Portland Center for Spiritual Growth
Soul
Soul, the 5th principle, is about our business relationship with God. Yes, I said business, because when we were created, God meant business! To believe that there is no real purpose to our existence is to survive only because we are afraid to die.
Our lives are meant for more than mere survival. We have a job to do. Each of us is naturally "endowed by our Creator" with a variety of interests, beliefs, attitudes, knowledge and values, and we are meant to do something with them. Just because we can't see the big picture doesn't mean we aren't a part of it.
Is it really logical to believe that God would create us for no other purpose than to suffer, struggle and eventually die? Good parents don't treat their children that way.
Spiritual Maturity
The principle of Soul is about our Divine maturity. If we have begun to practice the first 4 principles with some consistency, we are ready to take a serious look at our Divine job description, also known as our purpose.Many individuals who have come to understand the joy associated with finding and living the Divine purpose, attempt it and fail. Why? Principles 1-4. We must master them first. Mastering Truth gives us courage and strength. Mastering Life gives us confidence and a sense of unlimited freedom. Mastering Love gives us a deep appreciation of the world, and a desire to serve it. Mastering Intelligence gives us the ability to navigate around the obstacles as we travel our Divine path.
Success at Soul, then, requires courage, confidence, a desire to serve, and the ability to make good decisions. Without these, it is no surprise that so many fail. It's not enough to know what you desire in life. That desire must be partnered with integrity and wisdom.
Ready, Set, Where Do I Start?
Let's say you're there. You're not afraid to take the risks to get on your path because of the person you've become. What's your next step? Examine three things about yourself with regard to your Divine purpose:#1-Excitement
What makes you feel a sense of exhilaration and excitement in life? There used to be a saying, "Whatever turns you on..." If you could do anything all day long, and still feel excited about it, what would it be? It can include specific actions, or a variety of actions within a given path. For instance, if you get really jazzed about remodeling and reselling homes for a profit, is there any part of the process you don't like? Is seeking the home fun for you? How about negotiating for a good price? Then there's fixing it up, which requires skills that could include electrical, plumbing, painting, etc. Then the selling part. Do you enjoy all of that? If not, do you have enough financial resources to pay someone else to do the things you don't enjoy? If you can answer "yes" to all of those, you may have found your path. Now check out #2:#2-Confidence
Is there a sense in you that you will succeed at that endeavor? Not just a hope, but a knowing. I'm talking about a feeling that goes beyond any logical conclusion. People have earned doctorate degrees and still have no confidence that they can actually succeed in a given field, and they don't. This isn't necessarily about low self-esteem. From a spiritual perspective, it's about not being on your Divine path. Conversely, wholly uneducated individuals have become multi-millionaires, because what they did offered a sense of excitement, and they just knew in their hearts they would be successful. Be honest with yourself, and don't try to force yourself to feel confident. If it isn't there, there may be a better path in your Divine plan. One more checkpoint:#3-Energy
Let's say you pass the first two checkpoints and start on your path. Do you feel energized by the work or exhausted? Even after a long, hard day, though it will be natural to feel physically, mentally, and even emotionally ready to stop, is there still a sense of having been energized or charged? Even a battery can only take so much charging, but once charged, is fully ready for the next task. If you feel that energy around what you are doing, you are probably already experiencing the success. That's the main clue that you're on at least one of your right paths. No doubt you're feeling joyful and fulfilled. That's the natural result.With #'s 1, 2 and 3 underway, the only thing that can keep you from success is if you're not actively applying the first 4 Principles: Truth, Life, Love and Intelligence.
"Where your treasure is [treasure meaning God's work for you] , there will your heart [your whole being and Soul] be also."
