Words: A World of Difference

When asked How are you? or How’s your day going? many persons answer by saying “not too bad.” In most cases, their reply is often automatic, with little or no awareness about what they’re telling the world or themselves. Although we may consciously interpret their reply to mean “I’m fine,” or “good;” that’s not the actual message that the subconscious mind hears.

Whenever we think or make a statement with not, never, and no, our mind dismisses the term of negation and focuses on what follows. This function is hardwired into our brain; it’s just the way that it works. If you doubt this could be true, please consider the following:

Do not think of an pink elephant (You just thought of an pink elephant).
Never think of a dancing Chihauhau. (You just thought of a dancing Chihauhau).
No stress (You just reaffirmed stress).
Not too bad (Your subconscious mind heard bad).
No problem (Your subconscious mind didn’t hear “it’s okay;” it heard problem).
No onions (Your server at the restaurant just heard onions, and now has to remember them–so as not to place them on your burger).

My point is related to our understanding of the Law of Attraction; which is basically stated as that which is like is attracted. It’s important to remember that our essential nature is that of divine co-creators. We’ve been conditioned to believe that we’re only flesh and bones; but we’re so much more! We’re the highest expression of the Absolute; and as such, we create in the same manner as our Creator. We use thoughts, words, focus, and actions to create what has been impressed into our mind. If we desire to have days that are not too bad, we don’t need to change anything; but if we desire to raise the bar and strive for GREAT days, and a WONDERFUL life, I suggest the following changes. So, once again, with feeling: How are you?

I’m great, thanks!
Excellent!
Fine, absolutely fine!

I’m not suggesting that we should become automatons, repeating answers that aren’t always true. When we’re feeling depressed or frustrated, it may be appropriate to express our feelings and move on. But, if we’re using expressions such as not too bad as space fillers, rather than a reflection of how we’re actually feeling, it’s to our advantage to use a space filler that leads to better results. The subconscious mind is incapable of discernment or reason; nor can it interpet nuance, inflection, or sarcasm. It simply accepts content and meaning literally; at face value, 24/7.

Our choice of words is directly related to the quality of our lives. Please contemplate the following illustration: Imagine that you’ve been given the opportunity to be an instructor to an up-and-coming golf star. You’ve been entrusted with teaching him the intricacies of the game; and it’s been strongly implied that your job depends on the outcome of a certain tournament. You know that if he wins, you win. You also realize what happens if he loses.

An hour before the tournament is due to begin, you take the promising young player aside, look him squarely in the eyes, and deliver the following pep talk: “I know that you’re probably feeling a tremendous degree of pressure right now, which is understandable. I just want to give you some last-minute pointers. First: Do not, whatever you do, overshoot on Hole Three. Second: Don’t catch that gaping bunker on Hole Seven. Third: Never, I repeat never, lose your focus whenever you’re putting! Got it?“

With what you’ve understood about words and the manner in which the subconscious mind functions, what instructions do you think the subconscious heard prior to tee off? Right! Overshoot on Hole Three; catch the bunker on Hole Seven; and lose your focus while putting! I think you also realize that your career as a golf instructor ended the next day! The good news is that we can use this knowledge to our benefit; in situations that have far more important consequences at stake:

“I am vibrantly healthy;” versus “I am not sick.”
“I am creating great prosperity,” versus “I am not poor.”
“I am going to ace this exam,” versus “I am not going to fail.”

The words that we emphasize through habitual use make a world of difference. Our subconscious mind is always listening, always present, always ready to act. It’s in our best interest to give it something great to overhear. By the way, “I’m great.” Thanks for asking. (If you’re curious about learning more about the law of attraction, I offer more information in my YouTube video entitled The Matthew Effect.)

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” 🙏🏻🧡

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

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

Think2wice

CONSCIOUSNESS, SPIRITUALITY, & LAW OF ATTRACTION

Tag: Subconscious

Words: A World of Difference

Good Storytellers

Susie’s Going to Be Late!

Menu