Attitude

“What we say about a situation determines how we think about it and finally what we do about it. Attitude largely determines activity; so watch your attitude and make it one of faith. By practicing positive attitudes, you will experience a renewed trust in God and find creative solutions to your problems.” - Our Prayer.org

I’ve been paying greater and greater attention to the impact of the separated, limited, little Me on my joy, my life. Its thinking can easily push me into fear, not feeling capable enough, contracted.

And yesterday I started paying greater attention to the unlimited Me. It’s the Me that is formless - my spirit, my true essence. So when I caught my attitude starting to drift towards negativity, I paused, said hello to God, and consciously moved back into the energy field of Spirit. With a shift in attitude, my actions shifted as well, and I proceeded on with the day in a more positive manner.

We all know what the shift of attitude towards God, trust, and faith feels like: power, joy, love, mercy, grace, and peace. The little Me cannot bring me to that place. Only the whole Me, the Oneness, God.

Blessings

Read in today’s Daily Word, “Today I look for blessings and find them around me,” got me thinking about the idea of blessings in general.

Everything is a blessing, put by God onto my path in life; they reflect the nature of God - good, loving, wise, caring, merciful, etc. However, at any given moment, without the ‘right’ frame of mind and attitude, I may not see the blessings at all. That’s a reflection of my feeling of connectedness - or lack of - to God.

“Blessings come in many forms. Some are welcomed and easy to distinguish, while others are recognized only through the lens of steadfast faith and overcoming. Throughout this day, I remember to rejoice and give thanks for blessings great and small so that I may realize the sublime joy in each moment of communion with God.” - Daily Word, June 4, 2010

I am grateful for recognizing blessings, and the state of my relationship with God that they reflect. Thank You, God!

Prison and God

My obsession was all-powerful. Summoning all my resources, I could not dislodge it. Then three simple words did the trick: “Came to believe.” - Anonymous
We were prisoners of our obsessions. No more. Three words, “came to believe,” were the key that unlocked the gates of our personal prison.
When we rely on this power, wonderful and unexplainable things happen. Once this power unlocks the prison gates, anything is possible.
- In God’s Care, June 1

There are many ways we can be imprisoned.

One of my spiritual teachers began his spiritual awakening 30+ years ago while incarcerated. He’d run away from home when he was 13, then landed up in reform schools, jails, and the state penitentiary. This last stop was for a crime he’d not committed, but his hope of ever being released was dismal. Then he had a spiritual experience while lying in his bunk one day. It changed his attitude toward his defense lawyer and from there, miracles started happening. He was set free and his life has been about waking up and service ever since.

With all this teacher went through, he is fond of saying that he prefers his prison to have bars.

Yep, it certainly is easier when I can concretely see how I limit myself. When I was in the throes of my eating addiction, I finally was able to see that it was a symptom of something deeper. When I became open to asking for help, it was the beginning of the process of my release from prison.

When this devout atheist heard that she could choose her own conception of God, then “came to believe,” the key was turned and my prison door unlocked. Since then, relying on a Power greater than myself, I’ve been stepping out more and more from the prison of the ego, something I cannot always see as clearly has the bars of a prison cell, but surely quite as dismal.

Cultivating a close relationship with Spirit, my life has been filled with miracle upon miracle, and my soul has rejoiced. Coming to believe was the answer to my prison release and the beginning of my waking up to The Presence and this new earth.

God and Your Vehicle

Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire? - Corrie Ten Boom

It’s interesting that this quote popped up this week (although I just read it now). On Friday morning, Rog spied a flat tire on his truck that was gratefully sitting in our driveway. And, I learned yesterday that my dear friend Samara, who for business reasons has temporarily traded her life in peaceful Kauai for the city of Miami, had an angry driver slash three tires on her vehicle.

So this quote piqued my interest; I think it is good food for thought...

Do I connect with Spirit for help with my vehicle - my life - just as rarely as when my automobile needs a spare tire? Or, do I let God guide me as I regularly walk through this life and this crazy world?

Prayer is always available to connect us with our Source. It is talking to The Presence, it’s a feeling, it’s an attitude, it’s a thankfulness.

I’m grateful my car rarely requires the spare tire to be used and I’m grateful for letting go and letting God steer my life.

Reborn

As I look back on my life these past several months, I have been reborn again and again. It’s obvious that this notion of being reborn is no longer a once-in-a-lifetime experience as I’d sensed it was. Yet its increased frequency doesn’t diminish its significance one bit.

So what do I mean by being reborn? My working definition of “being reborn” is: “a significant inner shift of a positive and spiritual nature that alters my sense of self and others thereby transforming my world view followed by a change in attitude and action.”

Sounds a lot like a miracle to me.

An Attitude of Gratitude

“...we can shape our attitude moment by moment. Accepting responsibility for this is a major step in our recovery.

“I will be aware of the thoughts and feelings that shape my words and actions today, and strive to promote joy and gratitude.” – In God’s Care, February 28, 2010

I find it so powerful focusing on that which I am grateful for. It easily and quickly connects me consciously with Source and opens my heart to self and others. It places me in a state of grace, receiving all the good gifts I can enjoy freely in life (of which there are so many), with life itself as the fundamental gift.

It seems that grace and gratitude work in concert with one another: as I feel gratitude, more grace comes to me. And once again in that grace, I feel so connected to Spirit, with much gratitude in my heart.

Thank You, God, for an attitude of gratitude and Your unending grace.

Itinerary Versus Attitude

God’s will is not an itinerary but an attitude. – Andrew Dhuse

When I think of the word itinerary, I think of the material world and taking action. Hence, if I think of God’s will as an itinerary, it means I have to be doing something. It also probably means there is a final destination.

But the aforementioned quote suggests that God’s will is an “attitude”. And, in that word, I sense then that it is the state of being, rather than doing, that is what counts. It places me in the Now, and destination is of no consideration.

Today, as I turn my will and my life over to the care of God as I understand God, my attitude reigns. From my heart, I ask God to run my life. God does the work of managing my life, not me. And, with that, I rest in peace.

Letting God In

“I let go and let God free me for greater good.” – Daily Word

As we transition to a very different life style, I’m peeling the onion learning more about myself. My attitudes and behaviors affect those around me, especially my beloved, Rog. So I pray that as more is revealed and pain comes forth, that Spirit shows me the right way to go and keeps my ego at bay. I am open to healing, I am open to love.

I’m looking to learn my lessons, painful as sometimes they may be, so that I can move forward and enjoy a happy, joyous, and free life especially with my twin flame. Then, too I am better able to help others and be of good use to God. So I let go all the junk inside me – the fears, doubts, hurts of the past – and let God direct me to my greater good. I let God’s love come in and I find peace.

Principles to Live By

There are a number of qualities I’ve cultivated in my years in 12 Step program which were introduced to me vis-à-vis my addiction. As times passes by, I am grateful to see how very often I apply them in my daily life. Things like patience, perseverance, humility, honesty, faith, etc.; these are principles that sum up each of the 12 Steps.

In providing computer-related services to clients, there are times when I get hung up in my work. It could be due to my own lack of knowledge and experience or a glitch in the software I am using. Most everyone knows how computers can be: you can’t live with them and you can’t live without them!

Over a quick lunch break today, Rog was kind enough to let me vent some of the issues I was wrestling with on my current project, for which I’ve been burning the midnight oil on and is due tomorrow. I told him that although they’re frustrating and costing me precious time, in a way I’m still pretty calm. Rog said, “You mean, like you’re not ready to throw the computer out the window yet,” a situation that he knows I’ve coached clients with.

Wow - yeah, that’s right, I’m not ready to throw the computer out the window yet. I’ve still got patience left in me. My perseverance is strong. I am humble and know I don’t have to be perfect. I can be honest and admit my weaknesses. I have numerous resources to go to for help. Perhaps mainly I’m in this space because these days I know I’m not alone.

I’ll say a specific prayer to Spirit before I go back to this project. And, I’ll have confidence that between God, my positive attitude, and the software vendor’s customer service, my work will unfold with ease and grace.

Thank you, Bill Wilson, Dr. Bob, and Spirit for the gift of a way of life that helps me in all matters, paving the way for me to be “happy, joyous, and free.”

Still...

As we lay down to go to sleep last night, Rog commented that he was glad the day was over, an unusual sentiment coming from him. Still, I can understand why.

From our house mailbox, we received a letter related to our bankruptcy requesting another pile of documents with a deadline for submission. There was incorrect information written in it and it had not been sent to our mailing address as it should have been, so had been sitting for a week. Still, I was grateful that the letter wasn’t from the mortgagor setting a new trustee sale.

From our other mailbox, we received a letter from our homeowners association. It was another annoying complaint, once again shedding no specific light on what we were supposedly not in compliance with. Still, I was grateful that I’d already called them weeks back about the matter in general and was confident that we would prevail. I was also grateful that Rog said he’d draft a response.

The website I had hoped to complete building and go live by mid afternoon took me into the evening. Still, I was grateful that my client is a warm, easy-going person to work with and appreciates the extra mile that I go. And, when there was a delay for the site to go live, I was grateful that the hosting server company had a helpful associate to work with, that I had uploaded the files correctly, and that the site will go live as soon as the company finishes its process.

And, if this all wasn’t enough to test my attitude, the saga of my front tooth was brought to life once again. Still, I was grateful that my crown came out during the dentist’s work week, and that he is a kind, compassionate good man with a great staff. I’ll call this morning for an emergency appointment and trust that God will arrange it so I don’t have to delay today’s trip to Tucson. Also, I’m grateful that I’m no longer so vain about the gap in the front of my mouth – when I speak, I just place my hand in front of it to cover the grossness.

Yes, my peace was challenged yesterday, but all in all I think I did a pretty good job of asking Spirit for help and coping. But what I noticed - and am so grateful for - is that, in most cases, my upbeat take on each situation was an immediate response. I’ve come a long way from when I would have immediately gone into a tailspin or a fit of lingering angry, both of which would have stoked my eating disorder and not made me a particularly nice person to be around. Mostly these days, I am able to see the blessings in every situation and feel gratitude. These challenges become opportunities to grow closer to God.

Oh, did I mention that Rog accidentally brewed decaf coffee for himself and high test for me for our afternoon coffee vacation?!

As we lay down to go to sleep last night, and the caffeine was still surging through my body, Rog commented that he was glad the day was over; I can understand why. I had some more than usual awake time before falling asleep so I converted the challenge into an opportunity. I used the time for extra prayers to God and my angels, thankful for my growing consciousness and the many blessings in my life.

Always Available

I entered the 12 Step program in March 1990 as a devout atheist. I soon discovered that people read daily meditation books related to their specific addiction, which helped them start their day off with some inspiration and contemplation. The words “God” or “Higher Power” could be found among the passages and it took some getting used to. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the readings and found them helpful with my addiction of choice.

Within about six months, I was solidly believing in a Power greater than myself. Lo and behold, in February 1991 a publisher of recovery material came out with a new meditation book entitled In God’s Care (As We Understand God), Daily Meditations on Spirituality in Recovery. I embraced this little book because I wanted to be more focused on spirituality than on my addiction.

I gave my first copy, filled with lots of yellow highlights and black underscores, to a dear friend who was in AA, when he became seriously ill (I mentioned Jay in one of my first blogs). He made his transition some time later and I never got it back. I’m on my second copy now, 15+ years old.

My path has taken me beyond the 12 Steps, but I never tire of this book and still find joy and inspiration from reading of it. I can even read it online when the hard copy is not nearby. So, here’s part of today’s message:

“We see things not as they are, but as we are.” – H. M. Tomlinson

...Our more positive attitude today changes our understanding of earlier experiences... If we rely on God’s help, we’ll come to understand all our experiences as opportunities for growth and fulfillment. We can trust them, live through them, and be grateful for their contribution to our spiritual development.

The attitude we harbor is powerful...God is always available to help us accept the circumstances of our life.

In the midst of our latest adventures of bankruptcy, foreclosure, building our businesses, and looking for a place to hang our hats, both Rog and I are doing our spiritual work, staying connected to HP, and keeping a positive, joyful attitude. God is always available - to guide us, help us, uplift us.

God's Delivery

Last night I attended a service at The Little Chapel in Paradise Valley here in Arizona. Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson, the co-founders of Childhelp, officiate at this place of serenity where people of all faiths join together in worship and to receive healing.

During the healing portion of the service, Sara walked over to a woman sitting behind me, who I’ll call Janet. Sara had intuited that Janet believed that God had left her out of His healing grace. Sara stated that Janet had difficulty trusting God because of past experiences with people around the issue of trust. Sara reassured her that God had not left her out – she just needed to trust Him a bit more.

My heart resonated with what Sara was saying to Janet, and as Janet got teary-eyed, so did I. I did not grow up in a trusting environment and I can see how that could carry on into my conception of God, especially with the way things are in my life right now. I need to trust in God more, to have more faith.

The issue of physical vision came up for a number of people and it seemed that all of them were healed instantaneously. I know that my spiritual vision has been impaired, showing up in my attitude and affecting my relationships. God is The Source of all my good. I may not know what the channels of delivery are, but I must know and keep the spiritual vision that God wants me to have all the riches of His Kingdom. My job is to keep my mind and heart open to receiving and leave the ‘how’ up to Him.

Many who come to The Little Chapel are ostensibly seeking healing on the physical plane. As for me, I know I needed some spiritual cleansing and healing. And, I know that God delivered it through the channel of Sara and others who were gathered last night at TLC. I am grateful.

Showers of Gratitude

Often when I’m in the shower – just me and the delicious warm, wet water, I take time to talk to Spirit. It can take the form of prayer, chatty conversation, and/or soulful singing. I cherish the time and can sometimes forget that the water meter is ticking.

I showered this morning right after I got out of bed, before having my quiet time with Spirit, not my usual habit. So I made sure that I took time to be with Spirit while cleaning my physical body. I started with a “Thank You for this day, thank You for my life,” then started sharing a gratitude list.

Lo and behold, when I got to my reading time, Unity’s Daily Word focused on gratitude. I like the synchronicity of that – especially since another reading stated “We will experience no coincidence today. All situations that transpire...have their purpose” (From In God’s Care, January 7). Also, I like the additional enforcement for my consciousness. Thinking of what I’m grateful for is always an uplifting experience for me - and I suspect for most everyone.

So here’s the full reading from the Daily Word – enjoy!

Today's Daily Word - Wednesday, January 7, 2009
GRATITUDE
With an attitude of gratitude, I attract greater good into my life.

I am grateful for all the good in my life and aware that by being grateful, I am attracting even more good to me.

Gratitude is more than just thankfulness. It is a deeper awareness that because God is present within every person and situation, ultimate good is also present.

As I begin each day both in the awareness that God is all good at all times and with the assurance that I am one with God, I have the strength, patience, and faith to face any situation. My gratitude increases with each prayer of faith and each acknowledgement that wherever I am, God is.

I thank God for this day and for all the good it holds in store for me and for those I hold dear.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God."--Colossians 3:16