I have decided to share some of the process of the
Keys to the Kingdom class I am currently experiencing.
My assignment for this week was to construct a vision for myself in five key areas:
Health,
Finances,
Relationships,
Career and Creative Self-Expression, and
Spiritual and Personal Growth.
This vision is a picture of the person I wish to be and the life I wish
to live. Like all visions, it is based upon where I am at the time, and
it is always subject to change. I have decided to share this vision,
and I reserve the right to revise it and repost it as I see necessary.
Blessings to all of you.
My Vision For My Health
My
health is a direct reflection of the value I place upon myself. My
vision for perfect health is of a body that functions at peak efficiency
at all times. My blood chemistry is well within the range of what is
considered healthy. My body mass index is within the range of what is
considered healthy. My musculature is toned and athletic. I support the
health and right functioning with proper eating and proper exercise. I
challenge my body to grow more healthy with frequent physical activity
that pushes my limits in a healthy way. I support my body and mind's
health by ensuring that I get adequate sleep. I support my body's
continued health with regular visits to my health care providers and I
follow their advice joyfully. My body is the finest example of a "temple
for God" that it possibly can be.
In addition to a healthy body,
I also recognize the value of a healthy mind. I am aware that health in
my body is directly related to health in my mind. I support a healthy
mind by being aware of the thoughts that I hold. If I find that my
thoughts are not of the highest nature, I gently remind myself of
thoughts that lift me higher and put me back on a healthy path. If I
find that these thoughts are persistent and recurrent, I seek counseling
to get a "reality check," and insight that supports the growth
opportunity that is presenting itself. I am aware of the idea that
"garbage in means garbage out," and I seek to put into my mind only the
most healthy and clear of ideas and material. This does not mean living
in a "bubble" or shutting myself off from the rest of the world. It
simply means that I will be "in the world, but not of the world." I
challenge myself to face the ideas, situations, and people I would judge
to be most abhorrent and/or challenging, knowing that I do not have to
adopt them as my own, and learn to find my own center in the middle of
what appears to be a "storm." I face my fears and dislikes and through
it all, I know that I will grow.
My Vision for My Finances
My finances are a direct reflection
of the value I place upon myself. My vision for my finances is that I
have enough money to meet all of my financial obligations, now and in
the future. I am as debt-free as I dare to be. I use loans and credit
wisely and only when absolutely necessary. I am a giver to life, and I
give freely and often. I give, trusting that more will be made available
to give. I trust enough to know that hoarding is holding back my good
and attaching myself to things that may no longer serve me. I hold on to
the things that truly hold value and for me, and I release the things
that no longer hold meaning for me. I joyously support my spiritual
communities with my tithes and I give with no expectation. In my
finances, I am worthy of being in the flow and sharing that flow with
others.
My Vision for My Relationships
My relationships are a reflection
of the value I place upon myself. I am a valuable creation of God, and
my relationships echo that value in my life. I treat every person I know
as an equally valuable creation of God. Furthermore, I treat every
person with whom I come into contact as an equally valuable creation of
God, and in every interaction I honor the God within them. This is true
not only for the interactions that I would call "good" and also for the
interactions I would call "challenging." In truth, they are all good,
because they exist for our mutual growth and evolution. In my
relationship with my partner, I recognize him as a sacred part of my
life. I honor our relationship as two individuals with our own wants and
needs, and yet as one soul with a common life path. Every day I renew
my commitment to being the kind of person with whom I would want to be
in a relationship, and I know that my relationships with others will
reflect that attitude. My Vision
My Career and Creative Self-Expression
My
career is a reflection of the value I place upon myself. My career is a
channel for the good that the Kingdom has in store for me. My career is
more than just a paycheck; it is a direct expression of the value that I
place upon myself. I renew my commitment to being the kind of employee
who is the example of how good things can be. I give without reservation
the services I have to offer to my place of employment and receive in
kind the good that I dare to allow myself to receive. I challenge myself
daily to be more and to do more to build up the place where I work. I
build myself as a leader by building other leaders. I share
responsibility with others and only take upon myself the duties and
tasks that must not be delegated away. I challenge myself to seek new
ways to grow and increase my skills so that I am more flexible and more
open to opportunities that present themselves.
My creative
self-expression is another avenue where I express the value I place upon
myself. Whatever the medium I choose, I challenge myself to be open and
authentic with the expression. If it is writing a blog entry, I let my
written words match my innermost thoughts. If it is my podcast, I let my
speech be open and authentic. If it is dance, I let my body move freely
and gracefully to the music that I hear. If it is cooking, I prepare
meals that are nutritious and flavorful. If I encounter a new way of
expressing myself, I give myself freely and openly to that expression,
knowing that Spirit knows no bounds and limitations. I give myself
creatively to the world knowing that I will attract the audience that is
mine to attract, and I release any attachment or perceived need for
"applause." I see the value within critiques and seek to know what is
mine to know and to know where I am being called to grow.
My Vision for My Spiritual and Personal Growth
My spiritual growth is a direct
reflection of the value I place upon myself. I give myself time every
day to go away from life's routine and be with myself. During this time,
I may read something inspirational, like the Daily Word. I will also
give myself time for prayer and meditation. In the silence, I seek to
hear that "still, small voice" that I recognize as the voice of
Spirit--my true nature. I seek new ways to connect with Spirit within. I
may choose to do a walking meditation or yoga or something that I have
never tried before. I realize that my relationship with Spirit is the
most important relationship that I have, for it is truly THE
relationship that I have with myself.
My personal growth is a
direct reflection of the value I place upon myself. In all aspects of my
life experience, I seek to be more than I was in the previous moment. I
challenge myself to accept nothing less than the best that life has to
offer. I realize that everything in my life is a result of a creative
thought I had at some point. If I judge something in my life to be
unattractive, I challenge myself to seek the thought that attracted that
something to me and heal that thought with a higher thought. I bless
and release the "unattractive" thing as a lesson learned and a step on
my path to a greater expression of wholeness. I seek always to grow and
to be more of the Divine potential I know I can be.
This is my
vision for myself as of February 16, 2012. Like all visions, it is a
destination toward which I journey. Like all visions, it is subject to
change, and I welcome all opportunities to seek a higher vision for
myself. I give myself permission to change my mind as life experience
presents the opportunities to do so.
I give myself to Life.
David Edward Byrd, II
