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 Does Gaia Mean?
Although the name Gaia has various meanings and interpretations, it is most commonly associated with the Greek goddess who personified Earth in its primordial form. Quite simply, the definition of Gaia is life. She is all, the very personification of the earth. She is the mother goddess, inhabiting the planet, and offering life and nourishment to all her children. In ancient civilizations, she was revered as the mother, nurturer, and giver of life. She goes by many names, including Gaea, Ge, Mother Earth, Terra Mater to the Romans, Magna Mater, and more recently, Mother Nature. Each of these names is a testament to her enduring presence as the life-giver, the ultimate nurturer, and the architect of existence.
Gaia, often pronounced “GUY-uh,” holds the essence of existence within its syllables. This name, steeped in the rich tapestry of ancient Greek mythology, serves as a bridge to the Earth itself, embodying the very spirit of the planet. The etymology of Gaia, or Γαῖα in the original Greek, translates to ‘earth’ or ‘land,’ a fitting homage to her role as the primal Earth Mother. The term has since transcended its mythological roots, evolving into a symbol for the interconnectedness of all life on Earth, particularly within environmental and ecological contexts.
As we delve into the myriad ways she manifests across cultures and epochs, we embark on a journey to deepen our connection with the world around us, exploring the profound legacy of Gaia’s nurturing embrace.
Gaia: The Goddess of Ancient Greek Mythology
Within the pantheon of ancient deities, Gaia’s presence was unparalleled, embodying the very essence of primordial creation and maternal might. Her name, evoking the boundless strength and nurturing spirit of the Earth, was revered across the ancient world. To the Greeks, Gaia was the ultimate goddess of raw, maternal power. In the beginning, there was chaos, nebulous ethers waiting to take form. This primordial landscape awaited direction; it was then that the spirit of Gaia arrived to give structure to the formless and the Earth was conceived.
The Mother of Life and the Divine Heavens
In Greek mythology, Gaia stands as the quintessential embodiment of the Earth itself, revered as the primal Mother Earth goddess. From her fertile womb sprung the very fabric of the cosmos: she gave birth to Uranus, the sky, who would become both her husband and her equal; Pontus, the ancient, unfathomable sea; and the towering Titans, precursors to the Olympians. Among her offspring were the Titans – Cronus and Oceanus, the Cyclops with their single, piercing gaze, and the hundred-handed giants, each embodying forces of nature and the universe’s nascent power.
Her influence extended beyond mere creation. Gaia’s union with Uranus spawned the first pantheon of Greek deities, setting the stage for the saga of the gods and goddesses that would dominate Greek myth. Yet, it was through her guidance that Zeus, her grandson, ascended to become the chief among the Olympian gods. Her wisdom and might were echoed in the tales of her descendants, including Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, born of Zeus’s head, further cementing her legacy within the mythological hierarchy. Gaia’s story, interwoven with the elements of creation, celestial phenomena, and divine lineage, marks her as a central figure in the tapestry of Greek mythology and the subsequent origin of Olympus, embodying the Earth’s life-giving force and maternal strength.
The Paleolithic Venus: Rediscovering the Earth Mother
The Paleolithic Venus figurines, scattered across Europe, are emblematic of ancient societies’ reverence for the feminine Earth Mother—a veneration somewhat obscured by the passage of time. These figurines, often robust and gravid, symbolize fertility, motherhood, and the generative powers of nature itself. They serve as silent yet eloquent testimonials to a time when the worship of the Earth’s nurturing essence was widespread, deeply ingrained in the fabric of everyday life.
Modern excavations and scholarly endeavors have begun to peel back the layers of history, revealing a complex tapestry of belief systems that placed the Earth Mother at their core. Through the meticulous study of these artifacts, historians, archaeologists, and artists are gradually reconstructing the narratives of these ancient peoples. This resurgence of interest not only honors the goddess’s legacy but also rekindles a connection to our collective past, where the Earth was revered as the ultimate source of all life and sustenance.
A Return to Divine Feminine: Gaia’s Resurgence in Modern Consciousness
As the prevalence of gods and goddesses in the 19th and 20th centuries faded away, so did history books’ tales of female pharaohs, women scientists, and Amazon warriors. History is kept by the victors—and the victors are most often men. This left a void in the collective consciousness and Gaia was relegated to mythology alone. With the convergence of feminism in the 1970s, all that changed when a groundbreaking pro-female establishment was founded, providing a new understanding of how our planet operates.
In the wake of the 20th century, Gaia’s image was revitalized by the fusion of feminism and environmentalism. This revival spotlighted the divine feminine, with Gaia symbolizing strength, nurturing, and interconnectivity. Feminism’s quest to amplify silenced voices paralleled environmentalism’s rise, especially after “Silent Spring,” casting Gaia as an emblem of ecological awareness and unity. This modern embrace of Gaia has galvanized a collective push towards environmental respect and sustainability, intertwining spiritual reverence with activism for a balanced, thriving planet.
The Gaia Hypothesis: Earth as a Self-Regulating Living System
In 1970, chemist James Lovelock and his research partner, biologist Lynn Margulis introduced the Gaia Hypothesis, positing Earth as a self-regulating, living being capable of maintaining the conditions necessary for life. Initially met with skepticism, the hypothesis challenged the prevailing view of Earth as a passive backdrop to life, proposing instead that life actively participates in shaping the planet’s environment. This idea of Earth as a cohesive system, where biological processes interact with physical and chemical ones to maintain life-sustaining conditions, was revolutionary. The scientific community’s initial resistance stemmed from the hypothesis’s implication that Earth’s biosphere functions almost like a single organism, a concept that seemed to blur the lines between life and non-life.
Gaia Theory: Understanding Earth’s Intelligent Systems
Building on their hypothesis, Lovelock and Margulis’s work revealed how Earth’s myriad components—its atmosphere, biosphere, geology, and oceans—integrate to form a complex, self-regulating system. This system, guided by the interactions between living organisms and their environment, adjusts and responds to changes in a way that sustains life. For example, the regulation of Earth’s atmosphere by photosynthetic organisms, which convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, demonstrates this symbiotic relationship. Such mechanisms underscore the planet’s capacity for self-regulation and balance, evidencing a level of systemic intelligence previously underestimated.
Gaia theory has since evolved from a controversial hypothesis to a foundational concept in Earth system science, inspiring further research into how Earth’s life-supporting systems operate. It has underscored the importance of viewing the planet as an integrated whole, where each component plays a critical role in maintaining the conditions for life. This holistic perspective has significant implications for environmental conservation, highlighting the delicate interdependencies that sustain the Earth and the impact of human activities on its ability to regulate itself.
The Spiritual Meaning of Gaia in Practice
Far beyond the mythological Gaia, the name has come to represent an all-loving, nurturing, and intelligent cosmic force that oversees life on Earth. The revival of goddess traditions has been instrumental in reintroducing the ancient wisdom of the Great Mother, affirming her role as a beacon of love and sustenance. Yet, engaging with Gaia’s legacy demands more than occasional environmental activism or annual Earth Day observances. It calls for a daily commitment to living in harmony with our planet, treating each interaction as a sacred opportunity to honor and preserve the intricate web of life Gaia sustains.
To foster a truly connected relationship with Gaia means to actively participate in the stewardship of Earth, recognizing and respecting the bounty she provides. This involves making conscious choices that reflect our understanding of the interconnectedness of all life forms and the impact of our actions on the planet’s health. By adopting sustainable practices, advocating for environmental protection, and cultivating a sense of reverence for the natural world, we can contribute to a future where both humanity and the Earth flourish. In doing so, we not only pay homage to Gaia’s enduring spirit but also embrace our role as caretakers of the beautiful, dynamic planet she embodies.
