Expanding Universe/Expanding You
By Corinne McLaughlin

I had an arresting insight when I read that the Noel Prize in Physics was just awarded for the discovery of a mysterious, unknown force called “dark energy” that has been expanding the universe for billions of years at ever-increasing speeds.  Doesn’t expansion also describe what’s happening to each of us personally today?  We’re being pushed to expand at every increasing speeds by unknown aspects within the universe. 

 I’ve found that so many of us personally are feeling more inner pressure lately to grow and expand more rapidly and become more than what we currently are.  We’re being pushed to evolve and expand into new horizons. Everything seems to be speeding up lately, going faster and faster, like we’ve entered warp speed. 

 Like so many people today, I’ve expanded my abilities, skills and knowledge through personal life experiences, and I’ve also grown larger to accommodate new information and understanding of different people and diverse ideas.  Beginning in my early life, I identified only with my family, which then expanded to those with similar religious beliefs, then to my racial and cultural group. Then as a teenager I expanded to identify with my peer group, then to those with similar political views, then to those in my country, and ultimately I began to identify with all of humanity in some way.

All this helped me to grow and develop different aspects of myself, as also occurred when I expanded beyond my professional role. Rather than just identifying with being a writer and a teacher, I’ve expanded by developing other skills, such as administration and finance, gardening, cooking, and dancing.  I’ve learned to appreciate other cultures by travel and developing good friendships with people in other countries.  I’ve also experimented with different lifestyles and different ways of expressing myself creatively. 

Because the world is becoming more interconnected through technology, I’m expanding my understanding of different cultures, and because immigration is expanding, I’m learning to live with people from very diverse backgrounds and values.  All of this is encouraging me to learn more about conflict resolution so I can find common ground with people who have different views and needs.

But besides these outer expansions, I’ve also noticed inner expansions in myself.  I feel a greater depth of spiritual awakening and growth. Have you found this also?  Perhaps like me, you’ve expanded to include more of your soul or higher self in your identity.  Perhaps you’re including more of those previously dark or hidden parts of your subconscious, which you’ve learned can become your friend.  This may help you discover new spiritual as well as practical resources within yourself and lead to greater joy and success in life.

I’ve found that as I expand my awareness to include my subconscious and begin communicating directly with it, I suddenly have access to all its practical skills and knowledge to help and protect me.  When I expand into identifying with my higher self, I experience tremendous light, wisdom and inspiration.  I have a clearer sense of my purpose in life and how I can of greater service in the world.  I experience a tremendous joy and a connection with all of life, and no longer feel as small or isolated.

All of this seems to be happening so much faster than any previous changes I’ve gone through.  I’m being pushed and expanded, just like the universe. 

How about you?  Are you finding yourself expanding lately?  Are you expanding mentally by exploring new ideas, or by listening more carefully to those who have different political or spiritual views?  Are you expanding your inner life? 

It all begins with a clear intention to grow and transform any inner blocks to the essential light within you.  It begins with the intention to evolve more consciously and willingly—to expand into greater light.  The universe is knocking on our door.
 

--Corinne McLaughlin; www.thepracticalvisionary.org