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Browse published articles attributed to Joeel A. Rivera, with full-archive search.
We all have a story to tell that makes us who we are today. We ask people to tell their transformational stories in this magazine; therefore, I am going to share my story here this month. Through this letter to my brother, I will share how our enlightened relationship transformed my life. Daniel,
We were not born knowing how to walk, tie our shoes, use words to communicate with others, or ride a bike, yet we probably are good at doing these things today. As a child, we had to learn and change in order to acquire these skills, yet somehow as adults we tend to resist learning new things or changing. So what is the difference between embracing those major changes in our early lives and opening to change today?
Welcome to 2013… Can we all let out a sigh of relief? Relief because the belief that the world was going to end in December 2012 has finally been released, and we can start looking at this new age for what it is. It is a new chapter and a new beginning. However, this beginning is not really new, it’s just gaining more traction. Conscious minds have been coming together for years now, and as the momentum grows we continue to impact the whole as well as other individuals looking for their inner truth. The new age and the New Year are opportunities to redefine your relationship with you.
Let’s face it, no relationship is perfect, and there’s always room for improvement. The relationship that stops growing, evolving, and developing will suffer the consequences: problems. It is important to realize that relationships are a partnership, a team, and cannot be dependent (long term) on one person evolving and improving while dragging the other person through life. In other words, you are either growing together or apart. The first thing you need to do is be real and genuine about where your relationship is at because one of the biggest causes of relationship problems is distance.r
There have been moments of great change and transformation throughout my life, to the extent that I feel as if I have lived many lives within one.
Jake is an atheist; Stacy is a devout Christian. Bill loves to spend; Cristy loves to save. Victor loves a vacation out in the woods, camping in a tent; Amy prefers a nice condo on the beach. Steve gets up at 6:00 am in the morning; Megan believes the day should start around 10 am. The list of differences in relationships can go on and on. The questions are: Do they make the relationship better or worse? Do opposites attract? And if they do, will their relationships work long term?
“Thankfulness brings you to the place where the Beloved lives.”rn— Jalaluddin Rumi, Persian Sufi poet
“How can I love her one minute and dislike her so much the next?” “I feel he’s my soul mate, so why do we constantly fight?”
One of my biggest passions is entrepreneurship and creation. I love to hear people’s stories of how they followed their passion and either created or found a career that truly fits who they are. This is in large contrast to many whose jobs, careers, or personal businesses are not in alignment with their passions and so with time deprive them of joy. Some studies show that 80 percent of people are dissatisfied with their jobs, which is unfortunate because our relationship with our career is probably one of the most important aspects of our journey.
We all have a past, and some would say we all carry baggage. We are quick to think of ways to get rid of the baggage that we perceive as holding us back. However, what if we have gotten it all wrong? What if we are trying to get rid of our road map for life? It’s like asking a boat captain to get rid of the sail on his boat in order to lighten the load. Many people get caught up in this cycle of finding ways to improve their life by repressing or replacing the past. However, the only thing that they are doing is chasing a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
In your relationship, are you trying to live a dream that you were sold or are you creating the reality that you want?
Have you ever finished an argument or conversation, only to realize five or 25 minutes later that you are still having the conversation in your head? Have you ever experienced someone saying something to you that triggers an emotion and you were left wondering where your reaction originated? Why does this happen? Many people seek the answer outside themselves, through reading books or learning how to understand others.
If you are reading this article you probably have heard about the Law of Attraction, which states that you can attract things into your life based on what you think about. When I first became aware of it, many years back, I felt intrigued, excited about the possibilities, and at the same time skeptical. I don’t know about you, but I am a natural skeptic. I know if I was a fish I surely would not be the one ready to bite into the best looking shrimp with a hook, no matter how tempting the “bait” seemed.
Do you remember what it was like to play as a child? A time when you had no worries and completely enjoyed the now? Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and for a moment remember one of your best childhood experiences and try to relive it. Remember what you were doing, the sounds, the people (if any), and the smells. For many, those memories bring about feelings of joy and nostalgia.
Every intimate relationship goes through cycles—whether new or old—and one thing is certain: There always will be change involved in the process. It all comes down to how we handle change and the kind of energy that we want to create in a relationship with our partner. It is easy to get caught up in the story that we tell about ourselves and our partner. If anyone asked you about your relationship and you were genuinely honest, what story would you relay? What would be the positives and negatives?
A horse, you may ask? Well, we will get to that later… Many people will make resolutions for their relationships this time of year, such as improving intimacy. If you want to improve your intimacy—or make any other changes—you must first have a clear idea of what needs improvement and how it can be accomplished, and then make a list of action steps to take toward the desired goal. The next step? Take action.
A couple of days ago I was enjoying a beautiful day in nature exploring with my daughter and Natalie (my other half). We walked through the trails, caught bugs (my daughter loves bugs), canoed, and stared in amazement at the trees—but most importantly we laughed and enjoyed the simplicity of life. As adults we feel that there is a lot we can give or teach to our children. However, we often forget that they are often our greatest teachers. One of the greatest lessons I learn from my daughter is how to find joy in the now and appreciate the simple things in life.
Dear Dad: Bendicion! I have heard that we all have guardian angels that bless our lives and watch over us. However, I feel fortunate that my angel has been with me in a physical reality, since my guardian angel has been you. I feel extremely grateful and blessed to have you in my life. You are not only my father, you are a soul companion. There are no words or actions that can express to you how much of an impact you have made on who I am today. I remember as a child how much I wanted to be like you—putting on your clothes even though they were several times my size.
Breaking down the prison and letting the inmate free is one of the best things you can do to truly free yourself and create the life that you want or the relationship that you desire. You may say, “I am not holding any one in a prison,” but in reality everyone creates a prison—and the inmate you are trying to set free is yourself. This prison is created by not forgiving. In fact, many times unforgiveness is the biggest piece of baggage that you can carry.