Spiritual Solutions

 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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