Who You Choose To Be

[sshenry]

Anyone who has been on this or any other spiritually based forum for any length of time is sure to have encountered the phrase that “you are making your own reality.”

I’ve seen countless threads, here and on other sites, that support or argue this factor and while I’m not here to argue the validity of the statement, I am here to explain in a little more detail just what, exactly “creating your own reality” means to me.

Being able to create my own reality means that I am continually, by thought word and action choosing the circumstances that come into my life.

Today’s thoughts, words and actions become tomorrow’s experiences and reality; the ultimate example of the law of attraction at work in daily life.

If I choose today to be angry and judgmental, then I have no reason to complain when tomorrow I am confronted with angry and judgmental people. I have, by today’s actions, drawn those people to me.

If I chose yesterday to live in fear of all the horrible things that could possibly happen to me or be suspicious of someone’s attitude or character, then I should not be surprised when today something horrible actually does happen, or someone whom I was suspicious of decides to act in exactly the same way that I “suspected” that they would.

This may seem like it is a no-win situation, that yesterday’s fear generating today’s bad circumstance will lead to more of the same tomorrow, but that isn’t necessarily so. You CAN break out of this cycle simply by changing the way that you react to a situation.

Instead of reacting to today’s negative occurrence with more fear and suspicion; with more judgments and anger, you can choose to change how you respond to a circumstance. You can choose to see that circumstance as an opportunity to break out of your cycle of negativity and act from the highest expression of who you choose to be.

Do you WANT fear and anger and negativity? Then by all means continue to act and react in the way you have been acting and reacting, but if you truly wish to make YOUR world (not anyone else’s world – just your own world) a better place, then you can change the way that you view your world. You can change the way that you react to negative occurrences and in doing so you can create a far better world for yourself and those around you.

It takes time. It takes practice. And most of all, it takes attention being paid to every thought and word and action to ensure that you don’t revert back to the habit of reacting negatively to negative circumstances. But sooner than you can imagine, you’ll begin to see your life begin to reflect the highest expression of who you choose to be.

[sshenry]

So, does anyone else care to share what "creating your own reality" means to them?

Or do you not subscribe to the concept at all?

[kinerkid]

Good thing to discuss! I was having this conversation with a friend just earlier this week. I agree with you. IMO we choose our reaction to what is currently presented to us. Based on our reactions, we making choices that like dominoes impact the next moments, etc and the cycle continues. I find it hard to put into words. You succinctly wrote what is an abstract picture in my brain.

If you don't like where you are, choose a different reaction and slowly but surely your situation will change. It usually doesn't change overnight, but consistently choosing a different reaction to your circumstances will result in bringing you to a different place. It might be a physically different place or an emotionally different place or a new understanding....or all of the above.

The hardest part is that first choice. It can be hard to see any alternatives to the way you feel. I find it is helpful at those times to call a friend and ask for a bird's eye view. They need to be someone you can trust and someone that will be utterly truthful - even if it hurts. If you can set aside the ego and remain openminded you might just find some new choices, new reactions.

[sshenry]

The hardest part is that first choice. It can be hard to see any alternatives to the way you feel. I find it is helpful at those times to call a friend and ask for a bird's eye view. They need to be someone you can trust and someone that will be utterly truthful - even if it hurts. If you can set aside the ego and remain openminded you might just find some new choices, new reactions.

The ego IS the hardest part because it knows that by paying attention to your words and attitudes, by enacting conscious choice, you are weakening its hold on you; reminding it that it is a tool of a dualistic reality and ONLY a tool, nothing else. The ego hates being reminded of that.

[kinerkid]

Yes, when I am aware enough to catch my ego rearing up (oh how I wish this were all the time, but practice practice practice) I usually try to do one of two things. 1. meditate and focus on letting it all go and connecting with my higher self 2. Distract myself with something that keeps me busy. It can be exercise, cleaning, pretty much anything.

If we subscribe to a non-dualistic perception, then the ego can be useful at times too. What do you think of this idea - the ego (as a useful tool) is what gives us confidence. I've been thinking about this alot lately. Thanks for the dialogue!

[Pamela]

Someone once told me this little story about How you Create your Reality...

A man was eating breakfast with his daughter and she accidentally spilled her orange juice and it went all over him. He looked at his daughter and screamed, "How can you be so clumsy! Look what you have done"! She started crying, he jumped up and ran upstairs to change. He came back down the stairs still angry and saw his daughter getting on the bus still crying. She had a terrible day worrying that her dad was still mad at her. He got in his car and sped away. Being that he was so mad he was speeding and was pulled over and ticketed. He got to his office late and then realized he had left his briefcase at home with all his papers. He day was miserable from start to finish.

Now... the scenario could have been... His daughter spilled the orange juice, and he says, "Sweetheart you must remember to place your glass further back on the table. Let's get this cleaned up". They clean up the mess, he gives her a hug and she skips off to the bus. He goes quickly upstairs still remembering her sweet smile and changes. He goes down stairs and goes to work. No speeding ticket, no forgotten briefcase, no anger. The day goes perfectly well.

This is an example of how you can create you own reality by changing the way you do react to your circumstances. It really is so simple!

[Lancelot]

Thanks for this interesting post. I do beleive that we make our own realities- we are creators after all ;)

[king anthony]

Creating a self-reality is fine for the daily (common, minor and regular) things in life - the statement also gives hope through a positive (feel good) way of thinking. However, what if one were to add things to the equations that conventional logic cannot explain or even those things that can be explained? Where foresight and control is beyond one's means; and hindsight still provides no lesson. What if these things continue regardless? Remember, this can be applied to positive as well as negative events. Can one still say, 'who you chose to be' if you're being manipulated directly or indirectly?

These words are not meant to challenge, but rather to provoke thought.

[The Mad spirtualist]

If you chose to be evil should not evil come upon you but it doesn't. Evil men don't get back what they put out they just keep getting richer. Someone born in a place of starvation didn't chose that did he/she? If they did why do we care to send them food? Why help anyone if what they thinking is what they are getting? Why feel bad for anyone? Wouldn't it be a waste of time since they are choosing what they are experiencing? Why have charities or even bother to help the poor that is what they chose!

[kinerkid]

Creating a self-reality is fine for the daily (common, minor and regular) things in life - the statement also gives hope through a positive (feel good) way of thinking. However, what if one were to add things to the equations that conventional logic cannot explain or even those things that can be explained? Where foresight and control is beyond one's means; and hindsight still provides no lesson. What if these things continue regardless? Remember, this can be applied to positive as well as negative events. Can one still say, 'who you chose to be' if you're being manipulated directly or indirectly?

These words are not meant to challenge, but rather to provoke thought.

Good point. I think the difference to point out is that while we are creators, we are not an island and probably not 100% responsible for all that appears in our landscape. All we can be responsible for is our response to whatever comes our way. Some of it created by us, by our past decisions, some created by others - negatively or positively.

[9eagle9]

I stay away from the thought manifestation although I'm not a particularly negative thinker, I have a hard time thinking of what I want, desire, need to fix, need to bring in, need to et go of.. I do know the value of feeling good and as long as I feel good, my manifestations seem to be continuous. But there's a great deal of value in BEING what you want in your life. I have needs and wants but are a bit out of touch with them, that's why I give them to my higher self to work out. It does a better job than me. If I ask for a snack, and it was up to my thoughts to manifest a snack I'd end up with a box of crackers. My Higher Self tends to deliver a full course meal.

[sshenry]

Yes, when I am aware enough to catch my ego rearing up (oh how I wish this were all the time, but practice practice practice) I usually try to do one of two things. 1. meditate and focus on letting it all go and connecting with my higher self 2. Distract myself with something that keeps me busy. It can be exercise, cleaning, pretty much anything.

If we subscribe to a non-dualistic perception, then the ego can be useful at times too. What do you think of this idea - the ego (as a useful tool) is what gives us confidence. I've been thinking about this alot lately. Thanks for the dialogue!

The way I see the ego is comprable to the growth of a child.

Whena child is young they are completely and totally dependent on their parents. Unlike any other mamals, humans are totally helpless for months afte their birth. They come to rely entirely on others for what they need in order to survive, and eventually their ego develops to the point where they feel the need to seperate themselves from their parents and become autonomous entities, no longer dependent on their parents. Eventually, however, once they have established their seperateness, they come to a realization that there is more to life than living from a totally selfish point of view.

It is the same for humanity as a whole. When humans were young they needed the ego in order to seperate themselves from the other mamals, but there comes a point in human evolution - specifically in humanity's spiritual evolution - when we need to step beyond the need for seperateness and, with the knowledge of ourselves as individuals, be able to embrace oneness.

[trenairio]

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[DeDukshyn]

I stay away from the thought manifestation although I'm not a particularly negative thinker, I have a hard time thinking of what I want, desire, need to fix, need to bring in, need to et go of.. I do know the value of feeling good and as long as I feel good, my manifestations seem to be continuous. But there's a great deal of value in BEING what you want in your life. I have needs and wants but are a bit out of touch with them, that's why I give them to my higher self to work out. It does a better job than me. If I ask for a snack, and it was up to my thoughts to manifest a snack I'd end up with a box of crackers. My Higher Self tends to deliver a full course meal.

I feel sort of the same way.. what in this physical world is worth manifesting that would not just be something my ego wants? Seems kind of of pointless. About the only thing I regularly try to visualize or manifest is the raising of the frequencies of all things on planet earth - that way everyone wins. For the day to day stuff - like 9eagle9 said, just learn to "be" in a specific state and you get taken care of without effort - this is a way of manifesting as well - it just comes from your higher source.

[sshenry]

Creating a self-reality is fine for the daily (common, minor and regular) things in life - the statement also gives hope through a positive (feel good) way of thinking. However, what if one were to add things to the equations that conventional logic cannot explain or even those things that can be explained? Where foresight and control is beyond one's means; and hindsight still provides no lesson. What if these things continue regardless? Remember, this can be applied to positive as well as negative events. Can one still say, 'who you chose to be' if you're being manipulated directly or indirectly?

These words are not meant to challenge, but rather to provoke thought.

An interesting twist, and thank you.

I honestly believe that EVERYTHING plays into your self-creation of reality, even those things for which there are no logical explanations. Let me explain:

I've had I can't count how many unusual occurances - unexplainable things happen to me (the details aren't important here). When these things first occured it was my instinct to resist them, to fight them, to find explanations no matter how long it took me and no matter what I had to do to find the "reason." But then it occured to me that perhaps this is just the way the world IS. Fully of mystery and beauty and the unexplicable and I can either let it bother me and sweat the details; the whys and hows, or I can simply accept the experience, let the energy of it move through me, and maintain my belief that everything that happens is supposed to happen and that even if I don't understand it right here and now, the purpose behind it will make itself clear eventually. And yes - this applies to even negative events.

[kinerkid]

What you are suggesting is continual manifestation, the idea that everything we think about creates our life's circumstaces. So if I try really hard to break a glass cup with the power of thought, could it happen? If I keep thinking positive then will everything be okay? I don't think this is the case.

IMO what we think doesn't necessarily create our life's circumstances, but rather how we interact with those circumstances and the choices we make regarding them sort of direct the next circumstances and so on. The interaction we choose makes a difference. In that regard, we are co-creating the next circumstance.

[9eagle9]

The ego rather reminds me of a portion of us stuck in childhood. Children are inherently selfish...not to be selfish but more as a defense mechanism. If I scream loud enough someone will attend my needs. Or the' what about me?' Depends on the caregivers. People raised in less than dependable and consistent households tend to carry a lot more of that over into adulthood.

And then it goes in the other direction. Having been raised in a household of utter chaos 24/7 a day I thought nothing of the 24 hr chaos in my adult circumstances, that I should never ask not to have it imposed on me, or object having it around me all the time. I thought it was just the way things were, and that it was my arrogance to demand that drama-chaos-3 ring circus should cease to obligate my needs.

[kinerkid]

Thanks for all the thought provoking comments on ego. For me, it's always a paradox. If we are to perceive from oneness then truly the ego isn't good or bad - just a tool.

I'll tell you this - it's the one tool that definitely the hardest to master!!!!!

[trenairio]

What you are suggesting is continual manifestation, the idea that everything we think about creates our life's circumstaces. So if I try really hard to break a glass cup with the power of thought, could it happen? If I keep thinking positive then will everything be okay? I don't think this is the case.

IMO what we think doesn't necessarily create our life's circumstances, but rather how we interact with those circumstances and the choices we make regarding them sort of direct the next circumstances and so on. The interaction we choose makes a difference. In that regard, we are co-creating the next circumstance.

Absolutely.

[sshenry]

If you chose to be evil should not evil come upon you but it doesn't. Evil men don't get back what they put out they just keep getting richer. Someone born in a place of starvation didn't chose that did he/she? If they did why do we care to send them food? Why help anyone if what they thinking is what they are getting? Why feel bad for anyone? Wouldn't it be a waste of time since they are choosing what they are experiencing? Why have charities or even bother to help the poor that is what they chose!

First, not everyone who is rich is evil (of course not). And in truth, we have no idea of what kind of hell they are going through - or WILL be going through. Perhaps, in the end, the emptiness of having nothing besides the shallowness of their posessions will be more of a hell than anything anyone else could ever concoct to punish them.

As to the experience of others - starvation or abuse and whatnot. We have no idea what the higher self asked for before it came here to experience this particular now. Perhaps this is something their self felt was something that needed to be experienced. Of course that doesn't mean that attempts shouldn't be made - for in attempting to alieviate suffering each of us is expressing the highest expression of ourselves.

[The Mad spirtualist]

Ah progress! Thank you for your answers! This create your own reality stuff is really starting to erk me! Now we are getting somewhere!

[sshenry]

This sounds akin to what some say about the 'positive thinking' method (stemming from the era of New Thought in Western society in the late 1800's). I personally do not believe that everything in my life is of my own creation, there are certainly external influences at play. I presume that some parts of life are sort of pre planned by the 'higher self', and that the rest of it is more of a free form.

What you are suggesting is continual manifestation, the idea that everything we think about creates our life's circumstaces. So if I try really hard to break a glass cup with the power of thought, could it happen? If I keep thinking positive then will everything be okay? I don't think this is the case.

No - I don't think it's the same thing at all.

The way I see it while each of us has to deal with external circumstances over which we have no control, we DO have complete control over how we react to those circumstances. It is our reaction to our circumstances that leads us to our attitude toward the life we are living.

I've met people with all the money they could want; all the privaleges and perks that are living in hell because of their attitudes, because they choose to see people as "after" them and conspiring against them. I've also met people who had nothing - comparitively - who are physically ill and who are still the happiest people you could ever meet.

It is all in how they react to the situation with which they are presented.

[trenairio]

This sounds akin to what some say about the 'positive thinking' method (stemming from the era of New Thought in Western society in the late 1800's). I personally do not believe that everything in my life is of my own creation, there are certainly external influences at play. I presume that some parts of life are sort of pre planned by the 'higher self', and that the rest of it is more of a free form.

What you are suggesting is continual manifestation, the idea that everything we think about creates our life's circumstaces. So if I try really hard to break a glass cup with the power of thought, could it happen? If I keep thinking positive then will everything be okay? I don't think this is the case.

No - I don't think it's the same thing at all.

The way I see it while each of us has to deal with external circumstances over which we have no control, we DO have complete control over how we react to those circumstances. It is our reaction to our circumstances that leads us to our attitude toward the life we are living.

I've met people with all the money they could want; all the privaleges and perks that are living in hell because of their attitudes, because they choose to see people as "after" them and conspiring against them. I've also met people who had nothing - comparitively - who are physically ill and who are still the happiest people you could ever meet.

It is all in how they react to the situation with which they are presented.

Yes, I agree. I didn't see it that way.

[sshenry]

Ah progress! Thank you for your answers! This create your own reality stuff is really starting to erk me! Now we are getting somewhere!

Heh - but you are allowing it to irk you :)

[Open your eyes]

My personal opinion is that our thought does control reality in multiple ways . I think we are all interconnected like a spider web ( thats 7 billion individual consciouss minds) and our overall consciouss thought manipulates this 3rd dimensional reality around us and our collective vibrational levels determine the positive/negative outcomes of these manifestations. Also i feel that external forces are manipulating our mind to the extent that they control the outcome of the collective mind thought or reality to their benefit. The obvious ways they restrict our thought process is through television and media... But thats just the tip of the iceberg because this has so many different layers to it.

Thanks. Alex

[bearcow]

What do you think of this idea - the ego (as a useful tool) is what gives us confidence. I've been thinking about this alot lately. Thanks for the dialogue!

Without your ego you would not be self aware, the illusion of separation is a useful tool in order to be self aware of the unity of all things. This paradox culminates into an enlightened individual.


I do believe that we make our own realities- we are creators after all

we are co-creators, the will of heaven and the destiny of forces beyond our comprehension also have a say in things. It is arrogant to think that what unfolds in this world is only determined by humanity. that said, the quality of your life also influences the will of heaven.


If you chose to be evil should not evil come upon you but it doesn't. Evil men don't get back what they put out they just keep getting richer.

karma doesn't always play itself out on an individualistic level, the see-saw continually tries to maintain its equilibrium. to some extent the hitlers of the world are beneficial as they can draw out some of the best qualities in the people who oppose them. immediate punishment of the wicked does not necessarily equate to justice. the prison these men create for themselves is condemning.


Why help anyone if what they thinking is what they are getting? Why feel bad for anyone?

you don't have to if you don't want to. helping out or feeling bad.... how they got to where they are at is an epic saga and you are only witnessing the most recent scene.


Why have charities or even bother to help the poor that is what they chose!

it might not bear fruit for them if you come to their aid but it will most certainly help you.

[9eagle9]

One the subject of rich which does seem to equate evil...lol. Is it the actual possession of cash or the energy one carries when they feel they have an abundant life that provokes that 'wealth is evil, wealth is ego". I feel like one of those people you see that carry huge sushi roll-like wads of cash and then peel off hundreds to tip the waitress with. You've seen the sort.( Admittedly not having a bank tends to give one that feeling as well when your entire pay packet is in your pocket...lol. ) But thats not the entire source of the feeling its the feeling of being taken well care of from....somewhere. On high? ha ha . That's what I FEEL like...Rich. But then I look at my ledgers and logically I'm anything but. Not even breaking 6 digits there and not remotely approaching it but its the feeling . And YOU know that my 'abundance' is a source of particular aggravation from some quarters *you know of whom I speak* even though I'm not particularly well off. Is it the energy?

You know people who you look at their life styles and think' Geez their rolling in the green stuff." And then a while later you realize they haven't a penny to scrounge up...lol. I mean they never stated they were wealthy the assumption is made.

Emotional starvation can be as bad as the actual physical event and I tend to think those sorts of folks are at least equal in numbers of those who are physically starved although the condition is not so easily ID'd. I tend to think we carry that over from other lifetimes and it gets rooted in this one as well until the attempt is made to excavate it out.




If you chose to be evil should not evil come upon you but it doesn't. Evil men don't get back what they put out they just keep getting richer. Someone born in a place of starvation didn't chose that did he/she? If they did why do we care to send them food? Why help anyone if what they thinking is what they are getting? Why feel bad for anyone? Wouldn't it be a waste of time since they are choosing what they are experiencing? Why have charities or even bother to help the poor that is what they chose!

First, not everyone who is rich is evil (of course not). And in truth, we have no idea of what kind of hell they are going through - or WILL be going through. Perhaps, in the end, the emptiness of having nothing besides the shallowness of their posessions will be more of a hell than anything anyone else could ever concoct to punish them.

As to the experience of others - starvation or abuse and whatnot. We have no idea what the higher self asked for before it came here to experience this particular now. Perhaps this is something their self felt was something that needed to be experienced. Of course that doesn't mean that attempts shouldn't be made - for in attempting to alieviate suffering each of us is expressing the highest expression of ourselves.

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Oh and I did experience a time of relative wealth when I married. It was hell. He was a major responsiblity and obligation as bad as not having enough to pay bills with. If we werent' fighting about a lack of it we fought the over abundance of it. what the hell do you do with it when the bills are paid. Because my right brain does not now how to make money work for me. Investments, Cd's, stock options. That stuff is better left to the wealthy people who better know how to be passionate about stuff like that. ;)

[Budaheart]

After contemplating the idea that we create our own reality, and working with it myself, I personally come to the conclusion that there are two "levels" or dimensions to this.
the relative level and the absolute level. On the relative level, we can choose from the field of all possibilities who we choose to be, of course, the universal field of energy allows us to play with it giving forms to things, situations and so on, according to our conscious and not so conscious choices, beliefs, limitations etc...
but on the absolute level, you are who you are already, there is nothing to do or not do to be who you are, and thus, the relative level is of not relevance to the absolute level.
You can say that somethings are more beneficial than others but ultimately, from the absolute level, things are as they are...we enter then the mystery where we can´t speak about things really.

So, all the time we focus on who we choose to be, we can know that we are playing in the relative, and if we keep in mind that we are also the absolute, then things take another different perspective...we dont get entangled so much in the trap of having to re-´create ourselves every single day and second of our life or else our construction will collapse...(it takes effort)..while placing yourself from the absolute stand point, you reach a much more detached view of the relative to the point of allowing it to flow as it flows. You can still play, inprint your choices to the field of possibilities and have your choice been seen and reflected in the film called Life, but you are playing from a much more freer space internally...

Not sure if this adds to the thread
Best wishes
Barbara

[Asphel]

Anyone who has been on this or any other spiritually based forum for any length of time is sure to have encountered the phrase that “you are making your own reality.”

I’ve seen countless threads, here and on other sites, that support or argue this factor and while I’m not here to argue the validity of the statement, I am here to explain in a little more detail just what, exactly “creating your own reality” means to me.

Being able to create my own reality means that I am continually, by thought word and action choosing the circumstances that come into my life.

Today’s thoughts, words and actions become tomorrow’s experiences and reality; the ultimate example of the law of attraction at work in daily life.

If I choose today to be angry and judgmental, then I have no reason to complain when tomorrow I am confronted with angry and judgmental people. I have, by today’s actions, drawn those people to me.

If I chose yesterday to live in fear of all the horrible things that could possibly happen to me or be suspicious of someone’s attitude or character, then I should not be surprised when today something horrible actually does happen, or someone whom I was suspicious of decides to act in exactly the same way that I “suspected” that they would.

This may seem like it is a no-win situation, that yesterday’s fear generating today’s bad circumstance will lead to more of the same tomorrow, but that isn’t necessarily so. You CAN break out of this cycle simply by changing the way that you react to a situation.

Instead of reacting to today’s negative occurrence with more fear and suspicion; with more judgments and anger, you can choose to change how you respond to a circumstance. You can choose to see that circumstance as an opportunity to break out of your cycle of negativity and act from the highest expression of who you choose to be.

Do you WANT fear and anger and negativity? Then by all means continue to act and react in the way you have been acting and reacting, but if you truly wish to make YOUR world (not anyone else’s world – just your own world) a better place, then you can change the way that you view your world. You can change the way that you react to negative occurrences and in doing so you can create a far better world for yourself and those around you.

It takes time. It takes practice. And most of all, it takes attention being paid to every thought and word and action to ensure that you don’t revert back to the habit of reacting negatively to negative circumstances. But sooner than you can imagine, you’ll begin to see your life begin to reflect the highest expression of who you choose to be.

Let me begin with saying: that was a great post, and I agree with you on every single aspect of what you expressed.

I do have one question for you though, out of curiosity. Since I have been dealing with this matter myself recently (to a certain depth), and I’m currently in the process of collecting different strategies to help me overcome all that negativity which has been layered within me by today’s culture and values.

So, my question is: How do you do it?

How do you go about freeing yourself from negativity? From fear?

My personal experience has lead me to the conclusion that… negativity as we perceive it in our everyday lives isn’t that difficult to get rid of. IE, thoughts like:

“Oh, man…. Looks like I’m having a bad day.” [negative ascertainment]
“*sigh*, I wish I didn’t look as awful today…” [negative criticism]
“Yeah, well…. We’re all gonna die in 2012 anyways.” [negative prediction/presumption]
“He’s real nosy jerk, honestly…” [negative evaluation/judgment]

I’ve had enormous progress in the demolition of these types of thoughts. However, in my opinion, the greatest difficulty in that aspect is: removing fear from the roots of your thinking. I've had some difficulties dealing with that.

And I’d like to mostly address that area in my question to you.
Have you done it? If so, how did you do it? Do you have any advice to those who have not fully yet achieved it? Is there any suitable literature on the matter you’re familiar with? (cause I can sure use a rec) ^_^
Thank you! (=

[9eagle9]

Okay you're right... changing the thought doesn't do any good if its attached to a feeling. You can redirect thinking but its much harder to redirect feelings. This why the power of positive thought fails for a lot of people. Because you don't feel positive when you say affirming things. How many people do I see walking around with strained smiles robotic ally repeating affirmation when they feel anything but. A LOT. Or repeating a lot of spiritual beliefs that you don't see reflected in their behaviors? Lots. Which probably why people think the Law of Attraction/ Manifestation fails or is just bs. For some people it don't work for the reasons stated. Feeling is vibration, and its much more powerful than thoughts.

Then there's the core being or essence and its vibration. Its hugely powerful, its been around forever, and has more power than immediate thoughts that were just formed in this lifetime.

We have a two things at work here-- conscious thoughts and feelings. The negative remarks you posted are related to that. One is consciously aware one made them.

Then you have unconscious feelings or beliefs. You are not aware of them but they are directly responsible for the remarks. What is known as core values or beliefs. Usually based in fear, guilt, shame etc. We most often may be aware of the feeling but we are not aware of the belief or root that generates it. You weren't born fearful, guilty, shamed so somewhere between birth and now, so something conditioned or instilled it in you.

Who or what?

Parental, Family, Religious, and Social Conditioning.

I start with parental conditioning. Our parents impose our first roles on us, and via their interactions with us a children condition us to believe a certain way about themselves. Positive and negative. Even the best parents in the world can instill a negative value in us. Then you have to start examining how they did that. Was it a way they behaved or something they said..even just once. Children are sensitive and one off hand remark can root a belief in them. Children are susceptible to beliefs, they have strong subconscious that cannot differentiate between reality and untruths. What the parent says or does becomes their reality. The new Zietgeist movie talked about things like that. Proximal abandonment. The parent is present in body but no present emotionally. This is a covert form of abandonment. That is a covert form of childhood neglect. But its easy to overlook it.


Oh, man…. Looks like I’m having a bad day.” [negative ascertainment]. Core belief that bad days HAVE to happen. They don't.It's all perception.
“*sigh*, I wish I didn’t look as awful today…” [negative criticism]. Core belief: Lack of self value. Self value is based in meaningless things.
“Yeah, well…. We’re all gonna die in 2012 anyways.” [negative prediction/presumption] <<<<<Core belief: Guilt vs Punishment paradigm. Or even covert death wish
“He’s real nosy jerk, honestly…” [negative evaluation/judgment] Core belief : Raised with criticism, and is now reflecting it outwards in an awkward attempt to purge it.

Someone who has worked on core beliefs and values can make any one of these remarks and not have a feeling attached to them. So they aren't being boomed out to create a reality with. Then again they are less inclined too. I have the odd negative thought but it seldom effects me because I don't have a belief attached to it.

What causes us to have a inner landscape of feelings like this are wounds inflicted at some point in life and the belief or value has developed and layered around it. Their filters that our core essence has to pass through so when we boom out our power to the universe we have these little jarring notes attached in our vibration, and that's what we call into ourselves. Criticism, guilt inflictors, people or circumstances that dis empower our self value.

So to get rid of the fear we have to start excavating. Once you do that it you see how untrue it is and you are able to get rid of it. Fear is usually based on guilt and comes from the parent's own fears or religious philosophy or behaviors.

I led a book discussion once. I asked everyone in the room, about 20 of us, to raise their hands if they came from an abusive household. About three people did. Then I read the criteria for abuse. Covert and overt abuse and neglect. Everyone is aware of what overt abuse and neglect is . Few people know about coverts. When I was done revealing the 'hidden' abuses and neglects. Everyone but a few raised their hands. They had no idea. Yet their adult lives were conducted by these hidden beliefs and conditionings instilled in them.

An example of how a core belief from parents is manifested: My mother was always howling about providing food, clothing to us. Basic stuff. Things that are a parents duty. As an adult I had a hard time providing just the basics for myself. Roof overhead, food, clothing, etc. A base living. Until I realized that my mother had inflicted guilt in me over things that everyone is entitled to. As soon as I realized it my existence changed quite a bit for the better. What comes attached to this scenario is that when you do well, there's guilt attached to it. As if you are doing something wrong by providing a base existence to yourself. If you don't do well, society provides you with an alternate point of view. Your a loser, a welfare case,lazy, etc. You are damned coming and going. And this generates confusion and fear.

If you are raised in a household where the parents area always right the child assumes a position of always being wrong. Being wrong has an attachment of guilt. Guilt always expects punishment. We FEAR the punishment and its confusing on a conscious level because at that level we know we really haven't done anything wrong. We may spend our lives bending over to make things right, obligating ourselves to exhaustion to 'make up' for being wrong. To get rid of the fear.

So doing some self excavating of family, social and religious conditioning goes a long long way to eradicating fear. Most of our fears are either rooted in the past, or in the future. There's seldom anything actually going on in the present to be fearful of. It's just a thought, a belief based on the expectation of a punishment.

[sshenry]

I do have one question for you though, out of curiosity. Since I have been dealing with this matter myself recently (to a certain depth), and I’m currently in the process of collecting different strategies to help me overcome all that negativity which has been layered within me by today’s culture and values.

So, my question is: How do you do it?

How do you go about freeing yourself from negativity? From fear?

My personal experience has lead me to the conclusion that… negativity as we perceive it in our everyday lives isn’t that difficult to get rid of. IE, thoughts like:

“Oh, man…. Looks like I’m having a bad day.” [negative ascertainment]
“*sigh*, I wish I didn’t look as awful today…” [negative criticism]
“Yeah, well…. We’re all gonna die in 2012 anyways.” [negative prediction/presumption]
“He’s real nosy jerk, honestly…” [negative evaluation/judgment]
I’ve had enormous progress in the demolition of these types of thoughts. However, in my opinion, the greatest difficulty in that aspect is: removing fear from the roots of your thinking. I've had some difficulties dealing with that.

And I’d like to mostly address that area in my question to you.
Have you done it? If so, how did you do it? Do you have any advice to those who have not fully yet achieved it? Is there any suitable literature on the matter you’re familiar with? (cause I can sure use a rec) ^_^
Thank you! (=

Have I done it? I wish! I'm working on it - and it's getting easier. In fact, not too long ago I had a colleage tell me that I was an "unabashed optimist." She went on to ask me how it is that I can "always look at the positive side of things." Of course then I had another aquaintance tell me the same thing, only he wasn't as complimentary about it - in his opinion I was a "f------ Pollyanna."

I only wish it were true that I always look at the positive side of things. It may not be 100% yet - I may have days when I work myself into a depressed morass, but they are getting fewer and farther between.

How am I doing it?

First and foremost I pay attention to my thoughts. When I catch myself thinking "Oh man, looks like I'm having a bad day" I stop - right there - and change the thought to something like "Looks like I started out having a bad day, thank goodness it's getting better!"

I know - it's easier said that done, and one of the first things people always ask me is "how do you catch your thought?"

The answer to that is twofold - first, I'm a big believer in meditation - I've been practicing it for 14 years and I can honestly say that it has helped tremendously in allowing me to be able to sort out my thoughts - to be aware of my thoughtsas individual things, and, most importantly, to be able to let a thought go instead of dwelling on it. I started my meditation practice as an alternative to anti-depression medication, and it worked beyond my wildest dreams. I haven't had to take any meds for nearly 14 years, and if you've ever had to deal with depression you'll know just how complex those negative spirals of thought can be.

But the second part to the answer is that I actually stop and take stock of my thoughts intermittantly thoughout the day. I used to have to set my cell phone alarm that I'd set to go off every two hours and then I'd take two minutes to log everything I was thinking - and the direction my thoughts were going, plus what I could remember about the previous two hours, in a mini notebook that I keep with me all the time. but I've progressed to wearing a personalized black silicone bracelet (the kind they use for "livefree" and other campaigns) only I had the words "THINK POSITIVE" engraved on the band. Because the band catches my eye I take stock of my thoughts a lot more often than I used to with the cell phone alarm.

As to literature - there are two books I can reccomend that come at the topic from completely different angles (spiritual and scientific). There are more, but these two are great to get started with :)

Zen and the Art of Happiness by Chris Prentiss
The Power of Positive Thinking by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

[DianeKJ]

wow, yes. great thread!

It is definitely an ongoing process. I still react to certain things and people in a not so enlightened way, lol. I have noticed that I'm quicker now to pull away from that though. If I start treading down that negative path, I can now stop, and reassess and see another side.

If someone cuts me off on the road and flips me the bird, I try to imagine that he/she is having a **** day, perhaps they are rushing to the hospital to get to a sick or injured family member. It helps me disengage and take away the personal, ego side of it being about me at all. For me it seems to be about the flow of energy. I like the positive energy staying and flowing around me. The negative energy needs to flow through me and not stick around.

ah well, I'm a work in progress indeed!
-Di

[sshenry]

wow, yes. great thread!

It is definitely an ongoing process. I still react to certain things and people in a not so enlightened way, lol. I have noticed that I'm quicker now to pull away from that though. If I start treading down that negative path, I can now stop, and reassess and see another side.

If someone cuts me off on the road and flips me the bird, I try to imagine that he/she is having a **** day, perhaps they are rushing to the hospital to get to a sick or injured family member. It helps me disengage and take away the personal, ego side of it being about me at all. For me it seems to be about the flow of energy. I like the positive energy staying and flowing around me. The negative energy needs to flow through me and not stick around.

ah well, I'm a work in progress indeed!
-Di

We're all works in progress :)

You know, one of the weirdest moments to date for me (and there have been some very strange moments) - was when I was standing in the DC Metro - Le'Enfant Plaza Station - hundreds if not thousands of people coming and going and to-ing and fro-ing and realizing that each and every one of them is living a whole world inside of their heads complete with thoughts and memories and opinions and views and perceptions, and each of them contributing to the overall "flavor" of the area's energy (DC has a very angry energy - not entirely sure why - lots of frustrated plans and hopes and people using other people to get ahead probably). It can be difficult not to let that kind of energy overwhelm you - and to maintain a positive attitude and atmosphere, but hey, if you can do it in large crowds - on highways of angry drivers - then it should be a snap on an individual basis :)

[VLCERS]

Great thread, allow to add my bit.
I do believe that we create our reality. In the very literal sense, we are creating (co-creating) everything we see around us in the material world. For whatever reason that is. Our higher selves have absolute control over that side of creating reality, we can't change it with a thought (walk through a wall because we choose to, for example) because that's not we set out to create in the first place. We created a world with rules and limits for a reason.
In another sense; our actions, the way we conduct ourselves in the physical world, create the reactions of the co-creators around us. To really simplify it; if you chose to tell someone they are ugly, they'll most likely have a miserable and self conscious day, their day could have been so much different if you told them they were beautiful.
We create situations and events based on how previous situations have affected us. Cause and affect. Of course we can choose how to react to situations, creating our emotional response. The person you chose to tell was ugly could just sit back and think; "To hell with that, I'm beautiful", and choose to create an awesome day for theirselves.

[sshenry]

Great thread, allow to add my bit.
I do believe that we create our reality. In the very literal sense, we are creating (co-creating) everything we see around us in the material world. For whatever reason that is. Our higher selves have absolute control over that side of creating reality, we can't change it with a thought (walk through a wall because we choose to, for example) because that's not we set out to create in the first place. We created a world with rules and limits for a reason.


Interesting you should say this - about our higher selves.

I've had this conversations with others (not here) regarding the higher self - and personally I get the impression that the higher self has an idealistic imgae in mind - it's looking at the overall "big picture" and what we are going to learn in this lifetime - with these circumstances (large circumstances) but like an impressionistic artist it doesn't fill in the small details - it trusts that the small details will take care of themsevles - and the thing is, if we were to listen to our innver guidance ALL the time, those small details WOULD take care of themselves - we wouldn't stray from the path we've mapped out for ourselves as often as we do and find our way strewn with impediments because we've gone too far off-track.

[Budaheart]

Great thread, allow to add my bit.

In another sense; our actions, the way we conduct ourselves in the physical world, create the reactions of the co-creators around us. To really simplify it; if you chose to tell someone they are ugly, they'll most likely have a miserable and self conscious day, their day could have been so much different if you told them they were beautiful.
.

Thanks VLCERS for your thoughts. Consider this:
If YOU (higher you not lower you ego personality down here in the playing field) is the creator of everything in your reality...then when someone says something nasty to you and you have a bad day, that is little you has a bad day, your higher YOU is having actually a blast and enjoying tremendously the PLAY...then it was not the other person who said something nasty to you that caused that feeling in you, it was YOU who introduced in the field, the game, the script of a play you interpreted beautifully by being upset...You see?...
the implications are mind blowing...for then you remove the power you have given away, to outside sources, you take full responsability for your creation in the total sense...and your reactions to whatever other actor in the field may have said...as he is interpreting a script in YOUR particular play...

Hope this brings a new element to the thread...
Best
Barbara

[Arrowwind]

I feel that I have the ability and responsibility to create my reality but I also feel that I dwell on a planet where reality is co-created by the totality of all the beings upon the planet..as well as incluidng the planet herself.

So there is a co-responsibility in creation. The part I am responsible for is how I perceive and react, what I take in and what I put out.
I am aware of wars, rapes, murders, lies and deciet and sometimes it comes close to home... but I do not create that but in my experience of being aware of it. I do not choose it or partipate in its formation yet there it is. I would prefer that it not be there for anyone.. but I do not feel responsible for its creation. Thisi s the creation of others upon which part of my experience overlaps.

I think the aspect of co-creation should be explored... It may have something to do with why bad things happen to good people.

My teacher also says that the universe also carries a caos factor that resides around 20% which makes sense to me becasue if you contemplate infinity and all possibilites within infinity there must be caos... simply because caos is considered, it does exist... and there are a few explainations of caos within physics also. It is all summed up in the proverbial "sh^t happens" as Gump would say.

[kinerkid]

I too think it's important to explore co-creation some more. If what Calleman has mapped out is true, we are about to enter the Universal co-creating stage of the Mayan calendar. I wonder how much that impact our lives? It's self-evident to many of us that we are already co-creators - so going into this stage of the calendar could really turn up the heat. Anybody have thoughts or ideas on this?

On Chaos - I personally think there is a big difference between chaos and entropy. Chaos is going to be part of the equation when you have so many people interacting with each other. (Think a family get together at the holidays) But what comes out of that chaos can be wonderful or horrible depending on the participants.

[Butterfli13]

It has been amazing for me, to see the changes in my life when I started this journey. When I started implying intentions of love into everything I said/touched/came into contact with, it really did change my life. I have tried, and continue to try, to strive to come from a place of love, and believe it or not, it's harder than what you think! lol Especially when dealing with a nasty situation/person. That's when I'm really tested...

If I notice that I'm judging something, I take a step back, because I've noticed with myself, if I'm judging something, it's usually because I don't understand it. Gradually, I've started to really take everything within, to find my own truth. This has opened new, wonderful doors for me, because in starting my journey, I decided to only open myself to positive situations, taking anything negative/toxic OUT of my life, and things surrounding my life... when I did this, the things that are NOW happening in my life are warm, beautiful, and amazing!

Instead of looking at life day by day, I'm living it by sequence- planning my life events, and the "syncronicity" shows me I'm on the right path. (Does this make sense?... I think I saw a topic on this). I'm letting my spirit guide me, not my mind. In doing so, everything is falling into place... it has brought tremendous comfort to me, and clarity. I feel fullfilled everyday, and I never had that fullfillment while going to church. Sure, on Sunday's you were uplifted, but I never felt fulfilled everday, as I now DO.

Alot of you on this forum have helped me in this rabbit-hole journey (lol) and I thank you for that, from my heart. I truly learn something new everyday. Speaking for myself, putting positive energy into everything I do, is allowing positive things to just "happen". If I get angry, irritated, or judgemental, I take a step by and really look at it from within. The perspective I come out of that with, changes my total outlook on the situation at hand. This is making me stronger day by day, things are just getting clearer, especially with regards to our current planetary situation we face. IMHO, it's about intent. If your intent is love, and it is constant- you WILL manifest it in your life! :)

[blufire]

Is our reality . . . . illusion or is our illusion . . . . . reality


Daniel Quinn “Ishmael”

[VLCERS]

Great thread, allow to add my bit.

In another sense; our actions, the way we conduct ourselves in the physical world, create the reactions of the co-creators around us. To really simplify it; if you chose to tell someone they are ugly, they'll most likely have a miserable and self conscious day, their day could have been so much different if you told them they were beautiful.
.

Thanks VLCERS for your thoughts. Consider this:
If YOU (higher you not lower you ego personality down here in the playing field) is the creator of everything in your reality...then when someone says something nasty to you and you have a bad day, that is little you has a bad day, your higher YOU is having actually a blast and enjoying tremendously the PLAY...then it was not the other person who said something nasty to you that caused that feeling in you, it was YOU who introduced in the field, the game, the script of a play you interpreted beautifully by being upset...You see?...
the implications are mind blowing...for then you remove the power you have given away, to outside sources, you take full responsability for your creation in the total sense...and your reactions to whatever other actor in the field may have said...as he is interpreting a script in YOUR particular play...

Hope this brings a new element to the thread...
Best
Barbara

I see, and agree. And you could go up the levels. This would apply to not only the act of saying something nasty to someone, but to the actions of the elites and bloodlines who are creating so much suffering in the world. Ultimately WE are doing it to ourselves, for whatever reason. WE are the elite, and they are us. And in a way we can alleviate our suffering somewhat, when we stop and realise WE are doing this, all of this, to ourselves and for a very good reason.
It's a very interesting line of thought indeed.
Namaste.

[sshenry]

I too think it's important to explore co-creation some more. If what Calleman has mapped out is true, we are about to enter the Universal co-creating stage of the Mayan calendar. I wonder how much that impact our lives? It's self-evident to many of us that we are already co-creators - so going into this stage of the calendar could really turn up the heat. Anybody have thoughts or ideas on this?



Somehow I think there have always been people who have instinctively known the secrets of co-creation, and the energy that is being ushered in (as ear-marked by the Myan calendar) will simply awaken more to this knowledge and process.

[vibrations]

What a great thread. Thank you sshenry and all the others, off course.
We are all struggling between the "reality" imposed by all external factors in our life and what we somewhere deep inside hope it is true, our divine creative condition. Starting to believe in it is a process which can be short or long, depending how much are we able to believe in ourselves. There is this analogy I always use: when I was a child, first radio transistors came out, they were huge, eating batteries like hell and functioning.........well, sometimes. So, usual procedure was to hit a box when it stopped working, and a few minutes there was music, than little by little vanished. So you kicked it again. This is how I see our struggle to achieve higher vibrations. From time to time we manage to do it, but then it vanishes away. But there is a teaching in this story. Someday we'll manage to be iPod or maybe even iPad. So I think it's worth working on it.