Pray unceasing (The most powerful prayers)

Pray unceasing is a quote from the New Testament. It is an interesting quote because you already do. Every thought is a prayer. Every thought asks.  If you are grateful to someone, you are expressing a prayer of gratitude. If you dislike someone, you are praying against them.

You can't say to God, or Spirit -- "Well this thought counts and that one doesn't." It all counts.

How might we pray unceasing in a way that is helpful both to ourselves and to others?
First:  Stay conscious of your thoughts. This doesn't mean avoid negative thoughts like the plague. Explore your negative and painful thoughts. Follow the pain inward and see what it is about. Share those thoughts with your Higher Power. Look at them together, non-judgmentally. As you share them, when you are ready,  surrender them. Let them go.

Second:  The two most important and effective prayers are both simple and powerful:
•  Thank you
•  Thy will be done

Keep these in your mind constantly and you will pray unceasingly in a powerful and effective way.

Blessings,
Bill


William Frank Diedrich,
The Road Home: The Journey Beyond The Spiritual Quick Fix. at
http://intelligentspirit.com/catalog.html

"I loved this book's courageous honesty and shimmering passion."  Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Giving up control

Everyone has an ego. It is the false self, your self-image. It lives in fear, reacting in a fight or flight manner throughout the day.

For most people on the planet, this is the only way to operate. How about you?

You have an Inner Voice. It is the Life that lives through you. Prayer is a way to contact your Inner Voice. Not the kind of prayer where you ask or beg for things. More the kind of prayer where you give up things. You give up fearful thoughts and egotistical have-to's. You give up trying to control life and other people. You say "Not my will, but Thy will be done." and you mean it.

This is Spiritual Intelligence. This is living in the flow.

William Frank Diedrich, author of
The Road Home: The Journey Beyond The Spiritual Quick Fix, found at
http://intelligentspirit.com/catalog.html

Spiritual Intelligence, or ego intelligence?

Ego Intelligence:  Life happens to me.  (victim mentality)
or "I make it happen!"  (I am special.)

Spiritual intelligence:  Life happens through me.
I take my hand off the tiller and allow my higher power to steer.
(I am not a victim nor am I special. I am an instrument, a channel,
for the Divine to express through me.)


William Frank Diedrich, author of
The Road Home: The Journey Beyond The Spiritual Quick Fix (11.97)
at http://intelligentspirit.com/catalog.html

"I loved this book's courageous honesty and shimmering passion."  Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

present moment awareness

Where is your attention? Is it on problems, conflicts, dramas?

Spiritual intelligence is having no interest in what the ego has to offer you in this moment and paying full attention to your Inner Guidance. That's where the wisdom is. That's where your purpose is laid out. How many times must your ego fail you before you understand that it cannot lead you effectively?

Infinite times it appears as I look at myself. The problem is automatic behaviors -- not being fully present in a conversation and responding in the same old patterns -- defenses, attacks, posturing, being right, playing one-up, playing teacher, fixing others, pushing a point of view.

I forget to pause, and in that pause, ask for guidance, listen, be present, and then respond. Is it really that important that others know my opinions? Is the present moment so fearful that I must employ automatic responses to get through it?

Most people are not aware that most of their responses are automatic. There are times I wish for that unconsciousness. As I watch myself respond in this way, it is painful.

The goal is to make my after the fact awareness a present moment awareness -- to pause, to ask -- to allow the greater Intelligence -- God, Spirit, Higher Self, to guide and direct.

William Frank Diedrich, author of
The Road Home: The Journey Beyond The Spiritual Quick Fix
http://intelligentspirit.com/catalog.html
Next month my new book: Adults At Work, will be out. Stay tuned.

Seek first

You are either ego driven or "Spirit" driven.
There is no in between.
"Seek first the kingdom of heaven ... and all else will be added."
We are either seeking first or worrying about the "all else" that we need.

The "all else" is important. The idea is to allow yourself to be in the flow of life;
to move forward with confidence; that if you trust; what you need will show up.
This has little to do with religion and everything to do with where you focus your attention.
In the flow, life unfolds as it will.

There are miracles every day if you let go and notice them.


William Frank Diedrich. author of The Road Home: The Journey Beyond The Spiritual Quick Fix,
at http://intelligentspirit.com/catalog.html

Forgiveness

It's everyone's story. Someone hurts you, and you hold on to it. It may have been years ago, but it's still present and active in your mind. You can feel the anger, or the hurt, or the resentment, or the betrayal in your body. It's like an old scab and every time you pick it, it bleeds.

You think that you need to hold it because that person should pay for what they did, but if it's eating at you -- who is paying? You have incarcerated yourself with your thoughts, but the door isn't locked. There are no guards in this prison except for your own beliefs that say you must suffer because . . . why is it you are suffering? How does it serve you?

Have a good cry. Hit your pillow. Talk to a friend or a therapist. Be done with it and free yourself. Go deep within your mind and heart and ask your Inner Voice, God within you, to help you see clearly, beyond the fog and mist of a wounded ego, beyond the self-destructive need to exact revenge, beyond your emotionally suicidal urges -- to a place of understanding -- understanding that there is no law that says you should suffer -- a place called freedom where you can breathe and once again bask in the love and the joy that is yours. Heaven and hell stand before you. Forgiveness --that's Heaven!  Unforgiveness -- that's hell!

William Frank Diedrich, author of
The Road Home: The Journey Beyond The Spiritual Quick Fix.
http://intelligentspirit.com/catalog.html

LIving on faith

I have a dream. Through the course of this year the universe has obliged me the time to work on it because my business has been decreasing. This month most of it just slipped away. Projects were finished and people moved on.  So I'm writing. I could be in a panic searching for sources of income, but instead I decided to go with the flow -- to trust -- to trust my dream -- to trust my Inner Voice -- to do whatver it  takes to make the dream a reality.  My book will be out by the middle of next month. It's called Adults at Work. I envision it catching on and thousands of people buying it. It will be worth the money, although the price is low. My novel should be done by November. I don't really know the future. I am operating on trust, on faith, doing my part, saying thank you for each client who cancels billable hours, saying thank you for the time and inspiration to write. I am driven. I am to the point where I can't not do this. Having no guaranteed security, not knowing how the bills will be paid a month from now, I feel alive. I feel confident. All is well. William Frank Diedrich, author of The Road Home, available at http://intelligentspirit.com/catalog.html

You are this magnificent expression

People carry a load of beliefs about themselves that aren’t true. Most of the beliefs we have were not consciously chosen by us, but created by our reactions to people and events when we were children. It can be painful to examine and attempt to let go of our limiting beliefs. We are attached to them. This isn’t about positive thinking. Thinking positive while blaming or hating yourself is like putting whipped cream on poop. It may look pretty, but it still smells bad. 

The truth is that you are this magnificent expression of Pure Being (You may choose to call this Pure Being God, Spirit, Universal Mind, or another name) and you can only discover your magnificence by eliminating your negative beliefs. 

Sit down with your Creator and look at the beliefs you hold about yourself. Very few will survive the light. Pray to see yourself more clearly. Contemplate what is real and what is not. Shame and guilt are illusions. To call yourself small and insignificant is false humility. 

Once you free yourself of many of your limiting beliefs you can accept yourself and positive thinking begins to have an effect. Self-acceptance leads to confidence. When you act with confidence your influence increases.

William Frank Diedrich, author of

The Road Home: The Journey Beyond The Spiritual Quick Fix

found at http://intelligentspirit.com/catalog.html

Beyond Fear

It has been said, "Feel the fear and do it anyway." I've done that. For me it's feel the fear and let it go. It doesn't go easily. My ego thinks my fear is part of who I am. It's not. It's just fear. Yes, it's wired in my body and kicks in easily when certain stimuli show up.

But I can watch myself being fearful. I can identify the thoughts that are creating the fear and separate myself from them. I can look at the thoughts with my Spiritual Source and with It's help, see through them.

I am not a prisoner of my fears. The door is unlocked. I can open it whenever I have the courage to do so.

William Frank Diedrich

http://intelligentspirit.com/catalog.html
author of:
The Road Home: The Journey Beyond the Spiritual Quick Fix
"I loved this book's courageous honesty and shimmering passion."
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Keep the Faith

Sometimes you find yourself in a situation where you don't know what your next move is. You don't know how things will come together, and if you were to judge by appearances, you don't know if it will come together. Don't judge by appearances.

You can just let it happen, let failure overtake you and hope for the best. Hope is a good thing at first, but if it's all you have, then it's not effective. With hope you are placing your well-being on a situation that does not exist. You are waiting for something to happen. What if it doesn't?

Hope must be turned into faith. You look at your situation and you ask "What do I want to come of this?" Listen for the answer. Look for the opportunity that lies hidden in this story you are playing out. What have you always wanted to do? Set your intention, and ask for spiritual guidance.
Turn over all of your doubtful thoughts and focus your attention on what you and God/Spirit have decided. This is positive thinking not as "Oh everything is wonderful and it will be okay." Real positive thinking is "Whatever it takes I'll do it and I will succeed. I'll make it through knowing I am guided and I will enjoy the trip."

Do what is before you to do. Waste no energy on worry or imagining terrible scenarios. You are aware of those possibilities. Focus on the goal. Allow the Universe to do its work and you do yours. You aren't hoping for success; you are expecting it. That is faith. The outcome may not look exactly as you imagined it. Your path may lead you in unexpected directions. Nothing that happens is bad; it all works for your good. So whatever happens, don't judge it -- just give thanks. And keep the faith. You are much more than you think you are.

William Frank Diedrich, author of The Road Home, available at
http://transformativepress.com/catalog.html

Thoughts Create Experience

Thoughts create experience. Everything I see is the result of my thoughts. Nothing is neutral and everything is interpreted.

Emotion is the body's response to thought. I create my feelings.

I reap what I sow. It is done to me as I believe. If I believe life is unfair, I will experience life as unfair. If I see life as fair, I will learn from difficult times. I will open myself to experience joy regardless of my circumstances.

Well-being comes from within. My connection to Spirit within me provides the strength and the confidence I need to move forward. This strength and confidence draws to me experiences that reflect
my resolve. Some call this faith. Not faith in a god in some far off galaxy or sitting on a throne somewhere, but God within me and around me. If God were the ocean, then I would be a wave.

William Frank Diedrich. author of The Road Home :The Journey Beyond the Spiritual Quick Fix available at
http://intelligentsprit.com/catalog.html

Listen to the Inner Voice

She stood in the meridian, her thick, recently washed blonde hair reflecting the late afternoon sunlight. One hip was several inches higher than the other, causing her to limp when she moved. Her sign read "Please help-- Money or even a smile" I was two lanes over and the light was green. I was on my way to a meeting, but my Inner Voice was saying, "help her." Another voice interrupted saying "Hey, don't be late for the meeting." The feeling to help was persistent.

I felt compelled to loop around and give her $ 5.  It wasn't the same as feeling compelled to eat a piece a chocolate or one more chip from a bag. In those instances I know that if I don't eat the chocolate or the chip, I will feel good about it later. I knew that if I didn't stop and help, I would feel regret, for days. I knew, because there have been times when I didn't listen.

So, I stopped, not because I wanted to be compassionate or good or even feel good about myself. I stopped because for some reason, I couldn't not stop. I timed it so I was there when the light turned red. I called to her. She smiled, showing off a gap in her teeth where one of their members used to reside. She carried herself with dignity. I couldn't find a $5 bill so I gave her the $10 bill that I had, a good word, and a smile. She thanked me and blessed me. When I drove a way I felt complete.

Spiritual Intelligence is listening to the Inner Voice and following where It leads you, rather than listening to the many voices of the ego. How do you know the difference?  It feels different. It feels right.  It creates synchronicity. For a moment two people connected, saw each other, and went on with their lives. We gave something to each other. Real giving and receiving are the same thing.  

William Frank Diedrich  author of The Road Home: The Journey Beyond The Spiritual Quick Fix,  found at http://intelligentspirit.com/catalog.html

Spiritual adulthood

Belief systems are convenient places to hang out. Someone tells you what to believe and what you must do, and you believe and do it. No thinking is really required. 

At some point you feel the pressure that there is more that you haven't been told. There is something pushing you to go further, to break through all the beliefs you have been taught. There are no gurus in this place. There is no one to comfort you and tell you what to think and believe. Some call this a crisis of faith or a dark night of the soul.

Call it what you want. The key is you have to think for yourself. You have to dig deep inside for what you are seeking, because you won't find it in a book. Books can point the way, but you need to take the journey yourself. 

This is the journey from spiritual childhood to spiritual adulthood. It is the recognition that you don't need an intermediary. You don't need a set  of rules. You will grieve your lost childhood. You will grieve that you can no longer hide behind your self imposed limitations. It's time to grow up!  If you stick with it, you'll experience a rebirth of sorts. 

As a spiritual adult the Universe is your playground. The only rule is "Listen to the Inner Voice". Everything will flow naturally from that.

William Frank Diedrich is the author of The Road Home: The Journey beyond The Spiritual Quick Fix and of the upcoming book:  Human Adulthood
http://intelligentspirit.com

Inward focus

If you see yourself as "spiritual" then your focus needs to shift inward for the satisfaction of your needs. With an inward focus there is nothing and no one to blame. When you blame people and situations you are making them your "god", the source of your well-being. People and situations are channels of expression. People make mistakes. Situations change.

Even if you see "God" as outside of you, your point of contact is within your own mind. Thus, to focus within, still applies. It is always about seeing God, or Spirit, as your Source. "The kingdom of heaven is within you."

If this is the case, then our task is to learn to trust. Find a way to be joyful, confident, and at peace now. Act as if you already have everything you need or desire. Things don't really make us happy. They enhance what we already have. What you have is already within you.

William Frank Diedrich is the author of
The Road home: The Journey Beyond The Spiritual Quick Fix.  found at
http://intelligentspirit.com/catalog.html

Enter the Silence

Enter the Silence. Leave behind your opinions and beliefs. Come before your God with an empty cup. Allow yourself to be taught. Forget what you think you know.  Release your self-images. Refuse to condemn yourself. Be open and listen.

Ask this one question:  What do I most need to learn right now?  What would be most helpful?  Random thoughts will crowd your mind. Observe them and let them flow by.  Be in communion with God (Universal Mind, Spirit).  Wherever you are, God is. Give thanks.

William Frank Diedrich, author of

The Road Home: The Journey Beyond The Spiritual Quick Fix

http://intelligentspirit.com/catalog.html

Stay Connected

Stay connected. Plug in to your Power source. Whenever you feel yourself failing, slipping, not making it, plug in. Your Power Source (God, Spirit, Universal Mind)  provides the strength and the direction.

You think you can do it on your own -- as an isolated ego-personality.  You've tried many times and failed. How do you plug in?  Pray. Meditate. Contemplate. Read something inspirational in a contemplative or prayerful manner.

Clarify what you want. Examples: I want to be in the flow today -- (flow of ideas, flow of creativity, flow of love, flow of money or substance) I want to live in alignment with my Source (God, Spirit, Universal Mind).

Don't put up with extended periods of anger, hurt, depression, negativity, etc. Take away the distractions -- fantasies, worrying about what Snooki or the Kardashians are doing, conflicts over unimportant things.  Ask for help. Plug in. Once you have established your connection, act as if everything is already good (because it is.)

Being right and listening

Did you ever think you were so right about something that there was no way you could be mistaken?Maybe you became emotional in your expression of your rightness making sure everyone knew how right you were.

Then, you found out that you were mistaken. Your perception was completely wrong! If you have a experienced this you know that it is a humbling and embarrassing experience.

If you have a experienced this, it is a sign of growth. In order to see that you were wrong you needed to self-reflect. Self reflection involves stepping back from being right and observing yourself. It involves considering other perspectives. True self reflection is about giving up your opinions and being willing to see it differently.

Willingness to see differently is the beginning of spiritual intelligence. The next step is to set the ego aside and listen. Who am I being in this situation?  Is that who I want to be? What is the truth about this situation? What do I need to do?  Ask and listen. Ask and be willing to be guided. The Voice of Spirit, your Inner Voice, is always available. Pray; meditate; contemplate; take a break from thinking. Listen.

William Frank Diedrich, author of
The Road Home: The Journey Beyond The Spiritual Quick Fix
http://intelligentspirit.com