[Ati]

Originally Posted by Wreck

As I mentioned in another thread, if the LoA is true, then it is working all the time for every single person. Anyone should be able to look at their surroundings; their job, where they live, their mate (or lack of one), their financial situation, the car they drive, etc, and see what they created for themselves. Don't like what you're creating? Then create something else! I think that's what we're all doing here - learning how to harness this power to get the things we want.

If you look at anyone successful, there is always work involved. Often, very hard work. Look at this very site. Steve had an inspirational idea, and pursued it. This site didn't just build itself, there's quite a bit of writing and coding going on, not to mention all the work that goes into the experiences that are written about. Take a look at Andrew Carnegie. Do you think he created his wealth without lifting a finger?

This stuff isn't magic. People notice the LoA in operation all the time when they mention things like "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer." Like attracts like. Those who operate out of scarcity will attract more scarcity into their lives. I can't help but think that someone who has to have that job, or that mate is possibly operating out of scarcity. Are there not enough jobs and significant others to go around? Is your happiness hinged on one specific person or a specific dollar figure down to the penny?

Wreck, so well said and I think you are so right here---- about LoA working all the time and the wisdom of looking at all circumstances as things we have attracted along with the realization that just as we have attracted these things, we can attract other things.

Also about the work involved in making something good happen, no kidding! And I like that so much better than the idea that this is somehow "magic".

This board as well as the forum has been really inspiring and encouraging for me and I think and hope for a lot of others. Posts like yours IMO are a good reason for that

Originally Posted by Colm OReilly

My coach advocates focusing on what you want, not how you are going to get it. It makes sense for me.

So focusing on living in financial abundance would be a what, winning the lottery is just the how to that end. A love partner would be a what, Jane Smith from Accounts to be your love partner is focusing on the how.

Personally for me, anytime I limit one specific person, event or action to deliver one specific result I lose out on so much more and all the possibilities the universe is offering me.

So what I do is I have my goals and aims that are in alignment with my destiny and live purpose, and then every single thing is an opportunity for any of those goals to be realised.

Colm

I agree with you, Colm and that does bring up a very frequently asked question, Keith's below here: how specific or general should one get?

There was a whole crowd of books in early parts of the self help movement that advocated a high level of specificity, especially in regards to financial goals. I think Napoleon Hill went this route. Idea being something like: " I will make a million dollars by [specific date and maybe time of day ] and maybe "I will have a [particular brand of car] or [highly detailed description of a house]. There was something to that in relation to material goods that seemed to work for people, based on a lot of later writing and reports. So, maybe, for some people at some time in history, or in their lives, there is a usefulness to this level of specificity.

I personally think that there is a lot to happiness and meaning in life besides financial or material goals. Not to slight the advantages that come from material abundance and the good one can do for oneself, one's family and others with material abundance. I think that in a more global, wholistic, general sense, the LoA and practice of Intention-Manifestation is a bit more workable and understandable when you include a general direction and aim at the top of the list for wisdom, understanding, consciousness and that sort of thing.

That's real general, I know, but if you have a specific goal (e.g. a change in career/work activity), then you'd naturally become more specific because of the goal. If you hold the idea of understanding, consciousness, wisdom high on the list while while lining up your attraction of a career/work activity that suits you, then I think you're on a good road to finding/creating the specific thing that works for you.

Another way that I have found my intention work to proceed from general to specific is this: I might want a particular thing to change or manifest. I start out with that in line with the global elements I've just talked about. Well, I'm attracting the specific wisdom that I need to make this particular change. OK, a few days with that intention active and here comes another one: this one tells me something I might do in order to encourage that change to happen. Does this make sense?

A (made up) example: There's a new person, or a new behaviour in an existing person in a working group ( a neighborhood, household, work group, musical group etc.). This person has some presonal, financial or other resources which allow him or her to exert control within the group which some of the group members have fallen in with for various reasons. I see that this person's influence is not good for the group, the situation or maybe just not good for me. I either don't have or don't want to spend the time or energy to engage in a "political" battle to put this person or their actions in a less intrusive position, but I want the situation to change.
OK, so my first intention might be: "I intend for this (working/family/neighborhood) environment to continue to develop in a peaceful and well balanced manner and a manner that is helpful to all involved". And, along with that, "I intend wisdom, compassion, understanding and love in my own heart, mind and actions as I participate in this environment and situation." Great start. I'm thinking about how nice it would be to have a good situation here (from my POV anyway ), and I'm internally "positioning" myself in a spiritually centered and conscious way intending for this personal positioning to guide all my interactions within this situation.
After a little while, the thought comes up that if I (Enter: a specific improvement in my own interactions or behaviour which I myself could make for the greater good of all as well as for my own comfort level. For example, let's say I'm typically late getting to work, to rehearsals, getting home at night-- depending upon the situation I'm working on. This tardiness on my part does not put me in a good position to have a positive influence and I might well be missing out on important information as well as opportunity to exert a positive influence.).
So my intentions then become the first 2 above, because they are still highly relevant. Add on "I intend my own consistently early arrival (to home, to rehearsals, to work) and appreciate greatly the benefits of being there early which include a relaxed feeling, keen attention to my surroundings and the ability to interact with people in an increasingly positive manner. This helps me to help this situation become every more peaceful, helpful to others and well balanced"
So it's a full circle, there isn't it?
Hope this makes some sense.

I'd love to hear your and others' thoughts about this question of general / specific and any such development between general and specific you might have experienced.

All best,

Ati

Originally Posted by KeithHandy

... Well? ... Thoughts?