The ability to have compassion for others extends beyond the illusionary borders of States and Countries. Compassion for others awakens in us a desire to know the origins of the suffering that we see. This seeking for answers questions the status quo.

While deepening our connection to others, we begin to see the oneness that has always been but was disguised by “me”ness, a feeling of powerlessness and fatigue.

The Rosa Parks of the world, for centuries, have shown us that one person can begin a demand for change that becomes a groundswell to force change.

No one knows better how to trigger stressful responses in you than your family members. Maintaining your inner peace is often a real challenge at holiday times when you are around family that you haven’t seen in a while.

No matter what your age is now, they expect you to still respond in the same manner to their remarks and antics as you did when you were younger. They don’t understand that you have grown mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. They are comfortable with the “old” you and seek to see that “old” you.

Can you smile at their antics, recognizing their discomfort with change and the fact that they are just reflecting where they are now? Can you honor who they are now with tolerance for they, too, are on their own spiritual path?

You are entitled to the opinion that while your spiritual path is on the “straight and narrow,” theirs is wandering all over the place, but can you respond without making that opinion a judgment? Can you reflect back peace with respect in your voice and manner?

Unconditional love accepts people for who they are. Acceptance does not mean that you aren’t expected to set a better example. People learn by example.

We are all teachers for others, but lecturing and berating others often turns them away. The axiom goes: “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” So, be sweetness and light.

These are some of our challenges as we seek peace within and cultivate true peace in the family and on the planet. Let’s make a plan to help you make it through these holiday times and beyond.

· Remember to do your Grounding every morning and every time you get upset. This will help you to run off your stress and see the world more objectively and less emotionally.

· Do your Brain Balancing every morning so you have the knowledge and wisdom to respond calmly and respectfully.

· Don’t take things personally, because people are really just trying to tell you where they are emotionally.

· Don’t let their drama become your drama.

· Remember, all are on their spiritual path no matter what route they take.

· Set a better example that you want them to follow. Be sweetness and light.

· Accept gifts graciously, because it shows the person was at least thinking of you.

· Set boundaries. This may be the season of giving but that doesn’t mean you have to give in to everyone’s demands of you. Acting out of Guilt is not coming from Love.

· When negativity comes into a discussion, change the subject.

May you find these suggestions helpful in cultivating true peace this holiday and beyond!

If you need to know how to Ground and Brain Balance, go to www.youtube.com/alterra1

Are You Ready? Change is Knocking.

Many of us right now are facing challenges and hoping for a miracle. Miracles, however, don’t always happen when you want them. The best option for transforming your life is to make changes in your day-to-day thoughts and behaviors.

Planetary shifts are happening, challenging us to move out of old patterns which no longer serve us. The world around you is not stagnant so it is time to get with the program.

You can’t really expect to get better results by doing everything exactly the way you always have. If you are seeking transformation, change has to be facilitated in order to allow it to happen. Wishing isn’t going to get you transformation, but action will.

Anyone who has a business will tell you how important it is to make changes from time to time. Even my local supermarket has recently rearranged its aisles to stimulate more impulse buying as people search for their intended purchases. Many corporations regularly change their ads seeking to stimulate sales.

Personal change begins with your decision to make things better. You may not have made that decision yet because you fear the challenges that come with change.

Yes, change may bring you moments of discomfort or challenge. The more you resist the challenges, the more difficult it is to make a transformation. To make the challenges less of a problem, you can do some preparation for your shift.

Don’t attempt to do a lot of shifting quickly without support. Develop a group of people who can give you guidance based on knowledge and experience. Have people that you can call on when you need to vent your frustrations or when you need to talk things out.

In addition, make sure that you are keeping yourself grounded to run off your stress. It also helps to allow yourself a little extra time for fun and for rest. We all need a break during trying times. Begin slowly because even weight lifters don’t try to lift 200 pound on their first attempt.

Begin to make the transformations that you are seeking whether they be on the mental, emotional, physical or spiritual levels. Open the door to change so you don’t get pestered by the continual knocking.

If nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies.~Author Unknown

Things do not change; we change.~Henry David Thoreau

The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.”Flora Whittemore

Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.~King Whitney Jr.

Change happens, that is for sure, and not just in our modern, 21st century era. It seems that the stress of the new affects most people in every age. So the trick is not to resist it, but to go with it.~ Author Unknown