“The highest attitude of mind, from which all else springs, is one of perfect calm and absolute trust in the Spirit.” — Ernest Holmes
As a new Science of Mind student, I would passionately pray my spiritual mind treatment. Immediately I would speculate how my prayer was going to be answered. My prayers were usually about money since I believed that there wasn’t enough to go around. I would wait for the mail to show up only to find an empty mailbox. I would check to see if any clients called with potential business, but no one called.
When I complained to my spiritual mentor, she reminded that it was none of my business where or how my good will appear. She said, “If you continue to look for it, you haven’t developed your faith.”
I discovered there are three steps to building faith: Hope, trust and gratitude. Hope is a sense of doubtful expectation. We hope something good will happen to us but underneath, doubt and fear linger. Those doubts and fears produce a type of anxiety called waiting. Waiting for things to change, waiting for circumstances to get better, etc.
As we release the doubts and fears, we begin to develop trust. We have a deeper conviction in the creative process of life and develop greater patience. The stress of waiting is replaced by patience and a sense of calmness that all is well.
Here was the important part for me: refrain from searching for the demonstration of good. Instead, it was essential to give thanks that what I desired was already received. Gratitude is the expansiveness of faith.
In today’s uncertainty, I engage this practice quite often. It is so easy to be swayed by circumstances in the world. I recognize my fears and beliefs and ask what is mine to do. Then I shift into trust, knowing I am not alone. I look around and express gratitude knowing that something greater is being revealed.
I learned a long time ago, it is none of my business how my prayer will be demonstrated. I now give thanks that it is already received. Lesson learned.
Affirmation: I give thanks that what I desire is already received.
“I am not a victim of the world I see. ” A Course in Miracles
Thank goodness for spiritual practice! I am NOT a victim of the world I see, even when the headlines say otherwise. Some days, actually most days lately, I have to call on every prayer, every practice, every resource to stay centered in Truth. The real Truth, not the nonsense being broadcast on the news.
Do not get attached to what is said on the news. Circumstances change in an instant. Here is the thing–If you and I focus on what is not working, or spend our energy being upset about what we see, it only adds to the low vibration energy that we are hearing about. From Paul Selig, “What you put in darkness calls you to that darkness. What you damn, damns you back. What you bless, blesses you.”
Stand in the truth that anything is possible. Stay in gratitude. Surround yourself with a vision for what you want to see in the world. Connect with other like-minded friends. Join a group and make some phone calls or write letters. Do things that bring you joy. Bless those around you. Make time to play.
Here are some links to prayers and resources to help keep you lifted up in a vibration of hope and love.
“When you are inclined to wonder how thoughts and words of love can do much good in resolving various problems, remind yourself that loving words and thoughts seem supercharged with the power to produce good.” – Catherine Ponder
Awareness is everything. I noticed how easily I can be distracted — by ever-changing events around the world, illness updates from friends and family, and whatever the media considers ‘breaking news’ to be at the moment. I am continually having to shift my awareness and attention to focus on life’s goodness and grace.
I am grateful for author Catherine Ponder’s words, reminding us we can shift feelings and experiences when we invoke the healing power of love.
Speak this wisdom from Catherine Ponder aloud and repeat frequently throughout the day.
“Divine Love, expressing through me, now draws to me all that is needed to make me happy and my life complete.”
If you find yourself caught up in the conditions and drama of the world:
“I praise Divine Love that there is a strong, wise way out of this dilemma.”
If you are having challenges with a difficult person:
“I fully and freely release and forgive. I loose and let go all ill feeling. Divine Love produces the perfect result now.”
“If God is in all things, all things may be lifted to that vision of the Divine and are transformed by and through the lifting. When you see with the eyes the Christ, you are attending to the world before you in its Divine potential.” Paul Selig, The Book of Mastery
Take a breath. I know, your heart hurts. Your body may be achy, your mind distracted. You are okay. You are in the midst of the grieving process. We witness so many tragic events in our neighborhoods and around the world each day. We are in a collective state of grief. Take another breath.
When feeling dismay and grief, our tendency can be to hide out and isolate. Give yourself the time for sorrow and tears. Feel the emotions with gentle tenderness. When you are ready, take a step out into the world. Your loving vibration is needed more than ever.
Being engaged can lift us up. Take small steps. Perhaps connect with your church, your bridge group or book group. Call a friend and meet for coffee. Take a class at the gym. Take a walk out in nature. Your energy, your compassion, your quiet whispers of prayers and hope are all needed in the world. Activist, filmmaker and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project, Valarie Kaur, reminds us, “Revolutions do not happen only in grand moments in public view but also in small pockets of people coming together to inhabit a new way of being. We birth the beloved community by becoming the beloved community.”
Be gentle. Practice compassion. Having compassion for ourselves and others opens us to love and be loved. Compassion awakens love in us. Love is the healing power beyond judgment and blame. There is always a choice.
Practice visualizing what you want rather than what you don’t want. Ask each day “What is mine to do to make the world a better place?” Release judgment and anger and send love instead. When we send love we raise the vibration for everyone.
Speak prayers of faith and hope and gratitude. Speak this attunement aloud whenever you are feeling separate, angry, or judgmental. Speak it aloud for yourself when you are feeling fearful.
I am Love through the One I see before me.
I choose to see you, _____, in Love.
I choose to see you in your worth.
I choose to see you in your right to be.
I see you in your perfection.
I see you in your beauty.
I see you in your choices.
I am Love through the One I see before me.
Word I am Word.
You are the light of the world. Thank you for shining your light and love.
A monthly zoom meeting to inspire women’s clarity, courage and connection. Join us on May 19 @ 10 am PST
“I loved this group. I was surprised to find women dealing with the same challenges that I am.”
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Our connection groups have been insightful, empowering and fun! Women love connecting with each other and receive value from sharing the tools and principles from Conscious Choices book.
Life is full of challenges and changes. You don’t have to face them alone. Watch video.
Join us for our monthly Conscious Choices Women’s Connection. We will use tools and resources from my latest book, Conscious Choices: A Women’s Guide to Clarity, Courage and Connection. Participants will receive practices to liberate limiting thinking and transform old beliefs into creative action.
Participants will learn:
How to recognize emotional pitfalls
Spiritual practices to get unstuck
Helpful tools to reframe negative thinking
How to transform fear into faith
The power of connecting with others
Register today to save your space in this powerful gathering of women ready to step into newness.
Third Saturday of the month. Next meeting May 19 at 10 am PST .
“Healing isn’t just about a wound having the strength to close. Healing is also about a heart finding the courage to reopen again..”
– John Roedel
Physical wounds are obvious. We can see the cut, clean and bandage it and allow it to heal. Emotional wounds are much more difficult. We cannot see them and they often unknowingly direct and influence our thinking. Thoughts become emotions and emotions dictate our actions.
On the spiritual journey, our work is to be the observer and be aware of our thoughts, emotions, and reactions. As the observer, we are empowered to respond rather than react.
In his book Soul Awakening Practice, James O’Dea states that most of the time we don’t understand our emotions and we try to manipulate and control the outside world so that we won’t be faced with uncomfortable emotions. The wounds of our past are often running our present circumstances and they can limit our relationships and experiences.
There are a few helpful steps we can take to heal emotional wounds:
Be willing to look at the emotional upset. Just like a physical wound, we have to examine what is troubling us and bring it into the light to be healed.
Be willing to let go. Lay down any anger, separation, or belief and observe the situation in a new light. Be willing to forgive.
Be willing to write a new story. Claim your good and declare what you want.
We often struggle with how to forgive and let go. But the good news is — we don’t have to figure it out. We can surrender to Spirit and be willing for a new story to emerge. Give thanks for the gift of awareness and allow the wound to dissolve and peace to emerge.
I am grateful for this simple prayer practice from James O’Dea’s book, Soul Awakening Practice.
