Being In The Flow Is "No Sweat"

March 27, 2011

Dear Friends,

As I prepare this week’s message, James Arthur Ray, a popular self-help “guru,” is on trial for contributing to the deaths of three people who participated in a sweat lodge ceremony that he conducted here in Sedona in October of 2009. In addition to the three people who lost their lives, at least fifteen other people became seriously ill during this tragic incident.

Usually, a sweat lodge ceremony 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 Ray 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 strongly encouraged to “push through it.” In other words, they were encouraged to endure their discomfort, to persevere, and to literally “sweat it out.” Regardless of whether Ray is found guilty of an actual crime or not, the outcome of his kind of mentality proved to be disastrous.

There are many lessons that can be learned from this unfortunate tragedy. But 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 Ray 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, and/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 very eyes.

In other words, 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

P.S. Discerning for yourself what is in your best interests—and what isn’t—is an important part of this topic. I will be focusing on that particular aspect of this subject in next week’s message.

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© 2011 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Steven Lane Taylor, LLC