lessons are happening quickly and I need to pay attention and listen to the messages I am receiving each day, whether it be through a song, a sign on a car, or from another person. One of the lessons I learned this week (again) was about changing my thinking. As Mother’s Day was approaching, I was anticipating feeling sad and lonely because I wouldn’t be spending the day with my family and I was also concerned about how they would feel, not having dinner and being able to celebrate together.  Even though I had made the choice to follow my heart and move across the Pacific Ocean, this was my first Mother’s Day alone. I was missing my kids and grandkids and feeling very vulnerable, to the point of questioning myself “was this really God’s will for me to move to Maui?”

I realized that if I was “expecting” to feel lonely and sad, that is exactly how my day would unfold. If instead I visualized myself feeling joyful, happy and loved, that is what I would experience. Remember, we get what we expect. I quickly changed my thinking to “I’m open to receiving more of God’s love, Mother Mary’s love, my children’s love and my mother’s love. I visualized my children feeling my love from a distance as I would feel their love across the ocean. I was overjoyed and tears flowed down my cheeks when the flowers arrived on Saturday with a beautiful note that read “Happy Mother’s Day – We all love you, Brian, Timmy, Mary and Jimmy.  I was delighted to talk to each one of my children and 2 grandsons during the day. I had a beautiful mother’s day “as I expected.”

In the morning, I went to Unity Church and cried tears of joy as I listened to the minister talk about his mother’s unconditional love and witnessed a mother and daughter singing a love song to one another. It was so touching as I thought about my own daughter Mary and how amazing she is.  In the afternoon, I went to the ocean, listened to the waves crashing over the rocks, felt the sun and warm breeze on my face and floated down the ocean on my pink tube.  I chatted with a woman in the ocean who told me she lived in Maui in the 70’s when she was young and carefree. I chuckled to myself and thought, “I’m old and carefree and living in Maui.” I asked God to see a turtle and lo and behold I not only saw one turtle but a mother and baby graced me with their presence. The mother turtle even posed for me on the rock (picture below).  I was alone on Mother’s Day, but I didn’t feel alone. I felt peaceful and loved and one with God.

Even though my mother died over 40 years ago, I always miss her on Mother’s Day and long to feel her presence.  Over the years, she has often communicated with me particularly when I hear the song “Honey” by Bobby Goldsboro playing on the radio because her name was “Honey.”   As I drove to the dance on Saturday night, I prayed to either hear that song or see a sign or something with honey on it. I have a CD that I love and listen to every time that I get in the car, but I have never paid any attention to the words. When I began to play it and heard the words “Honey I love you and I don’t want your money” of course, I burst out laughing.  “Honey” never ceases to amaze me how she shows up when I need her.  I felt my mother’s love and knew she was with me.

It is so important to listen to the messages we receive and recently I had another powerful one that I want to share with you.  I love it when my adult children share their wisdom with me and I am able to listen (I don’t always do that.)  I have been sharing with you how I was feeling some anxiety about selling my house, moving to Hawaii full time, and working out the timing of it all. I sent an email to my son Tim and asked for his guidance on a decision I had to make. He immediately responded with his thoughts about what I needed to do.  He could tell that my faith was wavering! At the end of the email he wrote, “Mom, you need to re-read your book!” Hmmm….I was a little taken back and thought that was interesting.

I hadn’t read my book from cover to cover in years. I decided I needed to listen to his wisdom and gave myself the gift of re-reading my book and it was exactly what I needed. I had forgotten how my house sold in 3 days 15 years ago, how God opened doors for buying a house that seemed impossible 30 years ago. I had forgotten how God provided when I asked for money for Bermuda and trusted it would come. It was all there, everything I needed for my faith to be renewed and strengthened. Story after story was a testament of God’s love, answered prayer and how I was provided for every step of the way.

So if you need your faith strengthened and you want to remember how God loves and provides for you, I suggest you purchase my book or if you have the book, re-read it and let the words of God’s love permeate your being, as they did mine.

When I shared some of my concerns and fears about selling my house and moving with my son Tim, he said, “Mom, why wouldn’t it work out? Look at all that has happened to you already with going to Hawaii?”  The light bulb went off and I said, “Of course it will work out, what was I thinking?” That was the problem – my thinking! How easy it is to forget the truth and go back to unhealthy thinking of fear and lack. When I dwell in the past or the “what ifs” of the future, I am not in the NOW where there is peace and love and God.

I am like a “thought detective” and as soon as I become aware that my thinking is negative, I work on changing my thoughts.  I knew I needed to change my thinking if I was going to be at peace and manifest what I wanted. Instead of saying, “it’s going to be a challenge to sell my house in 2 months, it will never sell that quickly, ‘what if’ it doesn’t sell and I can’t move back to Hawaii?”  I needed to change my thinking to:  ”My house will sell with peace, ease and grace at the perfect and right time and to the right and perfect person. I will be compensated the right and perfect price.” That felt so much better. I wrote exactly what I wanted down on paper and put it on my altar. I will pray and meditate with it daily, just like I did before I moved here. I thanked God in advance for the right and perfect person to rent my home and the right and perfect place to live in Maui.  And that is exactly what happened. What you think about, you bring about.

My friend and I were talking about faith on the phone the other day. She asked, “Pat, do you ever get afraid?”  I laughed and said, “Yes, of course I do, I am human” but I wasn’t feeling afraid at that moment.  Little did I know that fear would grip me just a couple of days later and I would wake up in the middle of the night with racing thoughts and my mind felt like a blender that wouldn’t shut off. I know what it’s like to have anxiety, tightness in the chest and a knot in my stomach.  It still amazes me that when a situation occurs unexpectedly and fear grips, my mind goes to the worst scenario, which of course, then causes more anxiety and fear. I am grateful to God when hidden fear comes up because it’s a sign that I need God’s love and healing. I have also been told that Mother Maui will bring up all of your “stuff.”

Thankfully, I know what to do when fear rears its ugly head.  I know how to face my fears and work through them. I have the tools to move me forward that I have been practicing for years. I immediately sat down and prayed and meditated.

Here are my 7 miraculous tips when fear grips.

1.     Slow down and breathe – plug into the power within – meditate, pray, journal

2.     Feel your feelings – welcome in your feelings and don’t judge them or shame yourself

3.     Identify negative self-defeating thoughts and change them by doing affirmations

4.     Remember what God has done in the past

5.     Be grateful – write a gratitude list, focus on what’s good rather than what’s missing

6.     Forgive yourself, don’t shame yourself and love yourself

7.     Let go and let God – surrender, detach and let go on control (and the outcome)

When I sat down to pray and meditate, I felt anxious and fearful about the situation I encountered. When I finished my prayer and did the above steps, I felt like a new person and my peace returned. I know that I am responsible for my emotional and spiritual health and I can choose to stay in fear and let my mind create all kinds of negative scenarios or I can choose peace, trust and surrender. When I wrote my gratitude list, my energy shifted almost immediately. Then, if the fear returns, I repeat the steps over until my peace is restored and I remember the truth of who I am and who God is in my life.

Psalm – “Fear is useless, what is needed is trust.”

Mine Is An Adventurous Heart – Julia Cameron, author of Artist Way

“I choose an expansive life. I choose adventure, freedom, self-expression. I choose self-definition, self-love and self renewal. Life expands or contracts according to my expectations. I expect good and that is what I experience. Viewing the whole, I choose to be interconnected yet independent. I allow the God-force within me to open and enlarge my lens of perception and realm of action. My horizons stretch ever wider as I define my identity in terms of my divinity. I am an adventurer, an explorer, a dreamer whose dreams become true. I embrace the adventure of life. I have courage.”
  

I am so grateful that I listened to my intuition and went on this pilgrimage because it was an experience of a lifetime and I will never be the same. There were many personal messages and healings that I will be integrating into my life over the next few weeks. I met powerful women who have also been called to Maui and are seeking to create community. The high point of the weekend for me was driving up through the clouds to Mt. Haleakala, which is the largest dormant volcano in the world. Haleakala means “house of the sun” and when we reached the top, the sun was very bright and strong. Mt. Haleakala is 10,023 feet above sea level and overlooks all of Maui and we could actually see the Big Island from there.

When we were chanting and standing in a circle at the top of the mountain, the energy was so intense and strong that at one point, I almost fell backward as the energy swirled around me. It was very powerful to kneel in prayer and raise my arms to the heavens, knowing deeply that I am loved and ONE with God. I thought about the disciples and how they must have felt when they were on the mountain top with Jesus and didn’t want to leave the place. I didn’t want to leave either and felt like I was being transformed. Because of this journey, more than ever, I know I am being called to BE here in Maui. Maui has been described as one of the most powerful energy places in the world and my heart expands in humble gratitude that I am here.

Every aspect of this weekend illuminated the power of God and the importance of trusting in divine providence and divine timing in all things. When we arrived at the bed and breakfast on Thursday night, the owner, Sandy, informed us that we didn’t have any reservations. There was a miscommunication and the place was booked for the weekend. Pat and Ellen and I looked at each other knowing that God was in control and trusting it would work out for our highest good. We reminded ourselves to BREATHE! And it did work out for our highest good in more than we could have ever imagined. Sandy graciously called her friends Roslyn and Barry who had a bed and breakfast a short distance away and asked if they had rooms to rent. Yes, they did!

With bags in hand, off we went to our next destination. Our eyes opened wide as we pulled into the circular driveway and sprawling house in the middle of this lush beautiful land. We knew we were being taken care of and that all was well. The house was gorgeous with beautiful rooms, a pool and view of the ocean. Roslyn and Barry were so hospitable and told us that before they moved into the house, they had rented it to a spiritual leader and author Ram Dass for a few years. They also told us the Dali Lama stayed with Ram Dass when he came to Hawaii. Wow, to think I may have been sleeping in the same room as the Dali Lama slept was an awesome thought.

God’s timing is perfect. Two days prior to the retreat, I received an email from a colleague informing me she was going to reimburse me the $250 dollars that I lent her over a year ago for a business opportunity we were both involved in. I sent her several emails over the year requesting to be compensated, but due to her financial status she wasn’t able to pay me the money until now. I had already paid for the retreat when I signed up, but still had to pay for 3 nights for the bed and breakfast. The money came at the perfect and right time and “coincidentally” the bill for the 3 nights came to $260.

Here is another example of how God provides. Last month, I traveled to the Big Island to give a workshop. A couple of days before I went, I received a check in the amount of $332 from the IRS. I couldn’t believe it because it was a refund from 2010 stating that I overpaid them. I wonder how many times that happens. I had a great time touring the Big Island and when I returned, I realized that I had spent almost exactly what I received from the IRS. God is good.

I know that God is my source and provides in ordinary and sometimes miraculous ways. God’s timing is perfect. We are being called to trust our intuition, to go with the flow, live in the NOW, stand in faith and trust in God for everything. It is my belief that God goes before us to pave the way.  Today, the world is being renewed, awakened and enlightened. We are blessed to be a part of the magnificent wave of healing and transformation that is taking place on the earth today.

F E A R  Old meaning – False Evidence Appearing Real

F E A R  New meaning – FEELING EXCITED AND READY

Today, as I was walking to the Ritz-Carlton I noticed a truck go by with a sign on the back window that read “WIDE OPEN.” I thought about it for a minute and even said to myself “I am wide open.” I was on my way back from my walk and spotted the truck for the second time. Now I really needed to pay attention and go within and see what it meant for me. “Where am I WIDE OPEN,” I asked myself.

The first thing that came to mind was: I am WIDE OPEN to receive more of God’s love, abundance, prosperity, happiness, joy, peace, fun, faith, healing, my soul mate, the right and perfect place to live when I move back to Hawaii in September and the right and perfect person to buy my house in Rhode Island. I have come to love proactive thanksgiving – thanking God for what I want before I receive it. Being WIDE OPEN is a choice, a decision to receive more of the Divine in my life. It is knowing that I am deserving and worthy to receive. When I open my eyes in the morning, I thank God for the blessings that will come my way that day. I consciously choose to be WIDE OPEN to spirit and the day’s unfolding. Before coming to Hawaii two years ago, I wrote out a daily affirmation that allowed me to receive this blessing of Hawaii. It was simply “I am open to receive more of God.”

As the week went on, God continued to reveal to me what being WIDE OPEN really meant to me. Being WIDE OPEN puts me in a state of vulnerability and possibility. When I am open, I am letting go of old ways of seeing and doing things, of old patterns that have blocked my growth and dreams-and that can be scary.  Being WIDE OPEN also means that I accept change, especially when I am transitioning into something new in my life and the old is no longer serving me. It is in this sacred place of “waiting” that my trust in God is deepened and strengthened. I believe that nothing leaves my life unless it is time for it and I am ready and open for new possibilities to come into my life. I am learning to embrace the mystery of “not knowing” what’s next and trusting in God’s love and guidance. Daring to be open to change and being courageous is one way to live the adventure of my life and to live my life to the fullest.

Being WIDE OPEN means that I believe that I attract everything into my life for my highest good – and that includes challenges and problems with other people, especially when it is with someone I love and care about. My initial reaction may be to judge or blame the other person for hurting me. But after processing the situation and taking a big gulp, I choose to trust that the experience is for my highest good and that of the other person. Then the peace comes because I am letting go of blaming, judging and making the other person wrong. In other words, I free myself from Victim Land because I lived there for too many years. I know that whenever I judge/blame someone or make them wrong, I am a victim. Now I choose to live in Freedom Land where there is love and forgiveness and peace.

BEING OPEN means I act “as if” I am prosperous, abundant, happy by going to places that I enjoy, wearing things that make me feel good, treating myself to small gifts, pampering myself, getting a massage and spending time in nature. I smile at people and say Aloha and that makes me happy. I “see myself” dancing to Earth Angel with my soul mate and that always makes my heart skip a beat. Several times in prayer this week, I received this Goddess card: “I am dancing my own dance.” I guess I am learning to dance my own dance first before I dance it with another. Most importantly, I watch my thoughts vigilantly and if thoughts of “not good enough” or unworthiness come up, I immediately change them to the truth of who I am as a child of God. I remember that God is my source and that I am one with God.

Are you WIDE OPEN? If not, why not? Do you feel deserving to receive more of God’s love? You are a beloved child of the universe and the kingdom of God is in you and all around you. You are invited to say YES to all that is your spiritual inheritance and Divine birthright. Step into the sunshine of your life, be WIDE OPEN and LIVE.

I AM IN THE RHYTHM WITH THE FLOW OF LIFE – Julia Cameron, Author of the Artists Way

“I accept divine timing in my life. I surrender control of the tempo of my good’s unfolding. I am both eager and patient as my heart is prepared to receive God’s gifts of love, friendship, creativity, and abundance. I trust good is coming to pass for me in perfect timing for my highest good.”

Affirmation a friend sent me this week:

“I am standing in GRACE in the pure bliss of “not knowing” and the sheer JOY of trusting the Universe.”

For several weeks now, I have been thinking and praying about moving to Hawaii to live. One day, I felt peaceful about moving here and then the next day, I felt stressed and fearful. It was disturbing to be waffling back and forth and not knowing “what I wanted.” One evening, while I was driving home from a dance, I  turned off the radio and quieted my mind.  I “went inside” to really get in touch with what I wanted to do. I saw myself in my mind’s eye returning to Rhode Island and living in my condo (which I love) to see how that felt. Immediately, I felt constricted and actually gasped as I put  my hand over my heart. Then, I took a deep breath and saw myself returning to Hawaii to live and I felt expansive, and had a sense of love and openness. “Was this my answer”? I wondered. The next day I met some friends for Easter dinner and said “I am moving to Hawaii in September” just to test the waters and see how it felt. It felt exciting!

I plan on returning to Rhode Island on June 27th for a family reunion on the 4th of July weekend. I spoke with my tenant Carrie Ann and informed her I wanted to sell my condo and asked if she was interested in buying it. She immediately said, YES!” Yikes, another big step on my journey. I know God wants the highest good for the both of us and as we prayed together,  I asked God’s blessing and that this entire process would flow with peace, ease and grace. There are some obstacles that need to be resolved but we are both trusting that God will do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. I would appreciate your prayers in this regard. I reminded her we know a “God of Miracles.”

I heard someone say this week, “We make plans and God laughs.” So “the plan” is that I will stay in Rhode Island for July and August and then move back to Hawaii in September and look for a place to live. My friend Ellen has invited me to stay in her condo on the ocean for the month of September since she will be going to Rhode Island for her grandson’s wedding. I hope God doesn’t laugh and that this is truly His/Her plan for my life. In all honesty, I only want God’s plan and don’t want to be here if it is not His/Her will for my life. That is why this  is my favorite scripture (Jeremiah 29:11) which has been in my heart for years. “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the lord, plans to prosper you. Plans to give you hope and a future.”

I am ready to take BIG STEPS with God for I know He/She will take BIG STEPS with me. This is an “extreme step in faith” for me and I know it’s God’s grace to follow my heart this way. This is the new me that has been reborn, because I lived in fear for so many years. I don’t know why I am being called to Hawaii (other than to BE love, serve and share my faith with others) and leaving my family, friends, home and my business. I am living in the mystery and following my heart rather than my head. To be honest with you, I would never have believed at the age of 65 I would be starting all over again, but I am. I guess I have said YES to living my life to the fullest and living the adventure with Spirit that lies ahead. Every once in a while I ask myself, “Have you lost your mind?” Maybe what I have really lost is the mind that is filled with all the negatives  as to why I can’t do it, shouldn’t do it and why it won’t work. This is a big shift in my thinking because for most of my life I have tried to figure things out and control people places and things. Now, I am stepping off the cliff, knowing that God will catch me, keep me safe and hold me close. For me, it is truly about TRUST – trusting in Divine guidance and love. My prayer is “God, guide me and I will follow you.”

When I feel afraid, I remember the words “If you take big steps with me, I will take big steps with you. If you take small steps with me, I will take small steps with you.”

Science of Mind

“We are completely responsible for our lives. We are accountable for our experiences of life. I create this experience using my deepest wisdom and love. When we operate from the realization of self-responsibility, we are empowered to create an experience of life that is creative, meaningful, joyful and of service to the world. This is our true destiny. I am the only actor in my own experience.”

Today’s Angel Card reading – Doreen Virtue

What Do You Desire?

You now have the opportunity to write the script according to your heart’s true desires. Once you clearly decide upon your true desires and know that you’re ready and deserving of them, they’ll rush into your life as if by magic. This card comes to you because you have been waiting for external signs of what you should do next. The angels say that the answer comes from inside of you. You must decide what you want before anything can change. Carve out time to meditate upon your true heart’s desires, and know that you deserve the best, as we all do.

]]> http://www.simplyawomanoffaith.com/if-you-take-big-steps-with-me-i-will-take-big-steps-with-you/feed 0 http://www.simplyawomanoffaith.com/it-didnt-make-sense-but-i-did-it-anyway http://www.simplyawomanoffaith.com/it-didnt-make-sense-but-i-did-it-anyway#comments Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:34:11 +0000 admin http://www.simplyawomanoffaith.com/?p=2670 Have you ever been in a place where you did something that just didn’t make sense, but you knew you were following your heart rather than your head? Family and friends may have looked at you like you were out of your mind. They may have even tried to control or guilt you by telling you “their truth.” But there was a knowing and a rightness inside of you that you knew you had to do what your heart was calling you to do. It was like you were being “compelled or propelled” to follow your dream no matter what the outside world was saying. I have experienced this in my own life and it took determination, strength, faith and courage to step out and follow my dream. I had to let go of wanting others approval and trust myself that I was following God’s plan for my life.  I have come to understand that others mean well and are not out to hurt me, but they may have not been given the grace that I have been given, and they don’t know what is best for me. I am practicing standing tall in my own truth and it feels good. What are you being called to do that doesn’t make sense but you know in your heart that it is right for you? I am not suggesting that you don’t use your head in this process because you must, but you don’t have to allow your head to come up with all sorts of reasons as to why you shouldn’t follow your heart. I encourage you to trust yourself and step out in faith, trusting that God is guiding you and will open and close doors as you move forward.

As I reflect back over the years on my spiritual journey, I realize how many times I’ve been called to do things that just didn’t make sense, but after prayer and meditation, I did it anyway. For example, at the age of 62, I left a secure good paying job to follow my heart and start a new business as a coach, author and speaker. I would not be where I am today and living my dream in Hawaii if I hadn’t taken that step in faith. It wasn’t easy to do because I didn’t have a husband to rely on financially, as I did previously. I can honestly say that all of my needs have been provided for and often in miraculous ways. So many wonderful doors have opened because I stepped out in faith and trusted in the divine plan. In regards to guidance, my prayer has always been “God, open or close the door for my highest good.” Doors have been closed in my face at the very last minute and at other times, doors have been opened at what seemed like the very last minute too!

Another example was when I wanted to hire Lisa Tener as my book coach because I thought she was the best. Because she was the best, she was also the most expensive. It didn’t make sense to hire her since I didn’t have the money, but after praying about it, it felt right. I called her and said, “Lisa, I am hiring you and I trust the money will come.” That same day while balancing my checking account, I miraculously found $1500 in my account, which is what she charged at the time. I had received a bonus check from my company that I had no idea I was receiving. The timing was perfect!

Certainly buying a plane ticket to Maui before I rented my condo or had to place to live in when I got here didn’t make sense, but I did it because it felt right and I trusted the “knowingness” within my heart. What I am talking about is called faith. We are often called to step out in faith before we have the answers or HOW it will happen. That’s the hard part for most of us, including me, not knowing HOW it will happen because we can’t see what’s ahead. It’s really about trusting God is in control and has our back covered. I have learned that the HOW is God’s work, not mine. I just need to know what I want and to dream big – and that is a process in itself. In my experience it is only after I make the commitment and say yes to what my heart is calling me to do, that the Universe sends me what I need – and at the perfect time. It is after I make the commitment and say yes that the peace comes. I am still amazed that the night before I left for Maui 3 months ago I received 2 unexpected gifts of $5,000. Now that’s God!

I am so grateful for the gift of faith that I can share with you and inspire you to follow your heart, because in following your heart, I believe you are following God. I would love to hear your story of how you followed your dream, even though it didn’t make sense.

I would love to help you move forward with your dreams. Call for a free 30 minute coaching consultation. 401-862-8859. 

Angel Card that I picked today – Have Confidence

“Moving forward does not necessarily require you to have confidence in yourself. Confidence in God is enough, along with knowing that God works through you and with you in all ways. Lean upon the angels if your confidence wavers, and we will buoy your courage and faith.”

The day after I arrived home, as I was taking my daily walk along the oceanfront, I became aware of a strong feeling of “unrest.” “What’s this about?” I wondered. I knew there were some major decisions that I needed to make in my life and I was praying for guidance to be open to what Spirit was calling me to do. As I checked in with myself, I realized something had “shifted” while I was on the Big Island.  The first three months in Maui was about BEING, surrendering and receiving Love.  Although at first, I struggled with just BEING loved unconditionally and not having to do anything, I eventually embraced this sacred space and was truly living it. Now, three months later, it felt like I was being called to do something different – to take ACTION. I also received a Goddess God that read “Leap of Faith – take a risk and put your heart’s desire into ACTION. Your dream will come true. Your chosen path is the right one for you. Heaven supports you fully on your life’s journey. Take action on the realization of your dreams.”My prayer was, “God, Show me what I need to do next.”  In the meantime, I decided to go dancing!

As I was getting ready to send this out, I read an article that confirmed what God was speaking to me about. “It is important that we have balance between doing and being. Being is finding within yourself that space of stillness that is always there, where you can be conscious without thinking. There is a point of dynamic rest within you. It is only when we find that balance within of doing and being that we change the way we act with each other and the environment.” Eckhart Tolle

Many of you know that I love to dance and I realized that I had only danced once since arriving in Maui. I called a friend to ask when the next dance was. It was the next night and nothing could keep me away from it. I went to the dance and danced my feet off and it felt really good. I often visualize myself dancing with my soul mate. Earlier, I had heard God say, “You have to go to where the dancers are if you want to meet one.” Duh!  Not only did I go to the dance, but I signed up for some tango lessons. I also started watercolor painting classes this week. I know it is so important to pay attention to the signs God gives us, as well as to notice our feelings, which are always leading us.

Today I am excited about the next three months and what will manifest. I truly believe that I needed to embrace and be comfortable with the BEING before I could take action and start DOING.  We need both energies to manifest our dreams.  As I continued my walk, I said to God, “I don’t have anything to write about for my weekly blog yet.”  It felt like my mind was an empty slate.  Since the past blogs I’ve written have just kind of flowed out of me organically, I had to trust it would come and it did – just twenty minutes later.

I decided to take a different path on the way home from my walk, and when I heard music from afar, I then noticed a group of people standing in a circle on the beautiful white sandy beach.  Of course, I was curious and as I got closer, I saw the bride and the groom exchanging their vows. I stopped dead in my tracks and watched the ceremony. I was close enough to hear what the minister was saying. As he led the bride with her vows, I closed my eyes and said the same words to myself “as if” I was saying them to my husband. It brought tears to my eyes and it felt really good. When the minister pronounced them husband and wife, everyone cheered! With my eyes still closed, I imagined my children and close friends standing around me and my new husband cheering as well. I felt such love in my heart for my new husband and it felt very REAL.

I believe that we co-create our future through our imagination, fantasies, visions and daydreams. It is not enough to just visualize and use affirmations, but we must feel it as if it has already happened. Everything you think in a powerful emotional state in life manifests. There is not one thing in your life that you did not manifest before you saw it in your mind and had a dream. For years my dream was to live on the water and to visit Hawaii. Today, I am living my dream.  Sometimes, there may be situations in your life that you think “surely I have not dreamed this into being,” but I believe you have.  Whatever you create in your experience is what enables you to grow and become the person your soul longs to be, and sometimes challenges and adversity are what teaches us to turn to God and learn how to receive.  When I look back on the journey of meeting my soul mate, I have had many experiences that didn’t seem like “good” dreams, but I did bring them into my experience to learn more about who I was and who I was capable of being. 

I was amazed at how light I felt after putting myself into the scene of being married and feeling like it was really happening to me. Not only did it feel really good, but I couldn’t wait to get home to write my weekly blog. I encourage you to follow the energy within, pay attention to the signs, step out in faith, trust your life is unfolding according to a divine plan and that all is well, even if it doesn’t seem that way all of the time.  Sometimes your guidance will lead you to be still, to go within and receive, and other times you will be guided to take some action, whether it’s to take a class, call a friend, or something specific your soul wants you to do.  If you listen, you will always hear the answer.

“Where are you living?” I asked. She replied,”I am living in Florida. I came here to take care of my dying uncle and to regroup. I decided to stay here and I love it.” Of course, she didn’t know I was living in Hawaii. As we shared our spiritual journeys with one another and what God was doing in our lives, it was like I was hearing myself talk. She was learning the same lessons as I was about BEING, rather than DOING, living in the present moment, being comfortable with not knowing what was next, trusting the process as it unfolded. We shared how challenging it’s been since we were both over- achievers and DOERS, but the peace and joy we were now experiencing was worth it.

Talking to her was a confirmation that I am doing God’s will and on the right path. This trip to Hawaii is a gift and an opportunity to trust, deepen my relationship to Spirit and learn to BE and receive love. We both knew this was a divine connection and that we were meant to talk to each other and support one another on our paths.

Later in the week, my plan was to give a workshop on the Big Island and visit my friend Eileen. I arrived safely at Eileen’s house on Saturday. The only problem was that Eileen was in ICU on another island suffering from a near-drowning incident and a mild heart attack. I didn’t see her until she was released from the hospital a few days later, and as you can imagine, she was weak and traumatized by the accident. We both knew why I was there at this time; to pray and support her through the healing process. It was like watching a miracle before my eyes as her heart opened to God and the healing began. Within a day, she was feeling better and up on her feet. God knew what Eileen needed before she needed it and provided a way for me to be there to minister to her. We have had a wonderful time together: praying, playing, eating ice cream and touring the volcano, rainforest and other magnificent sites in Hawaii. This trip has truly been a gift to me in many ways and I am so grateful that my workshop was successful and lives were changed.

God knows what you and I need before we know it and need it. What I know for sure is that we can trust the Source of our being. God tells us to “ask and we shall receive” what we want and to trust that it will come in perfect and right timing. Be open and expect miracles to grace you every day, and they will come.

Affirmations

I am in love with the adventure of life

I am choosing to see all life as play

I am sure they have practiced for years to be that good because there were some huge waves crashing over them and it was breathtaking to watch. I thought to myself, “ I am sure they learned to surf on small waves before graduating to the giant waves.” What I noticed is that when  a wave crashed over them and they tumbled into the ocean (which had to be scary), they got up immediately and headed back for the next wave to come. They didn’t give in to fear.

Just like the surfers wait patiently for the perfect wave, we need to practice patience and trust in the manifestation of our dreams – “knowing” deep within us that our dreams will manifest at the perfect and right time. We need to stay in the water of life if we are going to catch the wave – the next opportunity or miracle. How tempting it is to give up and forget our dreams because it is not happening fast enough. We may give up right before the miracle. We must practice by showing up daily for our lives and trusting in a Higher Power.

This is what I learned from watching the surfers that I can apply to my life. I must be patient and wait, trusting that I am right where I need to be and I must believe the right and perfect answer will show up at the right time. I must go within and trust myself that I will know what to do when I need to do it. It may be to stay in a relationship, or a job, or it may be to let go and leave. I have learned over the years that when problems crash over me like the waves in the ocean, I need to get right back up, face my fears and not give up. I know that I can trust in a Power greater than myself to sustain me and support me, no matter how it looks on the outside.

As I look back over my life and the many situations I have encountered, I realized I was more like the surfer than I thought. I know what it is like to face my fear and dive in. I could feel deep within myself when it was time to leave a 30 year marriage, and I needed to come out of denial, face my fear and take those steps towards change, in order to live my dream. Was it scary? Of course it was. I also know that I couldn’t have left one minute earlier than I did. I had to be prepared and ready.  I don’t regret my marriage, but I knew it was no longer bringing me joy and I wasn’t living my life to the fullest. Today I am living my dream and riding some amazing powerful waves.

Are you waiting for the perfect wave in your life like a new job, home, relationship, health, abundance? I am waiting patiently for the perfect wave in my life – and that is for Perfect Love. I thank you God for the Perfect Love that will come to me in peace, ease and grace. I am not willing to settle for a small wave and I am not willing to give up. Like the surfers, I know and believe the wave will come. Do you believe your wave will come?

Right after I finished writing this, my friend Pat and I went into town to the used book store. She was looking for a book for her husband. As we were leaving, I spotted this small book “Surfing” Hawaiian provers and inspirational quotes. This is what I opened to:

“Surfing big waves is all about overcoming fear. Fear paralyzes and fear causes hesitation, and fear is something that we all have…. So every year, if you’re going to surf big waves, you have to go through a process of mentally and physically preparing yourself. The physical part is relatively simple – you have to be fit, you swim, you run. But the mental part is a lot more challenging because you have to revisit old fears and you have to overcome them again.” Jim Howe

“The surfer acquired the patience to wait for things to happen rather than try to make them happen. With each successful ride, he experienced a feeling of spiritual achievement, he came into harmony with nature; and nature, for all practical purposes is God.” Tom Blake

I had a major shift in my consciousness while in prayer this week. Deep within my soul, I knew the reason I was here was to receive God’s love. It seemed so simple and yet profound. I said, “God, do you mean I don’t have to do anything?” “Yes, I want you to experience my unconditional love without having to do anything. How will you be able to receive the love from your soul mate that I have planned for you if you are unable to experience my love completely and unconditionally?” Wow, I knew God was speaking to my heart. It’s been over two weeks since I received this message and I feel an incredible freedom to enjoy the present moment, to be in the flow of the Spirit and to trust each moment and experience to unfold perfectly. I am invited to play in God’s playground and enjoy every moment. This is a gift from God with no strings attached. I don’t have to do anything to earn it.

My daily intention is to stay peaceful, to love and to serve. Last Sunday my phone died suddenly. I went to the Verizon store and they were able to restore it to it’s original state, even though it meant losing all of my phone numbers, pictures and music. I felt grateful that it was restored and I went about my merry way of putting in the telephone numbers again (the ones that I had.) I was determined to stay peaceful, accept “what is” and not complain. Three days later the same thing happened – my phone died! I brought the phone back to the Verizon store, but unfortunately they weren’t able to restore it this time. I needed a new phone and it had to be shipped to me from the company. They promised they would FedEx it overnight. I still haven’t received it, but I’m still peaceful, which is a miracle and God’s Grace! I can’t wait to get my phone back and catch up with family and friends.

My friend Pat said, “Hmm…Pat Hastings is not connected to the world” when my phone died. I immediately thought to myself, “Yes, I am disconnected from the world but I am not disconnected from God” – which is the most important thing to me.

I took my daily walk to the Ritz this morning and felt totally connected to the God within. I remembered I am ONE with the Power and Source of my being and my life. As I felt the wind blowing through my hair, I raised my hands to the heavens and said, “Take me as high as you want me to go, God.” I felt peaceful, grateful, joyful, happy and loved. I realized that I was totally fine with being alone and in fact truly enjoying my own company. There was a time when I would never go to a restaurant alone because I worried people would think I didn’t have any friends. Boy, have I come a long way!!!!!

I am leaving for the Big Island on March 17th for two weeks to visit my friend Eileen from Rhone Island. While there, I will be leading a two hour workshop called “Vision is having Faith in Your Dreams” at the Aloha Center For Spiritual Living. I am very excited about this opportunity to share my faith story of transformation and how I manifested this trip to Maui for six months. As I reflected on my journey since November, 2010 (when I was first came to Maui for two weeks, in September 2011 for a month and now for six months) I realized how much “inner work” I had to do to change my thinking and then to step out in faith and actually move here. I had to be willing to let go of fear, scarcity thinking and not feeling deserving. To think, I am living in Maui when all I had was a social security check, a small pension and a whole lot of faith is truly amazing, even to me.

When you follow your heart, your dream, your vision and you say YES, the Universe takes over and makes a path for you. Never give up hope because it often takes time and perseverance for manifestation and lessons need to be learned. Remember, you are loved and don’t have to do anything to earn that love. There is always more life to live if you have the courage to step out and receive all that God has planned for you. You are worth it and you deserve it. You only have one life to live so live it to the fullest. I am living my dream and so can you. Faith is the answer: Faith in God and faith in yourself.

I have heard from many of you that my newsletters inspire and encourage you. I would love to hear about your journey and how you are living your faith and moving forward.

Aloha

Some affirmations you may enjoy:

I am a magnet for love that draws more of itself to me. I am a mirror that reflects God’s love into the world.

“Happiness comes from quiet contentment, an inner sense of certainty which cannot be shaken. The mind must reach a place where it no longer remembers past anxieties or looks into the future with uncertainty.” Ernest Holmes