Finding Daily Inspiration In Difficult Times

Daily inspiration helps us to stay focused on God's love, no matter what else is going on in our daily lives. In today's world there is such a high level of challenge and rapid change happening for most of us, that it has become even more important to find a way to stay connected with our hearts, and with our inner connection with spirit.

There are many ways we can tap into our inner connection with God and spirit; however it is not always simple to do so. The demands of daily life can be compelling, and can cause us to forget our connection to spirit. A regular spiritual practice of meditation or prayer can be very helpful in focusing thought, energy and intention towards God. Even five or ten minutes a day can have a significant beneficial impact on the entire day.

Why Daily Inspiration is so Important Now

The process of spiritual transformation involves the release of everything within us that has been out of balance and out of harmony with God's love. This process is happening individually and for humanity as a whole at this time. The problems manifesting in our world are an expression of this imbalance, and are being manifest now in order to be transformed.

At this time on the Earth there is a great deal of negative energy surfacing and releasing into the atmosphere of the planet. This is related to the process of global purification that is happening as humanity's consciousness evolves towards greater connection with spirit, and as the presence of God's light strengthens on the Earth. The spiritual awakening that is beginning to happen for humanity is illuminating within all of us everything that has been kept separated from God's love.

These energies that are releasing through the process of purification affect all of us, especially sensitive souls who are attuned to the spiritual levels of reality. Staying connected to a source of spiritual nourishment and inspiration each day helps us to avoid getting immersed in the negative energies that are present, and helps us to feel nourished and sustained during difficult times.

Some people feel these negative energies physically or in their consciousness, some people feel this energy at night in their dreams. Many people now are feeling these energies emotionally, and are not aware that what they are feeling is related to much a larger process than their own individual emotional challenges.

Our individual spiritual healing journey is connected with the larger journey of transformation that is happening for all of humanity. It is not always possible to discern what energy is our own personal healing, and what is related to the larger collective healing process of humanity.

When you become aware of difficult emotions or energies, there are three things that can help to move these out of your body and consciousness.

1. Be aware of what you are feeling at any given moment.
2. Release any judgment or fear associated with the emotions or energies you are experiencing
3. Ask God to transform and transmute the energies and emotions.

During the process of purification it is essential to stay connected with God, with daily inspiration, and with others of like mind and like heart who can share the journey with us and help to strengthen our love and faith. It is not easy to overcome old habits that created unconsciousness and a disconnection from our hearts. Support is needed, and daily spiritual practice and inspiration are the nourishment which sustains us.

Your willingness and commitment to stay connected with God's love brings many rewards such as greater inner peace, more equanimity during times of challenge, and growing sense of confidence in your ability to feel God's love. You are also helping the Earth and other people around you, because we are all connected. When you are radiating love and light, and focusing your attention on God's love, then your presence has a beneficial impact on those around you.

In reaching out to God each day, focusing our hearts on receiving more of God's love, we are able find a pathway through the challenges of life today. Even during times of difficulty, a new doorway begins to open, towards a new possibility for ourselves and for humanity.

Mashubi Rochell offers free spiritual healing resources for daily inspiration at http://www.worldblessings.com/inspiration

Learn something new - Sifting

Lets say you're in the middle of baking a lovely cake or a tasty batch of cookies. You read the recipe and it says the flour must be sifted. But, OH NO, you don't have a sifter. What are you to do? I guess you can't make that recipe now... hee hee. Don't stop now, I've got an answer for you!

I'm sure that someone either uses this method or has heard of it before. I'm not sure exactly where I picked it up. I may have just made it up one day, I can't remember.

To sift without a sifter -

It's so simple really. Just take an ordinary strainer or colander and measure your flour or dry ingredients into it over another bowl. Then you take a wire whisk and stir the dry ingredients around in the colander until everything goes through it.


In this case I was making cookies
so I just "sifted" the dry ingredients
right into my creamed mixture.

And Ta-Da ... you have sifted flour!

Cayenne Rubbed Chicken with Avocado Salsa

I got this recipe from my good friend, Marcy. It's absolutely fabulous. It's simple, easy and quick. The flavors go together so well, and it's just perfection. I cannot say enough good things about it! I'm forever in your debt for this one, Marcy! :)

Oh, and don't let the cayenne scare you away. I'm a huge wuss about heat in my food, and I ended up adding more cayenne the second time I made it.

Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 Hass avocado, pitted and cut into chunks
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt and pepper

In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper.

Rub spices all over chicken breasts. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium. Add chicken and cook 8-10 minutes per side, or until done. I actually didn't use a skillet - I used my electric griddle. I still added a bit of oil to the griddle for flavor.

After chicken is done, combine onion, lime juice salt and pepper into a medium bowl.

Serve chicken topped with salsa.

I served mine with just a simple salad. I tossed some red onion into the salad since I had extra, then I added some cheddar cheese and cool ranch dressing to help cool down the heat from the cayenne. It was a yummy meal!

Turkey Meatloaf

This is not the recipe I had planned on posting today, but unfortunately my husband ran off with my camera this morning so I had to improvise. But since I like to be prepared for events such as this I had something waiting in the wings to step in and be the star for today. It's simple, easy, low fat, and of course, delicious!


Turkey Meatloaf

1 lb ground turkey (can use ground beef and it's just as yummy)
1 egg, beaten
1/2 box stuffing mix (any flavor)
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. bbq sauce (any flavor)
You may add spices if desired. Sometimes I will throw in some garlic, red pepper, onion salt and a dash of chili powder.




Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl.



Spread a little extra bbq sauce on top.



Bake at 375 for 45 minutes, in loaf pan sprayed with cooking spray.

For easier cleanup: line your loaf pan with foil before spraying with cooking spray.
Variation: Form mini-meatloaves in a muffin tin and fill them with mashed potatoes.

Learn Something New - Avocados

Avocados are one of my most favorite things. They are so creamy and yummy. Choosing a ripe one and learning how to cut them is really simple. What you want to look for at the store is a nice dark, even color. Then feel it - you want it to have some give to it as you gently press on it with your thumb. Be careful not to get one with too much give because that'll mean it's overly ripe and will be all brown on the inside. You want it slightly firm still.

How firm you want it depends on when you're planning to use it. If you get one that's still rock hard, expect it to take around 4 days for it to ripen. If I'm using one towards the end of my weekly menu, I'll buy it a bit more firm. The squishier your avocado is, the sooner you'll want to use it. There's not too much of a grace period for when they go bad and brown.

Don't go by the "ripe" stickers they have on them at the stores either. I've found the ones they have stickered aren't perfectly ripe, or even close to perfectly ripe. They're either too ripe or still days away from being ripe. Maybe you have smarter employees working at your local grocery store. Hopefully you do.

Now, cutting the avocado. Easy. Start by cutting it in half around the pit. Ahh, look at the color on that baby. Perfection.

Now take your sharp knife and give the pit a firm whack. Your knife will get stuck - that's what you want.

If your avocado is ripe, you will be able to pull the pit right out. You might have to wiggle it a bit, but it should come out very easily.

There are 2 ways you can cut the flesh of the avocado. Some people keep the flesh inside the avocado, make dices in it with their knife and then scoop out the already-diced pieces with a spoon. I don't like that way because my diced pieces tend to get mushed as I'm trying to scoop them out. So I just take a spoon and run it along the outside, in between the flesh and the skin.

Then I put the whole flesh onto my cutting board and slice it. See, easy! Stay tuned for Thursday's recipe, where you will be able to put your new avocado skills to the test!

Pork Chop Casserole

This was always my favorite dinner growing up. It is so creamy and delicious, my ultimate comfort food. Of course, it still tastes better when my mom makes it :) I hope you will enjoy it as much as I always have. And what makes it even better... it's super easy to make!

Ingredients:

3-4 Pork chops
3-4 potatoes
1 can cream of mushroom soup
3/4 c. milk
shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

Butter a 1.5-2 quart casserole dish.


Slice your potatoes into the dish.



Meanwhile, brown the pork chops in a skillet.

Place browned chops on top of potatoes.



Mix milk into soup and pour over the pork chops.



Top with shredded cheese.

Cover and bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours.

Goes great with cooked peas or a beautiful green salad!

You’re The Inspiration

Thank God inspiration didn't wait for me. Had it done so, I'd probably still be trying to ward off the person holding the knife.

I wasn't trying to be inspired. I was trying to survive - literally trying to spare my own life. I knew if I didn't hold the door closed then the knife in the hands of the other person would be slashing at my flesh.

Trapped in the back room of the house, nowhere else to run, all my weight pressed against wood, knowing the other person wouldn't give up. That was when it happened.

Inspiration intervened.

'Put your coat on and let them in,' a small voice inside me whispered.

I looked at my coat hanging on the peg, a big thick skiing jacket. Would it protect me?

Maybe.

I unhooked it as I rested as much of my weight as I could against the door. Slipping it over my shoulders the small voice continued. 'Now let them in a bit at a time. A crack in the door at first, then let it open. When you feel it's right, pull them inside.'

It sounded bizarre to me, to allow someone attacking me to come beyond the piece of wood separating us, but that's exactly what I did, disarming them and then holding them until it was safe to let go.

You could argue that the small voice in my mind was the voice of common sense. You might call it intuition, spirit guides, God, or just plain crazy!

I've come to think of it as the voice of inspiration. Back then the voice of inspiration came as a surprise. Today, it's more of a friend.

The example I've given you may have saved my life, but since then it's helped me build and shape my life.

As I said at the beginning, 'Thank God inspiration didn't wait for me,' because I don't think I've necessarily been good at preparing to hear it's wise voice.

Yet inspiration has been with me, nudging, suggesting and playing around until I follow it's wisdom, change my reality and look back and laugh at myself for not following it's guiding force sooner.

Once a man wanted to win the lottery. For weeks he prayed to God and each week when his win failed to materialize, he complained during his prayers.

Then one day God came down and spoke to him. 'Meet me half way,' God's voice boomed. 'At the very least, buy a ticket!!'

And I think this is a little like what Edison meant when he said, 'Genius is 5% inspiration and 95% perspiration.'

Inspiration is just the thought, the idea, the guidance. Perspiration is the practical application, the grounding, the making it happen. And when we get this part right, who knows what great things we can create.

Today’s exercise

1. Go about life

2. Notice what goes on outside you

3. Notice what goes on inside you

With Love and good wishes

Neil

CommunitySoul takes the holistic approach to life. At it's core lies the commitment to individual's personal development and growth. Best-selling authors, top life coaches and experts contribute. Join the FREE newsletter http://www.communitysoul.co.uk

The Practicalities of Altered Attitude and Positive Thinking

It would appear positive thinking and Attention Deficit Disorder have absolutely nothing to do with each other.

Many people with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) seem easily to develop negative thinking patterns this is brought about by being frustrated by challenges and having the frequent feeling of being overwhelmed, which inevitably leads to a negative outlook and can make it harder for them to manage the challenges and go forward.

The solution is practicing positive thinking, which allows people with ADD to focus on their strengths and accomplishments, therefore increasing their happiness and motivation.

This, in turn, will allow them to spend more time making progress, and less time feeling down, depressed and stuck. The following tips provide practical suggestions that you can use to help you shift into more positive thinking patterns:

1. Keep A Thankful Attitude Constantly remind yourself about the all the good things you have our in your life. Take a few minutes out in the day and stop what you are doing and be grateful for the smallest of good things in your world. This can make a tremendous difference

2. Staying In Trim Will Bring On Positivism. Your thinking is truly affected by your physical status take regular exercise, eat well and get plenty of rest. This will help you to stay positive.

3. Mind what you say. Do not use absolutes. Have you ever told a friend or better half "You're always late!" or complain to a member of your family "You never come to see me!" Using absolutes like 'always' and 'never' in your thinking and speaking will always make the situation seem twice as bad as it really is. This will condition your mind into believing that these people will always let you down and are incapable of delivering.

4. Automatic Negative Thoughts. Automatic Negative Thoughts are bad thoughts that are usually reactionary like, "He /she is laughing, they must be talking about me," or "I've been called into the office? It must be bad!" When you notice these thoughts, realize that they are nothing more than Automatic Negative Thoughts ANT'S and squash them!

5. Always keep the thought positive. You have complete control over your thoughts. If you find yourself having negative thoughts make a conscious effort to stop them immediately, acknowledge you are having them and change them instantly.

6. Become More Tactile In this high tech western world we have become more isolated and tend to insulate ourselves from physical contact with other people. I'm sure I don't have to tell you about the benefits of a good hug. An instant pick-me-up can be achieved by positive physical contact.

The practice of Lovin', Touchin' & Squeezin' friends, loved ones, and even pets can instantly change how you feel for the better and so change your thinking and inevitably change your actions and therefore your day. One research study on this subject had a waitress touch some of her customers on the arm as she handed them their checks. She received higher tips from these customers than from the ones she didn't touch!

7. Throw Away Ungrounded Fears Low self esteem or the fear of not being liked or accepted can lead us to believe we know what others are thinking, but these fears are usually not real. We can develop a fear that a friend or family member's bad mood is a result of something we said or have done.

The fear that colleagues at work or neighbours are secretly gossiping behind our back can be very real for some people. The solution is to speak up and ask them. Don't be afraid and waste valuable time and sleepless nights worrying that you did something wrong, unless you have proof that there is something to worry about.

8. More Social Activity Getting yourself out and about will decrease any feelings of loneliness by interacting with happy, healthy and energetic people, this will affect you in a positive way and keep you in a active doing mode..

9. Only What You Give Away Can You Keep By volunteering your time, your money, or your resources to voluntary organizations, or just helping another person will make you feel extremely good. The more positive energy you put out into the world, the more you will receive in return.

There are many people who seem to work well even under pressure but in reality they are truly in a minority. We must not forget that we are all human and imperfect and to letting things like stress get under our skins won't solve any off our problems.

Go forward and use these proven practical suggestions and develop positive thinking, which in turn will give you positive attitude followed by positive actions creating positive results.

Barry Share is the Founder and Editorial Director of "The New Lifestyle Programme" Where you can get your copy of the amazing..." "Design for your Success" a 7 step plan to achieving wealth health and happiness... => http://newlifestylepro.com