Remaining Vital

By Rev Deborah L. Johnson

Winter gives way to spring. Far beneath all appearances of barrenness or loss, Life simply awaits its next season of blossoming. This is not easily discernable to the naked eye. It’s common to project the present into the future, forgetting that cycles exist to balance one another.

Nature teaches us everything we need to know about Life. New growth sprouts out of charred wood. A blade of grass works its way through the cracks of sidewalk cement. Birds make tender nests in the barbed wire of prison fences. Life goes on; it will not be denied. And so it is with our lives.

In our harried complex worlds, it is tempting to forget the simplicity of Life itself. We forget that our own life is an integral part of Life; we are connected to the whole. Just as the planet’s ecosystems are always seeking to restore, our lives have internal healing systems naturally striving for balance.

Aliveness is our natural pattern, our innate default position. Regardless of circumstances, aliveness is what we will have if we neither succumb to nor choose something else. Although pain often ignites the creativity necessary for new beginnings, it’s the vision of the new possibilities that sustains us.

Our vitality is too often encumbered by our unique human capacity to operate in ways contrary to wholesomeness. We must remind ourselves that the things of real value cannot be quantified in dollars and cents, especially not our own self-worth. There are no ledgers to measure the things that mean the most — health, peace of mind, belonging, resilience, and the like.

Sometimes these things can seem so far away, like goals never to be reached or glories forever gone. No matter the script or our narrative, there is always more aliveness to be had. Age cannot rob us of this potential, nor can debt, disease, or any other form of devastation. Life always finds another way to express itself. Trees never attempt to re-attach their fallen limbs. They simply find a spot on themselves to grow another.

Spirituality is that part of us that refuses to give up hope. It is that part of us that remembers that we are a part of nature, a part of Life and its renewal. When we feel separate, or fear that Life is against us, our vital energy goes down. Consequently, we forfeit the love, creativity, power, and joy that are our birthright. However, rejuvenation awaits us; restoration beckons us. Renewal has your personal name on it. Will you dare to claim possibilities in your life beyond anything that you have experienced before?

How do we keep our vitality going? I share with you my own practice.

1) Express gratitude, every day, for things large and small. Express it in words and actions. There are so many ways to be a “Thank You.” Give back or pay it forward — your time, talent, and resources. Support and affirm people, projects, and worthy causes. Create opportunities for others to have access to the benefits you enjoy. Share yourself and whatever you have. Bring people into your joy. Leave a legacy of inspiration and possibility.

2) Let go of judgment, blame, and resentment, especially towards yourself. Their toxicity pollutes your mind, body, all of your affairs, and the environment around you. Your energy is one of your most priceless and empowering assets. How do you spend it? What are you breathing life into with your thoughts, words, emotions, attitudes, and behavior?

We pay dearly for negativity, even when seemingly justified. Is it worth the price? Is it worth trading off of our power, compassion, peace, and potential? Wouldn’t you rather have the return on investment of your energy yield positive dividends? Our inner work reaps outer benefits not only for our individual selves, but for everyone else as well, as we live in each other’s vibratory fields. Even if you are unwilling to heal and forgive for your own benefit, will you do it for the children and the generations to come?

3) Be open to new possibilities. Loosen attachments to people, places, and things. By nature they come and go; they shift and they change. The sages of the ages have warned us not to anchor in the temporal and transitory. Be mindful to build upon the rock, not shifting sand. People, places, and things are wonderful avenues; they are mediums, expressions of things like love, abundance, and order. However, the outer manifestation is never the essence.

For example, a finite relationship is a conduit of infinite love, but no one relationship can be all of love. A particular job is merely an avenue of abundance; it is not the totality abundance itself. People, places, and things are a re-source, not to be confused with The Source. Should that relationship or job cease to be, love and abundance will always continue to bless your life by taking other forms. Be like nature; allow what is complete to fully complete and open yourself to whatever is next in the evolution of your life.

4) Have some fun! Be creative. Make connections. Do things that make you smile and lose track of time. Schedule it in; don’t wait for it to just happen. Prioritize you and your wellbeing. Regeneration does not happen to us, it happens through us. Create the space for continuous renewal. No matter how many responsibilities we have, or setbacks we have suffered, the music never stops. Life is always saying to us, “Come on, Let’s dance!” As Vivian Greene so eloquently wrote, “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain.”
 

Rev. Deborah L. Johnson is the founding minister and president of Inner Light Ministries, an Omnifaith outreach ministry dedicated to teaching the practical application of Universal Spiritual Principles to all of life’s circumstances. She is also the founder and president of The Motivational Institute, an organizational development consulting firm specializing in cultural diversity serving the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Her clients range from Fortune 500 companies to community-based organizations. She is a dynamic public speaker, known for her ability to bring clarity to complex and emotionally charged issues. Click here to visit her website.