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It's All About
Trust
by
Kay Allenbaugh |
I tell you this story because I believe
that it will relate to your life as well. Eight years
ago, I was standing before a mirror combing my hair when
a remarkable thing happened -- a mountain top
experience! I was divinely inspired. I heard God’s
voice tell me to write a book for women. His voice was
calm, loving and melodic. His exact words were,
"Write a book for women; you’re a woman of
courage."
My first reaction was euphoria. I had
heard God’s voice! Although spiritual by nature, I had
never heard that voice before. When you hear it, it’s
unmistakable. It was God, and I felt exhilarated!
For an hour, my creativity soared. I
knew exactly what I’d do. I would collect true
heartwarming stories from women that would encourage and
inspire women around the country. I could visualize the
book and see the difference it would make in women’s
lives. I was in the midst of grace and about to embark
on my soul purpose.
And then as quickly as euphoria
arrived it departed, and my fear took over. God must
surely have a good sense of humor. I certainly had never
thought of myself as courageous. I didn’t see at that
time what courage I had. Although I’d survived death
of my mother when I was fifteen, and the painful demise
of my fifteen-year first marriage these things did not
come to mind. Instead, my small self had pushed it’s
way to the front. I found myself thinking, Who do you
think you are? You’ve never written a book before! And
even more frightening was the prospect of doing book
signings, and radio and television interviews. My ego
had already taken my biggest fears and projected them
ahead to what I’d be doing several years from now, not
step by step.
Knowing without a doubt that I would
follow the guidance, yet feeling way over my head (have
you ever said "No" to God?), I placed one foot
forward and one foot back. I did not trust that if God
were involved, all would be well.
Because of our mind body spirit
connection, my physical body reacted to my emotional
fear, and I created severe back spasms. Talk about
holding back the river of creativity with my body! So I
continued forward with the project, not fully trusting
that God would lead the way. My back spasms lasted a
long time. (The physical disability that my mind had
created took on a life of its own.) Barely able to sit
down for the two years it took to complete my first
book, I wrote Chocolate for a Woman's Soul
standing at my computer! This book became a series of
books over the next eight years.
The Chocolate series with eight books
published so far has definitely been a God job with more
than two million copies in print. However, in the
beginning, instead of enjoying this beautiful journey I’d
been given – to hear God’s voice and respond – I
fought it every step of the way.
When you get guidance in your own
life, you don’t need to resist it! I now prefer to
think of this verse, "If you knew who walked with
you, how could you be afraid?"
We’ve all been given a sacred divine
gift called intuition. When we combine the resources of
our head and heart and go to that deepest place of
knowing inside ourselves, we are getting in touch with
our radar-like, God-given guidance system. It is in this
place that we can more easily get in touch with our soul’s
purpose. No one person receives God’s guidance in the
same way. You don’t have to hear a voice like I did,
your Divine signs can come in many forms.
Listen for those whispers coming your
way (that small still voice does not come when you’re
rushing). Watch for the signs that seem to be meant just
for you, see what kind of work brings you great joy. For
example, it’s those thoughts that go through your mind
while driving and feeling relaxed. It’s those great
ideas that come up more than once and linger there. Or,
maybe you have a reoccurring dream about doing a certain
kind of work that you love. It’s a knowing that if you
had no limitations, this (whatever it is for you)
is what you’d be doing.
I ask you to practice recognizing your
God-given intuition or gut feelings so that you can
learn to discern it from your ego. Suppose, for example,
that you are looking to buy a house and you walk through
the front door of your perfect home. The moment you step
foot inside, you know that it’s right. A sense of
peace washes over you, your body is at ease yet you feel
exhilarated. Even though you walk through all the rooms,
you really don’t need to because you know this
is where you will live.
When practicing whether you are making
the correct decision, ask yourself this simple question.
Does this "give" me energy or "take
away" energy to take this course of action? Your
body will never lie. If you feel uncomfortable in your
gut, it’s not right. If you feel at ease deep down
(even if it’s a tough decision and even if you’re a
little scared), you know you’re on the right track and
following God’s guidance. Not all decisions are easy,
but you still know it’s right. Just as I knew writing
the first Chocolate book wouldn’t be easy, I knew that
it was mine to do. I just needed to get myself out of
the way! The difference is that you don’t need to hold
back the river of your guidance like I did and create
dis-ease. I will never hold back and miss the glory of
being on my path again! Because, when all is said and
done, discovering our soul’s purpose is what we are
here to do. May you walk your path in great peace and
joy.
Copyright © 2001
Kay Allenbaugh
More Chocolate Books:
Kay Allenbaugh is the creator of the nationally bestselling Chocolate series, with over two million books in
print, is a writer and speaker who is known as "The Caretaker of Stories for Women of the World." She is
currently collecting true stories for future women's and teen's Chocolate sequels. She lives in Lake
Oswego, Oregon with her husband, Eric Allenbaugh, Ph.D., author of Wake Up Calls: You Don't have to
Sleepwalk Through Your Life, Love or Career!
www.chocolateforwomen.com
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