Please note: The following message is one that I wrote less than a year ago. I am already repeating it because, frankly, I need to hear it again . . . and I'm sure that many of you will welcome the reminder, as well.
July 20, 2008
Dear Friends,
Most of the time, I can sense the divine flow in my life quite easily. I notice a steady stream of signs and synchronicities—as well as intuitive nudges—that are all pointing me in one particular direction. And when I head in that direction, I feel like I am in a quickly moving current that is helping me get where I want to go with effortless ease.
Often, I experience unexpected twists and turns along the way. But those surprising detours will quickly transform into stepping stones to a higher good, so I can easily see the divine flow at work in those circumstances, as well.
Whether the flow takes a direct route, or a more circuitous one, some kind of divine movement in my life is usually fairly obvious. And I can generally discern what I am being divinely directed to do to cooperate with that movement.
But not always.
Occasionally, I experience periods in my life where it feels like the flow is hardly moving at all, leaving me in still waters for days or weeks on end with no clear guidance or direction. I do not see any signs, or experience any meaningful coincidences. Doors are not opening. And I simply don't know what my next right step is.
Those are the occasions that test my patience the most. Like most people, I always feel like there is something I should be doing to bring me one step closer to my chosen destinations in life. And doing nothing feels uncomfortable. But one of the first lessons I ever learned about living life in the divine flow is this one: Doing nothing is doing something . . . and quite often that is exactly what is called for.
Sometimes, your job is just to wait patiently while the divine flow works its magic. Yes, you may be waiting quite a while. But it won't be forever. Eventually, clear guidance will come. Your next divinely directed step will appear. And helpful doors will open. And when that happens, there is a good chance that you will be able to see the perfect timing in it all.
If you feel like you are truly open and receptive to divine direction, and yet the flow in your life seems to have slowed down dramatically, I suggest that you simply enjoy the break. Take care of all the little details in life that are calling for your attention. Enjoy the time that you have been given to partake of life's many simple pleasures. And take advantage of this opportunity to just "be."
Don't worry about how slow the flow may seem. The current will pick up soon enough.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
Friday, July 18, 2008
Quick Decisions
July 13, 2008
Dear Friends,
Earlier this year, a reader from Australia wrote to me with the following question and comments:
"Steve, could you please tell me what you think is the best way to choose between two or more equally good options, when you don't have much time to think about it, and you need to make a quick decision? I know that if I have a week or more, I can just leave a problem on the 'back-burner' of my mind, and a perfect solution will usually arise out of the blue. One time, for example, I was contemplating buying a run-down house that needed a huge amount of work, and then I saw a billboard that had these four words printed on it in big, blue letters: ‘You can do better!’ I took that as a divine sign. When I don't have much time, though, I find myself weighing all the pros and cons, and getting so stressed out that my mind freezes up and I just can't think about it anymore. How can I avoid getting stuck like that?"
Friends, since this is an issue that we all face---especially with the countless number of small decisions that we have to make on a daily basis---I thought it would be helpful for me to share with all of you an enhanced version of my reply:
"Dear Reader . . . first of all, I commend you for the way you generally go about making decisions. When you stated that 'time' usually solves your issue, with an answer arising 'out of the blue,' that is exactly what I tell my workshop participants. We often receive divine guidance through signs and synchronicities, and it helps to be patient and give those divine signposts some time to show up. In fact, over time you might receive so many similar messages that the answer you seek is absolutely unmistakable.
When you don't have much time, however, what then?
You may be surprised to know that---as a perfectionist---I also tend to weigh all the pros and cons to help me make the "perfect" decision. But that thought process doesn't always prove helpful.
That's when I do something that it sounds like you are not doing: I get quiet, go within, and try to gauge my 'feelings' about my options. This is a subtle art that requires some practice, but these days I can quickly tell the difference between a path that 'feels' good/peaceful/flowing, versus one that doesn't 'feel' as desirable. This is my divine intuition speaking to me through my feelings (instead of my mind, because it is too busy thinking!).
From your note, dear reader, it sounds like you may be spending too much time in your head, instead of trying to access the wisdom of your heart . . . that divinely insightful part of you that speaks to you through intuition nudges. You are trying to "think quickly," when thinking is actually part of the problem! It is much quicker to get in touch with the guidance of your intuition, which is immediately available to you, and more reliable, too.
I suggest that you focus on nurturing your intuitive abilities, and learning how to distinguish between that subtle feeling that says 'yes, do this,' versus that subtle feeling that says, 'no, this is not the ideal course of action.'
If you have trouble with this, I recommend a daily routine of meditation in the morning, which helps you stay more in touch with your intuitive nature throughout the day.
Finally, please remember this: When the deadline has arrived, and you have to make a decision, but you are still not confident about what your best course of action is, make any decision and don't worry about it!
It is comforting to remember that the divine flow can take whatever decision you make, and ultimately transform that decision into a beneficial choice . . . as long as you remain open to your divine guidance and continue to follow its direction from that point on. As I often say, 'Everything can be a stepping stone to your highest good . . . if you want it to be.'
Thank you for your question, dear reader. I hope my answer was helpful to you."
. . . and friends, I hope you found my reply to be of value, as well.
Blessings!
Steven
P.S. For more information about intuition, I recommend a book called Divine Intuition. You will find it on the Helpful Links page of my website. For more information about the form of meditation that I personally practice, I invite you to visit www.alternative-medicine.net/meditation/english.html.
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
Dear Friends,
Earlier this year, a reader from Australia wrote to me with the following question and comments:
"Steve, could you please tell me what you think is the best way to choose between two or more equally good options, when you don't have much time to think about it, and you need to make a quick decision? I know that if I have a week or more, I can just leave a problem on the 'back-burner' of my mind, and a perfect solution will usually arise out of the blue. One time, for example, I was contemplating buying a run-down house that needed a huge amount of work, and then I saw a billboard that had these four words printed on it in big, blue letters: ‘You can do better!’ I took that as a divine sign. When I don't have much time, though, I find myself weighing all the pros and cons, and getting so stressed out that my mind freezes up and I just can't think about it anymore. How can I avoid getting stuck like that?"
Friends, since this is an issue that we all face---especially with the countless number of small decisions that we have to make on a daily basis---I thought it would be helpful for me to share with all of you an enhanced version of my reply:
"Dear Reader . . . first of all, I commend you for the way you generally go about making decisions. When you stated that 'time' usually solves your issue, with an answer arising 'out of the blue,' that is exactly what I tell my workshop participants. We often receive divine guidance through signs and synchronicities, and it helps to be patient and give those divine signposts some time to show up. In fact, over time you might receive so many similar messages that the answer you seek is absolutely unmistakable.
When you don't have much time, however, what then?
You may be surprised to know that---as a perfectionist---I also tend to weigh all the pros and cons to help me make the "perfect" decision. But that thought process doesn't always prove helpful.
That's when I do something that it sounds like you are not doing: I get quiet, go within, and try to gauge my 'feelings' about my options. This is a subtle art that requires some practice, but these days I can quickly tell the difference between a path that 'feels' good/peaceful/flowing, versus one that doesn't 'feel' as desirable. This is my divine intuition speaking to me through my feelings (instead of my mind, because it is too busy thinking!).
From your note, dear reader, it sounds like you may be spending too much time in your head, instead of trying to access the wisdom of your heart . . . that divinely insightful part of you that speaks to you through intuition nudges. You are trying to "think quickly," when thinking is actually part of the problem! It is much quicker to get in touch with the guidance of your intuition, which is immediately available to you, and more reliable, too.
I suggest that you focus on nurturing your intuitive abilities, and learning how to distinguish between that subtle feeling that says 'yes, do this,' versus that subtle feeling that says, 'no, this is not the ideal course of action.'
If you have trouble with this, I recommend a daily routine of meditation in the morning, which helps you stay more in touch with your intuitive nature throughout the day.
Finally, please remember this: When the deadline has arrived, and you have to make a decision, but you are still not confident about what your best course of action is, make any decision and don't worry about it!
It is comforting to remember that the divine flow can take whatever decision you make, and ultimately transform that decision into a beneficial choice . . . as long as you remain open to your divine guidance and continue to follow its direction from that point on. As I often say, 'Everything can be a stepping stone to your highest good . . . if you want it to be.'
Thank you for your question, dear reader. I hope my answer was helpful to you."
. . . and friends, I hope you found my reply to be of value, as well.
Blessings!
Steven
P.S. For more information about intuition, I recommend a book called Divine Intuition. You will find it on the Helpful Links page of my website. For more information about the form of meditation that I personally practice, I invite you to visit www.alternative-medicine.net/meditation/english.html.
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
Saturday, July 5, 2008
The Possibility of Good
July 6, 2008
Dear Friends,
Many of you (if not most of you) have probably heard one or more versions of the following story . . . supposedly a Zen fable:
There was once a wise old farmer who owned a prize horse. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came over to offer their condolences. "Such bad luck," they said sympathetically. "Maybe," was all the farmer replied. A few days later the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. "How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed. "Maybe," replied the old man again. The following day, the farmer’s son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown off, and broke his leg. Once again, the neighbors offered their sympathy, saying "How awful." "Maybe," answered the farmer one more time. The day after that, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son of the farmer had a broken leg, they passed him by. The neighbors once again congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. “What good fortune,” they said. The farmer replied yet again, “Maybe.”
I appreciate this story for one reason in particular. It illustrates the fact that we rarely, if ever, know enough to be able to accurately judge any circumstance as either good or bad. With all due respect to the farmer in this famous fable, however, I wonder if there isn’t a more positive way to respond to the circumstances that we encounter in life.
I realize that the farmer’s response was objective and non-resistant. And that certainly elicits a feeling of peace, which is wonderful. But to me, the farmer’s “maybe so, maybe not” attitude eliminates the possibility of feeling anything beyond peace . . . such as joy. And I believe that our spirits are in this world—and in these bodies—to experience happiness and joy, as well as peace.
If something happens that I think is good (even though I know it is just a subjective judgment on my part), I want to be able to experience all the good feelings that come along with that. And when things don’t seem to be going very well, I still want to experience good feelings! So how do I do that?
The answer is something that I have been mentioning in my messages a lot lately. I simply look at every situation that “appears” to be bad, and see it as a stepping stone to my highest good. That’s not just wishful thinking on my part. Similar to the circumstances described in the fable, it has been my experience time and time again that the possibility for good exists within every situation . . . and the divine flow is continually working on my behalf to manifest that good.
If you want a more positive and uplifting way to respond to life’s circumstances—a way that promotes feelings of happiness and joy, gratitude and thanksgiving—then I invite you to approach life differently than the farmer did in the version of the fable that you just read. I invite you, instead, to consider the example set by the farmer is this alternate version of the story:
There was once a wise old farmer who owned a prize horse. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came over to offer their condolences. "Such bad luck," they said sympathetically. "I believe there can be good in this," the farmer replied. A few days later the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. "How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed. "Yes, it is good," replied the old man. The following day, the farmer’s son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown off, and broke his leg. Once again, the neighbors offered their sympathy, saying "How awful.” “I believe there can be good in this," answered the farmer one more time. The day after that, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son of the farmer had a broken leg, they passed him by. The neighbors once again congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. “What good fortune,” they said. "Yes, life is good," the farmer replied. “Very good indeed!”
Here’s to thoroughly enjoying all the good things that happen in life . . . and even more than that . . . here’s to appreciating the constant possibility of good.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
Dear Friends,
Many of you (if not most of you) have probably heard one or more versions of the following story . . . supposedly a Zen fable:
There was once a wise old farmer who owned a prize horse. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came over to offer their condolences. "Such bad luck," they said sympathetically. "Maybe," was all the farmer replied. A few days later the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. "How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed. "Maybe," replied the old man again. The following day, the farmer’s son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown off, and broke his leg. Once again, the neighbors offered their sympathy, saying "How awful." "Maybe," answered the farmer one more time. The day after that, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son of the farmer had a broken leg, they passed him by. The neighbors once again congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. “What good fortune,” they said. The farmer replied yet again, “Maybe.”
I appreciate this story for one reason in particular. It illustrates the fact that we rarely, if ever, know enough to be able to accurately judge any circumstance as either good or bad. With all due respect to the farmer in this famous fable, however, I wonder if there isn’t a more positive way to respond to the circumstances that we encounter in life.
I realize that the farmer’s response was objective and non-resistant. And that certainly elicits a feeling of peace, which is wonderful. But to me, the farmer’s “maybe so, maybe not” attitude eliminates the possibility of feeling anything beyond peace . . . such as joy. And I believe that our spirits are in this world—and in these bodies—to experience happiness and joy, as well as peace.
If something happens that I think is good (even though I know it is just a subjective judgment on my part), I want to be able to experience all the good feelings that come along with that. And when things don’t seem to be going very well, I still want to experience good feelings! So how do I do that?
The answer is something that I have been mentioning in my messages a lot lately. I simply look at every situation that “appears” to be bad, and see it as a stepping stone to my highest good. That’s not just wishful thinking on my part. Similar to the circumstances described in the fable, it has been my experience time and time again that the possibility for good exists within every situation . . . and the divine flow is continually working on my behalf to manifest that good.
If you want a more positive and uplifting way to respond to life’s circumstances—a way that promotes feelings of happiness and joy, gratitude and thanksgiving—then I invite you to approach life differently than the farmer did in the version of the fable that you just read. I invite you, instead, to consider the example set by the farmer is this alternate version of the story:
There was once a wise old farmer who owned a prize horse. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came over to offer their condolences. "Such bad luck," they said sympathetically. "I believe there can be good in this," the farmer replied. A few days later the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. "How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed. "Yes, it is good," replied the old man. The following day, the farmer’s son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown off, and broke his leg. Once again, the neighbors offered their sympathy, saying "How awful.” “I believe there can be good in this," answered the farmer one more time. The day after that, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son of the farmer had a broken leg, they passed him by. The neighbors once again congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. “What good fortune,” they said. "Yes, life is good," the farmer replied. “Very good indeed!”
Here’s to thoroughly enjoying all the good things that happen in life . . . and even more than that . . . here’s to appreciating the constant possibility of good.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Independence Day
June 29, 2008
Dear Friends,
This coming Friday, July 4th, is Independence Day, the day that we in the United States 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 Universal 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 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.
God will guide you, yes. God will lead you, direct you, and support you in reaching your chosen destinations in the most beneficial way possible. But unlike a tyrant, God will never force you to do anything that you don't choose to do.
You have the freedom—the independence—to follow divine guidance . . . or not. You can choose to row with the divine flow, and accomplish your goals 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.
As I mentioned last week, the wonderful thing is this: Every choice you make in life—whether it's 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
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
Dear Friends,
This coming Friday, July 4th, is Independence Day, the day that we in the United States 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 Universal 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 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.
God will guide you, yes. God will lead you, direct you, and support you in reaching your chosen destinations in the most beneficial way possible. But unlike a tyrant, God will never force you to do anything that you don't choose to do.
You have the freedom—the independence—to follow divine guidance . . . or not. You can choose to row with the divine flow, and accomplish your goals 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.
As I mentioned last week, the wonderful thing is this: Every choice you make in life—whether it's 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
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Par For The Course
June 22, 2008
Dear Friends,
The home that Carol and I rent here in Sedona is in the middle of a golf resort. When some friends of ours found out that we were moving into a golfing community (even though we don’t play the game), they gave us a book called “Golf for Enlightenment” by Deepak Chopra.
One of the most interesting points that Dr. Chopra makes in his book is this: No matter how skilled and experienced you are at golf, there will always be days when you are just plain lousy at it. Instead of holding yourself to an impossibly high standard of perfection, a more “enlightened” approach is to recognize that disappointing days are inevitable, and to keep those challenging times in their proper perspective.
So it is with living life in the divine flow. No matter how good you think you are at following divine direction, there will always be days when you will not glide toward your goal with effortless ease. Instead, you will find yourself running into rocks or getting tied up in the reeds.
Why? There are numerous reasons why you might encounter uncomfortably challenging circumstances in your life. Here are just three:
First, you have to remember that many of the situations in life that you consider to be undesirable are only undesirable from your personal point of view. Someone else who has a different history or belief system might take that very same challenge completely and easily in stride. In other words, your situation may not be—in and of itself—particularly challenging. It just looks that way to you.
Second, some of the challenges you face in life are there because—on a subconscious and/or soul level—you have specifically chosen to experience them. At a very deep level you may actually want these particular challenges to be in your life, so you can heal a long neglected emotional wound, or expand a limited way of being that is preventing you from living a more fulfilling and joyful life.
Finally, quite a few of life’s challenges are simply the natural consequence of making too many unguided or misguided choices . . . choices made from fear instead of faith . . . choices that are not divinely guided or inspired, but are, in fact, ego driven—even though those choices might have been made with the best of intentions.
Are you experiencing a trying time in your life right now? Rest assured, I am not going to tell you to think of this painful period as just “a bad round of golf.” No matter what is going on in your life, the discomfort you are experiencing is real, and I certainly don’t want to make light of that, or summarily dismiss it.
However, I do invite you to keep in mind what I often suggest in these weekly messages: Every challenge you experience in your life—no matter what it is, or why it is there—can be a stepping stone to your highest good . . . a divine opportunity to help you move closer to your dream . . . a chance for you to grow in compassion and wisdom . . . an occasion for you to heal what needs healing . . . or all of those things.
Here’s to living life in the divine flow, and remembering that disappointing days and trying times are—when seen in their proper perspective—“par for the course.”
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
Dear Friends,
The home that Carol and I rent here in Sedona is in the middle of a golf resort. When some friends of ours found out that we were moving into a golfing community (even though we don’t play the game), they gave us a book called “Golf for Enlightenment” by Deepak Chopra.
One of the most interesting points that Dr. Chopra makes in his book is this: No matter how skilled and experienced you are at golf, there will always be days when you are just plain lousy at it. Instead of holding yourself to an impossibly high standard of perfection, a more “enlightened” approach is to recognize that disappointing days are inevitable, and to keep those challenging times in their proper perspective.
So it is with living life in the divine flow. No matter how good you think you are at following divine direction, there will always be days when you will not glide toward your goal with effortless ease. Instead, you will find yourself running into rocks or getting tied up in the reeds.
Why? There are numerous reasons why you might encounter uncomfortably challenging circumstances in your life. Here are just three:
First, you have to remember that many of the situations in life that you consider to be undesirable are only undesirable from your personal point of view. Someone else who has a different history or belief system might take that very same challenge completely and easily in stride. In other words, your situation may not be—in and of itself—particularly challenging. It just looks that way to you.
Second, some of the challenges you face in life are there because—on a subconscious and/or soul level—you have specifically chosen to experience them. At a very deep level you may actually want these particular challenges to be in your life, so you can heal a long neglected emotional wound, or expand a limited way of being that is preventing you from living a more fulfilling and joyful life.
Finally, quite a few of life’s challenges are simply the natural consequence of making too many unguided or misguided choices . . . choices made from fear instead of faith . . . choices that are not divinely guided or inspired, but are, in fact, ego driven—even though those choices might have been made with the best of intentions.
Are you experiencing a trying time in your life right now? Rest assured, I am not going to tell you to think of this painful period as just “a bad round of golf.” No matter what is going on in your life, the discomfort you are experiencing is real, and I certainly don’t want to make light of that, or summarily dismiss it.
However, I do invite you to keep in mind what I often suggest in these weekly messages: Every challenge you experience in your life—no matter what it is, or why it is there—can be a stepping stone to your highest good . . . a divine opportunity to help you move closer to your dream . . . a chance for you to grow in compassion and wisdom . . . an occasion for you to heal what needs healing . . . or all of those things.
Here’s to living life in the divine flow, and remembering that disappointing days and trying times are—when seen in their proper perspective—“par for the course.”
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
Friday, June 13, 2008
Dealing With Loss
June 15, 2008
Dear Friends,
I frequently mention in these weekly messages that one of the keys to living life in the divine flow (and fulfilling your heart’s desires effortlessly) is maintaining a positive attitude. But I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for that positive attitude to be genuine.
In recent weeks, thousands of people across the U.S. and in China have lost cherished loved ones and treasured possessions because of devastating floods, horrendous tornados, and destructive earthquakes. The grief, sadness, and sorrow that these tragic events elicit is completely understandable. And these feelings must be allowed to run their natural course before there can be an authentic return to a more optimistic outlook.
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 suffering in life. It is not the kind of suffering that you bring upon yourself through needless worry or thoughtless actions. It is the kind of suffering 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 a subconscious 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.
Blessings to you all.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
Dear Friends,
I frequently mention in these weekly messages that one of the keys to living life in the divine flow (and fulfilling your heart’s desires effortlessly) is maintaining a positive attitude. But I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for that positive attitude to be genuine.
In recent weeks, thousands of people across the U.S. and in China have lost cherished loved ones and treasured possessions because of devastating floods, horrendous tornados, and destructive earthquakes. The grief, sadness, and sorrow that these tragic events elicit is completely understandable. And these feelings must be allowed to run their natural course before there can be an authentic return to a more optimistic outlook.
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 suffering in life. It is not the kind of suffering that you bring upon yourself through needless worry or thoughtless actions. It is the kind of suffering 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 a subconscious 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.
Blessings to you all.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
Saturday, June 7, 2008
From Anger to Anticipation
June 8, 2008
Dear Friends,
One of the major turning points in my life occurred when I discovered that I had a rather uncomplimentary reputation at the advertising agency where I worked. I found out that I was one of three men called “The Angry Guys.”
Normally, I would have gotten angry over being critically labeled like that (how fitting), and I would have vehemently defended myself. But this time I didn’t . . . for one simple reason: It was true. I was angry. I was constantly hitting my fist on the desk or kicking trashcans across the room. But why? Exactly what was I so angry about? To my credit, I became willing to find out.
After doing a little soul-searching, reading a few self-help books, and seeking some professional counseling, I began to get to the core of my issue. I learned that anger is almost always a secondary emotion. Beneath anger, there is usually a primary feeling . . . and beneath that, there is always an underlying thought.
In my case, I realized that I was angry because I was chronically frustrated. And I was frustrated because things didn’t always turn out the way I wanted them to . . . and I thought that they always had to. Why did I think that? Because I had never believed that anything “good” could just happen on its own. And I had never believed that something “bad” could, in the end, turn out to be beneficial.
In short, I didn’t believe in the basic beneficence of the universe. And I certainly didn’t believe there was a higher intelligence in this universe that was always working for good on my behalf. Instead, I believed that if I wanted anything good to occur in my life, then it was up to me—and me alone—to make that happen.
Eventually, though, I grew so tired of trying to control every single aspect of my life, I finally became willing—as many people put it—to “let go and let God.” For the first time in my life I stopped trying to force the outcomes I desired, and I became willing to consider the possibility that something good could arise out of something I initially thought was “bad.” Through prayer and meditation I began to seek divine guidance before acting. And I became more lovingly responsive instead of fearfully reactive to the challenges that arose in my life.
The result? Miracles began to occur in my life immediately. It seemed like the second I let go of the idea that everything had to go my way, everything did go my way—maybe not in the way that I planned, or in a way that I expected, but definitely in a way that was to my benefit, and to the benefit of all involved.
I let go, and I discovered “The Divine Flow.” Since that time, I have devoted my life to learning how to better recognize that flow, and cooperate with it.
These days, I rarely get angry. Frustrated at times, yes. Disappointed, sure. Uncertain once in a while, of course. But I don’t stay in those states for very long. I simply remember what my experience has proven to me time and time again: That I do, indeed, live in a beneficent universe, and this universe is always guiding me to my highest good . . . from wherever I happen to be.
Here’s to trusting in the divine flow, and moving from a state of anger to a place of peace . . . and even better, to a positive anticipation of something really good happening.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of, Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
Dear Friends,
One of the major turning points in my life occurred when I discovered that I had a rather uncomplimentary reputation at the advertising agency where I worked. I found out that I was one of three men called “The Angry Guys.”
Normally, I would have gotten angry over being critically labeled like that (how fitting), and I would have vehemently defended myself. But this time I didn’t . . . for one simple reason: It was true. I was angry. I was constantly hitting my fist on the desk or kicking trashcans across the room. But why? Exactly what was I so angry about? To my credit, I became willing to find out.
After doing a little soul-searching, reading a few self-help books, and seeking some professional counseling, I began to get to the core of my issue. I learned that anger is almost always a secondary emotion. Beneath anger, there is usually a primary feeling . . . and beneath that, there is always an underlying thought.
In my case, I realized that I was angry because I was chronically frustrated. And I was frustrated because things didn’t always turn out the way I wanted them to . . . and I thought that they always had to. Why did I think that? Because I had never believed that anything “good” could just happen on its own. And I had never believed that something “bad” could, in the end, turn out to be beneficial.
In short, I didn’t believe in the basic beneficence of the universe. And I certainly didn’t believe there was a higher intelligence in this universe that was always working for good on my behalf. Instead, I believed that if I wanted anything good to occur in my life, then it was up to me—and me alone—to make that happen.
Eventually, though, I grew so tired of trying to control every single aspect of my life, I finally became willing—as many people put it—to “let go and let God.” For the first time in my life I stopped trying to force the outcomes I desired, and I became willing to consider the possibility that something good could arise out of something I initially thought was “bad.” Through prayer and meditation I began to seek divine guidance before acting. And I became more lovingly responsive instead of fearfully reactive to the challenges that arose in my life.
The result? Miracles began to occur in my life immediately. It seemed like the second I let go of the idea that everything had to go my way, everything did go my way—maybe not in the way that I planned, or in a way that I expected, but definitely in a way that was to my benefit, and to the benefit of all involved.
I let go, and I discovered “The Divine Flow.” Since that time, I have devoted my life to learning how to better recognize that flow, and cooperate with it.
These days, I rarely get angry. Frustrated at times, yes. Disappointed, sure. Uncertain once in a while, of course. But I don’t stay in those states for very long. I simply remember what my experience has proven to me time and time again: That I do, indeed, live in a beneficent universe, and this universe is always guiding me to my highest good . . . from wherever I happen to be.
Here’s to trusting in the divine flow, and moving from a state of anger to a place of peace . . . and even better, to a positive anticipation of something really good happening.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of, Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
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