Trust must be among the most fascinating word of the English language, as it connects the spiritual realm to the practical. See for yourself: Trust describes simultaneously an indubitable sense of certainty in a favorable outcome, while defining a legal arrangement through a fiduciary relationship. Clearly this little word has the power to join heaven to earth! No wonder it might take us a little while to get used to it! "In God, we trUSt”, which stamps our US currency, is a direct illustration of its bridging power. There is most assuredly great wealth to retrieve from having trust. Yet how do you come into it? Where do you buy it?

1. Order

Trust implies embracing a bigger picture than the little self, which wants its "due” rewards, its gratification right here, right now… Whereas the little self makes it all about me, trust espouses a bigger perspective, this of community. That is how it spells trUSt, because it makes it about US, all about Uniting our states to our Spirit, because then we can trust. Trust calls you to let go of the needs of the small self long enough you can become aware of your environment, and realize that events do not happen arbitrarily, but instead that they reflect an underlying order, potentially divine, where all works interdependently, where there are no favorite, but instead an orchestrated symphony of goodness, a magical web distributing blessings to each of us equanimously….

2. Courage

Trust implies having the courage to wait for what is good, true and beautiful to appear. It is a process well known by true artists, who will not act until inspiration prompts them to create. The movie "Jackson Pollock” offers a perfect example of that, when the artist, having received the most important commission of his life, is filmed, waiting and waiting and waiting some more, just starring at the canvas. His girlfriend, in her worrying, attempted to coerce him to paint, to no avail. Gently escorting her out of his studio, as if no thought could disturb him from waiting for the beloved, he went back to his active listening. To him, time did not exist: he knew without the shadow of a doubt the beloved, the inspiration, would come… That takes tremendous courage. That is heART!

3. Collaboration

Trust offers no pressure, no tension, and no frustration: it gives you instead the chance to take full responsibility, and to merge impeccably with the task at hand. This partnership with the divine is an evolved friendship where no one participant is led astray, left abandoned, or betrayed. Never in this co-creation is there a sense of victimhood, of false expectations, of irrational demands that ruin the mood for love and limit excellence. Not at all passive, but an act of willful participation into the workings of the universe, trust is relaxed enough, easy, playful, light enough, that things happen for the good of all, naturally. In playing your part, your work transforms into worship, and your doing becomes a prayer that has no attachment to the outcome… Delicious!

4. Economy

Economy is such an economical word: I love it! And in fact, distrust is as contracting as it can be expensive, and yes, I did check my spelling! Think of all the errors you made, because you did not have the heart to wait for the proper romantic partner, for the right house, for the job that would really fulfill your sense of self! Even down the smallest decisions, where would you be if you had the forbearance to wait for your turn, be in purchasing socks, in speaking to a teller, in driving… Wouldn't that trust spare you a few inconveniences, dollars, and challenging emotions? "You can't hurry love, no, you just have to wait…”

5. Integrity

Generally not influenced by the opinions of others, people who trust are their own masters, and know they are perfect, whole, complete, and connected, as would say my friend Goddess. Doubt is viewed as an outsider's opinion, an intrusion which is not welcome in their mental space. They do not spend energy descending in the nauseating pit of worrying either. What for? They resolved at some point to starve their ego by not feeding it prideful worry… Worry as an expression of pride? Think of it: when you worry, aren't you rivaling against goodness? Aren't you putting your money on not trusting God, (what an irony!)? Aren't you placing a bet on no God, no good, no grace, and no celebration? Integrity starts at home, and builds a foundation that has no cracks, and that offers no possibility for doubt or worry to creep in… Integrity is whole, not hole.

6. Discernment

Discernment is another big deal. I often hear how hard it is to recognize the voice of ego from truth. And how true is that statement? It really comes down to the powerful serenity prayer of the 12 steppers: discernment is simply the wisdom to know the difference. And truth is: you will only be finished with your addiction to smoking when you will be. You are only done when you are, not one minute earlier or later, be it with overeating or worrying. Be it with overworking or arguing. When it's over, it's over, and you'll know it. Anything else is trying, not trusting! So next time you are confused, see if you can accept you are not quite ready for the way truth is going to change your life. Discernment is only that: the willingness to know the difference between stage 1 (accepting) and stage 2 (transforming). Thus discernment asks you to grow up into maturi

ty, and own the consequences of your actions. "I did it! I am confused: that must be perfection!”

7. Paradox

The beauty of the trust challenge is that it is a paradox, in the sense that it requires you to quit wanting to know, or wanting to be right! That is an enormously big deal, a deal which is the most terrifying experience for humans… It is indeed much easier to buy insurances, to hire a fortune teller, to invest in strategies and techniques, to analyze the courses of stars, and listen to forecasts, JUST SO THAT WE COULD RELAX. Until the day when all the strategies, all the charts, all the plans, all the safety devices fall apart. And that is the good news, because this breakdown can be a breakthrough to allow your metaphoric tent of peace to be built, without a roof, just so that we could see the stars before falling asleep… Or falling awake, peaceful and now relaxed, because you came to trust your lucky star, rather than question it!

8. Surrender

As I write these words, I cannot help but take a deep breath. As I know how much I have worried, and schemed, and manipulated, and strived. I know how hard I tried (that word, again) to control a particular outcome. I know how much I worked at losing weight, how much energy I placed in building my business, how long I looked for love… If these words are touching you, if the truth of my heart reaches you, if you are tired and have followed so many paths, turned so many stones, and still have found no peace, then stop. That's right: simply STOP, right here, right now. And I do not mean to go indulge on ice cream if your weight is a concern. I do not mean to not call your clients. I mean to stop the madness. I mean to relax. I mean to take a breath with me right now. I mean to look around the room you are in. Yes, let go of this computer page, and simply look around you. Go follow a butterfly. There is life. You are not alone. And you are invited. Come!

9. Totality

Yes, the invitation is total. There is no looking back, or you will be turned into a pillar of salt: not a sweet deal, I promise! You cannot surrender half way, no more than you can forgive half way, no more than you can commit half way, or trust half way. You either do or you don't. You have to let the soul orgasm ride you utterly, and bring you, defenseless, to the ecstasy of your true self. You have to know in your heart that you will be OK on the other side. Yes, it is a passage, a death of sorts. Totally! Yet, do you like what you've got now so much that it is worth hanging onto? I don't think so… I have always found that the pain was before making the decision. That is how there is talk of cold feet before getting married. Totality is a love story. Totality jumps fiercely and responds yes, a big YES, an "I do”. Totality trusts, wholeheARTedly.

10. Freedom

The memory of that moment is engraved in my heart forever, when Byron Katie, one of my beloved teachers, answered my expressed jealousy to see her having it all: "Yes, honey, I have everything I want because I want everything there is.” I knew that for her it was true. True that she wanted it all. That she ultimately had no parts inside her that was attached to an opinion, a preference, an idea, a judgment, an expectation. That all hang-ups, all contractions were gone. Gone for good. That what was left was an open heart, an open hand, a compassionate listening, and a willingness to serve, no matter what, ready to do what it takes. I cannot but gasp as I settle as I would into a really cold bath, little by little, into the freedom of wanting it all, sickness and health, poverty and wealth, birth and death: what a trip! What an adventure! How delightful can trust be!

Mahalene is an Inspiration Anchor, an Artist, an Author and the President of Soulvision Axis, Inc., a company assisting visionaries to unleash their creativity and awaken their spirit. She authored the Ten Techniques for heARTful living, as a result of 22 years of study and experience in creativity, communication and human development.

Beyond several local publications and national e-publications to which she is a regular contributor, she currently writes a blog (http://www.mahasblog.com) and publishes a monthly e-zine, Stop Trying, Start Trusting Mahazine, addressed to visionaries, holistic coaches, and consultants on the way to birth their personal and professional leadership. She also offers a Seven Weeks Mini-course, mad from the heART, and mini inspiring movies. Please do feel free to check out her work; http://www.mahalenelouis.com.

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