| > | | | | person’s intent. I found out later that the person |
| Looking for direction? Not sure if you are being | | | | indeed had a reputation for taking advantage of |
| guided? Spiritual guidance is all around us when we | | | | others. |
| know what to look for. Here are some helpful ideas on | | | | At times, we may not feel comfortable enough to act |
| how to recognize, tap into and work your inner | | | | on the initial guidance given and so we may ask for |
| guidance. There is spiritual guidance all around us
| | | | confirmation. I am always encouraged by the Biblical |
| are you listening for it?Spiritual or inner guidance is | | | | story of Gideon who put out a fleece at night and |
| available at all times, everywhere. It is found in casual | | | | asked for his initial guidance to be confirmed by the |
| conversation, in books that fall into our hands, in | | | | dew falling everywhere except for on the fleece. At |
| "wrong" numbers dialed
always available when we | | | | the appropriate time, the guidance was confirmed. |
| listen. After all, we believe that the Divine presence is | | | | The timeliness of inner guidance became clear to me |
| everywhere, so why would the Divine voice of | | | | while driving home one day. I noticed that someone |
| guidance not be everywhere, too? And so it is, | | | | had posted bright cardboard signs along the road, |
| provided we are not too busy to listen!I find that | | | | directing traffic to a yard sale on my street. There |
| listening to my inner guidance can save a lot of time | | | | were signs posted at all the major intersections |
| and effort. Being goal-oriented, I used to have a | | | | approaching my neighborhood — every place |
| tendency to move ahead without waiting for clear | | | | where drivers had to choose which way to go. |
| guidance. I soon learned that trying to hasten the | | | | I realized that spiritual guidance comes to us the same |
| outcome only inhibits and may even delay the | | | | way — there are always signs to guide us at |
| outcome. When this happens, the wisest move is to | | | | the important intersections in life. When we |
| simply step back from the frenetic activity and to | | | | don’t see the signs we’re looking for, we |
| return to center. From that place of inner balance, | | | | are perhaps just not in need of those directions yet, |
| guidance gently emerges to lead my steps, and life | | | | and we can go with the flow. When it is time, the |
| flows with synchronicity and ease. | | | | necessary guidance will appear!I use a very practical |
| Maintaining neutrality is an important aspect of | | | | method to receive guidance. Whenever I am not sure |
| receiving inner guidance. In kinesiology testing, attitudes | | | | what to do, I say to the Universe, "Just show me what |
| of judgment or skepticism are found to calibrate at a | | | | I am to do here. I’m willing to do whatever is in |
| level that undermines truth and can be destructive. | | | | the best interest of everyone involved. Give me a clue, |
| When we ask for confirmation of guidance, it is | | | | and I will follow." Then I release the situation. I give up |
| important to do so from an attitude of desiring to know | | | | any preconceived notion about how things are |
| and align with truth, and to be detached from the | | | | supposed to turn out, and when I am supposed to |
| outcome. | | | | know. Sometimes the answer comes instantly and |
| When we are open and receptive, we are also more | | | | sometimes it takes a while, but it always comes. |
| inclined to recognize guidance we are given throughout | | | | Spiritual guidance always arrives at the appropriate |
| the day. I have had people tell me how they asked for | | | | time, although recognizing it may require some |
| guidance in a difficult situation, only to have the | | | | adjustment in our expectations. To understand this, we |
| business card of someone who could help, fall from a | | | | can look at the two different words used for |
| wallet. At times, I have asked for clarity on an issue | | | | time in Greek. The first is chronos, which is |
| and when the phone rang a few minutes later, the | | | | equivalent to our concept of time as a chronological |
| caller presented the solution to the issue without any | | | | sequence of seconds, minutes, and hours. The second |
| prior knowledge of my predicament!Guidance often | | | | word is kairos, which can best be translated as "Divine |
| arrives in synchronistic ways, like the humorous | | | | timing" or "appropriate timing." |
| experience I had on a first date. Throughout the | | | | In our culture, we tend to live in chronological time, yet |
| evening, I felt vaguely uncomfortable: my companion | | | | guidance emerges outside of chronos with the |
| was doing and saying all the appropriate things, yet I | | | | synchronicity of Divine timing. When we shift our |
| could not shake a vague sense that there was | | | | perspective away from the linear paradigm of |
| something amiss. I silently asked for guidance and | | | | chronological time, we discover that guidance and |
| clarity. | | | | answers always arrive at the perfect time. |
| Soon after, my companion decided to perform a | | | | When seeking direction, simply ask for guidance. Then |
| karaoke song and as he was singing, the words of the | | | | allow the answer to show up in its appropriate way, |
| song hit me like a ton of bricks:
these boots are | | | | place, and time. If, upon voicing your request, you do |
| made for walking, I’m gonna walk all over | | | | not hear a voice from heaven bellowing, "This is what |
| you! The instant I heard the words, a sense of | | | | you must do!" don’t freak out. Allow for Divine |
| profound clarity came over me and I knew they | | | | timing to deliver your answer at the appropriate time. It |
| expressed a deeper meaning about the | | | | will surely come! |