by Christine Green | Mar 26, 2013 | Spiritual Practice
I like to think of myself as a positive person. I try to find the highest thought in most situations. I noticed this week as I witnessed some negative energy and anger that my tendency was to run in the opposite direction. I had an insight that there is a powerful healing opportunity if I could just stand still and not flee.
Since our human nature is 98 percent emotional and 2 percent rational, conflict causes a physical feeling of anxiety and an emotional feeling of insecurity. When anxiety is experienced, we have a choice between reacting or reflecting. When we neglect to choose, our default mode is reactive.
Our reactive mode runs the gambit; do we fight or flee, struggle or surrender, attack or withdraw. The need to appease is part of the reactive mode. All too often I find that we often suppress or deny our true feelings in order to appease. We can change this pattern by speaking our truth using ‘I’ statements instead of ‘you’ statements.
There is a lesson in the Course in Miracles that invites us to focus our thoughts: “Peace of mind is clearly an internal matter. It must begin with your own thoughts, and then extend outward. It is from your peace of mind that a peaceful perception of the world arises.” The lesson invites us to notice our fearful, anxiety-producing thoughts and offending personalities or events and repeat a new thought: I could see peace instead of this.
By choosing to see peace, we have an opportunity to observe and relate to the situation at hand in a new way. We may still be troubled by the conflict and still observe it with an intention for clarity. The practice engages our Higher Self and we are guided to a more peaceful solution.
Mother Theresa said, “If we really want to love, we must learn how to forgive.” We can learn to forgive when we are willing to reflect and not react. It takes practice and commitment and it is one way we can begin to change our experience of the world.
by Christine Green | Mar 12, 2013 | Spiritual Practice
Very often we think we are listening but our minds are wandering and worrying about what the rest of the day will bring. Multi-tasking keeps us from paying attention. It is rare to have a one-to-one conversation any more!
There are times when we are so reactive to someone’s words that we’re not really listening to what they are saying at all because we’re busy creating our response. We’re cheating the person speaking because we are not hearing what they have to say. We lose sight of the divinity of the other person when we pretend to listen in this way. We miss the opportunity to fully in the moment.
The true gift of listening is when we are fully present and receptive to what another person is saying. We may not fully agree with what they are saying, but we honor and listen to their story.
Words of wisdom from Winston Churchill, “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”
by Christine Green | Mar 5, 2013 | Spiritual Practice
Have you ever held a grudge against someone? I did and noticed it was keeping me pretty occupied. Avoiding them, trying not to think about them, trying hard to pretend they didn’t hurt me…it was exhausting.
When we don’t forgive, we stay in the struggle. It is a burden we carry on our souls that keep us prisoners to the past. We are in bondage with anger, bitterness and resentment. When we don’t forgive, we find there is a wall that separates us from love and keeps us from moving forward.
Forgiveness is an opportunity to let go. Forgiveness puts an end to the illusion of separation. It takes a great deal of courage to let go. When we do, it is one of the most important processes that will bring harmony to life and peace to our soul. Forgiveness sets us free to express love into the world.
Affirmation: “I see the walls of resentment and separation melting away and I live in the presence of love.” Charles Fillmore
by Christine Green | Feb 21, 2013 | Spiritual Journey
As long as we think there is something more to do or be or have, we live in lack.
When we accept right where we are, at this moment right now, we open ourselves for the universal good to flow to us and through us. When we live in the moment, we live in love.
From Catherine Ponder, “Divine Love is doing its perfect work here and now. Divine Love harmonizes, Divine Love adjusts, Divine Love prospers and foresees everything and richly provides every good thing right here and now. Divine Love is now victorious.”
by Christine Green | Feb 17, 2013 | Uncategorized
The hospital staff person came in to empty the trash. “Thank you so much,” Laurence said. “Where are you from?” “Guatemala,” she replied. He asked her about her family, her life, and her journey to the United States.
My husband Laurence was in the hospital at the time diagnosed with leukemia. It was just one more jolt in a long series of medical complications. Wherever he was or whatever he was doing, he always stopped to express his gratitude.
He said thank you to everyone. He thanked his business associates, children, family members, clients, and the clerk at the neighborhood deli. He thanked me for taking care of our home, for doing the laundry and for buying the groceries. He said a prayer of thanks before every meal.
More trauma. A bone marrow transplant, complications with medications, a series of strokes. Laurence was in a coma for a week in Intensive Care. At Day 7, his doctor told us to get his affairs in order.
Prayers intervened and Laurence miraculously awoke out of his coma. As he regained consciousness, he began to whisper. Can you guess his first words? Thank you.
Laurence is no longer here on this earthly plane. But he left those of us who knew him with a reminder of the power of giving thanks. Gratitude acknowledges that we have received the gift that is being given, whether it is a compliment or an act of kindness. Gratitude puts us into a humbled state of appreciation. It connects us with God.
I am quite confident that Laurence is aware of the love and gratitude being sent his way. I am convinced he watches over his children and grandchildren, his mother, siblings and me. I am certain he is sending each of us extraordinary beams of love.
I know he hears my prayers of gratitude in the middle of the night for the amazing life we shared. I hear him whisper his reply. Thank you. I love you too.
I like to think of myself as a positive person. I try to find the highest thought in most situations. I noticed this week as I witnessed some negative energy and anger that my tendency was to run in the opposite direction. I had an insight that there is a powerful healing opportunity if I could just stand still and not flee.
