How are we physically?
Who are we financially?
Where are we spiritually?
How are we mentally?
How are we relationally?

These questions are more than a personal inventory. They are invitations into awareness.

Our Nature of Being is the living expression of the Divine through us, and it is shaped by how we are experiencing life in any given moment. Every dimension of our life—physical, financial, spiritual, mental, and relational—is interconnected. When one area shifts, the others respond. Our state of being is not fixed; it is fluid, evolving as we grow in awareness.

When we think about Physical Well-Being, we often think of health and fitness, which is certainly a good place to begin. Yet our physical life also includes our home, our environment, the places we travel, and the spaces we inhabit.

My own physical story is one of grace. My mother and I almost died during childbirth. Because of a tumor on my brain at birth, the doctor believed I might not survive, or that I would live in a vegetative state. An optometrist once believed I would become blind. And yet, here I am.

Recently I’ve realized how important movement and caring for my body really are. If you know me, you might say, “Really? Then why aren’t you doing something active every day?” And that question has helped me see something deeper. In my codependency, I have often placed what is good for me at the bottom of the list.

But I am beginning to understand something sacred:
My body is the form the Divine has chosen to express as Gayle.

Caring for this body is not selfish—it is spiritual. It is an act of honoring the Divine presence that lives and breathes through me.

Financial and Career Well-Being speaks to how we support ourselves in the world—our work, our goals, our income, and our sense of financial freedom. For many of us, the traditional idea of a career may be shifting or winding down. I will admit that I am someone who didn’t do a great deal of long-term planning for the future.

Yet spiritual life continually reminds us that our true security does not come from careful planning alone. It comes from trusting that the same Creative Intelligence that brought us this far continues to guide our path forward.

Spiritual Well-Being asks a different question: What inspires you?

This is deeply personal. Spiritual life is not confined to a single practice or belief system. It is about feeding the soul and recognizing the Divine presence in every moment of life.

For some, it is creating music. For others, it is dancing, listening to music, painting, praying, or meditating. Sometimes it is simply sitting quietly in the sand, listening to the roar of the ocean and feeling the presence of something greater than ourselves. The path to the soul is as unique as the soul itself.

Mental Well-Being is reflected in our thoughts and emotions. Mother Teresa once said:

Our inner dialogue shapes the world we experience. Taking care of our mental well-being is just as important as caring for our physical health. Sometimes that means seeking help. Sometimes it means resting. Sometimes it means stepping back and giving ourselves compassion.

Wherever you are in life, honor what you are feeling and thinking. They are not weaknesses—they are signals inviting us back into balance and self-care.

And finally, there is Relational Well-Being.

Whether we are introverts or extroverts, we all need connection. Human beings are meant to walk this life together. The people we surround ourselves with can reflect our highest qualities and support our growth.

Our relationships often act as mirrors. The way we show up in relationship is often the way our relationships show up for us.

When we step back and look at all these aspects of life, something powerful becomes clear.

Our physical life, our finances, our creativity, our thoughts, and our relationships are not separate pieces of who we are. They are expressions of one underlying truth: The Divine Life is expressing itself through us.

Every breath we take, every thought we think, every act of love we share is part of that unfolding expression.

And the moment we remember this; something awakens within us.

We realize we are not simply reacting to life—we are participating in creation.

So, the invitation is simple and profound:

*Care for your body as a sacred vessel.
*Nurture your mind with loving thoughts. 

*Feed your soul with creativity and inspiration.
*Honor the relationships that help you grow.

Because when we consciously tend to every dimension of our being, we begin to awaken to the truth of who we really are.

Not separate.
Not powerless.

But living expressions of the Divine—
creative, evolving, and capable of shaping a life filled with meaning, love, and purpose.

And when we awaken to that truth, we don’t just change our lives…

 

“The important Truth is that you are a spiritual being with the Allness of Infinite Mind within you. Whatever your needs may be, the answer is not to get God to give you more through some divine sleight-of-hand process, but rather to uncover and release your own “imprisoned splendor”. Certainly all things are possible, not because God makes an exception for you by reason of your plea, but because your faith is the key to the kingdom of the power within you to apply the laws that transcend human limitation.” ~Eric Butterworth, Spiritual Economics

The important Truth, as Eric Butterworth reminds us, is that we are spiritual beings with Infinite Mind within. That doesn’t mean life is easy or that we never need support. It means the deepest Source of strength isn’t outside us. And that’s where the practice comes in.

We live in a time when loneliness, depression, anger, and fear are everywhere. The self-help industry is thriving—not because growth is bad, but because discomfort makes us easy to convince that we’re missing something.

And I’m not saying we shouldn’t seek help. Support can be healing. Wise teachers and tools can guide us. But the best guidance always returns us to our own inner authority.

Because the real work is different: it’s learning to uncover and release our own “imprisoned splendor.”

Not through a divine sleight-of-hand.
 Not by begging for exceptions.
 But by aligning with what’s already true within us.

And trust me—I am a pro at looking outside myself for fixes. It takes practice and commitment to sit quietly and listen to that still, small voice within… to journal honestly about what I’m feeling and why… and then to look up, as Marcia Mode-Stavros shared last Sunday.

So here’s a simple practice—a way to return to your power:

Start where you are. Your power doesn’t require perfection—only practice.

And the more you return to that Truth, the more you remember:

Before anything takes shape—before a word is spoken, before an action is taken, before a decision is made—there is Spirit: the First Cause, the Creative Intelligence, the Life Principle from which all is created and continues to be created.

And that means this: every beginning begins in consciousness. Every thought, every idea, every choice, every word is an expression of consciousness—and we get to decide what leads our thinking and living.

So, when I say, “It is important to me…,” I’m naming how I choose to begin.

My word is powerful, and I am responsible for how I use it. That’s why it matters to me to tell the truth regardless of the situation. That’s why it matters to me not to gossip—because gossip is poison. It harms the soul of the one who speaks it, and it can wound the spirit of the one it’s spoken about. If it’s not true, I won’t say it. If it’s not right, I won’t do it.

“In the beginning” isn’t only a moment long ago; it is the moment before anything becomes real in my life—the moment of intention, the moment of inner choice. That’s why I treasure my thoughts, ideas, and words. That’s why I teach and remember the law of cause and effect, the principle that like attracts like. Not as blame, but as empowerment: I am responsible for my truth, my energy, my focus, and my response.

 

When the world gets loud, I don’t have to let the noise lead me. I can shut it off. I can be still. I can pray. I can breathe deeply—taking in fresh new energy and releasing what keeps me feeling separate from the whole. I can sit in silence and listen for the small voice within. I can journal. I can come back to center. I can begin again.

 

I allow each person to walk their own path, regardless of beliefs. My responsibility is to walk my talk and live by example. If people ask, I can share my practices—but each person must choose their own happiness. I speak clearly and passionately, and I allow others to do the same. I ask questions when I don’t understand. I give my full attention to the people I’m with. I listen more and talk less. I refuse judgment. I am for things and against nothing. I choose to be the change I want to see.

So, “In the Beginning, God” is not only about ancient history. It’s about how I begin right now—how I begin my day, my conversations, my choices, my reactions, my relationships, and my thoughts. I begin with Spirit. I begin with truth. I begin with conscious choice.

And I stay awake and aware, allowing the power and presence within me to work in, through, and as me—because the beginning is not behind me.