I Think, Therefore . . .

April 19, 2009

Dear Friends,

The other day I was driving down the road when I saw a bumper sticker on the car in front of me that read:

DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK!

I love that bumper sticker, because it perfectly captures the essence of one of the most important principles for living life in the divine flow: You must let go of what you “think” you know.

One of the most common ways that we interfere with the flow is thinking that we know best, and overruling the divine guidance that we are continually receiving through various sources . . . such as our own intuitive sense. I’m certainly not suggesting that you forget everything you think you know. I’m just reminding you of the obvious truth that there is always more to know than you currently know. And when you keep an open mind to new and different information—even when it conflicts with your current understanding—your ability to be open and receptive to divine direction will be greatly enhanced.

Remember, too, that most of your thoughts are either reflections on the past or projections into the future. And since divine guidance always comes to you in the present, the very act of thinking can limit your ability to be in the flow. The phrase, “being lost in thought,” is very appropriate in this case, because whenever you are not consciously in the “now,” you are much more likely to miss the divine signposts that could have shown you the very best way to get where you are going.

Even the way you think can limit your experience of the flow. Especially when you are fearful, you may so quickly connect one thought to another, and to another, and to another, you may create a block that prevents divinely inspired ideas from entering your conscious mind. That is why I recommend a daily practice of meditation. Meditation helps open up “gaps” between your thoughts, so it is easier for divine insights and intuitive guidance to get through.

The phrase, “a train of thought,” comes to mind here, because that is exactly what a lot of our thinking resembles—a train . . . one car closely coupled to another, and to another, and to another. And often, that train of thought gains so much momentum as it moves along, it is extremely difficult to slow it down, change tracks, and move in a more beneficial direction.

In summary, I guess today’s message could be expressed as three different “bumper stickers.” So here you go:

If you want to live life in the divine flow . . .

DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK!

DON’T GET LOST IN THOUGHT!

And finally,

BEFORE THAT TRAIN OF THOUGHT
GOES TOO FAR . . . GET OFF!

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

An Easter Message

April 12, 2008

Dear Friends,

As the saying goes, “You are not a human being having an occasional spiritual experience. You are a spiritual being having a temporary human experience.” And there is no better day in the year to affirm that for yourself than Easter Sunday.

For me, the Easter story is a dramatic demonstration and profound illustration of something that I believe is just as true for you now, as it was for Jesus over 2,000 years ago—that you are in this world, but you are not of this world.

Like I mentioned last week, your true essence is spirit, not body. And unlike the body, your spirit is eternal and indestructible. Your authentic self is, in a word, divine—an individual expression of that source energy we call God. And you are here for one purpose, and one purpose only: to express your divine nature in the body, and in the world.

And what, exactly, is that nature? Love. Unconditional love. Divine love.

It’s the kind of love that knows no limits . . . the kind of love that forgives—no matter what. It’s the kind of love that Jesus fully expressed throughout his life, right up to the final moments of his earthly existence. And it’s the kind of love that you, and I, and all of us are called upon to express on a daily basis.

Today, and every day of the year, may you remember who you are, and why you are here.

May you remember that the journey of life is not about getting somewhere. The journey of life is about being something. It’s about being the love that you are in every single moment of that journey. And it’s about experiencing the absolute joy that your love brings to the journey, and brings to each and every spirit that you encounter along the way.

Here’s to a joyful, fulfilling, and divinely-loving journey, my friends.

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

Signs of Life

April 5, 2009

Dear Friends,

Last week I wrote about the divine signs that show up in our lives, and how they help us. In particular, I focused on objects, animals, and insects that we have assigned special meaning to, because their repeated appearance has always been accompanied by something significant occurring.

Sometimes these divine signs show us the next right step we need to take to fulfill a dream or desire. Other times these divine signs simply alert us to something that we need to know. They may help us get in touch with some information that is helpful to us, or even healing.

This week I have an example to share with you:

About a year-and-a-half ago, one of my oldest and dearest friends was devastated when her daughter died suddenly and unexpectedly. This is the kind of tragic event that can shake almost anybody’s faith, and questions about God’s will, the meaning of life, and the continuation of life always arise.

My friend was no exception. This horrific circumstance brought up many of those same questions for her. Does life really continue after death. Really? Does the soul truly live on? Does consciousness survive? Or—in all forms—do we simply cease to exist?

Month after month these questions plagued my friend. At times she would be certain of life’s continuity, but at other times, doubtful. She desperately wanted to believe that even though her daughter was no longer embodied, her spirit was very much alive, and only the physical nature of their relationship had changed.

Then, one day, my friend noticed a possum lying very, very still in her backyard. She had lived in this house for decades, and had never seen a possum in her yard before.

As she approached the creature, it seemed to be near death. It was breathing, but very, very slowly. So she gingerly picked it up, and moved it into the alley behind her house.

After a long while, my friend went back to the alley to check on the animal. At this point, there were no signs of life whatsoever. No detectable breath. Nothing. My friend eventually concluded that the animal must have died. And, with great respect and reverence, she laid the stiff and lifeless body to rest.

A few weeks later, the exact same thing happened again. Another possum was lying motionless in her backyard. Amazed and confused, my friend once again moved the barely-breathing creature to the alley. But this time, she got on the Internet to do a little research on possums. And she found out what you probably already know: When possums feel threatened, they mimic all the appearances of being dead. Their lips curl back. They become very rigid. They even emit a “death smell.” And they can remain that way for hours.

After my friend got off the computer, she went back to the alley to check on the creature. This time, the possum was gone. It was neither dead nor dying. It had simply looked that way.

That’s when my friend realized that she had been given a gift—that she had received a divine sign to help heal her heavy heart. The possums were a reminder—and a confirmation—that even though our bodies may become lifeless, death is really just an “appearance.” Our true nature lives on.

My friend needed a sign to help her know—on a very deep level—that her daughter’s spirit is, indeed, eternal . . . that her daughter’s essence can never die or disappear. And just to make sure that my friend really got the message, a third possum recently showed up at her home. Only this possum was obviously alive and well—big and fat and helping itself to some cat food on my friend’s front porch.

I find the progression of this story remarkable. When my friend assumed that the first possum was dead—and treated it as such—a second one came and helped her look beyond appearances. And then a third possum showed up, so what was once troubling my friend in the “backyard” of her mind, was replaced by a vision of life in the “front porch” of her mind.

So, were these possums truly a “divine sign” for my friend? Or were they just a chance happening? You can draw your own conclusions. I’m pretty sure you know what I think.

Steven

P.S. Carol and I have a similar story involving dragonflies. If you have not heard this story before, I recently told it during a radio interview, and used it to illustrate a few misconceptions about the manifestation process. To listen to this interview, just click on the following link. This is a simple MP3 file that most computers can download and play easily:

www.rowrowrow.com/RadioShows/STRDragonflyStory.mp3

© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com

A Divine Sign?

March 29, 2009

Dear Friends,

In one part of my workshop, I talk about the “divine signs” that guide us in life. I really enjoy this section because sometimes these divine signs are literal signs—actual words that have been printed or painted on a surface somewhere. And these literal signs are so succinct and so direct, they are often as amusing as they are amazing.

One of the ways I was guided to the publisher of my book was through a billboard that was posted on the sign of the highway. That was not only a literal sign, but it was a very large one! And after I published my book, I saw another sign that encouraged me to focus on sharing my message, instead of dwelling on selling books. It was a poster on the side of a bus that simply read, “SPREAD THE WORD.”

Of course, we also receive divine signs that are not literal. They are figurative—that is, they are objects, animals, or insects that we ourselves have assigned meaning to over time.

Usually, we have assigned meaning to these objects, animals, or insects, because something very beneficial has occurred when one of these things was present, or something significant happened immediately after its appearance. Then—at another time or in another place—the same unusual juxtaposition happened again. And then—later still—it happened one more time.

At that point, we know that when these things show up in our lives, we are being divinely guided to something important, or made aware of something significant, and we take heed.

Please notice, though, that I began the last paragraph with the words, “At that point.” Assigning meaning to what appears in your life should not be done too hastily. If it’s truly a divine sign, it will usually reappear over time. And generally, it will also have these other two characteristics:

1. The object, animal, or insect itself will be very unusual; or it will be something ordinary that is showing up at an extraordinary time or place; or it will be something that is highly personal to you, and to you alone. Please be careful in assigning meaning to common, everyday things that are likely to appear in your life on a frequent basis.

2. Every single time this sign appears, something helpful happens. Divine signs are consistently beneficial. If you are experiencing mixed results, the divine nature and origin of that sign is questionable.

Remember, too, that this intelligent universe we live in has more than one way of communicating with you. If you are really paying attention, you will notice that you are not only being shown a sign, but that sign will also be supported by other messages that are being delivered to you—through something that you see on television, hear on the radio, or are told by a trusted friend. The most reliable confirmation usually comes from what your own intuition is indicating to you.

So, my friends, here’s to seeing the divine signs, and here’s to following the divine signs. But first, here’s to taking the time to practice a little divine discernment.

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

The Bigger Picture

March 22, 2009

NOTE: For obvious reasons, many of the messages that I have been delivering lately have been focused on maintaining a positive, peaceful, and prosperous attitude—in spite of outward appearances of lack and limitation. This week’s message is one that I originally wrote in August of 2007, but it is timelier than ever. I think you’ll agree.

Dear Friends,

When Carol and I moved into our home in Sedona, Arizona, we quickly noticed an interesting phenomenon. There is a large picture window in our living room that perfectly frames one of the most popular sights in Sedona . . . a red rock formation called Bell Rock. When viewed from our living room, Bell Rock fills much of the window, and it looks huge. But when we step outside onto the patio, Bell Rock seems to shrink.

Why? Because when we are outside we see the whole picture. We see the vast blue sky above Bell Rock, all of the terrain beneath it, and the mountains that flank Bell Rock on the left and right.

When I visited Mount Rainier in the state of Washington, I noticed the same phenomenon. When seen in the context of everything around it—the sky above, the river below, and the mountain ranges on either side—Mount Rainier still looks immense (because it is!). But it seems even more prominent when seen through the window of the visitor center.

Isn’t life like that? Mountains often represent the challenges you face in life, and, yes, some challenges are quite significant. But when they are viewed through the confines of your limited perception—when they are “framed” by your highly personal, highly biased, and highly subjective beliefs and fears—these challenges can seem much larger than they actually are.

When, instead, you look at the big picture, and let go of how you are framing the object of your attention, obstacles become less insurmountable and more manageable. And what, exactly, is the big picture?

Well, for one, it helps to remember that you never have to overcome any troubling circumstance alone. In fact, you have the entire universe on your side . . . a universe that is continually working on your behalf to help you solve or overcome any particular problem. And to the universe—to that intelligent, compassionate energy that many of us call God—every problem, regardless of its seeming size and complexity, is eminently solvable.

And secondly, it helps to keep in mind that any current challenge you are facing is just one small portion of your entire life experience. Yes, that portion may totally dominate your experience at the moment—in fact, it may be all you are able to focus on right now—but eventually you will come to see this situation as just one part of the complete picture of your life.

Remember that no matter how enormous your current difficulty appears to be, it really only looks that way from your restricted point of view. The Truth is, all challenges are smaller challenges when viewed in the context of God’s unlimited love, and God’s infinite inventiveness. All problems are smaller problems when you are able to look at the bigger picture.

I hope you find as much comfort in that thought as I do.

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

Grow With The Flow

March 15, 2009

Dear Friends,

Whenever I imagine the divine flow in my mind, I tend to picture it more like a river than a stream—a river that twists and turns as it meanders through the land . . . sometimes moving swiftly, but often slowing down to a virtual standstill.

A question that often arises in my talks and workshops is this one: Why can’t the flow be more direct—leading us to our goal in a quick, simple, and straightforward manner?

Well, it can . . . and sometimes does. But there are many reasons why the flow often takes a more roundabout route. Included are:

1. The flow is guiding you around obstacles that you are unaware of.

2. The flow is leading you to a place where you can be of assistance to someone else. The flow is not always about you!

3. The flow is constantly changing its course to adjust to the freewill decisions that you make, combined with the freewill decisions that everyone else is making.

4. The flow is slowing things down, or sending you on detours, so you will be at the right place at just the right moment. It’s simply a matter of divine timing.

Today, I want to add another important reason to this list, and then expand on it:

5. The flow is leading you toward opportunities that can help you become the kind of person that you need to be before you arrive at your chosen destination.

You may have a grand dream that you are pursuing, but that doesn’t mean that you are fully equipped to handle its manifestation at this particular moment. If you were to arrive at your destination prematurely, you might not be able to remain there very long, or even enjoy it.

At a minimum, there may be some skills that you need to develop before your dream is realized. Have you ever looked back on your life and noticed how certain skills that you acquired along the way served you wonderfully later?

Even more importantly, you may have some personal issues that need to be addressed before it is wise—or even possible—for your desire to be fulfilled. There may be some emotional wounds that need to be healed. There may be some self-sabotaging behaviors that need to be revealed. There may be some mental conflicts that need to be resolved, or limiting ideas that need to be dissolved.

You see, the flow not only helps you get where you are going, but it also supports you in growing—in maturing mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—so you are adequately prepared for where you are headed. It may help you meet a particular person who can help you grow in some way. Or it may pave the way for an experience you could benefit from.

Some experiences you encounter may be quite challenging. But the fact is, many of these opportunities for growth are ones that you yourself—on a very deep level—know that you need, and are actually choosing to take advantage of, so you can successfully live the kind of life that you are pursuing.

So, here’s to rowing the with flow—whether it’s fast or slow, straight or circuitous—knowing that it is always guiding you to your highest good. And here’s to growing with the flow, knowing that—all along the way—it is helping you become the kind of person that you need to be . . . the kind of person that you want to be . . . and the kind of person that you were born to be.

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.

A Fable Revisited

March 8, 2009

Dear Friends,

As I often mention—and did so again last week—everything can be a stepping stone to your higher good . . . if you want it to be. There is a fable I sometimes tell in my talks and workshops that is a wonderful illustration of this principle. And lately I have discovered that this visual metaphor is even more perfect than I realized.

Here’s the story:

“There was once a rancher who owned a donkey. This donkey was more of a pet than a work animal, and the rancher was sad to watch his beloved donkey grow increasingly feeble and blind as time went by.

One day, the rancher noticed the donkey hobbling across a field toward a bucket of oats. Between the donkey and the oats there was a dried-up well, which was encircled by a short stone wall.

The rancher was horrified when the donkey—being half-blind—stumbled over the wall and fell right into the well! The rancher ran out to the well, and looked down into the hole. But the hole was so deep, the rancher couldn’t see the bottom. So he listened carefully for sounds of suffering. But he never heard a thing.

The rancher finally assumed that the donkey must have died in the fall. And although the rancher was very sad about what had happened, he felt like this terrible accident might be a blessing in disguise. The donkey’s life had ended instantly, and the donkey no longer had to suffer the ever-increasing aches and pains of aging.

Since retrieving the donkey from the well would be extremely difficult, the rancher decided to make the well the donkey’s final resting place. He would fill in the dangerous hole, and then erect a small monument to the animal on that very spot.

Requiring help with this, the rancher asked his friends to bring over some loads of dirt, which they did. And after conducting a short, but touching memorial service, the rancher and his buddies began to shovel the dirt into the hole.

Well, guess what? Although the well no longer produced water, there was still six feet of mud in the bottom of the hole. And the mud had protected the donkey from harm! Other than being disoriented, and having his legs stuck in the mud, the donkey was perfectly fine! He wasn’t dead at all!

But then dirt starts falling on the donkey’s head! And on his back! And all around him! After a while, the dirt had piled up past the donkey’s knees. And that’s when instinct took over.

First with one leg, and then with the others, the donkey slowly pulled himself out of the mud, and stepped up onto the pile of dry dirt. As more dirt accumulated, the donkey stepped up again. And then again. And then again. Until finally, the ranchers were shocked to see the donkey’s head appear at the top of the well! What a delightful surprise!”

You get the point, of course. Quite literally, the dirt that was supposed to bury the donkey became his “stepping stone to a higher good!” And the metaphor for us is equally obvious:

We, too, blindly fall into holes. And when we think we’ve hit bottom, the world seems to add insult to injury and throws dirt on us. The difference between people and the donkey, though, is this: We often let the dirt pile up to our necks—or even over our heads—before we are open to seeing the next right step that is right in front of us.

Unlike the donkey, we spend all our time blaming the people who dug the hole, or shaming ourselves for stupidly falling into it. We rant and we rave about the injustice of it all, and in that judgmental state, we fail to notice that the very elements that make up our circumstance can provide us with a way out of our predicament.

But now I see that there is even more depth (and height) to the story than that. For when the donkey got to the top of the well, he was no closer to the oats than he was when he first fell into the hole. And so it may be for you.

Although it is possible for the divine flow to instantly open a portal that leads directly from the bottom of the well to the goal that you are trying to reach, more often than not, the next right step that you will be divinely guided to take will simply be a step that is designed to help rectify the situation that you are in.

There may be a step that helps you heal emotionally, a step that helps you grow spiritually, or a step that helps restore something that was damaged or lost . . . but those steps won’t necessarily move you any closer to your chosen destination.

There are consequences to going through life blindly—that is, making choices based on fear and ego, rather than continually seeking divine guidance. And when you fall into a hole, there may be quite a few steps that have to be taken, and quite a bit of time that might have to pass, before you feel like you are once again heading toward your dream.

Whether it’s a step that heals something, reveals something, or repairs something, it’s a great comfort to know that the divine flow is continually providing you with what you need to lift you up, before it once again guides you toward your goal with effortless ease.

Remember, though, it’s up to you to recognize that step when it appears. May you be open and receptive to identifying your next right step now . . . and be willing to take it . . . and to take the one after that . . . and the one after that . . . and the one after that.

Steven

© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowwrow.com