Mental Healings in Modern Times

In this chapter Murphy offers excellent insight into something millions of people grapple with everyday- health. Rather than focusing on why someone is sick, in this chapter he asks, "What is it that heals? Where is this healing power?" 

In our world today when someone is sick chances are they will go to the doctor. If it is a minor problem the doctor may prescribe an antibiotic or some other form of medicine. In some severe cases surgery or some other procedure needs to be performed according to doctors. However, there is a line that my mother has said numerous times which is, "doctors cut, they cannot heal."

What is it that creates the actual healing. If you cut your finger your cells repair and your skin grows back and returns to normal. What does this? According to Murphy, "the one healing power is called by many names- Nature, Life, God, Creative Intelligence, and Subconscious Power."

Healing life flows throughout your body. As Murphy describes in one chapter of his book, it is normal to be healthy. To be sick or unwell is simply an error or a sign that there is a mental, emotional, or physical block that inhibits the natural flow of life.  Your subconscious mind works to preserve life and no matter what God or religion you believe in, you will still find yourself able to heal.

Throughout this chapter Murphy provides step by step methods to help yourself heal in a variety of ways. Given my recent challenges, these teachings are valuable to me immediately. As I read I made sure to pay extra attention and have already incorporated some of these practices into my daily life.

One of the most important things that you can do to heal, is deliver your requests or desire to your subconscious mind. When you do this however, it is important to have no negativity or any hint of disbelief. Murphy suggests that you, "imagine the end desired and feel its reality." How would you feel if you were cured from your illness? Surely you wouldn't still feel upset or depressed. Again, this matches my theory that you can't just think it...you have to feel it. Stir up the emotions within and allow them to connect with your conscious and subconscious thoughts. The feeling that you experience in your stomach when you are worried or fearful feels extraordinarily different than what you feel when you are happy and joyous. If you are consciously thinking good thoughts, but still feeling that pit of fear I do not believe that you will receive the results that you wish. Although your thoughts are not filled with doubt, your stomach sure is. When you are praying, or making a request, whatever you want to call it....total commitment is key. Any amount of negativity or doubt can derail your process. Know it is so, believe it is so, and it will be so. Do not let anyone, anything, or any part of you tell you something different.

"According to your faith it is done unto you."

Faith is a belief, it is a thought in your mind. Sometimes people say, "oh my faith tells me that I do this or that..." or "I'm a person of faith so..." In these instances the word faith is being used as a placeholder for religion. However, is is not about partaking in religious ceremonies, or just showing up to church on sunday. What do you believe? What do you enact on a daily basis, or think each moment? Faith is deeper than the Sunday service. It is something you should eat, drink, breathe, and feel. Faith is who you are and where you are going. Faith, belief, and thoughts are things.

On one of the following pages, Murphy says something that resonated with me. I believe that my mission right now is to eradicate all fear from my mind, for it is the cause of my unrest. At times I have been told that my fears or valid or normal..but why would you choose to live life that way? Here is what Murphy says:

"It is foolish to believe in something to hurt or harm you. Remember, it is not the thing believed in that hurts or harms you, but the belief or thought in your mind which creates the result. All your experiences, all your actions, and all the events and circumstance of your life are but the reflections and reactions to your own thought."

There is a cycle that needs to be broken. Worried thoughts produce worried experiences which in turn creates more worry about future experiences. I used to LOVE going to Target. It was enjoyable to walk around looking at all of the items- not necessarily buy, but just slowly walk down each aisle admiring everything. When I was stressed out or got to pick where we went on "date night" many times I would head for Target. However, when all of this unrest began I had an experience in a store that left me feeling very uncomfortable. From then on it became very rare for me to go into a store without having that same experience. My place of joy then suddenly shifted into a place of fear. This week I did not spend as much time with Murphy as I have been. I have been off from work due to Spring break and got out of my nightly routine of reading, reflecting and writing. Today I decided that I needed to go to Target to pick up a few things. Immediately the negative record player started playing the worst song and I even expressed to my fiancee that I was nervous about going to the store. Sure enough, I had the same experience that I was worried about. Did you notice that I was worrying about it before it even happened? It can be difficult to break cycles and habits, but it is through the redirection of our thoughts that we can change. After my shopping was done at Target I really wanted to go home. However, as I got into my car I took several deep breaths, stilled the wheels of my mind and filled my brain with several good thoughts. (My usual mantras that I have been repeating over and over). I decided then to go visit another retail store. As I went in I found myself nervous but continued to calmly* distract my mind with good thoughts and paid extra attention to all of the lovely items to purchase. I found myself slowly easing and even went to a third store for a moment afterwards. **I have found that when I am beginning to feel uncomfortable at times I will try many techniques all at once at a quick fire pace. This seems to create more unease and I almost feel as though I am beating myself up. If I can stay calm, quiet, and keep a slow pace of thoughts in my mind I find that I am more successful at returning to an easy state. 

Murphy reminds me in this chapter that as I continue to dwell on truths, "my fear will begin to dissolve, and the recollection of these truths also corrects the erroneous beliefs". By filling your mind calmly with positive thoughts you are engaging in what Murphy calls, "prayer therapy".  This is ended by giving "thanks to the healing that you know will come, and then you keep your mind off the difficulty until you feel guided, after an interval, to pray again."

It is important to find what works for you in your own life. If you do not wish to call it prayer but instead call it meditation, that is fine. If you believe you will be healed by sitting in nature or rubbing a crystal all over your body, that is fine as well. It is the belief that you will be healed that brings success. "Any method, which causes you to move from fear and worry to faith and expectancy, will heal." 

One of the last important thoughts that Murphy mentions in this chapter is that you should stop talking about your ailments. Once you give it a name or discuss it you are only giving it life. I fully believe that this theory is true. It was not until I told a co-worker that I suffered from...XYZ... that I bought into it. It was at that moment that it became a habitual thought in my mind and something that overtook for a while. Declare what you want to have and do not give any more power, time, or thought to the fear and worry. 

For some reason I am compelled to end this blog post with a thank you. I want to thank Dr. Murphy for taking the time to write this book. For sharing the truth with us in a way that we can understand, relate to, and apply in our own lives. Thank you for sharing the good news, Dr. Murphy and I hope I can continue to do the same for others. 

"Fill your mind with the great truths of life and walk forward in the light of love." - Dr. Joseph Murphy 

Gratitude

On this beautiful Easter Sunday, I wanted to  reflect on something that is not directly from a specific chapter of, "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind." Murphy mentions several times throughout the book that it is important to give thanks often and in a variety of scenarios. This may include giving thanks for a healing that is taking place, giving thanks to the infinite intelligence of the subconscious mind, or giving thanks for a prayer or desire that is being answered.

This past summer I made my Dad and myself matching coffee mugs that said, "start each day with a grateful heart." It is important that, when you wake up in the morning, you are setting the tone for the day. Are you going to grumble about the fact that you have to wake up early and go to work? By doing so, you are turning on that negative record player right away. Joel Osteen talks a lot about starting your day correctly. He says that you should start each day by declaring that you are blessed, happy, and going to have a great day. He even suggests looking at yourself in the mirror and speaking positive affirmations over yourself. "I am beautiful...I am healthy....I am prosperous..." When you wake up you have the opportunity to make a choice. Are you going to start the record player with wonderful and joyful thoughts? Or are you going to get immediately caught up in the fabrications of our society?

It is vital that you start your day on a positive note as it will set the tone for the rest of your day. I have known this for what seems like years. However, what I haven't seen discussed much is how to continue this positivity all day long.

A month or so ago, at the height of my anxiety I started a grateful journal. It came as a suggestion in a teacher's meeting and I happened to come across a beautiful pink notebook that I knew would be perfect for it. Each morning as I woke up I put on my fluffy robe, made a cup of tea, and sat down to write at least three things that I was grateful for. I had no difficulties coming up with something to list. On certain days I would write about my wonderful family and my home....On others I was simply grateful for that relaxing cup of tea. While this was a nice practice and it warmed my heart, it only took me about 5 minutes to complete. This activity alone did not give me the chance to reach deep prayer with my father. By the time I was dressed and out the door I had completely forgotten all about my little list and was back in negativity land. For someone that was trying to overcome rough anxiety I needed to go deeper and I needed to build in several moments throughout my day to help me stay on track.

When you enter a state of prayer, meditation, mindfulness, whatever you want to call it- entering with a heart that is open and grateful will bring you closer to our father and the law that governs our world. How do we do this and how do we maintain it throughout the day?

In Murphy's book he often talks about when you pray (again, you may interchange any word you wish here) you should make yourself comfortable, relaxed, and enter a state that is very near sleep.
It is then that your conscious mind is least likely to inhibit your desires and your subconscious mind is easily accessible.

One of the things that I began doing each morning was listening to a guided meditation for 20 minutes each day. I still wear my fluffiest robe and make a cup of tea, but then find a comfortable spot on my couch and curl up in a blanket. I then listen to the recording which leads me to completely relax my body before guiding me to a manifested beach. During this meditation I enter a state of prayer and go through things that I am eternally grateful for. My health, my family, my safety, the blessings that are still yet to come...etc.  I normally wake up with a bit of a nervous stomach and it is when I feel connected and grateful during this time that the muscles of my abdomen begin to finally unwind. One of the most important things that I have done over the past few weeks is that I made this morning ritual a priority. In order to have this special time I have had to get up slightly earlier. If I am ever running a little bit behind then I will skip something else in order to make sure I have time to meditate.

The difference between my gratitude list and this extensive time of prayer is that I allow myself to move from a place of conscious thinking to a place of feeling. I have said many times that it is not enough to just think about our father and the power...but it is important to feel it.

As a kindergarten teacher most days my schedule is like a freight train heading down the track full speed. I have to jump on and hang on as tightly as I can. Once I started re-reading, "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind" I knew that I needed to build in a quiet moments to connect with my father no matter where I was.

The first thing I do once I arrive at school- before I turn on the lights or put my bags down- is I pray over my classroom. I do this in a way that is filled with gratitude. I take a deep breath and say...
"Thank you father for another day. I know that it is going to be a wonderful and fantastic day. Thank you for keeping my students and I safe, healthy and protected. I know that you are with me all day today and I thank you for your guidance. Thank you for helping me keep my thoughts positive, loving, and true. It is going to be a wonderful day."

Not only do I try to set the tone for my day at home, but I do it again at work. It is so easy to enter that "career" mode where you are "on" and professional. Even when you have to have that persona you can still have your faith and God. Anytime that I feel my thoughts being de-railed or turned negative, I take a deep breath and say my scripture of the week over and over again.

Gratitude is a very powerful thing. It may help you out of an anxiety attack when you suddenly pick something to be grateful for. It may change your attitude in the morning when you have to go to work....I am so grateful that I have a job to help me provide for my family...

Being grateful is a way to soften your heart... To direct your thoughts to ones of positivity and wonder. Take a moment to realize all of the fantastic blessings you have in your life today. No matter how small they may be, they can truly make an impact.

Start each day with a grateful heart......live each moment giving thanks...

Mental Healings in Ancient Times

What is Faith?

Many times throughout my life I have heard people say, "have a little faith" or "my faith says..." but what is faith? In this chapter Murphy answers this question when he defines faith. He says,

"Faith as mentioned in the Bible is a way of thinking, an attitude of mind, an inner certitude, know that the idea you fully accept in your conscious mind will be embodied in your subconscious mind and made manifest. Faith is, in a sense accepting as true what your reason and senses deny, i.e., a shutting out of the little, rational, analytical, conscious mind and embracing an attitude of complete reliance on the inner power of your subconscious mind." 

Faith is believing without a doubt. It is having complete trust and acceptance that something is going to happen no matter what anyone else says. Many times in the bible when Jesus completed healings he said, "according to your faith, be it unto you." This means that the strength of your faith, and what you believe, will lead you to results.  One of the things that I read in this chapter that I found particularly interesting was when Jesus told the newly healed patients to, "see that no man know it.". Murphy explains that Jesus did not want the healed to share the news because they would then be subject to skepticism and  criticism. If they allowed these negative thoughts to enter their subconscious it might end up undoing the benefits that they received at the hand of Jesus. 

Most of my biggest dreams, I tend (ok at least try) to keep to myself or within my family. One thing that I know is going to happen in the near future is that I will be able to buy a house in Carmel. My heart, childhood, and fondest memories are in this town and I want to be able to raise my own family in the way that I was brought up. As I stated before many of the houses in Carmel are rather expensive and those who do not live there have a certain attitude or stereotype about it. Many times it will come up in group discussions at school or other social situations and people will quickly roll their eyes and scoff about how great it would be to live there. "Only millionaires get to live there! Yea, maybe in my next life time! Oh ya, like I could really afford that!" they say with dripping sarcasm and negativity. When I drive through Carmel I can't help but think that I am no different than the people who are currently living in that town. Why would I possibly prevent myself right away, end the dream and say it's never going to happen because of money? I try not to talk to certain people about how I will someday live there. I don't want to allow their negative thoughts and commentary to enter my mind. It doesn't matter what that person thinks, what matters is what I already know. The truth.  I know that if my dream is as deeply rooted in my soul as it is, then it is going to happen. I have faith, without a waver of a doubt, that it will happen. It doesn't have to occur in a logical way where I scrimp and save for money...who knows how it will happen. I could acquire my house in a grand, miraculous way. All I know is that I have faith..and it will happen. In fact, I know that is has already been completed and I already own that house in Carmel. 

As Jesus mentioned above, and as did I through my own experiences, to have solid, unwavering faith you need to be very careful with who you surround yourself with. I have found something true in social situations: negativity is very relatable. I wouldn't call myself a super social person. I have a few very close friends and I truly prefer it that way. I try to follows Jesus' example and be loving to all, but I have been selective with those that are in my innermost circle. Many times I find myself in scenarios where I have to make "small talk" with someone. It can be difficult for both parties coming up with something to discuss, especially when you don't know that person very well. What I have noticed is that the most relatable topics tend to be negative. Often times, especially around other teachers, I find that conversations consist of things like, "Oh I'm so tired, I need a break from these kids..." or "I can't believe how much work they're making us do..." or "man I don't know how I'm going to make this pay check stretch". It can be very easy to get sucked into this because it quickly becomes a common ground. I can't even imagine what my colleagues faces' would look life if I went up to them and started talking about the fact that I manifested my basket win at the Spring Fling on Friday. Instead, I keep this to myself (unless I feel that they would be open minded) because I have no reason to subject myself to the negative comments that I know would follow. Why is it that it seems so easy to talk about what is going wrong in life..and yet difficult to discuss what is going great? One challenge that I have given myself this week is to not only filter my thoughts- but to filter the words that come out of my mouth. When I am about to say something negative or judgemental I have stopped myself and even at times have said outloud, "nevermind. I'm not going to say that." It's a reminder for me to keep my thoughts and words happy, truthful, joyful and loving. I am steering this ship around and not going down the river of pessimism. Although I may not want to come out to my peers and directly say what I am doing..I can lead by example. Maybe instead of negativity becoming relatable, I can direct the conversation to be more positive. We are all sharing, as Murphy says, "one universal subjective mind." 

Throughout my current school year l I have had great difficulty getting along with certain co-workers. Unfortunately, I was asked to work closely and cooperatively with these individuals on a frequent basis. As I experienced many disagreements with my peers, my stress level became so high that I contemplated switching schools and teaching assignments because I felt like we would just never get along. I definitely played the victim and felt as though all disagreements were to blame on my co-workers and that I was under attack. As this went on I freely expressed my frustration and displeasure to anyone around me  that would listen. I harped on the disagreements and exchanges. I ended up replaying them in my head over and over again, picking them apart and analyzing the interaction. Over the past two weeks as I have been practicing the techniques that Murphy lays out in his book, I noticed a large shift in my relationship with these individuals. In fact, I don't think we have ever gotten along as well as we do right now. Once I stopped harping on what that person was doing to me and why I didn't like it (again, changing the record player of thoughts) it changed. Suddenly we are working well together, sharing ideas, and even providing each other with supplemental materials. Once I stopped judging, gossiping, and thinking negatively the relationship changed. It's almost as though my perceptions and thoughts put me on high alert. I became extra sensitive to every little thing that those people said or did and perceived them as huge ordeals. It is important to remember that we all come from the same place and all share a subjective (or creative) mind. I have seen that when you are judging someone chances are they are judging you right back. But when you can show someone love, compassion, and grace (and this does not mean to their face and then talk negatively behind their back) chances are you will receive the same. 

I cannot believe how much Murphy and this experience has shifted my world in as little as two weeks. Stress has already been replaced with relaxation, fear has turned into excitement, and worry has turned into joy. The most amazing thing is that this is only the beginning. ...

For this chapter I will leave you with one last thought. I was surprised to see it and felt as though it was another one of those "God Winks" or my subconscious letting me know that more blessings are coming my way. Many of you know that I have been praying to become a writer and someday publish a book....Here is what Murphy said.

"The idea you have for a book, new invention, or play is real in your mind. This is why you can believe that you have it now. Believe in the reality of your idea, plan, or invention, and as you do, it will become manifest." 

Thank you Father. 

The Miracle- Working Power of Your Subconscious Mind Part 2

"....there is a power and intelligence within you that far transcends your intellect, causing you to marvel at the wonders of it ail." 

I just had an interesting conversation with my dad, where we discussed Murphy, prayer, and the power of your subconscious mind. One of the things that came up, which I touched on in my last blog post, is that the journey to your unlimited power does not involve logical thinking. Yes, you need to keep your conscious thoughts positive, and reigned in. But, you can't just tell your brain to wake up and believe this. Many times people try to force themselves to believe in something. As a young student I wanted so badly to believe in God and Jesus. I still remember one day when a peer of mine told me that I was supposed to love God more than my Mom and Dad and that one day Jesus would come down and take me away. Of course I then became more terrified than feeling, "saved." 

To connect with your father, I can only describe it as feeling rather than thinking. There is a very specific place in my stomach where I feel my emotions and when I am connected to my higher-power I truly feel it in that same place. It is when I find this feeling that then my thoughts can become more focused and in a state of prayer, rather than anxiety and stress. 

I pulled the above quote out from this chapter because I feel like no matter how much I believe in the power of my subconscious mind and no matter how many times I see evidence of it- I am still awestruck by it all. When things happen to me, or shall I say, "when my subconscious makes things happen" I still feel like a child on Christmas morning. I feel giddy, light, excited, and ready to go tell anyone that will listen. It is an amazing feeling to experience.

As I continue to go through the chapters of, "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind" at a deeper level, I have noticed that Murphy is very repetitive. The idea of your subconscious mind is actually very simple, however, he says the same thing in each chapter, but in a variety of different ways. 

One of the biggest premises of this book is that thoughts are things. Murphy comes back to this many many times throughout the book. In this chapter he says, "What you write on the inside, you will experience on the outside." Sometimes, rather than thoughts, I think in what I would call, "mental movies." I see things happening, or rather imagine them happening even when they haven't. I take myself through many different scenarios and play out what people will say in the moment, how I will feel, and what will occur afterwards. Sometimes this can be a wonderful way to be creative, such as when I am thinking about my future wedding. Lately though, many of these mental movies have become stressful and a way that I often get lost in negativity. As a kindergarten teacher I have 24 children in my room and it is my job to make sure that they learn, the classroom runs smoothly, and to always be about 5 steps ahead of my students. When you have that many children of a young age in one room certain things that may seem small and trivial can quickly become a chaotic event. For example, when students gather their materials many things can go awry. I will sometimes have them get a personal whiteboard, a pen and an eraser. Way back at the beginning of the school year I set up strict procedures and guidelines at how they would obtain these objects. If I didn't, chaos could ensue. Students may start running to the materials all at once, they may grab and fight, and someone may get hurt in all of the hustle and bustle. Again, I set measures on how to prevent this at the beginning of the year, but, one thing that I have learned this year is that no day is the same. There are constantly new elements that are brought into the classroom that require me to think very quickly and make a plan instantaneously. This happened last thursday when a parent showed up with 24 cupcakes right at dismissal. (If you are a teacher you will understand that this is a big deal). I think that I got stuck in the mental movie pictures this school year- as a I tried to be 3 steps ahead of every possible bad scenario that might happen. In doing this I developed a habit in my personal life as well where I thought about negative scenarios that might occur as well. As I go back to read Murphy I need to realize that it is not up to me to find the least destructive path and follow it...but instead to create and manifest my own occurrence. Rather than worrying and thinking, "oh..if I do A then B but if I do C then D...." I should be calmly saying to myself..."I will do ______ and then the best possible outcome will happen for my students." It is then that I will be able to manifest my experience. 

What you write on the inside (or think, see, feel on the inside) you will experience on the outside. Do you ever notice that when you are incredibly stressed, things that aren't really that stressful suddenly feel enormous? It's because the stress you are feeling is being projected all around you. At these times I love what Murphy advices. He says to "still the wheels of your thought processes" and let it go. 

Throughout the rest of the chapter Murphy continues to reinforce his ideas when he quotes both Ralph Waldo Emerson and WIlliam James, the father of American psychology. Emerson said, "Man is what he thinks all day long" and James said, "the power to move the world is in your subconscious mind." 

I wonder- what do you think about all day long? Since I started reading, "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind" this week I have been conscious about filtering my thoughts. One of the things that has made this easier for me is being aware of what is being said around me. It is so easy to get caught up in gossip with co workers or a TV show that is not uplifting. Even the news can be very detrimental to your positive thoughts. It seems as though different forms of media and entertainment love to go after the emotions of people. If its not an Ebola outbreak its influenza or gang violence. Be aware of what you are feeding your subconscious. Even if you are just listening to it you are allowing it to enter your brain space. Again this week I chose a scripture to meditate on, This one comes from Zephania 3:17, "He rejoices over me with singing!" In my mind this is uplifting and powerful. When I cannot think of anything positive to play on my record player of thoughts, I go to this. I have also been singing the song "Everywhere that I Go" which is on a Joel Osteen CD called, "Free to Worship".  When we think so many thoughts in one day, one hour, or even one minute it can seem daunting to control them, but I promise you once you become mindful and aware of your thoughts it will become easier and easier. Gossip used to be tempting and entertaining to me- but this week the second I participate in that judgemental discussion I immediately feel the disconnect from my father, which only leads to an increase in negative thinking.

Murphy writes, "These emotions, being of a negative nature, are frequently expressed as ulcers, heart trouble, tension, and anxieties." It's amazing, isn't it how negative thoughts can show up as physical symptoms? Think about muscle pain, tension headaches, and other ailments that are caused by stress. Some may accept that it is a part of living in this world, but it doesn't have to be. Murphy then goes on to ask, "What is your idea or feeling about yourself now? Every part of your body expresses that idea." When someone asks how you are doing, how do you answer? What thoughts are you thinking about yourself and telling others? It is like the idea of the conscious mind being the boss to your subconscious. If you reply with, "oh..I'm barely hanging in there" then you are directing the reinforcement of negative feelings. Sometimes you have to "fake it till you make it" and that may mean answering with, "I'm getting better and better everyday". Joel Osteen does an amazing job of discussing this scenario in several of his books and sermons. Thoughts are things, but also what you express and say aloud can turn into things as well. Choose to give yourself life giving thoughts and affirmations...

Tell your body and mind that you are healthy, prosperous, happy and whole. By doing this Murphy says that you will "wipe out all the negative patterns lodged therein."" 

The great news that this book delivers is that all of what has happened in the past can be changed. Even if you were negative and stressed out for years you can still turn things around. The more you think positive and uplifting thoughts, the more the detrimental ones will be erased. Your subconscious is always listening and ready to give you the life that you design. 

In this chapter Murphy uses a personal experience of healing as evidence of the power of your subconscious mind. He healed a skin malignancy by praying a simple prayer multiple times a day. I believe this can be used for many different situations, so I will share it here now:

"My body and all its organs were created by the infinite intelligence in my subconscious mind. It knows how to heal me. Its wisdom fashioned all my organs, tissues, muscles and bones. This infinite healing presence within me is now transforming every atom of my being making me whole and perfect now. I give thanks for the healing I know is taking place now. Wonderful are the works of the creative intelligence within me." 

When you give your subconscious a life giving pattern that is filled with perfect health and happiness...it has no choice but to follow.  It is, as Murph says, "the conscious mind that interferes with normal rhythm of the heart, lungs, and functioning of the stomach and intestines by worry, anxiety, fear and depression." Again, it is our thoughts that interfere. I was worried about having a panic attack so it was always at the forefront of my mind. Can you imagine how my subconscious responded when all it heard was "panic attack...panic attack...panic attack..?" 

Change your thought process and you will change your life.

"She confidently trusts the lord to take care of her". Psalm 112:7

"He rejoices over me with singing". Zephaniah 3:17

"I belong to you..you belong to me Lord, I'm surrounded everywhere that I go..." 

"I am healthy, happy, and blessed.."

Choose your thoughts and change your life. 

Other important excerpts from this chapter:

*"Your business is with your conscious mind and not your subconscious mind. Just keep your conscious mind busy with the expectation of the best, and make sure the thoughts you habitually think are based on whatsoever things are lovely, true, just, and of good report."

*"Begin now to take care of your subconscious mind". 

*"Think of it as a living intelligence, a lovely companion on the way. Firmly believe it is continually flowing through you vivifying, inspiring, and prospering you. It will respond exactly this way. It is done unto you as you believe." 

*"Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. MATT 21:22"

*"Imagine the happy ending or solution to your problem, feel the thrill of accomplishment, and what you imagine and feel will be accepted by your subconscious mind and bring it to pass." 

The Miracle-Working Power of Your Subconscious Part 1

"The power of your subconscious is enormous. It inspires your, it guides you, and it reveals to you names, facts, and scenes from the storehouse of memory. Your subconscious started your heartbeat, controls the circulation of your blood, and regulations your digestion, assimilation, and elimination." 

In this chapter of, "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind" Dr. Joseph Murphy writes about all of the miracles that have taken place because of your subconscious mind. The first, and perhaps largest miracle off all is that you are here. Your heart is beating, you are breathing and you are alive. Many different religions and beliefs have various ideals about how we were created and brought to this earth. You may call it God, the law of life, energy, whatever...the fact is is that once you entered this world your heart continued to beat, your body continued to grow, and you never once had to think consciously about it. These functions of our body continue to work day in and day out when we are both awake and when we sleep. What a miracle.

In one of the previous chapters, Murphy uses an example of how the power of suggestion directs the subconscious mind to perform certain tasks. He mentions a woman who says that when she drinks coffee she always stays up until midnight. The subconscious mind responds to this suggestion that "the boss wants us to stay awake tonight." He revisits this idea again in this chapter when he says that you can state to your subconscious prior to sleep that you wish a certain specific thing to be accomplished. If you wish to awake at 6am the next morning, boldly and confidently tell your subconscious to do so and it will happen.

The subconscious mind is not only the wheelhouse of our vital physical systems, but it is also, "the source of your ideals, aspirations, and altruistic urges." Murphy discusses that it was the subconscious mind that provided the creativity for artists such as Ludwig van Beethoven, the Greek sculptor, Phidias, and the Italian Artist, Raphael. I think about how creativity is not something that can be forced. Many times inspiration has to hit in order for a burst of creativity to be released. Many writers experience a term called, "writer's block" where they are unable to produce any creative ideas. I have known that I wanted to write for quite some time now, several years, although I wasn't sure what to write about. I have gone back and forth with writing about technology in education, creative writing pieces, and my faith. However, nothing ever seemed to quite work and I would fatigue rather quickly, When I picked up, "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind" this most recent time, it was as though I was struck by a lightning bolt of inspiration and creativity. It was almost like a higher power took over for me and began writing. One of my favorite musical artists is Gwen Stefani, who just released a new album a few days ago. In an interview with Time Magazine, she stated how this CD in particular was her saving grace. As she wrote the songs she was going through a tragic separation from her husband of several years and she stated that she was "literally dead" with the grief that she was experiencing. However, it was then that she begin tapping into her spiritual side and suddenly was filled with an abundance of creativity. She said in this interview that as she wrote she felt like she was "channeling God".  It is amazing to me how sometimes beauty comes from some of the most tragic places. It is when you are stripped of everything and have no where else to look except your father, that your subconscious mind steps forth.

I wonder sometimes why such bad things can happen in such a beautiful world and I think it is because from these moments, something remarkable can be created. The times that we reach our lowest is usually when people start searching for answers and a higher power. It is when we do that- when we really start paying attention to the bigger picture of our universe, that doors are opened.

I still remember the first time I felt it- truly felt the feeling of something bigger than us. It was in 2009, I believe and come January I experienced grief like I never had before. I must say that I had an incredible childhood that was filled with love and magical moments. I had always been happy, excited and looked forward to a wonderful future. During that winter two major events happened that shifted my entire world and I wasn't sure how I would survive. 1) I had my heart broken for the very first time 2) Elizabeth attempted suicide that she barely survived. The days, weeks, and months following these events were painful. Things had been shattered and we all walked around with a pit in our stomachs that made it hard to enjoy even the smallest things. Living in a small town, I would run into my ex constantly, who now had a new girlfriend, and we were all working together to find a new home for Elizabeth where she could get the support she needed. I needed to escape. I wanted to get out of town like never before. I remember thinking how I wish I could run away to Disney World or maybe go visit my half brother in Texas.

My oldest sister, Honey, arranged for us to go see Pastor Joel Osteen speak in San Jose. Recently, my family had begun watching his sermons as we looked for answers on how to find happiness again. I had always struggled with trying to find a higher power because I always tried to think about it logically. I always thought that my brain just decided what I should believe in- that it was a choice. Am I going to be a christian today? How about Jewish? Maybe I should try Hindu. We owned bibles in our house, and I had read them but I never felt a connection. I never felt that amazing love that so many of my friends talked about. Yes, we tried several churches and I even attended Vacation Bible School during the summer, but it was more about having fun with friends rather than a spiritual experience.

The night of the event Honey, my Mom, Dad and myself all went together to see Joel Osteen speak. I don't remember much of what the sermon was, but it was very uplifting and filled with incredible music. It wasn't until the end of the event that my life changed. Joel ended up doing an "alter call". He said things like if you have ever been angry with God, or want to start your life a new, please stand up. Immediately my heart began racing and I knew I wanted to stand. However, no one in my family was standing and as the youngest in the family, I usually follow their lead. The next thing Joel said was, "I know you're heart is racing...but that is God calling you in." Immediately I stood up and begin crying. My Dad stood up and put his hand on my shoulder, then my Mom and Honey stood as well. I will never forget that moment.

As we left the Oakland Stadium, where the even was held, I felt lighter, happier and for the first time in months, filled with a knowledge that everything was going to be ok. I remember smiling as we walked out to the parking lot. The years that followed after this event turned out to be some of my happiest yet. Shortly after this, I received Joel Osteen's notated Bible and began reading Murphy for the first time. I was also given an all expenses paid trip to Disney World where on the way home, I stopped to visit my brother for a week in Texas....seriously, that is not a joke.

As terrible as the events that winter were, if I would have never experienced them I may not have reached peace spiritually. I never turned to the words of Jesus, Joel Osteen or Joseph Murphy before because I hadn't needed them. What a remarkable turn of events it was and it led me to beginning to understand the limitless power of my subconscious mind.


The following is an excerpt from this chapter that stood out to me:

"Consider its extrasensory perceptions, such as its capacity for clairvoyance and clairaudience, its independence of time and space, its capacity to render you free from all pain and suffering, and its capacity to get the answer to all problems, by they what they may." 

One Week

Tomorrow will mark one week since I started this journey with Murphy and his book, "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind." I think it is important to take a moment to reflect on the changes that I have already seen happen in this short amount of time.  Exactly one week ago, I sat crying to my parents about what a rough week I had had. It was one filled with overwhelming stress, anxiety, and what felt like the weight of the world. That week and conversation is what ultimately led me to go back to Murphy and re-read the book. Today, I woke up feeling relaxed, peaceful, and with evidence that the power of your subconscious mind truly does work.

Last night I feel as though I was given what we call in our family a, "God Wink." This is a term that we have used for many years and it describes situations that happen where we feel our father, our faith, the law (whatever you want to call it) has shown itself in a way that is most loving and exciting. Some people may call these "coincidences" but my faith tells me it is something from a much higher power. These little "God winks" have occurred several times in my life and always seem to appear when I need them most. For example, last thursday was a day of high anxiety for me- and one that ultimately led me back to the writings of Murphy. I had to take my Kindergarteners on a field trip to Salinas, a town about 35 minutes away from Monterey, where we would see a production of "Pinnochio". Field trips are high stress for any teacher, especially since we do not take a bus and have to coordinate parent drivers each time we would like to take a trip. So far this year we had already taken about seven field trips- which was amazing for my students- but very taxing on my energy and nerves. By the time this trip rolled around many other elements led me to become filled with fear and I wasn't sure how I would make it through this trip without a panic attack. I texted my parents throughout the entire event and just as we went into the theater- God Wink! I randomly ran into one of my most special teachers from my childhood. It was such an amazing moment to not only see a familiar face, but one that radiated nothing but love and fond memories. How wonderful it was to run into an old teacher with my very own class, I could see the pride on her face.

It is little moments like those that remind us that everything is going to be ok and while we may be facing stress in the moment, there is something much bigger going on around us. If we could only take the time to tap into that power on a minute-by-minute basis, the things we could accomplish would be endless.

Last night I experienced something that I would rather call a "God Wave" rather than a "God Wink" because the multitude of belief and faith it left on me is incredible.  Last night we had a school fundraiser for our school called, the "Spring Fling."  It was an upscale dinner, dancing, and silent auction event that was well talked about for a few months beforehand. When I first heard about it I immediately decided that I would not go. One of the hardest things for me has been social situations such as restaurants and crowded areas. So of course, this was something that my conscious brain said, "avoid!". However, my very kind room mom decided that I deserved a fun night out and she purchased me a ticket to attend. The tickets were costly and it was such a wonderful gesture that I knew I would need to go. I had about a little under a month to prepare myself for the event. I bought my fiancee a ticket and asked him if he could get the night off from work to go with me. For this event, each grade level created a themed basket filled with items to be raffled off at the Spring Fling. The baskets were all very elaborate and were placed in the office about two weeks beforehand so that people could start purchasing raffle tickets. Our kindergarten basket was a lottery ticket tree that had about 350 scratchers hanging from several branches. Other baskets included a date night theme complete with a limo ride and babysitting, a family fun wagon filled with goodies, and a wine basket. Immediately, one basket caught my attention the "pamper yourself" theme. This basket was complete with restaurant coupons, a certificate for manicure and pedicures, and a stay at a small boutique inn. The hotel stay that was included was extra special as it was at an inn that I worked at throughout my undergraduate studies. I once stayed there with my fiancee and had always wanted to go back. Each day as I walked by that basket I would look at it longingly and think how much I wanted to win it. However, I never bought any raffle tickets. As the night of the Spring Fling finally arrived, I found myself nervous to go despite the fact that I had an uneventful and peaceful week at work. I was not in the mood to socialize and my fiancee and I got into a small argument the day before about who would be responsible for driving us to the event. When I got home I made myself as comfortable as possible, changing into a white fluffy robe and making a cup of peppermint tea. I knew that it is moments like these where I can use what Murphy has taught me. I texted with my dad for a while about this and he helped me remember to envision what a wonderful time I would have that night. I then read a few pages of the, "Power of Your Subconscious Mind" and listened to a soothing meditation to help relax. As I entered that wonderful dream like state I repeated to myself that I was calm, relaxed and would enjoy the night. That the little me cannot tell the big me to ruin this wonderful night that I had been given. I envisioned myself enjoying the evening and feeling happy that I had gone. I also stated that my fiancee, despite the argument we had earlier, would be happy to drive to the location.

I came out of my meditation and started to get ready for the evening when the phone rang. It was my fiancee saying that he would be running slightly late and would be arriving home in the tow truck. He said that he would get ready for the evening and then we could return his truck to his workplace and then take his car directly to the Spring Fling....God wink number one. The driving situation had been handled.

When we got to the Spring Fling, I didn't feel immediately at ease, but continued to only allow my conscious mind to play the record of positive thoughts. I admired the view of the golf course through the large windows of the banquet room, I smiled at my co workers and told them how beautiful they all looked, and I happily jumped into a very crowded staff picture. Once everyone settled into their seats for the night, my fiance and I went to look at the items for auction and the baskets that would be raffled off. Each one was amazing and I purchased 5 raffle tickets. I put my room mom's name on one to thank her for sending me to the event, I gave my fiance two to put into baskets of his choice, and I put two tickets in for the "Pamper Yourself" basket I had been admiring for weeks. As I dropped in the tickets I loudly said, "I want this one. This is the one I'm going to win.".

The evening continued with dinner and the room fell quiet as the winners of the baskets were going to be announced. We all applauded and cheered as the winners of the kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade baskets were announced. Finally, the 4th grade basket, the one I desired was up to be announced. My mind immediately went to a very intense place of thought as I said over and over, "I am going to win this basket. They will say my name. I can hear them saying my name,  Rose Hamilton...Rose Hamilton..Rose Hamilton. I know that the love of my father is real and I am going to win this basket." As I made my proclamations the announcer spoke into the microphone and said a name that was not mine. However, no one cheered. She had said her own name! "Just kidding..she laughed. The winner is Rose Hamilton!"

This is real life. This is the truth. This moment brought me a feeling that is difficult to explain in words. I know that the power of my subconscious mind brought me to this moment and my insides suddenly felt a state of euphoria and knowing that I am on the right path. After one week of deeper study I was shown that this is the truth. The night played out exactly as I envisioned it.

I have been finding a place of peaceful creativity with this blog and for some reason I have been feeling as though this will turn into something bigger. Not only will it be a way to banish anxiety, but perhaps it will be a career change for me and the gateway to the life that I truly desire. Winning a basket at an event may seem like a small, materialistic occurrence but, it's what I felt surrounding the event. It was an answer, a voice, and proof. I know that I am on the right path.

At the end of the night my fiance and I came home to open the basket. He was just as ecstatic and stunned as I was as I had shared my thoughts with him. In all of my excitement I did not really notice much of what else happened after my win, although I knew that the person next to me won a basket as well.

As we went through our prize my fiance then shared this with me...the final God Wink of the night: "...It was amazing that you won, but what really got me is that right before the guy next to you won, I heard him say, 'this is my basket'."

A God wave...blessed beyond measure.. the workings of my father,,,the law of attraction...

The power of my subconscious mind.

How Your Own Mind Works

"You have a mind, and you should learn how to use it." 

When I read this sentence, the first one of the next chapter in Murphy's book, I can't help but pause. You have a mind...and you should learn how to use it. When I read this sentence I am left speechless or thoughtless really- for a moment because it never really occurred to me that I didn't know how to use my mind. It's like someone saying to me hey did you know that hole in your face is used for eating and speaking? Or man you should really learn how to use those five fingers on your hand- pick up something..give it a try.

I have heard in the past from various different sources that we as humans only use 10% of our brains. Of course as time has gone on there have been several disputes and conversations about that statement. However, many doctors are willingly able to admit that there is still a necessary amount of research to be done on the capabilities of the brain and what causes certain things to happen. I think about women who have hysterical pregnancies and become so convinced  they are carrying a child that they begin showing physical signs of being pregnant. I think about my sister who, when she was on this earth, had a perfectly healthy body but was in constant pain and no amount of drugs could provide relief. I also think about people who in times of dire stress and necessity are suddenly able to perform incredible tasks like lifting cars off of people in danger or how placebos can cure mysterious illnesses. Is it our minds that open up the gates to these physical pathways?

You have a mind, and you should learn how to use it.

In this chapter, Dr. Murphy now continues his transition from a writer of a book, to a loving teacher. He begins to explain that there are two levels of your mind- the conscious mind and the subconscious. He clearly outlines that the conscious mind is the one that you think with. This is the mind that is constantly playing that never ending record of whatever type of music (thoughts) you decide to put on. The subconscious is, as Murphy refers to it, the creative mind and also the seat of our emotions. He then goes on to state that there is a basic principle of, if you think good, good will follow and if you think evil then evil will follow. It is a basic theorem of if A, then B...etc.

One of the things that I love most about this book is that there is really only one main idea. That is, you have control over your subconscious mind and whatever you think will be manifested. Murphy really could have written one sentence and been done with it, case closed. It's that simple. However, like any good teacher Murphy goes on to explain how this ideal works, why is it works, evidence from those who have used it, and how you too, can change your life by changing your thoughts.

I think about my kindergarten students in this moment and how many times I have to teach the same concept in several different ways. I have to know my students interests, likes, dislikes, and their learning styles and then figure out how to best reach them. As I reach for their minds I am also reaching for their hearts. How can I get that lightbulb to turn on? How do I know they get it? Many of times I will go to great lengths to get this to happen- including a performance of a song and dance.

Murphy only has the best intentions for his readers and it is the repetition that provides the brilliancy of this book. If his readers didn't understand it the first time, maybe they will the second, third and fourth. And if you did understand it right away, you will now been shown the depth that it can reach.

I can't help but feel peaceful when I read this book. Especially since it seems so easy to make the changes necessary for a joyous life. Murphy says that, "Peace of mind and a healthy body are inevitable when you begin to think and feel in the right way." Already, in just four days of consistently spending time reading this book I already feel a difference. I have been struggling with panic attacks stemming from claustrophobia and certain social situations. This can be difficult when you are a leader of 24 little 5 and 6 year olds. Recently, before beginning this book I had to take my students on a field trip to a theater where we would see the play, "Pinnochio." The idea alone was enough to drive me into a sheer panic and the stress I was feeling caused me to be snappy and judgemental of my co-workers. As the days lead up to the field trip I continued to play that broken record over and over again. "I have anxiety, this is going to be hard, i'm so nervous, I might have a panic attack, what if I have a panic attack, everyone will be looking at me, I'm such a bad teacher, parents will think I'm a freak, I'll get fired, I'll scare my students". It took me about 30 seconds to write that, and maybe about only 10 to think those things. I thought them all..day...long... I was demanding my subconscious to panic and to worry. I even cried the morning of the field trip as I got ready fearing the worst.

Fast forward to today, where I had 4 straight hours of parent teacher conferences. Each moment that I felt the slightest inkling of unrest I directed my brain to hold onto a positive, uplifting thought. Again, my focuses for this week were Psalms 112:7 and "miracles will happen". By the end of my four hours of conferencing I still felt alert, awake, and energized. In fact, I came home and ended up cleaning my entire house! (Mopped the floors and all...something that is usually only reserved for Sunday afternoons).

As I train my subconscious to focus on thoughts that are good, pure, happy, and true it will only become stronger. Four days and I have already seen a change. I know that it is important to continue to read each day to keep up on the practice and have set aside at least an hour each day to read and blog. However, what surprises me is how easy it has been to open the book and read. When you find something that brings you peace and joy it is not work.

Piece by piece, I am unlocking the freedom that Murphy talks about in his book. Once you have decreed it, it is yours. I cannot wait until the day that I can write in this blog about how I've become a professional writer, or how I just bought my first house in Carmel.

I have a mind...and I am learning how to use it.

One part of this instructional chapter that cannot be ignored is the idea of suggestion. It is incredible what words from another human can do to us. Murphy uses the story of a nervous man on a boat, who may have been feeling healthy at the moment, but another passenger walks up to him and says, "my dear fellow, you're looking very ill. Aren't you feeling sick? You look to me as if you were going to be seasick." Of course in that moment the man accepts the suggestion as true and becomes sick. Our brain is subject to suggestions all day long, rather we realize it or not. As a teacher I feel as though we in the profession have to be immensely careful of the suggestions we give to young children. I have heard countless stories of teachers that either believed in- or destroyed the future for a students with his or her words. I still remember the best suggestions I received (that I should be a teacher, professor, or lawyer..that I am intellingent) and the worst. A dance teacher of mine, right before an important audition, stopped the music, looked at me and told me that he wasn't sure what I was doing but somehow I was not dancing as well as the others. Needless to say I took the suggestion literally and was unable to remember the choreography during the audition. I allowed this teacher to make an impression on my subconscious mind. Some of the worst suggestions are ones that I have made to myself out of intense worry or fear. It is amazing what we allow ourselves to feed our minds and it is dangerous to our well being. With all of the suggestions we receive daily from the news, peers, and society as a whole around us, Murphy teaches us a vital survival tool- how to build immunity.

He says the dictionary defines a suggestion as, " the act of instance of putting something into one's mind, the mental process by which the thought or the idea suggested is entertained, accepted, or put into effect." and he makes the point that a suggestion cannot be impressed on the subconscious mind against the will of the conscious mind.

Murphy goes on to describe several real life examples of people who overcame fears and anxieties based on suggestion. As always, the most important thing to do is to change your thoughts. In these instances the person making a change decided on a mantra, or decree, and stated it several times daily. During these times the man or woman would sit alone comfortably, relaxed and calm before making their declaration to their subconscious mind. By doing this in a relaxed state the mind became more passive and receptive to the suggestion.

Each night as I have been going to bed, and each morning as I meditate for 20 minutes, I have allowed myself to focus on suggestions of health, clarity, calmness, and joy. It is almost as though I am entering a dream like state to create my dream like life.

In this chapter, Murphy writes one of his most important sentences which is, "Remember, you have the capacity to choose. Choose life! Choose love! Choose health!" We have a choice to live the life we want. For some people I think this may be too much pressure. They would rather not take responsibility for the direction of their life and would rather blame it on things like the government, their parents, or some other factor. We have a choice...we have a choice! Ring the bells and sound the alarms, we have a choice of how we want to live our lives.

I today, am choosing to live a life that is healthy, happy, blessed and whole. It is going to be miraculous. I hope you will join me.


Other items from this chapter:
* "You are what you think all day long."

* "The suggestions and statements of others have no power to hurt you. The only power is the movement of your own thought. You can choose to reject the thoughts or statements of others and affirm the good. You have the power to choose how you will react."

* "You are the captain of your soul (subconscious mind) and the master of your fate. Remember, you have the capacity to choose. Choose life! Choose love! Choose health! Choose happiness!"

*"My subconscious knows the answer. It is responding to me now. I give thanks because I know the infinite intelligence of my subconscious knows all things and is revealing the perfect answer to me now. My real conviction is now setting free the majesty and glory of my subconscious mind. I rejoice that it is so. "

The Treasure House Within You

If my dad's favorite chapter of, "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind" is the first, without a shadow of a doubt, the second is MY favorite.

 This is where the book becomes exciting and the ideals start to lift off the page and into your own reality. Clear, outlined instructions on how to change your life are written in a way that is easy to follow.  This chapter does not feel overwhelming but instead uplifting and accessible. Here is where Murphy starts to help you build a toolbox to construct a life you have always wanted to live.

Murphy uses beautiful language throughout the book to describe the power that is within. At the very beginning of this chapter he says, "There is a gold mine within you from which you can extract everything you need to live life gloriously, joyously, and abundantly."  He does not  write that he is merely going to help you learn how to cope with life, or to "manage" everyday stress that just comes with living...no, he specifically chose those words, gloriously, joyously, and abundantly, to describe a life that  I think many of us dream of but never thought was attainable. Who wouldn't want their lives to be filled with all of those wonderful things? Dr. Murphy is here to say that yes, not only is it possible but it will happen if you can just realize the beautiful strength and power that lies within. You do not need to work yourself to death everyday so that you can become rich and famous...finally buying everything you want. (For me, a house in Carmel). The first step of this journey is to become aware, to have a moment of realization that the treasure house is within you. It does not say that it is in the 1% of our population, or those that are most talented, or even those with the highest IQ. No matter who you are, or where you come from, you too have this uncovered treasure that is ready to be unleashed and used. I know you may be thinking, if it is so prevalent within us then why aren't more of us happy and successful? As I continue to go through this book I will touch more and more on that. Overall though, it is not enough to be aware of it (though that is the first step) but it takes practice and constant usage. You have to have not only a life style change, but a change in the way you think and perceive the world around you.

In this chapter, Murphy goes on to say, "A new light can inspire you; and you can generate a new force enabling you to realize your hopes and make all your dreams come true."

When I picked up the Power of Your Subconscious Mind this most recent time, the idea of this blog hit me like a lightning bolt. All of a sudden I had a crisp and clear thought that loudly said, "Paging Dr. Murphy!!" and I knew that I needed to write about my journey as I re-read this book on a level more deeply than ever before. For the first time in months the broken record of anxiety and fear was overshadowed and cast away by inspiration.
You see,  I have always loved to write. As a young student I wrote poetry, rhymes, and always had ideas in my head for stories. Over time this love became pushed aside by other things but deep in the back of my head I have dreamed about turning my writing into something more. Over the course of the past few years I wrote a children's book and started a novel. However, as I began teaching I felt like all of my energy, motivation and creativity was removed from my hands and directed to go no where else except for my classroom. Writing for a living became more of a nice thought rather than a plausible pathway for my life. I no longer knew what to write about, how to write it, or what to do with it once it had been written. It was not until I began this experience that the light and inspiration came flooding back with avengence, stronger than ever before and it carried with it a certainty that I  this blog is going to become something bigger than I can possibly imagine.

I can relate this personal experience to what Murphy describes as the "treasure house within you". We are all born with different wonderful talents and dreams, but sometimes when we get wrapped up in the fabricated laws of society we replace these joys with what we think we are supposed to be doing in order to survive. It is a slippery slope when someone begins working a job that they are not happy with only to make money...and soon that person is hopping on the train of negative thoughts and premises.  This book has allowed me to take the time to stop the wheels of my mind and realize the life and future that I have begun to create. Do not forget what is within. It is miraculous.

One of the most important concepts that Murphy lays out in this chapter, and one that he comes back to time and time again is the idea that thoughts are things. He offers evidence of this from the bible in Mark 11:23 " Whosoever shall say unto this mount, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith." 

I believe that Murphy is outlining several things here. One, that you can have whatever you desire, no matter how big or impossible the dream may be. One of my biggest dreams is to buy a house in Carmel, my hometown. Currently the houses average a listing price of 1-2 million dollars. I know that in exactly this moment,  as I boldly speak out my desire without any sliver of doubt, my house is standing and waiting for me. It does not matter what my bank account says or what kind of career I have at the moment, what matters is the directions that I am giving to my subconscious mind.

Another passage that I think is important from this chapter is when Murphy says, "Busy your mind with the concepts of harmony, health, peace, and good will, and wonders will happen in your life."  Again, this is the idea of changing the record that is playing over and over again in your head. Today I continued to meditate on the line, "she confidently trusts the lord to take care of her". Anytime I felt my thoughts going in a negative direction I repeated this is my head over and over again. It is a positive message and one that I am using to 'busy' my brain for the time being. I believe that controlling my thoughts is somewhat like exercising a muscle. The more you use it the easier it becomes and the more you can handle.  It is important that I stop harping on ideas like anxiety and stress. Instead here are three things I have thought of for now that I can focus on:

1) The love of my father who will bring all of the desire's of my heart to pass and fruition.

2) The wonderful love of my family

3) The pure and innocent smiles I see on children every day.


The final piece that I want to reflect on from this chapter is the idea of being a gardener. "You are a gardener, and you are planting seeds (thoughts) in your subconscious mind all day long, based on your habitual thinking". 

The gardener is in control of what gets planted in his or her own garden. Yes, you can think of your thoughts like seeds. Are you going to plant seeds of negativity? Because I am sure those flowers will be ugly and poisonous...or are you going to plant seeds of love and joy? Surely something wonderful will sprout from those.

I think that the idea of the garden is much bigger than just the seeds. Any good gardener knows that there is much more to tending a healthy garden than just the seed. Yes, it is the foundation but what about the other things you need to help the seeds sprout? For example, you need rich nutritious soil, fresh water, and sunlight. Some gardeners may also go as far to buy ladybugs or other creatures like earthworms to help nurture the growing plants. Occasionally some weeds may pop up but the gardener surely has tools to remove them.  While the thoughts are the seeds, perhaps the soil and other items are the additional things you can do to help take care of yourself and make it easier to plant healthy seeds. This may include making sure you get plenty of rest, eating a healthy meal, and receiving love from your friends and family. These things will make it easier to cultivate a healthy seed and make sure that it does not turn into one that will sprout weeds. Joel Osteen talks often about different seasons in your life. There are planting seasons and there are blooming, or growing, seasons. For me right now, I think that I am in a planting season but have already begun to see the bright green sprouts of spring. Already so much good has come from this experience and I only begun this 3 days ago. I know that I will break the cycle and habit of bad and negative thoughts. Instead, I will only plant seeds that cause the most beautiful and sweetly smelling flower to bloom. My garden will be overgrown with gorgeous flowers in all colors imaginable.

You may think that in your darkest times you are getting buried....but you are actually being planted. 


Other excerpts from this chapter: 

"Think quietly and with interest on these qualities and accept them fully in your conscious reasoning mind."

"Remember, it is the world within, namely your thoughts, feelings and imagery that makes your world without."

"To remove discord, confusion, lack, and limitation, you must remove the cause, and the cause is the way you are using your conscious mind."   Note: Do not stand in the way of blessings. Self-Sabotage.

"When your conscious mind (the little me) is full of fear, worry and anxiety, the negative emotions endangered in your subconscious mind (the big me) are released and flood the conscious mind with a sense of panic, foreboding and despair."

"Never finish a negative statement; reverse it immediately and wonders will happen in your life."

When you give your subconscious a suggest, it will take you seriously. For example, if you say, "If I drink coffee past twelve, I always stay awake until midnight". Immediately your subconscious hears. "the boss wants you to stay awake tonight." If we think of our thoughts as instructions rather than ideas, wouldn't it be interesting to see how our lives changed?

"Believe in the power of your subconscious to heal, inspire, strengthen, and prosper you. According to yoru believe it is done unto you."

How this Book Can Work Miracles in Your Life

Whenever my dad hands off a copy of the, "Power of Your Subconscious Mind" he includes a request for the person to just at least get through the first chapter. Often times when he is feeling stressed or asked for some advice, he again will say, "go back and read Murphy...even just the first chapter.".
The line that seems to resonate with my dad the most is when Murphy writes, "I have seen miracles happen to men and women in all walks of life all over the world. Miracles will happen to you, too- when you begin using the magic power of your subconscious mind.".

I awoke this morning, on this journey to remove negativities in my life, with the knowledge that I would need to replace my thoughts every moment of the day. While this may sound easy enough, as a teacher my brain is conditioned to go 10000 miles a minute. Especially in kindergarten, I am trained to think backwards, forwards, upside down, while tying shoes and teaching a math lesson on how properly sort different species of gorillas. (Not really, but it sure feels like that at times).  So for me, it can be very hard to turn my brain off when it is so comfortable always having about ten thoughts floating around in a single second. To prepare to change my thoughts today I gave myself mantras, lines, scriptures, whatever you want to call them- to replay over and over again. If I am harping on a sentence I won't be able to think of anything else. One of my lines today was that miracles will happen.

I started focusing on this concept long before my day begun as I made it the label on my alarm. When 5:30am rolled around the first thing I saw was, "Miracles will Happen". I reminded myself of this in the shower, as I made my smoothie, when I unlocked my classroom, as I begun my first lesson, and all throughout the day.

Miracles happen everyday and for some reason we have learned to think of them as the exception, not the rule. When we get our thoughts in line and reach that place of agreement between our subconscious and conscious minds it opens the door for miracles to happen. Whatever they may be. Perfect health, total happiness, financial success,..... they are all attainable no matter who you are or whatever walk of life you come from. However, you have to follow the principle that thoughts are things. If you spend all day walking around being negative you are simply attracting that behavior towards yourself. It is when you build up your expectancy and faith that you are opening the gates and allowing yourself to be flooded with your desires.

The first chapter of Murphy can be difficult for some people to read as it may be a completely new idea for them. Some religions even frown upon the ideals behind this book and think that it is merely God's will and we are doomed to walk the suffering life that has been laid before us. However, as one of my favorite pastor's (Joel Osteen) says, " You can choose to be a victor not a victim".

Murphy starts with a brief synopsis of what this book is all about, why it has been written, and how there will be simple, clear, explanations on how anyone can achieve the wonderful results he knows will happen.

As I read the 1st chapter of Murphy's book for what seemed like the hundredth time, I highlighted key phrases and sentences that stuck out to me. Here are some:

As a man thinks, feels, and believes, so is the condition of his mind, body and circumstances. 

One of the things that I have been dealing with lately is the constant fear and dread of having anxiety and panic attacks. It has gotten to the point where every step I take marches to the beat of the broken record sounding, "anxiety...anxiety...anxiety...panic...panic...panic...". It is amazing how we can drown in our own mind and we don't even realize that we are completely entering a zone of self-sabotage. Changing your thoughts can be very difficult and it takes a great amount of practice. Which is why, as I stated above, that I purposely pre-selected something to think on all day long. I also picked a scripture from the bible to remember for the week. Currently I am memorizing Psalm 112:7 which says, "She confidently trusts the lord to take care of her." I can't even imagine how many times I said this today in my head. Rather than thinking negative thoughts about a co-worker or thinking yet again how stressed out I am, I played the record of trust in the lord (or law as murphy offers as a replacement).  It has only been day one of this intense thought changing process, and already I can feel the effects. However, I know it is something that can't be used once and then put down for another day. It is something that, if you want to perfect, needs to be practiced at all times.

Keep on, keeping on until the day breaks and the shadows flee away. 

What I like best about this line is not only the reminder to never give up but I feel like it offers a great deal of hope. The line ensures that daylight will come and all of the shadows will go away. It may seem like times are dark and tough right now, but if you are resilient and follow the principles there will be a new day. This line can also be interpreted as "fake it till you make it". It is up to us to just keep walking in faith and giving our trust over to our father because in the end everything will be ok.


Here we are.. only the introduction and I feel that my life is heading on the right track. I am ready to jump into the rest of the book and bring Murphy's words to life. I know that I will see miracles and they are heading my way.

Purposeful Rest

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30. 

There is something to be said about rest. Rest is one of the most important things that we can do for our mind, body and spirits. It is a way we become recharged so that we may get through each and every day more loving, kind, and passionately. It is not a common secret that a person without rest does not function appropriately and may become irritated or emotional much easier. Why is it that parents are so adamant about making sure their children receive naps on time? Because they know that if their child does not receive the proper rest they will become irritable and lack control of their behaviors. 

It seems that rest for adults has become something left to be desired rather than a daily necessity or priority. Our society is constantly running on the hum of "busy, busy, busy" and it seems that people are trying to cram more things into shorter amounts of time. Just look at how popular fast food restaurants, energy drinks, and a never ending supply of coffee has become. We have told ourselves that we are supposed to be alert, awake, and constantly going going going to achieve all that we can in this world.

However, what about the things that can be achieved through rest. Not the two weeks vacation that you may indulge in finally someday...but daily, purposeful, tender, rest. 

I have been familiar with the above scripture from Matthew for quite some time but in my head the verse normally phased out after "Come to me all ye who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest..." After a long day of work I would come home tired, no exhausted and ready to relax. I would put on my comfiest pajamas, make sure I ate a delicious meal and then lay down in front of the TV and space out to some mind-numbing show. I would think alright, Father! Here I am give me rest. 

It wasn't until this past Sunday, where I spent several hours with the "Power of Your Subconscious Mind" that I truly understood the concept of rest. Today, Monday was the beginning of Day Lights Savings time, where I had to wake up an hour earlier than normal. Not only that but I ended up going to sleep later than usual as well..but this morning when my alarm clock went off I awoke refreshed. Normally I hit my snooze button a couple of times before finally rolling out of bed with a nervous pit in my stomach. 

Today I felt like I had rested. What was the difference?

"Come to me, all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." This is where the scripture ends, right? As I read this in it's entirety, the following directions are just as important as the first line. "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me..." 

As I rested this Sunday my body was still, I was in my comfiest pajamas in my cozy bed...and yet the TV was off and I had a purpose. I wanted to spend time with my father. Nothing that I was doing was mentally strenuous or exhausting or even boring. I was simply taking the time to remind myself of the way the world works and the spiritual laws that govern our daily lives. 

Purposeful rest. The more I continued to read Murphy's writings the more calm and peaceful I became. The usual sunday afternoon anxiety that comes knocking on my door to remind me about monday did not appear. I made sure to drink in every word of the book and think about how I could apply the principles to my daily life. I also went so far as to highlight key passages and then later write reflections in my journal so that the thoughts could really sink in. 

It is not enough to come home, turn on the tv or go on facebook and expect to wake up refreshed and rested. Make sure that your rest is purposeful and that you are truly setting your mind and soul on items of peace and goodwill. When we spend time with our Father we are reminded of who we are, and where we are still able to go- which is anywhere that you may create. It is when we take the time to learn, to study, and spend quiet moments mediating on the truth that our burdens are removed and we are given what we so desperately need. 

Take a moment to breathe... to leave the fabrications of the world around us and just... rest. 

The Book

The book, "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind" has been one that holds a strong presence in our family for as long as I can remember. We have several copies between each family member; some copies old, yellowed and frayed, some a newer edition recently purchased, and some digitally downloaded onto our various devices. This book has been a tool kept in our back pockets for years and copies have revolved in and out of our hands as we pass it along to friends who may need to read it. Recently, two copies were even wrapped up in shiny red and green paper and given out as christmas gifts to those we thought could benefit from reading even just the first chapter of the book.

I personally, have read this book in many different forms. I have highlighted a hard copy of it with pencil and scribbled notes in the margins, I have picked it up and fanned the pages quickly only stopping on a random paragraph that I believed my subconscious mind wanted me to read, and I have also listened to it auditorily on my Kindle, reading along with a slow, soothing voice so that I could drink in every word and let it seep in deeper than before.

No matter how many times I have read, "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind" there is one lesson that I have yet to learn. If you don't use it, you lose it. It seems like I pull out this book during my most trying times and then when I am feeling like myself again I tuck it away or hand it off to a friend that needs it more than me at that point. However, I then find myself losing the practice and forgetting the truth that Murphy so clearly spells out on each page. Rather than practicing the law in only times of need and then moving forward, it is something that I want to incorporate every single day of my life. Whether I am experiencing a season of success or growth, I want the foundation of my day to be built upon the principle that Murphy discusses in his books.

Recently, I think I have entered one of my most trying, but opportunistic times as I am faced with challenges that I have never experienced before. Major changes have happened in our family over the past 5 years including foreclosure on a family home, the death of a sister, finishing college, earning my teaching credential, teaching kindergarten, two engagements with two weddings on the horizon, and countless other stresses that the illusion of our society brings on a daily basis. When I was finally given the chance to stop to rest all of these burdens found their way to the surface and have not seemed to want to dissolve.

During an emotional conversation I was reminded to revisit Dr. Joseph Murphy's book, "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind" and I wondered how long it had been since I read even a page of it. It had been too long. Of course... Why hadn't I gone back to the book yet? Why haven't I cracked open the first page to revisit the promises that my Father has laid out for me and the law that governs this world. I had been trying soothing essential oils, peppermint tea, meditation, you name it, but I had not gone back to the most obvious thing that I knew I could count on. My Father.

So on this rainy sunday, I made a commitment to once again go back to revisit Murphy and all of the knowledge and truth he has to offer...but this time it will be different. This time I am making this experience bigger than before which is why I have decided to start my first blog.  With each chapter I read I will also be writing. Writing is a passion of mine and something I hope to do more of every day. It is a form of meditation, creativity, prayer, whatever you want to call it. As I go through Dr. Murphy's books with a fine toothed comb I will be stopping to reflect, to write and to expand the ideas that have been written before me. The Power of your subconscious mind is a widely discussed principle through several different books. Some call it, The Secret or the Law of Attraction. I like to call it the truth or just the basic facts. Through this blog hopefully I can begin to live it more and more each day.