Every day of our lives we have challenges, obstacles or inconveniences. You know them, we all have them: your kids are fighting, you argue with your spouse, your boss or clients give you work you dislike, etc. The list is endless…

Sometimes it is easy to feel that these circumstances are distractions that take us away from our true purpose and calling in life.  As much as we would like to believe that idea, nothing could be further from the truth. Everything that happens to us is a part of our purpose, and each circumstance gives us a chance to show our true nature.

Next time you find yourself in a stressful or challenging situation, take a moment to ask yourself these 7 questions:

1. How can I bring more vulnerability to this situation?
2. How can I bring more humility to this situation?
3. How can I be of more service in this situation?
4. How can I bring more generosity to this situation?
5. How can I bring more compassion to this situation?
6. How can I bring more willingness to this situation?
7. How can I bring more honesty to this situation?

These powerful questions help us to shift from our imperfect state and give more energy to our higher selves.

Recognizing that each of us have a divine nature that yearns to shine, it is also important to acknowledge that we also have a more human, less-than-perfect side that shines more often than we care to admit. In each moment, though, we have the ability to take steps to give more voice to our divinity than our imperfections. Asking these questions will shift your awareness to the greatness inside you that always seeking a voice.

Today is your day to shine…

It isn’t rare that we have challenges or conflicts in dealing with others. But perhaps rare, is an empowered approach to dealing with those situations.

The truth is that each moment of every single day provides the opportunity for us to make an empowered choice and move closer to the full expression of our divine nature. The more difficult the situation, the greater the growth will be. That is, the harder it is for us to make the change, the more it is worth it. Just like building muscles, building character happens the most when we push our limits and create new ones.

That being said, here are 3 options that we can face when dealing with challenging situations:

1. Why is this happening to me? Or, “why did they do XYZ to me?” Where XYZ = lying, stealing, controlling, getting upset, ignoring, etc.This approach focuses on the circumstance entirely. It focuses on “what happened” or “is happening”,  but is also limited to and by our perception of the circumstance.  This attitude of viewing the problem as “out there” indicates that we are reacting to the situation, and placing the blame on anything except for ourselves.  This is a very normal reaction, and very understandable when we examine with situation with our eyes, but the focus is on things outside of our circle of control.
2. What did I do to cause this to happen to me? This is the more responsible way of dealing with the circumstance.The responsible person will acknowledge that the circumstances in their life are directly, or at the very least indirectly, influenced by their own actions, and they accept responsibility for it.  This person will say “I know that this other person made me upset, but what did I say or do to cause them to do so?”When we accept that “I am the master of my fate” we are able to see how we can influence every circumstance in our life, and we start to put our focus on things that are inside of our circle of control.  We move beyond seeing with just our eyes, and start to perceive with our mind as well.

   The only limitation, however, is that this approach is still dealing with the circumstance…

3. In what way is this a reflection of what is going on inside me? This is moving beyond responsibility to accountability.To step into this level requires a belief that all things work together for our good. It also requires us to look at the situation with more than our eyes and our mind put together. It requires us to look at things with a spiritual mindset.This spiritual approach leads us to examine ourselves at a deep level, and to evaluate our subconscious beliefs to find an answer.  We begin to say “I am the cause of all that happens in my life.”  This isn’t about fault or blame, it’s about recognizing that we are divine in our nature, and that everything that happens in our world is for the purpose of drawing us closer to our divine potential.

   This attitude leads us to drop all of the “out there” thoughts of the external situation and realize that perception is reality.  Our perception of ourselves is reflected back to us in everyone that we meet. Our deep-rooted beliefs about the world are continually validated back to us in the situations we create.

   When we adopt this attitude, we are empowered and become “the master of my soul”.  We are no longer concerned with circumstance, but focus our efforts ONLY on those things which are entirely within our circle of control.  We let go of the past and live in the present moment.

What situations are you struggling with right now? In what ways are the people around you “making things difficult” for you?  What drives you crazy about your boss, spouse, child, etc?

Make a list of those things and ask yourself the question, “In what way is this a reflection of what is going on inside of me?”  Do it honestly and introspectively. Take a pen & paper, and most importantly, take your time.

Love & light,

Joseph

“A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”
~ Albert Einstein

Okay, so this is a bit of a long video, but it’s a pretty good story.

I was asked the other day for some advice… Someone I know was struggling with a decision they needed to make and referenced an earlier post of mine on how to live a magical life. I hope that this video will be somewhat helpful…

“Intuition is a spiritual faculty and does not explain, but simply points the way. ” ~ Florence Scovel Shinn

Faced with 2 very different options, it can be difficult to know what to do…unless we understand this simple, but powerful method for making decisions.  You can watch the video, or read the formula below:

Think, Listen, Feel, Act

The decision making process is simple:

1. With the option you are considering, close your eyes and visualize what the future will look like if you pursue that course.
   
2. Pay attention for the specific feelings of faith, peace, comfort and excitement.
3. If you get those feelings, ACT! If not, consider another path…

The basic idea is simple… the heart will tell you things that your mind will never conceive.  As Johann Kaspar Lavater put it: “Intuition is the clear conception of the whole at once.”

You don’t have to ‘know’ (mind) how things will work out, you just have to listen to how you ‘feel’ (heart).   Take the step in faith, and the path will become clear as you go.

Once Enlightened, Don’t Give Up

Just remember to hold tight to the conviction to act from that inspiration when it comes.  I’ve noticed that the pot of gold at the end of the inspiration rainbow is only found after a few briar patches.  It’s intended that way, otherwise the leperchauns would get to it first.

Miracles are always preceded by an exercising of faith.  If it wasn’t that way, everyone would live a magical life.  But life has designed it so that the lazy and unbelieving are ever kept from the pot of gold.  Remember that…if you’ve been inspired from the beginning, the obstacles are only ever put in your place to test your commitment.  Hang in there, it’s worth it.

I’ve been pondering this question for a while, and I’d love your insight!

On one hand, we are taught to ‘know our outcome’ and move forward in faith to create the future we envision for ourselves.

On the other hand, though, we are taught in other places to live in the present moment, ‘take no thought for tomorrow’ and to remove any emotional attachment to a specific outcome (and thus disappointment).

I’d love to hear your thoughts… whether short or long, profound or simple, experience or theory.  Perhaps in the sharing of ideas we can all help each other grow.

What do you think?