Week Six: Nonresistance

Well time is certainly moving quickly. We are entering our sixth week of exploration. It is interesting the synchronicities between our readings, quote, insights, discussion questions and what shows up in our everyday livingness.

For Week 6 You are invited to

· Read Ch. 9, The I of the Storm by Gary Simmons

· Journal on the questions at the end of the chapter (Aware-apy)

· Review the weekly discussion questions and share your thoughts on any or all of them in the comments section.

· Post your Affirmation.

· Repeat your weekly affirmation daily.

· Commit to participating in your study Group.

Here's to another insightful week.

Namaste,

Antoinette

Week Six: Nonresistance ~ Quotes

Quotes from our Text

“Nonresistance is the I of the storm of defensiveness. It is the seat of wholeness and the contact point between heaven and earth—between the field of infinite possibilities and the needs of the particular situation.”

“Nonresistance and Communion are overlapping attributes in that being present to life without conditions means being connected to our experience—to whatever is happening in the moment without pushing it way, without any ifs, ands, or buts.”

“Being present to life means letting your center, your spiritual nature, move you instead of letting your fears or insecurities do it.”

Week Six: Nonresistance ~ Wisdom…

Wisdom and Insights

“Being present to life also means being connected to your feelings, fears, and insecurities. Nonresistance includes accepting your feelings and conditioned reactions. If you push them away, they gain more power over you. Once they are accepted, you no longer are ruled by them, you no longer feel the need to act from them. In your nonresistance, you are able to let your center, your spiritual nature, move you. And in nonresistance, you are able to see your wisdom, your connection to God. Focusing on this connection allows you to act with authenticity from your Purpose.”

- Larry Watson

Week Six: Nonresistance ~ Questions

...To Guide our group Discussion

· Nonresistance is required if you want to be present, to show up. What does “nonresistance” mean to you? (pg. 131)

· When we resist what is present in our lives, we create friction and chaos. What are some of the results of that friction and chaos? How does your resistance effect you?

· We desire to be right because it makes our ego feel safe. When you are being the conduit between the intention of God living through you, and your experience, does it feel safe to not be right?

· How does nonresistance become the I of the Storm, the calm and balanced center, of defensiveness?

. Explore the analogy of the electrical circuit and it’s components as a spiritual system for interacting with your experience. How do you relate to that circuit?

Week Six: Nonresistance ~ Affirmation

Nonresistance

I am connected to my experience through nonresistance.
I am present to my experience.
I, __________ , fulfill purpose as an expression of God

Week Five: Living On Purpose

Welcome to Week 5 of The I of the Storm virtual book discussion/study program.

Please pardon my delay in posting for this week, a sudden and serious family situation arose, which is where I chose to put my attention, energy and time. Thank you for your patience and understanding with this.

And now, for Week 5 You are invited to:

· Read Ch. 7, The I of the Storm by Gary Simmons
· Journal on the questions at the end of the chapter (Aware-apy)
· Review the weekly discussion questions.
· Post your Affirmation.
· Repeat your weekly affirmation daily.
· Commit to participating in your virtual study Group.

Here's to the Journey!

Living On Purpose,

Antoinette

Week Five: Living On Purpose ~ Quotes

Quotes from our Text

“Purpose is the I of the storm of competing values, goals, and needs. Purpose is the universe’s intention to be, through you, the presence of God. In Unity, we call Purpose the Christ of God, meaning the whole and complete expression of God. Your spiritual purpose is to be the Christ of God, the Christ of your world.”

“You are the life of God. You are the ‘vitality, energy, vim of God,’ to quote a popular song, in those moments when the clouds of doubt, negativity, stubbornness, and futility threaten to storm upon the innocence of a new day.”

Week Five: Living On Purpose ~ Wisdom and Insights

Wisdom and Insights

Men are born soft and supple;
dead, they are stiff and hard.
Plants are born tender and pliant;
dead, they are brittle and dry.

Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible
is a disciple of death.
Whoever is soft and yielding
is a disciple of life.

-Stephen Mitchell, Tao te Ching

Week Five: Living On Purpose ~Questions

Questions to Guide Our Group Discussion

· In our daily lives, our intentions determine results. When we lose sight of our intention in any endeavor, we lose focus and easily become distracted. “Purpose is the universe’s intention to be, through you, the presence of God.”

What happens when we lose focus on this intention?
How did it feel when you lived through this Purpose and intention in a particular situation?


· Even if you are not yet expressing it at His level, can you see that your potential as the Christ of God is the same as Jesus’?

What is that potential? (pg. 118)


· What are some of the thoughts and feelings that keep you from seeing that “you are the Christ of God in this situation?”

How does the situation change when you move your attention from those thoughts of chaos, to being the way of God and loving unconditionally, accepting people as they are?


· Can you be the way of God for yourself, loving yourself unconditionally, accepting yourself as you are?

Think of an internal conflict that would benefit from loving yourself, and being the way of God for yourself. In looking at internal “flaws” and mistakes you saw in yourself, what if you could accept yourself as you are and fill yourself with the awareness that you are the life of God?

Week Five: Living On Purpose ~ Affirmation

Living On Purpose

I am the Christ of God, I am the way of God,
I am the Life of God.
I, __________ , am the universe expressing as God.

Week Four: Principle

Welcome to Week Four of The I of the Storm virtual book study where our discussion focus is on Principle. The author presents some interesting concepts, which should make for insightful and rich discussion.

For Week 4 you are invited to:

· Read Ch. 7, The I of the Storm by Gary Simmons
· Journal on the questions at the end of the chapter (Aware-apy)
· Review and respond to the weekly discussion questions by clicking on the word Comments.
· Post your Affirmation.
· Repeat your weekly affirmation daily.
. Commit to participating in our virtual study Group.

Here's to continued exploration and discovery.

Antoinette

Week Four: Principle ~ Quotes

Quotes from Our Text

“Principle is another way of describing the nature of the universe, its order and intelligence. It is another word for God.”

“When you look at something and say, “This is what it is,” you are pouring your creative energy (attention and awareness) into that specific perception. The moment your awareness locks on to one possibility, all other universes collapse. While in any given situation there may be many possibilities, innumerable paths, the instant you decree “This is it!” all others vanish.”

“Principle is the basis of seeing life as it really is, as God sees. It is the high watch—the viewpoint of omniscience. Principle is the way of God-life. Principle is the order of the universe, the way things are in God. Principle is the Truth, the Truth that stands the test of time—like the Truth that no one is against you.”

“In Principle, no one is against you; therefore, what you are making the experience mean is the true enemy.”

Week Four: Principle ~ Questions

Questions to Guide Our Group Discussion

● “Principle is the I in the storm of misperception.” Often we may have thought of the I as the ego, but Gary Simmons is putting a different perspective on the I by describing it as the nature of the universe, its order and intelligence, and as our source. (pg. 105) How would you describe the concept of Principle ?

● When you move from ego to Principle as your source of being, how does that change your view of the world?

● When Principle is forgotten, can you feel how your sense of self-worth determines your perceptions (or misperceptions)? How does your perception of an adversary point to your sense of self-worth?

● Can you truly see conflict as a road sign to opportunity for greater intimacy and cohesiveness?

● How does it feel to think that in any given moment an infinite number of possibilities are actually present? Is this believable for you?

● If you give power to your perceptions when you say, “This is it!”, does it really make you feel safe and okay? How long does that last?

● Judgment usually grabs our attention and triggers a conditioned response that is based on a lack of self worth. “But it is Principle that helps you redirect your attention and awareness to the underlying needs of the relationship.” It seems like the most automatic responses are the result of the most emotionally charged triggers. How do you connect with Principle in those situations?

Week Four: Principle ~ Affirmation

Principle

I live from the Truth Principle of God’s presence
and God’s love
I am the presence of God.

I, _________ , am one with God and all life.

Week Three: Communion

Greetings All!

Our focus for Week 3 is Communion. During this week you are invited to:

. Read Ch. 5 & 6, The I of the Storm by Gary Simmons

. Journal on the questions at the end of the chapter (Aware-apy)

. Review the weekly discussion questions and post your comments, insights, etc. (note: click on to word 'Comments', then a box for posting will appear.)

. Post your Affirmation.

. Repeat your weekly affirmation daily.

. Commit to participating in your virtual study Group.

Here's to another insightful week.

Antoinette

Week Three: Communion ~ Quotes

Quotes from our Text

“Conflict in your life is evidence of not being fully present or authentic in a particular situation or relationship.”

“The four winds or conditions that support the storm are: separation, misperception, competition, and defensiveness. The pivotal component in the conflict equation is how you feel about yourself.”

“Separation supports conflict because separation keeps you from experiencing God in yourself, in others, and in life overall.”

“The reason wholeness seems so elusive is that you base your sense of well-being and worth on what is happening or not happening to you.”

“No judgment is about you. It is about the person who is doing the judging. But when you react by making the other person wrong or by defending yourself, you make the judgment mean that it is about you, when it’s really not. It is about what is missing for the other person.”

Week Three: Communion ~ Questions

Questions to Guide Our Group Discussion

· “Separation was a way of avoiding the pain of being too close, too vulnerable, and too innocent.” This effect included separation from your sense of self worth.


· If you could feel absolutely safe, if there were no possible threats to you, how strong would be your sense of self worth? (pg. 82)


· Most of us have been taught that we have to win. How does winning reinforce one’s inferiority? (pg. 89)


· “You are not your feelings. You may experience fear, but the fear is not you – nor is it a part of you.” (pg. 94) Do you agree? How does this concept change your view of yourself?


· Your objective in relationship to life, with others, and with yourself is to experience communion with God in life, in others, and in you.


· In some situations or groups you feel comfortable and relaxed. In those situations, what is your sense of wholeness and worth? In some situations you feel more guarded and uneasy; what is your sense of wholeness and worth there? How easily will you become defensive? In which of these situations would you assume others have judgments about you? (pg. 101)

. “When we arrive at the edge of our capacity to make sense of or to define our experience, we are at the threshold of the kingdom of God, the realm of infinite possibilities.” What does this mean to you?

Week Three: Communion Affirmation

Communion

What is happening to me is powerless to keep me
from co-creating my highest good.
My intention is to experience communion with
life, with others, and with myself.

I, __________ , am in communion with God in all that I do