May 29, 2011
Dear Friends,
Once in a while I meet someone who has the mistaken impression that if you truly “master” all of the principles for living life in the divine flow, you will never again run into any obstacles or challenges in life. I wish!
It’s true, that when you consistently follow divine direction, the number of obstacles and challenges you encounter in life will diminish dramatically. However, no matter how good you are at recognizing and cooperating with divine guidance, you are still likely to encounter quite a few obstacles and challenges along the way . . . for two very good reasons:
First, there are certain challenges that—on the level of your spirit—you actually want to experience. Why? Because some challenges offer you an ideal opportunity to grow spiritually or mature emotionally—to heal a long neglected emotional wound, for instance, or to expand a limited way of being that is preventing you from living a more fulfilling and joyful life. (For more about this, re-read my message titled, “Purposely Choosing Challenges” by clicking here.)
The second reason that some obstacles and challenges are unavoidable—even when you are highly attuned to the feel of the flow—is because of something called “the ripple effect.” Keep in mind that we are all interrelated and interconnected in ways that we can’t even begin to conceive of. So, when even one of us does not follow the guidance of the divine, and, instead, makes a choice out of ego—out of fear or frustration, judgment or jealousy—that decision creates a ripple that can go out and eventually affect the rest of us.
On a personal level, it’s like the scenario of a boss who unjustly criticizes one of his male employees; the misjudged employee then goes home and unfairly belittles his wife; the upset wife then kicks the dog when it gets in her way; the confused dog then bites the delivery man . . . and on and on it goes.
On a global level, it’s like the time in 2001 that a man directed his followers to hijack some American Airlines planes and fly them into the twin towers of the World Trade Center. That action had a ripple effect that directly changed the lives of countless people across the country and around the world . . . including me. At that time I was employed by the advertising agency for American Airlines. Right after 9/11, American Airlines decided to stop advertising for a while. My agency had to cut its budget. People were laid off. And I was one of those people.
It’s a simple case of cause and effect . . . like the choices that led to the dramatic downturn in our economy over the last few years. We are still experiencing the effect of that ripple!
So, does being a “master” at living life in the divine flow mean that you will never encounter another obstacle or challenge in your life? Obviously not. What it does mean, though, is this: When you encounter an obstacle or a challenge, you will always know the best way to respond to it, because you will be intimately connected to the wisdom of your spirit. You will intuitively know what to do, when to do it, and if you should do anything at all. And even more importantly—because you will be responding from the part of you that is divine love itself—your every response will be a loving one.
And guess what? When you respond to a challenge with love, you create a brand new ripple—a ripple that is so great, it has the power overcome, cancel out, or transform all that has gone before it! In fact, there is no ripple in this world that is more powerful than the one created by a simple act of loving-kindness.
Why not start your own positive ripple today? It begins the instant you treat a challenging person with compassion, or greet a troublesome situation with understanding. Believe me, you are definitely going to like the effect of that ripple!
Steven
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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
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
You Are Worthy!
May 22, 2011
Dear Friends,
Last weekend I attended the christening of my second grandson, Tanner Taylor Thomas, pictured here:
Regardless of what christening may mean in various religious circles, I like to think of christening as a ceremony in which the true identity of a baby is named and proclaimed. And what is that true identity? It is the same identity that you, and I, and everyone on this planet share: We are all children of The Divine—individual expressions of that loving and creative energy that many call God.
As children of The Divine we are all divinely loved, divinely protected, and divinely entitled to lives of peace, prosperity, and fulfillment. And to enjoy these divine privileges we don’t have to do a single thing. Just the fact that we exist—just being—is cause enough for celebration.
Unfortunately, we don’t always feel this sense of divine entitlement, do we? Instead of feeling that we have a divine right to whatever it is we want to have, do, or be in life, we may feel that we don’t deserve to have our dreams come true. We may feel that we are not good enough, or smart enough, or capable enough. In a word, we may feel that we are not “worthy.”
This is a big issue, because our thoughts about ourselves influence the choices that we make in life. And choices based on feelings of low self-worth can easily sabotage our ability to fulfill our heart’s desires.
I wish there was a magic wand I could wave that would cause every single person on this planet to immediately recognize his or her innate worth as a beloved child of The Divine. Obviously, I don’t have a wand like that. However, I do have a helpful tool. It’s an Affirmation of Worth that “wrote itself” through me a number of years ago. Here it is:
AN AFFIRMATION OF WORTH
God is All That Is.
And I am part of All That Is.
I now acknowledge my innate worth
as a vital part of The Divine Whole.
It is through me that God knows God’s Self
in a way that no other experience can duplicate.
God cherishes my existence,
and it is God’s great pleasure
to help me fulfill my heart’s desires effortlessly.
It doesn’t matter to whom I was born,
or what circumstances followed.
Nor does it matter
how anyone else perceives my value.
I know that I am a precious and essential
part of this Universe . . .
that I have a right to be here,
and that I have a special purpose to fulfill
in this time and place.
I am wanted.
I am needed.
I am worthy and deserving.
I am a Holy Child of The Divine.
Peace, joy, and prosperity
are mine by divine right.
And I claim my divine inheritance now!
If you are struggling with your sense of worthiness, I hope you find this Affirmation to be helpful.
Steven
Share
© 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
Dear Friends,
Last weekend I attended the christening of my second grandson, Tanner Taylor Thomas, pictured here:
Regardless of what christening may mean in various religious circles, I like to think of christening as a ceremony in which the true identity of a baby is named and proclaimed. And what is that true identity? It is the same identity that you, and I, and everyone on this planet share: We are all children of The Divine—individual expressions of that loving and creative energy that many call God.
As children of The Divine we are all divinely loved, divinely protected, and divinely entitled to lives of peace, prosperity, and fulfillment. And to enjoy these divine privileges we don’t have to do a single thing. Just the fact that we exist—just being—is cause enough for celebration.
Unfortunately, we don’t always feel this sense of divine entitlement, do we? Instead of feeling that we have a divine right to whatever it is we want to have, do, or be in life, we may feel that we don’t deserve to have our dreams come true. We may feel that we are not good enough, or smart enough, or capable enough. In a word, we may feel that we are not “worthy.”
This is a big issue, because our thoughts about ourselves influence the choices that we make in life. And choices based on feelings of low self-worth can easily sabotage our ability to fulfill our heart’s desires.
I wish there was a magic wand I could wave that would cause every single person on this planet to immediately recognize his or her innate worth as a beloved child of The Divine. Obviously, I don’t have a wand like that. However, I do have a helpful tool. It’s an Affirmation of Worth that “wrote itself” through me a number of years ago. Here it is:
AN AFFIRMATION OF WORTH
God is All That Is.
And I am part of All That Is.
I now acknowledge my innate worth
as a vital part of The Divine Whole.
It is through me that God knows God’s Self
in a way that no other experience can duplicate.
God cherishes my existence,
and it is God’s great pleasure
to help me fulfill my heart’s desires effortlessly.
It doesn’t matter to whom I was born,
or what circumstances followed.
Nor does it matter
how anyone else perceives my value.
I know that I am a precious and essential
part of this Universe . . .
that I have a right to be here,
and that I have a special purpose to fulfill
in this time and place.
I am wanted.
I am needed.
I am worthy and deserving.
I am a Holy Child of The Divine.
Peace, joy, and prosperity
are mine by divine right.
And I claim my divine inheritance now!
If you are struggling with your sense of worthiness, I hope you find this Affirmation to be helpful.
Steven
Share
© 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
Friday, May 13, 2011
Of Heart And Home
May 15, 2011
Dear Friends,
During the six years that I have writing these weekly inspirational messages, the world has experienced numerous natural disasters, including devastating floods, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis, and even volcanic eruptions. These horrific events have resulted in the loss of thousands upon thousands of lives. And thousands upon thousands of livelihoods have been destroyed, as well. Family businesses that took years and years to build have been obliterated in seconds. And these losses—of both lives and livelihoods—have been the cause of great grief.
Recently, a huge cluster of powerful tornadoes tore across the southeastern United States, and once again many, many lives and livelihoods have been lost. But something else has been lost, as well. It is something that is also the cause of great grief. And it is something that I want to specifically acknowledge in this message. It is the loss of people’s homes.
In television interviews with families who have lost their homes, but not their lives, it is nice to see that all of these people recognize that—in the largest sense—life is not about things, it is about love. And even though their houses and all of the things in them are now gone, these people are extremely grateful to still have each other. They feel blessed, in fact.
The loss of one’s home, however, is not something to be minimized. It is still a very real—and very significant—loss. And grieving the loss of one’s home is both understandable and appropriate.
A home, as you well know, is much more than bricks and mortar, wood and shingles, stucco and tile. It is much more than a structure, a shelter, or even—in some cases—a work of art. A home is a box of memories, containing cherished mementos, souvenirs, keepsakes, heirlooms, and irreplaceable photographs. All of those treasured things are physical symbols of the people and the experiences in our lives that we hold near and dear to our hearts.
Although the memories themselves remain intact, it is still understandably tragic when the “memory collage” that one has spent a lifetime constructing, has been destroyed by fire, wind, water, or a shift in the earth itself.
To each of you who have recently lost your home, a loved one, a beloved pet, or anything else that occupies an important place in your heart, know that you have the entire Universe working on your behalf to help you restore your sense of wholeness, recover your sense of peace, and rebuild whatever it is that needs rebuilding.
And know, too, that even though it may not appear that way to you right now, with the help of The Divine, it is always possible for great good to come out of this time of great grief.
Steven
Share
© 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
Dear Friends,
During the six years that I have writing these weekly inspirational messages, the world has experienced numerous natural disasters, including devastating floods, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis, and even volcanic eruptions. These horrific events have resulted in the loss of thousands upon thousands of lives. And thousands upon thousands of livelihoods have been destroyed, as well. Family businesses that took years and years to build have been obliterated in seconds. And these losses—of both lives and livelihoods—have been the cause of great grief.
Recently, a huge cluster of powerful tornadoes tore across the southeastern United States, and once again many, many lives and livelihoods have been lost. But something else has been lost, as well. It is something that is also the cause of great grief. And it is something that I want to specifically acknowledge in this message. It is the loss of people’s homes.
In television interviews with families who have lost their homes, but not their lives, it is nice to see that all of these people recognize that—in the largest sense—life is not about things, it is about love. And even though their houses and all of the things in them are now gone, these people are extremely grateful to still have each other. They feel blessed, in fact.
The loss of one’s home, however, is not something to be minimized. It is still a very real—and very significant—loss. And grieving the loss of one’s home is both understandable and appropriate.
A home, as you well know, is much more than bricks and mortar, wood and shingles, stucco and tile. It is much more than a structure, a shelter, or even—in some cases—a work of art. A home is a box of memories, containing cherished mementos, souvenirs, keepsakes, heirlooms, and irreplaceable photographs. All of those treasured things are physical symbols of the people and the experiences in our lives that we hold near and dear to our hearts.
Although the memories themselves remain intact, it is still understandably tragic when the “memory collage” that one has spent a lifetime constructing, has been destroyed by fire, wind, water, or a shift in the earth itself.
To each of you who have recently lost your home, a loved one, a beloved pet, or anything else that occupies an important place in your heart, know that you have the entire Universe working on your behalf to help you restore your sense of wholeness, recover your sense of peace, and rebuild whatever it is that needs rebuilding.
And know, too, that even though it may not appear that way to you right now, with the help of The Divine, it is always possible for great good to come out of this time of great grief.
Steven
Share
© 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
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Motherhood and Manifesting
May 8, 2011
Dear Friends,
In the United States, the second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day. That’s 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
P.S. If you’re a Mom—especially one with children still living at home—then you know how difficult it can be to stay “in the flow” while you are being pulled in a dozen different directions. Here’s a book and meditation series that can help. It’s called The Enlightened Mom: A Mother’s Guide for Bringing Peace, Love & Light to Your Family’s Life, by Terri Amos-Britt. Terri’s teachings are very much in line with my own, but focus specifically on the challenges of motherhood. For more information about this inspiring book and its 25 guided meditations, click here. (Note: When you close that webpage you will be given the opportunity to purchase the book alone—without the meditations.)
Share
© 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
Dear Friends,
In the United States, the second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day. That’s 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
P.S. If you’re a Mom—especially one with children still living at home—then you know how difficult it can be to stay “in the flow” while you are being pulled in a dozen different directions. Here’s a book and meditation series that can help. It’s called The Enlightened Mom: A Mother’s Guide for Bringing Peace, Love & Light to Your Family’s Life, by Terri Amos-Britt. Terri’s teachings are very much in line with my own, but focus specifically on the challenges of motherhood. For more information about this inspiring book and its 25 guided meditations, click here. (Note: When you close that webpage you will be given the opportunity to purchase the book alone—without the meditations.)
Share
© 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
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