Voice of the Spirit

“Gratitude” seems to be a concept and belief that is quite widely spoken of and practiced in today’s spiritual culture. Whether in conventional religions or more metaphysically based circles, gratitude is everywhere.  Why is the practice of gratitude so important, and when, if at all is gratitude appropriate in our daily lives?
 
Along with forgiveness, I would have to say that gratitude is potentially the most important spiritual tool for all people, regardless of how easy or difficult ones journey is. Whatever spiritual path one is on, essence of spiritual lessons a person may be learning, or level of spiritual evolution anyone is at, gratitude does indeed work wonders.
 
First, gratitude brings more blessings.  When someone is grateful, and pronounces gratitude out loud daily, it magnetizes that person to a vibration of miracles and blessings, therefore more good comes to that individual.  One can say that all life is vibration, and when we vibrate to a state of gratitude, we attract good, as like attracts like.
 
Second, gratitude neutralizes and potentially negates negative emotions.  Perhaps you may feel resentful, perhaps over the actions of another. Let’s look at that example: By being grateful for whatever that experience has taught you, and appreciative for whatever gifts that person and experience may have brought you, the resentment is neutralized.  Practically ALL negative or dark emotions can be neutralized through the practice of gratitude.  When you’re feeling grateful, there’s not very much to feel negative about.
 
Another benefit of being grateful is that ones physical health will most certainly improve.  Negative, angry, resentful, bitter and sad emotions often bring down our health, vitality and well being, as well as contribute to actual physical illness.  Thinking that emotions affected our health was once largely thought to be nonsense, but more and more, even conventional medical doctors acknowledge that negative emotions and negative attitudes do indeed affect our health.  Gratitude neutralizes this internal negativity, which certainly contributes to a reality and environment of physical health and well-being.
 
Also, don’t forget that prosperity and money can come through being grateful.  As the great teacher Florence Shinn said,  “Money is a gift from God and the heavens, freeing us from lack and limitation.”  Wouldn’t it make sense that being grateful for the financial gifts we’ve received brings even more gifts to us? Remember that those financial gifts are waiting to be released from the heavens to help us.  Practicing gratitude brings them in!  It’s like a snowball rolling down the side of a mountain.  As it rolls, it gets bigger and moves faster.  The momentum carries what is already there.
 
I tell my clients to do this exercise:  Take a week, and pronounce out loud gratitude every day!  Here is a good affirmation: “I am grateful and thankful for every blessing I have!”   I have seen amazing improvements in my clients’ lives even in a single week just through repeatedly saying this affirmation. All through the practice of gratitude!
 
If you have a hard time feeling gratitude for your life, start by thinking of just one thing you have to be grateful for.  That may be your home, your job, a friend, a family member, your heath, or a wonderful lover.  Whatever it is, start from there by pronouncing gratitude!  Then, work through being grateful step by step to cover all areas of your journey.  Even for the things that may have gone “bad” before, a change for the better will occur, plus the negativity from the past again becomes neutralized.
 
Always try not to focus on the “bad” in your past and present journey.  Look toward all that you DO have that is indeed “good,” and build from there.  Building upon the “good” deemphasizes the “bad,” allowing the “bad” to take a back seat in our lives at the very least, and potentially even fade from consciousness.  By practicing gratitude for what you DO have, and not focusing on what you DON’T have, a better and more enriching life is yours, with more and more to be grateful for!

Like forgiveness, gratitude works wonders in our lives.  In over thirty years of spiritual and psychic work, I have only seen good come from the practice from gratitude.

Topic: Gratitude
Goal:  To manifest a better life through being grateful

I am grateful and thankful for every blessing I have!

Just like oxygen is necessary to live, forgiveness is necessary not only for our spiritual development, but to have happiness in our daily lives.  First, keep in mind the universal principle of forgiveness.  There seems to be no exception to this principle.  It is not a question of whose pain is worse, or whose life has been more traumatized by the actions of others.  Forgiveness seems to be necessary for all of us to have peace. 

I heard many clients say to me, “Jim, I just can’t forgive this person!” When I hear that type of response, I empathize.  I do get it.  It can be so hard to forgive, but at the same time, it needs to be done.  The bitterness, anger, rage, self pity and hurt gets worse if we don’t try to forgive.  It becomes like a cancer within us, and wreaks havoc in all areas of our journey!  Remember this concept:  hating someone is like drinking doses of poison daily.

What do we do when we just can’t forgive?  The hurt is so egregious; the pain so visceral, the impact on our lives seems so absolute and permanent.  There’s no relief in sight and the quality of our lives has dramatically diminished from the actions of someone else.  In that case, here is a dynamite affirmation to help heal those wounds and scars:  “Heavenly Father, I cannot humanly forgive this person.  Please allow your divine forgiveness to work through me!”  - Catherine Ponder, student of Florence Shinn

Here are some tips: Try to look at someone else’s situation that has been worse than your own.  All you need to do is watch the nightly news to see unthinkable tragedy thrust upon ordinary people everyday.  Looking at another person’s pain increases empathy, and adds perspective.  You might ask yourself, “How could they have done this to me?”    Sometimes the person who hurt you is just being who they are – they’re not doing it to you, they’re just doing it.  It’s not as personal as it may seem.  They are just at a different level of consciousness that may be lower or darker than your own. 

Be hopeful.  Know that the divine universe will take care of you and that new opportunity and blessings are on the horizon.  Forgiving the one who has hurt you actually DOES open new doors.  As the great master Florence Shinn said, “A blessing never comes to you, it comes through you.”  By becoming free of the pain of the past, we become an open channel for God to work through! 

Ask yourself, do you want this person to enslave you any more?  Do you want to give him / her that kind of power over you?  Your hatred or anger toward them ONLY affects you.  They probably don’t care, and there’s no need for you to either! 

You may say, “I don’t know how to do this.”  I’ve tried, but it just doesn’t work.”  Never lose sight of the fact that there may be a lot to forgive, therefore, it’s necessary to stay diligent and keep persisting in your attempt to forgive.  Getting it mentally does very little if anything at all to heal the situation.  One needs to break through the defenses, old attitudes, ego, negative emotions and walls, to get to the core of one’s being, and ultimately forgive!  Don’t give up! Stay with it! 

I have witnessed countless examples of how the power of forgiveness transforms our lives for the better!  You too can absolutely achieve the peace that forgiveness brings!

Like gratitude, forgiveness is one of the greatest tools we have.  Forgiving others as well as ourselves improves every area of our lives, and opens the door for new positive blessings to manifest.

Topic: Forgiveness

Goal:  Forgiving others

To all who have ever hurt me, I now forgive you and release you to your highest good!

Sometimes people have hurt us so deeply, that it seems impossible to forgive them.  In that case, here is a dynamite affirmation to help heal those wounds and scars:

Heavenly Father, I cannot humanly forgive this person.  Please allow your divine forgiveness to work through me!  - Catherine Ponder, student of Florence Shinn

NOTE:  You can change Heavenly Father to God, Goddess, Divine Universe, Divine Love, or any term that is in line with your personal belief systems.  Remember, the goal is to be able to forgive and be free!

Many times, clients wish to hear good news.  Yes, things will absolutely work out and everything will be OK.  Whatever the question is, hopefully, it has a “positive” answer.  I always hope myself that the news is truly good news.

Remember, though, life just isn’t that simple.  In a mundane sense, we can say that life is both a mixture of good and bad.  If we want to look at it cosmically, one could say that all things indeed happen for the highest good.

What is the goal of a reading, then?  Certainly, no one wants to be brought down by a consultation.  So when the news isn’t pleasant, or considered bad, what does one do?

First, never forget, that a reading should be as truthful as possible.  That is the bottom line. However, there are several points to make the bad news potentially turn into good or at least hopeful news. Here we can turn lemons into lemonade!  Here are some points to consider if the news seems “bad”:  What is the lesson that needs to be learned?  Knowing what needs to be learned on a deeper spiritual level, helps to give a potential overview of why.Understanding the deeper why helps to give us a guiding light of where we may be heading.  In time, once a lesson is learned, we are then truly set free!

What one may want or desire, may not be for their highest good, therefore it may not ultimately happen, and should not happen!  I have seen so many feel that everything (and I mean everything) in their life hinges on a desired outcome of a situation.  Remember that old cliché, don’t wish for something, you just might get it! If it is not truly meant to be, nature won’t support it!  In time, that truth will be realized and ultimately accepted.

What choices are there to mitigate, perhaps, modify or lighten the situation?  One’s choices can accent the good and make things better!

Try to look at your life with an open mind.  Consider being open to new viewpoints of the same situation.  With an open mind, peace can be found, even in the most difficult of times!

Don’t view the reader as negative if what they are receiving happens to be “bad’ news.  What comes through in a reading is what you may need to hear to get your life back on track to be on the path you are spiritually supposed to be on.  What appears to be “bad” news at the time may indeed turn out to be “good” news in the long run.

Try to be patient, as life unfolds in the way it is supposed to. Think of the big picture, and try to not get caught up in the emotional moment of the question at hand! Good things come over a calm sea, meaning that when our emotions are calm, miracles do indeed come to us!

Beyond the seemingly “good” and “bad” of our personal experiences, try to keep in mind that there is a higher purpose, a higher calling, and a higher echo, which guides from above, far beyond the chaos, confusion and frustration of our emotions.

To be in balance means to be grounded, centered and able to navigate through our journey in a successful way!

Topic: Perfect Balance

Goal:  To manifest a life of balance

I am now in a perfect state of balance in all areas of my life!

Each of us has the ability within to manifest miracles in our lives.  This affirmation will help to get you in touch with the part of you! 
 
Topic: A Life of Miracles
Goal:  To manifest miracles!

Everywhere I look I see a miracle!  I am blessed with miracles in every area of my life!