When You Can't Hold the Vision of What You Want, Intend for What You Need

Hi folks,

Your Grateful Blogger hasn't really been all that grateful lately. I realize that because I've been getting feedback from the universe that has been ungrateful and anxious (that's the energy I've been getting back at me from more people than I care to number). Usually, this is not how it works for me. But I've felt pretty sapped with the baby. As my time and energy have been more divided, my spiritual practice has gotten lax.

A veteran father told me to just ask for, accept, pray for (and be prayed for) Energy. I think that is smart, so I put in a prayer request today at my spiritual center.

It reminded me that sometimes we aren't feeling strong enough, or faithful enough, or ready enough to envision or manifest that big thing we want (The Full Practice! The New Business! The Great Relationship!) and sometimes that means starting by intending, asking for, focusing on the first step towards that vision - the thing we NEED right now.

For me it is Energy. I think I need Energy so I can actually get back on track on the intentions side of things. (I also requested Time, as they seem quite linked for me right now).

For others, it might be Creativity (the ideas for the article/for the business) - or Wisdom (of what to do *right now*) - or Peace (to center myself in Spirit instead of worrying about the storm outside) - or Love (to feel Loved right now, so you don't feel desperate for it in someone else).

So if you don't feel like you can aim big right now, aim for whatever it is you need to aim big :-)

Happy Sunday everyone. So happy to see the sun staying longer in the sky.

Best, Your Grateful Guy

Got Trouble? Praise and Raise....

So I saw that a colleague was having troubles with a client (not in therapy, but about financial issues). The colleague was upset, worried, anxious and perhaps angry. I could not blame her - I would be too, and have had situations like this myself.

It reminded me that all of us therapists have these moments, these people, these problems from time to time. And the anxiety and worry they bring is unfortunate. Isn't there something we could do?

Yes.

There is a spiritual practice to use when you are having trouble with someone - it's called "Praising and Raising". Basically, it's a way to send healing love to the person you are having the trouble with. Usually, the troubling behaviors of others come from their own pain and feelings of separation. We can meet that with our own pain and anger, which usually continues or deepens the problems, or we can raise our state of consciousness of the situation.

It's quite a simple prayer - and is best done as a posture prayer (a prayer with movement). Here's how it goes......

(with hands together in prayer position) I Praise (person's name)

(with hands held upward and open) I Raise (person's name)

(with hands coming folded over your heart) In the name of Love.

Repeat 7 times. Do that for 7 days. I have experienced this working, and heard story after story after story on it.

For a deeper explanation visit this webpage.

I wish you Peace! Best, Your Grateful Guy