Last month I quoted Dr. Scott Peck who said that deep feelings of discomfort bring us to our finest moments, because they propel us to find “different ways or truer answers.” Just how do we find those ways and answers? Having experienced my own “finest moment” in the past and again just recently, let me share with you what works for me.
Like you I imagine, when I’m faced with extreme discomfort, I look for relief as quickly as I can. I like to find a quiet spot with my journal where I write down the questions I have, my feelings about the pain I’m experiencing, and a request for answers and guidance. I find the answers come in a variety of ways. It may be through my daily reflective readings, an inspirational post on Facebook, an article in the newspaper or a magazine, or another seemingly serendipitous source. It’s not unusual to have a friend mention something related to what I’m experiencing or have my minister talk about the very issue I have during her weekly message. The key is to be expecting an answer to be revealed. It’s not necessary to seek it out, but it’s essential that we stay alert so we don’t miss it. Yes, I believe that we’ll get another chance (God has infinite patience with us, after all), but not catching the guidance the first time just delays our relief.
One of my favorite experiences for having questions answered is to attend the annual International New Thought Alliance Congress to be held this year at the Embassy Suites in Phoenix on July 15-19. Each year, at some point early in the Congress, I find time alone to write down the questions that have been lingering with me. Inevitably, during the week I receive my answers: from the speakers’ talks, a “chance” conversation with another attendee, or an insight that just comes to me. This process has been so consistently successful that I make it a point now to attend every year.
Finally, if despite your awareness, the answers don’t see to come, enlist the help of a like-minded friend to support you in prayer for clarity, guidance, and peace. Trust in the promise that two are all is takes to engage the flow of good.