— How Life Looks When I Am Inspired —

“Give me a man who sings at his work.”

— Thomas Carlyle

“They can because they think they can.”

— Virgil

In this final chapter, I offer my own very personal view on how the world looks when I feel inspired.

I’d like to acknowledge right from the outset that I don’t live at this level of being in-Spirit 100 percent of the time—like most everyone else, I occasionally have lapses and feel uninspired. Yet these moments have become rarer and rarer; in fact, it’s difficult for me to recall a day in the past several years when I felt completely uninspired.

What follows is a personal account of both how I feel inside and what seems to take place in the world around me when I feel connected to Spirit in the ways that I’ve written about in the pages of this book.

Jack

The same day that I completed Chapter 17 and read it over the telephone to my editor, Joanna, on Bainbridge Island, Washington, I had the most profoundly mystical experience of being in-Spirit in all of my 65 years. The photograph on the cover of the book is a re-creation of what happened.

When I finished up with Joanna, I went for my daily hour-long walk along the beach … but for some reason I elected to take a slightly different route along a grassy area adjacent to the beach. I was recalling my friend Jack Boland, a Unity minister in Detroit, who crossed over about a decade ago. Jack loved monarch butterflies, often telling stories of how he marveled at these paper-thin creatures who migrated thousands of miles in high winds and returned to the same branch on the same tree where they first emerged from their cocoons. Before Jack passed away, I presented him with a beautiful paperweight containing a dead monarch that I’d found in perfect condition. When he died, his wife returned it to me, telling me how much Jack loved that gift and how much he admired these amazing creatures who had such mysterious intelligence built into their brains, which are the size of a pinhead.

Jack always told me to “be in a state of gratitude,” and he ended every sermon with this message to God: “Thank You, thank You, thank You.” On three occasions since his death, a monarch butterfly has landed on my body. Since these creatures studiously avoid human contact, each time this has happened I’ve thought of Jack and thought, Thank You, God—thank You, thank You.

Anyway, as I walked, feeling grateful for having completed the second-to-last chapter of this book, a monarch landed on the ground, three feet in front of me. I said Jack’s magic words to myself (Thank You, God—thank You, thank You), and felt deep appreciation for my life and the beauty of the day. The butterfly stayed right there until I approached, then he flapped his wings several times and flew away. Thinking of Jack and feeling a little bewildered and immensely thankful, I watched this creature in flight, now 40 or 50 yards away.

As God is my witness, the butterfly made a U-turn and not only headed in my direction, but landed right smack on my finger! Needless to say, I was shocked—but not totally surprised. I must confess that it seems to me that the more I stay in-Spirit, the more I experience synchronicities similar to this one. But what followed did border on the incredulous, even for me.

This little creature became my constant companion for the next two and a half hours—he sat first on one hand and then moved to my other hand, never even coming close to flying away. He seemed to be trying to communicate with me by moving his wings back and forth, and even opening and closing his tiny mouth as if attempting to speak … and as crazy as it may sound, I felt a deep affinity to this precious living being. I sat on the ground and simply stayed with my new fragile friend for 30 or so minutes. Then I called Joanna from my cell phone, and she was also stunned by the synchronicity, insisting that I somehow get a picture of this event.

At this point I decided to return to my home, approximately a mile from where I was sitting, with my new companion. I returned along the beach walk, where the winds were brisk—the butterfly’s wings were pushed by these high gusts, but he clung to my finger, and even moved to another hand without making any effort to leave. As I walked, I encountered a four-year-old girl with her mother. The girl was sobbing over some perceived tragedy in her young life, and when I showed her my “pet” butterfly, her expression went from sad to blissful in one split second. She smiled from ear to ear and asked me all about the winged creature on my forefinger.

When I got home, I was talking on my cell phone to my friend Reid Tracy as I walked upstairs. He laughed with me as I related the bizarre synchronicity at play in this very moment. I said, “Reid, it’s been 90 minutes, and this little guy has adopted me.” Reid also encouraged me to get a photograph of this, since it was obviously in complete harmony with what I was writing.

I left my new friend—whom I was now calling “Jack”—sitting on the handwritten Chapter 17 on my lanai, and went downstairs. I found Cindy, a young woman who works nearby, and asked her to run to the store and purchase a disposable camera. She did, and I went back to the patio, put my hand next to Jack, and watched him jump right onto my finger! (The photo on the cover of this book is a re-creation of that magical moment.)

It appeared that my butterfly companion had decided that he was now going to live with me forever. After another hour or so of meditating and communing with this little creature of God—and pondering this event as the most unprecedented and out-of-the-ordinary spiritual episode I’d ever encountered—I gently placed Jack back on my manuscript while I proceeded to take a long, hot shower. When I returned to the patio, I placed my finger near my winged friend as I’d done many times in the previous 150 minutes, but he now seemed like a totally different little critter. He fluttered away, landed on a table, flapped his wings twice, and flew off, straight up toward the heavens. Moments with him were now history, but I still had the photographs, which I treasure.

The next morning, I decided to watch one of my favorite films, Brother Sun, Sister Moon, which I hadn’t viewed for more than a decade. And sure enough—in the opening scenes of Franco Zeffirelli’s interpretation of the life of St. Francis, there he was … with a butterfly alighting on his fingers.

Inspirational Vibrations

When I live my life so as to be open to the language of Spirit, I find almost overwhelming rapture overtaking me. For several days after my experience with Jack, people kept telling me that I seemed so peaceful and content, and one woman even suggested that I was “walking grace.” This episode with my butterfly friend and the communiques from Spirit touched me at an unprecedented level. From the perspective of being in-Spirit, I’ve seen Its hands embrace me and heard It say: “You are not alone. You can count on me to guide you—and whatever you do, do not doubt My presence.”

This makes me feel safe, comforted, and that I’m not alone. I feel good (God) because I’m living in almost perfect harmony with the Source of my being, living on purpose and writing from my heart. The reason I feel inspired isn’t because the world looks perfect. Rather, it’s the other way around: The reason the world looks perfect to me is because I’m in-Spirit—a person who chooses to live an inspired life. I’m able to stay in a state of gratitude from the moment I awake early in the morning right up until I close my eyes while falling asleep; and throughout each day, I’m reminded that staying in-Spirit is really about staying in vibrational harmony.

I don’t find it necessary to change anyone or anything that I encounter or read about in my daily life. Each time that I’m tempted to, I catch myself and return to a mind-set that calls to me to be more like God, right here and right now. I stay inspired by making an energetic shift within myself; when I do, the world looks completely different, and I move inwardly toward peace and kindness. The energetic shift is merely a way of processing people and events from the insight of being unified with the All-Creating Source—that is, by eschewing judgment and allowing the world to be as it is, rather than as I think it should be.

I stay inspired by encouraging others to live out their destiny and allowing the world to unfold as it will, and I’m much more likely to feel peaceful. In fact, when I’m living my life from this perspective of inspiration, my vibrational energy is more attuned to that of the creative energy of the Universe, and I find that my effect on others is far more spiritually aligned. Furthermore, I know within my own being that I’m doing something very powerful to make this world a more spiritually oriented place for us all.

You see, when I resonate to anger, shame, hatred, or revenge, I add to these decidedly nonspiritual energies by joining in what I find to be so objectionable. But when I remember to bring nonjudgment, love, tolerance, and compassion to these low, ego-dominated energies, I see how different the world looks, and even how different those around me act in the presence of these God-realized energies. I feel optimistic when I’m in-Spirit, with an inner knowing that nothing can interfere with an idea whose time is coming or has already arrived.

I trust that our Creator knows what It’s doing, and that good triumphs over what ego believes is bad or evil. I sense that we’re all moving toward a world that will no longer know the horrors of war or practice our long-established habits of inhumanity toward our brothers and sisters around the globe, who may have different cultural views and their own unique physical distinctiveness. By staying in-Spirit, I’m truly inspired to see the potential for greatness that’s in all of us, as one people, and I turn from anguish to faith that at least I can live from a place of God-realization, and practice being a force for good (God).

Staying in vibrational alignment with Spirit allows me to be more present in all of my life activities. I find myself less concerned with goals, outcomes, winning, and accumulations, and far more involved in the process of enjoying the activities of my life. Arriving seems to replace striving, and being in a state of flow is far more common that my old uninspired state of worry and anguish. I remind myself that Spirit is only here and now—not yesterday, not tomorrow, only now. By keeping my vibration aligned spiritually, I see the ecstasy in the present. Everything else that once was a source of worry doesn’t come up for me, since the outcomes are already handled for me in my own mind. What will be, will be, I remind myself. The world looks so much more peaceful when I approach it this way, and my ego, which once needed to win at all costs, is relegated to a distant seat in a stadium in another galaxy!

Choosing Inspiration

My experience with Jack, as well as many similar kinds of episodes in my life, taught me the that the laws of the material world truly do not apply in the presence of God-realization. And I know that I have the choice to live at this level of inspiration. When I do so, it seems that the world changes: Animals behave differently than their biological genetics would seem to allow, people at a distance seem to hear me telepathically and respond to my highest thoughts, objects seem to materialize in defiance of what scientists say is possible, and healing takes place in spite of modern medicine saying otherwise. In other words, miracles seem to be ordinary. The world looks like a place where everything is possible, where restrictions and limitations are nonexistent, and where the power of our Creator seems to roll right up and land at my feet, begging me to hop on board and witness the infinite possibilities it offers. This is how I feel when I align myself to Spirit: cocky inside because I know something that so few ever come to realize, but humble and awestruck on the outside at the miraculousness of it all!

When I remember to stay in-Spirit, I’ve realized that when one thing appears to be going wrong, I can see clearly that ten things are going right. For example, if my cell phone isn’t working, I can note that my health is fine, my family is safe, the ocean is calm for swimming, my bank account has a surplus, my electricity is fully functional, and on and on it goes. From a perspective of being in-Spirit, I automatically shift my attention away from what’s going wrong and onto what’s right—this then becomes my point of attraction and I attract more of what I’m focused on, whereas at an earlier time in my life, I’d attract more of what was going wrong because that was my point of attraction. How sublimely beautiful the world now looks to me from this magnificent place of inspiration! No longer do I stay focused on and attract more of what’s going wrong, for I’ve learned to place my attention on what’s right, what’s working, and what’s aligned with the All-Creating Spirit.

From this place of inspiration, I ask, “What if I looked deep within myself and found no original sin at all—that is, what if I discovered original innocence instead? And what if the same were true for everyone?” I know that our Creative Source is One of good, and I also know that we must be just like what we came from—therefore, everyone, including myself, is a piece of God. We come to this world from innocence and love, not from a place of sin or weakness. When I see Christ consciousness in everyone, even those with whom I differ greatly, I’m able to feel good (God). When I know that there’s no original sin in anyone, I’m able to think like Mother Teresa, who told the world, “In each [ill person], I see the face of Christ in one of his more distressing disguises.”

When it is goodness that I look for, rather than sin and weakness, that’s what I see. I then see goodness in the little old lady driving slowly in front of me, the elderly man fumbling with his change and delaying me at the cashier, the children squealing loudly as I’m attempting to concentrate on a book, the teenagers shouting along with their earsplitting rap music, or the jackhammer operator whose deafening sounds fill the air with chaos. When I’m inspired, I see God-realization disguised as a minor blip, and the world looks fine, happy, and even peaceful. I remind myself of Rumi’s sage advice: “If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?”

When I feel inspired, I notice how much zest I have for life and everything that I do: I play tennis with exuberance and without fatigue, I write from my heart—I feel good (God), and this inner feeling radiates outward in all of my waking moments. Inspiration means doing what I love, and even more significantly, loving what I’m doing. It’s my willingness to bring love and passion to the activities of my life, rather than looking for love to emerge from those events and activities. It’s an attitude, and knowing this, I remember to pick a good one as often as possible. I know that being enthusiastic feels good (God), and I also know that I have the choice to select these attitudes at any and all times. By staying in-Spirit, these outlooks on life become second nature to me.

By deciding to live an inspired life, I’m choosing to be in balance with a Creative Force that responds to my in-Spirit thoughts. I’m also believing that I live in a friendly Universe rather than an evil one, and feeling supported by It in a similar manner. Being grateful for all that God sends my way, I’m not surprised when synchronistic events happen in my life. When I have someone on my mind who lives some distance from me, I actually expect that he or she will call me … and it occurs over and over.

I know that thoughts are energy and that those harmonizing with Spirit will align to activate the creation process. I love watching all this flow so perfectly and being in harmony with the Force that’s responsible for all of creation. I know deep within me that I can participate in the activation of this Force to bring into reality the manifestation of my spiritually aligned desires.

Rather than hoping, wishing, and even praying for an outcome, my inner world aligns with the idea that what I desire is feasible and on its way. This kind of inspired knowing frees me from anxiety and worry. I affirm: It’s on its way; there’s absolutely nothing to fuss about. And I leave the time of its arrival into my life in the hands of the All-Knowing, Always-Creative Spiritual Source. I find that I no longer question the Creator of the Universe because I’m at peace with the timing of everything. I know enough now not to push the river, not to demand that the timetable of my ego be the same as God’s.

I know that by staying in-Spirit, I’m actually participating as a co-creator, and that the more I stay in this aligned space, the more it seems to speed up the process. I’ve noticed that ever since I’ve become more conscious of staying inspired (and all that this implies), the time between what I think and having it actually show up in my physical life has become shorter and shorter. I’m aware that the ultimate in manifestation is a complete absence of any delay between a thought and its physical manifestation. What’s been called the “gift of loaves and fishes” is what true, 100 percent God-realization is. That is, think food and it appears; think well-being for anyone, and disease dissolves. While I know that this Christ consciousness is available for us all, I have many more glimpses of it as I stay more in-Spirit.

Singing My Song

The major change that’s taken place for me in this manifestation of my inspired desires has been the awareness of my own capacity for activating the Creative Force to work with me. Today, as I live consciously in-Spirit, I feel as if I’m more and more able to be an activator of this Divine Synchronistic Force and have it work with me, rather than to me. I view these mystical moments as holy instants when my ego is suspended, and Spirit (in conjunction with my own Divine desires) has become the teacher.

As my sense of inspiration grows within me, I find myself wanting to do more for others and focusing less upon myself. What I desire is realized through the paradoxical means of desiring it for others even more than I want it for myself. By reaching out in this way and deliberately looking for ways to inspire others, I feel closer and closer to Spirit—and, ironically, I sense that more of what I desire seems to be flowing back to me as a result of this sharing.

At this point in my life I feel that staying in this glorious state of inspiration practically requires me to avoid condemning others. I look at the behaviors of others, even those whose actions are anathema to an inspired world, and I send them love. I know deep within me that declaring war on the problems of violence, poverty, cancer, AIDS, and drug addiction isn’t the solution. I’m uninterested in increasing those problems with violent, angry, or hateful thoughts or behavior. I know that I can’t get sick enough to make one person better, or angry enough to end violence anywhere. I also sense very strongly that by staying in-Spirit and bringing a higher mental energy to the presence of these lower, ego-based energies, I’m a force for change, one that helps move the world closer to Spirit.

I anticipate a planet at peace—along with health, abundance, and love in my life and in the lives of all others—and I know that it’s moving in this direction. I know that for every act of apparent evil, there are a million acts of kindness. That’s where I place my attention, and that’s what I choose to give away. By doing so for the larger percentage of my days, my reward is a feeling of being in harmony with purpose. I watch the myna birds singing every morning, and I know they’re not doing it because they have the answers to all of life’s problems—they have a song inside of them that they obviously feel compelled to let come out. I too have a song to sing, and by staying in-Spirit I’m able to sing it all day, every day.

I know that the answer to “What should I be doing?” is to see the word yes on my inner screen: “Yes, I am listening”; “Yes, I am paying attention”; and most important, “Yes, I am willing.” I notice that those around me who feel uninspired are unwilling to say yes to the feeling at the core of their being. By doing so to every hunch, burning desire, and thought that won’t go away, I feel the hand of a guiding Spirit that’s with me simply because I’ve been willing to say yes. By saying yes to life, I see the world and all of its inhabitants in a completely new way.

As a result of being more and more inspired, I see Spirit in virtually everyone I meet. And I feel much more connected to everyone as a result of sensing their spirit instead of noticing all of the accumulations of success that they’ve amassed. I call this “seeing with my mind and not my eyes.” It now seems that my identity is associated with experiences that are not exclusively of this world. And I love what my mind sees—possibilities and openings for miracles! It looks past the limitations of my eyes, and it knows that we’re all one in an infinite world. My mind no longer views death as something to fear; rather, it lives in an infinite place and is able to step back from this corporeal world and be an observer. With each passing day, I feel what my mind knows to be true, and I look for this all-encompassing loving essence everywhere.

***

Adequately conveying how I feel when I’m inspired is probably impossible. What I so sincerely want to share here is that the feeling of being completely in harmony with our Source generates miracles everywhere. I have the delicious spine-tingling sensation of bliss as I observe and interact in this world from the wondrous vista of being inspired. These words from A Course in Miracles ring true for me: “All that must be recognized, however, is that birth was not the beginning, and death is not the end.” This is the knowing that I have from this infinite in-Spirit perspective.

There are no conflicts—all is as it should be. The things I wish to improve aren’t going to be accomplished by fighting, but by placing my attention on staying connected to Spirit. In 1 Corinthians, Saint Paul says, “The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already.” As I live from a place of inspiration, I see that conflict is no longer possible for me, and I understand what Paul was attempting to say to the people of Corinth in that letter. I will not be defeated—I can’t, because for me, there’s no they any longer, there’s only us. I’ve turned my mind to Spirit. I know that God created me to be like Him, and I must be what I came from. This idea, more than any other, inspires me beyond what I can share on these pages.

It’s my intention to continue to stay inspired and live what my mind knows, rather than only what my eyes see. And my mind knows that we’re all in a Universe that has a creative, organizing intelligence supporting it. I know that it flows through me, and God willing, I’ll stay in-Spirit and assist you to live that life of inspiration that you came here to live. There can be no greater blessing!

I send you love, I surround you with light, and I invite you to live with me in-Spirit.

—Wayne Dyer
www.drwaynedyer.com