I just got back a couple of days ago from Train the Trainor through Peak Potentials Training. I love this company! They are so great in so many ways! If ever you want to know about my personal experiences with them, let me know. I love to share about them.

This was my 2nd advanced class with Peak Potentials. It was a lot of fun, as usual, and it was also very hard for me. The class deals with public speaking, which is what I want to do, but am still working through some significant issues on the matter that make it difficult for me.

Have you heard how studies show that people are more afraid of public speaking than of death? While I’m not more afraid of public speaking than of death, I did have to deal with the issues deep within me it brought up and at times I felt over stressed. I tried to resource with my faith and my connection with God. It helped, but the activity was fast paced, so it wasn’t like I could meditate and calm my way through the process. I was aware that this was one of those times where we grow by dealing with and pushing through the pressure. I knew that this was what I needed and where I wanted to be, even though it was very hard for me.

At one point, I felt my nervous system trying to shut me down by making me feel very sleepy. I told myself, “NO! Focus!”. I kept on pushing through it until all of a sudden things started flowing much more easily. I knew I would make it through even though my issues were making me want to quit. And guess what? I did. I made it through as did everyone else. Peak Potentials have a great training program and I got what I needed and more. I made it through and learned what I needed so I can now take action to the next level much easier than I could before class. (Not that it’s easy, yet.)

What I did find somewhat surprising was how it was hard for me to feel my connection to God while I was stressed like I usually do. When at home, even under stress, I can feel His presence and feel strong in my relationship to Him. When I was stressed at class, it was more like my whole system knew He was there with me just because my relationship with Him has become such an unification with my life. However, I didn’t really feel Him there, and that took me by surprise. I understand that it was because of the very deep issues of mine that this class brought up for me, but I did not like that feeling of “disconnection”. While I have been aware that I still know much less than I do know, it made me aware that I still have much more to learn.

Very cool. A powerful and gentle reminder to be open. Yay for the graces that come from being open!

Blessings,

Irene

Back in the mid 90′s when I was recovering from my trauma and hospitalization, I was walking through the neighborhood deep in thought and connection with God. As I walked the words “What do you want?” came to me. These words have been a basic foundation of my healing process and clarity of direction.

Whenever I would start to feel lost and unclear about direction or decision, and I had been praying for His guidance, then at some point I would hear or feel the words, “What do you want?” It still comes into my awareness exactly when I need it.

Just like with anything goal in life, we need to know what our goal is to focus ourselves in that direction and make it happen. It is the same for anything, really. I need to ask myself, “What do I want” for clarity of purpose, direction, goals, personal desires, and personal growth. Since it worked for me, I’m sure that there are many others that it can also help.

And it’s not a selfish thing as long as there is no malicious intent. What I want may be a receiving desire and/or a giving desire. Neither is right or wrong, better or worse, because when I help myself I am also resourcing myself to help others. What matters is that we are honest with ourselves.

Many times we tend to get wrapped up in how we think we’re supposed to be, that we forget who we are or what our dreams were. I know that I have made many mistakes about listening to my preconceived notions and expectations instead of listening to my heart. Therein lies the key. The heart and heart of the soul are what tend to hold our passions, purpose, and dreams. It’s the Holy Spirit touching us. (The Holy Spirit communicates with us through our body sense. That will be in another post.) And when we act in alignment with those passions and purposes, then we become the Finger of God manifest. It begins with us asking ourselves, “What do I want?” and answering it honestly and in a positive framework.

For example, say there is someone at work that is making your life very difficult. As you ask yourself the question “What do I want?”, you might find yourself answering that you want them fired. What if you framed the answer as a positive solution such as, “I want him to learn what he needs so he’ll not need to be such a jerk, but instead more helpful.” This is something that you might be able to help with. Does the person need a compassionate shoulder or does the person need to be stood up to and told point blank what the deal is? Our choices create our reality. That’s why first knowing what we want and then deciding the best way (in alignment with God) to get it is the growing process.

Honesty is key. Getting trapped in how we think we’re supposed to be instead of being true to ourselves is like trying to grow a tree by planting a rock. The message does not get through and true beauty lies dormant. And so the guidance of the Holy Spirit is also blocked from getting through. There are people who may try or pretend to be positive and helpful because they think that’s how they’re supposed to be. But in reality, they are angry. God gave us our feelings for a reason. They are tools for us to learn from. If you are angry, be aware of it. Notice it like an observer. Ask yourself, “Do I want to be angry or do I want to have this issue resolved?” Trust the process of learning. If you are honest with yourself and you find that you want to be angry, then be aware of that. Let yourself experience your anger. That does not mean lash out and cause others to be angry or harmed. It means to sit back and observe your anger. Be with it. If need be, push ups, jumping jacks, or other vigorous exercise might help. The key is to be its observer. Don’t “be” the anger. Your spirit is of God. Let your spirit hold the awareness that this is an experience that will also pass.

And pass it will. When we let ourselves be with our experience, then it’s like when we listen to a friend tell us their troubles. We listen, they vent, and things move on to the next step.

In my experience, the next step will be the honest wanting of resolution. When we let ourselves be the observer of our experience, it moves through us like a train going by. We are aware of its power as we watch it go by, but since we are watching it and not on the tracks, it can’t hurt us. Once it passes by, we are free to cross or walk the track.

So by observing our anger we learn how to have the time and space to make choices that we want instead of reacting to our situation as though we have no control. This is key to self-growth because in order to grow we must know in what direction we want to grow in. We need to have awareness of our choices available to us so we can make the best decision for ourselves. But before our decision, our heart begs the question, “What do I want?”

As loving friends, we do not turn our backs on friends who ask for our help or a listening ear. Why then do so many of us turn our backs on our own hearts?

I hope this awareness of mine helps you in some way. Either way, I will keep asking myself what I want.

What do you want?

Blessings,

Irene

Do something…lead, follow, or get out of the way.

Tomorrow, I’ve got to quit procrastinating.

Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you’re alive, it isn’t.    Richard Bach

The mind, like a parachute, functions only when open.

Courage is the mastery of fear, not the absence of fear.

Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.   Mark Twain

There are two ways of spreading light: To be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.  Edith Wharton

The block of granite which was an obstacle in the pathway of the weak becomes a stepping stone in the pathway of the strong.   Thomas Carlyle

It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.   Old Chinese Proverb

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.   Eleanor Roosevelt

Courage is having the faith to let Truth stand on its own.   Irene Arndt

Make sure the message of love gets through.   Dr. Jane Nelson  (author of Positive Discipline)

Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.   Ted Geisel (Dr. Seuss)

You cannot discover new oceans until you find the courage to lose sight of the shore.

The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.   Ephesians 3:20

Surrendering to God is not about relinquishing power. It’s about letting the power of God flow through you.  Irene Arndt

It is impossible to be angry while singing.

How you do anything in life is how you do everything.    T. Harv Ecker  (author of Secrets of the Millionaire Mind)

Be still and know that I am God.   Psalm 46:10

With God all things are possible.    Matt 19:26

Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision.    Winston Churchill

When we are judging others, we have no time to love them. It is only in suspending judgement that open our heart to love and empower ourselves and each other.   Mother Teresa

…You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world….You were born to manifest the glory of God….      Nelson Mandela

Thanks, and have a great day!

Irene

While in my experience there is a lot of truth to that, it’s also equally not true.

Religion and spirituality are very similar except for one primary difference. While they are both are used to develop a closer relationship and connection to God/Jesus/Creator/Higher Power/I Am, the difference is that religion uses primarily external forces, i.e. rituals, traditional practices, to teach its lessons and spirituality primarily encourages inner sense exploration to guide oneself in the attempt to increase the relational connection with God. Religion is trusting external sources, i.e. what other people tell us, while spirituality is about trusting our inner sense, i.e. what does my heart tell me.

Neither is better or worse than the other. It all depends on what we need. It depends on what it is time for in our lives. God gave us the whole world and all its opportunities to find our way to Him. What’s important is that we do develop a relationship with God and All that He Is. What’s important is that we learn the love the Jesus gave us. After all, that’s who Jesus is, Love. His essence is Love. How can we know heaven without Love?

We can’t. That’s why the Bible says we must accept Jesus to enter heaven. But I argue that it’s His essence of Love that we need to accept. The more love we know within our heart, the closer we are to heaven, for heaven is not a place, but the state of Being. We can’t know true joy and peace and love unless it comes from within. External forces, like going on vacation with those we love, create happiness. That’s what it would be like with heaven if heaven were a place. But joy and peace and love come from the spirit within.

We don’t know everything or we’d already all know heaven. So God gave us the whole world to find our way to Him. He gave us the whole world of opportunity and experience and choices to learn love, trust, and faith. So whether we choose a religious path or spiritual path or combination of them is part of His path to Him. As long as our hearts are sincere about wanting a closer relation with God, He will guide us to Him. That is the opening of our hearts to Him. That is accepting His Hand in our life. And with God in our life and our intent aligned with Him, then His forces will be at work bringing us closer to Him.

Follow God because He leads perfectly and walk beside Him as His partner in service.

I knew a lady who told me her story about how she was lost and then found Christ and she was obviously doing better than before. I could sense a greater peace and joy within her than what she had before she found Jesus. She followed traditional Christian practices and teachings. Good for her. That was what she needed. She found our Lord and was uplifted. And we can only uplift others when we are uplifted ourselves. No one is uplifted by being held down. Maybe her beliefs will remain the same for her entire life, or maybe they will evolve. It doesn’t matter as long as she holds a loving connection with our Creator and continues to align herself with Him.

As for myself, I struggled with traditional practices for the time I was exposed to them, and chose the spiritual path. It has worked for me. I am stronger, more joyful, peaceful, loving, and connected than ever before. I like some religious rituals, i.e. baptism and communion, but my greatest teachings have come from just taking time to be with God. My most profound spiritual moments have been when I am in a relaxed state, trusting God, surrendering to God, and letting myself be myself. Mediprayer (meditation and prayer combined) is what works for me.

If a greater inner joy, peace, love, and connection with God is what you want, then ask God what is the best way for you to do that. Just because you’ve heard or been taught that a certain way is the way it must be, doesn’t make it so. It was a human that told you to do it a certain way. They may be right. But only God knows the best way. So the one you should be asking is Him. With all questions we should ask Him. Then we can rest knowing that He will give us the right answer.

Whether we truly listen and understand the answer may be another matter for another post, but we can know that His answers will be true.

They always are.

Blessings,

Irene

How do I change reality? How do I create that which I envision for myself and others? What is it that I am stuck on that keeps holding me back from doing what needs to be done to make things change for the better?

These questions are what I’m working with. Understandings of quantum physics in combination with my faith are going to be the big part of the ticket to the growth I choose. I am grateful for these uncomfortable challenges that God has given me. They will force me to break through the enemy within myself because I will not accept anything less than the best that I can create and the best that God has available to me.

I hope that you will also let God’s infinite love and abundance into your life. Let His touch on your heart guide you to the dreams you were made for. It’s work, but isn’t knowing something even better than where we are now what we want? God wants it for us. He wants us to be joyous, loving, and grateful. Therein lies true abundance. While it’s great to have external things, the truest abundance is the peace and love we have inside for others. So I choose to open up to all His Graces. It always makes things better, even if it’s not always easier at first.

I know that everything will be ok. My focus is to grow my heart and awareness stronger for everyone else. I know that it’s not about me. But there are parts of me that currently do not hold that awareness as well as other parts of me. But it is what I want and is what I’m working toward. As I work toward this, I will work through what holds me back. Then I will be able to do more for my family, my community, my country, and my world.

So when the ego starts to tell me negative things to try and get me to stop trying to change, I will gently educate  it. To the ego, change means death. So I will inform it that it will not die, but it will evolve.

Evolve.

I’ve used it before for other healing processes for myself and a some clients and it works well. Just remember that your negative thoughts are not the real you. You’re repeating something you heard from someone else. What would our Lord of Infinite Love say to you?

Just like when a child is afraid, we other words of encouragement and try to sooth their fears. The ego seems to need something similar. It seems to need a caring, respectful presence to be able to hear and become aware that it is ok to evolve. And when it does, the whole self feels great and moving in a positive direction becomes more natural.

I can do this. I can change for the better and beyond.

You can too, if you want to.

When we decide to change and grow so we can make the world a better place, then nothing can stop us. After all, I think God is on our side about that. Don’t you?

Blessings,

Irene