Happy "Now" Year!

January 1, 2013

 Happy Now Year, Friends!

Yes, you read that right.  I wrote Happy "Now" Year instead of Happy "New" Year.  It’s not a typo. It's just my way of reminding you about the important part that the present moment plays in the manifestation process.

As I frequently mention, fulfilling your heart’s desires effortlessly depends upon your ability to recognize and follow divine guidance. But that guidance only comes to you in “the now”—through what you are intuitively feeling now, through what others are telling you now, and through the signs and synchronicities that you are noticing now.

That doesn’t mean that there isn’t value in spending some time visualizing what you want to have, do, or be in the coming year. In fact, that’s important. Focusing on a destination is what sets the whole flow in motion in the first place.  But after that, you must return your attention to the present moment, so you can sense the next right step that the divine flow is directing you to take.

It’s sort of a back-and-forth thing: You visualize your goal, then return your awareness to the present moment.  You picture your dream, then come back to the here and now. If you are continually focused on the future—continually daydreaming about where you are headed—you may miss the very step that is leading you there.

To live life in the divine flow, you must let go of your projections into the future—as well as your reflections on the past—so you can be present for the doors that are being divinely opened for you right here, and right now.

Do you have a particular desire that you would like to fulfill in 2013?  A goal that you would like to accomplish? A dream that you would like to realize?  You do?  Terrific! Then tell the Universe exactly what it is you would like to achieve this year, and pay keen attention to what starts to show up in your life.

But please remember this: Although having desires and pursuing desires is an inescapable part of your innately creative nature, you never have to fulfill a desire in order to be happy; you never have to accomplish a goal in order to be happy; and you never have to realize a dream in order to be happy. Remember that real happiness—true, long-lasting happiness—only comes from accepting and appreciating the current moment for whatever it is offering you . . . and from opening up your heart and being the love that you are in that moment. That, my friends, is the real key to having a happy new year—from the first day of the year to the very last.

Steven

© 2013 by Steven Lane Taylor

www.rowrowrow.com

Steven Lane Taylor, LLC

On Canines and Comfort

December 22, 2012

 Dear Friends,

In the aftermath of the horrific shooting rampage in Newtown, Connecticut, many individuals and groups have offered solace to the residents of that community in a variety of wonderful ways.  One such group from Chicago brought ten specially trained Golden Retrievers to town.  This group believes that these therapy dogs can offer real comfort to the emotionally distressed through their unconditional love. And that does seem to be the case. When introduced to someone who is suffering, it doesn’t take long for one of these cuddly creatures to elicit a smile from that person.  And that’s a welcome relief in the midst of so much pain.

I bring this up, because this scenario is a great example of what I often mention in my books, talks, and posts: Happiness comes from within.  It’s true that these comforting canines are somewhat responsible for replacing pain with pleasure—if only for a moment.  Those who receive this blessing feel genuinely loved by the dogs.  And no doubt about it, being loved feels terrific.  But I believe the real truth of the matter is this: The authentic source of the good feelings in this instance is the love that is being extended to the dogs by those who are petting them, holding them, and hugging them. 

Within each of us—no matter how much we may be suffering—is that joyful essence of love we call our Spirit, our Soul, or our True Self.  In times of distress we often lose conscious contact with that divinely loving essence.  And in times of great distress, we may need outside help to regain that connection.  These “comfort canines”—as they are called—provide that help.  They put something before us that is so incredibly easy to love, we are able to do so even in the in the midst of a great tragedy.  And nothing feels better than loving.  Nothing feels better than being true to who we are at the core of our being, which is Divine Love itself.

Here’s to being loved, my friends.  But even more importantly, here’s to loving.  Here’s to reconnecting to the Divine Spirit of Love that resides within each and every one of us . . . and extending it.

With gratitude to the Chicago church group that helped the people of Newtown feel love again.

Steven

© 2012 by Steven Lane Taylor

www.rowrowrow.com

Steven Lane Taylor, LLC

The Devastation of Separation . . . Again

December 15, 2012

Dear Friends,

Although there may never be a definitive answer as to why shooting rampages keep occurring in this country and in the world—like the one that just took place at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut—I believe that the underlying cause for many of these recurring tragedies is ultimately the same thing: a feeling of separation instead of oneness.

“Oneness” is about our intimately joined relationship with each other. It is a relationship that arises from the fact that we are all individual expressions of One Spirit—that creative, loving, all-pervading Spirit we commonly call God.

There are times when we sense that holy connection more than others, such as when we pray, meditate, spend time in nature, or hold a tiny baby in our arms. And the natural result of that sense of connection is a wonderful feeling of well-being.

But all too often we feel disconnected, instead. We forget that we are one with God, and one with all of God's children. We feel separate from others, and separate from everything around us. And that sense of separation—of being all alone and on our own in this world—can generate a fair amount of fear.

Sometimes that fear—and the anger that often issues from that fear—can be so magnified by mental illness or negative mental conditioning, we witness the kind of destructive behavior that just exploded in Newtown.

Although everything that happens in life is an opportunity for us to discover where our blocks to loving are, it may be quite a while before many of us are willing to feel compassion for the lonely soul who orchestrated that horrific event which ended the lives of 20 children, and seven adults.

For now, may we contribute to the healing of this tragedy—and to the healing of the whole world—by embracing everyone on this earth as our brothers and sisters in Spirit.  May we never forget that we are as inseparable from our Source as waves are from the ocean . . . and thus, we are inseparable from each other.

Steven

© 2012 by Steven Lane Taylor

www.rowrowrow.com

Steven Lane Taylor, LLC

The Gift of a Christmas Present

December 9, 2012

Dear Friends,

One of my favorite sayings is this one:

THE PAST IS HISTORY.

THE FUTURE IS A MYSTERY.

BUT THE NOW MOMENT IS A GIFT.

THAT’S WHY IT IS CALLED THE “PRESENT.”

In this season of gift-giving, I invite you to remember that the true gifts of the holidays are always in the now moment.  But to receive those “presents” you must first be present yourself.  Instead of focusing all of your time, attention, and energy on what’s coming next, make a conscious choice to be fully present in the here and now.

Be present for the gift of a child’s laughter,

and for the gift of bright, twinkling lights.

Be present for the gift of fresh-baked cookies,

and for the gift of sweet-smelling evergreens.

Be present for the gift of a soundless snowfall,

and for the touch of a single snowflake on your tongue.

Be present for the gift of friends you may have taken for granted,

and for family members you haven’t seen in ages.

Be present for the gift of unconditional love

that embraces each of us this season.

And be present for the unbounded joy

that this season elicits in us all.

Here’s wishing you one of greatest gifts you could ever hope to receive this season: the gift of a Christmas present.

Steven

© 2012 by Steven Lane Taylor

www.rowrowrow.com

Steven Lane Taylor, LLC