Skip to content
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Center Staff
  • Board of Trustees
  • Services
    • Sunday Services & Meditation
    • Wednesday’s Wisdom
    • Congregational Songs
    • Archived videos on our Youtube Channel
  • Gallery
  • Media
  • Contact Us
Top Menu

Center for Spiritual Living
Center for Spiritual Living
No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, know that you are welcome here.
  • Programs
    • Animal Kinship Ministry
    • Circle of Love
    • Coming Home – Awakening To Spirit
    • Community Outreach Programs
    • Jewel Tones Choir
    • New Thought Bookstore
    • Shifting Sands
    • Youth and Family
  • Science of Mind Classes
    • Course Descriptions
    • Current & Upcoming Classes
  • Events & Calendar
  • Prayer Ministry
    • Affirmative Prayer: Career and Creativity
    • Affirmative Prayer: Health
    • Affirmative Prayer: Love and Relationships
    • Affirmative Prayer: Spirituality and Consciousness
    • Affirmative Prayer: Wealth
  • Ministers
  • Give
  • Volunteer
  • Blog
  • Programs
    • Animal Kinship Ministry
    • Circle of Love
    • Coming Home – Awakening To Spirit
    • Community Outreach Programs
    • Jewel Tones Choir
    • New Thought Bookstore
    • Shifting Sands
    • Youth and Family
  • Science of Mind Classes
    • Course Descriptions
    • Current & Upcoming Classes
  • Events & Calendar
  • Prayer Ministry
    • Affirmative Prayer: Career and Creativity
    • Affirmative Prayer: Health
    • Affirmative Prayer: Love and Relationships
    • Affirmative Prayer: Spirituality and Consciousness
    • Affirmative Prayer: Wealth
  • Ministers
  • Give
  • Volunteer
  • Blog

Self Appreciation

” There is a time in every man’s education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance;that imitation is suicide;”     Ralph Waldo Emerson

These immortal words in Emerson’s essay on Self-Reliance  are just as true today as they were 150 years ago when they were written.

Yet in our current culture we are encouraged to compare ourselves with air-brushed 30-year -old models and to value ourselves by our possessions. Television and print media show us perfect, happy people, perfectly dressed and coiffed,  driving the newest cars. The message is clear that we too can be happy, good-looking and well-dressed if we …

Nothing could be further from the spiritual truth.

Since the spiritual truth is that we are creative beings, made in the image and nature of Creator, there is absolutely no good reason to imitate or to feel envious! As creative being, our lives are limited only by our imaginations. If we want a certain quality or outcome, we learn to accept it as ours in mind. We learn to treasure the gift of creativity within ourselves.

This is a lesson I have been learning for many years.

When I was a school-age child, I envied my best friend Lois, who always seemed to wear the latest styles in shoes. My parents took our family to a special shoe store, where our feet were carefully measured for the year’s sensible shoes. While my friend was wearing penny loafers, I was stuck with saddle shoes. I hated those shoes. they were so old-fashioned! I definitely envied my friend, whose parents let their children buy the shoes in fashion. There were many times that i would have gladly traded my strict stodgy parents for hers. 

During my early-teen years, i was a typically rebellious kid, strong-willed. Some might say stubborn. However, the rebelliousness did not lead me to be an independent thinker. It led me to follow the trends of the day, and to imitate the current Hollywood stars.

Now I can see how blessed I was to have the parents I had, for encouraging me to think for myself and for loving me through all the changes and phases of my life. Ironically, now I think that those saddle shoes were kind of cute.

Saddle Shoes like the ones I had to wear

 

Cute Penny Loafers

You Can’t See Them But I likely was Wearing Saddle Shoes
Share this post

Author: Heather Clark

Recent Blog Posts
  • The FAD3 Fundraiser Concert

    The FAD3 Fundraiser ConcertFriday, January 13, 2023, 7 p.m, Our first event of the NEW YEAR is a Fundraiser Concert given by the FAD3, Dave Friedman, Karyn Allen, and Rick Dale Friday evening, January 13, 2023. This fun evening includes classic Beatles songs performed by the FAD3, live and silent auctions, and carousing with friends…

    January 8, 2023
  • Book Study – The Surrender Experiment: My Journey into Life’s Perfection

    Beginning Wednesday January 18th, Mary Brogdon will lead a book study based on Michael A. Singer’s bestselling book, The Surrender Experiment. Singer tells the story of what happened when, after a deep spiritual awakening, he decided to give up his personal fears and desires and simply let life unfold before him. From Goodreads: “Spirituality is…

    January 8, 2023
  • Class: Reignite Your Life

    Reignite Your Life: Spiritual Principles & Practicesthat will move you in the direction of your intentions with Rev. Alice Reid CHANGE YOUR THINKING, CHANGE YOUR HEART, CHANGE YOUR LIFE! Are you ready to discover your emerging direction and purpose and how to make it happen? Join us for 5 weeks of self-discovery and revelation. Classes…

    January 8, 2023
  • Christmas Eve Candlelighting Service

    Return of the Light Christmas Eve marks the return of the light. Winter has arrived, the longest night has passed, and finally light begins to return. Life and wisdom are illuminated, newness abounds. Join as we welcome the Return of the Light, Saturday December 24th. Caroling: 4:45 p.m.Service: 5:00 p.m.

    December 6, 2022
  • Annual Holiday Boutique & Brunch, December 4

    Our annual Holiday Boutique and Brunch is set for December 4, 2022, after the service. Our Center’s artists, artisans, and authors will be offering their work for sale at our annual boutique. We have a number of professional photographers, graphic artists, fiber artists, and authors in our community. Here is your chance to do a…

    November 16, 2022
  • Thanksgiving Eve Taizé Wednesday November 23

    Remembering What’s Important Gather with your spiritual family Wednesday November 23 for a special Taizé service. We will hear readings on the importance of giving thanks. We’ll quietly contemplate gratitude in our own lives. And we will chant as one. Date: November 23, 2022Time: 7 – 8 p.m.Where: In person only, at the Center.Notes: No…

    November 16, 2022
Categories
  • Blog
  • Classes
  • Events
Tags
Affirmation Affirmative Prayer Audio blog center for spiritual living capistrano valley creativity Darin McClure Darin McClure Dr. Heather Clark Dr. Heather Clark Ernest Holmes Forgiveness gratitude gratitude Jason Silva Joyous Living Journal Joyous Living Journal Juli Isola Juli Isola Lisa McClure Lisa McClure Love Love Meditation meditation Music Oneness Parenting Quotes Rev. Dr. Heather Clark Rev. Dr. Heather Clark Rev. Karyn Allen Rev. Pattie Mercado Rev. Pattie Mercado Science of Mind September Warren September Warren spiritual growth Sunday Service Sunday Service Vidette Vanderweide Vidette Vanderweide Wednesday Wisdom Wednesday Wisdom Youtube
Contact Us
Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley
1201 Puerta Del Sol
Suite 100 San Clemente, California 92673

Phone: 949-240-6463

Other contact options

Volunteers: Please check your assignment schedules here.

Latest Tweets
  • https://t.co/V9ThIgDYHn #meditation #SanClemente #CenterforSpiritualLiving #CapistranoValley https://t.co/uQaXkilvvf2 days ago
  • https://t.co/ntd6y49CHo https://t.co/p2YlbiLr6r https://t.co/l0p2pY2KW05 days ago
  • Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr. https://t.co/STFYDxtZrD11 days ago
  • https://t.co/iHSlx2NAVM https://t.co/A1ACZfLjuQ https://t.co/2MV6ewfWC012 days ago
  • Tonight, at the Center, 7 p.m.! 1201 Puerta del Sol, First Floor, San Clemente, CA https://t.co/Th77lGtmAr14 days ago
  • 1201 Puerta del Sol, San Clemente https://t.co/KWwM5idgrE16 days ago
Latest Facebook Update

Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley

Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley

www.cslcv.org#meditation #sanclemente #CenterforSpiritualLiving #CapistranoValley

... See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

Center for Spiritual Living
© Copyright Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley