Journey to the Heart

Spirit of the Season: Surrender

2011-10-16T16:22:00.060-05:00

Each season brings distinct qualities, gifts and opportunities for growth as we journey through the year.

Autumn is a time of harvest, gratitude, reflection, release and preparation for winter.

On a personal level, autumn invites us to reflect on our lives and release what is complete or no longer serves our highest good.

From a spiritual perspective, surrendering/letting go is an act of faith and process of empowerment.

To let go and let God guide our steps is to demonstrate trust in a higher power and plan at work in our lives.

Deep listening is the first step to embracing the spirit of the season.

I invite you to set aside 15 minutes of silence each day this week to explore what you need to release/let go.

Begin your quiet time by asking what you need to release/let go in order to embrace the next phase of your journey. Expect that you will receive guidance.

Capture your thoughts and feelings throughout the week in a notebook or journal.

At the end of the week, move into action with courage and confidence that you are being guided to your highest good.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

Embrace the journey!

Blessings,
Ruthann

Be Intentional...

2010-06-06T06:24:00.048-05:00

Are you living your life with intention?

The word intention comes from the Latin word intendere which means to stretch out; to extend [in, toward + tendere, to stretch].

The true power of intention is the stretching of your mind towards an outcome. Intention inspires vision and guides action.

If you would like create change in your life, get clear on what you would like to change, why you would like to change it and set an intention to make it happen.

A powerful intention will focus your mind on creating what you desire in your life. It will energize you and enable you to persevere despite setbacks and obstacles along the way.

Once you have set an intention in your mind, engage the power of the written word to help manifest what you desire. Consider using images and/or symbols as visual reminders of your desired outcome.

I invite you to create an intention this week for an area of your life you would like to change and let your intention be your guide.

Try to set aside time each day to recommit to your intention.

If there is a gap between your stated intention and what you actually do on a given day, see it as an opportunity for personal growth rather than personal failing; recommit to your intention and begin again.

You have the power to create the life you truly desire.

Be intentional!

Blessings,
Ruthann

The Gift of Time...

2010-05-30T08:21:00.033-05:00

Through the grace of God, we are given the gift of 24 hours each day to spend as we choose. It is a gift that we treasure or trash through the choices that we make.

The way we spend our time is the way we spend our lives.

Life can pass us by if we are not spending time on things that are truly important to us and bring a sense of meaning and purpose to our lives.

We give thanks for the gift of time by spending it wisely and in alignment with our deepest values and desires of the heart.

Knowing what we value and why we value it helps us make better choices and pursue an authentic path.

We have the power to choose how we greet each day.

Choose to greet it with a spirit of gratitude for the gift of life and opportunity to make a difference in the world.

"This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind...let it be something good." Author Unknown

Blessings,
Ruthann

Questions for reflection:
What have been some of the most meaningful times in your life? Why are they meaningful? What would you miss most in your life if it were no longer there? Why would you miss it? The answers to the questions provide insight as to what is important to you and why.

Wisdom to know the difference...

2010-05-16T07:28:00.050-05:00

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference. (Reinhold Niebuhr)

What a beautiful, life-changing prayer!

Although this prayer is titled Serenity Prayer, I tend to think of it as a prayer of discernment. Being able to discern what we can and cannot change in our lives is an important life skill.

When I am faced with a challenge, I have learned to ask myself if what I am facing is something I can truly change or if it is something I need to accept.

My experience is that not accepting what is or what has been can be a barrier to growth.

I used to think of accepting something that I didn’t like as defeat or resignation; however, I now think of acceptance as letting go in faith that there is a higher power and plan at work in my life.

I have found that accepting what I cannot change is often the first step to changing what I can.

Two things come to mind when I think about things we cannot change…the past and other people.

I can think of a time in my life when my primary focus was on past mistakes, hurts and missed opportunities. It was a dead end focus that kept me anchored in the past.

Through an ongoing process of forgiveness, I have learned to release the past through love & acceptance. Instead of looking back on challenging or painful situations with regret, I look back and ask what I learned and how the ‘lessons learned’ can serve me in the future.

In my younger years, I thought I had the power to change others. What I have learned over the years is that we can influence others, but true lasting change must come from within. We can support another person’s growth, but we cannot own their growth or force them to change.

We create change in our lives (and in the world) by focusing our attention on what we have the power to change...ourselves!

I invite you to consider a challenging situation in your life in the context of the Serenity Prayer and the questions below.

Blessings,
Ruthann

Questions for reflection:
Is the situation you are facing something you can truly change or would it be best to accept it in a spirit of love & forgiveness? What lessons have you learned from the situation? What action can you take to move forward?

Be Transformed...

2010-04-25T07:42:00.009-05:00

In keeping with the theme of my previous post, I have chosen to highlight a Bible passage that has been a guiding light over the years.

The message of Romans 12:2 is a timely reminder that we have the ability to transform our lives (and world) through the limitless power of the mind.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by a renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 (NIV)

I think it is impossible not to conform to pattern of this world without daily practices that renew and refocus the mind on a higher power and plan at work in our lives.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I can’t think of a better way to renew the mind than through prayer; conscious communion with the source of all that we are and all that we hope to be.

A prayer journal is wonderful way to deepen the experience of prayer through the written word. It is a vehicle for reflection and personal expression within the context of communion and sacred time.

The journal can include formal & informal prayers, scriptures, inspirational quotes, and other items that have special meaning in your life.

Prayer has the power to renew and restore the mind.

Do not conform, be transformed!

Blessings,
Ruthann

Questions for reflection:
What is your perception of the pattern of this world? How does this pattern show up in your life? Are you conforming or transforming?

Renew Your Mind...

2010-04-11T22:37:00.001-05:00

Do you believe your thoughts create your reality? If so, what does your reality tell you about the quality of your thoughts?

If reality is less than what you truly desire, it is an indication that it is time to renew and refocus your mind.

All change in the physical world begins with a change in mind.

If we truly desire change in our lives it is important that we manage our thoughts and focus our attention on what we truly desire.

I can’t think of a better way to renew the mind than through prayer; conscious communion with the source of all that we are and all that we hope to be.

We renew our minds in prayer by releasing/letting go of beliefs that limit us and affirming beliefs that empower and enable us to create the lives that we desire.

When we pray affirmatively, we engage the power of intention in the context of all things being possible through God.

I hope the spirit of the season has awakened a heartfelt desire for a new beginning in your life.

Establish a daily practice that renews your faith in the goodness of life and focuses your mind on creating the life that you truly desire.

All things are possible through God.

Blessings,
Ruthann

The Spirit of the Season...

2010-03-28T06:28:00.011-05:00

Each season brings distinct qualities, gifts and opportunities for growth as we journey through the year.

I am excited we are transitioning into the creative and revitalizing energy of the spring season; a season of new & renewed life; a season of hope and possibility.

On a personal level, spring invites us to be creative, reenergize, renew, reconnect, restore, rejoice and be joyful.

There are many ways to embrace the spirit of the season…renewed faith in the goodness of life, a renewed commitment to self-care, a new perspective on a situation, a new or renewed friendship, a heartfelt celebration of life…just to name a few.

The spring rituals of cleaning and clearing out clutter are great ways to transition into the energy of the season and make room for new blessings and opportunities to come into your life.

Embrace the spirit of the season!

Blessings,
Ruthann

Questions for reflection:
In what areas of your life do you feel a desire to start fresh or begin again? What is holding you back? What action can you take to move forward?

What are you expecting for your life?

2010-03-14T19:33:00.001-05:00

Are you expecting to be blessed beyond measure? To prosper in every area of your life? To fulfill your heart’s desire? Are you expecting anything less?

I have learned over the years it’s important to pay attention to the expectations we hold in heart and mind because they influence what we experience in our lives.

I believe the journey of life is a personal journey of faith; a process through which we learn to trust in a power greater than ourselves.

Faith-driven expectancy is positive expectancy born out of a sense of connection to our spiritual source; an ever-renewing source of strength, hope, love and enlightenment.

When our expectations are rooted in spiritual faith, we are proactive in pursuing our dreams. We hope for the best and move into action in anticipation of our expectations being fulfilled.

If things don’t happen as planned, spiritual faith enables us to look for the lesson and trust there is a greater power and plan at work in our lives.

Spiritual faith enables us to see beyond what is to what could be and trust we are always being guided to our highest good.

Expect the best for your life!

Blessings,
Ruthann

Created with a purpose in mind...

2010-02-28T12:49:00.011-06:00

Do you believe you were created with a purpose in mind? My hope is that your answer to the question is a resounding YES!

I spent a number of years unsuccessfully "looking" for my life purpose. What I eventually came to realize is that we don’t need to "look" for our purpose; purpose is built into our being.

I believe we all have the same purpose/reason for being (to live our highest potential), however, the way in which we fulfill our purpose will vary because we are unique beings intentionally created with different passions, styles, gifts and talents.

We are designed to care about some things more than others.

Our challenge is to pay attention to what stirs the soul and gives life a sense of meaning, purpose and direction.

Life is a journey through which the way of purpose unfolds.

Embrace the journey!

Blessings,
Ruthann

Questions for reflection:
What stirs your soul? What activities give your life a sense of meaning and purpose?

What are you willing to give up?

2010-02-07T07:18:00.003-06:00

I recently re-read a wonderful book titled Hope for the Flowers (by Trina Paulus).

It is a lighthearted story about two caterpillars (Stripe and Yellow) and their journey to become butterflies. It has become one of my favorite gift books about trust and transition/letting go.

Hope for the Flowers is a deceptively simple story with a powerful message that is relevant to our own lives.

The process of becoming a butterfly begins when the caterpillar surrenders to an internal urge to grow and evolve. The caterpillar must respond to the urge to transform or it will never realize its full potential.

To fulfill its potential, the caterpillar must go through a complete metamorphosis to be reborn and serve a different purpose. As winged creatures, butterflies provide hope for the flowers’ reproduction through the process of pollination.

The journey of the two butterflies in Hope for the Flowers is a great reminder that we too must trust our inner urges/promptings to grow and evolve in order to reach our full potential.

We obviously don’t go through the type of transformation that a caterpillar does to become a butterfly, but through the limitless power of the mind, we are born again and again and again into higher states of consciousness that enable us to experience life more fully.

We change our lives through a renewing of the mind; releasing/ letting go of thoughts & beliefs that limit us and replacing them with thought & beliefs that empower and enable us to create the lives we desire.

The journey of life is an ongoing process of renewing, growing, surrendering and ending. Our challenge is to trust the process and be willing to give up who we are at any given moment for who we can become.

“How does one become a butterfly?” she asked. “You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.” Hope for the Flowers

Blessings,
Ruthann

Awakening to Spirit...

2010-01-26T07:20:00.008-06:00

This post was inspired by a recent discussion about the difference between the soul and the spirit.

I believe the soul and spirit are different aspects of self and have different roles in our development.

The entire self includes four levels of being - spiritual, mental, emotional and physical.

As a student of psychology, I learned the soul (or mind) is comprised of thoughts, beliefs, feelings, experiences and memories; the mental and emotional levels of being.

The soul, in essence, is your personality. It grows & evolves over the course of a lifetime.

Our lives basically reflect what is in our souls; the outer world reflects the inner world.

We do our “work” on a soul level (mental & emotional level of being) with the goal of directing the soul to Spirit for guidance.

Spirit is our core; our life-force; the unchangeable part of us that is a wellspring of inspiration. The spiritual part of self recognizes our divinity and knows we are connected to a Higher Power and all of life.

The spiritual aspect of self does not need to be developed. It is the purest and highest expression of what we are at our core. It simply awaits an awakening to its presence.

I believe we awaken to Spirit through "soul work" and spiritual practice like prayer & meditation.

We have the power within us to evolve our souls and fully experience our spiritual nature. It begins with a commitment to ongoing personal development; a willingness to fully embrace the journey of the soul.

Blessings,
Ruthann

The Power of Commitment...

2010-01-16T17:55:00.003-06:00

The beginning of the year is a great time to evaluate/re-evaluate commitments to ensure they are in alignment with your values and goals.

As I thought about what it means to be totally committed to something, I realized the true power of commitment lies in the ability to make a conscious decision and take action.

I am most likely to struggle to keep commitments when I have not made a conscious decision to do something. When this happens, my “commitments” tend to be rooted in fear and obligation rather than heartfelt desire; I am living from the outside-in versus inside-out.

It’s difficult to truly commit to something without the clarity and meaning that comes from making a conscious choice.

We tend to think of commitments as something we make to other people but the true test of our ability to commit to others is our ability to commit to ourselves.

It’s through our own commitment to loving, honoring and valuing ourselves that we are able to genuinely commit to others.

Extending love and compassion to others is a natural outgrowth of our own self-love and self-care.

Blessings,
Ruthann

Questions for reflection:
What is the one thing you can commit to doing this week that would improve the quality of your life?

What decision do you need to make to remain true to your commitment?

What seeds will you plant in the new year?

2009-12-29T13:14:00.006-06:00

I love the energy, excitement and renewed sense of possibility that a new year brings.

The last week of the year is a great time to reflect on 2009 and prepare for the new year.

What did you accomplish this year? In what areas of your life did you experience disappointment? What do you need to release from your life to make room for new blessings? What ‘lessons learned’ can you carry forward to make 2010 an even better year than 2009?

I encourage you to evaluate 2009 (especially the areas of disappointment) with love and compassion for yourself. We are not defined by our mistakes or shortcomings.

Our minds are fertile ground. The seeds (thoughts & beliefs) we choose to plant and nurture will take root and blossom in our lives.

What seeds will you choose to plant in the new year?

Best wishes for a healthy, joyful and prosperous 2010!

Blessings,
Ruthann

Giving Thanks...

2009-11-25T14:34:00.001-06:00

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. The very essence of the day is recognition and celebration of the Spirit of God working in and through our lives.

It is a day to collectively give thanks to our Creator for the gift of life, health & well-being, family, friends and other blessings in our lives.

Although Thanksgiving is an American tradition, the spirit of the day can be celebrated throughout the world. Everyone has something to be grateful for.

A grateful heart is an open heart and a channel for God’s amazing grace to flow into the world.

Thanksgiving is a great day to commit or recommit to a daily practice of gratitude; giving thanks for EVERYTHING that has been given to you for your soul’s growth.

“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” Meister Eckhart

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Blessings,
Ruthann

Ground of Being...

2009-08-27T06:41:00.001-05:00

My desire to experience life at a deeper, more meaningful level led me to literature on spirituality and spiritual laws; universal laws based on ancient wisdom teachings.

The foundational law, The Law of One, resonated as Truth and enabled me to bring context to my life. The Law of One basically states that everything in existence emerges from One Power/One Source.

I personally refer to this source as God; however, I recognize and respect other names that are used throughout the world for this omnipotent and omnipresent presence.

The basic teaching in The Law of One is that there is unity and interconnectedness (wholeness & oneness) in all that exists. Within this context of existence, it is impossible to be disconnected from the source of our being; any sense of separation is an illusion.

Can you imagine a world where everyone prayed and lived from a foundation of wholeness & oneness?

When we embrace our spiritual nature, we embrace the entirety of our existence in faith there is a Higher Power giving & sustaining life, enriching & enlarging life, creating beauty & diversity, and maintaining order & harmony.

Simply contemplating the sun, the stars, the moon, the gift of life or your own breath brings awareness to an amazing and invisible power that makes it all possible; a Higher Power that is the source of all that exists.

Within the context of wholeness & oneness as the ground of being, there is still an element of mystery to the journey of life because we do not know or understand everything that goes on "behind the scenes". It is through the mystery, that we strengthen our faith.

Embracing the journey with trust and awareness of wholeness & oneness as the ground of being has strengthened my personal foundation and sense of connection to life.

God is the source of our strength and the light that guides our way!

Blessings,
Ruthann

Instrument of Peace...

2009-07-05T21:11:00.005-05:00

My commitment to a personal prayer practice has without a doubt been one of the most challenging and fulfilling commitments I have made in my life.

One of the most important shifts I made in my prayer practice is a shift from self-centered prayer to God-centered prayer. Instead of focusing on my personal needs in prayer, I affirm my faith in God as a benevolent and abundant source of life and set an intention to remain open to spiritual guidance. Therein lies the challenge... consistently trusting guidance and taking action.

Without trust, the challenge seems to be God's Will vs. my will be done. With trust, there is One Will (God's Will) and I have choice to follow or not follow where Spirit leads. It is through freedom of choice that I am learning to trust.

One of the prayers that has helped me shift my focus from personal needs to personal surrender is the Prayer of St. Francis; a beautiful, heart-centered prayer.

In essence, it is a prayer of surrender with the goal of bringing the highest spiritual attributes into the world; a prayer that is fulfilled through trust in a Higher Power and Purpose.

I believe personal surrender to a Higher Power is an act of faith and means of spiritual empowerment; a process of opening to Divine love and guidance.

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of Your Peace.
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope:
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

I aspire to be the Instrument of Peace that is so beautifully described in this prayer. I believe we all have the potential to live this prayer.

Love & Light,
Ruthann

Questions for reflection:
Are your prayers self-centered or God-centered? If self-centered, are you willing to make a change in the way you pray? What spiritual attribute, if magnified in your life, would significantly improve the quality of your life?

The Path of Prayer...

2009-05-23T10:33:00.010-05:00

Prayer is a pathway to the spiritual heart and the world of possibility. It is the means through which we honor and strengthen our relationship with God.

Through heart-centered prayer, we learn to trust and follow our inner guidance. This is an ongoing process that begins with listening to the true desires of the heart.

True desires are rooted in the qualities of the spiritual heart – connection, unity, peace, love, compassion and joy.

Prayer is not so much about words as it is about feelings; a prayer that is felt deeply in your heart and never spoken out loud is much more powerful than a spoken prayer that has no personal meaning or connection to your heart.

True heart prayers are often experienced as persistent longings or desires that invite us to explore a deeper part of ourselves.

I felt a deep sense of longing for many years that I could not articulate. I now know that it was a call to a deeper, more spiritual way of living.

I believe prayer is a path of development that leads to the highest expression of ourselves. Through heart-centered life prayers, we align our thoughts, feelings, words and actions with a higher purpose.

The power of prayer lies in our faith, intention and commitment to action in anticipation of answered prayer.

Through faith, intention and purposeful action our lives become a living prayer.

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24 (NIV)

Love & Light,
Ruthann

Questions for reflection:
Who has God called you to be in this world? What are your prayers for your life? What actions can you take today to honor your prayers?

Grace & Gratitude...

2009-05-09T15:07:00.004-05:00

We live our lives in and through the grace of God.

Grace is subtle and yet powerful; it is an activity of our Creator's deep and abiding love.

Grace is a gift that nurtures, guides, sustains, and protects us and because it is a gift, we don't have to earn it or prove that we are worthy of receiving it.

I believe we awaken to the power and presence of grace through life experiences and grow in our ability to trust that it is always at work in our lives.

Can you think of a time when you felt "lucky" or felt that all was right with the world? Perhaps you remember a time when you felt inner peace when there was chaos and confusion around you. I think of these experiences as grace-filled moments.

The well-known poem Footprints in the Sand captures the essence of grace during challenging times. The poem is a reminder that we are not alone and that the power, presence and love of God is greater than any circumstance we may face.

Footprints in the Sand
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,

“You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”

The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”
Author Unknown

We grow in grace through an attitude of gratitude – giving heartfelt thanks for EVERYTHING (joys and sorrows) that has been given to us for our soul's growth.

I encourage you to create a daily ritual that will enable you to express gratitude for your life.

You may want to consider a daily practice of writing 3-5 things you consider gifts, blessings or life lessons in a journal or notebook. Try to include something new each day.

With love & gratitude for amazing grace,
Ruthann

The Power of Surrender...

2009-04-18T15:10:00.006-05:00

As long as I can remember, I have been a vivid night time dreamer.

Over the years, I have come to believe that dreams are a vehicle through which we receive spiritual guidance if we are willing to explore them.

During a difficult period in my life, I experienced the most profound and meaningful dream of my life. This dream touched me so deeply that it changed my life forever.

Words can never describe or capture the experience of a dream. My intention in writing this post is to share the gift of grace that I received through my dream.

I was frustrated because I felt stuck in the past despite the work I was doing to move forward. I prayed to know why I continued to feel a deep sense of sorrow despite the inner work I was doing to release the past.

My prayer was answered through a dream in which I experienced my younger self. She appeared in my dream in distress and in need of help. I was distracted and overcome by feelings of guilt and shame over something else going on in the dream. I didn’t have the strength or desire to help her. She told me that she was not feeling well. I turned away from her and told her I didn’t know how to help her. I felt even more guilt and shame for not being able to help her, but I knew in my heart that I told her the truth. I had nothing to give her. I was emotionally dead.

I awakened from this dream with a deep sense of sorrow. I cried every time I thought about my inability to help a sweet, young girl in need of help. I knew this dream was significant because I was so emotional about it for such a long time. I trusted that my feelings would eventually bear a gift.

I shared my dream with the Dream Circle I was attending at the time. One of the members encouraged me to just sit with my feelings. I sat with (and wrote about) the feelings I experienced through this dream for a long time before I was able to discern the insight.

I initially felt guilty for not being able to help my younger self. What I came to realize is that she was actually there to help me. Through this dream, I was forced to admit I didn’t know how to help her. The part of me that showed up in the dream was a part of me that I tried to heal over and over again based on what I thought was the source of my sorrow.

The act of admitting I didn’t know how to help her humbled me. It made me realize I didn’t have all the answers. It opened the door to guidance about the true source of my pain and how to heal it. Admitting I didn’t know how to help myself was my first conscious step in opening my heart to God.

This experience helped me to see that my need to be in control was a barrier to knowing the truth and allowing a higher power help me.

I am deeply grateful for this incredible lesson in trust and experience of God's amazing grace.

In the context of God being a benevolent and abundant source of life, I am learning to surrender in faith that I am being guided to my highest good.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)

Let go and let God!

Love & Light,
Ruthann

Sacred Journey...

2009-03-28T16:44:00.004-05:00

I believe the journey of life is a process through which we learn to truly love & appreciate God, ourselves and others.

Seeing our lives as work-in-process enables us to remain open and receptive to learning and growing from our experiences and embrace life as a dynamic process through which we become the unique beings our Creator intended us to be. There never has been or ever will be anyone exactly like you or me.

I believe we are called into the world to fulfill a unique and important mission in partnership with our Creator. It takes courage and commitment to stay true to our personal call.

Staying open and receptive to inner guidance through prayer and meditation enables us to pursue an authentic path.

I was inspired to write a personal commitment to the journey that has become a daily prayer. I share my commitment with you in the same spirit of love in which it came to me.

Thank you God for the gift of life and your grace that sustains me.
I feel you pulling me closer to you; I am willing to be led.
I commit my mind, body and spirit to this Sacred Journey and process of empowerment.
I trust you are guiding my steps.
I say yes to living Your dream of wholeness and oneness.
Yes and Amen!

Love & Light,
Ruthann

Free to choose our own path...

2009-03-14T21:00:00.007-05:00

One of our greatest powers is the power of choice. Freedom of choice is our birthright; a gift from our Creator.

We create our lives (and our world) every day through the decisions that we make. It’s our choice to lead or follow; to love or hate; to forgive or blame; to release the past or live in it; to live in light or darkness; to be fully present or distracted. We have the power to choose in every situation.

Our choices reveal our beliefs. I have found that when I make choices that are contrary to what I think I believe, I have hidden beliefs that need to be explored.

Do you have a realistic goal that always seems to be out of reach? What choices have you made regarding your goal? Are your choices supportive or unsupportive of what you are trying to achieve?

Choices that contradict a goal are often clues there are hidden beliefs. Perhaps there are feelings of not being worthy of the goal or not truly believing the goal is attainable. Once we bring light to our hidden beliefs, we can release them and replace them with beliefs that empower and enable us to move forward.

We often give our power away through indecision or indifference and that can undermine our self-worth and self-confidence. If we’re not living our own [conscious] choices, we’re living someone else's.

We have the freedom to choose what is best for our own lives. Freedom is built into our nature. Spirit, the very essence of our being, is free; it cannot be bound by time, matter or circumstance. Our spiritual nature is an ever-renewing source of strength, hope and possibility.

Keeping an open mind enables us to see beyond what is to what could be. Having faith that our needs will be met enables us to move forward without seeing the whole picture.

It is my hope that you feel empowered to choose your own path; blaze your own unique trail.

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Love & Light,
Ruthann

Lit from within...

2009-02-21T21:25:00.015-06:00

What came to mind when you read the title of this post?

Inner strength and confidence are the qualities that come to my mind when I think of someone who is lit from within. We radiate from within when we have a deep sense of connection to our spirituality; an ever-renewing source of strength, hope, love, enlightenment. Our spirit is the part of us that guides us and connects us to a greater whole.

Having a deep sense of connection to our spirituality enables us to live from a center of wholeness and oneness in God. It enables us to live our lives from the inside-out with courage and confidence that we will be guided to our highest good.

As I expressed in a previous post, I lived my life from the outside-in for many years in search of identity and a sense of belonging. That resulted in living from a place of self-doubt, insecurity, and fear. When we live our lives from the outside-in, our self-worth is tied to other people’s perception of our worth. When we live our lives from the inside-out we know that we have inherent worth; we are a part of a greater whole; and we have something unique and important to bring into the world.

Prayer is a pathway to our spiritual core and the world of possibility. The very essence of prayer is spiritual faith (trust) and intention. Prayer enables us to consciously direct our faith to God and see beyond what is to what could be.

I have been praying my entire life, however, not always with the intention of growing in spiritual faith and being internally guided. My prayers used to take the form of pleading and bargaining or reciting traditional prayers that did not have personal meaning.

I have learned there are many ways to pray; some more effective than others.

Effective prayers elevate our consciousness to a higher level and bring us into an emotional state of wholeness and oneness in God.

The purpose of prayer is not to change or impress God; the purpose of prayer is to change and impress us.

I believe we are continually being called into deeper and more meaningful communion with God. The call may take the form of restlessness, impatience or a challenging situation. Prayer is our answer to God’s call.

I would love to hear about your experiences with prayer.

Love & Light,
Ruthann

Release the past...

2009-01-31T19:54:00.004-06:00

I feel as if I have completed an important chapter in my life story. This chapter is not defined by time, rather a feeling that something inside me has shifted. I feel reconnected to a part of me that I abandoned a long time ago; the part of me that guides me and connects me to the source of my being.

I began this chapter many years ago in a desperate search for a way to “fix” me only to realize there was nothing “wrong” with me.

I realized the deep sense of sorrow that I was feeling was the result of not listening to my inner voice and guidance. I lost my way by allowing other people’s opinion of me to become more important than my own.

For many years, I lived my life from a core belief that I was fundamentally flawed. This belief was a deep-seated childhood belief that I carried into adulthood.

I became self-conscious of my way of being in my younger years. I was frequently referred to as ‘quiet’ and ‘shy’ in a way that felt belittling. I would cringe every time I would hear people describe me in that way. I felt misunderstood and unappreciated by people whose opinion I valued. It was my perception that being quiet and more internally-oriented was something I needed to overcome, but I didn’t know any other way to be. It was (and is) who I am. I am an introvert by nature.

I tried to change myself unsuccessfully for years. Eventually, I started to feel like I was incompetent and fundamentally flawed. I allowed these feelings to define me and eventually bind me to a negative self image.

As I look back, I can see that my life lacked intention and true commitment to anything other than fitting in, following other people’s agenda and burying the pain of my inner conflict.

Although I had a desire to grow beyond the limited view I had of myself, I was unable to overcome even deeper feelings of being broken and unworthy of the life I desired. My personal dreams always felt out of reach. I was outwardly successful following a path of least resistance, but inwardly feeling as if a piece of me were dying each day. I didn’t have the courage or confidence to take a stand for my life.

Over time, the inner conflict created a deep sense of sorrow. I reached a point in my life where I had to explore it. I withdrew from my external world as much as I could and spent time alone reading books on psychology & spirituality, journaling, reflecting and praying. I also started paying more attention to my dreams; writing them down and discussing them in the safety of a Dream Circle. It was during this time that I experienced the most profound dream of my life. The insight I gained from that particular dream helped me begin to make changes.

My inner journey helped me see how a childhood belief was still a source of pain and holding me back. The difficult part of the process was sitting with my feelings, allowing them to surface and feeling the pain that I tried so hard to bury. I knew that I had to go through it in order to release it and move forward.

I made a decision to start over and create a life that reflects the desires of my heart. It has been an ongoing process. I still have areas of my life that are out of alignment with my vision, but through a daily practice of prayer and meditation, I trust my steps are being guided in the right direction.

I share this story in a spirit of love and faith in the power of storytelling to heal. There may be parts of my story that resonate with you. If so, I hope it inspires you to continue on your own unique path, be true to you and eventually share your story.

It’s my hope that we all fulfill our life’s dream.

Love & Light,
Ruthann

Begin Again...

2009-01-17T19:12:00.002-06:00

A new year offers an opportunity to start fresh…to begin again. We can begin again any time we are willing to open our minds to new possibilities and believe, truly believe we are worth the change that we seek.

We open the door to new possibilities when we release/let go of thoughts & beliefs that limit us and replace them with thoughts & beliefs that expand, empower and enable us to create the kind of lives (and world) that we desire.

Our minds are fertile ground. The seeds we choose to plant and nurture will take root and blossom in our lives.

"The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Think only on those things that are in line with your principles and can bear the full light of day. The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you choose, what you think and what you do is who you become.” ~Heraclitus~

I invite you to join me in planting seeds of peace, love, hope and joy. Commit to nurturing these ‘seeds’ daily in thought, word and action.

I am grateful for the opportunity to start anew. I am beginning the new year filled with hope that we will experience a year of peace, true prosperity and unlimited possibilities!

With love & gratitude,
Ruthann