There are times when life feels like a never-ending juggling act—just when I think I’ve got it all under control, something else pops up. And it’s not just the personal stuff; the world itself seems like a whirlwind of political maneuvering, economic uncertainty, and constant upheaval. It’s exhausting! I kept wondering, “Is there a way to step off this roller coaster and actually feel calm?” That’s when I started applying Samuel’s teachings about Divine Neutrality—and everything began to change.
Divine Neutrality isn’t about detaching from life or pretending everything is perfect. Instead, Samuel teaches that it’s a shift in how we see and respond not only to life’s ups and downs but it’s especially about how we respond to life generally. It’s about keeping steady instead of getting swept away by the drama. I’ve learned to step back, take a breath, and find balance—even when everything around me feels like it’s spinning out of control. It’s like stepping out of a noisy crowd to a peaceful balcony where I can finally see the bigger picture.
What Is Divine Neutrality?
Samuel teaches that Divine Neutrality is a practice of staying centered and grounded no matter what’s happening around us. I’m learning to observe situations without reacting impulsively and instead responding from a place of love, grace, and clarity instead of fear or frustration. I like to think of it as becoming the calm eye in the middle of life’s storms.
Samuel often describes Divine Neutrality as “stepping back to observe life from the top of the mountain.” I find that a helpful metaphor. From the top of the mountain, I can see the entire landscape—my life, my choices, the paths ahead—and everything becomes a little clearer. It’s not about ignoring the messiness and issues of life; it’s about seeing them from a higher perspective in order to respond more wisely.
How I’ve Learned to Embody Divine Neutrality
This hasn’t been an overnight transformation for me—I’m still learning and practicing every day, sometimes more successfully than others. But here are a few key lessons I’ve picked up along the way:
- Observation without Judgment—I’ve started treating my emotional reactions as an experiment, like Samuel suggests. For example, when I find myself getting frustrated (whether it’s because someone cut me off in traffic or because of something I learn from the news), I stop and ask myself, “What’s really going on here? Why is this upsetting to me?” That pause helps me see my emotions without letting them take over—and often, that’s all I need to shift my perspective.
- Life is a Mirror—This teaching from Samuel is taking some time to fully wrap my head around: the idea that what I see in the world is a reflection of what’s happening inside me. Samuel says that when things feel chaotic, it’s worth asking, “Where am I feeling chaotic in my life (including my emotions and thoughts)?” Looking inward isn’t always easy, but when I do, I’ve noticed my outer world shifts, too.
- Choosing Love Over Fear—I’ve realized how often my reactions come from fear—fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of uncertainty, or even fear of what this or that government action will mean for the country/world. But, just as Samuel says will happen, when I consciously choose to respond with love instead, everything changes. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it. Whether it’s choosing understanding over frustration or trust over doubt, responding with love shifts everything.
- Letting Go of Control—I’ll admit, I like to have a plan, and I like things to go my way. Letting go of control doesn’t come naturally to me. But I’ve learned that when I stop trying to micromanage every detail and trust the process, things often work out better than I could have imagined and better than if things had gone totally the way I had planned.
Practical Steps Toward Divine Neutrality
I know this all sounds a little abstract, so I want to share some practical steps I learned from Samuel that have helped me bring Divine Neutrality into my daily life:
- Pause and Reflect—When something triggers me, I take a moment to pause and breathe. That simple act of stopping helps me respond thoughtfully instead of reacting on autopilot.
- Gratitude is a Game-Changer—I started keeping a gratitude journal a while ago, and it’s completely shifted my mindset. Writing down a few things I’m thankful for every day retrains my mind to focus on the good, even when life feels challenging. Now, I even challenge myself to find gratitude in the things that trigger me—and that’s been a real game-changer.
- Avoid the Drama—Not every battle is mine to fight—in fact few are. Learning to step away from unnecessary drama has been very freeing for me.
- Surround Yourself with Love—Whether it’s spending time with supportive friends or simply practicing self- love, I’ve found that surrounding myself with positive energy makes a huge difference. That’s where the gift of Samuel’s community truly shines in my life. I’m reminded and supported by that community especially if I’m able to make it to one of the Daily Focus meetings that Samuel recommends.
- Trust the Bigger Picture—This one is also a work in progress for me. But I find so much peace in trusting that there’s a greater plan unfolding—even when I have to acknowledge that I don’t understand it in the moment.
The Power of Divine Neutrality
As I’ve practiced Divine Neutrality, I’ve noticed something amazing: it doesn’t just change how I feel—it changes how I show up in the world. When I’m centered, I make clearer decisions, support others more effectively, and align more fully with my highest self. That doesn’t mean I never get caught up in the chaos, but those moments are fewer, and returning to neutrality brings peace that’s worth every bit of effort.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by life’s chaos, I encourage you to give Divine Neutrality a try. Samuel emphasizes that it’s not about perfection—it’s about balance, responding with love, and stepping into the calm center of your own storm. And if I can do it, so can you.
We’d love to hear your thoughts—have you tried practicing Divine Neutrality in your own life? Feel free to comment or share your experiences in the comment section below.
Thank you, Frank, for this thoughtful piece. I think nothing is more important right now than being able to maintain Divine Neutrality, especially in this country’s political landscape at the moment. I find that staying away from the news, except for scanning the headlines, is the greatest gift for maintaining Divine Neutrality. Recently, someone tried to have me listen to a recording of the Oval Office meeting between Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy. Before I could stop them, I could feel the muscles in my stomach tightening and wave of nausea passing through me. It reminded me how easily my emotions can be provoked in an unhealthy way, and how vigilant I need to be to–as one of my sons recently reminded me–stay in my own lane! For me, the need to have a sense of control can keep me out of Divine Neutrality, but by reminding myself that the only thing I can control are my responses helps. It’s a constant balancing act but the more I do it, the better I get at it.
Often, I wonder if my lack of reactivity towards some forms of drama reflects an attitude of Divine Neutrality or an absence of — for the lack of a better word, caring. One of my children’s ‘glass’ is perpetually half empty. In the past I would try to offer a more loving, positive thought to no avail. I’ve gotten so used to just accepting his comments as a reflection of his worldview that this response seems to be infiltrating most issues that come my way. This worries me. I can’t imagine this attitude reflects Divine Neutrality.
My sense of compassion seems healthy, and when I listen to the news this attitude doesn’t apply; nevertheless, is just accepting people’s comments for what they are Divine Neutrality?
Samuel’s concept of Divine Neutrality has been my most successful way of dealing with what is happening in the world. Absolutely stepping back, looking at the big picture, is so important. Essentially all of us who follow Samuel are empaths, especially hurt by drama generated by chaos. It happened to me this past week, awakening in the middle of the night due to anger from someone I had considered a friend because of their interpretation of my health stance as being political. Divine neutrality helped me respond in a positive way; while the friendship is likely broken, it reminded me of what the Buddha said in a story when someone was progressively angry and vulgar with him – “You don’t have to accept a gift someone is trying to give you” i.e. you don’t have to accept a “gift” of anger. Stepping back to me is a reminder that EVERY THING is a lesson, a learning experience, that takes us further on our pathway of. being 5th density. ALL is good in the long run; it is just that many are early on their path of enlightenment. Overall, and progressively so, my life is much more peaceful thanks to understanding and utilizing DIVINE NEUTRALITY.. Thanks Frank