One Step At A Time

July 31, 2011

Dear Friends,

One of my favorite quotations is this one by the ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao-Tzu:

“A journey of a thousand miles
begins with a single step.”

I was originally planning to use that quotation to punctuate a particular point I made in my message for the week of June 26th. In that message I pointed out that you generally get where you are going in life by taking one step at a time. And when you focus only on the step that is right in front of you—the step that is right here, right now—it is almost impossible for you to feel overwhelmed . . . no matter how far away your chosen destination is.

But I didn’t use that quotation. Why? Because when I researched it on-line, one source said that a more correct translation from the original Chinese would be:

“The journey of a thousand miles
begins beneath one’s feet.”

The source of this alternative translation suggested that rather than emphasizing the first step, Lao-Tzu regarded action as something that arises naturally from stillness.

Hey! As far as living life in the divine flow goes, that fits too! As I have said many times, “being in the flow” is about taking action . . . but not just any action. It’s about taking divinely inspired action! And for the most part, that inspiration arises from deep within you—guiding you forward from wherever you happen to be standing. You may be inspired to take a step in one particular direction. Or, you may be inspired to take no immediate action at all, giving the Universe time to forge a new opportunity for you out of the very circumstance you are experiencing.

Yes, living life in the divine flow is about actively taking steps to get where you want to go in life. But I cannot emphasize enough the importance of pausing long enough between each and every single one of those steps to get in touch with the wisdom of your inner Spirit. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of being quiet long enough to hear that still, small voice of divine direction. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of being still long enough to attune yourself to the feel of the flow, and—if so directed—to step back and allow the flow to work is magic without your interference.

Do you have a journey of a thousand miles ahead of you? Then before you take that first step, be still! And after you take that first step, be still again! Remember that a journey of a thousand miles not only begins with a single step, it ends with a single step. And if you want that journey to be a virtually effortless one—from beginning to end—I encourage you to take only one step at a time . . . allowing the next step to arise naturally out of the stillness.

Steven

P.S. On August 4th, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, I will be conducting a one-hour Teleclass on the three main ways you receive divine guidance in life, and how to enhance your ability to receive that guidance. This class is $15, and it will be recorded so you can listen to it later. To register for this event, go to www.rowrowrow.eventbrite.com.

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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

The Power of Divine Dreams

July 24, 2011

Dear Friends,

Of all the ways that your inner Spirit can speak to you, perhaps the most interesting one is through your dreams. Although it is common for me to experience the guidance of my Spirit through a thought that suddenly pops into my head, or through a subtle—but telling—feeling or physical sensation, divine dreams are rare for me. And by “divine dreams,” I mean dreams that are so clear, so meaningful, and so helpful, there is little doubt that they are “heaven sent.”

What follows are three dreams that helped Carol and me deal with some troubling issues in a manner that was remarkably direct and effective:


Dream #1

I had this dream about 20 years ago, when I was working at an advertising agency in Dallas, Texas. There was one man at this agency with whom I was always butting heads. We could never see eye to eye, and we argued about almost everything incessantly.

One night I dreamed that this man and I were at it again—yelling and screaming and stomping our feet. Suddenly, another person entered the room, looked around, and said, “Oh, I’m sorry. I was looking for some adults.”

When I woke up the next morning, not only was that dream still clear in my mind, but its meaning was also crystal clear. I was behaving like a little child! My heated exchanges with this man were little more than childish temper tantrums I was throwing because I couldn’t get my way!

After that dream, I am happy to say that I finally began to act my age, and behave like the 40-year-old professional I was. I finally grew up a little!

Dream #2

This dream also occurred while I was working at the advertising agency I just mentioned. I had been assigned a permanent partner to work with—a lovely lady I’ll call Linda. Our partnership was supposed to be ideal, because we were both very much alike—perfectionists.

Can you see the potential problem here? Two perfectionists don’t work well together when their ideas about perfection aren’t the same! On a personal basis, I really liked Linda, because I could relate to her persnickety ways. But our professional relationship was quickly growing tense and uncomfortable.

Then, one night, I dreamed that Linda walked up to me in the lobby of our office building, and we embraced. And as we did, I felt genuine love for Linda. I didn’t feel like I was “in love” with her exactly, but I certainly felt a deep sense of compassion for this lady.

And guess what? When I woke up the next morning, that warm, tender feeling stayed with me. And from that point on, I was able to treat Linda with the loving kindness that she deserved. Sure, we still had our differences of opinion. But after that dream, I was able to work things out with Linda in a much more patient and respectful way. My heart had opened up, and our troubled relationship was healed.

Dream #3

If you have heard the “Dragonfly Story” that Carol and I often tell, you may remember that after her mother passed away, Carol was disturbed by the last image she had of her mother—that of a withered and lifeless body. Although Carol knows that our Spirits live on, she just couldn’t get that painful picture out of her mind. But Carol was finally relieved of that burden due to the miraculous appearance of some dragonflies. These dragonflies—which symbolize transformation—appeared at such a unique and meaningful time and place, it was clearly a divine reminder for Carol that her mother was not that lifeless form. Her mother was transformed! She was now a beautiful Spirit—lively, loving, and flying free!

But there’s more to the story than that. Because shortly after Carol’s burden was lifted, she had a dream. In this dream Carol was looking over an audience seated in a large auditorium. Suddenly, Carol heard a voice whisper, “Your mother is here.” Excited, Carol quickly responded, “Where?” At that moment, Carol’s mother—now looking very happy and very healthy—stood up in the center of the crowd and loudly proclaimed, “I’m right here! And I’m not dead!”

Thanks to that divine dream (and those dragonflies) the image that Carol now holds of her mother is strictly a beautiful one—a vibrant picture of everlasting life and unending love.

Friends, have you ever had a dream that helped you recover from something painful? Have you ever had a dream that helped you heal a relationship? Have you ever had a dream that answered a pressing question that you had, told you your next right step, or guided you to something you greatly needed?

Whether your answer is yes or no, I invite you to nurture your ability to have divine dreams. Before you go to bed each night, take some time to affirm for yourself that you are open to receiving a message from your Spirit, and that you will clearly remember that message and completely understand it. It also helps to have a pen and paper nearby, so you can write down your dream the moment you wake up.

Here’s to receiving divine assistance from your inner Spirit . . . not only when you are awake, but also when you are asleep! Here’s to the healing and revealing power of divine dreams!

Steven

P.S. If you are new to my work and you missed my free, one-hour Teleseminar last Thursday, you will find a recording of it on this page of the host’s website: www.joyandsuccess.com/register.html.

P.P.S. If you are planning to participate in both of the follow-up Teleclasses I am conducting on August 4th and August 11th, you can receive a discount for these events if you register before this coming Thursday, July 28th. For information and/or to register, please visit www.rowrowrow.eventbrite.com.

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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

Freedom and The Divine Flow, Part 3

July 17, 2011

Dear Friends,

Two weeks ago I wrote about the freedom you have as a Child of The Divine to choose what you want to have, do, or be in life . . . and the freedom you have to pursue those goals in any way that you see fit.

Last week I wrote about the freedom you experience when you let go of your attachment to a specific outcome, and when you realize that your happiness does not rely on achieving that particular outcome . . . or any outcome.

To conclude this three-part series on freedom and the divine flow, I want to remind you that you are still not truly free as long as you are subject to the tyrannical rule of ego—of that “little, limited self” that tells you that you don’t have enough, and that you need more; that “little, limited self” that tells you that you are not good enough, and that you need to be better; or that “little, limited self” that tells you that you are better than everyone else, and others are simply not good enough for you!

As long as you are subject to the rule of ego, your ability to experience a joyful and fulfilling life is restricted and constricted in almost every single way.

So—right here and right now—I invite you to declare your freedom from ego’s oppressive and dictatorial rule. It is the freedom that comes from recognizing that you have enough because you are enough. You are a glorious Child of The Divine . . . equal at birth and equal in worth to every other person on this planet . . . free of all limits . . . and deserving of all that the Universe so freely offers you!

Remember that every day is Independence Day, whenever you get in touch with that Divine Spirit that freely lives—and freely loves—at the core of your being.

Here’s to experiencing true independence—that sense of absolute and unconditional freedom that originates deep within yourself.

Steven

© 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

Freedom and The Divine Flow, Part 2

July 10, 2011

Dear Friends,

Last week I wrote about the freedom you have as a child of The Divine to choose what you want to have in life, to choose what you want to do in life, and to choose what you want to be in life. And I wrote about the freedom you have to pursue those goals in any way that you see fit.

This week I want to expand on that message. I want to point out that you are never truly free as long as you remain overly attached to one specific outcome. Nor are you truly free if you believe that you must achieve that outcome in order to be happy.

Always keep in mind that no matter what it is you “think” you want, the divine flow may be guiding you to something that is even better—to something that may be greater and grander than anything you ever imagined possible, and to something that will always fulfill your desire in a truly deep, lasting, and meaningful way. True freedom comes from letting go and allowing the divine flow to lead you to that destination—to a destination that may be quite different from the one you planned on or expected.

And even then, you are not truly free if you believe that you can’t be happy until you reach that destination . . . or any destination. As the saying goes, “It’s not about the destination. It’s about the journey.” And happiness, my friends, is found in the journey—not the destination.

In fact, when all is said and done, you are not truly free until you can momentarily forget your goals and dreams altogether, and just appreciate what life has to offer you right here and right now!

You are not truly free until you remember that nothing outside of yourself has the power to make you happy—nothing that you acquire, and nothing that you achieve.

You are not truly free until you recognize that happiness is fundamentally a choice. It is something that you allow yourself to feel, and something that can only come from that innately joyful place within you—from that inner sanctum where your Spirit resides.

Here’s to letting go of attachments to things that lie outside of yourself. Here’s to finding the happiness that lies within yourself. And here’s to experiencing the true freedom that comes from doing that.

Steven

© 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

Freedom and The Divine Flow

July 3, 2011

Here in the United States, July 4th is Independence Day, the day we celebrate our right as a people to create our own futures and pursue our own dreams . . . free from oppressive and dictatorial rule.

But let us remember, too, that when it comes to our relationship with that Divine Intelligence that is commonly called God, every day is Independence Day . . . and should be recognized and celebrated as such.

Each and every day, you have the freedom—the independence—to choose what you want to have in life, what you want to do in life, and what you want to be in life. And you have the freedom to pursue those goals in any way that you see fit.

That doesn’t mean that accomplishing those goals is totally up to you—and you alone. Quite the contrary. You are continually receiving divine assistance. You are constantly being divinely guided and supported in fulfilling your heart’s desires in the most beneficial way possible. But you will never—ever—be forced to do anything that you don't choose to do.

You always have the freedom to follow divine guidance . . . or not. You can choose to row with the divine flow, and reach your chosen destinations with effortless ease. Or, you can choose to take a more arduous route, and row against the flow by ignoring or resisting divine direction. It's up to you.

The wonderful thing about your freedom of choice is this: Every choice you make in life—whether it is divinely guided or unguided, divinely inspired or ego-driven—gives you an opportunity to learn from your experience, grow in wisdom and compassion, and ultimately discover more about your own divinely loving and creative nature.

But again, it's your choice. You can choose to learn and grow from the experiences you create . . . or not.

Here's to the joy that comes from creating our lives and living our lives by choice. May we always be grateful for the freedom we have to do that.

Steven

© 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