What does Trust mean on a spiritual journey?

Our culture teaches us to take control of situations and manage outcomes. This isn’t really possible when you’re in a transformational process. In order to be transformed you need to let go of your plan and be in relationship with what is.

Societal norms might suggest success looks like being married, having children, and a high paying job. How would you handle it if your life went from that scenario to getting divorced and suddenly having to change careers? Not everyone wants to be partnered nor does everyone want to or can have children. A marriage isn’t automatically a success and a divorce isn’t automatically a failure. While it might seem like you’d be happy if you could fit your life into the right formula, how can you love being you where ever your life is right now?

The real deal in all of life is how we are in relationship to what is. Can we find meaning in our marriage or our divorce? Can we find meaning in our job or in the quest to find more fulfilling work? What can we learn from our health and aging?
How do our circumstances encourage us to grow?

If we believe in a higher power, can we Trust that everything that happens to us is actually happening so that in some way we are benefiting from the situation? Even if we want to believe, how do we navigate intense challenges as best as possible?

When I experience big changes or challenges, I find they are easier when I
* find ways to be thankful for anything and everything that feels good
* reach out for support from friends, family, and Spirit
* use my breathing to slow down and calm down
* connect with nature through visualizations, walks, and prayer
* pay attention to dreams, omens, and signs that can help me make decisions
* recall past situations that seemed hopeless and consider how they worked out well in the end
* think about my relationship with the situation (If I’m getting older and need more rest, instead of trying to control my body and force myself to stay up, I can be loving to my body and get rest. Taking a nap is a success in terms of my relationship with my body, which is a much more loving and healthy than feeling frustrated in my body. I’m able to accept what is and work with it.)