Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.

Bruce Lee

Faith is the starting point of all achievement. It is the prerequisite for moving forward in life.  

What is faith?  Faith is a power.  It is a power that manifests creation.  There is an invisible thought stuff that makes an idea transform to the material world. Faith is the basis of what makes man operate on a daily basis. It gives meaning to existence.

What is the difference between faith and trust?  Trust is not only a feeling but a stronger knowing that forms a foundational confidence in your spirit that allows you to act with greater certainty. It blends beautifully with belief.

Trust in the Source or Power of the universe, which many refer to as God, is a foundational step.  Some do not believe in a God and that’s fine. The word has many interpretations.

It’s interesting to me, that those who do not, are always consumed with a fervent passion to an idea of something that does not exist in their perception or experience of life. Why question something that does not exist?  

Our monetary system is based on faith or trust.  Without gold backing, why is any currency that is written on unique paper say to “Trust in God.”  If there was no faith that the paper means anything, then all you have is a piece of paper. 

Why is faith vitally important for the alcoholic seeking recovery.  A hope or wish to stop drinking puts the “Idea” in a distant future state which at the beginning, frankly is flimsy and could blow away when it meets any adversity.  Yet with faith, that feeling of certainty has been tested or experienced by you in past circumstances. References are reinforced.

For example, when you are driving your car, and for those who still drink and drive especially, what is preventing the other car coming at you 50 miles an hour from an opposite direction not cause you to  freeze in your tracks and force you to pull over every time?  It’s because you have built faith over time, that the other car will hold up an invisible bargain called: “rules of the road.”  

The same can be said with faith. An agreement with the Power which is greater than yourself is infused into your thinking and feeling.  You can then harness and channel this energy into a goal.  Anything is possible now.  Trust can be described as having stronger faith muscles and an inner knowing stronger than a feeling.  This comes with time, effort, and personal experience.  

Faith is a verb. Faith is a power. Faith is a flowing state of openness or trust… In other words, a person who is fanatic in matters of religion and clings to certain ideas about the nature of God and the universe, becomes a person who has no faith at all. Instead they are holding tight. But the attitude of faith is to let go; And become open to the truth, Whatever it might turn out to be.

Alan Watts

When I reached my lowest point mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, I asked for help to a Power I did not understand.  I was all out of ideas.  Something inside of me knew that my life had to change and I could no longer live the way I was living. Desperation can foster innovation. 

Faith made this transformation in my thinking possible.  My attitude shifted to where new possibilities for my life could made.  Action is required. Consistent action.

Life is a happening and reacts to us. Some say life is a journey.  I agree, but life is also a lesson.  It is a lesson on how I can strengthen my faith daily until it reaches the point where it becomes trust.  I have come to a stage in my life where now, I trust myself and others, until they give me reasons not to.

I now trust life.  I am guided.  I live with “downstream thinking.” I rarely am struggling and paddling upstream against the currents of life, family, relationship, and most important myself.

I have discovered that the best relationship I can have is the one I keep with myself.  This way, I get to choose how I respond to my emotions.  Today, I not only exercise faith, but live with Trust. It is a process lived one day at time, one step at a time.  There is no more self criticizing or blame, only acceptance that I am being led to grow and understand.

Exercise your applied faith!

The beginning is purification, that’s the first step. And purification means purification of body and mind. You don’t purify the body without cleansing the mind; that’s the way it works.

Rolling Thunder, CHEROKEE