Hello Spiritual Warriors!! We’re 5 days into 2016! How does it feel so far? The same? New? Amazing? Filled with infinite possibilities or just the same old-same old? Like you’re beginning again?

Probably very little outside of you has changed in this first week other than when you write a date – 2016 instead of 2015. But what existed in your life last week is most likely still here – the people, the situations, the circumstances.

So how do we make the SUBTLE shift that moves us from where we were to where we want to be?

We acknowledge that right here … right now … in this sacred precious present moment. We can take the powerful step into a NEW BEGINNING!

First Impressions. They set the tone for how we think, feel, and move forward with situations, circumstances, and relationships. The earliest seeds of these initial impressions are called fractals and they are the foundation for how the next moment will unfold while setting the stage for how the longer-term aspects of a relationship or scenario will evolve.

Yet, so often we find ourselves stunned when a friend, lover, boss, colleague, teacher, mentor, or loved one acts in a way “we didn’t see coming.” Or, perhaps a situation starts to unfold in a way that shocks or surprises us.

If we could turn back the clock to the fractal of that interaction or that decision — we’d see there were signs … there were clues … there was evidence we ignored because we were acting out of infatuation, emotion, reactivity or a conditioned behavior.

The fractal holds the key.

These are the moments that are critical to us living life with less melodrama, less pain, less confusion, greater clarity and greater fulfillment.

So how do we glean more from our fractals?

We meditate. We spend more time in stillness and silence, which helps us activate our attention in the moment and awakens our innate ability to flow with greater patience, greater awareness, and greater understanding.

AND HERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW – at the fractal for 2016!!!!!!!!! The starting point for all that is about to unfold. Let’s pay attention – let’s awaken our awareness – and let’s launch into the new year with less baggage, less conditioning, and less of what no longer serves us.

A powerful tool to help us with getting lighter is to embrace the concept of a sieve.

If you’re not familiar with the term, a sieve is a utensil consisting of a wire or plastic mesh held in a frame, used for straining solids from liquids, for separating coarser from finer particles, or for reducing soft solids to a pulp.

We are bombarded with 60,000 – 80,000 thoughts each day – most of them the same thoughts we had yesterday. The swirl comes at us relentlessly pushing us and pulling us in hundreds of directions. The shiny objects around us can easily distract us and shift us off course.

But if we recognize that in every moment we are an energetic sieve – then we can allow what is not relevant, important, nourishing, constructive, or strengthening to move right past us. Without any other effort, that which has relevance, is nourishing, and adds value will remain … just like process of straining solids from liquids or coarser from finer particles. Remember, the strainer does no extra work. Simply by it’s construction, it performs its dharma – its purpose of holding onto relevant pieces and allowing everything else to pass through it.

In the beautiful Chinese martial art of tai chi one is taught to flow with the life force of the universe. You never oppose an attacker’s force; you step aside and permit the attacker’s energy to pass. As he and his energy move past you, you then give them a gentle nudge to accelerate them in that direction.

So remember to be gentle with yourself and flow with the energy of the universe. What sticks to you, engage. What doesn’t, release. Just let it go with a big, long exhale!

Let’s make a commitment to get clear on our vision for 2016 – and stay focused on it … keep leaning into it … letting go what doesn’t serve us and allowing in what will nourish us. As Vamadeva Shastri told me many years ago, “Don’t let people into your head that you would never let into your home.” Pretty intense. Right?

[Tweet “Don’t let people into your head that you would never let into your home. -Vamadeva Shastri davidji.com”]

So let’s die to the past. Let go of everything that doesn’t serve us – and open our heart to love. Nourish those in our front row; celebrate our friends & loved ones. And let’s stay connected through the year on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Hay House Radio, and at my workshops, retreats, and teacher trainings.

Listen this week to LIVE! from the SweetSpot where my guest will be James Van Praagh. (I know! can you believe it?)

Join me later this month at my upcoming Set Your Course workshop (there’s one space left)!

Join me in February at the I Can Do It! conference in Seattle. (I’m doing an all-day workshop on Feb 12!!! Click here to register.

Or Join me in March & discover your purpose in life – at my dharma immersion!

Keep it real and keep meditating. I’ll see you in the gap!

Peace. -davidji