Michigan University, she lives in Michigan and Florida with her husband, Peter, and Murphy, their cat.

Get Gigi’s award-winning book, “50 Ways to Worry Less Now.” (4.8 Stars on Amazon). Available in audio, e-book, paperback. Click HERE for special offers.

“This book is a winner.” –Karen Casey, Bestselling Hazelden author
“Valuable, heartfelt manual.” Publishers Weekly (BookLife)

April 14, 2020April 14, 2020

The Ultimate Worry-Hack: Loving Connection

I’ve been sensing a seismic change in and around me, extending out to the entire planet. This viral threat has prompted many of us to reach deep down inside for something bigger and stronger than our fear.

I might call it an urge for loving connection.

Love is a force for goodness that wipes out all worry and negativity. And I believe it’s essential to our survival right now.

Choose love rather than fear—every moment.

If we spread fear, it amplifies, with perilous results, such as war, stealing, hate-speech, demonizing of politicians, and so on.

Love, however, heals all separation, judgment, and condemnation; and it too amplifies as it’s shared.

So, I ask you to decide right now: Are you going to succumb to fear and separation, or will you rise up in loving connection?

Be a love finder, not a fault-finder

This lesson from Attitudinal Healing* says it so simply: “Be a Love Finder, Rather than a Fault Finder.”

Finding fault is criticizing others in the arrogant belief that “we know better,” thus casting them out of our hearts. Unfortunately, such destructive thoughts only make everything worse—in our own minds and in the world.

**How, then, do we become love finders?**

We connect our hearts with one another via thoughts, prayers, and spoken words of hope, care, and affection. We choose to see the light in each person, regardless of their words and actions. We get out of the “judge’s seat” and leave it to a power much wiser than us.

So, let’s start now by making our “survival strategy” one of loving connection rather than fault-finding!

*Attitudinal Healing was developed by Gerald Jampolsky, one of the early students of A Course in Miracles. These essential lessons of love are taught world-wide to heal illness and negative thinking.

Gigi Langer, 34 years sober, holds a Ph.D. in Psychological Studies in Education and an MA in Psychology from Stanford University. Through her writing, coaching, and speaking, Gigi has helped thousands of people improve their lives at home and work. A former professor of teacher education at Eastern Michigan University, she lives in Michigan and Florida with her husband, Peter, and Murphy, her cat.

Get Gigi’s new book, “50 Ways to Worry Less Now: Reject Negative Thinking to Find Peace, Clarity, and Connection” (5 Stars on Amazon). Available in audio, e-book, and paperback Click HERE for special offers.

“This book is a winner.” –Karen Casey, Bestselling Hazelden author
“Valuable, heartfelt manual.” Publishers Weekly (BookLife)

March 28, 2020March 28, 2020

LET’S BE AT PEACE . . . Come What May

Hello from southwest Florida. I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. Our golf community just had its first case of the virus, so we’re in quarantine, just like so many of you.

As we listen to government warnings, gossip, and TV experts, it’s all too easy to lose sight of hope and tolerance–just when we need them most. So, when we find ourselves captivated by fear, let’s seek peace of mind instead.

Today, I offer you these words of love and peace, plus two powerful tools to help us face this challenge together.

Gratitude Brings Peace of Mind

I thank God (literally) for our food, water, and electricity. Not to mention my fun, steady husband of 30 years (need I remind you, he’s my 4th?). And let’s not forget our very social and entertaining cat, Murphy.

But, most of all, I’m grateful for the opportunity to connect my heart with yours across space and time. More than ever, I’ve been joining with loved ones through prayer, positive thoughts, social media, and internet-based gatherings. (A friend just texted me, “I wish I had bought stock in Zoom!”). These connections are, most definitely, my life-line (remember, I’m the former “Queen of Worry!”).

If you’re feeling uncertain, take a moment to make your own gratitude list— truly a mental/emotional game-changer (and, I often do need to change the “game” in my head!)

Two Truths: Take ‘Em to The Bank!

During challenging times, I believe (right down to my toes) two things:

We are all connected in spirit, and by joining together, our loving power can get us through anything.
My job is to replace my fear and panic with peace of mind, so I can reach out to others with love, encouragement, and care.

Tool 19 from my book, 50 Ways to Worry Less Now, will help you find your own center of peace, wisdom, and courage.

Loving-Kindness Practice

This Buddhist practice (also called metta) calms your mind, opens your heart to goodness, activates the power of your true self, and dissolves whatever may be blocking your love for others.

First, say the affirmation for yourself:

May I be at peace. May my heart remain open.
May I awaken to the light of my own true nature.
May I be healed. May I be a source of healing for all beings.

Now, say it for your loved ones and the entire world: May we be at peace. May our hearts remain open; May we awaken to the light of our own true nature. May we be healed. May we be a source of healing for all beings.

Finally, and this may be the most important of all, say it for someone you worry about or dislike: May you (name) be at peace; May your heart remain open. May you awaken to the light of your own true nature. May you be healed. May you be a source of healing to all beings.

I have memorized this Loving Kindness affirmation and say it often. Give it a try. It really works!

Blocks to Love: Judging, Resenting, Condemning

Why is the last version of this prayer so important? Simply put, hatred and judgement block our ability to give and receive love. Seeing people with forgiveness rather than condemnation is the most healing choice we can make–for the whole world.

“Dear God, please help me to see this differently.”

Join me in asking our higher power to help us see all others with love rather than criticism, and to fully open our hearts to one another. This is, after all, God’s will for us.

“This book is a winner.” –Karen Casey, Bestselling Hazelden author
“Valuable, heartfelt manual.” — Publishers Weekly (BookLife)

March 26, 2020March 26, 2020

REV UP YOUR SPIRIT WITH 12 POWERS

Given the state of the world, I think we all could use one of the most powerful meditations I know, The 12 Powers Meditation by Charles Fillmore of Unity church. It’s one of the most powerful meditations I know.

I use this body-mind-spirit practice whenever I have safety and health concerns; and it never fails to bring me strength, wisdom, and the power to trust life as never before.

Try The 12 Powers Meditation Now

Each of the 12 Powers has its own color and body location to visualize as you say the affirmation. I’ve memorized them in groups of four: Faith, Strength, Wisdom, Love — Power, Imagination, Understanding, Will — Order, Zeal, Elimination, Life. Give it a try now, breathing calmly and deeply as you visualize each color and say each affirmation.

BEGINNING AFFIRMATION: There is one presence and power in the universe, God, and I am one with it as the light of God surrounds me.

FAITH: Indigo Blue at Crown of Head. The Christ** in me now activates Faith. I trust God**, knowing God’s will is for my highest good. I give thanks for the gift of Faith.
STRENGTH: Pale Green at Lower Back. The Christ in me now activates Strength. I am strong and unafraid. Strength surges through me, giving me energy, endurance, and vigor. I give thanks for the faculty of Strength.
WISDOM: Yellow at Solar Plexus, Under Rib Cage. The Christ in me now activates Wisdom (Judgement). I perceive beyond appearances, and am guided by Divine intuition into wise and perfect ways. I give thanks for the faculty of Wisdom.
LOVE: Pink at Heart. The Christ in me now activates Love. I am a radiating center of Divine Love, loved and loving to everyone (including myself). I give thanks for the faculty of Love.
POWER: Purple at Throat. The Christ in me now activates Power. My thoughts and words vibrate with spiritual power. I give thanks for the faculty of Power.
IMAGINATION: Pale Blue at Forehead. The Christ in me now activates Imagination. I see creative, new ways to do what is mine to do. New opportunities to experience God’s good are coming into my life. I give thanks for the gift of Imagination.
UNDERSTANDING: Silver at Front of Head. The Christ in me now activates Understanding. God is present in all situations and in every relationship. The perfect outworking of every situation is being revealed to me now. I give thanks for the faculty of Understanding.
WILL*: Gold at Center of Head. The Christ in me now activates Will. Not my will but God’s be done in my life. God molds me and uses me as God wills. I give thanks for the faculty of Will.
ORDER: Dark Green at Belly Button. The Christ in me now activates Perfect Order. My spiritual path unfolds in its proper sequence. Divine timing and order are now established in my life. I give thanks for the faculty of Order.
ZEAL: Saffron/Orange at Back of Head. The Christ in me now activates Zeal. I am enthusiastic and excited about life. I feel good pouring through me and I experience miracles in my life. I give thanks for the faculty of Zeal.
ELIMINATION: Brown/Rust at Lower Abdomen. The Christ in me now activates Elimination (Renunciation). I am free of the past, and release all false and useless attitudes, emotions, and reactions. I am at one with God and with life. I give thanks for the faculty of Renunciation.
LIFE: Red at Reproductive Organs. The Christ in me now activates Life. Every cell in my being is charged with the pure, restorative life of God. I give thanks for the faculty of Life.

CLOSING AFFIRMATION: There is only one Presence and Power, God the good, omnipotent. Father/Mother God and I are one.

If you use this practice regularly, you’ll be amazed by your calm, trusting outlook on life—even when things appear scary and uncertain!

NOTES

*I changed “Will” to the color Gold (as in The Golden Key by Emmet Fox); and “Understanding” to Silver, as that’s how I first memorized them.

** You may wish to substitute your own terms for the words “Christ” and “God.” (“Christ” refers to your divine, true self; and “God” is your higher power as you understand it.) Also, you might say the affirmations in your own words.

Gigi Langer

Worry Less Now!