Peace or Drama

I watch my children interact and at times they start to create drama. I often hear, "he was mean to me," or, "she pinched me."  On a very important level, this type of conflict is helpful to their development.  They learn to work through conflict and they are better prepared for their adult lives.   As we become adults, it is important to recognize that some people have developed that skill better than others.   What you learn (or don't learn) as children sets the stage for when you are an adult.   If you were taught to fight in order to survive, you will continue that trend as an adult.  If you were taught to be diplomatic, you will be able to negotiate around conflict and move on to better things.  Fighting may feel necessary when you feel attacked but it can add to the drama in your life and it is often the end to many important relationships.  Eventually, one of the people involved in the drama will get tired of the friction and move on.   If you have drama in your life, try to step back and mentally assess your situation.  Does the conflict remind you of your childhood in any way? Do you have a pattern of attracting conflict? Do you react in defensiveness when you feel someone is being unfair or do you step back and try to decide on a healthy course of action?  Is the person/s in your life that cause drama healthy for you?  Will participating in that drama help you in any way?  Once you have taken that good inner look, ask God or your angels to assist you in your relationships with others.  Try to approach your relationships  from a centered place.  This will allow you to see the big picture and that allows you to create peace instead of drama. © August 2013 Nancy Hickman, M.Ed., LLC

Releasing Grief

When we feel sad, it is natural to want to stuff or hide our feelings.  Remember, they come up to be released.  We may need to release old grief about how we have been treated or grief about losing someone we love.    It is important to recognize that grief comes from a variety of sources and experiences.  Though it is not fun to address old feelings, leaving your feelings unresolved often results in anxieties and fears.  It can also leave you more vulnerable to being hurt by others.   If sadness comes up, take time to acknowledge the source of your grief.  Then ask yourself when was the first time you felt a similar loss or feeling?  Share your grief with God and ask Him to help you with it.  Acknowledging your grief allows the healing process to begin.   Though it isn’t fun to explore where your emotions are coming from, it is the fist step to healing and finding peace. © August 2013 Nancy Hickman, M.Ed., LLC

Healing Adversity

A dear friend is facing issues with a person who is acting spiteful and she is handling the adversity from a spiritual perspective.   Situations like these come up for all of us and they can be confusing and painful.   Our immediate reaction may be to push back;  however, the most productive thing is usually to take a higher spiritual road.  We should never accept abuse from others but we are still responsible for how we respond.   If we learn to step back and release the situation we are struggling with to God, we can grow stronger with his help.  The person or thing causing us difficulty can ultimately be a teacher for us by raising us up to a higher spiritual level.   Fighting back only  pulls us down by making the lesson more painful and difficult.  Rarely is there a positive resolution and often you end up giving away your personal power by expending energy in the wrong direction.   If faced with adversity, recognize the situation is meant to teach you something.  Go within and ask yourself what you have learned from it.  Then ask yourself, “what would God do now?”  You can also ask that he give you what you need to heal or turn things in a positive direction.  When obstacles arise, it is rarely effective to try to push through them.  It is often more effective to take a step back and choose a higher path.© August 2013 Nancy Hickman, M.Ed., LLC

The Omnipresence of God

Sometimes it may seem like we are just a cog in the wheel of life.  We are so small in comparison to the Universe as a whole.   The distractions of this world can make us forget that we are a part of something greater.   Then something happens to show us how connected we are in spirit.  That we are apart of everything and that in God's eyes, we are important and we matter.  Whatever our struggles might be, He is there in all things, both awesome and small.  We may need reminding and we may even want "proof".  That is simply our nature.  If we really look and allow our eyes to see, it is all around us.  When we observe a beautiful sunrise, majestic mountains or a starry night; there is little doubt the Universe was created by something wondrous.   Though all those things are beautiful, we only have to look within at our own inner light to connect with that same awesomeness.  It is  already inside of us because He is everywhere and in everything. © August 2013 Nancy Hickman, M.Ed., LLC

Are You Really There?

We often don't recognize when our loved ones are near.  They send us little signals that we can easily misinterpret or miss.  A loved one will try to get your attention by putting their memories in the front of your mind.  You may see a quick image of their face or think about things you did together.  If that happens, you are likely sensing their spiritual presence.  Those memories and images may make you feel sad but they can also give you hope that your loved one is watching over you and sending you signals to get your attention.   Acknowledge that you think they are there. This will likely encourage more of the same experiences as they visit you. It can be healing to know that you haven't lost your relationship with them, it has just changed...   © August 2013 Nancy Hickman, M.Ed., LLC

Fear

Fear can cause many things like lack of sleep, shortness of breath, spinning thoughts and even difficulties with others. Often that part of us that is afraid is triggered by beliefs we established in Childhood or from a traumatic event from the past. In the here and now, ask yourself,  "When is the first time I felt this?" and "What is the worst that is going to happen today?" and most importantly, "Do I believe God is powerful enough to carry me through this and protect me from the thing I am afraid of?"  When the past is affecting you today, ask God to heal that old part of you. Whatever is before you today that is causing concern, will likely be a distant memory in the near future as you move on to a new worry.  Rather than giving your power away to fear, allow prayer and faith to make you stronger.        © August 2013 Nancy Hickman, M.Ed., LLC

Feeding Your Inner Light

Living a spiritual life will cause you to grow and can result in many changes. The more spiritual we become, the more we tend to let go of things that are not in line with our desire for love and peace. Things that we might have tolerated before, will be less tolerable in the here and now.  We may find ourselves walking away from situations, things or people in ways we wouldn't have in the past.  We may find that as our own light gets brighter, we are less attracted to things and people we used to align with.  Proper care of our inner light means we should not engage in situations that deter us from being the best we can be.  We should pursue our goals with integrity and consideration for others.  Spiritually and karmically, we will be rewarded for having the right intentions and taking correct action.  As we grow and take responsibility for the care and feeding of our inner light, we think less of selfish things and align ourselves more with loving thoughts and actions.  Always remember, inviting God to participate in your daily plans and activities can make living spiritually easy and effortless.  You will naturally gravitate to what makes you healthy and happy.  © August 2013 Nancy Hickman, M.Ed., LLC