Coffee-Shop Joe

coffee-shop-joe

I think of him as Coffee-Shop Joe. A small-frame man with a pleasant face and a bald head, he appears sixty to sixty-five. Wearing jeans and a long-sleeve shirt, he always sits at the same small table in the coffee shop I frequent, with his back wedged against the corner behind him. A book is in his hands, and a mug in front of him. He’ll take a sip, his attention briefly raised, and then turn the page and lower his gaze to continue reading. Strange; he never seems truly engaged in what he’s doing–more an actor, and the book a prop. He appears caught in a ritual that’s perpetuating itself. I see him only briefly on my way to work, through the windows of the coffee shop. The time is five-thirty. I stop at the drive-thru, pick up my first coffee of the day, and then pull away. Joe seems shrouded in mystery. What compels a man to be reading a book in a coffee shop at this early hour?

***

As I picked up my coffee today, I noticed that Joe wasn’t there. His small table was empty. I wondered why, and punctuated my surprise with an involuntary humph.  A few fleeting assumptions crossed my mind: Perhaps Joe had wakened early and already come and gone. Perhaps he was home, sick in bed with the flu. Perhaps he was visiting a friend out of town, or tending to his elderly parents. The perhaps that didn’t cross my mind was revealed to me a few days later, when I inquired via one of the employees at the coffee shop. Joe had died. His body had been found cold and lifeless in the boarding house where he’d lived. Another fact surfaced a few days later: Only one book was found in his room. Strange how life can hit you; and how death can seem a rumour.

Why do I relate this fictionalized account of a man who I actually do see on my way to work? And what could this possibly have to do with the Law of Attraction and achieving our dreams and goals? Am I being maudlin? Or trying to shock people into action before it’s too late? No, not at all. My reason is that I want to remind people to truly live, here and now! Sometimes we become so entranced by the daily rigors of life that we forget that every day is a new day. And that every day comes but once. Under the mesmerizing spell of calendars and daily planners, we often live as though months and years are guaranteed. They are, of course, not.

On some level, many of us may identify with Coffee-Shop Joe;  as though we recognize a version of him within ourselves. Do we not sometimes live as though we’re putting in time? Or thwart our dreams by pretending that they’re not really important? And do we not sometimes retreat into the false safety of shadows, and settle for less than we deserve? Deep in our heart, however, we realize that time is passing; that we desire more of life; that an interest or passion or longing is begging to be expressed. Our dreams, which are only truly important if they hold meaning to us, come in every size and shape and form imaginable. Some of them might include:

  • Building a cabin in the woods.
  • Writing our first book.
  • Visiting Paris in the spring time.
  • Skinny dipping at a local lake.
  • Buying a one-way ticket to…?
  • Retiring early, and leaving the nine to five.
  • Beginning an exercise program.
  • Eating more healthful foods.
  • Sailing around the world.
  • Finding the life partner for whom we’ve longed.
  • Performing a song on stage for the first time.
  • Running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain.
  • Skydiving or parasailing.
  • Visiting the Great Pyramids.
  • Flying over Mount Everest.
  • Learning a second language.
  • Beginning a new career.
  • Helping someone else achieve a life-long dream.

There’s good news, however, even if we must abide by Life’s Rule, which states that Death leaves no survivors–at least in human form. Still, we may triumph. How? By living now, dreaming now, and making the most of our time now! Now is our day in the sun; our chance to sing, dance, rejoice, be grateful, make love, give love, and truly live the time of our life! We need not settle…ever! Don’t we owe it to ourselves to wake up and smell the coffee?

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), 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 Power of Belief

Believe

In 1948, Claude M. Bristol published a book entitled The Magic of Believing. It’s still in publication today. The opening sentence reads as follows: “Is there a something, a force, a factor, a power, a science–call it what you will–which a few people understand and use to overcome their difficulties and achieve outstanding success?” Claude M. Bristol goes on to describe the nature of thought and the function of the conscious and subconscious mind. He further relates situations in which the power of belief dramatically improved lives.

Many individuals may be skeptical. They may think that belief is child’s play, or worse yet fools’ play. If so, they’re certainly entitled to think what they will. But according to the Law of Attraction, which states that like attracts like, they will, therefore, attract to themselves accordingly. I, however, prefer to stand with those who believe in a Power greater than ourselves; one that’s omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient; one with which we may align to help us achieve our goals.

I cannot prove the magic of belief, nor will I attempt to do so. I can, however, draw our attention to where we would be today if courageous men and women had not believed in their visions and dared to follow them. Without the power of belief, what goals could have ever been accomplished? It would be insane to ever undertake a goal if we didn’t believe that it was possible.

Belief (faith) is a power that moves mountains! This is not a figurative truth; it’s a literal one! For instance: Would the Panama Canal, which involved the excavation of tonnes of rock and earth over a period of thirty-four years, exist if pioneering visionaries had not believed it possible? Likewise, could we have ever manned a rocket to the moon without the captivating belief that we could do so? Without belief humankind would literally be in the dark ages!

Our goals, dreams, and aspirations do not occur in a vacuum. Our attitude is an integral factor in determining whether they will be realized. Or not. Without belief–in ourselves and in our goals–how can our desires possibly be achieved? Doubt has never, and will never, take us anywhere positive!

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), 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 Positive Approach

are-we-positive

Prior to beginning our study of the Law of Attraction, we may have assumed we were quite positive minded. When we begin to monitor our thought patterns more deeply, however, we may be surprised to discover otherwise. Our habits of thinking–which are highly repetitive and often negative–didn’t occur overnight; they developed over a lifetime. These habitual ways of thinking are basically our way of being in the world. We’ll examine them more closely through an exercise in applied imagination:

The cable service for our television has been functioning intermittently for the past two months. In addition, we were overcharged on our last bill, for services that aren’t included in our cable package. Realizing that we’re going to have to phone the cable company to clear up the errors, we find the last bill and search for our account number. As we anticipate the call, we notice a subtle but troubling thought pattern arise. Our body tenses, due to negative past experiences of a similar nature. There will be conflict; we just know it. We pick up the phone, with the following thoughts going through our mind: Will the company representative give me a hard time? Will he/she be demanding and abrupt? Will there be a communication problem?  Will I be put on hold and forced to listen to that horrible muzak again?

If this or a similar reaction is actually the case, it’s important that we change our thought patterns–the sooner the better. It’s also important that we understand the nature of our world. Everything is connected; in spite of appearances to the contrary. No person is an island, independent of the rest of creation. This also applies to our thoughts, for they’re not limited to our own mind. We sense them, of course, but so do other individuals. We also sense theirs. This will seem more believable if we recall a situation when we felt bad vibes upon meeting a new group of people, perhaps under unfamiliar circumstances. Those feelings–or vibes–are real; and they are meant to serve us.

Continuing with the example: If we place our call with a negative mindset, our underlying attitude will most likely be sensed. We don’t have to know how–but we can trust that it will be. The company representative may then respond with a similar vibe, especially if our tone and choice of words reveal our underlying tension! Escalation of negative vibes can never take us anywhere good!

A wiser approach would be to take a few moments to compose our mind–first!  A few slow deep breaths may help. We might also remind ourselves that every call is a new call, every company representative unique, and every situation different. When we deliberately choose our thoughts, we ground ourselves in what is happening now–not what has occurred in the past. This leaves us free to respond, rather than react. It also attunes us to solutions available in the present moment.

Does this guarantee that our call will go smoothly? No! But, we’ll most definitely grow in awareness and gain control of our thoughts, our mind, and our end of the experience. The person with whom we’re communicating may be having a bad day–and reveal that in tone, speech, and manner; but if we remain detached from those vibes, the likelihood of having a pleasant and effective phone call improves dramatically. It’s our best bet in the situation. And who of us doesn’t prefer taking the best bet?

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), here. May it help you in your spiritual journey. 🙏🙏

Thank You” & “Note to Publishers

Transcending History

History

Anyone who has studied the Law of Attraction realizes that we attract according to our predominant thoughts and feelings. Positive thoughts and feelings attract positive situations and events; and negative attract negative. We are to realize that it’s possible to live from the center of our being and choose the thoughts we’ll entertain; rather than being subject to the whims of worldly experience.

Because feeling good and thinking positively–first–attracts like-nature manifestations, it’s easy to understand the importance of controlling our moods. For those who trust the teachings, we may logically conclude that permitting ourselves to wallow in negative emotions only leads to more negative experiences. Therefore, we strive to be happy, content, joyous, and thereby attract good circumstances that will bring even greater joy. How, though–given personal histories that may contain painful experiences–can we feel good? This may seem impossible, or challenging, at best.

One of the keys to feeling good now–in spite of our history–is to figuratively step back from the identity that we’ve accepted as self. For those who are strongly attached to self image–our name, age, physical attributes, role, nationality–this may prove challenging. It is possible, however, and doing so makes creating good circumstances that much easier. When we permit ourselves to just be–perhaps through meditation or time immersed in nature–we access a deeper part of consciousness that’s distinct and separate from the noisy mind chatter that often dominates our life. From this awareness–or knowing–we may transcend our history. Inner dialogue, which is often repetitive and negative, will diminish or even disappear; and therefore lose its effect. Experiences, which may have included death, divorce, and disease, will no longer define us without our permission.

Another technique that makes positive creation easier is to employ our history–in much the same way that we might hire a person–to work for us, instead of against. Rather than bemoaning our lot in life, we may consciously reframe our history and view it from a different perspective. We may ask: Did superficial failure actually contribute to a much deeper success? Am I rich, here and now, in ways beyond obvious scope and measure? Would my life without the painful experiences truly have been better? Am I now stronger in character due to the physical and emotional mountains I’ve scaled? Have I gained in ways previously unacknowledged?

With a fresh–and positive–perspective, it’s possible to put our personal history to good use; rather than letting it use us. It’s all in our point of view. Nothing is set in stone. It is we who assign meaning to life events. They need not define us, nor should we permit them to rob us of our happiness. A quote attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882) may also encourage, if not inspire: What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you. Is that not true? Is the purpose of this journey not, in fact, to learn more of our true nature? Along the way, we may also become wiser, stronger, greater. And therein lies our freedom to create an even better future.

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), 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 🙏🏻🧡

Law of Attraction: Believer?

law-of-attraction-believe

I have a confession to make: Although I write about the Law of Attraction, I was only a partial believer until a few years ago. Overall, the teachings made sense to me; and I could easily accept that I had created part of my life. But, when it came to believing that I had attracted the painful situations, my skepticism increased by leaps and bounds. You, too, may be having doubts. You may be questioning and wondering. You may be thinking: “Really? You want me to believe that thought is at the core of all of the experiences in my life?

I share the truth regarding my initial skepticism for one reason: Because I sincerely desire to help people understand a process which can empower you to create more fulfilling lives. The benefits won’t be realized, however, if we discard the teachings due to ignorance or misunderstanding. In such a case, the Law of Attraction will still be functioning; it’s just that we won’t be applying it deliberately. The decision regarding our beliefs, of course, is highly personal. If we just try to believe our thoughts matter, but actually doubt they do, we’ll attract that reality. For the teachings to have value in our life, we have to know they’re true.

When my belief changed, one of the main tipping points was this: Please take a look around the room you’re in and glance at various objects. Can you find anything that wasn’t preceded by thought? A chair, a kettle, a television–for example– were all preceded by thought. Someone imagined them. If someone hadn’t imagined them, those objects wouldn’t exist. The same holds true for a computer, a vase, and a light. In every case, thought came first; followed by manifestation in the world without.

If that’s how objects–which had only existed as intangible thoughts in someone’s mind–were created, shouldn’t the same process also apply to the manifestation of our desires? Nothing occurs by accident. Therefore, may we logically conclude that imagination is a fundamental part in manifesting the house we desire, better relationships, improved health, and greater wealth? The answer voiced by great men and women is a resounding “yes.” This knowledge, when applied, can yield tremendous benefits, because when we deal with life at the level of cause, we can deliberately create the effects we desire.

Please also consider this: The inventors of such objects didn’t know how they were going to create them. None of them knew–beforehand–the steps that would be required to make their inventions tangible in the world. How, then, did they achieve their goals? Through conviction to their visions, and courage to act upon their intuition. In short, they trusted that the Universe would provide. And the Universe did! Contrary to popular belief, we don’t have to know how. The way will be revealed.

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), 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 🙏🏻🧡

Hand to the Plough

hand-to-the-plough

During a recent appointment, I had a chance to speak with a doctor I knew through work several years ago. He has moved on and forged a successful career in a specialized field of medicine. It was great to catch up with him. While we talked, I asked if he ever missed his old career. He replied that it had been fine, but “no, I never look backward.” I agreed that it was better to look forward.

Our brief discussion reminded me of a verse that holds great meaning to me. I discovered it in a book entitled Discover the Power Within You, by Eric Butterworth; who was a Unity minister, author, and radio personality. The verse is from Luke 9:62 and reads as follows: “And Jesus said unto him, no man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” What could that possibly mean? I won’t pretend to be a religious authority, so I’d rather share Eric Butterworth’s interpretation of the verse, which may otherwise seem nonsensical.

The Bible often communicates in parables that relate a figurative, rather than literal, meaning. According to Mr. Butterworth, a plough symbolizes the breaking of new ground or new life. If we desire to harvest a new crop, we must first prepare the ground for the new seed. Further: A man looking backward refers to someone who’s focused on the past. And what could the phrase about being fit for the kingdom of God mean? That a person isn’t ready–or as yet capable–of expressing a grander state of consciousness. Consider this for a few moments, if you will.

If we’re focused on the past while trying to move forward, we’re sabotaging our efforts. To create effectively, we must ensure that focus and effort operate in unison. The wisdom in this bible verse crosses every aspect of the human condition. Many of us have experienced difficult situations–in our health, relationships, finances, and careers. Think about the mixed and confusing messages we’re sending to the Universe if we have our hand to the plough while looking backward. In effect, we’re saying: “I’d love to have a wonderful new relationship, but look at my track record! I started two businesses in the past, but both of them failed miserably! I’d love to have great health, but I’ve experienced so much illness!” Does this passage now make sense?

The Law of Attraction teachings are worthless if not logical, practical, and usable. This verse, at least in my opinion, offers sound advice that can help us achieve real results! Our goals–whatever they may be–cannot be achieved by relentlessly looking back. We may learn from our past, of course; but we should never let it define our future. That’s worth remembering the next time we put our hand to the plough.

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), 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 🙏🏻🧡

Make it a Habit

Our study of the Law of Attraction includes many truisms. In metaphysical teachings, one of the most important to understand, and remember, is this: Energy flows where attention goes. In other words, what we focus upon increases or expands.

So how can deliberate creators practically apply this information? By first not only believing, but actually knowing, that it’s true. A couple of questions may help to prove it. Have you noticed that when someone begins to complain about a particular situation, that someone else soon adds another complaint? Have you also noticed that a problem that’s given attention can assume dimensions beyond its original scope? There’s a reason: By focusing on the problem, we’re unwittingly directing our mind to create more of it!

To positively counter this habit, we can deliberately use this knowledge to our benefit. On a personal level, that requires focusing on what’s right with our life, not on that which we’ve deemed wrong! If the idea of financial stress crosses our mind, we may remind ourselves of the money we have, not the debt. Focusing on debt only creates more debt. The same holds true for our health. For every health issue, there’s–most likely–a degree of good health in other regards. Such positive-oriented use of our focus isn’t intended to blind us to the problems; rather to allow us to see our way through them with a solution-based mindset. When we develop the practice of praising the good we attract more of the good into our experience.

Old ways of thinking–if given the chance–will automatically direct our attention in habitual ways. If our habits are good, they will serve us positively. If bad, they will function to our detriment. To counter the negative, it’s imperative that we rise in consciousness. To understand this more easily, imagine that we have climbed to the top of a great mountain. Atop this mountain, there is a large telescope that swivels 360 degrees. Through it we may see the world. It’s our viewpoint. We may look in one direction and view world strife, political unease, pollution, family turmoil, and disease. But, as creators we possess the power to swivel the telescope in a different direction and view a newborn baby, a lush forest, a peaceful seashore, a glowing sunrise, and radiant health. All are happening at the same time. The point of this analogy is this:

The view is dependent on you. 

To create positive change in our lives, please consider the following suggestion: For the next twenty-four hours, deliberately direct your attention to what’s right in your life: Praise your health, your friends, your finances, the roof over your head. Praise the air in your lungs, the blood in your arteries, the food in your belly, the shoes on your feet. And after twenty-four hours have passed, continue this positive focus for the next twenty-four hours! One week of this practice will lead to the next week, the next month, and the next year. And please remember this: A positive life doesn’t just happen; it’s created one day at a time.

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), 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 🙏🏻🧡

Murphy’s “Law”

murhphys-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

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), 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

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

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. 🙏🙏

Thank You” & “Note to Publishers

A Change of Attitude

a-change-in-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

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), 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 🙏🏻🧡