We can be free of mental clutter.

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For so long, it was so easy for me to get completely turned around and confused. Even in quarantine our days can be a myriad of activities and interactions with people that seem overwhelming. Our feelings can be overwhelming too. Some of us are getting to have more quiet time and more spiritual connection, while others are finding it nearly impossible to have a minute to themselves.

Without some quiet, it can be challenging to recognize the still small voice. If we’re feeling overwhelmed, it can feel impossible to discern the difference between ego’s voice and Spirit’s inspiration. Without that clarity, it’s easy to go off in directions that we think are Spirit’s inspiration, but they’re just ego distractions and detours.

With all that’s going on in this world and in our lives, we can lose perspective on what’s important, and stay in a haze of meaningless activity for a very long time, just to avoid feeling our feelings.

What cuts through the haze is our spiritual practice.

A valuable spiritual practice is one that we can be consistent with, and that feels uplifting. I’ve learned that the best practice for me is one that I live ALL DAY LONG. It’s my walking the talk and living the Love all day long, to the best of my ability, that keeps me clear headed and grounded.

I used to have a focus on collecting spiritual information.

I thought if I knew more, it would help me to feel better and be happy. I never felt like I knew enough. I always felt that I was falling short.

In my pursuit of the “right” information, I read a lot of books and magazines and had lots of informative conversations. I was trying to pay attention to as many things in the world as I possibly could. It was tiring and I often felt that I wasn’t doing a good enough job. There was always so much information I didn’t have. I couldn’t easily quote Oscar Wilde or Helen Keller. There were always so many classics I still hadn’t read yet. I was driving more and more slowly on the information super highway of life, but not getting anywhere.

I was failing at collecting all the information I needed to have in case I was suddenly called to a dinner party with all the contributing writers for the New Yorker Magazine. I didn’t really read the New York Times thoroughly and I was caring about it less and less. I had a stack of spiritual books by my bed that was taller than my nightstand. All books I “should” read, but really didn’t want to.

I was investing money in things that really didn’t matter to me, but I thought would make me better. For a long time, I didn’t realize that by collecting books and information to make me better, I was affirming that there was something wrong with me, so even if I did read all the books cover to cover and had the ability to write a paper about them, it was all just affirmation of my “not enoughness.”

No wonder I didn’t want to read those darn books!

Fortunately, I started to realize that all that information collecting was a distraction to me and not that helpful. I cancelled all magazines and newspapers. I stopped watching the news. Through a series of events with my then landlord, my cable was disconnected so there went my tv watching. I started to read only the books I had a passion for and I read them very slowly and carefully.

A bonus was that I stopped having conversations about information. I began to recognize that the best reason to have a conversation was for the purpose of relating to people: living the Love and walking the talk.

I realized I could focus mostly on talking about our lives and leave the information super highway behind. I found an exit, and took it and I’ve been very glad that I did.

Information just isn’t satisfying to me anymore.
I find that it can really clutter the mind.

The bottom line: Information isn’t healing.
Being loving is healing.
Forgiveness is healing.

Clearing out the judgments, the opinions, the grudgers and greivances, as well as my complaints and criticisms made me realize that I’d rather focus on experiencing and expressing Love, that’s much more interesting than anything else! PLUS, it gives me the added bonus of contributing to a clear mind!

My invitation to you is to look at where you’re collecting information that’s just not truly helpful or satisfying. Information isn’t healing and it can have the effect of confusing and cluttering one’s mind. The focus on collecting information is a distraction of the ego. The ego analyzes to try to learn what it needs to be safe. The Spirit knows that being loving is our safety. No information is needed for that.

You can ask yourself, who really wants to read the book, me or the ego? The Spirit already knows everything. I find that spending time with Spirit is far more expansive and deeply satisfying. It’s healing. It’s also less expensive!

We can actively choose transformation for our liberation in each moment by staying alert to when the ego is presenting a distraction. We can choose transformation for our liberation all day, every day and leave the past behind. Let’s step up our game and put the collection of information behind us.

Let’s clear the mental clutter and make room for spiritual insights!

Get rid of those books you really don’t feel like reading but feel you “should.” Give them away. You’ll feel great about that!

TODAY, you can join me, Maureen Muldoon, Faith Rumor and more friends. We’ll have a spiritual celebration together with inspiration and music. If you can’t join us, you can catch the replay! Because we’re going to be live on video, you’ll have to register to get the details. All are welcome, there’s no charge, but you do have to register.

When you register, you’ll also get easy access to past services with Lisa Natoli and Jon Mundy.

You can join me in cultivating the willingness that raises us ALL up so we can be truly helpful in this world. Prayer is a power tool, and I am so grateful for having learned the power of it. Every day, part of my spiritual practice is to write inspiration and record a prayer to go with it.

If you’re interested, this week I’ll be announcing that I’m offering my Prayer Power class again, also I’m going to offer my Stop Playing Small Retreat online. People have asked for these things and I’m pulling it together. Stay tuned!

I look forward to our Sunday gathering today. It means so much that we can join together and love on each other!

May you and your family feel blessed today and every day!