How Deep are You Willing to Go?- The True Power of Spiritual Awareness

I believe that I am a good person!  I follow the rules, I always go out of my way to make sure I act with integrity and I work hard.  The issue is years of verbal and emotional abuse have filled my core with junk!  A part of me believes that inside I am bad because people have told me this over and over.

Passing this lump of poison has been an ongoing process.  I am much better now, healed in many ways.  I understand I am valuable and contribute many good things to the world around me.  I am amazed at how far I have come over the years.  Yet I have come to a stubborn, deep rooted place that opposes anything good.

This unwanted part of me believes that I will fail.  It believes that I am no good.  It believes that I am ugly and clumsy.  It believes that I am a whore.  It believes that I am a lousy liar that everyone hates.  It believes that I smell.  It believes that I would be better off dead because I will never be able to show my face to people.  This core that is exposing itself refuses to politely leave me and allow me to live a fully confident life.  It sneers at my hopes and dreams, stepping on them and laughing. 

I believe that people reflect what is going on inside.  I think it shows up in relationships, experiences and ultimately a person's ability to succeed.  I can see how these thoughts have hindered me in many ways.  I accepted less than I was due. 

God allowed me to remove a layer of spiritual trash with my spiritual transformation.  The challenging thing is what this process has revealed.  The dark, shadow ball of my life's past trauma, hurts, pains and disappointments.  This dark space is calling on things around me that I do not want in my life. 

Now that I see the power I have given this darkness.  I am changing the game.  There is 95% light inside of me and goodness that yearns for more expression.  This is where my authentic power lies.  That dark place in me that I allowed to dictate and limit my potential is now exposed.  I have given my attention to the light.  I thank God for a deeper spiritual awareness.

Are you willing to see what is wrong, to do what is right?
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Who am I?

The fundamental philosophical question man has asked from the beginning of time- Why are we here?  Another way to phrase this question on a personal level is "What is my purpose in life?"  Finding the answer to this question infuses your life with direction and Empowerment.

I pondered this question for years!  I was the person that could not decide on a college major because I had many different interests.  I took personality tests, career placement tests and later tests that focused on my spiritual gifts.  None of the answers seemed to help me define my future career.  Through much prayer and patience I discovered the chaplaincy.  I found my life's purpose.  I poured hours of preparation into my field of expertise.  I even started a spiritual care department at my community hospital.

I love the chaplaincy and still enjoy the work.  What I have discovered is a deeper purpose within myself.  I allowed the title of Chaplain to define me and my career.  When I was sabotaged and lost my job, I was hurt.  I felt betrayed, cheated and angry with myself and others because of the unjust circumstances that surrounded my dismissal.  I still have moments of anger and I continue to look for ways to clear my name.  While I was seeking justice, I discovered something almost as gratifying.

It is not my career that defines me, it is the expression of my gifts that give me life.

I encourage you to think about what activities make you feel most useful.  Then look at how many different ways you can transfer that activity into other arenas.  It is not the career that define you it is using your gifts.  As long as you remember this, you will never be limited! 
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Boundaries and The Respect Used to Clean Your Spiritual Home

God is sharing some amazing insight with me as I continue to purify my soul.  One of the most enlightening revelations God shared with me is my spiritual environment.  We all have an unseen area around us that sends out a powerful message.  It lets people and the universe around you know when you are confident, shy, mean, angry or unhappy.  This invisible space is like a house and should be kept in good order. 

Just as you expect people to respect your real home.  You should have the same expectation of others respecting your spiritual home.  How many of you would allow someone to come into your kitchen with an arm full of human feces?  How many of you would allow a friend to pour a bucket of blood on your white carpet, let them come back over and still call them a friend?  Most of us would not allow this to happen, but it does everyday. 

Allowing people to dump their mental, spiritual and emotional baggage is messing up your spiritual home.  How does this happen?  Well, let's say someone in your circle is angry about something random.  If they choose you as an outlet to cope with their anger, how will you allow them to do it?  They could yell at you for no reason, they could make your life miserable or they could sit down and talk about their hurt feelings.  Which one of these is acceptable to you?  We have a right and a responsibility to keep smelly trash out of our spiritual homes. 

The process of keeping your spiritual home clean begins with awareness, boundaries and claiming your right to Peace. 

1. Determine your boundaries.  Look over your life and take inventory.  What are the things that caused you pain?  How will you handle the situation if it arises again?  What are the words you will use and how are you going to respond to the response of others?
2. Practice, practice, practice.  You have allowed certain behaviors to take place in your space for a while.  It takes time to form new habits.  Do not give up because you are not doing what you planned.  Get back up and try again.  It is about the process, not the destination.  
3. Be aware of the hate seed.  Some people like to hide their bad behavior and use others to do their dirt.  They poison the minds of others and send them into your space with a "hate seed."  These people that had the seed planted will treat you rude without any cause.  They will be suspicious about who you are and question everything about you.  This is because someone is feeding them hate and dumping in your spiritual home.  Get to the bottom of all odd, uncomfortable, suspicious and uncharacteristic behavior.  Do not let someone plant their hate in another to destroy you!  
4. Get comfortable in your own body and space.  You do not have to be perfect.  Your unique shape, personality and contributions are excellent.  Know that you are good, flaws and all.  You are on a journey of becoming.  If you believe you are already there, good or bad, there is not any room to grow. 

Begin to keep your spiritual home clean by creating boundaries and respecting yourself.  One day at a time.
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"Working on Monday"- What if I Win?

This unemployment experience has been like none other.  I am working my plan and seeing results.  I must admit the way my goals are materializing is not how I visualized them.   I knew what I wanted but the form is different.  My direction has opened up new doors and opportunities I never thought of pursuing.  But, what if I win?


It is imperative that you prepare yourself to win.  Wanting a promotion, desiring a new business or bidding for a raise require you to take action.  This is the beginning of your dreams coming true and an excellent start.  Your heart is filled with hope and a new energy surrounds your presence.  The excitement of the chase is one mindset, but maintaining a dream is another.

When You are Not Prepared!

A Showtime documentry titled Reversal of Fortune, tracked a homeless man.  He found $100,000 while searching for bottles.  This money was planted by the documentary producers.  The homeless man agreed to have his experience filmed after finding the money.  They offered him a financial consultant, free of charge, but he refused.  Ted Rodrigue, the homeless man, blew all of his money.  

He was not prepared to manage $100,000.00.  He even turned down the resources that would significantly increase his chances of success.  Rodrigue had a mindset that prevented him from living a different lifestyle.  The point...

If you do not prepare yourself to win, you will lose.  You will behave and think at a level that is opposed to your new position.  For example, A pregnant woman carries her baby for 9 months.  She eats right, exercises, makes sure she get proper rest, goes to the doctor and takes her vitamins.  As she gets closer to the delivery date shopping for the baby is a smart idea.  The baby will need diapers, clothes, formula and other items to survive.  Let's say this mother is only concerned about her pregnancy phase and does not prepare for the baby being born.

When the baby comes home this mother is lost.  She does not have anything to keep the baby clean and the baby sits in soiled undergarments or nothing at all.  The baby is constantly crying because he is hungry, but the mom has no formula.  She does not breast feed because she does not know how and she is lost.  If this continues the baby will be taken away from her or not survive.  This is how your dreams are...If you do not prepare a place for them, they are taken away or die.

The Next Level

What does the next level of your career look like?  Did you create a space for it to thrive and survive?  If you are unable to answer this question you will lose.  Here are some ways to prepare for your career goals?

1. Learn how people living your dream think and live.  Success will require an adjustment in your life style.  Begin to prepare your family for this and begin to act as if you are already there.  Get comfortable in your skin and welcome change.  I hear people say they will never change and try to be the same, even when they hate it.  They are usually trying to get the approval of the people around them.  When you really think about it, is it fair to you or them?
2. Stop apologizing for wanting more out of life.  This attitude comes across in everything.  You have every right to pursue your dreams.  If other people are offended by your ambition, it is their problem.  Take them off of your list and keep going.  Keeping people like this around is dead weight. 
3. Keep up the good work.  If you have not heard this today, you are doing a great job.  When you are trying to make the most out of your life, compliments do not always come with the journey.  It takes courage to reach your full potential.  
4. Always act with integrity.  When you make decisions and take action use integrity.  If you have to lie, sleep and manipulate your way to the top, the price tag is too high.  This will steal the essence of your soul and turn you into someone you do not want to be.  You may even say "I will only do this until I make it" this is not true.  There will always be another level of achievement.  Nothing is worth killing your soul and the souls of others around you.  

Now that you are preparing to win.  You should have everything you need when you arrive!
Until next Monday...
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After the Devastation...The Purification of the Soul

I had a terrible day yesterday.  It left me doubting myself, my integrity and my ability to live out my dream.  I had a moment of losing hope and I wanted to give up.  I cried for a long time and tended to my wounds.  Now the devastation is over and I am looking at my dream.  I am not going to stop moving forward, the fire and desire in my belly still burns for success.  But the foggy presence of defeat has attached itself in my soul.  I can not be true to my vision with the marred corrosion of defeat attaching itself to my thoughts. 

I have to free my mind and get back to the place of clarity.  This is critical because I am nurturing and growing a vision. This vision needs to be feed healthy thoughts or the stench of foul dream destroyers will choke me out of my space.  After the devastation a purifying process must happen.  The sickness of defeat must leave my being or I will be crippled by its oppressive force. 

This is true for anyone looking to accomplish anything great.  Great success comes with major lows, the calm in between and extraordinary highs.  The important step that must happen after the devastation is purification!  If there is not a purifying the staleness of loss will linger and become interwoven in your work.  I do not know about you, but I want a pure work.  This is the type of foundation that is not easily broken.

My purification is going to a spiritual one.  Intense prayer, a healthy diet (leading to a possible fast), exercise and the speaking of life giving words.  Defeat will leave my presence and only life, a winner's attitude and a serious swagger will remain.  I am going to use this defeat to transcend my current existence and arrive in a fresh, clean, crisp and vibrant place.  I will not allow devastation to taint my dream. The devil and all of his evil dwell in the darkness of devastation.

If you want to take this journey with me I will post my daily activities on the Empowered Peace Facebook page.  I would like discussions to occur in the surroundings of the community forum.  This process will go on for me until I achieve a level of clarity and the freshness of a renewed mind, body and spirit.  You may stop, continue or just observe as your spirit guides. 

Here's to the trash going out and to the power of the spirit bursting through and taking us to new dimensions.  

If you are unable to view this video go to the website following this link. 

Are you ready to kick the $&!# out of your soul?

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Am I That Stupid...

I am 40 years old and I still have the ability to be stupid!  What was going on inside of me to allow myself to lie, because I thought someone was telling me the right thing to do.  How stupid can I be?  What the heck is wrong with me.

I hate the way failure feels!  I hate the way foolish feels!  I hate when I do stupid things and I should have known better.  If this were you and you told me what you did, I would say:  Do it over.  I would say do not give up.  I would say, it is not over and you can not stop trying.  It is sometimes easier to see the possibilities in others.

Today I am taking my own advice.  I am not giving up, even though I hurt like hell!  I am not giving in, even though I want to quit.  I am going to forgive myself and even though I feel like the biggest fool on the planet.  I refuse to play the role of the victim.  I am going to be the strong woman that I am and try to fix what I have done wrong. 
 
I say to you: DO NOT GIVE UP!  Your worse failures have rich lessons. 
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Changing Your Normal Life to a Successful Life- Do You Have The Qualities?

If you had to rate your life on a scale of 1 to 5, what criteria would you use?  Are you considering the things that you want and do not have?  Are you evaluating your career?  Are you thinking about your family or the car you drive?  Many times the gauges used to answer this question are based on material possessions and present circumstances.  Looking outside of yourself to rate the success of your life is unstable.  Things and people are continually changing.  The best sources for judging life's level of satisfaction are internal.  A normal life can become a successful life if you possess the right internal qualities.

Different groups name these qualities in various ways.  I love the names used in the Bible.  They are called fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22).  When you develop these internal navigators your life changes from normal to successful.

The external problems of life are just that, outside of you.  You begin to use your internal strength to understand and manage what you can not control.  For example, if your relationships are stressful friends and others can make life miserable.  But when you decide to be patient and use your self-control the foolish antics of others are not a concern.  Others may want to cause you emotional pain, but when you understand this temporary situation will pass, just as all other problems your life becomes successful. 

Choosing to function by internal qualities Empowers you to make healthier choices.  These choices will move you into a successful place, but until you get there you can rely on your patience.  You can be good to others and be faithful in nurturing your spirit.  Joy will comfort you and kindness will stop you from becoming bitter. Gently handling yourself and others will minimize destruction to your life and others on the way to success.

Just as the seasons change, your circumstances change.  You have already won when you allow yourself to experience joy in the rain.  Cultivating these qualities is part of the journey.  Here are some ways to change your normal life to a successful life by using these qualities.

1. Pray.  Prayer is an act that reassures you.  It reminds you God is helping you and protecting you along your journey.
2. Read your scriptures.  Reading the scripture of your chosen religion cultivates your soul.  As a Christian I always feel comforted by the nurturing words that give life to my soul.
3. Volunteer.  Give to people in need, even when you are lacking yourself.  Find an organization that is important to you and share your time.  Knowing you are contributing to life in a positive way quickens your spirit.  
4. Realize life is not perfect.  You will always be confronted with challenges.  Know that you are not doomed or cursed because bad times come your way.  Manage from a place of internal love knowing you will persevere.  This way when the good times come you will be able to fully rejoice.  

Your normal life has now become successful.  Even when things and people around you are not great.  This is because you have used your internal qualities to experience a life of the charts!
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