Praying and practicing these spiritual ABC’s has worked miracles in my life. Again and again, they have helped me and continue to help me, shift the energy of habitual reaction. As Pema Chödrön, the American Buddhist nun writes, “This is not something we do once or twice. Interrupting our destructive habits and awakening our heart is the work of a lifetime.” These simple, spiritual practices can transform our lives.

A = Ask for Help

We all need help in our lives whether we admit it or not. We all have access to a higher power whether we believe it or not.

“God hath not given us the spirit of fear;but of power, of love and of sound mind.” Timothy 1:7

Go to God for Help

God is always here, we simply have to ask for help. Through using this idea Alcoholics Anonymous has transformed millions of people’s lives. The first three AA steps attest to the fact we are powerless to change until we ask for higher help.

This is not a call for converts. You don’t have to be religious to pray. Embrace God as you understand Him or Her. Seek your own personal experience of God. Knowing God is very different from knowing about God.

Whenever you feel self-righteous indignation, anger, frustration, despair, or fear ask God, “Please God, help me to navigate through this. Thank you for helping me.” In times of dire need, “Help me. Help me. Help me. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,” can bring a miracle. Never underestimate the power of prayer. We may just as well stay on our knees.

The good news is that by stopping and praying we have already changed the path of habitual reaction in that moment. Creating new moments now, creates new moments in our future. Our very beings are broadened and deepened through stopping and praying rather than stepping the slippery slope of reaction.

At times our prayers seem unheard. In these moments, we must remember there are plans at work much bigger than ours.

Our prayers are often answered in a manner we cannot imagine or see. Perhaps what may seem like an absence of God may be the answer. Maybe in this lonely spot we have a lesson to learn in patience, trust, faith, surrender and letting go of control.

Sometimes I have to ask myself, “If God seems far away who has moved?” I have clearly seen how nursing righteousness, anger, self-pity or resentment jams my connection to God and others.

I have found my way back to God and peace asking, “Oh God, thank you for helping me see this situation differently.” When I am truly willing to see things from another point of view my prayers are always answered. Always, I have been given the miracle of seeing things in a new light.

Asking God for help and trusting the outcome transforms our lives. However, we must also be willing to help ourselves.

Help Yourself. Live in Gratitude.

Ideally, we need to practice gratitude for everything life offers. At times it is very difficult, if not impossible, to give thanks for the so-called bad experiences of life.

Yet, we must hold the faith that everything happens for a reason, and that somehow, things have a way of working out for good even if the “why and how” of it is a painful mystery. Within this faith, we can gain a measure of solace and meaning to help us bear our suffering.

A few years ago my mother was in the hospital dying of cancer. While Mom was laying upstairs in her third floor room, my son and I arrived late one afternoon downstairs in the hospital's Emergency. My eight year old son had just broken both arms.

After a long wait and a longer surgery, the dark vigil continued as I kept guard over my restless, sleeping son.

All I could do that dark night was to tearfully pray over and over, with deep gratitude, “Thank you God, only his arms are broken. Thank you, God, my son’s alive!”

Later that bleak night, there were no nurses to help me when my young son awoke vomiting from the anesthesia. Much later, I learned the night nurses had been sorely tried that black night. Death had come for a wee baby on the ward.

We get so angry and frustrated with our kids, spouses and workmates forgetting how uncertain our time together is; forgetting how every moment of life is a gift. Now is the time to show our gratitude and love for others before the chance is gone and we are bound by regret. Let us express our gratitude within each small thing.

When others speak to us, let us stop what we are doing, look them in the eye and truly listen to them. In giving this simple gift we are showing we care about them and their world. We are showing our love and gratitude for them gracing our lives.

We have been so richly blessed. As Og Mandino asserts our life is “holy, precious and beautiful.” Living our lives with deep gratitude for all of life’s exorbitant offerings expands our heart and our blessings.

Asking God for help and living life with gratitude are simple yet, transformative, spiritual practices. At times it is also imperative to reach outside of ourselves for help.

Reach Out to Others For Help

End your isolation by reaching out to others for help. Open yourself up to the world and the world will open up to you. We can lay down our heroic capes and allow others to help us.

“Asking for help does not mean we are weak or incompetent. It usually indicates an advanced level of honesty and intelligence.” Anne Wilson Schaef

Don’t be too afraid or too smart to ask for help. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people. Reach out into your community. Whatever you are struggling with, there is help for you.

I know. There were years I spent in therapy and groups dealing with emotional pain that was too big for me to manage alone, at that time in my life. Caring support during times of job loss, illness, career change and daily life challenges is critical to our well-being. We do not have to do everything alone.

There are plenty of community resources willing to help with life and career challenges. Friends, associates, counselors, resource centers, people with similar interests and people who are doing what you would love to do are great resources to reach out to. Take a chance.

There is unlimited help for us in this world right now, if we will but ask.

I know of people who were very interested in career change and made the effort to talk to people in that field. Later, they were called back and hired. Amazing things happen when we are open to people and miracles. God speaks to us through many means.

Reach out to people making a great difference in this world. There are great thinkers, saints, philosophers, poets and mystics all available to us in this age of information. Access the best of inspiring thought within libraries, tapes, books, videos and on-line.

However, be very selective when choosing outside resources and beware the endless trap of seeking the “answer or fix.”

Question the shallow philosophies of the day that say we have to fill ourselves every moment with more and more self-help (even in our cars and bathtubs!).

Many people delving into constant personal development (as I was at one point in my life) would benefit far more from sitting quietly with themselves.

Do you really feel better about yourself after hearing and reading certain "motivational" things - or do you feel hurt, less than, discouraged by having still missed the mark? Always, listen for your own truth first. In summary:

A = Ask for Help

* Go to God for Help: “Please God, help me navigate through this. Thank you for helping.”

* Help Yourself. Live in Gratitude: Give thanks to God for everything and everyone, always.

* Reach Out to Others: End your isolation. Being open to others, allows others to help us.

Read on for the next step in these spiritual ABC’s...

B = Breathing Being