Manifesting with the Law of Attraction

I can think of no greater encouragement than the self-evident Truth that there dwells in each of us the opportunity to explore and know the Extraordinary Life. The meaning of Extraordinary I wish to convey points to the immutable and inexhaustible source that is the secret center of each of us: a timeless resource open and available to anyone who would seek this Life that sits behind life as we know it. Will we spend our lives in mere dreams of winning a limitless life, or will we do the inner- work of awakening from this dream? Choosing the Extraordinary Life begins with our conscious work to realize it, which the following special practices help to ensure.

1. Let Nagging Questions Go Unanswered: In stressful moments, listen to what life is trying to tell you about you instead of searching anxiously for familiar answers to make life feel “right” again. All fearful, doubt-filled moments are secret reflections of what we have yet to understand about life and ourselves, not life’s rejection of us or our wish for happiness. Choose to go consciously quiet whenever there is a riot in you. Refuse to take part in the search to repair what you fear may be coming undone. Let go and watch what happens when you consciously sacrifice the fear-filled self. This new action allows the Extraordinary Life to enter into you where its presence alone proves that all is well.

2. Don’t Make the Rescue Call: In times of anxiety and fear, we almost always call upon someone or something to help us get through our stress. This dependency on others for strength not only weakens our soul, but also steals from it the possibility of being educated by the Extraordinary Life, which means we miss two major lessons. First, the crucial lesson that all our fears are based upon false evidence that appears real. With this revelation comes our second realization that the same frightened self that seeks rescue secretly confirms its imagined condition as being real each time it cries out for help. Refusing to rescue ourselves from inner states that scare us invites the Extraordinary Life that shows us that no such scared self exists that needs saving.

3. Take the Hard Way: Rut and routine are two sides of the same sad street. Repetitive patterns are the well-worn pavement that our spiritually asleep self loves to tread while it talks us to death with its empty promises of extraordinary times “just ahead.” We can learn to do much better let ourselves be betrayed in this way, but it takes inner work! Instead of caving into the demands of those slipshod parts of ourselves always looking for the easy way out, we must choose in favor of what our false nature wants us to see as being the “hard” way. But it’s not. In fact, once we learn that the only real way out of what we would rather avoid is to go through it, we discover another self-liberating truth: the only thing that’s hard on us is when we allow our unenlightened nature to convince us that getting around something is the same as rising above it.

4. Do the Thing You Fear Doing: There is a correct time and place for thinking through practical plans in the ordinary scheme of life’s events. But nothing that is founded in thought can serve to reveal the unthinkable plans that the Extraordinary holds in store for anyone willing to leap into the moment without a parachute. Never mind those old fears of falling. Just jump! Being willing to risk failing is a prerequisite for fearless living. If you will take the leap into what you are afraid of doing, the Extraordinary Life will prove to you that Its unshakable ground is everywhere beneath you at all times. Nothing compares with this discovery because, once realized, there’s nowhere to go but up! A note of caution: taking a spiritual leap is far different from taking a reckless physical risk. Never risk the well being of your physical body for the sake of a passing thrill: for what is possible to attain with a body, cannot be without one. The temporary rush of adrenalin has nothing in common with one’s awakening to the reality of a timeless, fearless life.

5. Take Time Out from Yourself Every Day: Unseen by the self that walks upon it, thought is a treadmill powered by the movement of our yesterdays as they produce our tomorrows. This is the real meaning of “doing time.” The domain of the Extraordinary Life is Timeless. To share Its life, we must enter into Its world. Here is a good way to begin this Work: Every day, as often as can be remembered, chose to break out of that gilded, but self-confining cage called “thinking about yourself.” We live under the power of these unconscious ponderings, for when they turn dark and stormy, it is we who are left out in the cold. Even if we can only collect ourselves to meditate, pray or contemplate a Higher Idea for a few minutes at a time, we must do it anyway. These small windows – opened by our work to remember the Extraordinary Life – grant us passage into its timeless domain.

6. Open Yourself to Life: Dare to see and experience yourself as you are without giving names to all the varied emotional sensations that present themselves before your watchful inner eyes. Allow the meaning of whatever states you see coming up in you to reveal their actual nature to you. Resist the temptation to interrupt their upwelling by explaining to yourself what you are experiencing. Have no intention toward these thoughts and feelings other than to be open to them and, in doing so, to permit them their uninterrupted passage through you. Why open up to life in this way? For one thing, this gives negative states the back door they need to depart. For another, the Extraordinary Life is very possessive. It will not enter any zone marked “occupied.”

7. Make No Campsites: The Extraordinary Life visits individuals, not groups or organizations. It strengthens the soul willing to be alone for its sake. Keep your distance from people who insist that you believe as they do, who hope to convince you that the reality they have satisfied themselves with should satisfy you as well. These deceivers want only to keep you in their unreal camp. Never mind who is walking with you and who isn’t. Be wary of any campsite – inner or outer – with its bright “welcome weary traveler” sign. Most of these campers desire your company so that they can forget they are going nowhere. Walk on! Your persistence is an open invitation to the Extraordinary Life to show you the Way back home.

(Excerpted from Let Go and Live in the Now, Red Wheel/Weiser, 2004)

Resource Box:

Guy Finley is the acclaimed author of more than 30 books and audio programs on the subject of self-realization, several of which have become international best sellers. Among many others, his popular titles include: The Secret of Letting Go, Design Your Destiny, The Lost Secrets of Prayer, Apprentice of the Heart, Let Go and Live in the Now, and The Essential Laws of Fearless Living. Finley is the founder and director of Life of Learning Foundation, a nonprofit center for self-study located in Southern Oregon where he gives talks four times each week. Visit www.GuyFinley.org for a wealth of free helpful information, free audio and video downloads, and to request your free Self-Improvement Starter Kit.

       

Tags: destiny, fears, happiness, intention, Letting Go, Life, meditate, stress, thought, thoughts and feelings

When the sea of life gets stormy, how can you stay shipshape and ride the waves? You’re the CAPTAIN of your ship. Being empowered means having a deep sense of confidence that you can take charge of your ship and handle whatever comes up. Use your personal power and intentionality to keep your ship on course through stormy waters.

And every good captain has a CREW. Who will you have with you on this voyage? A good mate – a life partner; a navigation officer – a coach or other expert who knows the ropes and provides vital information to help you chart your course; a purser – accountant or financial adviser; a medical officer – your personal healthcare team; and others to swab the deck, lower the anchor, and do routine maintenance – clening service, yard service, car repairman, baby sitters, etc.

You’ll need a MAP. There is a map to transitions, because there are certain things in common to all transitions. Take a Transitions course, and/or hire a coach or other expert in transitions.

All sailors have a BAROMETER. What barometers do is tell you a change is coming. This is crucial to a sailor at sea, or a sailor at life. Our intuition acts like a barometer. Wouldn’t you agree it would be good to be able to sense if you were about to be laid off, or if your daughter were experimenting with drugs? Everyone has intuition. Learn how to pump up the volume on yours and read its messages.

A ship takes on BALLAST when it’s too light to sail. Add extra sleep and nurturing in times of stress, a solid Personal Mission Statement, money-reserves, a good time management program. Shift ballast if your ship is weighted down — get rid of tolerations — negative people, time-eaters, bad habits.

Good STABILIZERS for your ship are essential. A good social support network with strong intimate relationships, people you can count on, your faith, expert help such as a coach, and a well-bolstered Resilience can stabilize you through rough times. You bolster Resilience by processing Transitions well and by growing through hard times, not just going through them.

What LIFE VESTS would you take with you in the lifeboat if your ship were sinking? Most people in my seminars mention specific people in their lives, and their faith. Some mention experts of various types. I’ve never heard anyone mention money. Life vests these days feature a light and a whistle. Your optimism is the light, guiding you to safety. Your personal power, your voice, is the whistle. Don’t forget to take these with you!

Don’t become a CORK BOBBING IN THE OCEAN. Did you know that a cork out in the middle of the ocean would bob eternally? Each wave rotates the cork slightly, but doesn’t move it anywhere. If you want to get through rough seas, you have to take action.

You have to be able to TENDER. When a ship can’t get up to a harbor, it anchors and then sends people ashore on smaller boats. It originally meant “sending out.” To tender in your own situation, you need to use creativity. How else can you get where you need to get when Plan A didn’t work out? What can you “send out” that will help the situation – requests for guidance and help?

Passing MUSTER is also essential. Muster is an emergency plan. It means putting on your life vest and reporting to your assigned muster station. This is practiced in calm times so you’ll ‘know the drill’. Having been through it in a calm and rational time, presumably in a state of panic your body will remember while your mind is flooded with emotion, and you’ll get where you need to get. Do you know where the muster station is? Practice in quiet times. You’ll need the knowledge in emergencies.

What ship doesn’t encounter WINDS OF CHANGE. Winds are always blowing in a transition. It’s typical to experience ambivalence, wanting the thing that’s gone, wanting to move forward, fear of the unknown, survivor guilt, confusion, joy, sadness, anticipation. Today you’re glad you got the promotion and ready to go, tomorrow you dread the new responsiblity, doubt you can handle it, and mourn the changed relationships. The winds can toss you about without the anchor of your Personal Power and your Stabilizers.

Stormy seas have WAVES. It matters the size of the adversity, and the succession of adverse events. One large wave can really knock you over. So can a rapid succession of smaller waves. 60′ waves routinely roll in slowly, one by one in the Pacific, causing no problem, but a rapid succession of 30′ waves sank the Edmund Fitzgerald on Lake Superior. It had no time to recover, to right itself. Depending upon the relative size of your craft and the size of the wave, it’s best to turn and face the wave rather than taking it broadside. Turn and face your problems head-on; it will be easier in the long run. There’s nothing worse than getting side-swiped. The trench of the wave is how it effects you – it may look like just a house your leaving to someone else, but to you it’s your memories and your home. Learn about you, learn about the waves.

Study transitions. Processing one transition and learning good coping strategies builds resilience and helps you handle the next one, and the next one. Learn to ride the waves to fun and happiness!

Resource Box:

Susan Dunn, M.A., is a professional coach who helps her clients navigate rough waters. She is the author of “Resilience”. Visit her on the web at www.susandunn.cc.

       

Tags: good time management, happiness, intention, intuition, Life, personal mission statement, time management program

Out of the many different ways that we can sabotage our own success, these twelve are the most common. All of us are guilty of these behaviors at various times, but knowledge of them gives us the power to start to banish them from our lives.

1. Ignore your own strengths and weaknesses.

We all have many individual attributes, but it is pointless trying to be someone or something that we are not. As Peter Thompson, the great motivational speaker says, “People will only do who they are.”

Don’t ignore reality. Learn who you are and build your business or career accordingly.

2. Stop learning.

For many people, the very idea of learning is something that they left behind at school or college. They don’t read. In their jobs they only know one way. Their way.

Successful people are universally sponges for information. They read, listen to tapes, scour the Internet and spend their whole lives learning.

The best investment anyone can make in their business, career or life is in their own ongoing education. If you are spending less than $200 a year on learning new things, you are short-changing yourself.

3. Believe that you can make it for free.

‘Make $1000 a week with no outlay!’

We’ve all seen the ads. By all means study them and analyze their sales and copywriting techniques. But don’t believe them.

No person or business can succeed without intelligent and consistent investment. Some online endeavors may be able to manage on less capital than many traditional businesses, but they still need something.

Sure you can operate an affiliate mini site on a free web host, with free email accounts and do all the writing and coding yourself. Trouble is, the result is guaranteed to look amateurish and your chances of making sales virtually zero.

Don’t be cheap. If it is worth doing, it is worth doing properly.

4. Try to get before you give.

We live in a gimme-gimme world. It is so easy to have a take-take attitude. Well, why not? There is so much available, why shouldn’t we get our share first?

Successful people don’t think that way. They see the value of the long term. Anyone can get a short-term benefit, but at what cost? Trust and respect are built by giving, not by taking. These two little words are the foundation stone of any successful business or person.

Whether you are offering free advice or help to a fellow entrepreneur, or delivering far more than your customers expect, think of the long term.

Build your business on a firm foundation. After all, there is a lot of truth in the axiom, ‘what goes around, comes around.’

5. Don’t set goals.

What do you need goals for when you can play it by ear? Isn’t all that goal stuff just new-age mumbo-jumbo?

No it isn’t. Without a clear objective you can never reach your target. How many times have you heard a soldier being commanded ‘Ready … Fire.’ There are always two little words in the middle: ‘Take Aim’. Imagine the consequences otherwise!

Every successful person has mastered the art of setting goals.

As Martha Lupton put it, ‘To get anywhere, strike out for somewhere, or you’ll get nowhere.’

6. Don’t focus.

In any given day we have thousands of thoughts, hundreds of memories, scores of outside influences, dozens of helpful ideas, tens of items on out to-do lists. But of all these things, only one is important enough to take our full attention, right at this moment.

High achievers have mastered this art. They have the ability to focus 100% of their mind, creativity, intuition and experience into a single laser beam that burns to the heart of the problem. Then they move on to the next.

But which problem to start with? Two books that are very helpful in teaching you to identify what is important, and what is merely a time waster, are ‘The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen Covey, and, ‘The 80-20 Principle’, by Richard Koch.

7. Hate change.

Put simply, it is far easier to sit back and do what you know, than to innovate.

Yet business or business person who is content to let things carry on as they always did will quickly find to their cost that the world doesn’t wait with them.

‘Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or to the present are certain to miss the future.’ John F. Kennedy.

8. Try once, then stop.

We are all guilty of this at some time. If at first you don’t succeed, give up.

Success doesn’t see it that way at all. The road to success is almost never paved. It is full of potholes, littered with the blown down trunks of deserted dreams and blocked by obstacles. But there is gold at the end, and unless you keep on trekking, you will never find it.

Edison made 10,000 useless light bulbs before he found the one that worked.

J. K. Rowling sent Harry Potter to 20 publishers before one took her on.

They never gave up. Successful people don’t.

‘Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.’ Thomas Edison.

9. Think that you are more important than the customer.

Let’s be arrogant. We can tell our customers what they want, and they’ll thank us for it. Yeah right. And Ford still make only black cars!

I had lunch with the editor of a major British women’s magazine a few years ago and asked her how she responded to feedback from her readers.

‘My dear,’ she said, ‘I’m the editor. It is my job to tell them what they want, not the other way round.’

It came as no surprise that 6 months later she was fired, and a few months after that the magazine folded.

Don’t ever be guilty of corporate arrogance. Even the might Coca Cola company can be brought to heel by angry consumers (over the introduction in 1985 of New Coke). Just think what negative PR could do to you.

10. Sit back and wait for it to happen.

Whoever said ‘Build a better mousetrap and they’ll beat a path to your door’, had no idea of how business works.

You can have the best web site, the best book, the best store in the mall, but if you don’t tell anyone, so what?

The very word business means the state of being busy.

Marketing and innovation are the locks on the door of successful businesses. Action is the key that opens that door so that you can see, as Howard Carter put it when he opened the tomb of Tutankhamen, ‘Wonderful things.’

‘The individual activity of one man with backbone will do more than a thousand men with a mere wishbone.’ William J. H. Boetcker.

11. Listen to your peers.

Surely it is a good idea to listen to what your Dad has to say about your business? Or your sister, or doctor, or cab driver?

Everyone has an opinion. Unfortunately, most people are programmed to fail, and can’t see the positive aspect of anything.

If you allow other people’s negativity to infect your thinking, all of your endeavors are doomed. Most will probably never even get started.

It is vital that you have faith in what you are doing. If you have that faith, and you have seriously thought through all the issues, surround yourself with positive people and go for it.

12. Don’t belive you can succeed.

What has self-belief got to do with it? Either you have a successful business, or you don’t.

Trust me on this. If you have a cast-iron, unshakeable belief in your future success, then every action you take will be a positive one. It may take time, but you will be on the right path.

Nothing else is more important than this self-belief.

But, the moment you allow any doubt to creep in, you will instantly be on the road to failure.

Let’s give the last word to Abraham Lincoln who said, ‘Let no feeling of discouragement prey upon you, and in the end, you are sure to succeed.’

Resource Box:

Martin Avis is a management and training consultant. To get your unfair advantage (and 6 free gifts) in Internet marketing, business and personal success, subscribe free to his weekly newsletter, BizE-zine. mailto:subscribe5@BizE-zine.com or visit his information-packed website at http://www.BizE-zine.com

       

Tags: intuition, Life, mind, successful business