November 1, 2009
Dear Friends,
Since it has been all over the national news lately, most of you are probably aware of the tragedy that recently occurred here in Sedona during a sweat lodge ceremony. During this event, two people died, about twenty others became seriously ill, and a third person died later from her injuries. (For more information about sweat lodges, click here.)
Usually, a sweat lodge is reasonably safe, because the person in charge of this sacred ritual continually monitors the well-being of the participants, and allows anyone to leave the lodge if they are experiencing severe, physical discomfort. Although the leader of this particular sweat lodge did not physically restrain anyone from leaving, one survivor of the ordeal claims that those who did attempt to leave—or complained about their distress—were encouraged to “push through it.” In other words, it sounds like the lodge leader encouraged them to endure their discomfort, to persevere, and to literally “sweat it out.” The results of that attitude proved disastrous.
No doubt there are many lessons that can be learned from this sad turn of events. What it immediately brings to my mind—and is pertinent to the focus of my work—is the importance of knowing the difference between “flow” and “force” when it comes to pursuing your chosen destinations in life. When you ignore the divine flow of life, and choose, instead, to push ahead and force your way forward, there can be undesired consequences.
That’s not to say that being in the divine flow always feels completely comfortable. In fact, there may be times when the divine flow will purposely invite you to step out of your personal comfort zone. But if you look closely at what your personal comfort zone is, you will see that is usually a “box” that was artificially created by your own personal history and conditioning . . . and it feels good to finally move beyond that limited—and limiting—space.
It appears, though, that the leader of this lodge was doing far more than asking people to move beyond their personal comfort zone. He was inviting them to tolerate extreme discomfort, and encouraging them to ignore what their bodies were trying to tell them. There are physical limits to what the body can endure, and to what the body can do. And even though professional athletes are continually stretching those boundaries, those expansions happen very gradually, and in very tiny increments.
Friends, there are going to be plenty of times in life when you will run into a formidable obstacle that seems to be blocking you from reaching your desired destination. And there will probably be well-meaning people around you who will encourage you to “push through it.” In those times, just remember to refrain from acting hastily, and—through prayer, meditation, or contemplation—try to discern if the next step that you are considering taking feels “fluid” or “forceful.”
Remember that being in the flow is not about taking a step just because you can. It’s about attuning yourself to divine guidance, and taking the step that you are being divinely directed to take . . . a step that is usually a tiny, little, baby step—one that is right in front of you, and relatively easy to do.
Remember that being in the flow is not about forcing your way through an obstacle. It’s about flowing around that obstacle, or sometimes—through the power of divine love—watching that obstacle dissolve right before your eyes.
In other words, remember that being in the flow is not about sweating it out. It’s about the grace and effortless ease you experience in life when all of your decisions and all of your actions are divinely inspired.
Do you have a particular goal or dream that you are pursuing right now? Then why not allow the divine flow to lead you to your desired destination. About the hardest thing you will have to do is exercise a little patience. Other than that, getting there should be . . . well . . . no sweat.
Steven
© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Desire & The Divine Flow
October 25, 2009
Dear Friends,
There are those who believe that the key to happiness lies in eliminating your personal desires. I, for one, don’t believe that is the key to happiness. In fact, I don’t believe that is even possible. Why? Because having desires is an inherent and inescapable part of your divine nature.
As an individual expression of that creative energy commonly called God, it is in your very makeup to be a Creator, and to be constantly creating. And that’s all that your desires really are—intentions to create something in this world that didn’t exist before . . . especially experiences.
It’s interesting to note that if you look up the word “desire” in the dictionary, you will see that it came from a combination of the Latin words “de” and “sidus,” which translates literally as “from a star.” To me, that supports the idea that desire itself is not of earthly origin, but is a celestial attribute . . . one born from that higher place—that Higher Self—that shining star that is your Spirit.
That said, it is true that how you handle your desires can be a issue. For instance:
So yes, it is very important for you to carefully monitor what your ego is doing with your desires. But that doesn’t mean that you have to deny yourself the pleasure of having desires and pursuing their fulfillment. You just have to keep your desires in their proper perspective.
Remember that for everything you think you want in your mind, there is a deeper desire of the heart—of your Spirit—that underlies that idea, and initiated it. Remember that the Universe knows exactly what that deeper desire is in its purest form—unaltered by intellect or ego. And remember that it is to the fulfillment of that deeper desire that the divine flow is guiding you.
So, by all means, have your desires and pursue their fulfillment. But remember to let go of the specifics of your desire, and allow the divine flow to lead you to a destination that may be different from the one you originally intended. You will happily discover that what your Spirit desires for you is probably an even greater good—something that is grander than anything your mind ever imagined possible; something that is more deeply fulfilling; and something that is always in the best interests of all.
Steven
© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com.
Dear Friends,
There are those who believe that the key to happiness lies in eliminating your personal desires. I, for one, don’t believe that is the key to happiness. In fact, I don’t believe that is even possible. Why? Because having desires is an inherent and inescapable part of your divine nature.
As an individual expression of that creative energy commonly called God, it is in your very makeup to be a Creator, and to be constantly creating. And that’s all that your desires really are—intentions to create something in this world that didn’t exist before . . . especially experiences.
It’s interesting to note that if you look up the word “desire” in the dictionary, you will see that it came from a combination of the Latin words “de” and “sidus,” which translates literally as “from a star.” To me, that supports the idea that desire itself is not of earthly origin, but is a celestial attribute . . . one born from that higher place—that Higher Self—that shining star that is your Spirit.
That said, it is true that how you handle your desires can be a issue. For instance:
If you are overly attached to having your desire manifest in one particular way, that can be an issue.
If you believe that you can’t be happy until your desire is fulfilled, that can be an issue.
If accumulating possessions becomes an obsession, that can be an issue.
So yes, it is very important for you to carefully monitor what your ego is doing with your desires. But that doesn’t mean that you have to deny yourself the pleasure of having desires and pursuing their fulfillment. You just have to keep your desires in their proper perspective.
Remember that for everything you think you want in your mind, there is a deeper desire of the heart—of your Spirit—that underlies that idea, and initiated it. Remember that the Universe knows exactly what that deeper desire is in its purest form—unaltered by intellect or ego. And remember that it is to the fulfillment of that deeper desire that the divine flow is guiding you.
So, by all means, have your desires and pursue their fulfillment. But remember to let go of the specifics of your desire, and allow the divine flow to lead you to a destination that may be different from the one you originally intended. You will happily discover that what your Spirit desires for you is probably an even greater good—something that is grander than anything your mind ever imagined possible; something that is more deeply fulfilling; and something that is always in the best interests of all.
Steven
© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Watch Your Step!
October 18, 2009
Dear Friends,
The last activity I lead in my Divine Flow Retreats is a hike to the top of Mescal Mountain, one of Sedona’s lesser-known Red Rock formations.
When I first explored this area of Sedona, I was painfully reminded of one of the principles for living life in the divine flow: Always keep your focus on your current step!
You see, this particular trail is not only loaded with lots of loose rocks, but it also has lots of cacti growing all along the way. If you don’t watch where you are stepping, you might slip on the rocks and fall. Or, you might walk right into a prickly cactus . . . which is exactly what I did. Ouch! Instead of paying attention to where I was walking, I was looking too far ahead, and I suffered the consequence.
The same thing can happen as we pursue our desires in life.
As I frequently mention, living life in the divine flow requires present-moment awareness. The divine flow is always giving you the next right step to take to reach your goal. And that step is always right in front of you, relatively easy to do, and free of painful obstacles. But to see that step, you must stay focused in the here and now, instead of being focused somewhere in the future.
That doesn’t mean that there isn’t value in looking ahead and seeing where you want to go. In fact, that’s a requirement. Choosing a destination is what sets the whole flow in motion in the first place. But after that, you must return your attention to the present moment, so you can see the next step that the flow is guiding you to take.
It’s sort of a back-and-forth thing: You visualize your goal, then return your awareness to the present. You picture your dream, then come back to the current moment. If you are continually daydreaming about where you are headed, you may miss the very step that is leading you there. Or worse, you may make a misstep and find yourself sitting by the side of the trail pulling barbed bristles out of your skin!
Do you have a goal that you would like to accomplish, or a dream that you would like to realize? Great! Just remember that getting there is a step-by-step process, and your journey will be a lot more peaceful and pleasant if you stay focused on each step as it comes along.
Happy Trails!
Steven
© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
The last activity I lead in my Divine Flow Retreats is a hike to the top of Mescal Mountain, one of Sedona’s lesser-known Red Rock formations.
When I first explored this area of Sedona, I was painfully reminded of one of the principles for living life in the divine flow: Always keep your focus on your current step!
You see, this particular trail is not only loaded with lots of loose rocks, but it also has lots of cacti growing all along the way. If you don’t watch where you are stepping, you might slip on the rocks and fall. Or, you might walk right into a prickly cactus . . . which is exactly what I did. Ouch! Instead of paying attention to where I was walking, I was looking too far ahead, and I suffered the consequence.
The same thing can happen as we pursue our desires in life.
As I frequently mention, living life in the divine flow requires present-moment awareness. The divine flow is always giving you the next right step to take to reach your goal. And that step is always right in front of you, relatively easy to do, and free of painful obstacles. But to see that step, you must stay focused in the here and now, instead of being focused somewhere in the future.
That doesn’t mean that there isn’t value in looking ahead and seeing where you want to go. In fact, that’s a requirement. Choosing a destination is what sets the whole flow in motion in the first place. But after that, you must return your attention to the present moment, so you can see the next step that the flow is guiding you to take.
It’s sort of a back-and-forth thing: You visualize your goal, then return your awareness to the present. You picture your dream, then come back to the current moment. If you are continually daydreaming about where you are headed, you may miss the very step that is leading you there. Or worse, you may make a misstep and find yourself sitting by the side of the trail pulling barbed bristles out of your skin!
Do you have a goal that you would like to accomplish, or a dream that you would like to realize? Great! Just remember that getting there is a step-by-step process, and your journey will be a lot more peaceful and pleasant if you stay focused on each step as it comes along.
Happy Trails!
Steven
© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Ego and The Divine Flow
October 11, 2009
Dear Friends,
In these weekly messages I often mention the word “ego,” and I write about the various ways that choices made from your ego can severely limit your ability to be “in the flow” and fulfill your heart’s desires effortlessly.
Usually, the ego is associated with an inflated sense of self-importance—of pride, arrogance, or grandiosity. And it is easy to see how decisions based on those aspects of your ego can lead you into troubled waters.
But did you realize that the opposite is also true? A low sense of self-worth—of being less than others, or undeserving—is also an expression of ego. And, just like an inflated sense of self-importance, a low sense of self-worth can also make life more difficult for you than it has to be.
You might wonder how both of these extremes in self-perception can have the same source. Well, the answer lies in the way that many spiritual teachers define “ego,” which is simply “a thought that you are separate.”
Any thought that causes you to feel greater than others, or less than others, is a thought that—in your consciousness—separates you from others. And since we are all individual expressions of the same all-pervading energy that is commonly called God, that means that any thought that separates you from others will also—in your consciousness—separate you from that supportive divine energy.
And therein lies the problem. When you are in ego, you are disconnected from G.O.D.—from the “Guidance Of the Divine,” and life can quickly become a struggle.
In other words, when you are in E.G.O. you have “Edged God Out,” and any decision that you make—even one made with the best of intentions—is limited by your own incomplete knowledge and imperfect understanding.
As I have mentioned time and time again, to live life in the divine flow it is important for you to maintain a conscious connection with divine direction. And that means that thoughts of separation must be avoided. Instead of belittling others and inflating yourself—or the other way around—it is important to consistently affirm the Truth about yourself and others.
And what is that Truth? It is the Truth that each and everyone of us is a Beloved Child of The Divine—that each and everyone one of us is equal at birth and equal in worth to every other person on this planet . . . and thus, equally deserving of whatever it is we want to have, do, or be in life.
May we all enhance our ability to live life in the divine flow through thoughts of oneness instead of separation.
May we recognize the underlying Truth that every single person in this world is not only our brother or sister in Spirit, but is actually a part of ourselves . . . another wave in that ocean of universal energy that gave birth to us all, nurtures us all, and sustains us all.
Steven
P.S. If you struggle with a low sense of self-worth, I have written a set of Self-Worth Affirmation Statements that can help improve the way you value yourself. You will find it under AFFIRMATIONS on the order page of my website, and you can download it for free. To go there now, click on www.rowrowrow.com/order.html.
© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
In these weekly messages I often mention the word “ego,” and I write about the various ways that choices made from your ego can severely limit your ability to be “in the flow” and fulfill your heart’s desires effortlessly.
Usually, the ego is associated with an inflated sense of self-importance—of pride, arrogance, or grandiosity. And it is easy to see how decisions based on those aspects of your ego can lead you into troubled waters.
But did you realize that the opposite is also true? A low sense of self-worth—of being less than others, or undeserving—is also an expression of ego. And, just like an inflated sense of self-importance, a low sense of self-worth can also make life more difficult for you than it has to be.
You might wonder how both of these extremes in self-perception can have the same source. Well, the answer lies in the way that many spiritual teachers define “ego,” which is simply “a thought that you are separate.”
Any thought that causes you to feel greater than others, or less than others, is a thought that—in your consciousness—separates you from others. And since we are all individual expressions of the same all-pervading energy that is commonly called God, that means that any thought that separates you from others will also—in your consciousness—separate you from that supportive divine energy.
And therein lies the problem. When you are in ego, you are disconnected from G.O.D.—from the “Guidance Of the Divine,” and life can quickly become a struggle.
In other words, when you are in E.G.O. you have “Edged God Out,” and any decision that you make—even one made with the best of intentions—is limited by your own incomplete knowledge and imperfect understanding.
As I have mentioned time and time again, to live life in the divine flow it is important for you to maintain a conscious connection with divine direction. And that means that thoughts of separation must be avoided. Instead of belittling others and inflating yourself—or the other way around—it is important to consistently affirm the Truth about yourself and others.
And what is that Truth? It is the Truth that each and everyone of us is a Beloved Child of The Divine—that each and everyone one of us is equal at birth and equal in worth to every other person on this planet . . . and thus, equally deserving of whatever it is we want to have, do, or be in life.
May we all enhance our ability to live life in the divine flow through thoughts of oneness instead of separation.
May we recognize the underlying Truth that every single person in this world is not only our brother or sister in Spirit, but is actually a part of ourselves . . . another wave in that ocean of universal energy that gave birth to us all, nurtures us all, and sustains us all.
Steven
P.S. If you struggle with a low sense of self-worth, I have written a set of Self-Worth Affirmation Statements that can help improve the way you value yourself. You will find it under AFFIRMATIONS on the order page of my website, and you can download it for free. To go there now, click on www.rowrowrow.com/order.html.
© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Divinely "Dispatched"
October 4, 2009
Dear Friends,
You have probably noticed that the stories I use to illustrate particular points are almost always events that Carol and I have personally experienced . . . or readers like you have personally experienced.
Once in a while, though, I hear a story on the news that is such a perfect example of the divine flow in action, I feel compelled to share it. Here is one such story:
There is a taxi driver in Phoenix, Arizona, who was repeatedly called to the pick up the same woman time and time again. That was somewhat unusual, because the taxi dispatching system is fairly random. It is mostly based on what driver happens to be in the immediate area at the time. The fact that this man would be continually dispatched to pick up the same person over and over again, seemed to defy the odds.
Over time, the driver noticed that his passenger was not a very happy person. In fact, she seemed downright grumpy. He began to suspect that it had something to do with where he was always driving her—to a kidney dialysis center.
One day, the driver felt inspired to do some research about kidney dialysis, and he discovered that it is a procedure that would try anyone’s patience, especially if it had to be endured frequently. He also learned that the only way around dialysis is for the patient to receive a new kidney.
When the driver talked to the passenger about her problem, he found out that the reason she had not yet received a kidney transplant was because an adequate genetic match had not been found. As the driver put it, that night he “talked to God” about the situation, and he felt “called” to find out if one of his own kidneys would be a match for this woman.
You know where this story is going, right? Yes, you guessed it. Not only was the driver a good genetic match, he was as close as you can come to being a perfect match without being this woman’s brother! Feeling divinely directed by this amazing coincidence, the taxi driver offered to donate his kidney to his passenger, and she gratefully accepted.
But wait! There’s more!
When this man’s story hit the national news, a daughter that he had been separated from for 30 years saw it on television, called him, and now they are happily reconnected.
Wow! Now that is the divine flow in action! Through a series of divine synchronicities, and a selfless act motivated by divine inspiration, not only was a woman relieved of her physical and emotional suffering, but a man was reunited with a long-lost loved one. As it always is with the divine flow, all involved benefited!
May each and every one of us live our lives like that taxi driver. Whenever we perceive that we are being divinely “dispatched” . . . may we heed that “call” and do what we are being divinely asked to do.
Steven
© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
You have probably noticed that the stories I use to illustrate particular points are almost always events that Carol and I have personally experienced . . . or readers like you have personally experienced.
Once in a while, though, I hear a story on the news that is such a perfect example of the divine flow in action, I feel compelled to share it. Here is one such story:
There is a taxi driver in Phoenix, Arizona, who was repeatedly called to the pick up the same woman time and time again. That was somewhat unusual, because the taxi dispatching system is fairly random. It is mostly based on what driver happens to be in the immediate area at the time. The fact that this man would be continually dispatched to pick up the same person over and over again, seemed to defy the odds.
Over time, the driver noticed that his passenger was not a very happy person. In fact, she seemed downright grumpy. He began to suspect that it had something to do with where he was always driving her—to a kidney dialysis center.
One day, the driver felt inspired to do some research about kidney dialysis, and he discovered that it is a procedure that would try anyone’s patience, especially if it had to be endured frequently. He also learned that the only way around dialysis is for the patient to receive a new kidney.
When the driver talked to the passenger about her problem, he found out that the reason she had not yet received a kidney transplant was because an adequate genetic match had not been found. As the driver put it, that night he “talked to God” about the situation, and he felt “called” to find out if one of his own kidneys would be a match for this woman.
You know where this story is going, right? Yes, you guessed it. Not only was the driver a good genetic match, he was as close as you can come to being a perfect match without being this woman’s brother! Feeling divinely directed by this amazing coincidence, the taxi driver offered to donate his kidney to his passenger, and she gratefully accepted.
But wait! There’s more!
When this man’s story hit the national news, a daughter that he had been separated from for 30 years saw it on television, called him, and now they are happily reconnected.
Wow! Now that is the divine flow in action! Through a series of divine synchronicities, and a selfless act motivated by divine inspiration, not only was a woman relieved of her physical and emotional suffering, but a man was reunited with a long-lost loved one. As it always is with the divine flow, all involved benefited!
May each and every one of us live our lives like that taxi driver. Whenever we perceive that we are being divinely “dispatched” . . . may we heed that “call” and do what we are being divinely asked to do.
Steven
© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
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