lauren's space

by Lauren Kennedy - http://www.InsitetoExcellence.com

"Knock. Knock."

" Who’s there?"

" Truth."

" Truth Who?"

" Mine or Yours?"

And there in lies the dilemma. And the source of immense conflict.

We like to think that truth is absolute, explicit, definite, unambiguous and most of all knowable. But what is truth? Are there universal truths that apply to everyone and everything, at all times, in every situation, rigid and inflexible? How do we know if something is, in fact true?

Following are the dictionary's various definitions of truth.

* "Something that is factual."

* "Something that is generally believed to be true."

* "A fact or concept that is scientifically proven."

* " Conformity to a certain standard or law."

* " Something that corresponds to reality."

* "A religious truth."

But none of these definition unequivocally define a truth. Instead, they describe the methods that we use to validate a particular truth, or more accurately, a belief. Each of these methods are fallible, influenced by society's views, upheld by those in power,or a mater of perception, control or convenience.

For instance, at one time Europeans  generally believed that the world was flat. That was "something that is generally believed to be true." Go too far and you fall of the edge of the earth they would say. Many people thought Christopher Columbus was sailing to his doom.

"A religious truth" was stated to be that the sun revolved around the earth. Anyone who dared to disagree was subject to prosecution. Therefore, that definition  can also be fallible.

How about "conformity to a certain standard or law"? At one point in time, the standard and law in the south was that slavery was acceptable. Many people conformed in their beliefs and actions to the idea that slaves were sub humans, deserving no more respect than livestock. In time our laws matured enough to outlaw slavery. Unfortunately, some people have been slow to evolve or expand their perception and understand the spiritual principle of different but equal.

Let's look at those " things that correspond to reality." At one point in time people believed that their own misfortune was the result of their neighbor, the witch. They were so certain of this reality that they eagerly sent one neighbor after another to the pyre without a second thought or moment of remorse. Conviction after conviction, sentence after sentence was carried out with no evidence, simply someone's claim that their own misfortune must have been caused by a witch. And then they pointed the finger at someone they knew, one of their neighbors, relatives, the strange person in the village or someone who was an inconvenience or annoyance to them.

We may not burn witches at the stake, but we  still seem to seek revenge as a way to ease the pain of a tragedy or react with fear in an attempt to control something that we find threatening.

Even scientist have had to revise the "facts that they thought had been scientifically proven."  When I was in grade school, I asked the teacher how long ago  South American and Africa were joined together. She told me I had an over active imagination. Continents were way too large and heavy to move.

It always amazed me that scientists,  could categorically reject the obvious based on their inability to explain it. Everyday scientists are discovering new information that dispels some of their most dearly held convictions.

Misleading is Untruthful

Another problem with facts as truth is this. If I chose, I could recount a situation or incident to you, giving you the facts, never uttering a false word, and still lead you to a false conclusion. Now, consider the public relations advisers, the spin professionals, who aren't concerned if  a minor untruth slips in now and again. They can  have you skipping down the Yellow Brick Road ready to ambush the  Big Bad witch with nothing but the the shiny ruby red shoes they sold you to put on your feet.

Our Five Senses Are Limited

Many people still hold to the concept that reality is what we can see, hear, taste, smell or touch. If it doesn't register with one of our five senses, it doesn't exist. This is amazing in the era of atom bashing and quark detection (subatomic particles that scientist can't even see). So how do they know they exist? Consider the air on a still day. You can't see, hear, taste, touch or smell it, except perhaps on a hot day in New York during a garbage strike. But if you look at a tall tree, you will notice that its leaves at the very top are slightly swaying. In the same way, scientists know that quarks exists by the reaction and results that they observe when smashing particle together at incredible speeds.

Some dogs can  smell cancer cells long before our sophisticated instruments can detect them. Birds can see radiation the same way that we see color. Before technology, humans were unable to see or detect  that part of the light spectrum. Does that mean it didn't exist? Of course, if they were avid sun bathers, they did notice the effect of some parts of the invisible light spectrum.

Other animals can detect the earth's magnetic force, a useful sense for navigation when you don't have hands to hold a compass. And what about people who are colorblind and can't differentiate red and green. Does that mean that those colors don't exist? Are the rest of us  are just imagining them, or dreaming them.

Religious Truths

Religious truths are a real quagmire. Everyone thinks that their sacred texts, and their interpretations are the ultimate truth. Many of these stories were  passed for years from one person to another by word of mouth until they were finally transcribed. Have you ever played telephone? The quagmire gets deeper still, when one considers translation, colloquialisms, and the writings that were omitted, at least from the Bible, for reasons of control, power, bias, by the early clergy to gain power and control for their version of religious truth.  The first to fourth century religious elders and popes were more concerned about obtaining a power base and choosing scriptures and interpretations that validated their traditional social views, than they were about ensuring that the spirit and message of the word of Christ was accurately preserved.

The fact is that most of the ideas or concepts that we label as truth are actually beliefs, not facts, hence not the truth. None of the dictionary's definitions actually define truth. They just describe our system for proclaiming that something is the truth at a particular point in time.The problem is that facts change, our version of reality changes, laws and standards change, society changes and different religions have  different versions of the truth.

The Best Definition

The best definition that I discovered, the one that has the potential to come closest to the truth was this: "An accurate account or description of alignment, setting, position or shape."

But once again, this definition is also subject to error. Giving an accurate account depends on what we perceive. As mentioned earlier, we can only perceive what our senses detect. A dog may hear something that we cannot or an eagle may see something we could not. Unfortunately, we can not understand other species' language, although our pets, with inferior intellectual capacities (according to our truths),  have learned to understand some of ours.  Hence we are unable to benefit from the information they gather with their more acute senses.

Perception Obscures the Truth

The next obstacle is our mental perception. We often only see what we expect to see. In addition, we make assumptions about what we see, based on our experiences, our beliefs, our attitude, our fears and our biases. These assumptions can occur automatically and lightening quick, so we are not aware of the process. By the time the situation registers in our conscious brain, some information may be excluded, some information inferred, and some created. But to our mind, it is what happened, it is the truth.

Are you beginning to see the dilemma? And just to really make your head spin, consider this. If we really create our life situation as some beliefs suggest, and if human consciousness influences the world, world situations, and even DNA, then may be we are constantly creating a new reality. According to the dictionary one definition of truth is reality. If we are indeed creating new realities, then are we also creating new truths?

How does one make choices when truth appears to be plastic and malleable, debatable, changeable  and unknowable?  How can truth be a fixed, unchanging declaration, when  the basis for truth, reality, is subject to change? And it not only reality that may be subject to change, our perceptions definitely change moment to moment.

Honesty Is the Best Policy

Honest communication can eliminate much of the confusion and misinformation that occurs, even if we have yet to discover the ultimate universal truths. Truth and honesty, in practice,  are not necessarily the same thing. I can inform you of a situation, perhaps a new policy coming up for a vote, or relay a description about a course of action that someone followed, etc. I can present the facts, never uttering a falsehood, but still (intentionally or otherwise) lead you to a false conclusion or impression. I have been technically and legally truthful. But I have still been dishonest, manipulative and deceitful. So that is a practice that I avoid, however tempting or superficially self serving it may appear to be.

The Benefits of Rigorous Self Honesty

The discipline of rigorous self honesty is a powerful practice that brings clarity, insight and direction to my life. This means that I am honest with myself and others about my intentions and motives. I don't mislead myself or others about my true motives in order to make a good impression, manipulate opinion, or control behavior. Engaging in emotional blackmail by instilling fear, guilt or power plays is equally dishonest.

Honesty includes living with authenticity and integrity, meaning that my choices, decisions and behaviors are congruent with my principles, priorities, beliefs. Rigorous self honesty also includes acknowledging my true feelings, needs and fears.  To accomplish this level of honesty requires present moment awareness, courage and objective self observation.   My record is far from perfect, and discovering my true feelings, needs and intentions has been a difficult and sometimes painful feat a for a woman that spent over half her life playing  a academy award version of Pollyanna meets superwoman. For a time, I had even believed  that I didn't need anything or anybody and that I was never angry.  

Our true feelings  are often inconvenient, contrary to society's  image of a strong, responsible and positive person, triggering our sense of vulnerability. But we have been sold a pack of lies. It takes a far more courageous and much stronger individual to acknowledge their own truth than it does to avoid and resist it by substituting pretty thoughts and acceptable emotions. When we avoid, dismiss, deny, or cover our feelings they are not eliminated .

What we resist, persists, and that includes our feelings.  

In order to become who we want to be, in order to reach our potential, we must first acknowledge, accept and experience who we truly are. To remodel a house, I must first understand what I want to change, what I want to keep, what elements work and which do not. I must uncover the cracks in the foundation, the leaks in the pipes, the mold in the basement. I  can choose to remain unaware of them, and just apply a quick coat of paint and a positive attitude, but the cracks, leaks and mold will eventually topple the structural foundation around me.

We do not change what we refuse to acknowledge.

We may not agree on what is "The Truth," but we can discover our own inner truth, the truth of who we are. Then through objective observation we can discover and fix the cracks, mend the leaks and eliminate the harmful mold within.  If we refuse to honestly experience and release our feelings, if we resist honestly acknowledging our true motives and hidden agendas, those  lies will destroy our inner foundation. When we ignore, cover up or deny  our feelings, priorities, motives, and needs,  we loose our connection with our true source of wisdom.

We resist acknowledging those personal truths,(feelings, intent, motives) that we judge to be negative. But their existence will not be denied. In our attempt to ignore them or cover them up, their energy(that we have judge to be negative) simmers inside and grows in strength. The more we resist it, the more our own truth persists in its need for expression and release. Eventually, in spite of our best efforts,  it will surface through emotional outbursts, compulsions, justifications, compromised principles and emptiness. The truth that we are trying so hard to control, deny, and avoid experiencing will eventually control and destroy us unless we begin to embrace the truth of who we are being.

Our feelings hold a wealth of information. Acknowledged, experienced and released, they dissipate quickly and thus have no energy to attract negativity. Observing our feelings, motives, intentions,and fears, informs us of the cracks in the foundation that need healing, identifies the fears that leak in and obscure our perceptions  and identifies the mold that is blocking us from expressing our truth, our essence, our spirit.

Feelings are the language of our Soul.  And that may be as close to a source of truth as we may be able to achieve. So why do we regularly avoid or ignore our personal path to our truth?

Honesty is Living Our Own Truth

I don't have to know "The Truth" to be  honest in my interactions  with life, with others and with myself. If I am true to my priorities, purpose and beliefs,  if I consciously choose to live and express the truth of who I am, if my focus is authenticity and integrity , then I will never live a lie. As I grow, my priorities and beliefs may change. My truths may even evolve and expand.  But by adhering to the principle of self honesty, I will never live a lie.  And I will have lived my truth.

Each moment that we choose to be honest and authentic, we are living our truth.  And by focusing on our own inner truth, we will know and recognize The Truth when it comes to knock on our door.

"Knock. Knock."

" Who There?"

" Honesty."

" Honesty Who?"

"I am honestly living my truth."

This is one of life's most precious gifts. But even gifts require maintenance, appreciation, and responsibility.

And the nature of freedom implies inherent risks. You cannot have freedom and at the same time expect total protection and safety.

The freedom to drive a car, comes with the possibility of becoming involved in an accident. The freedom to make our own decisions includes accepting the consequences that result from our choices. And freedom as a citizen means that the police, the armed forces, secret government agencies and the government itself, cannot always keep us safe against others.

In the aftermath of 911, we have closed our eyes while the government has slowly chipped away at our rights. We have condoned, by our silence, the use of torture. We would have condemned another country if they had behaved likewise. We have looked the other way as individuals in our country have been whisked off the street, imprisoned and denied outside communication, based solely on vague suspicions, ethnic background, personal beliefs or reading preferences.

We have been so intent on revenge that we have stood by while the executive branch over reached their their position, made their own rules and led us into a war, through propaganda and false information, in order to pursue their personal agenda.

I realize that certain precautions are necessary. Airline security, background checks for violent affiliations before foreigners enter the country, cooperation between the various government organizations so pertinent information can be assimilated to implement precautions to prevent violence against US citizens.

But the gift of freedom requires certain responsibilities. It requires that we don't give up our rights out of fear. It requires that we value human rights, civil rights and demand the truth from our officials even when it is uncomfortable to hear. It requires that we honor justice but not revenge. It means that we have the integrity to admit our mistakes and the virtue to make the appropriate changes. It means that we refuse to join in on a witch hunt. It requires that we acknowledge that force, compromising human rights, relinquishing personal liberties are not compatible with freedom. And it mean the we accept that complete control and life without risks is not only the antithesis of freedom but also impossible.

To remain truly free, we must upload the principles of honesty, integrity, respect for all humans and tolerance for everyone's personal beliefs.

War, torture, disregard for human rights, discounting the facts because they interfere with our agenda, looking the other way while our rights are being dismantled, and blindly accepting false justifications for questionable decisions are not about making ourselves and our country safer. They are about eradicating our feelings of powerlessness and the desire to be powerful and invincible. They are about justifying our hunger for revenge.They are about our mistaken belief that we can somehow make life completely safe, fully under our control in every situation or circumstance and convincing ourselves that we are totally blameless, totally noble and always right.

Perhaps we have decided that freedom is too great a responsibility. Perhaps we would rather give in to our fears, pain and out rage Perhaps we think that revenge and blame are the easiest, quickest way to silence our painful emotions. Perhaps we lack the courage to stand up for the principles of freedom when the going gets tough.

And if that is so, perhaps we lack the responsibility, appreciation and integrity to retain the precious gift of freedom.

Joe had a promising future in a large corporation where he had been employed for several years. He was married with two children. He spent more time at work than at home. But once he got his promotion into the executive branch of the corporation, then he could spend plenty of quality time with his family.

 It was dark, as usual when he got home. He was typically preoccupied with a presentation that was due in the morning.  Reading his notes as he walked to the door, he didn't notice the new bike parked next to it. He crashed into the new bike, knocking it onto his tools he had left strewn on the floor. Damn, the bike was broken. More money out of his pocket to get it fixed.

 He fumbled to get the door unlocked. He strode quickly through the house and suddenly found himself flying through the air in a forward flip. He landed on his sore tailbone, papers flying. Damn, his wife rearranged the furniture. Doesn't she have anything better to do?

 Suddenly, Joe’s mind flashed to a recent memory of his son’s disappointment that Dad hadn't noticed a special drawing he had done and placed on Joe’s dresser. Once again Joe’s mind flashed to a recent scene. This time he saw his daughter, teary eyed after gleefully announcing that she had won a writing contest. Isn’t that great, Dad? Finally her insistent pleading brought him back from his preoccupation with a pressing business concern. Joe heard her imploring him to come to the ceremony. Wasn’t he proud of her?  He tried to placate her with trite phrases. You know I am proud of you. I just can’t make it this time. I have to work to support the family and our lifestyle. You understand, don’t you?

  He shook his head to erase the memories. Once he got done with these major deals, he'd try to be more aware, pay more attention to his kids and take time to enjoy his family.

 His wife wanted to go to their ten year high school reunion. She had been looking forward to this event for several months. But Joe had gained some weight and developed a receding hair line. Not this year, dear. I just can’t get away. When he lost the weight and had a hair replacement, then he could go without feeling uncomfortable.

 One day Joe returned from work very upset. He told his wife that one of his co workers got his promotion. But he knew how to put things right. Joe would see to it that the company president discovered that his rival had left early on several occasions and rushed home because one or another of his children were ill (he was a single parent).Being a conscientious employee, Joe had diligently done double duty  in his rival's absence. In addition, Joe could let it slip to the company gossip that he closed a deal for the same co worker when he suddenly departed to for the hospital where his sister was in intensive care after a heart attack.

When his wife raised her eyebrows he retorted, "It's his own fault. He should have made the marriage work so he would have someone to watch his kids and his sister should have stayed on her diet and exercise routine."

 He quickly silenced the persistent voice questioning his choices. He was just trying to provide security for his family. And he was the one that deserved that promotion. He was just setting things right.

 The inner voice was insistent however. He couldn’t afford the luxury of worrying about principles. Nice guys finish last. Joe had no intention of ever finishing last, or even second for that matter. Once he secured an executive position in the company, complete with lucrative salary, retirement benefits, power and respect, then he would turn his attention to principles and matters of conscious. But now he had a family to support.

 Within five years, Joe was President of the corporation. He had lost 15 pounds and gotten his hair replacement. He had over a million dollars in cash saved,  millions more in investments and a retirement plan that rivaled the queen of England's.

 But he still had to work long hours to stay at the top. He was more pre occupied than ever with his business. After all, he was responsible to take it to the fortune 500 and beyond. And he had to keep the stockholders happy. Or at least spin a favorable picture, complete with statistics, which can always be manipulated to validate one's version of the facts.

 But that took a lot of time, energy and negotiations. Joe had worked hard to reach his goal and he’d sacrificed alot. He wasn’t about to let it slip through his fingers now.

 His kids were teenagers now anyway. They were always with their questionable friends and never followed his advice. No wonder they were always having problems. And his wife was always taking everything too personally. Emotions were inconvenient, a waste of time and demonstrated weakness. Suck it up like he did. Go make something of yourself.  

 People are just too needy. He was much more comfortable competing for corporate dominance.

 Joe’s single minded determination had earned him success, wealth and power. But he had avoided the more difficult business of developing an emotionally intimate and supportive relationship with his wife, children or friends.

He had achieved his goal of success beyond measure while those closest to him paid the price with deep emotional wounds that can take a lifetime to heal.

 They should take responsibility for themselves. He's not to blame.

 After all, he has succeeded in becoming the ultimate role model in society's eyes. He has achieved wealth, power and success. And he has not become complacent but continues to press on to even greater success.

 He just aligned his values to match societies. Society respects and admires wealth, power and success.  It desires it. Society excuses the necessary transgressions in the pursuit of achievement and success.

 And if other's get trampled along the way, well that's because they don't have what it takes.

 Joe happily accompanied his wife to their 15th high school reunion. After all, he was at the top of his game. He had become wealthy and powerful. Everyone would finally treat him with the respect and admiration that he deserves.

 
And everyone did.

 Only his family knew the truth.

 
 Moral:

 Society sets a template for behavior. Humans have the gift to choose the direction in which they evolve.

 On a practical level, every civilization that valued power and wealth above the human condition eventually crashed, burned or drowned.

 On a spiritual level, every spiritual prophet, no matter the country, nationality or religion, delivered the basic same message. Our evolution and our ultimate happiness depend on Unity and Compassion.

We have made great strides in our technical abilities and our mental fortitude, perseverance and confidence. But time and again we have ignored the message of the spiritual leaders and chose not to address our spiritual evolution.

We have a choice in our evolutionary path. It is our daily actions and our true intentions that will direct that path, not what we profess to believe, our religious affiliation, or our measure of material or social success.

 
What will you choose today?

Lauren Kennedy

The Law of Attraction produces sweet, abundant fruit, providing a source of nourishment for the hungry, hope for the desperate and empowerment for the downtrodden. It is the model for equal opportunity, impartially yielding like results whether one is young or old, rich or poor, loved or hated, ugly or beautiful, saint or sinner.

Law of Attraction, thanks in part to the popularity of the Secret, has changed many lives. By learning to focus our incredible resources of imagination, belief, emotion and awareness, we can consciously improve our lives instead of unconsciously sabotaging ourselves. As we practice and persist at heightening our awareness, directing our focus and confidently taking action on new opportunities, we experience dramatic changes in our lives.

And through the Law of Attraction, our proficiency at aligning our inner resources is mirrored by the outer circumstances in our lives.

It is a wonderful arrangement. Where is the evil in that? Better yet, the Law of Attraction exists in an infinitely abundant Universe, negating the need for conflict, competition, judgment or separation. Here are the ingredients for creating peace on earth. So what has gone wrong?

I have been receiving ever more email extolling the superior character of the rich and citing the deficient mind set of the poor. The inference is that the Law of Attraction supports this view.

Just as money can be used for good or evil, the law of attraction is being misused to separate rather than unite humanity. Included below are a few of the statements that I have recently read illustrating this point.

"The rich must separate themselves from associating with common people to protect their minds from thoughts of poverty and struggle."

"If you have prosperity thinking, you will rightly feel nauseated by poverty and struggle."

"Do not concern yourself with poverty or suffering, you have nothing to do with them."

"Since poverty and suffering are a choice, we need not risk contaminating our thoughts by providing charity."

"The rich enjoy the finer things in life because they hold ideas, beliefs and mind sets that are different than the diseased mind set held by the common people in society."

"Do not read books or papers that give circumstantial accounts of the wretchedness of tenement dwellers or the horrors of child labor. Keep your awareness free of negative images."

"The poor waste their money on thrift store trinkets, while the rich wisely invest their money in assets that will increase their wealth."

"The poor do not need charity, they need inspiration. If you want to help the poor, demonstrate to them that they can become rich, prove it by getting rich yourself."

These statements appeared in various sources: recent emails, articles, promotions or ecourses. Disappointingly, they were written by some of the more successful Internet gurus. And this perversion of the law of attraction is gaining momentum.

First let's clear up some misinterpretations. The Law of Attraction is a Universal Law, on par with the Law of Gravity. It does not distinguish between saints and sinners. If you step off a tall building you will fall to the ground. The rate of your descent is determined by your weight not your character. Similarly, the Law of Attraction will be equally effective whether one's focus is humanitarian, materialistic, destructive, or neutral.

However, the emerging doctrine contends that the wealthy have effectively utilized the Law of Attraction due to their superb character, advanced mental abilities and superior control of their impulses. Circular reasoning has resulted in these troubling and faulty observations.

Successful implementation of the Law of Attraction does require a burning desire, dedication, disciplined focus and a strong belief in oneself or at least something greater than oneself, but only as it applies to the specific desire. Character and integrity are irrelevant. And equally insignificant is one's lack of control, irresponsible behavior or scattered thinking in other areas of their life.

Here are two examples that illustrate this concept. Both individuals had a burning desire, determination, focus, and the belief that they could manifest their dreams.

Hitler was very adept at utilizing the law of attraction. He had a vision. He believed that

he was meant to accomplish it. He devoted all of his attention and focus into

achieving it. Hitler acquired wealth, power, and public devotion, so absolute, that he nearly succeeded in exterminating all the individuals he deemed inferior. His downfall began when his desire became so obsessive it interfered with his strategic judgment. Many of the trains were needed to transport troops to the fronts to repel Allied attacks. Instead, he diverted them to increase the pace of extermination of the second-rate populace. His deteriorating health completed his downfall by depleting his energy, weakening his focus and eroding his absolute confidence.

Joe Kennedy wanted money, power and prestige. He believed he could achieve it.

He focused his attention on acquiring this dream every waking moment. He created his financial fortune by underhanded dealings in the stock market before it was regulated. He associated with the elite and backed the winning politicians to secure a position of power. To remain in good standing with this powerful majority, he encouraged his sons to enlist in a war to which he was opposed. The ultimate prestige, having his son win the Presidency, was his greatest dream. He attracted this desire with the power of his will, fierce determination and a few huge donations to the powerful and persuasive mob.

Contrast Hitler and Kennedy with Gandhi and Christ, who were not financially well off by most standards. Which ones had character?

I grew up in family that was financially very well off, in a wealthy neighborhood, and socialized with wealthy and influential people. I have also had the opportunity to live with families in the projects. I saw no difference in the character, determination, discipline or mind set between the two groups. Except, perhaps, for one. The poor were more honest about their shortcomings.

We all do the best that we can at the time in whatever situation that we find ourselves. Therefore, my observations in this article are in no way directed at or a comment about the personal choices that anyone makes in their own life. I am not privy to another person’s situation, history, fears, needs or dreams.

People and circumstance change from moment to moment. Desires can become obsessions and acceptance can turn into apathy. We all experience situations that require us to choose between our priorities, desires and principles. Character is distributed evenly between the rich and poor. And only the exceptional few have that special quality to consistently demonstrate the courage of their convictions when something that they hold dear is at stake.

Therefore, my only intention is to express my deep concern over the opinions mentioned earlier. Respected individuals, with a reader following are influential. Comments that judge, separate, categorize, even unintentionally, may plant seeds of negativity and condemnation. And that can profoundly affect the lives of many people.

The next few paragraphs are devoted to pointing out the shortsightedness of the statements that I quoted at the beginning of this article.

If we chose to remain unaware of the plight of our human brethren, atrocities continue unabated. Awareness, attention and compassion are the catalyst to change. If people in the past had ignored suffering, there would still be no child labor laws. Slavery might still exist in this country as it does in other countries today. And women's place would still be barefoot and in the kitchen.

The torture at Guantanamo would have gone unnoticed, unchecked, and unchallenged. The horrors Hitler perpetrated on the world went unnoticed for many years because no one cared or believed or wanted to get involved. "It had nothing to do with them." Dictators control the media to maintain secrecy. Without awareness and compassion, they will not face interference from the people. Hence, they can continue the terror, abuse and rape of the country and its people, its poor people.

Dictators, no doubt, will champion this type of thinking. If we consciously choose to remain aware of the plight of the common man, dictators can rest assured that there will be no interference. Instead of wasting their time on propaganda, they can get on with their business.

Abused spouses have only recently seen any hope of improving their situation. Why? Partly because it was kept quiet and few people were aware of the problem. And partly because the prevailing attitude was that the abused either asked for it, deserve it, or had a choice to leave, never mind that they were penniless, unemployed, uneducated, alone except perhaps for their children and afraid.

The suggestion that one should withhold charity and instead inspire the poor by amassing personal wealth, leaves me dumbfounded. People who are starving, their farms decimated by drought and their children's bellies swollen from hunger will only be more acutely aware of their lack and failure in the presence of others who are championing their own personal success. Furthermore, it demonstrates a lack of compassion and an ignorance of human biology and psychology.

Unless our basic needs are satisfied - food, water, shelter, clothing - we are not likely to concerns ourselves with concepts. What would you do if your only means of providing for your family was destroyed by drought or pestilence, no relief in sight, your children starving and shivering with cold, and someone dripping with money approached you and said, don't asks for handouts, think positive, visualize fertile farms and you will be prosperous. I know what I would tell them.

I concur, handouts without education is short sighted. And contrary to many people's opinion, most people want to be self sufficient. Handouts tend to be demeaning. However, handouts are easier, a band aid to the larger issues. Actually addressing the underlying problems would require many committed individuals. To develop a lasting solution, one needs people with awareness and compassion who are dedicated to implementing a long term plan of action. Although focusing on solutions is always the best approach, sometimes, understanding the cause is essential to craft an effective solution rather than a placebo. Unless the causes are resolved and the needs are met, any solution will be short lived.

Perhaps there is some truth to the saying "Birds of a feather flock together." However, avoiding all interaction with the poor or struggling for fear of being contaminated by their diseased thinking, suggests a lack of confidence in one's own mental fortitude. Since the wealthy are claiming to have a superior mind set, perhaps, they could direct their laser focus on thoughts that would attract immunity against contamination by the diseased mind set of the common man. With their claim of elite mental faculties, that should be a cake walk.

Naturally my personal experience has affected my view. There was a point in my life that I needed a few hand outs to get back on my feet. I also needed some free services and therapy. And my predicament was mostly due to my own misguided perceptions and poor choices. That’s hardly a situation that would elicit compassion from most individuals. But fortunately, there were some high minded people who helped me just the same. And had I not received this help, support and guidance, I would be in wretched circumstance or perhaps dead. But gratefully there were some aware people who noticed my plight. They also did not shun charitable organizations. Their concern for my struggle enabled me to change my life.

However, in my dire circumstances, homeless, hopeless and ill, simply telling me to think positive and believe in abundance, would have been meaningless to me, if not laughable. And under those conditions, I would not have had the opportunity to ever have heard about the Law of Attraction. My circumstances today, and the benefits that I can provide for others, are due to the people who believed that I and others like me were there concern. Their assistance enabled me to meet my physical needs. Only then did I have the luxury to discover, appreciate, understand and apply the Law of Attraction.

The Law of Attraction is a Universal Law and thus it is neutral. It works equally well no matter your character, no matter your requests. Just like money, it is neither positive nor negative. They both provide the freedom to shape your life as you desire. The Law of Attraction works for the person that has self serving or even destructive intentions as well as for the one who is pure of heart. Keep in mind that the energy of your intentions and motives are even more powerful than your beliefs. And those energies are equalized by another Universal Law. Perhaps you have heard of it. It is the Law of Cause and Effect, better known as Karma.

Lauren Kennedy

More and more people are utilizing the Law of Attraction to manifest their goals, dreams, and desires.  The standard approach for attracting the life you desire include: visualizing in vivid detail your desire, only entertain positive thoughts, only focus your attention on positive situation, circumstances and emotions and never waiver from believing that your will achieve your goal.

 

However, many people seem compelled to include some additional steps. They generate a precise time table for reaching their goal and they create a specific plan of action, detailing exactly how they will achieve their goal.

 

So why do we believe these extra steps are necessary? It may be a reluctance and discomfort with letting go of control. May be we want assurance that the Universe will deliver the goods within time frame that we have in mind. Perhaps we are reluctant to forfeit control fearing the Universe won't follow our directive. In addition, we had been lectured countless times about the necessity of formulating an in depth plan of action, divided into phases, and include the who, what, where, how and when for each phase.

 

However, in my experience, these additional restrictions and directives are counter productive when partnering with the Universe. In the following paragraphs I will share a personal example that illustrates this point.

 

Previously, I worked as a counselor at a facility for women with substance abuse issues. Invariably, they had multiple issues and traumas that needed to be addressed at well.

 

I quickly developed a  passion for this work and  I seemed to have a natural ability for it as well. Very soon, I felt a burning desire to start my own facility which would address all types of addiction, obsessive behaviors in general, and perhaps other issues and behavioral patterns as well.

 

However, before I could accomplish this dream, the symptoms from my Hepatitis C, worsened to the point that I could no longer work outside the home.

 

I remained determined to fulfill my dream as soon as I could visualized myself back to health. After all, many of the Law of Attraction gurus maintained that disease was solely the result of negative beliefs. If I replaced all my negative beliefs with positive ones, visualized a healthy body, and stayed spiritually and energetically aligned, I would regain my health.

 

However, when my symptoms continued to worsen, the self-recriminations began. Adding to this,  when I mentioned that I was contemplating accepting my situation rather than fighting it, one of the gurus with whom I was corresponding, adamantly suggested acceptance was akin to giving up. My guilt rose steadily as he proceeded to inform me that by allowing myself to rest when I felt fatigued, I was acknowledging the disease and in effect continuing to manifest it.

 

So I willed myself to act and do all the things I would do if I were the picture of health. Given the fact that on some days it takes supreme effort just to get up and use the restroom, I wasn't totally successful at this assignment. These failures, of course resulted in more self recriminations. Never the less, my efforts at willfully discounting my body's needs were sufficient to land me in the hospital.

 

Unfortunately, once was not enough. I needed to prove that I had made a herculean effort at curing my disease through utilizing the principles of the Law of Attraction. It did not occur to me that I was judging my performance by the standards of an individual I barely knew and his personal interpretation of Universal principles. As far as I knew, he did not have a direct line of communication with the Universal Mind.

 

Fear was a contributing factor in my willingness to adopt his point of view. If I couldn't heal my disease, my symptoms would not improve. And if my symptoms did not improve, I couldn't establish my own facility for addictions and behavioral issues. And no facility meant my passion to help others through counseling was impossible. Or so I thought.

 

So I continued to resist my body's needs.  My misguided efforts netted me a few more hospitalizations followed by major surgery to have my entire colon removed. A few additional trips to the hospital, due to complications and the light bulb reignited. My own inner guidance finally had gotten my attention.

 

I realized that I had spent several frustrating years trying to force the circumstances to conform to the "How" I had envisioned. I had ignored my needs and feelings, fearing that a failure to heal my disease would indicate inadequacy, weakness or lack of self discipline.  So I discounted my own guidance. Guidance that has always  been an unerring source of wisdom and support.

 

It was time to do something different. I had been neglecting the present while trying to control the future. I decided to accept and acknowledge my present moment circumstances.

 

Instead of discounting my needs and pushing my body, mind and emotions beyond the limit, (old habits die hard in times of stress), I would take better care of myself and give up time travel, by getting back into the practice of present moment awareness.

 

Next I would look for some undertaking that I could pursue now, given my present circumstances, to further my passion:  motivating others to find personal freedom, develop self worth and confidence  discover a sense of empowerment and create the life they desire.

 

After a few phone calls, I discovered the facility where I had previously worked would be delighted if I volunteered to facilitate groups and fill in for the counselors. Whenever I felt up to it, I could just show up, no prior notification, no commitment. A very generous arrangement.

 

However, a few days latter, some books that I had previously ordered arrived. That there was such a professional as coaching, heard of coaching. One of these books happened to be written by a life and business coach. Prior to reading this book, I thought coaches were a position on a sports team and I had a vague notion that they also supervised the stars' quest for a size 2 body. That was the day I found out that a profession existed for Life and Spiritual Coaches. And the coaching sessions were typically done via the phone.

 

I just had to get a website and get set up on the internet. Little did I know then that the word "just" was totally inaccurate for my new venture.

 

I rushed to the computer, plopped down and blindly roamed cyberspace. My prior experience with the internet was 7 emails and 3 research excursions. And my oldest daughter usually had to help me find my way out of a porn site in which I had inadvertently landed. But eventually I found a 6 month program to hone my skills at life and spiritual coaching via telephone. I signed up for the course and began the process of creating my Personal Development business.

 

Through my internet business,  I have the potential to reach a larger number and a greater variety of people than I would have ever had with a facility. Plus, the miles of bureaucratic red tape that is a prerequisite for keeping a facility open, is merely a few feet with the internet. I don't have to agonize over the inevitable decisions over compromise of the content, of the quality, of the programs and lessons. Many donation sources require the use of specific materials. And without donations, keeping the doors open is like playing Russian roulette. And finally, there's no Board of Directors, who know nothing about Personal Development, pressuring me into complying with their self serving concepts.

 

The Universe did a much better job at the "hows" than I ever could have done. But, as long as my perception, objective and focus were limited to a particular course, a specific plan, there could be no progress. I first had to give up control, guilt and fear and allow the Universe to do its part.

 

To be fair, I have since connected with some law of attraction gurus that have a somewhat different approach. And many of them sincerely want to help people learn to implement the Law of Attraction in their lives. I had made the fear based choice to unquestioningly adopt and judge myself by the beliefs and ideas of a few individuals. My motivation for complying with their views and subsequently, ignoring my own inner guidance, did however, revealed some pesky issues that I had to address. But that's another tale.

 

This experience has validated my perceptions of the Law of Attraction, which I had unfortunately doubted.

 

My interpretation of the often quoted sentence, "You can do, be or have whatever you believe and desire," is this: you can do, be  or have the essence of what you believe and desire. The essence is  the feeling we want to experience and/or  the need that we want to fill, as the result of achieving our desire. Growing and evolving to become the person that experiences and expresses that Essence,  is the reason our desires were born and our higher motivation for achieving them.

 

Lauren Kennedy