Revised January 22, 2013

I have always loved learning about the sparks of inspiration and insight that led directly to something new being created. Laurence Olivier based his Hamlet on a young man he saw in a cafe hurriedly drinking a cup of coffee. Bob Dylan wrote his first song, Song to Woody, because he had a subject he really wanted to sing about and that song did not yet exist. Jennifer Egan was revisiting the rock & roll concept albums she loved (Quadrophenia, Ziggy Stardust) when the idea came to her to write a book in that form, which became the Pulitzer Prize winning A Visit From the Goon Squad.

These moments of inspiration led those three artists to take action until their creation was complete. They knew what to do and did it.

Every single one of us who is on a spiritual path has already had that moment of inspiration, insight or suffering that prompted us into action to expand our knowledge. While we may use different words to describe it, our goal is the same: Enlightenment. Enlightenment is being fully present in the truth that everything is connected by unconditional love.

Enlightenment is an active process, not a static state. Where outdated ideas about enlightenment focus on deprivation and separation (celibacy, poverty, cave sitting), we live in an age of abundance and inclusion. There is plenty of everything available for all of us. Plenty of love, peace, wellness, money, support and guidance. All of us are included in all of this good.

Part of this process is understanding who we are and what we are doing here in the first place. And, who God is and how God works.

As souls who chose to incarnate into our current lifetimes, we are here to change. The challenges that manifest in our lives appear with purpose. They get our attention, and present an opportunity to change our patterns and beliefs. When we do change, we create an opening for new insights and experiences to emerge. We make our world bigger, which is part of our job here.

God is pure, unconditional love. God sees each of us as perfect. God is confident and unwavering in broadcasting love and support to every single being, no matter what. Angels, who are messengers of God, actively help us to be in harmony with this love and support.

Just like Laurence Olivier, Bob Dylan and Jennifer Egan did, artists infuse creativity into their technique to create work that is beautiful, memorable and enlightening. I believe we can do the same with our lives. I have created a list of fourteen practical actions steps to take to make every aspect of our lives expansive, peaceful and focused on love. These actions are all based in technique and work as a process, which is designed to be simple and clear. The result is a deep connection with spirit, a clear sense of self, and being present in the joy of being alive.

The steps:
Know who you actually are, and what is available to you.

Choose to use your free will to connect with God, your angels and guides.

Ask them for help. Receive their guidance. Take action on that guidance.

Infuse angelic energy into your life by asking the angels to do so.

Master your attention by compassionately placing it on yourself and off of others.

Vision what you want. What you want, not how it should happen.

Recognize that you are here to change.

Clear what is not serving you in this lifetime, your past lives, and your ancestry.

Forgive everyone for everything, especially yourself. Everyone is doing their best.

Allow yourself to be visible, to express yourself and to share your gifts with the world.

Take action daily toward manifesting what you want.

Receive and give with grace, understanding that you are circulating abundance and there is plenty of everything.

Love everyone and everything, including yourself. No matter what.

Be grateful for everything in your life.