CHOOSING SAFE WISE GUIDES

Choosing safe and wise guides on the journey of life is a path of wisdom.

It’s been a recurring question recently – “How do I find a safe guide along my journey?” As audience members ask the question I’ve been reminded of the blessings I have received from trusted guides along my path.

I’ve chosen to trust my intuitive response to prospective guides along with finding out about their agenda.

Knowing I will be safe in the fullness of my story is possible with a wise person who is generously authentic. Those who have named my hubris or fears have gained my attention and respect. Generosity of spirit, an ability to laugh and an expansive heart have marked my wise spiritual guides.

The result has been a life of unexpected insights from those who have been midwifes of expanding my heart, compassion and authenticity. I’m filled with gratitude for them!

Call-to-Action:

In choosing a wise guide:

• Be aware of what growth you are searching for

• Be awake to the possibilities of those who present themselves to you

• Ask questions that allow you to both be authentically engaged

Notice how a wise and safe guide points you to new and expansive life.

Share a story about a wise guide here.

3 Reasons to Share Your Story – an opinion piece by Robert

Cultivate Compassion in your life – watch Robert speak at Stanford on cultivating a life of compassion every day

A New Way to Be Human – available at Amazon, B&N and your local Indie book store.

Join Robert on Twitter and Facebook

©2013 Robert V. Taylor

WELCOMING SIMPLE JOYS

Welcoming simple joys in the bustle of my day creates life-giving energy.

I woke up a few days ago thinking about my work schedule and preparing for a house full of guests. I was feeling stressed. Taking my coffee outside I noticed the Peonies about to bloom and listened to the birds singing. Welcoming these simple joys shifted my approach to the day.

Instead of living into the stress of the day I was choosing to be awake to the joy around me.

The stress remained real but its significance shifted as the urgency of the present was diminished by the magnificence of the importance of simple joys.

The result is a reminder of how easy it is to allow negative energy to brood over a day. The simple joys make my heart sing with gratitude for the life-giving energy they invite me into.

Call-to-Action:

Choose to welcome simple joys:

• Be awake to them around you

• Embrace the life-giving energy they invite

Notice how the rhythm of your day shifts as stress and busyness are balanced by the simple joys.

Share a story about welcoming simple joys here.

3 Reasons to Share Your Story – an opinion piece by Robert

Cultivate Compassion in your life – watch Robert speak at Stanford on cultivating a life of compassion every day

A New Way to Be Human – available at Amazon, B&N and your local Indie book store.

Join Robert on Twitter and Facebook

©2013 Robert V. Taylor

GETTING TO DO SOMETHING?

When I choose to celebrate what I “get to do” versus what I “have to do” my energy is different.

It was unexpected – my spouse and I were going to have twelve friends over for dinner. With twenty four hours’ notice my previously planned activities were upended. I caught myself saying, “Now I’m going to have to plan a menu and we’re going to have to shop and cook.”

Was this how I wanted to approach a rare opportunity to enjoy this grouping of friends together at our home?

Instead of “having” to do anything I reflected on how fortunate and blessed I was to “get to” prepare for our unexpected feast. This shift allowed me to anticipate our shared meal and feel blessed to get to do such things.

Call-to-Action:

In approaching daily tasks:

• Ask how fortunate you are to “get to” do the simplest of things

• For the things you “have to” do consider their importance to your humanity

• Give thanks for the things you “get to” do and the people they involve

Notice how your appreciation for the things you are blessed to get to do expands your spirit, heart and delight.

Share a story about your experience of “getting to do” here.

3 Reasons to Share Your Story – an opinion piece by Robert

Cultivate Compassion in your life – Robert speaks at Stanford

A New Way to Be Human – available at Amazon, B&N and your local Indie book store.

Join Robert on Twitter and Facebook

©2013 Robert V. Taylor

LOVING YOU IN SPITE OF YOU!

Loving yourself in spite of you is a pathway to expansive love.

I once received a gorgeous Valentine’s card with an array of colorful hearts on the cover with words proclaiming “I love you!” How sweet it was until I opened it and read, “In spite of yourself!”

Initially unsure of what to make of this, I came to see those words offering a reminder of a profound spiritual truth.

I’ve not always loved myself as much as I have loved others. On the journey of love I’ve learned to include those parts of my life about which there is regret, shame or ambivalence.

The result has been to be more tender and compassionate about the many facets of me. I can love me, not “in spite of myself” but “because of myself.” It’s enriched my compassion and tenderness toward others in their fullness. So how do I keep growing into the truth of a Universe whose pulse is love?

Call-to-Action:

• Name the things you love about yourself

• Identify what you do not love about you and invite tender compassion toward them

• Celebrate the moments of loving you because of you!

Notice how your heart of love expands toward the Holy and others.

Share a story about loving yourself here.

3 Reasons to Share Your Story – an opinion piece by Robert

A New Way to Be Human – available at Amazon, B&N and your local Indie book store.

Join Robert on Twitter and Facebook

©2013 Robert V. Taylor

A CANDLE IN THE DARKNESS?

When I light a candle to the darkness I say “No” to it and claim the light.

Human acts of carnage and terror are an emotional juggernaut. In my heart and tears I experience empathy with victims and their loved ones. My anger at the perpetrators is mixed with sadness and questions I cannot answer.

I can choose to remain consumed by those reactions or I can participate in banishing the darkness.

In lighting a candle I deny power to the darkness and instead join the goodness and light of the Holy and so many.

The result is a renewal of what centers me. Against shadowy rash judgments, stereotyping, hatred and lust for revenge I’m reminded that a life of compassion, oneness and justice invites different responses. In that moment I am awake to opportunities to join others in affirming the light discovered in every action and word of ours.

Call-to-Action:

Responding to tragedy:

• Light a candle saying “No” to the dark and “Yes” to the light

• Be awake to what your emotions and reactions reveal

• Join your words and acts with those of others to participate in goodness and light

Notice how your authentic responses to acts of tragedy expand your heart of compassion and oneness with others.

Share a story about responding to darkness or tragedy here.

Join Robert at engagements in San Francisco next weekend

3 Reasons to Share Your Story – an opinion piece by Robert on Fox News.

A New Way to Be Human – available at Amazon, B&N and your local Indie book store.

Join Robert on Twitter and Facebook

©2013 Robert V. Taylor

YOUR BLESSINGS

What blessings are you willing to have fill your day?

I was on a New York subway this week as a disheveled but dignified man came into the car carrying a small milk carton as an offering plate. “If you can help me with some money I’d be grateful. But if you can spare some food I’d be just as grateful” he said. Then he added, “Have a blessed day.”

I could have assumed he was yet another panhandler. But I was captivated by his blessing freely bestowed to all.

When I got off at my stop I noticed him ahead of me heading to sit on a bench. So I sat down next to him. Hector said he was down on his luck but filled with thankfulness for all who had blessed his life over the decades.

I keep thinking of this gentle, generous man. Blessings received in his life are blessings he freely shares with others. I wondered if my day was too focused on the meeting I was heading to. What blessings would I be awake to? Which blessings would I would bestow on others? Was Hector reminding me of something?

Call-to-Action:

Today:

• Are you awake to blessings today?

• What blessings will you bestow on others?

• Will the blessings of your life affect how you engage with others?

Notice how attentiveness to blessings shift your experience of yourself, the Holy and others.

Share a story about blessings here.

Join Robert at engagements in Miami & San Francisco

What does Passover teach us about our spiritual consciousness – click here to read

Robert talks Gay Marriage on FOX News – click here to watch

A New Way to Be Human – available at Amazon, B&N and your local Indie book store.

Join Robert on Twitter and Facebook

©2013 Robert V. Taylor

LOVING ENCOURAGEMENT

Every word or act of encouragement sheds light on the path.

A friend knew that I was unusually nervous about a TEDx talk that I was making last week. She sent me an email – “I believe you will be wonderful tomorrow. Just open your heart and be yourself and the audience will recognize themselves in you.” I kept re-reading it!

Instead of seeing it only for the generous message it was, I chose to receive it as a blessing of loving encouragement.

The talk went well. I went to it thinking about the words of my friend and as I spoke I had an image of her in the audience.

It’s resulted in my gratitude for her intuitive loving encouragement when I needed it. I’m more mindful of the opportunities before me today to express my encouragement to someone.

Call-to-Action:

Each day:

• Be open to the nervousness or uncertainty of another

• Express your loving encouragement

• Give thanks for the person as you entrust them to the blessings of the Universe

Notice how your own life is enriched by being part of a circle of loving encouragement.

Share a story about being encouraged here.

Join Robert at engagements in Miami & San Francisco

What does Passover teach us about our spiritual consciousness – click here to read

Robert talks Gay Marriage on FOX News – click here to watch

A New Way to Be Human – available at Amazon, B&N and your local Indie book store.

Join Robert on Twitter and Facebook

©2013 Robert V. Taylor

OPEN TO NEW LIFE?

Letting go of an old hurt opens me to new life.

I’d not spoken to a friend in a long time. His image kept reappearing in my meditations reminding me of our lack of conversation. Then I named a truth I did not like – I was unconsciously holding on to an old hurt. I wondered why?

Would I choose to give power to an imagined hurt walling me off from someone or would I choose to detach from the hurt and make contact?

When I called he was genuinely delighted. Later over coffee he offered his regret for what he had said and we spoke about it without either of us needing to be right. It was a moment of grace for both of us.

I was reminded that letting go of an old hurt frees me to live in the present. When my imperfections meet those of another person we discover new life.

Call-to-Action:

Be open to new life:

• Allow yourself to be awake to those things that wall you off from the present

• Choose to be proactive

• Give thanks for every experience of renewed life

Notice how your life invites you to pay attention to the birth of new hope and life.

Share a story about an experience of new life here.

Join Robert at engagements in Miami & San Francisco

What does Passover teach us about our spiritual consciousness – click here to read

Robert talks Gay Marriage on FOX News – click here to watch

A New Way to Be Human – available at Amazon, B&N and your local Indie book store.

Join Robert on Twitter and Facebook

©2013 Robert V. Taylor

SIMPLE ACTS OF KINDNESS

Simple acts of concern and kindness are treasured gifts.

In my meditations this week I reflected on kindness. A flood of memories surfaced of a difficult and stressful time in my life. I remembered the emails and phone messages from friends, those I worked with and some whom I barely knew. Perhaps unknown to those who sent them they were each a gift of love, sustenance and encouragement. I was not alone!

These messengers could have chosen to be silent or respect my privacy but instead they chose to be a light bearer.

Only I could do the work needed to come through that period but that work was more bearable because of seemingly simple acts of kindness and concern.

It was a reminder that my life is shaped and formed by a generous circle of people. Surely the concern expressed through kindness is a marker of our spirit? I’m wondering what opportunity this day will offer for an act of kindness?

Call-to-Action:

Each day:

• Be grateful for the kindness of another person

• Be awake to opportunities to engage in a simple act of being kind

Notice how the spirituality of kindness expands your generous circle of connection.

Share a story about kindness here.

Join Robert at engagements in Seattle, Miami & San Francisco

Loving with abandonment is a choice – click here to read!

Looking to end relationship dysfunction? - click here to read!

A New Way to Be Human – available at Amazon, B&N and your local Indie book store.

Click here to watch the book trailer for A New Way to Be Human

Join Robert on Twitter and Facebook

©2013 Robert V. Taylor

TRUSTING INTUITION

Trusting my intuition is part of my spiritual GPS.

For several days an acquaintance had been in my consciousness. We hadn’t spoken in a long time and I was surprised by the growing insistency with which I thought of him. It certainly grabbed my attention.

Would I choose to only offer my intentions for him or also choose to pick up the phone and call?

My call was welcomed with heartfelt appreciation and thankfulness. He was dealing with the approaching death of his dad and feeling consumed and isolated. At the end of a long conversation he said, “You’ve made my week.”

My resulting wonder in the richness of our conversation made me glad that I had paid attention to my intuition. My admiration for how he was dealing with an impending death was coupled with the gift of what I learned from him. I’m giving thanks for the spiritual GPS revealed in intuitive responses.

Call-to-Action:

Each day:

• Be aware of what your intuition reveals

• Respond to it

• Be thankful for the connection it reveals with others

Notice how your intuition reveals the Holy at work in you.

Share a story about trusting your intuition here.

Loving with abandonment is a choice – click here to read!

Looking to end relationship dysfunction? - click here to read!

A New Way to Be Human – available at Amazon, B&N and your local Indie book store.

Click here to watch the book trailer for A New Way to Be Human

Join Robert on Twitter and Facebook

©2013 Robert V. Taylor