The Quest to Feel Good

New Thought has been called the 'feel good' religion. We talk a lot about moving through life with 'grace and ease.' We want to manifest our dreams and desires 'easily and effortlessly.' We look for signs. We ask our guides. We are told if something 'feels good' than it is probably a 'yes' and if it doesn't feel good it is probably a 'no.' And so our life becomes about doing what 'feels good.'
I think we need to move beyond that mindset. 

If we want to create something new in our life, we may have to be dedicated and disciplined to think new thoughts and create new patterns of behavior. These new thoughts and new behaviors may bring us to the very edge of our comfort zone and take us on a path of the unknown which will very likely not feel good. In fact, 'feeling good' may help us cover up those ideas that will lead to growth and transformation.

So, doing what makes us feel good may not be the answer. Relying on the Divine instead of relying on what we can see doesn't always feel good; in fact, it feels scary. I gave very personal talks all month at CPL Sedona and it didn't really feel good; it felt self-centered, egotistical, and vulnerable. Taking that step into the limelight or having the courage to disagree yet speak our truth is very uncomfortable and doesn't feel good. 

So, if you buy into the idea that you only want to do things that make you feel good, you'll likely never grow, never dream, and never get to experience what it might look like to actually open your heart and mind to your infinite possibilities.

Wisdom from Ernest Holmes

Developing confidence in ourselves, in our ability to meet and handle all undesirable situations, requires that we must have confidence in that Something which is greater than we are. Then we will have spiritual self-reliance. 

When this is done the lesser must always submit to the greater. Weakness will give way to strength, despair will turn to hope, hate will become love, failure will become success, and sickness will dissolve into health. 

The action that takes place is not one of despotic or overruling harshness, but one that moves in harmony, love, beauty, warmth, and order, quietly transforming all that is unlike it.

      

            ~The Spiritual Universe and You

About Janet

Janet Kingsley, founder and spiritual leader of Center for Positive Living Sedona has been opening hearts and minds to infinite possibilities since 1998. Through articles, classes, and coaching she opens the heart, intrigues the mind, and feeds the spirit.

 

Janet is also a "Possibility Coach" who can see beyond your doubts and fears and ask the right questions so you can dive deep into your soul. She is also a master energy healer. Focusing on helping people love their body, love themselves, and love their life, she is creating a movement and changing the world...one person at a time.

 

Find out more at www.janetkingsley.com

Rethinking Happiness

We all want to be happy, don't we? The problem is that we often have our external environment dictate whether or not we will be happy. If we have plenty of money we are happy; if we don't have very much money we are unhappy. If we have plenty of friends, we are happy; if we don't have too many friends, we are lonely and unhappy. If we have vibrant health with plenty of energy, we are happy; if we are in pain or get a diagnosis or are tired all the time, we are defeated and unhappy.

 

It is imperative for all of us to turn that around and allow our inner life determine our outer life and not the other way around. And this type of changed thinking takes time and practice. And we may not get it perfect the first thousand times we try it, but we must persist. 

 

What if happiness was supposed to be our natural state of being? Maybe we need to have a new definition of 'happy.' How about this: happiness is a sense of connection to the Divine, happiness is loving ourselves no matter what, happiness is knowing what our bliss is, what our purpose is, and keeping that in mind, and happiness is being fully present in this moment. In this definition of happiness, anything happening in our outer world would have very little to do with our happy-factor. Why not give it a try?

 

Remember, what is within you is more powerful and infinitely superior to any circumstance in your life. And that is a reason to be happy!

 

Wisdom from Ernest Holmes

Happiness is an interior quality, a state of being, the result of knowing that in the long run the Divine will win, the knowledge that we can trust the integrity of the universe. Our good will come to us in such measure as we ourselves measure it out in our own experience.       ~ Science of Mind Magazine

 

About Janet

Janet Kingsley, founder and spiritual leader of Center for Positive Living Sedona has been opening hearts and minds to infinite possibilities since 1998. Through articles, classes, and coaching she opens the heart, intrigues the mind, and feeds the spirit.

 

Janet is also a "Possibility Coach" and master energy healer. Focusing on helping people love their body, love themselves, and love their life, she is creating a movement and changing the world...one person at a time.

 

Find out more at www.janetkingsley.com

The Color of Perception

Are we troubled or unhappy because of the things that happen in our lives, or because of our our perception about the things that happen in our lives?  

Some of us find it difficult to be happy. Maybe we've sold out on our dreams, we've followed the rules, we've played it safe, we did what we were told, and we worked hard - yet things didn't work out as we planned.  Has this ever happened to you?  We may look at others who are successful, who haven't followed the rules, who got what we wanted and we declare life isn't fair.  

If even one person can accomplish something; if even one person can remain joyful in the midst of a challenge; if even one person can overcome fear, then we all can.  Maybe the difference is simply a matter of perception.  We don't need to be like the comic strip character Ziggy when he is coming around a corner. Heading toward that corner is a man carrying a sign that says, "Happiness is just around the corner."  Ziggy said, "Gee, I must have missed it."

We don't need to miss out on happiness, joy, gratitude, or peace. How are we spending our days? How much are we able to see the delight and blessings in our day-to-day routine?  And how often do we get distracted because we see what other people are doing or getting and get frustrated, envious, or dissatisfied?  When we're feeling that way, we've lost all touch with our own Divine nature and we've lost touch with the idea that God is Good, all the time:  24/7/365. 

Part of the problem is we have learned our perception patterns from others.  We have learned how to be overly critical; we have learned to feel guilty and “less than” because we’ve made mistakes.  Then Monkey Mind chimes in and says, “This is terrible! I call myself an evolving spiritual being, and yet I do things like this. I certainly hope nobody ever finds out about it!” 

We've all made mistakes.  That is part of being human.

The important thing is our perception regarding the mistake.  

We could own up to it and remember God is everywhere present or we could pretend to be spiritually superior and snub our noses at those who have admitted to making mistakes and try and make sure no one finds out about the mistakes we've made. 

The gift has been given and the Presence of the Divine is with us always.  It is up to us to respond and what an invitation that is!  We can RSVP and step into a greater awareness of all that Life has to offer regardless of our our circumstances.  And that will help move us into our infinite possibilities. 

I Release and I Let Go

We're 19 days into 2013 and I sense change in the air. I do a ritual at the end of every year involving flash paper.  I write what I am willing to release and then see those ideas go up in flames.  This year, I decided to release two ideas which I felt would help make 2013 a distinctively better year than 2012:

1. Playing Small
2. The idea I need to have at least 2 days off per week in order to experience balance and happiness.  (you see, I work close to 7 days/week - 5 days at my J.O.B. and my evenings and weekends are spent preparing Sunday talks, updating my website(s) www.cplsedona.org and www.prosperitydr.com, writing, preparing class materials and lots of other things.  So, it seems like I'm always working.)
    

In the past, just because I turned the page in my calendar didn't necessarily equate to some sort of magic that propelled me forward.  Many of us simply hope 2013 will be much better than 2012, as if buying a new calendar and hanging it up on the wall is all we need to do.

 

If we want 2013 (or Monday or even today) to be better, happier, more joy-filled, or more prosperous we need to think and act differently.  We all know this.  I know this.  And this year, I'm taking different action than ever before. One of my actions is to constantly remember those two ideas I released with the flash paper.  I'm making a conscious choice to remember those daily and it has made a difference already. 

 

What idea(s) can you release which has hindered you from experiencing all Life has to offer? Let me give you a starting point.

If I asked you what one thing you needed right now in order to experience more joy or more happiness, what would it be? Do you think you need more money to be happier?  Do you think if you had more time you'd be happier?  Do you think if you had a relationship (or a better relationship) you'd be happier?  Do you think if you had a different job, you'd be happier? 

 

We have lots of ideas and opinions as to what we think is standing in our way of feeling happiness and joy.  The truth of the matter is the only thing standing in our way is our own thinking and believing.  Would you be willing to release the idea that anything is standing in your way?  Can you choose to be happy and joyful regardless of your circumstances?

 

If you are willing, then you can get about the business of creating the life you want and then 2013 will rock!