Please join me, if you will, on a journey of remembering the feeling of days when our spirit sang with freedom; when we were happily unaware of mind chores that claim they must be done; when the words yesterday and tomorrow held no meaning. “Such” is still alive within us.
During the next few hours, you’re invited to:
Withdraw from all news media; in spite of being fearful of being struck ignorant or uncaring.
Write a list of 12.279 things that must be absolutely right before you will enjoy life. Prove the list wrong by literally or figuratively burning it.
Drop the seeming importance of your medals, trophies, formal education, resumé, and achievements. Ask, “Are they?” Ask the same of your so-called failures.
Imagine how a child feels upon meeting a new friend.
Listen carefully to children playing. As you overhear them rant and complain, make a list of their sorrowful woes about the economy or state of the world.
Glance at your “To-Do” list of chores demanding attention; then just as quickly turn away.
Drop all of your mind stories related to “I did this” and “He/she did that.”
Close your eyes and follow your breath into an inner world of wonder. Return as awareness, carrying the sense of wonder with you.
Remove the stain related to “life will be better when” by asking if “when” ever arrives.
Take off your ego’s muddy galoshes, and run bare foot.
Acknowledge the Divine Power that’s beating your heart. Bow your head and whisper “Thank you.”
Pack a picnic (however meager) and dine at a new location, in the glorious fullness of Now.
Look upon everyone (the young and the seeming old) as a child of the Creator. They are.
For sixty seconds, feel your heart’s warm unity of Oneness with All. Repeat.
Count your “haves,” instead of your “wants.”
Be with your hands as they slowly open and close. Can you feel the miracle?
Through awareness, Be peace, here and now. Silently say “hush” if the mind attempts to intrude.
Give.
Love.
Be grateful.
Through awareness, we may reignite so much of the joy that we felt as children. This world, Life, needn’t seem like such a bothersome chore. We don’t have to manage it, change it, or define it according to the mind’s perspective. Wonder, amusement, and excitement are waiting to be born into experience through Presence.
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” 🙏🏻🧡
Note: This post is a revamped edition of the first article that I posted on my blog, on January 17, 2016. I hope that it will inspire you to turn within and activate more of the innate greatness that’s the real YOU.
***
Until May 6, 1954, a mile had never been run in under four minutes. Think of it: under four minutes to run 1,760 yards, 5,280 feet, or 1609.34 meters. That a human can run that distance, that fast, is still an amazing feat. The math works out to an average of fifteen miles per hours.
At the time, the idea of running a sub four-minute mile was inconceivable to most people. The human body was believed incapable of moving that fast; as though opposing forces were shouting “impossible!” and that we had to listen. That assumption stood as a seemingly solid and unbreakable barrier until it crumbled under the will, belief, and ability of one man–Roger Bannister; who ran a race that was fueled by the indomitable power of his spirit. His world record of 3 minutes 59.4 seconds was set at Iffley Road Track in Oxford, England.
There’s a rumour that I’m going to use for the purpose of this article; and it doesn’t matter one whit if it’s true. Years ago, I read that in preparation for his famous run, Roger wrote a time–sub four minutes–on a slip of paper and placed it in his shoes.
Imagine how keeping his desire close
and beingremindedof it
could motivate him to achieve his goal.
You, too, can write a note to yourself, about any desire that you choose. It’s important to be specific and clear. By doing so, we bring our intention to life. We’re not leaving our life to fate; we’re writing our own destiny! For this technique to be effective, ensure that you read your note (goal card) every day, with an attitude of calm and receptive faith. If the logical mind comes knocking, don’t open the door.
For those of you who may wonder how doing what I’ve just described could possibly make any difference, please know that I “hear” what you might be thinking. We’ve been conditioned to believe that we must be extremely fortunate, born lucky, or work extremely hard to achieve our goals. But such is not actually the case. In support of this, I offer the following quote, which is attributed to Andrew Carnegie, who was one of the wealthiest men in the world:
“Any idea that is held in the mind, that is emphasized, that is either feared or revered,
will begin at once tocloth itself
in the most convenient and appropriate form available.”
When the quote is interpreted through the materialism lens of “reality,” the part about an idea “clothing” itself in form seems ludicrous. The KEY of understanding the principle of deliberate manifestation is to know your true Self (beyond the ego) and realize the following:
Awareness is all that there is. Every person, object, and event is made of Awareness.It’s impossible to have an experience in the absence of Awareness. Such explains why the nature of the thoughts and feelings that we entertain is so important. They’re the mental blueprints for our life.
Now, I ask you: What will you write on your goal card? Would you like to lose a few pounds? If so, write an affirmation, phrased in the present tense, and assume you’re at your ideal weight NOW. If it’s financial prosperity that you desire, write that affirmation and assume you’re that rich NOW. Make it your habit to read your goal card when you first awaken in the morning, and before drifting off to sleep at night. These are the times of day when our subconscious mind is receptive and highly impressionable. Believe that you have your desire NOW—because NOW is all that we ever experience. The past and the future are only concepts. So what’s your desire? Better health? Greater success? Loving relationships? You know what to do.
Based on the title of this article, I also suggest setting aside a minimum of four minutes each day to envision your goal in as much sensory vividness as possible. Imagine a scene that implies that your goal has already been achieved. By doing so, you’re planting a seed of intention in the garden of your mind. Through gentle but persistent repetition, the subconscious mind will accept your new belief and prompt you to act upon intuitive nudges. The more that you trust, the closer you’ll move toward the fulfillment of your goal.
In case you’re curious, Roger’s record for a sub four-minute mile lasted for only forty-six days before it was broken by John Landy, on June 21, 1954. So, where does the world record stand now? Has it been lowered by a few more seconds, or a minute or two? According to Chatgpt, the current record for a human running the mile was set on July 7, 1999 by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco. His time stands at 3:43.13. This didn’t happen by chance.
The mysterious power of belief was involved…every…step…of…the…way.
Special Note: To add to your understanding about the nature of our “reality,” I recommend reading some or all of the following articles in my blog. They contain information that supports what I’ve already shared. Here’s list of titles, with links that lead directly to the articles:
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” 🙏🏻🧡
Before David has even raised his head off of the pillow, the torture begins again: This is wrong, and that is wrong. He tosses himself into a sitting position on the side of the bed, and a minute later something else appears wrong. His life isn’t the way it should be–he knows it! His mind tells him so. He goes to the washroom, and as he prepares for work more negative thoughts enter his mind. His life is full of wrongness. It’s just the way David’s life is…or so he thinks.
What David doesn’t realize is that life has nothing against him. In fact, it’s on his side. The evidence is all about him, if he’d only stop, pay attention, and see clearly. His heart beats, circulating blood, without any effort on his part. His lungs expand and contract beautifully, without any prompting from him. His digestion, too, especially when he’s not stewing about the sad state of the world, functions perfectly. All occurs with neither his consent nor participation. Still, however, David thinks that his life is wrong. His mind incessantly informs him of the seemingly-so fact.
How David would love to have a better life. He’s read many of the self improvement books. If he does this, he will be happy. If he rearranges his life that way, he will be happier still. Such-And-Such expert advises to do this; So-And-So psychologist concurs. For years, David has been studying personal transformation–how to become one of those blessed people who just fall into good luck. He desperately hopes that another night course, another book, or another counsellor may offer relief.
Here’s the truth: There’s nothing wrong with David’s life beyond his mind’s compulsive habit of labeling it wrong! If his life were left alone, free of the continuous negative rattling of his mind, there would only be isness. His job, his divorce, his finances, and his state of health are not wrong. All are only isness–empty except for the meaning that he, himself, gives them. Only in David’s mind does such become a problem. The joy he seeks is so very close. If only he knew.
David has no clue that his suffering is self imposed. Life isn’t doing it to him; his ego (the conceptual self) is the cause. David has lost touch with the awareness (so natural in children) that exists prior to mind. For David to heal, a break from the compulsive chatter of his mind must occur. The problem is he thinks that thinking can offer a solution–when, in fact, it is the I-Thought that actually is the problem! As a wise person once said, it’s like trying to remove blood with a bloody rag.
The solution? Stillness, first of body and then of mind. If David can catch a glimpse of life beyond the realm of thinking, the clear and luminous essence of his true self will have a chance to shine through and be recognized. As advised in spiritual teachings, he would also be wise to pose this question: Who am I? Such can stop the mind in its tracks and lead to great revelation. Do we–as in David’s case–desire a healthier, happier life? Do we yearn to break free from the destructive side of thinking? Do we desire to reconnect with our true self, and create from a state of innate peace and joy? If so, now is the perfect opportunity to still our mind and ask the question. The answer may surprise.
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. 🙏🙏
Think2wice 