February 7, 2010
Dear Friends,
Last week I wrote about dealing with the kind of obstacles that seem to come out of the blue—the kind that occasionally pop up when you feel like you have been totally “in the flow” for quite some time.
But what if the obstacles you run into are not occasional? What if you continue to encounter multiple obstacles, one after another after another? What if you are continually inhibited in reaching a particular goal in life because you are constantly running into uncooperative and resistant people—people whose assistance you need?
What then? Does that mean that you are supposed to give up on your dream, because—obviously—it just isn’t being divinely supported?
Like last week, there is no single, definitive answer to that question. But here are a few things I do recommend that you “give up on.”
Give up on any pre-conceived notions you might have about how your dream is going to be fulfilled. Remember that the Mind of the Divine can see a lot more ways for you to accomplish your goal than you can. If you stay too narrowly focused on how it is you think you are going to fulfill your desire, you may be limiting yourself, and restricting the manifestation of your good.
Give up on when you think your goal will be accomplished. The obstacles that are delaying you from reaching your chosen destination may even be serving a very good purpose. Perhaps you are not yet the person you need to be to successfully handle the fulfillment of your desire. Or, perhaps circumstances in your life, the lives of others, or the world in general, have changed to such an extent, it would not be beneficial for you to fulfill your dream at this particular point in time.
Finally, give up on what you think the realization of your dream has to specifically look like. It is perfectly fine to be very clear about what it is you “think” you want. Just refrain from becoming overly attached to those specifics. Again, being too fixated on particular details can limit what the Universe is trying to do for you, which might even be something greater and grander than you ever imagined possible.
Which brings me back to the original question that was asked. In the face of ongoing obstacles, should you give up on the dream itself?
My answer is no. As long as you still feel enthusiastic about your dream, by all means hold onto it! But here is what I am getting to with all of this: Hold on only to the “essence” of your dream—that is, to the “experience” of life that your dream elicits.
Remember that no matter what it is you “think” you want in your head, there is generally a desire of your heart that underlies that idea. Your heart is your spirit. And your spirit is in this life to have an experience of life—an experience of love, freedom, creative self-expression, and so on.
Whether your dream is a particular kind of career, or a certain kind of relationship, the divine flow knows exactly what type of experience each of those dreams represents to your spirit. And the flow is continually guiding you to the fulfillment of that experience—an experience that may manifest in a form that is quite different from your original desire.
Your role is to be willing to cooperate with the unfolding of that higher good—one step at a time—and trust that you are always being divinely directed to either what you want, to its equivalent, or to something even better . . . something that will always be in the best interests of all . . . and something that will always fulfill you in a deep, lasting, and meaningful way.
Here’s to having dreams, pursuing dreams, holding onto dreams . . . but also allowing the Universe to help those dreams come true in the most beneficial way possible.
Steven
© 2010 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat;
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Showing posts with label obstacles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label obstacles. Show all posts
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Obstacles & The Flow, Part 1
January 31, 2010
Dear Friends,
Has this ever happened to you? You have a particular goal in mind. You begin to pursue that goal, and you feel divinely supported in reaching it, because doors are miraculously opening for you everywhere. You experience an unbelievable stream of coincidences and synchronicities that make your progress incredibly effortless. As you take one divinely guided step after another, you feel like you are definitely “in the flow!”
And then, surprisingly, you run into a closed door. You are certain that the divine flow led you to that door, so you knock on it. But there is no answer. You decide to knock on it again. Still there is no answer. Frustrated, you knock one more time—this time a little harder—and the door finally opens. But then the person who opened the door quickly shuts it in your face.
You are confused. You are positive that the divine flow meant for you to go through that door. What happened? And what are you supposed to do now?
In response to the first question, there is, of course, no single, definitive answer. Maybe you were mistaken about that particular door being part of your divinely prepared path. Or, for some reason, perhaps your goal is no longer in your best interest. Also possible in this instance, is the fact that the doorkeeper was simply not cooperating with his or her divine instructions to open the door for you, and keep it open.
Remember that—for the most part—the divine flow works through people doing what they are being divinely directed to do. Each of us is continually being guided to take actions that will not only help us fulfill our own dreams, but will also help other people fulfill their dreams.
As I have said before, it is important to honor your intuitive nudges, even if they don’t make sense, because it is not always about you. A sudden urge to grab a cup of coffee at a nearby Starbucks might be because there is someone there who needs to meet you in order to accomplish his or her goal.
Unfortunately, people don’t always play the part they are being divinely encouraged to play. Sometimes they are simply not in touch with that still, small voice that is inspiring them to take a certain action. Other times they do sense what they are being divinely asked to do, but then their ego gets in the way. They become fearful, insecure, resistant, or even threatened in some way. So they hesitate. Or worse, they flat out refuse to take the action that—in their hearts—they know is right. Instead of being part of the flow for someone, they close the door in that person’s face.
And when you are the one facing that closed door—a door that you fully expected to be open for you—what are you supposed to do then? The temptation is to bang on the door again . . . or try the backdoor . . . or climb in through a window. Those are the kind of thoughts that might enter your mind. But is that what you are really being divinely guided to do?
How do you know when an action that you are considering taking is, in truth, an act of force arising from the ego, instead of your divinely guided next right step?
I wish there was a simple answer for that—a hard and fast rule, or an unmistakable sign. All I can tell you is what I, personally, experience in moments like that . . . which is this: There comes a point when I notice that an action that I am considering taking is accompanied by a sense of tension and anxiety, rather than a sense of peace and ease. There are possible downsides to this course of action, and I can easily see what they are. And the fact that I am even questioning this action—instead of feeling sure about it—is a sign to me that I may be moving into the willful world of manipulation and control, rather than “rowing with the flow.”
That’s when I surrender any and all notions about how my desire is going to be fulfilled, and I take comfort in the fact that “when one door closes, the Universe always opens another.”
I become willing to move in an entirely new direction, and follow the “inner direction” of my spirit—even if it is telling me to just stay put and be patient. I once had a door that was closed to me for over a year. Then one day, I suddenly felt compelled to knock on that door again. And this time, it swung wide open. I don’t know if it was a matter of divine timing, or if the doorkeeper had a change of heart, or if there was a brand new doorkeeper. Any of those things is possible. But none of that matters. Remember that your job is never to “figure out” what’s going on. It is only to remain open and receptive to your divinely-inspired next right step . . . and the one after that . . . and the one after that . . . no matter where that step may lead.
Keep in mind, too, that through a regular practice of prayer and meditation, and by paying close attention to your feelings, your ability to discern the difference between a divinely guided step and a misguided one will get better and better. Sure, there will still be occasions when your ego wins out, and you force your way forward. But when you do that, the unwanted consequences are usually so obvious, you will then know without a doubt that it is time for you to give up on that particular course of action. And that sense of certainty—belated though it may be—will come as a big relief.
And if you keep encountering closed doors, one after another? If you keep running into obstacles in the form of uncooperative and resistant people? What then? Are you just supposed to give up on your dream? Well, that’s another story. I’ll share my thoughts on that next week.
Steven
© 2010 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Dear Friends,
Has this ever happened to you? You have a particular goal in mind. You begin to pursue that goal, and you feel divinely supported in reaching it, because doors are miraculously opening for you everywhere. You experience an unbelievable stream of coincidences and synchronicities that make your progress incredibly effortless. As you take one divinely guided step after another, you feel like you are definitely “in the flow!”
And then, surprisingly, you run into a closed door. You are certain that the divine flow led you to that door, so you knock on it. But there is no answer. You decide to knock on it again. Still there is no answer. Frustrated, you knock one more time—this time a little harder—and the door finally opens. But then the person who opened the door quickly shuts it in your face.
You are confused. You are positive that the divine flow meant for you to go through that door. What happened? And what are you supposed to do now?
In response to the first question, there is, of course, no single, definitive answer. Maybe you were mistaken about that particular door being part of your divinely prepared path. Or, for some reason, perhaps your goal is no longer in your best interest. Also possible in this instance, is the fact that the doorkeeper was simply not cooperating with his or her divine instructions to open the door for you, and keep it open.
Remember that—for the most part—the divine flow works through people doing what they are being divinely directed to do. Each of us is continually being guided to take actions that will not only help us fulfill our own dreams, but will also help other people fulfill their dreams.
As I have said before, it is important to honor your intuitive nudges, even if they don’t make sense, because it is not always about you. A sudden urge to grab a cup of coffee at a nearby Starbucks might be because there is someone there who needs to meet you in order to accomplish his or her goal.
Unfortunately, people don’t always play the part they are being divinely encouraged to play. Sometimes they are simply not in touch with that still, small voice that is inspiring them to take a certain action. Other times they do sense what they are being divinely asked to do, but then their ego gets in the way. They become fearful, insecure, resistant, or even threatened in some way. So they hesitate. Or worse, they flat out refuse to take the action that—in their hearts—they know is right. Instead of being part of the flow for someone, they close the door in that person’s face.
And when you are the one facing that closed door—a door that you fully expected to be open for you—what are you supposed to do then? The temptation is to bang on the door again . . . or try the backdoor . . . or climb in through a window. Those are the kind of thoughts that might enter your mind. But is that what you are really being divinely guided to do?
How do you know when an action that you are considering taking is, in truth, an act of force arising from the ego, instead of your divinely guided next right step?
I wish there was a simple answer for that—a hard and fast rule, or an unmistakable sign. All I can tell you is what I, personally, experience in moments like that . . . which is this: There comes a point when I notice that an action that I am considering taking is accompanied by a sense of tension and anxiety, rather than a sense of peace and ease. There are possible downsides to this course of action, and I can easily see what they are. And the fact that I am even questioning this action—instead of feeling sure about it—is a sign to me that I may be moving into the willful world of manipulation and control, rather than “rowing with the flow.”
That’s when I surrender any and all notions about how my desire is going to be fulfilled, and I take comfort in the fact that “when one door closes, the Universe always opens another.”
I become willing to move in an entirely new direction, and follow the “inner direction” of my spirit—even if it is telling me to just stay put and be patient. I once had a door that was closed to me for over a year. Then one day, I suddenly felt compelled to knock on that door again. And this time, it swung wide open. I don’t know if it was a matter of divine timing, or if the doorkeeper had a change of heart, or if there was a brand new doorkeeper. Any of those things is possible. But none of that matters. Remember that your job is never to “figure out” what’s going on. It is only to remain open and receptive to your divinely-inspired next right step . . . and the one after that . . . and the one after that . . . no matter where that step may lead.
Keep in mind, too, that through a regular practice of prayer and meditation, and by paying close attention to your feelings, your ability to discern the difference between a divinely guided step and a misguided one will get better and better. Sure, there will still be occasions when your ego wins out, and you force your way forward. But when you do that, the unwanted consequences are usually so obvious, you will then know without a doubt that it is time for you to give up on that particular course of action. And that sense of certainty—belated though it may be—will come as a big relief.
And if you keep encountering closed doors, one after another? If you keep running into obstacles in the form of uncooperative and resistant people? What then? Are you just supposed to give up on your dream? Well, that’s another story. I’ll share my thoughts on that next week.
Steven
© 2010 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
