Every Step: Opportunity

Every Step, Opportunity

We who are studying the Law of Attraction know the formula of success by heart: Ask, Believe, and Receive. In books such as Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, we have learned what is required. We realize that we must know what we desire; believe we can achieve it; and receive it through intuitive-based action. We also realize the achievement of our desire will–almost certainly–require countless steps, many of which will lead us through the dark territory of the unknown. This may seem daunting. However…

As we embark upon the journey toward the achievement of our desire, we are wise to remember this: Each step is an opportunity to grow in faith! Every challenge provides a chance to grow–in courage, perseverance, patience, and strength. On a superficial level, the achievement of our goal may seem of utmost importance. The goal, however, is only a symbol. On a deeper level, it is the evolution of our Being–honed by the challenges we encounter–that actually holds the greatest meaning! From lead to gold, this is the true alchemy–the transformation of our self!

Day after day, step after step, we might also keep this in mind: We cannot lose! Is this foolishness, folly, insane? Do we not know of individuals who–in spite of tremendous effort–have not attained what they desire? The business that failed; a marriage that ended in divorce; a voyage that stalled part way; a supposed cure that did not render health. Yes, such is true. All of us who reach beyond our current circumstances are not guaranteed to arrive. In the grand scheme of life, however, the following holds greater importance: That we tried! No effort is ever lost. Trite? Yes. True? Absolutely!

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

Right…Where I Am

God

This world can feel so strange. We’re born into an environment that seems to compel us to reach. And keep on reaching. As children, we learn the rules early: Kindergarten is meant to lead to Grade One, Grade Two, and so on. We are taught–explicitly and implicitly–that we should strive, reach, become more, and make something of ourselves. And to that end we often sacrifice a greater gift to the false gods of materialism, success, and money. Often, although not always, we pay a steep price for the ignorance of our ways.

Some years ago, the title of this article would have seemed nonsensical to me. I would not have understood. The very concept of being Right…Where I Am would have felt tantamount to capitulation. I would have been a loser. Without a mountain to climb or a vision to make real, I would have felt so very lost. Without purpose, what would have been the sense of living? Being, then–at least to me–was such a nebulous concept, for life was in the dreaming, doing, and achieving. Such misguided thinking seemed to offer only two paths called Success and Failure. And who of us desires to walk the latter? In my ignorance, I spent the first half of my life trying to succeed; only to later discover that I had not lived.

Now, I have a clearer understanding. I realize that Right…Where I Am we may find–if we still ourselves and awaken–that everything is, always was, and always will be just fine. Beyond the machinations of the mind, we may realize–now—that we don’t need to go anywhere, or be someone other than ourselves. Here, in this glorious moment–not the next or the next after that–a greater realization may also dawn: that we are not alone. The One is with us, and has been from the start. One: Omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. One: Beyond time, eternal. One: In our family, friends, and so-called foes. One: In every rock, tree, and butterfly. One: The All in all, including us.

What does Right…Where I Am mean? It means fine–fine with, and fine without. It means accepting of what is, and what is not. It means peace; living from a realm in which we’re not striving to be somewhere else. It means joyously creating, but from a detached and wiser perspective. It means content; dwelling with the Maker of our breath. Lastly, it means that we may rest, for we know that Right…Where I am, God is too. And with that knowing, what more could we truly want? Peace be yours, now and forever.

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

Two Magical Words

Two Magical Words2

The day is up and running…and so are we! Another day, another dollar. There is work to be done, children to make ready for school, bills to be paid, and a list of chores that must be crossed off. Our commute, and thoughts of crowded trains and busy highways, already looms in our consciousness. Deadlines have to be met. Already we can feel the weight of it all, settled squarely upon our shoulders–or worse, our heart. When, when, when will life become easier? When will we have time to rest, to enjoy, to appreciate the beauty of a day?

If this sounds familiar, we are not alone; such is the case for so many people. At times, our happiness and joy can seem an illusion; an oasis that–despite our valiant efforts–remains an ever-distant mirage. In our desperation, we pin our hopes upon two little words: If only. Misguidedly, we attach them to thoughts that we form into beliefs. If only I won the lottery! If only I could retire! If only I had more money! If only I was thinner, better looking, or richer! If only I had that special person in my life! If only I had a different job or lived in a different city! If only, if only, if only…

The truth, however, is that the difference that we’re seeking will never–and can never–be found in the two words mentioned above. Why? Because wherever we go, there we are! In short, we take our attitudes with us. The positive difference we’re seeking may, however, be found in two other words that possess the power to magically transform our life: Thank you. When we make it our habit to praise where we are–right here, right now–we begin an inner transformation that must yield the change that we desire. Such occurs when we concentrate our focus in a positive manner. We may begin the process by reading the following list, and later add to it with thoughts that are more personal:

  • Thank you…for my life.
  • Thank you…for the air in my lungs.
  • Thank you…for my work.
  • Thank you…for my family.
  • Thank you…for my friends.
  • Thank you…for my vision.
  • Thank you…for my home, my apartment, my room.
  • Thank you…for the food on my table.
  • Thank you…for what I’ve learned.
  • Thank you…for this day, this minute, this moment.

The peace and happiness that we’re seeking must come from within. First. To expect the world to fulfill us is folly. Why? Because life expresses from a higher gradient to a lower. The order is thus: Spirit, mental, physical. Water flows downhill, now and always. Inner precedes outer. When we understand the order of life–and live accordingly–we’ll begin to witness the change we desire. Two magical words–thank you–may be all that it takes to begin the transformation. So…shall we begin?

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

Recognizing Who We Are

Recognizing Who We Are

The title of this article may seem silly; perhaps idiotic. Of course we know who we are! Or do we? Are we just a bunch of Jane and John Does, or are we far more than names and other descriptive terms suggest? In the teachings of the Law of Attraction, we are told that we are creators–or more accurately, co-creators. The uninitiated may scoff, for the term seems to be absolute rubbish. Is it?

Think, or at least consider: How do we know any thing? By its traits? Description? By how we perceive it through our five senses? If we think of a leopard, do spots and speed come to mind? If we think of an elephant, do a long swinging trunk and massive body come to mind? If we think of a shark, do gills and razor-sharp teeth come to mind? Of a monkey–long hairy arms and swinging from tree branches? Of an apple–a palm-sized fruit that grows on an apple tree? And if we think of a spider, do multiple legs and cobwebs spring from our memory?

And when we think of us what comes to mind? Do we think of a bipedal creature of two genders, who walks upright, speaks various languages, eats, breaths, sleeps? In the usual course of a day–during the hustle and bustle of a world that can seem to be driving us–do we ever consider that we are creators? The answer: probably not! Who, then, is creating our experience? If we were to imagine a creator, would a creator not require the one trait that we actually possess? That’s right! A creator would have to possess the ability to think–to imagine the visions that only a creator could hold in mind. Just as we recognize a leopard by its spots, and an elephant by its trunk, we may also recognize that we are creators–due to the one defining trait that defines a creator: the ability to think. Now…

With this unique ability comes great responsibility. Why? Because in our waking hours, we are always thinking–sometimes more, sometimes less. All day, every day, we are immersed in thoughts that we either originate or receive. The caution with this ability is this: Positive and constructive thoughts lead to positive results. Negative and destructive thoughts lead to negative results.

When we truly know who we are we may free ourselves from the tyranny that we–through our own ignorance–have placed upon ourselves. We are far more than names; far more than physical description; far more than race and roles: We are co-creators of the universe. Is this blasphemy? Are we claiming that we are God? No, but we are individuated form (human beings) that are created in His image (imagination). We, too, create through our faculty of imagination. What shall we choose to create? If not up to us, who?

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

Monday Morning Blues

Monday Blues News

MONDAY! How appropriate to write it in uppercase letters because it’s a big day of the week, a day that’s dreaded–even hated–by a large percentage of the masses. Why? Because it signals the start of another work week, which for many individuals has come to symbolize paying our dues and putting our nose to the grindstone. We will breath easy, however, after Wednesday–often considered hump day–and then slide our way to Friday, the grandest day of the week by popularity poll. There’s another reason, however, that makes Monday an infamous day of the week.

According to an article published by LiveScience (April 18, 2016), which analyzed data collected from the Center for Disease Control over a fifteen-year period in the United States, deaths due to heart attacks peaked on Monday mornings. Other articles gleaned from the internet confirm this and offer various explanations; the most common relating to an increase in two stress hormones called cortisol and adrenaline. And why would this be? We can prove nothing, but those of us who believe in the Law of Attraction may surmise that the effects are related to the thought of returning to work.

For individuals who desire to create a more positive and empowering life, let’s contemplate what we may be doing to ourselves: Does it really make sense to blame a day of the week for causing us so much stress? If so, we can logically ask ourselves when Monday actually becomes a bad day? Is it just after the stroke of midnight? Is it midway through the night? Or is it after we have wakened, and if so, before or after we shower? Further: How many Mondays are required to wreak the lethal effects? One hundred? Two hundred? A thousand? These few questions–posed tongue in cheek–are intended to cause us to reflect on our role in the link between what we’re thinking and the effects being created in our body.

In the interest of improving our life–perhaps even saving it–let’s consider a few different labels that we could choose to attach to Monday:

  • Glory! I’m alive!
  • Another day to live to the fullest!
  • A chance to serve! What good may I bring to the world?
  • Monday Morning Magic!
  • One seventh of the week–and I’m going to enjoy it!

So what’s the truth? This: Monday becomes a bad day only when we think it a bad day. If left alone, free of any negative beliefs, Monday has no inherent badness to it–not even if surrounded by a thousand black cats, or littered with spilled salt shakers and tempting ladders under which to walk. It is we who make it fair or foul; dreaded or delightful. There’s no logical reason why Monday cannot be every bit as good as Friday. What’s wasted by having negative thoughts about Monday? Based on sixty-one years of an average lifespan of eighty-one, including years after retirement (the effects of negative programming remain even when we’re no longer working), a person would have consciously or subconsciously dreaded approximately 3,172 days. Seems a waste, doesn’t it? What can we do to improve the situation? As always: change our thinking. We might be pleasantly surprised at what Monday–a perfectly good day of the week–has to offer.

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

Alert to Advertising

Alert to Advertising3

Whether we realize it or not, we’re the object of advertising. Every day, it assails us from every angle and avenue–from billboards, through print, via television and the internet. It’s an inescapable part of our life, especially for those of us who live in the developed world. What is it, though? From Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, I offer the following definition:

  • to make something known to: notify.
  • to announce publicly and make generally known.
  • to call public attention to especially by emphasizing desirable qualities so as to arouse a desire to buy or patronize

Why, though, is advertising so predominant? And why are company executives, political parties, and governments willing to spend billions of dollars to get our attention?

For one important reason: They realize that if they get our attention–and place their beliefs into our mind–we’re more likely to behave in ways that benefit them. Without the thought of their vehicles in our mind, automobile manufacturers realize we’re unlikely to show up in their showrooms. Without the thought of their political agenda in our mind, politicians realize they’re unlikely to get our votes. Without the thought of their travel destinations in mind, governments realize we’re unlikely to visit their countries and spend our valuable resources. To have their thoughts in our mind is the goal.

It’s possible, however, to see through the illusion that the advertising world would have us believe. Strong men and women choose to think deliberately, and are far less subject to the whims of others. They realize that the strongest currency they possess is their thinking! By the strength of their inner being, they determine which thoughts and beliefs will be granted entry to their consciousness. They are courageous enough to think what they will; believe what they will; and act how they will. Anything less is reserved for the world of puppetry and invisible strings.

What many individuals may not realize is that we’re advertising to our self in every waking moment of the day. How? Through the thoughts we think and the words we speak. In many cases, our personal advertising campaigns can be ruthless. What a dummy, I am!  I’m worthless, useless, disgusting!  I’ll never be good enough, smart enough, attractive enough! On and on the negative advertising goes; hour after hour and day after day. We also see evidence of our own advertising when we look into a mirror and cast a frown or look of displeasure at the very body that houses our divine spirit! How, though, may we free ourselves from such advertising? By stopping it–now and forever! We must replace it with gratitude and unconditional love toward self.

What points may be taken from this article? That it’s possible–and often in our best interest–to detach from so much of what the world would have us believe. That we are wise to be alert to the thoughts and beliefs we’re advertising to our own mind! That it’s imperative that we consciously choose what we accept as our personal reality. Do we entertain positive thoughts that empower us? Do we think I can more often than we think I can’t? Do we believe that good health, abundant wealth, and great success are within our reach, or destined to only a select few? And lastly, we may ask ourselves this: Who should decide what we allow entry into our mind? Our higher self–our true self! Only. To be governed by anything less, is to remain in bondage.

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

Motorcycling My Way

058

Motorcycling has been a passion of mine for many years. It not only clears my mind but also makes me feel vibrantly alive–attuned to nature and the present moment. For individuals who desire to learn more about deliberate creation, I believe that the way I ride provides a valuable example of the Law of Attraction in action.

About four years ago, a paramedic colleague asked me if I still rode. I replied yes; that I had recently returned from an 18,000-kilometer trip. He then told me that his last call had been to a motorcycle accident involving a fatality. He shook his head and said the odds were against all motorcyclists. Let’s contemplate what my colleague mentioned about motorcycling. Is it not true that motorists driving cars and trucks die in crashes each year? Must they, too, believe their safety comes down to a roll of the dice? Would so many people venture onto the roads if this were the case? The teachings of the Law of Attraction have led me to very different conclusion:

All of us hold certain beliefs, many of which we’ve adopted without careful scrutiny for validity or truth. Some of them work for us, and some against. It’s just the way it is. With regard to motorcycling, my personal–and absolute–belief is that I will always be safe while riding. This belief is unshakable; I feel it at the core of my being. If I believed that safe riding came down to luck, I would not ride. Ever.

To be effective creators, our beliefs and actions must be congruent; in other words, they must align. If we’re thinking in one manner and yet acting in another, it’s impossible to manifest what we desire. Therefore: I check the condition of my motorcycle prior to every ride. Always. I check my lights, turn and brake signals, oil, tires, and horn. This routine actually serves to prepare me, as much as it relates to checking my bike. Further: Every time I set off to ride, I state an affirmation–silently (if surrounded by people) or aloud (if out on the road) that serves me well. Faithfully I say: “I am a safe, skillful, alert, and excellent rider, and my riding skills improve each day.” Do I believe this mantra magically keeps me safe? No. Here, logically, is how it works:

Through my affirmation, I’m deliberately programming my mind for the results (effects) that I desire. I desire to be safe; to be skillful; to be an alert and excellent rider. And every time I repeat my affirmation, I’m sending my clear intention to The Universe. By doing so, I am by no means suggesting that safe riding will occur by chance–I am willing it to be so. I perform my part by riding in a manner congruent with safety, and The Universe (which is always working for me–not against) fulfills Its role by informing me how to achieve the results I intend.

How does The Universe manage this? Subtly, in ways that I can neither plan nor anticipate. I have absolute faith, however, that The Universe will respond according to my deepest intentions. The way manifests spontaneously. I might be riding an expressway when I intuitively realize that I should pull over for a brief rest or a drink of water and a snack. I might also be prompted to shy away from a vehicle, veer to a different road, or check in early at a motel and call it a day. Unfailingly, I follow these instincts.

The point of this article is not to convince anyone to begin motorcycling; it’s to share an example of the way The Universe communicates. Some people may actually hear a voice, detailing action to take. Others may experience an unshakable knowing. Others, yet, may interpret a mystical meaning from a seemingly routine occurrence. Although the manner varies, the method is always of two-way communication. It applies to all of our intentions–all of the time. If we desire better health, we will be guided. If we desire greater wealth, we will be guided. If we desire assistance with a life challenge, we will intuit a solution.

This life is more magical and mysterious than most individuals may realize. Underlying all of it, however, is order, rhythm, balance, and natural laws. The Law of Attraction is just one of them. We may trust, too, that we will not be forsaken. Far from it. In fact, the more we trust The Universe, the more easily we’re going to ride through life.

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