Category: Personal Stuff

Week 38 – Pure Thought

No. Your eyes do not deceive you. I am obsessed with thought this summer. Pure thought. I’m still studying James Allen’s As A Man Thinketh. While there is much discussion on what thoughts manifest in our lives, I want to focus on positive manifestations.

On the other hand, beautiful thoughts of all kinds crystalize into habits of grace and kindliness, which solidify into genial and sunny circumstances. Pure thoughts crystalize into habits of temperance and self-control, which solidify into circumstances of repose and peace. Thoughts of courage, self-reliance, and decision crystalize into manly habits, which solidify into circumstances of success, plenty, and freedom. Energetic thoughts crystalize into habits of cleanliness and industry, which solidify into circumstances of pleasantness. Gentle and forgiving thoughts crystalize into habits of gentleness, which solidify into protective and preservative circumstances. Loving and unselfish thoughts which solidify into circumstances of sure and abiding prosperity and true riches.

That paragraph should provide fodder for months of sits. These are the things I want manifested in my life and in the world.

It’s taken many months, but the thoughts I began manifesting last fall that seemed like fiction are more normal and real now. My DMP is reality. Each aspect of it is playing out in my day-to-day life, and it’s everything I’d hoped for and more.

If you’ve been following along and wondering if this can work for you, I emphatically state it can if you do not give up on yourself.

Week 20 — Crushing

I’m experiencing a crushing feeling, and not in the sense of “I’m crushing it.” More in the sense of “it’s crushing me.” First, I’m going to hit the good stuff, and maybe the “crushing” stuff will go away.

Week 20 expands upon the Week 1, paragraph 24 statement, “All agree that there is but one Principle or Consciousness pervading the entire Universe, occupying all space, and being essentially the same in kind at every point of its presence. It is all powerful, all wisdom and always present. All thoughts and things are within Itself. It is all in all.” I wrote in the margin beside this paragraph, “God is in me.”

Back in Week 20, let’s look at Paragraph 8. “When you begin to perceive that the essence of the Universal is within yourself — is you — you begin to do things; you begin to feel your power; it is the fuel which fires the imagination; which lights the torch of inspiration; which gives vitality to thought; which enables you to connect with all the invisible forces of the Universe. It is this power which will enable you to plan fearlessly, to execute masterfully.”

Paragraph 9 goes on to say, “But perception will come only in the Silence; this seems to be the condition required for all great purposes. You are a visualizing entity. Imagination is your workshop. It is here that your ideal is to be visualized.”

Paragraph 28 advises us of the power of thought. “Every time you think you start a train of causation which will create a condition in strict accordance with the quality of the thought which originated it. Thought which is in harmony with the Universal Mind will result in corresponding conditions. Thought which is destructive or discordant will produce corresponding results. You may use thought constructively or destructively, but the immutable law will not allow you to plant a thought of one kind and reap the fruit of another. You are free to use this marvelous creative power as you will, but you must take the consequences.”

And there’s the rub. I repeat the thought I want to grow, yet half the time I say the thought, even managing enthusiasm sometimes, the opposite of that thought pushes it’s way back into my mind. I keep trying to push it out, but it keeps coming back. I’d hoped to eradicate it by now.

Which brings us to Paragraph 29. “This is the danger from what is called Will Power…the fundamental principle of creative power is in the Universal, and therefore the idea of forcing a compliance with our wishes by the power of the individual will is an inverted conception which may appear to succeed for a while but is eventually doomed to failure, because it antagonizes the very power which it is seeking to use.”

Hmm. This could be a problem.

Paragraph 31. “For your exercise this week, go into the Silence and concentrate on the fact that “In him we live and move and have our being” is literally and scientifically exact! That you ARE because He IS, that if He is Omnipresent He must be in you. That if He is all in all you must be in Him! That He is Spirit and you are made in “His image and likeness” and that the only difference between His spirit and your spirit is one of degree, that a part must be the same in kind and quality as the whole. When you can realize this clearly you will have found the secret of the creative power of thought, you will have found the origin of both good and evil, you will have found the secret of the wonderful power of concentration, you will have found the key to the solution of every problem whether physical, financial, or environmental.”

I should draw some conclusions here. I still draw the conclusion “God is in me.” That’s distinctly different from me saying “I am God.” No. “God is in me.” is a very uplifting concept, because if God is in me, He is always with me. It also gives credence to the “your body is a temple” idea, which plays to my True Health personal pivotal need (PPN). If my body is a vessel for The Lord, that’s all the more reason to take care of it, so that supports my need for physical health (besides the fact that physical health just makes life a whole lot easier to participate in). The emotional health aspect is what’s causing me challenges. While I’m expressing that “crushing” feeling from addressing this challenge, I welcome it, because when I find my way through this challenge, life will be better.

My recent concern has been whether I need to abandon my PPN of “Recognition for Creative Expression” for another PPN of “Helping Others.” I don’t want to do this, but I’m being required to devote more time to this to achieve my emotional health. Sorting this out is contributing to the “crushing” sensation, so multiple Sits are in order. It’s not a good place to be in right now, but it will be a good place to HAVE BEEN in, if you know what I mean.

Week 19 – Fodder for a Sit

I recommended the class to a friend earlier this week. He responded he’d looked into the class but didn’t think it was right for him. No problem. I can accept that. It isn’t right for everybody. (Well, I think it is, but I can understand why someone else might not think so.) He went on to say he was interested in the results for me, adding he did think it was only making internal changes for me, because he hadn’t seen anything external yet, and he was looking forward to the external impact.

Hmm. Okay. Part of my DMP should be externally represented as it’s manifested, and, as written, I agree there should be external results at this point. Those are the areas I’m rethinking now, because that has not happened yet. The most important part is manifesting, and it’s mostly internal work, and it’s been, to put it indelicately, hard as hell for me.

I devoted my Sit to that subject on the day I read the comment (we don’t live near one another, and like most of my friends, our interaction is largely electronic). I believe my other DMP manifestations have been delayed because I’m placing so much energy on this most important aspect of my DMP. The other aspects are important, but this first one is critical to me. Since the Sit, I’ve given it additional consideration, and the fact that internal work has not been visible is a positive sign in and of itself, because, as you know, Law of Growth.

The Recognition for Creative Expression personal pivotal need (PPN), which would be most outwardly visible, will manifest, or maybe I’ll realize it isn’t as important as I once thought and re-evaluate for the correct PPN, rewriting my DMP to reflect that. For now, I’m sticking with this one. The physical aspect of my True Health has not manifested either, and I’m devoting time to finding better baby steps to help with that manifestation. Meanwhile, the top half of my DMP is manifesting, albeit slowly, I know it’s happening. And, yes, for 99.99% of the world, that’s an internal manifestation with outward implications for only one other person. Upon reflection, I’m good with that, so, thank you, my friend, for helping me achieve that clarity in my own mind.

Week 17HJ – Dominating Thoughts

Second. I realize the dominating thoughts of my mind will eventually reproduce themselves in outward, physical action, and gradually transform themselves into physical reality.

When I read this at the beginning of the course, I mentally gasped in horror. No wonder I was always snapping at my husband. Over the years, my thoughts had become focused on his more annoying traits and not his more endearing ones. I was witnessing the outward manifestation of those inward thoughts far too often. And so was he.

At the beginning of the course, he thought it sounded like brainwashing. I couldn’t disagree, except that the techniques were being used for good — in my case, to improve our relationship (among other things). I’ve resenting having to “brainwash” myself to love my husband; however, the Blueprint Builder drove home in agonizing clarity that I’d slowly done that to myself through the years by focusing on the traits that annoyed me instead of those that endeared me. The principles taught in this course have enabled me to reverse that awful trend.

He hasn’t said if he’s noticed any improvement in me or not. At Week 6, in an unsolicited conversation, he said he hadn’t. He’s been pretty neutral about the course requirements since then, which may be as close as I get to an acknowledgement that I’m improving. I know I have a ways to go, but I’m employing the Laws of the Mind as appropriate when those negative thoughts intrude.

I have so much more I’m working on in this course, but this is my top priority. Other things are fitting in as I am able.

Why did I gasp in horror? My husband was very ill at the time. We later learned he had bilateral pneumonia, and we suspect he had it from October until he was diagnosed and treated in early January. He is improving, but my mind spent a lot of time dwelling on what my old blueprint may have been manifesting, and that wasn’t a pleasant thought.

Week 17 – Gal In the Glass Puzzle

The Gal in the Glass troubles me. I know the essence — in the end, it comes down to can you look yourself in the eye and know you did the right things. No short cuts. No deceiving the world, but more importantly, no deceiving yourself. Sure. It’s easy to be swayed by the people supposedly closest to you — parents, spouses, significant others, but how do you feel about yourself? Are you satisfied. Did you do what was right for you?

I know I need to use the Law of Dual Thought on this one, but I haven’t found the best way to do it. I have not been able to read this poem without coming to the end and thinking “Joe Paterno.” I am not pleased by this thought. I read “You may be like Jack Horner and ‘chisel’ a plum, And think you’re a wonderful gal.” and wind up wondering why it’s accusing me of wrongdoing.

I can look the gal in the glass straight in the eye. I have no problem doing this. I have no problem saying, “I love you, Jean Schara.” Yeah, it sort of feels weird, but I can say it, and I can look myself in the eye when I do it. Yes, there are areas of continuous improvement where I believe I’m not up to snuff  (make healthy choices 24-7, anyone?), but are those the reasons why these thoughts come across my mind as I read this poem, or it is something else?

What is wrong with me that this poem annoys me? Why have I not been able to find a mechanism to come to whatever terms are necessary for it not to annoy me?  I find it more and more annoying to have to read it every night. Is it just me? As I mentioned in a comment on another post, I know I’m unique, but I’m not that unique.

Everything about this course has worked very well. After my initial resistance, when I had it, I got into the flow. I liked the idea of this poem when it was introduced, but it has become a burden, and I’m not understanding why. Does anyone have any insight to share?

Week 4-It’s All Good

Yes. I’m still on the train. We waited just east of Dallas for four hours for a broken freight train to get fixed and clear the tracks. We were supposed to be in St. Louis by eight this morning, but we aren’t due to reach it now for another two hours.

My only concern with the schedule was making my rental car connection. This morning, I called and changed the reservation to pick it up this evening at O’Hare. I’ll catch a cab from Union Station. I called my parents to let them know the new ETA. They’re flexible. Always have been when it mattered. They get that life happens.

The bright side? This area of Missouri we’re traveling through now is usually done in darkness, so we’re getting to see the lovely fall colors. And I get more time on the train. What’s not to like about that? I love riding the train. I’m so at peace.

I experienced much angst about the rental connection earlier this week when I learned about construction on the Illinois track.  I needn’t have worried. I figured I’d wind up at the airport, and I should have made that change the first time, then I wouldn’t have had to worry about it. Additionally, I have friends who live in Chicago who offered to let me spend the night with them if I needed to wait until tomorrow to get the car. The bonus for that was that I’d get to see their new house. Alas, it looks like I won’t have to take them up on their offer, but I achieved much peace from knowing that was an option. I could just as easily have caught a motel for the evening, too.

I tried envisioning an on-time arrival, and I got a great on-time departure from my Central Texas location. Sometimes, other things are meant to be, and we adjust.

Waiting for the Week 5 lesson materials to be posted. I’d hoped to find them when I woke up this morning (and got phone service), but, alas, that is not to be either. I’m thinking the Alliance is shaking things up again to keep us from getting too comfortable. More Semper Gumby. Not a problem.