It’s okay, sweetheart!

“We are on a sacred journey that can often seem chaotic and frightening, but when understood from a more mystical, archetypal and transformational vantage point, our purpose and the Divine handiwork of this time becomes obvious.” –Carolyn Myss

I decided to pull out my two magic words today.

Some of you may remember them from previous posts. I probably even included them in one of my books.  I added the endearment “sweetheart” because it seems crucial to be really, really, really gentle with ourselves right now.

I’m sitting outside at my favorite coffee shop in Ajijic, Mexico. I hear birds singing, tree trimmers whistling and snippets of conversation from nearby tables.

I’m happy to report that the community that first drew me here nearly seven years ago continues to hold a vortex of peace, joy and faith even as emotions and fear swirl around the world.

As people of faith, we must refuse to let outside events control the narrative. We must remember, as someone said in the sangha yesterday, that we will always be the president of our own minds.

That’s why I considered headlining this post, “Lazos de amor.” But then thought the English translation, “only love is real” would speak to more of us.”

That sentiment, whether in English, Spanish, Arabic or any other language, is a universal truth. Only love is real. No matter what. No matter how it might appear to the naked eye.

Anything that doesn’t look like love is smoke and mirrors and it’s only temporary unless we decide to turn it into dogma. All fear can be dissolved with the power of love.

I’m here in Mexico on a sort of spiritual sabbatical to pull together the final pieces of my new book. My friend Jay suggested I announce here on the blog that it will debut in April, mostly because it creates a deadline for myself. We writers need these kinds of guard rails. Dates, deadlines are our friend.

I decided to self-publish this time around which is, in itself, a whole new adventure in creativity. I self-published two books when Taz was young. One of them (Jumpstart Your Metabolism) was eventually bought out by Simon & Schuster (now Atria) after I met a publisher in the green room of the New York talk show where I was demonstrating the book’s “energy cocktails.”

The other, Recycle this Book: And 72 1/2 Other Ways to Save “Yo Momma” Earth was published on recycled grocery bags with illustrations by a seven-year-old Taz. It came out for Earth Day in maybe 2000. The local paper even took our picture with Taz and me standing in our garbage can.

Because the publishing industry has changed so drastically, I decided it would be rather entrepreneurial to go the self-publishing route again.  But as I said, I need the deadline.

So folks, please hold me accountable. And please, please, please remember there is only love.

And please tell that president in your mind to have the very best weekend of your life.

#222 Forever!

Pam Grout is the author of 20 books including E-Squared, E-Cubed, Thank & Grow Rich and her latest book, The Course in Miracles Experiment: A Starter Kit for Rewiring Your Mind (And Therefore Your World)