Imagine awakening each morning, only to realize that you are living the day before over and over again like Bill Murray in the 1993 film Ground Hog Day. Now imagine that you are living your entire life over and over again, which is what many believe we do. We continue to have the same general experiences, though the specific circumstances of each life vary, because we failed to evolve our soul in the life before. Bill Murray continued to be caught in a time loop, waking up on Ground Hog Day until he learned the lessons of compassion and altruism.

These are exciting times that we are living in. So many changes are upon us. We are capable of so much more than we ever were before. We have the emerging ability to see auras, know things before they happen, see ghosts, hear from Spirit, heal with our hands and so much more. Daily, more and more people are having what some would call psychic, spiritual, ascension or paranormal experiences.

There are many people who are already incredibly gifted. We have many gifted healers and psychics right here, writing in the pages of Bellesprit Magazine. Many of us become very focused on those abilities because they are new, exciting and so different from any ability we ever thought was possible. We go to classes to become better at them and many of us get frustrated when we feel like change has slowed down.

Many years ago I read the words of a wise Indian teacher, who said that healers get stuck living many lifetimes as healers because they become too attached to the ability and never look to move beyond it. If I could find who wrote it, I would tell you, but search as I may, over and over, I can’t find those words. For a while I thought maybe the words really weren’t there, but I needed to read them, so the Universe showed me and then took them away. Kind of like the countless stories of angels reportedly showing up in human form to save the day and then leave in a flash.

Regardless of whether they were real or not, those words stuck with me. I thought of myself as a healer and I could feel the pull of becoming overly focused on that identity and on the pull to go deeper and deeper into it. It doesn’t mean that I can’t continue to develop my abilities, and if you are a talented psychic or even a new ghost-crosser, it doesn’t mean you can’t continue to do the good work that you are doing. The warning is to not become overly identified with the ability.

The goal of the life is to evolve the soul, to keep learning that next lesson and to move toward Enlightenment. Enlightenment is an elevated state. According to dictionary.com, in Buddhism it means “the awakening to ultimate truth by which man is freed from the endless cycle of personal reincarnations to which all men are otherwise subject,” and in Hinduism it means “a state of transcendent divine experience represented by Vishnu [the Supreme Being]” and it is “regarded as a goal of all religion.”

This topic is so important to talk about right now precisely because so many people are experiencing these abilities for the first time. It may be helpful right from the start to reframe your relationship with the ability. Here are some thoughts for continuing to evolve:

1. Been here, done this, got the T-shirt

Remind yourself that, especially if you are very gifted at your talent, you have probably done it before. Quite possibly many, many times. I am aware of many lifetimes of doing healing and of being deeply connected to Spirit. I know many others who know of their past connections as well. You have already had this experience. Allow yourself to play with it, maybe even do it as a job, but allow yourself to move beyond it as well.

2. Wave the white flag

Be prepared to surrender the phenomena that go along with it (and possibly even the ability itself if you feel called to do so). While sitting in meditation and having a vision, you may say something like, “Even this I surrender to you.” In most cases it will fade away. Have no fear about giving it over. Know that if it is highest and best for you to know it in that moment, the guidance in the vision will come back in some form or another. If it is important that you know it right then, the vision will continue.

3. Don’t hold on so tight

Be ready to surrender the gift if asked. Many probably cringed at that last statement. I do not think it is likely you will be asked to give it up, but that level of detachment may be necessary for an even higher gift to come in. Whether you keep the gift or not, give up the attachment to it. Give up any feeling of its “cool factor” or a specialness that you have because of it.

4. Where to from here?

Ask Spirit to show you the next steps for your soul’s evolution. Ask to be shown what to do and where to go. The answer may come in any form, but it will come, so be alert.

5. Meditate , meditate, meditate

There are many tools to help us move toward Enlightenment, but meditation is a really great one.

I do have a goal for this year to step into my next healing ability because I have the feeling like it is coming, but I only want it if it is highest and best for all, including my soul. I am asking also for what my soul needs to take me to my next step. I surrender to the process because I know I don’t have all the answers.

Technically, what I’ve written about here applies to all abilities and all areas of our focus in life. It applies to anything we become overly attached to. For instance, if we become too focused on making money, or on celebrity, or on power, we also risk getting stuck there and not moving on.

Let’s not make this a Ground Hog Life. Let’s learn the lessons this one offers. Let’s evolve our souls and move on to exciting new things to learn in the next. Or better yet, learn the lessons once and for all and end the cycle of suffering and reincarnation altogether.

Connect with Wendy Joy at www.facebook.com/wendyjoyauthor for answers to questions and FREE Distant Energy on the 9th of each month. Find information on healing sessions and Wendy’s book Clear Channel: A Guide for the Newly Awakening at www.wendyjoy.net.