Murphy’s “Law”

Most of us are likely familiar with an adage known as “Murphy’s Law.” The premise behind it is stated as follows: “If anything can go wrong, it will.” Many persons believe that it’s fundamentally true; they may, in fact, cite proof of the law in their daily lives. They’re not surprised to find the wrongness that they’re unwittingly seeking. Let’s examine Murphy’s Law and the Law of Attraction more closely through a day in the life of John:

Monday: It’s a day like any other, at least for John. On the weekend, he noticed an advertisement for a 50% sale at a clothing store that sells his favourite shirts. The store is almost an hour’s drive from his home, but John plans to purchase three or four shirts to make the drive worth his while. His drive, even with Monday traffic, goes smoothly and he arrives late morning. He easily finds the shirt section, but he becomes frustrated when he can’t find the size he desires. He asks a clerk if there are more shirts in the stock room, but she replies, “All that we have are on display.” Without a moment’s hesitation, John thinks, “Hah! Murphy’s Law at work! And after I made a special trip!” On John’s return drive, on a side road about a kilometer from his home, he get’s a flat tire. He eases his car onto the shoulder and prepares to change the flat. When he checks the trunk, however, he discovers that his spare tire is also flat. “Humph! Murphy’s Law, again!” To John, the experience feels so familiar: He expects situations to go wrong…and they do!

What John doesn’t realize is that the apparent validity of Murphy’s Law is dependent on his point of view! Without John, and his habit of negatively labeling experiences, the presence or absence of shirts has no meaning whatsoever! Further, if he hadn’t allowed his frustration to get the better of him, he might have asked the clerk if she knew of other stores, which in this case actually did have shirts left in stock. As for the flat tire, John is lying to himself if he blames it on Murphy’s Law. He has known for weeks that his car’s balding tires needed to be replaced. It’s also worth noting that if the flat tire had occurred on the busier main roads, he would have been at even greater risk of being injured. The fact that the flat tire occurred on a side road could actually be viewed as life going right!

So what may we learn from this fictional account? That Murphy’s So-Called Law could only influence John’s life through his belief in it! According to the law of Attraction, beliefs that are habitually held in mind will be expressed as apparent “reality.” In place of Murphy’s Law–which is actually nothing more than a negative affirmation–we may choose beliefs that serve our greatest good! The following is a sampling of useful affirmations to help us deliberately create positive outcomes:

All of life serves my greatest good!
I act with courage and confidence!
I am stronger than any challenge!
Success is my birthright!
I can because I think I can!

We may learn many truths in our study of the Law of Attraction; one of the greatest being this: Life doesn’t contain end points. How could it? Life is ever changing. Nothing rests. Everything is always in motion. Steps are merely stepping stones to more steps. Had John realized that Murphy’s Law was up to him, he could have chosen to change his mind, move forward in faith (belief), and thereby create a very different outcome. Such is worth remembering the next time we’re tempted to believe in Murphy’s Law or the power of a black cat.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

P.S. Please share this article if you enjoyed it. If you’d like to view my latest book (This Taste of Flesh and Bones), press here. My YouTube videos can be found at Think2wice@I-Am-Aware. May the content of either or both help you along your spiritual journey. “Thank You” & “Note to Publishers” 🙏🏻🧡

The Lions’ Den

I doubt if any of us–given the choice of entering a lions’ den of our own volition–would willingly open the gate and stride bravely toward lions pacing back and forth. Such action, we realize, would not be in our best interests. Fortunately, our instincts prevent us from making such a grave error. We know to keep the gate closed and leave those lions alone. Now…if only we were always so wise with our mind:

Think of it. We know that no good may come of it, but time after time we figuratively enter a den no less dangerous than the one mentioned above. It is a den of the mind. Even when we should know better, we often carelessly throw our happiness–even health–to the lions by dwelling on thoughts which cannot–ever–yield anything but suffering. And yet we do it. The lions I’m referring to go by many names: Remorse, Regret, Anger, Aggression, Hatred, Jealousy, Envy, Pride, Greed, Shame, Malevolence. If given the opportunity, these lions not only ravage our present-moment joy but also devour the promise of our future happiness. Such is the lurking threat of those nature of lions.

And how do we open the gate? By giving energy to thoughts which are otherwise powerless. Until we give them focus–perhaps by dwelling on a past regret; or worrying about a future outcome–such thoughts pose little or not threat. When we step into their den, however, we leave ourselves vulnerable to their corresponding effects.

Doubt that our thoughts actually create any real outcomes? If so, we might ask ourselves why corporations spend millions of dollars to advertise. Executives of such corporations realize that if they can attract our attention (and thereby place thoughts in our mind) we’ll be more likely to purchase their products and services. Think: Is not everything from food to clothing, furniture to houses, cars to vacations, so advertised to appeal to our senses? Is there not the promise–either implicit or explicit–that through such a purchase we will benefit immensely? And in politics, is not the same process applied to persuade us to vote for this or that party? If the intention is not to make us think in a certain manner…then why?

We may learn many lessons through our study of the Law of Attraction. One of the most valuable relates to focus. Great minds know the importance of consciously directing their mind. They realize that thoughts that are habitually placed in the mind will ultimately come to pass. Knowing that, they exercise great discretion in their thought processes. In short: They know how to think–deliberately!

Fortunately for us, there’s a world of positive thoughts at our disposal: Love, Joy, Kindness, Compassion, Courage, Empathy, Enthusiasm, Inspiration, Hope, Gratitude, Health, and Generosity…to name but a few. Each, when given focus–and acted upon–will yield corresponding results in our lives. Would we not be wiser to direct our attention to them the next time we’re tempted to enter the Lions’ Den?

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

P.S. Please share this article if you enjoyed it. If you’d like to view my latest book (This Taste of Flesh and Bones–released September 8, 2020), press here. May it help you in your spiritual journey. 🙏🙏

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

A Change of Attitude

My point in spreading the word about our true Self and the Law of Attraction is to help improve the quality of our lives. This isn’t something that can be done for someone else; as the process is unique for every individual. It involves personal transformation, which–by its very nature–must occur from within. Such change begins with the very thoughts we habitually entertain. While this may seem like hard work, it’s actually good news; for it means that we, not an external force, may govern the quality of our lives. There’s even better news: Such change does not require years; it can occur within minutes.

How can we improve the quality of our lives? Through a change in consciousness. When we change the way we think, we literally changes our lives. For many people, the greatest obstacle in creating a better life is their attachment to negative thought patterns related to painful memories, or deep emotional scars. Their interior dialogue might play similar to this: She did this to me, and I’m never going to forget it! He cheated me in business, and now I’m going to get even by hating him forever! They’ll rue the day they ever messed with me! Such thoughts, unless deliberately changed and reframed, may repeat for a lifetime.

Buddha, who was no slouch in the wisdom department, expressed this so well through the following teaching: Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. Please contemplate this logically with me for a few moments. Does holding anger benefit us in any way? Is any part of our body, mind, or spirit immune to the negative effects of anger, hatred, or revenge? But what, we may ask, is the alternative?

The answer: To change the way we think! And who benefits? All of us. When we figuratively drop the hot coal we’ve been holding the inner transformation begins immediately. Our mind knows, our body knows, and most of all our soul knows. We may drop the hot coal about the person who lied to us; drop the hot coal about the driver who cuts us off in traffic; drop the hot coal about a duplicitous business partner. By doing so, we create a space for the solution, which is love–for ourselves, for others, for all. There’s nothing to be lost, and everything to be gained. Through this practice, we become active, and conscious, participants in creating a better life.

An old expression offers additional wisdom: It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. The logic: Darkness doesn’t disappear by focusing on darkness. Pain doesn’t disappear by focusing on pain. Wrong doesn’t disappear by focusing on wrong. Anger doesn’t disappear by focusing on anger. Our wisest action is to light a candle, which really means to turn away from darkness (our negative emotions) and engage the power of love. It’s in us to give. And when we do, we create the the good life…together.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Edison: Remember This

Thomas A. Edison is attributed with the following quote: When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this–you haven’t. Please contemplate those words with me for a few moments; let them seep deep into your being. In ten words, Edison gave us a great inspirational gift. Let’s take a closer look at how they apply to the Law of Attraction and our lives.

Anyone who studies the Law of Attraction learns this: Our outer circumstances are a reflection of our inner state. If we think that we have lost, then we have lost. Conversely, if we clearly envision our desires as achieved, and work with courage and conviction, they will manifest in our reality. Edison’s quote holds the potential to make a great difference in our lives if only we will apply it.

How could this quote make such positive a difference? Think of it: Imagine that we have started a new business. We have rented a store, filled it with merchandise, and hired three employees. At first, business is brisk; customers are visiting on a regular basis and purchasing our wares. In a few months, however, we examine our overall sales and realize that business is falling offf. We begin to wonder if we will have to lay off one of our employees. Niggling doubts about meeting our bills creep into our mind. To combat the situation, we begin to advertise in new ways. We begin Bargain Day Promotions, hoping to attract more customers. The situation seems dire.

At this point, the quote from Edison may serve us well. When we realize that we’re only at the end of our possibilities if we believe that we are, such may inspire us to reach deeper into our creative capabilities. A solution may be much closer than we realized. It will never be realized, however, if we allow the thought of defeat to sabotage our efforts!

Our inner conviction determines our outer results.

It we apply the wisdom of the quote, it can positively affect every aspect of our lives. Through it, we may be guided to new possibilities, new ways of thinking, and new solutions! We might remember, too, that the brave new world we seek will only be as brave as we are! We determine whether we’re defeated or victorious. And knowing that makes all the difference.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Deliberate Living

Frank is having a difficult day. He realizes it immediately upon waking, after tossing and turning all night. He feels physically and emotionally drained. Within a few minutes, his day gets worse when he steps under the shower before noticing that he’s out of soap. Later, at work, he bumps into Jim and Elaine and immediately feels poor when they share details of their recent trip to Fiji. He knows that his trips to Cuba the previous winter pales by comparison. The icing on Frank’s Day occurs when he notices women in the office flirting with Doug, a new employee, who’s young, athletic, and handsome. By his own definition, Frank is old, overweight, and out of shape. Why, Frank asks himself, must life be such a struggle?

What Frank doesn’t realize is that life isn’t out to get him. Life doesn’t have an agenda to bless some and curse others. It’s an impartial force, operating impersonally. Unbeknownst to Frank, his biggest problem is that he’s unaware that the quality of his life is directly related to the nature of his thoughts about his life. On the day that Frank knows with absolute certainty that his life is terrible, the following is happening outside of his awareness:

When Frank was getting out of bed, a man named George, aged sixty-seven, is waking on a city sidewalk grate, after spending the night shivering in the only clothes he owns. While Frank was muttering about a missing bar of soap, a young African girl named Nale, who has never experienced the luxury of a shower, is desperately missing her mother, who died of AIDS the previous day. Regarding Frank’s trip to Cuba, he’s unaware that the average Cuban earns approximately $25.00 per month. And while Frank was belittling his physique, a man named Richard, who’s been in a wheelchair since a car accident, still dreams of the mobility that Frank takes for granted.

The point of relating such different lives isn’t to make us feel better by contemplating the plight of others. I’ve employed contrast to help awaken us to a new way of thinking about our own lives; to experience the immediate benefits that occur when we govern our attitude. In doing so, we become masters in the art of living. Such is not reserved for a privileged few, and we don’t have to trek to a mountaintop to attain our degree. If we’re willing to welcome our own evolution, via lessons in the trenches of life, every down will yield an up; every detour will lead to a more meaningful destination.

There are tremendous benefits when we “stay in the is-ness of life.” Stress, anxiety, and discomfort arise when we resist life; which is just another way of saying “I want life to be other than it is.” Resistance robs us of the inherent beauty in the present moment. A wiser approach is to align, here and now, with the flow of life. When we do, we’re enabled to experience peace without demanding that life change to suit our needs.

Accepting life in the present moment doesn’t mean foregoing our dreams. In fact, when we’re at peace we become an open conduit to intuitive nudges that will help us fulfill them! Once we truly know what we desire, our task is to remain strong in our faith that the way will be revealed. For those who question whether this can actually help us create a better life, my suggestion is to “try it, and see for yourself.” The process of attracting what we desire begins…in the time it takes to change our thoughts.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Think2wice

CONSCIOUSNESS, SPIRITUALITY, & LAW OF ATTRACTION

Month: October 2016

Murphy’s “Law”

The Lions’ Den

A Change of Attitude

Edison: Remember This

Deliberate Living

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