I want to begin by dedicating this blog post to my Dad. He is such an incredible example of everything this chapter discusses. I'm blessed to have a Dad that continues to be marveled and excited about the world around him; Never stopping, always learning, and using all of the talent he has been given.
Although our bodies may change in appearance and age throughout the years, Murphy starts this chapter by stating an important fact, "your subconscious mind never grows old. It is part of the universal mind of God, which was never born, and it will never die."
Many times people fall into a mindset of "old age." They retire from their jobs, think that their purpose in this world is over, and very quickly start to deteriorate. They may not look well physically as their bodies struggle to function, and their mental sharpness becomes dull and withered.
Throughout this chapter Murphy suggests that the mind is what keeps you young. That you should never fear old age because it can actually be the, "beginning of a glorious, fruitful, active, and most productive life pattern, better than you have ever experienced."
When some people hit retirement age, they seem to just give up. They can become depressed and feel as though getting old is a tragedy. However, Murphy says that old age should be "welcomed joyfully and gladly as each phase of human life is a step forward on the path, which has no end. Man has powers, which transcend his bodily powers. He has sense, which transcend his five physical senses."
In the next paragraph Murphy discusses how many people are afraid of death because they are skeptical about what follows once they leave the physical world. He uses electricity as an example. A woman once asked Thomas Edison, "What is electricity?" He replied, "Electricity is. Use it." We use electricity constantly in our daily lives. It is a power that we cannot fully comprehend but we understand the principle of it and can therefore use it beneficially. There are so many things in science today that we do not fully comprehend, and yet it is accepted as fact. "We cannot see life. However, we know we are alive. Life is, and we are here to express it in all its beauty and glory."
Murphy points out that if you believe that the cycle of life ends with death, then of course you will live your life frustrated, afraid, and depressed once old age comes. "What men call death is but a journey to a new city in another dimension of Life." Do not accept that once you hit 60, 70, 80, or 90 that you are facing the end.
The next paragraph is titled, "You are as Young as You Think You Are". It begins with a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, "We do not count a man's years until he has nothing else to count."
One of the things that I have noticed while watching my Dad over the years, is that he has never once said, "Ok that's it. I'm retired. Time to kick back and relax." Absolutely not. Instead, he has an attitude of, "what's next?" Even though he is technically retired, he has actually just begun a whole new career as a documentarian. He has self-taught himself how to make movies and use the appropriate programs by doing research on the internet and constantly challenging his mind to learn something new. He spends hours watching tutorials on Youtube and then trying them out first hand. "I don't know how to do that" does not seem to be a sentence in his vocabulary. Instead, he is challenged to learn and figure it out.
Often times, when I am working with colleagues that are slightly older than myself the topic of technology comes up. Usually I hear something along the lines of, "Oh you're young. You were raised with that stuff. Of course you understand it. I'll never be able to use that." I can't help but shake my head when I hear this because those folks have just completely built a steel mental block. They have deemed themselves old, at 45, and by speaking those words, manifested exactly where they will stay. They just closed the door to ever acquiring that particular skill. If you decided you want to learn something or trying something new, there is nothing in your way. Certainly not your age.
When you tap into the power of your subconscious mind you can overcome any obstacle you may face. In previous blogs we discussed this in the forms of being happy or successful. However, here, it is about having that zest for life and moving on to whatever comes next, rather than giving up and declaring yourself finished.
Murphy uses several real life examples of older adults who still continue to practice their talents on a daily basis. He talks about an 84 year old surgeon who operates every morning, visits patients in the afternoon, and writes for scientific journals in the evening. This gentleman told Murphy once, "It's true what you said, 'Man is as strong as he thinks he is, and as valuable as he thinks he is."
If you are no longer working or utilizing your talents, what has happened to your value? No matter your age, you can always be a blessing to others and contribute to this world in one way or another.
You decide when you become "old". Some people are old at 30 while others are young at 80. Murphy also discusses how our view on older adults should shift. In our society we value younger adults and many times employers wont hire anyone over the age of 45. However, typically older adults are more experienced as well as emotionally/spiritually mature. That is, of course, if those adults are still willing to adapt with the world around them as it changes.
I want to end this blog with my favorite paragraph from this chapter. I don't think that anyone could word it better than Murphy himself. He says..
"If you are 65 or 95 years of age, realize you have much to give. You can help stabilize, advise, and direct the younger generation. You can give the benefit of your knowledge, your experience, and your wisdom. You can always look ahead for at all times you are gazing into infinite life. You will find that you can never cease to unveil the glories and wonders of life. Try to learn something new every moment of the day, and you will find your mind will always be young."
Other important notes from this chapter:
*Patience, kindness, love, good will, joy, happiness, wisdom, and understanding are qualities, which never grow old. Cultivate them and express them, and remain young in mind and body.
*Some research physicians say that the neurotic fear of the effects of time may well be the cause of premature aging.
*The most productive years of your life can be from 65 to 95.
*You cannot see your mind, but you know you have a mind. You cannot see your spirit, but you know that the spirit of the game, the artist, the spirit of the musician, and the spirit of the speaker is real. Likewise, the spirit of goodness, truth, and beauty moving in your mind and heart are real. You cannot see life, but you know you are alive.
*You are as young as you think you are. You are as strong as you think you are. You are as useful as you think you are. You are as young as your thoughts.
Saturday, August 27, 2016
Sunday, August 14, 2016
How to Use Your Subconscious Mind to Remove Fear
What are you fearing today? What keeps you up at night, mind racing, heart pounding, palms sweating? What you are afraid to do? Afraid to try? I can ask you these things with confidence that you will be able to come up with at least one answer. Why? Because we have become a society that is driven by fear. The world is counting on you to be afraid. Companies use an effective marketing technique where they appeal to your emotions, particularly fear, in order to sell their product. They know how to tap into your fear of getting an illness, becoming injured in an accident or losing your home to natural disasters or crimes. What about the fear of failure, not having a "beach ready" body or not being socially accepted?
In a spiritual world filled with peace and positivity, there is no room for fear. How can you rid yourself of this false emotion and replace it instead with joy and happiness? Murphy explains just that in this next chapter of, "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind."
Fear is a thought in your mind, and you are afraid of your own thoughts.
Since I was a child, once of my biggest fears has been violence. I used to worry about being kidnapped and would lay awake for hours in my bed. However, I really didn't have anything to worry about. I lived in a very safe neighborhood and my house even had an alarm system. I had nothing to be afraid of except for the ideas and scenarios that I had pictured in my head.
Murphy uses the example of a child being paralyzed by the boogieman. As soon as his father turns on the light, the child sees that there is no monster and the fear flees.
This example shows that most of our fears do not exist. There is no reality in what we are most afraid of. Murphy even calls them, "shadows" and shadows have no reality.
In the next paragraph, Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted as he says, "Do the thing you are afraid to do, and the death of fear is certain." Murphy shares a personal story as he once feared speaking in front of an audience. It took positive affirmations and prayer for him to overcome this.
I can't help but wonder how many lives would not have been changed for the better, if Murphy gave into his fear of public speaking. Do not let fear get in the way of blessings.
Throughout the chapter, there are many different examples of how people faced their individual fears. In one paragraph in particular, the fear of water, mountains,and closed spaces is discussed and the same technique is used to banish the fear. Here are the directions that are outlined. "If you are afraid of swimming, begin now to sit still for five or ten minutes three or four times a day, and imagine you are swimming. Actually, you are swimming in your mind. It is a subjective experience. Mentally you have projected yourself into the water. You feel the chill of the water and the movement of your arms and legs. It is all real, vivid, and a joyous activity of the mind. It is not idle daydreaming, for you know that what you are experiencing in your imagination will be developed in your subconscious mind. Then you will be compelled to express the image and likeness of the picture you impressed on your deeper mind. This is the law of the subconscious."
Although Murphy doesn't explicit say this, it is important to note that these exercises must be done with the utmost amount of love and peace. I know that for me personally, when I am afraid of something I tend to be very harsh with myself. I will myself to get over it, suck it up, and stop being such a baby. This is definitely the WRONG way to overcome a fear.
I must put out a reminder to always be gentle with yourself. It does not matter how long the journey takes or if you are struggling with the action. Just believe in your heart that you have banished the fear and replace it with joy above all other emotions.
As the chapter continues, Murphy discusses the difference between Normal and Abnormal fears. He says that man is only born with two fears, the fear of falling and the fear of noise. These are alarm systems that the subconscious have given you for self preservation. Anything other than this were fears given to you by parents, relatives, teachers, and all other adults who influenced you during your youth.
Here is an important line: Abnormal fear takes place when man lets his imagination run riot. Your imagination is an incredibly beautiful, magical, and powerful thing. It can create wonders that are beyond comprehension. However, what happens when you lose control of it? or allow it to take a turn down a negative path? This idea goes hand in hand with something I discussed in my previous blog. I had developed and continued to maintain anxiety because I was letting my imagination create things that were not of joy and happiness. You are the director of your mental motion picture and it is up to you to decide what plays on the screen.
Since I have started to come out of my fearful and anxious state, I have noticed a huge difference in what plays on my mental screen during times when my full attention isn't required. These are times like brushing my teeth or driving someplace very familiar. Instead of replaying negative conversations or hurtful things from my past, I am making up beautiful dance moves to the song that I am listening to, or feeling the excitement that I will experience on my wedding day. These types of mental images stir up positive and joyful emotions that will carry you through the day with a sunny outlook.
The answer to abnormal fear (anything except the 2 fears listed above) is to move mentally to the opposite. Place your attention directly on the thing immediately desired, rather than the fear. If you are desiring calm, focus only on things that bring you that feeling.
Many people like to rationalize their fear by saying, "I'm just trying to be safe." Yes, you need to make good choices like wearing your seatbelt or a helmet when you ride a bike. But do not let these actions be accompanied by the emotion of worry or stress. By doing so you are only drawing what you fear most closer to your heart. For example, I keep my door closed and locked at school for the safety of my students against an intruder. If I am obsessively checking my door I am not living a life that is faith filled, I am living a day of fear. There are plans already in place for what I would need to do if something like that occured, but it does not require me to mentally be thinking about it as the day goes on.
One of the more impactful stories that Murphy shares in this chapter is about a man who was a soldier in WWII. He had to parachute from a damaged plane and ended up landing in a jungle. He was frightened but immediately decided to do something about the fear. He began to talk to himself and said, "John, you can't surrender to your fear. Your fear is a desire for safety and security, and a way out." He began to claim, "Infinite intelligence which guides the planets in their courses is now leading and guiding me out of this jungle." He kept saying this outloud to himself for ten minute or more. "Then," he added, "something began to stir inside me. A mood of confidence began to seize me, and I began to walk. After a few days, I miraculously came out of the jungle, and was picked up by a rescue plane." It was his changed mental attitude that saved him. If he had given into fear his thinking would have been clouded and he would not have been able to be physically stable in the way that was necessary.
Remember and visualize, that in the center of you is a deep, still, ocean of peace. You can tap into this with faith and trust anytime that you need it. I love when Murphy describes the full emotion of faith as feeling like you are in your mother's arms. For anyone that was loved as a child, I know that there is no truer, safer, more peaceful feeling than being held by a loving parent.
This chapter ends with scripture from the bible. PSALM 34:4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
You should interpret the word Lord as it speaks to you. Whether it means law, God, or whatever you choose to believe. It is true no matter what word you replace it with. Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be given to you.
Other Important Notes from this Chapter:
*Do the thing you are afraid to do, and the death of fear is certain. Say to yourself and mean it, "I am going to master this fear," and you will.
* Fear is a negative thought in your mind. Supplant it with a constructive thought. Fear has killed millions. Confidence is greater than fear. Nothing is more powerful than faith in God and the good.
*Fear is man's greatest enemy. It is behind failure, sickness, and bad human relations. Confidence is great than fear. Nothing is more powerful than faith in God and the good.
*You can overcome abnormal fear when you know the power of your subconscious mind can change conditions and bring to pass the cherished desires of your heart. Give your immediate attention and devotion to your desire which is the opposite of your fear. This is the love that casts out fear.
*If you are afraid of failure, give attention to success. If you are afraid of sickness, dwell on your perfect health. If you are afraid of an accidence, dwell on the guidance and protection of God. If you are afraid of death, dwell on Eternal Life. God is Life, and that is your life now.
*The things you fear do not really exist except as thoughts in your mind. Thoughts are creative. This is why Job said; the thing I feared has come upon me. Think good and good follows.
*Look at your fears; hold them up to the light of reason. Learn to laugh at your fears. that is the best medicine.
*Nothing can disturb you but your own thought. The suggestions, statements, or threats of other persons have no power. The power is within you, and when your thoughts are focused on that which is good, then God's power is with your thoughts of good. There is only one Creative Power, and it moves as harmony. There are no divisions of quarrels in it. Its source is Love. That is why God's power is with your thoughts of good.
In a spiritual world filled with peace and positivity, there is no room for fear. How can you rid yourself of this false emotion and replace it instead with joy and happiness? Murphy explains just that in this next chapter of, "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind."
Fear is a thought in your mind, and you are afraid of your own thoughts.
Since I was a child, once of my biggest fears has been violence. I used to worry about being kidnapped and would lay awake for hours in my bed. However, I really didn't have anything to worry about. I lived in a very safe neighborhood and my house even had an alarm system. I had nothing to be afraid of except for the ideas and scenarios that I had pictured in my head.
Murphy uses the example of a child being paralyzed by the boogieman. As soon as his father turns on the light, the child sees that there is no monster and the fear flees.
This example shows that most of our fears do not exist. There is no reality in what we are most afraid of. Murphy even calls them, "shadows" and shadows have no reality.
In the next paragraph, Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted as he says, "Do the thing you are afraid to do, and the death of fear is certain." Murphy shares a personal story as he once feared speaking in front of an audience. It took positive affirmations and prayer for him to overcome this.
I can't help but wonder how many lives would not have been changed for the better, if Murphy gave into his fear of public speaking. Do not let fear get in the way of blessings.
Throughout the chapter, there are many different examples of how people faced their individual fears. In one paragraph in particular, the fear of water, mountains,and closed spaces is discussed and the same technique is used to banish the fear. Here are the directions that are outlined. "If you are afraid of swimming, begin now to sit still for five or ten minutes three or four times a day, and imagine you are swimming. Actually, you are swimming in your mind. It is a subjective experience. Mentally you have projected yourself into the water. You feel the chill of the water and the movement of your arms and legs. It is all real, vivid, and a joyous activity of the mind. It is not idle daydreaming, for you know that what you are experiencing in your imagination will be developed in your subconscious mind. Then you will be compelled to express the image and likeness of the picture you impressed on your deeper mind. This is the law of the subconscious."
Although Murphy doesn't explicit say this, it is important to note that these exercises must be done with the utmost amount of love and peace. I know that for me personally, when I am afraid of something I tend to be very harsh with myself. I will myself to get over it, suck it up, and stop being such a baby. This is definitely the WRONG way to overcome a fear.
I must put out a reminder to always be gentle with yourself. It does not matter how long the journey takes or if you are struggling with the action. Just believe in your heart that you have banished the fear and replace it with joy above all other emotions.
As the chapter continues, Murphy discusses the difference between Normal and Abnormal fears. He says that man is only born with two fears, the fear of falling and the fear of noise. These are alarm systems that the subconscious have given you for self preservation. Anything other than this were fears given to you by parents, relatives, teachers, and all other adults who influenced you during your youth.
Here is an important line: Abnormal fear takes place when man lets his imagination run riot. Your imagination is an incredibly beautiful, magical, and powerful thing. It can create wonders that are beyond comprehension. However, what happens when you lose control of it? or allow it to take a turn down a negative path? This idea goes hand in hand with something I discussed in my previous blog. I had developed and continued to maintain anxiety because I was letting my imagination create things that were not of joy and happiness. You are the director of your mental motion picture and it is up to you to decide what plays on the screen.
Since I have started to come out of my fearful and anxious state, I have noticed a huge difference in what plays on my mental screen during times when my full attention isn't required. These are times like brushing my teeth or driving someplace very familiar. Instead of replaying negative conversations or hurtful things from my past, I am making up beautiful dance moves to the song that I am listening to, or feeling the excitement that I will experience on my wedding day. These types of mental images stir up positive and joyful emotions that will carry you through the day with a sunny outlook.
The answer to abnormal fear (anything except the 2 fears listed above) is to move mentally to the opposite. Place your attention directly on the thing immediately desired, rather than the fear. If you are desiring calm, focus only on things that bring you that feeling.
Many people like to rationalize their fear by saying, "I'm just trying to be safe." Yes, you need to make good choices like wearing your seatbelt or a helmet when you ride a bike. But do not let these actions be accompanied by the emotion of worry or stress. By doing so you are only drawing what you fear most closer to your heart. For example, I keep my door closed and locked at school for the safety of my students against an intruder. If I am obsessively checking my door I am not living a life that is faith filled, I am living a day of fear. There are plans already in place for what I would need to do if something like that occured, but it does not require me to mentally be thinking about it as the day goes on.
One of the more impactful stories that Murphy shares in this chapter is about a man who was a soldier in WWII. He had to parachute from a damaged plane and ended up landing in a jungle. He was frightened but immediately decided to do something about the fear. He began to talk to himself and said, "John, you can't surrender to your fear. Your fear is a desire for safety and security, and a way out." He began to claim, "Infinite intelligence which guides the planets in their courses is now leading and guiding me out of this jungle." He kept saying this outloud to himself for ten minute or more. "Then," he added, "something began to stir inside me. A mood of confidence began to seize me, and I began to walk. After a few days, I miraculously came out of the jungle, and was picked up by a rescue plane." It was his changed mental attitude that saved him. If he had given into fear his thinking would have been clouded and he would not have been able to be physically stable in the way that was necessary.
Remember and visualize, that in the center of you is a deep, still, ocean of peace. You can tap into this with faith and trust anytime that you need it. I love when Murphy describes the full emotion of faith as feeling like you are in your mother's arms. For anyone that was loved as a child, I know that there is no truer, safer, more peaceful feeling than being held by a loving parent.
This chapter ends with scripture from the bible. PSALM 34:4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
You should interpret the word Lord as it speaks to you. Whether it means law, God, or whatever you choose to believe. It is true no matter what word you replace it with. Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be given to you.
Other Important Notes from this Chapter:
*Do the thing you are afraid to do, and the death of fear is certain. Say to yourself and mean it, "I am going to master this fear," and you will.
* Fear is a negative thought in your mind. Supplant it with a constructive thought. Fear has killed millions. Confidence is greater than fear. Nothing is more powerful than faith in God and the good.
*Fear is man's greatest enemy. It is behind failure, sickness, and bad human relations. Confidence is great than fear. Nothing is more powerful than faith in God and the good.
*You can overcome abnormal fear when you know the power of your subconscious mind can change conditions and bring to pass the cherished desires of your heart. Give your immediate attention and devotion to your desire which is the opposite of your fear. This is the love that casts out fear.
*If you are afraid of failure, give attention to success. If you are afraid of sickness, dwell on your perfect health. If you are afraid of an accidence, dwell on the guidance and protection of God. If you are afraid of death, dwell on Eternal Life. God is Life, and that is your life now.
*The things you fear do not really exist except as thoughts in your mind. Thoughts are creative. This is why Job said; the thing I feared has come upon me. Think good and good follows.
*Look at your fears; hold them up to the light of reason. Learn to laugh at your fears. that is the best medicine.
*Nothing can disturb you but your own thought. The suggestions, statements, or threats of other persons have no power. The power is within you, and when your thoughts are focused on that which is good, then God's power is with your thoughts of good. There is only one Creative Power, and it moves as harmony. There are no divisions of quarrels in it. Its source is Love. That is why God's power is with your thoughts of good.
Saturday, August 13, 2016
How your Subconscious Removes Mental Blocks
An attitude of mind that relies on, and has faith in the creative intelligence to bring about a happy solution to every question, is one that will bring peace, harmony, and order to your life.
In this chapter Murphy talks about the habits we have created in the physical world and how we as humans can either break or build these manners. We are all creatures of habit and these habits are actually the functions of our subconscious mind. At a young age we all had to learn to do things that seemed foreign to us but are now second nature. This may include riding a bike, swimming or driving a car. At first we had to think very hard and concentrate when doing these actions, but now they are automatic and the subconscious mind has taken over.
It's important to remember that thoughts can become habitual. What kind of messages are constantly being repeated in your mind? Are they thoughts of things that are good, positive, and true? Or are they negative, gloomy and charged with fear and anxiety? "The law of your subconscious is compulsion." Just as you are free to choose a good habit or a bad habit you are also free to choose the nature of your thoughts.
Recently, I had an epiphany about the habitual thinking that I had fallen into. My thoughts were constantly charged with negativity, anxiety, and often times exaggerated real life scenarios. I am someone who works very hard as a teacher and not only do I want to serve my students and their parents, but I also want to please my administration and colleagues. Last winter, I began experiencing a great deal of anxiety that seemed to last through the end of my summer vacation. I tried so many things to keep the emotions at bay. I exercised, changed my diet, kept positive quotes in my pocket and gave myself plenty of time to relax. However, near the last two weeks of my summer break, the anxiety seemed to lift and I felt returned to my normal self. What was different? Stepping away from work for such a long period of time gave me a new perspective. It took about four weeks for me to stop THINKING about work. It was then that I realized that I really hadn't taken hold of my thoughts as much as I believed I had. Many times in the teaching world you have to analyze things from many angles. It may be figuring out the details of a lesson, which takes a great deal of thinking ahead. Teachers do not just need to select the content that is being taught but they also need to think of things like, how will students retrieve materials? What if one gets done before the rest of the class? Which students will need more support and which ones will need to be challenged? How will I keep the noise level under control? How much time will they take to complete the activity? Who will the students work with on this project and why? I would also face scenarios with parents and colleagues that I believed I needed to reflect on and "think through."
In my mind I thought I was problem solving, when in actuality, I was allowing the problem to grow and making it worse. I discovered that one of my habits is to have conversations in my head. For example, if I had a confrontation with a coworker or parent I would imagine what he or she might say to me about the situation. I would then come up with a response to their answer and then he or she would reply. As I walked through these conversations, which occurred silently in my brain at all hours of the day, I felt emotions that were very real. I would feel the heat of frustration start to well up in my stomach as I brushed my teeth, or did the dishes. I wasn't even at work! That conversation had not happened and there was no reason for me to be frustrated. I was simply manifesting a negative situation that was not real in the slightest. Later on at work, I would then be on edge when I would see that specific person because I had just associated very real feelings with a completely negative mind set.
I was experiencing a mental block. When I finally got to get away from work for a while and hit the "reset" button, it gave me the opportunity to truly change my thinking. I now focus on things that are true...not what I think might happen. If I have just come home from work and want to relax, that doesn't just mean my physical body relaxes, it means my brain must relax as well. I had to stop discussing negative things that happened at work with whoever would listen, and I had to stop replaying scenarios in my brain. I am now back at work and have surprised myself with how calm I feel internally. When I start to slip back into my negative thinking pattern, I instead sing an uplifting song or imagine how positive and blessed my day is going to be. Quite frankly, if I'm not at work there is no reason I should be thinking about work. If you never allow your brain to rest and relax then you might as well never leave the office in the first place.
This habit I developed was a mental block that got in the way of all of my positive desires. It was through a change that I was finally able to remove it.
In this chapter Murphy says, "when you really have an intense desire to over come any block in your life, and you come to a clear-cut decision that there is a way out, and that is the course you wish to follow, then victory and triumph are assured."
I was able to relate this next paragraph to my own life as he wrote, "If you really want peace of mind and inner calm, you will get it. Regardless of how unjustly you have been treated, or how unfair the boss has been, or what a mean scoundrel someone has proved to be, all this makes no difference to you when you awaken to your mental and spiritual powers. You know what you want, and you will definitely refuse to let the thieves (thoughts) of hatred, anger, hostility and ill will rob you of peace, harmony, health and happiness. You cease to become upset by people, conditions, news, and events by identifying your thoughts immediately with your aim in life. Your aim is peace, health, inspiration, harmony and abundance. Feel a river of peace flowing through you now."
In every chapter, Murphy shares the actual prayer/meditation that one of his acquaintances has used to bring an intention to pass. In this blog, I would like to personally share something that I have been doing every morning. My goal this school year is to have inner peace and remain calm in all situations. Too many times last year my blood would quickly boil when a student did not follow directions or an administrator asked yet another thing of me. I know from reading this book that it is in my power to be calm no matter what scenario I am in.
Each morning, after my shower, I put on a fluffy robe and sit on my recliner. For ten minutes I use a meditation timer app that plays the wonderful sounds of a rainstorm mixed with 4 rings of a low toned bell. I relax my body and put myself in the rain (one of my favorite places to be). I smell the fresh, cool air that I know exists there and breathe deeply. On each bell I say a word, and my sentence ends up being, "Peace begins with me." No other words enter my thoughts or leave my lips except for the sentence, "Peace begins with me." This is a wonderful reminder for me of not only my intention, but of my power. It is not "I will be peaceful until someone pisses me off.." It is, "I am the source of peace."
No one can stir up negative emotions within unless you give yourself permission to do so. I spent so many months bringing anxiety, fear, and stress upon myself when it never needed to occur. I had to remove the mental block.
I want to end this blog post with a final quote from this chapter. It applies to our everyday lives whether we are facing a major crisis or simply trying to maintain the peace we have already achieved. "When fear knocks at the door of your mind, or when worry, anxiety, and doubt cross your mind, behold your vision, your goals. Keep on, persevere, until the day breaks, and the shadows flee away."
Other important notes from this chapter:
* The solution lies within the problem. The answer is in every question. Infinite intelligence responds to you as you call upon it with faith and confidence.
*Habit is the function of your subconscious mind. There is no greater evidence of the marvelous power of your subconscious than the force and sway habit holds in your life. You are a creature of habit.
* Whatever mental picture, back by faith, you behold in your conscious mind, and your subconscious mind will bring to pass.
*The only obstacle to your success and achievement is your own thought or mental image.
*When your attention wanders, bring it back to the contemplation of your good or goal. Make a habit of this. This is called disciplining the mind.
*The statements of others cannot hurt you except through your own thoughts and mental participation. Identify your self with your aim, which is peace, harmony, and joy. You are the only thinker in your universe.
*Excessive drinking is an unconscious desire to escape. The cause of alcoholism is negative and destructive thinking. The cure is to think of freedom, sobriety, and perfection and to feel the thrill of accomplishment.
*Your imagination took you to the bottle; let it take you to freedom by imagining you are free.
*When fear knocks at the door of your mind, let faith in God and all things good open the door.
In this chapter Murphy talks about the habits we have created in the physical world and how we as humans can either break or build these manners. We are all creatures of habit and these habits are actually the functions of our subconscious mind. At a young age we all had to learn to do things that seemed foreign to us but are now second nature. This may include riding a bike, swimming or driving a car. At first we had to think very hard and concentrate when doing these actions, but now they are automatic and the subconscious mind has taken over.
It's important to remember that thoughts can become habitual. What kind of messages are constantly being repeated in your mind? Are they thoughts of things that are good, positive, and true? Or are they negative, gloomy and charged with fear and anxiety? "The law of your subconscious is compulsion." Just as you are free to choose a good habit or a bad habit you are also free to choose the nature of your thoughts.
Recently, I had an epiphany about the habitual thinking that I had fallen into. My thoughts were constantly charged with negativity, anxiety, and often times exaggerated real life scenarios. I am someone who works very hard as a teacher and not only do I want to serve my students and their parents, but I also want to please my administration and colleagues. Last winter, I began experiencing a great deal of anxiety that seemed to last through the end of my summer vacation. I tried so many things to keep the emotions at bay. I exercised, changed my diet, kept positive quotes in my pocket and gave myself plenty of time to relax. However, near the last two weeks of my summer break, the anxiety seemed to lift and I felt returned to my normal self. What was different? Stepping away from work for such a long period of time gave me a new perspective. It took about four weeks for me to stop THINKING about work. It was then that I realized that I really hadn't taken hold of my thoughts as much as I believed I had. Many times in the teaching world you have to analyze things from many angles. It may be figuring out the details of a lesson, which takes a great deal of thinking ahead. Teachers do not just need to select the content that is being taught but they also need to think of things like, how will students retrieve materials? What if one gets done before the rest of the class? Which students will need more support and which ones will need to be challenged? How will I keep the noise level under control? How much time will they take to complete the activity? Who will the students work with on this project and why? I would also face scenarios with parents and colleagues that I believed I needed to reflect on and "think through."
In my mind I thought I was problem solving, when in actuality, I was allowing the problem to grow and making it worse. I discovered that one of my habits is to have conversations in my head. For example, if I had a confrontation with a coworker or parent I would imagine what he or she might say to me about the situation. I would then come up with a response to their answer and then he or she would reply. As I walked through these conversations, which occurred silently in my brain at all hours of the day, I felt emotions that were very real. I would feel the heat of frustration start to well up in my stomach as I brushed my teeth, or did the dishes. I wasn't even at work! That conversation had not happened and there was no reason for me to be frustrated. I was simply manifesting a negative situation that was not real in the slightest. Later on at work, I would then be on edge when I would see that specific person because I had just associated very real feelings with a completely negative mind set.
I was experiencing a mental block. When I finally got to get away from work for a while and hit the "reset" button, it gave me the opportunity to truly change my thinking. I now focus on things that are true...not what I think might happen. If I have just come home from work and want to relax, that doesn't just mean my physical body relaxes, it means my brain must relax as well. I had to stop discussing negative things that happened at work with whoever would listen, and I had to stop replaying scenarios in my brain. I am now back at work and have surprised myself with how calm I feel internally. When I start to slip back into my negative thinking pattern, I instead sing an uplifting song or imagine how positive and blessed my day is going to be. Quite frankly, if I'm not at work there is no reason I should be thinking about work. If you never allow your brain to rest and relax then you might as well never leave the office in the first place.
This habit I developed was a mental block that got in the way of all of my positive desires. It was through a change that I was finally able to remove it.
In this chapter Murphy says, "when you really have an intense desire to over come any block in your life, and you come to a clear-cut decision that there is a way out, and that is the course you wish to follow, then victory and triumph are assured."
I was able to relate this next paragraph to my own life as he wrote, "If you really want peace of mind and inner calm, you will get it. Regardless of how unjustly you have been treated, or how unfair the boss has been, or what a mean scoundrel someone has proved to be, all this makes no difference to you when you awaken to your mental and spiritual powers. You know what you want, and you will definitely refuse to let the thieves (thoughts) of hatred, anger, hostility and ill will rob you of peace, harmony, health and happiness. You cease to become upset by people, conditions, news, and events by identifying your thoughts immediately with your aim in life. Your aim is peace, health, inspiration, harmony and abundance. Feel a river of peace flowing through you now."
In every chapter, Murphy shares the actual prayer/meditation that one of his acquaintances has used to bring an intention to pass. In this blog, I would like to personally share something that I have been doing every morning. My goal this school year is to have inner peace and remain calm in all situations. Too many times last year my blood would quickly boil when a student did not follow directions or an administrator asked yet another thing of me. I know from reading this book that it is in my power to be calm no matter what scenario I am in.
Each morning, after my shower, I put on a fluffy robe and sit on my recliner. For ten minutes I use a meditation timer app that plays the wonderful sounds of a rainstorm mixed with 4 rings of a low toned bell. I relax my body and put myself in the rain (one of my favorite places to be). I smell the fresh, cool air that I know exists there and breathe deeply. On each bell I say a word, and my sentence ends up being, "Peace begins with me." No other words enter my thoughts or leave my lips except for the sentence, "Peace begins with me." This is a wonderful reminder for me of not only my intention, but of my power. It is not "I will be peaceful until someone pisses me off.." It is, "I am the source of peace."
No one can stir up negative emotions within unless you give yourself permission to do so. I spent so many months bringing anxiety, fear, and stress upon myself when it never needed to occur. I had to remove the mental block.
I want to end this blog post with a final quote from this chapter. It applies to our everyday lives whether we are facing a major crisis or simply trying to maintain the peace we have already achieved. "When fear knocks at the door of your mind, or when worry, anxiety, and doubt cross your mind, behold your vision, your goals. Keep on, persevere, until the day breaks, and the shadows flee away."
Other important notes from this chapter:
* The solution lies within the problem. The answer is in every question. Infinite intelligence responds to you as you call upon it with faith and confidence.
*Habit is the function of your subconscious mind. There is no greater evidence of the marvelous power of your subconscious than the force and sway habit holds in your life. You are a creature of habit.
* Whatever mental picture, back by faith, you behold in your conscious mind, and your subconscious mind will bring to pass.
*The only obstacle to your success and achievement is your own thought or mental image.
*When your attention wanders, bring it back to the contemplation of your good or goal. Make a habit of this. This is called disciplining the mind.
*The statements of others cannot hurt you except through your own thoughts and mental participation. Identify your self with your aim, which is peace, harmony, and joy. You are the only thinker in your universe.
*Excessive drinking is an unconscious desire to escape. The cause of alcoholism is negative and destructive thinking. The cure is to think of freedom, sobriety, and perfection and to feel the thrill of accomplishment.
*Your imagination took you to the bottle; let it take you to freedom by imagining you are free.
*When fear knocks at the door of your mind, let faith in God and all things good open the door.
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
How to Use your Subconscious Mind for Forgiveness
In this chapter, Murphy talks about the importance of forgiveness and the connection it has to our subconscious mind. I am sure that everyone out there has been wronged at some point in their life. Maybe someone hurt you or treated you unfairly. In turn, it is also likely that you were the culprit of unfair actions towards others as well. Maybe you are carrying around guilt or can't let go of the painful memories left over from a specific incident. Murphy discusses that we must release these distressing moments in order to create a wonderful, happy, and prosperous life for ourselves.
I especially like the way Murphy begins this chapter when he says, "Life plays no favorites. God is Life, and this Life and this Life Principle is flowing through you this moment. God loves to express Himself as harmony, peace, beauty, joy and abundance through you. This is called the will of God or the tendency of life."
Many times people blame God or life for their problems. They insist that they are merely unlucky, born into the wrong family, or struck with a horrible disease or short coming. Haven't you heard that saying, "life isn't fair"? If you truly believe this then you have just shackled your own chains and tied yourself to a life of despair. You have, as Murphy puts it, set up a "mental resistance to the flow of Life by accusing and reproaching God for the sin, sickness, and suffering of mankind."
When you buy into this idea you are punishing yourself and preventing amazing blessings from entering your life.
The next paragraph of this chapter is intriguing. It is titled, "Life Always Forgives You." Have you ever thought about life forgiving you before? Murphy uses the example of when you cut your finger. What happens to it? Well, the cells regenerate and it heals. You are not condemned to have a bleeding sore on your hand for the rest of your life. Even if you knew better to chop carrots when you were distracted, or you knew that you should've put gloves on.. your finger still heals. Your subconscious is working for you to preserve your life and maintain your health. "Life holds no grudges against you and it is always forgiving you."
Guilt is a terrible emotion that many people suffer with today. Murphy discusses two specific examples of people that were dealing with guilt so heavy it greatly burdened their lives. In the first example, a man had ill feelings towards his brother who passed away. He was never given the opportunity to amend their relationship so he now punished himself internally and was working himself to a place of physical harm. Murphy responds to this gentleman by explaining an essential component to the workings of our lives. "If you misuse the laws of life, you will suffer accordingly." He continues to explain, "The forces of nature are not evil; it is your use of them that determines whether they have a good or evil effect. Electricity is not evil; it depends how you use it, whether to burn down a structure or light up a home. The only sin is ignorance of the law, and the only punishment is the automatic reaction of man's misuse of the law."
I think specifically of the law of attraction in this instance. Whatever you put out into the universe will come back to you. How are you choosing to use this law? Are you filling yourself with negative thoughts of despair, lack, and fear? Or, are you going to use it to benefit you, use it for good, and find yourself successful, happy, and receiving abundant blessings? When you are using these laws for the purpose that they are not intended for, you will find consequences. Do not put shackles on yourself and walk down the miserable road of a mental prison.
One of the ways that Murphy was able to help the gentlemen release the burden of guilt is to remind him that he is no longer the person he was when he did the wrong doing. The man had obviously changed his ways, was making better choices, and was trying to live a life filled with integrity. Murphy pointed out that every 11 months our every cell of our body changes. Therefore he explained to the man that physically and mentally he was actually not the same person. By receiving this information he was able to release his guilt.
In the next paragraph, Murphy talks about something that can cause emotional discomfort to many of us on a daily basis. Criticism. When we receive criticism from a colleague, family member, or friend, many times our reaction is not favorable. However, it is important to take a moment and decipher if the criticism came from a place of love and truth. If so, these critiques are merely to help us grow and we should thank the person for their findings. On the other hand, if these comments come from a place of competition or prejudice, we can only control our own emotional reactions. Murphy says that when this happens, "to understand this fact is to be compassionate. The next logical step would be to pray for the other person's peace, harmony, and understanding. You cannot be hurt when you know that you are master of your thoughts, reactions, and emotions. Emotions follow thoughts, and you have the power to reject all thoughts, which may disturb or upset you."
Something that Murphy doesn't mention, but that I think is just as important, is to make sure you are not criticizing others unfairly as well. Yes, we need to learn how to deal with the comments of others, but what words are we providing to those around us. As I discussed in other posts many times it is too easy to become jealous or competitive with people that seem to be experiencing success. We may then choose to focus on their negative qualities or pick on every short coming that they have in order to make ourselves feel better. When we do this, according the to the law of Attraction, we will then draw this time of criticism right back to ourselves.
Next, Murphy discusses a wedding he was asked to officiate. Two hours past the time the wedding was supposed to begin, it was discovered that the groom had left the bride at the altar. He notes her reaction as it showed complete faith in God. The bride stated that she prayed for divine action and that to get married to this man must not have been the right action because her prayer was for right action for both of them.
When you have complete faith, amazing things will happen and you will find yourself at ease emotionally. Murphy writes, "Tune in with the infinite intelligence within your subconscious depths, trusting the answer in the same way that you trusted your mother when she held you in her arms. This is how you can acquire poise and mental and emotional health." I love the way he uses the example of being held in your mother's arms. When you were young and your parents held you, you knew that nothing would ever do you harm. You felt safe, protected, loved and cared for. There was no appearance of fear or anxiety. How amazing would it be if we could allow ourselves to feel that way about life and everything that happens to us? I think many of us have an outlook of fear and want to protect ourselves from everyone around us. We are so quick to think that people are out to betray us and we walk around with our guards up constantly. Instead, if we can live in a constant state of faith our fear would fade away and we would open ourselves up to receive all of the blessings of the world.
Forgiveness is Necessary for Healing. In the next paragraph of the chapter, Murphy comes back to the concept of releasing emotional turmoil. He writes, "In the psychosomatic field of medicine today, it is being constantly stressed that resentment, condemnation of others, remorse, and hostility are behind a host of maladies ranging from arthritis to cardiac disease." This makes a lot of sense to me. I have heard that one of the greatest sources of illness is stress. What causes us stress? Work? The people we see on a daily basis? Deadlines? By allowing these things to cause emotional uproar in your spirit you are holding onto a wound and not allowing it to heal.
If this is something that I am experiencing and I am aware of it, my biggest question would be, "What next?"
The first thing Murphy says you need to do is forgive someone. (Whether it be another person or yourself). An important note he makes is that just because you forgive someone it does not mean that you suddenly like them. He also says that you can show love or love someone without liking them as well. It is an important fact to clarify as many of us still feel like we can't forgive someone if they continue to do wrong and we cannot become their friend. That is not what Murphy is asking to do. This is about you and your own internal emotions, not the friendship you will magically develop.
Next, Murphy says to complete the following technique: "Quiet your mind, relax, and let go. Think of God and His love for you, and then affirm, ' I fully and freely forgive (mention the name of the offender); I release him mentally and spiritually. I completely forgive everything connected with the matter in question. I am free, and he/she is free. It is a marvelous feeling. It is my day of general amnesty. I release anybody and everybody who had ever hurt me, and I wish for each and everyone health, happiness, peace, and all the blessings of life. I do this freely, joyously, and lovingly, and whenever i think of the person or persons who hurt me, I say, 'I have release you, and the blessings of life are yours.' I am free and you are free. It is wonderful!"
Once you have done this, Murphy says that you will not have to do it again. It is unnecessary to repeat the prayer. If the person or memory pops into your mind and wills you to have an emotional reaction, simply stop, and think "peace be to you."
In the next paragraph Murphy offers a sort of test that will help you determine if you have truly offered forgiveness. He says that when you hear something positive about the person who did you wrong pay attention to your emotions. If you are able to feel happy, or even if you feel nothing at all, you have fully let go. However, if you find yourself starting to "sizzle" you are still harboring resentment and ill feelings towards this person. If you find yourself experiencing the later remind yourself to have compassion and take a moment to pray for that person's good will. Pray for their health, success, and happiness. It is ok to have the memory of the incident, but it should not cause you anymore internal pain or negative reactions.
I wonder sometimes, how incidents where we were mistreated affect our future outlook on life. This goes back to what I mentioned earlier in this post, about how some people walk around guarded and full of fear. Since one person hurt us, we may be on the look out for someone else to do the same. It is almost as though trust for humanity is lost. I come back to the law of attraction in this case- what are you looking for? If your brain is on red alert all of the time, looking out for the negative or the "bad guys" I bet that is what you will inevitably find. But, if you put on the faith mindset that is looking for good in the world, the blessings, the favor, you may find something different.
When you are filled with faith your expectancy changes. You are focused on the good and the positive instead of the scary and negative. When you develop your faith so strongly so that you feel as though you are being held in your mother's arms, you have brought the law into your hands. You are free to use it.
Forgiveness can be difficult for some people to obtain. Murphy does a beautiful job outlining how we too can let go and in turn open up our hearts, minds, and spirits to all things good. Remember, that no one else is responsible for or can prevent your happiness. For as a man thinketh in his hart, so is he. PROVERBS 23:7
Other Important Notes from this Chapter:
*Your concept of God is the most important thing in your life. If you really believe in a God of love, your subconscious mind will respond in countless blessings to you. Believe in a God of love.
*Your guilt complex is a false concept of God and Life. God, or Life, does not punish or judge you. You do this to yourself by your false beliefs, negative thinking, and self condemnation.
*The forces of nature are not evil. The effect of their use depends on how you use the power within you. You can use electricity to kill someone or to light the house. You can use water to drown a child or quench his thirst. Good and evil come right back to the though and purse in man's own mind.
*If another criticizes you, and these faults are within you, rejoice, give thanks, and appreciate the comments. This gives you the opportunity to correct the particular fault.
*You cannot be hurt by criticism when you know that you are the master of your thoughts, reactions, and emotions. This gives you the opportunity to pray and bless the other, thereby blessing yourself.
*When you pray for guidance and right action, take what comes. Realize it is good and very good. Then there is no cause for self pity, criticism, or hatred.
I especially like the way Murphy begins this chapter when he says, "Life plays no favorites. God is Life, and this Life and this Life Principle is flowing through you this moment. God loves to express Himself as harmony, peace, beauty, joy and abundance through you. This is called the will of God or the tendency of life."
Many times people blame God or life for their problems. They insist that they are merely unlucky, born into the wrong family, or struck with a horrible disease or short coming. Haven't you heard that saying, "life isn't fair"? If you truly believe this then you have just shackled your own chains and tied yourself to a life of despair. You have, as Murphy puts it, set up a "mental resistance to the flow of Life by accusing and reproaching God for the sin, sickness, and suffering of mankind."
When you buy into this idea you are punishing yourself and preventing amazing blessings from entering your life.
The next paragraph of this chapter is intriguing. It is titled, "Life Always Forgives You." Have you ever thought about life forgiving you before? Murphy uses the example of when you cut your finger. What happens to it? Well, the cells regenerate and it heals. You are not condemned to have a bleeding sore on your hand for the rest of your life. Even if you knew better to chop carrots when you were distracted, or you knew that you should've put gloves on.. your finger still heals. Your subconscious is working for you to preserve your life and maintain your health. "Life holds no grudges against you and it is always forgiving you."
Guilt is a terrible emotion that many people suffer with today. Murphy discusses two specific examples of people that were dealing with guilt so heavy it greatly burdened their lives. In the first example, a man had ill feelings towards his brother who passed away. He was never given the opportunity to amend their relationship so he now punished himself internally and was working himself to a place of physical harm. Murphy responds to this gentleman by explaining an essential component to the workings of our lives. "If you misuse the laws of life, you will suffer accordingly." He continues to explain, "The forces of nature are not evil; it is your use of them that determines whether they have a good or evil effect. Electricity is not evil; it depends how you use it, whether to burn down a structure or light up a home. The only sin is ignorance of the law, and the only punishment is the automatic reaction of man's misuse of the law."
I think specifically of the law of attraction in this instance. Whatever you put out into the universe will come back to you. How are you choosing to use this law? Are you filling yourself with negative thoughts of despair, lack, and fear? Or, are you going to use it to benefit you, use it for good, and find yourself successful, happy, and receiving abundant blessings? When you are using these laws for the purpose that they are not intended for, you will find consequences. Do not put shackles on yourself and walk down the miserable road of a mental prison.
One of the ways that Murphy was able to help the gentlemen release the burden of guilt is to remind him that he is no longer the person he was when he did the wrong doing. The man had obviously changed his ways, was making better choices, and was trying to live a life filled with integrity. Murphy pointed out that every 11 months our every cell of our body changes. Therefore he explained to the man that physically and mentally he was actually not the same person. By receiving this information he was able to release his guilt.
In the next paragraph, Murphy talks about something that can cause emotional discomfort to many of us on a daily basis. Criticism. When we receive criticism from a colleague, family member, or friend, many times our reaction is not favorable. However, it is important to take a moment and decipher if the criticism came from a place of love and truth. If so, these critiques are merely to help us grow and we should thank the person for their findings. On the other hand, if these comments come from a place of competition or prejudice, we can only control our own emotional reactions. Murphy says that when this happens, "to understand this fact is to be compassionate. The next logical step would be to pray for the other person's peace, harmony, and understanding. You cannot be hurt when you know that you are master of your thoughts, reactions, and emotions. Emotions follow thoughts, and you have the power to reject all thoughts, which may disturb or upset you."
Something that Murphy doesn't mention, but that I think is just as important, is to make sure you are not criticizing others unfairly as well. Yes, we need to learn how to deal with the comments of others, but what words are we providing to those around us. As I discussed in other posts many times it is too easy to become jealous or competitive with people that seem to be experiencing success. We may then choose to focus on their negative qualities or pick on every short coming that they have in order to make ourselves feel better. When we do this, according the to the law of Attraction, we will then draw this time of criticism right back to ourselves.
Next, Murphy discusses a wedding he was asked to officiate. Two hours past the time the wedding was supposed to begin, it was discovered that the groom had left the bride at the altar. He notes her reaction as it showed complete faith in God. The bride stated that she prayed for divine action and that to get married to this man must not have been the right action because her prayer was for right action for both of them.
When you have complete faith, amazing things will happen and you will find yourself at ease emotionally. Murphy writes, "Tune in with the infinite intelligence within your subconscious depths, trusting the answer in the same way that you trusted your mother when she held you in her arms. This is how you can acquire poise and mental and emotional health." I love the way he uses the example of being held in your mother's arms. When you were young and your parents held you, you knew that nothing would ever do you harm. You felt safe, protected, loved and cared for. There was no appearance of fear or anxiety. How amazing would it be if we could allow ourselves to feel that way about life and everything that happens to us? I think many of us have an outlook of fear and want to protect ourselves from everyone around us. We are so quick to think that people are out to betray us and we walk around with our guards up constantly. Instead, if we can live in a constant state of faith our fear would fade away and we would open ourselves up to receive all of the blessings of the world.
Forgiveness is Necessary for Healing. In the next paragraph of the chapter, Murphy comes back to the concept of releasing emotional turmoil. He writes, "In the psychosomatic field of medicine today, it is being constantly stressed that resentment, condemnation of others, remorse, and hostility are behind a host of maladies ranging from arthritis to cardiac disease." This makes a lot of sense to me. I have heard that one of the greatest sources of illness is stress. What causes us stress? Work? The people we see on a daily basis? Deadlines? By allowing these things to cause emotional uproar in your spirit you are holding onto a wound and not allowing it to heal.
If this is something that I am experiencing and I am aware of it, my biggest question would be, "What next?"
The first thing Murphy says you need to do is forgive someone. (Whether it be another person or yourself). An important note he makes is that just because you forgive someone it does not mean that you suddenly like them. He also says that you can show love or love someone without liking them as well. It is an important fact to clarify as many of us still feel like we can't forgive someone if they continue to do wrong and we cannot become their friend. That is not what Murphy is asking to do. This is about you and your own internal emotions, not the friendship you will magically develop.
Next, Murphy says to complete the following technique: "Quiet your mind, relax, and let go. Think of God and His love for you, and then affirm, ' I fully and freely forgive (mention the name of the offender); I release him mentally and spiritually. I completely forgive everything connected with the matter in question. I am free, and he/she is free. It is a marvelous feeling. It is my day of general amnesty. I release anybody and everybody who had ever hurt me, and I wish for each and everyone health, happiness, peace, and all the blessings of life. I do this freely, joyously, and lovingly, and whenever i think of the person or persons who hurt me, I say, 'I have release you, and the blessings of life are yours.' I am free and you are free. It is wonderful!"
Once you have done this, Murphy says that you will not have to do it again. It is unnecessary to repeat the prayer. If the person or memory pops into your mind and wills you to have an emotional reaction, simply stop, and think "peace be to you."
In the next paragraph Murphy offers a sort of test that will help you determine if you have truly offered forgiveness. He says that when you hear something positive about the person who did you wrong pay attention to your emotions. If you are able to feel happy, or even if you feel nothing at all, you have fully let go. However, if you find yourself starting to "sizzle" you are still harboring resentment and ill feelings towards this person. If you find yourself experiencing the later remind yourself to have compassion and take a moment to pray for that person's good will. Pray for their health, success, and happiness. It is ok to have the memory of the incident, but it should not cause you anymore internal pain or negative reactions.
I wonder sometimes, how incidents where we were mistreated affect our future outlook on life. This goes back to what I mentioned earlier in this post, about how some people walk around guarded and full of fear. Since one person hurt us, we may be on the look out for someone else to do the same. It is almost as though trust for humanity is lost. I come back to the law of attraction in this case- what are you looking for? If your brain is on red alert all of the time, looking out for the negative or the "bad guys" I bet that is what you will inevitably find. But, if you put on the faith mindset that is looking for good in the world, the blessings, the favor, you may find something different.
When you are filled with faith your expectancy changes. You are focused on the good and the positive instead of the scary and negative. When you develop your faith so strongly so that you feel as though you are being held in your mother's arms, you have brought the law into your hands. You are free to use it.
Forgiveness can be difficult for some people to obtain. Murphy does a beautiful job outlining how we too can let go and in turn open up our hearts, minds, and spirits to all things good. Remember, that no one else is responsible for or can prevent your happiness. For as a man thinketh in his hart, so is he. PROVERBS 23:7
Other Important Notes from this Chapter:
*Your concept of God is the most important thing in your life. If you really believe in a God of love, your subconscious mind will respond in countless blessings to you. Believe in a God of love.
*Your guilt complex is a false concept of God and Life. God, or Life, does not punish or judge you. You do this to yourself by your false beliefs, negative thinking, and self condemnation.
*The forces of nature are not evil. The effect of their use depends on how you use the power within you. You can use electricity to kill someone or to light the house. You can use water to drown a child or quench his thirst. Good and evil come right back to the though and purse in man's own mind.
*If another criticizes you, and these faults are within you, rejoice, give thanks, and appreciate the comments. This gives you the opportunity to correct the particular fault.
*You cannot be hurt by criticism when you know that you are the master of your thoughts, reactions, and emotions. This gives you the opportunity to pray and bless the other, thereby blessing yourself.
*When you pray for guidance and right action, take what comes. Realize it is good and very good. Then there is no cause for self pity, criticism, or hatred.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Your Subconscious Mind and the Harmonious Human Relations
We are here on this earth to interact, serve, and most importantly love one another. Our world today is filled with an enormous amount of diversity of cultures, beliefs, and personalities. Sometimes we find people in this world that we connect with instantly and they become our closest friends. Other times we encounter people that we cannot stand to be around and it leaves us with a displeasing feeling.
If using the power of our subconscious mind is solely about our internal desires and thoughts, what part does human interaction play in our manifestation process? The people that you surround yourself with can have direct influences on your mood, attitude, and therefore future- depending upon how severely the relationship impacts you.
In this chapter, Murphy discusses the daily interactions we have with people around us and how to view them in a way that only brings us joy, love, and positive results.
He starts by quoting MATT. 7:12 which contains the golden rule. All things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them. He interprets this line in a way that I haven't heard before- saying that is has both inner and outer meanings. From a subconscious standpoint he says that you should be thinking about others in the way that you would want them to think about you. He also says that this is true about feelings and actions.
Many times, and I hate to stereotype here, but many women will behave one way to someone when they around him or her, but then talk poorly about them behind their back. Here is an important thought.. when you think critically or negatively about someone those thoughts and comments are directly destructive to you. Murphy equates these moments of pessimistic thoughts to taking a mental poison which will ultimately rob you of a vivacious life filled with joy, enthusiasm, and good will.
The Master Key to Happy Relationships with Others
"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. MATT. 7:1-2"
How many times do you pick someone else apart? You may hang onto something that he or she said in a meeting that you disagreed with, or maybe they did something that you thought was weird or odd. Many times throughout the day we interact with people, receive or process what they say or do, and then make small (or in some cases large) judgements about their character. It is not our job to micromanage others or give them a grade. I know some of you may be thinking about a specific coworker and relative that you just cant HELP but be annoyed by...and of course you are thinking that it is not your fault. If only he/she would do this or that than they would be a more likeable person.
However, Murphy says that you are in complete control of how you feel about another person.
"Your thoughts are creative, therefore, you actually create in your own experience what you think and feel about the other person. It is also true that the suggestion you give to another, you give to yourself because your mind is the creative medium."
I guarantee that the person out there that picks apart other people, also spends a good amount of time picking apart themselves. I know because I definitely used to be like that- and still at times have to remind myself to think thoughts that are not critical, but instead loving and of good nature.
Whenever you think poor thoughts or negative feelings about someone, it is a direct reflection on how they see you. I truly believe this. A few times in my life when I was having conflict with someone I chose to confront the person. Of course when I voiced my concerns they had the exact same feelings but towards me! They weren't apologetic or happy. They didn't say, "oh really, but you're such a great friend! I didn't realize I was making you feel that way.." No. It was like a mirror. What I felt the other person felt as well.
So, where do we go from here? Now that we know this happens what do we do?
In the past, I had a coworker that I struggled with greatly. We had to work very close together on a multitude of projects and the success of our relationship would directly impact the success of our business. After our meetings I would be exhausted from trying to be nice and work through compromises with a smile so that we could reach our end goal. By the time our break rolled around I had enough and would immediately find other coworkers to "vent" to . I thought that by doing this, by providing myself with an outlet, I was just taking care of my mental well being. I wasn't bottling it up and I also wasn't releasing my frustration on my coworker. I was proud of myself. In actuality I was making it worse. I was poisoning myself. It's true. I never felt any better after those discussions. Instead I felt more worked up, more frustrated, and began to pick on every little thing that could possibly bother me- whether it was truly a big issue or not.
After reading this chapter of Murphy I decided that I would stop gossiping. I would stop talking about other people as a form of "venting" or entertainment. Didn't my mind have better things to do? Not only were these conversations making me feel bad internally, but I was wasting precious time with wonderful coworkers discussing things that were completely negative.
It really took a lot of awareness to stop talking about others, it had become a habit. At times people would come to me and want to "vent" as well. During this time I either kept my responses very minimal, not joining in on the conversation, or tried to change the subject to something more positive. Remember, misery loves company and others are happy to drag you down with them. Hadn't I been doing just that? Interject some light into those gossip sessions and help pull others up. Ask them about something good that happened that day or give them a compliment. Gossip has become such a form of entertainment (just look at reality TV) and it is dangerous.
Once I took the first step, to stop talking negatively about my coworker, the next thing I did was to find things that were positive about the other person. It could be the smallest item from what they are wearing to how they handled a certain situation. I discovered when you have negative feelings about someone it really blinds you. That person can do nothing right in your eyes no matter how hard they try because you have already made up your mind about their character. I made a conscious decision to take the blinders off and find good in what they were doing each day. When I did this, I also eliminated competition between the two of us.
Many times, competition can be what leads to poor relationships, especially in the work place. Sometimes we feel like if someone is successful that leave less for us. The truth is that there is enough success to go around for all. Just because someone is very talented it doesn't make you any less. Perhaps you and a coworker are going for the same promotion, of course this creates intense competition between you two. Even if you do not receive the position you should still find yourself feeling joyful, happy, and positive. If you are secure in your beliefs and faith you will know that a blessing is still coming your way. Competition is the idea that there is not enough to go around. For those who know about the power of your subconscious mind you know that there is more than enough.
Later on in the chapter, Murphy shares a prayer that a salesman used when he was regularly feeling negative emotions about his boss. I found it very useful in my personal life and it is as follows:
"I am the only thinker in my universe. I am responsible for what I think about my boss. My sales manager is not responsible for the way I think about him. I refuse to give power to any person, place, or thing to annoy me or disturb me. I wish health, success, peace of mind, and happiness for my boss. I sincerely wish him well, and I know he is divinely guided in all his ways."
The key to being successful with this is to believe it, think it, and feel it at all times. Your relationship with your boss won't change if you say this prayer but then turn around and gossip about him or her. You won't see any improvement if you wish him or her well but then don't do any actions that reflect this statement.
Murphy talks about how we have to become emotionally mature. When you find this maturity you no longer respond negatively to the criticism and resentment of others.
Recently, I found out that I was the sole person not invited to an event. I had been purposely excluded. At first I felt crushed. My ego had been bruised. I started mentally lashing out at the people who had not invited me and basically, whined to anyone who would listen about it. During a conversation about it, I found myself near tears. Suddenly though, I had a realization that maybe the people had a reason for not inviting me. I don't think I would have gone. I wasn't very close with the others and hadn't attended any other event that they had put on. Slowly, I started to change my thinking about it- it wasn't a personal attack on me. I'm not a victim. Then, I stopped the conversation and genuinely said, " I hope they have a really great time." In that moment I closed the book and released myself from the negative emotions. I didn't care anymore and it became a non-issue.
So many times we take what people do or say to us and become victims. We dwell on it, we demonize the person that said it, and just like that our relationships are damaged and our mental state is poisoned.
As always, fix your thoughts on things that are good, positive, and of true nature. If God is for us, then no one can be against us. This principle shows us that we are in control of our own feelings and we can dictate whether we head towards a positive or negative response.
Do not allow the poison to set in. Remember, how others see you is a reflection of how you see them. So start seeing nothing but beauty in love. See the Godness in everyone.
Other important items from this chapter:
* All you owe the other, as Paul says, is love, and love is the fulfilling of the law of health, happiness, and peace of mind.
*The good you do, the kindness proffered, the love and good will you send forth, will all come back to you multiplied in many ways,
*Become emotionally mature and permit other people to differ from you. They have a perfect right to disagree with you, and you have the freedom to disagree with them. You can disagree without being disagreeable. *****I did not touch on this specifically during this blog, as I feel like it could be it's own entry given the state of our society today.
* Animals pick up your fear vibrations and snap at you. If you love animals, they will never attack you. Many undisciplined human beings are just as sensitive as dogs, cats, and other animals.
**think about how you may close yourself off from someone in order to protect yourself. Are you showing love by doing this? Or are you projecting fear?
*The other person cannot annoy you or irritate you except you permit him. Your thought is creative; you can bless him. If someone calls you a skunk, you have the freedom to say to the other, "God's peace fills your soul."
*You would not hate a hunchback or cripple. You would not have compassion. Have compassion and understanding for mental hunchbacks who have been conditioned negatively. To understand all is to forgive all.
*Rejoice in the success, promotion, and good fortune of the other. In doing so, you attract good fortune to yourself.
*Never yield to emotional scenes and tantrums of others. Appeasement never wins. Do not be a doormat. Adhere to that which is right. Stick to your ideal, knowing that the mental outlook, which gives you peace, happiness, and joy, is right, good, and true. What blesses you, blesses all.
*All you owe any person in the world is love, and love is wishing for everyone what you wish for yourself- health, happiness, and all the blessings of life.
If using the power of our subconscious mind is solely about our internal desires and thoughts, what part does human interaction play in our manifestation process? The people that you surround yourself with can have direct influences on your mood, attitude, and therefore future- depending upon how severely the relationship impacts you.
In this chapter, Murphy discusses the daily interactions we have with people around us and how to view them in a way that only brings us joy, love, and positive results.
He starts by quoting MATT. 7:12 which contains the golden rule. All things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them. He interprets this line in a way that I haven't heard before- saying that is has both inner and outer meanings. From a subconscious standpoint he says that you should be thinking about others in the way that you would want them to think about you. He also says that this is true about feelings and actions.
Many times, and I hate to stereotype here, but many women will behave one way to someone when they around him or her, but then talk poorly about them behind their back. Here is an important thought.. when you think critically or negatively about someone those thoughts and comments are directly destructive to you. Murphy equates these moments of pessimistic thoughts to taking a mental poison which will ultimately rob you of a vivacious life filled with joy, enthusiasm, and good will.
The Master Key to Happy Relationships with Others
"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. MATT. 7:1-2"
How many times do you pick someone else apart? You may hang onto something that he or she said in a meeting that you disagreed with, or maybe they did something that you thought was weird or odd. Many times throughout the day we interact with people, receive or process what they say or do, and then make small (or in some cases large) judgements about their character. It is not our job to micromanage others or give them a grade. I know some of you may be thinking about a specific coworker and relative that you just cant HELP but be annoyed by...and of course you are thinking that it is not your fault. If only he/she would do this or that than they would be a more likeable person.
However, Murphy says that you are in complete control of how you feel about another person.
"Your thoughts are creative, therefore, you actually create in your own experience what you think and feel about the other person. It is also true that the suggestion you give to another, you give to yourself because your mind is the creative medium."
I guarantee that the person out there that picks apart other people, also spends a good amount of time picking apart themselves. I know because I definitely used to be like that- and still at times have to remind myself to think thoughts that are not critical, but instead loving and of good nature.
Whenever you think poor thoughts or negative feelings about someone, it is a direct reflection on how they see you. I truly believe this. A few times in my life when I was having conflict with someone I chose to confront the person. Of course when I voiced my concerns they had the exact same feelings but towards me! They weren't apologetic or happy. They didn't say, "oh really, but you're such a great friend! I didn't realize I was making you feel that way.." No. It was like a mirror. What I felt the other person felt as well.
So, where do we go from here? Now that we know this happens what do we do?
In the past, I had a coworker that I struggled with greatly. We had to work very close together on a multitude of projects and the success of our relationship would directly impact the success of our business. After our meetings I would be exhausted from trying to be nice and work through compromises with a smile so that we could reach our end goal. By the time our break rolled around I had enough and would immediately find other coworkers to "vent" to . I thought that by doing this, by providing myself with an outlet, I was just taking care of my mental well being. I wasn't bottling it up and I also wasn't releasing my frustration on my coworker. I was proud of myself. In actuality I was making it worse. I was poisoning myself. It's true. I never felt any better after those discussions. Instead I felt more worked up, more frustrated, and began to pick on every little thing that could possibly bother me- whether it was truly a big issue or not.
After reading this chapter of Murphy I decided that I would stop gossiping. I would stop talking about other people as a form of "venting" or entertainment. Didn't my mind have better things to do? Not only were these conversations making me feel bad internally, but I was wasting precious time with wonderful coworkers discussing things that were completely negative.
It really took a lot of awareness to stop talking about others, it had become a habit. At times people would come to me and want to "vent" as well. During this time I either kept my responses very minimal, not joining in on the conversation, or tried to change the subject to something more positive. Remember, misery loves company and others are happy to drag you down with them. Hadn't I been doing just that? Interject some light into those gossip sessions and help pull others up. Ask them about something good that happened that day or give them a compliment. Gossip has become such a form of entertainment (just look at reality TV) and it is dangerous.
Once I took the first step, to stop talking negatively about my coworker, the next thing I did was to find things that were positive about the other person. It could be the smallest item from what they are wearing to how they handled a certain situation. I discovered when you have negative feelings about someone it really blinds you. That person can do nothing right in your eyes no matter how hard they try because you have already made up your mind about their character. I made a conscious decision to take the blinders off and find good in what they were doing each day. When I did this, I also eliminated competition between the two of us.
Many times, competition can be what leads to poor relationships, especially in the work place. Sometimes we feel like if someone is successful that leave less for us. The truth is that there is enough success to go around for all. Just because someone is very talented it doesn't make you any less. Perhaps you and a coworker are going for the same promotion, of course this creates intense competition between you two. Even if you do not receive the position you should still find yourself feeling joyful, happy, and positive. If you are secure in your beliefs and faith you will know that a blessing is still coming your way. Competition is the idea that there is not enough to go around. For those who know about the power of your subconscious mind you know that there is more than enough.
Later on in the chapter, Murphy shares a prayer that a salesman used when he was regularly feeling negative emotions about his boss. I found it very useful in my personal life and it is as follows:
"I am the only thinker in my universe. I am responsible for what I think about my boss. My sales manager is not responsible for the way I think about him. I refuse to give power to any person, place, or thing to annoy me or disturb me. I wish health, success, peace of mind, and happiness for my boss. I sincerely wish him well, and I know he is divinely guided in all his ways."
The key to being successful with this is to believe it, think it, and feel it at all times. Your relationship with your boss won't change if you say this prayer but then turn around and gossip about him or her. You won't see any improvement if you wish him or her well but then don't do any actions that reflect this statement.
Murphy talks about how we have to become emotionally mature. When you find this maturity you no longer respond negatively to the criticism and resentment of others.
Recently, I found out that I was the sole person not invited to an event. I had been purposely excluded. At first I felt crushed. My ego had been bruised. I started mentally lashing out at the people who had not invited me and basically, whined to anyone who would listen about it. During a conversation about it, I found myself near tears. Suddenly though, I had a realization that maybe the people had a reason for not inviting me. I don't think I would have gone. I wasn't very close with the others and hadn't attended any other event that they had put on. Slowly, I started to change my thinking about it- it wasn't a personal attack on me. I'm not a victim. Then, I stopped the conversation and genuinely said, " I hope they have a really great time." In that moment I closed the book and released myself from the negative emotions. I didn't care anymore and it became a non-issue.
So many times we take what people do or say to us and become victims. We dwell on it, we demonize the person that said it, and just like that our relationships are damaged and our mental state is poisoned.
As always, fix your thoughts on things that are good, positive, and of true nature. If God is for us, then no one can be against us. This principle shows us that we are in control of our own feelings and we can dictate whether we head towards a positive or negative response.
Do not allow the poison to set in. Remember, how others see you is a reflection of how you see them. So start seeing nothing but beauty in love. See the Godness in everyone.
Other important items from this chapter:
* All you owe the other, as Paul says, is love, and love is the fulfilling of the law of health, happiness, and peace of mind.
*The good you do, the kindness proffered, the love and good will you send forth, will all come back to you multiplied in many ways,
*Become emotionally mature and permit other people to differ from you. They have a perfect right to disagree with you, and you have the freedom to disagree with them. You can disagree without being disagreeable. *****I did not touch on this specifically during this blog, as I feel like it could be it's own entry given the state of our society today.
* Animals pick up your fear vibrations and snap at you. If you love animals, they will never attack you. Many undisciplined human beings are just as sensitive as dogs, cats, and other animals.
**think about how you may close yourself off from someone in order to protect yourself. Are you showing love by doing this? Or are you projecting fear?
*The other person cannot annoy you or irritate you except you permit him. Your thought is creative; you can bless him. If someone calls you a skunk, you have the freedom to say to the other, "God's peace fills your soul."
*You would not hate a hunchback or cripple. You would not have compassion. Have compassion and understanding for mental hunchbacks who have been conditioned negatively. To understand all is to forgive all.
*Rejoice in the success, promotion, and good fortune of the other. In doing so, you attract good fortune to yourself.
*Never yield to emotional scenes and tantrums of others. Appeasement never wins. Do not be a doormat. Adhere to that which is right. Stick to your ideal, knowing that the mental outlook, which gives you peace, happiness, and joy, is right, good, and true. What blesses you, blesses all.
*All you owe any person in the world is love, and love is wishing for everyone what you wish for yourself- health, happiness, and all the blessings of life.
Monday, May 9, 2016
Your Subconscious Mind and Your Happiness
Before you begin reading this blog I invite you to take a moment to enjoy a nice deep breath. Perhaps you are reading this entry at the end of your day and you have had a full day of work and responsibility. On the other hand maybe you are just beginning your day and are already using your imagination to plan the events that will occur today.
Before you read, take a moment to just be calm and take a nice, deep luxurious breath in through your nose. I will do it with you. What do you smell? Right now I'm diffusing the scent of beautiful lavender in my office. My window is open and it was a cool, cloudy day. There is still plenty of refreshing, crisp moisture hanging in the air. My favorite type of weather.
In this chapter Murphy discusses your subconscious mind and how it connects to your happiness. I am sure that this chapter will be just as important to you as it is to me. Happiness..that is all we are here trying to find isn't it?
When I recently read this chapter I immediately paused at the second paragraph. It spoke to me so profusely that I had to write it down. On three separate, small pieces of paper I transcribed the following:
Before you read, take a moment to just be calm and take a nice, deep luxurious breath in through your nose. I will do it with you. What do you smell? Right now I'm diffusing the scent of beautiful lavender in my office. My window is open and it was a cool, cloudy day. There is still plenty of refreshing, crisp moisture hanging in the air. My favorite type of weather.
In this chapter Murphy discusses your subconscious mind and how it connects to your happiness. I am sure that this chapter will be just as important to you as it is to me. Happiness..that is all we are here trying to find isn't it?
When I recently read this chapter I immediately paused at the second paragraph. It spoke to me so profusely that I had to write it down. On three separate, small pieces of paper I transcribed the following:
True and lasting happiness will come into your life the day you get the clear realization that you can overcome any weakness-the day you realize that your subconscious mind can solve your problems, heal your body, and prosper you beyond your fondest dreams.
I found great comfort in this passage. It is a reminder that we will experience bliss when we rid ourselves of the doubt that we allow ourselves to feel. The CLEAR realization. Not just the sort of realization, not just the, "ok, I think I've got it" realization....the clear realization. I think that this word is important in this paragraph because it emphasizes an all encompassing faith and belief that we can overcome anything. I put the pieces of paper in different areas. One, on the wall in my office, two in a special journal, and third in the pocket of the pants I was going to wear that day. Something that I have begun to do throughout this journey is to take things with me where ever I go. Typically, this tends to be a handwritten note that I put in my pocket. I know many people use their cell phones to hold faith filled, uplifting messages to read throughout the day, but I sometimes find myself forgetting to pause and pull out my phone. My work e-mail is also constantly buzzing and there are several distractions on that device that I needed to find another way.
When I have a handwritten note it appeals to many of my senses. First of all, in order to create the note in the first place I had to write it myself. When I write with a pen and paper I find that I commit things to memory better than I would if I had typed it. I write much slower than I type, so I am having to say the words over and over in order to get it down on paper. Secondly, when I have the paper in my pocket I can feel the weight of it throughout the day. Sometimes I will even feel the jagged point of the fold as I move. The message comes to find me. I am reminded physically of that paragraph or passage that I transcribed earlier in the day. When this happens I usually don't even have to pull out the piece of paper to remember what I wrote as I can recall it as soon as I get the physical signal.
One of the most important messages that Murphy writes in this chapter is that we as humans must choose happiness. He says that happiness is a state of mind, it is not the events that have happened to you. Yes, it is easy to feel happy after we have just gotten married or purchased a large item that we have longed for but, these euphoric moments will fade away. What are we left with then? We can't just continue to produce the happiness with tangible objects. Murphy says that many people stumble on the way to happiness because, "they do not see the simplicity of the key to happiness."
In the next part of the chapter Murphy explains how to choose happiness. I know this can be difficult and many of you (including myself) may be thinking, "do you really think I enjoy being unhappy?" "Don't you think I would've been there by now if it was that easy?" Murphy describes that happiness begins in the morning the second your eyes open. You make a choice as how you are going to start your day and who (or what) you are going to serve (choose). He offers this beautiful passage as a mantra that you may say to yourself each day.
"Divine order takes charge of my life today and every day. All things work together for good for me today. This is a new and wonderful day for me. There will never be another day like this one. I am divinely guided all day long, and whatever I do will prosper. Divine love surrounds me, enfolds me, and enwraps me and I go forth in peace. Whenever my attention wanders away from that which is good and constructive, I will immediately bring it back to the contemplation of that which is lovely and of good report. I am a spiritual and mental magnet attracting to myself all things, which bless and prosper me. I am going to be a wonderful success in all my undertakings today. I am definitely going to be happy all day long."
Start each day by delivering this beautiful message to your subconscious. Set your path straight in the direction you want to go. One thing that I found that I needed to do was go through this experience twice. Yes, when I woke up I had a wonderful, relaxing, and peaceful morning as I got ready for work. However, once I reached my classroom all of a sudden this, "showtime!" frenzy took over. Now, when I walk in my door, before I turn on the lights, I go through a prayer filled with affirmations again. It is almost as though the scene has changed so I need to remind my subconscious that even though we are in a different location and are entering "teacher" mode, the foundation needed to stay the same. Do you find that this happens to you? When you go into work do you go into a different "mode"? Many times it becomes far too easy to leave our spiritual side at home while we go off to work. It is important to not only keep the thoughts good, pure, and true, but to also DO things in your workplace that encourage more of these positive speculations. Even something little as not giving into the daily gossip (no matter how much you want to) can help you stay on the right path. Be conscious of it everyday and it will become easier and easier. Don't leave it at home...bring it with you.
"The Kingdom of happiness is in your thought and feeling."
Later on in this chapter Murphy uses a great story to explain how a mental block can prevent us from experiencing true happiness. He talks about a horse who always shied when it came to a stump in a road. Even after the farmer dug up the stump and disposed of it, the horse shied where the stump used to be. The horse was simply doing this because of the memory of the stump, not because it is actually there. I was thinking about this today and the significance of trauma and tragedy. When I was flying home from my sister's wedding on Thursday, we experienced severe turbulence that made the flight incredibly scary. It was unexpected and I had an intense emotional reaction to it. Since the flight I found myself thinking about it often. Even when people asked me how the wedding was, I would respond, "great until the flight home..." To view it one step further, despite the fact that the plane ride was uncomfortable, I was still safe and protected. No harm came to me. Isn't that a positive ending? Suddenly this negative experience became the forefront of the story rather than all of the wonderful happy memories we created during the event. I am not sure why this happens and the more I dwell on it the deeper of a mental block I create. The best thing that I can do for myself is to be aware of the choices I am making each day. What thoughts am I allowing to be played on that record player today? Although it may be entertaining or the society norm to share shocking experiences with one another, we are only allowing that fear to strengthen and harden when we do. Who is telling the story in your mind? Is fear going to take center stage as the main character? Or will happiness triumph and still be the lead performer?
The beautiful thing is, we have a choice. It may take some training and it may feel like it goes against the norm at times. However, "keep on keepin on until the day breaks and the shadows flee away."
Before you exit your browser, I want to thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope you found something here that you can carry with you throughout your day.
Express more of God's love, light, truth, and beauty, and you will become one of the happiest persons in the world today.
Other important excerpts from this chapter:
* William James said that the greatest discovery of the 19th century was the power of the subconscious mind touched by faith.
* There is tremendous power within you. Happiness will come to you when you acquire a sublime confidence in this power. Then, you will make your dreams come true.
*Happiness is a habit. It is a good habit to ponder often on whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. PHil 4:8
*Be constantly dwelling on thoughts of fear, worry, anger, hate, and failure, you will become very depressed and unhappy. Remember, your life is what your thoughts make of it.
*You cannot buy happiness with all the money in the world. Some millionaires are very happy, some are very unhappy. Many people with very little worldly goods are very happy, and some are very unhappy. Some married people are happy and some are very unhappy. The kingdom of happiness is in your thought and feeling.
*The happiest man is he who brings forth the highest and the best in him. God is the highest and the best in him, for the kingdom of God is within.
Sunday, May 1, 2016
Your Subconscious and the Wonders of Sleep
As a child, when I was in middle school, I used to have a really hard time sleeping. I had just started middle school, life was changing, and a recent kidnapping had been very prevalent in the media. A girl about my age had been taken from her bedroom. I remember laying in my room for hours staring at the posters on my bedroom walls, the flickering of the TV keeping me company as I lay awake. I would play a game each night of who would let me into their bedroom. I would go crawling into my parents' room and when they sent me back to my own bed I would try to join one of my sisters. In the mornings I would be cranky, tired, and despise going to school. I would start a fight with my mom over how my hair looked or something along those lines and even though we lived across the street, would end up late to class.
In this chapter Murphy discusses how important it is to get sleep. Our subconscious never turns off. It works every hour, minute and second of the day. It keeps our lungs expanding, our hearts beating, and follows out the orders that we give it.
Sleep can be a very powerful thing because your conscious mind is no longer in the way during these hours of rest. In this chapter Murphy shares several accounts of people who received messages or ideas from their subconscious minds while they engaged in a peaceful slumber. Murphy himself received a warning to not go to Japan just before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and Robert Louis Stevenson used his sleeping hours to receive the storylines of his newest book. When you are away from the everyday hustle and bustle, when you are quiet and relaxed, that is the time that your subconscious mind can come through the strongest.
Throughout this book we have learned that whenever you want to deliver a message to your subconscious mind, or whenever you are working on a manifestation or prayer, the first step you need to take is to become quiet and relaxed. Sleep is a deeper level of this and whatever message you deliver to yourself before you fall asleep will be carried out by your subconscious mind.
A section of this chapter explains how prayer can be a form of sleep. It is vital to us as human beings that we withdraw ourselves from the objective world and give undivided time to our inner wisdom. By doing this we will tap into the infinite knowledge that is within each and every one of us. When you enter a deep bout of prayer or meditation you become asleep to the materialized world.
When you realize how important your sleep is you can use it more wisely. I know that many busy parents out there do not get enough sleep and often wake up tired and groggy. This is why the coffee and energy drink industry has had such incredible success. However, sleep needs to be a priority. Taking care of ourselves needs to be a priority. Too often we treat relaxation and quiet time as a luxury rather than a necessity.
Eventually as I got into high school I outgrew my sleeping issues. ( I actually sleep better than ever now that I have started teaching Kindergarten). One of the things that I did to rectify these sleeping issues was to change my surroundings and create an area that was conducive to peace. I moved bedrooms when my older sister went off to college and turned my bedroom into a sanctuary. I kept the walls free from band posters (backstreet boys, to be specific) and instead replaced them with peaceful, positive, art. I kept my bedroom very tidy and minimalistic. I also made sure I had the comfiest sheets, pillows, and blankets to lay in each night. I made this a priority.
The last thing I did, which I think many people may need to do, is that I gave myself permission to sleep. Our brains go 100 miles a minute during the day with checklists, social interactions, thoughts, ideas, etc. It can be very difficult to turn these off every night. You may even be hanging onto these things so that you don't forget what you have to accomplish the next day.
Give yourself to permission to rest. To let go and know that everything is going to be ok. It is your time to enter a peaceful zone away from this busy, wonderful world. Pick something each night that you would like to hand over to your subconscious mind. It can be something very simple as the fact that you are going to have a wonderful nights sleep. Envision each part of your body relaxing and quietly whisper your message over and over to yourself like a lullabye. Drift off and let your subconscious mind follow through. I promise you will see wonders happen.
In this chapter Murphy discusses how important it is to get sleep. Our subconscious never turns off. It works every hour, minute and second of the day. It keeps our lungs expanding, our hearts beating, and follows out the orders that we give it.
Sleep can be a very powerful thing because your conscious mind is no longer in the way during these hours of rest. In this chapter Murphy shares several accounts of people who received messages or ideas from their subconscious minds while they engaged in a peaceful slumber. Murphy himself received a warning to not go to Japan just before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and Robert Louis Stevenson used his sleeping hours to receive the storylines of his newest book. When you are away from the everyday hustle and bustle, when you are quiet and relaxed, that is the time that your subconscious mind can come through the strongest.
Throughout this book we have learned that whenever you want to deliver a message to your subconscious mind, or whenever you are working on a manifestation or prayer, the first step you need to take is to become quiet and relaxed. Sleep is a deeper level of this and whatever message you deliver to yourself before you fall asleep will be carried out by your subconscious mind.
A section of this chapter explains how prayer can be a form of sleep. It is vital to us as human beings that we withdraw ourselves from the objective world and give undivided time to our inner wisdom. By doing this we will tap into the infinite knowledge that is within each and every one of us. When you enter a deep bout of prayer or meditation you become asleep to the materialized world.
When you realize how important your sleep is you can use it more wisely. I know that many busy parents out there do not get enough sleep and often wake up tired and groggy. This is why the coffee and energy drink industry has had such incredible success. However, sleep needs to be a priority. Taking care of ourselves needs to be a priority. Too often we treat relaxation and quiet time as a luxury rather than a necessity.
Eventually as I got into high school I outgrew my sleeping issues. ( I actually sleep better than ever now that I have started teaching Kindergarten). One of the things that I did to rectify these sleeping issues was to change my surroundings and create an area that was conducive to peace. I moved bedrooms when my older sister went off to college and turned my bedroom into a sanctuary. I kept the walls free from band posters (backstreet boys, to be specific) and instead replaced them with peaceful, positive, art. I kept my bedroom very tidy and minimalistic. I also made sure I had the comfiest sheets, pillows, and blankets to lay in each night. I made this a priority.
The last thing I did, which I think many people may need to do, is that I gave myself permission to sleep. Our brains go 100 miles a minute during the day with checklists, social interactions, thoughts, ideas, etc. It can be very difficult to turn these off every night. You may even be hanging onto these things so that you don't forget what you have to accomplish the next day.
Give yourself to permission to rest. To let go and know that everything is going to be ok. It is your time to enter a peaceful zone away from this busy, wonderful world. Pick something each night that you would like to hand over to your subconscious mind. It can be something very simple as the fact that you are going to have a wonderful nights sleep. Envision each part of your body relaxing and quietly whisper your message over and over to yourself like a lullabye. Drift off and let your subconscious mind follow through. I promise you will see wonders happen.
"Sleep in peace tonight, for God is bigger than anything you will face tomorrow."
Other important messages from this chapter:
*"If you are worried that you will not wake up on time, suggest to your subconscious mind prior to sleep the exact time you wish to arise, and it will awake you. It needs no clock. Do the same things with all problems. There is nothing too hard for your subconscious.
*"Your subconscious mind never sleeps. It is always on the job. It controls your vital functions. Forgive yourself and every one else before you go to sleep, and healing will take place much more rapidly."
*"You are spiritually recharged during sleep. Adequate sleep is essential for joy and vitality in life."
* "Your future is in your mind now, based on your habitual thinking and beliefs. Claim infinite intelligence leads and guides you and that all good is yours, and your future will be wonderful. Believe it and accept it. Expect the best, and invariably the best will come to you."
* "If you are writing a novel, play, or book, or are working on an invention, speak to your subconscious mind at night and claim boldly that its wisdom, intelligence, and power are guiding, directing, and revealing to you the ideal play, novel, book, or revealing the perfect solution whatever it may be. Wonders will happen as you pray this way."
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