Spiritual Solutions

 WELCOME TO:
Wrap-up Lesson: Trust

Please listen to the audio first by clicking on the link below, and then let’s read the lesson together.

Wrap-up Lesson: Trust

Trust magnifies the benefits you can receive from this whole course - trust in yourself, the Universe, the course principles and the nature of growth. Do you trust yourself to choose kindness more consistently? Do you trust the Universe to take care of you as you give generously? Do you trust that establishing a vision brings you closer to that reality? Do you trust in the growth your awareness will bring?

Many of us have a hard time trusting. Perhaps in the past we felt our trust violated by another. We may have, consciously or unconsciously, vowed not to trust as much or in that kind of situation. We’ll believe it when we see it. And yet, to fully live from these lessons, we must do the opposite - believe it until we see it.

And, trusting in another person does involve risks. We cannot control what another says, feels or does. We can become more comfortable trusting others as we trust ourselves more. We can learn to trust ourselves more because we can choose what we say and do. When we carry a heavy burden or become fearful, we can turn to our Source and trust in that power greater than ourselves - a power that does not fail us.

Trusting in ourselves, our God and nature helps us trust others or, maybe more accurately, trust that we will be fine regardless of what others say, feel or do.

As this series of lessons comes to an end, notice how you feel about your ability to hold steady in the wind. Rate your current ability on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = never able to hold steady in the wind, 10 = naturally, easily and consistently able to hold steady in the wind). Without thinking too much, write the answer that comes to you intuitively now.

My “Steady in the Wind” score: ________________

MAKE THIS COURSE LIFE-CHANGING FOR YOU

If you would like more support for holding steady in the wind more consistently, continue to use this course. Choose several of your favorite and least favorite lessons and continue working with them. Your favorite lessons hold good energy for you. As you continue to work with them, you’ll strengthen your natural strengths.

Your least favorite lessons hold the juice for your biggest growth areas. For example, if knowledge-sharing scares you, work with it and start small. As you come to trust the process, don’t be surprised when you find yourself quantum-leaping into becoming a huge fan of knowledge-sharing.

If generosity makes you cranky because you don’t feel others treat you generously, work with it. As you take baby steps with generosity, pay close attention to your perceptions of generosity. Record evidence in your journal. I’m cotinually amazed that what we see truly is what we get. Look for generosity and ignore anything you consider less than generous.

Work with these lessons until you naturally, easily and consistently hold steady in the wind and until you’re making the progress you desire. Then, the lessons will have fully integrated into your work and life.

Congratulations on investing in yourself. You can make no greater investment.

May you know and live your own unique greatness.

I close this course with a quote from one of our greatest teachers: “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi

Again I give grateful thanks to Ann Strong, who created the original course of “Steady in the Wind” and gave me permission to adapt and use however much of it I wanted in sharing with our “Spiritual Solutions” subscribers. Thank you, Ann, you have been a blessing to all of us.

POST COURSE: Which Lessons Will You Continue?

Kindness
Are you noticing when you tend to be kind naturally and in what situations you would like to choose to offer more kindness? Have you begun choosing kindness more consistently? As soon as you notice yourself feeling not as good as you’d like, take a few minutes to re-center yourself. Record your evidence in your journal.

Connecting
What opportunities have you noticed for connecting, both with people you don’t know and those closest to you? Choose several situations to begin practicing really connecting. Record your feelings and outcomes in your evidence journal.

Knowledge Sharing
Which books, newsletters, people, organizations and experiences have changed your life? How can you more consistently and generously share those resources with others? Are you recording how you feel as you share your knowledge and resources? What new opportunities and possibilities are coming your way?

Generosity
How are you being more generous with your time, money, energy and resources? How do you feel living more generously? What new opportunities and possibilities are coming your way?

Detachment
How consistently do you KNOW that your good comes from one source, with infinite channels? That you serve on God’s payroll? Can you completely focus on the other person’s needs, rather than your own? Are you recording in your evidence journal what happens by focusing on detachment?

Gratitude
Are you making entries in your gratitude journal daily? How are you doing with looking for something about which you can be grateful even in challenging situations? Are you recording in your evidence journal what happens by focusing on gratitude even in tough situations?

Openness
In what situations can you brainstorm several possible new ways to proceed? If you get stuck, are you asking a friend or colleague to help you brainstorm options? Record your findings and opportunities in your evidence journal.

Awareness
Several times this week, check in with yourself. How do you feel, physically and emotionally? What will make you feel even better? Look for opportunities. Talk about what feels most exciting to you. Ask for what you want. Find out what others need. Give it to them. Record your findings in your evidence journal.

Commitment
Have you written your commitment for your life? Are you recording evidence in your journal that supports your commitment?

Commanding
What have you chosen to command or claim? Are you recording evidence in your journal? What is showing up for you?

Visioning
Whenever you feel stuck, do you write out a vision? Are you tracking evidence for all your visions?

Deep Listening
Are you integrating both deep listening within and deep listening to others into your natural, regular routine?

Your Observer Role
Has observation become a natural part of your life and work?

God is Blessing You, Right Now!

Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham
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Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham, a Unity minister for over thirty-six years, invites you to enjoy more articles and/or subscribe to his free inspirational newsletter, Spiritual Solutions or go directly to the Spiritual Solutions Blog

If you’d like to receive weekday inspirational quotes, you can subscribe at Rich Words

I have been asked how a person can donate to “Spiritual Solutions.” Just go to Send a Love Offering and it will take you to a form you can use for your donation. Thank you - I am very grateful for your generosity!
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 WELCOME TO:
Lesson Twelve: Kindness

Please listen to the audio first by clicking on the link below, then let’s read the lesson together.

Lesson Twelve: Kindness

We encounter endless opportunities in a day to behave with kindness or harshness. These situations can invove those closest to us or those we don’t know - the guy in front of us on the road, the customer service person on the phone, the clerk at the gas station. Offering kindness involves treating the other person or people as we would like to be treated.

I was just reading an article in the newspaper this morning about a major urban hospital giving classes to correct bad behavior and to help people in the medical field rediscover the value of old-fashioned common courtesy. Julie Salamon, the writer, points out that the simplest form of human communication - a harsh or caring tone, abrupt or attentive behavior - can be healing or destructive.

She says that in the past few years, hospitals have begun writing codes to promote respectful behavior all around. One would hope that we would naturally treat and respond to others with kindness without needing written codes, but at least I guess it shows some progress if hospitals, of all places, at least recognize the need and do something to promote it.

We feel better about ourselves when we respond with kindness rather than impatience, rudeness or a short temper. We set in motion a cycle of positive feelings and actions both for ourselves and the receivers of our kindness.

Think of times, for instance, in your own buying experiences. I’ve been thinking about buying a new car, so I’ve been looking around at different cars at different dealers. At one dealer I was looking at a car and asking the salesperson a few questions about it. When he asked for my details and I said I wasn’t quite ready to share them yet, he puffed up and said loudly, “Are you afraid I’m going to hound you or something?”  Of course, I haven’t been back there. I’m pretty sure that we all prefer to buy from those who offer us kindness, rather than from people who treat us badly or carelessly.

Because God is love and kindness is love, kindness comes from our God-self. Life feels a whole lot better when we live from our God-selves rather than from a place of separation, a place of me-against-them.

When we behave kindly, we generally also feel peaceful, centered in our Godness (goodness). Of course, then we naturally also feel steady in the wind.

Ann Strong, creator of the “Steady in the Wind” series who has kindly given me permission to use and adapt them for Spiritual Solutions, says that she monitors her kindness by how she treats telemarketers. She has two objectives: get off the phone within seconds and do it with kindness. If the person has told her their name, she uses it. “Chris, thank you for calling. I’m not available to talk about that right now. Good-bye.” Chris may then keep talking, “Can I ask you just one question?” She says, “No, Chris, I really need to go. Bye.” And she hangs up. She says that feels good to her. She will not allow Chris to hold her hostage and she doesn’t want to treat Chris badly.

“On a not-so-great day,” she says, “I may not speak with kindness or patience, which spirals me into an even less great place. At that point, I’ll take a breather to get myself moving back in the direction of feeling great. I will forgive myself for speaking rudely to Chris. Then, I’ll spend a minute or two imagining something that always helps me feel great - listening to my niece play the piano, taking a walk in the desert, having dinner with a good friend. That usually gets me right back on the kindness road, with only a small detour instead of spending days on the wrong path.”

PRACTICE KINDNESS THIS WEEK

Notice when you tend to be kind naturally and in what situations you would like to choose to offer more kindness.

Begin choosing kindness more consistently. As soon as you notice yourself feeling not as good as you’d like, take a few minutes to re-center yourself.

Record your evidence in your journal.

CONTINUE PRACTICING CONNECTING

What opportunities have you noticed for connecting, both with people you don’t know and those closest to you? Choose several situations to begin practicing really connecting. Record your feelings and outcomes in your evidence journal.

For myself, I decided to take a new opportunity for connecting by creating a Twitter account, and I’ve already connected with some people I didn’t know and connected in a different way with some people I did already know. It’s a great way to network with people.

Go ahead and create a Twitter account and start “following” people you want. Others will start following you in return. Observe how others post and you’ll quickly learn the culture, etiquette, and uses for Twitter. Just go to http://www.twitter.com. Then visit my page at http://twitter.com/RevAlan and click on the “Follow” box that is displayed just under my photo. (That’s all there is to it.) See you on Twitter!

CONTINUE PRACTICING KNOWLEDGE SHARING

Which books, newsletters, people, organizations and experiences have changed your life? How can you more consistently and generously share those resources with others? Are you recording how you feel as you share your knowledge and resources? What new opportunities and possibilities are coming your way?

CONTINUE PRACTICING GENEROSITY

How are you being more generous with your time, money, energy and resources? How do you feel living more generously? What new opportunties and possibilities are coming your way?

CONTINUE PRACTICING DETACHMENT

How consistently do you KNOW that your good comes from one source only - God? That you serve on God’s payroll? Can you completely focus on the other person’s situation and needs, rather than your own? Are you recording in your evidence journal what happens by focusing on detachment?

CONTINUE PRACTICING GRATITUDE

Are you making entries in your gratitude journal daily? How are you doing with looking for something about which you can be grateful even in challenging situations? Are you recording in your evidence journal what happens by focusing on gratitude even in tough situations?

CONTINUE PRACTICING OPENNESS

In what situations can you brainstorm several possible new ways to proceed? If you get stuck, ask a friend or colleague to help you brainstorm options. Record your findings and opportunities in your evidence journal.

CONTINUE PRACTICING AWARENESS

Several times this week, check in with yourself. How do you feel, physically and emotionally? What will make you feel even better? Look for opportunities. Talk about what feels most exciting to you. Ask for what you want. Find out what others need. Give it to them. Record your findings in your evidence journal.

CONTINUE PRACTICING COMMITMENT

Have you written your commitment for your life? Are you recording evidence in your journal that supports your commitment?

CONTINUE PRACTICING COMMANDING

What have you chosen to command or claim? Are you recording evidence in our journal? What is showing up for you?

CONTINUE PRACTICING VISIONING

Whenever you feel stuck, do you write out a vision? Are you tracking evidence for all your visions?

CONTINUE PRACTICING DEEP LISTENING

Are you integrating both deep listening within and deep listening to others into your natural, regular routine?

CONTINUE PRACTICING YOUR OBSERVER ROLE

Is observation becoming a natural part of your life and work?

Next week, you will receive an extra and final wrap-up lesson: Trust.

Until then, have fun with kindness, connecting, knowledge sharing, generosity, detachment, gratitude, openness, awareness, commitment, commanding, visioning, listening deeply and observing.

God is Blessing You, Right Now!

Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham
———————————————————————————–
Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham, a Unity minister for over thirty-six years, invites you to enjoy more articles and/or subscribe to his free inspirational newsletter, Spiritual Solutions or go directly to the Spiritual Solutions Blog

If you’d like to receive weekday inspirational quotes, you can subscribe at Rich Words

I have been asked how a person can donate to “Spiritual Solutions.” Just go to Send a Love Offering and it will take you to a form you can use for your donation. Thank you - I am very grateful for your generosity!
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Have you discovered Twitter yet? If you’ve read my “Steady in the Wind” (Part 11) episode on Connections, you may want to go ahead and create an account for yourself. It’s real easy to do; it takes about 2 minutes. I have done that - but I’m still very much in the learning curve so perhaps you can help me in that process. Also, if you want to “follow” me  on Twitter, take a look at the little box on the right and click on the link just under the box.

Twitter looks like it can be a great communication tool for anyone wanting to make connections with others, so take a look for yourself and see what you think. To “twitter,” all you do is put a short message in the “What Are You Doing” box. I’m giving it a go anyway and I’ll get back to you about it as I get more familiar with its features.

God is Blessing You, Right Now!

Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham

WELCOME TO:
Lesson Eleven: Connecting

Please listen to the audio first by clicking on the link below, and then let’s read the lesson together.

Lesson Eleven: Connecting

From my experience, observation and work with many people, I have come to realize a huge segment of the population feels lonely some or most of the time. And, it doesn’t seem to make a difference if a person is in a long-term relationship or has a family. We feel isolated due to geographic separation from extended family, loss of small-town community and the reality that more people than ever are choosing to cocoon rather than reach out.

Connecting helps alleviate that loneliness. Now, more than ever, connecting addresses a core human need. Connecting offers a fundamental way to be more of who we are and to do what we are here to do. How you connect with others depends on your unique gifts. From brief encounters to interacting with our closest friends and family members, we have the opportunity to really make a difference in someone’s life by making a true connection.

You can choose connecting as a way of life. By consistently reaching out to others, you not only enhance the quality of their lives, but you also ensure a consistent feeling of unity for yourself.

There are small and large ways to initiate connections with strangers, colleagues or acquaintances - going out of your way to smile, say “hello,” introduce yourself and others, offer assistance or include someone in an invitation. With friends and family, you can take time to listen, celebrate a win, offer support, focus on what’s important to the other person or extend a hug and an “I love you.”

Make a commitment to yourself right now to choose to live from knowing we are all One. Act accordingly. Make reaching out and connecting a priority.

When you live from a commitment to connecting, you don’t feel alone when the wind blows. Knowing you give and receive support as a way of life, you will find it much easier to weather the wind, rather than trying to do it alone.

I am so grateful for Ann Strong, her commitment to knowledge sharing and her willingness to let me use and adapt her series on “Steady in the Wind” for our Spiritual Solutions readers. Here Ann gives three examples of Connecting:

“Sometimes I think my friend Rachelle knows everyone in Denver. Could she possibly know almost 3 million people? Probably not, yet I have noticed that opportunities constantly come her way. She connects with every one she meets and creates a direct correlation between the connections she makes and the opportunities she welcomes. And, she’s one of the most consistently happy people I know. The people I run into who know her, always tell me a story about something wonderful that she said to them or did for them. Rachelle exudes connecting in the very best sense.”

“One of my clients has been helping her sister mend a rift with one of her other sisters. Last week, both sisters called her without knowing the other had called to tell her how much better things felt between them and to thank her for her support and suggestions. The sisters feel good and my client feels great, knowing she made an important contribution to creating an opening, a healing and a re-connection.”

“I generally don’t like parties. I prefer spending time with people one-on-one. I recently chose to spread my party wings a bit when my friend Sharon asked me to help her hostess a party. I decided I could have fun and nicely connect if I made a point of doing it one-on-one. It worked amazingly well!

“I had a fabulous time at the party by focusing on people one at a time. I met a woman who has since become a client. I also met another woman whom I knew could create a nice business alliance with one of my clients, so I hooked them up. Instead of feeling self-conscious about not liking parties, I concentrated on really connecting with people one at a time. Wow, what a difference!”

PRACTICE CONNECTING THIS WEEK

Notice all the opportunities you have to connect, both with people you don’t know and those closest to you.

Choose several situations to begin practicing really connecting.

Record your feelings and outcomes in your evidence journal.

CONTINUE PRACTICING KNOWLEDGE SHARING

Which books, newsletters, people, organizations and experiences have changed your life? How can you more consistently and generously share those resources with others? Are you recording how you feel as you share your knowledge and resources? What new opportunities and possibilities are coming your way?

CONTINUE PRACTICING GENEROSITY

How are you being more generous with your time, money, energy and resources? How do you feel living more generously? What new opportunties and possibilities are coming your way?

CONTINUE PRACTICING DETACHMENT

How consistently do you KNOW that your good comes from one source only - God? That you serve on God’s payroll? Can you completely focus on the other person’s situation and needs, rather than your own? Are you recording in your evidence journal what happens by focusing on detachment?

CONTINUE PRACTICING GRATITUDE

Are you making entries in your gratitude journal daily? How are you doing with looking for something about which you can be grateful even in challenging situations? Are you recording in your evidence journal what happens by focusing on gratitude even in tough situations?

CONTINUE PRACTICING OPENNESS

In what situations can you brainstorm several possible new ways to proceed? If you get stuck, ask a friend or colleague to help you brainstorm options. Record your findings and opportunities in your evidence journal.

CONTINUE PRACTICING AWARENESS

Several times this week, check in with yourself. How do you feel, physically and emotionally? What will make you feel even better? Look for opportunities. Talk about what feels most exciting to you. Ask for what you want. Find out what others need. Give it to them. Record your findings in your evidence journal.

CONTINUE PRACTICING COMMITMENT

Have you written your commitment for your life? Are you recording evidence in your journal that supports your commitment?

CONTINUE PRACTICING COMMANDING

What have you chosen to command or claim? Are you recording evidence in our journal? What is showing up for you?

CONTINUE PRACTICING VISIONING

Whenever you feel stuck, do you write out a vision? Are you tracking evidence for all your visions?

CONTINUE PRACTICING DEEP LISTENING

Are you integrating both deep listening within and deep listening to others into your natural, regular routine?

CONTINUE PRACTICING YOUR OBSERVER ROLE

Is observation becoming a natural part of your life and work?

Next week, you will receive Lesson Twelve: Kindness.

Until then, have fun with connecting, knowledge sharing, generosity, detachment, gratitude, openness, awareness, commitment, commanding, visioning, listening deeply and observing.

God is Blessing You, Right Now!

Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham
———————————————————————————–
Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham, a Unity minister for over thirty-six years, invites you to enjoy more articles and/or subscribe to his free inspirational newsletter, Spiritual Solutions or go directly to the Spiritual Solutions Blog

If you’d like to receive weekday inspirational quotes, you can subscribe at Rich Words

I have been asked how a person can donate to “Spiritual Solutions.” Just go to Send a Love Offering and it will take you to a form you can use for your donation. Thank you - I am very grateful for your generosity!
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 One of the great blessings in my life is the opportunity for knowledge sharing with you through Spiritual Solutions, and for the opportunities I get to speak at Sunday Services from time to time and other occasions such as weddings and funerals/memorial services. My wife, Kathryn, and I feel so blessed to have been Unity ministers all these years and to have been able to share the Unity message with literally thousands of people. So I want to thank each of you for your part in receiving and applying these wonderful Truth teachings that make such a difference in so many lives and for the loving and supportive responses I get from so many of you.

It gives me great pleasure to offer you this particular lesson of “Steady in the Wind” by Ann Strong virtually unedited by me because of its powerful and important message.  So . . .

WELCOME TO:
Lesson Ten: Knowledge Sharing

Please listen to the audio first by clicking on the link below, and then let’s read the lesson together.

Lesson Ten: Knowedge Sharing (by Ann Strong)

We all want to feel valuable, knowing we make a contribution to the greater good. My friend, Virginia, puts it like this, “I need to know I’m not a waste of skin.” One of the easiest, most natural ways to make valuable contributions involves sharing resources that have changed your life. Think about the books, people, organizations or experiences that made a positive impact on you.

In 1987, my whole life changed when an acquaintance, Ginny, asked me to join her in a Master Mind group based on a book, “You Can Have it All.” by Arnold Patent. We didn’t even fully understand most of the concepts, but we both sensed their truth and importance. Nineteen years later and seventeen hundred miles between us, we’re best friends and somewhat closer to fully embracing those concepts! That book opened up both of us to more fully embracing and exploring our spiritual paths. Just one example of a person and a book changing my life.

When my ex-husband turned 16, he went on an Outward Bound trip. That trip transformed him. He attributes most of his self-confidence and self-reliance to what he learned about himself on that adventure. An organization providing a specific experience changed his life.

Books can introduce us to whole new worlds. Reading a magazine article might whet our appetite for something new, while a book gives us enough to send us off in a whole new direction.

Organizations give us the opportunity to explore new paths. What professional organizations have supported your development? What spiritual organizations have opened you to new ways? Has a 12-step organization supported you in releasing an addiction? What schools or courses have sent you off in a new direction?

Not a joiner, I generally don’t like groups. And yet, the Unity church changed my dislike of religion and The Denver Coach Federation has become my professional home.

Until recently, I haven’t embraced the Internet much either. Right now, I’m actively working on loving it because of its vast scope and reach. The Internet can almost instantly connect us to the books, people, organizations and expereiences that will change our lives.

Several years ago, my spiritual coach, Nancy, introduced me to a new acquaintance of hers, Patricia, who told me about a great website. I explored the website, loved it and decided to hire the founder as my business coach. During one of our coaching sessions, she told me about a great Internet marketing guy, Joe Vitale (MrFire.com). I’ve bought several of Joe’s books and in one of Joe’s newsletters, he talked about a wonderful energy healer, Ann Taylor (InnerHealing.com). I looked at Ann’s website and loved her. I then had three incredibly powerful healing sessions over the phone with Ann.

I have never met the business coach, Joe or Ann. I love them dearly (except the business coach - that’s why I haven’t told you her name) and they made a tremendously positive impact on my life. I tell most everyone I talk with about them - as I am telling you - because I want to share wonderful resources.

Nancy knew Patricia and I should meet. Patricia knew I’d love the business coach’s website. Working with Joe had changed the business coach’s life, and she thought he could help me. Working with Ann had changed Joe’s life, and he wanted to share his wonderful resources. As I write this, I feel my love for the Internet growing by leaps and bounds.

Which people have changed your life? Who has mentored you? Have you worked with a coach, counselor, healer or consultant who changed your life?  I have never spoken to Joe Vitale. Yet, through the power of the Internet, I have access to a spiritual marketing mentor! As I read his free weekly newsletter each week, I soak up new concepts and I am forever changed.

Newsletters have deep power like books. Books give you a lot of information all at one time. Newsletters give you a lot of information over time. Both offer life-changing opportunities.

With so much knowledge available today, we can’t sift or research fast enough to keep up with all of it. We will come to rely more and more on being “led” directly to what we need. When you share your knowledge as you feel guided, you will integrate right into the flow of that process.

The more we know who we are and the more we know we’re contributing, the more we’ll live steady in the wind. The wind won’t sway us.

As you sow, so you reap. As you share your life-changing resources, so will others share theirs with you. You will come to see more and more that as you need something, you have it - including all the clients or customers you desire. You will meet the right people at the right time who most want, or know the people who want, your product or service.

Example of Knowledge Sharing
A few years ago, I had a client who shared all kinds of wonderful resources with me. I still use the housekeeper and hair stylist she referred me to. She told me about wonderful books. And, she referred more clients to me than ten other people put together! Not coincidentally, her therapy practice had a waiting list, while many other therapists were hiring me to help them get clients.

Another Example of Knowledge Sharing
Several years ago, I joined the Denver Coach Federation (DCF), a professional organization of coaches in Denver. Even though I’m not a group person, I liked this group. I started sharing my knowledge right away. First, I gave a talk at one of the monthly meetings. Then I started leading a centering process to start the meeting and I gave a short talk on the value of using centering at the beginning of each coaching session. A couple of years later, I started leading the New Coaches Special Interest group.

One day recently, I wondered if it was worth the time I put into it. I had joined to collaborate with other coaches and to get new clients. I didn’t think I’d got many new clients, so I decided to review my client list. The analysis shocked me.

Forty percent of my new clients had come from  my association with the DCF. I hadn’t realized it because they came from all different angles. One client had nothing to do with the DCF, she had simply seen my listing on the DCF website and hired me. Several clients hired me after they heard me give a presentation at one of the meetings. Three clients came through referrals from other coaches I met at the DCF. Two clients hired me after meeting me at a DCF Coaching Expo. You get the idea. Talk about the power of knowledge sharing!

The same has proven true for my weekly ezine. I love sharing life-changing concepts and resources every week. And, as people receive the value week after week, some then choose to hire me to coach them one-on-one or they take this email course.

PRACTICE KNOWLEDGE SHARING THIS WEEK

Contemplate which books, newsletters, people, organizations and experiences have changed your life.

How can you more consistently and generously share those resources with others?

Record how you feel as you share your knowledge and resources.

Notice what new opportunities and possibilities come your way!

CONTINUE PRACTICING GENEROSITY

How are you being more generous with your time, money, energy and resources? How do you feel living more generously? What new opportunties and possibilities are coming your way?

CONTINUE PRACTICING DETACHMENT

How consistently do you KNOW that your good comes from one source only - God? That you serve on God’s payroll? Can you completely focus on the other person’s situation and needs, rather than your own? Are you recording in your evidence journal what happens by focusing on detachment?

CONTINUE PRACTICING GRATITUDE

Are you making entries in your gratitude journal daily? How are you doing with looking for something about which you can be grateful even in challenging situations? Are you recording in your evidence journal what happens by focusing on gratitude even in tough situations?

CONTINUE PRACTICING OPENNESS

In what situations can you brainstorm several possible new ways to proceed? If you get stuck, ask a friend or colleague to help you brainstorm options. Record your findings and opportunities in your evidence journal.

CONTINUE PRACTICING AWARENESS

Several times this week, check in with yourself. How do you feel, physically and emotionally? What will make you feel even better? Look for opportunities. Talk about what feels most exciting to you. Ask for what you want. Find out what others need. Give it to them. Record your findings in your evidence journal.

CONTINUE PRACTICING COMMITMENT

Have you written your commitment for your life? Are you recording evidence in your journal that supports your commitment?

CONTINUE PRACTICING COMMANDING

What have you chosen to command or claim? Are you recording evidence in our journal? What is showing up for you?

CONTINUE PRACTICING VISIONING

Whenever you feel stuck, do you write out a vision? Are you tracking evidence for all your visions?

CONTINUE PRACTICING DEEP LISTENING

Are you integrating both deep listening within and deep listening to others into your natural, regular routine?

CONTINUE PRACTICING YOUR OBSERVER ROLE

Is observation becoming a natural part of your life and work?

Next week, you will receive Lesson Eleven: Connecting.

Until then, have fun with knowledge sharing, generosity, detachment, gratitude, openness, awareness, commitment, commanding, visioning, listening deeply and observing.

God is Blessing You, Right Now!

Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham
———————————————————————————–
Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham, a Unity minister for over thirty-six years, invites you to enjoy more articles and/or subscribe to his free inspirational newsletter, Spiritual Solutions or go directly to the Spiritual Solutions Blog

If you’d like to receive weekday inspirational quotes, you can subscribe at Rich Words

I have been asked how a person can donate to “Spiritual Solutions.” Just go to Send a Love Offering and it will take you to a form you can use for your donation. Thank you - I am very grateful for your generosity!
————————————————————————————

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Hi folks!

I couldn’t resist sharing this video with you of Kaylyn, a little four-year-old girl, singing “Indescribable.” Enjoy!

God is Blessing You, Right Now!

Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham

(Note: This is the ninth lesson adapted from the series “Steady in the Wind,” by Ann Strong. Ann kindly gave me permission to adapt and use parts of the lessons in my blog and newsletter. I believe you will find much value in applying the twelve life principles covered in this course. Enjoy!)

WELCOME TO:
Lesson Nine: Generosity

Please listen to the audio first by clicking on the link below, and then let’s read the lesson together.

Lesson Nine: Generosity

As you give, so you receive. Giving generously means living generously. A little couplet by John Bunyan goes like this: “A man there was and they called him mad, and the more he gave, the more he had.” This is a principle, for giving creates a need and, by the vacuum law, the need draws the supply and draws it beautifully.

As we give of our time, money, energy and resources, we set in motion time, money, energy and resources becoming available to us, coming back to us. As we give generously, we express our trust that we will always have what we need. We have no reason to hoard or hold back. We know we are taken care of.

Get the thought of sharing a bit of love, understanding, blessing, thoughtfulness with every person. Seek ways of actually helping; the little you do is better than the lot you say you wish you could do. Giving the idea of peace and love and understanding is the greatest demonstration of the law of increase. Losing nothing and gaining much, when we get into this kind of consciousness of giving it becomes a flow in our lives, and we find it easy to give of our substance and our efforts and our time. We see a tremendous return because of the law of “Give and you will receive.”

Living generously feels good. We are living from our bigger self, sharing ourselves, connecting more deeply with others. As we feel good, living from our bigger selves, we are more attractive, attracting wonderful people and opportunities into our lives.

Living generously puts us in life’s flow. Giving creates movement, circulation, growth. With generosity we activate generous reciprocity. We have no reason to fear the wind. We know we are always taken care of.

AN EXAMPLE OF GENEROSITY

A man was out of work, depressed, frantic, too young to retire and lacking the financial security to support retirement. Yet, as far as the world was concerned he was too old to get a new job. He took a good look at himself and discovered he was not really looking for work; he had merely been trying to get on a payroll to allay his sense of insecurity. So, he asked himself if there was not something he could do, somewhere that he could give something of himself.

This was a new concept for him, giving of himself for free instead of for monetary compensation. Anyway, he volunteered his services to a friend who was struggling to get a business started, asking for and receiving no pay. During a few weeks’ period he was able to donate a great deal of wisdom gained through experience and other help, so that the business righted itself and went on to do quite nicely.

The other thing that happened was that this new activity opened a flow in his own consciousness. He became part of a giving process and, connected to or coincidental to it, he was led to a marvelous position as a consultant in his own field. The man discovered the wonder of giving, and it changed his life.

ALWAYS ERR ON THE SIDE OF GENEROSITY

Haven’t we all had an experience of deciding to do the “bare minimum” in a certain circumstance? I know for myself when I have overridden that urge and given generously of my time or money, I felt great. And, I’ve opened up a valve for more - more for me, more for the recipient of my generosity and connection to the flow of the universe. We also both have the opportunity for expanded awareness of natural, generous flow. When I have followed my fear impulse to give “as little as possible,” I felt constricted, cheap and small.

God has given us the entire kingdom. As individual expressions of God, why would we give less? Let us always err on the side of generosity.

PRACTICE GENEROSITY THIS WEEK

Contemplate how you would like to be more generous with your time, money, energy and resources.

Put into action two or three of your ideas.

Record how you feel living more generously. What new opportunities and possibilities come your way?

CONTINUE PRACTICING DETACHMENT

How consistently do you KNOW that your good comes from one source only; God? That you serve on God’s payroll? Can you completely focus on the other person’s situation and needs, rather than your own? Are you recording in your evidence journal what happens by focusing on detachment?

CONTINUE PRACTICING GRATITUDE

Are you making entries in your gratitude journal daily? How are you doing with looking for something about which you can be grateful even in challenging situations? Are you recording in your evidence journal what happens by focusing on gratitude even in tough situations?

CONTINUE PRACTICING OPENNESS

In what situations can you brainstorm several possible new ways to proceed? If you get stuck, ask a friend or colleague to help you brainstorm options. Record your findings and opportunities in your evidence journal.

CONTINUE PRACTICING AWARENESS

Several times this week, check in with yourself. How do you feel, physically and emotionally? What will make you feel even better? Look for opportunities. Talk about what feels most exciting to you. Ask for what you want. Find out what others need. Give it to them. Record your findings in your evidence journal.

CONTINUE PRACTICING COMMITMENT

Have you written your commitment for your life or work? Are you recording evidence in your journal that supports your commitment?

CONTINUE PRACTICING COMMANDING 

What have you chosen to command or claim? Are you recording evidence in your journal? What is showing up for you?

CONTINUE PRACTICING VISIONING

Whenever you feel stuck, do you write out a vision? Are you tracking evidence for all your visions?

CONTINUE PRACTICING DEEP LISTENING

Are you integrating both deep listening within and deep listening to others into your natural, regular routine?

CONTINUE PRACTICING YOUR OBSERVER ROLE

Is observation becoming a natural part of your life and work?

Next week, you will receive Lesson Ten: Knowledge Sharing.

Until then, have fun with generosity, detachment, gratitude, openness, awareness, commitment, commanding, visioning, listening deeply and observing.

God is Blessing You, Right Now!

Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham
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Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham, a Unity minister for over thirty-six years, invites you to enjoy more articles and/or subscribe to his free inspirational newsletter, Spiritual Solutions or go directly to the Spiritual Solutions Blog

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