Returning To God

Most of us are familiar with the inner criticism and gnawing self-doubt we hear when we want to take the next step in our work or life. Rather than staying stymied we can observe our thoughts, let them go and return to the truth of who we really are. William Wordsworth reminds us of our one true home:

Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting; The soul that rises with us, our life’s star, Hath had elsewhere its setting, And cometh from afar: Not in entire forgetfulness, And not in utter nakedness, But trailing clouds of glory do we come From God, who is our home:”

Returning home to our true self, in each moment, is our lifework. We get sidetracked thinking the promotion, job, or finishing that e-book/workshop/project is what’s important. Certainly, accomplishing some tasks is necessary however, the state of our being as we go about doing the task is more important than getting the task done.

Returning to our breath - our thread to God - reconnects us to our true home. Likewise, taking a break from our daily world and going for a walk in a graveyard can reground our soul. Seriously – try it! Like I did early last Sunday morning after I dropped my husband off at work.

I was feeling pressured to get work done as my husband was working and I wasn’t. Also, I was feeling resentful I “had to” wash the car, do the shopping, figure out the best e-book compiler, buy it and begin learning the software and writing that e-book. Worse yet, I felt martyred doing this all on Sunday. Normally, although I’m not much of a church-goer, I like to keep the Sabbath sacred nourishing myself and my spirituality.

As the “to-do” litany continued spoiling my morning I heard my small, still voice whisper, “Walk in the graveyard.” Nearly driving by the graveyard, my decision was quick. My busy “yang” energy responded with, “Ok. Go to the graveyard and get your walk over with.” With reflective hindsight, the complete “do/achieve” focus of that energy appalled me. My daily walks are intrinsic to my emotional and spiritual well-being – not solely a body exercise to be done!

At first I felt empty on this sunlit morning as I marched the graveyard perimeter for “maximum exercise.” Then, following another intuitive impulse I broke off from the “maximum exercise strategy” and strayed toward a gravestone that has always haunted me. There lay buried a young man, only twenty seven years of age, music notes adorning his tombstone and the words, “Even so, - it is well with my soul.” Ah, in the face of such sorrow and loss, “Even so, - it is well with my soul.” Ah… such comforting words.

The next tombstone read, “…here are those called to God for His purpose…” and in that moment I knew each of us were called to His purpose. With my hand on my heart and tears on my cheeks I now walked slowly, my militant march now a sacrilege. Then, again, I stopped. Listen! Listen! Gay, busy birds chirping everywhere! Had they just begun? Or had I missed hearing them before? The vanilla fragrance from the looming Ponderosa pines filled my senses.

With my hand still upon my heart, I was fully present, fully alive amidst the quiet dead. Suddenly there was nothing to do, no pressing tasks, no time pressures, no directing voice, only this moment of fullness, delight, softness of the soul. The Sabbath had come. I entered into the Sabbath. I was home.

Can we keep this Sabbath every day, every moment? I know my communications, work, relationships, and actions are much richer when I am in my God-centered energy rather than the harsh, pressing demands of fear. Here, in this moment my friends, is our lifework.

In closing I am leaving you with a passage from Judith Duerk’s, “Circle of Stones,” a bestselling classic of woman’s journey to herself, which I believe is a roadmap for men and woman alike…

“Woman grounds herself in being as she claims her time, moment by moment, to be within it, as if she could touch it and hold it in her hand… as she claims her time to be, not forcing into an hour more than that hour can hold, but listening, with a sense of balance and restraint, that each task be quietly fulfilled with pause before and after… an interlude for her to reflect, to be present to herself.”

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Teresa's Bio Teresa Proudlove; storyteller, coach, internationally published writer and entrepreneur helps people remember their authentic Self and gifts. Living her passion, Teresa has lead thousands of people through her “Livelihood” workshops. With wisdom and heart Teresa inspires people to create the life and work they love.

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Practices for Positive Change

Connect with Your God

Do you at times, feel fearful, depressed, angry, insecure or immobilized with life work challenges? Firstly, realize you are not alone. This bubbling brew of emotions is called being human. Ever-growing numbers of people are being forced into career change, long for a career change or are facing a myriad of life challenges – all exacerbated by our fast-paced world.

However, our journey is about more than work transitions or what our surface problems appear to be. We are being called upon to find “The Way” to navigate through life’s ever-shifting experiences with more peace, compassion and acceptance. The best career decisions or goals achieved cannot buy us happiness. Simple practice, like returning to the calm place within ourselves, helps us find more peace in life – despite the ever-changing fortunes of time. Herein, we grow our beings and our connection to our God.

Learn to be O.K. with Your Life Now

The place to begin is right where we are. Rather than trying to avoid, or be rid of difficult, painful feelings, we begin working with what is – in this very moment. We begin by letting wherever we feel be O.K; and hence, begin cultivating acceptance and compassion for our precious selves. We begin with small, gentle goals we can meet, that work on all aspects of our life.

Below are some simple practices you can weave into your daily life – however busy – offering lasting positive change. Commit to this practice for at least three months and notice the subtle changes that occur as you return, again and again, to yourself and to your God.

These are so important for our mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, as well as key to positive change. Begin with what you can, but begin… Print…. Ponder…. Practice….

Five Practices for Positive Change

1. Practice Transformative Ten Breath Countdowns. As frequently as you can, practice breathing in and out, counting down from ten - on each successive out breath - to one. By practicing this countdown throughout each day it becomes a powerful tool for re-grounding ourselves when strong emotions arise, helping us to prevent over-reacting to circumstances.

2. Meditate Twice Daily. Do not get hung up on this word or be discouraged by the grocery list, new shoes for the kids, your work/marriage problems, or whatever incessantly pops up as you begin sitting with yourself. It is O.K.. Simply, gently, acknowledge your feelings and let the thoughts go. We are simply sitting with ourselves – just as we are. Focus lightly on your breath coming in and going out. “Letting go now. Relaxing now. Trusting now.” Also, try laying flat on your back on the floor, quietly letting thoughts go, coming back to your breathing for at least five or ten, or more minutes twice a day. We are aligning our body, mind and spirit.

3. Observe Your Thoughts. Sitting with ourselves quietly helps us become aware of what is going on in our mind. Practice this awareness as much as you can throughout the day. When feeling distressed, depressed, upset… take note of your thoughts. A mind where thoughts are allowed to run wild is likely not a safe place to be alone in! Most of us have a pit full of negativity and criticism that can make a hell of heaven if we allow these thoughts to run unobserved. We need to feel our feelings but let the story-line we tell ourselves go. Simply come back to your breathing, to your ten breath countdown, to your God. Be gentle and accepting of yourself, your situation and feelings – no matter what!!

4. Exercise Regularly. This means at least a good twenty minute walk, three times a week. You can build up the pace, length and number of times per week as you continue. This is not a fitness march. By walking mindfully – stopping and smelling the roses – we exercise our body, mind and soul.

5. Practice Being O.K. with Uncertainty and Not Knowing. Poet, Rainer Maria Rilke, puts it best saying, "I beg you to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without ever noticing it, live your way into the answer."

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Working with God

Not a Failure!

Those of you who are unemployed, or desire a career change, or perhaps, like me, want to expand the work you already have, may notice things are not happening as fast as you had hoped. Take heart! You are not a failure and there is nothing wrong with you!

Recently I listened to a woman harshly chastising herself; “I’ve been avoiding doing what is necessary to get my new career going – I haven’t written cover letters, made the necessary contacts, and have even sabotaged myself by stopping my daily runs. I sabotage myself by reading and sewing rather than doing what needs to be done!”

Sensing the pressure this woman felt from that militant voice, empathy stirred my heart. Well, I know the pressure of trying to accomplish anything with that hard, judging energy pushing me along. As I gently asked this woman if she felt pressured listening to these critical demands; her eyes welled and a sob caught in her throat.

Our self-help, goal-oriented, hard-driven society filled with so-called steps-to-success applauds this constant self-analysis and pushing to succeed. If we are avoiding doing something perhaps, we really don’t want to do it or it is not the right time. Perhaps, this woman quit her daily runs because they were excessive and more balance was needed in her life. And in this instance, I know the so-called avoidance behavior of reading and sewing is a very soulful pastime for this woman.

Finding the Way

We are so quick to be angry with ourselves if we are not constantly striving toward success and overcoming our blocks and fears. When we believe this harsh energy is the way, we have lost our Way. Stop and listen. Where do these callous comments emanate from… the head or the heart?

Clearly, the head is in control. If you are feeling pressured ‘to do’ by your own harsh thoughts, recognize them as just thoughts and let them go. God, your Higher Power, true Self, The Way, call it as you will, does not speak to us through judging, driving thoughts.

God is the small still voice of your heart. Let this gentle, loving energy be your guide rather than the harsh, driven energy of “self-will run riot” as they say in Alcoholics Anonymous.

When I let go and refuse to act upon harsh energy bullying me then, later, unexpected urges of inspiration well up and I simply act upon them. What needs to be done, gets done, and I have a sense of flowing with things rather than feeling pressured and jammed.

"Don't try to force anything. Let life be a deep let-go. See God opening millions of flowers everyday without forcing buds." - Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh

Stop Pushing. Let God Lead.

To hear our quiet voice of God, or whispers of intuition, we must be still. Anytime is a good time to sit and be still. I make a point of sitting when my harsh internal voices begin telling me I have to hurry-up and write that e-book, design the new workshop, make more money… (fill in your own particular fears here).

I know if I try to work from that harsh place the work will be very hard and more importantly, I will be out of integrity with my God. The message is clear: Stop pushing. Let God lead.

Will you give yourself the gift each day to just sit and breathe and listen? Sit in a comfortable chair with good back support, feet flat upon the floor, sitting with dignity. Dignity will aid proper body positioning and create wakefulness within.

Lightly follow your breathing in, and breathing out. Then, literally, listen. This act of listening is a doorway to the meditative state or to your God. As you listen, then turn your listening inwards. Feel the expansive calm.

In this still place, in prayer, ask for help and listen more. To live a life of integrity we must turn to our God within for our direction and inspiration. We simply need to be willing and to let God know: Thy will be done – not mine!

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Spiritual Practices Offer
Peace and Acceptance

Facing career transitions and daily life challenges can leave us feeling lonely, stressed and anxious. How do we manage to deal with the financial and emotional stress of having a home, a car, work (or no work), kids and a spouse in this too-busy world? Spiritual practices can help us navigate through the turmoil of work and life transitions with more acceptance and peace.

Below, I shall introduce three simple spiritual practices which can help us live life from a more supportive, comforting perspective. These practices can help us shift from habitually reacting to life’s problems, to walking a path of more peace and acceptance. However, before introducing these Spiritual Practices, we need to realize this is not about fixing ourselves!

We Do Not Need Fixing

Self-improvement and much of the network marketing industry bombards us with the ideas that if we fix or change our beliefs, attitudes, old wounds, thinking, goals, financial situation then we will be O.K. or a success. We are further burdened with blame and shame for supposedly having created our so-called “lack or negative situation” with our thinking, beliefs or unaddressed childhood hurts.

These egocentric doctrines hurt us. Where is the room for God’s infinite plan, our soul’s work, indeed our lifework; within such narrow thinking? There is much at work, far beyond our control or our imagination, shaping our lives. At times, we are but frail dust swept within the winds of change. During these difficult times, like career changes and lifework challenges, we need compassion for our human condition… not self-incriminating lectures.

Paradoxically, there is an element of truth in the school of thought that our beliefs, thinking, attitudes and old hurts can affect our quality of life. Holding seemingly irreconcilable opposites like these at the same time, is part of our soul's journey. Clearly, though, our lives are not a problem to be fixed and we are not to blame for every life occurrence.

“Events occur because conditions are right, and your action only contributes to one of many conditions.” Lieh-Tzu

Often I hear people lamenting their lives; saying they should be further ahead in their careers, relationships, financial situation, and even in their self growth. Yet, creating change involves much more than decision-making and setting goals.

We are planting the seeds which grow our being. Often we have to grow into the being which can make the changes we wish to have. Growing a being is the work of a lifetime not ten-easy-steps-to-a-new-you.

This is why career change or any type of life transition can take much longer than we planned. The more time I spend on this planet, the more I realize how very little is really within my control and how rarely things work out according to my time line.

More and more, I am aware of the hand of God orchestrating life, with us but players upon a great stage. Wherever we are right now, is exactly the place we are meant to be. Yes, we are OK right now.

This doesn’t mean we have to hopelessly accept harmful or unworkable situations in our life. However, there is a flow and timing to all things.

Disdaining our lives and believing we can only be happy when we have the great career, lose fifteen pounds, find the right love, make more money… does not facilitate change or happiness. It only creates more discontent. We can only experience peace and well-being now, in this moment.

Spiritual Practices Offer Peace and Acceptance

Following, is a brief outline of three spiritual practices using the acronym ABC, which can foster our sense of well-being and peace - now. At times, acronyms for learning can seem overly cute and annoying, however, I could not ignore something that was revealed to me in prayerful meditation.

The first practice, “A = Ask for Help,” begins with calling upon our higher power for help. The second simple practice, “B = Breathing Being,” reminds us to return to our breathing, our bodies and our God. The last step in this trio, “C = Call for Compassion,” teaches us a kinder, more compassionate way of dealing with life, ourselves and others. Also, practicing these spiritual ABC’s has shown me the value of using simple, easily remembered practices during stressful, angry or frustrated moments and dark days. May these spiritual precepts add goodness and peace to your life - as they have to mine.

Spiritual ABC’s

A = Ask for Help

* Ask God for Help: “Please help me navigate through this. Thank you for helping.” God is always here. We often need to reconnect.

* Help Yourself by Living with Gratitude: Give thanks to God for everything and everyone, always.

* Reach Out to Others: End your isolation by reaching out to others for help.

B = Breathing Being

* Breathing In and Breathing Out Ten Times: Everyone has time for transformative, ten breath countdowns.

* Be Still: “Be still and know that I am God.” Stillness is the doorway to God.

* Being in the Body: Through being still we begin to hear our bodies’ needs and learn to care for our bodies, now.

C = Cultivate Compassion

* Pray for Compassion: “Please, God, help me find compassion here. Thank you for helping me.”

* Seek the Big Picture: When we are angry or frustrated with ourselves or others we need to reach for a larger perspective. Ask, "What is really important here?"

* Reframing the Story: We continually spin one-sided stories in our mind explaining every situation which often, has little to do with the greater truth of a situation. Try asking, "How else can I see this?"

Click here for a more detailed account of the Spiritual ABC's.

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