Guidance for Daily Living
by Donna Thomson
When we get caught up in the material and physical concerns of life the issues can feel insurmountable. It can be hard to see the positives in life, you become stressed, anxious, feel there should be more hours in the day and wonder if the universe has totally forgotten about you and your happiness. Sound familiar?
When our life is based in the material world it's important to have balance and the way to do that is to connect with the universe. It hasn't forgotten you but have you forgotten it? It's amazing the difference it can make to your whole perspective and what seemed like huge hurdles in your life can feel achievable again. You can draw on your strength, make wiser, calmer decisions and feel you have some control over your life again.
Benefits of Connecting
Of course balance is one of the main benefits but here are some other key benefits of taking time out from the material side of life:
More time - How could taking time out of your day away from your material focus possibly give you more time you wonder? Well you can't change a 24 hour day of course, but your perception of time changes. You can feel you have all the time in the world when your stress levels are reduced and you can see the larger picture in order to prioritise and better organise your time. You'll be able to see what is more important and may in fact recognise areas where you can lighten your workload. This leads to the next benefit...
Choices - When you are bogged down in the material side of life you can feel your power is taken away, your choices are limited and you are subject to whatever the world throws at you. Not so! Connecting with your inner self and the larger universe can help you see the many choices you have over your life. Look at the choices you have in regards to your work, family schedule, commitments, finances and so on. Does Johnny really need to attend three afternoons of extra-curricular activity? Can you consolidate your debts and reduce the interest you pay? Do you really need Pay TV, the fastest internet or the latest and greatest possessions? Getting a bit of perspective can help you see choices you didn't think you had.
Inner strength - Perhaps there are big decisions you've put off due to fear of change, e.g. you'd love to do a more fulfilling job or move to a different location. When you draw on the universe it fills you with an inner strength that can help you move forward in life and find what makes you happiest.
Rejuvenation - Dealing with the material and physical side of life can wear you down mentally, emotionally and physically (and of course spiritually). Finding your connection to the universe will lift your spirits, help your mind feel sharper and clearer and release your body from the tension it tends to hang onto. It's like an all-in-one make-over!
How to Connect
There are many ways to connect with the more spiritual side of yourself and your life. By the way, being spiritual does not mean you need to be religious. Whether you believe in a greater power or specific deity or not makes little difference. Connecting spiritually means finding your inner stillness and connecting with your core being.
Throughout this article I refer to connecting with your inner spirituality and connecting with the universe. While these at first seem contradictory, one being within you and one being outside of you, they are really one in the same. By connecting within, you connect to everything. It's something you will find for yourself when you connect with that side of yourself.
Think about how busy your mind is day in and day out and associate that with the material, physical side of life. In order to connect with your spirituality you need to do something to allow that busyness and chatter to fall away, to become calm and peaceful. Here are some methods for doing just that:
Meditate - At least 10 minutes a day is recommended. Doing this at the start of your day will give you perspective and a readiness to take on the world. It also allows you to deal more efficiently and calmly with the stresses you encounter throughout the day. Meditating in the evening rids your body and mind of any tension and allows you to reflect on your day. There are several meditation articles in our 'Meditation & Relaxation' section that you might find useful.
Listen to music - Find some music that makes you feel calm and relaxed. Ideally it will be instrumental (no lyrics). It could be classical, 'new age', world music, or based on nature sounds. Music can take you to another place, assisting you to release your worries and tensions. You can also use music to relax you while you are carrying out your physical tasks, e.g. work, household chore, etc, just as I am doing right now. As I type these words I'm drowning out the bustle of the household with a relaxation CD...melodic piano and birds twittering combine to give the 'ahhhhh' effect. Very centering.
Spend time in nature - Perhaps you already go for a walk for fitness? Rather than using the time to go over all the things you have to do, let yourself take in your surrounds. Engage all your senses…the smell of the pine trees or jasmine flowers, the heat of the sun on your skin or the feel of the breeze against your face, the colours and textures of the sky, grass and surrounds, the sounds of the birds in the trees. Even if you live in the city, try to find a nearby park you can visit and just sit and take it in. Even taking 5 minutes to sit in your front or backyard brings a surprising amount of rejuvenation and stress-relief. I often sit outside my front door on the grass for 10 minutes and would love to stay there all day but I'd get sunburned!
Eastern methods - There are several practices from the East that combine movement, spirituality and awareness such as yoga, tai chi, karate, kung fu and other martial arts that might suit you and allow you to bring another aspect into your life.
Useful Tools
Sometimes we need a little extra guidance to help us in our daily life, especially when you feel overwhelmed or don't know what to do. The above activities will help of course, but there are also other tools you can use to help you gain clarity and receive input from spirit (inner self, universe). These tools work by allowing your energy (you could see this as your higher consciousness) to give you messages, confirmation and direction that you find hard to connect to in daily life. This assistance can also come from your guides.
Ask - This may sound too simple but if you ask the universe or your guides to help you know what to do in a situation you might be surprised at the outcome. You don't have to hear your guides or receive a specific message from someone who can channel them. You just need to listen to and trust your gut feelings about your choices or direction, pay attention to the little (or big) 'coincidences', and look at the opportunities that come your way. Be open to all your options and try not to cling onto how you want things to happen if that is not life's intention. It just makes it harder on you in the long-term. You'll always receive support even if you're not aware of it. Taking the time to do some of the connecting activities above, such as meditating, will help you be open to this intuitive guidance.
Oracle cards - Depending on the deck you choose, oracle cards are good for guidance of a spiritual nature, advice on emotional issues, relationships or physical decision-making. Drawing an oracle card can provide a message that is very relevant to what you are going through. It may help you clarify something, know what decision to make, or help you focus on the most important aspect of your situation. Your energy will bring the right message to you and the cards are a tool to do that. More information can be found in the article 'Using Intuition with Oracle Cards'.
Pendulum - The pendulum is another tool that uses your energy to help with guidance and decision-making. A pendulum gives you 'yes' or 'no' answers to your questions. More in-depth information can be found in the article, 'Using a Pendulum'.
Crystals - A very versatile tool, a crystal can be used to assist meditation, help you connect with nature, connect with the universe and can even be used as your pendulum or be the theme of you oracle card deck! Crystals assist us because they have their own energetic vibration that works with our own energy. If your head is in the clouds and you find it hard to focus on your day-to-day activities a crystal such as smoky quartz can help ground you. An amethyst crystal can help facilitate your psychic connection, allowing you to receive guidance. Above all, crystals can connect you with energies that remind you that you are not just a physical person living in a mundane physical world. For more information see our 'Crystals & Gemstones' articles.
Journal - Keeping a journal allows you to reflect on many aspects of your life. Writing your thoughts down can help you clarify things more easily than when all your thoughts are swimming around in your head. Ideas and inspirations also tend to come through when journaling and plans or goals can become clearer.
So remember that you are more than a puppet in your life and by connecting with your spiritual self you'll find more peace, perspective and guidance to assist you in your daily life.