Make The Practice Of Meditation YOURS!

In The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Deepak Chopra writes, "Pure consciousness is pure potentiality; it is the field of all possibilities and infinite creativity."  To access this field of pure potentiality (the first spiritual law of success), we must meditate daily as well as go into the silence and simply BE.

As part of my daily spiritual practice, I had set a lofty goal to meditate for 30 minutes, twice a day, as the book recommended.  I was on a mission to discover the brilliance and the beauty that I had heard was found only through sitting in the quiet.

And, I was reaching for something that I believed was missing in my life - purpose.

For the first few weeks, it was amazing how centered I became as I learned to stop fidgeting and settled in to the silence.  I also discovered that I was coping better with events in my life that would have been stressful prior to my meditation practice.

I was so clear that there was a bigger picture for my life.  I did not need to fall into the petty disagreements that normally would have irritated me.   I skated right through a few of my daughter's emotional, dramatic outbursts and her subsequent outpouring of misery that used to suck me down into her "stuff".

Then, life stepped in and I no longer had the time to devote to meditating.  I kept telling myself that it was okay to take a break and that I wasn't a failure for not sticking to the commitment I had made.

And - I was feeling guilty every single day.

Fortunately, I had my eyes opened when reading The Power of Intention.   The book reminded me that everything in life is a process.  Life is not a series of goals to be accomplished but a journey to experience.   I haven't lost anything by not keeping up with my goal to meditate.  I just needed to redefine exactly what worked for ME.

I had such clarity with my time in the silence and I am still able access that at any time.  Rather than sitting still, however, I could choose to use an activity like walking the dog to tune into the wisdom that comes from meditating.  I could spend just five minutes a day, not 30 minutes, to get out of my 'thinking' self and into my 'quiet' self.

And, if I wanted to sit in the silence for longer periods of time, that was okay too.  It is NOT about the mission to do it "right" - it's about making time to connect to the source of possibility within.

What I know for sure is that I have permission to make my spiritual practice MINE.  I continue to meditate because it opens the door for the Universe to create in my life.  It opens up my life to its full potential.  THAT is what my heart is calling for.

So, how much time works for YOU to sit the stillness?  What are your expectations from time spent in meditation?  

Today, I set the intention to take responsibility for my meditation practice, choosing what feels right for me to connect to the field of possibility.

"I want to know God's thoughts....the rest are details."  

~Albert Einstein

"Now remember this; you are the person; this is the place; now is the 

occasion; right here is the time; the word is in your own mouth; you are 

good enough; you know enough; you are spiritual enough."  

~Ernest Holmes

Affirmative Prayer:
Awakening to the magnificence of the new day, there is a recognition that there is only One.  One Divine Intelligence filled with beauty, with love, with joy and with peace.  This One Divine Mind surrounds all that is with good, always saying Yes!

As I move through my day, I am also surrounded by the all-good that is Life.  I am centered in the Divine Presence as It expresses through me.  And, I trust in the indwelling Spirit from which I am never separate, letting myself be guided as I tap into my intuition and into my heart.

Enthusiastically, I start each day connecting to the Divine Wisdom within by getting still.  I sit in expectancy of my good as I let the silence surround me with possibilities for my life.  I let go of any feelings that no longer serve me and instead choose happiness as I connect to my inner guidance in ways that are right for me.   I meditate, I contemplate, I pray - all are spiritual practices that bring a divine order to my life.  And I welcome the gifts that come my way, claiming my worthiness to receive the best that Life is bringing to me in every minute of the day.

I am so thankful to the Divine Presence within for my amazing life.  And I am grateful that I simply need to take a minute to be still and see that all is well.  I am filled with gratitude that something wonderful is being created as the Universe fills my world with infinite possibilities.

From this place of gratitude, I release my Word to the Divine Action of the Law, knowing it is already done.  It is divinely magnificent as I let it be so.  And so it is.

Who Is Responsible For Your Difficulties?

It's funny how quickly I can get down on myself when I feel that I have failed at something.  I re-live the events and find all the mistakes that were made.  I talk to myself continuously about what I should have done differently.   I start the "catastrophe" thinking.

So - what would it look like if I decided to leave behind the voice that says, "Why do you always screw it up?"  What if I decided to embrace the failure and see it as a gift of guidance?

What if I took responsibility for the choices that brought me to that point?

Now - I can see clearly that I am the only one who can deprive myself of anything.  Life is not holding anything back from me.  Life is not making it difficult for me to thrive.   Those are blame-game stories that let me step back into playing small.

When I have failed and feel like I will never be a success, it's a great time to take a look inside myself.  Maybe I have some old habit that I'm hanging on to that needs to be released.  Maybe it's just that I have been too busy to be present to the moment.

So, what if I just show up and am fully receptive to life?   What if I continue to hold onto the bigger picture for my life and am willing to just "be"?

For me, receptivity is the key word here. Being receptive to everything that life brings allows me to adapt and to be resilient when there is change or upheaval or failure.

Perfect example - with the moving I have done over the last few years resulting in living in an apartment, I started comparing myself to others.   As if out of the blue, I seemed to be surrounded by people who owned their own homes and would talk about how beautiful it was and how excited they were.  And, all I could feel was frustration.  I had failed at the great American dream - owning my own home.

Aha!  THAT'S the story I am telling myself!

So, how do I fix it?  Taking a tip from the book I've been reading, The Power of Intention.  I am determined to keep my thoughts on higher energy feelings around this supposed "failure".  I remind myself how fortunate I am to live in the place that I do.  And, I am truly grateful for the clutter-clearing that was required to downsize.

I do, some days, still question if this is how my life is supposed to look.  After all, if I am a co-creator with the Universe, why have I not created something "better"?

But - I also have great faith in the Universe.  I let go of the feeling that I have somehow compromised and settled for less by living in an apartment.  Instead, I focus on the fact that I AM resilient.  I can adapt to change better today than I ever could before.  And, I trust that the Universe is always guiding me and that I am NEVER in the wrong place.

Best of all, I refuse to play small.  I show up every day as the wise, spiritual person that I am.   And I dare to take big, bold action - even when it's scary - because I know that the Universe has my back.

So, have there been times you've needed to be resilient in your life?  How did you adapt to change?

Today, I set the intention to welcome change, knowing that I am always in the right place at the right time and it is perfect.

"You live in a universe that has limitless potential for joy built into 

the creation process.  Your Source, which we call the universal 

mind of intention, adores you beyond anything you can possibly

 imagine.  When you adore yourself in the same proportion, you're 

matched up with the field of intention, and you've opted for 

the path of no resistance."  

~Dr. Wayne Dyer, The Power of Intention

"Creation is eternally going on; change is always taking place 

within that which is Changeless."  

~Ernest Holmes

Affirmative Prayer:
In the morning dew on the grass, in the fog that blankets the coast, there is a Divine Intelligence that moves through all that is, covering everything in love.  It is a Life that knows only good, only joy, only happiness, and It is a Source that brings fresh wisdom each day.

Looking within, this Source of Love, of Life, moves through and around me, expressing as me, in all that I do and in all that I speak each day.  I am always connected to Source, to Spirit, and my life unfolds with grace and ease as I take each step in my journey.

Affirming that the Universe always has my back, I allow my life to be guided by perfect, Divine order.  I let go and let God provide for my needs as I remain open to change.  I am supported by a Source that wants my highest and best and I stay centered in feelings of trust and of peace.  I am safe as Spirit directs my path and I am transformed as I lean into the possibilities of playing big.  I release any thoughts of lack or failure and welcome the blessings that show up in my life, knowing I am loved beyond measure.

I am so grateful to the Presence within for the gifts that are given and shared as I show up for life.  And I am thankful for the love that surrounds my every choice.  I am filled with gratitude for the abundant supply that is always available to me.

From this place of gratitude, I release my Word to the Divine Action of the Law, knowing it is already done.  All is well.  And I let it be so.  And so it is.

Plan For Prosperity. Ditch The Same Old Life

Every thought impacts your life.  That has become so clear as I continue reading The Power of Intention.  For the past few days, I have been consciously holding the life I want to manifest in my imagination.  Now, I must take the next step - to examine the obstacles that keep me from connecting to my intention.

Yep, I have to get my hands a little dirty <sigh>.

It is so important to be conscious of the conversations I am having with others and having with myself.  I may be creating barriers to realizing my intentions by talking and thinking about what I DON'T want.

According to the book, "Everything in this Universe is a movement of energy."  This includes your thoughts.

"Every thought you have has an energy that will either strength or weaken you."

So, as I have conversations that are not loving and not valuable - conversations that simply fill space - my energy level remains low, impacting not only me but those around me too.

If I keep having the same old conversations in that low energy level, that will translate to the same old life.

What if I am seeking to up-level my life to one filled with more prosperity and abundance on every level?  The goal, then, is to be aware of my thoughts and raise them to a higher energy level.  This means I MUST start noticing what I am actually saying.

I learned something about myself recently as I started paying attention to some of my conversations.  My husband, Kevin, and I were talking about going on vacation to Hawaii in December.   I agreed that would be nice but we won't have the money.

Wait!   HOW do I know I WON'T have the money?  I was already planning for lack and scarcity.  And - I just set my future in motion with that intention.

With that in mind, I took a minute to stop and change my thoughts to one of possibilities.

I went out to the Travel & Leisure website and started picturing myself enjoying one of the many vacation options they had listed.  And, I wrote down affirmations about how affordable our vacation in December will be - how amazing it will be to stay in a 5-star resort this year - how exciting the opportunities for dining and for spa days and for other activities would FEEL.  I even threw in how luxurious flying first class would be on this trip.

I planned for the prosperity rather than the lack.  And, now the doors are open for the Universe to provide unexpected good where before there was "not enough".

So, how do YOU plan for the prosperity and the possibilities for good?

Today, I set the intention to take responsibility for my thoughts, seeking only to engage in higher energy conversations that translate into a life of prosperity and abundance.

"Faith is expectancy.  You do not receive what you want; you 

do not receive what you pray for, not even what you say you have 

faith in.  You will always receive what you actually expect."  

~Eric Butterworth, Spiritual Economics

"When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you."  

~Lao Tzu

Affirmative Prayer:
There is a Presence in this moment that is filled with happiness, filled with joy, filled with bliss.  It is a Divine Wisdom and Divine Intelligence that exists throughout all that is - in the beauty of a green meadow sloping down toward a lush river, in the quiet patter of the rain falling against the window - It is alive and awake to the possibilities of Life.

This Divine Presence of Life is also awake and alive through me, expressing as me, in ways that are filled with the wonder of what will be.  As I move through my day, this Presence of Spirit within guides me and sustains my very being as I allow the flow of happiness and joy and bliss to surround me.

As Spirit expresses through me, my dreams and visions are brought into my every day experience.   I keep my thoughts and feelings focused on the good that is available and it shows up in ways that are better than I even imagined.  I let go of any thoughts of lack and allow the Universe to prosper me in every area of my life - in my relationships, in my finances, in my health.  I am worthy of the flow of abundance that is here now and I am enough, just as I am in this moment.  And, just like a stone that is tossed into a pond, this flow of prosperity and abundance, of happiness and joy, spreads out to others who are open to the possibility of every day miracles.

I am deeply grateful for the good in my life, for the blessings that seem to appear out of nowhere.  And I am so thankful for knowing the nature of God is always my Truth, the nature of Good is always my Divine Birthright.

From this place of thankfulness, I release my Word to the Divine Action of the Law, knowing it is already done.  It is creating through me - right here, right now.  And I let it be so.  And so it is!