A Leap of Faith
by Starcat

Yesterday we were planning out the things we want to share this week through Feline Dreamers’ Facebook and Twitter pages. Lately we’ve been choosing a weekly theme and then elaborating on it day by day. We decided to share some ideas about how each moment’s thoughts and actions build, step by step, to help you attain a goal. Our main idea is that if you are able to hold a clear vision of a particular goal when making a decision, having a thought, or choosing an action, then you are well on the way to reaching that goal.

As we jotted down our ideas, there was a point where my thoughts and BlackLion’s thoughts on our topic diverged. I wrote “once you know where you are going, then you can map out your trail,” while his way of seeing it was not to worry about each upcoming step, but rather to “focus on the present moment, knowing that the future will be taken care of when you get there.”

Each person’s spiritual path is unique, so there is no one answer that is “correct.” However, the things I’ve been studying lately have pointed to the wisdom of living in the moment, holding your vision, and letting the “cursed hows,” as Mike Dooley calls them, take care of themselves. Intellectually and philosophically, I have embraced this concept and see how it can be effective.

Yet when faced with the idea of not mapping out the path to where I wish to go, part of me felt panic and worry. It was the part of my personality that likes to know what’s coming, what I’ll need to do next, and what I’ll need to do after that, et cetera. But that’s a limiting way to do things, because under that model, I’ll only pursue those actions that I already know about. What about being open to inspiration and intuition? Those are things that come to us more readily when we are an open slate, without a plan already pre-written.

I’m not yet sure how well this new technique will work for me, but I’m going to stop trying to keep such tight control. I will refine my goals, use tools such as visualization to hold my intentions in my mind, then let go and see what happens. It’s scary venturing out into the unknown, but life is an adventure and I’m here to learn. Holding the vision and letting the actions come to life in the moment is an act of trust and faith in the universe, and in myself. Ultimately, I’m sure I’ll find the balance that’s right for me.

Gratitude is an important key to feeling good, being joyful, and manifesting what you want. By being thankful for who you are, what you are doing, and what you are becoming, you can focus your positive energy in a direction that is right for you. Each of us has an opportunity to feel good about life and to recognize the divinity within ourselves so that we can share it with the world.

One of the challenges you might face is recurring patterns of negativity in thought or behavior which are detrimental to your well-being. You may dwell on your worthlessness, your disabilities, your failures, or your shortcomings. Whatever it is you are thinking about, if you are not grateful for being the wonderful and unique representation of the Divine that you are, you will hamstring the very desires and wishes you cherish the most.

With a persistent and regular practice of being thankful, you will achieve and manifest the dreams, goals, desires, relationships, events, experiences, and people in your life that you most want. With this momentum, it will be even easier to overcome reoccurring negative patterns and to receive continuous actualization of your desires.

But how do you get out of a negative spot, particularly one that is especially challenging? First, stop whatever you are doing and look within. Find a quiet place or simply close your eyes (if possible) and let your “talking voice” be silent. Take a few minutes and seek the voice of your inner self, your direct connection to your soul. With this time of reflection and rest, you will be able to hear your voice of love and compassion. Second, be thankful for something that feels easy to appreciate. For us it is our cats – even if we are in a terrible mood, one of the cats will come up to us and our energy quickly changes as we automatically feel thankful for this lovely purring friend.

As you practice gratitude purposefully and deliberately, it will become more natural. It might take effort at first, but as you continue to express your gratitude, you move closer to feeling truly thankful. Once you’re able to fully feel your gratitude throughout your being, no matter the external situation, it will help bring your desires to manifestation.

With gratitude comes a sense of knowing. You know that what you want and desire can actually happen. You can be who you want to be and have what you want to have. Loving yourself and feeling gratitude for where you are can only lead you to where you want to go. Let gratitude be your guide.

One of the great benefits, among many, of starting or maintaining a daily spiritual practice is the chance to focus on you. The opportunities we make to do this are minimal at best, so why not take a chance and spend time with yourself? If your first thought is “but I’m too busy,” then a practice is even more important, to help support your active life. It doesn’t have to take long – just five or ten minutes is a great start. Each day you’ll have something to look forward to. By spending time in solitude, you can reconnect with your inner self and enhance your awareness of who you really are.

Attitude and intention are the keys to a successful practice. Focus on something that you want to do, but don’t make it a chore – it should be fun! Approach your practice with reverence and joy. If you miss a day or two, don’t stress out about it; you can easily pick up right where you left off. No guilt trips necessary!

Below are some ideas you might want to adopt as a daily practice. Try one, adapt one to fit your needs, or create your own. We’re thankful to the folks who responded to our question about this on Facebook and shared their ideas. If you have more ideas to add, you can go to our Facebook page or contact us on Twitter.

Daily practice ideas include:

• meditation
• yoga, Tai Chi, or a martial arts routine
• Tarot, I Ching, or rune readings
• walking or sitting outdoors in a beautiful setting
• baking or cooking
• exercise: swimming, running, hiking, horseback riding
• prayer
• snuggling with a beloved pet
• doing crafts or other artwork
• reading poetry or passages from inspirational books
• journal writing
• gardening
• singing, drumming, or playing a musical instrument
• doing crossword puzzles or Sudoku

Spring is on its way, and you may be feeling the increase in energy as nature begins to stir and awaken. It’s a good time to implement changes in your life. Perhaps you’ve encountered some interesting ideas and are inspired about a new goal or intention. You might need more information, some motivation, or maybe you just wonder how to begin.

Taking on a new project can seem overwhelming, whether it’s external, like planting an herb garden or learning to sew, or internal, such as practicing gratitude or being more compassionate. Gathering information and deciding on your approach is part of the process. Be sure you have the resources and support you need, whether it is seedlings and a sunny patch of earth or a supportive friend to help encourage your new attitude.

When you’re starting out, create a list or outline of how to get where you’re headed, like a map to your goal. Look for opportunities to take action. Question yourself, so you can go deeper and uncover a variety of methods that work for you. For motivation, find inspiring websites, informative books, and people who are already well-versed in the subject.

If you get overwhelmed, start small. At least make a start, even if you don’t know exactly how you’ll get there. A ship in dry dock isn’t going anywhere. You need to leave port and head out on the open seas. You can correct your course as you go, but the main thing is to get moving. Find one thing you can do today that will get you closer to your goal. It might be as simple as a phone call to find out when the fabric store is open, or looking up quotes about compassion online.

Once you’ve made that first step, encourage yourself to follow through and keep learning and growing. You may even change your original goal as you discover another one that fits you better – do what feels right to you. Life is about the journey, not just the destination. Bon voyage!