Recently I was walking in the woods with my dog, as I do every morning. I normally say my prayers on these walks, meditating on and appreciating that God created everything around me, created me, and gave me creative abilities. I use that time in the woods to remember to use my word and intention for health, prosperity, and all the myriad needs I might have. By conscientiously taking responsibility for creating my own happiness, I connect with the Divine Guide within.
It was a gorgeous day in mid-winter: snow on the ground but sunny; crisp, clear air and a vibrant, deep blue sky. I thought, “I’m so happy today,” because I did satisfying work the day before and had a good plan for the day ahead. My dog was romping around enjoying the snow, I was going to a spa the following day, and overall I felt inspired.
Feeling an irrepressible smile from the inside out, I said again, aloud, “I am so happy today.” In the mental pause that followed, I remembered how cruddy and pessimistic I’d felt just a few weeks earlier, after a very disappointing outcome of something I’d worked very hard towards achieving.
In a moment of clarity I saw that whether I’m happy or sad, it’s my ego reacting to the changing circumstances of my external reality. A fragile, sensitive, childish part of me that was entirely reactive.
In that pause, I thought, “A ha! Wouldn’t it be better, wouldn’t I feel more peaceful, if my happiness didn’t rely on the right circumstances? If I didn’t react or allow those external circumstances to be the barometer for how I’m going to feel on this day or in this moment?”
A spiritual coaching client and I have been studying part of a New Testament chapter in Matthew (6:31): “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” and (6:33): “But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
And, as usually happens, whatever issue a client brings to me is a mirror for my own self-understanding. This client, John, is deeply rooted in his traditional Christian belief. He knows the Bible very well, though he struggles sometimes to bring its teaching into his daily life. We were meeting later on the day of my walk, and I had been thinking about how this particular chapter in Matthew could apply to me so that I might illustrate its beauty and practicality to John.
One of the most interesting things about John was that he knew his former, more literal interpretation of the Bible sprang from low self-esteem (LoSE). He grew up believing that God was punitive, sitting in the sky waiting for him to screw up, and keeping score. John told me he always felt that God was a lot like his own father: distrustful of John, suspicious of his motives and abilities, and leaping with glee on any mistake which proved that his son was, indeed, a failure. His father used the Word of God like a hammer, pounding down John’s spirit and telling him hell awaited if he thought too highly of himself.
Despite this “training,” John wanted to love God and wanted to trust that his Creator, and practicing the Christian faith, would be rewarding, not punishing. He had a tremendous amount of courage as he sought to recover his inherent self-esteem (RISE).
A LoSEr often feels the victim of changing external circumstances, blowing hot and cold depending upon how his day develops. LoSErs feel powerless; they’ve forgotten that they have a right to happiness, and that it comes from within (sustainably) and not from whether or not things are going well on any given day. They understand that a good day or bad day, as defined by what’s going on around them, is somewhat left to chance. Because of that, LoSErs often think, “If I got that raise, I’d be happy;” or, “If ‘they’ weren’t so privileged, I’d have a chance.” It’s not their fault; LoSErs usually get the message in childhood that industrious action leads to success and happiness, or that joy and prosperity is reserved for those who earn it through action.
RISErs undoubtedly react to circumstances in their world, but in most cases their sense of safety and happiness is secure within. Good times amplify it, and in bad times that inner security gives a RISEr the wherewithal to muddle through. RISErs, whether they engage the Law of Attraction, positive thinking, or self-hypnosis, know that creating happiness first brings prosperity, health, and opportunity in limitless quantities.
“Seek first the Kingdom of God… and all these things will be added to you.” How would you define the Kingdom of God? If you’re not sure (and you believe in God), consider the first words of the Gospel of John (NT): “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
This line is critical to understanding our inherent self-esteem. If you’re shaky on self-esteem, follow this logical argument with me for a moment.
If God created everything, that means there was nothing before He created it. Nothing existed but God, as affirmed in Revelation 1:8: “I AM the Alpha and the Omega.” Alpha and omega are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet.
If there was nothing in existence except God, and He created the Universe, He must have created the Universe out of his own Self. The “Word” (logos in Greek) is a name or title of Jesus Christ, and what this means is that Jesus (the man) was always a part of God the Father/Creator from the very beginning; He was with God and He was God.
Jesus said “All that I can do, you can do – and even greater things.” (John 14:12) Because of this statement, we can conclude that we are the same as Jesus.
So if Jesus was part of God before anything was ever created, and we are the same as Jesus, we are born with an inherent goodness and perfection, and are capable of profound love, healing, and creativity. The only obvious difference between us and Jesus is His awareness of the power within each of us and how to tap that power through faith, belief, love, visualization and expectation to make the world a better place for everyone. This bears repeating: that power is within each of us; we don’t have to earn it with saintly behavior, tithing, or never sinning. We’ve inherited it. It’s ours to use conscientiously and with purpose, or not. It’s ours right now.
Seeking the Kingdom of God, then, means seeking the divine part of yourself, the part that is most like God. The part that is perfect, loving, accepting, forgiving, capable of creating harmony, peace, and healing. The part that is always, unerringly, happy. The Kingdom of God resides in us.
As I reflected on this deep contrast between how joyful and empowered I felt the morning of my walk and my utter fatigue and disappointment a few weeks before, I remembered the suggestion to seek first the Kingdom of God, the peace, love, and understanding of the divinity inherent in me. If I focused on that, searched only for that, all the things I needed would be given to me. Perhaps I could have avoided those awful feelings; maybe if I’d been a better student of the search I could have ridden that wave of disappointment without feeling personally as though I’d failed. Similarly, if I regularly seek the Kingdom of God I will experience joy and completion regardless of whether my life feels successful or not.
When I met with John that same afternoon, I told him about my revelation in the woods. We discussed how perfectly God instructs us. “Seek Me first, don’t worry about anything else. If you’ll just do that, you’ll find that all of your other needs are met.”
Its natural to do this in times of distress when we might say “God, where are you?” That’s what LoSErs do when unhappy. That’s what I was doing those weeks ago when I was so disappointed, feeling so dejected and unworthy. I thought that if I’d succeeded at the year-long endeavor, I’d be happy. Even RISErs have LoSEr moments, make no mistake about it.
It’s important in happy times too, to seek the Kingdom of God — that inner peace and faultlessness, the part of us that needs no correction and is always accepted and worthy. Frequent connection with that inherent self-esteem means healthy detachment from the outcome of actions. Sure, we’ll still experience pain if we stumble, but when we know deep down that we were created in perfection, the pain doesn’t impact our self-love and -appreciation.
John and I continue to explore the practical applications of the Bible’s wisdom. But if you’re not a Christian, you might consider that the Kingdom of God is simply peace of mind. The spark of you deep inside that cheers when you succeed and soothes you when you stumble. The part of you that feels ageless, no matter how much time passes. The eternal “I AM” that is evoked whenever you contemplate those two words.
If you’re LoSE-ing, go there. Seek the Kingdom of God, the spark of life, the eternal wonder inside of you. If you're not sure how to do it, try this:
Find a quiet place and moment where you can turn off devices and distractions. Close your eyes if that feels right, and bring your awareness to whatever you consider to be you. You might say slowly and quietly, like a mantra, "I Am, I Am, I Am," letting the profound meaning of that miracle sink in. Contemplate these words, or simply look for the place within where your consciousness resides. Some people feel like it's in their heart, others feel it's in the mind, or head. There's no wrong answer. Let yourself understand that this part of you is vast and uncomprehensible but created by absolute perfection. Stay with these thoughts as long as you like.
If you make it a habit, you’ll be amazed by your own strength. It doesn’t mean surrendering the desire for prosperity, justice, or impact. Those things will come to you effortlessly as you RISE.
