Category: Contemplations

40 Days of Lent – From Release to Embrace

Rule 24

“Hell is in the here and now. So is heaven. Quit worrying about hell or dreaming about heaven, as they are both presents inside this very moment. Every time we fall in Love, we ascend to heaven. Every time we hate, envy, or fight someone, we tumble straight into the fires of hell.”* 

Listen to the Rule on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QY9MLvMsvbE

Today, we are releasing Negative thinking and embracing God’s Love for us. 

Our Lent Booklet reminds us today that “becoming aware of and releasing our negativity is essential to our growth”.  It is often easier to spot negativity in others, however, we are asked to remember that negative thinking is habitual. Positivity is more than just the absence of negativity; it is a practice of remembering our divine nature and all our attributes in God.

Today, I invite you to contemplate on Rule No24 and the quote below. Let me know how practicing releasing negative thinking worked for you today. 

For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible. Matthew 19:2

Today we affirm: I release habitual negativity and embrace infinite possibility.

*Rules are from ’40 Rules of Love’ by Novel by Elif Shafak. See more about the book here (click)  

Let’s walk this journey together!

Join me by reading the daily blogposts I create – SEE THEM HERE (CLICK) – and joining the UNITY CONNECTED FACEBOOK GROUP where I invite you to share about the contemplative questions.  (click on the buttons below to join)

Picture Source Unsplash/ Featured Image: rachel-walker–unsplash

“The human being has a unique place among God’s creation. “I breathed into him of My Spirit,” God says. Each one of us without exception is designed to be God’s delegate on earth. Ask yourself, just how often do you behave like a delegate, if you ever do so? Remember, it falls upon each of us to discover the divine spirit inside and live by it.“

I am free; I am unlimited!

Oh, well. One of my ‘bones’. Today was a challenging day. I got up on the wrong side of the bed. I have been impatient and frustrated most of the day. I have ran into numerous mishaps created by humans whom I perceived to be from some different species and not of God. 

I am grateful to be reminded – once again – that regardless of the way I perceive others’ actions or words, they are just as much of God as I am. They may not be as aware of their Godlike nature as I am. They may behave in a way that I do not agree with. Still, in their essence, they are as much of God as I am. 

I step back. I look into my own frustration and anger – being reflected back at me at every turn. I close my eyes. I breathe. I allow awareness to surface. I look at my own inner turmoil, my fears, my tiredness or else. I embrace myself and release my limited view of myself and others. I have moved back to peace and freedom of being.

Read: DAY23,  40 Rules of Love, form Release to Embrace (click)

40 Days of Lent – From Release to Embrace

Rule 23

“The human being has a unique place among God’s creation. “I breathed into him of My Spirit,” God says. Each one of us without exception is designed to be God’s delegate on earth. Ask yourself, just how often do you behave like a delegate, if you ever do so? Remember, it falls upon each of us to discover the divine spirit inside and live by it.”* 

Listen to the Rule on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/T0Vi-Dd8rPw

Today, we are releasing Limitation and embracing God’s Love for us. 

Our Lent Booklet reminds us today that limitations can get in the way of what we want or who we want to become. As we let go of perceived limitations, we can move into creating what we always wanted. 

The Truth is that we are unlimited because we are of God.

Today, I invite you to contemplate on Rule No23 and the quote below. Let me know how practicing releasing limitations worked for you today. 

The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. John 3:35

Today we affirm:  I am free; I am unlimited!

*Rules are from ’40 Rules of Love’ by Novel by Elif Shafak. See more about the book here (click)  

Let’s walk this journey together!

Join me by reading the daily blogposts I create – SEE THEM HERE (CLICK) – and joining the UNITY CONNECTED FACEBOOK GROUP where I invite you to share about the contemplative questions.  (click on the buttons below to join)

Picture Source Unsplash/ Featured Image: rachel-walker–unsplash

“Life is a temporary loan, and this World is nothing but a sketchy imitation of Reality. Only children would mistake a toy for the real thing. And yet human beings either become infatuated with the toy or disrespectfully break it and throw it aside. In this life, stay away from all kinds of extremities, for they will destroy your inner balance. Sufis do not go to extremes. A Sufi always remains mild and moderate.“

I am love in action.

Since I was driving for hours today, I had a chance to deeply contemplate on extremities and choices we make. In my understanding, extremities are not only those behaviours or choices that are off-grid but those that we keep on choosing regardless of the consequences. 

I am surrounded with people who are in pain. They create their own pain by the way they think about themselves and they way they treat themselves. It is heartbreaking to watch. Their daily choices limit their view of the beauty of existence and Divine Love. They are not able to move into their inner balance because they are always in an ‘extreme’ such as fear, quilt, anger, remorse or such. 

Read: DAY22,  40 Rules of Love, form Release to Embrace (click)

40 Days of Lent – From Release to Embrace

Rule 22

“Life is a temporary loan, and this World is nothing but a sketchy imitation of Reality. Only children would mistake a toy for the real thing. And yet human beings either become infatuated with the toy or disrespectfully break it and throw it aside. In this life, stay away from all kinds of extremities, for they will destroy your inner balance. Sufis do not go to extremes. A Sufi always remains mild and moderate.”* 

Listen to the Rule on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EYe0kUmPM7w

Today, we are releasing Judgement and embracing God’s Love for us. 

Our Lent Booklet reminds us today that when we judge we are stuck in negativity. Instead of being in a place of oneness, we are in the land of good and bad. There is not need to label actions good or bad, we do not need to judge anyone’s actions. Instead we can stay in the Loving by accepting what is happening and responding to ‘what is’.

Today, I invite you to contemplate on Rule No22 and the quote below. Let me know how practicing releasing judgement worked for you today. 

For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the
measure you give will be the measure you get.—Matthew 7:2

Today we affirm: I am love in action.

*Rules are from ’40 Rules of Love’ by Novel by Elif Shafak. See more about the book here (click)  

Let’s walk this journey together!

Join me by reading the daily blogposts I create – SEE THEM HERE (CLICK) – and joining the UNITY CONNECTED FACEBOOK GROUP where I invite you to share about the contemplative questions.  (click on the buttons below to join)

Picture Source Unsplash/ Featured Image: rachel-walker–unsplash

“When a true lover of God goes into a tavern, the tavern becomes his chamber of prayer, but when a winebibber goes into the same chamber, it becomes his tavern. In everything we do, it is our hearts that make the difference, not our outer appearance. Sufis do not judge other people on how they look or who they are. When a Sufi stares at someone, he keeps both eyes closed, instead opens a third eye — the eye that sees the inner realm.“

I am whole and perfect just as I am

Sufis or those seeking a deeper meaning to life know that seeing God within can only be done through walking the path of Loving. However, loving is a tricky customer because it requires us to let go of our attachments – our little treasures – in order to experience our connectedness to Loving which is God.

Today, I realized that I need to let go of being helpful because it comes from an insecure part of me that feels guilty and lacking all the time. When I am helpful from a place of fear, quilt, insecurity, etc. I am more in need than those I am trying to help. I want their approval so I can feel better about myself.

When I look at you, I would like to see you powerful and whole because this is what I want to know about myself. 

Read: DAY21,  40 Rules of Love, form Release to Embrace (click)

40 Days of Lent – From Release to Embrace

Rule 21

“When a true lover of God goes into a tavern, the tavern becomes his chamber of prayer, but when a winebibber goes into the same chamber, it becomes his tavern. In everything we do, it is our hearts that make the difference, not our outer appearance. Sufis do not judge other people on how they look or who they are. When a Sufi stares at someone, he keeps both eyes closed, instead opens a third eye — the eye that sees the inner realm.”* 

Listen to the Rule on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/c9BLqheozco

Today, we are releasing Insecurity and embracing God’s Love for us. 

Our Lent Booklet reminds us today that insecurity is a belief that you have bought into the idea that you are not good enough or smart enough or wealthy enough. It is a new day and a new opportunity to melt these insecurities away by centering yourself into the Divine Love. Turn away from the fragmented thoughts. limiting beliefs, and personal judgements. Swatch off the inner critic, take a big breath and embrace the whole you. Know that you are a perfect and holy creation in God.

Today, I invite you to contemplate on Rule No21 and the quote below. Let me know how practicing releasing insecurity worked for you today. 

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

Today we affirm:  I am whole and perfect just as I am

*Rules are from ’40 Rules of Love’ by Novel by Elif Shafak. See more about the book here (click)  

Let’s walk this journey together!

Join me by reading the daily blogposts I create – SEE THEM HERE (CLICK) – and joining the UNITY CONNECTED FACEBOOK GROUP where I invite you to share about the contemplative questions.  (click on the buttons below to join)

Picture Source Unsplash/ Featured Image: rachel-walker–unsplash

“We were all created in His image, and yet we were each created different and unique. No two people are alike. No hearts beat to the same rhythm. If God had wanted everyone to be the same, He would have made it so. Therefore, disrespecting differences and imposing your thoughts on others is tantamount to disrespecting God’s holy scheme.“

I embrace my inner wisdom and trust the guidance I receive.

Today’s rule is challenging for me. When I see people suffering because of the choices they make I feel compelled to ‘advice’ or ‘teach’ them different ways of doing things. Probably, there is nothing wrong with that, however, I am attached to the fact that they would change as a result of ‘my advice’.

I know a few people who, though they recognize that their ways are harmful to themselves, they still cannot change their beliefs, they cannot move on,  and they cannot connect deeper and find a loving place to heal.

This is the instance when I find it hard to respect God’s perfect world regardless of how it appears. In order to be able to accept the pain, anguish, anger and stuckness I am faced with, I need to move myself onto a higher ground where I know that each individual’s journey is unique and I cannot know what learning journey they are on. I accept my own ignorance and God’s perfect scheme for each of us. 

Read: DAY20,  40 Rules of Love, form Release to Embrace (click)

40 Days of Lent – From Release to Embrace

Rule 20

“We were all created in His image, and yet we were each created different and unique. No two people are alike. No hearts beat to the same rhythm. If God had wanted everyone to be the same, He would have made it so. Therefore, disrespecting differences and imposing your thoughts on others is tantamount to disrespecting God’s holy scheme.”* 

Listen to the Rule on Youtube:

https://youtube.com/shorts/WHh9CMea_Nc?feature=share

Today, we are releasing Indecision and embracing God’s Love for us. 

Our Lent Booklet reminds us today that indecision stem from fear, the fear of making a mistake. Unfortunately, indecision is a decision in itself. It is a decision of staying within the bound of our limited ideas and doubts.

On the other hand, we can choose to trust our divine wisdom and the inner guidance that is always available to us.  “Through prayer and meditation, we can become still enough to hear our guidance. We can also trust that regardless of our decisions, we are always living into our highest good, for everything is an opportunity to heal and remember our own divinity.”

Today, I invite you to contemplate on Rule No20 and the quote below. Let me know how practicing releasing indecision worked for you today. 

Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him.” 1 Kings 18:21

Today we affirm: I embrace my inner wisdom and trust the guidance I receive.

*Rules are from ’40 Rules of Love’ by Novel by Elif Shafak. See more about the book here (click)  

Let’s walk this journey together!

Join me by reading the daily blogposts I create – SEE THEM HERE (CLICK) – and joining the UNITY CONNECTED FACEBOOK GROUP where I invite you to share about the contemplative questions.  (click on the buttons below to join)

Picture Source Unsplash/ Featured Image: rachel-walker–unsplash