Positive Techniques and Tips

There are times when we will face challenges. We may be feeling down or experiencing the valleys of life. When such occurs, it can be frustrating to hear someone–no matter how well-intentioned–say that we should just think positively! That type of advice, in fact, may drive us deeper into a negative mindset; for it can seem as though we’re being advised to deny reality.

Although such advice may seem hollow or trite that doesn’t negate its truth, when we interpret it in a different manner. Logically, we realize that we can’t possibly benefit from dwelling intensely on the problem. We know that for every time we think I’ve got a huge problem we’re only making the problem larger. We also realize that the solution cannot possibly be discovered through a problem-based perspective. The key is making a practical shift; so that positive thinking can offer real solutions. Below are a few techniques and tips to help make that shift occur when we need it most.

Wear something–perhaps a bracelet, ring, or necklace–that serves as a reminder to reach for positive thoughts. Consider inscribing it with a meaningful message.
Choose your friends and company wisely. It’s well known that environment–either positive or negative–contributes to how we feel about life. Since feeling (vibration) is integral to what we attract into our lives, it’s important to feel good as much as possible. If our friends are habitually negative, we may need to develop more positive-minded companionship.
Guard against the negative news that you allow into your life. Replace it with inspirational messages and books. Consider subscribing to daily or weekly positive email reminders.
Seek people and mentors who are positive toward life and who habitually experience great results.
Question your beliefs. Ask yourself if you must always react negatively in challenging situations. Consider the alternative: Could you develop a more positive attitude that’s grounded in courage, perseverence, and patience?
Realize that life is always changing. Such means that challenging situations must also pass. They will eventually change on their own. However, their transformation will occur more quickly and easily when you live through a positive attitude.
Make time for you. Exercise, meditation, a walk in nature, and other enjoyable activities will help you redirect your focus.
Do something kind for someone else. This practice effectively redirects your attention from your own troubling situation.
If possible, live from a more detached perspective. View your negative thoughts as though objects outside of yourself–perhaps as clouds crossing the sky. With practice, you’ll be able to redirect your attention with greater ease.
Realize that you’re only destined to be a certain way in life–perhaps negatively focused–if you believe that to be true. New and better habits can be learned. The key is to realize your own freedom. This is easier when you stand in your rightful place–as the witness of circumstances–rather than being mired in them.
Gratitude is a powerful tool to shift your life. Can you, now, be grateful for even one thing?

Perhaps most important is to allow ourselves to be who we are in any moment, even if we’re feeling down. The lows actually remind us to grow stronger and reach for better thoughts.

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” 🙏🏻🧡

The Open Road

For anyone new to the study of the Law of Attraction, the teachings related to deliberate creation may seem confusing or even illogical. We are taught so much: that there’s a Divine Source which permeates everything; that It is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent; that we should Ask, Believe, and Receive; and that we should habitually act on our best intuitive nudges. The subject of this article relates to yet another teaching: Detached Intention.

What does detached intention mean? It means that we are to know what we desire, and then release it–in a relaxed and detached manner–and let the Universe guide us toward its achievement. The teaching initially turned me away from my study of the Law of Attraction because it seemed ludicrous. How, I reasoned, am I ever to achieve my goal if I relax about it? That, however, only revealed my own ignorance.

The benefits of detached intention are many, but first lets examine the subject through the use of an analogy: Imagine that we’re going on a road trip. We have a clear destination–intention–in mind. We have plotted your course, and have a rigid and unyielding route regarding how to get there. Day One: We set out driving toward our desired destination, and all goes well. We’re on schedule and happy, heading in the right direction. Day Two: We awaken at our pre-set time, jump in our car, and set out with our preconceived plan of how the day must unfold. An hour into the drive, however, we come upon an unforeseen roadblock that forces us to stop. We’re heading nowhere, or so it seems. We have no plan for such an occurrence; and it begins to frustrate us, for we have places to go, people to see, and a goal that must be achieved. With no alternate route in mind, we have no choice but to sit and wait. In fact, we wait so long that we begin to question the value of our goal. It seems so distant, perhaps not even worth the drive.

Fortunately for us, there’s another way to travel, which is taught through the law of attraction teachings. We learn:

That by remaining open, we may access the vast intelligence of the Universe. By comparison, our own intelligence is miniscule.
That by aligning ourselves with uncertainty, we leave ourselves open to discovering the best and shortest route toward our goal. Source–as we are told–will guide us through our faculty of intuition.
That we can trust life. In the process, we will foster patience and faith.
That the more relaxed we are, the more easily we attune to guidance. We will make an unplanned phone call, read a book unfamiliar to us, connect with someone new online, unexpectedly visit a tradeshow. Worry, as mentioned in a previous article, always works against our best interests.
That the world won’t fall apart if our goal isn’t met! Through this, we may gain a healthier perspective and become more grateful.
That being detached doesn’t mean being lazy! Far from it. Work is still required, but it will be in response to our intuitive nudges. We will plot our way, as far as we can see, but we will also be willing to change course.
That contrary to popular opinion, life isn’t intended to be a struggle. Our misguided thinking is what often makes it so. When we become more comfortable in the flow of life, we will find our way more quickly and easily.

How easily we may convince ourselves that we know the best and only road to travel toward our goal. Such a practice, however, attempts to make the world yield to us. The truth, however, is that we don’t apply the Law of Attraction but align ourselves with it! Knowing this, we’ll understand that the wisest and most positive way to travel is via the open road.

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”

It Just “Is”

Today’s article is going to help anyone to create better life experiences. Guaranteed. The method is free, is easy to use, and will bring immediate results. With a little practice, it has the potential to dramatically change the quality of our life. I’m going to use a real-life experience to share my message:

It’s raining today, at least where I live. Grey clouds are hanging over town as though they might stay forever. They won’t. It was under these conditions that I ran some errands this morning. At the checkout of one of the stores I visited, the woman behind the counter glanced out the front window and remarked, “What a crappy day.” I replied, “Well, it’s raining, that’s for sure.” She made another statement about ducks liking this kind of weather.

I realize that such comments are often intended as conversations starters, which is wonderful because it engages people and provides an opportunity to share. Also, I’m not judging the woman as being right or wrong for her dislike of rainy weather; she just made a comment that felt appropriate for her. I would, however, like to offer an alternative way of looking at life.

We who desire to learn more about the Law of Attraction, and how to manifest more effectively, understand that what we’re habitually telling our subconscious mind literally “matters.” We know that positive or negative thought patterns create according to their nature. We realize, too, that underlying programming gives context to everything we experience. In other words, telling ourselves that a rainy day equates to a “crappy day” creates a crappy day. It’s just the way it is. Anyone who lives with a rainy day mentality is inviting negative influences to other aspects of their day. This is logical. The experience has been labeeled, as though carved in stone, with little or no awareness that it could be labelled otherwise.

My message today also relates to freedom. Such freedom is available here and now when we break free of the mind’s incessant need to label. Can we allow life to just be? Could a situation, event, or circumstance just be what it is? The benefits of living in this manner are tremendous, but they’re dependent on our effort. Every time we deliberately practice allowing, we disempower our old limiting programs and invite a brighter life experience. We’ll discover that it’s actually possible to enjoy a rainy day. The air will feel vibrant and fresh, cleansed by the rain that once seemed a curse!

As we dig deeper within, we’ll unearth more labels, which may no longer seem relevant to what’s currently occurring. No one, including me, will deny that certain situations are more challenging, for many labels are deeply ingrained. Still, our new practice holds value. By detaching ourselves from our mind’s habitual narrative, we may also discover our higher self, the witness. From this perspective, we’re grounded in the very core of our Being; rather than upon the shifting sands of effects.

Can you imagine catching yourself the next time you’re about to automatically label this as good or that as bad? The practice has the potential to transform your life. And with just a little observation, you’ll understand that a thought is only creative when empowered with attention. The upshot is that you’ll find yourself consciously attracting more of the good you desire, from within.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

No Complaints

January 7th, Tuesday, 2:34 in the afternoon: That was the exact moment that I realized the senselessness of complaining. About everything. It was a grey day; the sky blanketed with low-flying clouds that held the promise of a snow storm in the making.

On that day, having just overheard a woman remark about having not too bad a day, and a man state that the weather was terrible, I experienced an epiphany about the Law of Attraction. It included insights into my own life. Suddenly, I realized that I was–and had always been–the one labelling my own experiences. All of them. No experience came pre-stamped with either Good or Bad, Right or Wrong! I alone was the one judging my day, through the power of my mind. In that moment, I realized the insanity of wasting even one more moment to negative thoughts, words, or actions!

Some people might ask if that has changed the quality of my life. Whether dropping a habit could help me deliberately create better days, more success, greater happiness? Yes, it absolutely can. My answer to that question may seem simple, but it’s logical. It’s based on information I learned through a YouTube presentation by Bob Proctor, who studied and taught the Law of Attraction for many years. He stated that nature abhors a vacuum. He said that on the physical plain we can easily understand that two objects can’t occupy the same space at the same time. It’s impossible. With this in mind, I also realized that on the mental realm, no two thoughts can occupy the same place in mind. Therefore: By withdrawing focus from one mental habit–in this case, complaining–we create space for a new, more positive, thought to fill it. Any psychologist will tell us that we don’t eliminate a habit; we merely replace one with another.

When we stop complaining, it leaves our mind open to focus on what’s right with the world, instead of harping about what’s wrong. It also allows us to drop the limiting word “should.” This should happen or that should happen; or the day should be like this. In place of should, we leave room for an attitude of radical acceptance of life–as it is, here and now. Through this, we open a gateway toward peace and joy. When we awaken, we realize that we are creators, who use focused attention to weave the fabric of our life.

Confession time: Have I really given up complaining, cold turkey, completely, forever? No, but a shift is definitely occurring, and it’s strong. My focus, now and onward, is toward the positive. And only the positive! That’s good, for the quality of our life depends on it.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Stake Your Claim!

Today while running some errands, I entered into a brief conversation with a young woman who was working at a clinic. When it came time to depart, I said that I hoped that she would have a good day. Her reply was “I will.” In those two words, I realized that she understood the importance of what we’re telling ourselves on a consistent basis. She didn’t say “I hope so,” or “time will tell,” or “what are the chances?” She stated–as though a fact–“I will.”

Deliberate creators realize, either consciously or subconsciously, that certain behaviours create certain results. They know that thoughts lead to feelings, actions, habits, and results. The Law of Attraction, simply defined as like attracts like, is functioning through every aspect of the process of manifestation. Nothing’s left to chance; for deliberate creators don’t believe in chance. An analogy may make this clearer:

Imagine that you knew of a parcel of land, beneath which lay tonnes of un-mined gold. The veins of gold are rich, and crisscross the property close to the surface. It would be easy to mine. Only you know about the land, and the reserve of gold. And now a question: Given that only you are aware of the gold, who could be its rightful owner?

Until you actually claimed it–meaning staked a claim to it–no one could actually own it! Not even you! The point is that we must first claim what is ours, in much the same way that the young woman claimed that she would have a great day! She wasn’t waiting to see if life would give her a great day; she was creating it! She knew it, and she claimed it! We must stake claim to the life that we desire. If it’s greater health that we desire–we must claim it! If it’s greater wealth that we desire–we must claim it! If it’s a business that we desire–we must claim it! We must think it, state it, claim it, act it, and be it!

So, how do we do this? First: Focus; become clear about what you really desire. It’s your life, and your decision. Then: Write your goals down in the present tense, as though they’re already accomplished. Begin with: I Am now……… (You might add: the owner of my first house; in a loving relationship with a wonderful partner; exercising four times each week). Make your goals as specific as possible. If it’s a certain amount of money you desire, claim it in exact figures. If it’s a career you desire, claim it precisely; e.g., a nurse, a lawyer, a plumber, the owner of ‘this type’ of business. And then?

Refer to your goals frequently, and by that I mean at least once a day. When you read them, imagine the experience of that reality; engage as many of your senses as possible. Next, confidently and patiently wait for the intuitive nudges that you’ll receive. When you do, act! Even step counts, for they’re what move you forward. If any of this sounds foolish–or as though you’re denying reality–you might contemplate what’s really foolish: leaving the dreams and talents that are unique to you (your gold) buried for a lifetime! Trust the process. First, though, stake your claim! Your future depends on it.

Dare to dream.

With heartfelt regards,

Art

.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 Mirror Called Life

A human incarnation provides the opportunity to learn more about ourselves, our nature, and our way of Being. Through the teachings of the Law of Attraction, we learn that we attract, or create, in accordance with our habitual thoughts and feelings. We understand that apparently external circumstances are not, in fact, independent; but actually reflections of who we “are.” This may turn some students away, because we’re asked to accept that we have created, perhaps subconsciously, the conditions of our ifle. It demands that we acknowledge more of our responsibility. To explore this at a deeper level, please contemplate the imaginary day in the life of John Doe. It’s a day without the mirror called Life.

Thursday, July 12th: Mr. John Doe (who’s thirty-five, father of three, and a carpenter) drives to his work site, picks up his tools, and begins his day. He hammers nails, saws lumber, and shouts orders to his crew. He climbs ladders, helps raise a wall, and speaks with his foreman. He eats, drinks coffee, and goes to the washroom. After a number of hours, he climbs into his truck and drives home. When he enters his house, his wife asks him how his day went. With a puzzled expression, John replies, “I don’t know. I know that I pounded nails, cut some 2 x 6’s, ate, drank, and urinated several times. “Do you know what you built?” she asks. And to this, he says, “I haven’t a clue.”

As ridiculous as this example seems, it can still help us understand the workings of life. How could we ever know who we were becoming if it wasn’t reflected in our circumstances? Without a feedback loop how would we learn? We could be as clueless as John Doe; who didn’t know whether he was building a bungalow or a barn.

A few questions may help: Are your beliefs about love building wonderful relationships? Are your beliefs about success building lasting significance? Are your beliefs about health creating vigor and a balanced lifestyle? Are your beliefs about prosperity creating a life that’s reflects true wealth? Without the mirror of life, and the reflection of people, experiences, and circumstances, our state of being would remain a mystery. Without the mirror. we could never evolve because we wouldn’t know the outcome of our daily experiments. With this understanding, we realize that life is actually teachings us; it’s on our side.

Our soul task, if we care to embrace it, is to express the best version of ourselves in this moment. And then the next, and the next after that. As nothing remains static, we can only do our best in this moment. The quality of our thinking is integral to our success as human beings and the results that we experience. Choose wisely–the mirror called life is always reflecting.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

The LOA Whisperer

Psssst. Psssssst! Hey you, are you listening? That’s right, I’m talking to you. I thought I’d check in and see how you’re doing with the Law of Attraction–deliberately, that is. I realize that you’re relatively new to the teachings, and I wanted you to know that you’re not alone. I’m here for you.

Are you putting the teachings–namely that we bring about what we think about–into practice? Are you finding it easier to choose the nature of your thoughts? How about last week, or yesterday, when that guy cut you off in traffic? Were you able to stay strong and focused, realizing that it just is what it is? Did you use the experience to empower yourself? If not, keep the faith. And what about at that recent party, when people were gossiping and talking negatively about the state of the world? Were you able to remain detached, and choose to focus on all the good that’s occurring? Are you responding more, and reacting less? That’s a huge step; for it proves that you’ve made space for the power of choice. Are you beginning to realize that you can accept or reject any train of thoughts? And how about your vision for your future? Are you deliberately taking a few minutes each day to look at your written goals and visualize them as existing now?

If you’re finding it challenging, please be patient. Selectively choosing your thoughts gets much easier as you make it a habit. The idea of controlling your thoughts may seem difficult at first, but when you begin to see positive results–in your state of health, wealth, and success–it becomes much easier. It’s all about positive momentum. I’ve got two tips that are going to make manifesting positive change in your life much easier:

Tip One: Willpower. Most people believe that the use of willpower relates to work, namely working harder and longer, followed by increasing effort. These people believe that you have to force life, at the physical level. That’s the hard way; basically like pushing boulders up hill, day after day. You might ask Sisyphus, of Greek mythology, about that! The most powerful and effective use of the will is related to our thinking. When we use willpower this way, two things happen: The first is that we introduce change at the level of cause (because we know that positive thoughts lead to positive feelings, actions, habits, and results). The second is that we assume our rightful position as Spirit above thoughts. Our thoughts are intended to serve us; not the other way around! If our thoughts are using us we need to change that hierarchy; and the sooner the better!

Tip Two: Love. When we realize the importance of love, especially self-love, we begin to make giant strides in what we’re deliberately manifesting. Let’s look at an example: When we love ourselves enough to care about the state of our health, we’ll deliberately choose health-related thoughts because we realize that thoughts aligned with health lead to positive habits that lead to positive actions and, in turn, positive results! The same logic applies to our wealth, relationships, and degree of success in other aspects of our life.

I’m going to go for now, but I’ll be back. Keep doing what you’re doing. You’re gaining in strength and insight. I believe in you, and I know that you can effect the positive change that you desire. You know how to do it: one..thought…at…a…time.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Worry? Not!

We who desire to create our lives deliberately–through a better and wiser understanding of the Law of Attraction–realize that what we manifest is directly connected to what we’re thinking. We accept this as truth. It’s logical. Evolution, we realize, is best accomplished through greater awareness of what’s going on in our mind. We also realize that to manifest more effectively, we must govern how we think, feel, speak, and act.

Knowing this, we become selective about the thoughts we entertain. Just as we wouldn’t nonchalantly toss our car keys to a madman and say “Drive it as you please” we, similarly, don’t allow our mind to drive us. We’re in the driver’s seat. We drive. We choose, deliberately, to focus upon our favourable habits of mind, and let negative habits fall away. One such negative habit is that of worry. Most people may view it as a harmless pasttime; but that’s not the case. The following verse from Job 3:25 reveals the harmful effects of a negative mindset: “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.”

The best explanation regarding the subject of worry that I know came to me via a daily email from Abraham Hicks, which is well known in the Law of Attraction community. The following isn’t a quote, but it relates the gist of the message: When you’re thinking, you’re planning. And when you’re worrying, you’re also planning. Can you see the truth of this? When we’re thinking, we’re deliberately applying our mental focus toward a certain goal. We may be thinking about an upcoming trip, a business venture, a home we’d like to build, or even a romantic interest. In such a case, the subject of our thought focus is positive–and the outcome desired. Conversely, with worry, the subject of our thought focus is negative–and the outcome undesired. The thoughts may be along these lines; I hope I don’t fail the exam. I hope I’m not late. What if I don’t have enough money? With both processes we’re applying creative energy toward a specific subject. Remember: All thought is creative. Worry serves no useful purpose at all.

When we realize the power of our mind, and how it responds to our habitual thoughts, we will understand the importance of wisely choosing our focus. The next time we hear someone say “You can worry about that later,” we’ll know there’s a wiser approach. In fact, we might deliberately choose to do as the following quote from Henry David Thoreau advises: If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. There’s truth in those words.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Chains of Fate

Years ago, I read about a training method that is sometimes used to confine elephants to a certain area. The technique is very simple: When the elephant is a young calf, a trainer pounds a stake into the ground and then attaches a substantial chain to it and a clasp around the elephant’s leg. At first, the elephant–which is naturally curious to explore–attempts to pull against the chain; but when it does, the clasp digs into its leg and inflicts pain. Every time the elephant attempts to free itself, it feels the pain. The elephant ultimately becomes resigned and accepts its fate. It just hurts too much to attempt to break free.

This method proves most useful to the trainer when the elephant reaches maturity. A chain is still placed on the leg of the full-grown elephant–which, at this point, is big enough to easily break it–but the painful old programming keeps the elephant confined. How could this be? Because the elephant just doesn’t realize that it could be free…if it would only try.

You probably realize why I’m sharing this with you. It is, of course, for the parallel lesson that may be applied to humans and the goals we desire to manifest. All of us have endured painful lessons in life. And those lessons–whatever they may be–are still present in our mind. We may be conscious of many of them, but others are functioning at a subconscious level. The point is that they are still there; preventing us from reaching our full potential in much the same way that the chain kept the elephant confined.

Over time, we may have subconsciously resigned ourselves to the notion of a power outside of ourselves. Due to these Chains of Fate, we may rationalize that our dreams are impossible to achieve; that Life just didn’t intend for us to be healthier, wealthier, fall in love, or be more successful. The truth of the matter, however, is that we can reach beyond such limitations if we only realize that we are free! The past can only confine us if we fail to recognize our power!

Our true nature is that of unlimited potential, for we’ve been given the greatest mental faculty on the planet: the ability to think! We may also exercise our power to choose! Through our ability to think and choose, we may determine the degree of success we enjoy. Here–right now, this very minute–is our chance to slip out of any self-imposed Chains of Fate and take that first step toward the dreams we desire to manifest.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

“Thank You” & “Note to Publishers”

Become a Better You!

Jim Rohn (1930 – 2009) was a master when it came to motivating people. Sincere, knowledgeable, and personable, he possessed the magic ability to convey teachings that helped thousands, if not millions, of people achieve their goals. Using everyday language, he shared nuggets of wisdom that we could apply. One such nugget related to the following:

Early in his career–when he was first learning to apply the techniques to create a better life–he was feeling impatient. He wondered when life was going to get better. He was working hard and applying himself, but nothing seemed to be improving. He wondered if life would improve when the economy changed. He wondered if life would improve when his company changed. He wondered if life would improve if this, that, and the other thing changed. Finally, a mentor told him the truth: Life, and the results he experienced, would improve when Jim changed! The mentor obviously understood that circumstances are an effect of our state of being.

How can changing ourself possibly make a difference? Isn’t the world independent of who we are? No, in fact, there’s not separation. The person we are–literally–and the results we experience in this world are one-in-same. Through this system, we’re enabled to see ourselves; to realize what needs to be improved or left the same. By becoming a better person, we will attract results that reflect that improvment. Kinder thoughts, words, and deeds will attract their gentler counterparts in reality. An attitude of being more prosperious within will be reflected as greater prosperity without. Anais Nin obviously knew this when she wrote: We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.

Doubt that this can be true? That’s good; because true knowledge isn’t gained by merely copying what others know but through our own understanding. If courageous, however, you’ll realize that you have nothing to lose, and everything to gain, by examining your own character. Take a look at your own traits. Is there room for improvement? Could you expand in your understanding of the world? Could you grow stronger, wiser, more tolerant in an aspect of your Being? Would you want to have you as a friend? If not, an experiment toward creating a better you may be time well spent.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Think2wice

CONSCIOUSNESS, SPIRITUALITY, & LAW OF ATTRACTION

Tag: Inspiration

Positive Techniques and Tips

The Open Road

It Just “Is”

No Complaints

Stake Your Claim!

The Mirror Called Life

The LOA Whisperer

Worry? Not!

Chains of Fate

Become a Better You!

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