Inspiration, the act of inhaling, can be a quite literal way to improve life. Breathing exercises are often incorporated into meditation and self care practices for a reason! But In Spirit Living takes that to a whole new level. Bringing air into the body helps, but bringing awareness and access to the mind-body-spirit connection can be even more powerful.
INSPIRE
It gives you the chance to INSPIRE yourself and be inspired by the world around you. Looking at it from a spiritual point of view, it enables you to establish a connection with something greater than yourself, your challenges, your worries, and the obstacles hindering your growth and happiness.
FOCUS
Inspiration alone is not enough to effect change in your life, although it's a great start. For change to take place, you have to FOCUS your thoughts, develop awareness of your emotions and bring intention to your actions. Focus is hard to achieve without grounding yourself in spirit and in trust. That inspiration provides the space for focus to happen.
CREATE
Actions speak louder than words, don't they? Well, once you develop focus, it's time to CREATE. That might take a literal meaning with art or construction or development of some product or service, or it might just mean to grow an emotional state or mental clarity that guides your steps. It might even mean creating a change in how you approach problems with people or relationships, issues at work and at home, tasks you set for yourself... the possibilities are endless. In Spirit Living means making the most of the situation, not just letting things happen to you. It means creating the life and mindset to grow through what life brings to you daily.
BALANCE
Creating alone creates a constant forward motion, which can become overwhelming if BALANCE is not a priority. Balance doesn't mean abandonment or hedonism. On the contrary, it means a clear distinction between active and rest states, times of progress and times of restoration. This is where INSPIRATION becomes EXHALATION. After all, you can only hold in so much. You have to let go of the creative stress in order to leave space to inhale fully again.
COMPASSION
Compassion is more than an emotion. It's a connection, a soul-deep understanding of those in relationship with you, including yourself. It's great to seek inspiration, bring your life into focus, create the change you want to see, and balance your life... but if you do this in an unkind, unloving, or uncompassionate way, what is it all for? Compassion is the wings on which in spirit living takes flight. It's how the change in yourself creates impact in your world.
D. Allen Novian
PhD, LMFT, LPC, BCN
Dr. Novian is a San Antonio Marriage and Family Therapist, Professional Counselor and Neurofeedback Clinician with more than 20 years experience working with couples and individuals aged 9-90. His philosophy is based on the foundation that integrating and regulating your mind-body and spirit in daily life will not only improve your own mental and physical functioning it will also help to grow and deepen your relationships.
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