Say What?

Say What3

As students of the Law of Attraction, we’ve most likely heard it before. And the news is, we’re going to hear it again! What’s that? I’m going to repeat what Louise Hay, famous teacher, author, and founder of Hay House Publishing has stated: It’s as if the Universe is hearing everything you think, feel, and say. What’s the importance of this information, and how may we put it to good use?

Let’s consider what we already understand about the Law of Attraction: We know–at least conceptually–that the Universe reflects (like a mirror) our habitual thoughts. Depending on our state of mind, this will seem either good or bad; for this places the responsibility for our life directly with us. We also understand that Source neither punishes nor rewards. In fact, Source (God, Divine Intelligence, The Great Architect) functions impartially. We understand our higher self (not the ego), possesses free will through the thoughts we think and the choices we make.

While this may seem difficult to believe, it’s actually good news, at least if we apply the knowledge wisely. By aligning ourselves with Source, we may rise above our current circumstances and actualize more of our desires. Better health, increased wealth, greater success, and more fulfilling relationships may be ours! Action, too, is required, but we will be guided. Our task–now and forever–is to aware of what we are saying to the Universe.

At first, the task of knowing what’s going on in our mind may seem daunting; however, with practice this becomes much easier. We learn to pay attention, not only to the repetitive and aimless thoughts, but also to our feelings. If we’re not feeling good, we may conclude that we’ve been thinking negative or fearful thoughts. As we become more aware, we also evolve in our speech patterns. We realize that words–like the thoughts behind them–are creative in nature, and manifest according to their literal meaning. Through watching our words, we unearth hidden (subconscious) beliefs. On occasion, we may catch our self utter a statement that clearly implies poverty, lack, or a belief that we’re undeserving of the very best life has to offer.

The point to realize is that our thoughts, feelings, and words, are saying something. Not only to us, but to The Universe. All three imply, tell, inform, and attract! Our task is to pay attention. We may align with positive thoughts at any moment–the choice is ours. It’s all good. We’re up to the task–we really are. And when we change within, we’re going to experience change without.

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 Wrongness of David’s Life

The Wrongness of David's Life3

Before David has even raised his head off of the pillow, the torture begins again: This is wrong, and that is wrong. He tosses himself into a sitting position on the side of the bed, and a minute later something else appears wrong. His life isn’t the way it should be–he knows it! His mind tells him so. He goes to the washroom, and as he prepares for work more negative thoughts enter his mind. His life is full of wrongness. It’s just the way David’s life is…or so he thinks.

What David doesn’t realize is that life has nothing against him. In fact, it’s on his side. The evidence is all about him, if he’d only stop, pay attention, and see clearly. His heart beats, circulating blood, without any effort on his part. His lungs expand and contract beautifully, without any prompting from him. His digestion, too, especially when he’s not stewing about the sad state of the world, functions perfectly. All occurs with neither his consent nor participation. Still, however, David thinks that his life is wrong. His mind incessantly informs him of the seemingly-so fact.

How David would love to have a better life. He’s read many of the self improvement books. If he does this, he will be happy. If he rearranges his life that way, he will be happier still. Such-And-Such expert advises to do this; So-And-So psychologist concurs. For years, David has been studying personal transformation–how to become one of those blessed people who just fall into good luck. He desperately hopes that another night course, another book, or another counsellor may offer relief.

Here’s the truth: There’s nothing wrong with David’s life beyond his mind’s compulsive habit of labeling it wrong! If his life were left alone, free of the continuous negative rattling of his mind, there would only be isness. His job, his divorce, his finances, and his state of health are not wrong. All are only isness–empty except for the meaning that he, himself, gives them. Only in David’s mind does such become a problem. The joy he seeks is so very close. If only he knew.

David has no clue that his suffering is self imposed. Life isn’t doing it to him; his ego (the conceptual self) is the cause. David has lost touch with the awareness (so natural in children) that exists prior to mind. For David to heal, a break from the compulsive chatter of his mind must occur. The problem is he thinks that thinking can offer a solution–when, in fact, it is the I-Thought that actually is the problem! As a wise person once said, it’s like trying to remove blood with a bloody rag.

The solution? Stillness, first of body and then of mind. If David can catch a glimpse of life beyond the realm of thinking, the clear and luminous essence of his true self will have a chance to shine through and be recognized. As advised in spiritual teachings, he would also be wise to pose this question: Who am I? Such can stop the mind in its tracks and lead to great revelation. Do we–as in David’s case–desire a healthier, happier life? Do we yearn to break free from the destructive side of thinking? Do we desire to reconnect with our true self, and create from a state of innate peace and joy? If so, now is the perfect opportunity to still our mind and ask the question. The answer may surprise.

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

Rest in Peace

Rest in Peace

Freeman, Edward

Edward (“Eddie”) Freeman, thirty, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, July 4th, surrounded by his loving family. Beloved husband of Janet, proud father of Jane and Kirk, he was predeceased by his father, John, and is survived by his mother, Mary. Family and friends will forever remember him as a kind, generous, and loving man. Following a private service at Bolton’s Funeral Home, his body will be laid to rest at Pleasant Valley Cemetery. Donations may be made in his memory to The Recovery Center at Forge Memorial Hospital.

* * *

This article is about nothing. That’s right, nothing. Our focus will not be the doing of anything. We’re going to stop striving; stop achieving; stop wanting; stop needing; stop demanding; stop complaining; stop criticizing; and stop trying to make life anything other than it is…this very moment. Today, we will not be envisioning anywhere other than here and now; and we will not be chasing dreams of money, mansions, or gold.

Right now–this very minute–we’re going to drop all our tasks, all our doing, all our errands that we have deemed so important! We’re going to stop–if only briefly–our absurd and compulsive fascination with seeking. For once, enough will be enough. Our only intention will be to meet life on its terms, to be attentively aware, to embrace the glory contained in each moment. In still silence, we will celebrate our breath; the beat of our heart; the love of family and friends. With a reverent glance toward the sky, we’ll knowingly admit that–like the drifting clouds–we, too, will one day pass. Such need not seem a loss, for the realization gives meaning to our days.

Today, however, we live! All of time’s sweet fruit is ripe…here and now. We will honour this day, this hour, this moment. To do so is simple. We need not beg for it; we need not plan for it; we need not alter it in any way. Nothing needs to be added or subtracted; nor multiplied or divided. We have only to let the sum total touch and warm our heart. It is perfect…as it is. What a joy to rest from our striving for more…more…more. Awakened, we may live the vibrant fullness of each moment. Eddie would be proud.

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

Trusting The Universe

trusting-the-universe

For many individuals new to the teachings of the Law of Attraction, this article–in fact the title itself–may seem too bizarre to be taken seriously. For them, expressions such as The Universe may reek of malarkey and a side of life they don’t wish to explore; perhaps because they think it’s occupied by fools. To believe so, however, deprives us greatly–of our intuitive connection to the Oneness of All. Let’s journey through a logical approach to discovering that–which although unseen–may be known and trusted to have our best interests at heart.

Before we journey onward, we must clarify what is meant by the expression The Universe. In short: God. That’s a heavy word, isn’t it? For many individuals, the term God is laden with troubling and unbelievable concepts. Visions of a personified figure–perhaps Mosses-like–who rules judgmentally and blesses some of his children, yet curses others, may come to mind. This conception–at least as it applies to teachings of the Law of Attraction–is false. In the teachings, The Universe, or Divine Intelligence, is known as life essence that is omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent. The last three terms, which may be unfamiliar to some, mean totally present, totally knowing, and totally powerful. We may summarize this in three short words: ALL in all. It is ALL (The Highest) in all (everything and everyone that rises from and through it). The converse–all in ALL–is also true.

We may grasp a more thorough understanding of The Universe–and come to know and trust it implicitly–by examining a few of the miracles around us. Think: Do we know how to grow a blade of grass? Just one? Do we? Or does this occur naturally, via the power and intelligence of The Universe?  Do we know how to beat our heart? Could we fashion a heart such as ours? Likewise, are we capable of healing a cut? Of telling which cells, in which order, when to enter and exit and perform their functions? Do we know how to form a human respiratory system? One that functions with ease, without having to direct it when to inhale and exhale? Such are only a few of an infinite number of miracles in which we are immersed. They are in us, around us, through us, above us, and below us!

Regarding the title of this article: Does trusting The Universe, consciously and deliberately, now make good sense? May we logically conclude that knowing this One-And-Only Power would be of tremendous benefit in our health, our wealth, our success? What–literally–could be against us if The Universe were for us? It’s illogical to conclude that an Intelligent Power–which is in us, through us, and surrounding us–would act against its own nature; for such would be an act against Itself. We need only ensure that our goals align with the nature of The Universe (which is only goodness) to reconnect with tremendous power. And we may trust that The Universe will inform us via our intuition of the quickest, safest, and best ways to achieve our dreams.

What will our egoic self think of these teachings? That they’re utter nonsense! Our ego (the little i) would have us believe only it knows best! Our task is to distinguish between how we think and feel. How we think comes from our little self. How we feel, however, emanates from our grander self, which is connected to The-One-In-All. We may recognize intuitive feelings by their subtler nature. Our body or part of it–perhaps the gut–will inform us when something feels misaligned, out of order, or not in our best interests. At first it may be challenging to determine whether our guidance is true or false; but as we practice and evolve, the process becomes much easier. The difference related to living this way is great–akin to navigating a long journey via a paper road map, or the grandest GPS system.

There are other expressions synonymous with trusting The Universe–the best known being Let go and let God. With our logical understanding of the teachings, does this now make sense? Doesn’t it seem wise to trust that God–Who is in us, through us, and whose nature is goodness–has our back? We may contemplate this–if only for ten seconds–by focusing on the beating of our heart; which in those intervening seconds beat an average of six to eight times by the power and intelligence of The Universe. We had to do nothing but be grateful that it did.

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

Taking Grant For Granted

Taking Grant For Granted2

Grant Johnson: He believes himself to be the sum total of his thoughts, feelings, body, sensations, perceptions, and circumstances. He believes this to be undeniably true. In his mind, he is his name, physical appearance, personal history (including degree of success or failure), and even the possessions he has, thus far, acquired. What a busy mind. He’s always comparing, for that’s his intrinsic nature. “Am I good enough?” is the persistent whispered question he hears, for a degree of insecurity is always lurking nearby. There’s also fear; of being discovered as a fraud; and of the inevitable–death. What then?

What’s the problem with this way of existing? Simple: It’s not based in truth. It’s actually a projection through the perspective of a false and apparently separate self. The story of Grant Johnson may seem real; but it’s a relative truth only, constructed from thoughts and beliefs. And a false belief (such as two plus two equal five), although possible to believe, can never alter the underlying reality. Two plus two is four–now and forever! In the case of Grant Johnson, his story has little to do with the essential and absolute truth of his Being. However, the false self, which is formed in the mental state, will hijack his true identity at every opportunity. It’s always busy, continually constructing itself through the power of thought and the use of “I, Me, and My.” That’s its very nature; it is self centered. To be silent–still–is to run the risk of being discovered in a lie, as a lie. And the Grant Johnson we speak of in this article wouldn’t like that at all.

How does this understanding relate to the Law of Attraction, and how can it possibly help us create a more abundant and happier life? When we recognize our true identity (Spirit, Awareness, Being), we gain access to the Infinite Intelligence (Consciousness) that actually forms worlds. When life is approached from the limited perspective of the egoic self, however, we’re shut off–at least to our knowing–from The Source of our Being. As such, we’re deprived of the intuitive living connection that can help us in every aspect of our life. When confined within the conceptual self, we also feel separate, stressed, and dependent upon our own–relatively limited–resources.

Is there a direct way to experience this Source? Yes. The Bible–and other sacred texts–offers us clear advice. Psalm 46:10 (KJV) reads as follows: Be still, and know that I am God. The practical meaning of this passage? To still our thinking (perhaps through meditation or time spent in nature) and get out of our minds. What is meant by God, from the viewpoint of the Law of Attraction teachings? In short, Consciousness. And contrary to the popular perspective, which postulates that consciousness arises from form, Consciousness exists prior to all. It is, therefore, primary cause. It is the Alpha and Omega. However, It is not a personified deity, as often conceptualized; rather, impartial and impersonal Universal Intelligence. Attempting to define The Infinite is an impossible task, but for the sake of understanding we’ll make a concession. Consciousness would thus be defined as self-luminous, self-aware, presence. And how may we experience–not only believe–this?

Through a logical approach, one not aimed at beliefs. Key to this understanding  is this: You’re not, and cannot ever be, who you think you are. Why? Because the mind (via thought) can only form a representation of truth, never truth itself. Consider: If our car needs repairs, could the thought “mechanic” be of any help? Or would we require an actual mechanic? Likewise: If we’re refurbishing our home, could the word “carpenter” be of any assistance? Of course not. It’s imperative that we differentiate between an actual thing, and the thought of a thing. The former is experienced directly, and the latter is conceptualized through a mental process (which can only render a depiction). In spiritual teachings, this could be expressed thus: Do not mistake the map for the territory. Which means: Do not mistake the symbol for the real item. To catch a glimpse of Source referred to in this article, please read the following instructions and try an experiment aimed at direct knowing:

Find a place to sit quietly, away from disturbances of any nature. Only a few minutes are required. Sit cross-legged if you wish (as in a traditional meditation posture) or in a comfortable chair. Breathe normally, in a relaxed manner. Let tension drain from the body. Now, close your eyes and let your focus drift inward, away from stimuli of the world. Pay attention to your breath; inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth. The aim is not to fall asleep, but to pay attention to what’s happening in the moment. Perform this experiment for three to five minutes.

When we return to this article–fresh with the memory of experience–please consider the following questions: At any point while breathing, did a thought cross your mind? Could you sense its arrival? Yes? Were you aware of its departure? Yes? When a thought of any nature (dinner? an errand to run? the next day?) departed, did you feel diminished in any way? No? Did you still feel present when the thoughts left? If so, can you entertain the possibility that you are not your thoughts? Nor are you the sum total of feelings, bodily sensations, or sense perceptions–for all of these also come and go. The constant backdrop of all that arises is Consciousness Itself. Our true and essential nature is often described as The Silent Witness (Being, Awareness, Consciousness). Our error—ingrained in us since birth–has been to misidentify Universal Consciousness (which is impersonal) as our personal consciousness. Thus: the rise of separateness in the world.

Our true nature is subjective–only. Contrary to conventional belief, we share One Consciousness, through which we live and breathe and have our Being. It is That–the very foundation of all. The phenomenal world, including all seemingly real objects, arises in and through Consciousness. All objects have no real substance beyond our perceptions of such. Quantum physics is verifying this truth; for it’s now known that atoms–once considered the tiniest particles of matter–are, indeed, 99.999% empty space. To our amazement, we discover the intangible (Consciousness) is real–the tangible only relatively so! The body/mind is an individuated aspect of That (Consciousness). That is our essential nature. That permeates time and space and form. That is closer than the pulse in our neck. And what is the point from a co-creators point of view? We are wise to dream, create, and manifest from the perspective of Beingness. By doing so, we gain access to a rich world of opportunities previously believed unavailable.

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

Exchanging Paradigms

Changing Paradigms5

As defined in a previous article, paradigms are a collection of beliefs held in the subconscious mind that serve as a model or blueprint for our life experiences. Many of our paradigms are positive and serve us beneficially. Some, however, are negative and detrimentally affect the quality of our life. We can easily understand the importance of exchanging negative paradigms for the better.

How can this be accomplished? The first course of action is to realize they exist. Although it’s true that we cannot directly witness paradigms, we can definitely notice their effects. A useful analogy would be to think of paradigms as the wind–made knowable through a weather vane. We can notice our paradigms by observing how we navigate through life. When we pay attention, we’ll notice that we perform most activities in a predictable and habitual manner. For instance: After a shower, we begin to dry ourselves in a definite pattern–arms, chest, and then lower body? When brushing our teeth, we begin from right to left or top to bottom? When driving our car, we buckle our seat belt immediately or just prior to pulling away? Believe that there’s no such thing as paradigms? Then watch next time as your habits drive you to the same parking space, in the same lot, at your local grocery! These actions are due to the function of paradigms.

A useful technique to exchange paradigms–which is described in this article–was borrowed from a hypnotist’s internet presentation. In it, the hypnotist shared that we could conceptualize the subconscious mind as a glass container, perhaps in the shape of a carafe or flask. The flask is full of our subconscious paradigms–both good and bad. Fluid symbolically represents the paradigms contained within the flask.

For the purpose of learning this technique, we may imagine that the flask contains a belief system (paradigm) that’s producing a negative effect regarding a goal we desire to achieve. Perhaps we have a habit of procrastination that’s hindering us from completing our goals in a timely fashion. Next, we may imagine dropping a new and positive belief (conceptualized as a pebble) into the flask every time we perform our tasks on time. Initially this may not appear to make any difference to the amount of volume in the flask. But, when we drop pebble after pebble–day in and day out–our limiting beliefs will be displaced. They’ll simply spill away to darkness where they belong. The key with this method is mindful repetition. When we’re present, we’ll see that it’s actually possible to choose our habits.

So, please take an honest introspective peek. What paradigm needs exchanging? Anger? Defensiveness? Excessive consumption of food or alcohol? Fearfulness? Irritability? Jealousy? Tardiness? Is there a belief that’s preventing us from experiencing a healthier and happier life, or hijacking our degree of success? If we’re aware of a limiting paradigm, now’s the time to symbolically drop that first pebble and take inspired action toward the change we desire.

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

Journey to a Coffee Cup

Journey to a Coffee Cup3

The most powerful and consequential conditioning in our life is that of which we are unaware. Such conditioning is broad and deep and hidden; consisting of layer upon layer of belief. It not only determines the quality of results we experience, but also how we experience reality itself. When innocent and fresh upon this world of opposites, we were informed of so much. This is that; and that is this. We were handed name after name for all shape, form, thing, and experience. Our mind–which arrived empty–was written upon with information that we would continue to read for many years. However…

At some point, we may have become curious about the nature of reality itself. The subject of the Law of Attraction brings this strongly into focus; for its very nature relates to what’s deemed possible and impossible. On a personal level, we question whether our dreams truly can come true. Most often, our rational mind strongly rebels; for it appears as though there’s no correlation between thought and what we actually experience in our lives. Adding to our confusion, Biblical passages and mystical teachings make claims that appear either miraculous or ludicrous. Such seem bizarre for one reason only: At the heart of our knowledge, we unquestioningly assume reality to be as we have been conditioned to believe. Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955) shared his view about this subject through the following quote: Reality is merely an illusion, albeit it a very persistent one.

What if we questioned how we know–or truly experience–anything? As the title of this article suggests, we’re going to examine how we know a coffee cup. How does the coffee cup–which appears out there in our hand–get into our mind, where it becomes real in the darkness of brain matter enclosed within a skull? Let’s examine the mechanics of sight: When we see, the cornea and lens of our eyes focus light onto the retina, where it’s converted into neuronal signals that are ultimately processed–as in our example–into a coffee cup. Our programming is so pervasive, that we view–with absolute certainty–the coffee cup as existing independent of the consciousness through which it’s experienced, and out of which it’s made! To absorb this understanding more deeply, we may pick up a coffee cup and contemplate if we can possibly know it (experience it directly) by any means other than the thoughts, sensations, and perceptions of it. We will discover that such is impossible.

This article is obviously not merely about a coffee cup. It’s a journey in which we peel away illusion and discover a new way of experiencing reality–intended as a pointer toward understanding how our greatest desires may manifest. In truth, the journey to a coffee cup occurs via the same process in which we journey to a rose; to a mountain; to the moon; to a pencil or a pen. All things–of which we’ve been informed by Buddha, great sages, and quantum physicists–have no intrinsic existence outside of consciousness itself. All of them are formed from perceptions…only. The way we experience the coffee cup is thus: Through the five senses–which inform us of the object through sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. We see the coffee cup–shape and colour. We feel the coffee cup–texture. We hear the coffee cup–clink of china. We taste its contents. We smell the aroma of the coffee. The coffee cup occurs in consciousness. We cannot prove it exists outside our direct experience; which is our consciousness of it. This way of experiencing the coffee cup is at 180 degrees from the way we assumed the world to be.

Does this imply that all we have to do to achieve our goals is believe? That out of no thing–from no where–what we imagine will come into being? No, far from it! However, our beliefs are intimately and directly connected with what we will experience. There are fixed natural laws to this game of reality we’re playing; perhaps the most important being this: Action is required! In fact, action is part of what makes life vibrantly alive! To not move–to not act–goes against one of the deepest truths of nature: That everything is vibrating and moving; even seemingly solid things.

What benefit is this knowledge? From the perspective of the Law of Attraction, this: to serve as a bridge of understanding via which we may achieve more of our important dreams. Perhaps we desire physical healing–to let go of the belief of disease and imagine our body whole, strong, perfect, restored, functioning in harmony. Perhaps we desire financial gain–to let go of the belief of lack, poverty, and meager earnings. Perhaps we desire success–to let go of the belief of failure, fated loss, and misery. Through greater understanding of the underlying nature of reality itself, we may more easily entertain new–more empowering–beliefs. From this vantage point, the following passage from the Bible (Mathew 17:20, English Standard Version) may potentially seem possible: For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Is the mountain–so seemingly real–not made of thoughts, sensations, and perceptions–which likewise made the coffee cup real? Now, what mountain–disease, poverty, failure–do we wish to move? A previously hidden system of beliefs may be the only obstacle in our way.

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