{"id":23,"date":"2010-09-09T13:45:06","date_gmt":"2010-09-09T13:45:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/practicalspirituality\/2010\/09\/change-begins-with-you.html"},"modified":"2010-09-09T13:45:06","modified_gmt":"2010-09-09T13:45:06","slug":"change-begins-with-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/practicalspirituality\/2010\/09\/change-begins-with-you.html","title":{"rendered":"Change Begins with You"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lasting change in the world begins in the heart and
\nthe soul of each person. It begins in your home. It is easy to find people who
\ncan tell us what to believe, what is wrong, and what to do. The big challenge
\nlies in finding the willingness to be the
\nchange<\/i>. Willingness cannot be taught; it comes from within. Willingness
\narises when we live with integrity and congruence – inside and out. Willingness
\ngrows in love. Deep spiritual awakening helps us to love ourselves, our
\ncommunity, and this amazing creation. Loving our world leads to spiritual
\nawakening. Be courageous enough to love more. We respect and heal what we love.<\/span><\/p>\n

It has long been said by masters everywhere, “When
\nthere is peace in the self, there is peace in the home. When there is peace in
\nthe homes, there is peace in the community. When there is peace in the
\ncommunities there is peace in the nations. When there is peace in the nations,
\nthere is peace in the world.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Spiritual practice has been seen as a luxury by many,
\nbut spiritual awakening is now a necessity. Many criticize those who are overly
\ncommitted to a spiritual path as being unrealistic or disengaged from the
\nworld. True awakening could not be further from that claim. <\/span><\/p>\n

Where we find people and communities that have
\ncommitted to the path of awareness, we find great <\/i>healers, helpers, and problem-solvers. Where we find people who
\nfeel connection and compassion, we find solutions, changes and inspiration. In
\nthe embrace of spiritual experience and the access to Divine Energy and
\ncreativity, we will find new solutions to old problems, and lasting ways to
\nhonor this magnificent existence of which we are all a part.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you strive to live your life as a spiritual journey,
\nfeed that intention with the lessons and maturity you cultivate through a
\nregular spiritual practice. Once you make a lasting commitment to one or more
\nof the Master Paths you will quickly find powerful changes within and around
\nyou. Connections, synchronicity, and intuition will come to your aid. <\/span><\/p>\n

As you cultivate spiritual experiences through
\npractice and intention, your inner vision will develop, your heart will open, and
\nyour mind will release the illusions that breed fear and attachment. You will
\nbecome the medicine that you seek. You will be a healer to all you know. For
\nsome of us, it will happen in simple ways, like showing kindness in the grocery
\nline, volunteering, or learning not to pollute our bodies and the earth. For
\nothers, we will commit to projects and pathways of healing that will reach
\naround the world. Every little bit helps.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lasting change in the world begins in the heart and the soul of each person. It begins in your home. It is easy to find people who can tell us what to believe, what is wrong, and what to do. The big challenge lies in finding the willingness to be the change. 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