The Ripple Effect

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