Don't Give Yourself Away

One of the songs that I resonated with growing up was one of U2's most famous tracks, With Or Without You. This timeless classic, along with Foreigner's I Want To Know What Love Is, We Are The World, Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time, and a few others spoke to my heart and my soul growing up as a child and into my teenage years. My higher self knew the reason why I gravitated to each of these. The meaning behind U2's With Or Without You was not revealed to me in my physical realm until the past several weeks.

Before I mention how this song spoke to me, take a quick look at a portion of the song's lyrics below:

And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away

From as early as I can remember, I always loved to help people. In fact, I still do. I loved to make people smile. I still do. I love to make people feel good. I still do. I love when I can remind people of how special they are. I still do. I love to remind people of their value. In order to fully affirm reminding people of their value, I first had to be able to do that for myself.

For most of my life, I was operating under the old paradigm. My subconscious beliefs and mindsets, passed down from generation to generation, were running my day-to-day existence. I let people tell me what to do. I was a "people-pleaser," afraid of authority and power. I suppressed my emotions, feelings, and vulnerability. And yes, for all intensive purposes, I shut down my internal guidance system, while also believing that "there was something wrong with me" and that I was not good enough.

I wanted to be a sportscaster growing up, the next Chris Berman. Part of me even wanted to either work for the WWE or take my popular wrestling radio show, Monday Night Mayhem to Sirius XM Radio. How did that pan out? Well, I worked in collections for 13 years, experienced various perceived illusions and hardships, and was stripped "spiritually naked" not once, but twice. It could have looked like I lost everything. Depending your perspective of things, you may be right. I choose to take a look at things now from the perspective of my higher self.

Now here's the thing: I could easily go victim-consciousness mode and blame myself, blame my family, blame my college professors, and pretty much blame life and everything in it if I truly wanted to. I could. Looking back now, that would not make any sense to me at all. Everything happened exactly as it should, getting me to this next wave of the awakening.

I had to ask myself a series of tough questions, including "Why were things not working out for me?" I knew, in spiritual truth, that the Universe is always working with us, not against us, that all happens in perfect divine order, and that there are no mistakes. But my ego demanded not only one answer, but many answers. I would receive those answers through a unique form, when I was introduced to the work of Esther Hicks and Abraham.

Around that same time, I remember telling one of my friends a few months ago that it felt like "everything in my life was already here": I had met the woman I was to spend the rest of my life with. My son was already born. I was living in California. My book, My Empowering Miracle, was already published. I was speaking, teaching, and traveling around the world. The children's wellness center for terminally-ill children that my grandmother provided a vision for me was already open in San Diego. Wealth and abundance on every level imaginable were feeling as if they were already here. With this being said, part of me was asking God what was missing.

There was nothing "missing" in me. I was already perfect, whole, healthy, and complete just the way that I am. What I simply had to go was raise my vibration. Raise my energy levels. That I would be attracting everything that was meant to happen on my path. All I needed to do was love myself. Even more. Do the things that brought me happiness and joy. Fill my cup up first before anyone else's. This is where some of the powerful learning and some of the most amazing shifts in my life began to translate into my Earthly experience.

I had to first assess what I had created subconsciously. I had to take responsibility, ownership, and accountability for what I did. I had to forgive myself. I had to forgive every person whom I felt brought me perceived pain. I had to let go. Of every suppressed feeling of fear, guilt, shame, judgment, and all other lower-level vibrations that were stored in my cellular memory. Basically, I had to forgive and let go of the first 34+ years of my life and send it away with love. I CHOSE to do this. It was the only way to move forward and co-create the life that I was meant to have, the life of my dreams, a Spirit-driven life.

I can now look back and say certain things had to happen to get to this point. I had to learn important life lessons. When I opened up my publicity company, Empowered by John, in the summer of 2014, I remember trying to plan how I could leave collections and run the business full-time. I told myself, more or less, the following: "Here's how much I am going to charge. Here's the clients that I am going to work with. And here's how it's all going to look/unfold." Part of that is true. The last part, not so much. That's in God's hands. But there would be a time that I would be able to charge what I felt I was worth. And there would come a time where I would say "these are the types of clients that I am want to work with." That time...is now.

I remember a friend of mine asked me a question last week, asking me: "John, how much do you feel you are worth?" My head tilted sideways. I was ready to answer that, instead of dodging that question, as I had did so many times prior when the lovable topic of money was brought up by someone else. This Earth Angel told me: "John: You are priceless. You cannot even put a price tag on your value, on your worth."

I was beginning to realize over these past several weeks leading into this divinely-orchestrated conversation that someone may wish to work with you for who you know. There is truth to that. Someone will may also want to work with you based on what you know. There is also truth to that as well. But the thing that was beginning to make the most sense for me was that someone will want to work with you because of your ENERGY and your CREATIVITY. And I was now ready to place that belief into my reality. That, along with the belief that was shown to me by another dear friend and Earth Angel that I was worthy of having unconditional love in ALL of my relationships.

Leading into the 11.11 energy portal, quite possibly the biggest shift on our planet to date, and leading into the biggest Supermoon in nearly 70 years, I am ascending at a rapid rate. My entire life is changing with each present moment.

I am no longer tolerating abuse, because I no longer wish to abuse myself. I respect the time, value, and boundaries of others, because I am honoring the same for myself. I am loving myself first. And as the result, serving others is becoming more fun, something that is bringing me happiness and joy, not a "chore," as I saw it for decades.

I have begun to take my life back, and it feels very good. I let go and given the reigns fully to God, Spirit, my angels, and to Babcia, trusting in myself and my divine guidance, knowing that I am choosing the timeline of my highest self and for my highest and greatest good. I know that I have some work to do, that a few more present moments and shifts may be necessary for me to get to where I'd like to truly be, but I rest comfortably knowing that I am exactly where I need to be right now. That I am making tremendous progress. That I am moving in the right direction. And that's what counts the most. Not where I was. Not even where I am. But where I am going. California really is here in this present moment.

The advice that I can give to my fellow Earth Angels, empaths, and empowered souls is this: Do not give yourself away. Do not let those lyrics from U2's With Or Without You be the voice in your head, the one that projects fear, guilt, judgment, and shame all throughout your Earthly vessel.

Honor yourself. Honor your energy. Honor your worth. Most importantly, honor your love. You are worth more than you realize. You were put here for a purpose. Do you honestly think that you were put here to only work a desk job for a living, raise a family, pay your taxes, and die? In the words of my dear teacher and mentor, Wayne Dyer, "Don't Die With Your Music Still in You."

It took me several years for things to be revealed. What seemed like lifetimes of soul growth. But it was all worth it. At the age of 35, I am starting to embark on an excellent adventure. My dharma is just beginning.

So if you feel that you are lost, alone, or trapped, if you feel like there's no way out of your current "life situation," that things feel, look, and seem hopeless, do not give up. You are divinely supported more than you realize. God and Spirit are co-creating the perfectly-tailored plan for you, one that will allow yourself to be the you that you were born to be. Listening, following your guidance, and taking action steps will be required, but if you trust, if you believe, if you plant an inner knowing in your heart and your soul, those dreams will become a reality.

Despite what your five senses may want you to believe or what the opinions of others may be, do not sell yourself short. Do not settle. The time for "playing small" is done. Your soul will no longer allow that.

In spite of several illusions that may have seemed very real at times, I followed the path of my soul. I let my heart lead the way. I chose to surrender my life last summer after hearing the diagnosis of perceived testicular cancer. I made the bold decision to leave my full-time collections job without a "safety net." On the surface, I may have had everything taken away from me, but in truth, the old had to die, so that the new could be born. My new life. Being built with a healthy and strong foundation of faith. Being built one brick of gratitude at a time. My new bank account at Key Bank. One deposit of love at a time.

In truth, you already are a millionaire of love. Everything you want is already in your vortex. It really all is here. Right now. The question is whether or not you wish to believe that about yourself and your life. Do you feel worthy of accepting this as the truth? The choice is up to you. The Universe will support you in whatever you decide.

Remember this: You are a child of God. You are unlimited. You are infinite. You are divine perfection. You are the Universe.

Namaste.

If you feel this infusion of love and healing helps and inspires you in any way and that I can be of further assistance to you in your own spiritual journey and awakening, please contact me via my official website to book your private spiritual guidance or healing session. It would be my honor to serve your soul. In the words of one of my greatest teachers, Ram Dass, "We're all just walking each other home."

Great Expectations: No Expectations

I am not the same person that I was from when I penned my last blog post to now.

On the surface, it may look like one month or so has passed. In truth, it has felt like years, if not generations or millenia, of soul growth. Much clearing out and even more coming in. The downloads. The energy. The raising of my vibration. The tapping into the collective. Choosing to be tapped into my divine guidance. And surrendering. Everyone. And everything. Welcome to the next wave!

Over the course of the past several weeks, there have been a series of divinely orchestrated events that have taken place in my life, all of which I have been blessed for, more than words can describe. It has felt, in many ways, that God, Spirit and my higher self have been guiding me to these destinations, which have come in the form of new relationships, opportunities to serve humanity, and connecting to the truth of who I am.

Earlier this summer, when I was blessed to work as an after-school teacher here in the Buffalo area, I remember hearing the song A Whole New World playing on one of the televisions, as the kids were watching Disney's Aladdin. My soul told me that that time was coming. It was almost an anthem that the Universe was playing for me, allowing me to feel and hear the energies of what was to come for not only just me, but for the Divine.

Fast forward about one month ago. I surrendered myself freely (yes, a surrender within the surrender, within the surrender). This is when things began to shift, maybe more than they ever have before, when my higher self, Spirit, and God took the reigns. You know when that's happening when you are completely outside of your comfort zone, where you are trust completely, and you not only listening to your divine guidance, but you are also following through with action on what is being told to you.

I was told by a dear friend of mine in Minnesota to go see Jai Jagdeesh at Unity of Buffalo. Seeing as Jai's chant Et Ong Kar had cracked my heart open at the Hay House I Can Do It event earlier this spring, to a level of love and understanding that I had not experienced before, I figured this would be a wonderful opportunity to say "thank you" in person. I also had seen Unity of Buffalo being a possible backdrop of where some of my service work for humanity would be taking place. I knew I had to be there. Despite what my five senses wanted me to believe, despite what my external environment may have wanted me to think, I was being called.

I go to Unity, and it turns out the event was not a concert, which I had thought it would be. It was a night of chanting (which I was completely up for) and Kundalini Yoga (which I had stopped doing a while back, out of fears that I had about "not being able to hold myself in alignment). Throughout the evening, there were powerful intentions that were being sent out into the Universe, with La Luna still appearing in the skies above. I knew that the entire course of my life was now shifting. I began to realize just how powerful of a manifestor that I was, and the time was here to use those gifts for the highest and greatest good.

Now, I can admit: I am a recovering people-pleaser. I had an addiction to wanting attention from other people. I know that those things are in the process of being dissolved and being healed. The reason I say this is because I brought a few business cards with me. You know when you go to a networking event, you never know who you might meet. I came from the perspective before of judging myself silently in many things that I did, even if the intention behind it was pure and sincere. You can turn anything into a judgment if you want to. So, I was blessed to meet several gentle souls that evening, exchanging contact information with several, including one who was placed to the left of me on a yoga mat.

Within a matter of a few days, I found myself in some of those very unique settings that I had never experienced before or in some time: being in a park with someone other myself, enjoying the company of like-minded souls at a delicious raw food potluck, being at a group meditation and hands-on healing, a two-hour silent meditation, and more. Yes, there were several new angels that my grandmother had placed into my life, at a time where they were indeed needed. Divine timing times infinity.

I was beginning to feel unconditional love. Truly for the first time in my entire life. I was beginning to place my energies on people, not on profit. I was beginning to detach myself from all end results and outcomes. Borrowing the word from that one beautiful soul, I was learning to "float." To be grounded, focused, and centered in the present moment. And yes, to not be attached to anything or anyone.

As I was learning through Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life, Wayne Dyer teaches us through his studies of the Tao Te Ching to not focus on accumulating things. To realize that, in truth, we do not own anything. We do not own anyone. We are, more or less, here on loan from God and Spirit.

So yes, I came from a perspective not that long ago of attaching myself to anything and everything that felt good. In turn, that created much pain in my life. I know was comprehending that if we do not attach ourselves to a specific end result or something, that we save ourselves much pain and suffering, and also, we allow things and people that are in more of an alignment with us to come into our lives.

During these several weeks, I became confused at the same point. When you experience things for the first time ever or for the first time in a while, you tend to overthink things. Yes, I did that too. A lot. Instead of being in your heart, you tend to be in your head. Wondering how this and that will be turning out. Hoping it will turn out "the way that you want to." This normally occurs in relationships, which are our greatest teachers.

Babcia had told me that I would be having a son at some point on my path. The energies from that began shortly after her passing in 2013. And they have been getting stronger and stronger since that point. I was beginning to think that maybe the divine timing of that was now. The way I was interpreting things, the signs I was receiving, were validating that.

Last Sunday, after the silent meditation, I was asked by one of those angels if my needs were being met. Part of me actually wanted to say no, but I stuffed that feeling down temporarily. Yes, suppressing my emotions and feelings were par for the course as well from before as well. This was again asked to me Thursday night after my Walking Each Other Home Meetup Group at the Lancaster Library. Shortly after that and into this weekend, I realized this is something that was coming up for healing. It could not be ignored.

When you lead a life of putting other people first, before your very own needs, your soul will let you know clearly that is something that cannot and will not be tolerated anymore. With the energies of the next wave of the awakening, going back to the before is not an option. Everyone else's needs were being met regularly. Not mine. And my life was continuing to mirror that. So, with awareness, I spent time with my inner child, nurturing it, and healing a deep emotional wound that was in play for about 30 years of my life, which had shattered my trust, instilling doubt within me. I am grateful that my inner child is now happier and that healing has very much begun happening from that.

You might be wondering why is the title of this blog Great Expectations: No Expectations. A little spiritual humor if I may: Well, wouldn't it have been funny if Charles Dickens called his timeless classic with that title instead?

It speaks for itself: When you live your life in a space of ZERO expectations, only the greatest things can happen to you, because you are not anticipating a specific thing to happen. And yes, even when I started to begin being in the flow, being in the vortex (as Esther Hicks and Abraham talk about), I was still hoping for certain things to happen. And when I didn't understand something, I began to ponder, and when I began to ponder, I began to try to control. You can see why this was causing some discomfort and fogginess over the past few weeks.

So here's what I do know (in no particular order): #1: I am loving and trusting myself today more than yesterday. #2: I am more aware and stronger than I was yesterday. #3: I am a host to God. #4: Time has begun to expand for me. Time is on my side. #5: I am asking to be tuned into my internal guidance and that of God, Spirit, and my angels more each and every day. #6: I am asking my grandmother to show me whom to serve, how to serve, where to serve, and when to serve. #7: I am safe. All is well. #8: The worst is behind me. #9: I am divinely supported. #10: I am now prosperous, wealthy, and abundant. #11: I am perfect, whole, healthy, and complete just the way I am.

While at the same time, I can also truly resonate with that the words of the beloved spiritual teacher Nisargadatta Maharaj: "Love says 'I am everything.' Wisdom says I am nothing.' Between the two, my life flows." 

This may sound like a list of affirmations. There may be truth to that. However, you know that you are making immense progress when you stop judging yourself and begin loving yourself, when you acknowledge how far you have gone, how much growth you have had, and be proud of the direction that you are going. When this happens, life becomes easier for you. You begin to own your worth. And believe it. You put an end to the struggle. A period at the end of the sentence. You break up with your emotional pain body. You realize you cannot play small anymore. That it's time to fly. And as my dear teacher, mentor, and friend, Anita Moorjani, says: "You begin to live your life fearlessly."

So I know that my higher self is leading the way, because I now choose the timeline that is for the highest and greatest good of my soul. I know and trust that all happen when and where it will, because all will be seamless. It's a pretty good feeling, knowing that even though I released power and control of my life to my grandmother, Spirit, and God, that I do have their power flowing through me, through the co-creation that I am choosing.

I am forever grateful to that one beautiful soul, that Earth Angel from above. For being my mirror. To show me that I am unconditional love. That love does not lie outside of me. It lies within me. That I am worthy of this love being felt in each and every relationship in my life. For reminding me that I am brave. That I am courageous. That I have such powerful love to give myself and to humanity. For reminding me of who I was. For helping to walk me home. For this and for much more, I say "Thank you teacher."

I've been telling myself that the best part of My Empowering Miracle is happening right now. In this very moment. I know that I am not giving up now, because the best is yet to come. Why would I throw in the towel now when some of the most memorable moments of my life have yet to happen Including my son. who knows that I am getting my sh*t together.

Uncle Ben from Spider-Man said: "With great power comes great responsibility." I know that my mission will require that. With that being said, I continue to remain grounded, grateful, and humble for all. For every interaction. Every experience. Every breath of life. In the words of Wayne Dyer and the Tao Te Ching, I choose to lay low. I choose to trust. And to believe.

My heart is now more open than it ever has been before. When that happens, you can allow yourself to receive more than ever thought imaginable. I choose for this next wave of the awakening to be on my side.

Join me in staying in Earth School for a little bit longer. And the next time you see Great Expectations in your local library or bookstore, smile. It's the Universe's way of reminding that the best expectations are when you have none.

Sat Nam. Namaste.

My Empowering Miracle: One Year Later

One year ago, my entire life transformed. My grandmother revealed to me something she told me months prior: that miracles and wonders would be on their way. It may have come in an unexpected fashion, but My Empowering Miracle was revealed to me.

I always wanted to love myself, but I didn't feel I could ever feel that happiness and joy. Call it unworthiness, call it limited beliefs/old programming, call it the story that my family, for many generations, kept telling themselves, that I, in some way, felt was mine to carry.

I was always an emotional guy. But, I was afraid to truly be with my pain. I was afraid of expressing my emotions, especially to women. I was afraid of feeling my own feelings. And yes, I was afraid of being vulnerable. Petrified. A lot of this was unconscious, but was being brought up to the surface so that I could finally move on.

Over the past year, Babcia has blessed me with incredible angels on my path, whether it be personally or professionally, whether it be with someone whom I only had one conversation with or someone who became a dear friend and member of my soul family (once again). I cannot express enough the unconditional love, gratitude, and humility that I feel for all of you on my path, especially those who came into the equation from one year ago today to this very present moment.

I have experienced many blessings and life lessons along the way, regarding faith, trust, health, finances, family, worthiness, guilt, judgment, shame, abandonment, etc. This ogre had many layers, just like we all do. Whatever no longer served me, I had to let go. Before I would let the Universe do that for me. Now, I am choosing to do more of that myself, in co-creation with the Universe.

I was given the opportunity to reaffirm the perfect health that I always had, the love that I always was. There were illusions that came into the equation, which I could have easily bought in one way or another. From November onward, through daily spiritual practice, I instead chose to affirm that I am love, that I am the Universe, that I am perfect, whole, healthy, and complete. Babcia knew exactly what she was doing when she placed mirrors of that on my path: Robert Tremblay, James John Malaniak, Ken Jablonski, among many others.

My grandmother provided me with divine guidance one year ago, divine guidance that may be the biggest sign of faith and trust I may ever experience and feel in this lifetime. From that point on, based on what she told me, I had an inner knowing, one that has grown larger and larger, as I have chosen to take the next steps forward on my path of service to humanity. With what I have seen and felt, and with a full faith and trust in God, the Divine, and my higher self, I could not and would not go back. My purpose here is that important. My heart is so full of love. I knew I was being prepped for something amazing, experiences of love, happiness, and joy, would begin. It was merely up to me to make a simple decision: that I was worthy of being part of those experiences, feeling that love, happiness, and joy.

Many of you who have known me for a while know my soul's connection to Dr. Wayne Dyer. I was blessed to interview Serena Dyer and Skype Dyer on Soul Luminous Radio during the early years of my spiritual awakening. I felt a profound connection to his message, knowing in some way the work that I was meant to do was along the same scope and that I was placed here to help, heal, inspire, and serve countless souls, in a similar, yet different fashion to Wayne. I had seen me meeting Wayne at one point in time in this lifetime, in the physical realm. Unfortunately, that would not come to pass, as he transitioned last summer.

But, something quite beautiful happened when I was in Toronto, Ontario, Canada for the Hay House I Can Do It event at the Roy Thompson Hall, more of which I share in my new #HangoutsOnAir. I knew within me that this weekend was going to be transformative, but at the same time, I went into this weekend, for the first time in my entire life, truly detaching myself of all end results and outcomes of everything.

I had the pleasure of meeting Saje Dyer, one of Wayne's other beautiful and talented daughters. I had the opportunity to share with her a little bit about me, but more importantly to personally thank her and her entire family for the kind and loving man and the beautiful soul that was and will forever be her father, as well as to thank them for the work they continue to do for humanity. Saje asked me a question during the course of the conversation, and in that series of present moments, it felt like Wayne's presence was truly there. I was being given an opportunity to reaffirm not only how far that I've come, but also the direction that I am now choosing to walk in every day. Could I have chosen to look back and go that way? Yes. But, when one has walked the path that he/she has walked, your soul knows better than the collective ego.

So, just as I made that promise to Babcia one year ago today, that I've honored and believed in, I made a promise to Wayne in Toronto: that My Empowering Miracle is being written and is being shared with the world (and will be more so in divine timing), that I will utilize my journey not to replay the old, not to stay in a loop, but to help, heal, inspire, and serve others around the world who have gone through similar situations, so they know that through faith and hope that you can heal anything in your life, that I may be used as a vessel of service to humanity wherever I am called, and that I choose to remind myself daily of the love that I am, that the only two things I choose to have flow within me is love and forgiveness.

One year ago, the Universe gave me a clear sign: It told me "John: You can finally love and forgive yourself." For that, I am eternally grateful. And I know I will not let the Universe down. All I have to do is be myself, be love, and let the Divine do the rest. Babcia: I thank you. For everything. I know you will continue to guide me as I continue to move forward and make wonderful strides in my life.

I know, that in divine timing, my wife, son, and the family I create will be revealed. I know California will be calling, just as it's begun to do so ever so subtly. For now, I rest in the perfection that I am. That right now, on June 3, 2016, that everything...is...perfect.

Keep a spot in heaven reserved for me. But, there's still work to do down here, much fun to experience, and much more love to be and feel.

With all the love I possess. I remain yours God.

Your humble and loving son,
John

Unwavering Faith

There has been quite a lot that has been unfolding in my life over these past several weeks. I have been doing my part to release the need to place a label on anything and to be in a full state of observance and allowance during this time, while simultaneously sending love to every part of my being, including my ego. It's true: Sometimes loving yourself unconditionally can seem like a full-time job in itself. The "practice" may seem like work at times. It's worth it though. You are worth it. It is very important to give yourself that tenderness.

For many of us, the energies of March have seemed intense, beautiful, and a little bit of everything in between. No matter where you are on your own journey in this moment, it may even seem like your faith is being put into question. On the surface, it could look like God is throwing not only the kitchen sink at you right now, but also the microwave, the dishes, and pretty much everything else you could possibly find in your kitchen. It may look like you are being "tested" in several different ways: personally, professionally, financially, physically, and even spiritually. 

I recently had a dear friend of mine who was navigating her own experience during Eclipse Season. She asked me a question that I really had to let sink in for a bit. Normally, after years of conditioning, my response to someone's question before he/she completed their sentence. As I have humbly been learning the art of active listening, I not only wanted to respect her energies, as well as my own, but also let my soul process this deep question: "What is the key to your unwavering faith?"

Had I penned this blog one year ago or even just a few months ago, my reply from a space of victim consciousness. It would have come across like I was rattling off all the things that happened "to me" and how I "overcame" each and every one. Coming clean: I was addicted to drama...and I didn't even know it. I am very glad that I was willing to make a shift in this limited belief, which was a outdated multi-generational mindset. 

You see: It's very easy to see yourself as your "story." But, when you get to a point in your spiritual awakening that you realize you are not your "story," that you are not your thoughts, your words, your actions, your acquisitions, your achievements, your titles, the money you have, your following on social media, and a laundry list of other things your ego wants you to think you are, your life as you know it changes...it takes on a new meaning. As Wayne Dyer says so beautifully: "If you change the way you look at things, the things you see change." The way you look at faith can transform. My perspective did.

So, I asked myself that very question: "John, what is the key to your unwavering faith?" 

Nearly 10 months ago to the day where my empowering miracle was revealed, I found myself at the cemetery where my grandmother and grandfather were buried, right across the street where life-altering news was revealed to me. My soul knew right where to go. It always does. While holding onto their tombstone, I looked up to heaven, and surrendered everything. I felt the presence of my grandmother, maybe more than anytime when she was here in the physical realm. I heard the following words from Spirit: "Your life is not in danger. Your health is not at risk. You are going to have the greatest health in your life. Your finances will be taken care of. And your medical bills will be taken care of." That was divine guidance. Guidance that I could not question or overthink.

Now, there's a difference between saying you are going to surrender and being in the surrender itself. Over those 10 months, there have been dozens of times when things, on the surface, looked quite interesting. As Hay House's Mike Dooley refers to "the cursed hows." How would this be taken care of? How would that be taken care of. Sprinkle in the aforementioned victim consciousness and it's favorite word "Why?" Why this? What that? Why now?

I had known that my body and soul were merging together, after the profound soul growth I had experienced over the past five years. I had also begun to see glimpses of my future, including that of my family (my significant other and my son), living in California, international speaking and teaching, in addition to helping humanity around the world. 

After seeing so much and after becoming more in tune with my own emotions, feelings, and vulnerability, along with those I came in contact with, I knew there was more to my life and for my life. It was simply a matter of trusting the process, knowing that I was fully guided and supported, and acknowledging the love that I was, am, and will forever be, that very same love that surrounds me at all times. It was a matter of trust.  

You see, it all begins with positive words. But, without an emotion, a belief in those words, those are just words. When you have a passion in those words, then those very positive words transform to hope, the next component. When you believe in yourself enough, when you believe in the truth that you are destined for so much more, while knowing God and your angels have your back, that hope morphs into faith. Faith is powerful. One of the most poignant references from the Bible refers to being able to move mountains by having faith as small as a mustard seed. 

It had taken me several years. I long since had the positive words, but just didn't believe in myself, in my own unconditional love. I found that by reconnecting with God, by turning inward to my inner child, and by uniting with the power of intention. The hope followed. Then, the faith. On June 3, 2015, I was provided an inner knowing from the divine. 

Over the past year, I observed. I watched. I can admit, sometimes I threw myself off track. I got in my own way. I wanted to control. I began realizing those old default mechanisms wouldn't work anymore. I even learned that it's necessary to "surrender within the surrender." By releasing how I wanted things to happen, by letting go of my fear, one thing at a time managed to work itself out, many of those things even better than I expected. 

Whether you are religious, spiritual, a combination of both, or neither, there's a common thread among each one of us, as we navigate our own path: Everything always works out. It always does. Maybe not the way you "drew it up." But, things always work out. 

I could've included any/all of this in my response to my friend's question...and then some. However, one of the most amazing things that I have recently learned on my journey is that less really is more, a huge shift in what I had previously believed. That the answers you are seeking are indeed found in the sounds of silence. And that some things are best felt vs. said. 

"John, what is the key to your unwavering faith?" 

"I'm...still...here."

With all the love I possess, I remain yours God.

Your humble and loving son,
John

Unconditional Love

Love is the only thing that's real. Everything else is just an illusion. 

Depending on where you are in your journey, you may believe completely, to a small extent, or not at all. And that's OK. We are all right where we need to be, utilizing the knowledge, the tools, the skills, and the awareness that we have right now in this very moment.

Know that in the blink of an eye your money could be gone. Your house. Your car. Your job. All of your possessions. Your titles. All stripped away from you. That may seem pretty scary on the surface. You may wonder that if all of those those things are gone, what does that leave you with? Who are you if you are not your "stuff?" Who am I if I am not my acquisitions, my achievements, or my accolades. I'll tell you what you are: Pure unconditional love. 

The very same love that you were when you were born. The love that you are on this Leap Day. The love you will be in forthcoming present moments. And the love that you will be when you transition to heaven, getting ready to feel eternal life without physical form.

Love can be defined in many ways: A kiss between a husband and his wife. A child hugging his mom and dad after opening his/her Christmas presents. A high-five from one best friend to another. A smile between two strangers. Volunteering at your local food bank or Children's Hospital.

Many people can easily get confused in the name of love. Speaking from personal experience, I know this to be true, as this was one of the most beautiful lessons that I learned on my path. 

Until the spring of 2014, I operated from a state of unconsciousness, believing in "conditional love." According to the PowerOfOneness.com, "conditional love comes from ego and generally focuses on someone or something. When we love someone conditionally, we tend to want them to look, act, and think in ways that fit out own paradigms and expectations. If they act the way we want them to, we express our approval; if they act contrary to our wishes, we without our expression of acceptance of them."

Translation: I love you...only if you love me and this way, this much, etc.

Unconditional love is the opposite. UrbanDictionary.com  defines unconditional love as "to love somebody with no conditions or circumstances, to love completely."

There is a reason I felt guided to pen this blog post by the very title of "Unconditional Love." If someone were to randomly ask me how I would define unconditional love, it would best be expressed in an interaction that I had last summer, one of the most profound soul exchanges of my entire life, if not many lifetimes. It was one that would forever alter the course of my spiritual awakening. One where I took back my life. One where I truly affirmed my perfect health. One where I told the Universe that I was ready to see and feel the love and divine perfection that I always was, is, and will forever be.

Last summer, right after "My Empowering Miracle" was revealed by my grandmother, I made the decision to have chemotherapy, as part of my healing process. I had to have my heart busted open to humanity. I could no longer run away from my emotions and feelings. I wanted to express and feel them on every level possible. I wanted to be vulnerable and intimate, both with myself and others. My soul presented me with one the best ways possible to do all of that, while also setting an intention to help, heal, inspire, and serve those I came into contact with in the oncologist's office, who were experiencing complete 180's of myself.

I remember sitting in one of the comfy recliners one day and a gentleman named Ben Bernard sat down next to me. We struck up a conversation talking about archangels. I could feel that he was experiencing and suffering from much emotional than physical pain. On the surface, he had Stage IV Colon Cancer. We began chatting, and I felt guided to tell him that he was whole, perfect, and complete just the way he was...that he was healed. He began openly weeping.

He said that I knew how to make people feel loved, how to make people feel special. He added that he would pray for me and have his church group pray for me. I was blessed for those well-wishes. I let grace lead the way in my response. I told him that I was already healed. That my body and soul were simply merging together and that I was just coming out the other end.

Now, you might be reading this and say "John, you were in an oncologist's office. How could you already be truly healed?" 

Before Yankee Stadium was constructed, it was a vision in the mind's eye of someone. Then, it turned into an architect's blueprint. Then, it became a reality. The same, in a slightly different way for myself and my healing.

The purpose that God, Spirit, my angels, and Babcia had for me here was quite large. Serving thousands, tens of thousands, millions maybe. The number does not really matter. Some of the visions I was seeing were quite vivid, including myself and my "wife" providing service to humanity in Africa by helping and serving the homeless, the hungry, and the displaced in Africa. The fact that I believe I was chosen to be the vessel of change in my family: to be the vehicle for all future generations of Masiulionis' to choose love instead of fear. 

My grandmother, my angels, Spirit, and God did not want me to have 25% health in doing this. Not 50%. Not 75%. Perfect health. I was needed here, in my body, balanced, centered, and grounded, to be able to do the work that I was meant to do.

None of that would be possible if I did not learn the meaning of unconditional love. Those two words may have been introduced to be in the physical realm two springs ago, but I was not ready at that time. As I opened up myself to every possibility and opportunity, as I began to embrace that I was the light and the abundance I had so desperately searched for, and as surrendered everything to the Divine, I began to choose love through a moment-to-moment practice...and unconditional love was instilled in my heart from that moment on.

Thank you Ben. Our "chance meeting" may have only lasted a few minutes, but your impact will be felt for the rest of my life. Namaste.

With all the love I possess, I remain yours God.

Your humble and loving son,

John

It's OK To Be Vulnerable

It is a wonderful blessing to have begun to truly honor my boundaries just a few short days ago, separating my personal life from my professional life. Without judgment on this, I was shown one of my deeply-entrenched thought processes and patterns over this past weekend. Leave it to Mercury Retrograde for this to be revealed. These intervals that happen 3-4 times per year give us the opportunity to review and reassess what is working and what isn't. And if you are not able to have your higher self show you what no longer serves you, leave it to one of your relationships, which are your greatest teachers, to let you observe this.

This may be a bitter pill to swallow if you are operating your life from a place of fear. The ego may want you to believe that you are "broke," that you have this laundry list of things that need to be fixed. In spiritual truth, these this old way of thinking simply was a form of protection for you. These patterns were your "default programming," so you could continue to operate your life and your interactions in the best way you knew how. 

Despite how this may feel on the inside, especially when you are navigating your own spiritual journey, you are being given the opportunities to learn and grow. That's why we are all here, right So, yes, there's a reason I mention this to begin this blog.

If you have been following my personal journey and spiritual awakening, you may realize that this blog looks a little bit different. For a little over one year, I took the time to blog on my business website, Empowered by John. You may ask yourself, "John: What does this have to do with the price of tea in China?" Well, on a conscious level, I was unaware of the fact that I was mixing my personal life and spiritual beliefs with my business life. 

I wish to say that there's nothing inherently "wrong" with that, meshing your personal and professional lives, along with your spirituality, to some extent. It's important for you to express yourself and to speak your truth. For many lightworkers, that is the case. I too infuse unconditional love, compassion, kindness, and honesty wherever I go in my life now, whether it be hanging out with a friend or speaking to a client. If anything, I just want everyone to be OK and to feel special.

There does come a point on your path, however, where you have to instill some boundaries, in order to keep a healthy balance for the mind, for your heart, and for your soul. If you do not have boundaries set in your own life, that will eventually spill over to where you do not honor the boundaries of someone you are collaborating with for the greater good. By maintaining these boundaries, you will be able to receive messages of guidance from your higher self even clearer, because you are honoring your own energies and the energies of those you work alongside. 

So instead of "keeping this inside," bottled up if you will, I felt called and guided to share this with you, in hopes that you too can experience the growth that your soul wants and deserves in this new year. "It's OK to be vulnerable."

I will come clean. One of the earliest teachers I had on my spiritual journey, Joanie Eisinger, had told me that one of the main reasons I came here, a large part of my soul's purpose here on Earth, was to "master my emotions." When she first told me that several years ago, I had no idea of the true beauty and magnificence of this, because I thought "mastering my emotions" was virtually impossible. 

Until last summer, the movie that was running though the mind for decades was to suppress my emotions. Yes: I was afraid to express how I truly felt, mainly because I wanted to wanted to "keep the peace" wherever I went. I wanted the other person or group of people to be happy before I was happy, even if it came at my own personal expense. I was scared of feeling my feelings, thinking in some way the would hurt me. You can see a running pattern from this. I was allowing my ego to hold me hostage, to keep me in "victim mode." My soul wanted to be happy, to be empowered...and to teach others the importance of loving themselves so they too can see they are a part of the Divine, that they too are unconditional love. I had made a promise to my grandmother in the hospital right before she transitioned in August 2013: that I would indeed "break free from this." I had realized that the word "this" meant the years of conditioning, beliefs, limited mindsets, and all parts of that outdated film. All happens in divine timing, and this would be no exception. Through the miracle that my grandmother revealed to me last June, I was going to be able to set my soul free, to be the light that I always was, to expand and grow in ways I never thought possible, and to fulfill what I was meant to do here. I knew I could now take control by surrendering the control of this and the rest of my life to God and my angels. 

Shortly before the holidays, there was a beautiful soul that happened to come into my life, whom I was truly grateful for. She was an empowered lightworker in her own right, helping, healing, inspiring, and serving others in the way she felt guided to do so. We connected on a deep soul level, maybe more than any connection that I have ever experienced to this moment in time. There were things we knew about how one another were feeling, even without knowing all of the details and the day-to-day activities of each others' lives. This really is possible when you have a soul connection. Someone such as this you met before, in a past/parallel life, and you probably had a profound impact on each other at that point as well, maybe even on a higher level. 

As you take the time to love and treasure yourself each and every day, deep down you know that there will come a time where God will reveal whom you wish to spend the rest of your days with here on Earth, the time when two souls become one, when the love you feel in every cell of your being is shown to you in the form of another. Through the divine synchronicities that I was seeing, the energies I was feeling, and through guidance I was receiving, I honestly felt, in my heart, that all of this was being revealed to me. With even having my son's name downloaded during this time, I could not dismiss that as a coincidence. There is no such thing as a coincidence. 

My soul brother, Radoslaw Swarovski, can best put into words what I, along with many of you may feel when someone or something absolutely amazing is placed into your life, something or someone indescribably awesome that you feel will make your life complete. "We often want it so badly that we ruin it before it begins. Overthinking, fantasizing, expecting, doubting. Just let it naturally evolve."

The only person, place, or thing that can complete you is YOU. That is the primary purpose of your navigation of self-love. It sometimes takes a certain relationship or experience to remind us of this, no matter where we are on our individual paths, no matter how "enlightened" we think we may be, no matter how many of Wayne Dyer or Deepak Chopra books you have read. There is this little thing called BEING HUMAN that leads us to beating ourselves up for "making the same mistake again," in whatever form it presented itself. Let me ask you this: Would you chastise yourself in any way if you viewed your inner child as a Care Bear? Or would you hug yourself as often as possible, realizing that you are your best friend (besides your connection to God and the Universe) and your #1 cuddle buddy. 

In the first 2 1/2 weeks of 2016, there has been much that has come to the surface for healing. Old wounds you thought were fully healed from your past may have been presented to you in an interesting way. The best-selling author of the Tip-Off Global Energy Forecast, Elizabeth Peru, has pointed out that we, individually and collectively, are releasing lifetimes of connections right now and leading into this upcoming weekend's Full Moon. I couldn't agree any more. My dear friend and soul sister in Australia, Morgan, shared with me the deep insights from her soul on how the month of January has unfolded on a collective level to me on Facebook: "We are just doing some massive clearing at the moment, emptying out in order to receive the huge influxes coming again soon. Becoming empty vessels release lower vibrations, creating space for more love." So yes, you may feel tired, anxious, or yes...even empty. That word, empty, can look scary on the surface. Your ego may want you to think the worst, that something bad is happening, that something is wrong with you. Take solace on this. There is nothing to be afraid of. There is nothing wrong with you at all. As one of my favorite spiritual teachers, the 13th-century Persian poet, scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic, Rumi, says "What a relief to be empty. Then God can live your life."

My heart was recently cracked open to a level of vulnerability I never thought was possible. My ego wanted to return to the "Wounded John" and dwell in that space, but my soul could not do that. Instead, I am choosing to thank that person, that divine light, that beautiful soul, for helping me to tune into a deeper sense of my being, to express my emotion and feel my feelings, and to be a mirror of the unconditional love that I am right now in this moment. She was one of my greatest teachers in this lifetime. How could I be angry at myself, at her, or at how any of this unfolded when I look at it from the perspective of my higher self. I'll admit it took me a few days, but now, I have said "Thank You" to God for her, remembered the blessing, learned from the life lesson, released, and moved on.

You are always being led to what and whom is truly meant for you in your life. As you release people, relationships, things, mindsets, and anything else that does not serve where you are at in this present moment, you allow yourself to move higher and higher on the spiritual staircase to heaven. You become lighter. And when your frequencies embody light, you vibrate with higher energies. The people that come into your life will match your vibrations. So if a personal or professional relationship doesn't turn out how you thought, know that the Universe has a greater plan for you. In the meanwhile, give your glimpses to God, and trust that those very glimpses will materialize in perfect and divine order. All really is well and will continue to be for you, for all of us, as we walk each other home.

I hope this blog has helped, healed, inspired, or served you in some way, showing you that you are whole, healthy, and complete just the way you are. And that it is OK to be vulnerable. My brothers and fellow "dudes" out there: You included on this one.

I look forward to hearing any comments and our healthy feedback from you as I officially begin this new and exciting venture. Someday, in that very divine timing, the journals that I have kept will become the contents for the book of the same name of this blog "My Empowering Miracle." I surrender how and when that happens to my grandmother and to God. I know they have my back on this.

I choose to end this blog and each and every one of my blogs moving forward with the most beautiful ending to a letter I have ever heard in my life (courtesy of the Heath Ledger classic, "A Knight's Tale"), combined with my own authenticity and unconditional love.

With all the love I possess, I remain yours God.

Your humble and loving son,

John

Namaste.