There’s Life, and Then There’s Living
December — The Power of Life
We’ve reached the final month of our Twelve-Month empowerment series exploring innate human abilities inspired by the teachings of Charles and Myrtle Fillmore. This month we arrive at one of the most vibrant gifts: the Power of Life.
Cultures across the world have described the animating energy within us using many names: chi/qi, ki, prana, mana, orgone, spirit, and more. No matter the tradition, Life is understood as the force that moves us, heals us, inspires us, and propels us forward.
But how do we experience Life not just as biology, but as an innate spiritual power?
Life as Energy, Healing, and Awareness
Many healing traditions focus on how energy flows through the body, including the healing practices discovered and refined by Myrtle Fillmore, cofounder of the Unity movement. In our companion post, The Power of Life, we explored how Myrtle described the movement of what she called “God-Life” or the Christ presence throughout her body.
Long before science named the internal sense of bodily awareness as interoception, Myrtle taught practices that attune us to the movement of Life within us: relaxation, breath, prayer, attention, and deep listening.
This is also what makes the Power of Life such an embodied, creative, and intimate spiritual ability. It asks us not just to exist but to feel, express, and participate in the sacred flow of being alive.
“There’s a Life and Then There’s Living”
On my way to work recently, the song Cloudy Day by Tones and I came on, and it asked a deceptively simple question:
“Am I living?”
“But there’s a life and then there’s living.”
Sometimes a pop lyric hits harder than a dozen theology books.
What does it really mean to live?
Louise Hay used “Life” and “God” synonymously. One of her morning practices was to open her arms wide and affirm:
“I am open and receptive to all the good that Life has to offer.”
It sounds simple, but for many of us—especially in queer and trans communities—this is a radical act.
Why Living Authentically Matters
For LGBTQ+ people, our history includes marginalization, criminalization, erasure, and exclusion. Many of us reach adulthood not by drifting with the tide but by making deliberate choices to live authentically.
- Authenticity requires courage.
- Authenticity generates resilience.
- Authenticity awakens joy.
When we live true to who we are, we begin experiencing what the Power of Life actually feels like—vibrancy, aliveness, belonging, and self-expression. And when we find our people, our community, our chosen family, that aliveness magnifies.
Why So Many LGBTQ+ Folks Find Spirituality Outside Institutions
Institutions often center dogma, hierarchy, and performance. Many churches operate as weekly performance spaces—sermons, music, rigid expectations, fundraising quotas. (And let’s be honest: some of those 10%-mandated tithing institutions end up being more expensive than Broadway tickets depending on your income level.)
Because of that, spiritually-minded LGBTQ+ folks often seek connection outside traditional structures. We want spirituality that breathes, evolves, affirms, and heals—not one that polices identity or expression.
But one thing institutions do get right is the importance of community. We thrive in connection. We heal in connection. We grow in connection.
Life, Regulation, and Connection
Dr. Stephen Porges reminds us that we cannot self-regulate until we have first learned to coregulate. Two nervous systems syncing together—safe connection, warm attunement, mutual presence—builds the foundation for emotional and spiritual well-being.
In other words:
Our ability to experience the Power of Life is directly tied to our ability to feel safe and connected.
Community isn’t optional for thriving—it’s essential.
Creativity: A Pathway Into Aliveness
Another way we fully experience Life is through creativity. This doesn’t mean everyone needs to be a painter or musician. Louise Hay used to joke:
“If you can’t think of anything else creative to do, make your bed creatively.”
Life itself is creative. The universe is wildly, extravagantly creative and we carry that same creative pattern within us.
Even Albert Einstein developed many of his scientific breakthroughs through imaginative visualization—creative experiments in the theater of his own mind.
Creativity can also awaken meaning and purpose; it reminds us that we are co-creators of our own experience.
Gratitude: Keeping Life at the Center
Gratitude is another practice that brings us into deeper aliveness. Gratitude isn’t denial of hardship—it simply refuses to let hardship run the show.
A simple practice:
- At the end of the day, write down 2–3 things you’re grateful for.
- The next day, read yesterday’s list before you begin.
It trains the nervous system to notice Life’s movement instead of scanning only for threat.
Values: Your Compass for Living Fully
As we near the New Year, it’s a perfect time to clarify or update your personal values. Think of values as the compass for “living” rather than merely “having a life.”
How to Create a Personal Values Statement
Here’s an easy method:
- Brainstorm freely.
Write down all the qualities that matter to you: authenticity, compassion, creativity, justice, freedom, humor, joy, rest, etc. - Circle your top 8–10.
Don’t overthink it—go with the ones that create a “yes” in your body. - Narrow them to 3–5 core values.
These are the non-negotiables, the things that describe you at your best. - Write a simple guiding sentence for each.
Example:- Authenticity: I show up as who I truly am, even when it stretches me.
- Compassion: I give myself and others generous room for humanity.
- Creativity: I allow creative energy to flow through my daily life.
- Finish with an integrating statement.
Something like:
“This year, I commit to living in alignment with the values that help me feel alive, connected, and whole.”
Review this monthly as a spiritual practice.
As We Enter a New Year
The Power of Life invites us into vibrancy.
Let’s consider how we might live more fully in the coming year—leaning into the love, joy, creativity, connection, and peace that Life offers generously each day.
Not just having a life.
But living.
About Folx with Faith
At Folx with Faith, we celebrate the diverse ways people embody spiritual zeal and other divine attributes. Our mission is to create safe, affirming spaces where queer people can explore spirituality, heal from religious harm, and live as authentic expressions of divine love. Through courses, blogs, community gatherings, and local chapters, we empower people to engage their spiritual powers, like zeal, to transform their lives and their communities.
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You can help us fulfill our mission by donating to Folx with Faith or starting a local group. It is our mission to create safe spaces to explore and experience spiritual wholeness. Folx with Faith supports the queer community, fostering a celebration of our authentic beings and empowering us to make a difference in the world. If you would like to contribute to this mission or would like to start a local chapter, please let us know. You can contact us or use the links below.
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Our A New Thought on Gender course supports leaders in understanding the lived experience of trans and gender-expansive people so they can create safer, more affirming spiritual environments.
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Belonging is created through intention, education, and the willingness to transform outdated systems. This course equips leaders with tools to build structures, language, and practices that welcome people fully as sacred expressions of the Divine.
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The course is fully self-guided, allowing learners to move at their own pace while engaging with video lessons, reflections, and practical tools. Featuring leading voices like Chris Paul “Rainbows” Farias, Ben Greene, Rev. Dr. Christie Love, Rev. Jacquie Fernández, and James Masters, LUT. These materials blend personal story, research, theological clarity, trauma informed ministry, and best practices for trans-affirming ministry.
References & Additional Resources for There’s Life, and Then There’s Living
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
James Masters (he/they) is a member of Unity Church of Overland Park, where they actively teach classes and participate in community events. They are a Licensed Unity Teacher (LUT) in the Unity movement and have been deeply engaged in spiritual study since 1999, and the New Thought/Metaphysics movements in 2005.
James is a contributing author for the bestselling anthologies The Courageous Heart, Enduring Wisdom, and The Grateful Soul. They are a artist and personal coach specializing in spiritual and relational development, guiding others toward deeper self-awareness and empowerment.
Beyond their work in spiritual education, James has a strong commitment to social justice and community service. They helped establish an all-genders shelter and regularly volunteer to support those experiencing housing and food insecurity. Their knowledge of technology and unwavering compassion for others make them a valuable force for positive change in their community.
