May 30, 2010
Dear Friends,
Many of you are probably familiar with this line from Shakespeare’s Hamlet: "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." Said another way, nothing in and of itself is inherently good or bad. We are the ones who assign meaning to things and label them as good, bad, or indifferent.
Well, if that’s true—and I do believe it is—then what kind of attitude should we take about the different kind of circumstances that we experience in life?
In some circles, the answer to that question is illustrated by the following fable:
There was once a wise old farmer who owned a prize horse. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came over to offer their condolences. "Such bad luck," they said sympathetically. "Maybe," was all the farmer replied. A few days later the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. "How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed. "Maybe," replied the old man again. The following day, the farmer’s son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown off, and broke his leg. Once again, the neighbors offered their sympathy, saying "How awful." "Maybe," answered the farmer one more time. The day after that, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son of the farmer had a broken leg, they passed him by. The neighbors once again congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. “What good fortune,” they said. The farmer replied yet again, “Maybe.”
I appreciate this story for one particular reason. It illustrates the fact that we rarely, if ever, know enough to be able to accurately judge any circumstance as either good or bad. However, I wonder if there isn’t a more positive way to respond to what we encounter in life.
I realize that the farmer’s response was objective and non-resistant. And that certainly elicits a feeling of peace, which is wonderful. But to me, the farmer’s “maybe so, maybe not” attitude is somewhat flat and lifeless—limiting the possibility of feeling anything beyond peace . . . such as joy. And I, for one, believe that our spirits are in this world—and in these bodies—to experience happiness and joy, as well as peace.
If something happens that I think is good (even though I know it is just a subjective judgment on my part), I want to be able to experience all the good feelings that come along with that. And when things don’t seem to be going very well, I still want to experience good feelings! So how do I do that?
I simply look at every situation that “appears” to be bad, and see it as a stepping stone to my highest good. And that’s not just wishful thinking on my part. Similar to the circumstances described in the fable, it has been my experience time and time again that the possibility for good exists within every situation . . . and the divine flow is continually working on my behalf—and everyone’s behalf—to manifest that good.
If you want a more positive and uplifting way to respond to life’s circumstances—a way that promotes feelings of happiness and joy, gratitude and thanksgiving—then I invite you to approach life differently than the farmer did in the version of the fable that you just read. I invite you to consider the example set by the farmer in my own alternate version of this story:
There was once a wise old farmer who owned a prize horse. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came over to offer their condolences. "Such bad luck," they said sympathetically. "I believe there can be good in this," the farmer replied. A few days later the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. "How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed. "Yes, it is good," replied the old man. The following day, the farmer’s son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown off, and broke his leg. Once again, the neighbors offered their sympathy, saying, "How awful.” And once again, the farmer answered, “I believe there can be good in this.” The day after that, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son of the farmer had a broken leg, they passed him by. The neighbors once again congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. “What good fortune,” they said. And one more time the farmer replied, "Yes, it is good. Very good indeed!”
So, my friends, the choice is yours. You can achieve peace by assigning little or no meaning to what occurs in life. Or, you can open yourself up to something more by seeing everything as good, or good in potential.
I, for one, choose to thoroughly enjoy all the “good” things that happen in life. And more than that, I choose to appreciate the constant possibility of good in everything else.
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
Friday, May 28, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Hold On To Your Dream
May 23, 2010
Dear Friends,
I am currently on a two-week trip to Texas for my grandson’s second birthday; the marriage of my lovely daughter, Tiffany; and a speaking engagement at Unity Church of Richardson.
Because of limited time to write a brand new message this week, and the inability to record it, I have decided to share a video with you that was sent to me by a good friend of mine in Sedona.
This animated video is called “The Miracle of Chinese Bamboo,” and it’s about the value of patience, and the importance of holding on to your dream.
I have written about both of those subjects before, which makes this video an appropriate complement to my work.
To watch the video, click on the following link, or copy and paste it into your browser:
www.5millionforchange.com/MovieBamboo.aspx
Enjoy!
Steven
P.S. This video is a little long and somewhat slow moving, so you will get a chance to practice patience while you watch it!
© 2010 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,
I am currently on a two-week trip to Texas for my grandson’s second birthday; the marriage of my lovely daughter, Tiffany; and a speaking engagement at Unity Church of Richardson.
Because of limited time to write a brand new message this week, and the inability to record it, I have decided to share a video with you that was sent to me by a good friend of mine in Sedona.
This animated video is called “The Miracle of Chinese Bamboo,” and it’s about the value of patience, and the importance of holding on to your dream.
I have written about both of those subjects before, which makes this video an appropriate complement to my work.
To watch the video, click on the following link, or copy and paste it into your browser:
www.5millionforchange.com/MovieBamboo.aspx
Enjoy!
Steven
P.S. This video is a little long and somewhat slow moving, so you will get a chance to practice patience while you watch it!
© 2010 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Friday, May 14, 2010
The Manifestation Process
May 16, 2010
Dear Friends,
Do you think you would be happier if you could instantly manifest whatever it is you want to have, do, or be in your life? Would you be happier if you could just snap your fingers and immediately a brand new car would appear in your garage, or suddenly you would find yourself in a brand new job?
Believe it or not, I don’t think you would find that kind of instantaneous manifestation very satisfying—at least, not on an ongoing basis.
Like I mentioned last week, you are an innately creative being. You will always be conceiving of things you want to have, do, or be in life. And you will always be going about the business of manifesting those ideas in the material world. But that process is . . . well . . . a process! And the real joy of manifesting—of creating—lies in the process itself.
Take a painter, for example. Is a painter happy when he or she has finished an original work of art? Of course. But the real enjoyment of painting came with each and every stroke of the brush. It was the experience of painting—not just having painted—that was fulfilling. Do you think a painter would continue to paint if every time he or she visualized a picture it just magically appeared on the canvas? I don’t think so.
Like a painter creating a work of art one stroke of the brush at a time, you manifest what you want in life one stroke of your “oars” at a time. Don’t make the mistake of putting off your happiness until you actually reach that “destination”—until you actually accomplish your goal, fulfill your desire, or realize your dream.
Whether you are building a home, raising a family, or launching a career, consciously choose to savor each and every moment of the journey. Because that, my friends, is where the real satisfaction lies.
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
Dear Friends,
Do you think you would be happier if you could instantly manifest whatever it is you want to have, do, or be in your life? Would you be happier if you could just snap your fingers and immediately a brand new car would appear in your garage, or suddenly you would find yourself in a brand new job?
Believe it or not, I don’t think you would find that kind of instantaneous manifestation very satisfying—at least, not on an ongoing basis.
Like I mentioned last week, you are an innately creative being. You will always be conceiving of things you want to have, do, or be in life. And you will always be going about the business of manifesting those ideas in the material world. But that process is . . . well . . . a process! And the real joy of manifesting—of creating—lies in the process itself.
Take a painter, for example. Is a painter happy when he or she has finished an original work of art? Of course. But the real enjoyment of painting came with each and every stroke of the brush. It was the experience of painting—not just having painted—that was fulfilling. Do you think a painter would continue to paint if every time he or she visualized a picture it just magically appeared on the canvas? I don’t think so.
Like a painter creating a work of art one stroke of the brush at a time, you manifest what you want in life one stroke of your “oars” at a time. Don’t make the mistake of putting off your happiness until you actually reach that “destination”—until you actually accomplish your goal, fulfill your desire, or realize your dream.
Whether you are building a home, raising a family, or launching a career, consciously choose to savor each and every moment of the journey. Because that, my friends, is where the real satisfaction lies.
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
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Motherhood and The Divine Flow
May 9, 2010
Dear Friends,
Sunday, May 9th is Mother’s Day, the day we celebrate the women in our lives who conceived us, gave birth to us, and nurtured us as we began to establish our own individual identities in the world.
As I contemplate the beauty of motherhood on this special day, I can't help but notice the similarity between motherhood and manifesting.
What similarity, exactly?
Well, as I have mentioned many times before, you are an innately creative being. No matter how happy and fulfilled you are, you will always be conceiving of things you want to have, do, or be in your life. Through your words and your actions you will constantly be giving birth to your ideas—to your desires, goals, and dreams. And by giving them your love and attention, you will continually be in the process of nurturing your creations—of helping them to grow into full expression.
In other words, whether you are male or female, whether you have brought a child into this world or not, in many respects you are—at the core of your being—a mother . . . someone who is divinely designed to bring something new and beautiful into this world.
As you pay tribute to your mother (or mothers), and to all the mothers living in the world around you, I invite you to take a moment to also honor the mother that exists within you.
Take a moment to celebrate that motherly part of you that is an open chamber for receiving divine ideas, and an open channel for bringing those beautiful ideas into the world, and giving them life.
Here's to the joy of motherhood!
And here's to the peace that comes from knowing that the whole universe is willing to help you with that wonderful and immensely fulfilling work.
Happy Day, Mother!
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
Dear Friends,
Sunday, May 9th is Mother’s Day, the day we celebrate the women in our lives who conceived us, gave birth to us, and nurtured us as we began to establish our own individual identities in the world.
As I contemplate the beauty of motherhood on this special day, I can't help but notice the similarity between motherhood and manifesting.
What similarity, exactly?
Well, as I have mentioned many times before, you are an innately creative being. No matter how happy and fulfilled you are, you will always be conceiving of things you want to have, do, or be in your life. Through your words and your actions you will constantly be giving birth to your ideas—to your desires, goals, and dreams. And by giving them your love and attention, you will continually be in the process of nurturing your creations—of helping them to grow into full expression.
In other words, whether you are male or female, whether you have brought a child into this world or not, in many respects you are—at the core of your being—a mother . . . someone who is divinely designed to bring something new and beautiful into this world.
As you pay tribute to your mother (or mothers), and to all the mothers living in the world around you, I invite you to take a moment to also honor the mother that exists within you.
Take a moment to celebrate that motherly part of you that is an open chamber for receiving divine ideas, and an open channel for bringing those beautiful ideas into the world, and giving them life.
Here's to the joy of motherhood!
And here's to the peace that comes from knowing that the whole universe is willing to help you with that wonderful and immensely fulfilling work.
Happy Day, Mother!
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
Saturday, May 1, 2010
If It Feels Right, Do It!
May 2, 2010
Dear Friends,
In the January 11th issue of Time Magazine, there was an article about Magnus Carlsen, the youngest No. 1 player in the history of chess. According to Gary Kasparov, a former chess champion:
You make countless decisions every day—some big, some small. And naturally you want all of your decisions to be good ones—decisions that are divinely guided and divinely supported. But often it is impractical to wait for a divine sign to appear, or for a synchronistic event to occur, to help you make the best choice.
Your own intuitive sense, however, is always right there and ready to guide you. Although there are many ways that your intuition can speak to you, most commonly it is through a simple “feeling of rightness.” One potential choice just feels a little better than the other one.
Although I make a point of nurturing my intuitive sense, and I have always relied upon it heavily for making important decisions, I only recently noticed how much I use my intuition for every decision that I make. Not too long ago, someone simply asked me which restaurant we should go to for lunch. For a brief moment I considered Restaurant A versus Restaurant B, and then I said, “I think we should go to Restaurant A.” Later, I noticed that I had used the word, “think.” But the fact is, “thinking” had almost nothing to do with my choice. I simply imagined myself in Restaurant A, then in Restaurant B, and Restaurant A felt a little better. It just . . . well . . . felt right. I realized in that moment how almost all of the decisions I make in life are automatically—and to some degree unconsciously—based on how those decisions feel.
When Carol and I needed to move from one home to another here in Sedona, I came up with what I thought was a logical plan for moving—what we should do first, then second, then third, and so on. But in the end, we ended up doing things in a completely different order. Why? Because it felt right. And I can honestly say, our move was an extraordinarily smooth one.
Even the message that you are reading right now was greatly influenced by how I felt as I wrote it. I make it a practice to read my messages over and over and over again, until every paragraph, every sentence, and every word not only makes sense, but also feels right.
Is there a move—big or small—that you are contemplating making in your life right now? Then go ahead and use your logic and reason to weigh the pros and cons of making that move . . . or of not making it . . . or of making an entirely different move. Just make sure that you pay special attention to how each potential choice feels.
And if it’s time to make a decision and you are still uncertain about which way to go, make the best choice you can and don’t fret about it. Remember—more so in life than in chess—even a misguided move can be transformed by the divine flow into just another stepping-stone to your highest good.
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
Dear Friends,
In the January 11th issue of Time Magazine, there was an article about Magnus Carlsen, the youngest No. 1 player in the history of chess. According to Gary Kasparov, a former chess champion:
“Carlsen’s mastery is rooted in a deep, intuitive sense. He has a natural feel for where to place the pieces, and a knack for sensing the potential energy in each move, even if its ultimate effect is too far away for anyone—even a computer—to calculate.”The article went on to state that many of Carlsen’s moves are not even considered to be options by the experts until they see those moves and realize how perfect they are. About this, Carlsen simply says:
“It’s hard to explain, but sometimes a move just feels right.”Friends, when it comes to living life in the divine flow, I cannot emphasis enough the importance of paying keen attention to how a potential move in your life feels.
You make countless decisions every day—some big, some small. And naturally you want all of your decisions to be good ones—decisions that are divinely guided and divinely supported. But often it is impractical to wait for a divine sign to appear, or for a synchronistic event to occur, to help you make the best choice.
Your own intuitive sense, however, is always right there and ready to guide you. Although there are many ways that your intuition can speak to you, most commonly it is through a simple “feeling of rightness.” One potential choice just feels a little better than the other one.
Although I make a point of nurturing my intuitive sense, and I have always relied upon it heavily for making important decisions, I only recently noticed how much I use my intuition for every decision that I make. Not too long ago, someone simply asked me which restaurant we should go to for lunch. For a brief moment I considered Restaurant A versus Restaurant B, and then I said, “I think we should go to Restaurant A.” Later, I noticed that I had used the word, “think.” But the fact is, “thinking” had almost nothing to do with my choice. I simply imagined myself in Restaurant A, then in Restaurant B, and Restaurant A felt a little better. It just . . . well . . . felt right. I realized in that moment how almost all of the decisions I make in life are automatically—and to some degree unconsciously—based on how those decisions feel.
When Carol and I needed to move from one home to another here in Sedona, I came up with what I thought was a logical plan for moving—what we should do first, then second, then third, and so on. But in the end, we ended up doing things in a completely different order. Why? Because it felt right. And I can honestly say, our move was an extraordinarily smooth one.
Even the message that you are reading right now was greatly influenced by how I felt as I wrote it. I make it a practice to read my messages over and over and over again, until every paragraph, every sentence, and every word not only makes sense, but also feels right.
Is there a move—big or small—that you are contemplating making in your life right now? Then go ahead and use your logic and reason to weigh the pros and cons of making that move . . . or of not making it . . . or of making an entirely different move. Just make sure that you pay special attention to how each potential choice feels.
And if it’s time to make a decision and you are still uncertain about which way to go, make the best choice you can and don’t fret about it. Remember—more so in life than in chess—even a misguided move can be transformed by the divine flow into just another stepping-stone to your highest good.
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
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