Spiritual Development Articles

Is There Room for More BOOM in Your Life?
By Amy Phillips-Gary

This year as we prepare to celebrate the official "birthday" of the United States complete with picnics and plenty of fireworks we're also experiencing the deaths of many celebrities.

It's an odd and somewhat eerie feeling for me to open up the newspaper and read about another famous person who has passed on-- especially those who were iconic symbols for my generation.

This amalgam of mourning and 4th of July revelry lead my thoughts to life itself. There are lots of unknowns and much we could choose to be fearful about.

At the same time, there is so much to appreciate and celebrate. Each and every moment can be infused with a sense of aliveness and spark-- if we choose.

Of course, if you feel sad or frightened, I encourage you to allow those feelings. But create space in your life-- because it is your life after all-- for more BOOM!

As the saying goes, live your life to the fullest.

How many of us move through our lives as if by default?  We fall into routines and become driven by our responsibilities and the lists of things we "have to" do.

Isn't it time to amp up your spark? Light the fuse and be part of the amazing colors and sounds streaking up into the atmosphere and spreading their power out!

Tap in to your spark
Some of us aren't aware of what makes us feel alive. And I mean ALIVE! Energy is pumping, toes and fingers are tingling and you feel bursting with vitality.

Think back to a time in your life when you felt even close to this description of aliveness. What were you doing? 

How were you engaging with you others and yourself at the time? What was unique about those moments?

You probably don't want to live in the past, but you can be informed by it.

If, for example, you remember feeling alive when you were creating pottery some time ago, perhaps you could try pottery again. Or, you might identify the sense of spark with allowing your creativity to flow.

When you come upon a clue, experiment with it and see how you feel.

Really tune in and notice how you are feeling at any given moment. Your spark might seem hidden at first.

Acknowledge any bit of vitality you can and nurture it by continuing to be, do and think in ways that help it grow.

What you might find is that you can tap into your spark no matter what you're doing. It isn't creating pottery-- as in the example above-- that gives you a sense of being vitally alive.

The creative expression is merely a tool to use to open up to what's been there all along.

Spread your spark around
One way to multiply the vitality you are starting to feel is to allow it to expand. Don't keep that spark all to yourself!

When you are with other people, don't hold back for fear they won't understand you.

Fear of rejection is most certainly a way to dampen down the nascent spark you've tapped into.

Instead, be yourself and be as beautifully vibrant as you can be in this moment.

This might mean that you dance with abandon if you feel like it. It could be that you voice an idea you have-- even though it is unusual for you to do so.

It could also be that you begin to more fully engage with the people in your life.

When you stay present and really listen and interact with others, you will not only nurture your own spark, you might just inspire theirs as well.

Too often we focus on what we need to get done and only deal with the people in our lives at a surface level.

We might listen and talk with them but we don't really open up to share energy. It can seem too vulnerable to engage with this level of depth.

But when you really engage and let yourself be truly open to receive and give with another in a particular moment, the sparks can fly!

I'm not talking about arguments or contention-- although these might be part of the interaction if you choose.

In sharing energy, you and the one you are fully engaging with can each step into a more alive place.

Your whistling rockets can soar even higher.

Go to your Source for a sense of aliveness
As you might already be aware, that spark you feel when you do whatever it is you do and engage with those around you comes from within you and outside of you both at the same time.

The boom of being fully alive comes from the Universe, Source, God, Goddess, Spirit, Yahweh, and so on. Depending on your spiritual path, the name you give to your Source and the specific beliefs you have about it will vary.

What transcends all religious and spiritual belief, however, is this sense of a deep and enduring energy that-- when we tap into it-- allows us to be fully alive.

Sometimes this is experienced as an all-encompassing peaceful calm and other times it is a charged electricity that runs throughout us. Still other times it is both of
these or more.

If you are having a difficult time tapping into your spark, consider returning to your spiritual Source. It doesn't matter what name you give it, just open yourself up to touching in and beyond.

You might find meditation or prayer helpful as you connect with your Source. You could also sing, dance or go for a hike and get in touch with nature.

Whatever means you find useful in transcending your everyday routine and busyness, try it.

And when you discover (or re-discover) a sense of spark, know you have connected with your Source. Practice returning to this state of aliveness regularly.

Rely on this practice when you encounter difficulties or merely boredom.

Give thanks and appreciation for this gift and for your life. Just as we celebrate the lives of those celebrities who have moved on, celebrate your own life that's still in
play as well as the lives of those around you.

Nurture your spark and color the world with all that you are and can be.
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Amy Phillips-Gary is a freelance writer, homeschool mom and personal growth adventurer.  

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