How do we create the life that we want?

In all of the work that I do, and have done, the question "how do we create the life that we want?" seems to be the theme of my clients lives. In my Life Coach Certification classes, we explore the human need to accomplish goals and create a path in order to do just that.

However, even with the most up to date plans and intentions, there are often periods in our lives where life just does not seem to be going our way. We can visualize success , we can join mastermind groups, we can attend seminars and read more and more books, yet we don't see any tangible evidence for our work.

A very good friend of mine with amazing business talents was sitting in front of me recently lamenting this very situation. "How, with all of the gifts God has given me, could I be in a business that I am so passionate about, that is not growing? After all of the planning, praying and work, could I be struggling so deeply? How can I create the life I desire, when everything is at a standstill?"

His questions reminded me of the lives of Abraham Lincoln and others who struggled greatly on their personal path to success and contentment in life.

As I looked at his plans, and discussed the work he has done leading up to this very point in his life, I saw the answer quite clearly.

There was no human, no worldly answer for his situation. Yes , great people can hang out on the vine to dry with seeming no rhyme or reason for it. And yes , there is a reason for it, although the reason will not make sense to our material world.

Many people have spoken a great truth when they said, "I guess it's on God's timeline , not mine." If you believe in God as I do, and as my friend does, this somehow is supposed to make us feel a little better. We still have to continue to move forward in faith, knowing that there must be great lessons for us to learn in the process of slowing down, of knowing that there is a greater plan for us than we could possible know at this very moment.

Faith, resolve and trust can be greatly enhanced when we use them to their full extent when we are frustrated by the lack of success in life.

Depending where we are on our spiritual path, is how we react to life when we are not getting it the way we think it should happen. If we are deeply into the path of love, trust and faith, we'll go to doubt but for a short period of time. We might become frustrated for a day or even a week, then we'll surrender to "what is." We'll release the python grip that we've created on life with our expectations, and start to flow with, rather than fight, the life we are living.

We might surrender and spend a day in prayer, asking for the power to accept the things we cannot change. We might get out of our heads, and fill our minds with gratitude for all that is going well, as we become what we focus on all day.

By following these two simple yet powerful steps, we create the life that we want instantly, as we have just created a moment, hour or day of inner peace. Wow, what a beautiful experience.

Acceptance is not a cowards way out of life, but rather the path of the spiritual master.

Slow down today and find the life that you want to create sitting right in front of you. Look for love, peace and you will find your world there. Look for doubt and worry, and you'll find your world there as well.

Love, peace, Rev. David www.davidessel.com

Unusual Stages of Enlightenment, Awakening

After receiving so many comments regarding our first article on awakening, or the steps of enlightenment, I wanted to share some very important information that should help many of us in our quest for higher levels of functioning.

As I briefly alluded to before, the path to enlightenment is not all bliss and fun as many people believe it to be.

Let's look at a variety of circumstances that could be the lamp posts you are looking for, to know you are directly on path. These are what some may say, are the unusual steps to this beautiful state:

..if you see you are in constant doubt..about yourself, life...

..realize that you are very unhappy in your job or relationship...

..come to acknowledge an addiction in your life...

...realize that yes, you gossip often..

...become aware that you talk about and lean on one of your many "stories in life.."IE, money is always a struggle...men are all dogs...because of your childhood, you ...fill in the blank....


..you understand that you "live on the fence a lot in life"...you're afraid to take chances...


If you come to any of these realizations, Congratulations! You've just moved up your own personal ladder towards enlightenment, for it is only when you acknowledge the truth, about you, that you can really start to change.

Stepping into the unknown, letting go of the past, or thoughts that do not make you feel strong, centered, is a key to personal growth.

Awakening to your next level can be as simple as seeing the truth here, for your own life, and then surrounding yourself daily with what you are thankful for, vs what is not/has not worked in your life.

Slow down, see the power of who you are, not what you've been. Watch for the unusual stages of enlightenment in your life.

Love, peace, David http://www.davidessel.com/

The Perils of Positive Thinking??

As it states in the religion/philosophy of Taoism, the opposites of life are needed for light to shine in the midst of the darkness, so yes, there are perils to those who try to fight anxiety, depression, lack etc. with the weapon of positive thinking alone.

Recently a client sat across from me perplexed as to why he was still in a state of anxiety regarding his finances, career and more when he had been reading, listening to and reciting line after line of positive affirmations for the past 30 days. When he saw no results, he decided to work with a life coach.

The power of positive thinking, affirmations, positive treatments, all have their place in life.

But so does deeply feeling the anguish of doubt, fear, loneliness.

Mother Teresa wrote about her anguish, and doubt in God at times.

President Lincoln is well known for his "dark nights of the soul."

Art Buchwald found relief from clinical depression only after admitting he needed to look into, not away from, his internal pain!

You and I are the same.

Do not "mask " your pain with positive thoughts, religion, or affirmations.....instead write about your anguish....feel it deeply for several minutes a day for a week, then follow those deep periods of pain with coaching, counseling, services, meetings and positive affirmations.

Slow down, feel all of the deep feelings that God gave you, that you might want to run from. They are there for a reason, not just to be shoved under a rug. If we try to cover them, we face the perils of positive thinking.

They just become worse. Not better. Ask Art, Mother Teresa in your meditations, or anyone else such as myself, who has experienced deep clinical depression, to find that the only way out is to stop running, and go deeper inside.

Relief, then, will come.

Love, peace, David Essel www.talkdavid.com