Have you ever wondered where destiny would lead you? Have you ever pondered whether the road you are taking would lead to fulfillment and happiness? Unlike so many of my friends and family, I have always had the sure knowledge of what was expected of me.
It was under a shade tree surrounded by my teddy bears and dolls that it came to me- I would have six children, write books that would help families, have the opportunity to speak and teach all over the world, and I would live to be 97 years old. That is pretty heavy stuff for a six year old.
I shared this epiphany with my mother, and she never doubted the message. She continued to encourage and support me through every milestone until she died in my arms at age 93. Even while nurturing my family of six children and following my husband’s military career, I was gathering the skills to prepare me to “do my own thing.” When my children were grown and my parents were gone, I realized that the portion of my life devoted to care-giving and nurturing of my family was complete.
I had 40 years of productive time left on this earth to accomplish all I had set forth to do. However, after carrying so much physical weight on my body for years, I was facing inevitable diabetes and arthritis. My future looked like pain, wheel chairs and doctor’s offices. Unless I took action, medical complications would curtail me from fulfilling my destiny.
I approached this issue as I have the many books I have written. I investigated “one more diet” that I could live with for the rest of my life. I interviewed over 100 men and women across the country that had tried the same diets that didn’t work before finally finding a method that proved successful. My mind was made up. I chose gastric bypass surgery as a one-time solution. On July 30, 2002, I underwent a procedure called laparoscopic Roux-en-Y. This surgery creates a small stomach pouch which holds less than a cup of food. A section of the small intestine is attached to the pouch that absorbs less food than before. Most patients lose over half their excess weight in the first year and a half. Since my operation, I have lost 115 pounds. This is equivalent to the combined weight of my three granddaughters, Amanda, Lexi and Melissa!
For the first time in years, I feel normal and in control when making food choices. Now I am able to enjoy life to the fullest and have the energy and stamina required helping other families raise their standard of living through my books and workshops. Finally, my spirit and body are in sync and I am ready to go forward. I am able to concentrate on my spirit’s promptings during yoga because I am no longer concerned with whether my body will be able to balance, bend or straighten up. For me, this option was a success. It gave me the ability to concentrate again on my writing, and to feel confident when I facilitate workshops or speak to groups. Yes, I have met my goal of being an international speaker and writer!
To travel, teach, and fulfill my destiny I must be a woman of strength, and I must maintain that spirit and energy for the rest of my life. We each create our own reality by our thoughts, actions and belief systems. Hopefully that belief system will include guardian angels and a success team who will guide and assist us in our journey.
I have an obligation to that little girl under the shade tree who understood her life’s purpose half a life time ago. The message that was shared with me and I now share with my children, my grandchildren, and the families that I work with is to listen carefully to the still small voice within that tells us we are important and have something of value to share with the world. The time to share your unique gift may not be now, but it will be someday and so always be in the process of becoming, learning and growing. Be open to possibilities that life and the angels have in store for you, and you will find the right road to fulfillment of your destiny.
This article was written by Judy H. Wright, Missoula, Mt for a book called Women of Strength and Spirit. Soon to be available on her website: www.ArtichokePress.com To sign up for the free e-zine, purchase books, tapes and workshops on human relations in the journey of life, please go to the website or call
406-549-9813
Judy H. Wright is an author of over 20 books and many articles on human relations. Although she does much work on a national level concerning Hospice and end-of-life, she works as a parent educator in her daily life. She feels strongly that her destiny is to touch the lives of young parents, internationally, to teach them common sense methods of child rearing that will enhance the harmony and dignity of the whole family. For more information please go to http://www.ArtichokePress.com
Showing posts with label Fulfillment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fulfillment. Show all posts
March 5, 2009
February 27, 2009
Karmic Yoga and Devotion
An Earth, Wind and Fire song says, 'Through devotion blessed are the children. Praise the teachers who bring the light to many. Your devotion opens the life treasures and delivers from the fruits of evil.'
I think this song is very meaningful when it comes to Karmic Yoga, because the whole concept of Karmic Yoga, though it may not seem to be sometimes, is devotion to a higher power as well as other human beings. Through devotion we help all of humanity. We raise our own consciousness while we are helping others raise theirs. The truth is that when we truly live a devotional life, we are engaged in Karmic Yoga where we are. When we are devoted to anything positive or neutral (but not anything negative) we are doing Karmic Yoga. You may wonder why I am saying this. I will give you an example.
I once knew a man who played the top of a Bic pen. I would consider this very neutral. He could play rock and roll, classical music, jazz, anything, on the cap of this Bic pen. He had even done classical concerts on it. I met him working as a volunteer at a drop in center for mental health out patients. He was one of the counselors. My job was to help get people involved in activities like singing, dancing, and so on each week to enjoy themselves. One night we decided to have a talent show. One friend played the guitar, I sang and this man offered to play the Bic pen cap.
What the heck? I thought to myself. We began to perform and we were so good that everybody quickly joined in and had a good time. Later he participated in many performances at the drop in center. During later talks I found that his man had done the talk show tour all over the United States playing the Bic pen cap. His devotion to playing the Bic pen cap had led him all over the country. Now these outpatients were benefiting because this young man had been dedicated to playing the Bic pen top. Very interesting.
Playing the Bic pen top doesn?t seem like much, but one can even do service in the world and help those in need, by being devoted to learning how to do that. How much more can one effect the world by being devoted to art, music, writing, reading, teaching, alternative health, any of the activities in which humans engage daily? This type of devotion leads to action. It benefits the human family when one has perfected his or her gifts and shares them freely with others. When we do this we are engaged in Karmic Yoga.
Your devotion to ?following your bliss,? as Joseph Campbell called it, and sharing that bliss with others, helps lift their spirits and helps make the world a better place. The world is in need of people who are happy and joyful. Your gift can be helping people to become joyful and to see the best parts of themselves. If you are working at a soup kitchen, feeding the hungry, digging wells for poor people in Africa, whatever, the element that is most necessary during these activities is to help people see the best parts of themselves. That can begin a climb from the deepest emotional and economic depths. To do this, however, firstly you must see the best of yourself. Following your bliss can help you do that.
Are you following your bliss? If you want to start doing Karmic Yoga it is important to dedicate yourself to doing so. It is important to dedicate yourself to become the most alive, vibrant, joyful person that you can possibly be, and that alive, vibrant, joyful person with others through your actions of service. For this is truly what we need in the world, people who are fully alive.
As you partake in your life of service, remember that just doing things for others isn?t enough. It is necessary to hone yourself so that you can be that beautiful spark of the Divine that you experiences in the most intimate moments. It is important to channel the creative nature of the Divine so all may partake of it. It is important to work from a center of being. Doing the work and service because you are a reflection of the embodiment of love that goes by many names is your objective. Through your devotion to this ideal and to other people, you will open the life treasures and deliver from the fruits of evil. This is the secret of Karmic Yoga?working on the self by working in the world and working in the world by working on the self.
Dr. J. W. Gilmore is a Writer, Spiritual Director, Anti-oppression Consultant and Wellness Consultant. He is a Certified Massage Therapist and Reflexologist, a Reiki Master Teacher, a Martial Arts Instructor and a Spiritual Coach living in Costa Rica. For more article like this or similar information visit: http://www.dswellness.com Recommended book, A Return to Being Human Religiously, Dr. John W. Gilmore.
I think this song is very meaningful when it comes to Karmic Yoga, because the whole concept of Karmic Yoga, though it may not seem to be sometimes, is devotion to a higher power as well as other human beings. Through devotion we help all of humanity. We raise our own consciousness while we are helping others raise theirs. The truth is that when we truly live a devotional life, we are engaged in Karmic Yoga where we are. When we are devoted to anything positive or neutral (but not anything negative) we are doing Karmic Yoga. You may wonder why I am saying this. I will give you an example.
I once knew a man who played the top of a Bic pen. I would consider this very neutral. He could play rock and roll, classical music, jazz, anything, on the cap of this Bic pen. He had even done classical concerts on it. I met him working as a volunteer at a drop in center for mental health out patients. He was one of the counselors. My job was to help get people involved in activities like singing, dancing, and so on each week to enjoy themselves. One night we decided to have a talent show. One friend played the guitar, I sang and this man offered to play the Bic pen cap.
What the heck? I thought to myself. We began to perform and we were so good that everybody quickly joined in and had a good time. Later he participated in many performances at the drop in center. During later talks I found that his man had done the talk show tour all over the United States playing the Bic pen cap. His devotion to playing the Bic pen cap had led him all over the country. Now these outpatients were benefiting because this young man had been dedicated to playing the Bic pen top. Very interesting.
Playing the Bic pen top doesn?t seem like much, but one can even do service in the world and help those in need, by being devoted to learning how to do that. How much more can one effect the world by being devoted to art, music, writing, reading, teaching, alternative health, any of the activities in which humans engage daily? This type of devotion leads to action. It benefits the human family when one has perfected his or her gifts and shares them freely with others. When we do this we are engaged in Karmic Yoga.
Your devotion to ?following your bliss,? as Joseph Campbell called it, and sharing that bliss with others, helps lift their spirits and helps make the world a better place. The world is in need of people who are happy and joyful. Your gift can be helping people to become joyful and to see the best parts of themselves. If you are working at a soup kitchen, feeding the hungry, digging wells for poor people in Africa, whatever, the element that is most necessary during these activities is to help people see the best parts of themselves. That can begin a climb from the deepest emotional and economic depths. To do this, however, firstly you must see the best of yourself. Following your bliss can help you do that.
Are you following your bliss? If you want to start doing Karmic Yoga it is important to dedicate yourself to doing so. It is important to dedicate yourself to become the most alive, vibrant, joyful person that you can possibly be, and that alive, vibrant, joyful person with others through your actions of service. For this is truly what we need in the world, people who are fully alive.
As you partake in your life of service, remember that just doing things for others isn?t enough. It is necessary to hone yourself so that you can be that beautiful spark of the Divine that you experiences in the most intimate moments. It is important to channel the creative nature of the Divine so all may partake of it. It is important to work from a center of being. Doing the work and service because you are a reflection of the embodiment of love that goes by many names is your objective. Through your devotion to this ideal and to other people, you will open the life treasures and deliver from the fruits of evil. This is the secret of Karmic Yoga?working on the self by working in the world and working in the world by working on the self.
Dr. J. W. Gilmore is a Writer, Spiritual Director, Anti-oppression Consultant and Wellness Consultant. He is a Certified Massage Therapist and Reflexologist, a Reiki Master Teacher, a Martial Arts Instructor and a Spiritual Coach living in Costa Rica. For more article like this or similar information visit: http://www.dswellness.com Recommended book, A Return to Being Human Religiously, Dr. John W. Gilmore.
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