Benefiting From Your Practices

Dancing into my Zen. Photo by G.E. Nelson Photography

Benefiting From Your Practices

by BlackLion

Have you ever been vexed by having so many awesome spiritual tools available to you yet you never seem to really make the time to follow through with them? Or felt frustrated about it and asked yourself: “Why am I not keeping up with my practices even though I know they’ll enrich my soul?”

I’ve been there. Yet I know when I do yoga and dance, I am alive in my body and enjoying the sensual nature of my movement. As I draw and write, new dimensions of reality appear, an agreement between me and Me. Better yet, all my delightful designs, musings and life’s little moments accumulate as gifts, good cheer, and wealth.

I bet you have hundreds if not thousands of people who would love to see whatever you create with your brilliant soul. You meet them every day — your family, friends, neighbors, tribe and community adore you for being the quirky, contemplative, joy-filled you that you are. Imagine a pride full of cherishing co-creators, each of you offering novel outpourings of your imaginative selves. You succeed as the whole of us succeeds.

So, why are you afraid to use your rejuvenating, restorative tools to fulfill your life’s dreams?

Utilize the spiritual tools that give you the leverage to lift yourself up, share your precious gifts, and yes, even accept other people’s money for your skills, creativity, and attention. That way you are sharing your passions, becoming enriched in your spirit, uplifting your community, all while fulfilling life’s basic needs of freedom, love, and hearth. Put the nature of your precious human heart to good use in all of your dealings. Share your treasures. It’s so true! People want to know what you’ve been up to, so go for it!

If someone, even someone you really love and admire, doesn’t see your crazy idea in its full majesty, create it anyway, even if it’s not “good enough" or “perfect enough" quite yet. Be you. Remember that eating nutritious food gives you sustenance and a more fit and energetic body - so why not eat a salad? Moving keeps the heart strong and willing to venture into the unknown, so do a dance in your kitchen. Put yourself out there; be bold. All this can be done as a self-actualizing priority by simply meditating daily to stay in tune with your highest self.

Life is a continuous game of choices, all of which lead to growth, one way or another. You learn from these moments and find opportunities to change and grow and become a champion who lives in line with their passions and joys. Trying to avoid people you find unpleasant because they’ve slighted you in some way is not the same energy as choosing to fill your calendar with enriching activities that feed your soul with people who connect with you.

Those who want to join you on your quest as willing participants are often better partners than ones who may not understand fully what may be in your head or are at least unwilling to shift with you. With trust, you can share yourself with openness and be guided by spiritual vision. Your uniqueness is the quality that they see in you that draws them in. When you are more often than not aligned with that feeling, they’ll see you for the beacon of hope they’ve been seeking. A coincidence made truth.

So, what’s stopping you?

Are you feeling like a failure because your Republican Party candidate action figure set didn’t sell? Or perhaps after finding enlightenment during your ohming sessions at the yoga retreat last month, the yoga practice you intended to become a regular part of your life went on the back burner for the sometimes overwhelming “other priorities” on your calendar. Or just, you know, work...

Maybe you are simply afraid of becoming more, because of all the responsibilities to yourself you’d then have to abide by. Like the promise(s) you’ve made to the Divine to focus on your spiritual life. Or choosing not to eat the last Twinkie™ in the box even if you have already eaten all the other ones. Or simply knowing you can do better next round. All it takes is one choice at a time.

Living is...  (whatever you make of it)