“Ultimately, anything God wants you to do does not mean neglect of self; it fosters the development or expansion of your true Self, your soul.” — Sri Daya Mata, IN SWEET COMPANY: CONVERSATIONS WITH EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN ABOUT LIVING A SPIRITUAL LIFE

Reading Meg Wheatley’s new book, PERSEVERANCE, prompted a little self-reflection about what gets in my way when I must stay the course. I decided to make an “AntiGrave-ity” To Do list to lighten my load, to lessen my time on the battlefield and keep the carnage — the overwhelm, the resistance — from going deep. 

Here’s my “To Do’s”:

•  Choose to engage, to move forward. Speed is not as important as momentum. Moving forward opens doors I would never discover if I stood still, drifted, or looked back. Why continually bang my head against a closed door?
•  Get everything out of my head and onto paper where I can look at what’s happening more objectively. Determine what is valuable, then throw the paper away. Good riddance!
•  Tell myself the Truth about what’s happening and about MY actions, desires, and rationales. No rose-colored glasses. No “should’s.” No “If only’s.” If I don’t know what I’m really up against, how can I effectively move ahead?
•  “Romance the stone,” embrace not-knowing, create the space for “knowing” to occur. Mentally “borrow” the joy of my past successes in the same way I brood on the negative energy of past mistakes.
•  Look at what confronts me with adventurer’s eyes. Focus on what I can learn, who I could meet, what strengths I can develop as a result of this experience. See things as being done for me rather than to me.
•  Do the “Einstein Maneuver” – shift my consciousness to a new level beyond where it was when the problem was created. Consider different perspectives. Entertain new options.
•  Cool my jets. Watch funny movies. Read a good book. Listen to Van Morrison or “Ode to Joy.” Plant flowers or cook a good meal. Buy myself a little present.
•  Ask for help. Give others the happy opportunity to be of good use. This keeps me from feeling alone, from isolating, from feeling like I have do it all myself. It opens me to fresh perspectives.
•  Talk to God. Get a little hot under the collar. Put my hands on my hips, maybe stamp a foot and say, “What’s the deal, here?” Ask for help vs. tell Her specifically what I think I need. Why limit Her help to just what my tiny little mind thinks would work?
•  Count my blessings, what I’ve going for me, people in my corner, that things eventually change. Gratitude connects me to my joy. Joy energizes my efforts and makes me feel human.
•  Call myself by my right name: “Omnipotent Soul Wolff.”  Then, watch and see what wonderful ideas and strength will be expressed through me.