During our moments of deepest despair or danger, isn’t it true we sense a presence “looking out” for us? Somehow it makes an appearance by bringing our attention to what is important.  It can show up by grace entering your mind and body during moments of self-doubt and fear. And it usually appears in creative ways we least expect.
As time goes on I seem to be more in tune with these energies and perhaps the presence of angels.  I describe them as marvelous confirmations that strengthen my connection with my source energy.  I feel a presence through tingling sensations over my body or even tapping on my forehead and face. Yes, I will at last admit this to everyone, when I get off-track with my thinking (negativity, unforgiving ideas, self-deprecation) I feel entities present who literally pump in feelings of safety and peace.  And then I sit up and notice what’s important - like an angelic wake-up call.
Of course, it’s easy to rationalize away such occurrences, as they can be attributed to any number of natural phenomena (even though there have been many spiritual teachers who have walked our planet and reminded us of the presence of angels!) For all who have difficulty believing in the angelic realm, take a look at real people who inspire you.  You can sense the angelic presence surrounding and emanating from them.

Angel Power is Everywhere
At a retreat in Colorado, I had the privilege of experiencing sharing a week with Sai Maa Lakshmi Devi, founder of Humanity in Unity.  She is a living master, a spiritual teacher whose entire purpose is to awaken humanity’s capability to express divine love in action. Sai Maa emanates Shakti power and allows all in her presence to experience a deep sense of profound love and forgiveness. I showed up with self-doubt and worry on my sleeve, wishing to return home with answers on just about all topics ranging from “why are we here?” to “why am I in this line of work?”  I was filled with enough angst to fill the entire auditorium that week, questioning my ability to empower others.
For years, I had been teaching people to release the past and awaken to their potential.  When a heart is opened, it can then be filled with buckets of love.  In the process, we allow ourselves to grow into a vision of authenticity and raise the collective consciousness.  I don’t recall ever taking that course at The University of Michigan, so I questioned my purpose.
While there, I met Reverend Sandra Moore, a New Thought minister from California from the Center for Universal Truth www.centerfortruth.org who encouraged me to stay on my work-path.  It was at this retreat I learned of Sandy’s teenage daughter Tara, who died suddenly in a car accident, and how that led to Sandy’s and Kirk’s work in the ministry. Their story of Tara, and the presence of angels among us, is nothing short of phenomenal. I was lead to their book, Tara’s Angels, and spent the week with Sandy sorting out our ideas of service, gaining clarity in the process.  The support I received from her will last me many lifetimes. 
Was it simply human kindness and serendipity?  I no longer believe that, because when we ask for support, we do receive it, from many resources, human, angelic, and Divine.  The universal mind does bind us together, answering our calls of distress and discouragement – in ways we cannot imagine.  Sai Maa created the channel for love and support to flow that week, but it appeared in ways I did not expect.  Remember, love flows from more avenues that we can imagine, as long as we are open to its receipt.  Well-designed can make an appearance in our lives only if we are perceptive enough to notice.

Angels Guide Us Toward Solutions
Often I have been guided to solutions and ideas through the presence of angels.  No matter what image of the Divine, wisdom tradition, or philosophy we subscribe to, there is a timeless presence and source binding us together.  This presence emanates loving encouragement in raising the collective consciousnesses. As Doreen Virtue says, through our earth-experience, we are bringing our angels closer to us in order to invoke our higher self’s loving essence.  And that, my friends, is yet another fabulous way to increase our faith and trust in the universe – and in the presence of God.
There are always angels who will lead you to a path of greater self-understanding. But do not forget your earth-angels as well – those beloved teachers who write books, inspire you through talk radio, encourage good health, or show you something about yourself for your own self-development.  Don’t forget the stranger sitting next to you may be there for a reason. It doesn’t matter if God’s presence is from this realm or another.  Pay attention! In your quiet moments, thank them for the gifts they bring to enhance your journey.

© The Goddess Network, Inc. and Charlene M. Proctor, Ph.D.  2007.  All Rights Reserved.  See http://www.thegoddessnetwork.com/connect.php?page=eshow for more empowering thoughts! Register for The E-Show, a series of enlightening lectures!

ParentsConnect.com, the new MTV/Nickelodeon venture, recently pursued Charlene for advice parents can give teens who are having problems with body image and self-image. Read on for fun, creative, and female insight on how to give your teen girl added confidence and empowerment!

Q: Sexiness, and having sex, is a confusing issue these days for teenagers. How do we put it all in perspective for them?

A:  Just last night I broke my own house rule, and channel surfed.  I landed on the TV guide page where cutaway interviews of lingerie models were running. How many ways can we continue to tie-up, push up, squish down, and show off the body parts that are supposed to drive us to procreation?  Ah yes, and wonderful pleasure as well.  However, we’ve got a cultural misconception with sexiness and having sex.  Sexiness is about confidence, knowing who you are when you walk into a room of people.  It’s about feeling worthy, self-loving, and embracing your gifts from a very fundamental level. Anyone who operates from a centered, deep sense of self-appreciation is hugely magnetic.

Sexiness is celebrating your body, and what it can do, in loveable ways and appreciating every moment you have for this amazing opportunity we call “life.”  But it takes practice and maturity.  We can never have too much of that, especially in a world that highlights violence. Teach your teen to love their divine self, their own unique spark of creation.  And teens having sex?  Yikes.  I’m an advocate of encouraging them to wait until they are old enough to understand the responsibilities that go along with it:  Risky STD’s, pregnancy, birth control – and the complexities that accompany serious relationships.
 
Q: Raising a teenage daughter is hard on my self-esteem; it makes me feel older but not wiser! Can I be feminine without competing with my daughter’s youth?

A:  You can’t pass a healthy dose of self-esteem on to your daughter when you can’t generate enough on your own. And as long as you are taking care of yourself with a proper diet, exercise, and nurturing yourself through wonderful and productive work, what are you worrying about?  Lead by example from the inside first, and quit worrying about what you look like and how many numbers you’ve racked up. 

When you feel you don’t age gracefully, it means you are insecure. To provide clarity, you need to affirm who you are, in a present-moment statement:

“Each stage in my life is wonderful.  My wisdom and experience acquired from life make me a person who has a lot to offer the world.  Every moment I continue to engage in the world is valuable to others.  I no longer need disease or drama to secure a place in the world.  I do not need to compete with anyone to be noticed.  I am shining, with all my wisdom, in my security.  I feel safe knowing no one can take my place.”

My prescription:  recite 3 times a day, in front of a mirror.  In ten days, stand up and declare it in front of your family…teens and all. You’ll feel full of your wonderful self!
 
Q: My son and his friends like having friends who are girls, without the pressure of dating. Is there a healthy way for teens to socialize without the pressure of “hooking up”?

A: As a mother of two teen boys, I’ve seen dating and socializing patterns throughout the entire middle and high school experience.  Thankfully, compared to my day where a girl couldn’t attend a dance or a social event without being “asked” by a boy (she could, but looked mighty silly), it’s all different now.  Boys and girls attend proms in groups not couples, movies are done in big numbers too, and nobody has to pay for someone else. 

They like to meet at a neutral place where all involved have an escape plan, especially if someone has a meltdown or commits a major faux pas. I like it, it’s a good thing, and allows them some flexibility and an opportunity to test the dating waters gingerly.  They’ve got their entire lives to hook up and discover the opposite sex, so go for the groups.  Encourage them to socialize this way and show your support by offering rides (Mothers, hold off on advice given while behind the wheel!  Otherwise, your teen will not ask you to drive again!  You will risk not knowing where your son or daughter is spending their time!)

Given that sports and other school extra-curricular requirements, like community service work now required on most college applications, teens don’t seem to have as much time to get after school part-time jobs (or have a family dinner, but that’s another story). Therefore, the lack of funds does prevent many boys from treating girls the old school way – they can’t afford to pay for entertainment and dinners.  I still like it because it encourages girls to think about financial independence – and get realistic about what it costs to support themselves.

© The Goddess Network, Inc. and Charlene M. Proctor, Ph.D.  2007.  All Rights Reserved.  See http://www.thegoddessnetwork.com/connect.php?page=eshow for more empowering thoughts! Register for The E-Show, a series of enlightening lectures!

In-between making the morning coffee, driving to work, and managing the daily pace of modern life, do you feel you’ve lost your connection to Spirit?  Although that’s impossible (we are embodied spirit!) when this type of worry and self-doubt enters your mind, it’s important to find simple ways to connect with the Source energy.  Keeping a joyous state of conscious awareness takes a bit of daily discipline, unless you save it for Sunday morning church or a full-blown yoga retreat. How about sprinkling Spirit around a little more frequently?  Let’s learn to revitalize our connection regularly.

Embracing spirituality throughout the day is about assigning meaning to simple actions that celebrate your place in the universe.  Here are three quick and easy tips to feel good (God’s presence) in-between the hub-bub:

Get centered and release emotional baggage from yesterday 

Before you get out of bed, affirm the existence of your true self by centering your awareness.  Feel the source of your spiritual power.  Close your eyes and ask whether you have allowed anyone, or any circumstance, to take away your power to create the life you want.  Do old hurts keep manifesting in your relationships?  Make a commitment to release those feelings and know you are empowered with divine love.  Breathe deeply and visualize a fresh, new canvas you are going to paint your experiences and desires.

Consciously create your day by recognizing the “I AM” presence within

Design your own mantra. “I am a channel for creativity and divine intelligence” or “I am open to the abundance of knowledge that the universe is which is present in me now.”  Look in the mirror and acknowledge this simple invitation while getting dressed.

Go on a gratitude walk

Whether you have the luxury of walking on the beach, exercising the dog, or simply getting from the parking garage to the office, each step can be a silent prayer of thanks.  Make each step toward the coffeepot a reason for thankfulness in your world.  Mentally note at least 10 things you feel a strong sense of gratitude about and make each step resonate with silent appreciation. 

The Law of Attraction states that we manifest exactly what we invite into our lives, by having great clarity and a passion for an idea.  When you are thankful and filled with a sense of gratitude, you are attracting more things in your life to be thankful for! 

Finally, breathe in loving-kindness and exhale gratitude for all you are and what you currently have today.  Inhale everything on that shopping list of new ideas you’re planning to draw into your realm, whether it is a new job, more loving relationships, or even more balance. Once these energies are set into motion, not only does today take a positive shape, but tomorrow will begin to fall in place effortlessly.  You’ll feel better by making meaning out of ordinary actions. Be creative in finding new ways to meditate that make sense to you!

© The Goddess Network, Inc. and Charlene M. Proctor, Ph.D.  2007.  All Rights Reserved.  See http://www.thegoddessnetwork.com/connect.php?page=eshow for more empowering thoughts! Register for The E-Show, a series of enlightening lectures!

ParentsConnect.com, the new MTV/Nickelodeon venture, recently pursued Charlene for advice parents can give teen girls who are having problems with body image and self-image. Read on for fun, creative, and female insight on how to give your teen girl added confidence and empowerment!

Q: I notice my teenage daughter is starting to criticize the way she looks and always compares herself to her friends. How can I get her to stop being so hard on herself?

A: With what the media fires away at us daily, it’s no wonder we grow up thinking we need perfect bodies. Consider the way Madison Avenue has convinced us to use cosmetics to enhance our natural beauty, dress to get noticed, and even have plastic surgery if our body parts don’t seem to compare to women we see on the screen.  Remind your daughter these types of people are a miniscule percentage of what the human race really looks like – and people selected to “represent” what is beautiful and what isn’t waxes and wanes with fickle public opinion.  Unfortunately, these icons of popularity sell more products – everything to real estate, food, cars, and even happiness.

First of all, tell grasshopper that women are naturally hairy, hippy, biologically designed to carry the next generation inside us, and our brains are supposed to have 33% more neuronal fibers than men – suggesting that our left side of the brain (logical analytical, task oriented) and right side (the intuited, holistic) talk more easily to each with compared with men.  Translation: women are great multi-taskers, manage complexity well, and are terrific at seeing the whole enchilada of life.  And hips really are terrific. Your job:  keep pointing out what women do well and aim for powerful facts and metaphors.  Pretty soon it’ll sink in that Woman is Wonderous… no matter the size, shape, or how adorned.

Q: There doesn’t seem to be a lot of positive role models of women in the media for my teenage daughter to emulate (or me, for that matter!) How can I seek out older women who might inspire both of us?

A: Helping teen girls develop confidence today needs to be a creative and thoughtful exercise. Unplug from the media and go to a resource like bookstores and museums and show her what powerful ancient women used to aspire to.  In many egalitarian communities, women not only ruled the roost but ran the temples, local politics, and were greatly respected priestesses and healers. Sound crazy?  Delve into the history books on women’s religion when women shared the dais with male and how archeological findings produced many more images of female deity than male gods.

Have a look at modern day culture by revisiting the past.  I always say when we stop expanding our parameters on culture, philosophy, science, art, and all aspects of our worldly experience, past and present, our ideas become very small.  We are limiting our perspective and then bothered by things that don’t really matter.  Think outside the box and always trust her to develop her own role models.  Keep broadening her thoughts about what a woman can be and do.  Spend some time at the Louvre (or on the internet!) looking at The Goddess Athena, Venus of Willendorf, or Diana of Ephesus.  These images (and mythologies) knock her socks off.  Know that no matter what age, we can always find strong (and statuesque) leaders to inspire us.

© The Goddess Network, Inc. and Charlene M. Proctor, Ph.D.  2007.  All Rights Reserved.  See http://www.thegoddessnetwork.com/connect.php?page=eshow for more empowering thoughts for women! Register for The E-Show, a series of enlightening lectures!

Women never cease to amaze me when they rally at impromptu gatherings to reignite the bonds of their ancient female past. Recently, I was invited to join a group of women on a trip to the American southwest. I knew only the trip planner. Some arrived as friendship partners or business partners; others were taking a brief hiatus from being mother, wife, fundraiser, curator, marketing analyst, or teacher. Others came for meditative time and long walks, seizing the day to reconnect with their bodies through better eating or exercise. Our only commitment: eat together at least once during the week.

Surprisingly, in six days this group went from strangers to sisterhood, laughing like old friends, sharing conversation about marriages, children, and spiritual development. Unknowingly, we granted ourselves permission to deeply explore one another’s minds with the intention of learning, and nothing more. Unthreatened by our diversity, we developed a dialogue, and we were both shocked and entertained by everyone’s perspective. By the time we participated in a drumming circle on the final evening, we beat our instruments as if it were the last day on earth, rhythm makers connecting land and sky, our dancing selves somewhere in between.

By the time the last flame was extinguished, a sense of community existed which was nothing less than magical: a pledge of support and understanding as we re-entered our individual lives. Our sacred circle was inadvertently cast. And a grounded, unstructured, woman-affirming spirituality arose from emptiness, as a consequence of creating space for wisdom to emerge. 

Women Need to Gather to Share Wisdom

What is it about a woman-gathering that empowers women? It’s molding collective ideas into something that makes sense; the telling of stories; inhaling a woman’s worldly viewpoint and not a man’s. It’s about enhancing our judgment on what to let go and what to pack in the suitcase for the journey home. A woman-gathering is an opportunity to place sticky notes on those areas of our lives where we’ve lacked true self-awareness, alerting us to why we have been taking too much direction from external circumstances and not enough from a sense of our own creative power. Our individual and collective strength is greatly diminished when our minds race with what needs to be done and whose needs need to be met next, with little or no time to revisit the meaning of what we’re doing. As a result, we wander, letting life move us instead of choosing where we want to move life.

Revisit the Tribal Sisterhood

Reviving our past extends far beyond analyzing the happenstance of the immediate. It goes back to a time when tribal sisterhood existed, when women helped one another find wisdom within everyday experiences, when making spiritual room for self-discovery and renewal was as necessary as breathing. I believe we are born with a need to gather ancient women’s wisdom from all walks of life and apply it to our private expeditions. Women long to share stories of tragedy and success, to weep, giggle, and feel better about adversity, while comparing notes about how to improve our own thinking and change our individual worlds through relationships and work.

Affirm your connection regularly

Today, celebrate your ancient tribal sisterhood and the wisdom you have earned since the beginning of time.  Be empowered by your women’s wisdom!  Remember to love being female.  Have lunch with a friend, visit your mother, or talk to the woman who works at the corner supermarket.  Honor this shared connection that deepens in power and confidence daily.  Affirm the wonder of you! Say:

“I am all seasons, all cycles, and all elements. I am empowered by the wisdom of women’s collective experiences since the beginning of time. I feel competent knowing my worldly perspective matters. I am a powerful, beloved female!”

© The Goddess Network, Inc. and Charlene M. Proctor, Ph.D.  2007.  All Rights Reserved.  See http://www.thegoddessnetwork.com/connect.php?page=eshow for more empowering thoughts! Register for The E-Show, a series of enlightening lectures!

Attract a New Love Interest by Being Positive

Starting over from painful circumstances is never easy, especially when you have invested so much energy into others.  We tend to look at people as energy investments.  But no matter how the energy stock may rise and fall, it is certain that energy is limitless and so is your capacity to love.  Be comforted that you are not alone.  Believe in what you can do and who you are!  Love yourself and move forward.  The world needs you and all you have to offer!

To get on the positive thinking track about relationships gone sour, you must use affirmations to stay in the present moment.  Your most powerful and productive time in life is today, not yesterday or tomorrow.  Spend time living in the present.  When you allow yourself to be bogged down by old mental programs (old memories that don’t serve you well or reacting to the present from past emotional states) you are compromising your ability to grow.  This is especially true with relationships.  Old hurts and emotional baggage from the past can thwart what you receive in the present.  If you spend all your time thinking about what you don’t want, by the Law of Attraction the universe will provide you with exactly what you’ve spent time thinking about – more things you don’t want.  So move forward!

Attracting a love interest is largely about setting a new mental equivalent.  To do this, you need clarity about what you desire, and having the passion (or vision) for it. Visualize that person in your world and what it feels like to have a nurturing relationship. And then take action! Get out there and magnetize people by taking care of yourself and treating others how you would like to be treated. Practice positive verbiage at work, home, and in front of the mirror in the morning. 

Dating and divorce can be challenging but you are moving through it … and not stuck there permanently. Here are two affirmations to keep your spirits up and will help you feel more empowered by moving forward.  Remember, focus on the present!

Can’t Find a Relationship When Dating

“My path to love is no longer littered with rocks and diversions.  I sweep away each disappointment with ease.  At this moment, I am becoming more open-minded and loving to everyone around me.  From this day forward, I rejoice in my learning journey and put my love path to music.  I am an incredible soul who can dance on any path!”

Leaving a Relationship or Facing Divorce

“I leave this relationship with grace and dignity.  I know my own soul must grow in an area outside the perimeter of this relationship.  No matter how painful the past, I am thankful that this venture has been part of my learning journey because it helps me to further define myself.  My ability to give and receive love remains intact.  My heart is healing.  I have tremendous capacity to love others, no matter the circumstances.”

Renew your awareness in the present moment and have patience! Like attracts like, so regularly check where you are spending time mentally.  If you want more love in your life, then be lovable.  Be the idea of love in as many productive ways you can imagine and you’ll see results!

© The Goddess Network, Inc. and Charlene M. Proctor, Ph.D.  2007.  All Rights Reserved.  See http://www.thegoddessnetwork.com/connect.php?page=eshow for more empowering thoughts on love! Register for The E-Show, a series of enlightening lectures!
 
 

Affirm Your Way to Greater Self-Love

Weighing in your self-esteem seems daunting in a media culture obsessed with stick-thin models without hips.  It’s possible to get satisfaction from your own reflection as long as you love your body and take care of your health.  Here are three ways to help you feel comfortable in your own skin and love who you see in the mirror:

Use affirmations to reinforce what’s good about you

An affirmation is a positive, present-day statement that declares your current sate of mind and expectation as real and valid.  It acknowledges to the mind and body that what you hold in your mind is real.  When used with repetition, you can put your mind on “positive auto-pilot” and begin to resonate with other people who feel the same way about you.

It’s important to affirm who you are in present-day language.  This is where your most powerful moments are spent in life, and not yesterday or tomorrow.  What you think is your mental equivalent for what you will demonstrate on the outside.  “As within, so without” is a good mantra for life.  Do you think of your self as a goddess? Then that that is how people will respond.  Do you feel ripe and plentiful?  Generous?  Full of wisdom?  Then you are an abundant expression of life.  Celebrate that idea regularly!

Here’s an affirmation to help you affirm who you are in present-day language. Remember, thoughts create reality!

“When I look in the mirror, I see a loving person.  My capacity to love knows no boundaries.  I accept myself and love what I see in the mirror.  There are no imperfections because I am perfectly constructed.  I am an example of a miracle and am a spiritual work in progress.”

Use Woman-Affirming Language

Whenever possible, learn to appreciate being female.  Expressing compassion and having the ability to regenerate life are powerful ideas.  Discard the diet pills and choose to value your gender as often as possible:

“I am relaxed and at ease with life, knowing I am a part of a vast natural cycle.  I look forward to today’s experience and rejoice in my body’s ability to regenerate life!  Every curve expresses my female power.  I love being a powerful female.”

Be Thankful for Your Body

Living in a continual state of thankfulness for who you are is important when appreciating what your body does for you each day.  It’s your vehicle to your self-development journey!  Because of your body, you have an opportunity to be on the planet and allow spirit to express through you.  That’s an amazing gift!  Learn to have gratitude for what your body can do:

“I am thankful for being an example of a miracle!  I have no imperfections because I am perfectly constructed.  Every aspect of my body is a reason to rejoice in life’s sensations.  I feel powerful by being alive.  I welcome each element of my physical system that is a wondrous example of genius.  Today, I feel blessed to be able to express my sacred gift.  I am thankful I have the skills that can service humanity!”

Too much of a conceptual leap?  If you are overweight, and need a boost to get over the negative thinking hump, here’s an affirmation that will put you on the positive thinking track:

“I am in the process of creating a beautiful and meaningful life.  I am safe and protected by God every day.  I no longer have a need to hold on to the past because today is what matters.  The past has no power over me.  I am grown up and step into a complete vision of myself.  From this day forward, I take responsibility for my life and shed old mental habits that do not support a healthy vision.  I love taking care of my beautiful body!”

With consistent and powerful thoughts, there is no need to stress about the way you look.  Love every inch of you while taking excellent care of yourself. Your satisfaction is in knowing that you are a gift to the universe exactly as you are.  When you engage in a deeper level of self-appreciation and self-love in the present moment, you’ll feel empowered… and learn to love yourself!

© The Goddess Network, Inc. and Charlene M. Proctor, Ph.D.  2007.  All Rights Reserved.  See http://www.thegoddessnetwork.com/connect.php?page=eshow for more empowering thoughts on body image! Register for The E-Show, a series of enlightening lectures!

Being a social scientist, I have been trained to find comfort in numbers, although I am equally dependent upon faith. In research, if we set a certain standard and can measure whether an idea or a result exists, then we have a construct for at least a theory. In fact, we just might have the basis for a belief.

Just last week, I gained further insight on this concept, when I took both my sons out to dinner at our favorite local sushi restaurant. At thirteen and eleven years of age, I was amazed at their worldview, probably as a result of some coursework they’ve been exposed to on the subject of world religions. Jason, a critical thinker at thirteen, told me that society feels the need to construct belief systems – and there is not necessarily any proof behind such beliefs. He argued that humans have a natural need to do this in order to explain what cannot be explained. Without proof, he said, why should he subscribe to anything he can’t see, especially God? I was further alarmed when Vaughn chimed in, putting in his two cents about why he’s just not sure there is a God, Goddess, or a higher power for that matter. I have never forced them to believe anything because beliefs are something we construct as a result of our own life experiences. Their life experience will be totally different than mine. Although I can offer a foundation and continually teach them how spirit infiltrates our every move, I can’t fill in the blanks for them. That they must do on their own.

Not to be rattled off my wise, mother-track, I realized the boys are just beginning to question the world at large. They also have a limited view because they have experienced minimal adversity, failure, loss and grief in life – some, but not enough to know how important it is to believe there is a reason for it. By the time we are 40, our adversity resumé is quite long – we’ve got a vast inventory under our belts in multiple categories. We need to believe and depend upon reasons we can’t fully explain – life seems to lead us that way in order to cope.

Seeing is not necessarily believing

As we continued to have a spontaneous discussion about belief systems, I realized that, at their tender ages, they have already been indoctrinated into the comfort level a Cartesian viewpoint provides – if we don’t see it, it doesn’t exist. How did this happen, I wondered? Do our children have so much difficulty in believing and having faith because somehow physical evidence must confirm the constructs of parental belief systems? Or do they simply feel unblemished by life’s circumstances and secure enough not to feel the need to rely on faith?

I spent the rest of my wakame salad and miso soup time explaining that just because we don’t see something doesn’t mean it’s not there. We know love exists, even though we cannot see it. What would the world be like without love? Well then, they replied, then let’s conduct some focus groups and find out what percentage of people believe in love and see if it’s statistically significant. Finding love, or proving the existence of love, by taking a poll first? We’ve done a very good job, I silently thought, of indoctrinating our kids into a world replete with an over-estimated value of proof.

A Good Mantra: Less Science, More Faith

Overall, I think we need a little less science and a lot more faith, especially when it comes to the subject of life’s adversity. Granted, faith sometimes does not give us the level of certainty we want to accept bad circumstances. It’d be awfully nice if we’d get a progress report at the day’s end that explained just what the heck was going on. Some days we get an unusually large dose of the nasties. But the last I checked, nobody was getting any statistical feedback in terms our soul journey g.p.a. Our scores, in terms of our progress, are greatly determined by our own self-evaluations. The ‘knowing why’ of life’s circumstances can’t necessarily be part of the formula because if we knew everything, the reason for everything, there would be no point in the dance. We all agree - there doesn’t seem to be any consolation in not knowing. And as a researcher, it does go against my nature to come up empty handed in the knowing category - not knowing, after a really good analysis, just doesn’t seem acceptable. Seems like we missed something along the way or left our part of the equation. Is it a lack of insight?

Perhaps we don’t always cast our net wide enough about our spiritual development. I think we evolve into faith because we can’t make meaning without it after enough living has gone by. Proof soothes mainly because most of us are limited to our five senses – which serve as our conceptual parameters. Although some are gifted to extend past those limitations in distant realms, or have had extraordinary psychic experiences that defy current logic, the rest of us need pure faith to keep us on track. Never diminish the value of faith. You’ll find less energy spent on asking ‘why’ and surrender to the ‘not knowing’ more readily.

Keep The Faith

Until we are ready to accept that many conditions are brought upon by our own doing, and know the quality of our lives depends upon our mental equivalent, we cannot begin to put faith to work to produce a more balanced life. Accepting the truth about ourselves, in that we are One Mind, and all one universal Spirit, is the first step to knowing how and why certain limitations exist in our lives. Instead of spending energy on proving the existence of God, why not focus on accepting that which you are – which is an individualized spark of Divine Power? With this assumption, you can skip past agonizing about “why?” and begin the process of projecting more of what you want into your daily experience something better than yesterday.

Ernest Holmes, in The Science of Mind says in order to have faith we must first have a conviction that all is well. In order to keep faith, we must allow nothing to enter our thought process which will weaken this conviction. Faith is built up from belief, acceptance, and trust. So, if we allow anything into our thought process which destroys these convictions, faith is weakened.

Many of us have found that our mind must be steady in its conviction that life is some part of God, and that Spirit is within us. It’s our gift – and if we desire to vitalize faith within our teenagers, families, communities, and world, we must focus on knowing, without a shred of doubt, that Spirit exists within us. It is our job to guide it, deploy it confidently without judgment, and simply know that our perfection is the foundation of all demonstration, conditions, and healings. And this knowing is our “proof” of God everywhere.

See The Divine in Everything

During the times you feel most challenged by everyday strife and unsavory circumstances, look around! Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. When I wish to manifest a new condition in my own life, I simply stop to pay attention. I look for simple, daily miracles – everything from finding a parking space to the way spring sounds outside or the way the grass grows without asking. I pull it in me, around me and through me, inhaling my appreciation for what keeps the universe in constant rotation. Be in unity with life at every level – which includes feeling success, health, and joy each day and do so without doubt.

Having unshakable faith in the Divine is about knowing truth of who we are. It’s a participative partnership based upon trust. It’s always accessible. Faith in God (and in yourself) is consciously generated. Let it be your own definition. Remember, no matter the wisdom tradition, when we embrace God and accept Spirit on our own terms that’s when we begin to invite less pain, less unhappiness, less poverty, misery in our lives and embracing more good. Get God, goodness, and faith back into your day… and get started!

© The Goddess Network, Inc. and Charlene M. Proctor, Ph.D. 2007. All Rights Reserved. See http://www.thegoddessnetwork.com/connect.php?page=eshow for more empowering thoughts! Register for The E-Show, a series of enlightening lectures!

Question: How does one get through divorce in a positive light?
S from Texas

Dear S from Texas,
Three things. Believe that:

• Through pain, we find triumph in our personal lives, and then experience peace if we allow it. Know that you are capable of healing.

• It is possible to forgive anyone, under any circumstances. Forgiveness is a true miracle we can experience at any time, free of charge.

• Your path has changed for the better. You are learning a lesson at the level of the soul that you have chosen in this lifetime. It’s difficult to go through, but remember – you are moving through it, not stuck there permanently. Personal growth sometimes hurts in the beginning – and then we emerge with greater trust and perspective after the lesson is over. Continue reading »

Question: I am a soon to be 53 year old who has come to her crossroads in life. I’ve been married 24 years and it has come to the point of wanting a divorce from my husband. I no longer am interested in being married and feel that it is holding me back from moving forward in my life.

What should I do? Sometimes my spirit is high and then it drops to a new low. Do other women experience these terrible mood swings? I know that my marriage is no longer healthy for me. Need some advice.
Y.

Continue reading »