Self-Transformation:
Vernon Howard once said, “No action is more fascinating than the
action of
self-transformation. Nothing on earth can compare with its drama or
value.” In
these often difficult and challenging times, a change in
perspective—from a
focus on the burdens weighing us down to a focus on empowering
choices—can
begin moving us forward in dramatic and positive directions.
We have a choice in every situation that confronts us. We can be a
victim
(of circumstances, people, attitudes) which drains our life force and
energy
and leads to illness, depression, or apathy; or we can choose to take
positive
action, beginning with taking charge of our thoughts. If you think you
can't do
something you can be fairly certain that you're right. If you think you
can do
something, even though challenging, you may also find that you're
right.
When I look back I can see that the greatest Challenges I've
encountered
have proved to be the impetus that enabled me to discover my strength
and find
my inner guidance. They have also given me the opportunity to clarify
and act
on my spiritual beliefs, moving them into a place of knowing.
When I was faced with a catastrophic illness more than 30 years ago I fell into some
fear-based (victim) beliefs: that this condition symbolized some kind
of
failure, that healing (success) meant getting physically well, and that
I had
to find out what was wrong with or bad about me if I wanted to heal.
What I learned to transform in my perspective is that there are no
failures,
only lessons; that true death is living without an awareness of our
spiritual
nature and the beauty all around us; and that life is a school that
enables us
to move forward in our evolution, one grade at a time, toward an
awareness of
God or the Divine and an awakening of our own higher nature.
What I also learned is that healing isn't about living or dying, it
isn't
even about illness. Healing is about reconnecting to our wholeness and
living
from a foundation of love. It's about facing our deepest fears and
delving deep
enough to find the unique gifts that were given to us to unfold in this
life.
Looking at the soul from a perspective of ongoing growth, we come
into this
life with a life plan. We come in with an intention to learn and heal
in
certain areas, both personally and collectively, but our vision is
dimmed by
the veils between this denser plane of physical reality and the finer
plane of
spiritual reality. Catastrophic events have the potential to push us
beyond the
habits and patterns of our dimmed awareness so that we can begin to
pierce some
of the veils and get on with what we're here to do—grow into conscious,
aware,
compassionate, and spiritual beings.
When I was struggling with the challenge of an advanced cancer I
began to
contemplate and write about what I call profound healing. Profound
healing is
not a cessation of physical symptoms, but an expanded awareness of our
spiritual nature. It's a process of restoring integrity to all the
areas of our
lives and balancing our life energy so that we're not running on a
deficit. We
can call on this process whenever we're confronted with a challenge,
whether
the challenge is in the realm of mental, emotional, or physical
dis-ease,
relationships, finances, or anything else. Any difficulty can serve as
a
wake-up call that, if we choose to heed it, directs us to an incredible
supply
of inner resources and strength that we might otherwise never have
found.
As I confronted my own mortality, there were certain steps that I
began to
identify as transformational in the process of healing. There are many
paths up
the mountain, and we each need to discover our own. In keeping with
that truth,
the ideas offered are guidelines that can be modified in any way. They
are
resources to help stretch the boundaries of our consciousness and
pierce the
veils that limit our vision, enabling us to transform our awareness and
embrace
the sacred journey of life for however long that may be. These steps
are for
anyone who realizes that life is most fully lived when our loose ends
are tied
up, when we can be consciously whole in the present moment:
Focus on the Present
- Take charge
- Acquire an empowered attitude
- Simplify life
- Build a support system
Release the Past
- Explore attitudes and beliefs
- Practice forgiveness
- Transform negative feelings
- Do all you can and release the rest
Live Your Highest Ideal
- Establish personal integrity
- Trust inner wisdom
- Hold yourself in compassion
- Create a
healing environment
