We tend to focus on our New Year’s resolutions at this time of the holiday season. We may reflect on our accomplishments and mistakes from the previous year and what we want to do differently in the New Year to come. On my visits to Los Angeles, I’ve been privileged to attend services at the Agape International Center where Michael Bernard Beckwith is the founder and one of the teachers in the movie, “The Secret.” In his latest book, “Spiritual Liberation,” he says, “Transformation occurs when identification with the egoic self is dropped through conscious realization of the Authentic Self. The power of intention creates. The power of attention maintains our focus on creative intention.” He invites us to notice where we place our attention. Our personal transformation requires that our attention aligns with our intentions. When this happens, a powerful vortex of awareness is generated that keeps us mindful in this “now” moment. Mindful attention allows us to make moment-by-moment choices that support our intention to transform. Any transformation retains all authentic aspects of our personalities and allows us to let go of those aspects that harm us and others.

Rooting our motivation in the conscious intention to evolve gives us the spiritual backbone to take an honest look at ourselves. The universe provides constant feedback through all of our interactions, circumstances and shows us all of the areas where it’s to our advantage to shift our attitudes, perceptions, opinions, concepts and beliefs. Spiritual Warriors are ready to have the rug of old thought patterns and actions pulled out from under them, which is never comfortable, but allows us to no longer be held hostage by our ego’s tricks. We become willing to stand before the tribunal of our own introspection with compassion and loving kindness for all that we observe. A genuine intention to transform is an invitation for spiritual lightening to strike and reveal our self-sabotaging habits pointing us in the direction of what must be released so we can evolve to the next dimension of our being.

Beckwith says that strong indicators of our progress are that we’re no longer inflated by praise or deflated by criticism. Our ego’s job is to demand attention so it can continue to believe in itself. Another progress indicator is how quickly we can forgive ourselves and others. Resentment, animosity and retaliation give way to compassion, self-forgiveness and forgiveness of others. We set aside the need to be right. We’re grateful to those who’ve hurt us because they reveal those areas where we still cling; want to have things go our way, and where we’re stubborn about changing. We create space for others to be who they are without needing to rearrange, manipulate or control them according to our design. We let go of the need for others to fulfill us or make us happy because we know that no one outside of us controls our happiness. Our gratitude increases toward those who stand by us through our growth process, which can be messy, as we become vulnerable and let ourselves be seen for who we are.

It’s important to practice meditation, going within, stilling the mind or becoming quiet – however that looks - as there’s no particularly right way. We contact our authentic self, the “You” who watches the constant scenery of our minds and lives. The more we practice, the more we use our minds consciously instead of being used by them. Let’s become Spiritual Warriors in this coming year and have the courage to face all that is required for our transformation. Let’s allow our growth to unfold in its own magnificent way releasing ourselves into this excellence by simply letting it be. Happy New Year!

Please write to me at sandyislands@hawaii.rr.com and feel free to browse previous articles under publications at www.sandyislands.com