The Spirit of Change

By Alan L. Pritz

It seems appropriate that during January an article on spirituality should address change. After all, it is the time for new seasons’ resolutions. We all make them. Every year we do. That’s the easy part. Keeping them is another story. Yet why the impetus to change and why is it so difficult to accomplish?

We seek change for many reasons. One is boredom. We get bored going through the same dreary routines day in and day out. Patterns of life can take over until we find ourselves suffocated by them. Any break becomes a welcome release from the stupor of mindless regularity. Another reason to change is that we see things in ourselves not to our liking and want to discard them. This desire for self-improvement is perhaps the most typical motivation behind “inner housecleaning”. Beyond these reasons, and there are many more, is the deep desire to connect with the innate perfection of the soul. On an unconscious level, and to a degree consciously, we know within us is the seed of Spirit and that it is perfect. Every effort to manifest self-improvement allows more of this perfect Inner Light to shine forth. Every step on this road is a step towards connecting with our God-part, and ultimately, with the Divine itself. We seek change because we seek God.

When the Gallilean Master, Jesus, said, “Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48) he was not trying to induce guilt. Rather, he was trying to awaken people to the fact that “Ye are Gods; and all of you are children of the most High” (Psalm 82:6, John10:33,34) That’s a tall statement, and, if taken seriously has many implications. Most significant is the recognition that despite all appearances to the contrary; humans are innately endowed with spiritual perfection. To acknowledge limitation, while comforting and insightful, can sometimes lead us to avoid our highest capability. Too often people rally round a flag of deficiencies and cry; “I’m only human.” It’d be more spiritually helpful and accurate to say, “Faults are only temporary grafts on the divine soul. Perfection is my true nature and expresses my fullest human potential.”

This is fine, truly, but even when choosing to express noble qualities, why is it frequently so difficult to do so? Habit, habit, and habit! Consider the mind as like potters’ clay, malleable until fired in a kiln. Thoughts mold actions and the conviction born of repeating those actions is the fire that hardens thought into habit. If the habit is positive, that’s great. Keep it! If the habit goes against us, however, there’s trouble. The subconscious mind becomes a vicious taskmaster forcing us to do things we don’t wish to. Exercise of free will becomes severely compromised.

Changing habit requires breaking the patterns of mental energy used to construct it and re-directing these into healthier expressions. Since life is ultimately a construct of Divine mind, the power to create change lies in our ability to affect consciousness. This is accomplished by altering the way we think. Remolding consciousness however, requires energy, will, and discernment. This means directing activity in harmony with our highest good. After all, one may know what is best but still not act accordingly. Therefore, energy must be intelligently directed by will to effect positive change. Action based on true intuitive discernment is wisdom, and when done for its own sake, yields freedom.

How To Change

1. Cultivate Willpower

Since will is such a significant factor is creating change, develop it with “baby steps”. Do small things that you didn’t feel you could, and then accomplish them. Gradually increase the challenge until you bite off more than you can chew and find that you can chew it. After all, strength doesn’t come from wrestling babies!

2. Change Your Thoughts

Pay attention to your thought patterns and simply change them. If you’ve an inclination to be negative about something, switch your thoughts. As often as negative thoughts arise, boot them out. Replace them with positive alternatives. After a while the positive thought programs will replace the negative ones and your actions will change accordingly.

3. Guard Against Doubt

Faith can accomplish anything. Doubt can undermine anything. During the process of change, even during seeming contradictory circumstances, keep focused on your goals with full faith in the divine power within you to achieve success. If you make positive inner suggestions while simultaneously thinking it’s all a bunch of bunk, the process won’t work. Keep positive, continually and constantly.

4. Practice Morning and Night

The subconscious is most receptive to new thought programs as you’re falling asleep and upon waking up. This is the optimal time to practice. But remember to be patient. You may have had a bad habit for years but if you practice with unwavering faith, your life will change.

5. Cultivate the Consciousness of Divinity

While we all have pesky traits in need of attention, the biggest thing we need do is realize that life and death, health and sickness, success and failure have no lasting reality. They are only dream creations of God. We must cultivate the awareness of our true nature, Spirit. Having attained this, all change will be seen in its proper context as plays of light and shadow on the screen of duality.