If you like to journal (or just ponder), let’s go outside, preferably by a tree (wonderful energy comes from trees) and begin this “looking” honestly at our life. First, let’s start by taking stock of how we feel. Can we walk up the stairs easily without huffing and puffing? If not, then we need to note that in our journal. Can we bend down and pick things up without feeling like we need a nap afterwards. Note that also. Just look and take notes, no judgments just honesty.

Guilt doesn’t work – never has and never will. We might do something different for 10 days to two weeks, but then the guilt will be right back on us. If guilt creeps in, just tell it to sit in the corner and be quiet. All we are doing together is looking. We aren’t going to change anything until we are ready and it feels right to do so. Each of us needs to be our (my favorite word) “authentic” self – not someone else’s version of who we “should” be or what we “should” look like. So let’s continue. As you assess your body from the outside, make notations about what is already OK in your book and what, if you chose too, you would change. Remember, no judgments.

Now, let’s look at our work life. Does our job/career make our heart sing? Are we going to work everyday like the “grinch” or is there a smile on our face? If our job is one that affords us the lifestyle we like, but we don’t necessarily think the job is great, are we finding ways to be joyous and grateful for this work or the people we are around? Everything that we do on this earthplane provides lessons. List in your journal the lessons that are being provided by the life work you are doing. You and I have attracted our work situations to us and until we learn what we need to, if we left, we’d just find the same set waiting for us some place else. Ask yourself: Do I need to speak up? Do I need to set healthy boundaries? Do I need to love and appreciate myself and ask for a raise? Do I merit that raise? Am I giving of myself at work or am I in the “take” or “you owe me” mode? Am I burned out and desperately in need of changing jobs but am afraid? Keep journaling.

Let’s move now to the important relationships in our life. List the names of those you consider important to you and begin writing. Am I honest in these relationships with my feelings? Is there intimacy (In To ME SEE) or just routine? What do I need from my partner, mate, lover, husband, wife, parents, children, friends that I am not getting at the current moment? What would they like from me (do I even know) that I am not giving? Is it that I could give it – but don’t want to? What is in my deepest heart that I want to talk about with this person and if I feel I cannot do so – what is that all about? Is this a one-sided relationship? Do I need to let go, grieve the loss and move on? Boxes of tissues are appropriate as well as tears on the pages.

What about the place that we live? Does it reflect you? Is it cluttered and needs cleaning out? Does it need some TLCN (tender loving care now)? Are you hanging onto “stuff” that you don’t use anymore or like? Just ask what it is that about and let the answers come from within you. You might be very surprised. If you believe in past lives, perhaps you didn’t have a lot in a former life and in this incarnation you just can’t seem to let go of anything. So ask yourself, “In this lifetime” do I need to have this or can I let it go with love? What can you do to make your living space one that reflects who you are? Maybe you can’t change the whole place, but can you do a room that is just for you – your own special place. Are the colors right for you? I know that realtors say paint everything beige or white – but is that what you want? I love color on the walls and want it everywhere I look. That’s right for me. What’s right for you?

Now let’s look at the most important aspect – our Inner Connection to our Higher Power. In my own life, I’ve looked at and let go of a lot of religious training that I received as a child that just didn’t work for me as I got older. I bless all of the people that were trying to head me in the right direction and I know that they were just giving me what they knew. What do you believe? Our “Inner Life” – the development of our belief in something “greater than ourselves that we are apart of” – angels, guides, spiritual masters… (however it is defined for you) comes from walking through life and adding/deleting and changing our ideas along the way. I grew up Baptist, Methodist and Catholic, with Presbyterian, Lutheran and Episcopalian family members and Jewish friends – all of whom had “their” version of how and who “God is.” As children, we are influenced heavily by those around us and as the saying goes “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” meaning that we are often the “religion” our parents handed us. But now we get to take an honest look. Does our religion/spirituality support what we believe today? We are free to continue to look, grow, learn and let go of anything that isn’t right for us. We just can’t insist on our family/friends doing this also. This is our life path.

As we complete the looking/journaling process, we now take this to our Higher Power and ask for guidance (and know that we will receive it) about what is true for us or what direction we should go, about anything we have listed in our journal. One step at a time. Don’t try to change 10 things at once. We need to ask for guidance as to what would be the most important item on our agenda of spring cleaning and ask for help to stay in a place of love while we put it forth. If fear pops up, we need to surrender it to our Higher Power and as Dale Carnegie once said “Do the thing you fear the most and the death of fear is certain.” Just be honest! 

Rev. Diane Michele, PhD is a psychotherapist, teacher and trainer in Birmingham. She has an MA in Counseling and a PhD in Metaphysics. She is a National Board Certified Diplomat in Clinical Hypnotherapy, a Certified Social Worker/Licensed Professional Counselor and a student of A Course In Miracles. Diane can be reached at (248) 375-3642.

**This is to be Diane Michele's last article written for phenomeNEWS. Diane Michele passed from this life on April 24th. She was a dear friend. Her sunny personality brightened our hearts and lives. She's traveling the higher path now. We will miss her.