“Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking,
the whole world belongs to you. Lao Tzu
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 practitioner, 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 fears linger. Those doubts and fears produce a type of anxiety called waiting.
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: not to look for the demonstration of good but to give thanks that it was already done. Gratitude is the expansiveness of faith.
I learned it was none of my business how my prayer would be demonstrated but I now give thanks that it is already received. Lesson learned.
Affirmation: I give thanks that what I desire is already received.
“You are word. You are an aspect of God being brought forth into light.” – Paul Selig. I Am the Word
Some days a brain fog seems to set in and we forget about the power of our words. We often speak aloud words of criticism, complaint, and judgment coming from our inner critic instead of empowered messages of love and inspiration from Spirit within. The words of the critic come from the head, and the empowered words of Spirit originate in the heart.
As Emma Curtis Hopkins tells us; “Complaining and whining are only exhibitions of great desert spots in your character. You must fill us deserts with rain and fertilizer. So you must transform your moments of complaining by praise and descriptions of the Good in the Universe.”
Sometimes we have to dig deep to give thanks and praise for conditions amid any challenge. But when we do, there is a shift in energy and awareness.
Do you ever talk out loud to yourself? When we do, we tend to say things that are not very positive and uplifting. Try this for a change: Speak your praises and gratitude out loud. Your heart needs to hear your voice. Your heart hears constant words of error and false beliefs. But when your voice speaks words of truth aloud, your vibration is raised, your awareness is heightened, your experience of love expands.
Practice your spiritual readings out loud, as well as your prayers. Speak your gratitude for the beautiful day, for loving friends and family, for your delicious meal. Affirm your success, prosperity and good health.
Our words are adding to the vibration of humanity. Let’s make them count.
Affirmation: I consciously speak words of faith, love and joy.
“Without butterflies the world would soon have few flowers.” Trina Paulus Hope for the Flowers
Each one of us has unique skills, talents and abilities. Yet we often compare ourselves to others and may find ourselves feeling the need to compete. Competing out of fear only diminishes the gifts we have.
One of my favorite books is by Trina Paulus called Hope for the Flowers about two caterpillars that get caught up in climbing the ‘caterpillar pillar’, a squirming mass of bodies stepping over each other to get to the top. The top is so far away no one can see it.
The two caterpillars, Stripe and Yellow, are disillusioned and leave the pillar to find who they are. They risk going into the darkness of the cocoon to discover their true selves. They emerge as beauty, freedom and joy.
Here are some helpful tips when you find yourself squirming your way up the caterpillar pillar:
Go into your cocoon: Take a few moments to reflect, renew and regenerate. The quiet helps to disconnect from the frantic world.
Practice gratitude: Give thanks for your unique talents, skills and abilities, for your current clients and their willingness to take advantage of your services.
Transform fear into affirmative thoughts: The world is conspiring to make me happy. I am open and receptive to my highest good. I am abundantly rewarded for my talents and abilities.
A few simple practices can transform fear into freedom, doubt into faith and competition into collaboration. It begins with intention. May hope light your path and wisdom guide your journey!
Affirmation: Everyone is conspiring to make me happy.
