Time out… or Time In?

By Mary on October 25, 2009

If you look at my on line presence at all in the last two weeks, I’ve been very sporadic.  Little bits here and there, then I vanish for several days at a time.  No more content on my website, no blog posts, no facebook updates or tweets.  I haven’t even responded to most of the emails in my inbox.

From all outward appearances, I’ve checked out.  And that’s even what I was saying to myself a couple weeks ago.

But just today, as I make my presence known in the online realm again, I realized I was really checking in.

I was checking in with my children: playing Lego Star Wars II and reading stories with them, playing and snuggling.  Making deposits in their emotional and relationship accounts.

I was checking in with my husband: cuddling and having great conversations, letting him know I appreciate him, and that I feel so blessed to have him as my partner.  More of those relationship deposits.

Most importantly I was checking in with myself.  An opportunity came up at my job for a higher position, with better pay, but also more responsibility and more hours.  We’ve been struggling financially as we both move to following our passions.  So the pay raise would be good.  And perhaps this is an opportunity for me to learn more about running a business, even a non-profit, and learn more about leading people.

On the other hand, it would mean putting my passion on hold, and probably spending less time with my family.  And having to lead in an environment that has not been healthy for some time.  In other words, I would be fighting an uphill battle that is not something I am passionate about.

There was one other thing that really helped me make a decision.  And it goes back to August.

In August I went on a week-long spiritual retreat with The Peaceful Woman.  It was an absolutely incredible week, but with regards to this decision, one specific incident kept coming back to me.

At the beginning of the day, each of us set an intention for the day.  Later, we were at a heiau, a sacred place, where the our thoughts and messages were sent directly to Source.  We had time to meditate.  I was meditating on how I could bring my financial income into alignment with my purpose.  I got a very clear message back: I kept saying that I wanted to earn my income from my passion, but I was not committed to it.  If I would make a deep commitment, that included phasing out my job, the Universe would step forward and support me.

Coming back to the present, I felt that the opportunity at my job was a test of my commitment.  Will I follow the money, or will I stick with my purpose?  Which decision is in alignment?

After checking in to feel each decision, I’m not going to apply for the position.  I’m not willing to put my work on hold for my job.  It wasn’t an easy decision, and yet, I am content.  I’m in alignment and back on track. And I am grateful that I have the tools to discover what is in alignment with my purpose.
Blessings,

Mary

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Wealth and Spirituality are NOT Mutually Exclusive

By Mary on September 7, 2009

This may not be headline news to some of you, and, superficially at least, it was not news to me. But it wasn’t until recently that I really understood and believed it.

I don’t remember ever hearing it outright, but somehow I learned that truly spiritual people did not need or want money. There are lots of clichés about money:

  • Money is the root of all evil.
  • It is better to give than to receive.
  • Neither a borrower nor a lender be.
  • Money doesn’t grow on trees.
  • You can’t take it with you.
  • Money isn’t everything.
  • Money can’t buy happiness.

Some of these have truth in them, and some are, unfortunately, mis-quotes. For example, I have learned from a number of different sources that the first two quotes should really read, “The love of money is the root of all evil,” and, “It is better to be in a position to give than in a position where you need to receive.” Taken together, the message I got was that money, or wealth, is bad.

It probably didn’t help that my family didn’t have a lot of money. My dad was always talking about this plan or that opportunity, but he never “made it” with any of them. Even now as I have been learning about wealth and success, my father will tell me about how he could have made a lot of money with this or that, except for the thing that held him back. There is always an excuse.

All through 2008, I was attending courses and listening to audios and reading books about how to become successful or how to become wealthy.  I learned a lot, but following in my father’s footsteps, I have a number of excuses and I have not applied what I have learned in my life.  As easy as it might be to blame my parents, I don’t.

The courses I went to were great at motivating me while I was there in the room and surrounded by others who were just as hyped up as I was.  Unfortunately, they didn’t offer an action plan to get me going or keep me motivated once I got home.  They also did a very good job at appealing to my logic, but failed to engage my spirit.  Once again, it sounds like I am blaming the courses for my lack of action, but please believe that I do not.  I take full responsibility for my procrastination!

One course I went to at the end of October 2008 was different from the others.  Instead of trying to teach methods of becoming wealthy, the point was to work on discovering the negative beliefs and conditioning we all have around money, and replace them with positive and supportive beliefs.  I was amazed at the energy level of the room, and astounded at the depth of the work accomplished in a huge room of 450 people.  The presenters managed to created and hold safe space for us to work in.  I uncovered many of my own limiting beliefs and patterns.

I finally understand and believe deep in my core that I am a child of the Divine.  Since the Divine Spirit created everything in the Universe, and since I am a child of the Divine, everything in the Universe is my inheritance.  It is my birthright, and yours!  Each of us has come to this place and this time for a specific reason, and everything we need to accomplish our individual purposes has been provided for us.  All we need to do is ask and be open to receiving.

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