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Last week, I discussed the box I felt I was living in -- the one with all the rules and conditions. (Some made by me, and some I felt put on me.) This week, I want to share what happened when I started to open the lid and look outside the box.

For a long time, the names I used for God were tied to my religious upbringing -- both as a Catholic, as a child, and then solidified as a young adult in the Protestant Church. They are powerful names, but they also came with a lot of baggage and particular expectations. When I started to question the rules, I also began to question the names. And that's when I found a new kind of freedom.

God actually has many names, according to the Bible (which is a whole other topic I will discuss in a future issue), but I began thinking about God in new ways -- not just in name, but in capacity.

From Concept to Experience: God as Creator and Source

We know from psychology that what we speak and hear becomes real for us. So, I began speaking and naming God and his capacity as Creator and Source. So, God didn't change -- but my understanding and awareness of our connection changed and deepened due to this small shift.

Calling God Creator feels so much more authentic to me. It's not about an old man on a throne judging my every move. I knew this wasn't true, but now I FEEL it. It shifted something inside me and allowed a deeper connection.

Saying Creator now reminds me he's the force that makes the sun rise, the flowers bloom, and the ocean swell. It’s about knowing, experiencing, and acknowledging the artist behind the masterpiece of the universe, and every single one of us.

This perspective reminds me that God isn't just in the church building on Sunday. He IS everywhere. In EVERYONE -- because he CREATED every one of us purposefully. He has created EVERYTHING purposefully.

God is in the breathtaking sunset, the deep belly laugh with a friend, and the quiet moments of peace in my own space. This name has helped me see God in everything, not just in the "holy" places -- or the spaces and communities that are approved as "good" and pleasing to God.

Then there’s the name Source. This feels even more personal. It's the idea that God is the origin point, the wellspring from which all life, love, and goodness flow.

When I think of God as Source, I feel connected to something bigger than myself -- something that is constantly giving and sustaining. It’s a deep, foundational connection that isn't dependent on any of my actions or my beliefs. It just is.

God and the "New Age" Universe

Another word that I have begun using and received pushback, raised eyebrows, and what I perceive as "shunning" in the circles I used to be welcomed is Universe. This word is "too new age" for many. To that I say, "So what?"

"New age" is not bad. Some have labeled it as such in a way that, if I can get really blunt for a second, is total bullshit and has been a control measure to keep "Christians" in line with ONE way of thinking and not allow curiosity and wonder at who Source truly is.

Using the word Universe used to feel a little rebellious, almost wrong. It felt like I was trading God in for something cold and scientific -- or conversely a little too "woo-woo" and "new agey." But what I've learned is that it's just a different way of describing the same expansive, divine reality. Our perception (which most of us have been influenced by institutions) is the only thing "wrong" about it.

It’s a word that contains all of creation -- the cosmos, the stars, the planets, and every single one of us. When I call God the Universe, I'm not shrinking Him; I'm acknowledging that He is truly everything, everywhere.

This feels so much more authentic to me than keeping Him contained in a single tradition or a single word.

Reclaiming "Spirit" and Releasing Fear

When most people use the term "Holy Spirit," it often comes with a specific set of religious connotations and expectations. It can feel tied to dogma, rituals, and a very particular understanding of the divine's role. For many, this phrase is loaded with a sense of being "in the right club" or adhering to a specific doctrine.

When I began to let loose the "holy" and began to embrace the word "Spirit," I got a lot of raised eyebrows -- because it carries a negative connotation in certain circles.

I heard arguments about how I am evoking "evil spirits" by not saying "Holy" beforehand. I was told I was not keeping God in reverence. I was too woke. I was too rebellious. I did not give God the respect that I ought to have. I was using God's name in vain. I was too new age. I was no longer grounded in scripture but swept up in culture and the world. I was rejecting God by not saying the word Holy, before Spirit.

They are right, I am rebellious. I choose to rebel against the fear behind all of these reasons. I realized that using the word Spirit wasn't an act of rebellion or a rejection of the sacred. Instead, it became an invitation to a broader, deeper, and more personal understanding of God's presence.

It became a word that released fear and the powerful catalyst to embrace personal acceptance and worthiness. I do still sometimes say "Holy" Spirit, but I don't let the legalism or fear of not saying it make me feel like I'm being less reverent when I say Spirit.

Spirit feels less like a strict theological term and more like a living, breathing force.

Spirit is the quiet intuition that guides you, the creative energy that inspires you, or the deep sense of peace that settles over you. It expands the idea of the divine from something that exists only in "holy" spaces to a presence that is in the wind, in your heart, and in every living thing.

Choosing to say Spirit does not diminish God's power. (He is the Source of power, right?)

Instead, it's the acknowledgment that the divine is boundless and not limited by human-made words or rules. For many, it is this slight shift that allows the opening of self to experiencing God's presence in a way that feels more authentic, rather than conforming to a label, unrealistic expectations, or a set of rules that no longer resonate.

But what about the name of Jesus?

It’s interesting how when we use different names for the same divine figure, those names can carry different weights for each of us. The name Jesus is the most familiar and most potent for many.

Jesus is a name tied to a historical figure, a teacher, a healer, and a revolutionary. For those of us with a Christian background, this name is deeply personal and often the center of our faith. It's the name we were taught to pray to, to sing about, and to build our lives on. It is a powerful and beautiful name.

But just as with God, using other names for Jesus isn't a sign of disbelief; it's a way of expanding understanding of his essence.

Master or Teacher are names that acknowledge Jesus as a spiritual teacher and guide. Using these words allows his wisdom and teachings to be a blueprint for spiritual development and self-realization, rather than focusing on his role in a specific religious tradition.

Christ Consciousness is a term that I began using and received a wince from Church leaders. Although it's less of a name and more of a concept.

It suggests that Christ is not just a person but a state of being. A way of living. A universal, divine awareness that Jesus embodied perfectly. The idea is that we, too, can awaken to our own Christ Consciousness and live from a place of unconditional love and connection to the divine.

There is a lot here that I am discovering and weighing. There are several conversations within this concept that I may attempt to write about later in the series. I have more questions than answers at this point.

I have used the title, Waymaker, to explain Jesus as a pioneer who walked the perfect path to spiritual enlightenment and shows others how to follow. It emphasizes his role as a spiritual trailblazer who demonstrates what's possible for all of humanity, rather than someone solely to be worshiped from a distance. This one seems more accepted with the addition of certain songs with this title -- but "worship music" is a whole OTHER conversation. *eye roll*

The last name I have referred to Jesus as, which has been interesting to see negative reactions to, is The Beloved. Jesus is a deeply personal and loving presence. Using this name helps me speak how an intimate, heart-centered relationship with him transcends theological rules. It's seeing him as a source of pure, unconditional love that is accessible to everyone.

Choosing Expansive Faith

Choosing to use a different vernacular has been an act of trusting my own connection and allowing my faith to be as expansive and free as the very Spirit I continue to seek to know and experience.

Thinking of God in these new ways has completely expanded my understanding and experience of Him. Instead of keeping God in a box, these names have allowed me to experience a God who is truly boundless, everywhere, and a part of everything.

It's God in me and all around me. It's a feeling of being a part of the whole, rather than an isolated follower trying to do everything right. Or part of a group of people who all believe the same thing the same way and you only belong if you believe the same way, too.

I have always been someone who believes in unity and not uniformity. This is one of the ways I choose to rebel against perception, which, if you remember from prior issues of my newsletter, is a wounding I am working to heal.

I hope you hear my heart and see this is about moving from a God I had to understand with my mind to a God I could experience with my whole being. And what a relief that has been.

Next week, I'll share how this new perspective has impacted my relationship with community.

This week, I invite you to consider your own language around faith. What words do you use for God, and what feelings do they evoke? Do they feel expansive and freeing, or do they feel like they’re keeping you in a box?

I’d love for you to hit reply and share one name or idea that feels most authentic to you right now, and why.

Ready to Forge Your Own Path?

If you yearn to make choices that truly align with your deepest values (or maybe you are looking for how to identify your true values), I invite you to schedule a free clarity call with me. We can explore how embracing your own boldness can empower you to live more authentically and transform your relationship with others, God, and yourself.

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Bold Challenge Questions

What words or phrases about God feel like a cage for you? What would it feel like to release them and explore a new way of speaking about the divine?

When have you felt shamed or dismissed for having a question about your faith? What was the fear behind that reaction, and how can you move past it to trust your own intuition?

Where in your life are you still operating from a place of uniformity rather than unity? How can you begin to rebel against the need to fit in and find a community where you can be fully yourself?

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Craving More Challenge?

Subscribe to my YouTube channel and dare to watch the last two seasons of "Boldly Driven Conversations with Bri" episode(s). Season 3 begins THIS WEEK! Watch for the new trailer and intro video! Until then, make sure to go back and watch all the episodes you've missed!

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Helpful Resources for your Personal Growth Journey!

​Emotional Health Digital Products found on my website​

​Emotional Healing journals on Amazon​

Your favorite, most radiant self is waiting for you to discover just how amazing you are!

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Brianna L. George

Boldly live out loud as your authentic self.💋

​BriannaLGeorge.com​

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