I AM SPIRITUALLY POISED REGARDLESS OF OUTER CIRCUMSTANCES

“Scared? Pray. Over thinking? Pray. Losing hope? Pray. Worried? Pray. Struggling? Pray. Pray and trust in Allah!”

~ Dr Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips, Founder: Islamic Online University

We are confronting any number of challenging opportunities to express our spiritual poise these days, aren’t we? In New Thought, we learn principles which help us to accept the idea of our connection to an infinite Spirit and the infinite Power which goes with that acceptance. This does not mean that we are invincible, because when we understand the true nature of the Universe, which is Oneness, we realize that we are never separate from anything and we are in relationship with everything.

So, whatever is in our circumstances generating fear within us, much of the problem is a current inability to realize the true nature of our relationship with reality as it is appearing. I like to think of fear as the edge of our known reality, meaning that it is appropriate to be afraid of that which we are unfamiliar, but it is not appropriate to be so fearful that we lose our capacity for the realization of the infinite Power to which we have continual access.

"One must never give way to fear, but one must admit to oneself that one is afraid."

~ C.G. Jung

This can be difficult if we do not engage in regular spiritual practices and condition our mind and heart to dwell in our Power. The virtuoso musician practices every day to maintain and expand her level of performance; why should the spiritual practitioner be any different? Do we not seek spiritual virtuosity? To be spiritually poised means to be securely grounded in one’s realization of universal principles. When I am spiritually poised, I respond to challenges from an empowered consciousness, shifting the nature of my relationship with the challenge and changing the outcome.

"I now exercise my fearless faith in three ways - by thinking, speaking, and acting. I am unmoved by appearances; therefore, appearances move."

~ Florence Scovel Shinn

Whether your list of current challenges includes things like the COVID-19 virus, the US political situation, what’s happening with your child’s education, or a personal health issue, the response is the same from a spiritual standpoint. Do your practices before, during, and after the challenge shows up – be so “prayed-up” that you are poised and ready for whatever life places in your path. An added benefit to being prayed-up is that some challenges don’t even rise to the level of disturbance because you meet them from a different place in consciousness because you have made yourself unavailable to that particular issue.

As you do your practices, also take actions which are wise and loving. An example of this is to do things like washing your hands during viral outbreaks and encouraging others to do the same. This is an acknowledgement of our own humility and the recognition that some of our fellow human beings are not spiritually poised – yet – for certain challenges. Doing wise and loving actions from a place of love and compassion is also a spiritual practice. We are called to humility and compassion for ourselves and our fellow beings when we face the challenges of the world. We best serve when we are sufficiently spiritual poised to be effective and compassionate.

THE HIGHEST ATTITUDE OF MIND.

“The highest attitude of mind, from which all else springs, is one of perfect calm and absolute trust

in the Spirit. The one who can with perfect confidence look into the future and with perfect ease of mind

rest in the present, and who never looks backward, but who has learned to be still in his own soul

and wait upon the Spirit, he is the one who will the most completely demonstrate the supremacy

of spiritual thought over all so-called material resistance.

‘Be still and know that I Am God.’"

~ Ernest Holmes