Every Word Uttered

Day 4 of 21 Days of Prayer

Years ago I heard Caroline Myss say every word we utter is a prayer (on a cassette tape I had of her speaking, which tells you how long ago :)

That really made me think about what I was saying.  Although I quickly realized it is daunting and actually next to impossible to monitor our every word, it did make me much more aware.  What ended up being the most helpful for me was to start consciously making the choice to add more positive words rather than try to change every word all at once.

For today, begin to notice what things you are saying that may not be the prayer you would want to be putting out.  Become aware.

Become intentional.  Perhaps you will take one of the prayer ideas from the first three days or one of your own favorites and say it several times throughout your day.  Be gentle and loving with yourself in this process.

Day 3 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

Now I Walk In Beauty

This beautiful Navajo (Dineh) Prayer is a song.  I often sing it to myself almost like a soothing lullaby.

Now I walk in beauty
Beauty is before me
Beauty is behind me
Above and below me

These words gently remind me that God is with me and all around me.

For a link to a utube version to get the tune go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0hZujNbYg8

There are several more and some are quite beautiful.  The one I've listed is the closest to how I know the song.

Day 2 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

The Power of One Word

There are times when things are so difficult and my mind is so scattered that I literally can't think of any prayer at all, not even making it up off the top of my head.  My head is spinning so fast that I feel paralyzed.  These are the times when the "one word prayer" has become so helpful for me.

I learned a long time ago the power that is in the name of God, whatever name works best for you.  For me it changes.  Today just the word God works well for me, but there was a time that word held such a negative connotation it didn't help.  That's when I applied the wisdom from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." I heard once that it doesn't matter what you call God as long as you call Him.

I have found in those really difficult times repeating the one word that best names God for me is very helpful.

Here are a few that have worked for me or others who I have coached:

God
Spirit
Higher Power
Christ
Love
One
Great Creator
Father
Jehovah
Almighty
All Powerful
Lord
Allah

These are just a few.  If you Google names for God you will literally find hundreds and hundreds of names.  Find what resonates with you and try it throughout your day.

More thoughts on Day 1 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

Sometimes I interpret the Serenity Prayer as I apply it to my life.  I find this very helpful, especially in times when I am struggling in relationships.

God Grant me the Serenity
to accept others exactly as they are;
the Courage to change my focus to my own thoughts, behaviors and actions;
and the Wisdom to remember the most powerful thing I can do
is be present with the other person and myself.

This prayer has truly been outside the box for me.  I hope it inspires you.

Day 1 of 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

The idea for the 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box came to me in a recent meditation.  Prayer is an important part of my spiritual journey even though there was a time that I really struggled with the whole concept. As a coach with a body, mind, spirit approach, I am sensitive to individual philosophies, beliefs and approaches and want to respect each one.  The thought is to share 21 prayers that are diverse in origin and create a space where those who choose to can join together as "two or more gathered" each day (on our own and in our own time) even though we are not physically together.

The First Prayer

As I was looking for prayers to include in the 21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box I did a little googling and decided to start with The Serenity Prayer.  This seems a little funny since it is really pretty "inside the box" (made popular by 12 step groups, one site calls it the most popular prayer in the world), but sometimes the best way out of the box is to start somewhere familiar.  Just stick your big toe out before you jump out with both feet.

So, if this prayer is new to you, I am grateful to have the opportunity to be the one to introduce you.  If it is one you already know I invite you to approach it as though you are experiencing it for the first time. Take it a little slower.  Stop with each word and really soak it up. This is a powerful prayer with a powerful message.  I know how easy it is to get going with these prayers without really being present to the prayer.  I invite you to become very present with this prayer at least once today and just be the observer from there.

God grant me the Serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
The Courage to change the things I can;
and the Wisdom to know the difference.

Note:

If you are interested, there is more to this prayer.  You can Google the full version.

21 Days of Prayer Outside the Box

Please join me here for 21 days of Prayer Outside the Box beginning December 11th. This will not be your ordinary prayer experience.

We will approach prayer as a powerful body, mind, spirit tool that honors the unique and personal paths of each of us. Some prayers in this series will be old (but maybe seen in a new light), some may be new to you. My hope is there will be at least one that inspires a joyful spiritual practice in your life.  Let's spend the last 21 days of this year in mindfulness, together.

Effortless Inspired Action

"When we force an action in hopes of creating an outcome we desire, we can actually block ourselves from magnificent possibilities." - Oprah 

This idea helped me this week in an area I have struggled with for years. I took a moment and acknowledged the struggle I was having and became willing to let go of the struggle. That in itself was a challenge. I noticed I was holding on to the struggle. I was using it as insurance against a very old fear. It went like this in my mind, "If I hold on to this struggle, at least I can prove that I am trying, that I've done all I can." When I became willing to let go of the struggle I was almost immediately inspired with another option. I felt inner peace. For me, that is priceless.

"If an action is born and inspired from the Truth of you, from within, it's coming from an essential and Divine place, supported by the energy that helps us effortlessly move towards our Destiny. When we force an action in hopes of creating an outcome we desire, we can actually block ourselves from magnificent possibilities." - Oprah 

In the past the reference to "effortless" was so out of my ability to comprehend that I threw out this entire concept all together. I was taught and bought the idea that effort is what it's all about.  I was so indoctrinated in this belief that I thought without proof of effort there was no possibility for peace.  I would ask, "How can it possibly be effortless?", and with that thought shut out the possibility completely. Now I understand that effortlessness comes from becoming totally present, sensing inspiration and taking action from that place.  In the past I spent so much time in my head arguing that any action even inspired action is not effortless (action takes effort) that I missed the opportunity to experience the ease with which it unfolds.   

Recognizing that what I was thinking and doing had become so habitual it was unconscious, I became really honest with myself which helped me to shift my thinking just enough to surrender.  Suddenly, I was able to allow inspired action to unfold and the first inspired action was inaction.  Inspired action, especially inspired inaction, had been scary to me in the past because although I believed in it, I had a longer history of forcing action, and had been "rewarded" with "approval" from those around me especially authority figures.  The outcome of inspired action was immediately and continues to be inner peace.  For me, this inner peace has gratefully proven itself to be a greater desire than what I had previously feared.