Authenticity as a Spiritual Practice

Authenticity as a Spiritual Practice

PRACTICE

52 Weeks of Spiritual Practice

By Deborah Williams

The purpose of the 52 Principles is to develop a partnership, a connection with God. Connecting with God is why we are here; the soul’s desire. To be in communication with the Creator is ideally the most fulfilling life, our best life. The intent of the 52 Principles is God-realization through daily practice. Practice the principles with frequency and find God-consciousness through your own efforts. With practice, you will begin to encounter your experiences in a spiritual context as you begin to practice and master spiritual principles. This week’s spiritual principle is Authenticity.

It is better to have heart without words than words without heart (Ghandi). Authenticity is living from the heart; whole-heartedness. Authenticity is to know your truth and to have the courage to show up with integrity, genuineness, honesty, and without pretense.

Someone said “to be or not to be, that is the question.” Not only is that the question, but it is the answer. Be willing to be who you are, practice your gift – even if it is unpopular. Find your light, your gift and let it shine continuously. Be positive, and be the best you can be. You are what God created you to be. Your truth, your light, your gift is unique.

Being authentic is not an easy task in a culture bombarded with images of who we need to be via advertisement, music, peers, number of friends on Facebook, number of followers on social media, entertainers as idols, and expectations of family and friends. Authenticity is sacrificed for being liked and accepted by others. Let everyone be sure that he is doing his very best, for then he will have the personal satisfaction of work well done and won’t need to compare himself with someone else. (Galatians 6:4) Who others expect us to be may cause anger, eating disorders, depression, unhappiness, physical ailments, anxiety, addiction, resentment, grief; all as a result of not being true to self. Be more interested in the Creator’s acceptance of you than how others feel about you. Search me thoroughly, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! (Psalm 139:23). We can be “one hundred” with our Creator because our God knows and sees our heart.

Authenticity Practices:

Ø  Affirmation: I am totally independent of the good and bad opinions of others, I am beneath no one, I am fearless in the face of any and all challenges. Do not shrink or swell.

Ø  Make a Vow of Authenticity: To have and to hold, for better or worse, richer or poorer, sickness and health, till death do us part. Be devoted to who you are.

Ø  Authentic Kindness: Relate to everything with kindness. Be kind and honest without making others uncomfortable. Say what’s on your mind with kindness when communicating with others. Communicate without sounding like a know it all and have the courage to kindly disagree with the crowd.

 

Self-Assessment:

How do you remain authentic and not drift back to pretense?

What distracts you from being authentic?

What has God called you to do; what is your gift?

Do people know how you really feel about them?

What is your foundation of truth; what sure thing that will not let you down?

Become who you were born to be and let go of the expectations of how others perceive you to be. Find your truth and live it. No one can tell you what your truth is. We are created as diverse as the fish, flowers, and birds; God loves diversity. Becoming your true self is becoming authentic.

How do you develop the courage to be authentic in a culture that encourages you to fit in? Develop your own spiritual practice.

Peace and Blessings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simplicity as a Spiritual Practice

Simplicity as a Spiritual Practice

PRACTICE

52 Weeks of Spiritual Practice

By Deborah Williams

The purpose of the 52 Principles is to develop a partnership, a connection with God. Connecting with God is why we are here; the soul’s desire. To be in communication with the Creator is ideally the most fulfilling life, our best life. The intent of the 52 Principles is God-realization through daily practice. Practice the principles with frequency and find God-consciousness through your own efforts. With practice, you will begin to encounter your experiences in a spiritual context as you begin to practice and master spiritual principles. This week’s spiritual principle is Simplicity.

The simplicity of nature supports and nourishes. All creation has an invisible connection with the sun, moon, stars, earth and sky. And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good, suitable, and pleasant and God approved it completely. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day (Genesis 1:31). The simplicity of love is compassion, patient, sensitive, tender, affectionate, and a gentle and respectful approach to all things. Fellowship with God through nature by taking time to appreciate a sunrise/sunset, flowers, oceans, mountains, air; God is in His Creation. Naturalness is simple and easy.

Simplicity is being clear and direct in your communications with others. And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong (Matthew 5:33-37).  All of nature is simple and direct - except humans. We say one thing and mean another. Simplicity is living directly, asking direct questions, being direct and allowing life to touch you; no denials and no covers.

How much of your life is yours, aside from work, family, friends and other responsibilities? Find and take time daily to do at least one thing you like to do. Take time daily to spend time with God. Advertisement states that image is everything, but image cannot substitute for the real thing. Make God a priority.

Practice doing your best; practice makes mastery a reality. Always give 100% of your best. Work hard so God can say to you, “Well done.” Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines your work. Know what his Word says and means (2 Timothy 2:15). Doing your best is simple because your best depends on how you feel in the present moment. If you were asked to do fifty pushups in5 minutes, the best you may be able to do is ten. But, given time, your best will improve with practice. Practice makes the master.                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Self-Assessment:

Do you say what you mean and do you express yourself clearly and directly?

What are your simple requests that would make your life more enjoyable?

What inspires you?

What consumes your day?

List five things that would simplify your life.

What “golden handcuffs” (hand-cuffed by materialism) distracts you from what’s important?

How much time do you spend doing the things you like to do?

How much time daily do you spend with your God?

Are you in tune with natural cycle?

Simplicity Practices:

• Discover the things that you like, the things that make you happy. Find and make time to do them, and follow your energy. Allow at least one hour per day to do what pleases you.
• For the next three months fellowship with God, twenty minutes in the morning and twenty minutes in the evening. Imagine how life will change when you give God a percentage of your time daily.
• Streamline your life; what are the top five things that will provide you peace and serenity.
• Take a digital holiday; no cell phone or emails. In a multi-tasking society it’s rare to have a conversation uninterrupted by a cell phone. When we give our undivided attention, it shows the other that they matter, and we “see” them.

Evaluate what is meaningful in your daily life and take/make the time to do them. Family, close friends, love, and laughter are the simple things that matter. The simple things are easy to do, and easy not to do. Cook and eat at least one healthy meal with your family, or solo; pray; get up early to meet the day and see the sunrise; take a walk and admire nature (God is in His Creation); read an inspiring book; show a child a new skill; write a letter; visit a friend.

How do you simplify life with more goodness; God? Develop your own spiritual practice.

Peace and Blessings

 

 

Discipline as a Spiritual Practice

PRACTICE

52 Weeks of Spiritual Practice

By Deborah Williams

The purpose of the 52 Principles is to develop a partnership, a connection with God. Connecting with God is why we are here; the soul’s desire. To be in communication with the Creator is ideally the most fulfilling life, our best life. The intent of the 52 Principles is God-realization through daily practice. Practice the principles with frequency and find God-consciousness through your own efforts. With practice, you will begin to encounter your experiences in a spiritual context as you begin to practice and master spiritual principles. This week’s spiritual principle is Discipline.

Spiritual disciplines are guide posts that move us to our higher purpose. How do we develop the discipline to practice the spiritual disciplines (forgiveness, gratitude, courage, prayer, trust, humility, meditation, mindfulness)? There is no magic formula; discipline comes from doing. Discipline requires determination, resourcefulness and planning. Discipline results in clarity of thought and focus.  A few errors in judgment repeated everyday move us off course, in contrast, intentional daily disciplines practiced daily will keep us on track. First step toward self-discipline begins with self-knowledge. Know the “why” of your actions. Yes, it is hard – but so what. Do it anyway; for what it will make of you.

If worry, fear, anger, and lack of forgiveness consume your thought life, developing spiritual disciplines will bring you clarity of mind, and a peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7). The more we practice compassion, we become compassionate. The more we practice love, we become loving. In comparison, we become a better hater when we continue to hate, and the angrier we are, the better we are at getting angry.

Discipline is like a self-apprenticeship. Be positive and channel your physical and mental energies into positive thoughts, intentions, and actions – not just for yourself, but for the greater good. Become less preoccupied with controlling others and your environment, and more concerned with self-control (James 1:26). By nature, we lack self-control. Self-restraint is necessary in an ego driven culture when the dictum is “Do your own thing.” Research indicates that doing a new thing for 28 days will change behavior. The mind needs consistent repetition to make changes, the “why” of making and maintaining change is a driver and motivator and crucial for permanent change. The longer you do a thing, the better you will get. Spirit will correct our behavior if we exercise self-discipline.

Self-Assessment:

Do you want to be a disciple?

Who am I becoming, and is that okay?

How do I bring (spiritual discipline) in my daily life?

Discipline Practices:

Ø  Becoming a spiritual disciple: be the principle in action for at least one week. Study every aspect of your spiritual discipline. Keep it in the forefront of your mind and contemplate/meditate on how you are willing and able to execute the principle in all your activities; look for opportunities. Visualize yourself practicing/living the spiritual discipline. Become the embodiment of your principle. Live the energy of the principle. Become the principle.

Ø  Recognize when you are successful at mastering a spiritual discipline. Share your process with someone on the journey.

The goal of spiritual discipleship is to realize peace in oneself. Become disciplined to see, know, and speak the truth – this alignment is what the soul longs for; Oneness. Be the deliberate creator of your experience through practicing spiritual disciplines. Practicing spiritual disciplines liberate the soul.

What spiritual practice keeps you centered when you face challenges?  Develop your own spiritual practice.

Peace and Many Blessings

 

 

Mindfulness as a Spiritual Practice

­­­­­­Mindfulness as a Spiritual Practice

PRACTICE

52 Weeks of Spiritual Practice

By Deborah Williams

The purpose of the 52 Principles is to develop a partnership, a connection with God. Connecting with God is why we are here; the soul’s desire. To be in communication with the Creator is ideally the most fulfilling life, our best life. The intent of the 52 Principles is God-realization through daily practice. Practice the principles with frequency and find God-consciousness through your own efforts. With practice, you will begin to encounter your experiences in a spiritual context as you begin to practice and master spiritual principles. This week’s spiritual principle is Mindfulness.

Mindfulness means we are aware of what is happening in and around us; moment to moment. Mindfulness creates harmony, compassion, kindness and intimacy. The scriptures are clear that God is mindful of His creation; What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of earthborn man that You care for him (Psalm 8:4); The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron; (Psalm 115:12). , What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that You care for him (Hebrews 2:6). Mindfulness is also associated with Buddhist practices in relieving the suffering of others through loving speech and deep listening.

Mindfulness results in intimacy, kindness, serenity, love, and understanding. We are encouraged to always be mindful of ourselves and others; So be careful how you live; be mindful of your steps. Don’t run around like idiots as the rest of the world does. Instead, walk as the wise (Ephesians 5:15). Mindlessness is a disaster when we are negligent, rude, inattentive, and uncaring to ourselves, associates, family, and friends. The practice of mindfulness requires our full presence and attention and is the best gift we can give to ourselves and others.

Full attention is challenging in our multi-tasking society. We seldom think about what we are doing and do it with our full attention. The ancient recipe for staying in the present is “Do what you are doing.” When you eat, eat. When you walk, walk. When you sit, sit. Whatever you do, you do it with full attention; no judgment, no regret. If you are not mindful, you only see what you expect to find.

Mindfulness practices in Happiness by Thich Nhat Hanh details numerous practices to honor and respect the life of self and others. The five basic spiritual practices or trainings for the purpose of relieving the suffering of self and others are to:

Ø  Practice compassion, kindness, and generosity

Ø  Practice responsible behavior and respect for all life

Ø  Protect ourselves and others from sexual abuse and unloving relationships

Ø  Practice loving speech and deep listening 

Ø  Cultivate healthy habits in consuming products for the mind, body, and Spirit

Mindfulness is tapping into the energies of the Holy Spirit – God’s Energy to protect and serve others. We touch the Holy Spirit through our mindfulness of the moment, realizing our ideal for self and others. Touch has healing powers (Matthew 9:20-22). 

Mindfulness Practices

Ask others: “Do you think I understand you and your difficulties? Please tell me so that I do not contribute to your dis-ease or dis-comfort. And I can love you in a way that you love.” Use kind and loving speech.  Listen to the response without interpretation or judgment and do not cut them off.  Through deep listening and kind speech, mindfulness deepens understanding and is healing; like touching. We can touch the heart when we go beyond the surface.

Mindfulness for a day: Eat vegetables, fruit, and drink water – just for  today; Go for a walk – just for today; Refrain from judging others- just for today; Be kind, smile, and give a compliment to someone – just for  today. Notice how you feel at the end of the day, and then decide the following morning if you want to continue for an additional day.  “A journey of 100 miles begins with a single step” – Tao Te Ching (pronounced Dow).

Mindfulness is living a God-realized life. Mindfulness can be adopted with any spiritual tradition or faith. Mindfulness is awareness of the energy, in the present moment. Follow and protect the vital energies (sex, breath, Spirit) in order to realize our Ideal for self and others.

What is your daily process of tapping into the healing power of Mindfulness? Develop your own spiritual practice.

Peace and Many Blessings

Vision as a Spiritual Practice

­­­­­­Vision as a Spiritual Practice

PRACTICE

52 Weeks of Spiritual Practice

By Deborah Williams

The purpose of the 52 Principles is to develop a partnership, a connection with God. Connecting with God is why we are here; the soul’s desire. To be in communication with the Creator is ideally the most fulfilling life, our best life. The intent of the 52 Principles is God-realization through daily practice. Practice the principles with frequency and find God-consciousness through your own efforts. This week’s spiritual principle is Vision.

Vision comes from within – not what we experience from the five senses – vision is a deeper awareness. Prophetic visions were messages sanctioned by God and served a Divine purpose, and revealed future events. We are advised that our God “will pour out His Spirit; and our sons and our daughters will prophesy, our old men will have dreams, our young men will see visions” (Joel 2:28). Have an expectation of God’s Divine favor for the present and future.

The Kingdom of God is the highest vision for mankind. God provides for the plants and animals in nature (Matthew 6:28), and He blessed us with the ability to think, create, fellowship with Him, and endowed us with the awareness of a higher vision. We are counseled to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all things will be given to us” (Matthew 6:33). We can experience God, our Creator via thought to mind to heart to soul. In addition we can connect to God in nature and through others by practicing spiritual principles. God is always available to us, and is as close to us as our breath.

Our vision is the promise of our future ideal. We build our future in the present moment and our present actions link to our future aspirations. We can all create a better life through a vision. Your vision is specific to you. Have a vision of yourself as successful, patient, tolerant – practice until you reach your ideal. There is no boredom, only enthusiasm for the future. Do not allow others to create your vision – create your own. Choose the ideal vs the egotistical vision. Ego is the “I” only; choose the good of all – not just for you. Do not reduce the scope of your vision because someone does not know or understand the vision – it is yours – between you and God. Vision is pure possibility beyond your norm. Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he who keeps the law of God, is blessed, happy, fortunate, and privileged (Proverbs 29:18). Have a great expectation and keep your vision constantly in mind.

Vision Practices

• Family vision: In weekly or monthly family meetings, take the opportunity to discuss the vision for  the family with full participation of each family member. Select a specific theme, with each family member making concrete contributions. The family’s visions can come to fruition when all members are viewed as stakeholders. Family visioning creates a sense of oneness and cohesiveness within the family.
• Create a vision board and review it often.
• Take five minutes each day and make a concrete intention toward your vision.

Self- Assessment
 

What is your vision for self, family, community, and world?
Are there others who benefit from your vision?

Does your vision involve God’s Divine purpose?

What is the promise for the future? Do you not perceive it? (Isaiah 43:19)

What is your vision for seeing God in everyone; more compassion, more love, less anger?

Do you live as if God really matters?

What percentage of your attention per day do you give to your vision?

Where are you on your spiritual journey and what do you want to achieve spiritually in the next six months?

What is your ideal scene and can you trust that your vision is reachable?

Enlarge your vision; see the end at the beginning. Your vision is a promise of your ideal of the future; reach higher. Develop a natural sense of passion, forgiveness, and love for your vision – this is the soul’s journey.

What does your vision look like for yourself and family, and does it include God?  Develop your own spiritual practice.

Peace and Many Blessings

 

 

Praise as a Spiritual Practice

Praise as a Spiritual Practice

PRACTICE

52 Weeks of Spiritual Practice
By Deborah Williams

The purpose of the 52 Principles is to develop a partnership, a connection with God. Connecting with God is why we are here; the soul’s desire. To be in communication with the Creator is ideally the most fulfilling life, our best life. The intent  of the 52 Principles is God-realization through the daily practice of spiritual principles. Practice the principles with frequency and find God-consciousness through your own efforts. This week’s spiritual principle is Praise.

Praise is service, devotion, and reverence to God. Praise is a celebration of the goodness of God that requires conscious thought. Thoughts determine how you praise and if you praise. The scriptures affirm that “God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Contemplating the goodness and greatness of God produces feelings of joy, gratitude, and thankfulness. Joy and praise are inseparable. Joy is the energy that converts to praise. Joy is our natural state.  Have a direct experience with God by following the energy/thought of God’s personal grace in your life. If you have something to be thankful for, you have cause to praise God.

Some cultures continue to offer animal sacrifices as a demonstration of reverence or worship. During the season of Lent, Christians make personal sacrifices as a religious practice. The key element of praise and worship is that it is practiced with heart; between you and God. You are a letter written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, a letter written not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts (2 Corinthians 3:3).

Praise Practices: Plain and Simple

Be thankful for the simple things

Give God the glory by always doing your best

Demonstrate radical kindness to everyone you encounter

Dance with the Divine – The art of dance and music 

Cultivate a feeling a thank-feel-ness as you wake, and carry it with you

Smile –reset your attitude

Serve others with joy

Excellence – follow your energy

Think appreciation and follow that energy

Give God the praise and credit for your blessings

Be humble

A friendly countenance gives God praise. Your gift – everyplace you bring light; what you touch enlivens you and others. Praise is living with enthusiasm. Rejoice, brighten-up, and put on a smile. You have loved what is right. You have hated what is wrong. That is why God, Your God, has chosen You. He has poured over You the oil of joy more than over anyone else (Hebrews 1:9). When we praise God, we open ourselves up to more good, more of God’s grace.

 Self-Assessment

What is your visual message?

What experience brings you a feeling of joy?

How do you generate the feeling or energy of joy?

Do you have a grateful heart?

How and why do you stop your joy?

What is your praise practice?

What does your God require for praise, devotion, and worship?

 Our purpose in life is to awaken to our soul’s desire/our gift, to celebrate life, and do what brings us joy. Joy is our natural state of communion with God. What if wherever we went, we brought joy to the present moment, and people felt happy, joyous, and peaceful in our presence. Give God the praise with a joyful temperament wherever you go. Make a difference in someone's day and feel the joy.

How do you demonstrate praise for your God? Develop your own spiritual practice.

Peace and Blessings

Humility as a Spiritual Practice

Humility as a Spiritual Practice

PRACTICE

52 Weeks of Spiritual Practice

By Deborah Williams

The purpose of the 52 Principles is to develop a partnership, a connection with God. Connecting with God is why we are here; the soul’s desire. To be in communication with the Creator is ideally the most fulfilling life, our best life. The intent of the 52 Principles is God-realization through daily practice. Practice the principles with frequency and find God-consciousness through your own efforts. This week’s spiritual principle is Humility.

Humility is derived from the root word humus; plants and leaves that decay and used as fertilizer.  Like humus, humility is worth cultivating and is potentially profitable when developed. Humility is measured by how we connect with God and others through our behavior. A humble spirit is willing and able to serve God and others. When we humble ourselves, God can mold us into what He wants us to be when we are willing and able to listen and follow His direction.  “And all of you must put on the apron of humility, to serve one another; for the scripture says, ‘God resists the proud, but shows favor to the humble’ (1 Peter 5:5). Humility is freedom from pride and arrogance and the suppression of the ego.

We cannot see the truth when the ego is the primary driver. The ego is without compassion, haughty, judgmental; insisting on being right. Being right is over-rated when we alienate others. The ego's only goal is to protect the false self.  The ego flaunts cleverness, seeks competition for external power and prestige. The ego looks to others for validation and self-worth. Your true self is behind the image. Ego is “Easing God Out” with no recognition of God’s grace, power, or mercy.  We can do nothing without the grace of God. Surrender the ego and allow God to drive your thoughts. Challenge ideas that do not contribute to a true relationship with your Higher Power, Creator, God.  We are charged to practice the fruit of the Spirit, the work which His presence within us accomplishes is love, joy, peace, patience, an even temper, tolerance, kindness, goodness, compassion, faithfulness, gentleness, humility, self-control, and self-restraint. Against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23).

True humility is a foundation to serve others. False humility is a self-righteous attitude of “I am better than you, but I will help you and take credit.” True humility is helping others without expectation of payment or reward.  We may be able to fool others, but God sees the heart. Humility and kindness are inter-related; you cannot be unkind and humble. God favors humility; true humility and service are connected. Jesus demonstrated the “how to” of humility on countless occasions; as a humble servant, washing the feet of His disciples (John 13:12); listening and embracing children (Matthew 19:4); to riding on a donkey (Matthew 21:5); and His relentless service to everyone who received Him.

 Humility Practices

 LISTENING: Start with family by listening and valuing what children are saying. A child’s opinion is equal when we are aware of who they are in Spirit. Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people who are like these children (Matthew 19:14).

 COMPASSION: Be willing to become all things to all people.  Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life, but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-centered life. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be about it! (1 Corinthians 9:19:23).

NONJUDGMENTAL: Surrender the need to judge others by practicing non-judgment. This process will allow you to become aware of your “right-ness” – the activity of the ego.  Begin your day with the statement “Today I will judge nothing that occurs” and remind yourself throughout the day not to judge. This is an exercise in awareness and taming the ego.

 
Self -Assessment

What are your lessons in humility?

What humbles you?
Do you judge others by what you see or what “they say”?
Does your right-ness discount other’s opinions?
Are you the center, or do others exist?
Are you aware and do you care how you affect others?
Who do you value and why?

We are all on the same level; a base level of human-ness regardless of gender, race, sex, and socio-economic status. Practice humility and live in the ideal. Living humility is when you can stop and enjoy where you are.

 
How do you practice humility? Develop your own spiritual practice.

 Peace and Many Blessings