Humility

"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less."

Rick Warren

Interesting that during a recent session of Scalar Heart Connection 'humility' came up as the opposite of anxiety or worry.

It gave me pause for thought.

Is it ego then that pushes us to think we can do something about our concerns, goads us to take control, convinces us action must be taken when maybe it cannot in the moment. I imagine this is the kernel of anxiety or worry. The question comes up "What can I DO?"

Humility's question might be "What can I ALLOW?" or "What can I become open to?"

It is a softer more loving energy that creates flow rather than tension, blockage or harshness.

I have been keeping this in mind since it came to my attention and as the quote above invites, I have been attempting to think of the needs of those around me and trusting that everything is conspiring for the good. It feels healthier.

It is not what I would have thought of as humility previously, but it makes sense to me now.

What do you think?

No Atheists in Foxholes

The statement "There are no atheists in foxholes" is an aphorism used to argue that in times of extreme stress or fear, such as when participating in warfare, all people will believe in or hope for a higher power.
So says Wikipedia.

For me, already far from an atheist, the challenge is to turn to that Source in times of stress and not to the mainstream thinking or material evidence. Its easy to be faithful, to meditate, to pray, to give thanks when times are good, its when they appear to have gone awry that I am amazed how fear shakes my foundations. At least initially my reaction can be despair, depression, helplessness. Its not unusual and not permanent, in the same way as all things that come to pass.
I realize in stressful times it is the opportunity to double my practices, to look at my faith and reacquaint myself with my beliefs. It is an opportunity to put into practice all the tools I have honed in good times and to remind myself I have a ready tool kit. Once the initial shock at the new circumstance wains enough, I can, from a place of calm and not panic, see more clearly the way to proceed. I am never helpless. Help is available to me everywhere I turn, my loving friends, my church, my journaling, my inner wisdom, the still small voice which I court in in silence. I simply ask for guidance and wait expectantly for the way to be revealed as I act on the inspiration that comes to me. This I am grateful for even as I am patient and trusting in the process. Impatience is distrust, so I allow the Truth to unfold in the right timing.

As John Milton poetically said "God does not need either man's work, or his own gifts: ..... They also serve, who only stand and wait."

God, or as I see it "Love, Health, Prosperity" reveal themselves in time as we attend to what is ours to do.  What is in front of you right now? Dishes in the sink, a pile of paperwork, phone calls to make, then attend to them and let God attend to the big picture. Trust in the Greater yet to be and observe its revelation in time!

Resistance is Futile

What have you been resisting lately? There is a certain energy to resistance, we have to use our will to push something away or to hold ourselves back. I find that effort exhausting personally. But I will resist all manner of things that I absolutely know are good for me, like hiking in the hills which is a boon on any given day I choose to do it. I resist cleaning my office and I wonder why when I finally give in and delight in the order I have created. I often resist invitations to events that don't feels like they might be comfortable for me and even when I say Ok I'll go, with a "I suppose this could be a good thing" attitude,  I can feel my feet dragging and my enthusiasm lagging. Can anyone relate?
Then I go and I have the best time possible. I've heard similar stories from friends, "I didn't want to go to the party and I ended up meeting my soul mate!"  I wonder why we don't  approach the thing with less resistance and more expectation of good, especially as we give in, in the end. It would make the entire process more pleasurable.
Maybe there was a bad experience once and we let it color our vision of the future event. Slowly I'm learning that precedent has no power over the present, that its possible that new experiences can have no relation to the past. The more I learn to give up resistance, the sooner I can allow more good into my life!
A little trust, a little optimism, a little visioning of a positive outcome, more consciousness of my own power to create and  releasing of a need to control, can add up to being in the flow. In the flow who knows what might come? Can I handle it? I say yes, yes, I am willing to accept more good. At least I'm going to try to let go of that energy of resistance, and say yes to life. I trust, I imagine good - I'll keep you posted as to how its working for me.

The Creative Process

“The creative process is a process of surrender, not control.”
Julia Cameron

I started a painting with an intention as to what it would look like when I was done. It was an abstract concept which meant I was not stuck to anything too concrete and in watercolor paints that means all kinds of happy accidents can occur to add to the mix. Before beginning I sat quietly and closed my eyes in order to get a clearer picture as to how I was to proceed. Its always a daunting moment putting the first colors down on a blank white page. The only thing for it was to jump in.

And so I did, and as the painting progressed I would regularly walk away and take breaks so I could be somewhat detached from what was emerging. I got it to a place close to how I had originally seen it in my head but I knew it was not finished. I always feel a certain tension throughout a painting. I feel at any moment it can go either way; into the trash can or into a frame. I seem to judge it all the way through its evolution. There is often a point at which I am ready to damn it and declare it worthless and I push on through to make something of it. It can be quite painful, this process of judging your own creation.

My intention from the start of this piece was to let it create itself and so I questioned my creation all the time, "are you finished?" It said no and I proceeded to add a figure at its center. Quan Yin, the Chinese Goddess of Compassion. Trees seemed to sprout from her head, and I saw a moon peak through. She seemed to presided over a tumultuous ocean. I went to bed knowing the painting was not finished yet. In the morning I woke and knew what needed to be added.

When it was done my painting was not at all what I had set out to paint. I was surprised by it, pleased with it for the most part, though I find it hard to be detached enough from my painting initially to know if I'm satisfied with it. Ive heard it said that the way we do one thing is the way we do everything. The process of this painting was so interesting to me. I thought about the way I do life; how I tend to judge the process if things are not yet resolved in some area. My friend calls it 'being in the hallway.' It's a time before you have reached a goal, there are questions, uncertainties, you must bear some discomfort until its resolution. My tendancy I find is to want to rush things to their conclusion.

The truth is we can not know the result until we know the result. Living in the grey area can be uncomfortable but if that is where you are, you have no choice but to practice patience and faith. I realized through the process of this painting that I need to have greater faith in the process. It unfolded as it had a mind to, my job was not to control but to surrender. Ah, sweet surrender!

It does feel good if we can remember to trust that all of life is a process and that what is unfolding has the capacity to surprise us in the most delightful way, if we can let go. I want to practice that more and more. How light it feels to give it over and trust, like having wings and knowing the wind current will support me. All is well. Ah sweet, sweet surrender!

“Mystery is at the heart of creativity. That, and surprise.”
Julia Cameron

Divine Timing!

“He that can have Patience, can have what he will.”
Benjamin Franklin
Our timing is definitely not divine timing I've noticed! Have you ever felt impatient with life and felt things were not happening as you would like? That's a rhetorical question by the way!!
There are times when I get so frustrated with something and being a Practitioner of Science of Mind I have to remind myself that there is an order at the back of all things. If life is not unfolding exactly to my plan I try to remember there is probably a better way that I am unaware of and I need to just have faith. I don't always know what is in my best interest from the center of my little world. There is usually a perspective I cannot see.

When I was single I wanted so much to be part of a couple and finally came to really appreciate that single state and remember it's benefits; there's no one to answer to or consider in my decision making process, less compromising and more time to myself. I used to tell myself enjoy this because the time will come when you will be in a relationship and that state has its benefits too but they are not the ones you have now. And at the right time for me in my growth and development I met my husband.

Yes it all worked out for the best but I know it can be challenging to be patient and remember what is best for us is unfolding. When I became aware that impatience is a lack of faith I made a greater effort to align with what is and trust in divine timing.
I am constantly tested but I am much less reactionary now when things don't seem to be going the way I think they should. I've seen that what is right for me will not go by me, that what I thought was right for me paled in comparison with what transpired in time.

So release your small ideas of control today and as Ralph Waldo Emerson says, get your bloated nothingness out of the way! Let Spirit work through you in divine right order and time and be prepared to be more than pleasantly surprised.

“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions.”
Rainer Maria Rilke