Last post I rambled at length about the importance of Discernment in the Law of Attraction in particular and in life in general. It is a wonderfully, easy way to live your life once you are accustomed to living this way, but getting there can be a trick.
Discernment is listening to your gut and making decisions from there and not from your mind. The last post goes into why you want to do this. So how to begin... You must quiet your mind and have it be your servant and not your master. Really. You MUST quiet your mind. The only successful way I know is to practice. Slowly in baby steps and not beating yourself up for the constant failures you certainly will encounter.
The very first thing I would do is to shut off the radio in the car. Force yourself to have quiet time. When you do this, the mind will really take over, so it is an opportunity to watch yourself and see what it is that you really think about. Usually that is unhappiness about the past or worrying about the future. You know both are wrong, don't you? I'll go into why if anyone asks. But whether it is past or future, good or bad, the mind is in control, making so much noise you can't hear anything else. That is the point of discernment, though: getting silent so you can hear the prompting, suggestions, evaluation from your soul/angels/guides/God.
See where your mind goes and make the decision to stop it. That will last for maybe 2 seconds, then make the decision, again, to stop it. This will last for 3 seconds, then 4, then 6, then10... What else are you doing while you are driving anyway? In fact, a good practice is to actively concentrate on your driving. Yes, you are using your mind, but you are using it as it should be used - as a servant for what YOU want. At these times, you are in the present. You are actively in the NOW. It doesn't matter what it is you are doing, but your are actively in the moment.
It helps if you can stop and meditate sometime, doing effectively the same thing. Many experts say consciously to watch your breathing during meditation. I agree. It does help to quiet the mind, which is the first purpose of meditating anyway. You can't listen if you can't shut up. Now, it can take a long time to get very good at this, but with steady work, you can get better and better, and, believe me, your life will improve dramatically as well - because your mind will not be putting out all that negative energy that attracts other negative energy that ultimately pops the proverbial zit in your experience. I'm sure there are other wonderful ways to build your discernment, but this is the methold I have used for the past 5 years or so. At this point, I would guess that I am in the moment about 60% of my time and feel pretty good about that. Sometimes, I will intentionally think about the future to aid in some active creation of Law of Attraction, but I try the very best to stay out of the past, whether good or bad. Once I catch myself thinking about the past, my intention is to actively go into the present and I am getting better and better at recognizing this and doing it.
This discussion is a bit Pollyannaish, because I do not address very difficult issues such as a constant physical pain, or relationship turmoil that can be very, very in the moment. Those are much harder to deal with. My advice here is to very quickly pick up a copy of "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. His current book, "A New Earth", is a big Oprah study right now, but go to "Power of Now" first. I don't give this recommendation in passing. This is a big deal. This is a big, important book!!! It has singlehandedly changed more lives of people I personally know than any other book. We all talk about moving books that we have read and loved, but this one is the "Bach" of the bunch. Not an easy read, but nothing better. Speaking of nothing better.... There is nothing better than you! You are so amazingly powerful, creative, and resourceful. You truly are the envy of the Universe. Millions would trade you for your life just exactly as you are right now. You are magnificent!! and I love you!
The Old Monk
Monday, March 3, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Discernment
What's the connection between discernment and the Law of Attraction? The LoA affects absolutely everything we experience and discernment is the very best way for you to interpret and understand what is happening. Then discernment is the best way to decide what you want to experience, actively rather than reactively.
So what is discernment? My definition is "thinking through your gut". For me it is a knowing I get that really does come from the center of my body. Something will ring to me, giving a calmness and peace that I simply "feel" is true. Let me tell you, this is a fantastic way to live. If I let my mind get involved with a question, I can go through so much hand wringing and analysis; and then I'm still not certain if a decision is the best one or not.
I'm certain we all are born with good discernment skills, but they sure are trained out of us in a hurry. It is very important for us all to remember just how we got ourselves into this fix (since it is so hard to drop the addiction of thinking). When we are small children, we are simply computers downloading information with no analysis skills. That is, up to the ages of 5 or 6 (I don't remember exactly) all we do is accept what we see and are told. So if your father kiddingly calls you fatty or dummy or ugly, that is accepted as reality. Children don't understand joking or sarcasm, and those thoughts become the basis for who we are. Great example: I have always known the power of names, so when our daughters were small, my wife and I never said anything to them that wasn't positive. Occasionally, Sara, my older, would say "I'm so dumb" obviously learned at school. I would always immediately say, "No, you're not! You are very smart. You should never say you are dumb!" I was reminiscing once with her and recounted those incidents and she replied, "Oh! So that is why I always freak out when someone calls themself stupid!" See? There is a small monster I created, totally inadvertently. So think of all the other inadvertent things people say and do in front of their children that get logged into the psyche. OK, then add teachers, religion, peers, clubs, television, movies...... well, you get the picture. No wonder we are all screwed up from everyone telling us what they want us to be and do and think. Not because it is best for us, but it keeps us under control and they can feel better about being under control themselves for their whole lives. Sigh, I'm beginning to rant...
So discernment is the answer. Don't listen to your mind, because it wants to f*#% with you and stay in control. I know, that is easier said than done, but it is true. Stop and be quiet right now for a second with me. Slowing count to ten, thinking only about the counting itself. Then, pause again and mentally ask your body -not your mind - what I am saying. Is this true? Have I been controlled in my thinking all my life? Feel your answer. That, My Love, is discernment. More on the topic and methods for improving your skills later. But regardless of what you have always been told, you are Love incarnate. You are Joy. and you are Peace. I truly love you.
The Old Monk
So what is discernment? My definition is "thinking through your gut". For me it is a knowing I get that really does come from the center of my body. Something will ring to me, giving a calmness and peace that I simply "feel" is true. Let me tell you, this is a fantastic way to live. If I let my mind get involved with a question, I can go through so much hand wringing and analysis; and then I'm still not certain if a decision is the best one or not.
I'm certain we all are born with good discernment skills, but they sure are trained out of us in a hurry. It is very important for us all to remember just how we got ourselves into this fix (since it is so hard to drop the addiction of thinking). When we are small children, we are simply computers downloading information with no analysis skills. That is, up to the ages of 5 or 6 (I don't remember exactly) all we do is accept what we see and are told. So if your father kiddingly calls you fatty or dummy or ugly, that is accepted as reality. Children don't understand joking or sarcasm, and those thoughts become the basis for who we are. Great example: I have always known the power of names, so when our daughters were small, my wife and I never said anything to them that wasn't positive. Occasionally, Sara, my older, would say "I'm so dumb" obviously learned at school. I would always immediately say, "No, you're not! You are very smart. You should never say you are dumb!" I was reminiscing once with her and recounted those incidents and she replied, "Oh! So that is why I always freak out when someone calls themself stupid!" See? There is a small monster I created, totally inadvertently. So think of all the other inadvertent things people say and do in front of their children that get logged into the psyche. OK, then add teachers, religion, peers, clubs, television, movies...... well, you get the picture. No wonder we are all screwed up from everyone telling us what they want us to be and do and think. Not because it is best for us, but it keeps us under control and they can feel better about being under control themselves for their whole lives. Sigh, I'm beginning to rant...
So discernment is the answer. Don't listen to your mind, because it wants to f*#% with you and stay in control. I know, that is easier said than done, but it is true. Stop and be quiet right now for a second with me. Slowing count to ten, thinking only about the counting itself. Then, pause again and mentally ask your body -not your mind - what I am saying. Is this true? Have I been controlled in my thinking all my life? Feel your answer. That, My Love, is discernment. More on the topic and methods for improving your skills later. But regardless of what you have always been told, you are Love incarnate. You are Joy. and you are Peace. I truly love you.
The Old Monk
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
I Can't Top This
I never have a problem repeating something I hear that is valuable (or funny), but I will always try to give credit to whomever I stole from. Following is the daily inspirational quote from the Abraham-Hicks web site. Their link is below on the left. Also, please look at my prior blog post titled Bibliography. Their books have been some of the very best at the subject of Law of Attraction. I would like to consider myself a disciple. Anyway, I can't top today's quote:
We are all Vibrational Beings. You're like a receiving mechanism that when you set your tuner to the station, you're going to hear what's playing. Whatever you are focused upon is the way you set your tuner, and when you focus there for as little as 17 seconds, you activate that vibration within you. Once you activate a vibration within you, Law of Attraction begins responding to that vibration, and you're off and running -- whether it's something wanted or unwanted
Excerpted from a workshop in North Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, August 18th, 2002
All Is Well
The Old Monk
We are all Vibrational Beings. You're like a receiving mechanism that when you set your tuner to the station, you're going to hear what's playing. Whatever you are focused upon is the way you set your tuner, and when you focus there for as little as 17 seconds, you activate that vibration within you. Once you activate a vibration within you, Law of Attraction begins responding to that vibration, and you're off and running -- whether it's something wanted or unwanted
Excerpted from a workshop in North Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, August 18th, 2002
All Is Well
The Old Monk
Friday, February 15, 2008
Do You Think This Is All Bull... ?
It is highly probable that many people reading this blog with think that what I am talking about is not possible - just too far fetched. Yet these same people say yes when I ask them: "Have you ever known anyone who says they are lucky and truly are lucky? Or anyone who is always talking about sickness and are always getting sick from something? Everyone I talk to says yes to this. Everyone knows people like this, but yet think "Well, this happens in a small degree to some people, but the concept is false.
How can that be? How can something just be a little true? Look, if it is true, it's true. If it is false, it is false. So if you think the Law of Attraction is false, fine. I'm glad you have a theory of life that works for you. (I'm assuming it is working for you). We'll talk about that another time. But if you say it is just a little true for someone who thinks they are lucky, but nothing bigger than that; then I question your logic. We have been surrounded forever of stories of people who have wanted something badly and it came true for them. A miracle cancer cure, a business that succeeds, a soul mate that appears. These all do happen; and it is not blind luck and it is not a random, fickle act of God. It does not just happen to a few special people - or at least it doesn't have to. We all can do this. We just need to learn how to do it rather than simply stumbling onto a success here and there. We can consciously create everything in life the way we want it; not just a few pieces of life.
Quite honestly, I have been pretty successful at it for some time now, and I tell you, this is the best way to live. I don't get cut off in traffic. I can always find a good parking spot when I need one. My bank balance always has enough money to pay my bills when I need to or buy something when I want. I'm the healthiest I have ever been and I'm getting younger every day. All the people around me are nice and friendly and I never run into crabby people. There is no reason everyone's life can't be just the way they want it. You just have to actively create the life you want rather than defaulting to reacting to whatever crosses your path. Remember, if you live reactively to what happens around you, then the Universe will give you randomness to experience. Well, that must be exciting, and I'm sure some people thrive on that, but not for me, thank you.
The Law of Attraction is indeed a law of the Universe, and my choice is to use it in my favor rather than the default option. Much nicer. And a part of that intentional use in my favor is to send you Love, which I do now and always. Love, peace, blessings, and joy; but most of all Love!
The Old Monk
How can that be? How can something just be a little true? Look, if it is true, it's true. If it is false, it is false. So if you think the Law of Attraction is false, fine. I'm glad you have a theory of life that works for you. (I'm assuming it is working for you). We'll talk about that another time. But if you say it is just a little true for someone who thinks they are lucky, but nothing bigger than that; then I question your logic. We have been surrounded forever of stories of people who have wanted something badly and it came true for them. A miracle cancer cure, a business that succeeds, a soul mate that appears. These all do happen; and it is not blind luck and it is not a random, fickle act of God. It does not just happen to a few special people - or at least it doesn't have to. We all can do this. We just need to learn how to do it rather than simply stumbling onto a success here and there. We can consciously create everything in life the way we want it; not just a few pieces of life.
Quite honestly, I have been pretty successful at it for some time now, and I tell you, this is the best way to live. I don't get cut off in traffic. I can always find a good parking spot when I need one. My bank balance always has enough money to pay my bills when I need to or buy something when I want. I'm the healthiest I have ever been and I'm getting younger every day. All the people around me are nice and friendly and I never run into crabby people. There is no reason everyone's life can't be just the way they want it. You just have to actively create the life you want rather than defaulting to reacting to whatever crosses your path. Remember, if you live reactively to what happens around you, then the Universe will give you randomness to experience. Well, that must be exciting, and I'm sure some people thrive on that, but not for me, thank you.
The Law of Attraction is indeed a law of the Universe, and my choice is to use it in my favor rather than the default option. Much nicer. And a part of that intentional use in my favor is to send you Love, which I do now and always. Love, peace, blessings, and joy; but most of all Love!
The Old Monk
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