A Surprisingly Powerful Affirmation

May 20, 2012

Dear Friends,

As I pointed out in last week’s message, you are—at the core of your being—a mother . . . someone who is divinely designed to bring something new and beautiful into this world through your innate creativity. To celebrate your “motherhood,” I offered you a Mother’s Day gift in the form of an Affirmation of Creativity. And like most affirmations, all the statements included in that affirmation were expressed in a very positive way, beginning with the declaration, “I am creative.” 

I bring this up, because a while back I decided that I needed an affirmation to help keep me in a positive state of mind regarding my financial abundance.  As I contemplated how to phrase my affirmation, I expected to begin it with a statement such as, “I am prosperous!” But surprisingly, that was not the thought that arose in my mind.  Instead, what occurred to me was this: “There is no reason why I can’t be wildly prosperous!”

I realize that since that statement contains the words “no” and “can’t,” it doesn’t appear to be very positive. Nevertheless, I have found it to be extremely reassuring. Every time I use that statement—for prosperity, or health, or whatever—I feel an immediate sense of relief, and I quickly regain a feeling of positive expectation.

Why? Mainly because that statement reminds me that “reasons” mean very little when it comes to living life in the divine flow. “Reasons” are limited and restrictive in their nature, and they are often based on information that is flawed and faulty, or incomplete at best. You will always find plenty of “reasons” why your heart’s desires cannot be fulfilled . . . including “reasons” like you are not worthy enough to have what you want, that you are not smart enough to do what you want, or that you are not talented enough to be what you want.

When you make the statement, “There is no reason why I can’t (fill in the blank),” you are denying the power that “reasons” have over you, and you are, instead, affirming the real truth of the matter . . . the truth that the divine flow operates at a level beyond reasons, and beyond reason itself.

The divine flow operates in the realm of the miraculous, orchestrating things on your behalf in a way that is often beyond comprehension or prediction.  And more importantly, the divine flow is completely unlimited in its nature, so anything and everything is possible!

Is there something that you want to experience in your life right now—something in particular that you want to have, do, or be?  Then attune yourself to the divine flow and follow the divine directions that you receive. In spite of how things may look to you, the Mind of The Divine sees no reason why you can’t reach your destination with effortless ease . . . no reason whatsoever!

Steven

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© 2012 by Steven Lane Taylor

www.rowrowrow.com 

Steven Lane Taylor, LLC

A Mother's Day Gift

May 13, 2012

Dear Friends,

A few years ago, I wrote a special message for Mother’s Day, which I have been reprising every May since then. The point of this annual message is to remind you about the similarities between motherhood and manifesting. What similarities, exactly? 

Well, as I often mention in these messages, you are a divinely creative being. No matter how happy and fulfilled you are, you will always be conceiving of things you want to have, do, or be in life . . . just as a mother conceives her children.  Through your words and your actions you will constantly be giving birth to your ideas . . . just as a mother gives birth to her children.  And, by giving your ideas your time, attention, and love, you will continually be nurturing your creations—of helping them to grow into full expression . . . just as a mother nurtures her children as they mature.

In other words, whether you are male or female, whether you have brought a child into this world or not, in many respects you are—at the core of your being—a mother . . . someone who is divinely designed to bring something new and beautiful into this world.  And this year, I would like to celebrate your “motherhood” by offering you a Mother’s Day gift.  It’s an Affirmation of Creativity that “wrote itself through me” in 2002. 

I trust that you will find this set of affirmative statements to be helpful, especially if you are having trouble fully accepting the idea that you are—by your very nature—divinely creative.

An Affirmation of Creativity

I am creative.

I can be nothing else.

To create is my natural state.

It is who I am as a Child of God, The Great Creator.

And thus, creativity is my inheritance,

my birthright, and my inescapable nature.

Being creative is not something I do,

but something I allow.

My job is simply to be an open channel

for the Universal Mind of The Divine

to express itself.

I keep the channel open

by eliminating the false fears of ego

that block my connection to Divine inspiration.

All that is required of me is desire and faith.

I renew my faith with memories

of all the times the Creative Mind of God

has suddenly and surprisingly

spoken to me and through me.

And I recognize that the fears of my ego mind,

although seemingly ceaseless,

are totally unfounded.

I am creative.

I can be nothing else.

And I now go about the work

of gratefully fulfilling

my creative destiny.

Steven

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© 2012 by Steven Lane Taylor

www.rowrowrow.com 
Steven Lane Taylor,LLC

Creation: From Contemplation To Appreciation

May 6, 2012

Dear Friends,

For my entire adult life, my livelihood has been based on the written word—first, as an advertising writer for 30 years, and then as a spiritual author for the last 10 years.  So it should come as no surprise that I both notice and appreciate words that are used in clever ways, including witty word juxtapositions, substitutions, and even simple rhymes.

That will help explain my message for this week, because I couldn’t help but notice something word-wise: When it comes to the process of creating whatever it is you want to have, do, or be in life, many of the steps that are involved in that process can be expressed as words that rhyme with “creation.” Just off the top of my head, here are seven of those steps:

1. CONTEMPLATION.  The very first step in the creation process is deciding what you want. Do you know what would truly bring you the most peace, joy, or satisfaction in life—truly?  Spend some time in quiet contemplation thoughtfully reflecting on that, and see if you can discern one desire in particular that feels like it would be the most fulfilling goal for you to focus on at this point in your life.

2. VISUALIZATION.  Having chosen something that you believe is worthy of your time, attention, and energy, picture in your mind’s eye what it would be like to have that dream come true.  But don’t just see it . . . experience it!  Use all of your senses to “live the dream” in your mind.  What do your ears hear?  What do your fingers touch?  What does your nose smell?  What does your tongue taste?  Make your visualization as vivid as possible.

3. AFFIRMATION.  An affirmation is a positive statement declaring that what you desire is—in effect—already fulfilled!  When you affirm that what you want already is, you shift from a state of wanting to a much more powerful position—that of simply accepting what you desire into your life.  Accept it now!

4. MEDITATION.  Very little can be created in life without you, yourself, taking some direct action.  But how do you know what action is the best action to take?  That’s where meditation can help.  Meditation quiets the mind, creating a mental environment that is more open and receptive to divine guidance—the kind of guidance that may be as subtle as an inner sense of “rightness” about a particular course of action, or as obvious as a crystal clear thought that suddenly pops into your mind. Plus, meditation enhances present moment awareness, improving your ability to notice any signs or synchronicities that may be pointing you in a particular direction.  To realize your dream in the most beneficial way possible, it is wise to meditate on a daily basis, so you are always open and receptive to divine direction in all of its various forms.

5. RELAXATION.  This is a step that many people miss.  No matter what you have imagined in your visualization and claimed in your affirmation, it is important to relax and let go of any mental attachment you might have to what you specifically want.  Release your grip on the details, and allow the divine flow to lead you to whatever your highest good may be.  It is possible that your highest good may be something that is quite different from what you originally intended.  But rest assured, it will still give you the underlying experience that you are seeking.  In fact, that experience may be greater and grander than anything you ever imagined possible. If you want to allow an even greater miracle into your life, let go of your tenacious hold on what you believe is best for you.

6. MANIFESTATION.  Now—one small step at time—watch your desire begin to manifest!  As you act on the divine guidance that appears in your life, enjoy the sensation of moving closer and closer to the fulfillment of your dream, until one day—with miraculous ease—you arrive at your chosen destination . . . or its equivalent . . . or something even better!

7. APPRECIATION.  Last but not least, don’t forget to consciously appreciate this beneficent Universe we live in—a Universe that is always responding to our needs, wants, and desires, and is constantly guiding us to our highest good. As Meister Eckhart, the brilliant German philosopher and theologian once said, “If the only prayer you ever say in your life is ‘Thank You,’ that will be enough.” It is that kind of attitude of gratitude that will help you stay in life’s divine flow, continuing to experience its miracles freely and frequently.

And there you have it, my friends: The process of creation—from contemplation to appreciation. Remember that process, and you will be less likely to have things show up in your life “without rhyme or reason.”  Instead, what manifests in your life will be there for a very good reason . . . and a rhyme!

Steven

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© 2012 by Steven Lane Taylor

www.rowrowrow.com

Steven Lane Taylor, LLC

Who's Charting Your Course?

April 29, 2012

Dear Friends,

Two weeks ago—April 15^th, to be exact—was the 100^th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.  That weekend there were several shows on television featuring researchers explaining exactly how and why the Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg, and why it broke in half as it went down.

As research tools have become increasingly sophisticated, it now appears that the Titanic was a much stronger ship than many people have been giving it credit for. In fact, some researchers now believe that other ships in the same situation would have sunk much faster.

None of this, however, relieves the captain of the Titanic, Edward John Smith, from being at least partially responsible for this tragedy. Although there may never be any conclusive evidence for this, many people strongly suspect that Captain Smith made a decision during the Titanic’s voyage that proved to be disastrous for everyone on board.

That suspicion reminds me of something that came up when I was writing the first chapter of Row, Row, Row Your Boat. To stay with the boating metaphor, I described the body as “the physical vessel itself.” But I just couldn’t bring myself to refer to the mind as “the captain” of that vessel. I settled for “the brains of the boat,” instead. Why? Because for most people the word “captain” evokes an image of a wise decision-maker in a crisp, white suit—a figure entirely worthy of our total trust. But is the mind really that trustworthy?

In the case of the Titanic, it seems that the captain might have been influenced by someone else on board during that fateful trip . . . Mr. Bruce Ismay. Ismay was the chairman of the White Star Shipping Line—the Line that had built the Titanic, and touted it as both the biggest and the fastest vessel on the seas.

When the Titanic received news that icebergs were drifting toward their latitude, there is reason to believe that Ismay may have convinced the captain to speed up to avoid the approaching icebergs, rather than slow down or change course altogether. The reason? So the Titanic would arrive in New York in record-setting time, living up to its highly publicized reputation for speed.

Do you see the parallel here? Just like the captain of a ship, your mind does have the final responsibility for deciding where you want to go, and how you want to get there. But sometimes your mind can be influenced by the “Bruce Ismay” that resides within your consciousness—that is, by your self-serving ego. Disconnected from the One Divine Spirit that unites us all, your ego will encourage you to make decisions that may benefit you in the short run, but are not in everyone’s best interest in the long run.

Don’t let your ego—which can be just as fearful as it can be grandiose—chart your course for you! That can be a Titanic mistake . . . literally! Always make sure that your mind remains open enough to receive divine direction. It’s the kind of direction that comes through intuitive nudges, divine signs and synchronicities, and the intuitive wisdom of others. And it’s the kind of direction that you can always trust to be in your best interest, as well as the best interests of all.

Steven

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© 2012 by Steven Lane Taylor
www.rowrowrow.com 
Steven Lane Taylor, LLC

If It's Not Good, It's Not The End!

April 22, 2012

Dear Friends,

About a week ago, I watched a television interview with a well-known Olympic swimmer. During this interview, this female athlete said that her life has not always been “rainbows and butterflies.” I think that most of us can say something similar about our own lives, right?

Instead of rainbows and butterflies, we often experience thunderstorms and stinging bees. Or—to go back the metaphor in my first book, Row, Row, Row Your Boat—the waters of life are not always calm and clear. There are plenty of times when we find ourselves surrounded by rocks and rapids. The challenge in those trying times is retaining a sense of well-being by maintaining a state of mind that is constructive and productive.

Obviously, when you encounter an unexpected situation in life, it is neither constructive nor productive to immediately assume that it is “bad.” That kind of instant negativity blocks your connection to your own inner wisdom, and makes it difficult for you to be attuned to the divine guidance that is always leading you to a higher good.

To avoid that kind of mental and emotional block, you might adopt the opposite viewpoint, and label everything that happens in your life—even the most disturbing of events—as “good.” And if that purely positive attitude is totally sincere, that’s great. The trouble is, it is likely that part of you still harbors some doubts about the “goodness” of what you are experiencing. And that sets up a conflict within yourself that can interfere with your ability to make consistently wise choices.

So, if “sugar-coating” every challenging circumstance you face in life is not the best approach, then what is? Many people believe that the wisest way to respond to any perceived difficulty is to avoid labeling it as either good or bad. And there is a very sound basis for that. Because, in truth, nothing in and of itself is actually good or bad. It just is. We are the ones who assign meaning to what occurs in life. And the meaning we assign to things is highly biased and highly subjective—arising out of our own personal history and belief systems.

If you can be truly objective about what occurs in life—refusing to label anything that happens as either good or bad—there is a great sense of peace that results from that, and that’s wonderful. But to me, that kind of mind-set (if you are even able to achieve it) has one drawback. It may limit the possibility of your feeling anything beyond peace . . . such as joy. And I, for one, believe that our Spirits are in this world and in these bodies to experience 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 wonderful feelings that go along with that—feelings like happiness and gratitude. And when things don’t seem to be going good? Well, I still want to experience good feelings! So how do I do that?

I look at every situation that appears to be bad, and see it as good in potential. In other words, I see everything as a stepping-stone to something good. What is happening right now may not be good, but it can always lead to something good. And that’s not just wishful thinking on my part. 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—and everyone’s behalf—to manifest that good.

The choice is yours. You can achieve peace by assigning little or no meaning to what occurs in life. Or, can respond to life’s circumstances in a way that—to my mind—is even more positive and uplifting . . . by seeing everything that happens as either good, or good in potential.

I, for one, choose to thoroughly enjoy all the things that I believe are “good” in life. And more than that, I choose to appreciate the constant possibility of good in everything else. As the old saying goes:

“Everything is good in the end. 

If it’s not good, it’s not the end." 

Steven

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© 2012 by Steven Lane Taylor
www.rowrowrow.com
Steven Lane Taylor, LLC

Divine Discontent

April, 15, 2012

Dear Friends,

Have you ever heard of something called “Divine Discontent?” Divine discontent is not the kind of discontent that arises from your ego. Your ego is always discontented—always urging you to look outside of yourself for something else or something more to “make you happy.” When you experience divine discontent, you are not looking for anything outside of yourself to make you happy. You know that true happiness always comes from within. And yet, you still have a strange and persistent feeling that something needs to shift in your life.

Sometimes, this feeling arises after you have successfully reached a chosen destination in life. And that’s not surprising, because on the level of your innately creative Spirit, true satisfaction in life arises from the process of manifesting. Once something has been manifested, your Spirit is hungry to create anew, and it inspires you to begin the process all over again. That’s why a painter doesn’t stop painting after completing a single work of art—even if it’s considered to be a masterpiece. He or she will continue to create one work of art after another.

Sometimes, too, this feeling of divine discontent is a signal from your Spirit that you are ready to move into an even more fulfilling phase of your work life. Even though you may be very accomplished at what you do, well suited to it, and handsomely paid for it, part of you may long to use your talents, skills, and abilities in an even more meaningful and worthwhile way.

Are you feeling discontented right now? Through prayer, meditation, and/or contemplation, see if you can discern the true source of that feeling. Are you actually just being critical and judgmental about your life? Or, are you truly grateful for what you have in life, but you still sense that there is something else you should be doing.

Perhaps it is time to seriously consider what brings you the most joy and satisfaction in life—regardless of the income you think it may or may not generate—and begin devoting more time and energy to that. Perhaps you are being encouraged by your Spirit to recognize your “calling,” and to finally step out in faith and follow that call. Perhaps it is time to heed that subtle stirring from deep within that says, “It’s time for a new chapter in your life to begin.”

Just something to ponder.

Steven

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© 2012 by Steven Lane Taylor
www.rowrowrow.com
Steven Lane Taylor, LLC

An Easter Reminder

April 8, 2012

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 time of the year to affirm that for yourself than Easter.

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 often mention, 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 that many of us 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.

Happy Easter!

Steven

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© 2012 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Steven Lane Taylor, LLC