This is an interesting conundrum; the idea of ‘Am I less than, you are less than, he or she is less than’…less than what?

I’m certain we all have compared ourselves to someone else at one point in our lives who seemed to be better looking, smarter, richer, younger, or in some way better, at least in our eyes.

Yes, I admit, just recently I saw myself as less than, because it appeared that the other person was exactly that: younger, prettier, more desirable to someone I love. It stung deeply. But then I asked myself: “Why not embrace who I am and what I stand for? Am I really ‘less than’ just because of appearances?”

Franz Kafka: "Everything you love will probably be lost, but in the end, love will return in another way."

The truth is that I am not this or that, not male or female, not white or black, not Mr. VP or Mrs. Superwoman. The fact is that I, my Soul, simply is the ‘I AM,’ (my awareness that I exist) nothing more, nothing less. ‘I AM’ contains all there is. Think about that one!

In dealing with my mental pain, I remembered that everyone (even the unlovely and unkind) is already perfect and good by nature, because each of us is an individual particle of the God-power. It’s our actions that are sometimes ‘not so good’.

Acknowledging the fact that I am in charge of my own life and knowing that I am the captain of my ship enables me to decide which direction to go. Loving myself and taking command over my own destiny takes courage and willpower. I have the courage to do so. I have the power to create my own perfect and loving world. Much easier said than done, I know, but I realized at that moment that I cannot be ‘less than’ my creator has created me, and therefore ‘I am not less than’.

As I am working on correcting my feelings and dispositions about my self-esteem and self-image, I find implementing the changes more difficult than expected. But I encourage myself to not give up. I accumulated my habits over a long period of time; so it will take time to change my mindsets and unravel the emotions. There are many layers of unresolved thoughts. I must keep digging, peeling off layer after layer, and stick with sound reasoning, and soon I will see the progress of my labor. It only takes 51 percent to tip the scale to a more positive experience. “Keep plowing”, I tell myself, “keep plowing…”
With Love, ULRIKE
​www.thehappypaintbrush.com

“What have you done lately to make yourself happy?” this is how my therapist usually starts the session. I think for a minute and he repeats “Really, not ‘what have you have done to make others happy, or help someone in need, or give support to your husband, but what have you done for yourself?” I think deeper and quietness ensues.
I always have, and still do pride myself in what I’ve accomplished, listed on my life’s goal list. I’m a list maker. I’m a planner, sometimes maybe too much of a planner. I live how I want to live. My desires are not elusive, nor imaginary. They are solid goals, achievable through my yearning, determination, and sincere want. I always make sure, however, that this desire is good not only for me but for all concerned. Selfishness has no place in Goodness.

My daily work is part of my self-expression. I express myself in many ways, and I make sure that I love what I do. When I love what I do, I am certain, I will express my highest self, my true nature, and through this love contribute to the good for all. Well, at least that’s the way I look at it.

But with all these goals and ‘black and white’ approach (another term I learned from my therapist) did I forget something? Did I miss the variance of ‘there is a middle ground’? Did I forget the enjoyment of self-love? Did this regiment of daily strategic planning and analytical reasoning neglect the wellbeing of my soul?  Did this habit of not always doing what’s mentally healthy for me, cause some of the challenges, because I overlooked the fact that I am valuable too? Did I ignore my capacity of self-love, thinking it wasn’t all that important, as long as I did right by others?
I gave deep thought to the statement: ‘Start loving how you want to be loved.’

I cannot give true love (not affection) if I doubt my own self-love. Am I good enough? Am I worthy of love? Are the doubts and fears of negative childhood experiences still influencing my self-worth today? Of course, but this love for self must be felt. I’m not talking about ego or self-aggrandizement. I’m talking about humble, kind, and grateful self-love.

Words are empty if they are not felt in the deepest chambers of your heart and I realize that I am the only one that can root for myself and accept myself as the person I have become. I do like myself, at least that much I can admit.
I appreciate that others are supportive and stand by me in hard times, but my true rooting and cheering comes from an inner sincere desire to be the best I can be. The best, not as a competition, but the best according to the Allness of Good, the factual Law of the Universe.
With Love, ULRIKE

I am by nature a positive, always looking for the good in everything, person. But like everyone else, after a couple of years of despair, sickness, and daily bad news, it has taken a toll on my psyche.

I’m ready to pick myself up and crawl out of this darkness. It’s time to see that goodness still exists, people want to get back to a somewhat normal life with joy and laughter, governmental improvements are starting to come to fruition, and there again is hope. Hope which had lessened to a degree that it no longer provided comfort, it had appeared to have lost its power. However, hope, which seemed to have been buried deep down, was still hanging on by a thin threat in my heart. Thank goodness!

And here it is, I am hungry for more spiritual food. I am no longer content with the daily fast-food I have provided myself by watching the pessimistic news, including my own wrong thoughts, moods, worries and fears, that I allowed to seep into my daily doings.

I am starting by being the gourmet diner I was before this disease struck, and going forward, I will feast from the delicacies of true Spirit only. I have that option and this feast is already waiting for me, ready to be served. My (and your) true purpose is upward progress, and when achieved, will free all of us from karmic bondage.

I know in my heart: Life is always full, not empty. It is full of opportunities, ideas, and the capacity to heal, love, grow as a person, and to fulfill my dreams. I tell myself that I must continue to see the good and full life only. Because Truth is Truth. Truth is the Allness of Good, and one day we will look back and realize this invaluable fact. 
With Love, ULRIKE
​www.thehappypaintbrush.com

‘Aaah, Patience! Where art thou?’ For some reason, the phrase ‘Give it time’ has been coming up a lot lately. Is the Universe trying to tell me something? Am I not seeing the signs?

I’ve heard ‘Give it time’ from friends and business partners, it pops up on TV, may it be in an ad or a show; even my doctor is periodically reminding me for the last couple of months: ‘Give it time’.

If you are like me, you want things to move, ideas to come to fruition, life to go on comfortably. I want to spice up my life with some fresh, new ideas. Why be stuck with the old and outgrown? After all, I have imagination, I have desire, and I have the power to create. So why this rush to action? Why not ‘Giving it time’?

Do I feel like I’m running out of time? Is the sense of time quickly passing a concern of mine?
 
I frequently remind myself that life is an adventure, a learning experience. Every day something new emerges, something else to solve or handle. Isn’t that the excitement of living? Does it feel like all my goals and ambitions will fade away by slowing down and ‘Giving it time’?

But here we are in these uncertain and confusing times, seemingly stuck, out of control, or so it seems, and therefore we are tempted to not only take control back of our own situation, but also to advise and lecture our loved ones.
If I can’t move fast enough with my own plans, I reason, at least I want to make sure that they are on this journey of betterment with me. Why do I assume I know a way out? Is it my defense mechanism brought on by years of self-preservation?
 
‘Give me time’ they utter, ‘I’m not ready for this…’ and so I must be patient and allow them to unfold on their own terms, their own time, inching their way toward perfection ever so gently just like the rest of us.
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And while my inner angels whisper ‘Give it time’ I remind myself not to forget to enjoy the process and to turn challenges into possibilities in a kind and loving way. Not just for them - but for myself. 

Every year, as the season changes once again and Spring approaches, I can’t help but think about the metaphysical meaning of the Cycle of Life.
 
I’m looking at my garden, now dormant and somewhat bare, through my large patio doors. I’m waiting for the gardener to give him the OK for the yearly pruning and trimming; getting the plants ready so the blossoms can sprout in their full glory again in a couple of weeks.
 
I can see the plants and bushes are getting ready to grow. Small green leaves will be peeking soon into the warm California sun. Oh, how I enjoy seeing this growth, the unfoldment of nature - reflecting the workings of Mind. Limitless Mind unfolding its full potential.
 
Looking back at ‘Winter’, the dormant or reflective time, has passed, at least here in the desert. A new awakening is in the air. I can feel it, smell it – there is hope of warmer days to come.
 
I know that Winter represents a resting period in the mental, a time-out to allow rejuvenation shown forth in nature. Renewal, revitalization, refueling of Spirit, and getting ready for the abundant explosion of more Life.
 
Everything we see is a visible expression of our Consciousness, a mirror image of our innermost soul substance. ‘Thought in action’ you might say, acting out our own personal movie.
 
As part of my experience, even in my garden, I am the creator, the writer, director, and actor. I am in charge, good or bad, successful or not, I am writing the script and I am choosing the actors.
 
Reminiscing about the gentle awakening of Spring; representing the infancy state of Consciousness with its germs sprouting eagerly, unfolding tiny flora and curiously peeking out of mother earth’s fertile ground.  Still small, yet powerful seeds of Life are always pushing upwards towards the light - just like the Soul wants to push upwards towards God’s glory. The gentle warmth of Spring embalms my Spirit and gives renewed hope to a new day.
 
And pretty soon we’ll be approaching the full splendor of summer. I embrace the life sustaining light and warmth of the sun. I fully absorb this invigorating force and feel the growth my Spirit has achieved.
 
Summer represents ‘Youth’ with its unlimited strength and fearlessness. The ‘Summer of our Mind’ is the time to reason and to make sound choices, the time to pave our paths. Enjoyment of the moment so desperately yearned for; this is the season to define who we are and to choose the road we will travel going forward.
 
As Summer dwindles and cooler days are on their way, I think about what comes next. Autumn, with its ripening of mature thought, it reflects ‘maturity of the mind’, fruition, fruit at its best!
 
At last, we have come to an understanding of our true purpose in life. We have reached yet another stage in our unfolding process. This season is the culminating mental state that defines who we are at this moment in time. And so we can rest once again.

It’s been a rough year for everyone, no doubt, but for me - the last 5 weeks of my life have brought some unexpected challenges and lessons to say the least. The big scary “C”, Covid-19, found its way into my system and has been holding on to several areas of my body. Yes, I consider myself incredibly lucky: I did not have to go to the hospital, I could breathe, I didn’t die. How grateful I am!

This forced staying in bed induced by incredible fatigue has given me the time to relook at ME, myself, my choices, my beliefs. It has opened a whole lot of areas of fear and doubts which I thought were long gone. But surprise! Here they are in all their evil glory!

After the first couple of weeks when the worst was over and as my son so appropriately said: “Mom, you didn’t fall off the cliff”, things seemed to get better for a few days. And then it stagnated. Each day was filled with all sorts of physical and mental changes, good and bad, happy at one moment and sad the next, experiences which sometimes seem to be unfair and frightening. It was, and still is at times, easy to fall into the deep dark hole of self-pity, ultimate misery.

The true cause of all manifestations, including sickness, are our (in this case my) innermost thoughts and feelings. Not the quick fleeting emotions, but the long held, ingrained ones. I know that what I am facing in my daily living are lessons about me, my life, my progress in unfoldment. They are here to show me what needs to be improved as this experience is very personal, it is all about me and my connection to my perception of my world. My daily lessons, as painful and frightening they may be, show me what needs to be improved in my world, i.e. my thinking and feeling, my Truth.

What truth? The Truth of Life. Knowing the Laws of the Universe, the Laws of God or better called the Law of the Allness of Good. I have Faith in the Allness of Good. It is my life’s principle.

Real or true Faith is not blind faith. True Faith is Understanding, Confidence, or the Faith in the Almighty’s Truth. It is Faith that all will work out no matter what the situation, knowing the truth of Universal perfection. Faith is the knowing that everything I desire already exists as a possibility in mind, including perfect health. It is a certainty of good things yet to come.
​
Love, Ulrike

There is a wonderful little tale, with great impact, in the book ‘Karma and Reincarnation’ by Paramhansa Yogananda. It’s called the “Magic Carrot” and in essence tells the story of a woman who never did anything good and acted purely evil. It seems appropriate to share this insightful tale at this time of fear and despair.
 
The story begins:
 
“The woman became more and more wicked as time passed, and at the time of her death she was thrust into Hades. The Angel of Death was hearing her complaints and the awful loud noises this woman was making and asked her to please remember one good thing she had done in her life. After thinking about it she told him that once, having a bunch of carrots for a meal, she found one with a worm inside and gave it to a hungry person. She told the beggar to only eat the good part of the carrot and to not kill the worm.
 
The Angel of Death said to the wicked woman: ‘That will do’, and quickly made the carrot appear. Then he told her to hold onto the carrot as good as she could; and promised that the carrot would get her into paradise.
 
As she was ascending to heaven another sinner grabbed onto her leg, and another, and another. As the woman saw that many others would benefit by holding onto her leg she got so angry that she tried to kick off the sinners. In the attempt to not allow anyone to be saved with her, she let go of the carrot.”
 
You can imagine what happened next. She spiraled down even further into the most unimaginable hell. Remember, even the smallest good deed or kind act will contribute to our salvation. Every tiny contribution we can make will be counted by the unalterable Law of Attraction or the Law of Cause and Effect.  As Goodness is all there is, nothing less is acceptable in this lifetime, or in the next and the next.
 
Have a blessed 2021
With Love, ULRIKE

The Holidays, I’m sure, bring out memories in many of us, reflections of more spiritual experiences during our upbringing. A reminiscing of where we were and where we are now in this chapter of our lives. Therefore, I found it appropriate to share my store with you my friends.

Being born in conservative Austria, I was raised in the Roman Catholic Church and taught from an early age that there is a place called heaven and hell, and a God that needed to be feared. I was told that ‘he’ knows everything and would punish me for all my wrong doings. I had to go and confess my sins (wow! how many sins can a little girl have?) and the subject of religion was taught by a priest in our village’s grade-school. We studied the bible and talked about Jesus and all his suffering, supposedly because we are sinners. We are at fault for his demise. What a heavy load to carry in a child’s mind. 

What I, of course, didn’t know at the time was that this early age bible studying would set the cornerstone for my future knowledge about the scriptures. It also would educate me about one of the most closed-minded, mystical, and unreasonable religions in this world – Catholicism.

I was about eleven years of age when I started to wonder: “If God hears and sees all I do and think, it seems that he would know me well. On the other hand, I reasoned, I am the only one who knows exactly what I think, feel, and want - did this God and I know the same things about me?

My idea of God felt close at the time and I realized that there was a special connection between me and this God, which I was told was supposed to be mysterious and intangible, and reachable only by church-going and prayer. That part didn’t make sense.

What I also couldn’t understand at the time was that he at times acted like a monster. He killed people, even little children and my pet rabbit. He didn’t listen very well to what I or anyone else had to say. Just look at all the people praying for different things and never receiving anything in return, I thought.

As years went by, I distanced myself more and more from the physical aspects of going to church. Instead, I started a journey of self-discovery that landed me where I am today, seeing a new perspective of the Almighty power.

After 38 years of intensive studies of Eastern and Western philosophies alike, and teaching years of metaphysics, the science beyond physics, I have concluded, that my God is everyone’s God. There is no difference. No matter what your background, faith, race, or religion, it is one God (a Power not a person), one Cause, one Law, for all people. We are all One, stemming from this All-Power, being born from the Universal Source, the mother LOVE.

This impersonal God does not look one way or another, he does not choose between you or me, he has no preference. God is everything and everywhere. He acts according to Universal Law. God is Love, Light, Power, Goodness itself.

I no longer believe blindly or accept someone else’s opinion. I search, study and test everything that comes my way. I proof theories to myself so I can be sure that it is based on Truth, Universal Truth.

I will leave you with my sincere thoughts and wish you a wonderful Holiday and a much better 2021.
​
My conclusion:
God is Universal power, the Almighty substance that sustains all life. I am part of this substance called Consciousness. I can think, and thinking is the conscious activity of this substance led by God’s urge of self-expression.
God is Wisdom. So, I, being part of this Wisdom, must choose wisely as to what I think. It is my duty!
God is good. So, I must be good, and act good, to live up to God’s standards. It is my duty!
God is Intelligence. So, I, being part of this Intelligence, must act intelligently and in accordance with the truth. It is my duty!
God is Love. So, I, being part of the permeating mother Love must love all beings and God’s creations, it is my duty!
 
For now, and forever more.
With Love, ULRIKE

I was talking to a couple of health professionals the other day - one an established, recognized physician, the other a psychologist – about the increase in health problems of so many patients, not all necessarily due to Covid-19, but due to the stress these uncertain times have put on all of us.

Both shared with me that the number of patients has dramatically increased in the past few months. Both also agreed that not only the pandemic, but also the uncertainty of our political environment, the threat of eminent violence in our back yards, and the anxiety and domestic tension this creates in the homes of our families have contributed to the immense increase in health problems. We all have our plates full, so to speak.

What can be done about it? How can we relieve the fear and worry, not knowing what’s going to happen tomorrow?

Firstly, I am a true believer that all is good, and everything will turn out OK. Easier said than done – I know, I’ve been struggling with this myself! But I have been holding on to the thought that the Universe, the Almighty, knows best and that all of these horrendous occurrences are lessons. Lessons we must learn in order to change our behavior toward each other and the planet.

This enormous health crisis cannot be eradicated with conventional medicine, home remedies, quick fixes, organic juices, lean food, diets, and all the other advertised cures we see on TV day in and day out. It takes science and scientists, devoted professionals, and the participation of all of us, including a change of attitude. The attitude that we are all One and that it takes all of our compassion for each other to heal our immediate surroundings and the Nation.
Remember, our physical and emotional aches and pains are the reflection of our painful, unhealthy, negative, fearful thinking. The body expresses our state of mind, be it calm and peaceful or full of tension and distress. The body is the faithful servant of our minds, mirroring forth the feelings we give importance to and the constant worrying about our future.

It’s not an easy task, but since we, by ourselves, cannot control the world and other people’s actions, let us make sure our own current thoughts are full of love and appreciation, and free of worry and fear (at least to some degree – one day at a time), so we don’t have to experience the same agony and discomforts tomorrow. We can control only our own reactions and behaviors – but it’s a start.

I do believe that real health and peace of mind comes from healthy, peaceful, wholesome thoughts, because harmony is the underlying principle of life. I‘m keeping the Faith!
​With Love, ULRIKE