August 28, 2011
Dear Friends,
One of the things that Carol and I enjoy doing in Sedona is going to estate sales. Because of the large senior population in Sedona, there is an estate sale here almost every weekend.
From a strictly practical standpoint, Carol and I save a lot of money by going to these sales. There is usually something at these sales that we really need, and more often than not, that item is either brand new or in pristine condition. We have found everything from a large patio set, to a bee-proof hummingbird feeder, to a chiminea . . . plus lots of standard—but useful—household items.
You can’t help but feel like you are “in the flow” when something you intended to buy at a retail outlet shows up at an estate sale at a fraction of the cost. But that’s not what this message is about.
Attending these sales is fun, yes, but it can also be a bittersweet experience. It is quite obvious that the owners of these estates have had to severely downsize. Some have moved into assisted living centers. Some have moved into nursing facilities. But most have left this planet altogether. Although family members have removed all of the really personal items—such as framed family photos—so much remains behind, it often feels like the former residents have just stepped outside for a quick walk around the block.
There is a popular saying that goes, “You can’t take it with you.” And the truth of that statement is glaringly apparent when you attend an estate sale. However—and this is the point I am getting to—just because you can’t take it with you, is no reason to refrain from acquiring it in the first place.
It’s true that most of us tend to accumulate too much “stuff” throughout our lives. I still remember George Carlin’s hilarious comedy routine about our “stuff.” And yes, too much “stuff” can become a burden, and it can be financially irresponsible, too. Some people, in fact, cross the line from collecting into hoarding, and that’s a very real problem. But that’s not what I mainly see when I attend these estate sales.
By and large, what is usually on display at these sales is artwork of all kinds, and exotic items acquired in far-off places. There are beautiful paintings, unique statuettes, and creatively fashioned furniture and musical instruments. There are masks from Africa, glass vases from Italy, and tapestries from China.
What I see when I look at these things is not just a bunch of “stuff.” What I see is a record of what that person’s Divine Inner Spirit experienced in its time here on Earth. What I sense is that person’s Spirit saying, “Look at all the interesting places I visited while I was here! Look at the beauty I was able to see, acquire, and enjoy on a daily basis!”
It’s easy to look at all the things that someone collects, and draw the conclusion that this person was overly materialistic. But you know what? As the popular singer/songwriter called Sting once sang, “We are Spirits in the material world!” And I, for one, believe that the material world is a source of great joy to the Spirit within.
As an individual expression of what is sometimes called, “The Great Creator,” your Spirit is in this life to create, and to appreciate creativity in all of its various forms. When I see a man who has a great love for his classic car, for example, I don’t see a man obsessed with a material object. I see the Spirit of that man appreciating a beautiful sculpture that has been formed out of metal . . . a sculpture that moves . . . and a sculpture that can take you to places on this planet you have never been to before. I see the Spirit of that man enjoying the experience of being alive and in this physical world.
So, dear friends, can you accumulate too much “stuff” in life. You bet. Can you become too attached to some of that “stuff?” Certainly. It almost goes without saying that it is very important for you to not let your possessions possess you. And it is wise to keep a close eye on that potential issue, and clear out those things that you don’t really need, or no longer appreciate. But, that said, don’t be too hard on yourself about what you choose to hold on to . . . especially if it is mostly cherished artwork or treasured souvenirs from your wonderful trip to planet Earth.
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, August 27, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Divine Procrastination
August 21, 2011
Dear Friends,
Have you ever had something on your “To Do List” that you knew was important for fulfilling a particular desire, but—for some reason—you kept putting off doing it? Then, one day, you just suddenly felt like taking that action? And when you did, you discovered that your timing was absolutely perfect, and everything flowed beautifully?
I’ve had that happen quite a bit. And I’ve coined a phrase for it. I call it “divine procrastination.”
As a rule, procrastination is not a constructive behavioral trait. But occasionally, there’s a very good reason why you don’t feel like doing something. Your inner Spirit is telling you that the timing just isn’t right!
Sometimes, your part of the manifestation process needs to be delayed until other pieces of the puzzle are put into place—until other people do what they are being divinely directed to do, or obstacles that you are unaware of are removed from your path.
Sometimes, too, you may not feel motivated to act, because your Spirit knows that it would be premature for you to accomplish a particular goal right now. There might be a few things that you need to learn first.
Or, if you have a dream to bring a brand new product or service into this world, perhaps your Spirit knows that your product or service will be much easier to produce or provide at a later date, or the additional time will give you the opportunity to make your offering an even better one.
That said, please don’t use this idea of divine procrastination as a flimsy excuse for continually dragging your feet, or for avoiding something that is outside of your personal comfort zone. You’ll know when you are doing that, because you will feel a subtle sense of guilt about your procrastination, instead of feeling perfectly okay about it. Just be aware that, on any given day, some things on your “To Do List” will elicit more positive and peaceful feelings than others. And pay attention to that.
Rest assured, that when the time is right, your Spirit will give you the nudge you need. All of a sudden you will just feel like taking a step that may have been on your list for days, weeks, or even months.
What’s on your “To Do List” right now? Is there something that seems to stand out today, that didn’t yesterday? Is there a subtle sense of “rightness” about doing something in particular on your list, or a new sense of urgency about it? Perhaps your Spirit is trying to tell you something. Perhaps the time has finally come for you to take that action you have been putting off for so long.
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
Dear Friends,
Have you ever had something on your “To Do List” that you knew was important for fulfilling a particular desire, but—for some reason—you kept putting off doing it? Then, one day, you just suddenly felt like taking that action? And when you did, you discovered that your timing was absolutely perfect, and everything flowed beautifully?
I’ve had that happen quite a bit. And I’ve coined a phrase for it. I call it “divine procrastination.”
As a rule, procrastination is not a constructive behavioral trait. But occasionally, there’s a very good reason why you don’t feel like doing something. Your inner Spirit is telling you that the timing just isn’t right!
Sometimes, your part of the manifestation process needs to be delayed until other pieces of the puzzle are put into place—until other people do what they are being divinely directed to do, or obstacles that you are unaware of are removed from your path.
Sometimes, too, you may not feel motivated to act, because your Spirit knows that it would be premature for you to accomplish a particular goal right now. There might be a few things that you need to learn first.
Or, if you have a dream to bring a brand new product or service into this world, perhaps your Spirit knows that your product or service will be much easier to produce or provide at a later date, or the additional time will give you the opportunity to make your offering an even better one.
That said, please don’t use this idea of divine procrastination as a flimsy excuse for continually dragging your feet, or for avoiding something that is outside of your personal comfort zone. You’ll know when you are doing that, because you will feel a subtle sense of guilt about your procrastination, instead of feeling perfectly okay about it. Just be aware that, on any given day, some things on your “To Do List” will elicit more positive and peaceful feelings than others. And pay attention to that.
Rest assured, that when the time is right, your Spirit will give you the nudge you need. All of a sudden you will just feel like taking a step that may have been on your list for days, weeks, or even months.
What’s on your “To Do List” right now? Is there something that seems to stand out today, that didn’t yesterday? Is there a subtle sense of “rightness” about doing something in particular on your list, or a new sense of urgency about it? Perhaps your Spirit is trying to tell you something. Perhaps the time has finally come for you to take that action you have been putting off for so long.
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, August 13, 2011
Divine Encounters
August 14, 2011
Dear Friends,
In last week’s message, I wrote about the people you “attract” into your life, and how those people are often there to help you accomplish a goal or realize a dream. These divinely orchestrated relationships—no matter how brief—are always beneficial to both parties. And usually, the mutual benefits are obvious. But not always.
Sometimes, the Universe brings two people together for a purpose that is far more significant than either person recognizes or realizes. In 2007 I met a man in Quincy, Illinois who shared his story with me, and it is a perfect example of what I am talking about.
This man, Mac, is fascinated with antique farm equipment, and he has an entire barn—a museum really—filled with inventions that have made farming more efficient and less physically demanding.
One day, Mac attended a farm equipment exhibition in a town in far eastern Iowa. Out of all the people who were there, Mac felt “compelled” to introduce himself to one man in particular. This man’s name was Skip, and Mac learned that Skip lived clear across Iowa in the border town of Omaha, Nebraska—the same town that Mac’s daughter, Connie, happened to live in.
After a few minutes, Mac asked Skip if he knew anyone who had a particular antique grain conveyor for sale. Surprisingly, Skip told Mac that his own family had that very piece of equipment sitting unused on a farm in northwestern Iowa, and they would be happy to sell it.
Delighted by this happy coincidence, Mac offered to purchase the conveyor. The two men arranged to meet in Omaha a few weeks later, and drive up to the farm together to pick it up . . . which is just what they did.
After putting the conveyor on a trailer, Mac and Skip began the long, slow drive back to Omaha. During the course of their conversations, Mac revealed that ten years earlier his granddaughter—Connie's child—had lost her life in a car accident when she was just a teenager. Skip asked where the accident had happened, and when Mac told him, Skip grew very quiet.
Mac went on to explain that another teenager—a boy—was driving Mac’s granddaughter home that night, and they were hit by a car that ran a red light. The boy survived, but Mac’s granddaughter didn’t. When Skip heard this, he became quieter still.
After several miles of silence, Skip finally asked Mac what his granddaughter’s name was. When Mac told him, Skip paused, then quietly replied: “The boy who was driving your granddaughter home that night was my son.”
Naturally, Mac was stunned by this amazing coincidence, and he wondered what the significance of this divinely orchestrated encounter was. The answer came quickly enough. Although Mac, Connie, and the rest of their family had made peace with this tragedy long ago, Mac had the definite feeling that it still troubled Skip—that there was some kind of unfinished business that he had never attended to. And when Mac found out that Skip had never met Connie, Mac felt guided to ask Skip if he wanted to visit her when they got back to Omaha. Skip said yes.
What transpired between Connie and Skip—the mother of one child, and the father of the other—is between them. Mac only knows that hugs were exchanged, tears were shed, and some kind of needed closure was reached.
What I find particularly beautiful about Mac’s story is this: There are plenty of things in life that we consciously know we want—like a new car, a bigger house, or a better job. But there are also plenty of things we deeply need, which we may not be fully aware of—like complete recovery from an old emotional wound. How comforting it is to know that the divine flow can bring us together in ways that not only give us what we wish for on a surface level, but can also—at the very same time—take care of a desire that lies beneath . . . such as a desire to be healed, or a desire to be returned to a state of peace.
What a blessing that is! Is it not?
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,
In last week’s message, I wrote about the people you “attract” into your life, and how those people are often there to help you accomplish a goal or realize a dream. These divinely orchestrated relationships—no matter how brief—are always beneficial to both parties. And usually, the mutual benefits are obvious. But not always.
Sometimes, the Universe brings two people together for a purpose that is far more significant than either person recognizes or realizes. In 2007 I met a man in Quincy, Illinois who shared his story with me, and it is a perfect example of what I am talking about.
This man, Mac, is fascinated with antique farm equipment, and he has an entire barn—a museum really—filled with inventions that have made farming more efficient and less physically demanding.
One day, Mac attended a farm equipment exhibition in a town in far eastern Iowa. Out of all the people who were there, Mac felt “compelled” to introduce himself to one man in particular. This man’s name was Skip, and Mac learned that Skip lived clear across Iowa in the border town of Omaha, Nebraska—the same town that Mac’s daughter, Connie, happened to live in.
After a few minutes, Mac asked Skip if he knew anyone who had a particular antique grain conveyor for sale. Surprisingly, Skip told Mac that his own family had that very piece of equipment sitting unused on a farm in northwestern Iowa, and they would be happy to sell it.
Delighted by this happy coincidence, Mac offered to purchase the conveyor. The two men arranged to meet in Omaha a few weeks later, and drive up to the farm together to pick it up . . . which is just what they did.
After putting the conveyor on a trailer, Mac and Skip began the long, slow drive back to Omaha. During the course of their conversations, Mac revealed that ten years earlier his granddaughter—Connie's child—had lost her life in a car accident when she was just a teenager. Skip asked where the accident had happened, and when Mac told him, Skip grew very quiet.
Mac went on to explain that another teenager—a boy—was driving Mac’s granddaughter home that night, and they were hit by a car that ran a red light. The boy survived, but Mac’s granddaughter didn’t. When Skip heard this, he became quieter still.
After several miles of silence, Skip finally asked Mac what his granddaughter’s name was. When Mac told him, Skip paused, then quietly replied: “The boy who was driving your granddaughter home that night was my son.”
Naturally, Mac was stunned by this amazing coincidence, and he wondered what the significance of this divinely orchestrated encounter was. The answer came quickly enough. Although Mac, Connie, and the rest of their family had made peace with this tragedy long ago, Mac had the definite feeling that it still troubled Skip—that there was some kind of unfinished business that he had never attended to. And when Mac found out that Skip had never met Connie, Mac felt guided to ask Skip if he wanted to visit her when they got back to Omaha. Skip said yes.
What transpired between Connie and Skip—the mother of one child, and the father of the other—is between them. Mac only knows that hugs were exchanged, tears were shed, and some kind of needed closure was reached.
What I find particularly beautiful about Mac’s story is this: There are plenty of things in life that we consciously know we want—like a new car, a bigger house, or a better job. But there are also plenty of things we deeply need, which we may not be fully aware of—like complete recovery from an old emotional wound. How comforting it is to know that the divine flow can bring us together in ways that not only give us what we wish for on a surface level, but can also—at the very same time—take care of a desire that lies beneath . . . such as a desire to be healed, or a desire to be returned to a state of peace.
What a blessing that is! Is it not?
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, August 6, 2011
Networking and The Divine Flow
August 7, 2011
Dear Friends,
In 2001, when I was laid off from my 30-year career in advertising, one of my friends in the business said to me, "You'd better start networking!" I cringed when I heard that. Why? Well, for a couple of reasons:
First, I wasn't sure I wanted to stay in the advertising business any longer. And second, the whole idea of "networking" had always made me feel very uncomfortable. At the time, networking felt to me like something that only high-pressure salesmen did . . . you know, passing out their business cards right and left—often inappropriately.
However, as I began my new career as a spiritual author, speaker, and teacher, it didn't take me very long to realize that networking—if seen in the proper perspective—is actually an important part of living life in the divine flow.
Rarely, if ever, do you get anywhere in life completely on your own. Usually, you need the help of at least one other person to get where you want to go. In fact, quite often, the assistance of several people, or more, is required for you to reach your chosen destination.
When you tell the Universe what it is you want to have, do, or be in life, you attract these people to you. The Universe literally sends them your way to assist you in fulfilling your desire. These are the people who have the leads, contacts, information, and inside scoop that you don't have. And, as part of your divine flow, they have been divinely inspired to share what they know with you . . . or, to direct you to others who might be of assistance to you . . . or, to take direct action themselves on your behalf.
When you recognize these people for who they are, or who they might be, and—with an open heart and an open mind—you engage them in conversation, isn't that networking?
Of course, like most anything, networking can be misused—especially when the relationship is one-sided and you are just trying to "get something" from the other person. But when you enter into any relationship—even the briefest of encounters—seeking ways that the two of you can be of mutually beneficial service to each other, that's networking as it is divinely designed to be done.
Many of my speaking engagements have come about by just that kind of networking. My first home in Sedona was the result of networking. And networking is responsible for much of the prosperity I have enjoyed in my life.
So, my friends, do you have a dream that you want to realize? Do you have a goal that you want to accomplish? Then, as my advertising friend said to me ten years ago, "You'd better start networking!" Or, as I am more inclined to say: Pay attention to the people who come into your life, and treat them with the honor, respect, and gratitude they deserve as your brothers and sisters in spirit. Who knows . . . they may be divinely guided "Earth Angels" who have crossed your path for the sole purpose of helping you fulfill your heart's desires effortlessly.
To all the people who have been part of the divine flow in my life, thank you all!
Steven
P.S. On August 11th, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, I will be conducting a one-hour Teleclass on the four main ways you may be inadvertently interfering with the divine flow in your life. 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.
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 2001, when I was laid off from my 30-year career in advertising, one of my friends in the business said to me, "You'd better start networking!" I cringed when I heard that. Why? Well, for a couple of reasons:
First, I wasn't sure I wanted to stay in the advertising business any longer. And second, the whole idea of "networking" had always made me feel very uncomfortable. At the time, networking felt to me like something that only high-pressure salesmen did . . . you know, passing out their business cards right and left—often inappropriately.
However, as I began my new career as a spiritual author, speaker, and teacher, it didn't take me very long to realize that networking—if seen in the proper perspective—is actually an important part of living life in the divine flow.
Rarely, if ever, do you get anywhere in life completely on your own. Usually, you need the help of at least one other person to get where you want to go. In fact, quite often, the assistance of several people, or more, is required for you to reach your chosen destination.
When you tell the Universe what it is you want to have, do, or be in life, you attract these people to you. The Universe literally sends them your way to assist you in fulfilling your desire. These are the people who have the leads, contacts, information, and inside scoop that you don't have. And, as part of your divine flow, they have been divinely inspired to share what they know with you . . . or, to direct you to others who might be of assistance to you . . . or, to take direct action themselves on your behalf.
When you recognize these people for who they are, or who they might be, and—with an open heart and an open mind—you engage them in conversation, isn't that networking?
Of course, like most anything, networking can be misused—especially when the relationship is one-sided and you are just trying to "get something" from the other person. But when you enter into any relationship—even the briefest of encounters—seeking ways that the two of you can be of mutually beneficial service to each other, that's networking as it is divinely designed to be done.
Many of my speaking engagements have come about by just that kind of networking. My first home in Sedona was the result of networking. And networking is responsible for much of the prosperity I have enjoyed in my life.
So, my friends, do you have a dream that you want to realize? Do you have a goal that you want to accomplish? Then, as my advertising friend said to me ten years ago, "You'd better start networking!" Or, as I am more inclined to say: Pay attention to the people who come into your life, and treat them with the honor, respect, and gratitude they deserve as your brothers and sisters in spirit. Who knows . . . they may be divinely guided "Earth Angels" who have crossed your path for the sole purpose of helping you fulfill your heart's desires effortlessly.
To all the people who have been part of the divine flow in my life, thank you all!
Steven
P.S. On August 11th, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, I will be conducting a one-hour Teleclass on the four main ways you may be inadvertently interfering with the divine flow in your life. 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.
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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