But the world suffers so how can I be happy?!

Don't I understand this suffering world, hyper-vigilant avenger super shero identity! And as a highly empathic person (just really really sensitive to other people's actual feeling vibrations) I can get pretty paralyzed if I go down this road.

About twenty years ago I had a huge a shift that began the journey towards a more capable identity for me. I was cleaning my daughters' room one cold winter day while they were at school. While I was picking up mittens I became overwhelmed by the thought that my children had about five pairs of mittens and some children had none. Suffering shot through my entire body. How could a world be like this?! How can I continue to participate in a world that existed without mittens for all children?! I barely made it over to the bunk beds. I climbed up to the top bunk and just laid there. I was paralyzed with suffering.

Slowly I remembered the Animal Totem tool that I had just learned. In Animal Totem work people look at the energy vortexes in their bodies, known as chakras, and see what animals images show up in those spots. Animal Totems are ever changing, so a turtle hanging out in a heart chakra can morph into a rabbit. The idea is to use this as a tool to get to know oneself better. The Animals have unique medicine, or attributes, that ;people can choose to embody in some way. For example a skunk means respect. One doesn't have to get sprayed by a skunk to know to give it a HUGE circle of  a boundary lest one gets covered in skunk smell. If someone is having difficulty with being respected, one could call on skunk medicine. A stuffed animal skunk or skunk pendant could be used to remind one of the respect one needs to have in one's life. So in Animal Totem work, animals show up in certain areas that can give one some clues about how to handle a situation, etc.

I was on the bed, unable to resolve how it could be that more mittens were in our house than needed while not enough mittens were elsewhere. I decided to just ask, in my mind, for an Animal Totem energy to come and help me. I was sinking under the pressure to save the world in that moment and I needed help!!!

Immediately I saw the image of a beautiful big Hawk. It flew towards me and landed on my right arm. It was a lovely vision for a moment and I waited for something fantastic to happen. The Hawk just stood grabbing on to my arm, and it "felt" very painful. I thought, "This is so odd. I can actually feel this image in my mind on my actual arm." I started to get very agitated. My inside head talk was complaining that here I had prayed for self peace and instead I get a sharp taloned Hawk digging into my forearm causing me more pain! That is what I get for asking for help!

And then I head this powerful firm force say, "Let go of the pain and feel the power." I thought this was the wackiest thing I had ever experienced or heard before. As surreal as it was, I did choose to listen. "Let go of the pain..." I realized that I had been focusing on the tips of the talons that felt like they had broken the skin on my arm because they were so powerful and sharp. "And feel the power." What power I wondered. What is going on here?! And then I understood. Then I got it! I shifted my focus from the painful talon tips to the strength of the grasp of the Hawk. Once I felt how strong he was, I didn't notice the little painful points painfully almost piercing my arm.

"Let go of the pain and feel the power." I realized then that I had power in these situations. I may not always know what that is, however it is more helpful and empowering to focus on what I can do rather than the pain of being a victim to suffering. This does not deny that suffering exists. This does not say that all children don't need mittens. This revelation simply means that if I focus on the pain then I am looking at and choosing to continue suffering for myself and others. If I feel my power then I can continue to love everyday, I can take actions that empower others, I can start a mitten drive, and/or I can visualize world in which all children are warm in the winter. By focusing on the pain I make it real and it will envelope me.  By focusing on my power I feel my strength, my ability to help change happen, and live a life that advocates for the care of all people.

When I get obsessing in my head and think thoughts and feel feelings primarily about a painful event in my life or in the world, inevitable a Hawk will fly obviously close to me. Once a Hawk even flew under a bridge right at my front windshield. "WAKE UP", its flying intensity reminded me, "Let go of the pain and feel the power!"

 Let's be present in our  power today. Focus only on the power in the present moment. The suffering of the past is an illusion. The projection of suffering in the future is an illusion. When we choose to let go of our emotional suffering, when we move our consciousness away from the pain we perceive is happening, then our power of love, compassion, and assorted life skills ground our attention and intention. When this happens, we DO affect positive change, blissful outcomes, and the kind of happiness that comes from being powerful capable people.

Today make it a first day to begin the very important transition of letting go of the pain and the feeling power. Feeling and living in our self  power is where it is at...ask a Hawk and she'll tell you!