In the ten stages we see faith not as something we have but as something we are in — a gentle life affirming relationship

Speaking with hindsight is often something that is frowned upon, but looking back over this year and its strong health challenges. I can see a cementation in my faith in the concept of the child within inside the ten stages, of a trust worthy consistent friend whose gentle wisdom breached the gates of death on numerous occasions of heart blockage. In the ten stages we see faith not as something we have but as something we are in — a gentle life affirming relationship with us. It involves an awareness of and an attunement to a child withins presence in our everyday experiences.

Practicing faith in our child within, then, is like developing any relationship. We have to give it time and attention. It requires us to see, hear, feel, and constantly remember our partner — our child within. Have confidence in the relationship's viability, even when you are facing mysteries, doubts, and paradoxes. Trust in this faith, even to the point of staking our life on it, which I have had to do through out this year.

Why The Ten Stages May Be For You many of us assume that the chief challenges to faith are disbelief and doubt, but the real stumbling block to faith is resistance to an altered perception or the hardened self.The heart is used as an image for the deeper self, the true and total person. The hard heart is not open to loving-kindfulness. It is similar to eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear.

Difficulties can be catalysts to faith. During a dark night of health crises, sometimes all we can do is trust that this, too, will pass. Facing illness, death, or the myriad other challenges in our lives, we are strengthened by the knowledge that a greater relationship watches and waits with us with our perfect child within. In the long run, it's that relationship with our child within that matters.

The Ten Stages is a studied recovery course. It is a source of reconnection a method of unlearning and a reintroduction to our child within which leads us back to our one true intuitive voice.We start to learn and come out of our protective dysfunctional shell and reclaim our lives. www.thetenstages.com