Greetings Awakened Ones!
Well, it seems I am being tested. Once again I previously wrote a great blog and again it did not post. I am forced to look at my responses when things do not unfold as I expected or, I have to repeat the same lessons over and over. Clearly some self reflection is needed.
Self knowledge is key if we truly desire enlightenment! Our reading for today is titled "Where to start" and we are provided with ten (10) powerful action steps. They are:
Observe your impact on other people, listen carefully to your stories, know what your strengths are, find out what matters to you, notice what makes you happy, notice what affect a your moods negatively, experience how much you can learn from your mistakes, let yourself learn from other people, get to know the contents of your inner world, and last but not least, assume there is always more to know!
Self Awareness is key! Now is the time to more deeply see ourselves. I emphasize the word deeply because we may have a tendency to stay on the surface of things, but enlightenment requires a deeper knowing so that one can consciously choose.
Here is the work, do the reading and then Journal
about these questions!
In addition, the question for today is:
. What did I learn about myself today?
See you in class tonight. Blessings and Wake Up!
Rev.Sylvia
While reading todays message, I realized that the 10 action steps are things that I already know and practice (most times anyway). I tend to get distracted from what I know by little things that happen to me or around me during the day. My focus for the next few days will be the 10 action steps that I will re-read several times today. Additionally, I will discover what I learned today later this evening. Thank you and Blessings.
ReplyDeleteSocrates’ wisdom of “Know Thyself” has been one of my favorite sayings, as I believe self knowledge is crucial in many ways. I have been paying attention to the contents of my inner world, but this lesson makes me realize there are some areas I’ve neglected. I need to focus more on the impact I have on others; the thoughts that negatively affect my moods; and learning lessons from others. I guess it's not just enough to recognize the lessons from my mistakes, but trying harder not to repeat them. Each evening I will have to ask the suggested revealing question(s). This is good stuff!
ReplyDeleteWhat I learned is that I need to listen more, talk less, and pay attention to what's going on ALLLL around me. I heard a bird singing this morning when I got out of the shower and I quickly had the thought that there is JOY right outside my window and I could take that joy with me when I left home and carry with me thoughtout the day. In other words share the joy with others like the bird shared the joy with me.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great insight for me today: moods are driven by thoughts, not the other way around.
ReplyDeleteToday I had my first review at my current place of employment. The company just implemented a policy where everyone has reviews at the same time regardless of start date. Because I have not been here a year I did not get the full raise amount even though I had high scores and my manager gave me a glowing review. I smiled through it all, grateful for the Good in it. I was thankful for the blessings I did receive but harbored no ill feelings for what I did not get. I learned that regardless of monetary gain, I still know that my God-given talents are mine and nothing can take away from them. I am worth it!
ReplyDelete--Rev. Sylvia, it may be a good idea to write your entries in Word first then paste them to the blog. That way if it disappears again you'll still have it. Blessings!--
Dennis I appreciated the (mood vs. thought) insight as well. What I have learned about myself so far today is just how much I appreciate simplicity over complexity. Complexity meaning the need to be right, "appearing" to get the best deal and so on. I own rental property and am blessed with wonderful tenants. I often operate off my own matra "it's just money, keep it in rotation" I could have been challenged by a situation this earlier, however, having had a calm meditation session this morning, my mind was clear and divine guidance came effortlessly. Right now all involved in the situation are truly blessed. Today I learned again how much I value the happiness of those around me, as well as my own. My nature is simple, not as opposed to intelligent, but having the capacity to bring a balanced mix of intelligence and wisdom (or intuition) to a situation and trusting the divine guidance regardless of immediate appearance. I also stole Suze Ormans mantra "People first, then money, then things." Maintaining and practicing an awareness of these mantra's in my life, allows me to be who I really am without anxiety and fear. Today has so far reminded me of my love for people and happiness, faith in that has yielded immeasurable prosperity
ReplyDeleteKim Davis
Today I had a long conversation with my beloved mentor from my hometown. She’s 90, healthy, wise, alert, and grounded, and helped to instill the Unity Truth Principles in me over 30 years ago.
ReplyDeleteWhat I learned today was that as I was listening to her share her wisdom over the years, she as gaining as much or more insight, energy, connectedness and love from me. Yes, there were give-and-take conversations but I didn’t stop to think about the impact of my unconditional love nor the tremendous value of her opportunity to share her wisdom gained with an open and receptive vessel. In addition to my mother, she helped me to see my strengths and self-imposed limitations and taught me how to be my highest, best self -- and she thoroughly enjoyed teaching me. Today I experienced such joy as I felt how deeply she loves me and I saw God’s Divine love in her, as her, through her -- being passed on in me, as me , through me. Her parting words today were joy-filled, “pass it on”.
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ReplyDeleteGreat class this evening! The key take-aways for me was simple: what a wonderful spiritual journey that we get to embark upon with one another and REMEMBER to write in my journal.
ReplyDeletebe well~
correction: key take-aways WERE simple...(smile).
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed class tonight. I am thinking a lot about the way I impact others...and what type of energy I give off. I love when I meet people and they have such positive energy--it made me think about whether or not anyone feels that way when they are around me.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Shaundrae, great class. I know, I cannot have 10 number one priorities and be effective. I will be mindful of and give some attention to the 8 other action steps, they are all critical on my journey. After careful evaluation, I have selected 2 steps upon which to give my focus and commitment: 1) experience how much I can learn from my mistakes and 2) get to know the contents of my inner world. I selected these two steps because they encompass the whole of life. Missteps are an inevitable part of life. I understand there are valuable lessons to be learned from my missteps. However, I mull, investigate, dissect and scrutinize my missteps incessantly – wasting value time. In a recent message Rev. Sylvia spoke to me by saying, “come to terms quickly with missteps - accept that you did not do, act or heed the voice of Spirit and move on”. I will cure my “analysis paralysis.” By getting to know and healing (if necessary) the contents of my inner (self) world, I move closer to claiming and expressing my divine nature. My personal credo for now is: live by design and not by default.
ReplyDeleteWell this day was to be final test. Was I going to do this class or not? When I walkin into the class late it had already begun with a seed meditation that seemed to focus on the divine male and female energy. Not a good sign. Oh I forgot Truth Students do not judge. Already an aspect to but put aside presents itself.
ReplyDeleteI am a following the comments and observations in silence. Lewis speaks of happiness and perspective and that definitely resonates with me. What makes me happy one day might not make me happy the next moment. It can be disheartening. Lets say I have a busy day ahead of me. If I reduce the day to small tasks, reduce the task into minutes that I can be happy about in the now moment then just by changing my perspective I have change my day. Yes it is great to know that every moment is a chance to start again.
Then the seed meditation was on commitment. Now we're steppin' in my yard. That wanting something without working for it was a mirror in the face. It didn't hurt but I flinched. The picking a "love in action Partner was the last route to escape. I picked someone I already knew. Don,t want too get too uncomfortable. This brotha is more spiritually focused than I am, wont be shocked if I let me out of the bag, and too smart for me to pull the wool over his eyes. "Let's meet once a week. Is that good enough for you"? I ask. "No", he says, "I was thinking more like three times a week." he responds. Ya see God is working for me even I'm not working for myself. And so it begins.
On the way out I buy my book, I don't want that to be the reason for my procrastination.
When I get home my PhD sista had called her college dropout brotha and leaves a voice mail. "An older man came into my office at AU looking for textbooks to buy."' she says. "I said sure look around. While doing that he sees a picture of you on my desk and asks if you go to Unity. I told him yes. Then he proceeds to tell me what a beautiful voice you have, have much emotion you convey and how he enjoys your singing."
Everything you need if you trust yourself and God will show you that every new day is one were you can express the message of your life. I guess I'll be committed to this class!