Trusting the Universe - Or Not

Faith and trust in a Higher Power are two different things. Faith is about believing in God/Higher Power even though there is no proof. Trust is about noticing all the times that our Guidance has come through for us in big and little ways, and living our lives according to this truth.

Either we trust that spiritual Guidance exists for us and has our highest good at heart, based on our actual experience regarding our soul's journey, or we don't. When we trust that we are on a profound soul's journey, and that all that happens is in support of this journey, we are able to let go of outcomes and stay more in the present.

Imagine how you would feel if you REALLY trusted that you are never alone and are always being guided in your highest good. That would go a long way toward helping you surrender to the process of life and release anxiety.

Try this exercise: think of all the times from childhood to today when you knew that you were being supported by Spirit - times you were warned of things, times when something good came from something bad, times when you were in the right place at the right time, times when you felt a presence with you, times when Spirit came through another person in the form of help or caring, times when you were deeply guided to help another, times when you knew something without knowing how you knew it.

One of my times was when I was driving home from the airport one night. I heard a quiet voice in my head telling me to slow down. I did, and moments later a drunk driver careened across the freeway directly in front of me, missing my car by inches. Had I not slowed down, I would have been hit broadside.

Another is when I was warned to get all my valuable possessions out of my house that I had sold, at least one week before escrow was to close. I got everything out and the next day construction workers accidentally burned down the house.

These are major incidents, but I've had hundreds of minor incidents that let me know that I am being guided in my highest good. The key is to not let our wounded self diminish these situations with statements like, "It's just a coincidence."

Sally, one of my clients, was struggling with her trust in the universe. I asked her to think about a time when she knew she was being guided and supported. "Well, one important time was when I was thinking of quitting college. I had gone to my college that day with the intention of quitting when I ran into an old friend. We sat and talked, and then I went home. It was only after I got home that I realized that I forgot to quit. I stayed in school and finished and it was one of the best things I ever did for myself. I know that day Spirit made sure I ran into my friend so that I would forget about quitting! Another time was when my baby son was in the hospital, very very sick. The doctor said he might not survive the night. I prayed and prayed and put my body over his and sent all of my love into him. Immediately his fever went down and he was okay. God was definitely with me." Remembering these times helped Sally to reaffirm her trust in God.

I cannot think of a better way to reduce or eliminate anxiety than to decide to trust the universe. When we are in the midst of extreme difficulties, reminding ourselves that we are being guided is a powerful way to stay present and centered and handle the difficulties.

After the trauma of my house burning subsided, I questioned my Guidance regarding why I wasn't warned in a way that could have stopped the house from burning. I was told that, because I had lived and worked in that house for 31 years, too much of my energy was in the house. Spirit needed to help me by burning out the energy, so that my health would not be adversely affected by people tapping into my energy. I was told that my house burning was for my benefit, even though it felt so traumatic at the time. In addition, I received more compensation from the insurance than I did from selling the house! What seemed like a disaster turned out to be a good thing.

Because we have free will, each of us has the option of deciding to trust that we are truly being supported by the universe, that even very challenging situations are all opportunities to evolve our soul in love - toward ourselves and others. Life is filled with ups and downs, with good times and bad. It's important to realize that when bad things happen it does not mean that we are not being supported and guided in our soul's journey. Inner peace comes when we trust that the universe always supports our highest good.