"Bless Your Heart!"
January 28, 2008 | Leave a Comment
All my life I have heard people use the phrase, “Bless your heart!” Not so much recently, but when I was younger, it seemed like all the older people said it; so much so, in fact, that it lost any real meaning to me. “Bless your heart” was a little like saying, “Hello,” or “Goodbye,” when using the telephone; it was just one of those phrases “old people” used frequently — and automatically, in certain situations.
What is a blessing? And can you really “bless” someone’s heart? And, if you did bless someone’s heart, what did it do; what did it feel like? And why would you do such a thing, anyway? What kid knows the answers to these questions? Most of us are taught that the heart is simply a muscle inside your chest that pumps blood; and a blessing is something you have to say before you eat, or when someone sneezes.
The funny thing about people saying, “Bless your heart,” is that they said it when you did something really nice, or when you got hurt, or when something bad happened to you – and even sometimes when you did something really dumb. All of the different uses only served to further obscure any practical meaning. But, I now know that, whether I am feeling good, or feeling bad, I’d always rather receive a blessing than a curse. It’s always Better to Bless.
A commonly accepted definition of, “Blessing,” is: “to infuse with Divinity, or with one’s hopes.” Blessing seems to be our way of sending love, energy, gratitude, or healing from our heart into something, or someone, that seems to be in need, or somehow worthy or deserving of a gift or demonstration of appreciation or love.
Philosophers and prophets throughout time have focused their greatest wisdom teachings on the faculties and power of the human heart – not as a mere muscle, but as the center of our being. Though unfathomable to most people, our greatest minds have always agreed that the heart, in addition to distributing the “spark of life” throughout our bodies, is very much a living magnet that draws us together with our desires and offers supreme guidance – if only we listen to the “still, quiet voice within.”
According to ancient wisdom teachings, and the latest advances in medical and scientific research, the heart is much more than a muscle. The heart is a “thinking organ,” just like the brain; except the heart doesn’t seem to make the same mistakes in judgment the brain makes. Ancient teachings from every religion and culture on Earth talk about the role of the heart in thinking and believing — in creating your physiology and your experience of life.
“As you believe in your heart, so it is done unto you,” is not simply poetry or scripture; it is advice for creating your own experience. The Institute of HeartMath is a global leader in research on the heart. Researchers at HeartMath have found that, “when you learn how to intentionally shift to a positive emotion, heart rhythms immediately change.” According to HeartMath, “A shift in heart rhythms may not seem important but in fact it creates a favorable cascade of neural, hormonal and biochemical events that benefit the entire body. The stress-reducing effects are both immediate and long lasting.”
It is an established fact that a person on the receiving end of a kind act benefits to a certain degree – emotionally and physically. But it is also a medical fact that the person performing the kind act also benefits from the release of healing, good-mood producing hormones that benefit both health and mood. Even more interesting is the fact that anyone witnessing a kind act experiences the same positive health benefits as the giver and receiver of the kindness.
In addition to the immediate benefits experienced a result of the positive effects of giving, receiving, or witnessing a blessing, there is evidence that harnessing and focusing the power of prayer, as a group, can create even bigger positive changes in the world. Kate Nowak’s Blessing Experiment (www.BetterToBless.com), according to ancient wisdom, and cutting edge medical and scientific research, has the power to change the world by bringing a tremendous number of people together with the common goal of focusing on blessing rather than stressing. Prayer studies have shown that the collective mental energy of a group of people with a common desire had a measurable affect on outcomes – hence the practice of “mass,” and other group prayer practices and rituals. “The family that prays together stays together,” they say; and, “what any two agree on in prayer will surely come to pass.”
Besides the potential effects that can be generated by a group of people praying for the same thing at the same time, a single person praying for the same thing over a period of time will generate measurable results in that person’s life and health. Supporting Kate Nowak’s Blessing Challenge is HeartMath research that reveals the power of sustained positive thinking – and the health benefits it generates.
When you bless someone, there is every reason to believe that something “magical” can happen; prayers are answered and dreams come true – “All things are possible.” But there is no question that, when you bless someone, everyone benefits in a very real and immediate sense. Being in a environment of people experiencing the physiological effects of receiving, giving, or witnessing “Blessings” is a clinically-proven benefit to body, mind, and spirit, and the ideal situation for “creating your reality” “according to your beliefs.”
Whether this positive energy of love and creation is given from one heart to another, or inspired from within in response to the sharing of a blessing, or an act of kindness, there is no doubt that it is always Better to Bless. Bless your Heart!
*To learn more about the power of the heart, and its role in your health, prayers, and experience, visit: HeartMath
*To take the Blessing Challenge, or join the Blessing Experiment, check out Kate Nowak’s site: www.BetterToBless.com
The Z-Point Process: The One-Word Prayer You can use Anywhere!
January 27, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Recently, in response to an article I had written on Forgiveness, I was contacted by a person who said, “Physiologically, the brain can’t forget; I’d like to forgive, but how can I forget what was done to a young child? How can I forget that trauma when I am alone at night in the dark…?” This person’s prayer was to forgive and forget the past; but they didn’t know how to release the thoughts that kept them stuck in the past.
The brain and body do indeed operate much like a computer — remembering and storing everything that happens to you. The brain seems to act like the central processor; while the rest of the body serves to store memories, input and output information, transmit electrical signals and commands, and execute, or perform, the programs sent by the brain. When everything is working smoothly, information is gathered, experienced, processed, assimilated, and released; but when we experience trauma, we can sometimes get stuck in a memory-loop that affects us much like a computer virus affects a computer — slowing it down, making some operations impossible, and shortening the life of the computer.
Consider that a computer virus that causes pop-ups is a program stored in your computer’s memory — a program which can be activated remotely (by outside influence), triggered locally by actions you don’t know will trigger it, or which turns itself on automatically according to a schedule. An alarm clock ringing at 6:00am is another example of a behavior that engages automatically at a pre-determined, or pre-programmed, time.
The problems with pop-up viruses and alarm clocks is that they keep you from doing what you want to do in a somewhat annoying way. But, in both cases, we understand why the unwanted behavior is happening; and we know how to stop the behavior, or change it — and it is up to us to take the necessary action to produce the conditions we desire. In the case of a computer, we can simply hit the “Delete” key, or the “Escape” key; with an alarm clock, we can hit the “Snooze” button and go back to sleep.
But what about humans? Do we have an “Escape” key? Can we be programmed to “turn on and off?” What about our thoughts? In case you’ve never tried this before, you can tell yourself prior to going to sleep at night that you will sleep the appropriate number of hours and wake up at 6:00am, for example; and your body will do it. You can tell yourself to “Hold on!”; and your body will do it. What if you told yourself, “Let go…”? Humans do respond to programming and commands they are given; in fact, that’s practically all we do. When we pray, we may be asking God to create new conditions for us; but there is often at least one practical step we must take — there is something different we must tell ourselves to do, a “button” we must push, or a command we must issue. As they say, “God helps those who help themselves;” if your prayer was for a few more minutes of sleep, God’s given you a way — but it’s up to you to push the snooze button.
Grant Connolly, creator of the Z-Point Personal Peace Program, has developed a simple process by which we can use a single “Key Word” to stimulate, or encourage, the mind to release its grip on a predetermined set of “problem thoughts,” or worries, fears, etc… I sometimes call the Z-Point Process, “The One-Word Prayer;” because, just like a computer or alarm clock, your brain and nervous system can be programmed, or conditioned, to relax and let-go when you decide you want to relax and let-go — and say “the magic word.”
Based on ancient wisdom teachings and principles (”As a man thinketh…”), ancient healing principles, and the latest breakthroughs in modern medicine and science, the Z-Point Personal Peace Program offers a quick and graceful way to release the past so you can embrace the present and reach for the stars. Within the past decade, science and medicine have uncovered the psychological (thoughts), neuro-electrical (neurotransmitters/nervous signals), chemical (hormones), and physiological (cell behavior) pathway between what we “thinketh,” and what is “done unto us.” All branches of medicine and psychology deal with human problems at some point along this continuum; and now they know why.
The Z-Point Personal Peace Program helps you teach your body to let-go of painful or limiting thoughts, beliefs, or emotions, by utilizing the age-old concept of “Ask and Receive.” If you ask your mind to do something for you, it will; and if you agree that it will do that each time you use the “magic word,” it will respond — and the response will become more and more automatic over time. We often use the term, “magic word,” in reference to magic tricks and words such as, “Abracadabra,” or when teaching children to express gratitude and respect by saying, “Please and thank you.” But “activating words” are common throughout life.
Races don’t begin until someone says, “Go;” and guns and whistles are used to create the audible signal to begin many sporting activities. The entire Universe, depending on who you ask, was started by a single word or sound (BANG!); there is untold power in a single word. But, in order for the word to produce the desired effect, we must know in our minds what we are supposed to do when we “get the word.” The Z-Point Personal Peace Program is an amazingly simple and powerful technique for creating change with a word. The Z-Point Process provides a framework for removing obstacles and limiting beliefs on cue, so you can get on with living the life you want to live. Like saying, “Amen,” at the end of a prayer to ensure it is delivered and answered, the Z-Point key word, or cue word — which is a unique word chosen by each individual — sets the mind into action releasing the highlighted obstacles to health, happiness, peace, and success.
Because the Z-Point release process is activated by a single-word, it doesn’t involve laying down, relaxing, or using acupressure points. The Z-Point Process, in other words, can be used anywhere; and, since the point of using a key word is to stimulate a response in the mind, you don’t even have to say the word out loud. Like a silent prayer, you can go through the Z-Point Process quickly and silently — and nobody has to know you are doing anything.
Many people have used the Z-point Process to attain emotional freedom and emotional self-management. Countless people have overcome difficulties at work, at home, in their relationships, and with their health — including overcoming fears, phobias, habits, and other problems — by using Z-Point. And it’s as simple as putting your attention on the change you wish to create and repeating the key word you have remembered to use as the “Go” signal to let-go of the past and step into the future.
Though hundreds of physicians, psychologists, and other healthcare providers all over the world are using the Z-Point Process, anyone can quickly and easily learn this simple, yet profound technique for removing obstacles and realizing dreams. You can learn to eliminate obstacles and find peace with the Z-Point Process. For more information on The Z-Point Personal Peace Program, simply click any of the highlighted links to go to: www.ZPointForPeace.com .
The Belief Formula on Ponder Central
January 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Jeff Maziarek, from the web site, Ponder Central, has just informed me that he has posted an excerpt from The Belief Formula on Ponder Central.com. Click here: www.PonderCentral.com to read his latest posts — including an excerpt from The Belief Formula.
Ponder Central is a non-profit site created by author Jeff Maziarek to share wisdom from an extensive — and growing — library of spiritual, philosophy, personal growth, and personal development books. Many of the books featured on Ponder Central are indeed timeless spiritual classics that will be guiding people through life many, many years from now.
Ponder Central regularly sends wisdom quotes and excerpts to a rapidly growing list of members all over the world. Visit the Ponder Central site and sign-up for their free e-mails; they are great ways of getting your daily dose of wisdom and enlightenment when you don’t have time to sit and read a book.
More on Ponder Central, and Jeff Maziarek’s book, “Spirituality Simplified” (also available at Ponder Central.com), in future posts. Stay tuned!
The Belief Formula excerpt can be viewed by clicking here: The Belief Formula on Ponder Central
CARE in Relationships
January 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment
In the United States, more than half of all marriages end in divorce. I don’t know what your experience has been; but, in my experience, more than half of those who don’t divorce are unhappy, if not miserable. It is quite rare, in fact, to see older couples looking happy and healthy, holding hands, dancing, or even smiling at each other. So if you see something like that, remember it; that’s a future worth thinking about.
Growing up, I often heard the saying, “The family that prays together stays together.” Yet I have seen churches full of miserable people praying their hearts out to heal their relationship — sometimes the same people I hear arguing at the ball field, the grocery store, or at a restaurant. Worse still are those who simply ignore each other — blindly gazing off into space with eyes full of remorse or resentment. They aren’t thinking the same things, or about the same future. They’re praying, alright — but not together.
Another, perhaps more appropriate saying I remember from my youth is, “God helps those who help themselves.” Praying, asking, or hoping for one thing, and acting completely incongruent with that desired reality, will not produce the miracles people seem to be hoping for. If you really care about your relationship, you need to put some CARE into your relationship; act on your prayers — “assume those characteristics you wish to possess.” Faith without action is empty; if you are having relationship difficulties, you need to DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. That requires thinking something different. So here are a few things to think about, but the change is completely up to you.
One of the first things we notice missing in relationships is Compassion. People can treat each other pretty poorly sometimes — forgetting that what hurts us could hurt anyone. We don’t always take the time to Consider how the other person feels, or what they are seeing from their perspective. It is too easy to cast blame and judgment; none of which is necessary or helpful. Try seeing your partner as a small child and imagine how they might feel if they were alone and afraid. Compassion isn’t the same as “feeling sorry” for someone; compassion is empathy, love, and understanding.
(I actually have a picture of Jennifer when she is about two, and another picture taken of her when she was about 4-years old. She is a sweet, precious, little child; and, no matter what time does, that little girl is still in there. I look at those pictures and realize that if I do something to hurt Jennifer, I am hurting that little girl.)
Compassion in relationships is only lacking, however, because of a lack of relationship Awareness. Most people simply aren’t aware that you always have an “inner child” who is always acting to meet emotional and biological needs — whether those needs are real or imaginary. Appreciate that your partner has a history (programming), just as you do; and everything they do is somehow predicated on that history. Our perceptions, actions, and responses, are all based on our experience, or what we “know.” Be Aware that most negative behaviors are the result of triggering an old program; and it can be difficult to simply shut-off those feelings.
When people do not treat each other with love, there is also a lack of Respect. Many people have grown up with a lack of self-respect and self-esteem. Getting married does not cure those issues. Chances are, if you have a lack of self-esteem or self-respect, you may end up attracting a partner with similar issues. If a person doesn’t have self-respect, they won’t be able to truly respect others; likewise, people who don’t love themselves, can’t truly love anyone else. There are many forms of attraction — and attachment — that masquerade as love; but, if respect is missing, it isn’t love. Always respect your partner’s beliefs, path, property, and person (feelings, boundaries, etc…). Judgment is not love; nor is blame and criticism.
When Compassion, Awareness, and Respect are present, Love is Free to Express itself; and each Expression of love should be met with love and appreciation if you hope for the love in your relationship to grow. Express love in every thought, word, and deed. Love is all that is ever necessary, and all that ever really works. Expressing love in word, but not deed, is not true expression; it is lip service, or, perhaps simply a lie. If you hurt a person intentionally and repeatedly, but express the sentiment, “Oh, you know I love you, right?,” then there is a repeating expression of violence behind a thin veil of sentimental words. This isn’t judgment; this is simply reality. Everyone has reasons for everything they do — even if the reasons are unknown to them, or unreasonable to you.
- Compassion
- Awareness
- Respect
- Expression
To put CARE into a relationship is to create a rewarding experience and environment for yourself and others. You can do these things; and it is always beneficial to consider these ideas. If your relationship is stressful, you are neglecting all or one of these areas; be present and aware for your relationship, and instead of excuses, problems, and complaints, you’ll have something worth going home to. If you aren’t learning and growing in your relationship, then it is undoubtedly causing you stress. In other words, all of those marriages that don’t end in divorce end in death; it’s just a matter of time.
Relationships are not automatic, or self-sustaining; they require constant care and attention — and there are no “entitlements.” Relationships are learning and growth experiences. Life isn’t always “fair,” and it isn’t always what we were told it would be; if these things do not seem natural, or come easy, you may need instruction you simply never received — and maybe some self-discipline. The painful, or stressful, parts of your relationship are simply the parts you haven’t learned yet, or parts you are simply avoiding or resisting. Live, learn, and love.
If you want a happy relationship, you must think about that; think about the kind of relationship you want. If you are in a relationship, you want it to be happy; otherwise, it will kill you — and between now and then, you’ll be miserable. Communication is essential, and prayer is always helpful; but prayer without care will not do much good. If you don’t CARE, you don’t really want to be in relationship; and you’re not likely to put the necessary energy into building a good one. If you do CARE, try prayer; and become the change you seek.
Love, and Differences, in Common… "Judge not."
January 24, 2008 | Leave a Comment
From the beginning, we have been growing apart. This isn’t bad; it’s nature. Look at a tree, and you will notice that 
what begins as one trunk branches into many; and each branch also starts as one and divides into many – with each split sending smaller versions on diverging paths. Each path, however, ends the same – with a leaf, in the case of a tree.
The pattern of the branches is not unlike the branching of roots underneath the surface — invisible to the eye. That which is seen comes from that we cannot see; “As above, so below, as below, so above.” Nature is a series of repeating patterns. When you look at little pieces of the pattern, you may see differences; but when you look at the big picture you see only similarities — or Unity, depending on how far you are able to “zoom out.”
Even the leaf has the pattern of the tree and its branches represented in the stem and “veins” of the leaf. Even the shape of the leaf corresponds to the overall shape of the tree in many cases. The whole is made up of many small parts; and the whole is reflected in each of those parts. But all of those paths started with a single seed, within which the entire tree was waiting – including roots, branches, leaves, and countless other seeds.
No two branches, leaves, or trees are exactly the same; but all trees of the same type are very similar – perhaps identical to the untrained eye. And an entire forest could have originated with one seed. One seed, many roots; one tree, many branches; one forest, many trees — all from One.
In the context of humanity, we too start from a single source and emerge into the outer world of diversity. It is puzzling why the vast majority spend the bulk of their time trying to impose conformity on a system designed by God to produce diversity. This is the nature of judgment. An ancient Native American wisdom teaching on judgment reminds us that, “No tree has branches foolish enough to fight amongst themselves.” In our efforts to make things like “us,” we create judgment, war, suffering, etc…
Of course, the plan to create conformity works, but not the way we think it should. By fighting amongst ourselves to make others believe as we do, or act as we do, we create a world in which everyone is unhappy and unhealthy (mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, or some combination of these…). Everyone, it seems is living less of a life than they could be living, simply because they are too worried about what they aren’t, or what they aren’t doing, or what they don’t have.
You aren’t supposed to look like everyone else, and you aren’t supposed to think the same things as everyone else. We are supposed to be as different as we are; and our pain is caused by resisting that natural tendency and trying to conform with others. True, there are some things we should do alike (breathing, not killing, etc…); but those are our essential nature – not adopted behaviors.
Wisdom teachings were set down to help us identify those behaviors that benefit us the most. “Judge not,” for example, is not a rule that you should be ostracized for breaking; it is advice that will bear you good fruit in body, mind, and spirit, should you choose to follow it. But if you don’t, I still pray that your way be made as easy as you want it to be. I wouldn’t judge another just because they judge me. If there’s already that one person thinking bad thoughts about me, why would I want to make my situation any worse by allowing my mental state to degrade to one of judgment?
The act of judgment is based on a conflict of beliefs and perceptions: The conflict between how you BELIEVE things should by and how you PERCEIVE them to be. The important thing is that beliefs are fluid and different for everyone – so are perceptions. And judgment, along with anything else that stimulates thoughts of conflict, activates your stress response. There is no way to be in a conflict and not be stressed. And, in case you’re thinking, “Big deal! It’s not like I haven’t been stressed out before…,” you may want to do some research on stress – it causes every medical problem known to man! Judgments cause stress; and stress kills. You do the math for yourself and let me know if you think the great healer, Jesus, was handing out good advice, or not, when He expounded on the teaching, “Judge not.”
The teaching to, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” is often misinterpreted as: “Do unto others what they did to me,” or, “Do unto others before they do unto me…” The “others” we speak of are US. There is only the ONE, expressing itself as ALL THINGS. There is no “other.” When we judge others, we are comparing them to a memory of how we have seen or heard things should be.
If we are judging others, we were taught to judge at the same time we were taught the standards by which to judge others. And we were all taught these things by different people with different histories, beliefs, attitudes, agendas, and intentions. Who taught you what’s right and wrong, good and bad, pretty or ugly, healthy or unhealthy, moral or immoral? And how are their beliefs working for them? How about for YOU? The one thing you, me, and every living thing should do – always – is LOVE.
Being yourself means thinking your own thoughts. You can’t do that if you are worrying about what other people will think of you, or worrying about what someone else might be “getting away with.” Being yourself means being different while understanding that you are exactly the same as everyone else — at your Source.
Flowers do not mourn the fact they aren’t trees; they smile at the Sun all day — admiring the Sun above which gives the flower life below. Be happy you are different; different is unique – and God only does “unique.” When you are happy with yourself, and love yourself for all of the unique gifts you were given access to, then you can truly love others for who they are. When you love unconditionally, you are free of judgment; when you have freed yourself from judgment, you are free to love unconditionally.
Make Prayer Work for You! *FREE REPORT*
January 21, 2008 | Leave a Comment
A nine-page report, on ways you can make prayer a more useful part of your life, and create situations, conditions, and attitudes that are beneficial to you and your health, has been made available for free download. Simply go to the Home page at: www.TheBeliefFormula.com and enter your first name and email in the box and your free report will be immediately sent to your computer.
A great compliment to this free nine-page report is the first section of The Belief Formula Guidebook, which has also been made available on The Belief Formula blog in the article: “It All Begins with the Answer. What do you Want?” Click on this article for a several page excerpt (the entire first section) from The Belief Formula Guidebook.
If you have problems downloading the free report, or if you have other feedback or questions, please let us know at: Questions@TheBeliefFormula.com .
It All Begins with the Answer. What do you Want?
January 21, 2008 | 3 Comments
As a follow-up to the posts, What Do You Want, The Role of The Heart in Prayer, and The Heart is the Source of Prayer, I have posted the first Section from The Belief Formula Guidebook. This guidebook is full of revelations; and this first section will really help you wrap your mind around what it is you really want. Once you really know what you really want, it is so much easier to form good prayers and strategies for doing all you can to realize your dream.
Keep in mind, most people do not think about their dreams in this kind of detail; because most people are too busy thinking about what to eat, what to do next, what to watch on television, what their kids are doing, negative news stories they are constantly being fed, worrying about money, work, their health, and scores of other things. And, as you could probably guess, most people are experiencing those things in their own lives. Most people don’t think in great detail about their Heart’s desires; and most people are not happy, healthy, and content — knowing that all prayers are answered perfectly.
If you want to change anything about the way you are feeling or living, you are going to have to change something about the way you are thinking. If you want to realize your Heart’s desires, you must learn how to think about them in a way that will somehow encourage, stimulate, or cause that to happen. The Belief Formula Guidebook is designed to help you do that; and this chapter will guide you to think about the way you think about things.
This book was offered in e-book format to people who ordered The Belief Formula on Amazon.com when it was first released; and will be available soon in print. This workbook is not currently available, but I know the guy who wrote it, so here’s the entire first section of the guidebook:
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“Whatsoever you desire, when you stand in prayer – believing – will be given unto you.”
– Jesus of Nazareth
“To wish to be well is part of becoming well.”
– Lucius Annaeus Seneca
“Our thoughts become our words as they become our beliefs; our beliefs become our actions as they become our habits. Our habits become our values as our values become our destiny.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
“A man is but a product of his thoughts; what he thinks, he becomes.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
“Desire creates the power.”
– Raymond Hollingwell
“The creator has not given you a longing to do that which you have no ability to do.”
– Orison Swett Marden
“Some desire is necessary to keep life in motion.”
– Samuel Johnson
“The first principle of success is desire – knowing what you want.
Desire is the planting of your seed.”
– Robert Collier
Section One: The Answer
WHAT do you want?
Seriously, what do you want? Write it down right now. When you do this, you have written down the answer to your prayer. There will be many questions about this answer, so make sure this is something you really want. This, in fact, is the entire reason for going through the process, so be certain you want this thing – and be specific about what it is you want. Answer the following question:
1.) What do you want? _______________________________________________________________
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In The Belief Formula, the thing, event, situation, condition, or circumstance you just wrote down, is represented by the variable (A). (A) is the Answer to your prayer, or the culmination of your plan, goal, or desire. The point of The Belief Formula is to come up with a combination of Thoughts and Feelings that brings (A) to fruition, or into some tangible form or experience.
Before any journey begins, there must be a desire to take the journey, or be somewhere else – somewhere other than where you currently are. (A) is the impetus for this journey; and when (A) becomes a recognizable, physical experience, we know that our journey is complete – our prayer is answered. But before you begin any journey, it is helpful to know where you are. In fact, it is absolutely necessary to take stock of your resources, and determine your current position, before you can even plot a course, or begin planning your adventure.
We’ll get to the reasons WHY you want to take this journey soon; but for now, let’s take a good look at where you are now. Your current situation is the result of your past thoughts and experience; this will give you an idea of what adjustments you need to make in your thoughts, or thinking, in order to create adjustments in your experience.
2.) Describe your current situation as it applies to WHAT you want: (For example: I currently am working in a job I hate… My co-workers are miserable people… My work environment depresses me and I come home with a headache everyday… And any other details about the present that come up when you start thinking about this.)
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*Use additional sheets as needed.
3.) Why is your current situation unacceptable? _______________________________________
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4.) How do you think this situation came to be this way? _______________________________
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5.) What do you think is keeping you in the situation you are in? ________________________
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6.) List any obstacles you believe are standing between you and your desires: ____________
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Keep in mind that most people are expert at identifying what they do not want, or what they do not like. If you are unhappy, the above exercise should be easy. In fact, many people rehearse these answers by talking about them to anyone who will listen. Make a list of people you tell your problems to, or times and circumstances where you feel it necessary to tell others about your misfortune.
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You cannot experience what you want to experience if you continue beating the drum of what you do not want to experience. Continued focus on your problems magnifies, or amplifies, them. Make a deal with yourself – right now – to let go of the need or tendency to talk about your problems, or anything which could be considered negative, self-limiting, or judgmental. Fill out the contract on the following page, or make a copy of it and fill in the appropriate information there. And then sign it – and abide by it.
Contract
I, __________________________________________, hereby declare and affirm that I will speak only positive words about myself, my situation, and others, from this point on, and that I will refrain from speaking (or thinking) negatively of myself, my situation, and others. I will notice when I am thinking, saying, feeling, or doing, anything other than what makes me (and others) feel good, and I will take steps to immediately change my attitude from destructive to constructive – from negative to positive. I hereby agree that these things are in my best interest, and in the best interest of all concerned or involved in any way. This I solemnly promise to myself on this, the _________ day of ________________, 20_____.
Signed and attested to by me: ______________________________________________
If you want to get where you’re going, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to quit putting mud in your own gas tank! Think about the above contract before you sign it; and promise yourself to do your best. This is a process; so don’t get angry or frustrated when you find that it isn’t as easy as you might think it should be to start being responsible for, and in control of, your thoughts, words, and actions. But the reward for doing so is greater than you can imagine; it is definitely worth the effort. The idea is that if you are able to pray and think about positive things in order to create those experiences, you are able to do the same with negatives. “You reap what you sow.” So keep it positive.
If you come up with obstacles or limiting beliefs that you do not know how to overcome or that you can’t simply overcome by deciding to, look into trying one of the techniques listed below. These techniques are commonly used in clinical practice to overcome fears, phobias, negative emotions, and even allergies and other medical problems. These techniques can be learned and used by anyone; but a trained and experienced practitioner is more likely to help you achieve your desired results quicker and more effectively.
- The Z-Point Process for Emotional Healing
- The Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)
- Psychological Kinesiology (Psych-K)
- The Tapas Acupressure Technique (TAT)
Each of the modalities listed above can help you overcome obstacles, fears, and other limiting beliefs – in any area of your life. These are all safe, easy, and non-invasive methods that you can learn and use at home. Use the internet to research these techniques; some of them offer free downloadable instruction manuals, and lists of qualified practitioners in your area. You can access links to all of these modalities at www.TheBeliefFormula.com .
*Ask yourself, “Is chronic, fear-based, negative thinking affecting, limiting, or blocking my prayers, success, or experience in any way?”
Often, when we aren’t getting what we want, there are “good” reasons, or reasons your subconscious mind is protecting you from the thing or situation you are seeking. This often looks like self-sabotage, failure, or some other form of “falling short” of your goals, dreams, or expectations; but it is simply your subconscious running programs to protect you from harm, embarrassment, failure, success, or anything it perceives to be a threat – based on your own subconscious beliefs.
Write down the answer to Question #1 again, and then ask yourself the following questions. Direct the questions to that higher aspect of yourself where your inner wisdom dwells.
WHAT do I want? _________________________________________________
7.) Is it safe and appropriate for me to experience this? ______________
8.) Is it appropriate for me to ask for this now? ______________________
9.) Am I ready to ask for this thing now? ____________________________
10.) Am I ready to receive this thing now? __________________________
11.) Am I willing to ask for this thing now? __________________________
12.) Am I willing to receive this thing now? _________________________
13.) Am I fully able to ask for this thing now? ________________________
14.) Am I fully able to receive this thing now? _______________________
15.) Are all parts of me (Body, Mind, & Spirit) ready, willing, and able to experience
this thing now? __________________
16.) Am I getting something out of my current experience that I do not want
to change, or lose? ____________________
17.) Is there something bad that could happen to me (or someone else) if I were to
receive this experience I am asking for now? _______________________
18.) Do I, or any part of me (Body, Mind, or Spirit) want or need permission to ask,
experience, or receive this thing now, or at any time? ___________________
REALITY CHECK
When you hope, dream, or pray for something, you are simply seeking to switch your current reality for a new one. All of the questions on the previous pages are designed so that you become completely aware of the nature of your current reality and your desired reality. The first steps in The Belief Formula process are, therefore, all about recognizing where you are and where you want to be – or what you want.
1. Recognize where you are and what you are experiencing;
2. Recognize the contrast between the two:
· What do I have and not want?
· What do I want and not have?
3. Recognize your desire: Achievement, Acquisition, Accomplishment, Answer
Be very clear, specific, and detailed about what it is you desire; and be very honest about your judgments of where you are and what you have. Your judgments hold the keys to turning things around; turn your judgments around in order to turn your experience around. Reframe your “Don’t wants” into “Do wants.”
Using what are called “Sensory Modalities” is one of the big secrets used by people who are very successful at turning their desires into realities. A sensory modality is simply the way you process sensory information about a perceived event, item, or situation. Your sensory modalities include impressions from your five-senses: Sight, Sound, Touch, Taste, and Smell. They are usually referred as:
V. (Visual) Eyes/Sight
A. (Auditory) Ears/Hearing
K. (Kinesthetic) Skin/Touch – Movement
O. (Olfactory) Nose/Smell
G. (Gustatory) Tongue/Taste
When clarifying your goal or desire, simply imagine – to your best ability – what it will look like when you reach your goal, or fulfill your desire, as well as what it will sound like, feel like, and even taste and smell like. You may think about what your actual desire might look, smell, feel, and taste like – in the case your desire is something you may eat; or you may just imagine what kinds of smells or tastes you may experience when you have achieved your desired outcome. For instance, the smell and taste of salt on the ocean breeze might be a part of your desire to go to the beach. Your impressions can be made even stronger, therefore, by including taste and smell with the obvious sights and sounds of the beach environment, or the feeling of the sun, wind, or water on your skin.
The more sensory involvement you can incorporate into your prayers, thoughts, dreams, or visualizations, the better. When you are searching for your car in a parking lot, you know you have reached your goal of finding your car when what you are looking at in the physical matches your visual memory, or impression, of what your car looks like. If you are on your way to Atlanta, for instance, and you know what the Atlanta skyline looks like, you will be able to tell when you have reached your destination. Likewise, if you are looking for a friend’s house you have never been to before, it may help if they include, along with directions, a description of the house you are looking for: “After you turn on Church Street, you will be looking (V) for a brown house with a red car and a silver car in the driveway; and, you’ll probably hear (A) music coming from the pool area, and maybe even smell (O) the barbecue we’ve got going…”
Below, write down a few of the sensory impressions you might encounter or experience as you approach your destination, or reach your goal. What kinds of things might you See, Hear, Feel, Taste, or Smell if your prayers were answered?
If I get what I am asking for, I might experience:
V – What will I see when I get what I’m asking for? __________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
A – What will I hear when I get what I’m asking for? _________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
K – What will it feel like when I get what I’m asking for? _____________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Describe the feeling in detail (Shape, Temperature, Texture, etc…): _________________________
O – What will it smell like, or what will I smell, when I get what I’m asking for? __________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
G – What will it taste like when I get what I’m asking for? ____________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
POSITIVE REFRAMING and DECLARATIONS
It is important to be as clear as possible about what it is you want and why you want it. For instance, many people simply want more money; but when you look more closely, you’ll find that money has no value other than the experiences it can bring – food, shelter, entertainment, etc… If you are asking for more money because you think it will solve your money problems, consider that money and problems are two separate issues; your money is one thing that you seem to be having problems with.
If what you want is financial security, or a certain experience, then ask for that. And make sure you include thoughts of the happy feelings you will experience when the money arrives, or you may find that one of the ways money can come is in the form of an inheritance from a loved one, or an insurance settlement from an injury that prevents you from enjoying the money. Be positive and be specific.
Reframe your desires in the form of positive statements that include gratitude and your intended, desired outcome. Consider the following examples:
Negative – “I need more money so I won’t be in debt anymore!”
Affirmative – “I am grateful now that I am experiencing financial freedom and security!”
Declare your desire in the form of an affirmative statement of gratitude for what you have already received – whether or not you have received the experience already. Remember, “Declare a thing and it is so.” Now, write down your desire – whatever you wrote down for question number one:
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Now write this desire in the form of a positive, or affirmative, declaration. Make sure to include the sentiment of gratitude; and phrase your affirmation as if you are grateful that it has already come to pass.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Revisit this affirmation as often as possible; repeating affirmations builds belief at a very deep level. As you work through the rest of the process, refer back to this affirmation, or positive statement of desire, to see if the steps you are taking, or the plans you are making, feel to you as if they are moving you in this direction. And, most important of all, make sure you are having fun with this process!
Some Related Key Points from The Belief Formula:
· We live in a mental Universe where thoughts are things; and all prayers are answered in one way or another.
· Your thoughts determine your experience; if your thoughts are chaotic, your life will be chaotic; while peaceful thoughts create a peaceful life.
· Likewise, if your life is chaotic, stressful, or miserable, then you know the thoughts you are having are creating these experiences and you can change the thoughts you are thinking in order to bring them more in alignment with what you want.
· All religions deal with the human mind and thought. All religious teachings give advice on how to think in order to create certain conditions – ideally a life you love.
· Prayer is simply thought concentrated on a specific desire; we are always thinking, but we are not always specific with our thought – which is why our lives are scattered and unfocused.
· There are many things you can do with your mind, effective prayer is only one of them; and it requires a concentrated awareness of the thoughts (prayers) in your mind.
· The more you learn about your mind, the better you will be able to operate it. It is the mind with which you pray and create your future; if you know how to use it better, it is only reasonable that you could do better things for yourself, or be more effective at the things you currently do with your mind.
· Fear, negative emotions, stress, and other forms of resistance, impede the flow of information through your body and mind; these things impede the sending and receiving of thought energy – or prayer.
· If your mind is not functioning properly, or you haven’t been properly trained in its use, it simply will not produce the effects you are hoping for.
· Everyone has thoughts, and always has; therefore, everyone prays. Thinking/praying preceded all religions; and religions were developed through the use of thought and prayer. Religions were also developed as ways of teaching large groups of people about the nature of thought, and the nature of life and the Universe in which we live. All of this requires constant thought in order to extract true meaning and value from ancient writings and teachings. Prayer (thought) is automatic and continuous; effective prayer (effective thinking) is a learned skill.
The Heart is the Source of Prayer
January 21, 2008 | Leave a Comment
We pray for those things we desire — plain and simple. Even if we sit around saying, “God, you’re so great! God you’re so wonderful! God thank you for all you do! God you are awesome! God, you’re the boss — you’re in charge!”, or things of a like nature, we are still desiring to offer reciprocation for good we have, or will, receive — or we desire to garner favor, or to be “good,” or something. Prayer is our way of voicing and fulfilling our desires. Even if we don’t know how it works, or how such a thing could be possible, we still do it; and it still works.
Of course, many prayers are actually curses; but whether your desire is for pleasant experiences, or to cast blame and criticism on those you think have made you and your life miserable in some way, you are still thinking about your desire. And, Desire is born in the heart. Prayer begins with an answer — although it may be in a form that is invisible to you. Prayer begins with what we WANT, or desire; before prayer, we give thought to what it is we are praying for.
“Whatsoever you desire, when you stand in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be given unto you.”
Putting your mental and spiritual energy into a thought — the invisible form, or mold, for the answer to your prayer — is what builds the energy that becomes the “mass” of your realized desire. Albert Einstein’s famous equation, E=mc2 (Energy is equal to mass multiplied by the speed of light squared), speaks to the transition, or convertibility, of Energy to matter and vice versa. Thought requires and produces energy. Energy makes things happen; and, like Albert Einstein said, “Nothing happens until something moves.” Energy makes things move; energy is an animating force.
Your prayers begin as invisible, or unseen, energy — the energy of thought — and ultimately become other kinds of energy until, ideally, they become matter. What we call “solid matter” is simply a physical representation of an invisible idea — a representation that is available to our physical senses in our physical world. Prayer — answer; unseen — seen; dream — real-ized dream; steam — ice; non-physical — physical. How and why we are given thoughts, and then allowed to focus on those we wish to give physical life to, is the mystery; it is a mystery to our physical brains, anyway. But, this indeed is how it seems to work. We think of a thing and, if we feel an attraction, or desire, for this thing in our heart, we focus our attention on thoughts of this thing. Through a process that can unfold in infinite ways, our desires become ful-filled — the invisible pattern in our mind’s eye has become filled-full with the appropriate matter.
Trees grow from the inside out; balloons grow from the inside out; people grow from the inside out; and prayers grow from the inside out. Our prayer is the formal-ization of the recognition of a desire; our answer is the material-ization of that same desire — two forms of the same desire. It all starts with the answer; and the answer is the question. What do you want? What do you desire? Don’t judge or worry about what other people desire. If you want world peace, you won’t get it by judging or criticizing someone for wanting a new car, or more money than you want. If you want peace and health for a family member, or friend, don’t taint your joyous thoughts of your fondest wishes for that person with worry-thoughts of “the worst that could happen,” or resentment-thoughts that other people don’t spend as much time praying for “good” things.
“Every man according to his own heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.”
“Judge not…”
“As a man thinketh, so it is done to him…”
“Fear not, be of good cheer…”
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”
“Man is formed and molded by his thoughts.”
But all of this thinking starts with the desire to experience something different. The desire is the seed, or spark of light, that starts the fire that cooks your dinner. Desire is ultimately behind anything we do; and to do things more clearly and effectively, we must become more clear about our heart’s desires — and that requires learning to communicate with (listen to) the heart.
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart also be.”
The role of the heart in prayer, it seems is three-fold:
- The Heart is the Source of the spark of desire that initiates any prayer… (”From the heart…,” or, “With all my heart…,” are examples of our awareness of where the spark of inspiration originates within us.)
- The Heart acts as a “magnet” to draw us and our desire together by giving us courage to act, and receptivity and guidance to the new things that show up in our life. (”Follow your heart,” and “Listen to your heart,” etc…”)
- The Heart feels and expresses joy and gratitude for answered prayers, or fulfilled desires. This is the reward a parent seeks when fulfilling the desires of a child.
But the Heart plays other, peripheral roles as well. The Heart is the seat of wisdom in the body — the Source of that “still, quiet voice.” When you have conflicting thoughts, you are observing the difference between the reasoning of the brain and the wisdom of the Heart. The HeartMath Institute has compiled a wealth of medical and scientific research data that absolutely corroborates the ancient wisdom teachings on the Heart. Though the Heart pumps and circulates life through our body, the Heart is not simply a physical pump; it communicates with each cell in the body via the rhythmic, Morse code-like pumping action, or the electrical and chemical impulses generated within — both of which change the electrical field around the Heart creating new physiology each moment. When the Heart is in-sync with the brain — when we truly believe in our prayers — anything is possible.
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
“Anything is possible for he who believes.”
The Heart is the beginning (desire) and end (gratitude) of our prayer; the Heart creates our desire, informs us of it, helps attract it to us (or us to it), and then enjoys the completion of the cycle of creation. Knowing your heart, opening it, nurturing it, strengthening it, listening to it, and following it, are all different activities; and, like any activity, each of these requires time, attention, thought, and action. It all begins with desire; and desire begins deep in the Heart. What do you want? Really, what is your Heart’s desire?
For amazing insight and research into the heart and its role in creating our overall experience of health and life, visit HeartMath at: www.HeartMath.com .
About Us
“HeartMath LLC is a cutting edge performance company providing a range of unique services, products, and technology to boost performance, productivity, health and well-being while dramatically reducing stress. Founded in 1991 as a non-profit research organization by Doc Childre, HeartMath has earned global recognition for our unique research-based techniques and proprietary technology to transform the stress of change and uncertainty, and bring coherence and renewed energy to the workplace, and the home.”
The Role of the Heart in Prayer
January 21, 2008 | Leave a Comment
We casually say things like, “I believe it with all my heart,” or, “I know it in my heart;” but we rarely consider the literal reality of these sayings — or why there are so many of them, or why they endure through time. We talk about the heart almost metaphorically — or completely metaphorically; but few people realize that the heart is actually a “THINKING” organ. This is no metaphor; this is a literal, scientific, medical fact — and a timeless spiritual truth. The head (brain) thinks; the heart KNOWS.
“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” ~Proverbs 23:7
A well-known teaching on prayer says, “Whatsoever you desire, when you stand in prayer, believing, will be given to you.” Prayer is a mental exercise; we think about “whatsoever we desire” in a way we hope will give us the best chance of experiencing our desire. But prayer alone is not enough; Belief is a key factor in the formula for successful prayer. Thinking a thought is one thing; feeling a thought is an entirely separate matter. Prayer is a thinking process; and belief is a thinking-feeling process that you can infuse your prayer with.
The heart is where wisdom is believed to “enter” our body — energetically, or spiritually speaking. The HeartMath Institute has extensive research suggesting that the heart knows the truth and communicates it to the brain before the brain “decides” what information to act on. Unfortunately, we don’t always listen to our Hearts! We have all felt that “flash” of heartfelt inspiration; though it is often too subtle to grasp firmly when it comes. If you’ve ever said, “I KNEW I should have done that!,” or, “I KNOW better than that!,” then you have become aware of the subtle part of you that whispers the truth before you have a chance to THINK your way into difficulties. Have you ever heard the old saying, “Think long, think wrong…”?
The researchers at The HeartMath Institute have also done extensive research on the electromagnetic field around the heart, commonly called the heart torus. This field can be relatively small, or it can extend to fill an entire room; the difference seems to be based on the mood of the person — good moods & positive energy = BIG electromagnetic field. This torus is the same (except in size) as the magnetic torus around the Earth and the Sun — and every other living entity. We are all surrounded by a magnetic field that can now be “seen,” and photographed, by several medical devices.
Whenever you are in a room and someone walks in and seems to “brighten up” the mood, you are experiencing the effects of a rather large heart torus. Likewise, when someone walks in and you get “bad vibes,” you are simply picking up the chaotic vibrations of that person’s electromagnetic field. When “good vibrations” are present, the heart is a powerful attractor; when those vibrations are absent, or chaotic, there is little or no attractive power.
Imagine an electromagnet in a metal scrap yard. The magnet won’t pick up anything unless there is energy running through it; but when there is, the electromagnetism DRAWS the desired material to it. When the flow is removed, and energy is no longer being invested into holding on to the metal, the electromagnetic field shrinks and the metal falls away. Our thoughts determine what we focus our attention on, and the kinds of thoughts (positive/negative, etc…) we think; and our will-power, or discipline, determines how long we are able to focus on our desires. When we think about what we want in a certain way, we begin to believe it; and we can feel it in our heart. A prayer is just a thought until you believe it in your heart — literally. When you have moved your thought into your heart, and you can feel it, your answer is assured.
“It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.” – Muhammad Ali
Your heart draws your desire to you, or guides you to your desire. In either case, you are “drawn,” or “attracted,” to your desire by feelings that were stimulated by your thoughts. Man has pondered the workings of the heart for ages; but the mind can only know so much about the heart — just as a man can only know so much about being a woman. You can think anything you want, but if you want to experience your thoughts as reality, you must feel your thoughts in your heart.
Thus far, I have been speaking of practical prayer, or creative thinking — prayer intended to present our preferences to our mind and the Universe at large. But even thinking fearful thoughts, and feeling fear in your heart, will draw that which you “greatly fear” into your experience. It would be nice to think that our mind was only registering and transmitting the good, happy, positive thoughts, but any thought you feel in your heart is drawing experience to you — “According to your beliefs it is done to you.” If you believe a thing in your heart, you will experience some version of it in your body and life.
“Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it spring the issues of life.” ~Proverbs 3:5-6
Here is the link to HeartMath: http://www.heartmath.com/
Also, you can check out Emotional Mastery.com for interesting information, articles, and interviews about HeartMath and their products. To visit Emotional Mastery.com, go to: http://www.emotionalmastery.com/
What Do You Want?
January 19, 2008 | 2 Comments
Life is all about desire. The only reason we are here (or still here…), in fact, is because we want to be here — or someone wants us to be here. The word “desire” may sound materialistic or self-indulgent; and we often shun the idea of desire — trying to suppress it whenever we can — as something bad that we shouldn’t have or succumb to. Well, Socrates said, “The beginning of wisdom is in the definition of terms;” so, let us agree upon some things for the sake of clarity.
First, a desire is simply something you want; it is implied that you want the things you need — as well as some things you really don’t need. In fact, you might even desire something that turns out to be harmful to your body in some way; but it is still a desire and anything that brings pain also brings wisdom. We all have hopes, dreams, prayers, desires, wants, needs, wishes, intentions, aspirations, goals, or some “change” we would like to experience — usually a change “for the better,” as some would say.
Also, on one level or another (consciously, unconsciously, etc…), everything we do is driven by desire. We breathe in the middle of the night because we desire to live — even though we are not consciously choosing to do so. Some part of us recognizes that in order to fulfill a specific desire, we must take certain specific actions. We notice things in our world and we may feel a desire to experience more or less of a particular thing — even our indifference is based on our desire to move on to something more interesting (more desirable) to us.
We base our desires on the contrast between one thing and another — and our judgments about what each thing means to us. Then, we fix our attention based on our judgments; and we begin to “lean” in one direction or another. By “lean,” I simply mean that our thoughts — conscious and unconscious — have a tendency to correspond to that which our attention is resting on. And then our emotions follow our thoughts — stimulating words, actions, and change.
When we have a desire, we seek it out if we are wise; if we are “unwise,” we casually hope that our desire finds us one day — because we simply don’t know what else to do. But the fact remains that we are all looking for something. Even if we seek only peace and solitude, that is our desire. If we want nothing, our desire is for nothing. Some people want everything and some people want nothing; but we all want something. And if you want it, what you really want is the EXPERIENCE of it — you are desiring a new reality in which there is “this thing” rather than “the absence of this thing.”
If you are engaged in life, you are observing with your physical senses and intuiting — to some degree — with your heart; you are noticing the differences between things and hoping to create a reality that includes the elements you observe and like the most. If you are less than perfectly content, then you surely have an unfulfilled desire; and if you have a desire, you are seeking change. If you are seeking change — you will find it. The ancient wisdom on the subject reminds us, “Seek and ye shall find.” You get what you ask for and you find what you are looking for.
So, I ask again: What do you want? If you don’t know, you still have desires; they are simply hidden, or unconscious, desires — desires that you have suppressed or are unaware of for some reason. Spend some time sitting quietly, thinking about what you want; if you want nothing, or don’t know what you want, you’ll need to think about “nothing.” Some call this “meditation;” but when you sit in silence, the voice of your inner self can be heard — along with its desires.
Desire is natural at all levels of nature. In the Lord’s prayer, one line reads, “…thy WILL be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” That line clearly acknowledges that even God, or that deepest source of our life and all that is in it, has desires or intentions; and, we either get our desires naturally, inherently, or our desires are God’s desires for us — experienced through us and our senses and emotions. In any event, you need to look inside first — into your heart, desires, and thoughts. You must specify what you want; you must specify exactly what you are seeking.
Imagine going into the library and asking for a book — no book in particular, just “a book.” “Hello,” you say to the librarian, “I’d like a book. Do you have any?” You are certain to get a book; what is in the book, and how much it helps you is completely up in the air. In fact, you might get a book thrown at you if you keep asking for, “just any old book…” Likewise, imagine walking into a fast food restaurant and ordering, “Food, please.” I wonder what would happen? The point is that you are constantly looking for things; and you are constantly receiving exactly what you are seeking, or asking for — not necessarily those things you notice you are “missing.”
If you are looking for something specific, you find exactly what you are looking for; or you keep looking until you do. If you are looking for nothing in particular, you find nothing in particular. If you are looking for a bunch of different things, you find a bunch of different things. Ask yourself what you want; and be specific. Then, ask yourself if you want this thing enough to spend time thinking about it. If you do, then think about it. And, hold on tight to your dreams; they’re all you’ve got — even if you don’t know you’ve got them.
Everyone wants their prayers answered. But few people realize that their prayer IS their answer. Your prayer is your desire; and your answer is your desire — in a physical form. They [prayers and answers] are simply two different forms of the same thing — like water and ice. All you need in order to change the invisible (desire) into the visible (answered prayer) is the right amount of a certain kind of energy. But you must have a focal point for your energy, or it will remain scattered and unfocused; and your life will, as a result, remain scattered and chaotic — causing stress and a variety of problems. A goal or desire gives us a focal point for our mental energy, or attention. They say, “The best place to start is at the beginning;” and the beginning is the end — or Answer. You start with, “What I want is…;” and you end up with, “This is just What I wanted!” — a physical version of your desire.
So, I ask again: What do you want? __________________________________________________________________
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