The Pause Button Connection/Reflection Spiritual Health Exercise

P =  Suggestion that you close your eyes and pause for reflection/heart connection.

Please read this entire process before starting to practice it.

My intent with this exercise is to provide an enjoyable spiritual health practice that you find worthy of your time and commitment   As a culture, we are still learning to practice mutual support effectively.  By support, I mean the simple showing of respect for, love for and agreement with others.  Practicing these things expands our communal consciousness.  Expanding this consciousness is, I believe, at least a large part of what we are here to do.  It is really about what the road to 2012 is all about.  In the time leading up to December 21, 2012 we are learning how to connect more fully with our loving selves and each other.

I believe that it is spiritually helpful to accept as truth the idea that all virtues are anchored in the heart. And that we simply are challenged to identify with the heart as who we are at depth.  I see the heart as the pulsing of my soul.  In choosing to conceptualize it in this way, I get a higher level of clarity and comfort with the mystery!
Please pause and consider this with your heart: How do I identify myself?  Is identifying with my heart an effective way of conceptualizing who I am? (P)

If growing in awareness of what is truly important---becoming more loving, for
example---how do we conceptualize our essence in the most effective way?

How do we get better in touch with the callings of the heart?  It makes sense to my heart that it would serve me to make such an understanding with the heart a priority in my life.    So I ask you now to pause with me and consider whether it makes sense to your heart to prioritize---at the top of the list----the unfolding of your loving nature. (P)

How do we GET there, to the completeness of it All?   One powerful tool is found in the creation of spiritual alliances with others.  The other facet of this exercise has to do with connecting with your deepest self frequently.

Here is how the practice unfolds:

Day One:
Take a look at the list and choose one of the attributes or virtues that you would like to expand within yourself.  Or choose another word that fits what you intend to be more of in your life.

• Love
• Courage
• Trust
• Compassion
• Heart
• Wisdom
• Patience
• Presence
• Joy
• Clarity
• Generosity

Use the word you  chose to fill in both blanks below:
I Am this ____________________.  I am that  ___________________. (same word)
With closed eyes and one hand on your heart, repeat these short sentences out loud for a few minutes when you are alone, pausing briefly between each set of the two sentences.    When you affirm that you are THIS virtue, you acknowledge it as a part of who you are.  When you affirm that you are THAT virtue, you see it as part of your external world to which you are connected. 
As you slowly repeat these words, just listen to what you are saying, hearing  with your heart.  Focus your attention there.  Feel your heart AS you.  If it feels right, you might choose to do this for up to 10 minutes.

Day Two:  Repeat the same two sentences using the same word as on the first day, saying these power declarations for three to ten minutes, whatever feels right to you. There is no need to use a clock unless you are concerned about getting totally lost in time!  Which might be a good thing!

Day Three:  Repeat the same two ideas again, looking deep into your own eyes in a mirror, getting your nose within a few inches of the mirror, if possible.  Two minutes this time will be fine.

Day Four:  Repeat the practice with the mirror.  Again, two minutes is sufficient.

On Day 5, you begin looking for an ally in this practice, someone who will initially simply sit with you as you gaze into each others’ eyes with a loving feeling in your hearts.  On the 5th and 6th days, choose a friend who agrees to simply sit with you and lovingly absorb the power of your intent as you express the same two power sentences for just one minute.  The person chosen has the opportunity to simply agree to be with you for one minute, two days in a row.  (This can be done by phone or videophone, if necessary.)

Please do not get into the potential ongoing aspects of this practice with any prospective practice partners.  That can be discussed after you have completed the two days of one minute practice with them.

Each of you agrees to admire and respect the heart of the other, intending to project that love to each other and to accept that love deeply at the same time.  You explain that this small process is something that is important to you and that they are someone you trust and appreciate.  These alliances are intended to foster the loving unfoldment of each person participating.  If the person you ask to join you in this is not willing, please quickly back off.  It is always an unquestioned choice absent pressure.

There is absolutely no pressure on you to find a partner in this process on this fifth day.  If you do not create a partner, simply repeat the mirror part of the practice until you do enroll a partner.

After you have expressed your two power sentences on the 6th day, your partner, should they accept, is then given the opportunity to share the process.  You simply refer them to this website or give them a copy of this practice.  A printer-friendly version of this practice is available on a link in the upper right corner.

On the same day that your prospective partner agrees to experiment beyond the simple sitting with you, they start from Day One as you did---by their self---choosing a word to create their own power statement.  Alone, they continue through another day of saying the statements and two more days of saying them with a mirror, just as you did when getting started.  During this time, you might choose to practice alone with the mirror.  On the fourth day, if they are willing, you connect to reflect each other.

If your prospective practice partner agrees to join in this ongoing process with you, then you can choose how often to meet.  Early on, some may wish to do it daily.   Some might choose once or twice weekly.  Come to a mutual decision and also commit to how many weeks you are willing to do this.  Consider keeping the initial agreement to a week or two.  You can always choose to renew it.

How the Practice Works With a Partner

First, each spends a minute projecting their Power Focus, with the other absorbing in a loving, receptive way.  See the other as they express their Power Focus as now having that attribute or virtue.  Feel that you have it, too!   Let your eyes show your acceptance, respect, love and trust of the other.  Let your body posture and facial expression project calm power: Smile, shoulders back, chin up.

Note: the virtue or attribute can change each time you do this, or you can stick with one of them indefinitely.  It is suggested that you stick with your original attribute for at least a week.

The total time with each partner once you have established the desire to meet regularly is four minutes.  One minute for each of you to express you Power Statements, and one minute for each of you to, with the other, send loving energy to a person or group of your choosing.  Each partner chooses and then is supported as you both envision a white light projecting from your heart to a person or group.  The targets of your loving intent can change each week or remain the same for as long as you wish.

Hugs or a warm handshake are great ways to complete your partner practice.
Practice this for at least two weeks before creating additional partners for this one-on-one practice.  Pick up to seven people with whom you agree to do this, never pushing anyone in the slightest of ways to do this if they do not wish to do so. 

There is no pressure to add practice partners at any particular pace.  You will tend to sense the right people to approach.  One or two may be just right for you.

The last part of this practice is completely optional, but highly recommended:  Each participant, every morning will remind themselves of something or someone for whom they are grateful.  And then each evening think of something that they forgive in themselves or another.  This might be easiest to remember if you place a small sign on either side of  bedroom mirror or someplace you will see it upon arising and before going to sleep.  One sign is “I am grateful for…..”  The other, “I forgive….”

Time spent on this can be as little as 10 seconds or as long as you wish.  You may start a meditation with it, or just briefly choose the idea.  You might send out loving energy from the heart to the focus of your forgiveness or gratitude, especially if the target is yourself.  In this case, you might choose to focus all your loving energy on your heart as you feel it radiating its love throughout your body and mind. 
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Sharing your experiences with this practice would be appreciated.  Please write
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