Empowerment @ MindSay

I was reading a few articles about Cosmic Ordering and others about self-prophecy research at Washington State University (Eric R. Spangenberg and David E. Sprott), the way the concepts fit together got me thinking...

Cosmic Ordering, positive thinking, manifesting one's desires; by which ever title a person uses to describe the process there is nothing new or sensational about it. That there are people attempting to find ways to brand their own version of the process is not surprising nor should it be considered unsavory. Rather, attempts are being made by many humans to explain a natural process that is all too easily overlooked.

The art of manifesting is practiced daily by each and every living being from the tiniest infant to the elderly. At times some have caught its' elusive nature and described it in terms such as self-prophecy, and the significance of the phenomena is sufficient to see university professors and marketing specialists researching its' effects and usefulness in a number of issues including, but not limited to; self-improvement, increasing donations to charities through telemarketing and success in overcoming serious health issues.

I've heard it said that babies will dream of walking before they ever take a step, personally I can't say I remember back that far so I won't attempt to use that example, however I know from personal experience that I have had dreams of subjects I was attempting to learn. As a high school student I recall dreaming about making change in my sleep after starting a job at our local McDonald's burger joint. Within a very short time I became so proficient at having my till balanced to the penny that I was asked to train other servers, less than two weeks after starting work there. My daughter did something similar when she began working at a gas station the year before she went away to college.

When a person proclaims; "Oh Darn! I'm late! This is going to be a lousy day", perhaps after having slept in or trying to get back to work after a late lunch date, self prophecy steps into action and the person will create the atmosphere and conditions that will ensure their prediction. When one awakens to their day with the thought that it will be fabulous, they too are in the process of manifesting the atmosphere and conditions that will ensure their prophecy. Much the same as a child, belittled regularly by an overbearing parent or sibling, will grow to have low self esteem each person's own hypnotizing self talk can produce the same effect.

This self talk is so automatic that we humans rarely even notice what we're doing. People regularly tell themselves; I'm not worthy, I'm flawed in some way, I'm stupid, ugly, fat, skinny or unhappy. Historically there have been several generations of habitual negative thinking, often learned from early encounters with adults having similar behavior patterns. All are counterproductive to our true desires and therefore the need to help people through positive thinking exercises has become necessary. The success of self improvement programs is evident and their growth in popularity can not be denied. Positive thinking can produce positive results provided we can hypnotize ourselves sufficiently to reverse our negative self-talk.

Traditional western religions have played an important role in setting the stage for negative self talk. Some Christian beliefs suggest that a newborn child is born of sin and as that child progresses through his or her religious training and initiation the person is reminded of his or her short-comings on a regular basis. Once this process has existed over several generations there is little doubt that a large portion of the world's population will exhibit signs of low self esteem. It seems a vicious circle and the sooner we learn to re-program ourselves the sooner lives and our environment will improve.

Focusing intently on the negative will bring that experience forward, and that includes fear of negative thoughts. Consequently the idea of positive thinking isn't sufficient of itself if it means we fear our negative thoughts. Rather we must learn how we are creating situations - we must become aware that we are in fact the creators of our own realities and then consciously choose something different if we are displeased with what we see. Through methodologies such as Cosmic Ordering perhaps we can help to circumvent the whole positive versus negative issue and simply move forward in our own personal evolutions. That many people are presenting their own versions of solutions to current world conditions is promising and evidence, in my mind, that we are moving in a positive direction in human evolution.

Try experimenting with it yourself and you may be as pleasantly surprised as I have been; next time you notice that negative self talk try replacing it with something more in line with an outcome you really want. Try to be a little playful and creative with it and don't beat yourself up for having a negative thought, simply accept that it's a habit you're attempting to change. Laugh with yourself through the learning process just as you might have when you were a youngster learning some new skill. You will find the process can be quite enjoyable and more importantly; very effective. If it helps to write the thoughts down, go for it and experiment with it, certainly.

Just imagining that you are writing the ideas down can be successful, similar to the way children can create things so vividly with their imagination. Perhaps someone should propose a Cosmic Ordering exercise for young children, with their willing exuberance to be imaginative and creative they are likely the best candidates for showing how well the process works. And wouldn't that be a great gift to the next generation? To remove the shackles of negative and limiting self talk from a whole generation of people would be a priceless gift. Those children could then teach their parents and elders about creating a world that empowers people rather than controlling them.

The Spirit of Raw Love

Visit One Man Can for more inspired and emotive writing.

Today, I just want to thank You for You,

I want to nestle into Your love and know Your heartbeat,

I want to feel the depth of Your embrace,

As You woo me ever closer to You.

Now, it's not just for me that I seek Your heart,

But for all those around me in this life.

Cause it's only Your love that can make a difference,

Not mine, not me, not I.

This world is so filled with violence and pain,

Wounded warriors and victims of sin,

We cannot escape it or ignore its distress,

What technology will fix this horrible mess?

Oh draw me closer to Your empowering heart,

And let Your boundless compassion flow,

Through me, outward, ever outward,

Till heaven's love is established here below.

On another blog, I received a response to my entry about the wounded warrior that didn't sit very well with me. Here is my wounded warrior entry:

The wounded warrior doesn't lose his edge, he gains another. The new edge is the edge of reconciliation, of empathy, of understanding, and of valuing life. Do not let anyone minimalize the wounds you have earned, that you have gained understanding from, and from which you have grown to love more humankind. Neither let yourself suffer from arrogance, or any form of grandiose thinking of any kind; remain the humble servant who understands more than they let on.

The response caused a moment of pause as I reflected yet again upon the judgment they placed with their opinion. Through such a comment and how it may or may not apply; our broad brush-strokes are so quick to color every encounter, every person, and every lesson to be the same. What was said is not far different from what many people believe. What was said also can be completely true for many people. However, it is not applicable to all who suffer. Here is the commonly held belief posted in their response:

Ideally, those are the lessons one would learn. But everyone has their own journey and some make it harder than it should be. They must learn their lessons the hard way and it takes much longer. It depends on what level of understanding one has reached.

Everyone does have their own journey and some individuals do make it harder than it has to be. Some wish to make it easier and do not seem able to lessen the severity. Some people are fast learners, others are slow learners. Some learn best by reading, others learn best by doing, and yet more need to hear the words that will help them learn. The poor individual who is going through hell and back who would read that they're a complete loser for "not getting it" sooner. And yet, my immediate heartfelt thoughts upon reading the reply highlights an even more profound statement for the wounded warrior. What about the greats in our history who have suffered greatly?

My first hero, Gandhi, was the first to come to mind when I read that some make it harder, and that a lesson must be learned. I've had a similar discussion around the homeless issues as well. All things serve a greater purpose and it is so easy for us to judge from the perspective that others "just aren't getting it" and we can wash our hands of all responsibility to see change occur in our society. Gandhi put himself into harms way repeatedly. Gandhi, through all the situations that deepened his wounds saw his heart for God, his heart for his people, and his heart for the world grow. Gandhi did not shrink from the cup chosen for him, neither did many other great leaders no longer with us today. You know who some of them are. So who needs to learn the lesson?

A wounded warrior did not come to fight with violence, fists, and bloodshed - unless it is his own and even then it is not a prefered avenue. The wounded warrior values life and typically in higher regard than the common everyday man. Gandhi, my friend, my example: What lesson did you make harder to learn? To walk away from conflict? To walk away from injustice? That one man cannot change the world? No, no, I didn't think so. I see it myself and it is what I want all to see.

If I choose to make my life harder, if I choose to be the change I want to see, if drastic action is called for to have society witness its' failings, then so be it. How can I possibly communicate clearly to others that which I cannot understand? I have understood much about the human condition, society, our frailties, hopes, fears, and dreams; our relationship to each other, how it has shifted over time and continues to shift; how the media clouds our vision, politicians and religious leaders influence our beliefs, interpreting the signs of the times and literally telling us the cause and effect relationship that requires change. We've become such amazingly obedient sheep for our shepherds.

We follow along, we point fingers, we lay blame, we act the victim, and almost literally only take care of our own personal agenda and insular sphere of influence. The rest of the world, the rest of the country, the rest of the government, the rest of the community, the rest of the street... and so on... can go to hell, I've got enough to deal with on my own! Sound familiar? I've heard these standard statements often throughout my life. Even so, the influences that sing in my heart are laid by the examples of such as Jesus, Gandhi, JFK, Martin Luther King, just to name a small few. Check carefully before concluding that someone isn't learning a lesson. Maybe they're trying to show the rest of the world something that society has created, or that people are ignoring, etc.

This brings me back to one of my favorite issues related to society washing their hands - the homeless. I have even heard it said by spiritual and/or religious people that the homeless chose their lot, made their bed, and therefore must suffer the consequences. In the same way, some would say they're on the street learning a lesson. What I know is that there are many on the street who have chosen to leave the monstrosity of the rat-race - that truth and love is virtually non-existent in the corporate setting, or the business machinations of what is our society today. I know that some of these people are there, and the problem is growing, because the rest of society has failed to act! The issue isn't about providing shelters, food, and treatment programs. The issue is about a systemic problem with the way we get along, the way we work together, the way we compete, and the way we judge, hate, segregate, and so on. It's strictly about the heart.

Yesterday, a very new and dear friend of mine got on his own high horse ranting about the problem with the street people in a very bad area of our city. "Give them what they want and what they need," he lamented! Very curious I continued to press him for more explanation. I don't remember all that he said but let me sum it up as best I can.

Giving these people a city-block facility with housing, treatment, counselling, injection sites, dispensed substances, etc., would free up a great deal of resources chasing them all over town trying to police, intervene, and treat the problem. You give them a place to go, provide them with clean and safe substances and the opportunity to make a different choice. Those that make the different choice have access to treatment, counselling, and shelter. If they fall, they fall, and they're given the opportunity to try again. At least then there is a chance, there is no judgment, and we would no longer be de-humanizing ourselves in the process!

That is not a perspective I could have vocalized in such a powerful way before. I concur completely with our responsibility and failings as a society to resolve what seem to be such fundamentally simple issues - at the heart level. Why so many walk past the problems and are so completely unaffected has bothered and puzzled me for years. Until he finished his statement recognizing the de-humanization of the general public any reasoning I heard or tried left a sour taste.  Of course! We have systematically seen the dehumnization of our culture consistently through news, media, television, movies, video games, and our own streets. Is it all bad? Likely not, it is a contributor though, along with our ability to make a judgment that places full responsibility somewhere else.

With so much said I'll wrap it up with a few statements of encouragement. Accept the journey others are on, be curious, ask questions, and park your judgment. As Martin Luther said, I have a dream. As JFK said, ask what you can do for your country. As Gandhi said, be the change you want to be. As Jesus said, love covers a multitude of sins. Be love, love is. If this was the guiding principle behind government, business, and our community, how many different outcomes would have seen a world shaping into something far more beautiful than we thought possible?

This is a first draft.... it may need some tweaking.

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