Anyone who is familiar with the teachings of the Law of Attraction will also be familiar with affirmations. To affirm is to declare–beforehand–that what we desire is already manifest…NOW. The stipulation of “now” is important; for if we affirm that our desire “will be” achieved at some point other than now, our desire “will remain” lost in a fictional future. All there is, is now. Go ahead, try to experience the future–perhaps next Thursday. When next Thursday appears, it will be lived now. To the majority of persons, this point about affirmations may seem ludicrous; but what’s truly ridiculous is to leave the quality of our life up to chance. Every professional athlete knows the value of visualization and positive affirmations; for what we impress upon the mind–whether favorable or unfavorable–will eventually be expressed. In golfing terms “you don’t sink the putt by believing that you’re going to miss it.” The heart (subconscious) wins every time; for “as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
The title of this article refers to an affirmation that I used for many years. Over and over I would think it and feel is as deeply as possible; unaware that I was using it…incorrectly. Here what I was mentally saying: “What ‘I’ can conceive and believe, ‘I’ can achieve.” Does it seem bad? Faulty? Wrong? I mean, it’s good to believe in our abilities, right? Anyone with a deeper understanding of the teachings from Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill will recognize my error immediately. The Universe functions according to spiritual laws which are based in Truth; and our misuse of those laws will not reverse them, no matter how good our intentions.
Now, here’s the actual affirmation: “What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” Does the difference seem remarkable? I hope so, because the point is important. In the first example, “I” was claiming to be the doer of what is achieved in “my” life. This is erroneous. “I” am not–and cannot be–the doer of what occurs in my life. I realize that it certainly appears that way; but that’s not founded in Truth. It is true that I “think” my desires, but it is Mind that creates the apparent reality of them. To support this, I offer a quote from Paramahansa Yogonanda in his book entitled The Law of Success: “Mind is the creator of everything.” The Bible states the same message in Acts 17:28: “For in him we live, and move, and have our being.” Through my ignorance of my essential nature, I didn’t realize that I was neither the body nor the mind. Our true nature is Spirit, or Awareness. What occurs as “daily life” is actually occurring in what is referred to as the waking state.
Contrary to popular misconception, consciousness does not arise from biological processes. It is also not personal; despite the claims of our ego, which will protest otherwise. Only Consciousness is conscious. Researchers have been studying the subject for many years and have been unable as yet to find the location of consciousness within the body. They never will. Consciousness comes first. It’s What we are. To learn more about the use of affirmations, you might enjoy this presentation by Jessica Connor at Your Youniverse on Youtube.
Dare to dream (and care for one another).
With heartfelt regards,
Art
Copyright © – 2020–R. Arthur Russell
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. 🙏🙏
Think2wice 