pray | Self-Help Books

this is an image of a heart-shaped earth with clouds and a rainbow symbolizing world peace

As the debate over whether U.S. lawmakers should give President Obama authorization to launch a military strike against Syria continues, many of us are once again feeling the enormous inner conflict and deep sadness that comes with trying to reconcile the stark contrast between war and peace. Because our natural spiritual state of being is unconditional love, I truly believe that, at a soul level, every human being desires peace. The question is: How do we create it?

The emphasis is on the word “create” because peace is a sense of well being that originates from the inside, beginning with the intention of the heart. If we are “looking” for it, we will not be able to find it because peace is not something that comes to us from the outside. The condition of our physical world is a giant mirror reflecting back to us the collective thoughts of every person who is part of our earth family. Since thought is creative, whatever we focus on expands. Therefore, what we are seeing is an indication that part of our human society is predominately focused on judgment, violence, greed, and crime.

We can point a finger of blame wherever and to whomever we want, but it does not change the truth that each one of us has played a part in creating the condition of the world in which we live. Perhaps it has been in seemingly minor, passive ways, such as getting caught up in the turmoil and conflict of the world by watching and listening to endless news reports of violence and acts of desecration. Or, it could be as intensively aggressive as being a perpetrator in a massive heinous crime. Judging who is “most wrong” renders us powerless and only creates more separation and discord between us and within our lives.

We can only change the quality of our collective personal reality by taking personal responsibility for the part we have each played in creating it. Since all change begins at the level of self, when we change our individual lives, the world around us changes as well.

To create peace within your own life, try some of these basic ideas. You will be amazed at what unfolds!

Meditate – Create a space of at least 20 minutes every day to sit in a place of peace and quiet. Your meditation can be as simple as sitting on your sofa and focusing on your breath. The importance of this cannot be overstated, for it is within the silence that you can remember your mind and body connection with spirit.

Pray – Ask for divine guidance as to how you can best bring peace to the world; envision what a peaceful world looks like. Most importantly, imagine the feeling of peace within your own heart.

Forgive – Let go of the need to be right. All conflicts, whether it be in personal relationships or between countries, originate from the perception that one party is “right” and the other is “wrong.” Would you rather be right or do you prefer peace? (You may find it helpful to read my blog on Forgiveness, April 23, 2013.)

Live consciously – Align your thoughts, words, and actions with the spiritual values of love, respect, peace, and cooperation. This requires diligent practice and is the most effective way to live a peaceful life.

Be mindful of what you feed your mind – Stop watching violent entertainment shows and videos and modify the amount of time you spend following the news. There is a difference between being informed and immersing yourself in the fears of the world. Instead, spend more time reading, watching, and listening to information that inspires you and nourishes your soul. What you put into your mind is what it feeds back to you.

Commune with Nature – Spend more time outdoors in the beauty of nature. Nature regenerates your body, mind, and soul and balances your energy.

Even though the status of the world may seem overwhelming and out of our personal control, we each have the power to contribute to world peace. It begins with our personal lives, starting in this present moment. Every person makes an enormous difference in creating harmony within the world. Like a drop of water, every single thought we have ripples out into the massive sea of the collective thoughts of all humanity. By choosing thoughts of love, we automatically unite with other like-minded souls in forming a field of energy that has the infinite power to exponentially create an entirely new world.

NOT ONLY CAN WE CREATE WORLD PEACE,

IT IS OUR SACRED MISSION TO DO SO!

As always, I welcome your thoughts.

Love and Light,

Sandra

This is an image of a beautiful and happy women with open arms

Most of us have been barraged throughout our lives with messages about the importance of “never giving up,” so the thought of ever “letting go” might seem weak and powerless. In fact, you might perceive that these two concepts are totally opposite.

So what IS the difference between “never giving up” and “letting go?” Actually, I believe they are different sides of the same coin.

Never Give Up

Many of us associate the phrase, “never give up” with a perception of having a relentless, uncompromising, pre-conceived idea of how we view things should be, as well as maintaining a dogged determination to make it happen. This interpretation feeds into the illusion that we have control over other people and outer circumstances and can prove to be very exhausting and frustrating.

I believe that the loving, spiritual meaning beneath this phrase

is never give up on YOURSELF.

In order to stay true to yourself, it is healthy to never give up on:

1. Remembering that you have the power to co-create with the Universe. You do this by praying, imagining, clarifying dreams, holding visions, and setting goals that serve to take you in the direction of creating the qualities of life you choose to live.

2. Persisting to have the enormous amount of courage it takes in order to face your fears head-on.

3. Mustering up the inner strength required to handle the many set-backs that occur when things do not turn out in the specific ways you have imagined.

4. Rising above the criticism that you face from people who do not support you in your dreams, visions, and goals.

5. Committing to take action on the infinite numbers of things you need to do to cooperate with the Universe to make your dreams of a better life come true.

6. Having the faith to believe that every experience you have is taking you in the direction of Wholeness, no matter how it looks in your physical world.

7. And that’s where “letting go” comes in.

Letting Go

Many of us associate the phrase “letting go” with giving up, resignation, quitting, and “losing.” Far from the truth! Actually, “letting go” is an attitude of tremendous inner spiritual strength. It means that after we take full responsibility for honoring our personal roles in co-creating with the Universe by “never giving up” on ourselves (items 1 to 6 above) – we then “let go” of trying to control how everything manifests in our lives.

Simply stated, “letting go” means letting go of our personal attachment to outcomes. When we “let go,” we are not sacrificing anything. Indeed, we are creating a vastly larger space to allow for the Infinite Potential of the Universe to create magnificent outcomes that far transcend our human perceptions. This is because we are choosing to put the limitation of our egos aside and accept that Divine Love is at work in manifesting how our thoughts, words, and actions appear to us in our physical world – even when the outcomes don’t coincide with our personal ideas. “Letting go” is having the faith to accept that the Universe is totally cooperating with us through the power of unconditional love.

When seen from this higher spiritual perspective, we can see that “never giving up” on ourselves and “letting go” of our attachment to outcomes are two dynamics that actually work in perfect harmony!

Love and Light,

Sandra

Tag Archives: pray

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What is the Difference Between “Giving Up” and “Letting Go?”