"Beauty for Ashes"
My name is Loni Willis and “I AM” a very passionate individual who’s learned to genuinely embrace the woman I’ve become over time. Life has a way of shaping and molding character whether we like it or not, and the process itself may be rather excruciating. As a result, when it’s all said and done we may discover inner strength we never felt capable of developing. This type of spiritual awakening can generate a euphoric feeling…priceless, far beyond description and surely worth the endurance.
The truth is that my journey over time (like many others), has been anything but easy. Nonetheless, I will happily confess how GRATEFUL I’ve become as a result of the experience. My expression to the world is in fact, a direct result of my journey. If I’d never experienced any resistance, pain, fear, disappointment, rejection, betrayal, disrespect, failure or illness perhaps I wouldn't be so open to sharing my thoughts right NOW. After all, it is through sharing our very own experiences that others may benefit. Think of how our parents, friends and others told us stories which have somehow enlightened or inspired us. Sometimes, however it’s just simply the realization that you are not alone in thought. That someone else in this world can relate to where you’ve been, and how you’re moving forward. Whatever has transpired in my life whether I feel I’ve invited it or not, has shaped me “personally.” In my opinion there are no wasted experiences, because there’s always something worthwhile to walk away with (even if only a lesson). We may or may not see it initially, but it’s there. Over the years, I’ve learned a great deal about human nature and how it relates to various circumstances. This is primarily in reference to my own “previous way of thinking.” If I’d never become frustrated as a result of unhealthy thought patterns… I would have never decided to make changes. Change as we know, can be a very good thing. Circumstances have taught me to work on looking at many things differently, while consistently evaluating boundaries. These boundaries include people, places, scenarios, and how they affect my day-to-day life. “Peace of Mind” along with “Soul Beauty and Balance,” have become my greatest desires. If what I am experiencing does not generate those three things, I work quite diligently to make adjustments. Changes do not always occur overnight, but the good news is… “they do occur.” Many great things in my life have been accomplished over time, and I’ve learned to remind myself of this every single day. The important thing to do is stay the course, until a breakthrough occurs (in whatever area we have concerns). Sometimes it’s just inches away, but to realize this it may only require a shift in thoughts coupled with clarity of mind. I believe we all have days of discouragement. At least I know I do, because I’m “perfectly imperfect.” :-) However, unless you’re a “quitter” (which I’m sure you’re not)… you don’t have much of a choice other than pressing forward. We just have to keep working until something happens and pair it with visualization. I strongly believe consistent visualization of what we hope to accomplish is “key.” This… I can personally attest to. Ok… let’s bear in mind, adjustments I speak of can be anywhere from shifting to the total opposite of what’s being endured, to only making small profound adjustments. Challenges we face do not always require “complete omission” (remember, no pain… no gain). There have in fact been times in which all I personally needed to do to generate a degree of resolution, is make a few adjustments. Every scenario can’t be fully eliminated and for me to reach even a fraction of resolve… it required an ABUNDANCE of prayer and meditation. It is in expressing Gratitude to God, asking Him questions and listening to His answers that any resolve has manifested for me… period. Once I become still and experience “Peace of Mind,” barriers come down on my behalf. For that… I AM Grateful. As a matter of fact, 3 things most important to me “NOW-a-days” are: having peace of mind, soul beauty, and balance. When any one of these are in jeopardy, I admit there’s usually going to be a bit of an issue. Lol In order of what I feel is important, let’s examine what I consider “a domino effect.” Having peace of mind is at the very top of my list, because the mind is scientifically and spiritually known to be the hub of the body. It controls everything and knowing this helps me understand that when it’s not clear or functioning at optimal state, other issues can be triggered almost instantaneously. This may be a direct result of stress or other concerns, and can compromise productivity, interpersonal relationships and ultimately the “spirit within.” When my spirit is not in balance, the light within becomes very dim and when the light within becomes very dim, “dis-ease”… may have the opportunity to take root. If “dis-ease” develops, life can be placed in jeopardy. When I say “disease,” I don’t just speak only of diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and other physical ailments… but resentment, anger, hostility, depression and more. When the body is out of harmony, it is not “at ease.” When the inside of your temple is in disarray, it can set up residency for illness. Trust me, I’ve been there with having breast cancer nearly 10 years ago and because I’ve been there… I don’t plan to go back again. In a constant effort to eliminate myself from “harm’s way,” I’ve decided to work diligently to keep “my three things” as much intact as humanly possible. Some ways I obtain these things entail: prayer, meditation, improving my diet, some exercise and large daily doses of healthy thoughts. Even still… I continue to be a work in progress just like everyone else. Life “itself” IS an infinite process. My last reference touched on how strongly our minds can affect our external state of life. It is however, just as important to not allow the outside world affect the internal state. It can flow either way and let’s face it, “life happens.” At this point in my life however, I’m not interested in connecting with anything which has the potential to destroy my inner peace. These things again could include people, places and toxic scenarios in general. “I AM” perfectly human, but as I move forward in life I’ve decided to work harder to choose more wisely. Whether it’s the outside affecting the inside or vise-versa, the bottom line is that some type of harmony has to be obtained in order to function optimally. Whatever it takes to accomplish this which feels reasonable…. let's go for it. Again, at the end of the day it can become the difference between life and death. All in all, I’ll just say… let’s know our limits and be unapologetic in regards to them. This may require stepping outside of the box, and could generate some discomfort in the process. However, as long as you feel you’re pleasing unto God and at peace with it… I truly believe all else will fall into place. I’ve been ranting for a long time… So I guess you ask what does all this talk have to do with the title of my blog, “Soul Beauty & Balance?” Simply put… “Beauty for Ashes,” and we all have it. The expression “beauty for ashes” generally refers to restoration after trials and tribulation. The word balance is what helps us become more productive individuals. It is also what I feel we experience, when the beauty of our souls become so powerful it radiates outward. All our resilience, “Beauty for Ashes,” perseverance or whatever we may call it makes us who we are, decorating our spirits. I no longer resent my challenges, because they’ve only matured me over the years and made me stronger (even when it didn’t feel possible). As I’ve stated at the beginning, I AM happy with who I’ve become, and perhaps now you can understand why. When the soul endures challenge, it generates a special type of passion that anxiously desires to reach the outer world. That same energy and strength from God, has the potential to have positive impacts on our environments. Whether it’s through demonstrating hope or through other positive manners it is beautiful. In this day in time, how can anything which serves as a beacon of hope and of positivity not be of “God’s Beauty?” Soul Beauty (in my opinion), is not connected to vanity at all. It is merely an inner glow we exude, as a result of allowing God to Bless and/or heal our hearts. Its’ purpose, I believe is to express love for God, love for self and of course love for others. When it reaches the outside of us, it can have a profound impact on the world we live in and serve as encouragement. So let’s celebrate our resilience and soul beauty daily, allowing that energy to be a Blessing to others. When the soul is beautiful… it tends to generate an aura some people can’t immediately explain. It may grasp one’s attention beyond physical appearance, which is a wonderful thing. I’m sure we’ve all encountered individuals from time to time who possess this quality called, “positive energy.” From the very 1st moment you connect with them, something about their disposition not only reels you in… but locks you down. It is my firm belief that most individuals exuding this type of energy have experienced something in their lives to activate this quality. Let’s just describe this as, “cause and effect.” It is my absolute pleasure to encounter individuals with this type of energy, because they have the tendency to lift you up higher even subconsciously. These spiritual beings leave footprints we may admire, and want to follow. Positive energy goes a long way and if you can relate to anything at all expressed in this blog… I believe you exude this type of energy as well. No matter what happens, always remember the world is a much better place simply because people like you exist. YOU… are an Abundant BLESSING to those around you! ;- ) Blessings to all, who took the time to read this entry. I sincerely appreciate your support and hope you’ll continue to follow me as I move forward. I just wanted to formally introduce or reintroduce myself and express my inspiration for this blog. I have so much more to say as we move forward, but in the meantime… stay beautiful and please “stay tuned.” Thank you very much! :-) Peace!
