Once upon a time my mother told me that when things were too hectic or seemingly not working the way I wanted them to, I should work on myself in order to feel better. I think that advice transcends time, circumstance and situation.
For the past many months I’ve been running around working four or more jobs at once. Though I love what I do; it can get tiring to the point that I don’t eat right, sleep right or have energy to do much else. I know I’ve spoken about “balance” quite a bit but it’s so true. We get so caught up in completing the tasks of each day that we forget to stop and feed the spirit. When our spirits get low on energy, everything else suffers. If we allow it to go on for too very long, the certain result is a long stint on the couch or in bed under the covers. Remaining unbalanced can lead to depression, anxiety, weight gain, weight loss and it can even lower your immunity and cause disease.
What are some of the things that feed your spirit? For me, it’s taking some time each day to be productive with things that are meaningful only to me. Two days ago I plopped myself on the floor with a bottle of water, some good music and an over-filled cabinet full of junk, left untouched for about five years. Today I’m happy to say, it’s a well-organized machine of storage! Along the way I found all kinds of old treasures (including two framed photos I’ve been searching for high and low), and I threw out tons of old junk. This weekend I’ll tackle another potential treasure trove: our closet! When my corners are free of clutter, so is my heart and soul.
I say it here all the time, but I’ll repeat it until every single person digests it and puts it
into practice; feeding the spirit is the most important task a person can complete on a daily basis, (next to prayer, which is also feeding the spirit!)
What’s feeding the spirit? Food for the spirit is anything that makes one feel better from the inside-out. You are the author of what this means to you. Tomorrow is Friday. What are you going to do?
Here is but one suggestion from the Angel Wisdom book:
ELIMINATE THE NEGATIVE
An Angel Reminder: How many negative thinkers have you been inspired by lately?
It is important to understand why eliminating negative thoughts is vital to our health and well-being. Negative thoughts depress our immune systems, make us tired, and influence those around us in a negative way. Thinking negatively about a situation will send you searching for negative outcomes. You will then waste your time preparing to cope with a possible negative situation instead of pursuing positive goals and living a creative life. Negative thoughts bore the angels, and you wouldn’t want to chance that. Once you realize the tedious nature of negative thinking, you can create a built-in warning system that will identify negative thoughts, allowing you the chance to choose a better way.
It is important to recognize when we have negative thoughts. use the following questions as a negative-thought checklist: Is the thought life-defeating? Does it encourage excess worry? Is the thought hard to get rid of? Does thinking it make you feel uncomfortable? Would the angels view the thought as a waste of energy? If you answered yes to the above questions, then chances are the thought is negative. Two more questions to think about: What does the thought inspire in others? Is this thought the way you really want things to turn out?
An Angelic Reflection: I will make it my goal to eliminate the negative and affirm the positive, loving aspects of the angels.
(Angel Wisdom: Terry Lynn Taylor & Mary Beth Crain © 1994, Harper-Collins)
From the Angels:
Emerging: Your true self-radiant, powerful, successful, and intelligent-is now shining through the surface. Allow your true self to be visible to others, for you lift them up and inspire them.
You are awesome in so many ways, and you are beginning to trust and reveal your true nature more easily. At one time, you may have believed that you had to hide your feelings from others (or even from yourself!). Now, however, you realize how vital and attractive expressing your authentic self is.
Your angels are guiding you to honor your true feelings by expressing them to yourself and others. The angels will help you lovingly talk about your feelings so that no misunderstandings occur with friends and loved ones. Your angels will never guide you to do or say anything that could hurt you or anyone else! They will also ensure that your life will emerge to a new level of inner peace as you let your true self come out and play.
Listening: You are in communication with your angels, and the messages that you are receiving are very real indeed. Trust them.
This card is a validation from your angels that you really are hearing them.You have been receiving repetitive messages through your feelings, dreams, visions, inner voice, or knowingness. Are you listening and trusting these messages? Are you following them?
If you get an inclination to call someone, go somewhere, or read something, it’s important to follow this guidance. By drawing this card, your angels ask you to give all your doubts or worries about Divine guidance to them. Know that you truly are communicating with heaven, and enjoy the conversations!
Power: You now allow yourself to express your power. Being powerful is safe for you, knowing that you express your power with love.
You have all of the power of your Creator within you! All the power of Divine love, wisdom, and intelligence is available to you. You have the spiritual power to see angels and the future. You have intellectual power to tap in to the universal wisdom of the One Mind. You have emotional power to empathize with others, and physical power that is truly unlimited.
The angels ask you to give them any fears you may have connected with being a powerful person. Your angels see a quiet and beautiful aspect of your true power, stemming from the only power in the universe: Divine love. Allow yourself to shine with this radiant love so that your true power can radiate out into the world in miraculous ways.
BONUS CARD: (If it speaks to you, it’s meant for you!)
Shanti: “I am the Angel of Peace. I bring you new tranquility, and a smoother road ahead.”
“You have been through turmoil, and your soul is tired. Your mind craves peace and quiet, and I am here to help you with that desire. I will give you new opportunities to spend time alone, where you can relax your mind and heart. I will bring tranquility to your soul so that you can mirror the peace of mind that is your true Divine nature.”
“Like the angels, you are able to hover within the eye of any hurricanes that may swirl around you right now. Through breath and intention, you can stay centered no matter what’s happening in your life. This inner foundation of peace has a powerful healing effect. Your outer life soon reflects your inner peacefulness. Smooth roads are ahead for you, and the worst is behind you now. A peaceful outcome to this situation is assured.”
God, help me to be
a pure vehicle for your love,
and light,
and wisdom.
Steven Sadleir
Let the rain come and wash away
the ancient grudges, the bitter hatreds
held and nurtured over generations.
Let the rain wash away the memory
of the hurt, the neglect.
Then let the sun come out and
fill the sky with rainbows.
Let the warmth of the sun heal us
wherever we are broken.
Let it burn away the fog so that
we can see each other clearly.
So that we can see beyond labels,
beyond accents, gender or skin color.
Let the warmth and brightness
of the sun melt our selfishness.
So that we can share the joys and
feel the sorrows of our neighbors.
And let the light of the sun
be so strong that we will see all
people as our neighbors.
Let the earth, nourished by rain,
bring forth flowers
to surround us with beauty.
And let the mountains teach our hearts
to reach upward to heaven.
Amen.
A prayer for the world
– Rabbi Harold Kushner – 2003