Lately I've been reading and learning about The Law of Attraction. You are probably familiar with the concept--our thoughts, both conscious and unconscious, determine the reality of our lives. If you really want something and truly believe it's possible, you will have it. On the other hand, focusing attention and thought on what you don't want means you'll probably get that instead.
One of the basic principals of the Law of Attraction is to go with the flow--the idea being that if you are struggling too hard maybe you are focusing too much energy on what you don't want rather than on what you do want. And as a result, that's what you are drawing into your life--what you don't want. Rather than rowing like crazy to get upstream, let go and go with the flow. Let the stream carry you along to what you want. My first reaction to this idea was "no way!" It sounds like blasphemy! It's un-American. I am nothing if not a hard worker. I worked hard in school, worked my way through college, worked hard in my career; I have worked hard for everything in my life. I take great pride in my work ethic.
But what if it's true? How else can you explain that I can work so hard to lose weight (and change behaviors) but continue to get what I don't want and do what I don't want to do? How else can you explain that I have been able to achieve most everything I've put my mind to, and yet I still struggle in this one area. What if what I really want isn't upstream at all, but downstream? What if rather than rowing like crazy, all I have to do is let go and let the stream carry me? Let go and let God. Surrender.
8 comments:
I really like that thought process Pat. I had a similar occurrence last night, I went and took Kyla up to the track ( Pat, you want to go tonight after the WOD? or anyone else who wants to, my dog goes crazy if I do not take her out). There are pullup bars there and every lap I do a pullup, than the whole next lap I think, gosh why can't I get two in a row! I told myself to STOP thinking that way on my final lap, and to just "go with the flow" and be positive and maybe it will come, well what do you know I got two in a row! I think if we focus too much energy on something it can turn out negative, so I agree with your post today!
I am starting a new challenge for my self, see I use to wake up and do cardio at the gym, but got out of that habit, so now I still need something in the AM before work so: I am going to start the day with burpees (28 for my age)squats (56) and plank holds (1min 28 sec) and meditation, just to get started on the right foot! It only took a couple minutes but I feel more energized already!
Rae, I am always so impressed with how much you workout. I can't believe you hop up and do that in the morning. That's fantastic.
I need to work on my running but I was thinking I might do that instead of the WOD today.
Good lord Rae!! I can barely force myself out of bed to take a shower and get to work, let alone the thought of burpees in the morning???!!! Haha!! that's comical.
When I was doing Body for Life, I forced myself to get to the gym in the morning to do my 20 min high intensity interval training 3 days a week. I figured, it was only 20 minutes, plus I was at a different job and was going in later and had to work less hours. But burpees? Ugh!! I commend you! I thought about getting up and doing yoga in the morning. So far it is just a thought.
Pat~ I need to work on my running too. I think I'll look and see if there is a 5k on Sunday morning somewhere since it is a rest day.
Rae~ here is the link to the wine study I mentioned last night.
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/news/20081029/heavy-metals-found-in-wine
Hi All.
Pat, interesting post. A few things come to mind. First, during my divorce I was in counseling and one issue that came up is that I'm a project person. Always need something external to focus on (surely it's one way to avoid looking internally). My counselor convinced me that I need to let go and have fun. Of course, I said "you're right, I'll work on that" Her response "NO! Don't WORK on anything. Just have fun; it's not a job or a project"
Then, about a year ago I went for my physical. After getting on the scale I could tell my doctor had something to say, but was hesitating to say it. I thought she didn't want to embarrass me by telling me I need to lose weight. Turned out she wasn't worried about embarrassing me at all. She wanted me to loose a few pounds but said "with your personality if I tell you to loose a few you'll take it to the extreme and that won't be healthy" I was shocked at her perception of me.
I've gotten a lot better at "going with the flow," but today's post is good for me because it's one thing not to create and take on the zillions of projects, but to use an analogy from Rae's post, it's another thing to stop thinking about what you "could" and "should" be doing as your run your next lap.
Sheryl, good to see you back on the blog. I've missed you. Always love to get your perspective on things.
Thanks Melissa I did look into that after we talked yesterday! It is very interesting and scary, luckily I only drink wine on Friday nights, looks like I may have to switch to beer, eww!
Hi everyone!
Pat, it is wonderful that you are "going with the flow" ...
Everything is created two times: first as thoughts (bits of information) by the self-aware conscience equal “the unconscious conscience” and then as manifestation into (what we call it) reality by the mind equal “the conscious conscience”.
Conscious conscience is all that we are aware of it already (example: I know that I am mother of three children, I know to speak several languages, I know to drive a car, I know to treat patients, as well as: I know that I do not know Japanese yet, I know that I do not know to pilot an airplane yet, I know that I do not know to cook a turkey for the Thanksgiving yet, but all of these things, if I want one day to know them, I know what to do in order to know them, therefore I am aware already of them)
What about the rest? … All that remains as universal knowledge still unknown? Is this “conscious conscience” all that exists? … Or it is much more there and we are not aware yet that we are not aware of it, so we completely ignore it with our level of “conscious conscience”? …
Unconscious conscience is all that we are not aware of it and we are not even aware that we are not aware of it and therefore we are completely ignoring an infinite universe … We all have these so-called blind spots ... And what we can do with blind spots? ... Nothing!!! ... Albert Einstein said: “The problems that appear at a certain level of awareness of the conscience are not solved, they are just transcended with a higher level of awareness occured into the conscience” …
Reflecting on the two creations – the thoughts and the manifestation - can we influence any of these creations? Yes, we can!
And we can only influence the first creation, we can only influence our thoughts in the beginning, not their manifestation. The only way we can influence our life experience is by transforming ourselves, our attitude, our paradigms, by increasing our self-awareness, by having a breakthrough into the unconscious conscience, into the universal wisdom, into Love, into God.
This is an universal law of creation, valid no matter if we believe it is true or not.
We are the creators of our life experience, whether we are aware how we do it or not.
The mind is an instrument to manifest the creation of the conscience. This mind is not self-aware, it is not conscious. The mind couldn’t care less if the thoughts created by the conscience are fulfilling the self or not. Mind is just manifesting what was ordered before, without discerning it.
The only nurturing state of conscience is surrendering, giving up controlling, giving up struggling.
Our society teaches us that in order to obtain what we want, we have to work hard.
What we see is that the harder we work, the less fulfilled we are in our lives.
The ones who are living fulfilling lives are the ones who are surrendering to life, receiving grace into their hearts and existences.
Paradox? ... To influence life is to give up controlling it ...
We are here on Earth to express the greatest self we are! No one and nothing stops us in creating the life that inspires us, except the mind-ego that struggles. Give up unhappiness! Give yourself to love! Give yourself to God! … Surrender with faith!
I am inviting you (in case you did not see them already) to see these movies: "The Secret" and "What the bleep do we know" ... they will enrich you.
Be blessed! … Today is the first day from the rest of your wonderful life! …
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