Obstacles & The Flow, Part 1

January 31, 2010

Dear Friends,

Has this ever happened to you? You have a particular goal in mind. You begin to pursue that goal, and you feel divinely supported in reaching it, because doors are miraculously opening for you everywhere. You experience an unbelievable stream of coincidences and synchronicities that make your progress incredibly effortless. As you take one divinely guided step after another, you feel like you are definitely “in the flow!”

And then, surprisingly, you run into a closed door. You are certain that the divine flow led you to that door, so you knock on it. But there is no answer. You decide to knock on it again. Still there is no answer. Frustrated, you knock one more time—this time a little harder—and the door finally opens. But then the person who opened the door quickly shuts it in your face.

You are confused. You are positive that the divine flow meant for you to go through that door. What happened? And what are you supposed to do now?

In response to the first question, there is, of course, no single, definitive answer. Maybe you were mistaken about that particular door being part of your divinely prepared path. Or, for some reason, perhaps your goal is no longer in your best interest. Also possible in this instance, is the fact that the doorkeeper was simply not cooperating with his or her divine instructions to open the door for you, and keep it open.

Remember that—for the most part—the divine flow works through people doing what they are being divinely directed to do. Each of us is continually being guided to take actions that will not only help us fulfill our own dreams, but will also help other people fulfill their dreams.

As I have said before, it is important to honor your intuitive nudges, even if they don’t make sense, because it is not always about you. A sudden urge to grab a cup of coffee at a nearby Starbucks might be because there is someone there who needs to meet you in order to accomplish his or her goal.

Unfortunately, people don’t always play the part they are being divinely encouraged to play. Sometimes they are simply not in touch with that still, small voice that is inspiring them to take a certain action. Other times they do sense what they are being divinely asked to do, but then their ego gets in the way. They become fearful, insecure, resistant, or even threatened in some way. So they hesitate. Or worse, they flat out refuse to take the action that—in their hearts—they know is right. Instead of being part of the flow for someone, they close the door in that person’s face.

And when you are the one facing that closed door—a door that you fully expected to be open for you—what are you supposed to do then? The temptation is to bang on the door again . . . or try the backdoor . . . or climb in through a window. Those are the kind of thoughts that might enter your mind. But is that what you are really being divinely guided to do?

How do you know when an action that you are considering taking is, in truth, an act of force arising from the ego, instead of your divinely guided next right step?

I wish there was a simple answer for that—a hard and fast rule, or an unmistakable sign. All I can tell you is what I, personally, experience in moments like that . . . which is this: There comes a point when I notice that an action that I am considering taking is accompanied by a sense of tension and anxiety, rather than a sense of peace and ease. There are possible downsides to this course of action, and I can easily see what they are. And the fact that I am even questioning this action—instead of feeling sure about it—is a sign to me that I may be moving into the willful world of manipulation and control, rather than “rowing with the flow.”

That’s when I surrender any and all notions about how my desire is going to be fulfilled, and I take comfort in the fact that “when one door closes, the Universe always opens another.”

I become willing to move in an entirely new direction, and follow the “inner direction” of my spirit—even if it is telling me to just stay put and be patient. I once had a door that was closed to me for over a year. Then one day, I suddenly felt compelled to knock on that door again. And this time, it swung wide open. I don’t know if it was a matter of divine timing, or if the doorkeeper had a change of heart, or if there was a brand new doorkeeper. Any of those things is possible. But none of that matters. Remember that your job is never to “figure out” what’s going on. It is only to remain open and receptive to your divinely-inspired next right step . . . and the one after that . . . and the one after that . . . no matter where that step may lead.

Keep in mind, too, that through a regular practice of prayer and meditation, and by paying close attention to your feelings, your ability to discern the difference between a divinely guided step and a misguided one will get better and better. Sure, there will still be occasions when your ego wins out, and you force your way forward. But when you do that, the unwanted consequences are usually so obvious, you will then know without a doubt that it is time for you to give up on that particular course of action. And that sense of certainty—belated though it may be—will come as a big relief.

And if you keep encountering closed doors, one after another? If you keep running into obstacles in the form of uncooperative and resistant people? What then? Are you just supposed to give up on your dream? Well, that’s another story. I’ll share my thoughts on that next week.

Steven

© 2010 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com