God Will Lead Us

I read something this morning that really spoke to me, "God will not drive us to do something, He will lead us." How many times do we try to drive something to happen only to be left mentally tired and disappointed in the end result? It's not above driving things to happen but rather connecting with God so we can be in the flow and allow Him to lead us to the desired and destined result.

The more I read, the more I'm coming to understand that this life is not about us taking control and making things happen. It's about connecting with our inner spirit and letting that lead us to a place of peace and prosperity. God wants nothing more than abundance for us. Think back to the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were given pure abundance until they decided to move away from spirit and create their own desired results. It was only then that they became aware of their human nature. Prior to that, they were living in total peace and prosperity with God leading them.

It is not easy, especially in this day and age to step away from being driven. Society tells us we have to drive our results, take control and make things happen. That is all true to a certain extent in the sense that we need to be responsible for ourselves but more importantly we have to have God at the center. With God at the center, we are not doing those things alone. To drive is to exert a force and that is not God's way. God never forces anything upon us but rather He leads us to it if we keep our eyes and our heart open to His presence. The path is already there before us. It's kind of like that moving sidewalk at the airport. So often you'll see someone running through the crowds, bypassing the moving sidewalk, trying to get to their gate as fast as they can. The looked stressed as they push people aside trying to force their way to their destination. What I've noticed is that often times I end up arriving at the gate at about the same as they do however I took the moving sidewalk and just stayed the course. I literally went with the flow allowing that to carry me to my destination versus trying to force the outcome and I arrive at the destination without all the stress and exertion of extra energy to get there.

It's time to stop driving the results to happen and time to focus our energy and mindset on revealing that path God has set before us and allowing Him to lead the way.

The True Path to Success

"Success is to work harder on yourself than you do on your job". I recently read this quote in the novel, The Twelve Pillars by Jim Rohn and Chris Widener. There is so much wisdom shared in all but 100+ pages and this sentence was the first of many in this book that led to some big "aha's" for me.

As I read this sentence for the first time, I really had to stop and think about it. How much have I been focusing solely on developing my business? Have I set aside any quality time to really develop myself? So many times we do indeed work harder on jobs than we do on ourselves and this one sentence brought that powerful realization to me. I have been spending the majority of my time lately focused on developing my business and devoting a lot less time to developing myself. I'm reading books and writing daily in my journal but that's not enough. The biggest growth for me has always come when I spend much more time developing myself and connecting with my purpose. And interestingly enough, as I look back, those times have directly translated into growth and upleveling in my business. This journey is not about learning how to run a business; it's about discovering your passion and purpose, learning to connect with that each and every day and building our lives around that through what we do.

Nature seems to always provide a perfect example of how God intended for us to live. In some ways nature is blessed without having the gift of choice. The plants, the animals, the ocean – they all exist solely for their specific purpose and spend their days and nights doing nothing but developing themselves towards the realization of that divine purpose. An acorn knows it will grow into an oak tree and doesn't question its purpose or ability. It just exists. We on the other hand, have been given a choice. We can either live and fully develop in our purpose or we can choose not to. The choice is clearly ours to make. Look at the harmony and beauty that is created by nature existing to reach its full potential and purpose. That same harmony and beauty is there for us if we spend quality time developing ourselves in knowing and connecting with our true purpose. True success doesn't lie in being busy and getting things done. That success is fleeting. True success comes when we take the time to discover and develop into our divine purpose, becoming the person God intended for us to be from the very beginning. Just as in nature, the path to our purpose will be revealed and will naturally flow once we take the time to nurture it and develop ourselves.

Giving Thanks

I've been reading the follow up book to "The Secret" titled, "The Power" by Rhonda Byrne. It expands upon the basic principles taught in "The Secret" in what I've found to be a much more powerful and brilliant way. She made a connect for me the other day, and fitting given this time of year, that I perhaps always knew but never really was aware of. When we are grateful we are actually giving love. We are acknowledging the value and meaning around everything that comes into our life when we live from a place of gratitude which ultimately is a place of love. Every time we feel grateful we are giving love. Gratitude is probably one of the most sincere ways we can express our love. Whose heart doesn't warm up when someone takes the time to say "thank you" or "I appreciate you". The feeling that gratitude creates is the emotion of love. It brings forth an energy of joy, warmth and happiness and whatever energy you give out will return to you in abundance.

It seems fitting on this eve of Thanksgiving to really think about all that we have to be grateful for. The hectic pace of our lives and the negative presence of the media can very quickly move us away from a place of gratitude and thanksgiving. Take time this Thanksgiving to practice gratitude in everything you do, from having the ability to smell all the wonderful scents of Thanksgiving dinner to the warmth and fellowship of friends and loved ones. If you're stuck in traffic, take a deep breath and be thankful for the opportunity to have a car, for the amazing network of roads we have here in the States, for the ability to take off and go spend time with loved ones. If you find yourself alone this Thanksgiving, give thanks for your life and for this time to step back and quietly reflect. Be grateful for everything in your life – your past, your present and your future. Be grateful for the desires and passions of your heart for they are a glimpse into God's will for your life. Be grateful in everything you do!

Jesus provided us with a beautiful example of living a life purely from gratitude and thanksgiving. Jesus always began his prayer by thanking our Heavenly Father and spoke words of thanksgiving before performing every miracle. Gratitude is at the center of almost all religious faiths be it Christianity, Islam or Hindu. For example, Mohammad the founder of Islam is quoted as saying, "Gratitude for the abundance you have received is the best insurance that the abundance will continue." An attitude of gratitude prepares our heart to receive the love and abundance that we are sending forth. Whatever we give, will be multiplied in its return to us. Probably no other verse in the Bible captures the principle of gratitude better than this:

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

May this Thanksgiving holiday hold an abundance of gratitude and blessings for you!

Learning to Let Go

You cannot trust without letting go. It sounds so logical but I never realized the strong bond that exists between trust and letting go. You cannot have one without the other. We can say we trust but if we are still harboring feelings of worry, fear, uncertainty or anxiety, we are not fully trusting. Trust requires us to move forward in a deeply rooted faith and completely let go of those feelings, emotions or actions that are holding us back. We have to let go of the circumstances as we understand them and fully trust in the process of a higher power to see us through and bring us to where we are truly meant to be.

Trust comes from your heart and is centered in spirit. Those things that stand in the way of our ability to trust are just created in our mind and therefore not real. They are just mechanisms our ego develops to keep us safe, comfortable and what we perceive to be secure. To trust means to give a smaller voice to ego and a larger voice to spirit. It means releasing the grip ego has on us and not allowing it to inhibit us from moving forward. Letting go and trusting allows God's spirit to flow in our lives with unmeasured energy and confidence. To trust means to live from your heart and not from your mind. When you live from your heart you are truly connecting with spirit and a spirit led life will lead you to fulfilling your life's purpose. Learning to trust also means learning to let go.

 

Our Truth Is Revealed In Our “Buts”

The excuse always seems to follow the "but". But is truly a powerful word because it points directly to what is holding us back. Think of how many times you think about doing something and then finish the thought with "but…". It literally shifts your mind from action to inaction. The thought before the "but" is your heartfelt desire but what follows the "but" typically shuts down that desire. But can almost be viewed as the transition from spirit-centered mindset to and ego-centered mindset. You begin in spirit but ego steps in to make sure you play it safe and stay in that place that is comfortable and predictable.

If you want to get clear on what's holding you back, start paying attention to the words you say after your "buts". For example if we say we want to do something and then finish the thought with "but it's too expensive" it very clearly calls out a lack mentality and that belief is probably showing up in many other decisions as well; decisions that could have a profound impact on your life and business. How you do anything is how you do everything so don't fool yourself by thinking the words you say after your buts are a one-time occurrence. Think about the "buts" in your life and become aware of how they are influencing your decisions. You might be surprised by what they reveal. Once you have an awareness around what's holding you back, you are that much stronger to confront the "buts" in your life head on and move through them. Our truth is most definitely revealed in our "buts"!

Resisting the Process

I've been feeling very tired lately and not sure why. Business has been very good and I've just been brushing it off to some long work days lately. But as my tiredness continued, I was forced to step back and look deeper. What I learned was truly amazing.

I love to journal and decided to write about my tiredness. I wrote down everything I was feeling and the frustration of not having the energy and focus I so needed to get everything done. The answer that came back as I jotted down my thoughts was that resistance was the source of my tiredness. I immediately knew to what – ironically enough, hiring a design assistant to help me in my business! What flowed next was a powerful lesson for me and one that I want to share with you all.

I very clearly heard God say to me "For you spend much energy moving away from My purpose for you. The fight is what is draining you. Step into the process and your energy will return." Resistance to anything is draining. It takes so much more energy for us to resist something than to go with the direction we feel we are being led. Resistance takes a toll on our mindset as well as our physical health. We are all scared when presented with ideas or thoughts that create a vision of something bigger than we think we are or not within the scope of where we think we should be. The "who am I to think" mindset sets in and we start resisting all the opportunities that are laid before us to grow and fulfill our divine purpose. We may think we are maintaining the status quo when we don't take action but there is nothing further from the truth. When we resist, we start moving backwards. There is no such thing as standing still – the world is constantly in motion down to the smallest particle on this earth and we are no different. We are either growing or shrinking from who we are meant to be. When we resist, we are moving away from that divine path God has intended for us. If God has clearly pointed the direction and provided the next step, it is ours to take in trust and faith that God will continue to show the way and He will. He will not overburden us and will enable us to do all that He desires for us. He very clearly told me that He cannot give me any more until I take this next step because it will overburden me and that is not His way. Those words touched me deeply and opened my eyes to how I was actually standing in my own way.

God has so much to give all of us. He sees many steps beyond where we are at right now and knows the great potential that lies within all of us. We just need to trust and have the courage to step forward in faith.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." – Jeremiah 29:11

Life Lessons from a Little Bird

My kids often tease me about how much I love birds; I find it so peaceful just sitting back and watching them. Well, I'm amused that God has chosen these little creatures to teach me yet again, another powerful life lesson. I guess He knows the connection I feel for them and knows I'll pay attention if the lesson comes through them. As I sipped my coffee this morning, I glanced out our kitchen window to watch the birds and noticed something didn't look right. My heart sunk because I saw a bird not moving on our bird feeder. I assumed the worst and went outside thinking "What a great start to my day, removing a dead bird". But to my surprise, he started fluttering all about as soon as I approached the feeder. His tiny little head was stuck inside and I could only imagine how he felt as he sat there trapped with all these other birds around him helpless to come to his rescue. I reached out to try and gently pull him out but each time, he fluttered around so much that any effort I did to rescue him was to no avail. In essence, he was standing in the way of his own success. I saw a very clear way to release him but he would have to relax and let me lead the way. I then opened the top of the feeder so his attention would be drawn upward and sure enough, he stopped fluttering and just quietly watched me. It was only then that I was able to free him. He popped out, definitely a little stunned and then flew away. I stood there with a big smile on face realizing the amazing message God had just given me through this little bird.

How many times has God tried to help me and move me along in realizing the bigger vision He has for me but instead I flutter about just like this little bird? I don't stop long enough to acknowledge or accept His help. Instead, I stay focused on doing it my way. I'm no different than that bird, wanting to know the next steps but too busy fluttering about to see God clearly pointing the way. It's only when I seek out the calm and silence do I feel His presence and see the way He is leading me to go. I know God has such a bigger vision for us all and we are all often guilty of keeping ourselves so busy and not relying more on God to show us the way. My little interaction with this bird today was such amazing life lesson for me and one I know I needed to hear. This bird taught me the power that resides in just being still. Rescuing that little bird showed me how we often stand in the way of our own success, feeling trapped by our own perceived circumstances and not realizing the way is right there in front of us. I feel so incredibly blessed to have been given the opportunity to experience God's word firsthand. He taught me how to just "be" today and quietly wait for His guidance. All the answers are truly right in front of us, we just need to open up and acknowledge His presence.