We are on the final stretch, the last 10 days! Pat yourself on the back–you are doing great. I know sometimes it does not feel like anything is “happening”–at least I feel that way, sometimes. But I can assure you, that if you have been taking a few minutes each day to read and think about the Guiding Thoughts, you are changing; your perceptions and perspectives are broadening, and you are allowing more love and light into your mind and your heart–and I hope you have seen that love and light encourage bold action, especially in a world that loves its darkness.

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Guiding Thought

Life is a process of Self-discovery. I embrace All of Life, for All of Life is who I am. As I embrace Life as my Self, I come to understand Life as me. Life embraces me gently and joyfully in return.

Reflection

In case you haven’t noticed, or haven’t followed along long enough to notice, the Journeys dovetail with each other. Sometimes it feels more like puzzle pieces making up the picture of my convoluted life, but it’s the same principle: The themes from the Journeys fit together and work together to lead me to greater insights, self-knowledge, and self-understanding.

Here’s what I am talking about: I’ve been working on abundance for a long time (pretty successfully, if I do say so myself). Abundance is one of those things that is so tangible, so recognizable, it feels sometimes easier to see the advances and the retreats–more so than with spiritual experiences like freedom or worth or fulfillment, which are less tangible.

I have a financial situation that I’ve been working out, and I feel myself retreating. I feel myself afraid, like I have been afraid in the past. I see it; I recognize it. I feel myself hesitant, untrusting, and uncertain. If ever I needed courage in a tangible situation, this is a good example.

In this situation, courage is about not letting my old fears win. It’s about trusting myself, trusting God, trusting life, and knowing that Life embraces me gently and joyfully. 

Here is why this is important: I have to do it. I have to make sure my fears don’t win.

How do I do this? I must be proactive in stopping the thoughts of fear. I do this by interrupting them, and redirecting them. It’s like SparkyJen commented two days ago, “Whenever I feel myself reeling, I simply say: ‘Peace Be Still,’ because this is where I want to reside. It typically stops me in my tracks, allows me to regroup, conjure up a smile; maybe even a giggle. Once I feel I’ve ‘got this,’ I continue…”

With my recognition of old fears and patterns, luckily I am able to catch myself before I begin reeling. Sometimes that’s even harder, because my mind wants to seduce me into thinking it’s not that bad; you can indulge in some negativity, some fear, you know there’s a part of you that loves feeling sorry for yourself, loves wanting to be the victim, thinks someone else should take care of this…

BUT NO. I must stop these thoughts, and replace them with thoughts that take me where I want to be: Peace. Trust. Openness.

It takes openness to embrace All of Life, right? A hug starts with the arms wide open.  I want to be open to Life, and embracing All of Life, including situations that remind me of myself at a time when I felt less confident, less trusting, less worthy, and more fearful when it comes to big financial transactions. 

I am not that person anymore. Those fears and feelings are old, no longer part of me.

Shussh mind! Be still. I have been in a process of self-discovery for too long to let you seduce me into believing something untrue about myself, or have me slip back into an old pattern or way of being. I am amazing! and I do amazing things! I am loving and kind, and life supports me, enriches me, and wants me to be happy fulfilled and abundant!