tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66133591418452702842024-03-04T23:07:59.850-08:00How to Destress Yourself Welcome! Destress Yourself is about connecting to God, relieving strain from human conditioning, and leveling up via spiritual expansion. Even if you don't believe in God, you may believe in confidence, and inner peace, the opposite of stress. Please know, these are my own opinions from personal and professional education, evidence and experience. My opinions about behavior and conditioning! That's My Disclaimer! The information here is not substitute for professional advice!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger315125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-67634807734823161942023-10-29T15:15:00.002-07:002023-10-30T13:32:28.755-07:00My Favorite Question!<p><span style="font-size: large;">Hello dear friend!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's been a while since I've posted, nearly a year. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Nevertheless, I pray you are doing wonderful!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Whenever I get a chance to sit with an individual, I love to ask them my favorite question, which is, what is the most important thing that you have learned in all of your years of living thus far? This question leads to deep enlightening conversations.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The youth tend to have remarkable answers but my favorite answer is always the one given to me by the person answering it because it tells their unique brilliance. Every single person has a brilliance that is unique to their living this life thus far.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What is the most important thing that you have learned in all of your years of living thus far? Have you ever thought about it? Is it an easy question to answer? Or, are you still contemplating?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The most important thing that I have learned in all of my fifty-nine years of living is, God is real. God is so very real, and I know it because of the evidence from experiences. I've actually tested His promises in spiritual experiments with others and myself.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Successful people I've</span><span style="font-size: large;"> observed</span><span style="font-size: large;"> live the laws of God, whether they say they believe in Him or not. What I mean by success is those individuals that live the life they love. The success is displayed in happiness, health, love, and wealth. My entire research practice proves the laws of God lead to success. What do you think about that?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I've always known God is real in a hopeful wanting way and I've always wanted solid proof. The evidence was occasional until I began experimenting with specific spiritual promises and tests. Verification is also displayed with those who live the laws.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It is a lovely thing to see evidence of God in the life you are living. It is magnificent to witness the power of what one knows to be real and the most important thing learned in living life thus far.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm pretty confident the younger me would argue with, or at least debate about, some of the information I have just presented. But, the younger me did not have education, and experiences that the now me has. This is the precise reason I never argue or debate a person's answer to my favorite question. Rather, I learn, and lift, by listening with love to understand. This behavior falls under the law of love, and leads to understanding and wisdom.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Do you know the first and great commandment and law? The two great commandments hang all the law and the prophets and are the pathways to understanding the truth inside anyone's answer to my favorite question. What do you think about that? Bit of a riddle isn't it?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Just sending my thoughts of faith, love, and trust out into the universe.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Take good care my friend...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Speak soon...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">E<br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-49347868483280807602023-01-29T12:57:00.003-08:002023-01-29T12:57:55.590-08:00I'm Learning to Lift Myself by Learning...<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br />Hello... Happy New Year! Hope I'm not too late to wish you well for 2023. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Do you have any resolutions? I do, and I'd like to share it with you today.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DNck9ahSmRKRb_tJJNZ7UeYcRnVlSwdhIei5mBa5OfK1kYSNuYVBtEYVuhUZdR-jLneY-XKsvvxxrnY5NZOuxdi21KfDIEhg1luvh3tf77MlN0f57KB8c-pBxnvvuXTh7SrVW01QCvIjHqjai-W-P_fpdcKmPNXmzPpe91UClxYIOMUaRBSziroc/s4160/IMG_20220311_183953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="3120" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DNck9ahSmRKRb_tJJNZ7UeYcRnVlSwdhIei5mBa5OfK1kYSNuYVBtEYVuhUZdR-jLneY-XKsvvxxrnY5NZOuxdi21KfDIEhg1luvh3tf77MlN0f57KB8c-pBxnvvuXTh7SrVW01QCvIjHqjai-W-P_fpdcKmPNXmzPpe91UClxYIOMUaRBSziroc/w200-h176/IMG_20220311_183953.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The other day, I was greeted by a colleague I hadn't seen in a while, maybe a year or so. This gentleman's occupation is similar to mine, and he has been involved for about three years. I did what he did for two years, advanced to where I am now and have been participating in my particular placement for four years.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">He began his conversation as though to ask my advice. When I started to explain the answer to what seemed to be his question, he interrupted me with complaints and criticisms. Then, it took a bit, but I shut up and listened.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">That is my New Year's Resolution, to shut up and listen. I intend to learn and lift by listening with love to understand.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">What I discovered with my not so new found dominant intent is that even though people ask for advice, sometimes they just want to vent and feel understood. To help anyone with this, I must shut up and listen. Not an easy task for me because I do not believe in blaming, complaining, or criticizing. This is an exquisite focus on the negative, which causes stress.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Human conditioning has convinced many people, including me in my younger years, that blaming, complaining, and criticizing are absolutely necessary. This is not only a contradiction to the teachings of Christ; it is a confusion that blocks us from living by the spirit, which relieves stress.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Living by the spirit takes exquisite focus on the affirmative, the light, and love, which are all teachings of Christ. Sometimes I want to claim this from the rooftops, and that is why it is not necessarily easy for me to shut up and listen. But, in the conversation I mentioned above, after a bit of resistance on my part, I did! I shut my mouth, learned, and lifted by listening with love to understand.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">My resolution is all a part of the endeavor to behave as I believe. Being a doer of God's word and work.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." ~James 1:22, New Testament, Holy Bible, KJV</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I'm learning, and it feels terrific to rejoice in remembering because sometimes I forget. This is another thing I am working on. I rejoice in the remembering and do not beat myself up for forgetting. This habit allows me to lift and love myself, which is all about me destressing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I'm just putting my thoughts of love out into the Universe.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">God bless you, my dear reader. God is blessing you, and if you do not believe me try focusing on the benefits and blessings in your life. I know you will discover that it is part of the path to a stress-free life.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Happy Happy New Year! Thank you for hanging out with me, even if it was just to read my words to the Universe.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Big Hugs Always!!!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/leveling-up.html" target="_blank">Elizabeth</a> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">If you love what you read here, you may find my books by clicking, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Elizabeth-Stanfill/author/B00BBXMAYE" target="_blank">books by Elizabeth Stanfill</a>.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-31125352156205977462022-11-23T15:00:00.008-08:002022-11-23T15:00:00.187-08:00How to Destress Yourself for Thanksgiving!<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Happy Thanksgiving, y'all! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">How ya doing? Hoping and praying that you are alright. That you have love in your heart and joy in your soul!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I wrote this post eleven years ago, and it shows me how infant I was in my destressing phase. The words in red are what I wrote. Silly, I know, but those who read my blog are on the journey to destress with me, which is super cool. I appreciate and love you so very much. I also wonder how far you have come in your destressing along your life. It would be pretty cool to know.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I am reposting this because so many families conjure up drama about somebody or someone in the family or friends circle that will show up for Thanksgiving. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">How do we destress for Thanksgiving? Drop the fricken drama.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">When I was a little girl, we always went to my Grandma's house for Thanksgiving, and there was zero drama and zero stress. As I got older and my Grandma passed away, we'd have Thanksgiving at different places. Occasionally there was theatrics, and sometimes there were not! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I would like to say I refuse to participate in adolescence, but periodically I'd get sucked into it by telling a person to not dramatize. I've learned to not say anything anymore because that person would always get angry and create more disruption because how dare I! LOL! I consider that my fault and I don't do it anymore. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I certainly am grateful that I do not have to spend the holidays with dramatic people, LOL... But if I do, I try to ignore it and focus on the good. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">My humble opinion about chilling out on Thanksgiving is precisely what I was trying to say in my words below.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Anywho...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Here I go, back in time...</span></p><p><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">How to destress yourself for Thanksgiving.</span></p><p><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">So, how do you destress yourself for Thanksgiving? </span></p><p><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">First, have fun and be playful. </span></p><p><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Second, enjoy the food and indulge! Do not get mad at yourself or talk negatively about how much you overate and will be fat forever! News flash! Thanksgiving is about eating some seriously delicious creations of food and dessert and giving thanks. </span></p><p><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Third, enjoy the company. Listen in your conversations. Do not think about anything negative, be grateful for the person's good and that they are in your life. </span></p><p><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Fourth, take a nap after you get really full. I love this one. As a matter of fact, it is my favorite. </span></p><p><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Fifth, don't worry, be happy. Leave your stress outside of your mind and enjoy the people you are with and the place you are at. </span></p><p><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">There! </span></p><p><span style="color: red; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Happy Thanksgiving! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Ha Ha Ha! Those are just reminders. You may not need them, but maybe you may. Destressing is all about the exquisite focus on the affirmative. Appreciation is the truth, especially on Thanksgiving.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Take care...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Speak soon...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/leveling-up.html" target="_blank">Elizabeth Stanfill</a> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">If you love what you read here, you may find my books by clicking, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Stanfill/e/B00BBXMAYE" target="_blank">books by Elizabeth Stanfill</a>.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-17744630416469327172022-11-08T09:55:00.004-08:002022-11-08T10:02:38.817-08:00Destress Yourself by Knowing<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"> Hello, my friend! How are you doing these days? I'm hoping and praying you are doing okay.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It's been a while since I posted, and I wanted to share my experience and thoughts.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The other day, I talked to someone who lost her son earlier this year. She said, "anything else that happens to me is nothing. I know I can handle anything that comes my way because losing my son was the worst, and I survived." In other words, she handled it and now knows she can handle any other challenges. She is aware that she will be alright.<br /><br />One of the reasons we become so stressed and overwhelmed when something happens to us is we believe that we will not deal with the particular situation or think we will not be okay. Our own history tells us that this is not true. If we look back at all the difficulties that we have been through, we can see that we survived.<br /><br />One of the most incredible things we can do for ourselves when we become overwhelmed and stressed is to convince ourselves that everything will be alright because it always is.<br /><br />Another awesome thing we can do for ourselves is learning the habit of calm and confidence. We can be relaxed and confident whenever we have a stressful situation by knowing everything will be fine. The ability to do this is a very successful practice that can eliminate the stressful habit of panic.<br /><br />I can hear you now, "easier said than done, Elizabeth." This may be true; practice makes perfect. Therefore, the hard part is the practice.</span></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My Dad passed away a year ago and is one of my best friends. I say "is,' because I believe he is still alive in the spirit. We are eternal beings having a human experience. I resonate with what the woman who lost her son is saying. I've had a few devastations in my life, and I know enough that I am getting better and better at handling them. It's about appreciation, faith, love, patience, and trust. Those are the lessons of life.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The holidays are the hardest for those who miss loved ones who have gone beyond the veil. If you are like me and will miss the ones you love during the holidays, I want to lovingly encourage you to practice knowing you are alright and doing great now. <br /><br />Your mission, should you accept it, is to persuade yourself that everything will be alright and develop a habit of calm and confidence when facing adverse emotions. Remembering appreciation for what you have, faith in life, love for yourself, patience with others, and trust in God is the practice and the truth.<br /><br />Until the next post, don't forget there are no things you cannot handle.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/leveling-up.html" target="_blank">Elizabeth Stanfill</a></span></span></span><div><span style="color: blue; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: blue; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">If you love what you read here, you may find my books on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Stanfill/e/B00BBXMAYE" target="_blank">how to destress yourself by clicking here</a>.<br /></span></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-9896364507599003232022-07-04T12:52:00.007-07:002022-09-05T18:58:36.480-07:00Three Ways to Destress Right Now<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hello! Happy Fourth of July!<br /></span></h2><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjHZf1K_bxnsTy9jDz5Pc5c06GE9T9Md3r4NCX2BUedeobSkPrNOAKFUzK5I-kGuwAPuQY-vaho3Awzi1feNhSXsTi7N6FUNe4tFSha_cu0l1UgO4peqWb5qy1RreivvYQjZ9pRwyxXQwMgsZfN4fU1fTB7HVeG3XUuhxjgpspJ21ZYtB84-qLM20/s1600/beach%20088.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjHZf1K_bxnsTy9jDz5Pc5c06GE9T9Md3r4NCX2BUedeobSkPrNOAKFUzK5I-kGuwAPuQY-vaho3Awzi1feNhSXsTi7N6FUNe4tFSha_cu0l1UgO4peqWb5qy1RreivvYQjZ9pRwyxXQwMgsZfN4fU1fTB7HVeG3XUuhxjgpspJ21ZYtB84-qLM20/w400-h300/beach%20088.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">It's been a while since I've posted, and the only thing I can say is... please forgive me. I'm doing my best. I'm convinced we are all doing our best. Nevertheless, I'm ever praying for your and my guidance and inspiration from the divine. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">How are you doing, my friend? Summer is here, and I hope with all my heart and soul that you are alright and that you can enjoy this wonderful season. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you cannot enjoy this time in your life, may I please suggest three things you may try to destress right now?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">To destress is to remove your life's emotional, mental, and physical strain. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you are good at stressing out, you may have had a lot of practice. Therefore, it is time to practice destressing so you may get really good at destressing yourself.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So, here are the three ways to destress right now:</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Number One... Releasing your stress by taking a deep breath and activating the relaxation response.</span></h3><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This may seem cliche and downright irritating but please, let me explain. When anyone is in the middle of deep stress like anger or anxiety, that person may want to fight or flee. Meaning reacting without thinking, which is the physiological stress response. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you are being chased by someone trying to kill you, the stress response is there to help you. However, if you are not being chased by anyone and are reacting to something out of pure, "I do not want this to happen, it is making me afraid, and I won't be okay," you, quite possibly, may have a stressful personality.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you are stressed regularly, interrupting that stress with a deep breath can help change your attitude and beliefs about life. If you don't believe it, I would at least give it a go for a couple months and see what happens. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A deep breathing exercise can activate a relaxation response which is the opposite of the stress response. It's about replacing stress with relaxation.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Side note...</span></h3><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When people discover that I research and teach destressing individuals, they often ask me the best way to relieve anxiety and stress. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Some people can hear the theory that continued application of behavior makes permanent. Practicing anxiety, fear in the moment and future, or practicing relaxation, aka faith in the moment and future, can and will create perfect permanence. Whichever an individual chooses to exercise can and will become a habit.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Despite this theory of application, many people who ask for relief get furious at the words I provide, as though there is no way practicing will help. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I suspect these individuals believe that relieving anxiety by relaxing was the answer and that easy; they'd have done it ages ago. The truth is, it is not easy. Relaxing is rather basic and fundamental but not easy.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If a person desires to relieve stress, applying this regularly, particularly when stressed, will create more and more relief. The relief may not come immediately, especially if a person has exercised doubt, fear, and/or worry for a long time. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Praying my prelude has persuaded you to practice yourself destressing with the relaxation response. </span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The deep breath relaxation response:</span></h3><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Consciously take a slow deep breath in through your nose, filling your lungs to total capacity as you feel the pressure of your lungs push down on your diaphragm (the primary muscle below the lungs). Hold for a few seconds acknowledging the influence, and then slowly exhale through your mouth. As you slowly exhale, imagine your stressful situation being exhaled with your breath and taken away by the wind. Then allow your entire body to give way to gravity and relax.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If stress comes from our thoughts about a situation, and it often does, decreasing stress can be as simple as using our creative and critical imagination skills. Our imagination gets us into deep anxiety by doubt, fear, and worry of the mind, which is sometimes practiced into perfection, and permanence. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">You may say this is the silliest exercise I have ever heard of. Despite that, it is one of the most successful in relieving many peoples' stress, including mine. Many years ago, I used to be one stressed-out Single Mama. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If an individual commits to experiment with this for at least one month, preferably a year, I am confident he or she will see desired results in the area of calm confidence.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This exercise also benefits many of the individuals I have had the blessing to assist with overcoming critical stress and despair.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">You can do this deep breathing exercise anytime and anywhere, especially in times of having to wait. It's a great way to practice patience. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." ~James 1:3, Holy Bible, New Testament, KJV</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Faith and patience are calm, confident, and relaxed; fear and impatience are anger, anxiety, and stress.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Number two... Go for a ten-minute walk.</span></h3><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is a magnificent way to relieve stress, but there is more to it than walking away. If a person goes for a walk and plays the strain in his or her mind repeatedly, he or she will practice stress. This is a no-no!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The ten-minute walk can and will minimize stress if the person intentionally centers his or her attention on the best thoughts he or she could have at this moment. What are the best ideas? They are either appreciation or desire.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you are stressed and go for a ten-minute walk, you could ask yourself, "what is good about this situation that I can be grateful for?" Or, "what do I want to happen?" </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">You may be familiar with these methods of shifting your mind to a more faithful focus, or you may think this ridiculous. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Either way, could you imagine the habit of governing your focus after putting one of these options into permanent practice? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Do you know those people whose lives seem to be perfect? It's because they focus on appreciation and desire. That is what makes them so positive. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Nobody's life is perfect or exempt from devastation. Regardless, everyone is given the perfect law of liberty to be free to choose how he or she will think about any given thing. We can choose faith or fear. Faith or fear is just a thought away. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you find this too tricky, and some people do, you could do the first exercise, practicing relaxation, while you go for your ten-minute walk.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If I may say something with all the love in my heart, I have a prayer you can and will see the truth rather than be hurt because some people are hurt by these words. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Some people are convinced of the human conditioning of fear and believe with all their might that we have to be afraid of the future and that we have to be angry or anxious. In my consideration, from experience, this is false. We don't have to be fearful. We are spiritual beings born with the fruit of the spirit, which is our spiritual nature.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, and faith." Galatians 5:22, Holy Bible, New Testament, KJV</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Human conditioning teaches us and convinces some that we have to hate, have misery, have conflict, be impatient, be malicious, be harmful, and fear, which are all opposites of the biblical quote above.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We can choose whether we live by our spiritual nature or human conditioning via application and practice.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Number three... Call your best friend, vent, and let it go!</span></h3><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is brilliant, but there are guidelines: to tell the story in less than fifteen minutes and then let it go! Let it go!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">People who have the habit of letting it go are much happier than those who wallow in it for days and sometimes years. You know what I'm talking about!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you tell the stressful story repeatedly, you relive it, get momentum on your stress, and then practice focusing on the negativity into perfection.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Do you know people are telling the same stressful story a day later, a month later, a year later, five years later, and/or even ten to fifteen years later? Some people think this is normal, but the only thing it is is stressful. Reliving one's strain makes a person crazy, and I'm not talking about a good crazy. I'm talking about the kind of crazy repellent to opportunities and people. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I am so sorry if you find my words harsh and unkind. It's not my intention to hurt but to be a healing help. Still, to heal, we must seek the truth. The truth is anyone can let anything go, and it's a healthy habit.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Let it go!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Capeesh!?!</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In conclusion... </span></h3><p><span style="font-size: medium;">You could do all three ways to destress right now, all at once, by going for a ten-minute walk, calling your best friend to vent, and then taking a deep breath, letting it go with relaxation and release.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Perfected permanence comes by practice.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Quick story...</span></h3><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Once upon a time, a twenty-one-year-old man asked me if I was nervous because I was about to do something that would make ordinary people nervous (more specifics in another post ~wink~). My reply to him was a resounding, "No!"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Through a very sarcastic tone, this young man said to me, "Oh, you're not human? You're not normal? You have superpowers?"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Without thinking, I laughed out loud. I found the man's behavior towards me hilarious. Definitely not the kindest reaction. I'm sorry, I'm imperfect.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The exercises I present to you above are habits for me. These acts are the skill sets I've developed by desire because I believe in long-term satisfaction over short-term gratification. These abilities I have applied through many years of living have given me respite from a very conditioned, pressured personality. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I've changed my living for the better on purpose.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My words to the young man were, "When you get to my lovely age, you will hope to get over nervousness and stress, or you may have to live on antacids."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In fact, I know twenty-one year old's who live on antacids and stomach medications, and I also know they could eliminate the medicines if they learned to manage their stress. Stress is the number one cause of every illness.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Health is spiritual; health comes from faith. Illness is human conditioning and comes from fear. When we fear, toxic hormones are released into our body and become an internal poisonous bath.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">But, please, do not believe me! See for yourself by practicing destressing yourself. It's a spiritual experiment and journey.</span><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">That's my ramble...</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I got nothing but love for you and this universe!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">My one rule... to love!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Big Fat Hugs...</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/leveling-up.html" target="_blank">Elizabeth Stanfill</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">If you love what you read here, you may find my books by clicking, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Stanfill/e/B00BBXMAYE" target="_blank">books by Elizabeth Stanfill</a>.</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-64147621050595698192021-05-01T14:24:00.006-07:002021-05-01T14:27:45.967-07:00Why do we Suffer?<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Hello my dear reader!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">How are you doing these days? Praying you are <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2021/04/how-to-destress-your-stress.html" target="_blank">Destressing Your Stress</a>!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Please forgive me for not posting much. I have been doing the Lord's work as best I know how and I'm not necessarily guided to blog for some reason. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm learning more and more each day that God is, in fact, in charge and I am practicing faith, patience, and trust. I've come a long way from my adolescence to enlightenment, and I continue to teeter back and forth. At least I'm teetering on the enlightenment side much more than I use to.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So much to learn about spiritual nature in this life of human conditioning. So much to be grateful for and delicate about with others. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm learning and learning.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm lifting and lifting.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm listening and listening.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm loving and loving.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm trying my hardest to live in the Christlike life, and with application and practice, I believe I'm getting better.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I found this draft of a post I wrote two years ago and don't think I ever published it. And if I did, I do not remember. Although, I do write similar posts with repetitive repetition. ~wink~</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyways, I thought I'd post it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here it is...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I would like to discuss why we suffer for just a moment today.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">How are you doing? Are you alright? It is my hope and my prayer that you, my dear sweet friend, are enjoying life.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Last night I had a dream God was telling me the most important things are charity, compassion, love, and understanding.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">That was the entire dream, nothing more and nothing less. It's strange but, I've had about a dozen dreams in the past couple years of God talking to me.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It is my belief this dream is the key to our suffering...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Do you know I believe that I suffered much in my past? I do not talk about it because suffering is not my focus. Happiness, joy, and vitality are my focus.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Nevertheless, let me share a little glimpse of my struggles with you to give you an idea of why I am where I am in life.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I grew up with all brothers, and I've worked with all men for my entire adult life. My brothers, although very kind, were very tough on me. One of my brothers tried, in my opinion, to kill me twice when I was very young. I had no choice but to learn to toughen up and protect myself. This toughening up prepared me for my career.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When I was a young EMT (Emergency Medical Technician), I was the only female amongst about two hundred and fifty men. I think at the time there may have been one or two females that were part time. My first partner I ever had was extremely verbally abusive to me, and in my first year I was verbally and sexually harassed on more than a few occasions.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Within that first year I was strong enough to speak up, and after investigations some men were terminated. Due to rumors, because not everyone knew the facts, sometimes my work environment was made worse for me. There were quite a few men that made work very difficult for me. Although, I must mention, many of the men I worked with really lifted me with kindness, and most likely aware of what I was going through.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Another struggle I endured within my career was I had five friends die. Also, I was a single Mother, all the while attending and studying for graduate and undergraduate school, and I suffered from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Amid all of this living, I was trying my hardest to manage my ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) which probably was the source of my suicidal ideations I had for probably greater than the first half of my life. Frequently, I could not focus or sit still, and it gave me great anger, anxiety, and depression.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">All of that is just a fraction of what I went through, not to mention the heartache of raising a teenage boy, which quite possibly was the hardest part because we sometimes fought and it made me feel more horrible than anything else because of the great love I have for him.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Although this is but a glimpse of my challenges, I find it important to disclaim I don't normally discuss the bad because I know that it brings people down, and tends to bring back a bit of negative emotions for me. Many people believe it is necessary to discuss the difficulties in life but it just makes us relive our challenges, which keeps us in</span><span> </span><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2019/01/releasing-negative-emotions.html" target="_blank">negative emotions</a><span> </span><span>that DO NOT belong to us.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I have learned to love myself enough to focus on the affirmative, which happens to be Jesus Christ, the light of this world. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The reason I share this is because all of my adversity has lead me to the amazingly, awesome life I have now. My appreciation for others and myself is too large for words. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Without my challenges, there is no way I could have such gratitude for my life.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It is my humble opinion that we suffer so that we may learn from human experience that we are spiritual beings. It is my belief that if we did not have a hard time we may never turn to God and discover the power of faith to over come fear, aka the negative.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>If we are angry, anxious, or depressed it is quite literally our purpose to</span><span> </span><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2019/01/connecting-to-god.html" target="_blank">connect to God</a><span>, and overcome these afflictions so that we may have immense joy.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>When we</span><span> </span><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2019/01/releasing-negative-emotions.html" target="_blank">release these negative emotions</a><span> </span><span>that do not belong to us, we may have happiness, joy, and vitality for life. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Then! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Then! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Then! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We may be an example to others and lift them up so that they can, and will experience elation too. That is our purpose! That is the purpose for our suffering, so that we may turn to and connect to God, discover He is real, and know joy so we may lift others up too. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It is possible to be lifted to a level of eagerness and excitement for this life, and be the example so others can and will experience this too.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Just like the kindness given to me that lifted me in times of hardship, by the men in my occupation, when I was suffering such anguish, we can be there for another.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We are all in this together!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Back to my dream...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It is so very important to have charity, compassion, love, and understanding for others but first we must have these behaviors for ourselves. These are the keys to healing. These are the truths to overcoming our difficulties.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>The sufferings are the negative emotions, and the remedies come from</span><span> </span><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2019/01/connecting-to-god.html" target="_blank">connecting to God</a><span>, which is connecting to love by creating behaviors from beliefs of charity, compassion, love, and understanding. It all starts with the self. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It is my prayer that you, my dear sweet brother/sister, my dear wonderful friend, will thoughtfully connect to God and practice more habits of charity, compassion, love, and understanding for yourself, and that it will become a habit of immense joy, which will relieve all negative emotions.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our suffering is for our spiritual expansion.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our suffering is to turn to God, and find out how real He is.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our suffering is a big part of our purpose. It is our purpose to find out we can seek, and find relief by desire. The human conditioning gives us fear by default, and we can, and will discover we have the free will to choose what we desire.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The lesson is ALWAYS faith, patience, and trust. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The homework is ALWAYS application, practice, and repetition.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">That is all...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Except...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I love you... of course ~wink~</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Speak soon...</span></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Stanfill/e/B00BBXMAYE/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">Elizabeth</span></a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-69293089856292736032021-04-01T03:30:00.043-07:002022-11-11T18:23:23.862-08:00How to Destress Your Stress<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">How to destress your stress is what I would like to blog about this day.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hello, my dear reader...</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is an older post from February 2015 that I came across and decided to edit and repost.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Forgive me for not blogging for the last two months. I've been in training. Spiritual training, that is.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I've been reading up on and researching the science of God, basically scientists explaining God, and I have been doing spiritual experiments that have shown me I am learning to crawl into my spirituality.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It might sound crazy, but I have had more dreams, guidance, and inspiration than ever. At this particular time, because I am so infantile in my learning, I am not ready to report and share with the world yet.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Therefore, I am not sure what to write about. Nevertheless, I've been searching my mind and reading my old posts in search of direction to give to anyone seeking it.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I do not want to boast; I do, however, want you to know that I have over one hundred readers a day, and with that, I want to be here for anyone who needs it. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We all are brothers and sisters in this world. I believe that with all my heart and soul. We are our Heavenly Father's spiritual children, and our purpose, whether we know it or not, is to help and lift one another. That is the fruit of the spirit and who we really are.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">With that said...</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is the post...</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Are you enjoying life?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Are you having a good time?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Are you having a hard time?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Are you having a hard time financially?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Are you having a hard time emotionally?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Are you having a hard time enjoying life?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Do you have a hard time sleeping?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Are you having a hard time with your relationships?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What if I told you that when we are having a hard time doing anything, we are stressed?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What if I told you I could point you in the direction of relieving stressful times?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What if I told you that doing this particular thing every day would destress your stress? Would you do it?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What have you got to lose?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The only thing you have to lose is your stress!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Stress is strain, and strain comes when we have a hard time, whether it be financial, emotional, sleep, or with our relationships.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The purpose of life is to get better and better so that we may have happiness, joy, and vitality.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Do you feel like you are getting better and better at life?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you are getting better and better, then you are aware of how to do it and taking steps to get there.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You might be saying, "Elizabeth! I know how to get better and better, but my circumstances prevent me! I have people around me that are making things difficult. My responsibilities at home are just too overwhelming, and I never have enough money to pay my bills, let alone to do something I enjoy."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Trust me, I totally get what you are saying! </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Devastation and difficult times can be super challenging. I get it, believe me!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When I was a young single Mother, I had to work full time, pay the rent and, eventually, the mortgage, and make sure there was food on the table. I had to be sure my son was not neglected so that it would be easier for him to live his potential while attending college and doing homework.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kid you not; I probably didn't get a full night of sleep for about five years straight, from when my son was eight years old until he was thirteen. That, my friend, was not easy. I was so stressed out, I had anxiety attacks, I cried myself to sleep when I did get sleep, and I felt all alone, I mean really alone.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">To top it off, work was so very hard for me. I was a female EMT among primarily men and had a horrible reputation because I struggled with specific individuals at work.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This girl was mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually exhausted. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank goodness my undergraduate degree was in Behavioral Science, so I began to observe my own behaviors from my beliefs, and this is what I found...</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I was allowing society to not only teach me how to be angry, anxious, and depressed, I let it enable me to be.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Nearly everywhere I turned, people were getting angry, they were anxious, and they had depression because it was more and more the normal thing to do.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another thing was the TV, especially movies and sitcoms, glorifying drama, including irritability, lack of impulse control, and moodiness. It's simply conditioning called entertainment.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This daily and weekly observation of behavior and entertainment became 'normal' to me; it crept into my subconscious mind. Then I was living by habits of default, which is basically being on autopilot.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When I lived by the autopilot of my mind, I was giving up my free agency because I was acting by stressful habit rather than thinking before behaving.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Do you believe you think before you react via habit?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Let's examine this.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If we think rather than react by habit, we must think of faith, hope, and charity. This way of thinking happens to be the pure love of Christ, who was the only perfect person that has ever lived. If we are Christian, we are behaving what we believe, are we not? If we aren't, it may be because we do not think before we react.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Faith, hope, and charity are the opposite of fear, hopelessness, and selfishness.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thoughts of fear create feelings of fear, which is where anxiety comes from.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thoughts of hopelessness create despair, and that is where depression comes from.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If we really think before we act, we know that thoughts of faith, hope, and charity create happiness, energy, and vitality, and that is what we want, right? So if that's what we want, we could intentionally think in a way that creates it.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If we are feeling stressed, i.e., anxious and/or depressed, we could be reacting from a habitual place of the subconscious mind.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What do you think about that? Have you ever considered that?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Better yet, have you ever thought about how to overcome the habitual, subconscious mind?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Please let me tell you about the one thing I talked about earlier that will point an individual toward relieving trying times.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One thing that can help nearly anyone destress is consciously choosing thoughts towards faith, hope, and charity, which will create feelings of faith, hope, and charity.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Why would anyone choose conscious thoughts of faith, hope, and charity?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I choose conscious thoughts of faith, hope, and charity because it gives me happiness, energy, and vitality, and it also gives me calm, confidence, and certainty in life, others, and myself. This is a way of choosing my thoughts and making them into habits. This is leveraging the subconscious mind in my favor by desire.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pretty cool, eh?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Have you considered that for yourself?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wouldn't you enjoy that?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yes? Awesome! Let me tell you how you can obtain it.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You do it through a simple </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G56AqZuUzPk&feature=youtu.be" style="font-family: georgia;" target="_blank">Meditation</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">, which only takes five minutes daily.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's a five-minute </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G56AqZuUzPk&feature=youtu.be" style="font-family: georgia;" target="_blank">meditation</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> that helps an individual practice using their conscious mind, and practice makes it nearly perfect.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I have been </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G56AqZuUzPk&feature=youtu.be" style="font-family: georgia;" target="_blank">meditating</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> for over fifteen years (edit: over twenty-one years now) and teaching </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G56AqZuUzPk&feature=youtu.be" style="font-family: georgia;" target="_blank">meditation</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> for over ten years.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the most effective procedure I have seen.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G56AqZuUzPk&feature=youtu.be" style="font-family: georgia;" target="_blank">Meditation Practice</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> will help an individual evolve the anxious, racing, and worrisome mind into a calm, confident, and quiet mind. I know this is so.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Practice makes nearly perfect; you know that, and I know that because it is a big part of the science of behavior.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">If you have been angry, anxious, or depressed for a long time, especially since childhood, it is very possible that you are nearly perfect at it. The only way to replace this negative emotion is to practice the opposite, and we can do that with </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G56AqZuUzPk&feature=youtu.be" style="font-family: georgia;" target="_blank">meditation</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Try it! As a matter of fact, dedicate yourself to it and just watch yourself teeter into the feelings of security, which is the opposite of feeling stressed.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have witnessed many people who have come out of despair through meditation. Many of these individuals continue to meditate years later, and I am one of them. I shall never stop meditating because it gives me inner peace, which leads to considerable self-control.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is how to destress your stress and help ease and prevent the effects of crisis, despair, and/or devastation.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is also a way to reduce moderate to mild stress and major chronic stress.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Edit to post (March 2021)...</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another way of meditating is conscious concentration and contemplation of a phrase or a word. We are concentrating, contemplating beings, and if we choose our focus consciously, I know we can evolve the doubt, fear, and worry of anything into faith, hope, and charity for ourselves and others.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If one could and would keep the words faith, hope, and charity intentionally at the forefront of his or her mind, thoughts to destress ensue. Try it for at least four days, and see how it can destress your stress. And if you are brave enough, make it a commitment to do it for thirty days.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Consider doing both meditations given above. Practicing calm and quiet by listening to the video and intentionally contemplating the words faith, hope, and charity. This application can cultivate great confidence and faith, which will assist in the prevention and release of stress.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Please understand that I understand the repetition of exercises, phrases, and words in my blog posts. Also, please consider the great part of reconditioning and relearning is repetition. Repetition is the great law of learning. In my humble opinion, this great law of learning is a significant way to relieve strain, stress, and misery, basically destressing yourself.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Never beat yourself up! </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Never give up!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is enduring to the end in creating a spiritual life of energy, joy, and vitality. You cannot go wrong in this way.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is spiritual research via experiments.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Take good care...</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Speak soon...</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/leveling-up.html" target="_blank">Elizabeth Stanfill </a> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you love what you read here, you may find my books by clicking, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Stanfill/e/B00BBXMAYE" target="_blank">books by Elizabeth Stanfill</a>.</span></p>Destress Yourselfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140736692411158062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-27349815053044945192021-01-31T19:17:00.001-08:002022-02-06T14:15:52.715-08:00Breaking Point<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Hey there. How are you? Praying you are alright! This is an old post that I feel guided to repost. It has a few links in it that may help anyone destress.</span></p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Praying for your faith... enjoy...<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAYjTVYZ8k75NyJUBxcHTadqPDGLQx9mkZyoJreMWzKYioUZhX0PAzdCy6tm9bN2DGh0QSwrWOjGCuaUy8Pj_eGTIC-6qPs18Hbd9Q-ln0GFp1rygzHREFMpq0TWVzhW07Ql7nbKKzuCt/s1600/beach+086.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAYjTVYZ8k75NyJUBxcHTadqPDGLQx9mkZyoJreMWzKYioUZhX0PAzdCy6tm9bN2DGh0QSwrWOjGCuaUy8Pj_eGTIC-6qPs18Hbd9Q-ln0GFp1rygzHREFMpq0TWVzhW07Ql7nbKKzuCt/s320/beach+086.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div>Have you ever felt like you were at a breaking point? If you have, you know what it is, and you will know exactly what I am talking about.</span><br /><span><br /></span><span>A breaking point is an emotional, mental, physical, and/or spiritual place where you feel like you just can't take anymore. It is a place you are so overwhelmed you feel like you just want to give up. I have seen this place, I have seen it in my own life, and in many other lives. </span></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Do you feel like this is something you are going through?</span><br /><span><br /></span><span>When a person experiences something like this, it can make'em or break'em. This is a place I have heard hundreds of individuals describe. They say they can't take it anymore, and they feel like they are 'losing it'.</span><br /><span><br /></span><span>The breaking point is usually when an individual feels overburdened and everything is in his or her face. They may think, "What am I going to do?" </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Feels like being submerged in overload. </span><br /><span><br /></span><span>Often, when one is at this point, he or she may be thinking of all the things that are wrong, and about the worst possible outcomes that can happen. This is major fear, and this is major worry that can cause major anxiety.</span><br /><span><br /></span><span>This can be a very critical point in a person's life. This can be a short moment in time, many months, or even longer, of feeling weighed down.</span><br /><span><br /></span><span>Through the years, I have worked with many individuals who were at this point. A couple of the people I have worked with were teenagers, who were in a situation at home that was causing severe anxiety, and/or depression. Some others, I have worked with, had severe financial difficulties, and lost everything tangible. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Additionally, I have worked with people who have been emotionally spent due to loneliness, despair, or frustration.</span><br /><span><br /></span><span>So, if you are at a breaking point, what can you do?</span><br /><span><br /></span><span>I am so very excited that you asked ;0)</span><br /><span><br /></span><span>If you are in a place as described above, the first thing you can do is ask yourself what the heck it is? What is going on for you right now? It may be fear of what might happen and the thought that you will not know how to, or if you can, handle it. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Ask yourself, "What am I afraid of?"</span><br /><span><br /></span><span>After examination, and some possible clarity, it is my most humble opinion the absolute best thing anyone can do is pour one's heart out to God. Talk to Him, and tell Him what you are afraid of, and what your biggest fears are. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Why do you want to do this? </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>You want to do this because you are Heavenly Father's child, and He loves you. You are so very special to Him, and you will feel comfort from this because He wants you to turn to Him so that He can give you comfort.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crisis asks for focus, and that focus is towards God. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When we turn to God in crisis, we can discover God is very real!<br /><span><br /></span><span>After you have turned to Heavenly Father, you will feel comfort.</span><br /><span><br /></span><span>With all my heart, I believe that when we have troubles, I mean really big troubles, it is an opportunity to get closer to God. Part of the reason He gives us trials is so we can learn to lean on Him more frequently.</span><br /><span><br /></span><span>In Romans 12:12, in the Holy Bible, KJV, it says, "<span class="verse"></span>Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;"</span><br /><span><br /></span><span>Rejoicing in hope is being happy for your ambitions, aspirations, and dreams. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Patient in tribulation is willing to endure the thing, or things, that are causing you pain and unhappiness. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Continuing instant in <a href="http://www.destressyourself.com/2011/12/prayer.html" target="_blank">prayer</a> is carrying on and persisting in your conversations with God.</span><br /><span><br /></span><span>Mainly, focus on your dreams, be willing to endure the trial with trust in God, and persist, right now, in your <a href="http://www.destressyourself.com/2011/12/prayer.html" target="_blank">conversations with God</a>.</span><br /><span><br /></span><span>When we are at a breaking point, I truly believe it is very human to do the opposite. To focus on what we don't want, being impatient and fearful, and forgetting to turn to God, is conditioning of the human experience.</span><br /><span><br /></span><span>My friend, my dear reader, if you can find it within, dream big, focus on what you want, be willing to endure your trials with trust, and be constantly in conversation with God.</span><br /><span><br /></span><span>You can do this. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>You got the power. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>You are so very special and you can remind yourself of this in the moment of a breaking point, and the entire time you have the struggle you are going through.</span><br /><span><br /></span><span>Get your <a href="http://www.destressyourself.com/2011/12/my-journey.html" target="_blank">journal</a>, write down all the things you <a href="http://www.destressyourself.com/2011/12/never-ending-goal-setting.html" target="_blank">dream of </a>in your life, and write down all of the evidence, your successes and accomplishments, that remind you that you can have them.</span><br /><span><br /></span><span>And know this... You can handle anything you are going through, you can handle anything that comes your way, and you will manage this because you always have overcome your trials in the past. </span><br /><span><br /></span><span>You are so very capable, you are so very smart, you are so very strong, and you are so very divine. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>The thing is, if you are at a breaking point, you may have just forgot all of your divinity. You are a child of God, and that makes you divine.</span><br /><span><br /></span><span>You can be, do, and have anything your heart desires, believe in this, and believe in yourself. Have faith my friend! </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>God has faith in you! </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>I have faith in you!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Focus on faith in yourself my dear friend, if you feel like you need to!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">God wants you to remember how special you are!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">You are His child!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">God wants us to remember how special everyone is!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Remember how special everyone is because others may be at their breaking point, and we can lift them by loving them.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Big Hugs...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Speak soon...<br /><span><br /></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Stanfill/e/B00BBXMAYE?ref=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000" target="_blank"><span>Elizabeth</span></a><br /></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-16881976579241003512021-01-25T18:08:00.002-08:002022-06-29T16:32:58.861-07:00Destressing Fear<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Hey, hey! How're you doing today?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Destressing fear is what I'd like to consider this day...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I'm praying a special prayer in my heart that you're alright but, if you are not, maybe this post will help you.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I'm not going to ask if you did the exercise in the last post but, if you didn't, and you'd like to, you can by clicking, <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2008/11/destress-yourself-with-heart-full-of.html" target="_blank">Destress Yourself with a Heart Full of Love</a>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">My prayer is that you did it because reaching out to others and lifting by listening is a great way to release emotions of fear, and increase faith. It's a default factor in the human existence. We cannot fear and faith at the same time. Therefore, feeling good, and feeling faith, relieves feeling fear. Cool, wouldn't you say?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Nevertheless, I did the exercise, and it felt really, really great! I was literally on top of the world, feeling so good inside, I had to cry to let the beatific emotions out. It is overwhelming to feel the true love of God in the human body. Hard to explain if you've never felt it, maybe I'll try to sometime in another post.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Today, I want to examine the idea of destressing fear because recently I went onto a social media platform (which I rarely do these days) and I noticed a very good friend of mine losing it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Literally losing it on his posts like a teenage girl throwing a tantrum because she isn't getting her way. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Okay, okay, I understand that what I just wrote is very unkind but, think about it! A grown man on social media saying things like a thirteen year old girl and not even knowing it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Two men, I love very much, and I had a rich conversation last night that pertains to this.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">One was explaining to me, when people have bad breath everyone in the room knows it except the person with bad breath. I'm paraphrasing of course but, what he is saying is sometimes people lack self-awareness.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This can happen to anyone. More often for some than others yet, it's pretty normal.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The other was saying that we create our own reality. I'm paraphrasing again, still, very true.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When I was a young EMT (Emergency Medical Technician), about twenty six years ago, I had two very bad 911 calls in very close time proximity. These calls involved deaths of children. Immediately afterwards, I was behaving in a way that was not normal for me. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In other words, I was losing it, very much like my friend on social media.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When I was losing control, something spoke to me within that said, "this is not normal."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I'm very grateful for that still small voice within because once I was aware, I quickly softened my anger and irritability, which was not common for me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I was lucky to recognize the "not normal-ness" and I was able to change my behaviors, which were coming from my beliefs, which were coming from the thoughts that I kept thinking of not being safe.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I was literally losing my faith in God, in life, in others, and in myself. This is what leads to feeling afraid, and unsafe.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I call this place I was in, teetering on the fence of testimony.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It is my humble opinion that my friend is teetering on the fence of testimony, on social media because of the thoughts he keeps thinking about his fear of the future, and that makes him feel unsafe. But he is safe! The stressful thoughts that he keeps thinking convinces him that he is not.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This occurs among Emergency Personnel, which he happens to be, and has been for over twenty years.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">There is not one word I could say to him that would make things better unless he wanted to hear them, and so I will say them here, as though I am talking to him, and maybe you need to hear these words too. If not, that's cool too. I guess I'm praying out loud, on my blog for him.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This is what I would say...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"Dear friend, dear sweet friend, please, have a seat, and take a deep breath, exhale, and relax your body and mind." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"Dear friend, my dear sweet friend, you are alright right now! You are safe, your family is safe, and you are lucky to have your health, and your family that loves you so very much."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"I want to tell you something, with all the love in my heart, and that is your behavior is not normal. You are smart, you are strong, you are a brilliant soul, and your behavior of late is very unnatural for you."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"It's not normal!"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"Please, for one moment consider you may be letting fearful thoughts of the future take hold of you. This fear can hurt you, your health, and your family."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"You are alright! You are safe! You have everything anyone could ever ask for, and if you recognize this you will gain your power back, right now." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"The only thing you have is this moment. The only thing any of us has is this moment, right here, and right now, and we have the power to choose to feel safe or give up our choice and feel fear by default."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"Everything we do is from a place of faith or fear. Everything we do lifts our self or lowers, and we have a choice. This is a will that God has given nearly every human being."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"You are alright!"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"Choose your focus and take back your power, and practice it moment by moment and you will see, everything is fine, you are fine, and your family is magnificent."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">That is probably what I would say to him, that is my prayer for him. I know with all the confidence in my soul that he could and would hear these words, and chill. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Most people can hear the truth, and the truth is he is alright, right here, and right now. He is not in any imminent danger even though he is acting like he is.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">He is a man of God who is forgetting his faith by default. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This default of human conditioning is exactly why I do the spiritual experiments that I do, and it is exactly why I offer them to you, the reader. It is so we can destress our fear that we have been conditioned and trained up in. So we can eliminate the habitual thoughts of doubt, fear, and worry.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Fear is a lie! If you disagree, you may have been convinced by default, when we know that God is very real.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Doing the experiments and conditioning ourselves towards confidence and faith is the design, and eliminating the fear, misery, and stress is the desire.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">No matter what anyone wants, whether it be health, love, possessions, or wealth it is because we believe it will make us feel better. The truth is, we all want happiness, and we get that by living a life of confidence, faith, patience, and trust because the alternative is misery.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Misery comes from anger, anxiety, depression, and despair, which comes from fear, insecurity, and mistrust.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">You may believe that misery comes from what happens to us but, I can show you that it is our thoughts about what happens to us.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Certainly death, dismemberment, divorce, or dying can cause veracious misery in life. But the question would then be, "is your behavior out of proportion to your circumstances?" much like my friend's is or mine was?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Think about these questions...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Are you acting like someone is trying to kill you when in fact, nothing is going on right now? Are your thoughts of what might happen ruining your moments now?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Do you believe you must freak out because of what might happen in the future, and those people who don't freak out are ignorant beings? Is freaking out a part of emotional and mental stability and confidence and self-control uneducated?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Silly questions? My good friend, an old colleague, would say I'm being facetious.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Confidence and self-control are characteristics of a destressed person. Insecurity and loss of emotional and mental stability are mannerisms of stress.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Do the questions and words that I have written upset you? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It is my prayer that you are not offended, and if you are, and you aren't experiencing the D's of devastation mentioned above, you may want to seek some healing help.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Something to reflect. And I say that with all the love in my heart, and I have a whole lot of love in my heart.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Please know, I am not trying to be unkind, I am, however, trying to provoke some self awareness in anyone who may need it for the healing of his or her world.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">My only desire is to love, and to be a healing help to anyone because I rather people not feel despair and/or sorrow if they don't want to.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I write with charity, the pure love of Christ, in my heart, and a prayer of helping anyone who wants it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Trust in that my dear brother/sister of this world.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The lesson is always faith, patience, and trust in God, and we must apply it into permanence. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I don't necessarily have any homework, or spiritual experiments for you today but, I have a link list below that will offer very much on exercising your faith.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2019/05/increasing-habits-of-faith.html" target="_blank">Increasing Habits of Faith</a> - this post has a thirty day challenge to help increase your faith.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2019/04/mindful-based-stress-reduction.html" target="_blank">Mindful Based Stress Reduction</a> - this post offers a exercise on mindfulness.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/06/mindfulness-based-stress-reduction.html" target="_blank">Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction </a> - another post with an exercise on mindfulness.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2018/12/peace-of-mind.html" target="_blank">Peace of Mind</a> - a post on eh-em... peace of mind ~wink~</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">God bless you my dear sweet reader.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It is my prayer, if you have fear, it has been relieved. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It is also my prayer, if you want permanent stress relief, you will practice spiritual exercises, and experiments into perfect permanence.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Speak soon,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/" target="_blank">Elizabeth Stanfill</a></span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2270171738960378536" itemprop="description articleBody" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #797979; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.4; orphans: 2; position: relative; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; width: 717px; word-spacing: 0px;"><div style="clear: both;"></div></div><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-20216770980060418262021-01-17T19:12:00.002-08:002021-01-17T19:14:45.954-08:00Destress Yourself with a Heart Full of Love<div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Hello my dear reader...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">How are you doing?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Got questions about love for you...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">But first, did you do the spiritual experiment from last post, <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2021/01/faith-over-force.html" target="_blank">Faith Over Force</a>? I certainly did, and it really got me thinking about my faith in God, and how I can do all things through Him and that faith.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This focus on faith kept me away from thoughts of fear. Pretty cool, I think. Being faithful and fearless is what destressing yourself is all about.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I've been writing about faith, God, and love a lot because I know that is the foundation of everyone's purpose in life. As I do these experiments and write about spiritual expansion, I have dreams.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Yesterday, when I was a sleep, I dreamt that I fell a sleep (funny, I know!), and God came to me and said, "Be neutral, be silent, for there I am." Then I woke up from my dream, in my dream.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crazy, crazy but so really real to me.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">So, I'd like to ask questions about love because, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love," ~Galatians 5:22, New Testament, Holy Bible, KJV</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We are spiritual! And we are love!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Have you been showing love?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">How often do you show love through actions and words towards your loved ones? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Is it everyday? </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Once a week? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Every other week? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Our family and friends need our love through actions and words. It brings us closer and the more often we show our love the happier we will be. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The happier we are the less stressed we are. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">One of my good friends always tells me that if she is feeling sad or lonely the first thing she does is call someone else to see how they are and if they need anything. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">She receives comfort in comforting a loved one. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I have to agree with her. When I reach out to another it helps me feel better. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This is a great way to destress yourself with a heart full of love, by showing love.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Reaching out to others reminds me of the scripture, "Pure religion and indefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." ~James 1:27, New Testament, Holy Bible, KJV</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Is there someone you can reach out to, and maybe lift up by listening to them, and letting them know you are there if they need it?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">One of my focuses for 2021 is to talk less and listen more. Listen more to others to learn more and understand more. We need each other, and I want to be for others what I would like others to be for me.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Let us create a spiritual experiment, shall we! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I'm laughing out loud because I think I am so clever and cute with these spiritual experiments. These experiments are to create habits of <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2021/01/faith-over-force.html" target="_blank">faith over fear</a>, for <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2021/01/2021-destressing-by-spiritual-expansion.html" target="_blank">2021</a>. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Spiritual experiment:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Everyday, for as many days as possible, see if you can think of someone who may need lifting, or you might want to talk to, and give them a call. Give them a call with the intention of lifting them my listening.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">As God said in my dream, "Be neutral, be silent, for there I am." Listen to that person with the love of God in your heart.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This is the year for increasing faith my friend.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">That's it! Short and sweet, straight to the meat!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Have a great week!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Big Hugs...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Speak soon my friend.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/" target="_blank">Elizabeth Stanfill</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-86229436603546081142021-01-09T19:20:00.005-08:002021-01-17T19:15:35.582-08:00Faith Over Force<p> <span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Hey, hey!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Faith over force is what I'd like to discuss this day, but first! I'm wondering if you did the assignment from the last post, <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2021/01/2021-destressing-by-spiritual-expansion.html" target="_blank">2021 Destressing by Spiritual Expansion</a>? You know I did... ~wink~</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">On day one I meditated upon Hebrews 11:1, and continued to contemplate it through out the day and I found myself asking, "What do I want?" The only answer I had was to love.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">All I want to do is love because it feels so good and things go so well.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Have you ever been in love?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Do you know how wonderful that feels?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Do you know what wonderful moments are made when you are in love?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I've discovered, from spiritual education and experiments, I do not need to be in love with any particular person, so to speak, to be in love because I have discovered that I can be love. Love comes from within. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Truly, I am love, and I am practicing it daily.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Love is the fruit of the spirit, and we are spiritual.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is not law." ~ Galatians 5:22-23, New Testament, Holy Bible</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We are spiritual, and we are born into this existence as such. Look at any child, and he or she is exactly what the quote above describes until he or she is conditioned into human ways to believe his or her love depends on what others do for and to us. Some friends, parents and teachers can condition love in this way.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">All these spiritual experiments I do and write about are based on the hypothesis that the human conditioning can train us away from who we truly are, and the premise of self conditioning and training can bring us back to our spiritual nature.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Human conditioning promotes fear.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Spiritual nature is faith.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">These thoughts are what bring me to faith over force.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">As a spiritual scientist, because you are doing spiritual experiments and I dub you as such, we look at evidence that is true, and is untrue regarding human conditioning versus spiritual nature. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For example, when a child is born, they are pure spirit, as described in the scripture above. Also, human conditioning can remove these innate qualities that a child once had.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This is evidence! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">You may have the argument that you know a child that is, or was not as described as above, and I could, and would dispute it by looking at stress from an experts view versus a non experts perspective. But that is a topic for a different blog post.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Back to faith over force.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Some people are lucky enough to have parents that raised them in the way of confidence, by example, and they remain spiritual in faith because of this conditioning. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Some people are lucky enough to have parents who remain in the state of doubt, fear, and worry, and yet still prevail in their spirituality via decisions they make on their own.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Some people are less lucky and have parents who are very dramatic and teach insecurity by example, and therefore become insecure and believe they can only get their way by controlling others and force.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">To discuss our past keeps us in the problem rather than the solution but I propose the above evidence purely for intro to the faith over force idea I'm about to present.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Faith is clarity and the foundation of confidence.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Fear is confusion and the foundation of force.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">As I contemplated, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." ~Hebrews 11:1, New Testament, Holy Bible, KJV</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">All week long, I found myself noticing the force on others, from others because of a feared outcome, and the faith of others because of their confidence. It was as though God was showing me the difference.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Some people actually believe you have to control others because they are afraid of what "might" happen in the future. I use to be like that. I am still like that in some situations, but less and less as I do my spiritual research on God, faith, love, patience, and trust.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Practiced faith is the solution to every problem. Fear is the problem, and we can skip the problem by practicing faith.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">What problem is fear?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Fear causes anger, anxiety, depression, and despair.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I know, I know, I repeat myself repeatedly but repetition is the great law of learning. Memorization, and practice are the way to permanence. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Confidence is the focus.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Faith is the active practice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It really is that simple, and yet not necessarily easy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I'm not here to convince anyone to connect to God by practicing faith. I am, however, here to support you in your efforts to obtain a desire to connect to God through faith, patience, and trust training.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I know without a doubt that anyone who wants to talk and walk with God and receive guidance and inspiration can but they gotta do the work. The work is reconditioning the self back to who we are, back to the spiritual nature.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If you live in the fruit of the spirit, you probably don't need this training, but I do, plus, I love doing the research and experiments.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I've worked with many people who gladly do spiritual experiments, and they always level up. Getting back to who we are is not a degree you obtain, it is an adventure a person desires. It is never ending because we are eternal but the love and joy that is obtained increases more and more, which makes it illuminating and rewarding. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I digress, as usual.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Back to faith over force.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Being faithful is going with the flow, without any negative emotions or fear. It's a practice.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Being controlling of others' behavior because you need them to be a certain way is fearful and forceful. Often times (probably all times) this fear is absurd and out of the proportion to the actual event.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">God is in charge, and when we fear, and become forceful with others, we do not believe God is in charge.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I tell myself this all the time, mostly after the fact.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I want things to go a certain way, meaning, my way, and I begin to be irrational in my wanting to control and force. I'm less and less like this nearly every time it happens, and I am about 1000% better than I use to be.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It really is all about the remembering, and reminding, and practicing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Going with the flow, chilling out, and trusting God is our spiritual experiment for this week.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">All that rambling for prelude to another spiritual experiment. I'm comical.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Faith leads to trust!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2021/01/2021-destressing-by-spiritual-expansion.html" target="_blank">2021 is the year for spiritual expansion!</a> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If you are like me, you really want to connect to God, and talk and walk with Him by faith, patience, and trust.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I know, with all my heart and soul that with God all things are possible, and to have faith in this is behaving like I believe.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Not just saying I believe, but behaving as such.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The spiritual experiment that I offer this day is to concentrate, contemplate, and focus on two short scriptures, so that we may increase our behaviors as we believe.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If we do this, I believe, I know, that connection, guidance and inspiration will come.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In the morning, first thought!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">All through out the day!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In the evening as we lay our head on our pillow to fall asleep!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God." ~ Mark 11:22, New Testament, Holy Bible, KJV</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." ~ Matthew 19:26, New Testament, Holy Bible, KJV</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">As we meditate upon these memorized scriptures, we will notice more our doubts, fears, force, and worries, and thus be able to intervene.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For those of you who repeatedly tell people you refuse to ignore the horrible things in life because you think it is foolish and ignorant, please read my post on <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2019/01/ignorance-is-not-bliss.html" target="_blank">Ignorance is Not Bliss</a>. It may change your mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Some people cannot understand spiritual things because they have convinced themselves of nonspiritual things.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Misery is not reserved for a few. Misery happens to everyone. Misery can be a moment in time, like history. If we focus on the miserable things that happen to us it remains our state. Like the people who tell their horrible stories months, even years after they happen.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/06/is-your-soul-weary.html" target="_blank">Appreciation is the truth</a> and it takes practice. We can practice spiritual things such as faith, and cultivate habits that create happiness, health, love, and wealth.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Let's do this! ~wink, wink~</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">God bless you my dear sweet reader, and thank you so much for going along this spiritual adventure with me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Big Hugs!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Speak soon...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2021/01/2021-destressing-by-spiritual-expansion.html" target="_blank">Elizabeth</a></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-90040999128665202732021-01-03T18:55:00.020-08:002022-09-03T21:50:26.463-07:002021 Destressing by Spiritual Expansion<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Hello! Happy 2021!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Spiritual Work to Destress Yourself is what I'd like to discuss this day.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Spiritual work means the <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2019/07/spiritual-expansion.html" target="_blank">spiritual expansion</a> and <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/search/label/connecting%20to%20God" target="_blank">connection to God</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Dear reader, how are you doing? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Practicing <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/03/faith-in-future.html" target="_blank">faith</a>, patience, and <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/search/label/trust" target="_blank">trust</a>? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I am, and it's a never-ending enduring to the end. Funny phrase, "enduring to the end," seeing how we are eternal. I guess I'm enduring to the end in spiritual things in this mortal journey.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Have you read the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew chapters 5-7, in the Holy Bible? It is excellent instruction for spiritual work to be done in human existence.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Most Bible readers are very familiar with the Sermon given by Jesus Christ. If you are, or are not, aware, I say give it a gander and see what you think. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">One of my favorite scriptures in the Sermon on the Mount is, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33, Sermon on the Mount, New Testament, Holy Bible, KJV.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Seeking the kingdom of God is spiritual work. In my last three posts: <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/12/spiritual-advice.html" target="_blank">Spiritual Advice</a>, <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/11/destressing-via-spiritual-experiments.html" target="_blank">Destressing via Spiritual Experiments</a>, and <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/11/spiritual-experiments-to-destress.html" target="_blank">Spiritual Experiments to Destress</a>, I discuss ways to seek the kingdom of God.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When we seek God's kingdom, we are actually seeking God.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When we seek God, we are, in fact, seeking spiritual expansion.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I know that 2021 is the year of spiritual expansion.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crisis asks, even begs, for focus.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Are you in <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2016/07/are-you-in-crisis-mode.html" target="_blank">crisis mode</a>?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Maybe you aren't in <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2016/07/are-you-in-crisis-mode.html" target="_blank">crisis mode</a>. Perhaps you are just stressed out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2019/01/connecting-to-god.html" target="_blank">Seeking God</a> will give you great peace, which is done by inner work. When we want to <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2019/01/connecting-to-god.html" target="_blank">connect to God</a>, we must use our minds to focus on faith, which is the foundation and key to finding God, and His kingdom.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Concentration, contemplation, and focus on faith are the order of the entire year for spiritual expansion in 2021.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" ~ Matthew 6:19-23, Sermon on the Mount, New Testament, Holy Bible, KJV.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The light of Christ is the focus for 2021.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The opposite of light is darkness, and if practiced it gives anger, anxiety, depression, and despair. Therefore, I will be writing about focusing on perfect love, as I do, with <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/11/destressing-via-spiritual-experiments.html" target="_blank">spiritual exercises and experiments.</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." ~ John 4:18, New Testament, Holy Bible, KJV</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Faith forms the perfect love for God, life, others, and yourself that will bring great light and inner peace to any crisis, darkness, and/or stress you may be experiencing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I have written some posts about spiritual experiments in the last couple of months. My experiences began with praying for all, then evolved to contemplating and praying for faith, patience, and trust.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The experiment that I will offer today is focused on faith.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This is the beginning of the conditioning and training in spiritual expansion for 2021.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">My focus for 2021 is to talk less and listen more. Listen more to others, and listen more to me. Listen to others to learn and understand, and listen to me to notice any insecurity I may have.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Thoughts of feeling unsafe become more apparent when we focus on confidence. This is very good because doubtful thoughts aren't as noticeable when we are just looking for them. When there is a focus on trust, the contrast of mistrust is louder. When thoughts of worry are detected, we can condition and train ourselves to replace them with confidence.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This is where we begin (I say "we" and hope you will do this with me)...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Memorize...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." ~ Hebrews 11:1</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This is our intentional contemplation. When we wake in the morning, let us make this our first thought. This is really cool! I've been experimenting with this for the past year. When I have a memorized phrase, scripture, or word that is my focus, I make it my first thought when I wake up. This gives me concentration on spiritual things.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Spiritual things are the solutions to human conditioning.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In addition, the scripture above is our intentional concentration throughout the day and our consideration as we lay our heads on our pillow and retire for the night.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This is the beginning of our focus on faith.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">As we do this, I believe fearful thoughts will be more prominent, and when they are, we will ask ourselves, "What do I want?" or, "What do I hope for?" And answer the questions. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This will make us intentionally change insecurity to confidence as we focus on what we want.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">For example, I ask myself, "What do I hope for?" I think about what I hope for in that moment or future. I'd like things to go my way at the moment, and I articulate what that would be. Ultimately, I'd like to just be able to research and write for a living. Although I do research and write much of the time, I'd like to do research and report on spiritual things full-time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">What would you like to be, do, or have?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When you answer that question, you think about things hoped for, as in the scripture we're memorizing on faith.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Seeking the kingdom of Heaven is inner work!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Spiritual expansion is inner work!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Connecting to God is inner work!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The free will that God gives us is choosing what we think.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We live in our power when we control and govern what we think.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Our power is not in controlling how others treat us but in how we govern our own thoughts.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">What we think creates our emotions.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Fearful thoughts lead to anger, anxiety, depression, and despair.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Faithful thoughts lead to happiness, joy, and vitality.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Will you walk this journey of destressing by spiritual expansion in 2021 with me?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I hope you will work for you if you feel like you need to.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This is heavenly work on earth, and it is spiritual homework.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Print this post, make notes, highlight what you will do to help you, and refer to it daily as part of your spiritual studies.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Do! Not! Forget! To! Memorize! And! Intentionally! Contemplate! Hebrews! 11! 1!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Ha ha ha...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I'm bossing you around. But honestly, I know these suggestions will help anyone seeking spiritual expansion, and that is precisely what we need to connect to God and discover He is in charge.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">God allows all things to work for our good. It is our responsibility to discover that it is all for the working of our faith. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">There is a lesson in everything; the study is faith, patience, and trust. If we haven't been practicing these lessons, we may not be too conditioned in them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This is spiritual expansion.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This may seem silly to some, but fear is creeping in for many, and faith truly is inner work; it is my prayer that if you have fearful thoughts and focus on faith, things will be more comforting when you intentionally work on it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">God bless you, my dear sweet reader.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Speak soon...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/leveling-up.html" target="_blank">Elizabeth Stanfill</a> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If you love what you read here, you may find my books by clicking, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Stanfill/e/B00BBXMAYE" target="_blank">books by Elizabeth Stanfill</a>.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-22701717389603785362020-12-06T17:31:00.009-08:002022-09-03T12:38:27.202-07:00Spiritual Advice<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Hello, my dear friend! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Happy December!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">How are you doing today? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I have a prayer in my heart that you are calm, confident, and cooperative. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">As I have been contemplating faith, patience, and trust, as discussed in my last post, <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/11/destressing-via-spiritual-experiments.html" target="_blank">Destressing Via Spiritual Experiments</a>, I thought about the immense amount of suffering I endured in the first half of my life due to fear, impatience, and distrust. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span>For as long as I can remember, I have sought a connection to God by</span> reading and studying my scriptures. Also, I've been praying every morning, daily, and every night and attended church every single Sunday for years. I've served when asked and always paid tithe.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I do not know if anyone spoke magnificent words that helped me, but I know I have had superb people who were an example to me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">My point? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I've been seeking a connection to God for a very long time, and all my spiritual education and experiences have added evidence to my undertaking.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Looking back, not one person could or did give me advice on how to connect to God in a way that could and would relieve my stress, aka my suffering. Some individuals meant well, but much of the advice was not spiritual. It was more from confused human conditioning.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Maybe people did give me spiritual advice, but I didn't hear it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">One thing I know for sure is that there have been people in my life whom I still think about today, who are and were excellent examples to me in spiritual practice. Some of these individuals didn't, and don't, even talk about God. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">When I think about these people, my heart fills with intense love and sentimental memories. These people are, to this day, calm, confident, and cooperative.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">When we work together with others, we are harmonious with ourselves, and when we are in harmony with ourselves, we symphonize with God. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Human conditioning can teach us that life is a competition; therefore, we think we must get what we want and how we want it, which can create friction at home and work.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">My humble opinion is that we are all born calm, confident, and cooperative, but some of us are conditioned in competition and trained to be antagonists.</span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This evidence can clearly be seen among people who fight to be right by making others wrong. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">For example, when a person may disagree with a family member and/or friend, the competitive person will argue to be correct and get angry because he or she doesn't want to be wrong. Then that person will continue to debate beyond the presence of the other, in their mind, and to other people. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">A calm, confident, and cooperative person will be okay with the disagreement and let it go. They are unattached to being wrong or right because they understand differences of opinions and that no one thinks exactly alike.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">If I could have been a person, who could have spoken words of spiritual advice to my younger self, these are the first words I would have spoken...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Life is not a competition! Life is a symphony, which can be had by learning, listening, and loving to understand."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Open your spiritual eyes and see the evidence!"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Look at the successful people and observe. Success means happiness, harmony, and healthy. Harmonious and healthy meaning in body, mind, and soul."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Notice how these successful people behave. They are calm, confident, and cooperative because they are thoughtful. People who are angry, anxious, and pugnacious are insecure, disconnected from God, and thoughtless."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Then I'd say, with all the love in my heart...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Dear one, dear sweet one, practice calm cooperation with others, which will lead to calm cooperation with yourself, which is calm cooperation with God."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"This is how you do it..."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Fall in love with listening to others with the heart's compassion, as Jesus did. This is characteristic of being Christlike. Talk less, listen more, and try to understand with kindness."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Caring leads to understanding. To know that everyone is doing the very, very, very best with what has been given in life thus far is understanding." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"To argue with, blame, complain, and criticize others is an unsympathetic habit that focuses on a person's imperfections. In addition, these are the practiced patterns of insecurity."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"You do not have to be right with anyone. The idea of having to be right is part of the human conditioning that says my worth is being right. This leads to insecurity, which closes the mind to leveling up emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"We are all imperfect, and it is not necessary to focus on the faults of human existence. To do so is but a training anyone can overcome."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"You are a spiritual being. Therefore, you have the will with the power to focus and understand life. This leads to you being, doing, and having what you are meant to, and the only one who keeps you from any of it is you and your unbecoming attitude from your perception."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Open your mind!" </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Use your will to focus!" </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Open your mind to happiness, harmony, and health evidence. Use your will to focus on creating a connection to God via practicing calm, confidence, and cooperation."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Then I'd tell myself...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Here is your spiritual homework that must be read every night, so it may be put into memorization and practice every day until it is permanent in attitude and personality."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"First, practice being calm." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"When you wake, set the day by taking a deep breath, exhale, feeling the body relax and the mind quiet. Remind yourself to do this throughout the day, and fall asleep at night with this same practice. It may be tough for you at first, but remind yourself that you are not an animal or a child and have the intellect to choose your practice."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Be still, and know that I am God:" ~Psalm 46:10, Holy Bible, KJV</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Second, notice in this practice of calming the body and quieting the mind, you are in the space of safety and security. This is the power of the eternal now. The mind will have you think of the future or past, which gives way to insecurity, but the safety and security in the practice of the present moment give a habit of confidence."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Third, talk less, learn to listen, and learn by listening to understand. Give up the urge to speak any opinions of pettiness. Accusations, judgments, and assumptions of nonspiritual things are petty, in that they are insignificant to the calm, confidence, and cooperation of the moment." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Refrain from unsolicited advice. Unsolicited advice says, "you can be better," which insinuates, "you are not good enough." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"If we could know how good enough we are, we'd accomplish even more amazing things!"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Fourth, butt out of peoples' business." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Do! Not! Ever! Gossip!"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"If you are going to be in anybody's business, let it be bragging about them or to make sure they are okay."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Fifth, think better of others no matter what!" </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"This one is huge!" </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"When we think better of others, we are doing unto others that which we want to be done unto us. We want people to give us the benefit of the doubt. Therefore, give others the gift of giving the benefit of the doubt."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Did you know that you give yourself away by the words you speak about others?" </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"For example, when we speak assumptions of others being passive-aggressive, we are telling people that's what we are." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"We accuse others' from our perspective. That's what people mean when they say you can only understand from your perspective." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"If you accuse someone of doing something on purpose to hurt you, you are telling your perspective of hurting people on purpose."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Now, you may say, "I know when someone is being passive-aggressive or hurting me on purpose." But to say these things you are saying, you read minds. If you, in fact, read minds, I'm pretty confident that you'd be a millionaire for reading minds by now."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Psychology 101 educates, believing we can read minds is an inaccurate view of reality that leads to personality disorders."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I digress...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Finally, I'd say, to myself, "if you want to be connected to God, as you've been diligently praying for most of your life, condition yourself in the habits given above by concentrating and focusing on them into memorization and daily training."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Never beat yourself up, and never give up!"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Permanence comes with practice!"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"This is the way!"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">And that's what I'd say.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I believe, with all my heart and soul, if someone could have convinced me of the above words, twenty-eight years ago, when I was twenty-eight, I'd be where I am now in my calm, confident connection to God, through cooperation with life, and others, probably twenty years ago.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Don't get me wrong, I have zero regrets! I love my past because I would not be the harmonious, loving, spiritual being that I feel I am today. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">My favorite part of life is the faithful and fearless connection to God that gives me guidance and inspiration to lift others and myself. The next favorite part is the smiles and the thank you's of relief because I know what it is to suffer, and I hold a prayer tight in my heart for comfort for anyone who seeks it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I am but an infant in my spirituality, and I am eager, exhilarated, and excited for my learning to understand more.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This earnestness, my friend, is why I love to learn, love to listen, and love to understand.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">My prayer, dear friend, is that somehow, some way, my words can touch the heart of the seeker of connecting to God.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">God bless...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Take good care...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Until next time...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Speak soon...</span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/leveling-up.html" target="_blank">Elizabeth Stanfill</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">If you love what you read here, you may find my books by clicking, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Stanfill/e/B00BBXMAYE" target="_blank">books by Elizabeth Stanfill</a>.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-86795390252072905692020-11-27T18:27:00.004-08:002022-09-03T06:42:40.959-07:00Destressing Via Spiritual Experiments<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Hey, hey! How are you doing today? I'm pretty chill, and I am hoping the same for you.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It's Friday, and I am visiting my parents. In the United States, it's the day after our Thanksgiving Holiday when we get together with family, give thanks, and feast.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In my last post, <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/11/spiritual-experiments-to-destress.html" target="_blank">Spiritual Experiments to Destress</a>, I invited you all to do a spiritual experiment, and I said I'd do it too.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Here is my update...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Day one: I forgot about it until my head was bitten off by a gatekeeper. Earlier in the year, I'd been to this same facility before, and the same person bit my head off. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I put my head down and said a little prayer for this person, and it went like this. "Dear Heavenly Father, please bless him/her with comfort, patience, and strength, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">When I lifted my head and smiled, the individual changed with a twinkling of an eye. It was weird! I kid you not, from mean to kind, just like that. I was highly impressed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Day two: I spent much time praying for others as much as possible. I was praying for random people that I didn't even know.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Day three: I returned to the same facility as day one, and the gatekeeper, aka security, was very pleasant. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">All day long, I said prayers for people. Praying for blessings upon them and their family.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Day four: I woke up feeling so good, with indescribable joy and love in my heart. This is what love feels like, and God abides in us when we love like this. In essence, it is God because He is love.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;">"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." ~1 John 4:16, Holy Bible, KJV</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;" /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Day four continued: As I persisted in praying for others, I found myself thinking, "How do I know what I should pray?" This came to me because I was running out of things to pray for others. Then, I began to ask Heavenly Father to help me understand what to pray for when praying for others.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This is how my spiritual experiments evolve.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">About day five, I had a dream. My Grandfather, who passed away when I was fifteen, was sitting with me, and he told me that I was doing really, really, really good. He also told me I am too hard on myself, but I don't know because my concentrations are unintentional. He kissed me on the forehead, and that was it.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I understand that we are contemplating, focusing, and habitual mechanisms. I also know that we are not aware of all of the thoughts we think. I've read studies that say we have over sixty thousand thoughts a day.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">On day six, I began to focus on intentional concentration and contemplation. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I began asking Heavenly Father what the most critical habitual, intentional thoughts could be.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The answer seemed to always be faith, patience, and trust.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">For the past week, I've been waking up and going to sleep, contemplating faith, patience, and trust. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I've tried to pray for others' faith, patience, and trust throughout the day.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">All the while, I've been praying for understanding, and what I have seen is people expressing more kindness and more patience.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Here in California, people are typically involved in full schedules and sometimes in a rush. Recently, I have noticed more patience in others and less hurry. It is beautiful.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;">With my focus on faith, patience, and trust, I feel</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"> more faith in God, life, and others. I'm</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"> being more patient with others and myself and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;">thinking more about what trust in God, life, and others is.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Faith, patience, and trust, in my humble opinion, are always the lesson when we are feeling angry, anxious, or depressed, which are fearful states. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I've made faith, patience, and trust a habitual focus, a constant prayer, and I believe unconditional love has ensued.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">With unconditional love comes the connection to God and spiritual expansion. Unconditional love is perfect love, which casts out fear.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." ~1 John 4:18, Holy Bible, KJV</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">As this holiday season continues, you may want to level up in feeling more joy and love by intentionally contemplating faith, patience, and trust.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I've been focusing and concentrating on these for the last week, and things seem to go my way. I mean by 'go my way' is a connection to God via ongoing happiness and joy for life, others, and myself. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Part two of <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/11/spiritual-experiments-to-destress.html" target="_blank">Spiritual Experiments to Destress</a> could be intentional contemplation on faith, patience, and trust. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Let us make it the first consideration in the morning, the focus throughout the day, and the final reflection as we retire for the night.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Let's see how it goes!</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Praying my ramblings of spiritual experiments help.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">God bless you, my dear friend.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Speak soon...</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/leveling-up.html" target="_blank">Elizabeth Stanfill</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;">If you love what you read here, you may find my books by clicking </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Stanfill/e/B00BBXMAYE" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;" target="_blank">books by Elizabeth Stanfill</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: center;">.</span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-482339788822486902020-11-14T05:26:00.002-08:002022-11-12T09:32:25.316-08:00Spiritual Experiments to Destress<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Hello Dear Reader!</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Spiritual Experiments to Destress is what I'd like to discuss this day...</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">How are you doing? I am ever praying for your happiness, health, love, and wealth. </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Actually, I pray every day for all of these for our world. These are the things people want! I believe the first one, happiness, is what everyone really wants.<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Some people have health problems, some have love difficulties, and others need money. Many people believe these things will bring happiness, but what if joy could get these things?<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If stress is the number one cause of every illness, happiness, which is an attitude of faith, is the opposite of stress, which is basically fear. Couldn't happiness heal disease?<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If insecurity is the number one cause of every heartbreak, couldn't happiness cure it?<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">What if anxiety and worry keep a person in dire need of money? Because they focus on lack, i.e., the problem versus the solution?<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">To answer these questions, one must create an experiment in his or her own life to see if these theories are true or false.<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In my very young years as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), I conducted the first spiritual experiment I remember without knowing it.<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I had such a difficult time with health, love, and wealth during this time. My energy was low, I had no love for myself, and I was in mental anguish due to finances. Barely making enough money to survive, working long hours, and experiencing harassment from a few men. <br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Every Sunday, I attended church, and one service hit my soul to have a constant prayer in my heart. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">So, I felt inspired to pray constantly for every situation and person before me.<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I prayed for the people I worked with, whether I liked them or not. I prayed for patients and their family members. I prayed for everything before me with an appreciation in my heart.<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The most amazing things happened to me during this "spiritual experiment." All the things I needed came to me. My energy was through the roof, I felt terrific, and the opportunity for more weekly income came.<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Not only that, but this was the first time I was aware of clear and specific internal guidance and inspiration to do things. <br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The still, small voice was strong. <br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Several times, when we received emergency calls, I would be prompted to bring equipment to the scene that we would not ordinarily get for specific calls. The equipment I was led to bring was what we needed, and it saved us energy and time from returning to the ambulance to get it. <br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Crazy? Maybe to me back then, but now, I am used to guidance and inspiration due to the weekly spiritual experiments I do for myself and those I help.<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This prayerful experience, in my humble opinion, brought me closer to many of the men I worked with. You see, I was often the only female among my coworkers. It was a very challenging time for me.<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Would you like to <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/leveling-up.html" target="_blank">level up in destressing yourself</a>? If you would, I propose you try this spiritual experiment I discussed above. Pray for every situation you are in and for every person in front of you. Then, just see what happens.<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">See if your energy rises, health improves, love increases and money comes your way if you need it.<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I have theories! My number one theory, which is at the foundation of my beliefs, is the law of love. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When you love, things improve. You are essentially sharing and showing your love as you pray for others.<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." ~1 John 4:18, New Testament, Holy Bible, KJV<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This scripture is the most significant reference to destressing yourself and life, isn't it? Stress is fear! Some people think it's a situation like what you may be going through. But! Stress comes from our reactions and what we think about what's happening.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">There is no stress in love! Love is the remedy to destress, and prayer can bring anyone closer to love. Prayer is communication with our Father in Heaven. Therefore, we connect to God as we pray for others. We are also serving God when we pray for others.<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If you want to increase your connection with God, and destress more, try the spiritual experiment, my dear sweet friend. Try it for at least a week, and if you write down the daily successes, it will only enhance your experience.<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If you want to <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/leveling-up.html" target="_blank">level up spiritually</a>, do the experiment for the rest of the year and watch things evolve for you. All you gotta do is "pray always." Luke 21:36, New Testament, Holy Bible, KJV<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Do it for you if you want to. I'll do it too! I'll do it until December 31, 2020. I'll document it and promise to share the spiritual results.<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I share this because I know with all my heart and soul that spiritual experiments will destress anyone's stress. My humble opinion from years of experience.<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Have a wonderful day, dear special one! <br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Speak soon...<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">And BIG HUGS!<br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/leveling-up.html" target="_blank">Elizabeth Stanfill</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If you love what you read here, you may find my books by clicking <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Stanfill/e/B00BBXMAYE" target="_blank">books by Elizabeth Stanfill</a>.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-33079062414800648312020-10-31T11:26:00.002-07:002021-01-17T19:19:36.953-08:00I VOTED!<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Hello there!</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">How are you doing? It's election days in California, and I just wanted to say that I voted, and I hope you did to, if it is important to you.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Sometimes some people get really stressed out over political times so I thought I'd link to some posts below just in case you'd like some destressing this week.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2015/02/how-to-destress-your-stress.html" target="_blank">How to Destress Your Stress</a> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2015/07/how-to-destress-right-now.html" target="_blank">How to Destress Right Now</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2019/03/how-to-destress-yourself-within-minute.html" target="_blank">How to Destress Yourself Within A Minute</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2018/12/peace-of-mind.html" target="_blank">Peace of Mind</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2013/02/three-stress-reduction-techniques.html" target="_blank">Three Stress Reduction Techniques</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Hope that these posts are helpful.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It's been some weeks since I've posted, and I hope you will forgive me. I'm doing a lot of spiritual experiments, and they are consuming my time because it is a priority for me.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I'd really like to share some of the results but, the experiences are very sacred, and hard to articulate in a way that would be helpful to all. That's my excuse. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Critical times asks, often begs for focus, and that is what I have been doing. Focusing on spiritual things.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">God bless you my dear sweet reader, I am ever praying for your self compassion to destress.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Take good care, and speak soon...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Stanfill/e/B00BBXMAYE%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share" target="_blank">Elizabeth</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;">You can subscribe to my blog at the top, if you'd like to... You'll receive all new posts in an email. That's it!</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-64320071920097145322020-10-08T14:49:00.002-07:002022-03-13T20:18:57.181-07:00Is God Real?<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Hey, hey...</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">How are you doing today?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I'm ever praying for your happiness, health, success, and wealth.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In my last post, <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/09/are-you-paying-attention.html" target="_blank">Are You Paying Attention</a>, I delineated ten things I know for sure, and the first one was, God is very real. If you haven't read it, and would like to, you may by <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/09/are-you-paying-attention.html" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Do you know, in your heart and soul, God is very real?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I do! How do I know? I'm just lucky I guess. Ha ha ha, just kidding.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The very first time I heard about Heavenly Father, I knew, deep down in my soul that what I was hearing was very real. It was when I was at the tender age of about four years old.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Since that time, I have always asked Heavenly Father to help me get closer to him and understand more.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Every time I would wish upon a falling star, I would whisper in my mind, "Help me get closer to you, God."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Throughout my youth, I attended church with whom ever would ask me, and my Grandmother would take me every time I visited her, or she visited us.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When my son was born, and I held him for the first time, I prayed a special prayer promising Heavenly Father I would teach my son about him if he would help me. It was a covenant I made in my heart with God.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In my young, single motherhood, I would suffer much with fear about finances, and it amplified my anger, anxiety, depression, and deep despair. In my deepest moments of despair, I would get on my knees, crying to my Heavenly Father, and I received comfort every single time. Sometimes it was immediate, and other times it was not. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Nevertheless, I poured my heart out, and I was heard.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I've been reading, and studying the scriptures since 1989, and I have received guidance and inspiration on many things, ever since. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The greatest guidance I have ever received, and continue to, is to better myself so I may know Heavenly Father more, and be an example to others. It is, and has been, important to practice what I preach, as a destress specialist, not only for my son, but also for the people I help.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The guidance and inspiration I have received, over the last three decades, has brought me to a faithful and fearless place of knowing that God is very present in all of our lives. This presence gives me inner peace.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The thing about knowing God is real is, I had to do the work to get to where I am now. Often, I wake up with, and feel through out the day, God's love for me and others. This feeling is ineffable. The only word I can use to describe it is bliss.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Sometimes this joy that I feel is so overwhelming, I cry to release it. It's a happy, joy filled cry.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This inner peace and joy provides much happiness, and vitality. Is my life perfect? Nearly! Am I perfect? Not even nearly. I am but a toddler in spiritual things.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The work that I have done comes from the scriptures, and the teachings from Jesus.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The greatest commandment, and the greatest instructions are from the Holy Bible.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">To love the Lord thy God, is the greatest commandment. To meditate on, and study, the scriptures is the greatest instructions.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When you love someone, you learn about them, and listen to them.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I learn from, and hearken to the scriptures, which is the book of life, and the book of God.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I listen to Heavenly Father, through Jesus' words, and through the still small voice. This still small voice gives me guidance and inspiration on many things. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When we love God with all our might, mind, and strength, he is very near. God is love, and when we love, God abides in us.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">How do we love? Jesus shows us through his example, and when we follow his example, it begins in the mind. The choice to have charity and compassion for others begins in our mind. Our mental choice to love creates a connection between God and this life. It's all about the focus. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I have learned that I am love, and when I love, not only does God abide in me, perfect love abides in me. Perfect love casts out all human fear. This fear displays itself in emotions like anger, anxiety, depression, and despair.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Some people do not believe in God. Maybe these individuals prayed for something they did not receive, believe their prayer wasn't answered, and then concluded God is not real. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The truth is, we cannot dictate to God how we want our life to be, and expect he is going to just give it to us like a rich Daddy who spoils his offspring who gets anything he or she wants? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Various persons do not give God the time of day until desperation hits, and then they pray, begging for their specific desires. Sometimes, when the prayer is answered, the individual forgets about God until the next crisis. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Others profess to not believe in God, and even cuss at or proclaim to hate him. To cuss at or hate something one doesn't believe in, is a contradiction. Meaning, they really do believe, and may not understand, thus the bitterness.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Even the atheist turns to God in desperation. How do I know? They turn to me and ask questions about the Divine when in times of need.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">To talk and walk with God takes work, and with this work comes great evidence and understanding that he is, in fact, <b>really</b> real.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I know Heavenly Father is real because I feel very close to him. I feel his love for me and for you, and I receive guidance and inspiration every single day of my life.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I know Heavenly Father because I practice what Jesus asks me to. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Love Heavenly Father!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Love thy neighbor!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Have faith!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Be patient!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Trust!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Be thankful for all things!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Focus on the good!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Pray always!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Connection to God is a mental, mind, ninja skill, and it takes practice.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A child must practice crawling to crawl, walking to walk, running to run, and reading to read. An adult must learn how to do a job, and sometimes obtain a degree, before he or she can secure his or her occupation.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><div style="font-family: Tinos;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">When a three year old wants to run out into a busy street, a loving Father prevents it because he knows the child is not ready to cross the street on his own due to inexperience and lack of understanding.</span></div><div style="font-family: Tinos;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Tinos;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This is a wonderful thing to know because we can scream and yell all we want when we don't get what we want, just as a toddler may when his Father won't let him run out and cross a dangerous street.</span></div><div style="font-family: Tinos;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Tinos;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We can learn to understand Heavenly Father and his ways in order to know he is real if we don't know it already. This comprehension takes spiritual study and application.</span></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We can learn to understand Heavenly Father in order to know how to talk and walk with him. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Learning faith in God, takes contemplation, focus, patience, practice, retraining, and trust.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I am forever studying, and practicing so that I may learn more and more about spiritual things, and how real God is.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The preceding sentence is my sole purpose in giving exercises through this blog. I want more spiritual understanding, and I want anyone, who wants to, to accompany me on this journey of getting to know our Father in heaven.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">So, is God real?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Yes, indeed! He is very real!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This blog, my dear reader, is for you, and for me to get to know, more and more, how truly real Heavenly Father is.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Heavenly Father is the reason...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Praying you know, with all your heart and soul, God is real!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">May God bless you with comfort, direction, faith, focus, and inner peace, my dear sweet reader.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Take good care!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Speak soon...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Stanfill/e/B00BBXMAYE?ref=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000" target="_blank">Elizabeth</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-72440677239859655542020-09-28T12:20:00.003-07:002022-03-13T20:30:48.043-07:00Are You Paying Attention?<span style="font-size: medium;">Hey, hey!</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">How are you doing my dear reader? </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm doing pretty darn good! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpo1ckMpDaHTUAV_sQU58OawyEjbn4nCyZqZ7FcFwRO8n9LZuSQvLrdU7S4pMPuyXrzHMGu4V2urufFDm-yev3-tluDW_keIsLpJ3Bcw3sZrwbNVkuaoVVqASLdUltDEaj84SXYcA5bNM/s2048/IMG_3151.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpo1ckMpDaHTUAV_sQU58OawyEjbn4nCyZqZ7FcFwRO8n9LZuSQvLrdU7S4pMPuyXrzHMGu4V2urufFDm-yev3-tluDW_keIsLpJ3Bcw3sZrwbNVkuaoVVqASLdUltDEaj84SXYcA5bNM/w235-h320/IMG_3151.JPG" width="235" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Early Morning, Hello World, Selfie <br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>It's my birth month and so I must apologize for not pos</span><span>ti</span>ng for two weeks.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Every year I try to take the entire month of September off but this year I was denied. It is a very, very, active time.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Nevertheless, I wake up every morning with a pep in my step, pens in my shirt, Sperry's on my feet, and a song in my soul.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">In my last post, <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/09/failure-versus-success.html" target="_blank">Failure Versus Success</a>, I wrote about really paying attention to my life. Did you read it? If not, and you'd like to, you may by <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/09/failure-versus-success.html" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I was never really taught to <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/09/failure-versus-success.html" target="_blank">pay attention to my life</a> the way I do now. When I began my undergraduate studies in Behavioral Science, I was trained to observe other peoples' behavior, and in turn noticed my own.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I have learned much in my twenty six years of researching, studying, and writing about behavior, spirituality and stress, and this is what I know for sure.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">First!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">God is very real! </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I know this with all my heart and soul, and with every fiber of my being.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">Second!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">There are three kinds of people. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Person A is the one who will always encourage you, and cheer you on because he or she knows our capabilities as humans. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Person B is the one who will always discourage you, and speak words of fear because he or she has an unclear view of reality. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Person C is the one who will encourage or discourage you based on how they are feeling about themselves, which is determined by what their current mood is because of what's going on in their life at the moment.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">Third!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">There are three stages in life, and they are innocence, adolescence, and enlightenment. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Person A is mostly enlightened, person B is mostly adolescent, and person C teeters between adolescence and enlightenment. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Adolescence is a sort of innocence but with a competitive attitude. This sort of viewpoint is a you against me kind of thinking, which creates confusion. This opposition is, in fact, from an individual's reaction to his or her human experience.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Enlightenment is a calm, compassionate, and cooperative attitude, which creates clarity, along with happiness, health, love, success, and wealth.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">Fourth!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Attitude determines personality!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Personality influences potentiality!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The reason I ask if you are paying attention is we, as humans, have the magnificent power to choose our attitude, and personality, and therefore choose our experiences in life. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">We may not be able to dictate what happens to us, or how people treat us but, we can choose our attitude of reacting. This choice leads to living a life of <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/09/failure-versus-success.html" target="_blank">failure versus success</a>. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Difficulties are not reserved for the very few that are living a life of struggle and suffering. Hard times happen to everyone, and a person's reaction determines the path they walk.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">These regular responses shape one's personality.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">Fifth!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyone can change their life by changing their attitude. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">In my many years of learning, one of the first, and most important things I discovered is to have an open mind. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">In my younger, abrasive attitude years, I was very insecure and I had a very closed mind. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Now, in my, I am trying to be perfect, pure, love years, I have a very open mind and it gives me compassion, and understanding.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Evidence has shown me, personally and professionally, it takes desire and an open mind to learning and listening to make changes.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">Sixth!</span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">We are focusing habitual mechanisms, and whether we focus by default or desire, we are practicing confidence or insecurity into permanence, and often times perfection.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">A person's behaviors comes from their beliefs, which comes from experiences, and unique habitual thoughts about these experiences. These thoughts come from either a competitive or cooperative understanding.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The above statement is my explanation of human conditioning in it's entirety.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Like our DNA, and our fingerprints, our experiences and reactions are exclusive, and cannot, or could never, be duplicated by another.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Human conditioning is the opposite of spiritual nature in that the former is competitive, and the latter cooperative. We are born spiritual, cooperative beings and continue to be so unless conditioned otherwise. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Some of us are lucky enough to have guardians that are calm, confident, and cooperative in most all things, and therefore sustain this spiritual nature. Some of us experience less cooperation, and more competition and conditional love, thus, are trained accordingly.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Cooperation comes from confidence, which is basically spiritual. Competition comes from insecurity, which is human misunderstanding. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The preceding statement would have been absolutely impossible for me to comprehend, in my youth.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">Seventh!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">No one! Not one person, needs a calling in church, or an hourly rate to help another person. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Helping others is a choice by desire. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I have the fortunate opportunity to help others, all of the time. Sometimes I get paid, and sometimes I don't. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">One thing is for sure, and that is God uses other humans, like myself, to do his work. Not only do I believe this with all my heart, mind and soul, I live it with all my heart, mind, and soul. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I behave as I believe, and this behaving leads me to my purpose in life. Living my purpose gives me such great happiness, joy, and vitality. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">Eighth!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">My calling is my purpose, and my purpose is God's business. Everyone's purpose is God's business, and it's different for everyone. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Maybe you believe the words I am writing, but have a hard time living them. The only thing I can do is encourage you to practice believing, and the behavior will follow.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">It really helps to pay attention to you! Are you paying attention to your attitude and reactions? Or are you paying attention to what others are doing and how these doings are making you happy or miserable? </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">If you are in other peoples' business you are not in your own. If you are not in your own business, how can/could you be about God's?</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">When an individual is blaming circumstances and other people for their misery, they are not taking responsibility for their attitude and reactions.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Taking responsibility is self control, and this influence leads to our individual power.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Self control is power and wisdom, and lack of self control is giving up this power, which dumb's us down towards anger, anxiety, depression, and/or despair, which resides with insecurity, fear, and stress.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Stress is no one's fault but it can be anyone's responsibility to level up to more success.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">Ninth!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">People who level up in life by desire believe in themselves. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Everyone becomes more, one way or another, but there are those individuals who have desire, and confidence, whom expand in all things.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">Tenth!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Any person, who is functional in society, has the capability to create, and develop, confidence. Anyone can learn to believe in themselves if they really want to! The point is, they have to want to.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Long post, I know...</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Got an exercise for you though...</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">He he he...</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">You know me... ~wink~</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">If you really want to pay attention to you, and know if you are a person A, B, or C, try this...</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">As you drive in traffic, notice your own behavior whether you are calm, confident, and cooperative, or if you are blaming, complaining, and criticizing other drivers.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The best way to know if you are competitive or cooperative is noticing your behavior while in traffic.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Person A is chill, Person B is wound tight, and Person C can be either depending on what just happened, or is happening at the moment.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Try it...</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">See how it goes...</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I want to be a Person A, calm, chill, confident, and cooperative with God, life, and others because that makes me about my business. When I am about my spiritual business, I'm about God's business, and that gives perfect happiness, health, love, success, and wealth.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">That's all I gots...</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Praying you are more than alright...</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Praying for your comfort and strength always my dear sweet reader...</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Speak soon...</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Stanfill/e/B00BBXMAYE?ref=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000" target="_blank">Elizabeth</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-38893567777853295442020-09-15T08:49:00.002-07:002022-03-13T20:33:32.332-07:00Failure Versus Success<p> <span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Hey, hey...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">How are you doing today?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I always ask that, don't I?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The reason I ask is because I care, and I'd like you to think about it. Think about how you are doing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I'm doing really, really, really great, and I am so very, very, very grateful for my life.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Recently, I have been assigning, and discussing contemplations, focus, and meditations. The motivation behind this is, I would love to recondition, and retrain myself to higher levels of enlightenment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This enlightenment I am talking about is the law of love.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In my last post, <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/09/are-you-seeking-spirituality.html" target="_blank">Are You Seeking Spirituality</a>, I suggested an exercise on perfect love. Did you do it? I did!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This is what I did. I contemplated perfect love as much as possible. This focus included my first thought in the morning, my meditation at noon, my last thought as I fell asleep at night, and focus on the words, perfect love, throughout the day.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Would you like to know the result?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Well, I'm going to tell you whether you'd like to know or not. ~wink~</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It seemed to me that everything went perfectly perfect throughout my entire week. I believe the focus on perfect love brought more into my daily experience due to the law of love. This law of love, in my opinion, from reading the scriptures, is, in fact, the law of faith.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">There was no thing but magnificent experiences, and feelings through out my week. I felt so much gratitude in my heart and soul.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This experience got me thinking about wisdom. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Here in lies my thoughts on wisdom...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Success comes from wisdom. When things go wrong, some people become fearful with anger, anxiety, and/or depression. They tend to complain, criticize, dramatize, while most others focus on solutions. Focusing on solutions is wise, and gives way to success.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Wise, and successful individuals have a habit of producing solutions. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The most successful people I know are calm, charitable, compassionate, confident, cooperative, kind, loving, and understanding.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The successful people I notice are not a prisoner of problems but a producer of solutions.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The solution to destress, i.e., relieving anger, anxiety, depression, and despair is the law of faith. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The law of faith is, in fact, the law of perfect love. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18, New Testament, Holy Bible, KJV</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Fear is the opposite of faith! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">If there is no fear in love, then love must be faith!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I sure wish I knew this much earlier in life. I could have, and would have been a much better person. But, it's alright, because all of my history has brought me to where I am now. This now has me more in love than I have ever been.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I'm just a woman in this fantastic world, doing spiritual experiments, and it really, really, really helps me pay attention to my life.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I'm paying attention to my business, and that business is between God, and me. God is love, and so I pay attention to love, and me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The more I do this, the more God shows himself to me. Even if I didn't believe in God, I've always believed in love, and I am learning what perfect love is.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Just thought I'd share my ramblings of success with my experience <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/09/are-you-seeking-spirituality.html" target="_blank">seeking spirituality</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Have a wonderful day, and rest of the week my dear, kind, lovable, loving reader...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Speak soon...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Stanfill/e/B00BBXMAYE?ref=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000" target="_blank">Elizabet</a></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-90498721390992665982020-09-07T18:51:00.001-07:002022-02-16T21:07:24.739-08:00Are You Seeking Spirituality?<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Hello there, my dear reader!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">How are you doing today?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Did you meditate?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I have a prayer in my heart you read my last post, <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/would-you-meditate-for-million.html" target="_blank">Would You Meditate for a $Million$</a>, and you began or renewed your commitment to meditate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">If you haven't read it, you can by <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/would-you-meditate-for-million.html" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I believe, with all my heart and soul, if a person is seeking spiritual things, a person can, and will get there faster if they meditate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Do you know the greatest commandment in the law given by Jesus the Christ?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In the book of Matthew, from the Holy Bible, a lawyer asked Jesus what was the greatest commandment in the law, in which Jesus replied, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." ~Matthew 22:37-40, New Testament, Holy Bible, KJV</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Do you believe in this commandment?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">If so, do you live it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This is actually quite brilliant because love is spiritual. If we love, we appreciate, we have compassion, we are cooperative, and we want to learn, and listen to understand. These ways of being, which are the fruit of the spirit, which is who we really are, leads to happiness, joy, and vitality. Therefore, love and spirituality are genius.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Isn't it true?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I do not know about you, but for me, I have always sought spiritual things the best I know how. As I continue to seek more and more, I learn so much from what I observe, and read.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I've been reading the scriptures, literally, since my son was about three years old, and he is thirty four now. That's a lot of research, and this studying of mine is driven by the desire for spiritual things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I've had the coolest jobs, with some pretty amazing titles, and they were plenty of fun. I've obtained education and certificates that are, in my eyes, quite impressive to myself, seeing how I never thought I was smart enough to accomplish them. I've had great health, and magnificent relationships throughout my life but none of it could, or would have happened if I was not on this path of pursuit for the divine. The best part is the ineffable happiness I feel when I am connected to God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I am not, by any means, at one with Heavenly Father all of the time, but I try to be much of the time with increases in that relationship. This, I believe, is all possible because of my desire for, research in, and studies on spiritual things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The greatest commandment, in the law, is probably the most important thing we can live when we are on a quest for spirituality. So, the question is, how does one live this great law?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">That is an excellent question!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Maybe you believe you already live this law. Truly, no one but Christ has lived it fully. Therefore, we must continue the obtainment if we're looking for an even more transcendental experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">What does it mean to love the Lord</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We should probably discuss what love is first, mustn't we?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There are scriptures indicating what love is, especially perfect love. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." ~1John 4:18, New Testament, Holy Bible, KJV.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Fear comes from the human conditioning of competition; a you against me type of thinking, and creates anger, anxiety, and depression.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Perfect love comes from a cooperation; a you and me type of thinking, and creates calm, confidence, and happiness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Perfect love is a synergy with God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Cooperation with God is truly living the commandment of love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I try my hardest to talk and walk with God, always! The reason I do this is because that is what a loving daughter does, and it gives me inner peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Unity with God, and living with inner peace is what this life is all about.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Working with God leads to enlightenment, and is achieved by practice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There are three stages in life and they are innocence, adolescence, and enlightenment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">As we mature we teeter back and fourth between innocence and adolescence, and adolescence and enlightenment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Innocence is a spiritual being growing, and learning through this human encounter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Adolescence is an angry, anxious, and competitive attitude with others, learned from the human experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Enlightenment is a calm, confident, connection to God. Some people are lucky enough to be trained up this way, and some suffer and struggle much before they reach this height. Then there are those that seem so far from this stage, it is difficult to ever conceive of them getting there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Yes, I ramble! Ha!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But it's okay because there are so many people seeking a connection to God, and an inner peace that comes from self research on spiritual things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">If you are seeking, and I can point you in the direction of more spirituality, while I am walking this path myself, I am grateful for the opportunity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But first, you gotta meditate!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Well, that's a fib really because you don't gotta do anything but! If you do meditate, you will get there so much faster. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Trust me on this!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This is all leading to contemplation, focus, and meditation on the love part of the great commandment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Contemplation, focus, and meditation on perfect love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Are you ready?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In our <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/would-you-meditate-for-million.html" target="_blank">daily meditation</a>, at the same time everyday, let us contemplate, focus, and meditate upon perfect love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">To give you an idea of what this looks like, I am reminded of a young, innocent boy, who would talk to me with love, in the midst of pointing out my inaccurate view of reality. When my son was but a toddler, he would put both his palms on each side of my face, with love, and explain to me how my view of others was a little off. I listened to him because I love him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Adolescence, the competitive stage of life, does not listen, because an insecure person values being right. This being right, is the very essence of what a person may believe his or her value and worth are. This person, who needs to be right, has a closed mind to evidence. This is the opposite of self love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">To love is to learn, and listen, with compassion, for evidence of the truth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The reason I give this example is because I was that very competitive, insecure individual, much of the time. Sometimes, that person comes back to haunt me. But, I do not want to be that person because, although she can hurt others, she harms herself more than anyone else.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">When you love yourself, you have an open mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">When you love yourself, you learn by listening to understand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">When you love yourself, you have no need to compete.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">When you love yourself, you feel safety and security.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">When you love yourself, you can and will discover what perfect love is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">When you love yourself, God abides in you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Appreciation and compassion are the truths that can and will bring an individual to this perfect love we are meditating upon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Our mission, should we choose to accept it, is to <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/would-you-meditate-for-million.html" target="_blank">meditate</a> upon perfect love, in our <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/would-you-meditate-for-million.html" target="_blank">daily meditation</a>, set aside at the same time everyday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Contemplate, focus, and meditate upon perfect love and learn, by listening for guidance and inspiration towards understanding.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Love shows me great things, and I pray it will show you more spiritual things too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">That's all I got...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">My rambles and repetitions on seeking spirituality...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Big Hugs...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Speak soon...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Stanfill/e/B00BBXMAYE%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share" target="_blank">Elizabeth</a></span><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-77691090930061368402020-08-30T18:19:00.001-07:002022-03-13T20:49:26.719-07:00Would You Meditate for a $Million$<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Hey hey! How are you doing today?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I hope and pray you're calm, confident, and chilling out, it's what destressing is all about.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Got a question for you! Would you meditate for one million dollars?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">If I told you I'd give you one million dollars, if you meditated for one year, would you do it?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">What if you had to set aside the same time every day for thirty minutes and just quiet your mind, focus on your breath, and heartbeat. Would you do it for one million dollars?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I’d bet you'd do it. If it only takes thirty minutes out of your day, and you just have to sit there listening to your breath, and feeling your heart beat, anyone would probably do it. How hard could it be for a mere million?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I’m pretty sure that if I offered that to anybody they would do it.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Why would they do it? They would do it because they believe that a million dollars would make them happy. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Everyone is searching for happiness.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Why do you suppose people are searching for happiness? Is it because misery is so draining and unwanted?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">It is my humble opinion that we want happiness because it relieves misery. It is also my humble opinion that we want happiness because it brings an inner peace.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">What if you cared about yourself, believed in yourself, and you loved yourself enough to meditate for thirty minutes at the same time every day to bring you inner peace?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">There are two reasons, I believe, most recently, I am living a life with inner peace. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The first reason is my desire to know God, and my faith in God. That desire and faith brings me to my knees every morning, when I wake up, and every evening before I retire for sleep. That faith has guided me to read my scriptures, and to learn about God, Christ, and life.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The second reason is my faithfulness to God has brought me to meditate. This meditation, which I’ve been doing for twenty one years, has brought calm, confidence, a quiet mind, and a relaxed body. This meditation has allowed me to discern, and observe my behaviors and beliefs, and leads me to my connection to God. This connection gives me magnificent cooperation with life, and with others.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">This connection to, and cooperation with God brings me to a place of being the person I had no idea I could ever be. This person, that I am today, is the exact opposite of what I was the first part of my life. I was angry, anxious, depressed, and wallowing in despair.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The opposite of what I was, is the fruit of the spirit. I am not perfect but, I practice what I believe, trying to make better habits into permanent behaviors.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">If I could see the world through God’s understanding, I could and would see everyone with compassion and love, all of the time. This understanding leads to knowing we are all imperfect, and on our own unique individual path. I believe in this compassion and love, with all my heart, and my desire is to behave like I believe it.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">My old desires were to change the world. My new desires are to change my world, which is between God and me. With this new me, the spiritual me, I am able to lift and love the environment in which I stand, the people I am with, and me.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">This is worth more to me than one million dollars a year.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Are you opposed to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G56AqZuUzPk&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">meditation</a>?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If so...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Would you allow me to persuade you to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G56AqZuUzPk&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">meditate</a>?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Do you <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/creating-energy-over-exhaustion.html" target="_blank">believe in yourself</a>, and that you are capable of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G56AqZuUzPk&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">meditating</a>? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Do you want to increase your faith in and connection to God, and <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/leveling-up.html" target="_blank">lift yourself</a> more? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Yes!?! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Meditation is probably one of the most valuable habits a person can develop for an increase in life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Besides connecting to God, and creating a habit of inner peace, meditation can, and will replace the human habit of hurry and worry?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Meditation is essential for self control.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The self control I am talking about is calm, confident, cooperative, and thoughtful behavior. Self control is part of the fruit of the spirit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The opposite of self control is lack of impulse control. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Lack of control over the mind, leads to anger, anxiety, depression, despair, hurry and worry. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A quiet mind is a controlled mind, and leads to governed emotions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Lack of control over the physical senses, leads to addictions like alcohol, food, and inappropriate, and unhealthy conduct.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Meditation is all about destressing yourself from the troublesome human conditioning into the peaceful spiritual nature. This harmonious spiritual nature I am talking about, is <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/leveling-up.html" target="_blank">who we really are</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Through meditation we can discover <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/leveling-up.html" target="_blank">who we truly are</a> and, what power we precisely possess.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Have I convinced you about meditation?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Have I talked you into an assignment, and/or a recommitment?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Our new assignment, our mission, should we choose to accept it, is to pick a time, the same time every day, to sit and relax the body and mind, for five minutes. The only thing we have to do is focus on the breath going in and out of the lungs, and feel the heart beat.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Focusing on the breath and beat of the heart, is life. Therefore, we are focusing on life. Pretty cool eh?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">This assignment is not for four days though.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">This assignment is meant to begin at five minutes for four days.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Then to ten minutes for the next four days.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Then fifteen minutes for the next four days.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Then twenty minutes for the next four days.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Then twenty five minutes for the next four days.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Finally, thirty minutes, everyday, at the same time, and for the rest of your life.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Can you see how this will enhance your life as you get older?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Can you see how a still mind connects you to God, governs your behaviors, and allows more, of being the person you ultimately desire to be?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Whatever we practice we can make permanent, and eventually become perfect at. It is a science! Practice makes permanent habits. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This is living by desire.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I've always known that God is real.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I attended church every Sunday, read my scriptures everyday, and continue to pray all day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I endeavor to talk and walk with God. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I'm learning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I'm listening more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I love more than I ever thought possible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This learning, listening, and loving has given me great understanding.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I am but an infant, maybe a toddler, in comprehending spiritual things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Just a meditating girl, learning spiritual things, in a human world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The best part for me, is the guidance, and inspiration I receive by being still on a regular basis.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This guidance and inspiration comes from a calm, confidence, and a relaxed body and mind. This gives me feelings and thoughts of safety and security in most circumstances. This is absolutely miraculous because I use to be the opposite.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If I can quiet my mind, and relax my body, on a regular basis, for years, anyone can. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Trust me on this one!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It is so worth the spiritual expansion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I believe in myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I believe in you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I know that I am love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And I know you are too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If you do not believe and know this for you, and want to, please accept the mission.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">God bless you my dear sweet reader. I know you are there. God guides me and inspires me to write these words for you. I believe, with all my heart and soul this is true.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Enjoy your week...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And your new commitment...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Or recommitment if you already meditate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Big Hugs...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Stanfill/e/B00BBXMAYE%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share" target="_blank">Elizabeth</a><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-650888263774597842020-08-23T20:42:00.001-07:002020-08-30T18:01:31.797-07:00Crazy Me!<span style="font-size: large;">Hey there!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">How are you doing today?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm hoping and praying for you, and that you are enjoying life!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Someone sent me this old post of mine, and I found it funny. It's funny because it's pretty much who I am. The words I write in my blog posts only show a glimpse of me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Thought I'd link it so you could read it if you'd like to. It's titled "<a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2011/11/am-i-crazy.html" target="_blank">Am I Crazy?</a>" It is a post I wrote back in November of 2011.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm posting it here because it's funny to me, it has an exercise for you, and I worked seven days this week, so I missed writing a fresh new post.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here it is... "<a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2011/11/am-i-crazy.html" target="_blank">Am I Crazy</a>?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hope it makes you smile!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy your week my dear reader.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Big Hugs, and Prayers that you are living a life of focus on love, and joy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Stanfill/e/B00BBXMAYE?ref=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000" target="_blank">Elizabeth</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">You can subscribe to my blog at the top, if you'd like to... You'll get an email when I post. That's it!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-41902351750869902962020-08-16T13:16:00.001-07:002022-06-29T08:52:49.725-07:00What is Love?<span style="font-size: large;">Hey, hey! How are you doing today?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hoping, and praying for your calm, and confidence.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In my last post, <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/leveling-up.html" target="_blank">Leveling Up</a>, the spiritual experiment was the contemplation that we are love. If you didn't read it you can by <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/leveling-up.html" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Did you do the experiment? I did. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It really got me to think about what love is.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the first things that came to my mind is the scripture about charity, because charity is the pure love of Christ.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth:" ~1 </span><span style="font-size: large;">Corinthians 13:4-8, Holy Bible, KJV</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Long verse, but full of information.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Think on when a child is born, is not all of the above true for many years of life, until a child becomes acquainted with fear, the opposite of love?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fear promotes competition, and is a conditioning of the human existence.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Fear provokes the stress response, and creates insecurity, the opposite of confidence.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Fear is like hate, and faith is like love. Faith and love are the positive aspects of behaviors and beliefs, and fear and hate are the negative aspects.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There are some people who never hate. Can you believe that? I observe people like this all the time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There are some people who rarely love. These individuals are looking for things to hate because that is what they do.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I discovered I do not want to be looking for things I hate, quite some time ago, and that is why I never say, "I hate..." fill in the blank. I rather say, "I don't love..." fill in the blank. Thoughts and words have power, and I am trying to train myself to use my thoughts and words for my individual power.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There are several words that I have eliminated from my vocabulary, some time ago, because of the destructive power.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Another scripture that came to my mind, as I contemplated that I am love is 1 John 4:16, Holy Bible, KJV. "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">God is love, and love is God.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This, my dear sweet reader, is our connection to the Divine. This is our connection to God. Love is, in fact, God. Love is spiritual.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Not only is love spiritual, it is brought on by our mind. If we contemplate, focus, and meditate upon things, as we have been doing, we create a life of more love, and a life of more spirituality, which is connecting to God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love love.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I want to think thoughts of love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I want to believe thoughts of love.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I want to behave from thoughts of love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Although I am far from perfect, I shall practice each and every day because I feel the leveling up to enlightenment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you are like me, and you want to level up, and lift your life, and love, let us continue in the spiritual experiments.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What do you say my dear sweet reader?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">New spiritual experiment.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This one has to do with learning, and listening to understand. The understanding is, we truly are okay where we are. We have to be okay. This doesn't mean we don't want more. It means it's okay to be okay, and it's okay to want more.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The opposite of being okay is not being okay, which basically kills the joy of the journey. What if a person's focus is so intensely on what is wrong in life that he or she cannot be okay? Does he or she have the power to practice focusing by desire? Focusing on what is good and right? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Every functioning human has the power to focus by desire but, not every person has the belief he or she can. This lack of belief in the self can be overcome.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I want, with all my heart and soul, to feel the love God, and life, has for me. How about you? If you have that desire in your heart and soul, like me, here in lies an affirmation, contemplation, focus, and meditation.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"I do not need anyone, or me, to be better, and I do not need to beat anyone, or myself up verbally." It's our affirmation for this week, to a path of more love.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This may seem too simple but, it is extremely deep. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe you are dramatic, and maybe you are not. Maybe you don't even know you are dramatic or not, but do this experiment, and you will find out if you are.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Drama leads to chaos.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Calm, confidence, and inner peace leads to clarity.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our mission, should we choose to accept it, is to contemplate, focus, and meditate on the affirmation, </span><span style="font-size: large;">"I do not need anyone, or me, to be better, and I do not need to beat anyone, or myself up verbally."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Remember, it has to do with learning, and listening to understand. The understanding is, we truly are okay where we are.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Love is the truth! Understanding this love, and who we really are, is the truth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That is all...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Big Hugs to you my dear sweet reader.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you so much for traveling the journey of enlightenment and leveling up with me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Have a wonderful week of unconditional love.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Stanfill/e/B00BBXMAYE%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share" target="_blank">Elizabeth</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">ps Amazon is featuring my book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBL8KS6/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00BBL8KS6&linkCode=as2&tag=destressyours-20" target="_blank">How to Destress Via Stress Test & Stress Relief</a>, for free today, Monday, August 17, 2020. You can get your free copy by <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BBL8KS6/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00BBL8KS6&linkCode=as2&tag=destressyours-20" target="_blank">clicking here</a>. If you'd like to give me a lovely review, I would really appreciate it.</span><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-12736247403071279182020-08-09T19:41:00.007-07:002022-09-18T20:30:47.485-07:00Leveling Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Hello! Hello! My dear reader! How are you doing today?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I hope and pray that you are doing okay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">That picture above is a lovely memory of my son and me on his sixth birthday. It was a surprise party, and it was so heavenly to see his reaction when he was greeted by all his family and friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">What an incredible moment I shall never forget.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This young one of mine taught me what pure unconditional love is. Do you know that children are pure unconditional love? Sometimes they stay that way, and occasionally life teaches us how to put conditions on our love, especially for ourselves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">In my last post, <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/creating-energy-over-exhaustion.html" target="_blank">Creating Energy Over Exhaustion</a>, I discussed how love and joy create energy, and hate and misery take it away. You can read it if you haven't by <a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/creating-energy-over-exhaustion.html" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I invited you to do a spiritual experiment with me in this recent post. Did you do it? If not, that's alright. If so, how'd it go?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I did the experiment and discovered that I became more aware of two things. First, I became aware of thoughts that indicated I did not, in fact, believe in myself in certain situations. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">This is very enlightening because I think I have great confidence.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Second, I found myself considering the truth of who I really am. Intellectually, I believe that we are all love, unconditional love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Do you believe that you, we, are love?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I believe it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I say this so often.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">When we are born, we are this cuddly little baby full of love from God, and then life, parents, teachers, and society show us we are loved based on conditions.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">When we are born, we are pure love all the time. Then human conditioning shows us, through approval and disapproval from others, that we are loved when we do the things that please others and not treated as such when we displease others. This conditional admiration teaches us a new behavior that is not a part of us. Hence, the human conditioning of emotions toward hate. All emotions move towards one of two categories; faith or fear, and the scriptures teach us there is no fear in love.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large; text-align: center;">"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." ~1 John 4:18, Holy Bible, KJV</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The reason I found myself contemplating this is that I know that we are love. I believe this is the truth, and I know it about me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span>So why do I not believe in myself in certain circumstances and situations if I know </span>the idea explained above?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Crazy, I know... It's my uniqueness.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It's my humble opinion that human training taught me to put conditions on believing in and loving myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Do you believe you put conditions on how and when you believe in and love yourself?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">You are love! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Love is the truth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Think about the opposite, hate. Hate is a taught behavior from thoughts of competition, you against me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Think about love. What does love bring to this world and to your world? What does love give to the person you are with and your environment? Love lifts. Love heals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><span>What does hate bring?</span><span> Hate lowers. Hate hurts.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">What if we considered the truth for a couple days? The truth is that we are perfect, unconditional love. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Love feels great! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Love feels like faith and fun. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">If you don't want to consider love a focus, try asking yourself and meditating upon the truth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">What is the truth about you? Perfect love, maybe? It definitely is not hate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Unconditional love has no hate! Conditional love has hate when one does not love. Think about that!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">This may seem abstract to you, and if it does, it's alright. The purpose of it is to contemplate, focus, and meditate on the desire for spiritual things. Obtaining and living for more spiritual life is leveling up!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">If we are not choosing our thoughts, we are not actively choosing our actions, behaviors, and beliefs. We can leverage our habitual thinking by pointing ourselves to higher ideas rather than lower ones.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I don't really know how else to say that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">We are living spiritual lives by desire, or we are living human conditioning by default.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Your mission, our mission, should we choose to accept it, is to ponder, often, at the forefront of our mind, the truth that we are, in fact, love, or just contemplate what the truth is for you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It's just another spiritual experiment for leveling up in life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Here's to another successful week of love and feeling good. Feeling God!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">God bless you, my dear reader.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">God bless you with faith, patience, and trust.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Believe in God, wait on Him, and trust Him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">He will strengthen you no matter what you are going through. When we know this and live this, we know our power, value, and worth. If this isn't leveling up, I do not know what is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Love, love...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2011/03/you-are-lovable.html" target="_blank">Elizabeth Stanfill</a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">If you love what you read here, you may find my books by clicking, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Stanfill/e/B00BBXMAYE" target="_blank">books by Elizabeth Stanfill</a>.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613359141845270284.post-571525532385120422020-08-02T19:39:00.010-07:002022-09-19T10:00:20.624-07:00Creating Energy Over Exhaustion<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>Hello! How are you doing?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I hope and pray you're doing okay!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I hope and pray you are doing okay because I know what a life full of anger, anxiety, depression, and/or despair can feel like, and I don't want anyone to experience it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">There are people I talk with whom experience deep despair. After listening to their story, it is, quite often, easy to help them face the direction of healing. This healing I am talking about is moving toward energy, love, and joy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Love and joy give energy, and the opposites, fear and despair, take it away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I'm learning that most people will endure exhausting times of fear and despair. Some individuals remain there for quite some time. My humble opinion is that those who stay there do not know the way out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I have seen the most miserable people become the happiest and the most successful people become the worst individuals. Things happen in life, and it causes leveling up or leveling down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In my humble opinion, we all go up and down, but some go really high or low. Whereas some individuals' ups and downs seem minimal.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A fundamental key to leveling up is believing in the self. Whether a person believes in God or not, if they don't believe in themselves, that individual won't think a thought in his or her favor. This can cause a rut.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Anyone can search for instructions on how to be the most successful person in their world, but if they don't believe in themselves, there is less likelihood of self-initiation in training.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">When a person does not believe in himself or herself, the mind is closed shut to any kind of guidance or help to live a life of love. A life of love gives energy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Love is the most powerful energy in the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">God is love. It says so in the scriptures: "When we abide in love, God abides in us."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Think about it for a minute. Have you ever been in love? When anyone is in love, the energy and happiness are through the roof, is it not?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A life of love is all about focus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If a person is unhappy and asks me for help, I always point them in the direction of focus. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">You could have twin brothers or sisters, one is very happy, and the other is miserable. What is the difference? Habitual focus is the difference. Same home, family, lifestyle, and environment, just different habitual focus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">People who are in the past, or are afraid of the future, and/or have given up on themselves, i.e., don't believe in themselves, create exhaustion. It is absolutely exhausting to live without love for others and yourself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Why am I rambling about energy versus exhaustion? Because it takes energy to sustain a life of love during stressful times. Stress is exhausting. Anger, anxiety, depression, and despair are exhausting because they are stressful habits of focus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I've listened to people who've told stories of past sadness and/or trauma. These individuals have sometimes said the same story for years, on occasion, a decade, or decades. This rehashing may keep them in a place of despair for several reasons.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">First, telling an unsuccessful story that happened in the past, over and over, beats the self up by the constant reliving of the unwanted. That person is literally verbally abusing him or herself. Why would anyone do that? Because they don't know better. (Partly why I do not believe in therapy.) My opinion!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Second, if an individual is so stuck in the misery of the past, he or she cannot enjoy the present moment. This is not only confusion but a distorted view of reality. It's not normal to repeat a story from ten months, or ten years ago that will bring anyone down, especially the self. Doing this ruins the moments of life and kills the goal of enjoying the journey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Thirdly, when anyone behaves by default regularly, he or she gives up his or her power, value, and worth. The person who knows how to direct thoughts by desire stands in his or her power, value, and worth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Finally, it's exhausting. The self-abuse, inability to enjoy life and lack of power, value, and worth create and sustain exhaustion. Emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual exhaustion manufactures burnout in life, which leads to despair.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It's not normal to live in the past! Living in the regret of the past is so very draining.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It is absolutely normal to believe in yourself! Living with a life of focused, organized, and productive thoughts for the self gives magnificent love and mighty energy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I'm rambling, I know!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It's just that I talk to people who want help, and some get the focus by desire, and some don't. Some people come back again and again for the support and sometimes get it little by little, and that's actually okay. Little by little is how we level up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Leveling up to a life of love gives glorious energy, and it takes focusing on desire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A life of anger, anxiety, depression, and/or despair, all states of fear, is exhausting. If a person believed in themselves enough to think a thought in his or her favor, he or she could and would move towards more energy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">What is the thought a person could think in his or her favor?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It's simple...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">"I want to believe in myself!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This statement is a thought of desire for the person who would like to not only believe in himself or herself but to increase energy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Ridiculous?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">All persons have a mood of their mind. Some have confidence, some have self disdain, and some teeter back and forth between the two. Faith, and disgust, both come from behaviors, which come from beliefs, which come from thoughts that we keep thinking. The ideas that we keep thinking about create our reality. Like the twins I mention above.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If you are exhausted from stress, anger, anxiety, depression, or despair, why not try a spiritual experiment with me?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Affirm, contemplate, focus on, and meditate upon the thought, "I want to believe in myself." Let it consume your thoughts. Do it for at least four days. And if you are brave enough, for an entire week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I'll do it too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Repeated thoughts and words have tremendous power to level up or lower down. This experiment is meant to lift and dispute any thoughts of fear of the future or unwanted stories from the past that you may have been thinking about for too long.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I'm not asking you to ignore anything. I'm not even asking you to fake it until you make it. I'm suggesting a change in focus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It's a spiritual experiment to assist in leveling up energy and life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I'm rooting for you! I only want to point myself and anyone else who may wish for it in the direction of energy, love, and joy. I believe this will develop more confidence, cooperation, happiness, and health.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Let's see how it goes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Big Hugs, dear reader. I appreciate you. I truly do!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Speak soon...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.destressyourself.com/2020/08/leveling-up.html" target="_blank">Elizabeth Stanfill</a> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If you love what you read here, you may find my books by clicking, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Stanfill/e/B00BBXMAYE" target="_blank">books by Elizabeth Stanfill</a>.</span><br /></div>
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