Spiritual Gifts-Discovering Your Personal Power to deal with Life's Challenges

I believe that each of us has spiritual resources beyond our wildest dreams to deal with life's challenges.  

To be honest, the fact that the 12 steps are centred around finding a "God or Higher Power" of our own understanding has been paramount to any successes I've had so far.  It's funny to me that some people hate the idea of a higher power, and some people are over the top religious zealots that drive me crazy.

As a kid I went to the united church.  It was so great, they're Christians, but not pushy with their ideas and really open to accepting people from all different faiths.  You'll never any garbage like that if you don't find Jesus you're going to hell, or that demons will get you.  I hate those scare tactics, I'm pretty sure Jesus would be equally disappointed.

To me, spirituality is about self empowerment and finding our own meaning and higher calling in life.

I stay away from learning about anything that is dark, because it really can affect my psyche negatively.

I do think pre christian spirituality is cool, and I don't think that people who explore it are heathens.

Let's face it, all those holy wars and crusades and witch hunts were not about spirituality or purity, and were very evil in their own right.  It was only about political control, and people being controlled by religion.  

My english professors made me aware that we are all story tellers, and every culture has its own "mythology" about  creationism, what happens when you die, and ethics.  I don't think that any religions are really superior, but that they all point the way towards a greater relationship to the divine.  It's people, and their interpretation of religious texts to suit their own agenda that cause the problems.

Anyways, that's just a brief summary what helps me deal with my struggles:

1) Gratitude and setting positive intentions for the day

2) Positive self talk-even mantras

3) Mindfulness: I can be the observer of my negative chatter and not get so upset about it, just see it as a passing event in my stream of consciousness

4) Reiki and Healing touch-make sure you feel comfortable with the practitioner and that they have good energy

5) Sobriety, less dark, low vibrations

6) Good old AA, because people are real, and they do find a spiritual basis for living life

7)Christianity- I love the positive aspects, not the fear mongering

8) The peacefulness of Buddha

9)Nature

10)Divine experiences, hearing the right song at the right time, encountering the right person at the right time to help with an issue etc.

11)Power of prayer and meditation

12) Power of letting go, all we can do is our part and ask our higher power to help us with the right outcome and the acceptance of life on life's terms

13)Not thinking less of myself, but thinking of myself less often-its pretty easy for me to get stuck analyzing my problems, which tends to be useless, instead of seeing where I could be assistance to those around me.  I always feel better when I choose the later.

Lately I've been exploring Shamanism, I really like it, but I'm also super intuitive and it's actually abit scary.  You really do get to see beyond the vail, and its bait overwhelming, so I'm feeling it out for myself slowly.  So far I've gotten so many life giving messages.  I think it's that hardcore Christian perspective that everything pre christian is just demons etc that scares me.  (Like I said I'm very easily scared by that  kind of dogma.)

Two weekends ago, I went to a workshop on shamanism,  and I was overwhelmed by the wealth of spiritual resources that I encountered.  I'll write more about it once I've fully integrated the teachings.  All I know is that every animal comes from the divine, and has a lot to teach humans.  Nothing dark about that.  So far the Penguin has helped me tons, with its gracefulness and purpose during challenging circumstances.

Another participant brought back a power animal for me during the workshop.  I thought it was a bit silly at the time.  Turns out this animal has tons of good stuff to help me overcome depression.

The turtle and its message of self protection and self love has been speaking to me in gentle ways.  I went to a play last night and my depression was talking shit to me and I was a bit scared. I saw my mom's cousin, a very spiritual person, and she had on turtle earrings, and green oceanic accessories.  Hugging her, I knew that turtle was telling me everything would be alright, and it is!