Courage

Years ago, at the beginning of this Path called Religious Science, I took a class called "Insight Out." In the class, we were to decorate the folder that would hold the class handouts as if it were a treasure map. Being a wordsmith, my folder had a few pictures and lots of words. One of the phrases I cut out was "Her life was better than most people's fantasies."

And so it is. I have lived in beautiful places, met so many wonderful people, and had great experiences. I have traveled the world, interacted with awesome people, and have had the privilege of participating in many peoples lives. And its not over yet!

All of this came about by my being willing to listen to the Voice Within. Many times I argued with that Voice, and resisted change with every fiber of my being, but did what I was guided to anyway.

People tell me I have a lot of courage. Brian Johnson, creator of the Philosophers Notes, quotes Rollo May, in Courage to Create: "The word courage comes from the same stem as the French word Coeur, meaning 'heart.' Thus just as one's heart, by pumping blood to one's arms, lets, and brain enables all the other physical organs to function, so courage makes possible all the psychological virtues. Without courage, other values wither away into mere facsimiles of virtue."

Brian then writes:

"I love that.
Imagine your body without your heart. Say goodbye to your arms and legs and brain and all your other organs and, well, your life.
Now, imagine your life without courage. All that love and kindness and compassion and creativity and joy and patience we live to express? Gone.
Courage. It’s the “heart” of our psychological virtue system.
Without it, all the values “wither away into mere facsimiles of virtue.”
Powerful way to look at it, eh?"

Rollo May also wrote: "Finding the center of strength within ourselves, is in the long run, the best contribution we can make to our fellow men."

Change is the only constant. Instead of being afraid of it - step into it as a Grand Adventure! The adventures of the body, as well as the emotions of the heart, are here to be experienced, and through that experience, serve our world.

SPIRITUAL MIND TREATMENT

We live and move and have our being in a glorious, infinite field of creative potential. This Field is our Source, and the substance of all It creates. It creates through us.

I rejoice in the awareness of my unlimited potential. I know that as I live from my heart/mind, I have the courage to step out and be more aware of the Divinity that I am and that is all that there is.

My courage opens the way for love, joy, compassion, and I feel good! This feeling good expands into every area of my life, and creates more good, that then expands into the lives of those I come in contact with.

I am so grateful to know these Principles, to be open to following Divine Guidance, and to live the Life I live. I release these words, knowing they are so, and so it is.

Another bit of inspiration from a 200 Street church marquee:

"Courage is fear that has said its prayers."

So many of us are afraid of fear. Because we're afraid of feeling it, we can't help but focus on it, letting it play over and over again in our minds, getting bigger with every repetition, until it becomes so big, we make ourselves sick or attract an accident or some other uncomfortable experience. Yet fear is just a part of the human experience. It is what our ancient brain developed to keep us safe – what propelled our flight or fight experiences.

Today's fear is about the future – Fantasized Events Appearing Real. Once we understand this, we no longer need to let it immobilize us. We can acknowledge it, and move forward.

How do we do that? Preventative maintenance!! We do our spiritual practices – meditation, Spiritual Mind Treatment, paying attention, being grateful, etc., on a daily basis. We refuse to focus on that thing that is making us afraid.

What about when we are in the middle of a fear-filled experience you might ask –a difficult medical diagnosis, a breakup, lack of funds, etc.? If you have been doing your spiritual practices, you already know there is an Infinite Intelligence working for and through you. You can pray and trust! If you haven't been doing them, you can still pray and trust. Courage is fear that has said its prayers. Courage starts in our hearts and this is where Spirit resides.

Blessings, Rev. Angelica

SPIRITUAL MIND TREATMENT

Gratefully I celebrate the powerful Presence that is within us all. It is infinitely intelligent, unconditionally loving, and serves us through our use of the Law of Attraction.

I know life happens as I believe and feel it will. I acknowledge my fear – but do not dwell in it. As I breathe deeply and center myself in God Life, fear disappears. I KNOW who I am, Spirit in form.

I choose health, wealth, creativity and love. The whole experience of The Divine, everything I experience with my senses and more, is embodied in my subjective mind, and as I live my life from a deep centered place, I know Divine Mind is assisting me in wise choices and the release of fear.

How grateful I am that my life is God's Life, and it is reflected in my world. I release these words into the Law of Mind knowing they are so. And so It is.