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
Saturday, June 28, 2008
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
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Life's Challenges
June 1, 2008
Dear Friends,
Have you heard the story about the gambler who dies and finds himself in a very peculiar afterlife? He discovers that—at least for him—the afterlife consists of an eternal game of poker that he will be playing with several other deceased gamblers.
He is elated by this prospect, and is delighted when he easily wins the first hand. He is even more excited when he wins the second hand. And when he wins the third hand, he is absolutely ecstatic. However, when he also wins the fourth hand, he is more surprised than happy. And when he wins the fifth hand, he is downright puzzled. Finally, after winning the sixth hand, seventh hand, and eighth hand, the gambler exclaims: “Hey, this isn’t any fun! I don’t think I’m going to like it here in Heaven.” To which, one of the other gamblers replies: “What made you think this was Heaven?”
I chose to tell this story because I think it makes a good follow-up to last week’s message. Last week, if you recall, I wrote about all the pleasures that life has to offer you, if you will just pause long enough—and be present long enough—to notice and appreciate them.
But life is not always one pleasure after another, is it? As we row our boats down the stream toward the fulfillment of our dreams, we also encounter rocks and reeds, sandbars and whirlpools, unexpected turns and dead-end tributaries—often as a direct result of our own freewill choices. Can you appreciate those experiences also? Can you appreciate life’s challenges as well as life’s pleasures?
The wonderful thing about life is that it is the turbulent parts of the stream that enable you to truly appreciate the more peaceful parts. You cannot fully appreciate experiences like comfort, freedom, and ease, unless you also know their opposites. As I have said before, the true joy of living comes from learning how to appreciate life as a whole—including any rapids or waterfalls you might encounter along the way.
Like the gambler realized in the afterlife, you can’t enjoy winning unless you also experience losing. Here’s to enjoying the game of life, and remembering that it’s the bad hands, as well as the good hands, that keep the game interesting . . . and ultimately, fulfilling.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
Dear Friends,
Have you heard the story about the gambler who dies and finds himself in a very peculiar afterlife? He discovers that—at least for him—the afterlife consists of an eternal game of poker that he will be playing with several other deceased gamblers.
He is elated by this prospect, and is delighted when he easily wins the first hand. He is even more excited when he wins the second hand. And when he wins the third hand, he is absolutely ecstatic. However, when he also wins the fourth hand, he is more surprised than happy. And when he wins the fifth hand, he is downright puzzled. Finally, after winning the sixth hand, seventh hand, and eighth hand, the gambler exclaims: “Hey, this isn’t any fun! I don’t think I’m going to like it here in Heaven.” To which, one of the other gamblers replies: “What made you think this was Heaven?”
I chose to tell this story because I think it makes a good follow-up to last week’s message. Last week, if you recall, I wrote about all the pleasures that life has to offer you, if you will just pause long enough—and be present long enough—to notice and appreciate them.
But life is not always one pleasure after another, is it? As we row our boats down the stream toward the fulfillment of our dreams, we also encounter rocks and reeds, sandbars and whirlpools, unexpected turns and dead-end tributaries—often as a direct result of our own freewill choices. Can you appreciate those experiences also? Can you appreciate life’s challenges as well as life’s pleasures?
The wonderful thing about life is that it is the turbulent parts of the stream that enable you to truly appreciate the more peaceful parts. You cannot fully appreciate experiences like comfort, freedom, and ease, unless you also know their opposites. As I have said before, the true joy of living comes from learning how to appreciate life as a whole—including any rapids or waterfalls you might encounter along the way.
Like the gambler realized in the afterlife, you can’t enjoy winning unless you also experience losing. Here’s to enjoying the game of life, and remembering that it’s the bad hands, as well as the good hands, that keep the game interesting . . . and ultimately, fulfilling.
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
Friday, May 23, 2008
The Pleasures of Life
May 25, 2008
Dear Friends,
For the past week, I have been in Dallas, Texas for the birth of my oldest daughter’s first child, a beautiful baby boy named Cole. When Cole opens his eyes and looks around, the expression on his face makes it look as if he is thinking, “Where in the world am I?” As Cole begins to explore this world he now finds himself in, his parents are in for a great treat. It is so much fun to watch a child discovering and enjoying the pleasures of life.
Not too long ago, I remember watching a toddler eating in a restaurant. It was a joy to observe this little girl eating her dinner with such relish. She was absolutely thrilled by each and every bite, and she kept trying to steal more food off her mother’s plate.
And then there was the time I watched another little girl—this one about four years old—dancing to some music being played by a street musician. What was particularly interesting about this child was the way she “observed herself” as she danced. She would look at her arms as she waved them in the air. She would look at her feet as she shuffled them across the ground. And she would look at her waist as she swiveled her hips around and around.
I felt like I was witnessing that little girl’s soul—her divine, eternal spirit—being fully aware of its presence in this material world, and consciously enjoying the pleasures that this world has to offer. “Look, I have a body!” “Look, I can move it all around!”
So, you may ask, what does all that have to do with living life in the divine flow? Simply this: Always remember that your enjoyment of life has little to do with reaching the destinations you are “rowing” toward.
Sure, fulfilling a desire or realizing a dream feels great! But that is just the icing on the cake. The real, deep-down enjoyment of life comes from allowing yourself to appreciate the entire journey, and all the wonderful things that journey presents to you along the way.
As you pursue your goals in life, be sure to pause for a moment to appreciate the simple beauty of a tiny flower, and the majesty of a mighty tree. Notice the refreshing feel of a cool, spring breeze . . . the pure, clean scent of approaching rain . . . and the sound of a bird as it sings its splendid song.
Remember that living life in the divine flow is not just about getting where you want to go. It’s also about how you live as you row. Remember to take the time to laugh, sing, dance, and read . . . to eat your favorite foods . . . and to listen to your favorite music.
Make sure that you take the time to allow your spirit to do what it really came here to do in the first place—just to enjoy the experience of being alive and in the world!
Steven (Also known as Cole’s Grandaddy!)
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
Dear Friends,
For the past week, I have been in Dallas, Texas for the birth of my oldest daughter’s first child, a beautiful baby boy named Cole. When Cole opens his eyes and looks around, the expression on his face makes it look as if he is thinking, “Where in the world am I?” As Cole begins to explore this world he now finds himself in, his parents are in for a great treat. It is so much fun to watch a child discovering and enjoying the pleasures of life.
Not too long ago, I remember watching a toddler eating in a restaurant. It was a joy to observe this little girl eating her dinner with such relish. She was absolutely thrilled by each and every bite, and she kept trying to steal more food off her mother’s plate.
And then there was the time I watched another little girl—this one about four years old—dancing to some music being played by a street musician. What was particularly interesting about this child was the way she “observed herself” as she danced. She would look at her arms as she waved them in the air. She would look at her feet as she shuffled them across the ground. And she would look at her waist as she swiveled her hips around and around.
I felt like I was witnessing that little girl’s soul—her divine, eternal spirit—being fully aware of its presence in this material world, and consciously enjoying the pleasures that this world has to offer. “Look, I have a body!” “Look, I can move it all around!”
So, you may ask, what does all that have to do with living life in the divine flow? Simply this: Always remember that your enjoyment of life has little to do with reaching the destinations you are “rowing” toward.
Sure, fulfilling a desire or realizing a dream feels great! But that is just the icing on the cake. The real, deep-down enjoyment of life comes from allowing yourself to appreciate the entire journey, and all the wonderful things that journey presents to you along the way.
As you pursue your goals in life, be sure to pause for a moment to appreciate the simple beauty of a tiny flower, and the majesty of a mighty tree. Notice the refreshing feel of a cool, spring breeze . . . the pure, clean scent of approaching rain . . . and the sound of a bird as it sings its splendid song.
Remember that living life in the divine flow is not just about getting where you want to go. It’s also about how you live as you row. Remember to take the time to laugh, sing, dance, and read . . . to eat your favorite foods . . . and to listen to your favorite music.
Make sure that you take the time to allow your spirit to do what it really came here to do in the first place—just to enjoy the experience of being alive and in the world!
Steven (Also known as Cole’s Grandaddy!)
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Transforming Negativity
May 18, 2008
Dear Friends,
As I often mention, one of the primary keys for living life in the divine flow is maintaining a positive frame of mind. For many of us (perhaps most of us) that can be quite a challenge, because we have been conditioned for much of our lives to automatically doubt and distrust. Unfortunately, that negative mind-set makes us less open to divine direction, and so we often miss or dismiss the divine opportunities that the flow is attempting to present to us.
I wish there was a simple switch that I could flip that would instantly transform negativity into positivity—darkness into light. But I haven’t found that “light switch” yet. For me, transforming a thought based on fear into a thought based on faith is a process. And as I examine that process, I can see that there are several identifiable steps that I usually take.
Today, I offer you my personal process for regaining a positive attitude. If you are plagued by chronic worry and negativity, perhaps it is because you not taking one or more of the following steps:
1. I accept the fact that I am having a negative thought, and I don’t judge myself harshly for that. Judging myself just keeps me in that part of my mind—the ego—that thrives on fear and worry. Like I mentioned earlier, considering the way that many of us have been conditioned, a less-than-positive outlook on life is understandable.
2. I move into a more objective frame of mind by literally saying to myself, “Oh, I’m having a thought that (fill in the blank).” In other words, I don’t resist the thought, which just causes it to persist. Instead, I simply observe the thought without becoming attached to it.
3. In that more objective frame of mind, I am usually able to see the extreme, false, or unfounded nature of my thought, and easily discard it.
4. If the thought continues to remain with me because it still seems reasonable or likely, then I judge its reality based on my past experience. When I do that, I usually realize I have had a thought like this before, and what I feared did not actually happen . . . or it did not happen to the degree that I imagined. Often, in fact, my most fearful moments have set the stage for something really good to occur, instead.
5. Based on my experience, I then replace my negative thought with a more positive one. But more importantly, I affirm for myself what I know to be true in both my experience and in my heart: That I live in a beneficent Universe that is continually supporting me, protecting me, and guiding me to my highest good. I remind myself that I am constantly being offered celestial assistance, and I remember that my job is mainly to be open and receptive to divine direction.
6. Finally, I recognize that it is impossible for me to control every single aspect of life. So I simply return my attention to whatever is right in front of me at the moment—like driving the car or working in the yard—and I give thanks that while I am taking care of what is in my control, the Universe is handling everything else on my behalf.
All steps aside, there is only one thing you ever really need to remember, and that is this: “Everything can be a stepping stone to your highest good, if you are willing to look at it that way.” But if that is simply not enough to instantly “turn on the light” for you, then I hope the steps I have outlined above—like turning up a dimmer switch—will at least help you shed more and more light on any negative or worrisome thought you are currently struggling with.
Blessings!
Steven
© 2008 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
Dear Friends,
As I often mention, one of the primary keys for living life in the divine flow is maintaining a positive frame of mind. For many of us (perhaps most of us) that can be quite a challenge, because we have been conditioned for much of our lives to automatically doubt and distrust. Unfortunately, that negative mind-set makes us less open to divine direction, and so we often miss or dismiss the divine opportunities that the flow is attempting to present to us.
I wish there was a simple switch that I could flip that would instantly transform negativity into positivity—darkness into light. But I haven’t found that “light switch” yet. For me, transforming a thought based on fear into a thought based on faith is a process. And as I examine that process, I can see that there are several identifiable steps that I usually take.
Today, I offer you my personal process for regaining a positive attitude. If you are plagued by chronic worry and negativity, perhaps it is because you not taking one or more of the following steps:
1. I accept the fact that I am having a negative thought, and I don’t judge myself harshly for that. Judging myself just keeps me in that part of my mind—the ego—that thrives on fear and worry. Like I mentioned earlier, considering the way that many of us have been conditioned, a less-than-positive outlook on life is understandable.
2. I move into a more objective frame of mind by literally saying to myself, “Oh, I’m having a thought that (fill in the blank).” In other words, I don’t resist the thought, which just causes it to persist. Instead, I simply observe the thought without becoming attached to it.
3. In that more objective frame of mind, I am usually able to see the extreme, false, or unfounded nature of my thought, and easily discard it.
4. If the thought continues to remain with me because it still seems reasonable or likely, then I judge its reality based on my past experience. When I do that, I usually realize I have had a thought like this before, and what I feared did not actually happen . . . or it did not happen to the degree that I imagined. Often, in fact, my most fearful moments have set the stage for something really good to occur, instead.
5. Based on my experience, I then replace my negative thought with a more positive one. But more importantly, I affirm for myself what I know to be true in both my experience and in my heart: That I live in a beneficent Universe that is continually supporting me, protecting me, and guiding me to my highest good. I remind myself that I am constantly being offered celestial assistance, and I remember that my job is mainly to be open and receptive to divine direction.
6. Finally, I recognize that it is impossible for me to control every single aspect of life. So I simply return my attention to whatever is right in front of me at the moment—like driving the car or working in the yard—and I give thanks that while I am taking care of what is in my control, the Universe is handling everything else on my behalf.
All steps aside, there is only one thing you ever really need to remember, and that is this: “Everything can be a stepping stone to your highest good, if you are willing to look at it that way.” But if that is simply not enough to instantly “turn on the light” for you, then I hope the steps I have outlined above—like turning up a dimmer switch—will at least help you shed more and more light on any negative or worrisome thought you are currently struggling with.
Blessings!
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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