hopeless....

[chitownwriter]

Hoping for some sage advice from some of the more advance practitioners of LOA on the board. I have been trying with all I have to keep a positive thought, to focus on the good, and to not even acknowledge undesired cirucumstances and situations in my life, but I really feel like the universe/ God isn't hearing my prayers. Specifically, this relates to a real estate situation-- over the summer I purchased a condo. Deep down I was very disappointed to have to buy into a community living situation, when for four years I've been pursuing the goal of owning my own home on private acres. This situation came to a "head" this summer, when I got the notice that I had to leave my house I was renting, so I focused ALL of my energy on attracting the new house.

Alas, it was not to be, and we moved into the condo--our escrow actually closed on the day the news about the sub-prime mortgage crisis broke, which devastated me even further, because I felt like if we'd just waited, we could have afforded a better place. Why weren't things working out? What about "ask and it is given?"

Several months went by and I fought against a huge depression over the situation. I tried gratitude, EFT, saw a cognitive behavior therapist, and started taking 5-HTP in the hope it would raise my serotonin and make me happier about the situation. I keep praying that something will shift, that this situation will just "work out" in an amazing way, as I've read so many times on this board (and in books).

Still, nothing. After a few months in the new place, my fiance was fed up with the shared walls situation, and we put our new place back on the market, despite the fact that we're going to have to take a loss to sell it. However, and this is what really surprises me, since I'm crystal clear on the goal of wanting to sell the place and just put this experience behind me. We have had alot of people look at the place, but no offers.

Bottom line, I've been living in this situation for six months now, and every day I wake up here, I'm just so disappointed that somehow, I'm unable to make my "ideal" living situation manifest, or even to get it to budge. I'm actually afraid that the frustration I feel (or that I'm really trying not to feel) is going to make me ill. I try not to think about all of these things, but the dam that's holding back the negative feelings is only so strong, and the more time it takes, the weaker it gets.

So....what to do? I feel like I'm not making any progress on this goal. I'm happy to "get out of the way" of the universe, and would honestly be happy with ANYTHING that looked like it was getting me closer to being in my ideal situation. But just, day after day of nothing, and I'm reading so much personal development literature that says I just have to "get clear" and "connect with the God inside me." Done, and done! I meditate every day, exercise, write my goals, work on my projects, listen to personal development, literally I will do whatever God wants me to do, and still I sit, listening to the sound of my neighbor's bass thumping through the wall.

Sorry this went on for so long. Anyone else deal with a similarly intractable situation? How did you resolve it? Any piece of insight would be such a blessing to me. I truly feel like I've hit a (shared) wall.

Take care

[torilink]

first off - you are pushing against what you don't want so much (living in that place) that it is your focus and what we resist persists.

getting out of there is probably a good first step.

you spoke much about how you feel - and how you try to control your negative thoughts, but what I'd like to hear is about your beliefs.

here are just a few I picked up on while reading......

>>I have been trying with all I have to keep a positive thought (I must TRY)
>>I really feel like the universe/ God isn't hearing my prayers (there is a God or power outside myself that I have to beg/ask/pray & earn things from)
>>it was not to be
>>I felt like if we'd just waited, we could have afforded a better place. (lack)
>>we're going to have to take a loss to sell it
>>I'm unable to make my "ideal" living situation manifest, or even to get it to budge.
>>I'm actually afraid that the frustration I feel (or that I'm really trying not to feel) is going to make me ill. (belief in sickness - be careful here)
>>I'm not making any progress on this goal.

not much positive belief there - I understand you are feeling disappointed right now, but that is only because you are thinking from a place where there is some force you are trying to control, some God or Universe or power that you have to jump through hoops for, do handstands for, think the right thoughts for, and ask pretty please - in able to get what you desire. This isn't so. What you experience (perceive) outside the self is always a perfect reflection of your inner thoughts & beliefs. If you hold a belief which conflicts with your thought intentions & desires - it will block perception of the desired state.

get really clear on exactly what you want first, write it all out in complete detail. Read it quietly and notice any negative or uncomfortable feelings, any inner dialog that comes up when you read it. Any feeling or inner chatter which isn't harmonious and PEACEful is an inner belief that conflicts with what you've written and should be investigated.

[Floridagal]

Well, I was in a similar boat a year ago. I also ended up seeing a therapist and taking meds. I know what you are goinbg through and quite frankly will never put a judgement taht you have done something wrong. My therapisat has admitted that he saw several clients who were manifesting failed and came to the point that was varying from minor disaapointments to suisidal attempts. Why? Because they have invested time and energy and faith. Because they believed...
And you are suppose to believe to make LOA work.

[torilink]

Originally Posted by Floridagal

Well, I was in a similar boat a year ago. I also ended up seeing a therapist and taking meds. I know what you are goinbg through and quite frankly will never put a judgement taht you have done something wrong. My therapisat has admitted that he saw several clients who were manifesting failed and came to the point that was varying from minor disaapointments to suisidal attempts. Why? Because they have invested time and energy and faith. Because they believed...
And you are suppose to believe to make LOA work.

I would totally disagree with your assessment, I'd say the reason you feel or felt that way was because you were thinking with the egoic mind and trying to Control rather than create.

what exactly did you believe - to get you so depressed and suicidal, I'm doubtful that anyone who believes they are God or the ultimate consciousness would be suicidal.

Who invested time & energy & "Faith" and into what - those are the questions to ask.

Conscious Creation begins by becoming conscious to what you truly are, and then creating from that place.

[Jennihul]

I am utterly stunned that people get to this place mentally and emotionally. I just can't fathom these reactions.

If you bought a new vacuum and it never quite worked right, would you commit suicide? LOA is a tool. Just like a vacuum. You need to read the manual, not just plug it in and hope for the best and then rush to have therapy or put a gun in your mouth because it didn't suck up your pet hair the way you expected.

All of these similar tales stink of desperation. There must be a huge bed of desperation from which you begin your manifestations. If you begin a manifestation from a place of desperation, what will you manifest, assuming you read the manual? MORE THINGS TO BE DESPERATE ABOUT!

PS: The manual took over 3000 years to write. Doesn't it make sense that it may take more than a few months to "get" it? Like maybe more than a few years? Maybe even decades of study?

This is the ultimate power in the universe. Not a slot machine. Ponder that for a sec. Ponder it for one more sec. The ultimate power in the universe. God-realization, incarnate in mere mortals. It didn't give you a house. Or your Lexus. Or a plane ticket to Florida. Boo hoo. In my humble opinion, the ultimate power in the universe has the right to deny me my desires. Or grant them. Or make a fool of me if it wants. Or show me the true meaning of what really I need. Teach me lessons. Dare me to question it. Or show me that my petty desires are literally so meaningless compared to what I can use this power for.. that the lessons feel hard and cruel but ultimately open up a realm of joyous existance beyond that which I can even imagine, which because I feel this way, it HAS.

Go back to school. You must have missed the class where you are supposed to detach from the outcome.... It was on the syllabus...

Jennifer

[chitownwriter]

I understand how it can be hard to see a path to this place, especially if you are a naturally positive person, or someone who has alot of faith. I am absolutely not defending the mindset I'm about to try to explain.

How you get there is you take a huge leap of faith, suspend all disbelief, set your goals, really believe in them, and act as if they're happening or have already happened. You accept the God inside of you, and do everything you can think of to connect with your God consciousness. You throw yourself completely and wholeheartedly into the pursuit. And then, when the intentions don't manifest, you are devastated. You begin to suspect that in fact the universe is a random place, and that you are separate from whatever power controls it. You are angry with yourself for being stupid enough to believe that you could actually wish for something and get it. Then you are depressed, and perhaps suicidal.

Regarding the "letting go of the outcome" thing, you are absolutely right. I don't get it, I missed it on the syllabus, and I've spent the better part of four years trying to get my head around it. How in the world can you set a goal, visualize yourself getting it and feel the emotion associated with that, then turn right around and let it go, like you don't care if you're going to get it? You care if you get it. That's the whole point of wanting it.

These things are anathema to each other, they make no sense to me, and if someone has a piece of insight that will produce my long-coveted "aha" moment, I will be forever grateful.

[Floridagal]

As far as I was told years ago that letting go menas that you accept a higher power of the Universe and know that it is going to make your dreams come true. You are not thinking about it because you know that the Universe will make it happen and will find a way to make it happen (even you may not necesserily see a path clearly). You kinda handing your desire to the Universe and have a faith taht it is working on that.

[Lil Chris]

I hope this will shed some light on the confusion...

The Law of Detachment
by: Deepak Chopra

The sixth spiritual law of success is the Law of Detachment. The Law of Detachment says that in order to acquire anything in the physical universe, you have to relinquish your attachment to it. This doesn’t mean you give up the intention to create your desire. You don’t give up the intention, and you don’t give up the desire. You give up your attachment to the result.

This is a very powerful thing to do. The moment you relinquish your attachment to the result, combining one-pointed intention with detachment at the same time, you will have that which you desire. Anything you want can be acquired through detachment, because detachment is based on the unquestioning belief in the
power of your true Self.

Attachment, on the other hand, is based on fear and insecurity and the need for security is based on not knowing the true Self. The source of wealth, of abundance, or of anything in the physical world is the Self; it is the consciousness that knows how to fulfill every need. Everything else is a symbol: cars, houses, bank notes, clothes, or airplanes. Symbols are transitory; they come and go. Chasing symbols is like settling for the map instead of the territory. It creates anxiety; it ends up making you feel hollow and empty inside, because you exchange your Self for the symbols of your Self.

Attachment comes from poverty consciousness, because attachment is always to symbols. Detachment is synonymous with wealth consciousness, because with detachment there is freedom to create. Only from detached involvement can one have joy and laughter. Then the symbols of wealth are created spontaneously
and effortlessly. Without detachment we are prisoners of helplessness, hopelessness, mundane needs, trivial concerns, quiet desperation, and seriousness the distinctive features of everyday mediocre existence and poverty consciousness.

True wealth consciousness is the ability to have anything you want, anytime you want, and with least effort. To be grounded in this experience you have to be grounded in the wisdom of uncertainty. In this uncertainty you will find the freedom to create anything you want.

People are constantly seeking security, and you will find that seeking security is actually a very ephemeral thing. Even attachment to money is a sign of insecurity. You might say, "When I have X million dollars, then I’ll be secure. Then I’ll be financially independent and I will retire. Then I will do all the things I really want to do." But it never ever happens.

Those who seek security chase it for a lifetime without ever finding it. It remains elusive and ephemeral, because security can never come from money alone. Attachment to money will always create insecurity no matter how much money you have in the bank. In fact, some of the people who have the most money are the most insecure.

The search for security is an illusion. In ancient wisdom traditions, the solution to this whole dilemma lies in the wisdom of insecurity, or the wisdom of uncertainty. This means that the search for security and certainty is actually an attachment to the known. And what’s the known? The known is our past. The known is nothing other than the prison of past conditioning. There’s no evolution in that absolutely none at all. And when there is no evolution, there is stagnation, entropy, disorder, and decay.

Uncertainty, on the other hand, is the fertile ground of pure creativity and freedom. Uncertainty means stepping into the unknown in every moment of our existence. The unknown is the field of all possibilities, ever fresh, ever new, always open to the creation of new manifestations. Without uncertainty and the unknown, life is just the stale repetition of outworn memories. You become the victim of the past, and your tormentor today is your self left over from yesterday.

Relinquish your attachment to the known, step into the unknown, and you will step into the field of all possibilities. In your willingness to step into the unknown, you will have the wisdom of uncertainty factored in. This means that in every moment of your life, you will have excitement, adventure, mystery. You will experience the fun of life the magic, the celebration, the exhilaration, and the exultation of your own spirit.

Everyday you can look for the excitement of what may occur in the field of all possibilities. When you experience uncertainty, you are on the right path so don’t give it up. You don’t need to have a complete and rigid idea of what you’ll be doing next week or next year, because if you have a very clear idea of what’s going to happen and you get rigidly attached to it, then you shut out a whole range of possibilities.

One characteristic of the field of all possibilities is infinite correlation. The field can orchestrate an infinity of space-time events to bring about the outcome that is intended. But when you are attached, your intention gets locked into a rigid mindset and you lose the fluidity, the creativity, and the spontaneity inherent in the field. When you get attached, you freeze your desire from that infinite fluidity and flexibility into a rigid framework, which interferes with the whole process of creation.

The Law of Detachment does not interfere with the Law of Intention and Desire with goal-setting. You still have the intention of going in a certain direction, you still have a goal. However, between point A and point B there are infinite possibilities. With uncertainty factored in, you might change direction in any moment if you find a higher ideal, or if you find something more exciting. You are also less likely to force solutions on problems, which enables you to stay alert to opportunities.

The Law of Detachment accelerates the whole process of evolution. When you understand this law, you don’t feel compelled to force solutions. When you force solutions on problems, you only create new problems. But when you put your attention on the uncertainty, and you witness the uncertainty while you expectantly wait for the solution to emerge out of the chaos and the confusion, then what emerges is something very fabulous and exciting.

This state of alertness your preparedness in the present, in the field of uncertainty meets with your goal and your intention and allows you to seize the opportunity. What’s the opportunity? It’s contained within every problem that you have in your life. Every single problem that you have in your life is the seed of an opportunity for some greater benefit. Once you have that perception, you open up to a whole range of possibilities and this keeps the mystery, the wonder, the excitement, the adventure alive.

You can look at every problem you have in your life as an opportunity for some greater benefit. You can stay alert to opportunities by being grounded in the wisdom of uncertainty. When your preparedness meets opportunity, the solution will spontaneously appear.

What comes out of that is often called "good luck." Good luck is nothing but preparedness and opportunity coming together. When the two are mixed together with an alert witnessing of the chaos, a solution emerges that will be of evolutionary benefit to you and to all those that you come into contact with. This is the perfect recipe for success, and it is based on the Law of Detachment.

Applying The Law Of Detachment
I will put the Law of Detachment into effect by making a commitment to take the following steps:

1. Today I will commit myself to detachment. I will allow myself and those around me the freedom to be as they are. I will not rigidly impose my idea of how things should be. I will not force solutions on problems, thereby creating new problems. I will participate in everything with detached involvement.

2. Today I will factor in uncertainty as an essential ingredient of my experience. In my willingness to accept uncertainty, solutions will spontaneously emerge out of the problem, out of the confusion, disorder, and chaos. The more uncertain things seem to be, the more secure I will feel, because uncertainty is my path to freedom. Through the wisdom of uncertainty, I will find my security.

3. I will step into the field of all possibilities and anticipate the excitement that can occur when I remain open to an infinity of choices. When I step into the field of all possibilities, I will experience all the fun, adventure, magic, and mystery of life.

Summary & Conclusion
The universal mind choreographs everything that is happening in billions of galaxies with elegant precision and unfaltering intelligence. Its intelligence is ultimate and supreme, and it permeates every fiber of existence: from the smallest to the largest, from the atom to the cosmos. Everything that is alive is an expression of this intelligence. And this intelligence operates through The Seven Spiritual Laws.

(continued in next post...)

[Lil Chris]

If you look at any cell in the human body, you will see through its functioning the expression of these laws. Every cell, whether it’s a stomach cell, or a heart cell, or a brain cell, has its birth in the Law of Pure Potentiality. DNA is a perfect example of pure potentiality; in fact, it is the material expression of pure potentiality. The same DNA existing in every cell expresses itself in different ways in order to ful­fill the unique requirements of that particular cell.

Each cell also operates through the Law of Giving. A cell is alive and healthy when it is in a state of balance and equilibrium. This state of equilibrium is one of fulfillment and harmony, but it is maintained by a constant give and take. Each cell gives to and supports every other cell, and in turn is nourished by every other cell. The cell is always in a state of dynamic flow and the flow is never interrupted. In fact, the flow is the very essence of the life of the cell. And only by maintaining this flow of giving is the cell able to receive and thus continue its vibrant existence.

The Law of Karma is exquisitely executed by every cell, because built into its intelligence is the most appropriate and precisely correct response to every situation as it occurs.

The Law of Least Effort is also exquisitely executed by every cell in the body: it does its job with quiet efficiency in the state of restful alertness.

Through the Law of Intention and Desire, every intention of every cell harnesses the infinite organizing power of nature’s intelligence. Even a simple intention such as metabolizing a molecule of sugar immediately sets off a symphony of events in the body where precise amounts of hormones have to be secreted at precise moments to convert this molecule of sugar into pure creative energy.

Of course, every cell expresses the Law of Detachment. It is detached from the outcome of its intentions. It doesn’t stumble or falter because its behavior is a function of life-centered, present-moment awareness.

Each cell also expresses the Law of Dharma. Each cell must discover its own source, the higher self; it must serve its fellow beings, and express its unique talents. Heart cells, stomach cells, and immune cells all have their source in the higher self, the field of pure potentiality. And because they are directly linked to this cosmic computer, they can express their unique talents with effortless ease and timeless awareness. Only by expressing their unique talents can they maintain both their own integrity and the integrity of the whole body. The internal dialogue of every cell in the human body is, "How can I help?” The heart cells want to help the immune cells, the immune cells want to help the stomach and lung cells, and the brain cells are listening to and helping every other cell. Every cell in the human body has only one function: to help every other cell.

By looking at the behavior of the cells of our own body, we can observe the most extraordinary and efficient expression of The Seven Spiritual Laws. This is the genius of nature’s intelligence. These are the thoughts of God the rest are details.

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success are powerful principles that will enable you to attain self-mastery. If you put your attention on these laws and practice the steps outlined in this book, you will see that you can manifest anything you want all the affluence, money, and success that you desire. You will also see that your life becomes more joyful and abundant in every way, for these laws are also the spiritual laws of life that make living worthwhile.

There is a natural sequence for the application of these laws in your daily life that may help you to remember them. The Law of Pure Potentiality is experienced through silence, through meditation, through non-judgment, through communion with nature, but it is activated by the Law of Giving. The principle here is to learn to give that which you seek. That’s how you activate the Law of Pure Potentiality. If you seek affluence, give affluence; if you seek money, give money; if you seek love, appreciation, and affection, then learn to give love, appreciation, and affection.

Through your actions in the Law of Giving you activate the Law of Karma. You create good karma, and good karma makes everything in life easy. You notice that you don’t have to expend a lot of effort to fulfill your desires, which automatically leads to an understanding of the Law of Least Effort. When everything is easy and effortless, and your desires keep getting fulfilled, you spontaneously begin to understand the Law of Intention and Desire. Fulfilling your desires with effortless ease makes it easy for you to practice the Law of Detachment.

Finally, as you begin to understand a11 the above laws, you begin to focus on your true purpose in life, which leads to the Law of Dharma. Through the use of this law, by expressing your unique talents and fulfilling the needs of your fellow humans, you begin to create whatever you want, whenever you want it. You become carefree and joyful, and your life becomes an expression of unbounded love.

We are travelers on a cosmic journey stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. But the expressions of life are ephemeral, momentary, and transient. Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, once said,

This existence of ours is as transient as autumn clouds. To watch the birth and death of beings is like looking at the movements of a dance. A lifetime is like a flash of lightning in the sky, rushing by like a torrent down a steep mountain.

We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment, but it is transient. It is a little parenthesis in eternity. If we share with caring, lightheartedness, and love, we will create abundance and joy for each other. And then this moment will have been worthwhile.

[Acting Like Godot]

That's a very good book, Lil Chris, one of my favourites.

[RT Wolf]

Congratz on reaching 1000 posts, ALG.

Thanks for posting that chapter Chris, its always pleasant to read it again. Reminds me of good things to remember. Its also a fantastic book, I have it behind me and like to re-read it every once in a while.

Wanting (or intending or giving thought to) + Allowing (including detachment, being at peace with, expecting, believing, being joyful and at ease, few limiting beliefs, little resistance etc) = manifestation. Reach a minimum by adding up the two and you get manifestation.

[Lil Chris]

The nutty thing about it is, I didn't even know it was a book... I had read the above on a site somewhere and put it into word for me to read again (i do this allot), I usually save the interesting articles I read, I'll have to read the entire book someday...

[ellie]

Thanks lil chris for posting that article.

Can I ask do you follow those principles?

I would like to understand it a bit more. Some of it went over my head a little bit.

Say for example, all my life all I ever wanted was to own my own house, because all my family were always uprooting and my dad, never was able to get his finances into gear, and I never felt stable because of this.

I've always wanted to do the opposite to my upbringing, like live a house, not move around etc but the thing is the more and more I desire this, the more it seems out of my reach.

It's the same with my work situation, I would really like to make a steady income for myself by working by myself, but the harder I try the more it seems like I'm not meant to do it.

Why is that?

Sorry to butt into your thread chitownwriter!

[dancer]

Originally Posted by ellie

It's the same with my work situation, I would really like to make a steady income for myself by working by myself, but the harder I try the more it seems like I'm not meant to do it.

Trying hard might be the issue. I have an intention, which has not manifested, you might want to read my last thread Will power vs. Intention as you may find answers. There is also a link there to the Law of Least Effort in Deepak Chopra’s Seven Spiritual Secrets of Success, which RTWolf posted.

All the best with your intentions.

[RT Wolf]

ellie, your inside state matches your outside state. If you do not already have the feelings that you believe will come from being in your own home, then it won't be as easy to get the house as it would be if you already had the feelings.

Essentially, you want things to create certain feelings within you, right? I'd say that's the crux of most intentions. More money to feel free and/or secure, a lover to feel loved and/or to love, a car to feel more important or whatever. As the wonderful Angela likes to say, skip the middle-person and go straight for the feeling, and then the thing that is supposed to evoke that feeling will be less important and will simply come from your detachment. You can read the Law of Detachment chapter from Deepak Chopra's book, Seven Spiritual Laws of Success in another thread posted here, not sure which one, though.

Also, conversely, your feelings of NOT wanting to not live in a house is perpetuating the situation of not living in a house. Ok, say the feelings you want to feel by living in one place or one house is "x". Your current feelings are not-x. These feelings of not-x perpetuate themselves as you observe them so you continue to experience the stuff that makes you feel not-x. Sorry about the mathy example, I've been reading Aristotle and he does this kinda stuff.

[Lil Chris]

ellie,
To your question, yes I do try and follow what I put out there, but this is a learning experience as is everything else (and I'm still learning as well). I'm still striving for the "it just clicked" moment. Ya see, everything I've tried to learn took some time (some not as long as others) but finally whatever it was I was learning, I usually get this "click" moment where everything just makes sense.

To follow up behind RT Wolf's comment above,
Imagine you have just got the house you're wanting... How would you feel...? Understand this though, it's not how you think you'd feel, actually get on in there and feel those feelings (allow yourself to feel the feelings of already having the house), it may seem strange at first (because you don't actually have the house yet). The reason I say this is and I'll give you an example, my mom is notorious for putting out there the feelings of exactly what she doesn't want, So I'll ask her if you had ___________ how would you feel. The response I get from her is a "well duh, I'd feel great" but there is no feeling in the response, meaning she isn't feeling it now, the feeling should come first (before you even have the item you want). The "feelings" you put out there is the communication tool that reality responds to... Reality seems to be dynamic and it adjusts to how your feeling, feel lucky and lucky situations present them selves to keep you feeling lucky, feel depressed and depressing situations present themselves to keep you feeling depressed. The goal is to get to the point where you control your feelings, don't let reality dictate how you feel. If you're in what I refer to as a reactive state (meaning you present feelings based on what happens externally) for example: You don't have your house yet and you generate feelings based on that, you're letting reality dictate how you feel... Take control of how you want to feel and dictate to reality what you want. There is always a balance (yin/yang, black/white, etc...) Pick which one you want: Reality controlling you/you controlling reality, this seems to be done through your feelings...

[ellie]

Thank you all for your feedback. It's all great. Thanks lil Chris for your reply, I understand exactly what your saying, although it is hard for me to put into place, but I am going to do it

[Jennihul]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by chitownwriter

I understand how it can be hard to see a path to this place, especially if you are a naturally positive person, or someone who has alot of faith. I am absolutely not defending the mindset I'm about to try to explain.

You have to be a naturally positive person to create in this manner. It's not like you can pick and choose this factor. I'll be a bummed and despressed person but then when I manifest perfection and joy, I'll be happy. You have to be happy to manifest more things that make you happier. One must come before the other.

Desire helps the universe to see what you would like. FEELINGS are the food you feed the universe to fuel it into being. If you give it crap food, depression and anxiety, you get that kind of manifestation back. If you give it pure and joyful food, you get that kind of manifestation back.

How you get there is you take a huge leap of faith, suspend all disbelief, set your goals, really believe in them, and act as if they're happening or have already happened. You accept the God inside of you, and do everything you can think of to connect with your God consciousness.

Good, good, good....Excellent....

and then....

You throw yourself completely and wholeheartedly into the pursuit.

You started to blow it with the above...Not the right mindset. The beginning of the end of your dream.

And then, when the intentions don't manifest, you are devastated. You begin to suspect that in fact the universe is a random place, and that you are separate from whatever power controls it. You are angry with yourself for being stupid enough to believe that you could actually wish for something and get it. Then you are depressed, and perhaps suicidal.

And this was the killing blow. Right here. This paragraph above. You DOUBTED. Questioning the greater power, doubting it's power, immediately puts you in a negative place. Manifestation, poof! Maybe one more day, and it would have been yours. Maybe one more year. Are you going to question the wisdom of the greatest power in the universe? I sure don't have the nads to do that. And I manifest.

Regarding the "letting go of the outcome" thing, you are absolutely right. I don't get it, I missed it on the syllabus, and I've spent the better part of four years trying to get my head around it. How in the world can you set a goal, visualize yourself getting it and feel the emotion associated with that, then turn right around and let it go, like you don't care if you're going to get it? You care if you get it. That's the whole point of wanting it.

Ask your ego. He's the one setting you on the wrong path about halfway through an otherwise excellent manifesting experience.

These things are anathema to each other,

That is why it is called the ultimate paradox of the law of attraction. Don't re-invent the wheel. Many thousands before you have studied this contradiction and they know what they are talking about. If I may suggest a reading list: Some of these books have no seeming connection to LOA but they all tie in. These books gave me my 'aha' moment.

The Miracle of Mindfulness (Thich Nhat Hanh)

The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)

The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)

The Alchemy of Abundance ( Rick Jarow, PhD)

The Biology of Belief (Bruce Lipton)

As a Man Thinketh (James Allen)

The Self-Aware Universe (Amit Goswami, PhD)

The Ghost in the Atom (P.C.W. Davies & J.R. Brown)

The Essential Zohar (Rav P.S. Berg)

The Power of Kabbalah (Yehuda Berg)

The Power of Intention (Dr Wayne W. Dyer)

The Emerald Tablet: The Alchemy of Personal Transformation

You'll See It When You Believe It (Dr Wayne W. Dyer)

The Circle (Laura Day)

The God Code: The Secret of Our Past, the Promise of Our Future (Gregg Braden)

The Isaiah Effect (Gregg Braden)

Ask and It Is Given (Esther and Jerry Hicks)

Mind Magic (Marta Hiatt, PhD)

Choosing Joy (Gary Null, PhD)

Do It!! Let's Get Off Our Buts (John-Roger and Peter Williams)

Kabbalah: Key to Your Inner Power (Elizabeth Clare Prophet)

Develop Irresistable Attraction (Connie Domino)

The Science of Getting Rich (Wallace Wattles)

The Master Key System (Charles Haanel)

Anything by Deepak Chopra


_________________________________________________


Jennifer

[Floridagal]

I totally agree you have to be positive and easy going so to speak if you plan to manifest something. Depression is NOT a stage for manifesting.However, after I have read OP I am not sure that I catch any indication that this man in any way was negative, depressed while he has entered the manifestiation journey. I also do not have any indicatioin that this person is by nature a negative one. It of course can be the case of debilitas or marasmus. But it is a clear spiculation because the limited information that was provided is not supporting to a reasonable extand those theories....

[Acting Like Godot]

Ooh. This list wouldn't be complete without the book from which Lil Chris's excerpt on detachment was taken.

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, by Deepak Chopra.

[Acting Like Godot]

And because this thread has specifically mentioned depression and other negative feelings, I must also recommend this book:

The Astonishing Power of Your Emotions, by Esther & Jerry Hicks.

[Floridagal]

And I would suggest besides reading those great books do watch 5-HTP dosage. There are some serious side effects if you take more than you are suppose too. It is indeed a precursor to a serotonin production but it has to be taken within limits. Some folks think the more they take the happier they will be. Please, do not do it...

[Jennihul]

Originally Posted by Floridagal

I totally agree you have to be positive and easy going so to speak if you plan to manifest something. Depression is NOT a stage for manifesting.However, after I have read OP I am not sure that I catch any indication that this man in any way was negative, depressed while he has entered the manifestiation journey. I also do not have any indicatioin that this person is by nature a negative one. It of course can be the case of debilitas or marasmus. But it is a clear spiculation because the limited information that was provided is not supporting to a reasonable extand those theories....

But he was after he started doubting. Entering into manifestation isn't the only time one should be happy. It's like you are trying to hide your true feelings from GOD. As if! I'll "be" happy while I manifest so I can get my stuff but then if it doesn't come true... I still maintain that anyone who could fall into a deep depression after a easy, no pressure experiment in LOA has GOT to be right on the edge of desperation, depression and or any other similar states.

The greatest manifestors treat a non-manifestation like a rain shower on a day that was supposed to be sunny. "Oh well. No biggie. Now, where is that double rainbow?"

Poor manifestors are riding a rollercoaster of emotions and wondering why they can't manifest anything but a rollercoaster of random events. Or nothing at all.

I have trouble articulating why non-manifestations don't bother me in the least. At the very most, they make me even more curious at the wonderment involved in the process of LOA and bolster my interest in it. Like when I read the Powerball website to check my numbers, I think wow. It must have been that guy's turn. Look how happy he is. He's going to keep his job because he loves working there, isn't that cool? He's going to buy a round for all his cronies at the pub to celebrate. He and his wife are going to give money to their grandkids who are the joy of their lives.

I trust in the source of all abundance. If it's not my turn, oh well. No biggie.

LOA is just a tool. A rifle in the hands of an experienced, confident bushman equals food on someone's table. A rifle in the hands of someone on the edge usually means lives shattered.

Are you guys really sure you aren't on the edge?

Jennifer

[cylon]

Use LOA to draw things to you that make you feel better about life. Instead of manifesting this or that, make your intention to get up every morning in a good mood, to live in the moment, to laugh, to have some fun.

You have to feel good first. The whole process is a zillion times easier and more FUN when you're ALREADY in that state of allowing. This is not something you have to TRY HARD to do.

Actaully, the most difficult thing, is to just be happy and see this stuff as a fun new way to interact with the universe. You have to build a proper foundation (pre-pave). I struggle with it as well but I've been through this cycle enough now to know, that when I'm worrying about my intentions, I'm not on the right path to get them. Just let them go and learn ways to feel GOOD. You deserve it.

If all you got out of this was the ability to feel good and be happy in your life, it would all be worth it.

[BladeRunner]

Originally Posted by cylon

Use LOA to draw things to you that make you feel better about life. Instead of manifesting this or that, make your intention to get up every morning in a good mood, to live in the moment, to laugh, to have some fun.

You have to feel good first. The whole process is a zillion times easier and more FUN when you're ALREADY in that state of allowing. This is not something you have to TRY HARD to do.

Actaully, the most difficult thing, is to just be happy and see this stuff as a fun new way to interact with the universe. You have to build a proper foundation (pre-pave). I struggle with it as well but I've been through this cycle enough now to know, that when I'm worrying about my intentions, I'm not on the right path to get them. Just let them go and learn ways to feel GOOD. You deserve it.

If all you got out of this was the ability to feel good and be happy in your life, it would all be worth it.

CY,

What an inspiring post, well done friend.

Acceptance is bliss, even in the worst moment you're always still presence, always aware.

Nothing can truly hurt us when we accept our moment in all it's form.

That's where all the power is.

Step outside this moment and the ego assumes control and it's back to egoism.

Great post CY The best one I've seen in the longest time.

Dex

[mej023]

I agree with Cylon.

When you focus on what is (i.e., the contrast) then you begin to vibrate that way.

I think you know this.

It is like being fat and wanting to be thin. When you are fat, everything in your life reinforces the idea that you are fat. When you move, you feel fat. When you look in the mirror, you see fat.

You want to lose weight but all you see is fat. You go on a diet but the diet keeps you focused on the fat.

The only way around it is to feel thin. That is an incredibly hard thing to do.

You are doing this with your house. You have defined what you want. Now, switch off the focus on your current frustration.

Fall in love with your current situation. Find things to appreciate where you are right now.

Remember, the universe interprets how you feel literally.

Like Abraham-Hicks mention, when you go to a buffet you don't get mad because there is food that you don't enjoy. You just choose not to eat it.

[Lola]

Originally Posted by cylon

Instead of manifesting this or that, make your intention to get up every morning in a good mood, to live in the moment, to laugh, to have some fun.
...
If all you got out of this was the ability to feel good and be happy in your life, it would all be worth it.

Well said, cylon. This is key for me.

[chitownwriter]

Wow....you guys are incredibly smart. I went on a business trip for a few days, and before I left I printed out everything you'd said up to that point (including the Chopra article, which I've now read twice-- great stuff!). Now I'm catching up on all the other great replies!

I can't even begin to thank you for all the insight, the book recommendations, the article, and all the wisdom from experience. It really does seem like the most important thing is being happy in the moment. I guess I just get caught up in my head (ego) sometimes, and take things really personally when they don't go my way. On my list of things to work on, as well as detachment from the outcome.

If happiness is the precursor and not the outcome, then I definitely need to work on that. Otherwise, I suppose, I will end up as one of Chopra's "hollow shell multimillionaires."

For what it's worth, despite my ongoing pessimisstic attitude and doubt, I am actually a pretty powerful manifester (aside from the current real estate situation, which I feel is going to resolve soon). That aside, I have managed to manifest an ideal job situation, two book deals, and almost a million dollars in the past four years. So, it can be done. What I want is to be happy, and for things to be easier. I think everyone is right that I can't depend on results for that.

Thanks, Jennifer, for the tough love.

One clarification/ question: I actually have read "The Astonishing Power of Emotions," and found it to be very good, albeit somewhat foreign to my skeptical defaults (trying to train myself out of those). My one sticking point with that is this: if I get happy about a situation that is NOT ideal, aren't I just attracting more of that? If someone is talking really loud on their cellphone in the post office, and I do my darndest to go to my "happy place," aren't I just telling the universe "Yes! Give me more obnoxious cellphone guy!" Or, is it your opinion that the happiness just keeps you more in vibrational harmony with what you are wanting, and isn't quite that specific?
Just curious. This group is so engaged and intelligent, I can't help but continue to ask these questions that have been on my mind since I started studying LOA.

I'm a woman, by the way.

[chitownwriter]

Originally Posted by Jennihul

I have trouble articulating why non-manifestations don't bother me in the least. At the very most, they make me even more curious at the wonderment involved in the process of LOA and bolster my interest in it. Like when I read the Powerball website to check my numbers, I think wow. It must have been that guy's turn. Look how happy he is. He's going to keep his job because he loves working there, isn't that cool? He's going to buy a round for all his cronies at the pub to celebrate. He and his wife are going to give money to their grandkids who are the joy of their lives.

I trust in the source of all abundance. If it's not my turn, oh well. No biggie.

Jennifer

I wanted to comment on this one personally. This is just....wow. Law of Detachment at its very finest, and good for you for being able to do that! I wish that I could even think of a way to refine this particular skill. The whole time I've been using LOA, the non-attainment to goals is the one thing that keeps coming back to haunt me, as if to stoke the latent coals of doubt that I work to keep extinguished. I look back over a list of goals, and my ego goes "See....you didn't get that. It obviously doesn't work. The world is random. That is not fair." Don't bother saying that this makes me sound like a petulant child, because believe me, I know.

However, I try to get up every day and start another day optimistically. I hope that in time I get into the habit of good thoughts and positive emotions. It has been quite a journey, coming from an entire family of pessimisstic/ mean people with absolutely no hope, then having several major life events occur before I was 30 (like losing my mother suddenly) that would really knock anyone for a loop.

I am proud of the progress I've made, and again, really appreciate everyone's great advice. Thanks!

[Lola]

You are practically vibrating off the screen with this post compared to the first, chitown!

A more consistent practice of detachment is on my list, too.

Originally Posted by chitownwriter

My one sticking point with that is this: if I get happy about a situation that is NOT ideal, aren't I just attracting more of that?

What I'm currently wrapping my head around is that it's not ABOUT anything. That we are to develop happiness (I prefer the word joy) as a way of BEING. Not as a reaction to or even a precursor to anything that happens.