October 24, 2010
Dear Friends,
Without going into the details—because, frankly, the story is just too long and complicated—suffice it to say that I have experienced some very unexpected “bends in the stream” lately. They were the kind of unwanted circumstances that would test anyone’s ability to accept what is, and remain positive. At first, I was a bit upset. But with each surprising turn of events, I found myself growing more and more peaceful and relaxed, instead of more and more agitated. I was able to quickly recover my sense of being “in the flow,” and regain that comforting feeling of being divinely directed. No matter how crazy things got, I was able to remain calm, and focus only on discerning my next right step . . . and the one after that . . . and the one after that.
The reason why I was able to do that is relatively simple. It is simply easier to be in the flow when things really get out of hand, than it is when things are just slightly unmanageable. It is when things are obviously out of control that we more readily relinquish the idea that we can control what is going on . . . and we tend to surrender.
It is in that state of surrender that we become genuinely open to whatever is required of us in that moment. We stop resisting what is, and we stop trying to force things to go the way we “think” they should go. Instead, we desire only to know the next right step that will be in the best interests of all. And it is in that state of genuine receptivity that we begin hear and heed the still, small voice of spirit that is always there to guide us forward.
The real challenge—which is what I am building up to here—is giving up personal control when the situation does seem controllable. You see, living life in the divine flow requires you to constantly stay in “surrender mode”—no matter how easy it would be for you to manipulate a situation to your liking.
That doesn’t mean that you never take any action. It just means that before you take any action, you get quiet, go within, and try to get in touch with the wisdom of your spirit. You might be inspired to take some kind of action that you have never taken before. Or, you may be guided to refrain from taking any action at that particular moment. The goal is just to avoid jumping to conclusions and acting hastily.
Remember that living life in the divine flow is about being willing to seek divine guidance in every situation—even the situations that look like you can easily and instantly handle them “on your own.” That kind of mindfulness will require a conscious effort on your part, true . . . and it may require a fair amount of humility, too . . . but believe me, the outcome will be well worth it.
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, October 22, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
The Human Experience, Part 2
October 17, 2010
Dear Friends,
Last week I reminded you that you are a spiritual being having a human experience. I encouraged you to embrace the human experience by appreciating the beauty and the joy that come from being in the body and in the world.
That doesn’t mean, however, that you are in this physical plane of existence to ignore your spiritual essence—quite the opposite. It means that you are here to live life knowing that, at the core of your being, you are a divine spirit. And when you are in touch with that divine inner essence, your human experience is greatly enhanced.
That is why I recommend a daily practice of meditation. Meditation not only helps you contact the divine spirit within, it helps you stay in contact with that inner essence throughout the day, dramatically improving your experience of daily life.
Here are eight ways that the human experience is enhanced when you stay in touch with your spiritual nature:
1. You are healthier. Many health issues are either caused by, or aggravated by, stress. And for the most part, stress comes from fearful thoughts. When you are in touch with your all-knowing, indestructible spirit, fearful thoughts are greatly diminished, or completely removed.
2. You are more creative. True creativity comes from the divine creator within. When you are in touch with that divine creator, you automatically become more insightful and more inspired.
3. You are more intuitive. When you are in touch with your spirit, you can sense divine direction much more easily. And your next right step becomes much clearer.
4. You are more responsive. Instead of hastily judging and rashly reacting to something unexpected in life, you calmly respond from the wisdom within. You know what is best to do, when to do it, or if you should do anything at all.
5. You are more present. Your spirit is always in the now moment. When you are in touch with your spirit, you are less likely to be lost in thought—that is, reflecting on the past or projecting into the future. That means you are better able to notice the miracles that are happening all around you, right here, right now.
6. You are more patient. Being in the eternal now, your spirit never feels bound by time. And being all-knowing, your spirit sees countless ways for you to move successfully through life. When you are in touch with your spirit, possibilities seem unlimited, and time stands still. The result is infinite patience.
7. You are more peaceful. As an indestructible, eternal being, your spirit knows nothing of fear, and is always at peace. When you are in touch with that eternal, indestructible essence, you, too, will be at peace—no matter what is disturbing others.
8. You are more loving. Your spirit is love itself—divine love, unconditional love. When you are in touch with your spirit, you can’t help but be more compassionate, understanding, accepting, and forgiving.
Here’s to enjoying the human experience, my friends. It’s an experience that is healthier, happier, and more fulfilling whenever it is lived from the inside out—by going within, getting in touch with the divine spirit that resides there, and allowing that inner divinity to express itself.
Steven
P.S. If you would like to learn a simple meditation technique, click here.
© 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,
Last week I reminded you that you are a spiritual being having a human experience. I encouraged you to embrace the human experience by appreciating the beauty and the joy that come from being in the body and in the world.
That doesn’t mean, however, that you are in this physical plane of existence to ignore your spiritual essence—quite the opposite. It means that you are here to live life knowing that, at the core of your being, you are a divine spirit. And when you are in touch with that divine inner essence, your human experience is greatly enhanced.
That is why I recommend a daily practice of meditation. Meditation not only helps you contact the divine spirit within, it helps you stay in contact with that inner essence throughout the day, dramatically improving your experience of daily life.
Here are eight ways that the human experience is enhanced when you stay in touch with your spiritual nature:
1. You are healthier. Many health issues are either caused by, or aggravated by, stress. And for the most part, stress comes from fearful thoughts. When you are in touch with your all-knowing, indestructible spirit, fearful thoughts are greatly diminished, or completely removed.
2. You are more creative. True creativity comes from the divine creator within. When you are in touch with that divine creator, you automatically become more insightful and more inspired.
3. You are more intuitive. When you are in touch with your spirit, you can sense divine direction much more easily. And your next right step becomes much clearer.
4. You are more responsive. Instead of hastily judging and rashly reacting to something unexpected in life, you calmly respond from the wisdom within. You know what is best to do, when to do it, or if you should do anything at all.
5. You are more present. Your spirit is always in the now moment. When you are in touch with your spirit, you are less likely to be lost in thought—that is, reflecting on the past or projecting into the future. That means you are better able to notice the miracles that are happening all around you, right here, right now.
6. You are more patient. Being in the eternal now, your spirit never feels bound by time. And being all-knowing, your spirit sees countless ways for you to move successfully through life. When you are in touch with your spirit, possibilities seem unlimited, and time stands still. The result is infinite patience.
7. You are more peaceful. As an indestructible, eternal being, your spirit knows nothing of fear, and is always at peace. When you are in touch with that eternal, indestructible essence, you, too, will be at peace—no matter what is disturbing others.
8. You are more loving. Your spirit is love itself—divine love, unconditional love. When you are in touch with your spirit, you can’t help but be more compassionate, understanding, accepting, and forgiving.
Here’s to enjoying the human experience, my friends. It’s an experience that is healthier, happier, and more fulfilling whenever it is lived from the inside out—by going within, getting in touch with the divine spirit that resides there, and allowing that inner divinity to express itself.
Steven
P.S. If you would like to learn a simple meditation technique, click here.
© 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, October 8, 2010
The Human Experience
October 10, 2010
Dear Friends,
There is a saying you probably know that goes like this:
“You are not a human being having an occasional spiritual experience.
You are a spiritual being having a temporary human experience.”
The fact that the true you is a being of spirit—an individual expression of the One Divine Spirit—comes as a great revelation to many. In fact, some people get so excited by that understanding, they seek to experience their divine spiritual essence as much as possible.
These people go to every event they can find that promises them some kind of transcendent spiritual experience—an experience that leaves the body and the mind behind, and immerses them in a state of pure beingness; or an experience that offers them some other kind of mystical sensation.
There is nothing wrong with having experiences like that. And there is certainly nothing wrong with getting in touch with the true nature of your being. In fact, to live life in the divine flow, it is important for you to stay in close conscious contact with the divine spirit that is your essence. That’s why I recommend a daily practice of meditation.
However, it seems to me that spending an inordinate amount of time pursuing spiritual “experiences” may be missing the point of life. A life spent that way would be better expressed by a saying like this:
“You are not a human being having an occasional spiritual experience.
“You are a human being having frequent spiritual experiences!”
But that is not how the saying goes. It goes, “You are a spiritual being having a temporary human experience.” That means that you are not in this world to escape the human experience through the endless pursuit of spiritual ecstasies. You are in this world to have the human experience . . . but to have that experience from the standpoint of knowing that you are—at your core—a divine spirit.
As a divine spirit, you are in this world to have the human experience of creating—of choosing what you want to have, do, or be in life, and using your divine powers of manifestation to bring that about.
As a divine spirit, you are in this world to have the human experience of loving—of expressing your divine love through all of its earthly forms, such as compassion, understanding, acceptance, and forgiveness.
As a divine spirit, you are in this world to have the human experience of the physical body—to enjoy breathing, laughing, feeling the sun on your skin, and eating a big bowl of ice cream . . . something you can’t do as pure spirit.
And, as a divine spirit, you are in this world to have the human experience of the physical earth—to appreciate the wind, the water, blue skies, purple mountains, and endless fields of flowers.
In short, as a spiritual being, you are here to have the human experience of being alive and in the world, and enjoying everything this earthly plane of existence has to offer—both the sweet and the bittersweet.
Friends, by all means, seek those peak, transcendent spiritual experiences. Have them. And cherish them. But don’t forget to appreciate the beauty and the joy that also arise from the human experience. After all, isn’t that what you came here for?
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,
There is a saying you probably know that goes like this:
“You are not a human being having an occasional spiritual experience.
You are a spiritual being having a temporary human experience.”
The fact that the true you is a being of spirit—an individual expression of the One Divine Spirit—comes as a great revelation to many. In fact, some people get so excited by that understanding, they seek to experience their divine spiritual essence as much as possible.
These people go to every event they can find that promises them some kind of transcendent spiritual experience—an experience that leaves the body and the mind behind, and immerses them in a state of pure beingness; or an experience that offers them some other kind of mystical sensation.
There is nothing wrong with having experiences like that. And there is certainly nothing wrong with getting in touch with the true nature of your being. In fact, to live life in the divine flow, it is important for you to stay in close conscious contact with the divine spirit that is your essence. That’s why I recommend a daily practice of meditation.
However, it seems to me that spending an inordinate amount of time pursuing spiritual “experiences” may be missing the point of life. A life spent that way would be better expressed by a saying like this:
“You are not a human being having an occasional spiritual experience.
“You are a human being having frequent spiritual experiences!”
But that is not how the saying goes. It goes, “You are a spiritual being having a temporary human experience.” That means that you are not in this world to escape the human experience through the endless pursuit of spiritual ecstasies. You are in this world to have the human experience . . . but to have that experience from the standpoint of knowing that you are—at your core—a divine spirit.
As a divine spirit, you are in this world to have the human experience of creating—of choosing what you want to have, do, or be in life, and using your divine powers of manifestation to bring that about.
As a divine spirit, you are in this world to have the human experience of loving—of expressing your divine love through all of its earthly forms, such as compassion, understanding, acceptance, and forgiveness.
As a divine spirit, you are in this world to have the human experience of the physical body—to enjoy breathing, laughing, feeling the sun on your skin, and eating a big bowl of ice cream . . . something you can’t do as pure spirit.
And, as a divine spirit, you are in this world to have the human experience of the physical earth—to appreciate the wind, the water, blue skies, purple mountains, and endless fields of flowers.
In short, as a spiritual being, you are here to have the human experience of being alive and in the world, and enjoying everything this earthly plane of existence has to offer—both the sweet and the bittersweet.
Friends, by all means, seek those peak, transcendent spiritual experiences. Have them. And cherish them. But don’t forget to appreciate the beauty and the joy that also arise from the human experience. After all, isn’t that what you came here for?
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, October 2, 2010
Identifying Intuition
October 3, 2010
Dear Friends,
In essence, living life in the divine flow is about one main thing: recognizing and following divine guidance. Although you can receive divine guidance through signs and synchronicities, and through the wisdom of other people, the most valuable and consistent guidance you receive is from your own intuition—from the Divine Spirit within you that is speaking to you.
Intuitive guidance can take many forms, such as a thought that unexpectedly pops into your head; a still, small voice that you seem to “hear;” a physical sensation that you suddenly notice; or a simple feeling of “rightness” about a decision that you are considering making.
The big question is, how do you distinguish intuitive guidance from other thoughts or sensations? How do you know if that still, small voice you are hearing is the voice of your Divine Spirit, or the voice of your self-serving ego?
As you may have guessed, there’s no hard and fast rule for decisively determining whether a thought or a feeling is of divine origin. However, if you are in doubt, it does help to ask yourself this one simple question: Does the guidance I am sensing fit the nature of my Spirit?”
To help you answer that question, here are four different aspects of your Spirit’s nature, with a description of how those aspects affect the guidance that you receive:
1. Your Spirit is one with all.
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 essence, living life in the divine flow is about one main thing: recognizing and following divine guidance. Although you can receive divine guidance through signs and synchronicities, and through the wisdom of other people, the most valuable and consistent guidance you receive is from your own intuition—from the Divine Spirit within you that is speaking to you.
Intuitive guidance can take many forms, such as a thought that unexpectedly pops into your head; a still, small voice that you seem to “hear;” a physical sensation that you suddenly notice; or a simple feeling of “rightness” about a decision that you are considering making.
The big question is, how do you distinguish intuitive guidance from other thoughts or sensations? How do you know if that still, small voice you are hearing is the voice of your Divine Spirit, or the voice of your self-serving ego?
As you may have guessed, there’s no hard and fast rule for decisively determining whether a thought or a feeling is of divine origin. However, if you are in doubt, it does help to ask yourself this one simple question: Does the guidance I am sensing fit the nature of my Spirit?”
To help you answer that question, here are four different aspects of your Spirit’s nature, with a description of how those aspects affect the guidance that you receive:
1. Your Spirit is one with all.
In Spirit, there is no place where you end and someone else begins. In Spirit, we are all part of One Universal Whole. That means that you will never receive intuitive guidance that obviously harms or diminishes another person, because that person is—in Spirit—just another part of “you.” Intuitive guidance is always in the best interests of everyone.2. Your Spirit is all-knowing.
Being intimately connected to the Omniscient Mind of the Divine, your Spirit is aware of an almost infinite number of ways for you to successfully move forward in life. That means that you will never receive intuitive guidance that seems to demand that you do one thing in particular because that’s your “only option.” Your Spirit will simply suggest the course of action that happens to be the most beneficial one for you to take at that particular moment in time. And if that course of action is never taken, or it ceases to be the most beneficial direction for you, your Spirit will then simply make a new suggestion. Intuitive guidance may be persistent, but it is never insistent.3. Your Spirit is always positive.
The energy of your Spirit is a positive energy. That means that your Spirit will generally express itself in a positive way, suggesting a positive action step for you to take. Rather than saying “Don’t do this,” intuitive guidance is more likely to say, “Do this.”4. Your Spirit is indestructible and eternal.
Your Spirit cannot be injured, or cease to exist. That means that your Spirit knows nothing of fear. It knows only the peace that comes from being one with All-That-Is, and the joy that comes from the human experience—of just being alive and in the world. Generally then, intuitive guidance will feel peaceful, or joyful. If you are in immediate physical danger, yes, you may receive intuitive guidance that feels extremely urgent or powerful, such as “Get off the road now.” And you might react apprehensively to such a strong suggestion. But the guidance itself will not be infused with fear, because it will not be coming from a place of fear.Like I said, there’s no single, definitive way to identify intuitive guidance. But if that guidance is peaceful, positive, persistent, and in the best interests of all, that’s a good indication that you are receiving divine direction. May those four qualities enhance your ability to tell when your Spirit is speaking to you. And may you be willing to make the decision, or take the step, that your Spirit is suggesting.
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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