Category: ANI-HU

40 Days of Lent – From Release to Embrace

Rule 12

“There are more fake gurus and false teachers in this world than the number of stars in the visible universe. Don’t confuse power-driven, self-centered people with true mentors. A genuine spiritual master will not direct your attention to himself or herself and will not expect absolute obedience or utter admiration from you, but instead will help you to appreciate and admire your inner self. True mentors are as transparent as glass. They let the light of God pass through them.“* 

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

Our Lent Booklet reminds us today that discontent can have many faces. Every experiences we have however is there to carry a message for us. What if, just on the
other side of discontent, a more profound love lies, waiting to pour
through us and into the world?  Discontent can serve as a catalyst for growth. If we are willing to learn the wisdom it contains.

Today, I invite you to contemplate on Rule No12 and the quote below. Let me know how practicing releasing discontent worked for you today. 

I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know
what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty.
Philippians 4:11-12

Today we affirm: Through spiritual understanding, I follow the divine wisdom
available in every moment of my life.

*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 midwife knows that when there is no pain, the way for the baby cannot be opened and the mother cannot give birth. Likewise, for a new self to be born, hardship is necessary. Just as clay needs to go through intense heat to become strong, Love can only be perfected in pain.”

Darkness has no hold on me. I let go of darkness and allow illumination.

Once again, so appropriate. The weather was gloomy today, so was my mood. Every time I closed my eyes and start ed moving closer to Love, I heard ‘let it all go’. But I don’t want to. It is painful. As parts of me is drifting out of my consciousness, I am feeling a sense of loss.

So, I keep on holding onto ideas of myself that though sounds nice, they are not actually true. I am not as independent as I pretend to be. I often feel lost and I wish I could ask for more help. I am not as adventurous as I seem to be. I’d prefer to be at home, sitting with a hot cup of coffee reading on the sofa. I prefer laying in bed under the deveau or by the pool rather than going about changing the world. The person I built myself to be was a ‘means to an end’, my personal response to the environment I grew up in. But I do not need the mascara any more. I can just be me now: A lazy bum with a book fetish! 🙂 hahaha! It does not really matter, anyway. What matter is that I hold nothing between me and Love any more. I let Love mould me now.

Read: DAY11,  40 Rules of Love, form Release to Embrace (click)

 

40 Days of Lent – From Release to Embrace

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Y7qbMe54VaY

Rule 11

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

“The midwife knows that when there is no pain, the way for the baby cannot be opened and the mother cannot give birth. Likewise, for a new self to be born, hardship is necessary. Just as clay needs to go through intense heat to become strong, Love can only be perfected in pain.”* 

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

Our Lent Booklet reminds us today that when we find ourselves in darkness and feeling trapped or overwhelmed we can choose to step back, centre ourselves instead of being succumb to panic and despair. As we turn within we turn to the power that possesses our spiritual energy and divine luminescence. 

As we remember our true power, we let go of trying to control the darkness. In that we understand that it is only a veil of fear and doubt. It dissipates in our trust in our inner light-energy.

Today, I invite you to contemplate on Rule No11 and the quote below. Let me know how practicing releasing darkness worked for you today. 

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:5

Today we affirm: Darkness has no hold on me. I let go of darkness
and allow illumination.

*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 quest for love changes us. There is no seeker among those who search for love who has not matured on the way. The moment you start looking for love, you start to change within and without.“

I look for the good and speak words of praise in every situation.

I have written about this Rule a few months ago. Here is what I had to say about it. It is simply amazing how what I am talking about in this video is aligned with today’s affirmation. Let me know how your contemplation went today.

Read: DAY10, 40 Rules of Love, form Release to Embrace (click)

40 Days of Lent – From Release to Embrace

Rule 10

“The quest for love changes us. There is no seeker among those who search for love who has not matured on the way. The moment you start looking for love, you start to change within and without.“* 

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

Our Lent Booklet reminds us today that if we wanted to live a happy, healthy, and prosperous life we must give up the need to criticize others. We are invited to make a concerted effort not to be defensive when someone offers us feedback but take it as an opportunity to grow.

In my experience, criticism is only painful when we are criticized about something that we already judge ourselves about. Every time I am criticized or judged I look inside and listen to my own inner voice. I do not defend myself, or argue with the criticism. I stay neutral as much as I can so I can see if there is something that I need to let go of, heal or forgive within myself. When I release the inner critic, I stop hearing the other ones. 

Today, I invite you to contemplate on Rule No10 and the quote below. Let me know how practicing releasing criticism worked for you today. 

The ear that heeds wholesome admonition will lodge among the wise – Proverbs 15:31

Today we affirm: I look for the good and speak words of praise in every situation.

*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

“East, west, south, or north makes little difference. No matter what your destination, just be sure to make every journey, a journey within. If you travel within, you’ll visit the whole full World and beyond.”

The moment I catch myself complaining, I start to count my blessings.

It amazes me how much the daily rules and affirmations line up with my experiences. Yesterday, I started a new journey. I flew to another country, I encountered numerous hiccups that I would usually react to. This time, however, probably partly due to the fact that I was exhausted, I stayed calm. I kept on telling myself to step back and observe – literally! 🙂 The flight was delayed, my seat way taken, then denied to take an empty one, was reminded that the insurance I had bought through the broker was a waste of money, no one bothered to show me how the car that I have never driven before worked, the hotel I had booked my accommodation was closed for the winter season. As soon as, my mind started to complain (inwardly), I just kept on telling myself (inwardly) to BREATHE! instead of ‘speak’. It worked.

The next day, I looked at my journey again, from an inner point of view and what I saw was: a disabled man who moved so I can sit down on the plane; the Divine supporting me to drive through an unknown part of the world in an unfamiliar car in the rain; I ‘by accident’ found the hotel where my reservation was – not the one I had booked in – and the receptionist remembered having seen my name on the guest list; the weather was supposed to be miserable but instead it was glories so I went to sightsee; when I could not start the unfamiliar car, a kind and patient lady explained the ‘hows’ to me on the phone. I am still counting … 

God works in mysterious ways … if I let IT. 

Read: DAY9, 40 Rules of Love, form Release to Embrace (click)

40 Days of Lent – From Release to Embrace

Rule 9

“East, west, south, or north makes little difference. No matter what your destination, just be sure to make every journey, a journey within. If you travel within, you’ll visit the whole full World and beyond.”* 

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

Our Lent Booklet reminds us today that complaining is a waste of valuable tome and energy. After having had a look at the objects of our complaints, we can decide if we can do something about changing them. If not, we can accept them or walk away from them. It is time to change the complaining thoughts into counting our blessings. 

In my experience,  complaint is like moths. By the time, you notice them, they have infested your entire wardrobe or cupboard. It is almost impossible to get rid of them. Complaint seems like an automatic reaction to anything that is not to my liking. In my case, it takes a lot of conscious effort to stop the ‘show’ running. I am going to practice catching and releasing the little buggers! 🙂 

Today, I invite you to contemplate on Rule No9 and the quote below. Let me know how practicing releasing complaining worked for you today. 

Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish – Philippians 2:14-15

Today we affirm: The moment I catch myself complaining, I start to count my blessings.

*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

“Patience does not mean to endure passively. It means to look at the end of a process. What does tolerance mean? It means to look at the thorn and see the rose, to look at the night, and see the dawn. Impatience means to be shortsighted as not to be able to see the outcome. The lovers of God never run out of patience, for they know that time is needed for the crescent moon to become full.“

 I celebrate my unique talents and accomplishment and those of all beings. 

Today, I am again very grateful for the rule. I am going through a lot of changes both inside and on the outer. It is both a painful and frustrating process. Like a cocoon, I am (im)patiently waiting for my transformation to finally happen. But, similar to nature, I cannot rush the natural order of things. I need to employ patience and walk each day focusing into the outcome: a person, I love being. 

In the meantime, I remind myself to hold my attention on the ‘gains’ and do not get lost in the immediate discomfort of becoming. Every time, I notice the pain or the discomfort of my situation, I realize that I lost focus. I close my eyes, recenter myself in the ever flowing Loving, release my fear, impatience, frustration … or whatever blocks my vision of the aim. 

Read: DAY8, 40 Rules of Love, form Release to Embrace (click)

 

40 Days of Lent – From Release to Embrace

Rule 8

“Patience does not mean to endure passively. It means to look at the end of a process. What does tolerance mean? It means to look at the thorn and see the rose, to look at the night, and see the dawn. Impatience means to be shortsighted as not to be able to see the outcome. The lovers of God never run out of patience, for they know that time is needed for the crescent moon to become full.“* 

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

Our Lent Booklet reminds us today that most of us were raised in a culture of competitiveness. which means to be more successful then others. At its core, it is scarcity, a belief that one is not good enough.

“Comparison is the thief of joy” said T Roosevelt. Competing robs us from fully appreciating our own unique talents, traits, gifts and expressions.

Today, I invite you to contemplate on Rule No8 and the quote below. Let me know how practicing releasing competitiveness worked for you today. 

All must test their won work; then that work, rather than their neighbour’s work, will become a cause for pride.  – Galatians 6:4

Today we affirm: I celebrate my unique talents and accomplishment and those of all beings. 

*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

“Whatever happens in your life, no matter how troubling things might seem, do not enter the neighborhood of despair. Even when all doors remain closed, God will open up a new path only for you. Be thankful! It is easy to be grateful when all is well. A Sufi is thankful not only for what he has been given but also for all that he has been denied.”

Divine order is always at work in my life.

I am so grateful for today’s rule. I feel lost and frustrated. I am unsure of my intentions or if what I am doing is right for me. As I look around, all I see is a disjointed and inconsiderate world in pain and anger. Maybe this is where I am at today. Regardless, I am reminded that I can choose to be grateful for all that.

So, I am grateful for the darkness, the pain, the anguish, the desperation, the lack of direction I am feeling today and what I see reflected in the world around me. I breathe … with a sense of gratefulness, I release all that keeps me from feeling unceasing Love and care for me … I breathe … and just allow myself to be loved through this phase. 

Read: DAY7, 40 Rules of Love, form Release to Embrace (click)