Affirmations in Life

Louise Hay, founder of Hay House Publishing and author of several Law of Attraction books, is a firm believer in the use of affirmations. By her definition, an affirmation is any statement that we say or think–whether positive or negative. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines affirmation as follows: Something affirmed; a positive assertion. We, too, may benefit from the use of affirmations.

How do we effectively form and use affirmations? It’s easy, really. Our affirmations must always be phrased positively, and always in the present tense. The powerful influence that affirmations have on the subconscious lies in repetition; so it’s to our advantage to use them frequently. They should be stated in a relaxed and positive manner, without stress. We will also benefit by writing them down and referring to them daily. As an example regarding wealth, we might say: Money comes to me easily and frequently, from known and unknown sources. We would not affirm: I am not poor; for doing so would only give focus to lack and poverty.

For those who are new to the concept of affirmations, the previous sentence regarding money may seem ridiculous. You may think: But I am poor! Do you want me to lie to myself? No; I don’t. I do, however, want to encourage you to tell yourself a new truth, to help you create the life that you desire. Understanding a concept of Law of Attraction teachings will help: What we sense in our apparently outer world–through our five senses–is an effect of past thoughts, feelings, and habits. If we continue to focus on effects, the future that we’ll create will look very much the same! But, when we deliberately control what we’re thinking now, we’re dealing with creation at the level of cause. It may help if we imagine this as seeding the garden of our mind with new desires; rather than watering what has already manifested. With patient persistence, and action based on our new way of being in the world, our results will change. They must.

Why, you might ask, must I phrase affirmations in the positive? Because we create most effectively by focusing on what’s desired while letting that which is undesired wither and fall away. Consider this: Don’t think of a pink elephant. What just came to mind? A pink elephant, of course. Although this example may seem nonsensical, it helps us understand the logic involved when you consider affirming “I am not overweight.” In this example, what would have just entered your mind? Being overweight. For someone who desired to be slim or more fit, such an affirmation would obviously be unwise to program into the mind. The same logic holds true for every aspect of our life.

As you incorporate affirmations into your life, you’ll receive intuitive guidance regarding action required to manifest your desires. Such guidance might take the form of the repeated mention of a book; words of advice from a friend or colleague; or a symbolic message that keeps entering your awareness. Whatever the form, you’ll intuitively know whether taking such actions feels right. When this occurs, it’s imperative to follow through by taking a step. Even a little one! Doing so will make all the difference. And it will strengthen your faith to continue taking step…after step…after step.

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” 🙏🏻🧡

Bending Reality

When I was a young boy, I learned–as did most people–that reality was fixed and unyielding. It was just the way it was. The facts were the facts, and there was little that one could do about changing them. My view of the world was largely based upon beliefs that I acquired from family, friends, and teachers. Such holds true for everyone. Now, I realize that reality is far more flexible than I had ever imagined; and that we can change our experience by changing the way we view the world. Doubt this can be true?

The quest to discover the tiniest units of matter has lead to a field of study called Quantum Physics; of which I won’t pretend to possess more than the most basic understanding. I have learned, however, that atoms–which were once believed to be the tiniest bits of matter–consist of even smalled units called protons, electrons, and neutrons; and, further, that atoms are actually 99.999% empty space. When we consider the Double Slit Experiment, which was first performed in 1801 by Thomas Young to determine if light was a particle or a wave, our quest to define reality became even more confusing! The unexpected results revealed that they actually functioned as both. Today science describes this phenomena as Waves of Probability. My point? That even great scientists cannot prove absolutely whether reality is actually as solid as once believed. Let’s take another view of reality, through the analogy of a roller coaster ride:

Sam and Samantha, who are both twelve years of age, decide to go on their first roller coaster ride. They are secured safely side by side, and the ride begins. Up, up, up the roller coaster car ascends, with Sam and Samantha holding tightly to the bar in front of them. At the peak of the first climb, their car rolls along level for a few feet, then plunges down a steep decline before banking left and then right. Two minutes later, the ride comes to a halt; and we see Sam and Samantha as they are helped from the car.

Sam, who had thought that he might love the ride, is actually weak in the knees, pale-faced, and close to vomiting. Samantha, on the other hand, who had been frightened before the ride began, is beaming with excitement. Sam can hardly wait to leave the theme park, but Samantha immediately wants to line up for another ride! Although this example is clearly fictional, we can easily understand that the ride itself is not responsible for such disparate realities. Everyone’s experience of it will be unique. In short, you make the difference!

If we wish to bend reality a little further, let’s look at what should not be possible, especially if we think like the masses. Who would think that reality could include a paraplegic man propelling himself around the world in a wheelchair? Clearly such is impossible…unless you’re Rick Hansen (otherwise known as the Man in Motion), who, beginning in 1985, defied reality by logging 40,000 kilometers over the next twenty-six months! Who would think that reality could include a man born without arms and legs becoming a motivational speaker? Such is clearly impossible…unless you’re Nick Vujicic, who is doing just that, and serving as an inspiration to children, students, and adults. And who would think that reality could include a man making eight passes between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, on a tightrope strung 1350 feet above the ground? Such is clearly impossible…unless you’re Phillipe Petit, who performed that daring feat against reality in 1974.

Beyond these accounts, what else is really possible? There are cases of terminal patients experiencing spontaneous remissions; of people lifting a car off a loved one who would otherwise be crushed to death. My main intention in sharing this article, however, is not to draw attention to what others have done; but to encourage people to contemplate their own unexplored avenues of belief. Is it possible to propel yourself through challenges? Break free of self-imposed limits? Successfully walk the tightrope of your fears?

So, how may we bend our reality? By beginning to contemplate (think about)–as did Rick Hansen, Nick Vujicic, and Phillipe Petit–what’s truly possible. By questioning whether we must accept reality as we know it, or alter it through a change in our beliefs. This life is our ride. It’s also our chance to make the most of ourselves. Perhaps it’s time to open your mind to new possibilities and, thereby, begin the process of redefining reality.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Give Yourself a Chance

Because many of the Law of Attraction books that I’ve suggested reading were written over a hundred years ago, it might be easy to assume there are no noteworthy masters of the subject living today. Such isn’t the case. One of the most insightful teachers has written numberous books, including Manifesting Change, Infinite Possibilities, and Leveraging The Universe. His name: Mike Dooley. He also writes daily Notes From The Universe; one of which served as the inspiration for today’s article. It concludes with these few words:Chances are something you give yourself.

Do those words seem ludicrous? Can we truly give ourselves a chance? Or do you believe–as many do–that chances are external to us, beyond our control, and allotted only to a fortunate few? It would be foolish to deny that people who live in countries with better health care, better education systems, and come from wealthier families don’t have more obvious opportunities. However, history proves that such people often squander the gifts before them, perhaps due to laziness or lack of initiative. It’s often those who come from poverty and poor circumstance who rise and manifest the life they desire! And what is it that makes the difference?

Something within—a something that we might call a fire in the belly and a dream in the heart! An intangible something that drives dreamers to reach for goals even when the masses proclaim “that’s impossible!” A something that drives them to work long hours, make countless sacrifices, learn new skills, pursue new leads, and relentlessly take action even when success isn’t guaranteed! A something that enlivens their faith, in life and in themselves. It is the spirit and vision of the dreamer that determines whether a goal with be achieved and made real. All of us were born with that certain something; whether we act upon it, however, is up to us. The crux of the matter: Chances must be acted upon to hold any value!

By taking a chance, I don’t mean visiting a casino and risking your paycheque on one roll of the dice. Nor do I mean quitting your job–without another source of income–and hoping that your dreams come true. The point of this article is to draw attention to what Mike Dooley so wisely stated: that chances are something we give ourselves. This means that we’re the only one who can say “yes” to opportunity; that no one will wave a magic wand and grant achievement of our dreams! We alone take the chance. Or not. We alone believe in ourselves. Or not. It’s–literally–up to us. Whatever vision we hold dear will remain just that–a vision–unless we take a chance.

Do you have a dream? Have you always wanted to run a marathon but as yet never around the block? If so, give yourself a chance; and begin a walking or running program (if you have the health to do so). Have you always wanted your own business, but been afraid that you don’t possess the necessary skills? If so, give yourself a chance; and learn more by reading books or talking with experts in your field of interest. Have you wanted to to lose weight, quit smoking, or learn a new language? If so, give yourself a chance; and believe that the achievement of such goals is possible! Then–beginning today–take one step (even a small one) toward making your dream come true. Trust. You will receive inspiration; and when you do, it’s your task to take action!

So what is the take-home point of this article? Give…yourself…a…chance! Take a chance! Make a chance! Act on a chance! And believe you’re worth a chance! If you’re fearful, know that you’re not alone. Those who achieve great success also have fears; they just acknowledge them and push through to victory! What’s the worst that might happen? That you might not achieve your goal? Or that your journey to achievement might be longer or tougher than expected? If that’s what you’re thinking, now may be the time to ask yourself another question: What’s the best that might happen? And maybe there’s only one way to know.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Deciding Links

For those of us with goals that burn as brightly as our sun, I offer another quote to help us create more of the results we desire. The quote is yet again from Robert Collier, who was an author, authority on the Law of Attraction, and motivational master. It is this: The strength of a chain doesn’t lie in its strongest link; but in its weakest. It’s easy to imagine a chain–pulled taut under great forces–snapping at a weak point. We, too, have such links.

What are our links? Character traits with the potential to hinder or break the outcomes we desire. For the purposes of this article, I’m going to rename them deciding links, which I believe is more appropriate. The three reasons: 1. The term is positive; whereas weak might imply a wrongness about us, which is not the case. 2. A deciding link–in much the same way as a weak link–often determines whether our efforts will be strong enough to meet with success. 3. A deciding link--at least in my opinion–is a trait that we, on some level, have accepted, either consciously or subconsciously. Great achievers do not accept their traits as fated inheritance; instead they decide how they will be in the world, and thereby create their own destiny.

And how may we discover our deciding links? To my knowledge, there is only one way: through honest introspection. If we’re unwilling to look deeply at ourselves, and remain open to change, our positive desires will almost certainly remain lifeless wishes. The process if not for the faint of heart, for it involves deliberate evolution. It involves choosing to look, rather than turning a blind eye; choosing to be courageous, rather than hiding behind our fears. The following is only a partial list of deciding links:

Indecision: Perhaps the most important link. If we lack the ability to decide what we want, we’ll remain unable to move forward deliberately. I’m not suggesting that we should rush the process. Vague feelings of inward discontent often signal that we desire change; it may just be that we yet don’t know what we truly desire. We might remember that not deciding is actually a decision in itself, one that can keep us mired in the same place, wishing for life to get better of its own accord.
Procrastination: When we delay performing tasks that could be done today, we are consciously or subconsciously delaying the achievement of our goals. An attitude of it-can-wait-until-tomorrow often creates the habit of waiting until never.
Pride: If we’re unwilling–due to ego–to ask for help when required, we sabotage our dreams and goals. There are plenty of people who are willing to help, but we must be willing to ask. We do ourselves a great favour by stepping out from the shadow of ego and asking for assistance.
Disorder: The opposite of discipline, disorder greatly limits our degree of success. We might also think of it as lack of focus or will power. When we are disciplined, we’re able to give ourselves a command and follow a task through to completion. Unlike disorder, discipline paves the way toward achievement.
Indolence: A polite term for laziness, indolence literally takes us nowhere. If we’re unwilling to rise up from the couch of our own indolence and reach for our dreams, we would be wise to realize that a mythical servant is not waiting to hand their achievement to us.
Impatience: Achievement takes time, patience, and persistent effort. Unless we’re willing to work and wait–faithful to what we desire–our greatest vision may well remain a distant mirage.

So there we have a few of our deciding links. There are many more. Every person has his or her own; we are all unique. Often we do not wish to accept such links; for we may view them as flaws, or aspects of ourselves that we would prefer to leave in the dark. However, it is when we bring such links into the light that we may change them. The decision to do so, of course, is up to us.

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”

Good Storytellers

Remember with me now, to when we were little children, perhaps six, seven, or eight years of age. At that time, someone we knew may have told us a ghost story. Listening attentively, we felt our muscles tighten, shivers run down our spine, and our breath tighten as we imagined ghosts in the attic, the creak of doors opening by invisible forces, or a sudden frostiness in darkened halls. In spite of being frightened, we may have soon begged to hear another.

What we didn’t realize at the time, was that our body was creating real reactions to those fictitious ghosts. Now, of course, we know that the ghosts–the ones with eyeballs dangling from empty sockets, severed body parts, and oooohhhh-sounding voices–aren’t real; but at the time we believed they were. And because of that, our hearts beat faster, our eyes dilated, and the rate of our breathing increased. Our bodies reacted as though those ghosts were real. And the point of this article is?

This: That even though the ghost stories are long gone, we’re still telling stories. They’re just different. In fact, we’re telling them to ourselves every day. The stories we tell now most likely revolve around health, wealth, family, careers, and relationships. They also relate to what we imagine is possible or impossible. We’re telling ourselves: I am this, or I am that. I can or I can’t. Life always works out for me, or I was born to lose! I’m unlovable, ugly, and poor; or I’m lovable, beautiful, and rich! And as a consequence of the nature of stories we’re telling we experience correlating positive or negative consequences. For example:

Every time we tell ourselves illness-based stories, our bodies react by matching what we’re telling ourselves–perhaps by delivering more aches and pains, or another health issue to be investigated. The body might deliver the ache first, but we are the ones who add to the story by thinking, “Oh, there’s that ache again. Could it be…?” Conversely, if it’s a health-based story, we have nothing to do but enjoy the harmonious ease with which our body functions. Every time that we tell ourselves a poverty-based story, our subconscious mind delivers a way to fritter away money, turn down a great financial opportunity, or instill another belief that we’re destined to remain poor. A prosperity-based story, of course, functions by motivating us to create the results that match that type of story. It’s just the way this reality works. The sad part is that many people don’t realize that results are directly related to the type of thoughts we entertain. This will make more sense when we realize that it wasn’t real ghosts that frightened us as little children; it was merely the thought of ghosts that created the effects. The point? That thought was, and still is, the power.

Consider this: Do you believe that repeatedly telling yourself “I’m having a crappy day” makes any difference to the quality of your experience? Do you believe that thinking “I’ll never find a wonderful partner” can help you find that great relationship? Do you believe that saying “I’m broke, and I’m always going to be broke” can help you effectively manage your finances? Amidst even the most chaotic and unsettling circumstances, we may tell ourselves the most amazing story and maintain our calm center. Émile Coué, a french psychologist and pharmacist, realized the importance of what we’re habitually telling ourselves. A firm believer in the power of autosuggestion, he coined the well-known expression: Every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better.”

So how do we make a better life? By realizing that the type of story we’re telling ourselves can transform our lives! If we want to be scared, we can focus on a fear-based and negative stories. If, however, we desire a wonderful life, we’re wise to make great health, wealth, success, peace, and joy the underlying theme. To empower ourselves even more, we might use wording such as “I am strong, confident, powerful, courageous, and whole.” It’s our book of life. We’re the author. We owe it to ourselves to tell a good story, now. Don’t you think?

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Right Mental Attitude

I’ve just finished reading The Ideal Made Real by Christian D. Larson (1874 -1954), who was a popular American New Thought leader, teacher, and author. First published in 1909, the book is still in print today, and I can understand why. I found it inspiring and informative from start to finish.

In Chapter Five, Christian D. Larson wrote at length regarding the distinction between what he called Domineering and Harmonious mindsets. He made it clear that the Law of Attraction “is at the foundation of all natural constructive processes; therefore to promote construction, growth, advancement, and real success we must work in harmony with the law.” He cautioned that when a confused or negative attitude dominates our mind, we are actually resisting life and, therefore, moving away from the very power (Source) with which we desire to align. What does this mean on a practical basis?

This: In whatever situations we may find ourselves—including the most trying—we must do our best to maintain the Right Mental Attitude. When we do so, we are aligned with the flow of life and, therefore, Source. At this point in our education regarding the Law of Attraction, we are well aware that like attracts like. When we permit a confused or negative attitude to dominate, we are at risk of attracting more of that nature. This is detrimental for two reasons: It disempowers us, and also perpetuates more of the circumstances that may have triggered our negative attitude in the first place. The solution: To regain our right mental attitude as soon as possible. How is this achieved?

By accepting what has occurred—even seemingly negative events—and by making it our habit of seeking the sometimes not-so-obvious good beneath the surface of circumstance. Think of it: Isn’t it common knowledge that great men and women share the habit of seeking the good in every situation…and thereby finding it? We, too, may rise to their ranks! When we habitually maintain a right mental attitude, we not only move through the trying situations more easily, but also rise in character. And, as we might remember from the famous quote by Lao Tzu, character creates our destiny!

With practice, this will be our natural way of being. No more will trifling matters disturb our calm center. Old patterns of anger, resentment, frustration, despondency, and reactivity will fall away as we elevate our attitude. From that vantage point, we’re going to attract more of what we desire. And isn’t that what most of us are seeking?

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Susie’s Going to Be Late!

“I’m going to be late! I’m going to be late! Susie just knows it! She can feel it in every fiber of her being. She’s been late for as long as she can remember. She arrived late at her graduation party; she’s almost always a few minutes late for work; and she was even late to her best friend’s wedding! It’s just the way she is…or so she thinks.

What Susie isn’t aware of, is that it’s not by accident that she’s habitually late. The pattern of her behaviour began a long time ago, when she was just a little child. Her mother unintentionally reinforced her behaviour by repeatedly saying, “Well, our late little girl finally decided to make an appearance!” Her father also contributed to the programming by kidding that Susie would even “show up late to her own life!” Teachers, too, played their roles.

Susie’s also unaware that her subconscious mind has been eavesdropping on what she’s been telling herself. From every thought, word, and experience, it has formed the paradigms (collection of beliefs) that are governing almost every aspect of her life. Whenever Susie thinks she has allowed lots of time to prepare for work or a special occasion, her subconscious mind directs her to begin a minor task that will just take a few minutes; or convinces her to underestimate the time required to travel a certain distance; or trick her into forgetting to set her alarm. It has a multitude of ways of delivering the results that Susie secretly believes.

Susie’s not alone; for all of us live with our unique paradigms. It’s part of life. And just as Susie knows that she’s going to be late, Elizabeth knows she’ll never find the man of her dreams; Ralph knows he’ll never be able to shed those extra pounds; Beverley knows her new business will probably fail like; and Tim knows that he’s an absolute klutz, especially when under stress. What none of them realize, is that as long as they keep reinforcing the same thought patterns, they’re going to keep manifesting the same results!

For anything new to occur, we have to change our thinking and claim our right to govern. There’s no diety floating on a cloud and dictating that this will occur first, and then that. Now, here’s a question to consider: Are we going to learn how to think differently and engage our power of imagination, or continue to be late for the wonderful life we deserve?

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

This Orderly Universe

One of the biggest stumbling blocks for people regarding the Law of Attraction is the truth that there are no accidents. Period. The teachings are definite. For people who balk at such a notion–that they couldn’t possibly have attracted such tragic or painful circumstances–I offer a quote from the The Kybalion, which relates to the Principle of Cause and Effect: “Every Cause has its Effect; every Effect has its Cause; Everything happens according to Law; Chance is but a name for Law not recognized.” In other words, we could say that a mystery only remains a mystery until the cause is discovered.

We live in a Cosmos; that is clear. A Cosmos functions in an orderly fashion. Sound and Light travel at constants–not some of the time, but all of the time. There is rhythm and balance, ebb and flow, cycles and seasons that predictably follow one another. Spring follows Winter one-hundred-percent of the time; and the two remaining seasons are also true to their sequence. It is not by accident that this occurs. Based on such order, we absolutely know that we must plant–first–before we may reap. Innately, we also understand that the nature of a harvest is dependent on what we sow. If we desire wheat, we plant wheat. Corn, we plant corn. We, too, are immersed in the great natural laws and forces of life; and therefore subject to them. However: Unlike other life forms, we may determine the nature of our harvest–and environment–through our unique ability to choose our predominant thoughts. When we align with Source (which only functions for good) we may govern our own world.

Chaos, on the other hand, suggests that nothing is truly under our dominion. Due to the function of the Law of Attraction, people who believe in chaos will reap chaotic and random results. They have, in effect, attuned themselves to expect nothing less. This is easily understood if we imagine the Universe matching our beliefs…even if such beliefs are not connected with Truth. The Placebo Effect–which is well known and widely studied–is another term for what we’re describing. Think that there is Fate; then a fated life shall seem our experience. Conversely: Know that we are free–to imagine the very best of this life–and that, too, shall be matched. Freedom requires such a system.

The truth of this information holds life-transforming importance: We are free! Free to think what we will; believe what we will; act how we will! The Creator of All did not decree that we would be blessed or cursed, for what loving Father would bless some of His children and yet curse others? However: That we may curse or bless ourselves through either our ignorance of–or alignment with–Truth, places the responsibility right where it belongs: with us. That’s actually great news; for with that responsibility comes tremendous empowerment.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Unconditional Living

By the time we reach adulthood, we’ve been exposed to a countless array of beliefs. Some of them are good and some are bad. Many serve us, but many don’t. Our beliefs cover every aspect of the human condition. We have been told this, that, and something else about everything. To be successful in a certain field, here are the prerequisites. This is the path that must be followed, for the way has been defined. No other routes exist. Such thinking is gift wrapped to look attractive; and as good human beings we most often receive it, unquestioned, with open arms. Taught by people in authority, we have been conditioned in a way that leaves little or no room for different ways of being. Or thinking.

The problem with this type of conditioning is that it contains flaws. Although it may point toward “a” path that will lead to the manifestation of our dream, it can set roadblocks between us and what we desire to achieve. Think of where Microsoft might be today if Bill Gates had absolutely believed he had to graduate from Harvard. Where, too, would the world be if Edision, who was home-schooled from the age of seven, believed that his hearing deficit and apparent lack of intelligence would determine his future? Would the world have the music of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who were largely self taught, if they hadn’t believed in their own talent?

With regard to certain goals and aspirations, no one is debating that certain conditions might be better met than tossed aside, especially if supported by logic. But, from a Law of Attraction viewpoint, it’s also important to realize that believing in a certain set of conditions actually creates those conditions! A balance between the two perspectives might be the best: to live from a practical viewpoint that also leaves room to receive inspiration from Infinite Intelligence.

The point about unconditional living is that we, as deliberate creators, live more successfully when we remain open. A questioning mind will always take us farther than one that knows it all. We’re also wise to realize that a multitude of ways exist to do anything: new ways; better ways; ingenious ways; creative ways. These avenues to creation come alive within us when we question our beliefs for validity. An open mind is a conduit to the very best that life has to offer. Our dreams and goals will manifest in ways that are unique to us. We have the gift of intuitive powers through which we may find our way.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Gardeners of The Mind

A friend of mine named Lisa, who’s been an avid gardener and member of a horticulture society for several years, recently told me a true-life account that beautifully and simply illustrates one of the teachings of the Law of Attraction. It’s about her passion for gardening, and also our study of mind.

The point of this article is related to a tour of her gardens that occurred last year. As she was walking beside an older lady, Lisa suddenly exclaimed, “Oh, I missed a weed!” The older woman smiled and then said, “My dear, with so many beautiful flowers to look at, why would you ever focus upon that one weed?” The comment made a lasting impression on Lisa; and we may also take a lesson from it.

Every day, in every waking moment, we are focused upon something. Such is just part of being human. If we’re focused upon the outer, that something might be a person, place, object, or anything else that can be brought into our awareness through our five senses. If we’re focused upon the inner, that something might be a thought, memory, a worry, or a flight of the imagination. Our focus shifts so frequently, and automatically, that it can be easy to forget that we possess the power to direct it. That ability is our birthright; and whether we are master of it, or enslaved by it, makes a big difference in the quality of our lives.

Doubt this could be true? Imagine the following situations and consider the real life difference that focus can make: Dining at a restaurant and choosing to focus on the delightful atmosphere, rather than what seems wrong about the service. Picking up your car after repairs and choosing to focus on being grateful that it’s fixed, rather than the size of the bill. Beginning another night shift and choosing to focus on being grateful for being employed, rather than how tired you may feel in the morning.

For those who desire to consciously create better lives, it’s imperative that we learn how to deliberately direct our focus. The alternative, which is well known among those who meditate, is termed monkey mind. The term applies perfectly, for it depicts a mind leaping from stimuli to stimuli, unable to stop itself. A quote by Robin Sharma also holds relevance:

The mind is an excellent servant but a terrible master.

In How The Mind Works, Christian D. Larson cautioned that outer stimuli should never be allowed to make an impression upon the unconscious mind. Why? Because if we’re mentally absent, we become vulnerable to the consequences related to negative thoughts. How, though, do we rid ourselves of the negative, and often repetitive, weeds that might keep popping into our mind? The method is simple and becomes easier with practice: by withdrawing our attention from them! When we do, negative thoughts wither from our experience.

We are creators or, if you will, gardeners of the mind. It’s our responsibility to properly tend the garden of our mind; no one can do it for us. At first, such may seem a daunting task; but it’s actually a privilege. The rewards of learning how to direct our focus–from weed to flower, or from negative to positive–are well worth the effort. Just take a look at Lisa’s garden to be reminded.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Think2wice

CONSCIOUSNESS, SPIRITUALITY, & LAW OF ATTRACTION

Tag: Inspiration

Affirmations in Life

Bending Reality

Give Yourself a Chance

Deciding Links

Good Storytellers

Right Mental Attitude

Susie’s Going to Be Late!

This Orderly Universe

Unconditional Living

Gardeners of The Mind

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