Let’s talk New Year’s resolutions, personal goals, or your greatest wishes and deeper desires for the coming days, months, or years ahead. Let’s move from simply thinking about them to actually doing them, from being passively positive to actively alive. For the actions we take today may lead us to where it is that we once only wished or perceived of ourselves to be.

Let’s take the first steps towards creating a life that is filled with triumphant victories and even greater successes. Let’s create a reality that we have always dreamed it could be. How we move from thought to action or from having a divine plan to actually manifesting it is to simply take those initial steps no matter how small or seemingly insignificant they may now seem. Then, my friend, continue to do so, even when others exclaim us crazy or obstinate.

I remember some time ago of sharing my own desires with a friend. She and I had been speaking about our personal goals, about our careers, and all that we longed to accomplish. About all that we hoped to be in service to others. About sharing our lives with friends and strangers alike and living as an example for others. About making a difference for the better in both small and grand ways. It was when we spoke of being a spiritual scribe and our respective writings that she asked why I had not yet self-published the third and fourth volumes to my book, Pieces of the Puzzle. “Why would you solicit a traditional publisher?”

After I explained the process of creating a Limited Liability Company and related licensing, editing, printing, and marketing efforts with regard self-publishing, she seemed even more confused. “Then, you’ve already done all the work, paid all the fees. Why not continue and get the completed series out there?” It all seemed so easy. All I needed to do was to print the third and fourth and begin selling them, but what I had not yet mentioned to her was not only the spirit messages that I had previously ignored, but also more of what I had learned about publishing.

With all the excitement of those earlier days, I had not followed Spirit’s advice nor fully researched all the pros and cons to self-publishing. Ego still had a hold and encouraged hast, so much so that I began self-publishing without having finished the series, without finishing a number of lessons, and without knowing more about the business of books. Without a minimum number of books, a publisher is unable to place highly as a distributor. Without the ability to distribute large quantities in a timely manner, a publisher cannot reach the demands of the masses. How my personal goals would be achieved were not to come by way of being “a publisher,” but rather by way of Spirit leading me in my life. By way of learning and persevering, by growing and becoming who it is that I am meant to be. By way of writing, sharing, and listening. By way of meeting and making a connection with others. By way of caring for others and speaking with others. By way of following my own path towards self-transcendence and even greater enlightenment.

Whether it is ego, fear, or the influence of others that misdirects us or keeps us from continuing on our path, know that your goals will either take longer to reach or be missed entirely, if we don’t listen to the inner voice of wisdom and love. If we don’t flow with the universe or our own intuition. If we don’t follow Spirit’s lead in our life.

Once, I trusted and surrendered to that of a wise and loving Spirit or greater power and presence, things vastly improved. I refocused my energies from publishing books to my own personal development and spiritual growth. I began to see that the books would simply one day come about as part of an even bigger or greater divine plan. For the goal was not to merely publish books, but rather to live them, to share them, and to use them as a way to meet and make a more caring connection with others. To help others in their own search for the truths or pieces of the puzzle to our existence, those truths that comfort, heal, and uplift. Those truths that remind us of our value and worth, our meaning and purpose in life, and our interconnectedness or vital connection to one another. Those truths that say we are far better together than apart. For it is the unity of man and Spirit that shows us the way to personal peace, unconditional love, and true happiness.

Finally, by taking those initial steps upon a spiritual path, I began to understand more about myself and my personal goals. I came to trust in Spirit, and I came to understand that divine time was not always my time. While I could self-publish, I began to realize Pieces of the Puzzle will be published in its own time and way, not solely because I want it so, but because by all accounts it is part of a bigger plan for my life, part of a greater divine plan. A plan that will allow me to meet and make a connection with a great many others, help others, and remind others of their value and worth, of their meaning and purpose, and of their vital connections – to self, to others, and a greater power and presence that is both wise and loving. A plan that reminds us all that we are better together, for it is the unity of man and Spirit that brings about peace, love, and joy. With confidence I assured both myself and my friend that the books would one day be picked up by a traditional publisher, one that will help me to reach the masses in a bigger, greater divine plan. For the goal is not to merely publish books, but to connect with others, to inspire others, and to remind others of whom and what they truly are, why they are here, and how they can come to live their best life yet.

To live your best life yet, all you need do is to take the first steps towards knowing more about self and life. Seek the truths to your existence. Meet and make a caring connection with others. Trust and surrender to a wise and loving Spirit or greater power and presence. Listen to an inner voice that inspires your passions and encourages the very best in you or your own innate gifts. Perceive and believe in those personal resolutions, goals, wishes, and deeper desires that assure you of a bigger plan or greater divine plan for your life.

How we move from thought to action or from having a divine plan to actually manifesting it is to simply take those initial steps no matter how small or seemingly insignificant they may now seem. Then, my friend, continue to do so, even when others exclaim you crazy or obstinate. Below are just a few practical steps towards achieving any New Year’s resolutions, personal goals, or the greatest of wishes and deeper desires for the coming days, months, or years ahead.

• Wake each day in both gratitude and prayer [speak to Spirit]. Express your personal goals and deeper desires with Spirit, but try leaving ego out of the conversation.
• Meditate daily [listen to Spirit] for however long you can, be it  only a couple minutes, an hour, or whatever time you have and want to spend in a sacred union. Listen for an inner voice of wisdom and love, for guidance, and most of all for greater enlightenment as to who you are meant to be. Know that just being you can be enough; just be the best you that you can be.
• Connect with others in real and meaningful ways. Share your life with others. Live in service to others. Simply meet and make a caring connection with others. For each of us has value and worth, each has meaning and purpose, and each is part of a greater oneness to which we all belong.
• Dedicate yourself to walking a spiritual path. Continue on even when others exclaim you crazy or obstinate. Take those actual steps that allow you to discover more about self and life, be it through education, service, worship, travel, work or play.
• Live as if Spirit were leading the way. Trust and surrender to a greater power and presence that is both wise and loving, that comforts and heals, and that reminds us we are far better together than apart.

Take the first steps towards creating a life that is filled with triumphant victories and even greater successes. Create a reality that you have always dreamed it could be, and remember to dream big! You need only begin to live your best life yet by taking those initial steps in following a wise and loving Spirit. For it is the unity of man and Spirit that brings about personal peace, unconditional love, and true happiness or joy. All the best to you and those you meet along the way. Please do not hesitate to share some of your spiritual adventures with us here on Meet and Make a Connection. For we learn and grow the most when once we meet and make a connection.

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