January 21, 2013

Soul Food Monday! - An Inspirational Link-Up! #17

Man is the soul that uses the body as an instrument of self-expression.
Hola Readers! Hope this morning everyone is having a great rise along with a BIG appetite for life where ever in the world you may find yourself today. A life filled with excitement and prosperity!   Acknowledging first that we are more than just a body is a good start to healthy wholeness.  Let's take time to feed the soul.  We feed our bodies with healthy foods to get enough energy and nutrients for optimal growth and development.  We feed and stimulate the mind with books, movies, plays and games for personal and creative development.  The same principal applies to feeding the soul.  It is just as important to feed the body as it is to feed the soul!  After all, the soul is the core of who we are!  It is who we are.  My own experiences of honoring my soul has helped me make this connection with my very soul.  And my life is so much richer in so many ways I could not have even imagined.  This is why I refuse to believe that we are just here to work, eat, sleep and die.  Yes, these are inevitable experiences we live as human beings, but we are spiritual beings as well.  So join me every Monday with a different food for the soul.

This week's feed continues with...Making Decisions

The Seven Decisions consist of seven affirmation readings for each day of the week.  The author, Andy Andrew, came up with these decisions while being homeless after losing both his parents at the tender age of 19.  These seven decisions eventually shaped his book The Traveler's Gift later in life.  I believe these seven decisions to be an enriching source of food for the soul as well as a great spiritual growth tool.  Thereby I've decided to incorporate them in my Soul Food Monday Inspirational Link-Up until all seven have been shared. 

Decision 6
The Compassionate Decision
I Will Greet This Day With A Forgiving Spirit.

For too long, every ounce of forgiveness I owned was locked away, hidden from view, waiting for me to bestow its precious presence upon some worthy person.  Alas, I found most people to be singularly unworthy of my valuable forgiveness and since they never asked for any, I kept it all for myself.  Now, the forgiveness that I hoarded has sprouted inside my heart like a crippled seed yielding bitter fruit.

No more!  At this moment, my life has taken on new hope and assurance.  Of all the world's population, I am one of the few possessors of the secret to dissipating anger and resentment.  I now understand that forgiveness only has value when it is given away.  By the simple act of granting forgiveness, I release the demons of the past about which I can do nothing and create in myself a new heart, a new beginning.

I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit.  I will forgive even those who do not ask for forgiveness.  Many are the times when I have seethed in anger at a word or deed thrown into my life by an unthinking or uncaring person.  Valuable hours have been wasted imagining revenge or confrontation.  Now I see the truth revealed about this psychological rock inside my shoe.  The rage I nurture is often one-sided, for my offender seldom gives thought to his offense!

I will now and forevermore silently offer my forgiveness even to those who do not see that they need it.  By the act of forgiving, I am no longer consumed by unproductive thoughts.  My bitterness is given up.  I am contented in my soul and effective again with my fellow man.

I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit.  I will forgive those who criticize me unjustly.

Knowing that slavery, in any form, is wrong, I also know that the person who lives a life according to the opinion of others is a slave.  I am not a slave.  I have chosen my own counsel.  I know the difference between right and wrong.  I know what is best for the future of my family and neither misguided opinion nor unjust criticism will alter my course.

Those who are critical of my goals and dreams simply do not understand the higher purpose to which I have been called.  Therefore, their scorn does not affect my attitude or action.  I forgive their lack of vision and forge ahead.  I now know that criticism is part of the price paid for leaping past mediocrity.

I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit.  I will forgive myself.  For many years, my greatest enemy has been myself.  Every mistake, every miscalculation, every stumble I made has been replayed over and over in my mind.  Every broken promise, every day waste, every goal not reached has compounded the disgust I feel for the lack of achievement in my life.  My dismay has developed a paralyzing grip.  When I disappoint myself, I respond with inaction and become more disappointed.

I realize today that it is impossible to fight an enemy living in my head.  By forgiving myself, I erase the doubts, fears and frustration that have kept my past in the present.  From this day forward, my history will cease to control my destiny.  I have forgiven myself.  My life has just begun.

I will forgive even those who do not ask for forgiveness.  I will forgive those who criticize me unjustly.  I will forgive myself.

I WILL GREET THIS DAY WITH A FORGIVING SPIRIT
Wishing everyone a magical Monday and a week full of love, laughter and excitement!

Please keep coming back for more Soul Food Monday!
Where you can feed your soul and start your week with a great and positive outlook!
And ultimately brighten someone else's week by sharing your inspiration!

What is your inspiration this week?
Follow your heart! Grab the button, link-up and share! 
 

8 comments:

  1. What a great read for a Monday morning :)

    First time linking up, have a great week!

    ¤´¨)
    ¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*¨)
    (¸.·´ (¸.·`¤... Jennifer
    http://jennsrandomscraps.blogspot.ca
    http://pinterest.com/jennp6

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    1. Hola Jenn!
      Thanks for stopping by and linking up! On my way to take a peek at yours!

      ~SimplyyMayra :)

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  2. I always love what you choose as your inspiration for each week. I have been working on feeling gratitude lately. And the flip side of that for me is to be forgiving. Mainly to others. I have a tendency to feel really let down by people and it saps my joy. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. Hola Rachel!
      I know what you mean about others sapping one's joy, but it's really up to us not to allow that to happen, so we really need to exercise "forgiving". Thanks for stopping by and linking up....I so appreciate YOU!

      ~SimplyyMayra :)

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  3. awesome post! i needed that this morning. it actually made me cries a few tears to let go of some things i've been holding in. thanks!

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    1. Hola LaTesha!
      Wonderful! It was meant for you to read today, glad it helped. Tears are good...they cleanse the soul! Thanks for stopping by and linking up, I look forward to next week's read!

      ~SimplyyMayra :)

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  4. I agree on the fact that many of us neglect our spiritual lives because of work and other commitments, we need God's grace and his guidance to prepare for the life beyond.

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  5. Lovely post - full of forgiveness. Thanks so much for linking up :)

    Sarah @ A Cat-Like Curiosity

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