Spirit Online
January 8, 2012
Happy New Year ~ Happy to Do!
Quotation
"I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do."
~Leonardo da Vinci
Message
All of us have goals and dreams ... but we don't always take the actions that will support us in actually achieving them. Even the Apostle Paul said of himself in Romans 7:14-15, "I do not understand myself. I want to do what is right but I do not do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate."
Paul's words point out atypical human quality: that we don't always do the things we know will help us achieve the kind of life we want. Yet we have seen over and over again that the most successful people are those individuals who make a habit of doing the things the rest of us don't want or aren't willing to do.
In the spiritual realm, we talk a lot about "BEing" vs. DOing." In truth, both Being and Doing are important. In last week's message we explored how Being must precede Doing ... that it is important to focus first, not on actions, but on ourselves by being more gentle with ourselves, becoming more aware of who we are, and knowing, accepting and being true to ourselves. However, Doing is just as important to a happy, fulfilling life. Scripture tells us, "Man is justified by works, and not by faith only," and that "Faith without works is dead." Spiritual knowledge isn't enough; we must follow through with the actions of our inner guidance.
So what actions are necessary in order to experience a truly happy new year?
First, we must work to achieve clarity. Motivational speaker Brian Tracy said the one thing that makes some people more successful than others is clarity. People with clarity are more focused, productive and efficient. They achieve more and earn more. They have more freedom, peace of mind, energy, creativity, happiness and fulfillment.
Unfortunately, most of us don't have clarity. Eugene Debs said that people could have anything they want ... but the trouble is, they don't know what they want!!! The first step in creating the kind of lives we want is to absolutely clear about what we want.
Are you clear about the kind of life you want to create and the things you want to attract and experience? What kind of relationships do you want to have? What kind of finances do you wish to have? How do you want to spend your free time? Where do you want to live? What do you want to learn? In what ways do you want to serve? What things do you want to create? Where do you want to travel? What kind of person do you want to be? What kind of job do you want to have? What kind of relationship with God or spiritual life do you want to have? What kind of health and level of energy do you want to experience?
Clarity is powerful and important ... and shouldn't be restricted to accomplishments, possessions and places. We must also have clarity about qualities and attributes ... like being very clear that we want to live a spiritually-centered life, or wanting to be more patient, positive, honest, kind, caring or playful.
Today, write down three things that you want to achieve. Focus on them, sit with them, pray about them, and revisit them every night for the next three weeks, and continue to revisit them regularly after that time period. Each time you review your goals, try to get a little more focused and specific about the kind of life you want to create, the kind of person you want to be, and what you want to experience, share and express. That is the first step toward creating, attracting and manifesting everything you want.
Second, we must work to create a consiousness and attitude that will help us fulfill our dreams. Most of us don't do a very good job of supporting ourselves with the right attitude, encouragement and consciousness to achieve our dreams. We don't believe in ourselves, or have faith that our dreams are actually attainable. Yet positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. With the right attitude, we can attain incredible achievements and success. An attitude that is hopeful, appreciative, positive and excited about life can open doors and lift us to greater possibilities.
When you get clarity about what you want, the next step is to adopt the mindset of someone who has already achieved that thing. For example, if you want to be a great leader, open a space to embody the consciousness of a great leader. Close your eyes and imagine what it actually feels like to be a great leader. Place your complete focus on what a leader is like. Connect your mind with what how a great leader thinks, talks, feels and acts. Holding that consciousness can actually create a profound transformation that will support you in actually achieving your goal. Benjamin Disreali says, "Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think."
Creating this type of consciousness doesn't always come easy, and it may be a slow, deliberate process. We may affirm, "I'm brilliant; I'm great; I'm prosperous" ... but we can't our consciousness doesn't always transform that quickly. Instead, we can meet ourselves where we are, take a deep breath, and affirm, "I know I may not always be the best, but I know Spirit can express the best through me." Continuing to hold these type of positive thoughts will slowly begin to open our minds to greater consciousness and possibilities.
Third, we must work to complete the actions necessary to achieve our goals. The reason most of us don't realize our goals is that we simply don't take any action to achieve them ... or we start to take action, but never finish. Unfinished business creates a frustrating hole within us; it splatters our energy, efficiency and enthusiasm. It's important to have completion - and closure - on all the things in our lives. As such, it's important not only to take action, but to actually finish he tasks before us. Successfully completing a task - no matter how small - creates a consciousness and momentum that will propel our success in other areas, as well.
Jim Rohn said, "If you go to work on your goals, your goals will go to work on you. If you go to work on your plan, you plan will go to work on you. Whatever good things we build end up building us." Going to work on our goals, and finishing the tasks before us, creates positive energy and opens a space for more good. It adds a level of joy and fulfillment to our lives, and more fully expands who we came here to be.
Today, tackle something in your life that is not finished and complete it. Make a commitment to complete one step toward your goal. Focus on something, give it your attention, take the necessary steps to complete it and, ultimately, celebrate in your success at finishing it. You will be amazed at the energy and momentum it will create in your life!
Every one of us wants and deserves to have a happy life and a happy new year. And we can do it in a healthy, spiritually-centered way by both Being and Doing all that we want. First focus on Being: be aware, know yourself, accept yourself and be true to yourself. And from that, move to Doing: gain clarity, hold a success consciousness and positive attitude, and do the work necessary to achieve your goal.
Prayer
Living, loving Spirit, thank you for your all-loving presence. I am so grateful for your love that flows through me: boundless, unconditional love that heals, transforms and uplifts me. I know that I am always safe and secure in your unconditional love. I am grateful to be a loving expression and demonstration of your love, and I commit to focusing all of my thoughts, words and actions on being a radiating center of your love. Shine your love and light through me, God. Let me be a channel through which your love can flow into my home, church, community, state, country and world. God, show me how to share my truth in love. Thank you, God, for your amazing, unconditional love. Amen.
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