Spiritual Solutions

When Samuel when he was very young and was in training with the priest Eli, the scriptures tell us that Samuel was asleep and he heard a voice calling him, “Samuel, Samuel!” He rose up and said, “Here I am, Lord.” He went to his teacher, his priest Eli, and said, “You called me?” Eli said, “No, I didn’t call you. Go lie down, go to sleep.”

So Samuel went back and lay down again. The voice came again, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel got up again and went to Eli, saying, “Here I am. You called me.” Eli said, “No, I didn’t call you. Go and lie down.”

So Samuel went back and lay down again, and the voice came again, “Samuel!” He jumped up again and went to Eli. This time Eli perceived that the Lord was calling Samuel, the voice of God was speaking to him. So he said, “I want you to go back and lie down, and if that call comes again, just say this: ‘Your servant hears. Speak, Lord.”

So Samuel went back, lay down, and the voice came again, “Samuel, Samuel!” He said, “Your servant hears, Lord. Speak.” And God showed him a vision of what his future was to be at that time.

When the prophet Isaiah was young, he had a vision and he heard a voice saying “Whom shall we send? Who will go for us?” And a voice within Isaiah prompted him and he said, “Here I am, send me!”

In other words, “Count me in, God, count me in!”

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In this economic climate it’s important to stay focused on God as our source, and this article by Alan Cohen reminds us of that in a wonderful way.

The Divine Payroll – By Alan Cohen

One of my seminar students was a man of great faith that he built through overcoming longtime alcoholism. When Dan came out on the other side of his addiction, he embodied a remarkable blend of strength and sensitivity.

“Sometimes I feel embarrassed,” Dan told me privately. “I spend most of my time sponsoring people trying to beat their addictions. I’m on the phone and at meetings constantly. I love it and my people are doing very well.”

“Then what’s the problem?” I had to ask.

“My income comes from car sales – I used to be in the business. Now I buy and sell cars on a small scale from my home. I turn around a couple of cars a week, which provides me with enough income to spend the rest of my time supporting people. I feel guilty because I work for just a few hours a week. Shouldn’t I have a real job?”

I laughed and told Dan, “You have the realest job in the world. You are helping people improve the quality of their lives. You are on the Divine Payroll.”

If you stay true to your purpose of healing, no matter what form it takes, universal sustenance will keep you on the payroll. Your income may derive from your healing work or it may come through another door. It doesn’t matter. The deal is: you heal, life supports you.

For an inspiring demonstration of this principle, watch the film Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. This touching documentary chronicles the life of Mark Bittner, a gentle soul who nurtured a flock of wild parrots in San Francisco for over 25 years. Bittner spent most of his time feeding, nursing, and caring for this large flock, and did not do any other “work” for two and a half decades. Yet, because people recognized his devotion, he was given free rent, meals, and whatever else he needed. Bittner was on the Divine Payroll.

One of my coaching clients is a radio announcer who hosted a highly successful all-night show. He had a marvelous undercover ministry, sending positive messages through words and music to people awake during the night – folks who felt too troubled to sleep, graveyard shift workers in prisons and mental institutions, and creative spirits. Yet there grew a parting of ways between him and his producers, who were more interested in adhering to a commercial radio formula. Finally his show was cancelled and he was out of radio work for an extended time.

One of the gifts of this period was his opportunity to use the time for spiritual growth and inner healing, which he did quite successfully. As time went on, he became concerned about sustaining himself in the absence of his former income. Then one day during a coaching session he casually mentioned to me that he had received a large check as an inheritance from the passing of a distant relative.

“Why didn’t you tell me this in capital letters and an exclamation point?” I asked him. “Can you see that you are on the Divine Payroll.?” Indeed he was.

Some people formalize their contract with God, which you may wish to do as well. Charles and Myrtle Fillmore founded the uplifting Unity Church movement back in 1889. Like many spiritual leaders, the Fillmore’s began with a leap of faith. To formalize this, the couple literally wrote a contact with God, stating that their part would be to carry out their ministry with love and integrity, and practice the principles to the best of their ability. God’s part would be to sustain them in finance, health, and peace of mind. They signed the contract and lived by it. Well, more than a century later Unity continues to thrive and grow, and has helped many millions of people improve their lives. The Fillmore’s kept their end of the deal, and God kept God’s.

The same contract is available to you if you choose to exercise it. Whether you identify your source as God, Spirit, life, love, or universal sustenance matters less than that you recognize a loving intelligence that provides for you. You may record your contract on paper or in your heart. The truth works if you work it.

Do not try to dictate or force the avenue through which your paycheck comes. Spirit has ingenious ways to pay your due salary. It may come directly from your clients or in a roundabout way. A friend of mine wanted to live near the ocean, and a friend of hers bought a million-dollar home on a Maui beach and asked her to be caretaker of it when he was not there – which is nearly all the time. If you translate the value of living in that home to dollars, the number is huge.

You, too, will be sustained if you are true to your trade. Just remember the formula: You heal, life supports you. It’s a done deal.

 
About the Author:

Alan Cohen is the author of many popular inspirational books, includig the best-selling The Dragon Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and the award-winning A Deep Breath of Life. Alan offers Living Prosperously, a home-study course in creating greater abundance, and the life-transforming Mastery Training in Maui. For information on these programs and a free catalog of Alan’s books, tapes, and seminars, phone 800-568-3079, visit www.alancohen.com, email info@alancohen.com, or write P.O. Box 835, Haiku, HI 96708.

Copyright © 2006 Alan Cohen. All rights reserved worldwide.

“Spiritual Solutions” is produced by Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham, a Unity minister for thirty-seven years, and is offered free of charge to anyone who wants to receive it. To be on my newsletter mailing list and have access to other articles, please go to Spiritual Solutions.

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“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

The other day I got to thinking about Bobby, a friend I knew when I was just a boy. His parents were of modest means and they lived in a tiny stone row house in a little village just a few miles from where I lived.

Several years ago on a visit back to England, my mother happened to mention that Bobby Kitchener, this same young red-headed friend I had known, had become a minister. I remember my astonishment that our lives had taken similar paths, albeit in different countries.

Our lives may take many turns, and the world is full of people who have stopped in their tracks, turned about and become quite different persons. So now you probably want to know, “How can I, an ordinary person, turn about and lead a more satisfactory life?”

Sometimes just a little thing can bring us to a standstill, and it causes us to call upon all the resources of our being to lift us out of the pit of failure and despair.

To be driven into a corner, out of which there seems no escape, is often the turning point. “I’ll find a way,” the person thinks, “I’ll not be beaten. There’s nothing to lose, so I’ll try something new. Perhaps I’ll even turn about and win.” So this person who was living in the shadows finds himself on the road to achievement, and he becomes a different person. He is now courageous rather than fearful; he has turned around.

Provision has been made for our turning around, if only we would recognize that it is possible. But if things are not like we would want them to be then we must turn our efforts in a new direction. Don’t talk about the things in your life that you don’t want, or about the things you want to accomplish – the negative doubts of your listeners may add to your concerns.

Do not draw back when a new experience confronts you. The new experience may be your call to a changed life. Those who cling to safe, old, familiar things will never know the thrill of new adventure.

If you want to turn about and start a new life, you must let go of anger and resentment or wailing over the past. Forget the things that are behind and go forward to the things you most desire. Bring excitement and imagination to whatever you do and new doors will open for you.

Yours, in love and confidence,

Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham 

There’s a story from when Charles Fillmore, co-founder of the Unity movement, was still alive and at Unity Village. It’s told that a young girl who was working there came to him and said, “Oh, Mr. Fillmore, I dreamed last night that I became so spiritual that I could fly.” He responded, “Well then, that’s all very well but are you so spiritual that you can pay the rent?”

Charles Fillmore was very focused on his Christianity being practical Christianity, on applying the truths of being to every aspect of our lives.

I want to share with you some of the prosperity truths that are recession, depression, and inflation proof. You will enjoy using them often. Let me share two with you now, starting with a quote from Charles Fillmore right here at the beginning. He says, in his book Prosperity, “The law of supply is a divine law. This means that it is a law of mind and must work through the mind.”

In other words, prosperity, health, well-being, all of those aspects of our life which we equate with prosperity, must come through our prosperous thinking. And our mind can be trained to think prosperously in simple and delightful ways that will bring satisfying and delightful results into our lives. <!–[if !vml]–>

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In the midst of so much change in our country and in our world, I’d like to share with you an article written by my wife and fellow Unity minister, Kathryn, in the year 1975, when we and our ministry were in the midst of change. I think you might find it particularly meaningful for yourself in this present climate of change and uncertainty.

We had sold our little home in order to move into a large old Dutch Colonial house which was big enough to house our Unity of Roanoke Valley church office, with a classroom and kitchen, and to create an apartment for us upstairs.

Prior to this we had conducted our ministry out of our home, meeting in different places for our Sunday services and weekly classes, but we knew we needed to create a Unity church home if we were to grow our ministry. So we prevailed upon our board of trustees to lease the large house and then used our own money from the sale of our home, plus special gifts from church members, to purchase items with which to furnish the church office. And we made the move.

Here’s the article which was printed in the monthly newsletter in February, 1975:

LOVE NEVER CHANGES          

In the midst of change, one thing we can always depend upon is the unchanging love of God. The words of the Bible, “Underneath are the everlasting arms,” are a reminder to us that the principle of Truth underlies all conditions, all circumstances, and all relationships, and is the foundation upon which we can place our trust at all times.

Unity of Roanoke Valley is in the midst of change right now – and change means growth! Alan and I are also going through a change in our personal life with the sale of our beloved little cottage and the move into our new Unity home at 1830 Grandin Road.

As I pondered upon these changes, praying for guidance and divine order, the following Daily Word message was a comfort to me. Perhaps you, too, are facing a change or need to make a decision and will find comfort in these words:

“I meet change fearlessly. I press on to greater good.”

When we are facing some new situation, some change in our lives, we may have conflicting emotions. We may have looked forward to change, but when the time comes to make it, we may feel reluctant to leave the old behind, to take on the new.

This kind of reaction is not unusual, but it is on the surface only. In the deeper part of us we know there is nothing to fear. We feel the urge to go ahead. This is the Spirit of God in us that is dauntless and fearless, the Spirit that has brought us through old situations and accompanies us into the new.

We may be changing our living patterns and leaving accustomed paths, but all the good that has been a part of our experiences never leaves us. It has, in fact, prepared us for the new path that lies before us. So we can meet changing circumstances, we can cope with new situations, successfully, fearlessly, lovingly.

Let us give thanks that God has prepared the way before us. Let us meet change fearlessly and press on toward our greater good.

Lovingly,

Life is exciting! 

There’s just so much you can achieve.

Yet in the desire to attain success, impatience can set in.

If you let impatience rule, then you start looking for ways to speed towards the outcome and in doing so neglect the vital foundations that you need to get there.

Often, it pays to be ’slow but sure’ rather than ‘fast and rash.’

After all, giant oaks rise slowly from tiny acorns. It takes years of patience for a tree to grow. There are no short-cuts for the oak … no quick growing formula. It all takes time and nourishment.

As that acorn takes root, pushes through the soil and grows up under the light, it begins to establish its foundations in order to be strong and tall.

Its only goal is to become a great oak tree and it becomes just that in its own time.

So, first things first … focus on your roots or foundations.

Sai Baba said…

“A house must be built on solid foundations if it is to last. The same principle applies to man, otherwise he too will sink back into the soft ground and becomes swallowed up by the world of illusion.”

Whether you wish to succeed in business, sport, science, the arts or simply as being the best person you could possibly be, make sure your foundations are strong.

These solid foundations will carry you so much further through life. You’ll be able to depend upon them. 

Concentrate on what needs to be done.

Don’t cheat because you’ll only be cheating yourself.

Stay focused, work productively, prioritize what needs to be accomplished and just do it!

Remember, all things have their time.

So, like the oak, grow firm roots and success will follow.

(Thanks to Karl Moore, of www.KarlBlog.com for another great article)

God is Blessing You, Right Now!

Rev. Alan A. Rowbotham

 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 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
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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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 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
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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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