A client asked me recently \u201cwhat are your spiritual practices for the year?\u201d We\u2019d been discussing goals, visioning, and the changes she wanted to make for her best year ever.<\/p>\n
I paused, and wondered\u00a0how<\/em> do I explain what\u2019s behind what I practice these days? \u00a0That it really is about BEING the change spiritually<\/em>.<\/p>\n A decade ago, I couldn\u2019t even tell you what spirituality meant<\/a>. Today it feels like my entire life has been infused with it.<\/p>\n I still remember these words stopping me in my tracks..<\/p>\n We are not human beings having a spiritual experience.<\/p>\n We are spiritual beings having a human experience.<\/p>\n ~Pierre Teilhard de Chardin<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n My truth bells were immediately ringing. I\u2019d somehow known this\u2026I read it again. Wrote it down. I looked up Pierre..how do I completely miss these great \u00a0thinkers? This pattern would repeat itself over and over..a whole new reality opened up that has been around for thousands of centuries.<\/p>\n We lost a part of ourselves long ago\u2026<\/p>\n You are a soul. A complex personality. A unique being who\u2019s evolving on this earth in a vast Universe filled with spiritual guidance. In our modern world filled with technology, \u00a0and global access to much information, spirituality may feel invisible to you despite a growing awareness that we are all somehow connected.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been living, and creating my life from a spiritual place for the last decade. It\u2019s a universal journey I share in smaller pieces because not only is readiness a factor, but your most sacred beliefs get challenged. It\u2019s a tricky space to navigate.<\/p>\n I remember the way I used to operate. I\u2019d go straight into planning, common sense, and working hard to get things done. Checking off lists. Getting resources. Achieving Results. Next.<\/p>\n Action is important, but once I realized\u00a0being<\/strong> comes before<\/em> doing \u2013 everything began to change.<\/p>\n Allowing. Being present. Noticing. Connecting. Seeing. Believing. Trusting. Surrendering. Co-creating. Synchronicities.<\/p>\n I was missing all of it.<\/p>\n I begin each year with a soul theme. This year it was followed a deep dive into Michael Beckwith\u2019s 4 Stage Visioning Process (can listen here<\/a>). He takes you through the spiritual journey of living into your life\u2019s vision.<\/p>\n I felt a strong push to lead more <\/em>this year so a \u2018leadership\u2019 theme was coming up for me. It was fueled by a sense of \u2018responsibility\u2019 to share more about spirituality.<\/p>\n So\u00a0I invited some friends over the holidays to watch this visioning process, which is what I\u2019ve been experiencing the past decade! Of course how you go through the stages is unique to you, but it\u2019s remarkably consistent for all.<\/p>\n It happened to fall on a day when plenty of snowflakes were coming down hard.<\/p>\n The roads were not good, and I wasn\u2019t sure anyone would make it, but 11<\/strong> friends arrived!\u00a0The number 11 is a \u2018sign\u2019 that shows up to tell me \u201cI\u2019m on my right path\u201d. I used to see 11:11 as a child, and then it stopped.<\/p>\n In the last decade as I became more spiritually aware, this 11:11 prompt would appear in all forms 8:11, 11:56, 111, but ONLY when I wasn\u2019t looking for it. Each time it wows me because it reminds me of this bigger universe we live in.<\/p>\n I also completed Michael Hyatt\u2019s 5 days to your Best Year Ever\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0online program.<\/p>\n Michael Beckwith\u2019s visioning process is more BEING. \u00a0Michael Hyatt\u2019s program is more DOING. We need both. As one of my coaches, Christine Kloser would say: \u201cPray, and move your feet!\u201d<\/p>\n Did you notice the two Michael\u2019s? I have a Godson whose name is Michael. Some people know Jesus as Jeshua, or Joshua Ben Joseph but I also know him as \u201cChrist Michael\u201d. These are synchronicities I pay attention to now.<\/p>\n I see signs and synchronicities every day reminding me of my own spiritual nature. \u00a0See if you notice them in your life. Some can slip by me for years! When I finally connect the dots, I wonder what took me so long?<\/p>\n The teacher appears when the student is ready. Once I pay attention, I will ask \u201cwhat am I being shown in this moment that I\u2019m meant to see?\u201d Essentially I open up a dialogue \u2013 it\u2019s similar to praying, but more like asking for guidance.<\/p>\n You can\u2019t receive what you don\u2019t ask for \u2013 free will is the overriding universal law AND things happen we don\u2019t want. If you can understand this paradox (and duality), you will come to see the nature of life, and can navigate it all more easily.<\/p>\n Your soul theme is a one word intention that becomes your internal compass for the year.<\/p>\n It\u2019s like a nudge calling you forward into becoming more of who you want to be. It\u2019s also the way your soul is seeking to grow.<\/p>\n What do you feel called to step into this year? Can you narrow it down to one word?<\/p>\n The reason why writing down your goals gives you have a much higher chance of success is that it\u2019s a way to release your intention energetically, and you will receive matching assistance from the Universe. Be careful what you wish for \u2013 that you are indeed ready to receive<\/em> it.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a great resource for more on that idea most of you know as \u2018the law of attraction\u2019: Ask, and it is given<\/a>.<\/p>\n You know we can be our own block, but what exactly do we need to let go of? Our limiting beliefs. We all have them.<\/p>\n \u201cBelief is always limiting and binding; faith is expanding and releasing. Belief fixates, faith liberates.\u201d<\/p>\n ~The Urantia Papers, 1955<\/p><\/blockquote>\n What\u2019s difficult is we don\u2019t know which thoughts are stopping us from experiencing the things we want. \u00a0They\u2019re our blind spots of self-deception. We tend to think in black and white, logically, and rationally (especially if you grew up in a more scientific family like me)!<\/p>\n We need to adopt a practice of seeing both the forest (big universal picture) AND the trees (smaller details), then focus your attention WHILE keeping that bigger flow going.<\/p>\n It requires a move beyond thinking of ways, and solutions to a place that awakens our own God given creativity. You are the sole creator of your life based on the choices you are constantly making with your free will.<\/p>\n The only freedom you really care about is the one that allows you to make decisions about your definition of success \u2013 what makes you come alive, and the results you want. What gets our back up is anyone telling us what\u2019s right or wrong for us, and how you should go about it.<\/p>\n Do they know your heart, mind, and soul better than you?<\/p>\n Only you truly know what feels resonant within. That\u2019s what you most want to honour (without intentionally harming others in the process \u2013 the Golden rule is the bottom line rule for relationships). Am I treating anyone in a way I wouldn\u2019t want to be treated?<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to remember that how someone else hurts, gets angry or feels disappointed is often not because you caused it, but as a result of them not getting what THEY WANT based on their own values and needs.<\/p>\n We are not responsible for making other people happy \u2013 that\u2019s their responsibility. Until you find your own joy, you will not be much joy to others.<\/p>\n Review your relationships, career, finances, health etc.\u2026.what is the experience you\u2019re longing for in each area of your life? Say it out loud \u201cWhat I really want is __________\u201d, then just listen for any resistance that shows up.<\/p>\n \u201cI cannot be, do, or have \u00a0__________ \u00a0because __________.\u201d \u00a0These\u00a0will highlight your limiting beliefs.<\/p>\n You may think \u201cI don\u2019t have enough time or resources\u201d, \u201cit\u2019s too late\u201d, or \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m not smart enough.\u201d No sense being delusional about it, but a wide spectrum of possibilities exists you can grab onto despite these thoughts.<\/p>\n Michael Hyatt talks about \u2018upgrading your beliefs\u2019. By re-examining old assumptions, and moving away from the \u201cthis is just the way it is\u201d mindset allows you to step out of the box. Now you can get a glimpse of the forest. You may even find yourself exploring a cool jungle or beautiful garden.<\/p>\n The secret is accepting something may be partially true, but then asking \u201cwhat am I willing to do anyway?\u201d You don\u2019t replace your thoughts completely, you upgrade them to a bigger playing field.<\/p>\n Be mindful that your \u201cthoughts become things\u201d because of the energy you give your words. Mike Dooley teaches this idea\u2026hmmm, another Michael. (He started out at Price Waterhouse where I also articled as a former Chartered Accountant \u2013 more synchronicities.) \u00a0You can sign up here<\/a>\u00a0for his \u201cUniverse Notes\u201d to open your mind to that cosmic universe of possibilities.<\/p>\n Michael Hyatt calls these upgraded beliefs \u2018liberating truths\u2019<\/em>. \u00a0One of mine is \u201cI have enough energy and time to accomplish what I want in my career this year, and still maintain a balanced, connected personal life.\u201d<\/p>\n I was hanging on to an old belief that was no longer serving me: \u201cyou can have it all, just not all at the same time\u201d. \u00a0I have fears that I will miss out on the close connection with my teens I\u2019ve developed or I won\u2019t be available to provide the support, and guidance they need. I didn\u2019t want to be stressed out with commitments I couldn\u2019t manage effectively.<\/p>\n But part of me knows I have to be willing to make mistakes, struggle, and disappoint loved ones sometimes in order to grow, and contribute the way I feel called to do spiritually.<\/p>\n Embrace those healthy \u2018growing pains\u2019 instead of trying to avoid them is a necessary path to your success. I\u2019ve already forgotten appointments, and missed deadlines, but I\u2019m doing more coaching, and writing than ever before to wider audiences.<\/p>\n The final element is having faith that it will all jive in a way that works in my life. Trust, and surrender.<\/p>\n Faith in the unseen allows you to let go of HOW it will happen, and opens doors you can\u2019t see yet. Assistance comes in many forms, and you will begin to recognize your own miracles, signs, and synchronicites to point the way forward.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been applying this particular Robin Sharma\u2019s\u00a0best habits video<\/a> for years. I create a one page plan. I create goals. I\u2019m working on doing a regular weekly review. I live in gratitude. I\u2019m awake by 5 am (which didn\u2019t happen overnight)!<\/p>\n I remind myself to have FUN (I can get too serious) \u2013 it\u2019s vital you are genuinely smiling inside. Applying these principles keep elevating the fun factor each year:<\/p>\nWho Are You?<\/h4>\n
What I did this year..<\/h4>\n
Michael Hyatt\u2019s 5 Days to Your Best Year Ever<\/h4>\n
Your Soul Theme<\/h4>\n
Getting Yourself Out of the Way<\/h4>\n
Seeking guidance, and wisdom from those we respect, and admire is important, but what\u2019s more important is learning to trust yourself.<\/h5>\n
Are you willing to question the beliefs that may be holding you back?<\/h4>\n
So what are my annual spiritual practices?<\/h4>\n