100 Reasons

Recently I've gained a new mentor (well, actually a couple mentors), Saskia, and one of the "exercises" or assignments she gave me was to make a list of 100 reasons why I am on Earth. I was incredibly excited (who, me? Bet you didn't see that coming) about everything we talked about, all the tools and tips she gave me, etc and so I went right to work. This one seemed pretty straightforward, plus I felt like I pretty much already know why I'm here on Earth (you know- it's part of the master plan). I went in with the intention to be clear and honest, a.k.a no fluff or sugar-coating. Mentally I decided that I would kind of break it up by category (spiritual, relationships, finances, health, etc) to make it a little easier to focus and identify my purposes within each area. I'm sure other subdivisions would be good, but that's what I went with.

I was blown away. Completely. A very simple exercise turned quickly into a deeply powerful one. Whereas 100 reasons seemed like a lot at first, they just started coming to me. Some examples:

• To fill the measure of my creation
• To develop charity
• To love, support, learn from, cheer on my mother
• Help others connect to the Spirit of Elijah
• Learn to appreciate, use, and learn from my physical body
• Learn about varied cultures
• To create joy through words
• To radiate love
• To forgive freely

I started to see patterns. Some key words for me are Love, Learn, Create, Develop/Cultivate, and Become. Those six words distill who I am quite accurately. Also significant was what wasn't there- no specific job or position, no weight goal, deadlines of when I needed to do xyz, etc. Don't misunderstand- I believe in the power of setting goals and making plans to achieve them. But they aren't the "why" of the matter and until we resonate with the "why" behind a goal, the "what" and the "how" seem just out of reach. For example, with weight/fitness goals. Why? Because we want to be skinny, look good, be healthy, feel strong? None of those are in and of themselves wrong, but they aren't the why. When I identify that my purpose behind it is really a combination of appreciating my physical body, striving for excellence, having the energy and strength to fulfill other needs and demands, etc, then I feel this shift. It's not about a certain pants size or number on a scale- it's about becoming who I am meant to be.

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, a day I love to use to reflect, evaluate, set goals and make plans. May I invite all of you before you set your intentions, write down your resolutions, and make your plans, to do this. Make a list of 100 reasons of why you are here on Earth and I promise you will start to find your "why"s.

Sanctify

I had a really great opportunity this weekend to attend a Christ-Centered Energy Healing Conference in Mesa. Started by an LDS group but extended to all Christian faiths, it works to bring energy work (muscle testing, foot zoning, emotional processing and releasing, and all those kinds of woo-woo voodoo techniques) into harmony with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The power to heal, no matter how it is done, comes through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. So there were classes about cultivating your spiritual gifts, coming closer to understanding our divine purposes and destiny, learning to forgive and heal, etc, etc. One insight in particular I wanted to share. In one of the classes I attended, she asked us the definition of sanctify. The first definition I thought of is "to make holy", others said "to set apart", "purify", "cleanse", all of which are true. But then she explained that those first definitions are true and correct, but there is a third translation of the word from ancient Greek or Latin meaning to "approve, accept, and support". In context of the class we discussed loving and accepting ourselves etc, however a new thought came as I partook of the sacrament on Sunday. As the prayer includes the words "bless and sanctify this bread (or water) for the souls of all those who partake of it...", the thought came that no only does the Lord accept and approve of the bread and water (emblems of the atoning sacrifice), but as we take them into ourselves He is giving his love, support, approval and acceptance to us- He is saying in effect "I will take you as you are, whether that's broken or whole, firm in the faith or confused by doubts, and I will support and help you become better through the Atonement." It is both a humbling and an empowering understanding, perhaps one I've thought of in different terms but never quite like that.