The Art Of Making Spiritual Excuses

When something in my life goes wrong, I immediately start making excuses.  And - what I notice is that I blame what went wrong on Divine Intervention.  It's simply out of my control, right?

These are my tried and true excuses:

"I know I'm late in getting this work to you but everything happens in perfect, Divine timing."

"It's not my fault.  I'm carrying around old past habits that make me do things this way."

"I realize I got angry with you but I'm trying to work through my feelings by expressing them."

Not surprisingly, these excuses are starting to sound lame.  And, I don't want people to tune me out or roll their eyes when I throw these out there.

At the same time, I'm not perfect and there will be times when I sincerely need to explain why I acted badly or am late or needed space for a minor meltdown.

And, here's where the art comes in of identifying and re-directing my excuses into something that works for everyone involved.

So, when my project is delayed because I got stuck, I can explain that this was beyond my comfort zone and admit that I can use some help.  It now becomes a learning opportunity for my self-growth.

Or, when I get frustrated because I don't have the details I should have received from others, I take a deep breath and find a trusted person to bounce some problem-solving ideas off of.  Now, I have created a space for compassion and understanding rather than self-pity and anger.

And, I know myself well enough to recognize a few of my triggers.  Being aware of those allows me to be pro-active and express concerns BEFORE I take on a task.  Rather than flippantly blame old habits, I simply admit that managing others, for example, is not my forte and I may be challenged by keeping people in line.

With the new re-worked excuses, what emerges is something that is truly more spiritual than the whining I did previously.  It becomes more about self-mastery and MY evolution of recognizing that things are not happening 'to' me, they are happening 'through' me.

And, that recognition is exactly what I need to make a change. There is an intelligence within me that is here to push me to grow and to thrive; it is NOT here to be my scapegoat.

So, where are YOU using the Universe as your scapegoat rather than taking responsibility for your choices?

Today, I set the intention to take responsibility for my actions in ways that allow Spirit to move through me and NOT throw Divine Life under the bus.

"There is no need for you to be some kind of super-being in order to measure

 up to everyone else.  Who you are is really quite enough!  You know enough and

 have enough to offer something valuable, whatever is going on."  

~Iyanla Vanzant

"The will of the Spirit is peace, clear thinking and happiness; it could have no other will."  

~Ernest Holmes, The Science of Mind

Affirmative Prayer:
Breathing into this moment and surrendering to the end of the day, there is an awareness of One Divine Life.  It stands as tall as the trees and is as vast as the ocean.  This Life is strong and at the same time gentle; vibrant and at the same time soft.

And in this moment, I can see that I am surrounded by an Infinite Intelligence that responds to all that I think, all that I say and all that I do.   I am open to the Spirit within as I create a life that awakens my souls desires.  I am moved to new experiences, allowing my actions to be guided by the still small voice that always has my highest and best in mind.

Embracing the energy of Divine Wisdom and Love, I claim with conviction that I am, at heart, a spiritual being.   I see clearly that as I make choices at work and at play, I am supported, even when I may make a mistake.  I let go of the fear of admitting I am wrong and, instead, find compassionate and truthful ways to admit my human tendencies.  As I claim my errors, I welcome the support of the Universe that tells me I am always enough, in every situation.  And I affirm that as I get better at voicing things I didn't handle so well, a whole world of possibilities opens up for me to prosper.

I am filled with gratitude for this growing awareness that I can be humble and still thrive.  I am thankful that as I discover my own unique brilliance, success chases me down and lifts me up.  And I am grateful for the gentle reminders from the Universe that put me back on track to accepting responsibility for my life, here and now.

From this place of deep gratitude, I release this prayer to the Divine Action of the Law, knowing it is already done and made manifest in loving ways.  I am worthy of this and so much more.  And I let it be so.  And so it is!

Photo courtesy of Banu/Flickr

The Value Of Self-Love

Labels:  Selflish.  Self-centered.  Self-involved.  Am I defined by those labels?  Sometimes, yes.

But - labels are just that; a way to define or, dare I say judge, something or someone.  And, what I'm starting to see is the more I love myself and who I am becoming, the less I fret when those labels are applied to me.  In fact, the more I embrace those labels as evidence that I am important and valued and cherished, the better balanced I am in my life.

Because it means I am taking time for my own growth.  I am making time to do what makes me happy.  I am open to and allowing the space for my own development.

So, for those who give me those labels, I say Thank You.  And for those who can see my growth and are encouraged to go down the road of self-love with me, I say Lets Go!

Incorporating some "ME" time is creating a path that leads me to the life I desire.  And, it's creating a path that guides me to that which I need to become in order to have the life that is calling to me.

It's all happening in perfect timing and in perfect ways.  I simply need to take the next step and follow the map that my intuition provides each day.

So, how do YOU feel about loving yourself right where you are?  Are you making time to focus on yourself?

Today, I set the intention to see the value of self-love and accept myself, just as I am, right where I am, knowing my dreams will follow.

"Self worth comes from one thing - thinking that you are worthy."  

~Wayne Dyer

"The true value of a human being is determined primarily by 

the measure and the sense in which he has attained liberation from the self."  

~Albert Einstein

Affirmative Prayer:
Breathing in the joy of this moment, there is the glimmer of the One Life, the touch and feel of the One Divine Presence.  It is a richness and a ripeness that is revealed throughout each day.  And it is a stirring of a recognition that this Infinite, Creative Power is a source for only good, only beauty, only happiness.

This Presence is reflected in everything I do, everything I say and everything I think.  It expresses as me, reminding me that I am even more than I imagine.  I am Spirit in human form and my activities are those of the Divine.

As I go through my day, I let go of any striving and I give in to simply allowing and accepting my desires to unfold.  As I love myself more deeply, I am reminded that I am worthy of all the wonderful things this life has to offer.  I move through the field of possibilities and experience the prosperity and abundance that seems to flow right to my door.  My talents and desires become evident as I remain open to opportunities for growth and development.  I am here at this time to thrive and I welcome Spirit's Infinite Love which is always surrounding me and sustaining me.

I am so grateful for the experiences of love and generosity that are revealed as I give and as I receive.  This is a reciprocal Universe and I give thanks for that reciprocity for it is evidence that the Divine Love of Source is always available within each of us.  And I am filled with gratitude for the ever-increasing wisdom that says we are all here, not just to survive, but to thrive!

With a shout of exuberant thanks, I release my word to the Divine Action of the Law, knowing it is always and forever working on my behalf.  I accept all that is to come in trust and faith.  And I let it be so.  And so it is.

Photo courtesy of IamNotUnique/Flickr