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The Secret of Success Without Stress, by Guy Finley

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

Have you ever wondered why success and stress seem to be inseparable companions in our world today?

Success in business means long hours, politics, and the never-ending struggle to achieve. Success in love means constant sacrifice and "working on the relationship." Success in school, art, music, science, and sports means the ever-increasing pressure to perform.

When we take a step back and look at the whole picture, it's hard not to wonder, "Is success today worth the cost?"

Is the fear and anxiety we feel in the present moment worth the promise of some perfect moment to come? If we look objectively at the fruit of our stressful days, and the deteriorating state of the world, we begin to realize that this is not a profitable trade. Compromising ourselves in the Now to insure a positive moment to come is a flawed formula for success.

On the other hand, in those rare moments when we happen upon a pure moment of peace and contentment—a glorious sunrise, holding the hand of the one we love, the clarity of an insight or epiphany—it is obvious that success itself is an integral part of life. It is in these moments that we can hear a faint voice whispering from deep down inside our hearts, telling us that we were born to be successful; and as human beings it is our natural right to strive toward excellence and enjoy the fruits of achievement.

This is the voice of intuition telling us that striving toward success is not supposed to be a drag—it's supposed to be light, bright, happy, and fun!<

It is trying to reveal the beautiful truth that success without stress is possible. The only problem is that we have ceased to listen to its wise counsel because we have been conditioned by society to place our attention on the objects of success, instead of on the principle of success itself. When we realize this simple misdirection that has taken place, we take the first step in learning to attract everything our heart desires.

And that's the main point of this article: It is possible for us to learn to attract success, instead of trying to chase it down though years of toil, disappointment, and heartache!

So how to we do it? How do we learn to attract the success we want instead of letting the desire for the objects of success push us around from problem to problem?

The answer is simple: We begin to doubt what compromises us.

We begin to doubt stress when it tells us we have to rush through our day. We begin to doubt fearful thoughts when they tell us we need to worry. We begin to doubt feelings of greed and inadequacy that bully us around by telling us that who we are isn't enough.

The reason that doubting negative states is a great key along the path to gaining our hearts' true wish is that this action separates our true self—who we really are—from whatever dark thought or feeling happens to be passing through us in the moment. We realize that we don't have to listen to dark thoughts and feelings; instead we understand that there is a choice, whenever we remember it, to not sacrifice happiness now for a future happy time that may never come!

One specific technique you can use to begin doubting these dark states is to ask yourself this question whenever you find yourself trying to overcome any person or situation that stands in the way of winning some imagined future success: "What would happen right now if I were to want what Life wants, instead of wanting what I want?" This may sound like a strange idea at first, because we are so used to trying to get hold of what we want. But, when we begin to experiment with the power contained in this question, we realize that this simple action has the power to raise the level of our entire life!

To understand this more clearly, let's look at what happens When We Want What We Want:

• We are often stressed and unsettled because life may not go the way we want it to
• We are often tired because we spend our energy struggling against the natural flow of events
• We are unable to sit quietly or go to sleep peacefully because our mind is always busy trying to resolve problems that stand in the way of our desires
• We are easily agitated when someone or something interrupts our plans
• We harbor resentment toward those who have "wronged" us in the past
• We lose sight of our true nature, because we mistake what we possess for who we really are

Now let's look at what happens When We Want What Life Wants:

• We are always on the winning side
• We are free from stress, anger, and anxiety
• We maintain confident self-command in any situation
• We are never sad or disappointed because things didn't go our way
• We always know the right thing to do
• We can never be taken advantage of
• We are fluid and responsive to what the moment asks
• We are free to be kind and compassionate, even in the presence of perceived "enemies"
• We are never bored, because we are perfectly happy just being ourself
• Our mind becomes quiet, peaceful, clear, and sharp

Can you see the power in this simple idea? When we invite life—instead of resisting it—we are freed from the stress and negativity that drains the positive energy required to be truly successful. We are given the ability to participate more deeply in the present moment, which allows us to access the higher mental and emotional states required to be more kind, creative, intelligent, and loving human beings…everything our heart truly longs for.

Want what life wants, and harvest the fruits of true and lasting success for yourself.

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2009. All rights reserved.

For the past couple of years, there has been a spider specter that hangs over my bed while I sleep. It's about the size of a softball, and just hangs there with all of its legs folded up, the way that real spiders rest. Once I blew on it and it disappeared. I'm scared to death of spiders in real life, but for some reason, this specter doesn't scare me. Could this be a protector of some sort? I've never seen anything like this before. Thanks!

Cindy

Astrea:

The manifestation of a spider as a totem animal is very significant. Having a spider specter for a guide and protector is a very good thing!

In most old myths, spiders represent certain elements of life. If you have Native American blood, perhaps your ancestors sent the spider to you. If you don't, you could have been in a tribe that venerated spiders in a past life. The reason you don't fear this particular spider is because you know in your gut that you shouldn't.

Making something disappear with your breath is a custom as old as time. The idea probably came to you from some magical work you did in a past life. People blow away bad dreams, and in our current vernacular, people are often blown away by something that impresses them. I think you followed an ancient instinct when you took that action.

Our breath is considered an element of fire. What did you want to burn out of your life when you blew away your spider?

Spiders are good guides because they are crafty, intelligent and decisive. Do you possess these qualities? Do you need to work on them? Spiders are spinners. Is your life going the way you want, or do you need to put a different spin on things?

Remember too that spiders bite and often stun things. Do you need a swift kick in the pants to get some new project going? Do you feel trapped into doing nothing about a situation that needs to be changed?

I've found that spiders manifest to my clients when it's time for them to change something in their lives, to weave a new web or to capture something of immense importance. Job and career changes often accompany the appearance of spiders.

If you don't need to make some drastic change in your life, it may be that a person close to you needs to change or weave a new way of thinking. Spiders are great communicators. This one could be weaving a new web for your family to connect you to someone who is feeling left out or useless to the rest of you.

You probably can't communicate with your spider verbally, but you can via thought and meditation. Even if it feels silly to you, give your spider a name - it will give you a warmer feeling about it.

Be positive when you see it and try to silently communicate. It will give you messages in your dreams or in visions. It's there to help you work something out that has been pending for as long as you've been able to see it. It's a GREAT guide to have!

*****

Susyn:

The symbol of the Spider has many rich and varied interpretations. Examining some of the more prevalent beliefs about the Spider should help you interpret the messages this specter has been trying to send to you. This will enable you to benefit from the gift of its presence and understand why this special eight-legged ghost has chosen to look over and protect you.

Not only is this spider a symbol of spiritual protection, it has been sitting over your bed to encourage you to create the life you've been dreaming of. Your letter indicates that you are now ready to hear and act upon the direction it is offering.

In India, the Spider is regarded as a symbol of the perfect order of the cosmos and of one's ability to create or weave the life one wants. This spider's presence could be encouraging you to become more creative, and especially more decisive. Taking action to create the world you dream of living in can be very powerful when you have Spider energy backing you.

Picture a spider sitting in the middle of its web - a web of its own creation - and you will see that whether you feel trapped or enchanted with your life right now, you have woven that reality for yourself.

Many Eastern cultures believe that the Spider is an indicator of spiritual self-liberation. In that regard, this specter denotes that you've been in a process of spiritual growth and enlightenment for the past couple of years. As you continue on your journey of awakening, the Spider will accompany and guide you.

In Native American cultures, repeated sightings of the Spider carry the message that you should be writing, journaling, and making records of your progress. In other words, take the time to put your experiences to paper for the explicit purpose of gaining greater understanding and helping those who will follow in your footsteps.

Because the Spider's body takes the form of an 8, the symbol for infinity, this may also be part of the message your spider is sending you: Anything is possible at any time, and the time is Now. This is compounded by the fact that Native Americans also believe that four of the spider's eight legs represent the winds of change, while the remaining four legs symbolize the four directions.

This Spider is telling you that it's time for a change, and your possibilities for success are endless. Now that you have awakened spiritually and are ready to create the life of your dreams, it's time to get moving. In honor of the Spider, note your experiences along the way as a record of the amazing path you are about to embark upon.

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.