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How Life Works Andrew Matthews

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Page 1: How Life Works Andrew Matthews
Page 2: How Life Works Andrew Matthews

HowLife

Works

writtenandillustratedbyAndrewMatthews

SeashellPublishersAUSTRALIA

Page 3: How Life Works Andrew Matthews

HowLifeWorksCopyright©2014byAndrewMatthewsandSeashellPublishers

Publishedby:SeashellPublishers,POBox325,TrinityBeach,Queensland,Australia,4879

Email:[email protected]:www.seashell.com.auFacebook:AndrewMatthewsAuthor

ISBN978-0-9872057-8-0

FirstpublishedMay2014

Nopartofthispublication,textorillustrations,maybereproducedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recordingorotherwisewithoutthepriorconsentoftheauthorandthepublisher.

Alsobythesameauthor:“BeingHappy!”“MakingFriends”“FollowYourHeart”“HappinessInaNutshell”“BeingaHappyTeen”“HappinessNow”“HappinessinHardTimes”“StoptheBullying!”

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DEDICATED

ToJockandAngus

THANKYOU

ToJulie,mywifeandpublisher

Youareamazing.

Thankyouforyourloveandguidance.

Thankyouforallyouhavedoneovertwentyyearstotakeourbookstotheworld.Nobodyknowshowhardyouhaveworkedorthesacrificesyouhavemade.

Iaminaweofyourvision,yourcourage,yourpersistenceandyourgenerosity.Iamblesseddailybyyourbeautifulspirit.

ToIanWard

Thankyouforpublishingmyfirstbook,BeingHappy!Whennootherpublisherwantedmyrawmanuscript,youandNormagavemethechanceofalifetime.Iamsogratefultoyouforyourforesight,yourgenerosityandyourrelentlesscommitment.Youchangedmylife.

ToCarolineDey

Thankyouforyourinterestinthisbookfromthebeginning–andforyourmanyhelpfulsuggestions.Thankyouforbeingmyfriendforthirtyyearsandforalwaysmakingmelaugh.

ToDrGeorgeBlair-West

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Foryourfriendship,fortheall-nightchatsonyoursailboat,forourcountlesssessionsonSkypeandyourgoodadvice–thankyou,buddy!

ToJuergenSchmidtThankyouforsharingyourwisdom–andthankyouforyourencouragement.

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Contents1.WhenBadThingsHappen

2.WhatControlsYourLife

3.WhyDotheSameThingsKeepHappeningtoMe?

4.HowWeSeeOurselves

5.WhatIsaThought?

6.YouGetWhatYouFeel

7.TheLawofAttraction

8.WhentheLawofAttractionFails

9.Imagine!

10.TheWorldIsYourMirror

11.HowimportantIsAction?

12.Resistance

13.LetGo!

14.WhenEverythingIsGoingWrong

15.Acceptance

16.Forgiveness

17.YourMiraculousBody

18.YourHeart

19.WeAreAllConnected

20.Inspiration

21.ABetterWaytoAchieveGoals

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22.ASketchofHowLifeWorks

23.BeGrateful

24.LivingintheNow

25.LoveYourself

26.“WhyAmIHere?”

Books

AboutAndrewMatthews

References

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1.WhenBadThingsHappenLateonenightTrentwascruisingdownthehighwaywhenastraycowdecidedtocrosstheroad.Trentswervedbuthitthecowhead-on.Hiscarrolled.Thecowdied.

Trentsurvived.Trentfixedhiscar.Buthistroublesweren’tover...

Trentneededtorelax.Hewentfishingandcuthisfootonarock.Itwasasmallcutbutitwouldn’theal.Tobesafe,Trentsawadoctor.Thedocsaid,“Forgetit!Itisonlyaninflamedtendon.”Butwhenhisrightfootbecamethesizeofawatermelon,Trentsoughtasecondopinion.Thesurgeontoldhim,“Youhaveamassiveinfection.Youmightloseyourleg.”

Trentspentthenexttendaysinhospital.Theysavedhisleg.

Backatwork,Trentwasdrivingdownacountryroadandroundedacornertodiscoveranout-of-controlToyotaCorollaonthewrongsideoftheroadcomingstraightathim.Trenthitthebrakes–andtheCorolla.

Trentsurvived,buthistroublesweren’tover…

Trenthadgottensomefinancialadvice.HeinvestedallhismoneywithacompanycalledStormFinancial.Everythingwasperfect–untiltheGlobalFinancialCrisis,whenStormFinancialhittheperfectstorm.Trentsurvived,butStormFinancialdidn’t.

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Trentlosthislifesavings.

Trent’sstoryisyourstoryandmystory.Whydobillsandbaddriverscomeinbunches?

Dowehavecontroloverseeminglyrandomevents,orislifealotteryofstraycowsandrampantbacteria?We’llgettothisshortly…

WhenGoodThingsHappen

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Janeisthirtyishandsingle.Allhergirlfriendshaveboyfriendsorhusbands.Janewantedone,too.Shewondered,“Whatiswrongwithme?”

Findingamanbecameherobsession.Whenevershewalkedintoasupermarketoranelevatororontoaplane,shewouldaskherself,“Willhebehere?”

Heneverwas.

Whenevershedidhaveadate,itevaporated.Theguygotpneumoniaandcancelled.Theguy’sItaliangrandmotherhadaheartattackandheleftthecountry.Janetriedinternetdatingandhatedit.Finally,shehadhadenough.Shetoldherself,“Idon’tneedaman.I’lldosomestudy.I’llgetadog!”

ShejoinedanonlineChineselanguageclass.Shereconnectedwitholdgirlfriends.Shewenttothetheatre.Shestartedenjoyinglife.Sheboughtapuppy.

Andyoucanguesstherest.Thedaysheditchedtheideaofaboyfriend,menbeganshowingupbythetruckload.

AhandsomeneighbourrescuedherpuppyfromthestairwellandtookheroutforcoffeeAfriendfromhighschool–completewiththe“I’mjustdivorcedandyouaretheonlygirlIeverloved”routine–trackedherdownonFacebookHerlandlord’sbrothercametochangealightbulbandstayedforbreakfast.

Shewasn’tlooking;shewasn’teventrying.Sheneverspentoneminuteinaseedybar.Itjusthappened.

Whyisitthatwhengoodthingshappen,moregoodthingshappen?

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IsItaCoincidence?

Doesthiseverhappentoyou?

Youareabouttophonesomeoneyouhaven’tcalledinamonthwhensuddenlyshecallsyouYouhearaboutaninterestingbookanddecideyouwanttoreadit.Nextdayyouwalkintoafriend’shouse,orajunkshop,oryoustepontoatrain,andthereitisYoustarthumminganoldsong–andthenturnontheradio,andit’splaying.

Orthis?

Youareoutonadate,andyouhavethethought,“Iwouldreallyhatetomeetmyex-husband!”Youwalkintotherestaurant,andthereheiswithhisnewfiancéeYoubuyanewcarandtellyourself,“IhopeIdon’tscratchit.”Withintwenty-fourhourssomekiddemolishesyourtaillightwitharunawayshoppingcartYouspendayearplanningaskiingvacation.Youtellyourself,“IhopeIdon’tgetsick!”Youcatchthe’fluontheflightoutandspendtheweekinyourhotelroom.

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Wemayexplainthesethingsawayascoincidence.It’smorethanthat.

Quantumphysicshasnowprovenwhatspiritualmastershavetaughtforthreethousandyears:thoughtaffectsmatter,andeverybodyandeverythingisconnected.

Thoughtsarerealthings.Yourthoughtscreateyourcircumstances.Butthatisonlyhalfthestory.WhatmattersmostishowyouFEEL.

ThisbookisaboutwhyGOODTHINGSHAPPENWHENWEAREFEELINGGOOD,whyBADTHINGSHAPPENWHENWEAREFEELINGBAD–andhowtofeelbettersothatmoregoodthingshappen.

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Intheprocessyoumaygetsomeinsightinto:

whybadthingssometimeshappentogoodpeoplewhyplacebosworkanddietsdon’twhyrichpeoplemakemoney–evenbyaccidentwhyJanenowhasboyfriendscomingoutherears.

Whetheryougetthejobofyourdreams,whetheryoustayhealthy,orwhetheryoufindyourperfectlifepartnerdependsonhowyouFEEL.

HowLifeWorksmayconfirmwhatlogictoldyouisimpossible,butapartofyoualwaysknew.

Yourlifeisnotalottery.Itneverhasbeen.

TheRedBMW

WhenIwastwenty-six,IdroveanoldDatsun180B.IwantedanicecarandIhadabudgetof$10,000.

Ihadfriendswhostuckphotographsoftheirgoalsontheirrefrigerators.Theytoldme,“Whatyouplantinyoursubconsciousmindyouattract.”SoIcutoutacolourpictureofabrightred320iBMWfromamagazineandstuckitonthewallabovemydeskathome.Nobodysawit.Itoldno-oneaboutthecarIwanted.FromtimetotimeIimaginedhowitwouldfeeltodrivea320i,butIdidnothingaboutit.

AfewweekslaterIwasinacoffeebarchattingwithmybuddy,Steven.Helovedcars.Heaskedme,“Whydon’tyougetyourselfadecentsetofwheels?”

Isaid,“I’mplanningto.”

ButInevertoldhimwhatcarIwantedorwhatmybudgetwas.

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Amonthwentby,andIbumpedintoSteven.Hesaid,“There’sagreatlittlecarforsaleinayardinFranklinSt.”

Isaid,“Whatisit?”

Hesaid,“ABMW.”

Nowhehadmyinterest.“Whatmodel?”

“320i.”

“Whatcolour?”

“Brightred.”

“Howmuch?”

Hesaid,“It’s$11,500butyoucouldoffer$10,000.”

Myeyesalmostpoppedoutofmyhead.Ithought,“Thisisweird!”

Iboughtthecarfor$10,000–andfiguredthewholethingwasacoincidence.Afterthirtyyearsofwatchingthesethingshappen–andstudyingpeoplewhomakethingshappen–Iknowitwasn’t.

Hundredsofbookshavebeenwrittenaboutthepowerofthesubconsciousmind,includingThinkandGrowRich1,PsychoCybernetics2,TheMagicofBelieving3andThePowerofPositiveThinking4.

Themessageinallthesebooksisthatthoughtiscreative,andthemoreyouthinkaboutsomething–whetheryouwantitorwhetheryoudon’t–themorelikelyitistohappen.

Sohowdoesthesubconsciouswork?Andhowimportantisbelief?

Let’stakealook…

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2.WhatControlsYourLifeIsthistypical?

MarygoesonthelatestHollywooddietMarylosestenkilogramsintenweeksandlookssensationalMarypilesontenkilogramsinthenextsixweeksandlooksliketheusualMary.

Whyisthat?Becausehersubconsciousmindisincontrol.Andsoisyours.

Youcanstarveyourselfwithwillpower.Youcaneatgrapefruitorevengrass.Youcanlose50kilograms.Butuntilyoursubconsciousaccepts“Iamslim”,allweightlossistemporary.

Inabattlebetweenwillpowerandyoursubconsciousmind,yoursubconsciouswillalwayswin.

SoHowPowerfulIstheSubconscious?

Everynightwhenyougotosleep,youcontinuebreathing,yourheartkeepspumpingandyoucontinuedigestingdinner.Sowhatiscontrollingallthat?Andwhatstopsyoufromwettingthebed?It’syoursubconsciousmind.

Ninety-ninepercentofyourbrainpowerisinthatpartofyourmindofwhichyouarenotaware.

Amazing,isn’tit?Youcandriveacar

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whilemunchingpeanuts,singingtotheradioandplanningdinner.Everyfewsecondsyousteer,brakeoracceleratewhilegivingnothoughttocontrollingthecar.Sowhoisdoingthedriving?

It’syoursubconscious.

OneBigRecorder

Ifyouaskatouchtypist,“Whereareallthelettersonyourkeyboard?”she’llprobablyhavenoidea!Shecanpunchout80wordsperminuteblindfolded,butshecan’tTELLyouwherethekeysare–untilshestartstyping.

Why?Thekeyboardisinhersubconscious.

Yoursubconsciousmindisonegiantrecorder.Ithasprogramsyouwerebornwith–thatregulateyourbreathing,yourheartbeatandathousandotherbodilyfunctions–andithasprogramsyoucreated–likehowtowalk,talk,type,dance,driveandwhistle.

Itiseasiesttocreatenewprogramsbeforeyouaresixyearsold.

WhyChildrenLearnSoFast

Children’sbrainwavesaredifferent;theyareslower,andthatiswhychildrenliveinthepresentmoment.Untilyouareaboutsix,youareanopenbook,effortlesslydownloadinginformation.

Childrenhavenoadultconsciousmindsaying,“Thisistoohard.”That’swhythree-year-oldspickupRussianorChinesewithouteffort;it’swhyfour-year-oldslearntosnowskiinthreehours.

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Childrenhavenofilters,nobarriers.Thisexplainswhyyoucanretardalittlechildforlifebytellinghimheisstupid.Whateveryoutellafour-year-old–“Youarebeautiful”,“Youarespecial”,“Youarealoser”,“YoumakeMummyunhappy”–becomeslawforhim.

Thesubconsciousexplainsalotofbadbehaviour.Youletafour-year-oldplayendlesscomputergameswithkicking,punchingandswearing–andwatchmovieswithkicking,punchingandswearing–andyoucreateabrat.Thereisnoadultconsciousmindtofilterwhatisokayforamovieandwhatisnotokayforreallife.Thebehaviourissimplydownloaded.Thenweblamethekids.

THESUBCONSCIOUSMINDDOESN’TARGUE.ITJUSTACCEPTSINFORMATIONASFACT.

“IJustWanttoDoNothing”

Yoursubconsciousmindtakesinstructionsveryliterally.

NicoleplannedavacationinBali.Shetoldme,“InthemonthsbeforemyBalitrip,Ikepttellingmyself,‘AllIwanttodoisliedownanddonothing’.”

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Iaskedher,“HowwasBali?”

Shesaid,“Igotafive-daymigrainethattransformedintothe’flu.Ispentthewholeweekinmyhotelroomdoingnothing.”

TwoyearslaterNicolereturnedtoBali.Sheexplained,“Istilldidn’tunderstandthatIhadhelpedtocreatemyillness.SobeforethesecondvisitIkepttellingmyself,‘WhenIgettoBali,Iwanttoliedownanddonothing’.”SohowwasBali?

Shetoldme,“Icaughtaparasiteondayone;Icouldn’teat,couldn’tdrink,couldn’tread,couldn’tevensitup.Ispentfivedaysinhospitalonadripdoingabsolutelynothing.”

Whenyouplantathought,yoursubconsciousdelivers.

Nicolewasn’tfinishedwithBali.Shesays,“FormythirdvacationIhadanewstrategy.Ivisualisedmyperfectholidayaheadoftime.Isawmyselfhealthyandmychildrenhealthy.Iimaginedushappilyplungingdownwaterslides,relaxingbythepool,enjoyinggreatshoppingandwonderfulfood.

“Finally,wehadtheperfectvacation.”

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Ifyouwintenmilliondollarsyouarejustatemporarymillionaire.

YourSubconsciousandMoney

William“Bud”Postwon16milliondollarsinthePennsylvaniaStateLottery.Bud’sbrotherhiredahitmantokillBudsohecouldinheritit(Budsurvived),hisex-girlfriendsuedhimforachunkofit,andhisfamilyhoundedhimfortherestofit.

WithinayearBudwasamilliondollarsindebt.Budmightargue,“Myproblemismyrelatives!”

Butsevenoutoftenlotterywinnerslosethelot.

Ifyouwintenmilliondollarsyouarejustatemporarymillionaire.Whetheryoustayrichhaslittletodowithclawingrelativesorglobalfinancialcrises.Ithaseverythingtodowithyoursubconscious.

InaNutshell

Yourbeliefswilleventuallytriumphoverwillpower.

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3.WhyDotheSameThingsKeepHappeningtoMe?

Patterns

Haveyounoticedthatsomepeoplearealwaysbroke?Youcanhandthem$10,000cash,andbeforeyouknowittheyneedabankloantobuyapizza.

Somepeoplearealwayslate!Theycangetupat6amtobeatworkbynineandattenfifteentheyarestillcombingthehouseforcarkeysandhuntingfortheirwallet!

Somepeoplearealwaysbusy.

Somepeopleareforevergettingrippedoff–bysalesmen,phonecompanies,oldgirlfriendsandlong-lostrelatives.

Didyouevermeetaladywhosaid,“Ialwaysendupdatingjerks.”?Shehasaradarforfindingrude,selfish,lazypeople–andthenshemarriesthem.

Somepeoplestartanewrelationshipeverysixweeks.

“Ineedspace.”

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Togetit,youhavetofeelit.

Somepeoplemakefriendswherevertheygo.Somepeoplemakemoneywherevertheygo.

Somepeoplehavefunwherevertheygo.Somefootballersarealwayswheretheballis.

Somepeoplealwayslandontheirfeet.Theirpatternsays,“Thingsalwaysworkout.”;Ted’scarbreaksdowninthemiddleofnowhere,andastrangerpickshimup,driveshimhomeandthenoffershimajob!

Subconsciouspatternsarewhyhistoryrepeatsitself.So,forexample,Maryalwaysfindswonderfuljobsbutneverfindsfaithfulboyfriends.Billnevergetssickbutkeepsgettingthesack!

Noneofthisiscoincidence.Weeachattract–andcreate–ourlifeexperiencesthroughoursubconsciousprograms.

Yousay,“Ifyoursubconsciouspatternscreateyourlife,there

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wouldbehappypeoplewhosailfromoneadventuretoanotherandmiserablepeoplewhostaggerfromonedisastertoanother.

Andsomepeoplewouldkeepgettingricher,andsomepeoplewouldkeepgettingpoorer!”

Thatishowitis.Thatishowithasalwaysbeen.

InaNutshell

Lifeunfoldsfromtheinsideout.

TheGoodNews

Here’sthegoodnews:youarenotyourpatternsandYOUCANCHANGEYOURPATTERNS.

Forlifetogetbetter,youdon’tneedtodwellonhowyoucreatedyourpast.Youdon’tneedtoworryaboutwhatyoudid“wrong”.

Youjustneedtounderstandthatyouhelpedcreateitandbegintothinkandfeeldifferently.“I’vegotaheadache.”

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“I’vegotaheadache.”

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“I’mpositive.It’smystupidhusbandthat’stheproblem!”

4.HowWeSeeOurselves.Ifyousurveypeopleinashoppingmallandaskthem,“Areyougenerous?”,evenpeoplewhoneverevergaveacenttoacharityorapandawilltellyou,“SureI’mgenerous.”Nobodythinkstheyaremean!

Askanyone,“Haveyougotasenseofhumour?”Everybodyhas!Whendidyouevermeetsomeonewhosaid,“Idon’tknowwhat’sfunny.”?

Andeveryguythinksheisagreatdriver!

Weseeourselvesaswewanttoseeourselves.

Soifyouaskpeople,“Areyoupositive?”,mostpeoplethinktheyarepositive.Theysaythingslike,“I’mpositive.It’smystupidhusbandthat’stheproblem!”

Negativepeopledon’tthinkthey’renegative.Theythinktheyarerealistic.

Mostofusgrewupwithworriedparentswhotaughtustoworry.Theytolduswhatwecouldn’thave,whatwecouldn’tdoandwhatwewouldneverbe.Thenightlynewsconfirmedthattheworldisadangerousplace.

Howonearthcouldwebecomefearless,freespirits?

InaNutshell

Formostofus,negativebecamenormal.

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NegativeRats

Manypeopleseemhappyandpositive,butweneverknowtheirinnermostthoughts.Howoftendowediscovertooursurprisethataneighbourorarelativewasdoggedbyyearsofdepression,guiltandsuffering?

Negativethoughtsarelikerats.Theyarriveingroups.Oneshowsup,andbeforeyouknowittheyhavetakenover.

EXAMPLE:Youtakeaphonecallfromarudecustomeratwork.Yourfirstthoughtis:“Ihaterudepeople.”

Followedbyyournextnegativethought:“InthisjobI’msurroundedbyrudepeople!”

Andyournextnegativethought:“InthisjobI’msurroundedbyrudepeopleandI’munderpaid.”

Andthenext:“InthisjobI’msurroundedbyrudepeopleandI’munderpaidandunder-appreciated.”

Andthen:“InthisjobI’msurroundedbyrudepeopleandI’munderpaidandunder-appreciatedandcometothinkofit,I’mnotappreciatedbymyhusband,either.”

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Nowtheratsarearrivingindroves:“InthisjobI’msurroundedbyrudepeopleandI’munderpaidandunder-appreciatedandI’mnotappreciatedbymyhusbandandtonightI’llhavetocookdinner.Whycan’thegetoffhisbackside?MymotheralwaystoldmeIwasmakingaseriousmistake.AndnowI’vegotaheadache.Maybeit’satumour!”

Isthisfamiliar?Aloneratbecomesaplague.

Youneedanexterminationstrategy,andhereisthebeststrategyIknowtoridyourselfoftherats.Themomentyouhaveyourfirstnegativethought,youaskyourself,“What’sgoodaboutthis?”

What’sgoodaboutconfrontingrudepeople?

“I’mbuildingcharacterandpatience.”“I’mdevelopingpeopleskillsthatwillhelpmeinmynextjob.”“Therudepeopleatworkhelpmetoappreciatemyhusband.”

Nowyoumightsay,“Let’sberealistic.”HERE’SREALISTIC:

Lousythingshappen.Happypeoplehavethehabitofsaying,“What’sgoodaboutthis?”

Youbreakyourleg.“What’sgoodaboutthis?”

“Igettorest.”“I’lllearntoempathisewithsickpeople.”“I’llreadsomegreatbooks.”

Yourgirlfrienddumpsyou.

“What’sgoodaboutthis?”

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“Icansavemoney.”“I’llseemoreofmybuddies.”“IcanwatchallthefootballIlike.”

InaNutshell

Onenegativethoughtattractsanother.Onepositivethoughtattractsanother.Beforetheplaguestarts,askyourself,“What’sgoodaboutthis?”

“Itriedbeingpositiveanditdoesn’twork!”

Fredhaslivedfortwentyyearsonhamburgers,doughnutsandCocaCola.Heisoverweightandexhausted.

Thenhediscoversabookthatsays,“Whatyouputinyourmouthmatters.”Hebuyssomecarrotsandbeans.Heeatssalad

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forfourdays.

Afterfourdays,Fredsays,“IfeelnobetterandI’malwayshungry!”Fredgoesbacktoburgers.

Asalmostanyoneknows,fourdaysofsaladisagoodstart,butitcan’treversetwentyyearsofjunk!

Itisthesamewithourthinking.

Maryhaslivedfortwentyyearswithaheadfullofjunkthoughts:“Iamuseless.Ihatemylife.Ihatemyjob.Icanneverpaymybills.”

Shehastheoccasionalhappythought,“Ilovemydog.”Buttherestofthetimeismostly,“Lifeistoughandthenyoudie.”

Thenshereadsaninspirationalbookthatsays,“Whatyouthinkabout,youbecome.”Shetriestoimagineherselfashappyandsuccessful.Shetellsherself,“Iamabundant.Iamawinner.”

Shestickswiththepositivethinkingforfourdays.(Herhusbandthinksthatshehasjoinedaweirdcult.)

Afterfourdaysshelooksatherpileofunpaidbills,andsays,“Mylifeisnobetter.”Shegivesup.“Thatwastoohardandit’sridiculous.”

Here’sthepoint:youcan’tfixalifetimeofjunkeatinginafewdays,andyoucan’tfixalifetimeofjunkthinkinginafewdays–orafewweeks.

Beforewedismisstheideathatthequalityofourthoughtscreatesourqualityoflife,weshouldaskourselves,“HaveIthoroughlytestedthis?”

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InaNutshell

Whatyouthinkabout,youbecome.Butmanypeoplegiveuptoosoon.

Wemightalsoaskthequestion,“Whatisathought?”

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PollutedwaterfromtheFujiwaraDam.

Thesamewaterafteraprayeroffering

byaBuddhistmonk.

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“Youdisgustme!”

“Loveandgratitude.”

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Hereishardevidencethatyourthoughtsaffecttheworldaroundyou.

5.WhatIsaThought?Youmightsay,“Ifonlysomeonecoulddemonstratethatmythoughtscreatemyreality,thenIwouldbecarefulwhatIthink.Ifsomeonecouldshowthatthoughtaffectsmatter…”

Well,oneJapaneseresearcherhasbeendemonstratingitforyears.

DrMasaruEmotohasspentdecadesstudyingwater.Hefreezesitandthenphotographstheicecrystalsunderadarkfieldmicroscope.Now,here’swhat’sfascinating:hetalkstothewaterbeforehefreezesit,andtheicecrystalsrespondtohisconversation.

Toonejarofwaterhe’llsay,“Iloveyou,”andtoanotherjarhe’llsay,“You’reugly.”Thewaterthatisappreciatedformsexquisite,highlyorganisedcrystals–likejewels.Andthewaterthatiscriticisedcrystallisesintouglyblobs.

Already,thissoundslikesciencefiction,butitgetsmoreamazing.DrEmotohasdemonstratedthatyoudon’tevenhavetotalktothewatertoinfluencethecrystals.Youcanjustthinkaword–andsendthatthoughttothewater–andtheicecrystalswillreflectthequalityofyourthoughts.

Anditgetsmorecrazy.Youdon’tevenhavetosendathought.Youcansimplywriteawordonthesideofthejar,freezethewaterandobservesimilarresults.Wordsoflove,encouragementandgratitudeproducebreathtakingcrystals.Wordsofhateandcriticismproduceverydifferentformations.

Emotohasexperimentedwithwritingallkindsofwordsonthe

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jars:gratitude,hope,hate,homecooking,conveniencefood.Heusesdifferentlanguagesandgetsthesameresults.Heplaysmusic–Beethoven,Mozartandheavymetal–towaterandphotographsthecrystals.Theillustrationsoppositeareselectedfromhundredsinhisbooksandfromhiswebsite,www.masaru-emoto.net5.

DrEmotohassharedhisresearchattheUnitedNations.Hisbooksareinoverfortylanguages.Hisfindingsareastunningillustrationofhowourworldworks.Hereishardevidencethatyourthoughtsaffecttheworldaroundyou.

Emoto’sworkissupportedbyotherresearch.McGillUniversityAssociateProfessor,BernardGrad,6whoexaminedwaterafterithadbeen“treated”bypeoplewithhealingabilities,discoveredthattherewas“afundamentalchangeinthebondingofthehydrogenandoxygeninitsmolecularmakeup.”Russianresearch7supportsGrad’sfindings.

Wecouldlistanynumberofexperimentswithsimilarfindings,involvingpeopleinsteelboxes,psychicplantsandbabyrabbitsinsubmarines.EvenAlbertEinsteinconductedhisownexperimentstoexplorethephenomenonofremotecommunication.Hecoinedtheterm,“SpookyActionataDistance”.

TheOldReality

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Youask,“SowhatdoessciencehavetosayabouttheworkofDrsEmotoandGrad?”Mostly,itpretendsthesethingsdon’thappen!

Here’stheproblem:modernsciencestandsonthefoundationofhistory’sgreatestscientist,SirIsaacNewton.Newtonformulatedthelawsofmotionandgravitation,andadvancedourunderstandingofmathematics,mechanics,astronomyandmore.

Healsoconductedmanyexperimentstodemonstratetheinfluenceofmindonmatter.

Butsomeofhisworkwaslostinalaboratoryfire,andsomeofithasbeenmisunderstood.ModernsciencehastotallyignoredNewton’sconclusionsonthenatureofthought.

SciencehasusedamereportionofNewton’slifeworktoconcludethattheUniverseoperateslikeagiantmachine.ThisviewoftheCosmosisknownasthe“NewtonianModel”,andwestuckwithitfor400years.

Youlearneditatschool:yourteachersshowedyoudiagramsofatomsandtoldyoua)atomsarethebuildingblocksofeverything,b)everythingcanbemeasuredandc)thoughthasnoeffectonthephysicalworld.

ButNewtonwasastudentofancientwisdom.TheideaofamechanicalUniverseunaffectedbyprayerorhumanthought–thatweattributetoNewton–isaveryconvenientmodel,butNEWTONWOULDNOTAGREEWITHIT!Andthismodelcan’texplainDrEmoto’scrystals.

WenowknowthatsomethingscannotbemeasuredandthattheUniverseisnotlikeamachine.

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TheNewReality

Wenowhavemicroscopesthatallowustoseeinsideatomsandwehavereceivedsomebigsurprises.

Wediscoveredthat:

solidlittleatomsarenotreallysolid.Theyare,infact,packetsofenergythesepacketsofenergyappearanddisappearasingleparticlecanbeintwodifferentplacesatonce.That’sright!Theexactsamemoleculecanbeinyourkitchenandinyourbedroomatpreciselythesameinstant.

Thisistheworldofquantumphysics.Thereisnosuchthingassolidmatter.Asastrophysicist,SirArthurEddington,said,“Thestuffoftheworldismind-stuff.”8

Sowhatdoesthisallmean?

Ifyouarebattlingtopaybillsorfightingchickenpox,thephysicalworldseemsfairlyreal!Almostanybodywouldsuggestthatparkingticketsandvirusesarerealthings,andthoughtsandfeelingsarelessreal.

Sowhywouldanyonearguethatourthoughtscanaffectthings?

BecausetheUniverseisnotlikeabigmachine;itismuchmorelikeabigthought.Buthere’swhat’sextraordinary:peopletalkaboutquantumphysicsinscienceclassoratadinnerparty,butbeyondthat,theymostlypretenditneverhappened.

ThecrazyNewAgeideathateverythingisconsciousnessturnsouttobecutting-edgescience!Youareconsciousness,

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everythingaroundyouisconsciousness,andhowyouthinkandfeeldetermineswhatyouget.

Youmightsay,“Okay,soeverythingweknowismadeofthoughtenergy.BUTmythoughtsarejustonesmallcollectionofenergyinthishumungoussoupofthoughtswecalltheCosmos.Howcouldmythoughtspossiblybeinteractingwithallthatistocreatemylifeexperience?”

TheUniverseisanenergysystem,constantlybringingitselfintobalance.Youarepartofit.

Everytimeyouhaveathought–“Iwantanewjob”,“Imightgetthe’flu”,“Ineverhaveenoughmoney”,“Everythingwillworkoutfine”–youshiftthebalance.Thebalancerestoresitselfasyourthoughtsmaterialise.

InaNutshell

Thoughtsarerealthings.Thoughtschangesituations.

FromNothing?BeLogical!

Yousay,“Butwait!Howcansolidstuffmaterialisefromtheinvisible?”

Well,let’slookathowtheUniversegothereinthefirstplace.Mostpeoplebelieveinoneofthreepossibilities:

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Solidstuffappearingfromnothinghasalonghistory.

1. GodmadetheUniversefromnothing,andwedon’tknowhow

2. TheUniverseexplodedfromnothing–TheBigBangtheory3. TheBigBangtheorywasGod’sidea–inotherwords,abig

bangisaverycost-effectivewayforGodtomakeaUniverse.

Yousay,“Outofnothing?Let’sbelogical.”

Well,scientistsarelogical.SowhatdoesProfessorStephenHawking,theworld’smostcelebratedcosmologist,havetosayaboutcreatingsolidstufffromnothing?Hesays:

Butwithoutadoubt,themostremarkablefactofall,isthattheentire,enormousuniverse,alltheinnumerablegalaxies,eventimeandspaceandtheforcesofnaturethemselves,simplymaterializedoutofnothing.9

Hesaysthateverythingeruptedfromthevoidasaboilingfurnaceofhydrogen.Eventually,thispureenergycooledintocountlesssub-atomicparticlesandbecametheUniverseyouknow–includingourEarthandMoon,theHimalayas,youreyelashes,thegoldonyourfinger,ahundredbillionothergalaxiesandallthechocolateinBelgium–outofnothing.

ScientistssaytheUniversecamefromnothing.SpiritualpeoplesayGodmadetheUniversefromnothing.Visibleappearingfromtheinvisiblehasalonghistory.

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Yousay,“Butthat’snotlogical!”

NothingabouttheCosmosislogical.Nothingaboutlifeitselfislogical.

Weliveinanever-expandingUniverse.Howlogicalisthat?AndwhatistheUniverseexpandinginto?Spacethatisalreadythere?Orspacethatisn’tthere?

AndwhatisattheedgeoftheUniverse?Afence?

TheUniverseisn’tlogical.Itismagical.

InaNutshell

TheUniverseisn’tlogical.Itismagical.

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Whileyouarefeelingbad,lifejumpsonyourhead.

6.YouGetWhatYouFeelThoughtandfeelingshavetheirownmagneticenergywhichattractsenergyofasimilarnature…ThisistheprinciplethatwhateveryouputintotheUniversewillbereflectedbacktoyou.

“Whatthismeansfromapracticalstandpointisthatwealwaysattractintoourliveswhateverwethinkaboutmost,believeinmoststrongly,expectonthedeepestlevelsand/orimaginemostvividly.10

ShaktiGawain

IwassittingonaplanewaitingtodepartHobartairport.Weweredelayedbyonefinal,ratherbreathlessandangry-lookingpassenger.

Whenshesawthatsomeguyhadparkedhisbig,black,heavybriefcaseinthespotaboveherseat,shebecameangrier.Whenshediscoveredthattherewasnoroomforherbagsanywhereintheoverheadlockers,shebegantolookseriouslydisturbed.

Andsoshesatseethingfortheentireflightwithherbagwedgedbetweenherfeet,irritatedbytheoffendingbriefcase.

Youmightguessthestoryfromhere.Welanded;theownerofthebriefcasestoodup,reachedovertoretrieveitfromthelockeranddroppeditonherhead.

BAM!WhenyouFEELthatlifeisagainstyou,itis.

Weattractpeopleandcircumstancesthatmatchhowwefeel.Whenwefeelhappy,weattractpositivecircumstances,andwhenwefeelupsetandangry,weattracteventstomakeusfeel

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worse.

TheRulesoftheGame

Imaginethatyouwereplayingaballgameandyoudidn’tknowtherules–andotherplayerskeptjumpingonyourhead.

Wouldn’tyoufeellikeavictim?Wouldn’tyoudecide,“Thisisunfair!Idon’twanttoplayanymore!”?

Butthenifsomeoneexplainedtherules–“Whileyouareholdingtheballanyonecanjumponyourhead”–thatwouldreallyhelp!

Thegameoflifeissimilar.Youneedtoknowtherules,whichare:WHILEYOUAREFEELINGBAD,LIFEJUMPSONYOURHEAD.Wheneveryouareradiatingthoughtssuchas“I’mhopeless,angry,frustrated,jealous,scared,avictim”,lifebeatsyouup.

Nowondersomepeopledecide,“Lifeisunfair!Idon’twanttoplayanymore!”

Whenyouarehappy,lifeandpeoplerewardyouinthemostunexpectedways.

Whenyouarestressed,angry,orfeelinglikeavictim,lifekicksyouintheteeth.Whenisitthatyoujamyourfinger,biteyourtongue,stubyourtoe?Doesithappenondayswhenyouarefeelinggreat?No,ithappenswhenyouarefrustratedandangrywithyourself.

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Whendoairlinesloseyourbaggage?Onthosedayswhenyouarehappyandexcited?Orattheendofalongtripwhenyouareexhaustedandcomingdownwiththe’flu?

Whatcomesfirst?Thoughts?Orfeelings?

Mostoften,itseems,thoughtscreatefeelings,abitlikeingredientscreateacake.

Youtakeathought,“Myhusbandalwaysleaveshisemptybeercansonthecoffeetable”,blenditwith“Heneverevennoticedmynewhaircut”andletitstewovernightwith“Ican’tsleepbecauseofhisconstantsnoring”andyoucreateanangryfeeling.Youtakeathought,“I’mluckytohaveajob”,mixitwith“Mostdaysaregooddays”andsprinkleitwith“Lifeisgettingbetter”andyoucreateahappyfeeling.

TheTHOUGHTSinyourheadbecomeAFEELINGinyourheart.

Here’sthegoodnews:changingyourthoughtscanchangehowyoufeel.

NegativeThoughts

Here’smoregoodnews:afewnegativethoughtswon’truinyourlife.

Youhaveupto50,000thoughtsperday.Amongstthose50,000thoughts,someareboundtobeabitnegative.

Theoddpassingthoughtwon’tmakeyourichorpoor,happyormiserable.

Butawholebunchofthoughtsisadifferentmatter.

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Lotsofsimilarthoughts–forexample,lotsofhappythoughtsorlotsof“Lifeislousy”thoughts–becomeafeelingthatyoumayholdontoforawholedayoraweekoralifetime.

WeAttractWhat

WeFeelOnemorningin2004,mywife,Julie,andIhadadisagreement.Isaidsomethinginsensitivethatmadeherfurious.Idon’trememberwhatIsaid,butintwentyyearsIhadneverseenhersomad.

AsJuliegrabbedhercarkeysandleftforherappointmentIthoughttomyself,“NoonewhoisasangryasJulieisrightnowshouldbeanywherenearanautomobile!”

Nottenminuteslater,shewassittinginhercaratanintersection,perfectlystationary.Avanapproachedthecrossroadsathighspeed,lostcontrol–anddrovestraightintoJulie’scar.ThankGodsheescapedunhurt.

AsJuliesoondiscovered,thevanwasdrivenbyanotherveryangrylady.

Youask:

WasJuliethinkingaboutacaraccident?No!DidJuliewanttheaccident?No!Wassheexperiencingintensenegativeemotion?Yes!Didshehaveanintenselynegativeexperiencetomatchherfeelings?Absolutely!

Yousay,“ButJulie’scarwasn’tevenmoving.Itwasn’therfault!”

AskJulieandshewilladmitthatshecreatedherexperience.Shewilltellyouthatshehadaheadfullof“Todayislousy”

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thoughts,andlifedeliveredanexperiencetomatch.Youareamagnet.Howyoufeelaboutyourselfdeterminesthequalityofyourexperience.

Yousay,“Doesthatmeanthateveryonewhoisangryinacarwillhaveanaccident?”No.Itmeansthatifyouarefullofanenergythatsays,“Lifestinks”,thenlifewilldeliveryou“Lifestinks”experiences.Andifyouaredrivingacaratthetime,anaccidentismorelikely.

Ifyouarehavingintensefeelingsofstress–youfeelthatlifeisunfair,thatyouarebeingpunishedbypeoplewhoareirresponsible–thenlifewilldeliveryouanexperiencethatwillmatchthatfeeling.Itmightbeanaccident,itmightbeanillness,oritmightbesomethingelseunpleasant.

Upliftingthoughtsattractupliftingexperiences.Angry,victim-typethoughtsattractlow-energyexperiences.Youcan’tdeterminetheexactnatureofallyourexperiencesbyhowyoufeel–whoyoumeetandexactlywhathappens–butyoudeterminetheQUALITYofyourexperiences.

InaNutshell

Whenyouarefeelingangryordepressedandyouaskyourself,“Whatelsecangowrong?”theansweris,“Quitealot!”

AMagicalLife

Achangeoffeelingisachangeofdestiny.11

NevilleGoddard

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Didthiseverhappentoyou?

YouwenttoaninspiringseminarYoureadanupliftingbookYoujoinedachurchYoufellinlove.

Youfeltsogood.Lifewasdifferent,almostmagical.Itwaslikeyouhadbegunawholenewchapter.Youwereoptimistic.Challengeswereeasiertohandle,youhadmoreenergy,andpeoplewerenicer.Maybeyouthought,“Thisisthehowmylifewillbefromnowon.”

Youwerecruising–forthreeweeks.Thengradually,thingsreturnedtonormal.

Sowhathappened?Wereyoukiddingyourself?Wereyoudeluded?

No,youweren’t.YouweresimplyFEELINGbetter,andyourhappierfeelingscreatedhappiercircumstances.Butthenyourenergydropped–maybeyousufferedadisappointmentortwo–andyouwerebacktonormal.

Butsomepeopleneverreturntotheoldnormal.Theybeginanewchapterintheirlifeandcreateanewnormal.

TheykeepreadinginspirationalbooksTheymixwithupliftingpeopleTheydevelopimmovablefaithTheyfalldeeperinlove.

Inotherwords,theykeepFEELINGgood.Andsotheybecomeoneofthosepeoplewholiveacharmedlife,whoturndefeatintovictoryandwhoalwaysmeettherightpeopleattherighttime.

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InaNutshell

It’snotwhatyouknowsomuchashowyoufeel.

GettheFeeling

Togetwhatyouwant,youfirstneedtohavethefeelingofwhatyouwant–asifithasalreadyarrived.Youmayask,“Isn’tthatthesameasprayer?”

Itcanbe,butitusuallyisn’t.

Mostofuslearnedtoprayinadifferentway,suchas:“God,Iamapowerlesssinnerandmylifeisamess.Canyoupleasefixit?”Thisapproachdoesn’twork,andnowweknowwhy.Ifyouarefilledwithfeelingsofdisappointmentandpowerlessness,andthebeliefthat“Iamabadperson”,youcreatemoreexperiencestomatch.

LostinTranslation

Soyouask,“Ifthemostpowerfulformofprayeristofeelthefeelingofyourwishfulfilled,whyisn’tthatspelledoutinChristianteachings?”

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Itwas.Butitgotwatereddownandlostintranslation.Forexample,inthemoderncondensedKingJamesBible,inJohn16:24,weread:“Askandyeshallreceivethatyourjoymaybefull.”

Sowhatislost?

Comparethiswiththeoriginaltext:“Askwithouthiddenmotiveandbesurroundedbyyouranswer.BEENVELOPEDBYWHATYOUDESIRE,thatyourgladnessmaybefull.”12Inotherwords,feelitallaroundyou,alreadycomplete.

Traditionalculturestheworldoveracknowledgethepoweroffeeling.TheNavajoIndiansunderstandthatyoudon’twishforrain.YouFEELtherain.Yougivethanksthatithasalreadyarrived.

TibetanBuddhistMonksknowthatthemostpowerfulformofprayeristoprayFEELINGTHATTHEPRAYERHASBEENANSWERED.

Inhisbook,SecretsoftheLostModeofPrayer,GreggBraden13

describeshisexperienceinthemountainsofTibet.Bradenwantedtoknow,“Whatishappeningwhenmonkspray?”Whatishappeningwhentheychant?Whythegongs,thebells,themantras?Inafreezingstonemonasteryat14,000feet,

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Bradenaskstheabbot,“Whenweseeyourprayers,whatareyoudoing…whatishappeningontheinside?”

Themonkreplies,“Whatyouhaveseeniswhatwedotocreatethefeelinginourbodies.Feelingistheprayer!”

Feelingistheprayer.Thatishowlifeworks.

WhyisitthatMuslims,Hindus,BuddhistsChristiansandJews–whethertheybefundamentalist,orthodox,unorthodox,charismatic,neo-charismaticormetrosexual–believeinprayer?Itisbecauseitisnotaboutyourparticularbrandorreligiousfaction,anditisnotaboutthewords.Itisaboutthefeeling.

Whenyourfeelingisaperfectmatchwithyourgoal–ortoputitanotherway,whenalldoubtiseliminated–thegoalisyours.

AttimesinmylifeIthought,“IfIjustsufferenough,maybeGod–ifHeisupthere–willfeelsorryforme.MaybeHe’llsendmeamilliondollars.”

Itdidn’thappen.

Mostly,itseemed,theguyswhoreceivedamillionweretheguyswhoalreadyhadamillion:“Fortoonewhohasit,itwillbegivenanditwillbeincreased.”14

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Affirmations

Affirmationsarepositivephrasesthatwerepeattoourselvesoverandover.Youhaveprobablyheardofphraseslike“Iamamoneymagnet”or“EverydayineverywayI’mgettingbetterandbetterandbetter.”

Somepeopleswearbythem.Otherpeopleswearthattheyareawasteofenergy.Howcanthisbe?

Itisbecauseitisnotthewordsthatmatter;it’sthefeeling.AffirmationswithoutfeelingAREuseless;youmayaswellchantphonenumbers.

Butifyoucanfeelyouraffirmations,ifyouregularlytell

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“JustwhenIthoughtIhadfoundMrRighthebecameMrLearningExperience.”

yourselfthingslike,“IhaveeverythingIneed”,“Mylifeisgettingbetter”,“IamlovedandIamloveable”,“Iamhealthy”,“Iamrich”,andfeelitandbelieveit,lifewillgetbetter.

FirstGettheFeeling

Wegrowupbelieving,“Whenthingsgetbetter,THENIwillfeelbetter.”Itsoundsreasonable.Butitistheslowwaytogetresults,anditishardwork.

TryfixingarelationshipwhileyoufeelbadaboutitTrygettingrichwhenyoufeelpoorTrysucceedinginajobyouhate.

Whenisitthatyoustarttoclimboutofanymess?Onlywhenyoustarttofeelhopeful.

FIRSTcomesaglimmerofhope.Then,perhapsyougetsomeencouragementfromafriend.Youstarttofeelbetter.Youreadabook.Youtakealongwalk.Youfeelbetterstill.Yougetalittleinspiration.Otherpeoplearrivetohelp.Youareonyourway.

Butfirst,youneedthatglimmerofhope,alittlebelief.OnlyTHENdothingsstarttoimprove.ItallhappensAFTERyoubegintofeelbetter.

InaNutshell

Experiencefollowsfeeling.Feelingistheprayer.

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FindingMrRight

Whatdomanypeopledowhentheyarelookingforlove?Theyhangoutinsleazybarsdrinkingmorethantheywant.Theresultsareoftendisappointing.ExplainsMary,“JustwhenIthoughtIhadfoundMrRight,hebecameMrLearningExperience!”

Youdon’thavetotrawlthebarsandyoudon’thavetoimpressanybody.

Peopleinhappyrelationshipswilltellyou,“Ialwaysknewtherewouldbesomeoneforme.”Theyfeltit.

YourmissionistoFEELloved–notWISHINGyouhaditbutFEELINGYOUHAVEITnow–byimaginingyourperfectrelationshipandbybeingkindtoyourself.

Whenyoustartwiththefeeling,theUniversewillbegintoorganiseitselfaroundyou.Opportunitieswillarise.Yougowiththeflow.

Whenyoufinallyhavethat“knowing”thatheisoutthereandwhenyoustopbeinginahurryforhimtoarrive,MrRightwillwalkintoyourlife.Noonecankeephimout.

InaNutshell

Ifyouwanttoseeithappenyoufirstneedtofeelithappen.

Relax!

Inthe1980sItaughtaweekendrelaxationcourse.Overtwo

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andhalfdays,theattendeesalsolearnedtolikethemselvesalittlemore.

Here’swhatamazedme:intheweeksfollowingtheircourse,peoplewouldreportallkindsofwonderfulhappenings.“Mybackpainhasdisappeared!”“Mybossisfriendlier.”“Ijustgotpromoted.”“Myfamilyismoreconsiderate.”“Myhusbandismoreloving.”“Islashedmygolfhandicap!”

SoIwouldaskthem,“Whatdidyouvisualisetomakethishappen?”Sooftentheywouldsay,“Nothing.”

Yearin,yearout,thestorywasthesameformostoftheattendees.Iwondered,“Whyareallthesepeoplereportingsuchpositiveresults?Alltheylearnedtodowasrelaxandfeelbetter!”

Youareacomplexballofenergy.Yourenergyballincludeseverythought,wishandfearyouhaveeverhad.Yourenergyiscreatingyourlife,momentbymoment.Youdon’thavetofigureeverythingout–butyoudohavetostopfightingandworryingandrelax.

InaNutshell

Whenwefeelbetter,betterthingshappen.

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Ifyoucanfeelalittlebettertodayandalittlebettertomorrow,that’senough.

“WhatifICan’tFeelBetter?”

Yousay,“HowcanIfeelgreatwhenIfeelterrible?”Youcan’t.Youdon’thaveto.Youjusttakeonestepatatime.

Ifweweretorankemotionsonaladder,withthemostpositiveatthetop,wemightlistthemlikeso:

10.LoveandJoy9.Happiness8.Optimism7.Contentment6.Pessimism5.Disappointment4.Worry3.Anger2.HatredandRevenge1.FearandGrief

Soyouask,“HowdoIgetfromfeartojoy?”Thesamewayyougetfromfirstgeartotenthgearonabicycle,orfromfirstgeartofifthgearinyourcar.Youjustmovetothenextgear.

Youdon’tjumpfromhatredtojoyovernight–butyoucanmovefromhatredtoanger.Andangerfeelsbetterthanhatred.That’sprogress.

It’showlifeworks–onestepatatime,onerungatatime.Youdon’tgofrom$30,000peryearto$300,000peryear,butyoucan

getto$40,000andthen$60,000andkeepgoing.Itislike

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buildingmuscle,gettinghealthyorlearninganewlanguage.

Ifyoucanfeelalittlebettertodayandalittlebettertomorrow,that’senough.

ItDoesn’tSeemFair

Yousay,“WhatifIamillorinpain?Howdoyouexpectmetofeelhappyandpositive?It’snotfair!”

Maybeitisn’tfair—butitisalawoflife:foryourcircumstancestoimprove,youfirsthavetofeelmorepositive.

Lawsdon’tcarewhatyouthink.It’slikewithgravity:ifyoutripoverthecatandbreakyourarm,youcanargue,“Gravityisn’tfair!”Butgravitydoesn’tcare.

Itmightseemlikeacrueltwist:“WhyshouldIhavetoFEELsuccessfulorlovedbeforeIcanBEsuccessfulorloved?”ItmayseemlikeanoddwaytorunaUniverse.Buthereishowthespiritualmastersexplainit:

Youareapartofeverything.Nooneisstoppingyoufromhavinganything.Godisnotstoppingyoufromhavinganything.Youalreadyhaveeverythingyouwant;youjustdon’tknowit.TheonlythinginyourwayisYOURBELIEFS.

Whenyouchangeyourbeliefs–andaseverythingisvibration,thismeanswhenyouchangeyourvibration–yourgoalsbegintodropinyourlap.

InaNutshell

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Lifedoesn’thappentoyou.Lifehappensthroughyou.

TheEleventhHour

Haveyounoticedthatthingsusuallylookmostbleakjustbeforetheystarttogetbetter?Theentrepreneurisdowntohislastdollarwhenhefinallyscoresthebigdeal.Theinjuredathleteisreadytoquit,butshegivesitonelastshotandwinsthegoldmedal.

Youseeitallthetimeinmovies.Youseeitinmoviesbecauseithappensallthetimeinlife.Thereisaprincipleatworkhere.Thedarkesthourisoftenjustbeforethedawn.Itisalmostlikelifetestsus:“Areyouserious?”Thebiggerthegoal,thedarkeritgets.

InaNutshell

Thisdarknessbeforethedawnisknownastheeleventhhour.Buttheeleventhhourisanimpostor.Sooften,ifwejusthangon,thetidewillturn.

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7.TheLawofAttractionYourmindislikeaniceberg:thepowerisinthepartthatyoudon’tsee.Everythoughtandfeelingthatyouhaveeverhadisthereinyoursubconscious.Itisdrivingyourlife.

Sothequestionis,“HowdoIprogrammysubconscioustocreateandattractwhatIwant?”

Theanswerthatfewpeopleknow–andthereasonforthisbook–isthatFEELINGSreprogramyoursubconscious.NevilleGoddard,20thcenturylecturerandauthor,explainsinhisbook,FeelingIstheSecret:

Ideasareimpressedonthesubconsciousthroughthemediumoffeeling.Noideacanbeexpressedonthesubconsciousminduntilitisfelt…Thesubconsciousisthewombofcreation…Itneverchangestheideareceivedbutalwaysgivesitform.15

YouimpressyoursubconsciousbyFEELINGwhatyouwanttobe;youhavetofeelrich,feelsuccessful,andfeellovedFIRST.Togetit,youhavetofeelit.

Whateverchangesyouwanttomakeinyourlife,youhavetofeelthem.AsGandhisaid,“Wemustbethechangewewanttosee.”

InaNutshell

Everythingstartswithin.Buddhasummeditup2600yearsago:“Youarenotofthisworld;thisworldisinyou.”

EverythingHasaUniqueVibration

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Yousay,“That’sfineforBuddha,butIwantalogicalscientificexplanation!HowdoMYthoughtsandfeelingsattractthings?”

Let’stakeacloserlookatvibration.

Eventocavemen,itwasobviousthatSOUNDisactuallyvibration.Then,inthe17thcenturywebegantounderstandthatLIGHTisactuallyvibration.

Andinthe20thcentury–afterscientistsbrokeatomsintosmallerandsmallerparticles–wefinallyrealisedthatMATTERisactuallyvibration.Everythingisvibration!Andofcourse,vibrationisenergy.

Apeanutisapeanutonlybecauseitsenergyhasaparticularvibrationorfrequency.So,too,foradiamond,afeatheroraFrenchfry.

FortheLawofAttractiontowork–orevenforustoconsideritseriously–everybitofmatterintheUniversewouldneedtohaveadifferentfrequencyfromeveryotherbit.

Everypeanutwouldneedtovibratedifferentlyfromeveryotherpeanut.Everysparrow,bacterium,lotteryticketandLamborghiniwouldneedauniquesignatureor“cosmicbarcode”,sothatitcanbefoundinthiswarehousewecalltheUniverse.

NOTE:Ifyouarenotsointerestedinscience,youmaychoosetoskimoverthenextfewparagraphsandre-joinmeat“ChainReactions”.

AuniquevibrationforeverythingintheUniverse!Isthispossible?

AccordingtoquantumphysicsandProfessorWolfgangPauli,

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absolutely!WolfgangPauliwonaNobelPrize–andAlbertEinstein’sadmiration–forhispartindiscoveringanewlawofnature,nowknownasthePauliExclusionPrinciple.16

Inphysicswelearnthatallelectronshavethreeproperties:a)energylevel,b)spinandc)orbit.Physicistsmultiplytheenergylevel,spinandorbittocalculatethe“quantumnumber”ofanelectron.

PaulidiscoveredthatNOTWOELECTRONSINTHEUNIVERSECANHAVETHESAMENUMBER!

SoWhat?

Toexaminethislaw,let’stakeanapple–andfromthebillionsofelectronswithintheapple,let’schoosejustoneelectron.We’llcallhimErictheElectron.Eric’squantumnumberwouldbeanimpossiblylongone,buttokeepthingssimple,let’spretendhisquantumnumberis23.

PauliprovedthatnowhereintheUniverse–notinalltheapplesinalltheworld,notinsomedistantshootingstar,noteveninthewhiskerofanarcticmouse–cantherebeanotherelectronwiththequantumnumber23.

It’sabitlikeeveryelectronintheUniversebelongingtothesamefootballteam,andnotwoelectronsbeingallowedtohavethesamenumber!

Sowhathappensifwepolishtheapple?Frictionaddsenergy.EnergyincreasesEric’squantumnumber.Suddenly,Eric’squantumnumberjumpsto,say,26.

AttheexactinstantthatEric’snumberleapsto26,theoneelectronintheentireUniversewithaquantumnumberof26–whetheritisoutbeyondtheMilkyWayorinyourporridge–

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willinstantlychange.

ChainReactions

Whenyoupolishanapple,whenyoukissyourlover,whenyoucurseyourneighbour,whenyouforgiveyourbrother,whenyouscratchyourbackside,yousendchainreactionsacrosstheUniverse.EachtimeoneofEarth’ssevenbillionpeoplehasafleetingthought,electronsacrosstheUniverseadjust.Eachtimeyouhaveathought,electronsacrosstheCosmosadjust.

OurUniverseisrearrangingitselfeverymillisecond,bringingitselfintobalance.ProfessorPauliprovedit–anditisnotevencutting-edgescience.PauliwonhisNobelPrizein1945.

Wearenotlonecogsinsomegiantmachine.Wearewrappedinonegiantliving,breathingblanket.Somecallitconsciousness.

Ifeveryelectronhasauniquevibration,theneverythinghasauniquevibration.ScienceconfirmstheteachingsofBuddha,AristotleandJesusChrist:

EverythingintheUniverseisconnectedThoughtdoesn’tjustaffectmatter;thoughtismatter.

ThisIsNothing

NewHere’sthegoodnews.Whateveryouhaveinyourliferightnow,youcreated.Withyourvibration,youattractedit.Thismeansthatwhenyouchangehowyoufeel,youchangewhatshowsup.

Yousay,“Howdowechangeourvibes?”Whenwefindawayto:

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lookforgoodthingseverydayquitblamingeveryoneelsequitblamingourselvesquitworryingseethebestinpeople.

Youmaynoticesomething.Thisiswhatgreatspiritualteachershavealwaystaught:BEGRATEFUL,FORGIVEPEOPLE,LOVEMORE,BLAMELESSANDBELIEVETHINGSWILLWORKOUT!Thisishowyoubecomeamagnetforeverythingyouwant.

InaNutshell

Allthatspiritualadviceweheardovertheyears–thatseemedlikeitwasdesignedtopunishus–actuallymakesusmorepowerful.

“Whatdosensiblepeoplesay?”

Youmaysay,“Thisideathat‘Weareallconnectedandourthoughtscreateourreality’soundsveryNewAge.

“Whatdopracticalpeoplesayaboutthis?Whatdoseriousbusinesspeoplesay?”

Let’sstartwiththeindustrialist,AndrewCarnegie.Heusedhisunderstandingofthesubconsciousmindtobecometherichestmanintheworld.

Ultimately,Carnegiedecidedtosharehissuccessstrategies.Sohecommissionedtheyoungjournalist,NapoleonHill,towork

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alongsidehimandwriteabooktoexplainhissecrets.

CarnegieintroducedHilltodozensofentrepreneurs,includingHenryFord.Fordalsounderstoodthesubconsciousmindandbecameoneoftheworld’srichestmen.

Hill’sbook,TheLawofSuccessin16Lessons,ultimatelybecameThinkandGrowRich,17andremainsaninternationalbest-sellereightyyearslater.ThecentralmessageofThinkandGrowRichis:

WHATTHEMINDOFMANCANCONCEIVEANDBELIEVE,ITCANACHIEVEYOUBECOMEWHATYOUTHINKABOUTMOSTOFTHETIME.

Nevertheless,mostofthemillionsofpeoplethatreadthebookneverachievedalltheirdreams.TherearesomeconceptsinThinkandGrowRichthatdeservefurtherexplanation,forexample,“What’shappeningwhenthelawofattractionseemsbroken?”

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“WhyisitthatIcanattractsomanythings

8.WhentheLawofAttractionFailsJanicewrote:

DearAndrew

IknewabouttheLawofAttractionlongbeforeitbecamepopularinNewAgebooks.Iwouldpicturemyselfworkinginanewcompany,andsomehowitwouldhappen,almostbymagicandwithouteffort.Iwouldseemyselflivinginanimaginaryapartmentandthenfindthatapartmentbyaccident.

Iwouldimagineparkingspacesinimpossibleplacesandgetthem.IfIwantedtoreadabookorwatchavideo,Iwouldseeitinmymind,andastrangerwouldmiraculouslygiveittome,orIwouldfinditinasecond-handstorewhenIwaslookingforfurniture.

IalsoattractedsomebadstuffwhenIworriedtoomuchaboutwhatIdidn’twant!

Thekeyalwaysseemedtobe:behappy,andrelaxintotheknowingthatitwillhappen.ItishowIhavemostlylivedmylife.IhavealsooftenwishedIhadamilliondollars,butitneverlandedinmylap.

Inyourbook,FollowYourHeart,youtalkedaboutattractingthings.Sohere’smyquestion:whyisitthatIcanattractsomanythingsthatIwantbutnotthemilliondollars?

Istherealimittothisstuff?WhyisitthatthisLawofAttractiondoesn’talwayswork?CoulditbethatthatGodsays,“No!”?

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Iwantbutnotthemilliondollars?”

Janice

Here’swhathastakenmethirtyyearstofigureout,andwhatmostbooksdon’tthoroughlyexplain.

WhentheLawofAttractionseemstobebroken,it’susuallybecause:

wechoseagoalthatdidn’treallyexciteuswegotstuckin“reversegear”–meaningwefocusedonLACKwechosegoalswedidn’treallybelievewerepossible.

Let’sexaminethesepointsoneatatime–andlookatwhattodoaboutit.

ChooseaGoalYouReallyWant

Excitementmakesthingshappenfast.It’stheE-MOTIONthatsetsyourdreamsinmotion.

Feelingsofdisappointment,jealousy,boredomordesperationslowlifetoacrawl.That’swhyithelpstobeenthusiasticaboutourlifeandourplans.

Sometimes,wechooseagoalthatwethinkisexciting,butit’snot.Ifthegoalisnotexciting,wedon’tkeepthinkingaboutit;sowedon’tattractit.

Theperfectexampleisamilliondollars.

Anyonemightarguethatamilliondollarsisreallyexciting,butactuallyit’sboring.It’sjustabunchofpaper.Wouldyoueverspendyourtimedreamingaboutaboxfulofcash?Youwouldn’t.Amilliondollarssittinginthebankmightseemlike

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aniceidea,butitwillnevergiveyoubutterfliesinyourstomach.

WhatisexcitingisWHATYOUCANDOwithamilliondollars:youcancreateanewbusiness,takeyourkidstoDisneyland,shifthouse,buyyoursonamountainbike,enjoyaworldcruise,quityourjobandgostudyarchaeology.

Peoplewhosucceeddon’tdreamaboutmoney.Theydreamabouthowtheywillmakeitandwhattheywilldowithit.Theyfeelitintheirbones.

Youneedtofeelyourselfexperiencingyourgoals.Photographsonyourrefrigeratorhelp.PicturesofAlaskancruiseshipsoryourdreamapartmentkeepyouexcited.Photographsonyourwall,bathroommirror,phoneorscreensaverofthespecialdog,horse,car,boat,helicopter,bicycleorguitarthatyouwanttoown,keepyouon-track.

FocusonWhatYouWant

Nowhereiswheremanypeople–likeFred–getconfused.

Fredsays,“I’vebeenthinkingaboutmydreamfortwentyyears,anditneverhappened!”

Butmostlikely,FredhasbeenthinkingaboutNOThavinghisdream.He’sbeenupsetanddisappointedaboutmissingoutfortwentyyears,andyoucan’tattractanythinggoodwhenyouareangry,upsetordisappointed.

Here’salittleexampleofhowwesometimesshiftourattentionfromHAVINGsomethingtoNOTHAVINGsomething.ImaginethatyouwalkintoJoe’sRestaurantinyourlunch

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hour.

Youorderyourfavouritepizza.Fifteenminutesgobyandnopizza.(“Where’smylunch?”Alreadyyouareannoyed.)Theladiesatthenexttablegettheirspaghettimarinara.(“What?Iwasherefirst!”Nowyouareangry!)Youcomplaintothewaiter,“Whereismypizza?”Youtextyourfriend,“Theyforgotmypizza!”Forty-fiveminutesgobyandnopizza.Theladiesfinishtheircoffeesandleave.Youarefurious.Yougrabyourcoatandstormout.

Sowhatwereyouthinkingaboutwhileyouwerewaiting?Yousay,“Iwasthinkingaboutmypizza!”Butyouweren’t.Youwerethinkingaboutyourpizzaforthefirstfifteenminutes.Afterthat,itwasallLACKofpizza.

Foryoursubconsciousmind,PIZZAandLACKofPIZZAaretwototallydifferentsubjects.PIZZAISONITSWAYhasalight,happyvibration,andTHEYFORGOTMYPIZZAisaheavy,angryvibration!

Sooften,wethinkthatwearedwellingonwhatwewantandweexpecttheLawofAttractiontodeliver,butweareactuallypumpingoutthe“IHAVENOPIZZA”vibration.Sowekeepmovingawayfromwhatwewant.

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SowhataresometypicalLACKthoughts?

IwishIwasrichIwishIwasconfidentIwishIhadadifferentjobIwishIhadaloving,caringhusbandIwishIwashealthyWhere’smydamnpizza?

HowdoyouknowtheseareLACKstatements?Becausewhenyourepeatanyofthemyoufeelbad.Andwhenyoufeelbadyougetmorelack.

StuckinReverseGear

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Fredsays,“Ithinkaboutmoneyallthetime,butIambroke.”

Actually,FredisthinkingaboutNOTHAVINGmoneyallthetime.ThinkingabouttheLACKofprosperityistheexactoppositetothinkingaboutprosperity.Fredisstuckinreversegearanddoesn’tknowit.

Yousay,“Doesitmatter?”Itmatters!Itmattersmorethanpeopleeverimagine.

FeastorFamine

Howoftendoyouhearthis?

Billappliesfortwentyjobsintwelvemonthswithoutluck.Assoonashegetshired,hegetsthreemorejoboffers.Why?Hespentayearfocusedonlack.Assoonashegotajob,hisenergyshiftedfromlack–“Nobodywantsme”–to“Peoplewantme.”Whenyoufeelwanted,peoplehireyou.Bingo!

Orthis?Acoupletryfortenyearstohaveababy.Eventuallytheyadopt–andimmediatelyshegetspregnant!Theywenttenyearswiththefeelingofnobaby.Whensuddenlytheyhadthejoyandthefeelingofhavingachild–baby!

SoHowDoIKnowifMyThinkingIsCreatingGoodResults?

Itissosimple,itisridiculous.IfyoufeelGOODwhenyouarethinkingaboutyourgoal,youarecreatinggoodthings.IfyoufeelBADwhenyouarethinkingaboutyourgoal,youarecreatingwhatyoudon’twant.

YouimpressyoursubconsciousbyhowyouFEEL–nothingelse.YourmissionistoFEELGOODEVERYWAKINGHOUR.Your

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missionistofeelgoodeverytimeyouthinkaboutwhatyouwant.

Fredsays,“Howcanyouthinkaboutamilliondollarsandfeelbad?”Veryeasily.Mostpeopledo.

InaNutshell

Whenyoufeelgood,youarecreatingwhatyouwant.Whenyoufeelbad,youarecreatingwhatyoudon’twant.

LukeSkywalker:“Ican’tbelieveit.”Yoda:“Thatiswhyyoufail.”18

YouNeedtoBelieveItIsPossible

Fredreadsoneofthosebooksthatsays,“Youcanhave,beordoanythingyouwant.”Fredsetshisfirstgoal:amulti-million-dollarmansion.Hethinksaboutitonceortwice.

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Daybydayyounotice,“LifeworkswhenIamfeelinggood.”

Whenhethinksaboutithefeelsbadbecausea)hereallydoesn’tbelievehe’llgetit,andb)he’sthinkingaboutthosesnooty,richpeopleinnicehouses.Fredsoongivesuponthemansion.

Youask,“Togetsomething,doyouneedtobelieveitispossible?”Yes,youdo.

Ifyoubelieveyourgoalispossibleyoufeelgoodthinkingaboutit.Becauseyoufeelgoodthinkingaboutit,youoftenthinkaboutit.Youarecomfortablewithit.

Weachievegoalswithwhichwearetotallycomfortable.

Howimportantisbelief?Theentertainer,Seal,shareshisexperience:

Itwasn’tthatwewerethebestatwhatwedo.Wherewegrewuptherewerepeoplewhosangwaybetterthanwecould–butnoonebelievedharderthanwedid,andthatbeliefwasunrelenting.19

Unrelentingbelief.Youjustkeeponpumpingoutthatvibration.

WhyBeliefMatters

Let’ssayyouwanttogetfit,youwantabetterjoboryouwantahappierrelationshipwithyourhusband.Ifyoubelieveitisperfectlypossible,youenjoythinkingaboutiteverysparemoment.Sobelievingitandfeelinggoodcauseittohappen.

Butwhatifyoudon’tbelieveitispossible?Youfeelbadthinkingaboutit.Soyoudon’tthinkaboutit.Soyoudon’tattractit.Yousay,“HOWcanIfeelgood?HowcanIbelievein

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anythinggoodwhenmylifehasbeensodisappointing?”

SmallSteps

Youdevelopyoursubconsciousmusclelikeyoudevelopanyothermuscle.Youpractisewitheverydaythings.Youpractisefeelinggoodwitheverythingyoudo,everyday.Yousetsmallgoals,everyday.Stepbystep.Forexample:

Youneedtomakeaspeech.YoupractiseFEELINGgoodaboutit.Aheadoftime,youimagineyourselfreceivingcongratulationsfromtheentirecrowd.Youplaymentalmoviesofyourownsuccess.Youareabouttodriveyourcarthroughanunfamiliarcityinrushhourandyouarefeelingnervous.Youimagineyourselfinyourcar,RELAXEDandsingingtoyourself.Youareworriedaboutpayingyourbills.Youbegintovisualisepayingthosebillswithasmileonyourface.Youregularlyaffirmtoyourself,“IhavemoremoneythanIneed!”Moreandmoreoftenyoufindyourselfmakingendsmeetwithlessandlessstress.

Daybyday,younoticethat“LifeworkswhenI’mfeelinggood.”Peoplerespondpositively,opportunitiesevolvefromthestrangest“coincidences”andimpossibleproblemsevaporate.

Weekbyweek,youdevelopaknowingthatlifeissomehowarrangingitselftosuityou.Youdevelopaquietconfidencethat“Mylifealwaysworksout.”

Yourfriendssay“How?”

Yousay,“Idon’tknowhow.Idon’tevenworryabouthow.”Nowyouhavethemuscletomanagebiggergoals.Thebookstellyou,“Yourmindisamagnet.

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Gooutandhave,beordoanythingyouwant.”Theoretically,it’strue.Butyouneedtobuildyoursubconsciousmuscle.Youneedtorefineyourballofenergy.

ButHOWDoesThisAllHappen?

Theobviousquestionsare:

HowcanIpayoffmybillsifIdon’tevenknowhowtomakethemoney?HowcanIsellmyhouseinabadmarket?HowcanIpossiblygetabetterjob?HowwillImeetmyperfectmate?

It’sabitlikethesatellitesaying,“Howwillmysignalfindthetelevision?”It’snotanissue.Thesignaliseverywhere,butitonlyresonateswithtelevisionsthataretunedin.

Whenyouassumethefeelingofhavingfoundtheperfectmateorjob,yoursignaliseverywhere–butyouonlyattractthemateorbosswhoisvibratingatasimilarfrequency.

Successfulentrepreneurs,authors,sportsstarsandhappilymarriedcouplesassumethefeeling.

Youdon’thavetoalwaysbeincontrol.Youdon’tevenhavetoknowHOW.

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InaNutshell

Yourproblemisnottofigureouthow.Yourmissionisjusttoassumethefeeling.

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9.Imagine!In1986Idecidedtowriteabook.Iknewnothingaboutwritingbooks.SinceschoolIhadneverwrittenanythinglongerthanapostcard.AllIknewwasthatIhadatitle–BeingHappy!–andIwantedtosellamillioncopies.

Iwroteonepageperday,beforebreakfast.

Ialsomadeacassetterecordingtoplayinmycar.Ithadasimplemessagethatrepeatedoverandover:“‘BeingHappy!’isaninternationalbest-seller.”Itcontinuedforhalfanhour.

Forthewholeof1987,IplayedthisrecordingeverytimeIgotintomylittleredcar.Well,actually,IonlyplayeditwhenIwasalone–myfriendsseemedtopreferDireStraits.

Inmid-1987IsentmycompletedBeingHappy!manuscripttopublishersaroundtheworld.AllIreceivedwererejections.Thebookmayhavebeenasuccessinmysubconscious,butitwasn’tdoingverywellanywhereelse.

ItseemedIhadhitabrickwall.

TheninMarch1988,IwaspassingthroughSingaporewhereIhadlunchwithafriend,JacquieSeow.Iaskedher,“Wouldyouliketoreadmymanuscript?”Jacquieagreedtoreaditandsaid,“Thereisapublisherlivinginmyapartmentbuilding.I’llshowittohim.”

Ithought,“ASingaporeanpublisher?That’snotpartofmyplan.”IgaveJacquiethebookbutIdidn’tholdmybreath.

Withintwoweeks,IhadapublishingdealwithJacquie’sneighbor,Ian,andwithineighteenmonthsIwaslivingoffmyauthor’sroyalties.BeingHappy!1continuestoselltoday.

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Youask,“Andrew,whatifyouhadneverusedthetaperecording?Wouldithavehappenedanyway?”

TwoFriendsPlay-acting

Inthe1970sFredCouplesandJimNantzwerebuddiesattheUniversityofHouston.FredwasadedicatedgolferwithdreamsofwinningtheUSMasters,andJimhadambitionsofbecomingatopsportsannouncer.

Together,theywouldoftenplay-actascenewhereFred,havingjustwontheUSMasters,wasinterviewedbytheCBSannouncer,JimNantz.

In1992,FredwontheMasters.HewasusheredintotheButlerCabintoreceivethefamousgreenjacket–andthere,togettheinsidestory,wasCBS’sJimNantz.

Atthecloseoftheinterviewtheyembracedwithtearsintheireyes,nodoubtreflectingonhowtheimaginaryscenethattheyhadsooftenrehearsedinHoustonhadjustunfoldedbeforetheworldinAtlanta.

WouldFredCoupleshavewontheMastersGolfChampionshipwithouttheplay-acting?WouldJimNantzhaveachievedhisdreamwithouttheplay-acting?Woulditallhavehappenedanyway?

Here’swhatIknow:there’snotasuccessfulactor,astronaut,brainsurgeon,pilot,popstar,presidentorpoledancerwhodidn’timaginetheirdreamoverandoverandoveragainlongbeforeithappened.

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InaNutshell

Everythingisconnected.Nothinghappens“anyway”.

WhatHappensWhentheLawofAttractionDoesn’tWork?

Lawsalwayswork.

Thelawofgravityisneverbroken.Forexample,whenaplaneflies,itdoesn’tmeanthatthelawofgravityisbroken.Itmeansthatforcesstrongerthangravityarepullingtheplaneupward.Oncethereisenoughmomentum,theplaneliftsofftheground.

Thelawofattractionisthesame.Youneedmomentum.Youplantyourgoalfirmlyintoyoursubconscious.Onceitisthere,youhaveit–butmostimportantly,ITHASYOU.

Whenyourgoalhasyou,youdon’thavetofigureeverythingout.Itismorelikeyougoalongfortheride.Whenyouhavetheknowingthatyouwillbesuccessful–anditisonlyamatterofWHEN–doingtheworkisajoy.Doingyourbestisautomatic.

Whenyourgoalisn’tshowingup,oneoftheseexplanationsislikely.

Youchoseaboringgoalandquitthinkingaboutit;soyoudidn’tattractitYougotstuckinreversegearwithLACKthoughts.IfyoudwellonlackyougetmorelackYouaredoubtingit,andwhenyoudoubt,youdon’thavethenecessaryFEELINGtoachieveyourgoalYouneverbecamecomfortablewithit.

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“SetaDate!”

Here’ssomethingelsethatthebookstellyou,butwhichoftendoesn’thelp.Theytellyou,“SetaDATE!”Theytellyou,“Chooseadatebywhichyouwillhaveboughtthehouse,foundtheperfectwife,scoredthedreamjob.”

Datesusuallyaddstressandgiveyoureasontodoubt.

Obviously,sometimesyourplansareattachedtoafixeddate–awedding,aspeechoratournament.Itmakessensetoseeandfeelthoseeventsunfoldingperfectly,attachedtoadate.Butinmostotherinstances,seeandfeelyourgoalsachievedandletthemunfoldintheirowntime.

SoHowDoIKnowWhenMyGoalsWillHappen?

Whenyourgoalfeelsperfectlynatural–whenyousaytoyourself,“Iknowitisgoingtohappen,andIamsocomfortablethatthiswillhappenthatI’minnohurry”–thatiswhenyourdreamjob,orboyfriend,showsup.

ButItWouldHaveHappenedAnyway!

Whenlifeworksout–whenyourloverwalksintoyourlife,whenyougethead-huntedbyarivalcompany,whenyourheadachesdisappear,whenyourbookhitsthebest-sellerlist–there’sthequestion,“DidIattractthis,orwouldithavehappenedanyway?”

Whenyoufeelgood,andkeepfeelinggood,opportunitiesand

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Somepeoplejustknowthatthoughtsaremagnetic.Theydon’tneedtobeconvinced.

goodpeoplejustkeeponfindingyou.Justkeepdoingwhatworks.

WhataboutPeopleWhoSay,“Thisisallgarbage!”?

I’vealwaysbelievedinmagic.WhenIwasn’tdoinganythinginthistown,I’dgoupeverynight,sitonMulhollandDrive,lookoutatthecity,stretchoutmyarmsandsay,“Everybodywantstoworkwithme.I’mareallygoodactor.Ihaveallkindsofgreatmovieoffers.”

I’djustrepeatthesethingsoverandover,literallyconvincingmyselfthatIhadacoupleofmovieslinedup.I’ddrivedownthathill,readytotaketheworldon,going,“Movieoffersareoutthereforme.Ijustdon’thearthemyet.”2

JimCarrey,Actor

In1990,comedianJimCarreywasstillstrugglingtogetwork.Itwasononenightduringthatyear,sittinginhisoldToyotalookingdownonLosAngeles,thathewrotehimselfacheque.Itwasfortenmilliondollars,foractingservicesrendered.

Jimcarriedthechequeinhiswallet.By1995hehadstarredinAceVenturaPetDetective,TheMaskandDumbandDumber.Hisaskingpricewasnowtwentymilliondollarspermovie.

Plentyofpeopledon’tbelievethatthoughtaffectsmatterorthatwecreateourownsuccess.Buthereisachallengeforyou:findonewildlysuccessfulpersonwhodoesn’tbelieveit.

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WhatdopeoplelikeJimCarrey,OprahWinfrey(thefirstbillion-dollartelevisionhost),Madonna(300millionalbumssold)andJackCanfield(500millionbooksinprint)sayaboutthepowerofthemind?Theywilltellyou,“Whatyouholdinyourmind,youattract.Whatyouholdinyourmind,youbecome.”

ThereareotherjournalistswhointerviewaswellasOprahWinfrey.AmillionotherpeoplehavehadbetterideasthanRichardBranson.

Buttheotherscouldn’tBELIEVEaswell.Andthisincludesyourbrother-in-lawwhosays,“Thisisallfantasy!”.Whodoyouwanttobelieve?

HowCanIBeHappyWhenIAmBroke?

IwasinaKualaLumpurshoppingmallin2013whenamanapproachedme.Hewascasuallydressedbutimmaculate.Hesaid,“AreyouAndrewMatthews?Ireadyourbooktwentyyearsago.”

Isensedhehadastorytoshare.SoIinvitedhimtoStarbucks.

Hesaid,“I’mTeukufromAcehinIndonesia.Myfamilywasverypoor.WhenIwasinuniversityIwassopoorthatIownedjustonepairoftrousers.Iwassopoorthatmygirlfriendwouldgivemehershirtstowear.ManydaysIhadnothingtoeat.

“WhenIwasatmylowestpoint,afriendloanedmetheIndonesianversionofyourbook,BeingHappy!3

“Apartfromtextbooks,itisthefirstbookIeverread.Ibegantounderstandthatwechooseourthoughts.Ibegantofocuson

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whatIHADinsteadofwhatIDIDN’THAVE.

“ImadealistonacardofeverythingIwantedformyfuture:agoodjob,awife,twohealthychildren,anapartment,anicecar…”

Heleanedforward,“TodayIamtheregionalbusinessdevelopmentmanagerforamulti-nationalcorporation.Itraveltheworld.Ihaveawifeandtwobeautifulgirls.Theygotothebestschools…”

Teuku’seyeswelledwithtears.“Yourbookchangedmylife.”

Myeyeswerefulloftears,too.IfeltsohappyforTeuku.

Imustmaketwopointshere.Firstly,mybookdidn’tchangehislife;Teukuchangedhislife.Secondly,thereisnothingnewinmybooks.Theseprincipleshavebeenaroundforever.

Teukusaid,“Istillhavebaddays.SoIkeepthatcardonmywalltoremindmehowfarIhavecome.”

Heaskedaboutmynextbook.IexplainedthatHowLifeWorkswasaboutthepowerofemotion:“Howyouthinkmatters,buttherealpowerisinhowyoufeel.”

InaNutshell

Teukusaid,“Forthelasttwentyyears,wheneverIwantedtogettothenextstep,Iwouldtrytofeelwhatitwouldbeliketobealreadythere.

“WhenIwashungryIwouldtrytofeelwhatitwouldbeliketohaveenoughfood.WhenIhad

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nojobIwouldtrytofeelwhatitisliketohaveajob.WhenIwasaworkerIwouldtrytofeelwhatitisliketobeamanager.”

Heasked,“Isthatwhatyourbookisabout?”

Yes,Teuku,thatisexactly,absolutelywhatthisbookisabout!

Whataboutthosesuccessfulpeoplewhoneverreadabookaboutthesubconsciousmind?

Somepeoplejustknowthatthoughtsaremagnetic.Theydon’tneedbooks.Theydon’tneedtobeconvinced.

Somepeoplearebornknowingwhattookmeathousandbooksandthirtyyearstounderstand.TheyjustspendtheirlifeFEELINGasgoodastheycanandknowingthateverythingwillworkout.

TheyjustknowTHISISHOWLIFEWORKS.

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10.TheWorldIsYourMirror

Haveyounoticedthatwhenyouleavetheofficefeelingirate,peopleabuseyouinthesubway?Thereverseisalsotrue.Howdifferenttheworldlookswhenwefallinlove!

Theworldisamirror;whatyoufeelinside,yougetontheoutside.ThisiswhyYOUCAN’TFIXLIFEBYWORKINGONTHEOUTSIDE.Ifpeopleonthestreetareunfriendly,changingstreetsdoesn’thelp.Ifnobodyatworkgivesyouanyrespect,changingjobswon’tfixit.

Mostofuslearnedthingsinsideout!Welearned,“Ifyoudon’tlikeyourjob,changeit.Ifyoudon’tlikeyourwife,changeher.”Sometimesit’sappropriatetochangeyourjoboryourpartner.Butifyoudon’tchangeyourthinking,youaresettingyourselfupformoreofthesame.

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Ifyouloveyourself,peoplewillloveyou.

EXAMPLE:Carol’shusbandBobgiveshernohelp.Theybothworkninetofive,butBobgiveshernohelpwiththekidsandnohelparoundthehouse.Weeknightshegoesdrinking;weekendshegoesgolfing.Shefeelslikeaservantandsheresentshim.

Butit’snotaboutBob.It’sabouther.Aslongasshefeelslikeaservant,shewillbetreatedlikeaservant.Forlifetochange,CarolhastovalueCarol.Theminuteshefeelsworthwhile,deservingandloveable,shewillfindsupport–eitherfromBoborfromsomebodyelse.

It’salwaysaboutourselves.

EXAMPLE:Friendsandfamilyarealwaysimposingonyou.Wheneversomebodywantstoshifthouse,theyaskyoutopackandcarryboxes.Whenpeopleneedaride

totheairportat4am,theycallyou.Youaskyourself,“Whydon’ttheyvalueMYtime?”

Becauseyoudon’tvalueyourtime!Whenyouchange,theychange.

It’sNotaboutTHEM

Manypeoplenevergetit.Theyspendalifetimeblamingotherpeople–butit’snotaboutOTHERPEOPLE.

Ifyoufeelthatyoudeservetobepaidnothing,youwillfindabosswhopaysyounothing.Ifyouignoreyourfeelings,youwillgetajobwherepeopleignoreyourfeelings.Maybeyou’lljointhearmywherepeopleshoutatyou!It’snotaboutTHEM;it’saboutyourrelationshipwithYOU.

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Ifyouhateyourbigbackside,youwillfindaboyfriendwholaughsatyourbigbutt.Whenyouacceptyourbacksideyouwilllikelya)changeboyfriendsorb)discoverthatyouroldboyfriendhasanewattitude.Itwasneveraboutyourboyfriend.Itwasalwaysaboutyourattitudetowardyou.Ifyourbossdemandsbetterresults,ifyourwifewantsmorefromyou,itisusuallybecauseinyourheart,youwantmorefromyou.Evenracialprejudiceandreligiousprejudiceisn’taboutTHEM.Whenyouacceptyou,peopleacceptyou.

Ifyouloveyourself,peoplewillloveyou.

InaNutshell

Youcreateyourworld.Youdon’thavetoconvinceanybodyelse.Youjusthavetofeeldifferent.

ThePerfectEvening

Lifeisalwaysreflectingbacktoushowwefeel.

EXAMPLE:Youhavefriendsintown.Youdecidetotreatthemtoagreateveningatyourfavouriterestaurant,Coco’s.

Youcalltherestauranttobookatable.Themaîtred’says,“Sorry,we’refull.”

“Whatdoyoumean,you’refull?”

“We’rebookedout.”

“ButI’maregular!Fitmeinsomewhere!”

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‘I’msorry.”

Youslamdownthephone.“Damnit!Thisshouldhavebeenagreatevening.”You’reangry.

Youchooseanotherrestaurant.Thefoodisgreasy,theoystersstink,youarguewithyourwifeallthewayhomeandyouwakeupwithfoodpoisoning.

OR…

Themaîtred’atCoco’ssays,“We’refull.”

Yousay,“Great.We’veeatentheretwentytimesanyway.Weshouldtrysomethingelse.”Youcallyourex-bosswhoknowsallthebestrestaurants.Herecommendsanewplacethatisevencloser.

Thefoodisunforgettable.Youchatwiththecoupleatthenexttableanddiscoverthattheyareyourneighbours.Youmakesomenewfriends,andnextweekyouallgotoCoco’s.

Isn’tthishowlifeworks?

Ifyoubelievethatlifeisagainstyou,itis.Thereisanotherwaytolive:believethattheUniverseisplottingtomakeyouhappy.

InaNutshell

Theharmonyyouseekisnotwithotherpeople;itiswithyourself.

WeAttractWhatWeFear

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FormytenthbirthdaymyGrandpagavemeawatch.Inthe1960swatchesweren’tcheap!Iwassoproudandalittlenervous.Ithought,“Ihadbetternotbreakthis!”

WhenIshoweredthatnightIplacedmybrandnewTimexcarefullyonthesinkbesidemypyjamas.Iwashedanddriedmyself–andasIpickedupmypyjamas,thesleeveknockedmybeautifulbirthdaypresentface-downontothetilefloor.Itshattered.Iwasshattered.

Myfirstwatch:giventomeat6.30,smashedby8.15.Icriedandcried.Howcouldlifebesocruel?

Howoftendowebuysomethingnewanddamageitwithinhours?Whenisourfearstrongest?Whensomethingisbrandnew.

Lastmonthmytennisbuddy,Aldo,boughtabrandnewMazdaSUV,andwithinforty-eighthourssomevandalscratchedtheentireleftsidewithakey.Thatsameweekmyfriend,Frank,boughtaHonda.Withintwenty-fourhoursaladyremodelledhisbackbumperinthemallcarpark.

Howoftenhaveyoufoundyourselfinpreciselythesituationthatyoudidn’twant?Yousaidtoyourself,“IfthereisonethingIdon’twanttohappen...ifthereisonequestionIdon’twanttobeasked...ifthereisonemistakethatIdon’twanttorepeat...”andguesswhatyougot?

Weattractwhatwefear.

HellontheHighway

Haveyouhadthisexperience?Youdrivetoworkeverydayforfiveyearswithoutincident.Thenonemorningyoucarelessly

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pullinfrontofabusandalmostcauseanaccident.Youareinshock.Breathinghard,feelingvulnerableandstupid,yousaytoyourself,“Thisroadisdangerous!”Youkeepdriving.

Withinfiveminutesatruckswervesintoyourlane.Youavoidit,butonlyjust.Nowyouareinacoldsweat.Tenminuteslaterakidonabikealmostcollectsyourfrontfender.Youhavehadnonear-accidentsinfiveyears–andthenthreenear-missesintwentyminutes!

Everythingyouexperiencecomesaboutbecauseyouarefeelingconfident,nervous,vulnerable,inadequate,excited,loved;youarecreatingyourreality.

Wedon’thaveaccidents;weconstructthem,thoughtbythought–“I’mavictim”,“Ihatethis”,“Thisisdangerous”–andthenoneday,“Whammo”.

Doesthissoundcruel,blunt,scary?Itisphysics,anditisgreatnews.Wouldyouratherbelievethat,regardlessofanythingyouthinkandfeel,youhavenoprotectionfromdiseaseandnodefenceagainstaccidents?

Youaremorethanaphysicalbodywithabrain.Youareamagnet,atransmitter.Whenyouarejoyful,happyandgrateful,yousomehowconnectwithotherpeopleandexperiencesthatmatchyourenergy.It’sthesamewhenyouarefeelingvulnerableorscared.

SeeYourselfProtected

Manypeopleliketoimaginethemselvesasdivinelyprotected.Theymakeitahabit.Whentheyarewalkingthrougharoughneighbourhoodordrivingonthehighway,theywillvisualisethemselvesassurroundedbyaprotectivewhitelight.

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WhenIfirstheardaboutthis,Iwondered,“Howwouldthathelpagainstamuggerorarunawaytruck?”NowIunderstand.Thevalueinvisualisingtheprotectivewhitelightisthatitchangeshowyoufeel.Whenyoufeelcalmandprotected,youareprotected.

TheBiblesays,“Resistnotevil.”23Itmeansdon’tfocusonbadstuff.Itmeansdon’tspendyourlifethinkingaboutillnessandcarcrashes.Rather,fillyourmindwiththoughtsofhealthandhappiness.

SomepreacherstellyoutofearGod.Thathastobearecipefordisaster!

InaNutshell

Ifyouthinkaboutwhatyouwant,youattractit.Ifyouthinkaboutwhatyoudon’twant,youattractit.

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11.HowimportantIsAction?Youmayask,“Whatismoreimportant?Thoughtsandfeelings?Oraction?”

Lookatitthisway.Whenyoubuildahouse,youcreateasolidfoundationthatnoonesees,andonthatsolidfoundationyouerectwhateveryonesees–thehouse.

Thesameprincipleworksforwhateveryouwanttodo.Ifyouwanttofindawife,writeabest-seller,startacompany,havesurgeryorcyclesafelythroughEurope,youneedasolidfoundation.

YoucreatethatSOLIDFOUNDATIONINYOURIMAGINATIONwithpositivefeelingsofyourgoalhappilyachieved.Onthatinvisiblefoundationyoubuildwhattheworldsees.

Manypeopleforgetthefoundations.Theyareallactionandeffort.Theyracearoundtryingtomakesomethinghappenonnofoundation,andthewallskeepfallingin.

WhyanInvisibleFoundation?

Withoutthefeelingofyourgoalalreadyachieved,youarebroadcastingallkindsoffeelingsofdoubtanduncertainty–feelingslike,“Thismightbehard!WhatifIcan’tdoit?”Thenyouattractexperiencesthatmatchyourfeelings.It’sarecipeforexhaustion.It’sthereasonthatsometalentedpeople–golferswithperfectswingsandsingerswithperfectpitch–settleforflippinghamburgers.

WhenyouhavethefeelingofyourgoalALREADYachieved,youbecomeamagnetfortherightpeople,books,websitesandcoincidences.Doorsopen.Youdon’thavetolayeverybrick

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yourself.Itiscalledsynchronicity.

EXAMPLE:Youplanavacation.Yourfoundationisyoubeingexcitedanduplifted,gettingthefeelingofmeetingfascinatingpeople,tastingexoticfood,returninghealthyandrefreshed.Yousetitupinyourmind.Yourthoughtscreatethefeeling.Yourfeelings–andthentheactionyoutake–createtheexperience.

Withoutthefoundation,youarejustaleafinthewind.Anythingmighthappen.

EXAMPLE:Youneedtomakeadifficultphonecall.Yourfoundationisthefeelingofthegoalachieved,thefeelingthatyoumadethatcallandyouwereconfidentandrelaxed.YoucreateitinyourmindFIRST.Thecreationisfun.Thephonecallbecomesabreeze.

Theimaginingisajoy;thedoingbecomesajoy.Thatishowlifeismeanttowork.

ItAllSoundsTooEasy

Let’ssaythatyouhavebeenoutofworkforayear.Youappliedforsixtyjobsandgotsixtyrejections.Youareparalysedwithdisappointment.

Afriendsays,“Readthisbook,HowLifeWorks.”Youreadit.Yousay,“Thisisnuts!AreyousayingthatifIjustfeelgood,ajobwilldropinmylap?”

No.Thisishowitmayhappen.

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Rightnow,youhavegivenup.TheideaofyourgettingajobseemsIMPOSSIBLE.Soyoufirstneedtochangehowyoufeel.

Youbegintopictureyourselfasbeinghappilyemployed.Youimagineyourselfexcitedtogotoworkeachday.Youimaginehavingaregularwage–andhowyourlifewillchange.Youwrapyourselfinthesehappyfeelings,fiftytimesaday.

Youbegintoaffirmtoyourself,“IamsogladthatIhaveajob.”

Atfirst,allthisseemsalittleridiculous,butasyoucontinuetoimagineandaffirm,theideaofyourbeingemployedstartstofeellikeaREMOTEPOSSIBILITY.

Nowthatyouarefeelingmoreoptimistic,itiseasiertotakeaction.Yougoonlineandstudywhattosayatajobinterview.Youbuyabook,HowtoGetaJob.YouaskafriendtohelpyourewriteyourCV.

YoustartlookingatPositionsVacantonline.Yousendouttwentyapplicationsandattendtwointerviews.Youdon’tgethired,butyouaremoreconfidentthanbefore.

Afriendofafriendgivesyouthreedaysofpart-timework.Youarefeelingbetteraboutyourself.TheideaofyourhavingajobseemsPOSSIBLE.

Youattendanotherinterview.Thecompanycallsyoutosay,“Youareoneofthefinalcontenders.”

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AsBuddhamighthavesaid,“Yourjobisnotintheworld.Yourjobisinyou.”

Anotherguygetsthejob,butyousaytoyourself,“AtleastIambeingtakenseriously.”

AjobnowfeelslikeaPROBABILITY;it’sjustamatterofwhen.Yousendoutanothertwentyapplications.Nineteencompaniesaren’tinterested.Onecompanyinvitesyouforaninterview.Younailit.Thejobisyours.(It’snotover!)

Youworkhardforthenextyear.Youfeelmoreconfident.Soonenough,youarereadyfornewchallenges.

Youapplyforjobsatthreedifferentcompanies.Yougethiredatthethird.(It’smucheasiertogetajobthistime.)

Youworktwoyearsinthenewcompany,andthenoneday,outoftheblue,yougetaphonecall.Arivalcorporationoffersyouaposition.Youhavebeenhead-hunted!Nowthejobsarechasingyou!

Thisishowlifegetsbetter,stepbystep.

Yousay,“Butwhatifthereisaglobalfinancialcrisis?OrwhatifIamsixtyyearsold?”Notallcompaniesparticipateinglobalfinancialcrises.

Notallbosseswantyoungpeople.Whenyouhavetheunshakeableknowingthat“Iamindemand”,lifewillconnectyouwithpeoplewhowantyourservices,regardlessofwhatyoureadinthepapers.AsBuddhamighthavesaid,“Yourjobisnotintheworld.Yourjobisinyou.”

Whetheryouarelookingforworkoralifepartner,whetheryouwanttolose10kilogramsorlearntolikeyourself,youFIRSTbegintochangehowyoufeel.Thenyoutakeaction.Youfeelbetter.Youtakemoreaction.Thisishowyougetfrom

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IMPOSSIBLEtoPOSSIBLEtoPROBABLEtoACHIEVED.

InaNutshell

Therearetwopartstotheequation:feelgood+takeaction.TheancientSufiproverbsays;“TrustinAllah,butfirsttieyourcameltoapost.”

WhatWeReallyBelieve

Howdoyouknowwhatsomeonereallybelieves?It’snotinwhattheysay.It’sinwhattheyDO.

Weallknowpeoplewhodreambuttakenoaction.Theydon’tDOanythingbecausetheyexpecttofail.Sotheystaystuck.Youcan’tfooltheUniverse.

Actiondemonstratesbelief.Forexample:

Whenyousavemoneyeveryweek,youconfirmyourbeliefthatadebt-freelifeispossibleWhenyoumakeasalescall,youconfirmyourbeliefthatasaleispossible

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Whenyouliftweights,youconfirmyourbeliefthatfitnessispossibleWhenyougivetothepoor,youconfirmyourbeliefthatmoreiscoming.

Actionisthoughtinmotion.

Actionacceleratesresults.

InaNutshell

Fredmaytellyou,“Ideserveabetterlife!”Fredmayannouncetotheworld,“Iwillbesuccessful.”

ButunlessFredistakingaction,hedoesn’treallybelieveit–andnothingwillchange.

Excellence

Yousay,“Whataboutskill?Don’tyouhavetobegoodatwhatyoudo?”Excellenceiscritical.Themostsuccessfulpeopleareveryskilled.

Andfeelinggoodispartoftheprocess.

Whenyoufeeloptimisticandenthusiastic,whenyoucontinuetopictureyourgoalsachievedandwhenyoucontinuetobelieve,thesethingshappen:

YouareconfidentYouattracttherightcolleagues,coaches,mentorsandpartners

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YouattractopportunitiesYoujoyfullyrefineyourskills.

TheLawofLeastEffort

TheIndianVedictextsfromaround1500BCexplaintheLawofCauseandEffect(karma),theLawofDetachmentandtheLawofLeastEffort.

TheLawofLeastEffortisperhapsleastunderstood.AsVedicwisdomexplainsit,loveisthefabricthatholdstheUniversetogether.Thismeans:

WhenyouaremotivatedbyLOVEandwhenyouareservingothers,youareinharmonywiththeUniverseandyourplansunfoldwithmuchlesseffort.Smallmiraclesoccurtohelpyouonyourway.WhenyouaremotivatedbyEGO,forexample,ifyouraimistobethemostpowerfulpersonintownorifyourbusinessissellingdodgyusedcarstounsuspectingcustomersorifyouraimistocontrolandimpresspeople,youwillencounterendlessresistance.“Success”willcomeataprice.

Self-helpbooksmaytellus,“Theskyisthelimit.Goanddowhateveryouwant!”butyouwillnoticeapattern:whenourambitionsarelargelyselfish,lifebecomesastruggle.

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InaNutshell

Whenwearemotivatedbylove,ittakesLESSACTIONtoproduceMORERESULTS.Theuniversallawsremindusthatweareheretohelpeachother.

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12.Resistance

GroundhogDay

Inthemovie,GroundhogDay,PhilConnorsisanangry,resentfulTVweatherman.Eachdaywhenhisalarmsoundsat6amitisFebruary2nd.Heislivingthesameday!

Philtrieseverythingtoescape.Hequitshisjob,hegetsarrested,heattemptssuicidesixtimes–hedrivesoffacliff,leapsoffatallbuilding,walksinfrontofatruck,getsshot,getsfrozenandelectrocuteshimselfinthebath–andwhenhewakesuptomorrow,itisyesterday!

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Whenyoufightlife,lifealwayswins.

Eventually,Phillearnstoacceptwhereheis.HestartstofindbeautyintheordinarypeopleinthelittletownofPunxsutawney.

Itisacrazycomedyaboutaguywhoisstuckinatimeloop,re-livingtheworstdayofhislife.Onanotherlevel,ithasadeepmessage.

GroundhogDayisaperfectillustrationofhowresentmentkeepsusstuck,andlovesetsusfree.

It’sNotWhatHappenstoYou…

It’snotWHATHAPPENSTOYOUthatmattersmost.It’sHOWYOUFEELaboutwhathappenstoyou.

EXAMPLE:Let’ssaythatyouareattheairport,waitingtocatchaflight,andtheairlinetellsyou,“Sorry!Mechanicaltrouble.Youwon’tbeleavingforthreehours.”Yougetveryangry.Youtellyourself:“Thisisterrible!I’llmissmyconnectingflight.Thisisadisaster!”

Whileyouremainstressed,thingswillgetworse.Peoplewilltripoveryou,spillcoffeeinyourlapandloseyourbaggage.Whenyoufightlife,lifealwayswins!

Thenfinallyyoucooldown.Youtellyourself,“There’snothingIcandoaboutit.IamprobablywhereIammeanttobe.I’llmakethemostofit.”

Suddenly,everythingchanges!Fromnowhereanoldfriendappears,oryoumakeanewfriend,oryoustumbleonafreshopportunity,andlifebeginstosupportyou.Oncewechangeourthoughtsabout“abadsituation”,wecantakeadvantageofit.

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EXAMPLE:Imaginetwowomen,MaryandJane.Bothgetdivorced.Marysays,“I’vefailed.Mylifeisover.”Janesays,“Mylifehasjustbegun!”Whowillblossom?

InaNutshell

Every“disaster”inyourlifeisnotsomuchadisaster,asasituationwaitingforyoutochangeyourmindaboutit.

Crises

Life’sgreatopportunitiesoftenarrivedisguisedasmisfortuneanddisaster.

Whenhaveyoumadethemostimportantdecisionsinyourlife?Isn’titwhenyouwereonyourknees,followingdisastersorknockbacks,andyousaid,“Ineverwanttobethisbrokeanymore,”or“Ineverwanttobeinthiskindofrelationshipanymore.”?

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Thegoodthingaboutacrisisisthatwebecometeachable.

Whendoweusuallyfixourdietorstartexercising?Whenourbodyisfallingapart.Whendocouplestelleachotherhowmuchtheyloveeachother?Whentherelationshipisfallingapart.Whendowemakecriticalfinancialdecisions?Whenwecan’tpayourbills.Whendowebackupourcomputers?Afterwehavelosteverything!

Weknowitalluntil:

wehaveaheartattackwegobroketheloveofourlifeleaves.

Thegoodthingaboutacrisisisthatwebecomedesperate–andteachable.

Funny,isn’tit?Wespendourlivestryingtoaccumulatestuff,butwelearnmostwhenweloseit.

InaNutshell

Successwecelebrate.Failurewecontemplate.Welearnmostfrompainanddisappointment.

Pain

Wesufferpainwhenwebelievesomethingthatisnottrue.Forexample,wesufferpainwhenwebelieve:

“IAMMYJOB,”forexample,“Iamateacher,”or“Iama

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doctor.”Ifyouthinkyouareyourjob,then,whenyoudon’thaveone,youfeellikeyouhavedisappeared.Whenyouknowyouarenotyourjob,youaren’tshattered,justinconvenienced.“IAMMYBANKBALANCE.”No!Yourself-worthisnotequaltoyournetworth.“IAMMYBODY.”Youhaveone,butyouarenotit.“IAMMYREPUTATION.”No.Yourreputationiswhatotherpeoplethink.Youarenotwhatotherpeoplethink.“IAMHELPLESSANDOUTOFCONTROL.”Absolutelyandentirelywrong!“IAMWORTHLESS.”Wrongagain.Seetherestofthisbook.

InaNutshell

Painisoftenamessagetochangeourthinking.

Death

Whenwethinkthatlifeshouldbeacertainway–anditisn’t–ithurts.Onereasonwhypeoplethinklifeisunfairisbecausetheythinkdeathisunfair.Peoplewhobelievelifeisterribleoftenbelievedeathisterrible.

Theideathatdeathisterriblestemsfrombeliefslike:

everyoneshouldliveatleast75years,andanylessisatragedydeathistheendofit.

Butisyourdeaththeendofyou?

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Itendtotakenoticeofexperts.Whenpeoplededicatetheirlivestomakingmoviesormanagingcorporationsorperformingheartsurgery,IfiguretheyknowsomethingIdon’t.

Here’swhatInoticeaboutthosejoyouspeoplewhohavededicatedthemselvestoaspirituallife:theyallsayroughlythesamething.

YouareaneternalspiritinabodyLifeiswonderfulYoucameheretoexperiencejoyandrealiseyourtruepowerTherearenoaccidents;weleavethisplanetwhenwearereadyDon’tbesoserious!

Ifyoutrytofigurethisalloutintellectually,itprobablydoesn’tmakesense.Ifyoujustliveit,itworksbeautifully.

HowMuchTimeDoYouNeed?

Itmayseemreasonablethatweshouldallgetatleast75yearsonEarth,butthefactis,wedon’t.Somelivesareshort.Humanityisaboutvariety.Weeachthinkdifferently,livedifferently.NotallguyslooklikeBradPitt.

Asheartbreakingasitistoloselovedonesunexpectedly,itseemsthatsomepeopledotheirthingquicklyandmoveon.Somebeautiful,angelic,four-year-oldscomeforjustabriefvisit.

Somepeopleevolvequickly.Somehangonfor95years.

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InaNutshell

Weareeachadivine,loving,powerfulspiritinabody.Whenweforgetthis,lifehurts.Itislife’swayofgettingusbackontrack.

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Whenyoustoptryingtosellit,everyonewantstobuyit!

13.LetGo!Myfriend,Caroline,hasspentherlifemanagingexotichotelsaroundtheworld–islandgetawaysontheGreatBarrierReef,elephantsanctuaryresortsinnorthernThailand,breathtakingpropertiesonSydneyHarbourandevenahotel-that-used-to-be-a-palaceintheHimalayas.

Here’swhatfascinatesmeaboutCaroline.Shehasspentherlifemanagingluxurioushotelsandyetshehas:

notraininginhospitalityorhotelmanagementneverhadaCVneverbeenoutofwork.

Carolinerecentlyretiredafterherfourteenthmanagementpositioninthirtyyears,noneofwhichsheappliedfor.It’snotluck.

WhyisCarolinesuchamagnetforopportunity?Shehasabsolutelynofearofbeingunemployed.Sheistotallydetached.Herexperienceintheworkplaceisdifferentfrommostpeople’sbecauseherthinkingisdifferentfrommostpeople’s.

Shesays,“It’scrazy.I’mnotagreatmanager,butthesejobsjusthappen.Iliveinblindtrust.Iknowthattherightjobwillalwayscomeattherighttime.”

ChasingGirlfriends,ChasingDogs

TheBuddhiststeachdetachment.Youknowaboutit.Whenwechasegirlfriends,boyfriends,evendogs,theyrunaway.Why?Becausewearechasingthem!Whenwetrytotrappeopleinrelationships,theycan’t

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waittoescape!WhenweLETGO,theyoftencomeback!

Didyoueverspendweekssearchingforanapartmentbutfoundnothingyouliked?Afterendlessfrustrationyouquitlooking–andthat’swhenyoufoundyournewhome.Assoonasyousignedthelease,youdiscoveredthreemoreperfectapartmentswithoutevenlooking!

Didyoueverwanttosellsomething–astroller,alaptop,aparachute?Nobodywantedit,andsoyougaveitaway.Whenyoustoppedtryingtosellit,everyonewantedtobuyit.

WetalkedaboutlackthoughtsinChapter8.DesperationandLACKTHOUGHTSarepartofthesamemindset.Ifwecan’tfindanapartment,orajoboraplaneticket–andwebecomedesperate–wecontinuecreatingthesamelackexperience.

Oncewegetthejob,theapartmentortheboyfriend,ourthinkingshiftsfrom“Ineedthis”to“IhavewhatIneed”.“IhavewhatIneed”isatotallydifferentvibration.“IhavewhatIneed”isyourmostpowerfulstate.“IhavewhatIneed”isthestartingpointforamucheasierlife.

Fredsays,“Butyoudon’tgetit!Idon’thavewhatIneed!WhenIhavewhatIneed,thenI’llbegrateful;thenI’llbehappy.”Perfectlyunderstandable,Fred,buttheresultsofthisapproacharealwaysdisappointing.

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InaNutshell

Thetricktothegameoflifeistofeelhappy,gratefulanddetached.

Detachment

Detachmentisnotdisinterest.Itispossibletobedetachedandstillbeverydetermined.Peoplewhoaredetachedanddeterminedknowthateffortandexcellenceareultimatelyrewarded.Theysay:“IfIdon’twinthistime,I’llwinthenexttime,orthetimeafterthat.”

Let’ssayyouapplyforapositionatLoonyLarry’sLaptops.Youareexcitedaboutthejobandyoupreparecarefully.Youwriteoutyourinterviewspeechandyoupractiseitinfrontofthebathroommirror.Youevengetahaircut.Youarriveearlyfortheinterviewandyougiveityourbestshot.

Whatnext?Yougetonwithyourlife.Youenrolinextrastudy.Youplanyournextjobapplication.IfyougethiredbyLoonyLarry,you’rehappy.Ifnot,youarestillmovingforward.

Disinterestedpeoplesay:“Whocares,andwhybother?”

Desperatepeoplesay:“IfIdon’tgetthisI’lldie!”

Whenyouaredeterminedanddetached,yousay:“Onewayoranother,Iwillgetagoodjob–andIdon’tcarehowlongittakes.”

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Lifedoesn’thavetobeanendlessstruggle.

Naturedoesn’tunderstanddesperation!Natureseeksbalance,andyoucan’tbedesperateandbalanced.

Lifedoesn’thavetobeanendlessstruggle.Letthingsflow.Thisisnotindifference;it’snotforcingthings.

InaNutshell

There’ssuchathingastryingtoohard!

Giving

Churchestellusweshouldgive,buttheydon’texplainwhygivingissomagical.ThesecrettolifeishowweFEEL.Fewthingsmakeusfeellighterandhappierthangivingsomeoneapresent,acomplimentorahelpinghand.Whenwegivehappily,wefeelwonderful.

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Whenwefeelwonderful,webecomeamagnetforgoodthings.SoWHENWEGIVE,WECREATEAFLOW.Itisthatsimple.Nooneeverexplainedthistome!

Here’saprinciplewhichseemstomakenosense:whateveritisthatyoumostwant,shareit.Givefreely,wantingnothinginreturn.Ifyouwantmoney,sharesomeofyours.Ifyouwantlove,shareyours.It’showyoucreateaflow.

TakeMarywhoisdesperatetobeloved.Maryisangrywithherhusband,Fred.Shesays,“IdosomuchforFredbuthedoesn’tlovemeback!”MarydoesdoalotforFred–butsheisn’tlovinghim.Sheiscountingeverythingshedoes.Andsheiskeepingscore:Mary,10;Fred,2.

Whenyouaresimplylovingpeoplewithnostringsattached,lovecomesback.Ithasto.Italwayswill.

GiveHappily

ItmattersHOWwegive.Ifwegivebegrudgingly,wefeelbad.Whenwefeelbad,wedon’treceiveabundance.Thatiswhyitispowerfultogiveanonymously.

Hereisafungame:sendafriendabirthdaycardwithfiftydollarsinit–butdon’tsignthecard.Thegameistoneverletthemknowyousentit.

Yourfriendwillbedelightedandintriguedthatmoneyjustcamefromnowhere.It’salsoajoyforyou.

Andhere’sthebigbenefit:yougettopractisegivingwithoutneedingthanks.Yougettopractisenotcaringwhetherpeopleexpressappreciationornot.Andwhenyoudon’tNEEDgratitudeandappreciation?Yougetmoreofit.

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InaNutshell

It’snotwhatyougive;it’showyougive.

FindingYourLife’sPurpose

TheSanskritwordforyourpurposeinlifeis“dharma”.AccordingtotheLawofDharma,weeachhaveuniquetalentsthatweareheretodiscover.Whenweexpressthosetalents,wefindjoy.

Accordingtothelaw,wearemostlikelytodiscoverthosetalentswhenweask,“WhatcanIgive?”ratherthan,“WhatcanIgetback?”

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14.WhenEverythingIsGoingWrong

Rocky

Rockyisanangryyoungstreetfighter.Hehangsaroundclubsandbars.Almosteveryweekhegetsintoastreetbrawl,andhehasthescarsandthebrokenteethtoproveit.

ThenRockyhasabrainwave:“I’lllearnkarate.ThenIcanbeatupthreepeopleatonce.”

SoRockyenrollsinagym.Rockylovesit,butthemastertellshim,“Youaretooangry!Youcan’tfightwhenyou’reangry.”

Rockysays,“That’showIam–ANGRY!”

ButRockynoticesthathekeepsgettingthrashedatthegymbyoldguyswhoarehalfhissize.Eventually,helearnssomerelaxationexercises.Ithelps.Hegetsquicker,hisanticipationimproves,buthedoesn’tknowwhy.Hedoesn’trealisethatheisstartingtoharnesshissubconsciousmind.

RockyhasseenthoseguysonYouTubewhobreakbrickswiththeirhandsandsmashconcretewiththeirheads.Rockythinks,“Iwanttosmashsomeconcrete!”Heasksthemaster,“Howdoyoudothat?”Themastersays,“Youdoitwithchi.”

“What’schi?”

“Chi,”saysthemaster,“istheenergyoftheUniverse.YouhavetobecomeachannelforthepoweroftheUniverse.Youneedtolearntomeditate.”Rockylaughs.“Chi?That’scrap.”

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Rockygoeshomeandputsabrickonhiscoffeetable.Hetriestosmashitwithhisforeheadandspendstheweekendinhospital.

Rockyispuzzled.Howcomeskinnylittlesixty-year-oldguyscanshatterlumpsofconcrete?AndhowcouldBruceLeeknockaguyacrosstheroomwithhisone-inchpunch!

Rockyreallywantstosmashthings.Sohelearnstomeditate.Rockylearnstofocushisenergy.Hediscoversthatthinkingdoesn’thelp;rather,youexpressyourintentionandthenyouhavetogetyourmindoutoftheway.Andsohelearnstobreakstuff–andit’sweird;ashediscovershispower,hebecomesmorehumble.

Rockynoticessomethingelse:ashebecomesmorerelaxed,hefindsmorepeaceofmind.Forthefirsttimeinhislifehebeginstolikehimself.Rockydiscoversthatpeoplelikehim,andhelikespeople.Hemakessomefriends.OnedayitdawnsonRocky,“Idon’tgetintostreetfightsanymore.”

Rockyhelpsotherangryyoungkids.Heunderstandsthosekids.Infact,helovesthem.Oftenhe’lltellthem,“Iusedtobelikeyou.”

AndonedayRockyhearshimselfexplainingtoayoungteen,“Youdon’thavetoimpressanybody.Youaren’theretoteachanyonealesson.Youareheretolearnaboutyourself.Relax.StayinthemomentandyoubecomeachannelfortheenergyoftheUniverse.”

Rockyexplains,“Asyoulearnhowtofight,soyoulearnaboutyourself.Whenyouhavemasteredyourself,thereisnoonelefttofight.”

Andthekidsays,“That’scrap.”

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Life-changingrelationshipsandopportunitiesappearwhenweleastexpectthem.

InaNutshell

Sometimesyoucangetintosomething–ajob,amarriageorthescienceofhowtobeatupotherpeople–forallthewrongreasons,andemergewithalltherightanswers.

“Thisisadisaster!”

WhenIfirstlearnedabouttheLawofAttractionIwassingle.Ibegantoimaginemyperfectwife:beautiful,smart,funny,feminineandnottootall.Acoupleofyearswentby.Ikeptvisualisingher,butshestillhadn’tshownup.Ibegantowonder,“Howlongdoesthistake?Whereisshe?”

AtthattimeIwasrunningweekendseminars.Ihadrent,wages,advertisingcosts,electricalbills,printingandpostagecosts.Ineededeighteenpeopleinaseminartopaymybills.Mycoursesaveragedaboutthirtypeople,andsoIwasdoingokay.ThenoneNovember,Ijustcouldn’tgetthenumbers–andeventhepeoplewhohadbookedwerealldroppingout.

SoonIwasdowntotwelve.NomatterwhatIdid,Ijustcouldn’tfilltheroom.Ithought,“Thisisadisaster!”Eventually,Ihadtotellmyself,“Youhavedoneallthatyoucan.Whateverhappens,happens.”Istoppedstruggling.InmymindIstoppedcomplaining.Iletgo.

Andintothatseminaroftwelvepeoplewalkedthewomanofmydreams.Thatwas1986.Wemarried

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in1991.

Julieismyinspiration.Sheisthesmartest,mostelegant,mostgenerous,mostcourageous,mostextraordinarywomanIevermet–all150cmofher.

Thisismyexperience:life-changingrelationshipsandopportunitiesappearwhenweleastexpectthem.Itislife’swayofsaying,“Neverunderestimatethepresentmoment.”

InaNutshell

Whenwethinkeverythingisgoingwrong,itusuallyisn’t.Wejustcan’tseethewholepicture.

YourRadarScreen

Ourconsciousmindislikeatinyradarscreenthatseesjustafractionofwhatisgoingonaroundus.

Wearealwayssurroundedbypeople,eventsandpossibilitiesapproachingusthatwecan’tseeontheradar.Becausewecan’tseethemwithourphysicalsenses,wethinktheyaren’tthere.

Buttheyarethere.Andeverytimeyouhaveapositivefeelingaboutloveormoneyorahappylife,whatyoufeelgoodaboutmovescloser.ButitisonlyattheveryENDofthecreationprocessthatwhatyouarefeelingappearsonyourscreen.

Peoplewhostruggleandsufferandcomplainbelievethattheradarscreenisallthereis.Butourradarscreenispickingup

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justthetiniestcornerofourUniverse.

Juliewasalwaysoutthereandalwaysgettingcloser.Itjusttookmetwoyearstogetherontomyradar.

InaNutshell

Allthosethingsthatyouhavebeenfeelingexcitedaboutarestillmovingtowardyou.Youjustneedtokeepthefeelinguntilyoulandthemonyourscreen.

GowiththeFlow

Lifeislikeridingastream.Somepeoplespendtheirlifeswimmingagainstthecurrent.Somepeoplethrashaboutinapermanentpanic.Somepeopleneverjumpin.

Itiseasiertogowiththeflow.Themoreflexibleyouare,thebetteryoufeelandthebetterlifeworks.

Moneywillsometimesbetightandsometimesbeplentiful.Peoplewillsometimespromisemorethantheydeliver.Youwillhavedayswhenitseemseverythingisgoingwrong.

Onthosetoughdays,asoneveryday,affirmtoyourself,“Everythingwillworkoutfine!”

InaNutshell

Youcannotcontroleverything.

Youdon’thavetocontroleverything.

Youdon’thavetoknowHOW

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thingswillworkout.

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Energyflowsintoyourbeingeverytimeyousay,“ThisisaGREATMOMENT!”

15.Acceptance

WhereEnergyComesfrom

Imaginethis:youdidn’tsleeplastnight.Youwereupat4amandyouhadalongdayattheoffice.Youfoughtthebossandyoufoughtthetraffic.It’snow6pmandyouarehome,collapsedonthesofa,tootiredtoshowerandtootiredtoeat.

Yourphonerings,andit’saveryofficial-soundinglady.Sheverifiesyournameandaddressandsays,“Wehavebeentryingtocontactyouallday.Congratulations!Youarethewinnerofthestatelottery–thesumoftwentymilliondollars.”

Youleapthreefeetintheair.“Twentymillion!We’reRICH!”

Youraceupanddownthestairstofindthefamily.Youcallyourmother,yourbrother,allyourfriendsandneighbours.“Getoverhere!Let’sparty!”

QUESTION:Wheredidyougetalltheenergyfrom?Ithadtocomefromsomewhere!

Yousay,“It’sthemoney!”Butit’snotthemoney.Youhaven’tevengotityet.Anditcouldbeahoax.

Here’swheretheenergycamefrom:energyflowsintoyourbeingeverytimeyousay,“THISISAGREATMOMENT!”Itishowlifeworks.Itisthecosmicdifferencebetween“Oh,YES!”and“Oh,no!”

It’swhythree-year-oldsareunstoppable.Tothree-year-olds,everythingisfreshandexciting.Theyareenergychannels.Ifyoucouldgetathree-year-oldtoworryabout

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mortgagesandmedicalbills,hewouldbeastiredashisgrandparents.

Blockages

TheChineseunderstandenergy.Chinesemedicineexplainswhy,whenyougetangrywithyourboyfriend,yougetaragingheadache.Youtenseupinyourneckandshoulders,youchokeofftheenergyflowinyour“meridians”andyougetapaininyourhead.

Wheneverweresistasituation,wheneverwesay,“Thisisnotokay,”weblockenergyflow.

Massageoracupunctureremovestheblockage.(Sodoesforgivingyourboyfriend.)Yourelax,theenergyflowsandthereisnomoreheadache.

Weareallchannels–wechannelenergyandinspiration.Theword,“enthusiasm”,comesfromtheLatin,“enthusiasmus”,meaningdivineinspiration,possessedbyagod.Whenweareenthusiastic,wehavelifeforceflowingthroughusandweareconnectedtoeverything.Buteverytimewesay,“Thisisabadmoment!”,everytimewefindfault,everytimewejudgepeopleandevents,weclogourchannel.

Whenelectricitycan’ttraveldownawireorpastapieceofplastictape,wesaythereis“resistance”.Whenthereisenoughresistance,electricalenergystopsflowingaltogether.

It’sthesamewithyou.Whenenergycan’tflowintoyou,it’sduetoablockage,orresistance.Howdowerecogniseresistance?Itsoundssomethinglikethis:

“Ihatethistraffic.”“Ihatemyjob.”

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“I’malwaysbroke.”“Imightgetsick!”“Ishouldhavemarriedhersister!”

SavingEnergy

Youcan’tsaveupyourenergylikemoneyinabank.Thelessyoulove,thelessloveflowsthroughyou.Thelessenergyyouspend,thelessenergyflowsthroughyou.

Miseryandapathyshutoffyourenergy.Thatiswhydepressedpeoplearemostlyexhausted.Passionforlifeandpeoplerestorestheflow.

HowtoStayStuck

Here’showtostaystuckinanyjob,situationorrelationship:lookforthingsthatarewrong.

Themorereasonsyoucanfindtobedisappointedorresentful,themoreresistanceyoucreate,andthemoreslowlyyourlifewillmove.Youarenotbeingpunished;youaresimplychokingoffyourlifeforce.

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Yousay,“DoIneedtobemoretolerant?”No!Toleranceisresistance:it’ssimplymorepolite.“Idon’tlikethis,butI’msufferinginsilence!”

Weneedtomovefromtoleranceto…

Acceptance

TodayIwilljudgenothingthatoccurs.24

ACourseinMiracles

Perhapsyouarebrokerightnow.Perhapsyouhavelostyourjoborlostalovedone.Maybeyouaresick.Yousay,“Ijustdon’tknowwhattodo.”

Hereisthefirstthingtodo:acceptwhereyouare.Toturnthingsaround,youfirstmakepeacewithyoursituation.Forgetaboutblame,forgetaboutguilt,forgetthe“whatifs”.Progressdependsonacceptance.

Acceptancedoesn’tmean,“Iwanttostayhere.”Acceptancemeans,“ThisiswhereIam–andnowImoveontowhatI

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want.”

Insteadof,“MymarriageisamessandI’mangryandresentful,”itismorelike,“Mymarriageisamess.Whataperfectlearningexperience!Nowmylifecanbegintogetbetter.”

Acceptanceisn’tgivingup.Acceptanceisrecognitionthat“Thisisapartofmyjourney”.Veryoftenitmeans,“RightnowIhavenoideawhythishadtobeapartofmyjourney,butIembraceitanyway.”“Ineededtobehere”doesn’tmean“Ineedtostayhere.”

InaNutshell

Logicwilltellyou,“IfIacceptthisrottenmomentIwillbestuckwithitforever!”Infact,thereverseistrue.Acceptanceallowsyoutomoveon.

HowDoIPracticeAcceptance?

Doyouwanttoprovetoyourselfthatpositivethinkingworks?

Trythis:everymorningwhenyouwakeup,say“Thisisperfect.WhereIamisperfect.Allmymistakesareperfect.Mylifeuntilnowistheperfectpreparationtograduatetosomethingbetter.”

Doestheword,“perfect”,seemtooextreme?Thentryusingtheword,“okay”.Wheneverthingsseemtogowrong–youmissaflight,youloseyourhousekeys,youmissoutonapromotion–tellyourself,“Idon’tknowwhy,butthisisokay!”Andthenlookforreasonstobehappynow.

Whatwillhappen?Yourenergywillchangeandyourlifewill

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“Ineededtobehere”doesn’tmean“Ineedtostayhere.”

change.

WhathappenswhenyouacceptwhatIS?Frustrationdissolvesintofascination.Youstillhavechallenges,buttheyresolvethemselvesalmosteffortlessly.Youargueless,youquittryingtomakeotherpeoplewrong,youquitcomplaining.Youlookfor

goodthings,andasyoulookforgoodthings,lifeheapsmoregoodthingsuponyou.Friends,loversandopportunitiesappearalmostmagically.YougetthefeelingthattheUniverseisplottingtomakeyouhappy.“Ineededtobehere”doesn’tmean“Ineedtostayhere.”

Tohaveabeautifullife,youdon’thavetoknoweverythingabouteverythingandyoudon’tevenhavetobeverysmart!Itismoreaboutacceptingwhereyouare,seeingthebestinpeopleandbelievinglifewillturnoutwell.

InaNutshell

Acceptanceispower.

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Toforgivepeopleyoudon’thaveto

16.ForgivenessWheredowegettheideathatifWEdon’tforgivepeople,THEYsuffer?It’snuts!

Let’ssay:

a)youaremybossandyougivemethesack;orb)youaremygirlandyourunoffwithmybestfriend.

SoIsay,“I’llneverforgiveyouforthat!”Whosuffers?Notyou!I’mpacingthefloor.I’vegottheheadachesandtheindigestion.I’mlosingsleep.Youareprobablyoutpartying!

IfIdon’tforgiveyou,itruinsMYlife!

Isforgivenesseasy?Usuallynot.Itishardtoforgivepeoplebecausewhenwetrytoforgive,wefocusonwhat“theydid”.Sowekeepgettingmoreandmoreangry!

Sohere’sathoughtthatmaybehelpful:don’tevenTRYtoforgivepeople.Justlookfortheirgoodqualities,lookforthingstoappreciateinthem.Ifyoucanfindonequalityandconcentrateonthat,soonerorlateryouwillfindsomethingelsetoappreciate,andsomethingelse.Andasyouseemoreandmoregoodthings,yourrelationshipwillheal.

Asyourrelationshipheals,thepastwilltakecareofitself.

Toforgivepeople,youdon’thavetoagree

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agreewithwhattheydid.

withwhattheydid.Youjusthavetowantyourlifetowork.

InaNutshell

Youdon’tforgivepeoplefortheirbenefit.

Youdoitforyourbenefit.

Andthere’smoretoit…

ItTakesTwo

IfIbelievethat:

lifeisunfaireverybodyisacheatallbossesarebullies

Iwillattractexperiencesthatprovemybeliefsystem.Peoplewillappearinmylifetoemptymybankaccount,breakmynoseorleavemestrandedatthealtar.Mylow-qualitythoughtswilldeliverlow-qualityexperiences.

DoIwanttheunhappyexperiences?No.

DoIchoosethoseexactexperiences?No.

ButbythequalityofmyfeelingsIdeterminetheQUALITYofmyexperiences.

Soif,forexample,Jimcomesalongandsmacksmeinthemouth,JimissimplyaperfectmatchforhowIfeelaboutmyselfatthemoment.Ifitwasn’tJim,thenitwouldhavebeenaneighbouroraperfectstrangerwhobeltedme.

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ITISNOTABOUTJIM.Icreatedthe“window”forasmackinthemouth.Onepersonwhoisfeelingbadabouthimselfattractsanotherpersonwhofeelslikethumpingsomeone.Perfect!

SodoesitmakesensetoblameJimifIcreatedtheconditionsforJimtothumpme?Andtheansweris,“No.”

Atthispointyoumightsay,“Wait!Thisisridiculous!Whatkindofidiotwouldsay,‘Neverblameotherpeople?’.”

Andtheansweris:EVERYSPIRITUALMASTERWHOEVERLIVEDbecausetheyunderstandhowlifeworks.

“Stopbeatingyourselfup.”

PeopleappeartoberuiningyourlifeaslongasyoubelievetheyareruiningyourlifeYouarecreatingyourlifeexperience.

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Yourbeliefskeepyoustuckrightwhereyouare.

InaNutshell

Youdon’tforgivepeoplebecauseit’sholyorspiritual.YouforgivepeoplebecauseitisPRACTICAL.ResentingpeoplekeepsyouSTUCK.Forgivenesssetsyoufree.Andthere’smore…

ForgiveYourself!

Itisnototherpeoplethatweblamethemost–itisourselves.

Mostofushadparentswhodidn’tfeelgoodaboutthemselves.Sotheyfoundfaultwithus.Sowegrewupbelieving:

“Iamstupid”“I’mtoofat,skinny,ugly,short…”

“Ineedtoprovemyself.”

WealsohavethatVoiceinourhead–theInnerCritic.TheInnerCriticisaninvisiblebully,foreverstalkingus,tearingusdown.

“You’renotsmartenough,you’renotloveable,you’renotbeautiful.”“Youneedtomakemoremoney,getmorestuff,winmoretrophies,bemoreimpressive.”“Youshouldbemorelikeyourbrother,sister,father,neighbour.”

SilencingtheInnerCritic

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Youask,“SohowdoIsilencemyInnerCritic?”

Forthelastfiftyyears,psychologistsandtherapistshavetoldus,“Raiseyourself-esteem!Whenyoufeelbetteraboutyourself,theCriticwillleaveyoualone.”

Buthere’stheproblem:wetrytoraiseourself-esteembycomparingourselveswithotherpeople.Wetellourselves:

“I’mokaybecauseI’mthinnerthanher.”“I’mokaybecauseIgotapromotion,wonatrophy,driveanAudi.”“I’mokaybecauseI’maboveaverage.”

Butweallcan’tbeaboveaverage!Andwecan’tbeaboveaverageateverything.

Self-esteemworkswheneverythingisgoingwell.Buthowdoyoumaintainagoodself-imagewhenyoujustgotsackedordivorced–orwhenyouarebattlingaddiction?It’sliketryingtorunamarathonwithabrokenleg.

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“Ineedtomakemoremoney,winmoretrophies,proveI’m

Self-compassion

Manyexpertsnowrecommendanotherway.It’scalledself-compassion–wherewequitthrashingourselvesandquitcomparingourselveswithotherpeople.

Withself-compassion,westopaskingquestionslike,“HowamIdifferent?HowamIbetter?”Webeginaskingthequestion,“HowamIthesameaseveryoneelse?”

Wegiveourselvespermissiontobeimperfect.Wetaketimetonoticewhenwearehurting.Interestingly,thelesswecriticiseourselves,themoreeffectivewebecome.Thelesswecompetewithpeople,themoreweconnectwithpeople.

Howdoesself-compassionhelp?Here’sthecrunch:

IfICRITICISEmyselfIfeelbad.WhenIfeelbad,lifebeatsuponme:Igetjilted,cheated,exploitedandexhausted.

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right…”IfIACCEPTmyself,Ifeelgood.WhenIfeelgood,Igetlovedandappreciated.Igetopportunities.Thingsworkout.

Therearemanyhelpfulbooksandwebsitesaboutpractisingself-compassion,includingwww.compassionfocusedtherapy.com.auandwww.self-compassion.org.

TheSecrettoFeelingLoved

SocialogistBrenéBrown,PhD25,spenttenyearsstudyingpeoplewhofeellovedandpeoplewhofeelunloved.Sowhatisthedifference?Arelovedpeoplemorebeautiful,moreintelligentormoretrendy?Dounlovedpeoplemakemoreblunders?No.

Here’swhatBrowndiscovered:PEOPLEWHOFEELLOVEDBELIEVETHEYDESERVETOBELOVED.Itisthatsimple.

Ifyouhavemadestupidmistakes,guiltwon’tfixthem.Ifyouareimperfect,jointheclub.Ifyouwanttofeelloved,forgiveyourselffornotbeingperfect.

ThereisOnlyOneRelationship

Yourrelationshipsarenotaboutyourboss,yourgirlfriend,yourfamilyandfriends.YourhappinessisnotdependentonTHEM.Thereisonlyonerelationshipthatmatters,andthatishowyoufeelaboutyou.Therestaremirrors.

Nooneeverhadahitrecord,wonatournament,orkeptajoborafriendshipwhodidn’tbelievetheydeservedit.Noonewaseverlovedforalifetimewhodidn’tbelievetheywereworthyof

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love.

InaNutshell

TheproblemisnotthatGodjudgesyou;theproblemisthatyoujudgeyou.

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17.YourMiraculousBodyIfyougiveanygroupofpatientsasimplesugarpilltocureasthma,depressionoranallergy,about33%willreportimprovementoracure.Medicinecallsthistheplaceboeffect.

Yousay,“Okay,placebosmightworkforthingsthatareinthemind–likedepression–butwhataboutREALproblems?Whataboutsomethingphysicallikeosteoarthritis?”

FakeSurgery

Orthopedicsurgeon,DrBruceMoseley,wastheleadauthorofaBaylorSchoolofMedicinestudy26thatsetouttodeterminewhichoftwocommonsurgicalproceduresgavegreaterrelieftopatientssufferingfromseverekneepain.

Therewere180patientsinthestudy,dividedintothreegroupsof60:

GroupAgotsurgery:MoseleyshavedthedamagedcartilageofthekneeGroupBgotsurgery:Moseleyflushedoutthedamagedkneejoint,andremovedanymaterialthatmightbecausingthepainGroupPlacebogotfakesurgery.Moseleymadethreeincisionsintheskin,pretendedtooperateandthenseweduptheincisionsafterfortyminutes.

GroupPlacebowereallowedtobelievetheyhadhadrealsurgeryfortwoyearsbeforetheywerefinallytold,“Wetrickedyou.Youhadnosurgery!”

Andtheresults?

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GroupsAandBthathadtherealsurgeryimprovedasexpected.ForGroupPlacebothathadNOsurgery,theirimprovementwasEQUALtothosewhohadsurgery.Onememberoftheplacebogroup,TimPerez,hadbeenrestrictedtowalkingwithacane.Followingthefakesurgery,hewasabletoplaybasketballwithhisgrandchildren.

DrMoseleyobserves,“Thebiggerthetreatmentthepatientthinksthey’regoingtohave,thebiggertheplaceboeffect,andingeneralsmallpillsdon’thaveasbigofaplaceboeffectasbiggerpills,andpillsdon’thaveasbigofaneffectasshots,andshotsdon’thaveasbigofaneffectasprocedures...”27Thepowerofbelief!

Thisshouldn’tsurpriseus.Thefirstplacebotrialwasconductedin1801andmedicalresearchhascontinuedtodemonstratethesamephenomenaeversince.

Howcanthisbe?Here’swhatwedoknowforsure:whetheryourulcerheals,whetheryoucureyourdepressionorwhetherthearthriticpaininyourkneedisappearsdependsmuchonwhatyoubelieve.Thisraisessomequestions.

Ifplacebosworkforathirdofpatients,whydon’ttheyworkforallpatients?

Perhapsitisbecauserealdrugsdon’tworkforallpatients,either.Beliefispartoftheequationandsomepatientsdon’tbelievetheycanbecured.Andstrangeasitmaysound,somepatientsdon’twanttobecured.

Whydoplaceboswork?

Asugartabletoranimaginaryoperationgivesyouexpectation

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andhope,andwhenyouhavebeliefyourenergychanges.Whenyoufeelbetter,youhealbetter.

Whenpeoplediscoverthataplacebohelpedtheirbodiesheal,theyareusuallyembarrassed,asiftosay,“Asugarpillmademebetter!Itwasallinmymind.AmIcrazy?”

Whatweshouldsayis,“Asugarpillmademebetter.Iammiraculous!”

Howcanthemindinfluencethecellsofthebodytoeffectacurewhenwedon’tevenknowwhatourbodyneedstodotofixtheproblem?

That’sjustit.Youneverhavehadaclueabouthowyourbodyworks.Whenyoucutyourfinger,doyouhavetothinkaboutmakingascab,creatingscartissue,mendingandgrowingcapillaries?Whenyoueatapizza,doyouhavetoconcentrateondigestingthatlastanchovy?Whatdoyouknowaboutreplacingyourentirestomachlining(whichhappenseverytwodays)orproducingbileorgrowingfingernails?

Rightnowthecellsinyourbodyaredigesting,breathing,expellingwaste,makingproteins,replicatingyourDNA,watchingoutfortoxinsandpredators,sendingmessages.Thereare100,000chemicalreactionshappeninginEACHcellofyourbodyeverysecond.

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Yourgenesarenotlikesometimebombwaitingtoexplode.

Eachcellislikeanentireuniverse.Injustonecellinyournostril,yourliveroryourrectum,thereare6trillionthingshappeningeverysecond.

Youhave50trillioncellsinyourbody;sothat’s300,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000thingshappeninginyourbodyeverysecond.Andhowmuchdoyouknowaboutit?

Itisyoursubconsciousmindthattakescareofit.YouareaPASSENGER.

ButIt’sMyGenes!

Yousay,“Okay,buttheremustbealimittowhatthemindcando.Isn’tourhealthdeterminedbyourgenes?”

Inthe1960s,longbeforemostofushadevenheardofgenetics,DrBruceLiptonwasalreadycloningstemcellsandstudyingDNA.Inhisbest-sellingbook,TheBiologyofBelief,28Liptondrawsonalmostfiftyyearsofresearchtoexplainthatwehavegoneoverboardinassumingthatourlifeisdeterminedbyourgenes.

SaysDrLipton,yourgenesareonlyablueprintforwhatMIGHThappen.Ablueprintisaplan,apossibility.Forexample,ifyouhaveablueprinttobuildabookshelf,andyouleavetheblueprintinyourbriefcase,thebookshelfnevergetsbuilt.Theblueprintcan’tbuildthebookshelf.Thenecessary

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environmenttobuildabookshelfincludesyouandascrewdriver.

Itisthesamewithyourgenes.Yourgenesarenotlikesometimebombwaitingtoexplode.Howyourgenesbehavedependsontheenvironment.SomethinghastoswitchyourDNAonoroff.WhatswitchesDNAonoroffistheenvironmentthatyoucreatewithyourlifestyleandyourthoughts–atthequantumlevelatwhichmatterappearsanddisappears.

DrLiptonreferstotheworkofeminentscientistandphysician,DeanOrmish.SaysLipton,“Ormishrevealedthatbyjustchangingdietandlifestylefor90days,prostatecancerpatientsswitchedtheactivityofover500genes.”29

Liptoncontinues,“Somepeoplecomeherewithdefectivegenesandwiththeirmindtheycanrewritethosegenesandmakethemnormal.”

Heexplains,“Wedonothavetogothroughthefateofourgenesbecausewearemastersofourgenes.Wearenotvictimsunlessourbeliefsystemsaysweare.”

That’swhyDrLiptonnamedhisbook,TheBiologyofBelief.

Emotion

Traditionally,scientistsdon’tacknowledgefuzzythingslikeemotions,butthisischanging.

Renownedpharmacologist,CandacePertPhD,hasspentdecadesstudyingwhywefeelthewaywefeel.

Perthaspublishedover250scientificpapers.Sowhatdoesahard-nosedlaboratoryscientisthavetosayabouthowemotionsinteractwiththe“real”world?Andhowimportantareour

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feelings?SaysPert:

Wecannolongerthinkoftheemotionsashavinglessvaliditythanmaterial,physicalsubstancebutinsteadwemustseethemascellularsignalsthatareinvolvedintheprocessoftranslatinginformationintophysicalreality,literallytransformingmindintomatter.30

JustasEinsteinandquantumphysicsdemonstratedthatallmatterisenergy,Pertsuggeststhatallenergyisinformation.ThisisausefulwaytopictureyourbodyandtherestoftheUniverse.

InaNutshell

WesternmedicineisstartingtoembracewhatEasternmedicinehasknownfor6,000years.

NegativethoughtsaretoxicWellnessanddiseasebegininthemind.

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18.YourHeartHowoftenwetalkaboutourhearts!Wesaysomeonehasabigheart,alightheart,aheavyheart,ahardheart,asoftheart,ablackheart,achangeofheart,abrokenheartornoheart.Andnooneeversays,“Iloveyouwithallmybrain!”

Somethingelse:whenwepointtoourselves,weneverpointourfingeratourhead.Wepointtoourheart.

Iffeelingscreateourlifeexperience,somelogicalquestionsarise.

Doestheheartemitastrongenergy?Dotraditionalculturesrecogniseheartorfeelingenergy?Istheheartmorethanjustapump?

Canwemeasureenergyfromtheheart?

ThisisaquestionposedbyagroupofscientistsattheInstituteofHeartMath:www.heartmath.com.

HeartMath31foundthat“theheartproducesbyfarthebody’smostpowerfulrhythmicelectromagneticfield”.Thisenergyfieldisaboutthreemetresacrossandencirclesyourchestlikeahugedoughnut.

Thiselectromagneticheartfieldis5,000TIMESSTRONGERthanthefieldsurroundingyourbrain.Thisissignificant!Suddenly,theideathathowyoufeelshapesyourdestinysoundsalotmorereasonable.Yourheartnotonlyknowsthings;itremembersthem.

AMystery

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Yourheartnotonlyknowsthings;itremembersthem.

Inthelast50yearswehavelearntmuchaboutthebrainbutlessabouttheheart.Wedon’tknowwhatstartstheheartbeatinginthewombandwedon’tknowwhyaheartcankeepbeatingafteritisdisconnectedfromthebrain.32

Ifyouplaceagroupofheartcellsinadishinalaboratory–witheachofthemseparated–theywillbeattoasinglerhythm.Howdotheydoit?Howdotheyknow?

MoreMysteries

Psychoneuroimmunologist,PaulPearsallPhD,spentthirtyyearsstudyingpeoplewhohavehadhearttransplants.Heamassed140reportsandaudio-tapesfrompatientswhoreceivedotherpeople’shearts.

Inhisbest-seller,TheHeart’sCode,33hetellsstoriesofpatientswhodevelopedthebehavioursandpassionsoftheirhearts’donorsBEFORETHEYKNEWanythingaboutthedonors.Forexample:

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Athirty-five-year-oldfemalerecipientreceivedtheheartofatoplessdancer.Shereportedthatbeforethetransplant,sexwasnotabigpartofherlife.Aftertheoperationsheexplained,“Iwantsexeverynight…NowItiremyhusbandout…IusedtohateX-ratedvideos,nowIlovethem…IthinkIgothersexualdrive.”Afifty-two-year-oldmalewhoreceivedtheheartofaseventeen-year-oldboysaid,“Ilovedquietclassicalmusicbeforemynewheart.NowIputonearphones,crankupthestereoandplayloudrock-and-rollmusic.”

Inherautobiography,AChangeofHeart,ClaireSylvia34tellsofherowntransformation.Beforereceivingaheartandlungtransplant,shewasconservativeandhealth-conscious.Afterhertransplantshedevelopedapassionforbeer,chickennuggetsandmotorbikes.Whenshespokewiththedonor’sfamilyshediscoveredthatshehadbeengiventheheartofabeer-drinking,chickennugget-lovingmotorcyclist.

DrPearsallrecountsthestoryofaneight-year-oldgirlwhoreceivedtheheartofamurderedten-year-oldgirl.Theeight-year-oldbegantohavenightmares–andreportedthatsheknewtheidentityofthekillerofherheart’sdonor.

Policeuseddescriptionsandevidenceprovidedbytheeight-year-oldtoarrestthemurderer,whowasultimatelyconvicted.ReportsPearsall,“thetime,theweapon,theplace,theclotheshewore,whatthelittlegirlhekilledhadsaidtohim…

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everythingthehearttransplantrecipientreportedwascompletelyaccurate.”35

Howcanthisbe?

AnemergingviewisthatALLcells–notjustbraincells–havememory.DNAcodeiscontainedineverycellofyourbody.So,too,itseems,ismemory.

TheWesternconceptisthatthebrainiskingandtheheartisapump.Butthehearthasanervoussystemofitsown.Theheartisaconsciousorgan.Yourheartnotonlyknowsthings;itremembersthem.

WhatTraditionalCulturesKnow

Traditionalculturesknowaboutlifeforceorheartenergy.Thereareover100wordsforit.ThePolynesianscallitmana,theIndiansandTibetanscallitprana,theIroquoiscallitorendam,theIturipygmiescallitmegbe,ChineseandJapanesemedicinecallsitchi.

Westernmedicinecallsitbaloney.

IntheWestwetendtoworshipthebrainandignoretheheart.Westernmedicinehasnowords–andnoplace–for“lifeforce”,“prana”or“chi”.AnditisintheWestthatheartdiseaseisoutofcontrol.Isnaturetryingtotellussomething?

InaNutshell

Yourfeelingsarenotjustincidentalby-productsofyourthoughts.Yourfeelingsareyourlifeforce.TheyareyourlifelinetotheUniverse.

Shouldthissurpriseus?Thefirstorgantoforminyourmother’s

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wombwasyourheart.“Iknowmyhusbandcanbelovingandkind.Heisthatwaywiththedog.”

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“Iknowmyhusbandcanbelovingandkind.Heisthatwaywiththedog.”

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19.WeAreAllConnected

Isitselfishtoseekhappiness?

Psychologicaltestsprovethatwhenyouarehappy,youaremorelikelytolendpeoplemoneyorcarrytheirgroceries.Similartestsprovethatwhenyouaremiserableyouaremorelikelytostealtheirwalletorkickadog.

Soyourhappinessbenefitseveryonearoundyouandallthedogsintheneighbourhood.

Itdoesn’tstopthere…

HelpingPeopleataDistance

DuringtheIsraeli-LebaneseWarin1983,DrCharlesNAlexanderandDrDavidOrme-Johnson36conductedastunningstudyinJerusalem.

Theywantedtofindout,“Whathappenswhenagroupofpeoplefeelpeaceful?Andwhathappensifagroupofpeoplefeelhappyandpeacefulinthemiddleofawarzone?”

FortwomonthsbetweenAugust1andSeptember30,agroupofmeditators,ranginginnumberbetween65and241,meditatedtwicedailyinahotelinEastJerusalem.Theirmissionwassimplytocometogetherandfeelpeace.Andwhathappened?

Duringthesetwomonths,wardeaths,terroristattacks,fires,hospitalemergenciesandautomobileaccidentsdecreasedmarkedly–inLebanon,JerusalemandIsraelasawhole.Therewasapreciserelationship.

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DrAlexanderandDrOrme-Johnsonmadeasophisticatedanalysis,accountingforvariablessuchasweather,daysoftheweekandholidays.Thedatashowedthatwhentheexperimentbegan,violencedecreasedimmediately.Whenmoremediatorsparticipated,violencedecreasedfurther.Whentheexperimentstopped,theviolencereturnedtoformerlevels.

Theirresearchpaper,TheInternationalPeaceProjectintheMiddleEast,isonline.37

SimilarstudiestothishavebeenconductedinPuertoRico,inthePhilippines,inDelhi,Indiaandintwenty-fourcitiesacrosstheUnitedStates.Itonlytakesasmallgrouptomakeadifference–asfewasahundredpeopleinacityofamillion.

WhatElse?

Youmayask,“Ifweareinvisiblyconnected,shouldn’ttherebescientificevidence?”Thereis.Herearesomeexamples.

In1988DrRandolphByrd38

conductedastudyattheSanFranciscoGeneralHospitalcoronarycareunit,demonstratingthatheartpatientswhowereprayedforbyrandomgroupsscatteredaroundtheworldrecoveredsignificantlybetterthanpatientswhowerenotprayedfor.Biofeedbackexpert,DrElmerGreen,39hascomparedtheelectrostaticenergyreleasedfromthebodiesofordinarypeople(10-15millivolts)withtheelectrostaticenergyreleasedbymeditatorswhentheyare

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meditatingandhealerswhentheyarehealing.Hefoundhealersproducedvoltagesofupto190volts–or100,000timesthenormalamount.In1966,CleveBackster40connectedapolygraph(liedetector)toapotplant.Hewascurioustoseewhetherhisdracaenaplantwouldreacttobeingwatered.Whenthepolygraphrecordedasmallresponse,hewondered,“WhatwouldhappenifIburnedaleaf?”Thatiswhentherecordingpenswungwildlyandnearlyjumpedoffthepage.Backsterhadn’tevenburnedtheplantyet!Hehadsimplythoughtaboutit.Backsterhadstumbledontosomething.Hespentthenextthirtyyearsinresearchdemonstratingthatplants,mouldcultures,eggsandevenyoghurthaveanawarenessoftheirsurroundingsthathecalled“primaryperception”.NobelPrizewinner,NielsBohr,discoveredthat,oncesub-atomicparticleshavebeenincontactwitheachother,theyremainforeverinfluencedbyeachother.Toexplain,let’simaginetwoparticles;we’llcallthemBobandAlice.TheyspendonecrazynighttogetherinRio,andthenBobmovestoMiami.Here’swhat’samazing:wheneverBobchangesthespeedatwhichheisspinning,Alicewillchange,too.EvenifBobmovestotheothersideoftheUniverse,whenBobchangeshisspeedofrotation,Alicewillchange,too,ATTHEEXACTSAMEINSTANT.

Thisphenomenon,whereparticlesremainlinkedforever,isknowninquantumphysicsas“entanglement”.Myquantumphysicistfriend,Phil,explains,“Itdoesn’ttakeageniustofigurethat,aseverythingwascreatedatthesametime,theneverythingisentangled.Andthatincludesyouandme.”

ThephenomenonwhereparticleslikeBobandAlice,millionsof

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lightyearsapart,danceinperfectstep,regardlessoftimeordistance,isknownas“nonlocality”.

Whatmoreproofdoweneedthateverythingisconnected?

For2600yearstheBuddhistshavebeensayingthatalllifeisconnected,andyouarepartofit.

Aboriginalculturesknowit.ToquoteDrBruceLipton,“Aboriginalculturesdonotmaketheusualdistinctionsbetweenrocks,airandhumans;allareimbuedwithspirit,theinvisibleenergy.Doesn’tthissoundfamiliar?Thisistheworldofquantumphysicsinwhichmatterandenergyarecompletelyentangled.”41

ThisistheUniversewelivein.Wetakeradiowavesandultrasoundforgranted.Andmicrowaves–isn’titamazingthatyoucanbestandinginasolidsteelelevatorandtakeaphonecallfromyourmother?HowdoesyourMumgetthroughsolidsteel?

Humansaresimplysophisticatedtransmittersandreceivers.EdisonandEinsteinhadnodoubtsaboutthat.

PartsReflectingtheWhole

Theideaofeverytinypartbeingconnectedtothewholeisnotnew.Herearesomeexamples.

Holograms–those3Dimagesthatweoftenseeoncreditcardsandsoftwarepackages.Youmayhave,forexample,animageofaneagle.Theentireimageisineverypartofthehologram.Ifyousmashthehologramintoathousandpieces,yougetathousandcompletelittleimagesofaneagle.EverycellinyourbodycontainstheDNAblueprintforyour

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entirebody.

RememberProfessorWolfgangPauli’sExclusionPrinciple–elementsthroughouttheUniversearecontinuallyadjustingandrespondingtoeachother?Whatdoesthisresemble?

Itresembleshowasinglecellworks.Itresembleshowthe50trillioncellsinyourbodycooperate.ItresemblestheGaiaeffect–howtheEarthcontinuestobringitselfbackintobalance.

AhundredyearsagoNobelPrizewinnerandoriginatorofquantumphysics,MaxPlanck,discoveredthatavacuumisn’tavacuum.Emptyspaceisactuallyahiveofactivity.

IftheUniverseisactuallyahiveofroaringactivityandthereisnosuchthingasemptyspace,theneverythingISconnectedtoeverythingelse.

InaNutshell

ThewholeUniverseisaliving,breathing,consciousthing.Wecouldcallituniversalconsciousness.

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20.InspirationHowoftendoesthishappentoyou?Youhavebeentryingtofigureoutwhattosayinaspeechorwonderingwheretofindamissingfile.Youaresittingonthetoilet–youarenoteventryingtosolvetheproblem–whenoutoftheblue,youknowtheanswer.

Ormaybeyou’vespentweekswonderingwhattobuyyourMumforherbirthday.Youaresoapingyourselfintheshower,andbingo!Yougettheperfectsolution!

Suchsolutionspopoutofyoursubconsciousmind.Wetouchedonthisearlier.

Thesubconsciousmindonlyengageswhenwearerelaxed–andformanyofus,oneofthefewtimeswerelaxisonthetoilet.Infact,youhavetorelaxtogetthejobdone!

Itisthejoboftheconsciousmindtoposetheproblem,tosetthegoal.Beyondthat,theconsciousmindisoflimitedvalue.

Allofusareopentoinnerguidanceandinspiration.Wecaneachaccesshelpfromasourcehigherthanourphysicalselves.WhetheryouarecomfortablewithwordslikeGod,Sourceorinfinitewisdomisnotanissue.Butyouneedtobeseriouslyaskingandseriouslylistening.Innercommunicationislikeregularcommunicationbetweenpeople.Togethelp,youneedtobeopentoit.

TheProblemwithEgo

ImaginethatIwantedtogettothetrainstationandIstoppedyouinthestreettosay,“Canyoutellmewhichwaytothetrainstation?Actually,IdoknowthewayandIhavefoundmy

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ownwaytherebeforeverysuccessfully,andIhavesomegoodreasonswhyI’mhereandnotthereyet,andIdon’treallyneedanyone’shelp,butI’mcurioustoseeifyouknowasmuchasme.I’mdoingfine,actually,andIcanfinditbymyself.”

Wouldyouhelpmegettothestation?Notlikely.

I’mjustifyingallmyactions.IalreadyhavealltheanswersandI’mnotlistening,anyway.Myegoisintheway.

ButwhatifIhadbeenwanderingthestreetsforthreedaysandIstaggeredtowardyou,thirstyandexhausted,andsaid,“HowdoIgettothestation?”

NowI’mhungryforinformation.I’mmakingnoexcuses.I’mbeyondworryingaboutwhatyouthinkofme.Myegoisoutoftheway.I’minastateofcompletenon-resistance.NowI’mlistening.Nowyoucanhelpme.

Ineverydaylifewecanreceivehelponlywhenweareopentoit.Soitiswithinnerguidance,inspirationandintuition.

Sodoyouhavetobeonyourkneesbeforeyougetinspiration?Notatall.Theeasiestwaytogetinspirationisbybeinghappyandgrateful.That’swhenlifeflows,that’swhenyougetideaswhenyouneedthem,andthat’swhenyoukeepfindingyourselfintherightplaceattherighttime.

Thewaytochokeeverythingoffistobeupset,angryanddepressed.Whilewearearguingwitheverythingandinsistingthattheworldiswrong,whilewearefullofexcuses,ourmindistoodistractedtoevennoticeanyhelp.

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Theeasiestwaytogetinspirationisbybeinghappyandgrateful.

InaNutshell

ItmakesnodifferencewhetheryouareaChristian,aMuslim,aBuddhist,aScientologist,anatheistoracommunist;whoeveryouare,youcanaskforhelpandgetit.

WillIHearaVoicefromtheSky?

Whenyouareoverwhelmedanddistressed,yourbeststrategyistosay,“Pleaseshowmethenextstep.”Ifyouarehumbleenoughandopenenoughtosay,“JustshowmewhatIneedtodotoday,”andaskforthesamehelptomorrow,youcanfindyourwayoutofthehole.

Let’ssaythatyouareflat-broke.You’velostyourjob,you’rehungry,yourcarhasbeenrepossessedandyouarefacingeviction.Youseenowayoutandsoyoudecidetoaskfordivineguidance.

Now,toyou,theidealsolutionmaybefirstprizeina$50millionlottery–butsolutionsmaycomeinotherways.Verylikely,helpwillbemoreofanunfoldingprocess.Helpdoesn’tmeanthateverythingisfixedforus.Helpmeansassistanceanddirection.

Askandyouwillbeshown,butusually,itwon’tbeavoicefromthesky.Itcouldbethatafriendcallswithahelpfulsuggestion.Itcouldbethatyouareledtoabookoramagazinearticle.Itcouldbethatfornoknownreason,youturntoaTVchannelyouneverwatchandseeanadvertisementyouneversawbefore.

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Oftenwereceivehelpandneverrecogniseit.Sowesay,“Itwasn’tdivineinspiration.ItwasactuallymyoldfriendTedwhoshowedupunexpectedly.”Infact,Tedwasapartofamiraculousprocess.

InaNutshell

Ifweonlyask,wefindhelpandguidance.Aswemakeitahabittosilentlygivethanks,helpandguidancecomemoreandmoreoften.

FindingYourWallet,FindingAnswers

Howoftendoyoulosesomething–yourkeys,yourwallet,yourphone–andsearchdesperately,withoutluck.Eventuallyyougiveup.Yousaytoyourself,“IfIquitlooking,Iwillfindit.”

Youabandonyourdesperatesearchandgetonwithyourday.Andthen,withinminutes,andforabsolutelynoreason,youdecidetoshiftacushiononthesofaandthere,wedgedintothearmrest,isyourwallet.

Thesecrettofindingsolutionsinyourlifeisalotlikefindingyourwallet.Yousaytoyourself,“Iwanttofindit.Iwillfindit,”andthenyouquitbangingyourheadagainstawall.Youletgo.

NeedingDoesn’tHelp

Wantingisanimportantpartoftheprocess.Butitisarelaxedkindofwanting–notadesperate“thisisruiningmylife”kindofneeding.

Hereisanimportantdistinction:thefeelingofneedingistotally

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differentfromthefeelingofwanting.Needingismorelikeahopelessdesperation.Whenyouneedsomething,yourattentionisonwhatyoudon’thave.Andwhenyoufocusonwhatyoudon’thave,youwillcontinuenottohaveit.

Wantingismoreoftenahappyanticipation.Whenyouwantsomething,youarefocusedonwhatyouwillhave.Thatiswhyyougetit.

Songwritersandinventorswilloftensay,“Theideajustcametome.”Perhapsyouhavethought,“Howcomebrilliantideasdon’tcometome?Iwouldliketoinventsomething!Iwouldliketowriteahitsong.”Whenyoureally,reallywantideasandinspiration,theydocome.

Singerandsongwriter,CaroleKing,haswrittenover100hitsongs.SaysCarole,“WhenI’mtrulypresent,Igetoutofthewayandallthisstuffcomesthrough.”SirPaulMcCartney,ex-Beatleandwriterofthemostrecordedpoptuneever,saidthatthemelodyfor“Yesterday”cametohiminadream.Yousay,“Whataluckyguy!Hetakesanapandwakesuphavingwrittenthemostpopulartuneinhistory.I’dliketodothat!”

Butthereismoretoit.Hereisamanwhoseeverywakingmomentwasdedicatedtowritingbeautifulmusic.Hespenthislifeputtingphrasesandmelodiestogetherandpullingthemapart.Whenyouloveyourworkthatmuch–andwhenyouaskyoursubconsciousforhelp–yougetanswers.

TheotherhalfofthestoryisthatPaulspentmonthswritingthelyrics.Sosometimesyougetflashesofinspirationandsometimesyouneedtorollupyoursleeves.

InaNutshell

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Thesecrettofindingsolutions–creativesolutions,financialsolutions,relationshipsolutions–istwofold.Youhavetowantit,andyourmindneedstobeinarelaxedstateofanticipation.

SoHowDoesAllThis“Feelings”InformationFitwithSpirituality?

Itfitsperfectly.Itexplainsspiritualityperfectly.

Itexplainswhyallthegreatspiritualteachingshavelove(feeling)astheirfoundation.WhetheryouareHindu,Sikh,Taoist,Christian,MuslimorJewish,yousimplyEMBRACEYOURSPIRITUALBELIEFSSOTHATYOUFEELASGOODASYOUPOSSIBLYCAN,ALWAYS.

Youmightsay,“ButI’mnotspiritual.”

Ifyoucandelightinwatchingababysleep,ifyoucanbetransfixedbyamountainview,ifyouhaveeverbeenentrancedbyanelephantorahummingbird,ifyoufindjoyinpaddlingacanoeorwonderintheeyesofaGermanShepherdorawhale,youarespiritual.

Thelifeforcethatholdstogetheradiamond,thelifeforcethatrunsthroughanoaktreeorakitten,isthesamelifeforcethatrunsthroughyouandme.

Youcan’thelpbeingspiritual.TheUniverseiscoursingthroughyou;spiritisinyou.

Thefirstpeace,whichisthemostimportant,isthatwhichcomeswithinthesoulsofpeoplewhentheyrealisetheirrelationship,theironenesswiththeuniverseandallitspowers,andwhentheyrealiseatthecentreoftheuniversedwellstheGreatSpirit,andthatthiscentreisreally

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everywhere,itiswithineachofus.

BlackElk,SiouxMedicineMan

Inhisclassicbook,TheAutobiographyofaYogi,ParamahansaYogananda42tellsthestoryofhissearchforaguru.Hisquestbeginsattheageoftwelve.HetravelsthousandsofmilesaroundIndiaandeventuallyfindshismasterlivingalmostnextdoor.

Yogananda’sstoryiseveryman’sstory.

WelongtoconnectwiththepoweroftheUniverse.Wejoingroups,doseminarsandscalemountainsinTibet.Wevisitcathedralsandmakepilgrimages.Butwedon’treallyneedtogoanywhere:

Youdonotneedtoleaveyourroom.Remainsittingatyourtableandlisten.Donotevenlisten,simplywait,bequiet,stillandsolitary.Theworldwillfreelyofferitselftoyoutobeunmasked,ithasnochoice,itwillrollinecstasyatyourfeet

FranzKafka

InaNutshell

Youarenotseparatefromanything.Youdon’thavetogoanywheretofindthepoweroftheUniverse.Youfinditbyfeelingdifferent.

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21.ABetterWaytoAchieveGoalsDoesachievinggoalsmakeushappy?AccordingtoMotherTeresa,notnecessarily.Shesaid,“Moretearsareshedoveransweredprayersthanunansweredones.”

DidyoueverchasesomethingandGETit–apayrise,adegree,atrophy–anditdidn’tmakeyouashappyasyouhadhoped?

Soisthereaproblemwithsettinggoals?No,thereissometimesaproblemwithHOWwesetgoals.

ChoosingSpecificGoals

Therearetwoproblemswithchoosingspecificgoals…

TheFIRSTPROBLEM:Whenyoufixyourmindonaspecificwife,carorjob,youarechoosingbasedonlyonwhatyoucansee.Soyoulimityourself.Youcan’tpossiblyknowwhetheritisthebestoptionforyou.

AndtheSECONDPROBLEM?Whenyoufixyourmindonsomething,itisveryhardtoremainunattachedandhappy.Youkeepthinking,“Issomebodyelsegoingtograbmycar,job,apartmentorfuturehusbandbeforeIdo?”

Soifwewanttobehappy,doesgoal-settingneedtobemorecomplicated?”

Actually,itneedstobesimpler.

TheSolution

Therearebasicallytwowaystopursueourdreams.TheHARDWAY…

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Thisiswhenwesay,“Iknowbest!”Wechooseveryspecificgoals:ImusthaveTHATgirl,THATjob,THATcar.ImustgetonTHATflight.Wesometimesachieveourgoal,butweareregularlydisappointed.

TheEASYwayistobelessspecific…

Let’ssayyouthinkyouhavefoundtheperfectcar,job,apartment,vacationpackage.ItSEEMStobetheanswertoyourprayers.Whatdoyoudo?Youbegintofeelyourgoalhappilyachieved,andhereiswhatyoutellyourself:

“thatcarORSOMETHINGBETTER”.“thatapartmentORSOMETHINGBETTER.”“theperfectmanforme–WHOEVERHEIS.”

“They’renothappy.Theyjustthinkthey’rehappy.”

Thiswayofthinkingbecomesyourwayoflife.

Themagicisthatyouareunattached.Youacceptthatyourconsciousmindcanonlyseeafractionofthepicture.

Beforeyoubookaflight,youseeandfeelyourself

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travellingontheperfectflight–andyouletthingsunfoldBeforemakinganappointmentwithadoctor,dentist,accountant,youseeandfeelyourselffindingtheperfectprofessional–andyouletthingsunfoldBeforeyouhireasecretary,bookavacation,attendaninterview,goonadate,youfeelitasunfoldingperfectly.

Youdon’ttrytofigureitallout.Youjustknowthatyouareconnectedtoeverythingandthatwhenyouarecalmandwhenyoubelieveintheprocess,itworks.

TheSecret

TheIndianguru,JKrishnamurti,oncegavealecture.Midwaythroughhistalkhestopped.Heaskedhisaudience,“Doyouwanttoknowwhatmysecretis?”

Thehallwentsilent.Everyoneleanedforward.Everyonewantedtoknow.Krishnamurticontinued,“Thisismysecret:Idon’tmindwhathappens.”

Thisisthesecrettogoal-setting.

YoufeelgoodYoupicturetheperfectresultforyouYoutakewhateveractionseemsnecessary,momentbymomentYoudon’tmindwhathappens.

Yousay,“Andrew,ittookusahundredpagestogettothispoint!Nowyousay,‘Feelgoodanddon’tcarewhathappens!’.”That’sright.ThebestanswersareSIMPLE.

Spiritualteachersoftenusetheexampleoftheacorn.Theacornhastheideaofthebeautifuloakinsideit.Itdoesn’tstruggleto

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beatree.

Itisthesamewithus.Wearebornwiththeideaofabeautifullifeinsideus.Strugglingdoesn’thelp.

InaNutshell

Thehardwayisforcingthingstohappen.Theeasywayisallowingthingstohappen.

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22.ASketchofHowLifeWorksThisiswherewehavecomesofar.Hereisasketchofhowlifeworks:

NOTHINGINTHISUNIVERSEISREALLYSOLID(provenby100yearsofquantumphysicsexperiments)whichmeans:EVERYTHINGISENERGY(demonstratedbyAlbertEinstein’sfamouse=mc2)andMATTERISREALLYCRYSTALLISEDTHOUGHTTHOUGHTSAFFECTMATTER(beautifullyillustratedbyDrMasaruEmotoandhiscrystals)WHENONETINYELECTRONCHANGESITSSPIN,CHANGESREVERBERATEACROSSTHEUNIVERSE(asprovenbyProfessorWolfgangPauli),whichprovesEVERYTHINGISCONNECTED.

Thisallsoundsbeyondbelief–butthen,soistheconceptofcreationoraBigBang.

AUniversethatisexpandingatthespeedoflightisalsobeyondbelief–andsoisthefactthatthereare300,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000thingshappeninginyourbodyeverysecond.

Itisallmiraculous,includingthefactthat:

YOURSUBCONSCIOUSSTORESALLTHETHOUGHTSANDFEELINGSTHATYOUHAVEEVERHAD(whichiswhyhypnosisdigsupoldmemories)Becauseeverythingisconnected,YOURSUBCONSCIOUSISCONNECTEDTOEVERYTHING.Thisexplainswhy:YOURSUBCONSCIOUSMINDCREATESYOURLIFEEXPERIENCE.

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Thegoodnewsis:

FEELINGSREPROGRAMYOURSUBCONSCIOUSWHENYOUFEELDIFFERENT,YOUCHANGEYOURDESTINY.

Youareresponsibleforyourlifeexperience.Youarecreatingyourlife,momentbymoment.

YouAlwaysKnewIt

Sowhatistheformulaforsuccessandhappiness?

LivewithjoyandenthusiasmUseyourimaginationtocreatevividpicturesofwhatyouwantPersisttowardyourgoalsinalight-heartedhappywayLivewithoutfearandprejudiceLetgoofdisappointmentsForgiveinaheartbeatLovefornoreason.

Yousay,“Bereal!Wholiveslikethat?”Andtheansweris:“Three-year-oldchildren.”

Youarrivedhereprogrammedforsuccess.Atthree,youknewhowlifeworks.

Jesussaid,“Exceptyebeconvertedandbecomeaslittlechildren,yeshallnotenterintothekingdomofheaven.”43

Whatdoyouthinkheistalkingabout?

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“NowthatIfeel

HeavenisnotachunkofrealestatefordeadpeoplesomewherebetweenVenusandUranus.Heavenisastateofmind.Heavenisastateofbeingwherelifeunfoldsmiraculously.

InaNutshell

Fortunately,youdon’thavetorememberanyquantumphysics.Juststudythethree-year-oldmasters.

WillSuccessMakeMeHappy?

No.Youhavetobehappyfirst.Youhavetolikeyourselffirst.

Ifyouaremiserablebeforeapromotion,youwillbemiserableafterapromotion.Ifyoufeelworthlesswithoutamilliondollars,youwillfeelworthlesswithamilliondollars.Iflifeisemptywithoutaboyfriend,lifewillbeemptywithaboyfriend.

Achievinggoalswon’tmakeyouhappy.Youneedtolikeyourselfwhenyouarenotachieving!

InaNutshell

Theworldbelieves,“Successmakesyouhappy.”Thetruthis;happinessmakesyousuccessful.

TheHappierYouGet…

ThismorningIwasinterviewedonradio.Thehost,Sara,sharedherownstorywiththelisteners.Sheexplained:

“Fiveyearsago,Iwasunhappy.My

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somuchhappier,Ican’tbelievehowluckyIget!”

boyfriendisalwayshappy.

“MyboyfriendworkswithrefugeesattheYMCA.Hehelpstobuildtheirconfidenceandhelpsthemtostartnewlives.Soheisapositiveguywholooksonthebrightside.

“WheneverIusedtocomplainaboutsomething,hewouldsay,‘Whatisonegoodthingaboutit?’IfIwasunhappyabouthavingtoworkonaweekend,hewouldaskme,‘Whatisgoodaboutworkingonaweekend?Thereislesstraffic.Itmeansyouhaveajob.’

“Heconstantlyencouragedmetolookforgoodthings.Atfirst,itwasirritating.Ifoundithardtochangemythinking.Butitgoteasiertoseethepositiveside.Iwashappier.Eventually,lookingforgoodthingsbecameahabit.

“NowthatIfeelsomuchhappier,Ican’tbelievehowluckyIget!”Sara’sexperienceisthisbookinanutshell.Atfirst,itcanbehardtofindreasonstobehappy.Butitgetseasier.Yougathermomentumandthebetteryoufeel,the“luckier”youget.

Forthoseofuswhodon’thaveSara’sboyfriendtocoachus,thenextthreechapterssharethreesimpleprinciplesthatchangeeverything.SometimesIaskmyself,“WhyamItheluckyone?”

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SometimesIaskmyself,“WhyamItheluckyone?”

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“WhenI’mhappy,thenI’llbegrateful!”

23.BeGratefulIftheonlyprayeryoueversayinyourentirelifeis“Thankyou”,itwillbeenough.

MeisterEckhart

AsakidIoftenaskedthequestion,“IfGodissowonderful,whywouldHecareifwesaythankyou?Whygivethanksatmealtimes?Whatisthepointofthosebedtimeprayers:‘ThankyouforMummyandDaddyandawarmbed.’?Whyisgratitudeimportant?”

WhydidAbraham,Zoroaster,LaoTzu,Buddha,JesusChrist,Mohammed,YoganandaandmyMumallrecommendbeingthankful?Andwhyisitthatsomanypeoplemaketimeforgratitudejournals?

It’sbecausegratitudechangesyou.Thereisnofasterwaytoelevateyourvibration.Gratitudeisthefasttracktothelifeyouwant.

Themoreoftenthatyouhavethefeeling,“IhavewhatIwant”,themoreoftenyougetwhatyouwant.Appreciationisasgoodasmeditation.

Howdoyoupractisegratitude?Herearesimplethingsanysix-year-oldcando.

EACHNIGHT:Asyougotosleep,reviewyourdayandmakealistofeverythingyouarethankfulfor:family,friends,sunshine,medication,deodorant,yourlaptop,asafeflight,agreatlunch,alaughwithaneighbour,awalkwithyourdog,stars…

EACHMORNING:Givethanksforonemoreday.

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KEEPAGRATITUDEJOURNAL:Makelistsofeverythingthatyouarethankfulforandkeepaddingtoit.

MAKEAGRATITUDEBOARD:Ihaveapinboardbymydesk.Itiscoveredwithabout50photographsoffamilyandfriendsIlovethemost,photographsofplacesJulieandIhaveenjoyedthemost,highlightsofvacationsandeventsforwhichIfeelblessed.Ilookatiteverydayandtellmyself,“IAMsolucky!”IputittogetherwhenIwasfeelingstuckandnotverygrateful.

Agratitudeboardisajoytomake.Andhere’sthekey–eachtimeyoulookatit,besuretosay“IAMsofortunate,”andnot“HowhappyIWAS.”

“WhenIwasyourageIwasproudtobeseenwithmyparents!”

GIVETHANKSFOREVERYSMALLTHING:Whatevergivesyoujoy–dogsatplay,aglassofcleanwater,ahugfromyourwife–makeitahabittosayasilent“thankyou”.Ifastrangergivesyouasmile,sayasilent,“thankyou”.Ifyouarebrokeandyoufindadollar,say“thankyou”.Gratitudeforeventinythingsmakesyouamagnetformoregoodthings.

WHENTHINGSSEEMTOBEGOINGWRONG:Askyourself,

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“Whatisonegoodthingaboutthisdisaster?”Andifyoucanfindnothinggood,say“thankyou”,anyway:“Ihavenoideahowthiscouldpossiblybegood,but‘thankyou’inadvance.”

Onceyouunderstandthatgratitudetransformslives,youbecomeagratitudewarrior.

Onceyoubelievethatnothingisanaccidentandeveryeventishelpingyouonyourjourney,yougivethanksforeverything.That’swhentheUniversereallystartsplottingtomakeyouhappy.

InaNutshell

Averagepeoplesay:“WhenI’mhappy,thenI’llbegrateful.”

Joyfulpeoplesay:“WhenI’mgrateful,thenI’llbehappy.”

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24.LivingintheNowWhyisitthatwearesoobsessedwithfindinglove,keepingloveorgettingitback?

Ofcourse,lovefeelswonderful.Forexample,TedmeetsPoppy.Forthefirsttimehehasfoundsomeonewhodoesn’twanttochangehim(yet).Andhedoesn’twanttochangeher.“Poppy,youaremyprincess!Youareperfectjustasyouare!”WhenTedisinPrincessPoppy’sarms,hewantsnothingelse;hewantstobenowhereelse.

IsitthatPoppyissowonderful?Obviously!Anditisalsothis:forthefirsttimeinhislifeTedistotallyhappywiththepresentmoment.Forthirtyyearshehasbeenconsumedbythebeliefthat“Ishouldbebetter.Ishouldbericher,smarter,taller.OnceIgetthis,onceIbecomethat,I’llbeokay.”ButwhenheiswithPoppy,everythingisperfect.

Loveisseeingthebestinourselvesreflected.Loveisawindowontothebeautyofhumanity.Andloveisawindowintothepresentmoment.

WhenTedhasthatrushofjoy,thatboundless,breathlessenergythatfillshisbeing,hethinksit’sPOPPY.HisfriendsthinkheisonDRUGS.ItisactuallyTedembracingthePRESENTMOMENT.

Whenyoufallinlove,youhavenoresistance.Youarenolongertryingtofixanythingorchangeanyone.Youarenotjudging,hidingorwishingyouwereanyplaceelse.Youbecomeapurechannelforuniversalenergy.

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InaNutshell

Whenyoufindlove,youareinthepresent.Andifyoucanfindthepresent,youfindlove.

YouHaveNoFuture!

Self-helpgurusandZenBuddhiststellustoliveinthepresent,butdoesitmatter?Itmatters.Becausewhenyouarehappy,enthusiastic,absorbed,inlove,youplugintothepoweroftheUniverse.Whenyouaredissatisfied,distractedanddepressed,youareunplugged–andwhenyouareunplugged,youarepowerlesstocreateanythingbetter.

Yourkeytoabetterlifeistofeelgoodnow.Notnextweek,notwhenyoupayofftheapartment,notwhenpeaceisdeclaredintheMiddleEast.Everymomentthatyouspendregrettingthepastorfearingthefutureisanaffirmationthatlifeislousy–

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Thetwomostpowerfulwordsintheuniverseare,“IAM”.

andsoyougetmoreof“lousy”.

Here’sanotherreasontoliveinthepresent:thefuturedoesn’texist.Youhavenofuture!Ofcourse,wepretenditdoes.Wepretendthattimeislikeapieceofstringwherethepastisononeend,thefutureisontheotherend,andthepresentisinthemiddle.Notso.

Allwehaveisaneternallyunfoldingpresentmoment.TheonlytimeyouwillevermeetthefutureiswhenitbecomesNOW.Andwhenthefutureisnow,itisnotthefuture.

Whyeventalkaboutthis?Becauseitexplainswhysomepeoplewhoimagineawonderfulfuturestaystuckinacrappypresent.Thereisnovalueinwaitingforsomethingthatdoesn’texist.Itisuselesstellingyourself“IWILLBErich,IWILLBEhappy,IWILLBEsuccessful.”Whenyourmindisinthefutureyouarespinningyourwheels.

Yourpowerisinthepresent:“IAMrich.IAMhappy.IAMsuccessful.”WhatdidGodsaytoMoses?“IAMthatIAM.”It’snocoincidence.Godgetsit.ThetwomostpowerfulwordsintheUniverseare,“IAM”.

Somepeoplelivetheirlifeliketheyarestrandedinawasteland:“OnedayI’llfindmywayoutofthishellandmylifewillstart.”No!YouescapebygatheringhappythoughtsNOW.Howso?Becauseproblemsexistinthefuture.Unlessyouarehavingaheartattackorbeingeatenbyabear,yourpresentmomentisusuallyfine.Itistheimaginaryfuturethatdrivesyounuts:“Whatwillhappenif?HowwillIsurviveif?Whatwillotherpeoplesay?”

Youareperfectlydesignedtohandlepresentmoments.You

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conquerworrybydraggingyourmindbacktothepresent.Youremindyourself,“RightthissecondIhaveeverythingIneed.IchoosetoenjoyTHISmoment.”Everysecondthatyouliveinthepresentmomentisanaffirmationthatlifeisgood–andthat“feelinggoodness”showersmoregoodnessonyou.

Yourlifewillworktotheextentthatyoucansay:

thereisnothingIneedotherthanthismomentthereisnooneIneedtoimpressandnooneIneedtobecomeIamwhatIamIhaveeverythingIneedtobehappy.

InaNutshell

Theanswertothebigquestion,“WhatshouldIdowithmyfuture?”is“Liveinthepresent”.

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25.LoveYourself

BeGentlewithYourself

Thereisonedangerinacceptingthatyoucreateyourlifeexperience:onceyouacknowledgethatyouareresponsibleforhowyourlifehasunfolded,youmaywanttobeatyourselfup!Youmayaskyourself,“HowcouldIhavebeensostupid?”Youmayblameyourselforevenhateyourself.Thisisareallybadidea!

Here’sabetterwaytotalktoyourself:

“IhavebeenlivinglifethebestwayIknowhow.”“NowthatIknowbetter,Iwillthinkandfeeldifferently.”“NowthatIknowbetter,Iwilldobetter.”

Congratulateyourselfonsurvivingtothispoint.NOSHAME.NOBLAME.

WhyLovingYourselfMatters

EveryexperienceyouwilleverhaveiscolouredbyHOWYOUFEELABOUTYOU.

Everythought,everyconversation,everywakingmoment,everydreamingmomentisshapedbywhetheryoulove,hate,blameorforgiveyourself.

Sonowwegettotheheartofthematter.Because:

thelifeyoucreatedependsonhowyoufeeltherewillneverbeatimeinyourlifewhenyouarenotpresent(becausewhereveryougo,youarealwaysthere!)

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EVERYTHINGTHATHAPPENSINYOURLIFEDEPENDSONHOWYOUFEELABOUTYOU.

TOCONTINUOUSLYHAVEGOODTHINGSHAPPENINGINYOURLIFE,YOUHAVETOLOVEYOURSELF–notinsomearrogant,conceitedorboastfulway,butinanaccepting,compassionate,good-humouredway.

Peoplewholoveandacceptthemselvesareenergeticandoptimistic.Theyarehealthier.Theyhavetheirchallenges,buttheydon’ttakeproblemspersonally.Thingsalwaysseemtoworkout.Peoplewhoblameandberatethemselveslivelivesofstruggleanddesperation.

Theevidenceiseverywhere.Itdoesn’tmatterhowmuchyouknow.FORYOURLIFETOWORK,YOUHAVETOLOVEYOU.

“ButhowcanIlovemyself?”

Buddhagivesussomeencouragement:

Youcansearchthroughouttheentireuniverseforsomeonewhoismoredeservingofyourloveandaffectionthanyouareyourself,andthatpersonisnottobefoundanywhere.Youyourself,asmuchasanybodyintheentireuniversedeserveyourloveandaffection.

Buddha

WhatCanYouDo?

FOCUSONYOURGOODPOINTS:Quitlookingatwhatyoudon’tlikeaboutyourself.Concentrateonwhatyoulikeaboutyou,andthebadstuffwilldropaway.Whatyoufocusonexpands.

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ALWAYSSPEAKWELLOFYOURSELF:Nevercriticiseyourself.Itisself-sabotageanditirritatespeople.Ifyouhavenothinggoodtosayaboutyourself,saynothing.

LOOKFORGOODTHINGSINOTHERPEOPLE:Peoplewhofeelbadaboutthemselvessearchforfaultsinothers.Theflipsideis:lookforqualitiesinothersandyouwillfeelbetteraboutyourself.

LOOKFORBEAUTYEVERYWHERE:Torecognisebeautywithinaflower,acathedral,arock,asunset,apuppy,youhavetohaveitwithinyou.Otherwise,youwouldn’tknowitwhenyousawit.

Appreciationofeverythingaroundusleadsustoself-love.

TAKECAREOFYOURHOME:Whereyouliveaffectshowyoufeel.Createaspacethatwillupliftyouwhenyouwalkinthefrontdoor.Neatnesscostsnothing.Bettertoliveinaone-roomapartmentthatiscleanthaninamansionthat’samess.Yourhomemaynotbegrandbutitcanbetidy!Hangpicturesorphotographsthatinspireyou.

Fredsays,“WhenIgetsuccessful,I’llquitlivinglikearat.”Wrong!Tobeasuccessyouhavetobegintolivewell.Youhavetofeelgoodnow.

NURTUREYOURSELF:Firstly,here’swhatnurturingyourselfisNOT.

Lisa,whoisamonthbehindinherrentandowestengrandonhercreditcards,buysatwo-thousand-dollarhandbagandproclaims,“Ideserveit!”No,Lisa!Blowingbigmoneyyoudon’thaveonstuffyoudon’tneedisnotnurturingyourself;it’spunishingyourself.

Nurturingyourselfisdoingthingsthatmakeyoufeelgoodthat

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youcanafford.Here’swhatitmightmean:

Ifyouareflat-broke:walkinginacityparkandenjoyingtheflowers;sittinginthefoyerofabeautifulfive-starhotelandreadingabook(it’sfree);learningmassageonlinewithafriendandspoilingeachotherwitharelaxingtreatmentonceaweek.Ifyouhavesomesparedollars:buyinganeconomyairticketandusingpointstoupgradetobusinessclassforthefirsttimeinyourlife;savingtendollarsaweekuntilyoucanaffordtotakeyourMumtolunchatthebestrestaurantintown.

Makeityourmissiontoenjoyaffordablepleasures.Startnow.Nurturingyourselfmeansspendingtimewithpeoplewhoupliftyou.Itmeansseekingoutsweetexperiences,stretchingyourexpectationsandfeelingbetterandbetter,bitbybit.

MEDITATE:ThepurposeofmeditationisTOBEwithoutpurpose.Wearesobusy“doing”,weoftenforgettobehuman“beings”.Meditationistheultimateexerciseindetachmentandfeelinggood.

LEARNTORECEIVE:MaybeyouhaveafriendlikeMary.

Youinvitehertodinner.Shesays,“Don’tgotoanytrouble.”Youbuyherabirthdaypresent.Shesays,“Youshouldn’thave.”Youoffertocarryhergroceries.Shesays,“Icanmanage.”Youtellhershe’sbeautifulandshesays,“I’vegotafatbutt.”

MaybeyouarelikeMary.Ifyouwantarichlife,learntoaccept

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Getcomfortablewithreceiving.

otherpeople’shelp,invitations,giftsandcomplimentshappily.

DOTHINGSYOULOVE:Spendtimedoingthingsyoulove–ifnotinyourworktime,theninyoursparetime.Ifyoulovemusic,orpaintingorswimmingwithsharks,maketimeforit.Whenyoudothingsyoulove,youaffirm,“IamworthitandwhatIcareaboutmatters.”

BEGENTLEWITHYOURSELF:Ifyoufinditdifficulttoloveorforgiveyourself,getaphotographofyourselfagedtwo,orfour,

andputitonyourdesk.Itismucheasiertoforgiveafour-year-old.

Weloveourhusbands,wives,parents,boyfriendsandthey’renotperfect.Sowhyshouldyouhavetobeperfect?Tellyourself,“Idon’thavetobeperfect–andthat’sperfect”.

GIVEYOURSELFCREDIT:Ahappylifeisaboutimprovement,notperfection.Celebratesmallstepsofprogress.

InaNutshell

Loveyourself.Yourlifedependsonit.

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26.WhyAmIHere?

“WhyamIhere?”

Happinessisthemeaningandthepurposeoflife,thewholeaimandendofhumanexistence.

Aristotle

ImagineforamomentthatyouwereGodandyoudecidedtomakesomehumans.

Thesehumansarelikeapprenticecreators.Theydon’tbuilduniverses,buttheyarefairlyhandy.Theywritestoriesandmakemusic,inventhelicoptersandiPods,buildcitiesandalsomakebabies.

IfyouwereGod,howwouldyoudesignthings?Wouldyouorganiseitsothatthesehumanswerehelplessvictimsoffate–andwhatwouldbethepoint?Orwouldyoudesignaworldwherehumanscouldgraduallyrealisetheirownpowertocreatetheirownlifeexperiences?Howwouldthisbeforascheme?

ThesehumansinhabitaUniversethatseemssolidenough.Butoninvestigationtheydiscoverthatthebuildingblocksofthe

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Universearenotsolidparticlesbutwavesofenergy.Thisenergyturnsouttobethesamestuffashumanthoughts.

InthisUniverse,themissionofeveryhumanistotaketotalresponsibilityforhislifebycontrollinghisthoughtsandfeelings.

Doyoulikethisidea?Ihopeso,becausethisisourUniverse.

EdgarMitchell,theApolloastronaut,putitinanutshell:

Ifwechangeourheadsaboutwhoweare–andcanseeourselvesascreative,eternalbeingscreatingphysicalexperience,joinedatthatlevelofexistencewecallconsciousness–thenwestarttoseeandcreatethisworldthatweliveinquitedifferently.44

ThespiritualMastershavealwaystaughtthis.Somepeoplearebornknowingit.Scienceiscatchingup.

Doesitsoundtoofantastic–thatwithourthoughtsandfeelingswecreateourlifeexperience?Theevidenceisallaroundus.Wecomeheretodiscoverourownpower.Weareneithervictimsnorpawns.Wearecreators.

Youhaveprobablyalwayssensedthis.Youarenotsomeleafinthewind.Youcontrolyourdestiny.

TheBigQuestions

Toooftenwefocusonourdifferences.Whatisthedifferencebetweenmenandwomen?Whatisthedifferencebetweenmy

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religionandyourreligion?

Butimagineforamomentthatwegatheredsomespiritualmasters–Jesus,Buddha,Mohammed,LaoTzu–andaskedthemtoanswersomebigquestions.Iamguessingthattheywouldallagreeontheanswers.

WhatamI?

YouareasparkofGod,orSource.Youressenceislove.Therestisillusionorwrongthinking.

WhatisMyGoal?

TothinklikeGodthinks.TolovelikeGodloves.TocreatelikeGodcreates.

InSummary

Youareaspirithavingaphysicalexperience.Whatevershowsupinyourlife–joy,abundance,ulcers,theFBI–isprecisefeedbackonwhatyourthoughtsandfeelingshavecreated.

Atsomestagethepennywilldropthatyouareentirelyresponsibleforyourreality.Untilyougetit,lifecanbehellonEarth.

Afteryougetit,lifebecomesagameinwhich:

yourdreamsmovetowardyouwithincreasingspeedeverythingbecomesmoreandmorefun.

Themajorrulesofthegameare:

ACCEPT–yourself,othersandyourcurrentsituation

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FORGIVE–yourselfandothersBEGRATEFULLIVEINTHEMOMENTFEELYOURGOALSALREADYACHIEVEDREPLACEFEARWITHLOVEANDKINDNESSBEHAPPY.

Livingwiththeseguidelines,youraiseyourenergyandsteadilybecomemorepowerful.Youachievemoreandmorewithlesseffort.Youalsorealisethatitisnotactuallyyouthatisdoingit.Thepowercomesthroughyou.

Nooneisholdingyouback.Noonecanholdyouback.

Youdon’tneedmoreinformation.Youdon’tneedmoreseminarsoranyone’spermission.Youjustrefineeachpieceofthepuzzleinyourowntimeandknowthatitisperfect.

InaNutshell

YourmissionistoFEELASGOODASPOSSIBLEEVERYMINUTE,EVERYHOUR,EVERYDAY.Thatishowlifeworks.

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References1Hill,Napoleon.ThinkandGrowRich.Cleveland,Ohio:TheRalstonPublishingCo,1953.

2Maltz,Maxwell.Psycho-Cybernetics.PocketBooks,1989.

3Bristol,ClaudeM.TheMagicofBelieving:TheScienceofSettingYourGoalandThenReachingIt.Fireside,1991.

4Peale,NormanV.ThePowerofPositiveThinking.FawcettColumbine,1952.

5PhotographsreproducedbypermissionofDrMasaruEmoto.

6McTaggart,Lynne.TheIntentionExperiment.FreePress,2007,p24.

7Rein,GlenandMcCraty,Rollin.StructuralchangesinwaterandDNAassociatedwithnewphysiologicallymeasurablestates.JournalofScientificExploration.1994;8(3):438-439.

8Eddington,Arthur.TheNatureofthePhysicalWorld.Macmillan,1935.

9Hawking,Stephen:IntotheUniverse,Series1:Episode3(4:16)

10Gawain,Shakti.CreativeVisualisation,WhateverPublishing,1978pages8and10.

11Goddard,Neville.FeelingistheSecret.BNPublishing,2007,page19.

12Douglas-Klotz,Neil(trans).PrayersoftheCosmos:MeditationsontheAramaicWordsofJesus.SanFrancisco:Harper,1994,p.86-87.

13Braden,Gregg.SecretsoftheLostModeofPrayer.HayHouse,2006,pp7-8.

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14Matthew,13:12.

15Goddard,Neville.FeelingistheSecret.BNPublishing,2007,pages16and21.

16Pauli,Wolfgang.Relationbetweentheclosinginofelectron-groupsintheatomandthestructureofcomplexesinthespectrum.ZeitschriftfurPhysik.1925;31:765-783.

17Hill,Napoleon.ThinkandGrowRich.Cleveland,Ohio:TheRalstonPublishingCo,1953.

18FictionalcharactersfromGeorgeLucas’sfilm,StarWars,1977.

19TheVoice,NineNetworkTelevision,Australia,2013.

20Matthews,Andrew.BeingHappy!MediaMasters,Singapore,1988.

21JimCarrey.InterviewinMovieline,July,1994.

22Matthews,Andrew.BeingHappy!MediaMasters,Singapore,1988.

23Matthew5:39.

24Trudeau,Kevin.YourWishIsYourCommand,14CDaudioset,GlobalInformationNetwork,2009.

25FoundationforInnerPeace.ACourseinMiracles.2nded.NewYork:VikingPenguin,1996.Lesson243.

26Moseley,J.Bruce,etal.Acontrolledtrialforarthroscopicsurgeryoftheknee,NewEnglandJournalofMedicine,2002;347:81-88.

27Moseley,Bruce.60Minutesinterview,29November,2012.

28Lipton,Bruce.TheBiologyofBelief:UnleashingthePowerof

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Consciousness,Matter&Miracles.HayHouse,2011.

29Ibid,p.42.

30Pert,Candace.MoleculesofEmotion.SimonandSchuster,1997,p189.

31Pearsall,Paul.TheHeart’sCode.Broadway,1998,p65.

32Ibid.

33Ibid.

34Sylvia,Claire.AChangeofHeart.WarnerBooks,1998.

35Pearsall,Paul.TheHeart’sCode.Broadway,1998,p7.

36Orme-JohnsonD,AlexanderC,DaviesJ,ChandlerH,LarimoreW.InternationalPeaceProjectintheMiddleEast:TheeffectsoftheMaharishiTechnologyoftheUnifiedField.JournalofConflictResolution.1988;32(4):776-812.

37InternationalPeaceProjectintheMiddleEast:TheEffectsofMaharishiTechnologyoftheUnifiedField.TheJournalofConflictResolution,Vol32,No4,Dec.1988.

38Byrd,RC,Ph.D.,Positivetherapeuticeffectsofintercessoryprayerinacoronarycareunitpopulation.SouthernMedicalJournal.1988;81:826-829.

39McTaggart,Lynne.TheIntentionExperiment.FreePress,2007,p23.

40TheSecretLifeofPlants,Part2of4,interviewwithCleveBackster,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYksxtB0w8U,(0:47)

41Lipton,BruceH.TheBiologyofBelief.HayHouse,2005,pp155.

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42Yogananda,Paramahansa.AutobiographyofaYogi.Self-RealizationFellowship,1948.

43Matthew18:3.

44Mitchell,Edgar.Astheparadigmshifts:Twodecadesofconsciousnessresearch.NoeticSciencesReview.1992;24:p.7.Notes