February 28, 2010
Aloha, Friends!
As you might have gathered from my greeting, Carol and I just returned from Hawaii, where I spoke at the Unity Church on Maui.
Similar to the time we visited the island of Oahu in 2005, I was once again immensely impressed by the easygoing nature of the native Hawaiians. Living life in the divine flow seems to come quite naturally for most of them.
This is in direct contrast to a man I met who moved to Hawaii a number of years ago. He told me about his first five years on the island—a time in which he tried to accomplish his goals by using the same technique he employed on the mainland . . . by bulldozing over everyone and everything standing in his way! Suffice it to say that the native Hawaiians weren't very impressed with this man's forceful, controlling, and manipulative ways.
Finally, one young native Hawaiian came up this man and said, "Hey bro' . . . mo' bettah go easy."
At that moment, this man learned what I, too, have been learning over the years: Even though it is sometimes possible to force things to go the way you want them to, it is much better to take it easy.
You will find that when you attune yourself to the flow, and become willing to constantly adjust to the course of the current, things have a way of working out that is not only better for you, but better for all involved . . . and effortlessly, at that!
As the song my book is based on suggests, you should always “row, row, row your boat gently down the stream.” The reason why is simple: "Mo' bettah go easy!"
Aloha!
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
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Olympic Dreams
February 21, 2010
Dear Friends,
With the Winter Olympics in full swing, you have undoubtedly heard newscasters attribute the success of many Olympic athletes to their perseverance, determination, and endurance. You have probably learned how many of these athletes overcame tremendous obstacles to be at the pinnacle of their sport.
I admire these athletes. As they continually expand the boundaries of human accomplishment, underneath it all I see the creative power of their Divine Spirit at work.
Similarly, as you pursue your own goals in life, it pays to remember your unlimited potential as a child of the Divine. But keep in mind that the accomplishment of your goals is not up to you alone. You have the whole Universe working on your behalf. And your main job is to cooperate with the divine flow that is continually guiding you toward the fulfillment of your desires in the most beneficial way possible.
What I am getting to is this: There is a fine line between determination and being driven, and between perseverance and being obsessed. I can’t tell you where that line is for you. All I can do is remind you to continually ask yourself this question: “Am I taking the next right step that I am being divinely guided to take, or am I trying to control, manipulate, and force things to go the way I think they should go?”
As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, to live life in the divine flow is to have the patience and the persistence to hold onto your dream, but to allow that dream to unfold in a divinely guided way. Otherwise, your achievement will only be the result of your ego’s activity. And that kind of achievement is only briefly satisfying, and never in the best interests of all involved.
Here’s to having dreams of Olympic proportions, my friends! But more than that, here’s to their Divine realization!
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,
With the Winter Olympics in full swing, you have undoubtedly heard newscasters attribute the success of many Olympic athletes to their perseverance, determination, and endurance. You have probably learned how many of these athletes overcame tremendous obstacles to be at the pinnacle of their sport.
I admire these athletes. As they continually expand the boundaries of human accomplishment, underneath it all I see the creative power of their Divine Spirit at work.
Similarly, as you pursue your own goals in life, it pays to remember your unlimited potential as a child of the Divine. But keep in mind that the accomplishment of your goals is not up to you alone. You have the whole Universe working on your behalf. And your main job is to cooperate with the divine flow that is continually guiding you toward the fulfillment of your desires in the most beneficial way possible.
What I am getting to is this: There is a fine line between determination and being driven, and between perseverance and being obsessed. I can’t tell you where that line is for you. All I can do is remind you to continually ask yourself this question: “Am I taking the next right step that I am being divinely guided to take, or am I trying to control, manipulate, and force things to go the way I think they should go?”
As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, to live life in the divine flow is to have the patience and the persistence to hold onto your dream, but to allow that dream to unfold in a divinely guided way. Otherwise, your achievement will only be the result of your ego’s activity. And that kind of achievement is only briefly satisfying, and never in the best interests of all involved.
Here’s to having dreams of Olympic proportions, my friends! But more than that, here’s to their Divine realization!
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
Friday, February 12, 2010
Blind Love & The Divine Flow
February 14, 2010
Dear Friends,
Sunday, February 14th is Valentine’s Day, the day when we make a conscious effort to express our love and appreciation to the people in our lives whom we dearly cherish.
For the most part, the kind of love being celebrated on this special day is “romantic” love. And one of the characteristics of “romantic” love—at least in the beginning—is that this kind of love is “blind.” We literally don’t see the physical flaws and personality quirks in the beloved. He or she looks perfect to us.
But is that really being blind? Or is that seeing as we are truly meant to see—as God sees? As we grow in spiritual understanding, aren’t we called to see beyond appearances? Aren’t we called to see beneath the physical, and look past the behavior? Aren’t we called to see the true beauty and the radiant innocence of the spirit that lies within each person? Aren’t we called to see his or her inner perfection?
If that’s being blind, fine! Give me some dark glasses and a cane! Because there is nothing that feels as good as truly loving. There is nothing that feels as good as recognizing the inherent goodness of another’s soul, and allowing yourself to bask in that glorious light.
So what does this have to do with living life in the divine flow? Simply this: When you love as God loves, and see as God sees, it won’t make any difference where you are along the course of “the stream.” It won’t make any difference whether you are just about to reach your dream, or whether you are still miles away from it.
When you love without limits you are happy right where you are, wherever you are. And, in the end—all goals and dreams aside—isn’t happiness all you really want out of life? Isn’t happiness all you’ve been trying to get out of life . . . all along?
Well then, here’s to “blind” love! And here’s to having a lovingly happy day, every day!
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,
Sunday, February 14th is Valentine’s Day, the day when we make a conscious effort to express our love and appreciation to the people in our lives whom we dearly cherish.
For the most part, the kind of love being celebrated on this special day is “romantic” love. And one of the characteristics of “romantic” love—at least in the beginning—is that this kind of love is “blind.” We literally don’t see the physical flaws and personality quirks in the beloved. He or she looks perfect to us.
But is that really being blind? Or is that seeing as we are truly meant to see—as God sees? As we grow in spiritual understanding, aren’t we called to see beyond appearances? Aren’t we called to see beneath the physical, and look past the behavior? Aren’t we called to see the true beauty and the radiant innocence of the spirit that lies within each person? Aren’t we called to see his or her inner perfection?
If that’s being blind, fine! Give me some dark glasses and a cane! Because there is nothing that feels as good as truly loving. There is nothing that feels as good as recognizing the inherent goodness of another’s soul, and allowing yourself to bask in that glorious light.
So what does this have to do with living life in the divine flow? Simply this: When you love as God loves, and see as God sees, it won’t make any difference where you are along the course of “the stream.” It won’t make any difference whether you are just about to reach your dream, or whether you are still miles away from it.
When you love without limits you are happy right where you are, wherever you are. And, in the end—all goals and dreams aside—isn’t happiness all you really want out of life? Isn’t happiness all you’ve been trying to get out of life . . . all along?
Well then, here’s to “blind” love! And here’s to having a lovingly happy day, every day!
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
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Obstacles & The Flow, Part 2
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
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
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
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Disasters and The Flow, Part 2
January 24, 2010
Dear Friends,
With the arrival of rescue crews and doctors in Haiti, we are beginning to hear many joyful stories about people being pulled out of the rubble, and lives being miraculously saved. For countless thousands of earthquake survivors, however, there is not a lot to be joyful about. These people have forever lost cherished friends, beloved family members, and respected co-workers. And right now they are grieving.
Although one of the keys to living life in the divine flow is maintaining a positive attitude, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for that positive attitude to be genuine. That means that feelings like sadness and sorrow must be allowed to run their natural course, because only then can there be an authentic return to a more optimistic outlook on life.
As I mentioned just a few months ago, 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 pain in life. It is not the kind of pain that you bring upon yourself through needless worry or thoughtless actions. It is the kind of pain that occurs most often with the sudden and unexpected loss of someone, or something, 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 an unconscious 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, or anything else that occupies a special place in your heart, please know that kindred spirits the world over are supporting you in the restoration of your sense of well-being.
Blessings to you all.
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,
With the arrival of rescue crews and doctors in Haiti, we are beginning to hear many joyful stories about people being pulled out of the rubble, and lives being miraculously saved. For countless thousands of earthquake survivors, however, there is not a lot to be joyful about. These people have forever lost cherished friends, beloved family members, and respected co-workers. And right now they are grieving.
Although one of the keys to living life in the divine flow is maintaining a positive attitude, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for that positive attitude to be genuine. That means that feelings like sadness and sorrow must be allowed to run their natural course, because only then can there be an authentic return to a more optimistic outlook on life.
As I mentioned just a few months ago, 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 pain in life. It is not the kind of pain that you bring upon yourself through needless worry or thoughtless actions. It is the kind of pain that occurs most often with the sudden and unexpected loss of someone, or something, 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 an unconscious 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, or anything else that occupies a special place in your heart, please know that kindred spirits the world over are supporting you in the restoration of your sense of well-being.
Blessings to you all.
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
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Disasters and The Divine Flow
January 17, 2010
Dear Friends,
When a disaster occurs—like the devastating earthquake that just struck Haiti—we often turn our faces to the sky and cry, “Why, God? Why?” In our attempt to make sense out of what has happened, we desperately seek some kind of “divine” reason for it all. And that is completely understandable.
But in this physical world we live in—a world that is not only influenced by the choices of man, but also by the natural forces of wind and water and shifting ground—things happen . . . tragic things, sometimes. And the simple fact is, there may not be a “divine” explanation for it.
Perhaps a better question to ask in this instance is not why something has happened, but now that it has happened, what is our next right step? What is that divinely guided step that is not only in our own best interests, but in the best interests of all?
Remember that no matter what has happened or why it has happened, there can always be a divine flow from that point on . . . a healing flow that directs us and supports us in our return to health, wholeness, and an overall experience of well-being. The challenge, as always, is remaining open and receptive enough to hear that still, small voice that is continually telling us the best way to help ourselves, and to help each other.
In this time of shock and grief, confusion and sadness, let us send our love and light to all the people in Haiti who are in too much pain right now to sense any kind of divine flow in their lives.
Or, better yet, let us offer those people our aid in whatever way we feel divinely inspired to . . . and be the divine flow in their lives.
Steven
P.S. Here are two ways you can be of immediate help in the wake of the Haiti disaster: Text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross. (Your donation will appear on your phone bill.) Give blood through a Red Cross sponsored blood drive to help replenish their supplies. (O-Negative blood is especially helpful because it is the one blood type that can be given to anyone.)
© 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,
When a disaster occurs—like the devastating earthquake that just struck Haiti—we often turn our faces to the sky and cry, “Why, God? Why?” In our attempt to make sense out of what has happened, we desperately seek some kind of “divine” reason for it all. And that is completely understandable.
But in this physical world we live in—a world that is not only influenced by the choices of man, but also by the natural forces of wind and water and shifting ground—things happen . . . tragic things, sometimes. And the simple fact is, there may not be a “divine” explanation for it.
Perhaps a better question to ask in this instance is not why something has happened, but now that it has happened, what is our next right step? What is that divinely guided step that is not only in our own best interests, but in the best interests of all?
Remember that no matter what has happened or why it has happened, there can always be a divine flow from that point on . . . a healing flow that directs us and supports us in our return to health, wholeness, and an overall experience of well-being. The challenge, as always, is remaining open and receptive enough to hear that still, small voice that is continually telling us the best way to help ourselves, and to help each other.
In this time of shock and grief, confusion and sadness, let us send our love and light to all the people in Haiti who are in too much pain right now to sense any kind of divine flow in their lives.
Or, better yet, let us offer those people our aid in whatever way we feel divinely inspired to . . . and be the divine flow in their lives.
Steven
P.S. Here are two ways you can be of immediate help in the wake of the Haiti disaster: Text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross. (Your donation will appear on your phone bill.) Give blood through a Red Cross sponsored blood drive to help replenish their supplies. (O-Negative blood is especially helpful because it is the one blood type that can be given to anyone.)
© 2010 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
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