I'm beginning to believe that by spending so much time focusing on the negative things happening in the world, I'm actually giving the negativity more power. My conundrum has long been: how to be aware of what's going on but not get pulled into its negative grasp. It's not that we should bury our heads in the sand, ignoring what's happening, going about our lives oblivious and ignorant. But is focusing on the negativity the best way to help? That's the conventional wisdom of course. But what if there's a different way?
My bent, for a long while, has been on trying to get everyone to realize the problems. Hmm. Realize the problems. Couldn’t that also be inferred to mean: make the problems realized/happen? Or as my Webster's dictionary defines it: to bring into concrete existence.
For too long now, I’ve spent time paying attention to a negative reality. Feeding off of it really. And you are what you eat after all. It seemed to start in earnest with the whole 9/11 thing. The conspiracy behind it. Then one thing led to another. I’ve spent untold hours online perusing every sort of information portal. To be honest, feeding mostly off of doom and gloom. 9/11 was an in-house operation, let me count the ways. The Iraq war, a dishonest abomination, let me count the dead and dismembered bodies. The environment is falling apart, don’t breathe the air, can't drink the water. Milk will kill you, let me dump all the cheese and milk and puss (only to buy more next week). Chemtrails, rfids, depleted uranium, big brother, mad cow disease, electromagnetic radiation, mainstream media, vote fraud, peak oil, earthquakes, the draft, you name it. Doom, doom, doom. My nickname around the house is “Debi Downer". "But", I protest, "I'm just trying to be informed."
For too long now, I’ve spent time paying attention to a negative reality. Feeding off of it really. And you are what you eat after all. It seemed to start in earnest with the whole 9/11 thing. The conspiracy behind it. Then one thing led to another. I’ve spent untold hours online perusing every sort of information portal. To be honest, feeding mostly off of doom and gloom. 9/11 was an in-house operation, let me count the ways. The Iraq war, a dishonest abomination, let me count the dead and dismembered bodies. The environment is falling apart, don’t breathe the air, can't drink the water. Milk will kill you, let me dump all the cheese and milk and puss (only to buy more next week). Chemtrails, rfids, depleted uranium, big brother, mad cow disease, electromagnetic radiation, mainstream media, vote fraud, peak oil, earthquakes, the draft, you name it. Doom, doom, doom. My nickname around the house is “Debi Downer". "But", I protest, "I'm just trying to be informed."
My 12 year old daughter hasn't wanted to hear any of it. Saying it depresses and worries her. No wonder. However, when she saw me reading the other day--something about “The Guns of August” and Cheney’s supposed goal of invading Iran right after Congress goes on its summer break--she wanted to know what the bad news was. Insidious, the effect one person can have. But there’s the point. One person can have an incredible effect on those around him/her, and beyond. The question is: What kind of an effect does one want to have?
I think I would like my life to be an example of what I believe to be possible. That we can achieve anything. Anything we set our minds to. While I may note that there are terrible things happening, I can choose to re-frame them in my mind's eye and envision a positive outcome. I can visualize whirled peas. I can foster a more positive outlook and share that with my family and those around me, always being mindful of my thoughts and guarding against their current proclivity to turn towards the dark side.
What do I think we can create by focusing our intentions in a positive way? I think if enough of us desire and envision it, we will see war end.
I think I would like my life to be an example of what I believe to be possible. That we can achieve anything. Anything we set our minds to. While I may note that there are terrible things happening, I can choose to re-frame them in my mind's eye and envision a positive outcome. I can visualize whirled peas. I can foster a more positive outlook and share that with my family and those around me, always being mindful of my thoughts and guarding against their current proclivity to turn towards the dark side.
What do I think we can create by focusing our intentions in a positive way? I think if enough of us desire and envision it, we will see war end.
But wait, I’m reminded of something my 15 year old son was quick to point out a couple of weeks ago during an incredible discussion regarding the principles of the book, Ask and It Is Given, “If half the United States envisioned a pull out from Iraq, there would still be another half, potentially, that thinks/believes it’s the right thing. Can your will, (should your will), overpower theirs?”
So, let me rephrase. I think we can create the experience of peace for ourselves and any who desire it. I think we can heal ourselves and those who wish to be healed. I think we can create the experience of a healthy and nurturing environment. I think we can create abundance. I think we can create anything we can imagine. We do already. We create exactly that which our thoughts are focused on--be it positive or negative. Look at your own reality and see if you can't see this to be true. Pay attention to your thoughts throughout the day. Compare them to what you are experiencing.
To create and experience the reality we desire, we need to do more than just say we desire it. We have to make sure our thoughts are in agreement with what we say we want. Science is beginning to prove that thought affects matter. That all is vibration. And not that thought affects matter in a fixed way. Science is able to demonstrate that a quantum particle's response varies, depending on the thought directed at it.
So, let me rephrase. I think we can create the experience of peace for ourselves and any who desire it. I think we can heal ourselves and those who wish to be healed. I think we can create the experience of a healthy and nurturing environment. I think we can create abundance. I think we can create anything we can imagine. We do already. We create exactly that which our thoughts are focused on--be it positive or negative. Look at your own reality and see if you can't see this to be true. Pay attention to your thoughts throughout the day. Compare them to what you are experiencing.
To create and experience the reality we desire, we need to do more than just say we desire it. We have to make sure our thoughts are in agreement with what we say we want. Science is beginning to prove that thought affects matter. That all is vibration. And not that thought affects matter in a fixed way. Science is able to demonstrate that a quantum particle's response varies, depending on the thought directed at it.
If you say you desire something, but are constantly focusing on the opposite of that something, that’s what you’ll experience.
One of the ideas that I struggle with but am really intrigued by is the idea that there is enough. For everyone. And that there is room for all variety of thought and choice and belief. It's so expansive feeling, and yet runs so contrary to our usual way of thinking. Our modern day society is almost completely based on the idea of having to fight for what we need or believe. That we have to get what we need before someone else does. Or prove our way is the right way. Or protect what we need and want before someone else steals, or takes, or uses it up. The war in Iraq is just such an example. And in the environment. In education. The boardroom. Religion. The buffet line. But what would happen if people started imagining, focusing on, and seeing themselves get what they need? Trusting it to be there? For everyone? Be it water, food, electricity, medicine, whatever? And beyond needs even? Do you feel the shift inside when you consider the idea that there might be enough for everyone? That there might be no need to fight for what we need and believe? Do you notice the sense of relief, of an inner relaxing? Even if just very momentary?
One of the ideas that I struggle with but am really intrigued by is the idea that there is enough. For everyone. And that there is room for all variety of thought and choice and belief. It's so expansive feeling, and yet runs so contrary to our usual way of thinking. Our modern day society is almost completely based on the idea of having to fight for what we need or believe. That we have to get what we need before someone else does. Or prove our way is the right way. Or protect what we need and want before someone else steals, or takes, or uses it up. The war in Iraq is just such an example. And in the environment. In education. The boardroom. Religion. The buffet line. But what would happen if people started imagining, focusing on, and seeing themselves get what they need? Trusting it to be there? For everyone? Be it water, food, electricity, medicine, whatever? And beyond needs even? Do you feel the shift inside when you consider the idea that there might be enough for everyone? That there might be no need to fight for what we need and believe? Do you notice the sense of relief, of an inner relaxing? Even if just very momentary?
These ideas do, however, also raise the question in many minds, including my own, of the necessity for restraint and conservatism, environmental stewardship and social justice. If everyone suddenly believed they could have anything they desired, what would happen then? Can the earth really support such a concept? Can humanity?
But what if it's not the earth's ability to provide that causes problems, but our own minds? Our own fears? Our own belief in a limited universe? What if, when we change our minds, the reality we experience collectively changes? Perhaps whatever we imagine can be. Maybe once we recognize how potent and creative we are, and how connected to the all, we cease behaviors and having desires that are a detriment to it.
And perhaps some of this smells like a bunch of bullcrap. “If an Iraqi desires peace, all he has to do is focus his thoughts on it and it’ll happen?? If a hungry person in Niger desires food, all she has to do is imagine it? Yeah right!! And what about global warming and genocide and desertification and...”
I can certainly hear the roar of protest. But, what if, what if it does matter what we focus our thoughts on? What if, by focusing on positive outcomes, we could change the world?
