Maintaining Your Spiritual Balance in an Unsteady World

Is the present state of the world overwhelming you? Does the uncertain economic future seem frightening?

Lately, the world often seems to be falling apart in front of our eyes. Our economic situation hasn't really been dealt with. It seems that we are addressing the symptoms instead of the issue.

As soon as some countries are able to overthrow their brutal oppressors, others appear and fill the void. Unstable countries continue to threaten other nations with nuclear weapons, and the negativity goes go on and on.

Yes, there are good things happening, but at times it seems that the negative always outweighs the positive.

It is easy to feel helpless...to feel overwhelmed by current events, and to feel depressed in today's world.

So how do we keep ourselves from throwing in the towel and just giving up? How do we not give in to the chaos that surrounds us? How do we not let ourselves become numbed by all that is happening? How do we avoid tuning out because we feel we can't make a difference...because we feel there is nothing we can do about it?

There are ways to empower ourselves. There are things we can do to make a difference. But before I speak of these very things, I'd like to speak about why we choose a noble path. Why we choose to not do things the same way as everyone else.

When we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed and fall prey to the drama of the news and others, what message are we sending to our loved ones, our children, our partners? Are we sending a message of powerlessness? What energy are we putting out? Do we really want to drop the ball when it has been handed to us?

So what can we do?

Do we march on Washington, on Wall Street, etc.? Do we boycott products from certain companies or countries? This is an election year, so if we all vote for the right person, that will change everything for the better, right?

Some of these things will have a positive impact, others will not.

Since we all have different backgrounds, cultures, beliefs, economic statuses, etc., it will be impossible for all of us to agree on what measures are needed to help improve the social and economic challenges we face.

But we can all come to a very similar place on the Spiritual platform.

First, we must remember that there is only One, and that One is God. You may have another name for God, e.g., The Divine Mother, Higher Power, Universe, or masculine names such as Allah, Christ, Krishna or Yahweh.

I was once told: Work as if everything depends on you. Pray as if everything depends on God.

So we need to do those things that, as individuals, we need to do. If voting for a certain politician is your individual way, then do so. (But remember that others also have their individuality and it is right for them to vote their way.) If boycotting a product, company or nation is what you feel is right, that's your prerogative. If marching on Washington is for you, go for it.

However, there is one caveat. Everything we do must be done with integrity, nobility and passion, without condemning others for doing what they feel is true for themselves. We need to come from our place of peace, our hearts and not be overwhelmed by what is going on around us.

Meditation

“One sincere person in meditation and prayer does more for the world than all the world leaders, humanitarians and politicians combined.” ~Paramahansa Yogananda

The saints speak the truth.

When we are able to take the time to meditate on God (or names of God), the words of the saints, and go within to that place just behind the heart, we will find the peacefulness we are looking for and that will only increase as we meditate more regularly. The more we meditate and go to that place behind our heart (the heart chakra area), that peacefulness will become more a part of our everyday life and for longer periods of our everyday life.

Remember that meditation is something everyone can do. A teacher once told me, “If you can think, you can meditate.”

Meditation is not about having a blank head or no thoughts. Remember the mind is supposed to think; that is what it does. In meditation, we give our mind something to focus on. Just as water takes the form of the object you pour it into, you, too, will take on the energy of that upon which you focus.

So in meditation, you may think about God in Her forms, masculine forms such as Her names, or maybe a mantra, or a picture of something that reminds you of That Essence of God. Attune yourself to that. When your mind drifts away, which it will (remember the mind is only doing what it is supposed to do, i.e., think), gently bring your focus back to God, in that form you began with.

Another story a teacher told me about meditation is “Trying to stop your mind from having thoughts is like wrestling with a pig in the mud. Two things happen. One, you get dirty, the other is that the pig likes it!”

So the more you attune yourself to God, the more you will be able to be in this world, but not but overwhelmed by it.

If you don’t keep your car properly maintained, it starts to fall apart. It’s just a natural process. With relationships, you have to continue to be present and, yes, give of yourself, if you want to have a happy relationship.

The same goes for maintaining your state of Awakening and Divine Experience. In order to continue to receive Grace, there is Spiritual Maintenance that needs to be conducted on a daily basis.

Prayer

There is an old saying posted on the walls in the meeting rooms of 12-Step Programs: Hit them with a prayer instead of a chair.

Just because someone has different beliefs in politics, the environment, the social agenda, etc., doesn’t mean they are not as true to their own beliefs as you are to yours.

If someone has offended you in some way, to strike back will only cause more pain for everyone. One of the parties has to come to their heart (and away from their emotions) and either do nothing and walk away, or say something from the heart, instead of from the hip.

Whether or not you are able to say something from the heart, praying for the perceived offender will help everyone concerned.

Early on in my recovery, I was told that if I had a resentment against someone and I prayed earnestly for them to find the very peace that I am looking for in my own life every night for 30 days, it was guaranteed that my resentment would fall away. It always worked.

Prayer is so powerful. But foxhole prayers are not as powerful as prayers that come from your heart. Prayers that are sincerely meant…prayers to help us understand that which can’t be understood…prayers for others…and prayers without any gain for ourselves are all especially powerful.

I’m sure most of us have said prayers in groups for certain individuals or for world peace. I have organized several prayer groups for certain individuals at a said time and have had wonderful results.
I hope you will be able to incorporate prayer and even prayer groups as effective tools in your everyday life.

Changing Your Perspective

This is a challenge. It’s very hard to see things differently when we are offended or in pain, but it can be done. It is certainly easier to change your perspective if you have been praying and meditating.

When you experience another person acting out or saying something offensive, try to remember that they may be acting that way because they are in pain, whether they realize it or not. Of course that doesn’t mean you become a doormat. Not saying something will only enable them in continuing that type of behavior. If you can say your piece without challenging them or escalating the situation, that could help them, but you have to use your gut instinct about the situation at hand. It will do no one any good to argue with an arrogant person or someone who is not in their right mind. I think you get the picture.

Sometimes, seeing things differently is simply not reacting right away. A saying to remember is “How important is it?” Do you have to react to everything that happens around you? Right now? Can you stop and try to see the other persons point, or remember that they too are individuals and have their own way of thinking and dealing with situations?

So one of the ways we can change our perspective is by not reacting right away, if you don’t have to. Another way is remembering that maybe that person is in pain and is unable to help him/herself at that moment.

And yet another way is to try and see something good in that person who might be offending you. Try to remember that they, too, have Spirit within.

A good way to start practicing this might be in nature or even at work. If in nature, try to see something new; try to see the beauty about you differently. When you look at a gigantic tree, try to see all that it took for that tree to reach that size, or maybe it’s a waterfall; can you imagine all the little streams and creeks, the melting of snow and all it took to make that powerful water gush down that fall? At work, try to find something that you are grateful for and might not have really considered before. It could be something as simple as a water fountain/cooler.

I encourage you to regularly practice this maintenance regimen of Prayer, Meditation and Changing Your Perspective, in order to attain and maintain Spiritual Balance in an unsteady world.