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Back Seat Drivers: What’s Driving You?

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I was packing up my display for my journey home from an event, I took care in finding a way to place Buddha. Within seconds, the thought crossed my mind… use the safety belt! Buddha was now nestled into the passenger side back seat; buckled snug and secure for the hour ride home. (As you will discover, I have a sense of humor which sometimes needs explaining!) I thought I was funny and just couldn’t resist snapping a photo and sending it off to family, friends, Instagram, Facebook…. get the picture?Buddha_Back Seat Driver Article_ Raylene Sousa Medium photo

Realizing that my friend (who had gifted this Buddha) was packing up too, I excitedly called out to her to come see.  As she approached, I pointed towards my back seat and said, “Yeah, who’s driving you? I have Buddha! My back-seat driver for the day!” We laughed.

Pictures speak a thousand words. The image gave way to me contemplating the symbolism of my initial testing. How teachings that resonate within our soul drive us to do the things we do, whether beneficial or not, those times subtle voices of wisdom are overshadowed by ones’ ego. You know the feeling when you are deciding what to do, or not to, and your inner knowing points you in one direction, but your ego doesn’t want that answer? When self-doubt and conflict arise?

As we resist our ‘gut’ feelings, we often begin the self-dialogue of ‘what if’s’ and ‘why not’s’, as well as solicit the opinion of others until we get the answer we want to hear. It is key to remember that each action is followed by a reaction; good, bad or indifferent. We mistakenly look outside ourselves for the easy answers; the quick fixes that allow others to make our decisions for us. We have (in ways) forgotten that we all came into this world with a true meter of knowing how to solve and to evolve! The inner knowing; our intuition, that gut feeling that at times defies logic with a sense of: “If I just trust this feeling… all is well.” When we go against that feeling or adhere to the advice of others, often we are left still feeling conflicted and internally riddled with those ‘what if’s’.

Remember… our Soul’s purpose is to evolve to our highest and best! As a Spiritual Medium, my psychic senses are naturally heightened. That doesn’t mean that I do not have my own Soul work to do, I have just become more in tune with knowing and trusting what I call ‘Spirit nudges’ which are NOT born of the ego. The ego invokes fears, doubts and manifesting worries.

The key is to go within and seek the truth. Our subconscious is where we are driven by old thought patterns that dispel that meant to serve the greater good if brought to the consciousness, our ‘awake’ state of presence. Once mankind’s awareness of this is heightened, the ego so many hold onto so tightly will dissipate. It’s a true responsibility once awakened, to love, not to judge. Loving is a more vulnerable state for oneself, whereas ego keeps defenses raised; protecting oneself from imagined fear. This is something to ponder more in depth when we consider how the ego keeps people from apologizing, accepting, understanding and loving without motive.

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Seeing Buddha in my rearview mirror, made me think of the times I have witnessed my sister receive an apology from someone in Spirit during a session. It is far too common that Spirit expresses the words their Souls longed to say while here on earth but did not until after they passed because their ego would not allow it. I know that there were times in my own life that I held onto a grudge. I have come to realize it occurs when I have placed set expectations on another and have handed my ego access to my Soul’s ‘GPS’.

Ego is set to auto pilot and a simple miscommunication can lead to a negative exchange of words. This unhealthy exchange brings out a sense of righteousness in being wrong. As I awakened I began to recognize that the ego’s plan is to recalculate and undermine my Soul’s growth. If it was happening to me and I could be so easily detoured, I knew I could not be alone in it. But, it was on me, no one to blame. I was witness to the exchange and given the opportunity once more to see clearly my part. This time around, it had resonated deep within the Soul of me. This shift of perception may feel like it happens overnight; when we clearly see our part in it all. I knew I was accountable for my actions, no one else’s, but reacting defensively encouraged a response of dwelling in a victim mindset.

We are given opportunities to witness and recognize the detour our ego has taken us down. We do not have to allow ego to be our backseat driver. Rather seek the guidance of those whose teachings take us back to the natural state of love as we were born knowing. We wouldn’t look to get even, find fairness, but instead, seek to love without condition or motives. We can be empowered with kindness, compassion, love, understanding, peace, and all feelings that invoke well-being not lack, scarcity, distrust, fear and the like.

So, allow the flow of love and remind yourself that no one’s perfect, go easy on yourselves. Trust me until we learn to rest our egos, our Soul will have the opportunity to revisit and practice it until we finally see ourselves and others through a lens of love.

 

Spirit Blessings!

Raylene

 

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