That's the Spirit

I find it remarkable to see just how often I forget that the core of my being is spirit.  While it's very easy to get caught up in life and living and forget this fact, once we realize that we are fundamentally spiritual beings having an earthly experience, it doesn't seem to make sense that we should forget this fact so quickly and so often.  The fact that we do forget it so much means that we live our lives less richly and less simply, for it's very simple to keep our focus on our earthly wants and needs rather than on the bigger picture that would allow us to develop our spiritual nature instead.

Our spirits aren't nearly as needy or petty as our earthly selves have been conditioned to be.  In fact, it's just that conditioning that causes us to forget our spiritual natures.  We've been taught over and over again that success is material and earth-bound, and we've allowed our egos to take charge of our beings so that we make most of our decisions based on what our egos need to strengthen themselves.  Instead of forgiving someone, for example, we may hold on to a grudge because then we're paying attention to our egos rather than our higher selves, which is what we've been taught is the "right" or "best" thing to do.

It's not, though.  When it comes to decision-making, the most important decisions that we can make come from and for our higher selves.  Forgiving another person--completely and unconditionally--frees us from limiting beliefs and actions, and allows us to move on to our next lessons.  If we allow ourselves to be hurt by another person's actions or words, then that decision is playing to our martyr complexes, or the desire to have other people feel sorry for us.  If instead we let another person's actions or words pass right by us, we can then focus on the things that are much more important than having others feel sorry for us--things like loving our neighbors, being good citizens, helping others to deal with their difficulties, or simply taking good care of ourselves so that we can help others even more effectively.

You and I are spiritual beings, but how simple it is to forget this fact, and how quickly we tend to do so!  I think that it's time that I try to figure out how to remind myself, perhaps with a bracelet of some sort, or a ring--something simple that speaks to me only, to remind myself of just what I am--a spirit who is having an earthly experience.  The more I remember that, the more I can remind others that they, too, are beautiful spirits who deserve the best that this world has to offer in the way of treatment.

Whether you know it or not, one of the most important relationships

in your life is with your Soul.  Will you be kind and loving to

your Soul, or will you be harsh and difficult?  Many of us

unknowingly damage our Souls with our negative attitudes and

actions or by simple neglect.  By making the relationship with

your Soul an important part of your life, however, by honoring

it in your daily routine, you give your life greater meaning

and substance.  Use your experiences--all

of them--as opportunities to nourish your Soul!

Elisabeth Kuebler-Ross