Just Do It!
Beliefs vs. Behavior
I woke up this morning thinking about how good it feels to move from theory to practice, then I logged into Facebook and the first thing I saw was this quote.
“Your beliefs don’t make you a better person, your behavior does” ~Anonymous
PRECISELY! I just started a 7-week spiritual bootcamp that’s focused on helping individuals cultivate a habit of daily spiritual practice. For so many years, I sat in churches, visited spiritual communities, read tons of spiritual and self-help books, but still couldn’t shake some of the negative thoughts I had about certain people or situations in my life. I really wanted to feel peaceful and be loving toward everyone, but it wasn’t playing out like that in my life.
“Your A-ttention must be aligned with your IN-tention” ~ Michael Bernard Beckwith
Last weekend I attended a workshop led by Rev. Michael and he said, “your a-ttention must be aligned with your in-tention…where are you focusing your attention?” – wow! That was an “aha” moment for me. I was always good at developing project timelines and action plans for my work life, but didn’t do the same regarding the qualities I want to nurture in myself. If I say I want to experience and give more love (or more peace, joy, harmony, etc.), but then fill my time listening and feeding into gossip, judging people, harboring unforgiveness, picking and choosing when I want to follow the “Word”, then I’m being hypocritical and making it impossible to reach my goal. My spiritual bootcamp leader calls this “heart/mind congruency”. If I want the desires of my heart to come to fruition, I have to align my thoughts and actions with that intention. Period. How am I going to do that? By being what I say I want to have.
“Be the change you wish to see in the world” ~Mahatma Gandhi
I know it will take serious discipline and practice to align all of my thoughts and actions with my desire to give and receive love, forgiveness, peace, patience, kindness, joy, harmony, compassion, empathy, and all the other spiritual qualities that are innate in us all. I am so excited about the bootcamp and am going “all in” this time. I know that it doesn’t matter if I can quote scripture, spiritual text, excerpts from the speeches/writings of famous “enlightened ones” (Jesus, Buddha, etc.), if I’m not working toward actually making it my way of being. I know that I am perfectly imperfect and am prepared to forgive myself along the way anytime I slip.
They say it takes 28 days to create a habit…what habit do you want to create in your own life over the next month or so? Until next time…
“You play like you practice”
Keep shining!
~Kandace
About the Author: Kandace Jones
I used to live life shackled by fear, doubt, and worry. I put on a happy face while navigating my day-to-day duties, but I was emotionally drained, stressed, and unhappy. When I hit rock bottom, and was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, I was determined to live life differently. I knew there had to be another way. Out of that determination, and guidance from Spirit, the "Living in the Light" blog was born. It documents my spiritual journey out of the darkness and into the Light. After nine months of publicly sharing my journey, and consciously releasing my attachment to the ego, I experienced a powerful spiritual awakening. I went from living in fear, doubt, worry, and stress to complete inner peace. My greatest passion has become assisting others on their own journey to inner peace.
My spiritual memoir, From Stress to Peace: An Intimate Journal on the Journey from Living in Darkness to Living in the Light, is available now on Amazon and BN.com. Click the tabs at the top of the page to learn more about the From Stress to Peace 21-Day Challenge, Living in the Light Retreats, 1:1 sessions, and the Living in the Light Community - all of which are designed to support your journey to inner peace. I appreciate you taking the time to visit the blog and look forward to supporting you in any way I can!