When the World Feels Unsteady, Conscious Practice Matters

Sunday was the mindset reset I needed.

With what I consider to be, and I know I’m not alone, horrific events unfolding nationally, I continually ask, "What’s mine to do?" There's so much happening at once, it's hard to take it all in, let alone know what to do to make a difference.

What I do know is that when I come to CSL Ballard on Sundays, I’m reminded of what matters, what’s real, and how this all works, within a much bigger picture.

While I may be limited in my direct ability to influence national events, the energy I put into the world matters. When I walk through the world knowing good for everything, everywhere, that sends a message the universe responds to. Many insights on Sunday felt deeply applicable to this.

Musically, Em and Miranda Westman were back and, as always, outdid themselves with George Harrison’s hauntingly relevant Within You Without You. With Kyle on drums alongside Em, and Guy on guitar, you could feel that message moving through the room. If you missed it, you really need to listen (here on YouTube, at 11:11).

“…We were talking about the love that’s gone so cold… and the people who gain the world and lose their soul… they don’t know, they can’t see… are you one of them?”

- George Harrison

Rev. Gary, referring to what happened in Minneapolis, reminded us in his opening affirmation: We are bound together in one living whole, and called to hold in compassion all who are harmed. No life stands apart. What touches one, touches all. Love remains the deepest force moving through us. He invited us to commit ourselves to awareness rather than indifference, to unity rather than division, and to the dignity of every human life.

The Thing Itself: How To Use It

Rev. Pam wrapped up our January series with How to Use It from Science of Mind’s foundational principles. She opened by reflecting on the magic that emerges when we come together in community. I feel that every Sunday, and it’s why I keep coming back.

(If you’re just arriving and haven’t seen January’s talks, you can find them on YouTube. And if you haven't yet subscribed, please do!)

Rev. Pam described these teachings as the Cosmic Instruction Manual We Already Have. The power and presence we seek are already within us: the thing itself we’ve focused on this month. Using the analogy of a car’s operating manual, she reminded us that most of us don’t open it unless something goes wrong, even though regular review helps us maintain the system and keeps everything running smoothly.

So, if this is how it works… how do we actually live it?

Consciousness: The Connective Energy Behind Everything

We are one universal consciousness, expressing itself. I call it energy. Some call it God. Whatever language you use, we are a power for good in the universe, and we can use it because we are it. It’s both heavy and heartening to realize this is a responsibility.

What is consciousness? It's the thing behind / within everything.

Because of this, we have the power to shape our lives, and, we’re influenced by collective consciousness. We’re exploring this in our Foundations class right now; there’s always more happening beneath the surface.

So: it’s important to pay attention.

We don’t suffer because the law is broken; we suffer because we don’t understand it. Buddha said suffering was optional. Yes, terrible things happen, and our response matters. The universe itself is neutral and impersonal.

I’ve studied these teachings for years, but it was during a particularly challenging time when this truly landed for me. I realized how much of my early life was spent “waiting for the other shoe to drop.” As a wise therapist pointed out, as long as I held that expectation as true, that’s how life would continue to show up. As we often say here, the universe always says “yes.”

Our challenge, then, is to stay in alignment, remembering that our thoughts are creative, and we give them power when we add feeling, intention, and belief.

Our Cosmic Toolkit

Thankfully, we have tools to help us shift or align our focus so our words, thoughts, and feelings are congruent. One of them is Spiritual Mind Treatment, the term SOM founder Ernest Holmes used for affirmative prayer (which a former prayer partner and I renamed Customized Guided Meditation, or CGM).

When our awareness shifts, our life shifts. Through practices like SMT, meditation, journaling, and reflection, we come into greater awareness and consciously co-create. .

Both Rev. Pam and Rev. Gary reminded us: This work is not for wimps. It’s a practice. Where focus goes, expansion follows. Energy gives direction.

Our emotions are valuable data: they’re warning lights on the dashboard of consciousness, as Rev. Pam put it. When we pay attention, we start noticing alignment, intuition, and the intelligence of the whole working through us.

That awareness, and the energy we bring to it, is something I feel consistently at CSL Ballard. I’m deeply grateful for this community and the grounded, connected presence we create together.

With gratitude,

Laura