5 Ways To Find Faith in Your Daily Life
It is light in the darkest night. It brings people to their knees. It is symbolic and powerful, yet proof less and criticized. It illuminates life and it wages war. It escapes some and captivates many. It is faith; to some it is doctrine, to others it is fiction.
Today’s definition of faith doesn’t have to relate to religion; it can be trust or belief in something without proof. But in today’s society the invisible creates disbelief. People lack faith in all areas of their lives because they are looking for evidence. They are waiting for the ideal job, the perfect relationship and financial abundance. They are looking for something tangible—and as a result, they are still waiting. When the answer doesn’t fall into their laps they become cynical and they lose faith.
I was riding in the elevator one morning and a gentleman was repeatedly pressing the button for the 5th floor, but it wasn’t lighting up. I kindly told him that I too had pressed the same button and that the light didn’t work. He laughed and said, “Are you sure we will still arrive?”
I said, “I have faith that the elevator will stop on the 5th floor, yes.”
He looked at me long and hard and responded, “Really? I’m not sure I have that much faith. If it doesn’t seem to work it must be broken.” I said, “If we arrive on 5 will you be a believer then?” He said, “No, it takes more evidence than that.”
What a powerful, symbolic statement. He lacked faith that he would arrive at his destination and for him this destination probably related to life itself. How many of you are so jaded by past experiences that you too have lost all faith and wonder if you are even on the right path?
I can relate to losing inspiration and faith. I spent three years working on a business venture that sucked the life out of my very existence, but I believed that I had to endure hardship to find happiness. I had lost hope that I would ever find passion or joy again. But my inner guidance knew better. I finally had to ask myself: Why is it okay to sacrifice even one day of my life in exchange for potential happiness, when I could be happy right now? I finally took a huge leap of faith and scrapped the entire project. I found strength in my inner wisdom, which knew that I deserved more.
What evidence do you need to rediscover faith in something or in yourself? Are you looking for a lightning bolt? Are you waiting for a lottery win? Have you considered asking for what you want or does it seem like too much to hope for? Have you searched your inner knowing to see what the block is to your own success or happiness? Are you able to recognize what you do have in life?
Today, stop and take pleasure in life’s little miracles. Recognize that each day is a gift, and understand that every breath you take is a test of faith. If you need a little reminder, try these tips on how to find faith in your daily life:
- Have Faith in Lessons Learned
First ask yourself, “Where did my faith go?” What triggered the feeling that you are unsupported? It is a past hurt? Is it a “bad” decision? Is fear playing a role? Sometimes fear tells us we can’t have something and then we lose faith because it doesn’t happen. If you can identify the origin, ask yourself what valuable lesson that experience might have taught you and where you may be repeating that same lesson today.
- Affirm
Affirmations are very powerful. Even if you don’t believe the words initially, your body absorbs the meaning cell by cell. Try, “I have faith in myself and the process of life. I am protected and joyful each and every day.”
- Check Your Pancreas
When the pancreas is imbalanced it carries the emotional energy of feeling defeated by life. Make sure you keep your blood sugar in check by eating every 3-4 hours and eliminating sugar. You may need to see a holistic practitioner to create a special diet or rebalance key minerals.
- Look for Signs
Signs can come in all forms. It can be a song that you are meant to hear or a “coincidence” that repeats itself. Be specific about what kind of sign you need to see for an answer. For example, if you need to know whether to take that new job in Florida, ask for a certain number of signs that relate to Florida that can indicate a yes.
- Dream big, expect the best and let go
The more you can imagine for yourself the bigger your life can be. The key is to believe that you are the designer of your destiny. Write out your ideal life like you already have it and then let go, trust and enjoy the ride.
About the Author
What is Voodoo? A Tradition of Magic and Interconnected Realms
When the word “voodoo” arises, it’s usually accompanied with misconceptions, fear, and a lack of understanding. Often thought of as a violent cult, the truth couldn’t be farther from the popular cultural associations, such as voodoo dolls, witchdoctors, and violent-tinged sorcery. Voodoo, more appropriately known as vodou, is an ancient and diversely practiced religious tradition tied to Africa, the Caribbean, and the Catholic church.
But what exactly is Vodou?
Voodoo: A Rich Tradition Born From Trauma
The word Voodoo/Vodou/Vodun translates to mean “the spirit of God.” Vodou is a monotheistic religion; followers, or vodouisants, believe in one divine figurehead called Bondye, or “the good god.” Additionally, Vodou has a lesser god hierarchy, Iwa, as well as Ioa who are more engaged with the day-to-day life than Bondye, who is considered to be more remote. The Ioa/Iwa are split into three families: Rada, Petro, and Ghede. Humans and Lwa have a reciprocal relationship in which believers provide sustenance and objects in exchange for the Lwa’s protection.
Vodou combines traditions from Africa, the Caribbean, Native Americans, and Catholicism. There is evidence that as far back as 1492, many in the Taino culture were executed for their practice of Vodou during Christopher Columbus’ conquering of Hispaniola. But as the slave trade grew, so did Vodou; the newly arrived African slaves and the surviving Taino found much in common in their shared rituals and approaches to healing.
Vodou does not have a central scripture, it is community-centric and supports individualism. New Orleans is North America’s vodou epicenter, where it arrived through the slave trade from West Africa during the 18th century. Catholicism was the primary religion in the city, and what is now known as “New Orleans Vodou,” is in actuality a hybrid between the two traditions. New Orleans Vodou has become so ingrained in the city’s culture that one need only search online to see the multitude of shops, tourist attractions, and other popular destinations that keep the tradition alive.
