Day 2 - Spiritual Soreness

Today is Day 2 of my "Spiritual Exercise Program." Just like any physical exercise regimen, the second day can be tough. Some of the excitement and newness has worn off and some soreness starts to set in.

My spiritual soreness began today when we had to pay for an unexpected car repair. A hit of $500 that comes out of the blue was enough to throw off my higher vibration and set me back several notches. All of my limiting beliefs about money and finances came flooding back into my consciousness!

But never fear, because I have a V-i-s-i-o-n. It is bigger than these small obstacles and better than where I am right now. Instead of lowering myself to my circumstances, I raise my circumstances up to my higher self.

The trick is to remember that I know what I need to know, when I need to know it. If that sounds like the chorus of a song, you are a genius! Karen Taylor Good is a fabulous song-writer/singer and she wrote a wonderful song with the same title.

I know that I am awash in abundance and wealth. I know that I deserve abundance and wealth of mind, body, spirit, and emotions. I know that my outer circumstances do not define my inner universe. Instead, my inner universe takes form when I manifest my desires into reality.

At least, that is what the Prosperity Affirmation says.

Maybe that is why I need 30 days to digest these concepts. My current belief system is based on lots of negativity about money, finances, and my ability to earn and keep such things. My vision is that I will replace such limiting concepts with liberating ideas about my value in the world.

A long road stretches ahead of me, to an endlessly distant horizon...where the golden orb of truth shimmers. I just hope I can make the journey without getting too discouraged... (dramatic sigh, hand held to forehead, worried expression creasing my brow while I swoon gracefully...)

Or I can just decide to throw away all the drama and start fresh. Think I'll just keep singing my song (thank you Karen Taylor Good) and see what happens.

"I know all that I need to know, when I need to know it.
And when I forget that's so, the Universe will show it.
There seems to be a plan at work and there's nothing I can throw it.
So all I know I need to know, when I need to know it."

Fade to dusk, as my silhouette skips happily along the yellow brick road into the fading sunlight...

Making My Soul Sing - A Spiritual Exercise Program

Today I started an exercise program for my spirit. It is very simple and hopefully, very effective. I will listen to a 30 minute mediation and read a 5 minute Prosperity Affirmation every morning for the next 30 days. Hopefully, changes made on the inside will transform my life, on the outside.

Today is the first day. It bothered me that I hadn't thought to begin this program on August 1st; instead it began on August 4th. The lack of symmetry was appalling to a person of my highly developed anal-retentive nature, but I decided to let it go. It was my first act of freedom - to just let it go.

Maybe there is something to this...

Tonight we watched the movie, Confessions of a Shopaholic. I thought it was going to be a piece of fluff with alot of comedic gags thrown in to keep the audience happy. Instead, it was about relationships and how we allow them to define who we are. Rebecca Greenwood is a confirmed shopaholic who is swimming in credit card debt. Her view of the world is tainted by her relationships with things - expensive things that she can't afford. Through a series of mishaps and mayhem, she discovers what she should have known all along. It is the relationship with herself that defines her world, not the other way around.

And that is exactly why I am exercising my spirit - in the hopes that I will come to define myself. Without hestitation, without doubt and without judgment. Because you know what? The only person you can never divorce in the entire world is...yourself. So you had better get to know her and love her, because you are stuck with her.

Or you could fall in love. With yourself.

I have now added a new element to my exercise program. A new blog will be posted every night to chronicle my progress. It may prove boring or inspiring. There is simply no way to tell.

But we'll never know unless we begin the journey. Are you with me?

Who is on Your Bus?

The following exercise is from The Dark Side of the Shadow Chasers by Debbie Ford. (A must read for anyone seeking to learn more about their spiritual side).

Imagine that you are about to get on a bus that is loaded with a strange and different set of people. They all seem to know you, but you may not recognize them. As you are seated on the bus, several people approach you and want your attention. For some reason, you chose the person who seems to need you the most. You walk off the bus and have a conversation. And you discover something remarkable - all the people on the bus represent one aspect of your life - the good and the bad, the light and the shadows. By taking the time to connect with each person, you discover parts of yourself and come to understand why you act the way you do or carry negative beliefs that harm your growth.

It sounds a little hookey, but try it for yourself. This exercise helps clear out old beliefs to make way for new, empowering ones. Debbie recommends that you name each person, describe him or her as precisely as you can and imagine the encounter happening right now. The following story is what I encountered after taking a ride on "my bus."

It has been awhile since my last bus ride. When I stepped inside, I knew exactly who I wanted to find - Polly Procrastinator. I walked down the aisle asking everyone else if they had seen her. Tina Tuneless said that she was supposed to be here. Dolly Darling agreed, but added that you could always count on Polly to not follow through.

I finally spotted Polly walking slowly toward the bus. I went outside and grabbed her arm, dragging her to the bench where we could sit and talk. Polly was not pleased with my direct approach. "Leave me alone," she cried. "I have better things to do than talk to you!"

I knew that these messages were all a ploy to distract me from my real purpose. My insistence became forceful and Polly finally sat down.

I studied her for a moment. Black hair streaked with grey flew around her face (no time to color the hair or get it cut). Her brown eyes were dull and listless, while her skin tone was almost ashen (no time to take care of herself). Polly's clothes were shapeless and hung from her skinny frame (no time to shop or work out). She wore a long black coat that made her look almost invisible. In short, she looked like an unkempt bag lady who was not engaged in the business of living.

"What do you need from me?" I asked her in all seriousness.

Suddenly, the pretense vanished. Polly's eyes shone like spot lights into mine as she said intensely, "I need for you to not get overwhelmed at projects. And don' t let fear of failure stop you from taking action."

I nodded my understanding. I have a tendency to take on too much at one time, and not focus on one project until it is completed. And my inner critic always works overtime whenever I am starting a new venture or project.

I asked the second question that would yield the treasure. "What is your gift?"

Polly immediately stood up and flung out her arms. "I am all of your negative beliefs about yourself," she cried. Her coat opened up and then I saw what had been hidden from my view. The entire inside lining of her coat was covered in badges and pins. Each one had an expression or saying, such as "You are not worthy," or "You can't make money being creative," or "You can't handle your money."

After reading about five of these messages, I had had enough. I could feel the fog of indecision roll over me, paralyzing me from taking action. "O.K. I get the picture!" I cried in desperation.

Polly just looked at me with a sad smile and shook her head. She closed the coat and turned to get on the bus.

Suddenly, I realized what I had just done. "Hey, you tricked me!"

Polly turned so quickly that her coat swirled out in a wave of motion. The badges and pins clinked together at the motion. She walked back and stopped in front of me.

"I have been doing that to you almost your entire life." She opened her coat again and asked gently, "Don't you think its time to change? I really don't have room for any more badges."

I realized I had a choice to make. Let Polly get back on my bus and continue to run my life, or take her up on her offer and change.

I chose change.

Polly raised her arms to heaven and sang "Allelieua" then started shaking like a tree caught in a hurricane. Badges and pins began falling from her coat in a rainstorm of metal. It did not take long for a rather large pile of badges to form.

"Hey - what are you doing?" I cried in alarm.

"You won't be needing these anymore," she said calmly. "Pick one up," she commanded.

I bent down and grabbed the first one at the top of the pile. I noticed for the first time that it had writing on both sides! The front said, "I am not worthy." When I slowly turned it over in my hand, the other side shone like gold. "I am worthy" glowed up at me. I smiled and turned to look at her.

"You are all of these things - the good and the bad. It is your decision which side you chose to focus on." Polly paused for effect as she gave her last bit of wisdom. "Good thoughts attract more good thoughts. Bad thoughts..."

I nodded my understanding and said, "Thank you for this gift!" Polly grinned in delight and walked away, skipping every other step. I turned back toward the bus, wondering what other gifts I would encounter.

Just as I was about to get onboard, I happened to glance back at the shiny metal pile. It was much smaller than I remembered, so I watched for a few minutes. Suddenly, the answer was in front of my eyes, and I laughed with joy. Everyone on the bus was watching the spectacle and soon there were many voices added to my own.

Several squirrels were standing around the pile, picking and chosing which badge to take back to their nest. What a great use of materials that I no longer needed - talk about recycling!

By taking the time to examine one of my shadows, I found the gift. Try this exerise for yourself - you will be amazed at the hidden treasures that are waiting for you to discover!

May you meet your shadows and discover the gifts that waits for you.

Live From the Inside-Out!

Have you ever heard of an "inside-out" hamburger? The bun is in the middle and the meat, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, etc. are on the outside. Eating it with your hands is a challenge, but it tastes just the same as the traditional hamburger. All the same ingredients are there, just arranged in a different order. But you have a totally different experience!

Your life can be that way. Instead of making decisions because of outside factors or considerations, start from within. Take the time to connect with your true self and listen to what it needs. Then take action. Because you started from the inside, your final result will be different than if you started from the outside.

And isn't that what you want - different results?

Remember, we are spiritual beings living in a human form. What makes us unique is not what we can see, feel, taste, smell or touch. Our uniqueness lies within, and that is where we are connected. We all share the same droplet of spirit that came from the same source. You are no better or worse than me - we are equal beneficiaries of an amazing Universe!

Once your spirit awakens to your potential, it will not be satisfied until you live your life from your true source. Spend time with yourself and enjoy your company. Read books on spirituality, such as Michael Bernard Beckwith's Life Visioning Process or anything by Marianne Williamson, Joe Vitale, Lisa Nichols, James Arthur Ray or Jack Canfield. Listen to audio programs that expand your thinking, such as the 11Forgotten Laws by Bob Proctor. Once you begin your spiritual journey, your life will expand exponentially.

Your life can change one thought at a time. Let your inner spirit be your guide and miracles will happen. Live from the inside-out - and get your hands messy!

The Shadows of Forgiveness

In my last post, I spoke about the shadows we all carry around with us. Events from our past, circumstances we blame for our present predicament, people who have hurt us. Can we ever be rid of these shadows and live a joyous life?

The short answer is --- YES!

The long answer is contained in the rest of this post. Shadows are a necessary part of our growth process. They are there for a reason - to stimulate your desire for change and evolution. When you embrace the gifts contained in your shadows, you will be free to create the life you were meant to live.

But how do you embrace a shadow? One of the best methods I have found is to follow the 13 Steps to Forgiveness contained in the book, Radical Forgiveness by Colin Tipping. It is a very simple process with profound results. Go to www.RadicalForgiveness.com and check it out for yourself. I promise you will experience a shift in your perspective and a change in your energy if you go through the 13 steps and complete a worksheet.

Remember, we are all spiritual beings having a human experience. When you realize that the person you are upset at is also a spiritual being, it changes things, doesn't it? And when you can recast the situation or events into a spiritual setting, you will be amazed at the insights that will come to you. And you will bless that person or those events for the lessons they taught you.

Come celebrate life with me - free of your old doubts, fears or worries.

Dance the dance of spirit - your shadows will join you!

Embrace Your Shadows and Be Free

Shadows are elusive, without physical form and impossible to contain. They are as attached to us as our hair or skin. Just as light shines on our physical bodies, creating a shadow, so does the beam of enlightenment shine on our emotional shadows.

We learn from an early age that some emotions are not appropriate - jealousy, anger, pity, greed. Because of the training we receive, most of us shove these emotions under the surface of our awareness, into the "shadow world" of our self. But just like a ball that is held under water, these shadow feelings will pop up into our awareness so they can be acknowledged and processed. If we fail to understand that these emotions cannot stay repressed, however, we will always feel at the mercy of "events" and "others," instead of recognizing that we are trying to heal ourselves.

Shadow emotions hold gifts - they teach us things about ourselves that must be recognized to be whole. For example, greediness can hold the gift of abundance. When greediness takes over your psyche, you assume that there is not enough, so you must take all you can grab. Having experienced greediness, you can then step back and see that the universe is based on abundance principles, not limitation. Therefore, there is no need for greed or hoarding, because there is enough for everyone. Without acknowledging your shadow of greed, you will never discover the gift of abundance.

There are as many shadows as there are people. Your task is to discover your own particular shadows, call them forth, and acknowledge them. Ask to be shown the gifts they bring you, and honor it. The energy that you spent holding that emotion beneath the surface of your consciousness will shift.

And you will be free to be yourself.

You Can Be Free: Does the Bog Ever Get You?

You Can Be Free: Does the Bog Ever Get You?
http://www.MiracleIncome.com