I’m often drawn to books and teachings centered on Divine Timing and Guidance. I believe in the value of looking at life from the bigger picture. Later in this post I’m going to recommend a great book about opening up to Divine Guidance and welcoming Divine Order into your life.
Have you noticed how much our society, culture, and media perpetuate the believe that life is a struggle? That only through hard (not fun) work or pain and stress can we “get what we want.” Yet we are not here to live a life of struggle! Or mere survival. It wasn’t until I connected deeper with my Divine self, and the inner guidance always available, that I was able to shut out these views and welcome in the flow of the Universe and it’s abundance.
How does Divine Guidance come through in our lives?
One way is through our intuition – often as a gut feeling, vision, or inner knowing. I often receive my best guidance through a flash of a quick vision, as well as through my dreams. Yet it takes an awareness and openness – as well as trust in what you’re receiving.
Here’s an example of how I shut out guidance in my past:
After graduating college I toyed with the idea of moving to LA. I knew I wanted to work in television production and that seemed the logical step to take. Yet my own inner guidance and knowing was telling me that wasn’t the spot I was suppose to be. But I pushed on. I ignored that feeling in my heart and gut telling me that the opposite coast was my calling. I had a hard time even visualizing a life in LA, yet I went as far as to secure three separate living arrangements – on three separate occasions – all of which fell through at the last minute. It took the third blow for me to finally wake up and admit: LA was not meant to be. The Universe was quite literally blocking me. And it was nudging me to go another direction. I’ve found time and time again that when something feels like a struggle, and you feel like you’re swimming upstream, then you’re out of the flow.
So I cancelled my LA move. Feeling defeated, I settled into a waitressing job for a month while I let things flow. I waited – which is often the hardest part – for Divine Order and Divine Timing to guide my next move. What I noticed during that time is I didn’t have a feeling of indecisiveness, but rather a feeling of anticipation. That’s how I knew I was in the right place for the moment. Not by listening to what others told me, not by giving into fear or worry, but by going with my inner knowing. And what do you know – just a few short weeks later I got a call from my college friend telling me she’d accepted a job offer in New York City, and did I want to move there and be her roommate?
I always knew I wanted to live in Manhattan, but a part of me was too scared to admit it to myself or others. I don’t know why it seemed like a bigger move than LA, but at the time it just did. I accepted my friend’s generous offer and a few short weeks later I moved to New York – with no job. That’s a whole other story, but I know that I was meant to move to New York. I learned valuable lessons over the two years I lived there and although it wasn’t a picnic the whole time, I knew the Divine, and my Divine Self were guiding me there all along. I simply had to wait. And listen.
This is why I’m so grateful when someone recommends a book that feeds my love of Divine Guidance. I was lent a copy of Outrageous Openness: Letting the Divine Take the Lead by Tosha Silver – and I loved every page. Books often come into our lives when we need them, so if you’ve found yourself reading this post, maybe your Divine Self is nudging you to read it?
While Silver doesn’t write of anything extremely unheard of, she has a wonderful way of weaving stories together with everyday practicality and ways to apply Divine Guidance in your day to day life. It’s also a perfect book for the busyness of life. Each chapter is only 1-2 pages, and is it’s own little anecdote or lesson. Yet it’s not preachy or specific to any one religion; it’s enlightening and often funny. For me it was a nice quick read to end the day and set an intention for the next day. I was sad to have it end, but have been going back and rereading chapters at random.
As the title implies, Silver writes, “rather than blindly chasing outcomes, (she) taught me to inwardly ask, ‘Let things happen as they are meant to, in the highest way for all involved’. If you ask the Universe to bring what’s right, you can’t go wrong”.
I identified with her references of worrying too much and trying too hard in her childhood and early adulthood. Been there, done that. I also identified with her wisdom about being careful not to let other people’s fears and issues affect your grand vision and flow with the Divine. Some people take comfort in believing life is a struggle and that’s okay. It’s not anyone’s job to change another person. But I have learned I can change my own outlook.
In reference to worrying, Silver quotes Suki James: “Worry is like throwing kerosene on a fire”
When we seek Divine Guidance – rather than worrying and over planning – it’s then our turn to let things flow. Watch and wait for the signs and help to show up in life. Often times the answers are within you and sparks of insight will come to you during a quiet lull in thinking during your day or in a dream. Or a friend or stranger will be the Divine helper sent to you. Be open to it all. And never let fear – your own or someone else projecting theirs onto you – cloud your way.
Silver gives several examples of how to do this, but mostly it comes down to simply asking and being open to receive. No need to overcomplicate it. Something simple such as her statement: “my perfect path is already selected and will arrive at the right time. I’ll be shown the steps to receive it.”
This is not an excuse to sit and wait for your doorbell to ring with answers – action must be taken when the moment feels right. But when it’s guided action, there’s no need to second guess yourself. The stress and struggle is gone and replaced with a feeling of excitement or sometimes simply contentment. “Work” doesn’t have to feel like work. An obstacle in life can be overcome without having to pull all your hair out.
And – fun things can happen when you open up.
What if sometimes the answer actually was delivered to your doorstep?
A few weeks ago I decided we were paying too much for our bug treatment. I wanted something more organic and less expensive, so I posted a note on the NextDoor App – asking neighbors if they had suggestions. People generously poured in there opinions and recommendations. I immediately felt overwhelmed and decided to just let it sit for a bit. I called in Divine Order – stating, “I know the right answer will arrive and I am open to receiving it.” About a week later, I came home to my husband telling me that someone had knocked on our door from a local bug company; they had a less chemically-based treatment, and were much cheaper than our current company. Should we switch, he asked? I hadn’t told my husband I was looking into this – so he had no idea why I thought it was so funny that the answer to my Divine question had literally knocked on our door. I’ve since switched companies and of course thanked the Divine for the help!
This is a small example, but there is nothing too small to call on Divine Order for. Not every act of guidance in life needs to be huge or dramatic. I am constantly asking for help, insight, and Higher Order in my life throughout the day. It’s an effortless conversation and dance I do with my inner self, my guides, and the Divine. I’m never alone. I know I am guided because I’m open to it and I trust the answers I receive.
Sometimes I have to wait for my answer or outcome to arrive…and this can be hard. I think I’m constantly being taught the lesson of patience. I often need to remind myself that some things need to manifest in Diving Timing. Things unfold when it’s best for our higher self and not always in the here and now as we’d like it.
I remind myself of the Jewish-Zen quote in Silver’s book:
Be here now. Be somewhere else later. Is that so hard?
So for now, I hope you’ll open yourself up to more Divine Guidance and ask for Divine Order in areas of your life you feel could use it. Silver states, “moving through the world open to constant help gets easier and easier with practice. Yes, some days it’s much more subtle, some more dramatic. But why not try? You could practice this for a full twenty-one days to let your brain waves reset to the new pattern of thinking. And anyway, if you’re not happy with the results you can always have your cold dog-eat-dog lonely galaxy back, no questions asked.”
Thanks for visiting my blog – I hope you seek out Divine Guidance in your own way!
In gratitude,
Nicki
