Tale of a Coffee Maker

Tale of a Coffee Maker

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far far away, there lived a wealthy king. He owned many great possessions–castles, prized stallions, and land as far as the eye could see. Of all of his possessions, however, the fairest of all was his coffee maker. For several years, the king’s coffee maker had brewed cup after cup of delicious coffee. It was a source of great merriment for his family and friends. The king happily anticipated his first cup of coffee each and every day.

One morning, however, a pall fell over the servants working in the kitchen. Bernard, the king’s faithful servant, delivered the news: “Dear Sire,” said Bernard, “I have something of great bearing to share with thee.”

“Speak,” said the king. “What have thee to tell me?”

Nervously Bernard shifted before the king. “Thy prized coffee maker, Sire–it has stopped working. A descaler symbol is present. We know not what to do.”

A grave expression fell upon the king’s face. Several moments passed in silence before he spoke. “We shall fix it. Surely there must be a way!”

“I have heard rumour,” said Bernard, “of desclaling tablets that can be added to the water to reverse the build up of lime.”

“Really?” said the king. He scratched his chin as he contemplated the situation. “Then go ye yonder and fetch these descaling tablets and fix the problem!”

“Yes, my Sire,” said Bernard. He bowed, departed, and then mounted the king’s fastest steed. For a full day he rode hard and long, searching the neighbouring kingdoms for the fabled tablets. After great effort–with the steed nearly dead–he located the tablets. They were as gold to him, and he guarded them with his life. When he returned to the castle, he directed his fellow servants to follow the instructions carefully. Accordingly, they added one tablet to a full tank of water and cycled the mixture through the coffee maker. Eagerly Bernard waited. And waited some more. Alas, when the tank of water had run through, the descaling symbol was still present.

The following day, the king summoned Bernard to his great chamber. “How fare thee with my prized coffee maker?”

“Dear Sire,” said Bernard with great trepidation, “I bear news that is not fair. Thy coffee maker still does not work! I fear we shall have to throw it out and get another!”

“Get another coffee maker!” said the king, his voice loud and forceful. “But I don’t want another coffee maker! It is my favourite! I want my coffee maker fixed, for it is the fairest in the land! Fix thee back to the kitchen and attend to the problem!”

“But, but…” stammered Bernard.

“There shall be no buts about it! Fix the problem!”

Bernard departed and after conferring with the other servants they tried again. This time they placed two descaling tablets in the water and ran the solution through the coffee maker. The result was the same: the descaling symbol still remained. A great fear befell the servants for the situation appeared hopeless. The following day, Bernard was again summoned by the king.

“How fare thee?” asked the king.

Bernard’s mournful expression told it all. “I fear, dear Sire, that the problem cannot be fixed.” He shrugged his shoulders and said, “We know not what to do.”

The king directed Bernard to sit before him. “I want you to listen well,” said the king. I have a story to tell you about my good friend Henry Ford, inventor of the automobile.”

Before he could control himself, Bernard spoke out of turn. “But, Sire,” said Bernard, obviously perplexed, “how can that be? Henry Ford is from a future era and cannot possibly be related to this tale.”

The king’s countenance became stern; his voice gruff. “Dost thou pretend to doubt my word?” said the king.

“Nay,” said Bernard, slumping back into his chair. “Continue, please, dear Sire.”

That’s better, said the king. “Well, when my dear friend Henry Ford–who invented the assembly line and automobile–directed his engineers to design and build a V-8 engine that could be fashioned in a single casting, his engineers insisted that it couldn’t be done! They said it was impossible, but Henry decreed that it would be done! Again and again his engineers faced failure, but Henry stood his ground. Ultimately, his belief won out, and as a result his company outsold all of his competitors. I am decreeing no less a task from you. Fix my coffee maker…now! It is because we believe that it can be done that it will be done!”

“Yes, my Sire,” said Bernard. He shrank his way from the king and hastened back to the kitchen.

After much deliberation with the other servants, Bernard decided that this time they would dissolve three descaling tablets in the water. He cycled the solution through the coffee maker and waited desperately, hoping for the best. This was his day to rise and shine–he must! Ten minutes passed. Twenty minutes. Thirty…until the last drop of solution had finally flowed through the king’s prized coffee maker. And…lo?

The descaling symbol had disappeared! The solution had worked! All of the servants rejoiced and there was great merriment in the kitchen. Without delay, Bernard directed a fellow servant to make the king a cup of his favourite coffee. He then took it to the king post haste.

This time it was the king’s look that told it all. He lifted the cup of coffee from the silver tray that Bernard was holding before him. “Ahh,” said the king after his first sip of coffee. “Now, do you see the importance of continuing to believe and try?

“Yes, Sire,” said Bernard. Yes, indeed”

* * *

And of our real dreams–of improved health, greater wealth, better relationships–that add meaning to our days and hold the promise of a greater future? Hold on, hold on, hold on! Their achievement may be much closer than we realize. One more faithful attempt may make all of the difference. So often it does.

Dare to dream.

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2017 – R. Arthur Russell

P.S. To view my ebook entitled Hold That Thought, please press here.

“Thank You” & Note to Publishers

Ride On

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I’ve just returned from a 13, 000-kilometer motorcycle trip in which I visited the west coast of Canada and also a few of the States of America. I was away for thirty-three incredible days. It was a great trip, and I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity to travel in a way that provides both excitement and joy.

My passion for motorcycling struck me when I was a teenager, and despite a period of over twenty years in which I didn’t ride, my passion returned several years ago. How glad I am that it did! Several friends I know also ride, but we have strikingly dissimilar belief systems when the subject of continued riding in future years comes up. Two people I know have even planned the exact age when they will quit riding–stating reasons such as, “Well, you know that your reflexes get slower as you age,” or “you have to be very sharp when you’re riding on two wheels.” I don’t deny that these statements are true; but both negate that safe riding can still be possible, in part due to benefits that we’ve acquired as we age. We’ll look at the subject from a Law of Attraction viewpoint:

The Law of Attraction basically states that what we think about, we bring about. When we apply this to the subject of safe motorcycling, it, thus, means that if we focus upon the day when we will quit–to be safe–we will actually manifest that as a consequence of our thinking. Our mind, when directed in such a manner, will offer ample evidence as proof of why this should be so. My approach is much different.

Yes, the day will undoubtedly come when I will stop riding, but until that day appears I’m going to focus all of my efforts on staying in the saddle. Why not? I’m going to tell myself that such is possible for as long as possible. The point? It’s definitely not solely about riding a motorcycle! It’s about indulging and enjoying all of our interests! Golfing, skiing, running? Travel, adventure, passion? Yes to all and many more of our interests! Isn’t it wiser to let life determine when the time is right to forgo an interest…and trade it in for yet another that can provide us great joy? The details will look after themselves. We need not plan for the day when we figuratively park our motorcycle for the last time or shelve our helmet. In fact doing so, only makes such occur that much sooner!

Why was my trip only 13,000 kilometers long? Simple: Because I started to entertain thoughts (which brought about corresponding actions) that it was time to turn eastward and return to life in Ontario. If I had continued to think about riding in other States–perhaps heading further south–it would have been much longer. This little example applies to so many of our other interests? Why are we not travelling anymore? Because we stopped entertaining the idea that we could or should? Why have we given up on driving, maintaining our own home, or hiking the surrounding parks? Quite often it’s because we stopped thinking that such was possible…long before any physical reason presented that actually inhibited our ability to do so.

In a book entitled In The Flow of Life, the author, Eric Butterworth, tells the account of a businessman named Joseph McDonald, who, despite being eighty years of age, was vibrant, energetic, and doing the same amount of work of employees many years younger. At lunch one day, a young employee politely asked Mr. McDonald his age. Without missing a beat, Joseph replied, “My son, my age is none of my business!” What he was so wisely saying was that his age need not ever be his focus. Must we–should we–squeeze ourselves into the stereotypical definitions of someone who is sixty, seventy, eighty and beyond? No! We can let age take care of itself. It will. In the meantime, isn’t it time to be planning our next trip?

Dare to dream.

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2017 – R. Arthur Russell

P.S. To view my ebook entitled Hold That Thought, please press here.

“Thank You” & Note to Publishers

Calendar Days

Calendar Days2

One of my passions is sharing information about the Law of Attraction. The reason is simple: Because I so strongly believe in the truth of the teachings. Through my articles, published every five days, I hope to empower people to meet the challenges of life and achieve what they desire. Why? Because I believe that empowered people are happier and healthier; and, thus, positively contribute to the creation of a better world.

Regarding the title of this article: It might be easy to assume that every five days–because I’ve committed to that schedule–I just sit at my computer, bang on a few keys, and press Send. That’s not the case. From the minute that I publish an article, I begin to consciously think of my next article: of new angles; of new and meaningful information to share with readers. This conscious effort then prompts the subconscious mind. Initial drafts based on intuitive ideas lead to editing. And more editing. I share this to make a point: To achieve our dreams and goals, we must make them a relaxed but persistent focus. To think of them once every five days–five weeks or five months–is not enough. They must occupy the foreground of our mind, not the background.

This point may be made clearer via a phrase from Thessalonians in the Bible: to pray unceasingly. Many individuals interpret this to mean that we are to get on our knees and beg to a deity. However, from my understanding, the phrase means to concentrate our thinking upon what we desire–not on what we don’t! That could be the house we desire; a new car; improved health and fitness; a different career; travel to a foreign country; a spouse, partner, new friend; or whatever else we deem important in our life.

How may we apply this? Through various means, but all of them basically involve immersing ourselves–in a relaxed way–in whatever we desire. And we are always to imagine our desire from the end result, as though already achieved. An example may help: If we desire a new car? Visit car dealerships and bring home brochures of models that catch our interest. Go for test drives. Speak with people who already own the type of automobile we desire. Attend an Auto Show and sit in various cars. Set a photo of the car we desire as the wallpaper on our computer. Visualize–if only for a few minutes each day–how it feels to sit behind the wheel. Whatever our desire, it will manifest more quickly through our relaxed but persistent focus.

With practice, we will discover methods that feel natural and right. Nothing should be forced; nothing made of life or death importance. A detached and expectant perspective works best, for creation functions with ease, without stress or worry. And here, a positive reminder: As long as we’re giving positive thought to our desire, it’s reality in our life is that much closer.

Dare to dream.

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2017 – R. Arthur Russell

P.S. To view my ebook entitled Hold That Thought, please press here.

“Thank You” & Note to Publishers

Awakening To The “Now”

Awakening to the Now4

There’s a paradox related to the Law of Attraction: From the beginning of our study, we’re told that we must govern our thinking; to choose our thoughts wisely; to concentrate on what we desire to experience, not on what we don’t! The importance of being the watchful guardian of our mind is stressed repeatedly. We’re taught that positive thoughts create positive outcomes; negative thoughts, negative. Intuitively, we realize this is true, for our instincts inform us nothing good can come from entertaining negative thoughts. So, what’s the paradox?

That thinking, the very tool we use to attract the good we seek, can become a hindrance. When used correctly, thinking is undoubtedly one of our greatest gifts. Used incorrectly, however, it can be more a curse than a blessing. Not only is it important to know how to direct our thinking, but also how to get out of it! Contrary to popular belief, we needn’t have endless thoughts and opinions about every aspect of life; nor in our best interests to do so. But how do we enter the transcendent beauty of the present moment?

By directing our attention out of the mind and into a dimension apart from thinking. Eckhart Tolle, a renowned spiritual teacher and author of The Power of Now and A New Earth, advises us to leave the mind’s incessant chatter by focusing our attention into the body. A deep breath may help us enter–then anchor in–the present moment; for the breath is a potent reminder of life that’s happening right now, moment to moment. To exist in a conceptualized realm is not to live. An overactive mind, subject to thoughts that hijack our attention, may render us incapable of truly enjoying the fruits of our labours. What sense in that?

With practice, we may regain our sense of innocence and wonder, as though reborn into the world as a child. We may surrender to life as it is. By doing so, we discover that the good we sought is naturally present, closer than we previously thought. Awakened, we realize that our experiences come vibrantly alive. The difference is not related to the activities themselves, but to the degree of presence we bring to them! That sense of aliveness has been shining there all along, obscured by conceptualization.

Life happens now. Plain. Simple. Real. True. The present moment is all there is. When we think about the past, we do that now. When we think about the future, we do that now. There’s definitely a time to visualize, to dream and mentally reach beyond our current circumstance. However, there’s also a time to enjoy–fully engaged in the aliveness of experience. As always, balance is key.

Dare to dream.

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2017 – R. Arthur Russell

P.S. To view my ebook entitled Hold That Thought, please press here.

“Thank You” & Note to Publishers

Rediscovering True Self

finding-true-self

In my ebook entitled Hold That Thought, I reveal that through my study of the Law of Attraction I unintentionally deepened my spiritual quest. That journey, I’m happy to say, has helped me rediscover more about true self and continues to this day. Why do I share this? Because in reconnecting with true self we also realign with Source, which is the Power through which we may fulfill our dreams. Such is a win-win situation.

Before we discover more about true self, however, let’s examine some of the common definitions of the false self–which most people errantly believe to be their true identity. Think: If asked who we are, do we not first offer our name? After a little contemplation, however, we realize that names are only labels–letters so arranged to form words that refer to people. Asked for a truer definition, we next often reach for titles: doctor, nurse, carpenter, plumber, lawyer, and librarian. Again we realize these terms can’t possibly be who we are; for they are also merely words describing what we do, not who we are. Next we may claim that age, cultural roles, physical description, and nationality are who we are. However, we soon conclude that these terms are as useless as the others. Who, then, are we?

We are spirit (Consciousness) and we may awaken to this truth here and now. Why do we need to know? Because when we know who we are, we also recognize the Source (God) of our Being. We may also think of God as Love; for Source’s nature is to love unconditionally. Forever and ever we may rest in that love. We call and Source answers. If we don’t hear, it’s only that we’re not listening correctly. If this sounds mysterious, or perhaps ludicrous, the use of an analogy may help us more clearly understand.

Think: If we desire to dig a hole, might we have use of a shovel? Yes? And if we went to our garden and prepared to dig, could we actually excavate earth with the word shovel? Would we not be standing empty handed? Could the word actually help us dig the hole? Of course, not! We realize that shovel is merely a word that represents the real item. Would not the same truth apply to us? Do we now understand that the aforementioned terms cannot possibly be our real self? Perplexed at a crossroad of understanding, we may ask how to discover–and know–our true self. The answer: by becoming still. When we quiet the mind (which will naturally rebel), we create a space through which the silent witness may reveal itself. There–in the gap between two thoughts–is our true self. In spiritual circles this self is often described by two words: I AM. This is who we are, the ever-present “I” in which all thoughts, sensations, and sense perceptions arise.

The benefits of reawakening to our true self are many: Work that may have previously seemed liked drudgery will be performed with ease. Anxiety about life will dramatically lessen; for through the recognition of our connection to Source we’ll realize we have nothing to fear. Likewise, the habit of complaining will diminish; and be replaced by a sense of deep and lasting peace. Regarding goals, we’ll be guided by Divine Intelligence; receive inspiration frequently; have faith that our efforts are not in vain. An example may help:

When I first began writing this blog, I literally had no ideas for the articles which have since been published. I knew only that I was passionate about the Law of Attraction, that I desired to share this knowledge to help others, and that I possessed a talent for writing. Nowhere did I have a list of articles. The ideas that inspired me came after I placed my request to receive them. All that remained was for me to apply myself–to jot down titles and ideas as they arrived, turn on my computer, and write the words. Editing, too, was done for me–through me. The good news? That the same creative process holds true for all of our desires–every time.

Rediscovering true self is not about religion. It’s about realizing our essential nature, which brings us home to the Source of our Being. Through Source, we may receive inspiration, move forward positively, and create more effectively. Life will also feel lighter, for the burden of ego can be unbearable. Worth considering? If so, we may quiet our mind and enter the stillness from which all inspiration flows. As we dig a little deeper, the surprising truth of our nature will be revealed.

Dare to dream.

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2017 – R. Arthur Russell

P.S. To view my ebook entitled Hold That Thought, please press here.

“Thank You” & Note to Publishers

The Power of Patience

The Power of Patience2

There are countless books on the Law of Attraction that repeat the same formula: Ask, Believe, and Receive. We know that to ask is to know what we desire. We know that to believe is to have faith that our desires can be fulfilled. We know that to receive we must act in ways that are congruent with our desires. All of this we know. What we may not realize, however, is the power of patience. Although it may seem counter-intuitive–or even ludicrous–to link power and patience in the same sentence, the title of this article holds great truth. Think of this for a few minutes, if you will.

In our fast-paced culture–that routinely demands instant gratification–we’ve grown accustomed to wanting results fast! We want our food fast; a product fast; our travel fast. Advantages have come with this mentality, but we’ve also experienced disadvantages from expecting everything to occur today, if not yesterday. This becomes even more obvious when we examine our attitude regarding the achievement of our goals.

We have become clear about what we desire in life–the new home; our own business; better health; increased wealth;  a wonderful relationship. And with our desire in mind, we begin taking steps toward its achievement. Initially, we may be making great strides. We witness progress on a regular basis. If we’ve started a business, we may have opened a shop and attracted our first customers. If we’ve committed to being an artist, we may have improved our skill and learned how to market our art. However, a time may come when our results stall or take a downturn. It’s at this point of deliberate creation that we need to practice the power of patience. What may we do?

Realize, first, that this time is not wasted. Although trite, the old saying that Rome wasn’t built in a day still holds truth. Our business or work of art will not be completed in a day, either. To expect so is unwise, and may lead to negative thinking that works against us. However, if we maintain the view that we’re gaining every day–even if the results aren’t obvious–we’ll be given the fortitude to achieve our goal. Step by step is the way of our journey toward greatness.

Through an attitude of patience, we become a conduit to inspiration, which–if acted upon–will elevate us to the next level of accomplishment. Solutions arrive because we remain calm and expect them. If we permit impatience to dominate our spirit, however, the channel to inspired thought actually constricts. We may consequently feel distanced from the Universal Intelligence we seek. Fortunately, if we live from a point of wisdom, we realize what’s to be gained by nurturing a positive and patient attitude. Without this, we may be sabotaging the achievement of our desires.

Dare to dream.

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2017 – R. Arthur Russell

P.S. To view my ebook entitled Hold That Thought, please press here.

“Thank You” & Note to Publishers

Be “That” Friend

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The study and deliberate application of the Law of Attraction can take us a long way–from that first faint vision of our heart’s desire to its achievement in the here and now. What was once only imagined–an intangible dream–can be made real through faith and action. A definite method exists; one practiced by wise men and women for countless years. Through this process, we may not only achieve our goals but also awaken to our essential nature.

However, anyone who has reached for a goal will likely tell us this: Along the path of achievement, there will be many unexpected twists and turns. There will be hills to climb and valleys to forge; there will be days that seem darker than the night; there will be times when our doubt is strong and our faith is weak; when we wonder why am I doing this? and why did I even start? It’s at times such as these–when the world seems braced against us, and our dreams beyond our reach–that we may consider ourselves very rich, indeed, if we can call on that friend.

Who is that friend? A soul that wishes us only good health, happiness, and fortune; an individual who wishes to take nothing, but eagerly offers what is most important–meaningful encouragement, honest opinion, and good wishes; a person who goes that extra mile in friendship, kindness, and generosity. Most of us realize the importance of having a mentor in our chosen field–someone who has bravely led the way and achieved what we desire to achieve. However, to have a friend who believes in us and our dreams is equally invaluable. What, though, if we don’t have such a friend?

All is not lost. We may still do something of great importance: We may be that person for someone else! We may give–first–what we wish to receive. We may be an honest and patient friend for an acquaintance, colleague, or so-called stranger. What goals do they desire? And how may we help them achieve them? What trials are they going through? And how–right now–may we help them surmount them? As ye sow, so shall ye reap. We may be that friend. Is it not in everyone’s best interest to be so?

Dare to dream.

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2017 – R. Arthur Russell

P.S. To view my ebook entitled Hold That Thought, please press here.

“Thank You” & Note to Publishers