January 8, 2012
Dear Friends,
I just returned from Washington D.C., where I attended a service celebrating the life of Warren Hill, my sister’s late husband. Warren had been in good health, but he passed away suddenly and unexpectedly due to complications from a fall.
I often mention that one of the keys to living life in the divine flow is maintaining a positive attitude. A "merry" mind-set is important because it helps you stay open to divine guidance, which enables you to play your part in the unfolding of a greater good. But—and here’s the point of this particular message—that positive attitude must be genuine. That means that when you experience a loss in your life, feelings such as disappointment, sadness, and sorrow must first be allowed to run their natural course. Only then can there be an authentic return to a more optimistic outlook on life.
Living life in the divine flow is not—I repeat, not—about stuffing your feelings to maintain an "appearance" of positivity. There is such a thing as legitimate pain in life. It is not the kind of pain that you bring upon yourself through needless worry, thoughtless actions, or inappropriate attachments. It is the kind of pain that occurs most often with the sudden and unexpected loss of someone you deeply love, or the loss of something else that is near and dear to your heart, such as a fulfilling job.
If you are dealing with a loss in your life right now—or any challenging situation—it is okay to go ahead and let yourself feel your feelings about it. Give yourself permission to experience all of your feelings freely and fully. Allow them to come, and go . . . and come again . . . and go again. It is the only way that they will eventually dissipate.
If, instead, you attempt to suppress those feelings, they will continue to exist at an unconscious level. And, in the end, that will just delay your ability to heal and feel joy again. And by "joy" I mean that underlying sense of appreciation for the total experience of life . . . a joy that embraces all of life’s twists and turns . . . a joy that may be best described as "bittersweet."
To each of you who have recently lost a loved one, a beloved pet, your home, or anything else that occupies an important place in your heart, please know that kindred spirits the world over are supporting you in the restoration of your sense of well-being.
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
© 2012 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
Showing posts with label grief. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grief. Show all posts
Saturday, January 7, 2012
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
Friday, January 21, 2011
Dealing With Loss
January 23, 2011
Dear Friends,
No doubt, each and every one of you have heard quite a bit about the horrific shooting rampage that recently took place in Tucson, Arizona, as well as the massive flooding that occurred in both Australia and Brazil. Hundreds of people have lost their lives, lost their health, and lost their homes.
I often mention that one of the keys to living life in the divine flow is maintaining a positive attitude. A "merry" mind-set is important because it helps you stay open to divine guidance, which enables you to play your part in the unfolding of a greater good. But—and here’s the point of this week’s message—that positive attitude must be genuine. That means that when you experience a loss in your life, feelings such as disappointment, sadness, and sorrow must first be allowed to run their natural course.
Living life in the divine flow is not—I repeat, not—about stuffing your feelings to maintain an "appearance" of positivity. There is such a thing as legitimate pain in life. It is not the kind of pain that you bring upon yourself through needless worry, thoughtless actions, or inappropriate attachments. It is the kind of pain that occurs most often with the sudden and unexpected loss of someone you deeply love, or the loss of something else that is near and dear to your heart, such as a fulfilling job.
If you are dealing with a loss in your life right now—or any challenging situation—it is okay to go ahead and let yourself feel your feelings about it. Give yourself permission to experience all of your feelings freely and fully. Allow them to come, and go . . . and come again . . . and go again. It is the only way that they will eventually dissipate.
If, instead, you attempt to suppress those feelings, they will continue to exist at an unconscious level. And, in the end, that will just delay your ability to heal and feel joy again. And by "joy" I mean that underlying sense of appreciation for the total experience of life . . . a joy that embraces all of life’s twists and turns . . . a joy that may be best described as "bittersweet."
To each of you who have recently lost a loved one, a beloved pet, or anything else that occupies an important place in your heart, please know that kindred spirits the world over are supporting you in the restoration of your sense of wholeness, and the recovery of your sense of peace.
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
Dear Friends,
No doubt, each and every one of you have heard quite a bit about the horrific shooting rampage that recently took place in Tucson, Arizona, as well as the massive flooding that occurred in both Australia and Brazil. Hundreds of people have lost their lives, lost their health, and lost their homes.
I often mention that one of the keys to living life in the divine flow is maintaining a positive attitude. A "merry" mind-set is important because it helps you stay open to divine guidance, which enables you to play your part in the unfolding of a greater good. But—and here’s the point of this week’s message—that positive attitude must be genuine. That means that when you experience a loss in your life, feelings such as disappointment, sadness, and sorrow must first be allowed to run their natural course.
Living life in the divine flow is not—I repeat, not—about stuffing your feelings to maintain an "appearance" of positivity. There is such a thing as legitimate pain in life. It is not the kind of pain that you bring upon yourself through needless worry, thoughtless actions, or inappropriate attachments. It is the kind of pain that occurs most often with the sudden and unexpected loss of someone you deeply love, or the loss of something else that is near and dear to your heart, such as a fulfilling job.
If you are dealing with a loss in your life right now—or any challenging situation—it is okay to go ahead and let yourself feel your feelings about it. Give yourself permission to experience all of your feelings freely and fully. Allow them to come, and go . . . and come again . . . and go again. It is the only way that they will eventually dissipate.
If, instead, you attempt to suppress those feelings, they will continue to exist at an unconscious level. And, in the end, that will just delay your ability to heal and feel joy again. And by "joy" I mean that underlying sense of appreciation for the total experience of life . . . a joy that embraces all of life’s twists and turns . . . a joy that may be best described as "bittersweet."
To each of you who have recently lost a loved one, a beloved pet, or anything else that occupies an important place in your heart, please know that kindred spirits the world over are supporting you in the restoration of your sense of wholeness, and the recovery of your sense of peace.
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
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Disasters and The Flow, Part 2
January 24, 2010
Dear Friends,
With the arrival of rescue crews and doctors in Haiti, we are beginning to hear many joyful stories about people being pulled out of the rubble, and lives being miraculously saved. For countless thousands of earthquake survivors, however, there is not a lot to be joyful about. These people have forever lost cherished friends, beloved family members, and respected co-workers. And right now they are grieving.
Although one of the keys to living life in the divine flow is maintaining a positive attitude, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for that positive attitude to be genuine. That means that feelings like sadness and sorrow must be allowed to run their natural course, because only then can there be an authentic return to a more optimistic outlook on life.
As I mentioned just a few months ago, living life in the divine flow is not about stuffing your feelings to maintain an "appearance" of positivity. There is such a thing as legitimate pain in life. It is not the kind of pain that you bring upon yourself through needless worry or thoughtless actions. It is the kind of pain that occurs most often with the sudden and unexpected loss of someone, or something, that you deeply love.
If you are dealing with a loss in your life right now, it is okay to go ahead and let yourself feel your feelings about it. In fact, it is necessary. Give yourself permission to experience all of your feelings freely and fully. Allow them to come, and go . . . and come again . . . and go again. It is the only way that they will eventually dissipate.
If, instead, you attempt to suppress those feelings, they will continue to exist at an unconscious level. And, in the end, that will just delay your ability to heal and feel joy again. And by "joy" I mean that underlying sense of appreciation for the total experience of life . . . a joy that embraces all of life’s twists and turns . . . a joy that may be best described as "bittersweet."
To each of you who have recently lost a loved one, or anything else that occupies a special place in your heart, please know that kindred spirits the world over are supporting you in the restoration of your sense of well-being.
Blessings to you all.
Steven
© 2010 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
With the arrival of rescue crews and doctors in Haiti, we are beginning to hear many joyful stories about people being pulled out of the rubble, and lives being miraculously saved. For countless thousands of earthquake survivors, however, there is not a lot to be joyful about. These people have forever lost cherished friends, beloved family members, and respected co-workers. And right now they are grieving.
Although one of the keys to living life in the divine flow is maintaining a positive attitude, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for that positive attitude to be genuine. That means that feelings like sadness and sorrow must be allowed to run their natural course, because only then can there be an authentic return to a more optimistic outlook on life.
As I mentioned just a few months ago, living life in the divine flow is not about stuffing your feelings to maintain an "appearance" of positivity. There is such a thing as legitimate pain in life. It is not the kind of pain that you bring upon yourself through needless worry or thoughtless actions. It is the kind of pain that occurs most often with the sudden and unexpected loss of someone, or something, that you deeply love.
If you are dealing with a loss in your life right now, it is okay to go ahead and let yourself feel your feelings about it. In fact, it is necessary. Give yourself permission to experience all of your feelings freely and fully. Allow them to come, and go . . . and come again . . . and go again. It is the only way that they will eventually dissipate.
If, instead, you attempt to suppress those feelings, they will continue to exist at an unconscious level. And, in the end, that will just delay your ability to heal and feel joy again. And by "joy" I mean that underlying sense of appreciation for the total experience of life . . . a joy that embraces all of life’s twists and turns . . . a joy that may be best described as "bittersweet."
To each of you who have recently lost a loved one, or anything else that occupies a special place in your heart, please know that kindred spirits the world over are supporting you in the restoration of your sense of well-being.
Blessings to you all.
Steven
© 2010 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Dealing With Loss Once Again
September 6, 2009
Dear Friends,
Once again, wildfires have raced across parts of California, scorching the earth, and destroying dozens and dozens of homes. And once again, I saw television interviews with several families who lost their homes in these tragic fires.
It was nice to see that all of these people recognized 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—were gone, each of these families felt extremely grateful and blessed to still have each other.
The loss of one’s home, however, is still a very real—and very significant—loss. And once again I think it is important to acknowledge that fact.
A home, as you well know, is much more than bricks and mortar, 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 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.
As I often mention, one of the keys to living life in the divine flow is maintaining a positive attitude. But that positive attitude must be genuine. And that means that feelings such as grief, sadness, and sorrow must first be allowed to run their natural course.
Living life in the divine flow is not about stuffing your feelings to maintain an "appearance" of positivity. There is such a thing as legitimate pain in life. It is not the kind of pain that you bring upon yourself through needless worry or thoughtless actions. It is the kind of pain that occurs most often with the sudden and unexpected loss of something, or someone, that you deeply love.
If you are dealing with a loss in your life right now, it is okay to go ahead and let yourself feel your feelings about it. In fact, it is necessary. Give yourself permission to experience all of your feelings freely and fully. Allow them to come, and go . . . and come again . . . and go again. It is the only way that they will eventually dissipate.
If, instead, you attempt to suppress those feelings, they will continue to exist at an unconscious level. And, in the end, that will just delay your ability to heal and feel joy again. And by "joy" I mean that underlying sense of appreciation for the total experience of life . . . a joy that embraces all of life’s twists and turns . . . a joy that may be best described as "bittersweet."
To each of you who have recently lost a loved one, a beloved pet, or anything else that occupies an important place in your heart, please know that kindred spirits the world over are supporting you in the restoration of your sense of wholeness, and the recovery of your sense of peace.
Steven
© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
Once again, wildfires have raced across parts of California, scorching the earth, and destroying dozens and dozens of homes. And once again, I saw television interviews with several families who lost their homes in these tragic fires.
It was nice to see that all of these people recognized 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—were gone, each of these families felt extremely grateful and blessed to still have each other.
The loss of one’s home, however, is still a very real—and very significant—loss. And once again I think it is important to acknowledge that fact.
A home, as you well know, is much more than bricks and mortar, 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 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.
As I often mention, one of the keys to living life in the divine flow is maintaining a positive attitude. But that positive attitude must be genuine. And that means that feelings such as grief, sadness, and sorrow must first be allowed to run their natural course.
Living life in the divine flow is not about stuffing your feelings to maintain an "appearance" of positivity. There is such a thing as legitimate pain in life. It is not the kind of pain that you bring upon yourself through needless worry or thoughtless actions. It is the kind of pain that occurs most often with the sudden and unexpected loss of something, or someone, that you deeply love.
If you are dealing with a loss in your life right now, it is okay to go ahead and let yourself feel your feelings about it. In fact, it is necessary. Give yourself permission to experience all of your feelings freely and fully. Allow them to come, and go . . . and come again . . . and go again. It is the only way that they will eventually dissipate.
If, instead, you attempt to suppress those feelings, they will continue to exist at an unconscious level. And, in the end, that will just delay your ability to heal and feel joy again. And by "joy" I mean that underlying sense of appreciation for the total experience of life . . . a joy that embraces all of life’s twists and turns . . . a joy that may be best described as "bittersweet."
To each of you who have recently lost a loved one, a beloved pet, or anything else that occupies an important place in your heart, please know that kindred spirits the world over are supporting you in the restoration of your sense of wholeness, and the recovery of your sense of peace.
Steven
© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
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