Finding Solutions in Silence.....

While working on my new year, new words blog I touched on the idea of finding solutions in silence.  I was reaffirmed in this thought while watching Oprah's "Super Soul Sunday" this week when Dr. Eben Alexander  author of "Proof of Heaven" shared about his experiences of having a near death experience.  From the perspective of this Nero-surgeon, the evidence of Heaven is compelling.  Through his discussions on the show, he shared the idea that we don't have to have a near death experience to obtain closeness with God. He meditates several hours a day.  Through this practice he finds that he can connect to God more in depth.  I believe this is where we can find our spiritual guides, and a "peace that passes all understanding."

I started thinking about this idea and started focusing on the quote that I shared in my first post of 2016.  "Sometimes we find solutions in the silence."  My challenge for you today is to pray and/or meditation.  Find silence in everyday and listen for solutions.

Meditation does not have to be a perfect, ritualistic process.  Before I thought I could meditate properly I thought that I needed to "do it right."  However what I have found is there is not a "right" way to meditate.  Some people meditate for hours and others may close their eyes for a moment.  Some may not close their eyes at all.  Some may follow a particular program, a voice or feeling of light; others may only breathe.  Some people call prayer meditation.  It is all a personal preference.  You will find what works for you.  The most important thing is that you make the effort to do something.  Just begin.

There are so many tools on the internet as well.  I have a smart phone application that reminds me to "be still."  My goal is to practice my meditation process in the mornings.  I like to first read a devotional and then I just sit in silence.  Sometimes my devotional is an article.  Sometimes it is a book, sometimes a poem on the internet and sometimes the New Living Translation bible.  Often times I light a candle which helps me focus on.... nothing (yes nothing).  (Those of you who join me with an un-diagnosed form of Adult Attention Deficit understand).  This often helps clear my mind from the clutter of the day ahead.

 In my experience, this is where God speaks to me the most.  I may get a kindness movement, scripture reference, a confirmation of thought, a word, a direction for my life, an answered question.  I am confident that this small voice within my spirit is the voice of God.  This voice leads me.  Guides me.  Gives me purpose.  Gives me strength to face the day when life seems a little more difficult.

Some times this is not easy.  Sometimes that voice tells me things that are difficult to digest.  Sometimes that voice pushes me out of my comfort zone.  I know that being pushed out of our comfort zone is healthy and ultimately necessary.

The process of meditation (or prayer if that is what you call it), can give us great peace, unconditional love and answers.  Meditation and prayer doesn't change your circumstances always; it changes how you look at those circumstances.

Finding solutions in silence is a gift.  For me a gift through prayer and meditation.  Sometimes I focus on a person that is strong in my spirit.  Sometimes I just see what comes into my conscience.  We grow in silence.  We continue a journey through silence and we find solutions there also.  So as I previously challenged, take time to meditate and/or pray.  Maybe you will find all the answers you are seeking.

"Be still and know that I am God"

My five words for 2016.....

In 2013 I went with one word.  I asked God to give me a word that I would reflect on throughout the year.  The word in 2013 that I was given was TRUST.  Oh how that word was so necessary.  TRUST, the one word that I would need to get me through a great loss.  When my dad passed away in March of 2013, I doubted, I questioned, and in the end,  I trusted.  I trusted that I didn’t have all the answers and I trusted that God works in ways I don’t understand.  I learned that we live in the moment, we keep on keeping on and we TRUST.

In 2014 and 2015 I came up with five words each year and this year is the same.  My words this year are “L” words.  The year prior “R” and the year before that “P.”  I pondered and searched for the right combination of words that I would focus on.  In the two years prior I kept these little words tucked in my mind, etched on a notebook and displayed on my office cork board.  This year will be no exception.

So I present my 2016 words to live by.  I am going to blog more on these words as the year progresses and these words become more relevant and their purpose for 2016 continues to be revealed.

LISTEN, LETTING GO, LEARN, LAUNCH and LIGHT.

LISTEN-

I always thought that listening required another person speaking.  I never thought about the idea of listening to silence.  I am listening to silence now.  In the stillness of life I am challenged to be “held” and to listen.  Sometimes our greatest answers come through silence.  We may have to surrender to silence to find a solution (I think that last sentence will be a blog topic and a quote by me!).  However I also think I need to listen to others.  Accept different perceptions by listening.  I pray that I will get the chance to be the listening ear that another may need.  Do you stop and listen?  At any given time when we stop, close our eyes and listen we can hear so many things.  What we choose to hear is the key.  LISTEN.  Listen without trying to get your own words in.  Listen without expectation.  Listen to your heart and most importantly, listen to the silence and what silence can teach.

LETTING GO-  

The year of 2015 has been somewhat of a trial in my role as a parent.  I am a parent of an adult.  A parent who wishes to be a part of her child’s life but is shut out from the world in which she exists.  A parent who wants nothing more than to be needed.   A parent who has to figure out how to find herself in a life where her child has disconnected from her.   A parent who struggles with lack of contact, no conversation and a child who needs time to figure out who she is.  This parent has to let go in 2016.  I need to let go of the idea that I did something wrong.  I need to let go of the idea that relationship and family means different things to different people.   I need to let go of the idea of what my dad always said was truth “family will always be there.”  I need to let go of the let down, the disappointment and the hurt this situation has caused.  I need to let go of this parental role and look at this relationship differently.

LEARN-

For me, life is about being a knowledge seeker.  When we stop learning, we stop growing.  In 2016 I want to learn new things.  I want to learn something out of my comfort zone.  I want to take dance lessons.  I want to gain insight and understanding.  I want to learn how to let go and how to listen more effectively.  I want new skills, new perspectives and new ways of thinking.  

LAUNCH-

In 2015 I was able to start fully engaging my dream of facilitating and training on a more consistent basis.  This is an opportunity that I have been seeking for many years.  I have spent countless hours talking to trainers and critically evaluating what I like and don’t like about trainings.  I have been working on figuring out how to get a foot in the door, how to network and how to make money doing what I love, educating adults.  In 2016 I plan to engage even more and obtain training opportunities out-of-state.  I plan to not only continue pursuing this dream but also LAUNCHING my business of being a self-employed training contractor.  I plan to LAUNCH my new book “Comfort in Quarters.”  With continued forward movement and doing something every 24 hours to maintain this goal, 2016 will be the year of my dream LAUNCH.

LIGHT-

I want to be LIGHT in the world.  Where many people watch the news and see despair, I choose to see LIGHT and to be LIGHT.  We reflect what we put out into the universe.  If we see despair, we will feel despair.  If we see light, we will be light.  I want to focus on what I see going right in the world.  I want to seek out the good.  I want to share random acts of kindness.  I want to show others what it is like to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  I want to spread LIGHT where I go.  

With my five words of 2016, I hope to embrace life and find peace.  I want to give grace and receive it.  My hope is that I leave a mark on 2016.   I challenge you to explore words to focus on in 2016.  What are your dreams?  What do you aspire to provide, be, embrace or embark on?  Share with me.  Here is to 2016.  Happiness is a choice.  Choose it!