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.
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