Needing help with my attitude towards money

[moonrambler]

What an amazing and wonderful array of responses! Again, I absolutely love how generous people are with their insight and their time here.

[Wax Frog]

Originally Posted by smartile

The purpose of creating 'the list' is to bring those false beliefs into your awareness. When you do that, you become aware of the impact; the impact those beliefs have had on your life. And for most people, once they get the impact they then feel empowered to make a new choice to change their thinking and their beliefs.

Maybe I misstated my view, because to me that looks like a "yes". To clarify, in order to become truly aware of those beliefs you need to be fully aware of, and get to integrate, the emotional 'charge' powering them. At least that's how I'm coming to understand the issue.

[moonrambler]

I wanted to mention in particular the variety of responses to my story about the kid, because it's fascinating to me the way different people approach LoA and IM so differently. I'm sure you will find areas of common ground, but I was especially struck by two of the types of responses -- one which seems to say the story is sad, the story is self-defeating, the story should have happier role models, the story should be re-written, there should be a different story altogether.

Then there was a common response from mercuryrising & ALG which looked to me like what they did was grab a tablet of paper and write in big letters at the top: CHAPTER TWO.

[Angela]

To me, your story of The Kid could have a happy ending or an unhappy ending, depending on whether she deliberately chooses to feel good or resigns herself to feeling bad -- -- regardless of what happens.

An unhappy ending would be: The Kid thinks to herself: "Self, you are in a Big Mess, that has to be cleaned up or you'll be miserable and you'll probably end up in jail or on the street or beat up by hooligans. Also you must get yourself out of this Big Mess because otherwise you will feel guilty and lonely and defeated. You owe it to the world to focus on your Big Mess and cleaning it up."

Now that I write it out, I see that that would actually be a comedy.

Happy ending for The Kid: "Self, everything's ok right now, I am safe and supported. I am infinite abundance, power, and joy, and I get to choose who I am going to be going forward, regardless of who I've been and what has happened in the past. That feels pretty good! Right now, in evaluating my CURRENT situation, I would strongly prefer to have more friends, and I would strongly prefer being a free citizen to being a jailbird or fugitive (possible CURRENT consequences of my past actions). My life is a delightful array of fun challenges, and I can see some steps I could take to guide my life in the direction I'd like it to go: for instance, I could take on Being Integrity. Being Integrity, for me, would mean joyfully allowing abundance and spreading it around in the direction of folks who lost stuff to me, and I think it would feel good to be able to apologize to them and commit to making amends in a way that will have them, as well as me, feeling very good! Hmm, now that I think about it, another way to feel good would be to invent a really good lock that will help people to secure their stuff from people like the one I was being, and incidentally to bring me lots of profit! Being integrity might also (but not necessarily) mean turning myself over to the cops, and telling them my story about how I'm committed to making amends for my theft, and outlining my ideas for how I'm going to do that, my great idea for locking people like me out, and by the way, maybe I could talk to some kids in schools about the consequences of having no integrity! You know, like Community Service in place of jail time? And Being Integrity might mean some jail time. That'll give me some great material for my book -- people love true stories about redemption and triumph!

What a great and exciting life I am living! My life is filled with opportunity for expanding more and more into the infinite joy, power, and abundance of Who I Really Am. That feels really, really good.

Signed,
The Kid

[torilink]

Originally Posted by moonrambler

I wanted to mention in particular the variety of responses to my story about the kid, because it's fascinating to me the way different people approach LoA and IM so differently. I'm sure you will find areas of common ground, but I was especially struck by two of the types of responses -- one which seems to say the story is sad, the story is self-defeating, the story should have happier role models, the story should be re-written, there should be a different story altogether.

Then there was a common response from mercuryrising & ALG which looked to me like what they did was grab a tablet of paper and write in big letters at the top: CHAPTER TWO.

There was a third, to accept the story isn't real. Regardless of if it is sad or happy, full of abundance or replete with lack it isn't real. Precisely because of this unreality - you can let go so easily and choose something else.

[LoveFreedom]

Originally Posted by marinik

Cylon which Abraham book is it? I have many of them but when I got the last one (new at the time) it was disappointing. So basic. Which process are you following?

Hi Marinik,I suspect he may be talking about their latest book "Money and the LOA" that was just released in US. I hasn't made it to Australia yet but should be here this coming week.

[LoveFreedom]

Originally Posted by Angela

To me, your story of The Kid could have a happy ending or an unhappy ending, depending on whether she deliberately chooses to feel good or resigns herself to feeling bad -- -- regardless of what happens.

Hi Angela, Just wanted to say how much I appreciate your inspirational narratives. I always look forward to your posts. Your clients must love your ways of gently pushing them into the state of appreciation starting from where they exactly are! What a gift.

[moonrambler]

Originally Posted by torilink

There was a third, to accept the story isn't real. Regardless of if it is sad or happy, full of abundance or replete with lack it isn't real. Precisely because of this unreality - you can let go so easily and choose something else.

So is there common ground amongst these three approaches, which seem to be very different from one another?

[torilink]

Originally Posted by moonrambler

So is there common ground amongst these three approaches, which seem to be very different from one another?

as a matter of fact, yes. it would be the first chakra work - releasing the past - or the Christian belief of being "Saved" - both are symbolic of the acceptance that all that has come before this moment is gone, and has no effect (except what we give it). We accept, release, and forgive.

For some it is easiest to just see that the past isn't real - it doesn't exist now, a memory isn't real now - so you just forgive the past and let it go.

Others who've had very negative life experiences my have a more difficult time and have more negative beliefs to release. In such a case the Christian concept of being completely forgiven and forgiving others for everything that's happened is a good exercise. In AA they make out a list of all they've wronged and then go through it and ask for forgiveness - this isn't necessary but for some who harbor deep guilt it is effective for release.

Regardless of how you approach it, it boils down to bringing yourself into the present moment, focusing on now and what you desire now. The pivotal point in manifestation is to stop looking backward.

[moonrambler]

Originally Posted by torilink

as a matter of fact, yes. it would be the first chakra work - releasing the past - or the Christian belief of being "Saved" - both are symbolic of the acceptance that all that has come before this moment is gone, and has no effect (except what we give it). We accept, release, and forgive.

For some it is easiest to just see that the past isn't real - it doesn't exist now, a memory isn't real now - so you just forgive the past and let it go.

Others who've had very negative life experiences my have a more difficult time and have more negative beliefs to release. In such a case the Christian concept of being completely forgiven and forgiving others for everything that's happened is a good exercise. In AA they make out a list of all they've wronged and then go through it and ask for forgiveness - this isn't necessary but for some who harbor deep guilt it is effective for release.

Regardless of how you approach it, it boils down to bringing yourself into the present moment, focusing on now and what you desire now. The pivotal point in manifestation is to stop looking backward.

This is an excellent point. It was recommended elsewhere in the IM forum about looking for the common ground amongst all the authors/practitioners because that's where the real power is. Perhaps everything else, that people are always discussing as far as the "how-to" of IM, is personal style. Some behaviors work better for certain people than other behaviors.

It's like that thread about negative affirmations, which typically are not recommended, because they are supposed to be ineffectual, or they keep the person dwelling on that quality he or she wants to change. But if the person actually has stepped into the now and left behind the past, then a negative affirmation should be just as effective. I mentioned my friend BJ, who quit smoking and put what was left of the carton of cigarettes on top of the fridge, and everytime he walked by it, he said out loud, "I don't smoke." He told me that's the only way he could have quit smoking. This is totally opposite of what's usually recommended, but one day he quit and never went back. He became a non-smoker.

This would also answer why for some people at some times it works better to have intense focus, and why sometimes we hear how a complete non-attachment works, and other times an action without a strong desire, and other times an action with drive and motivation, and other times visualization, and so on. I can see how attachment (especially very strong attachment) can be more in regard to the past than to the now.

This also explains why one very common ground amongst, I think, every LoA/IM/personal development author I've ever read, is the importance of meditation. This would be because meditation quiets down all that chatter, and gets you really into Now.

Today I had an interesting experience. I went rummage sale-ing as usual, and was thinking before I left the house that I needed to stop by Fleet Farm to get a water filter. I live a couple miles out of town and my well water is awful. Without a carbon filter and softener, the water has excessive iron and it also smells lousy. Because of the financial issues, I haven't bought a new filter in quite some time, but next week I'll be having company and want the water to be nice for showers and stuff.

But while roaming around The City, I got to thinking that buying this water filter doesn't fit into my spending plan. I'm writing down every single cent I spend and watching the way I do things, and it has been really great for keeping me in line and not spending money too frivolously. It's only $8 for a two-pack, but it's still $8. And it's not a necessity. Oh well, I thought. I guess people can live with stinky showers for a night or two.

Within about an hour, I went to a rummage sale and there on the grass was a two-pack of carbon filters. I stood there looking at this, just looking at it for a few seconds, because I never once in the probably 800,000 rummage sales I've gone to over the past five years have ever seen any carbon filters for sale. I know this, because I would have bought them. It's just not the sort of thing people buy and then don't use. But this woman was moving, so she probably doesn't need them at her new place. She only wanted 50 cents for the two-pack.

It was so weird. I hadn't expressed any intention or done any visualizing or affirmations or anything at all. I had just decided to stick with my spending plan, and it's like the universe said "Well done" and provided the filters.

[torilink]

excellent story about the filters! that is just about as instant a manifestation as you can get!!

you accepted your situation, you held a desire for the filters, you released resistance (when deciding to not get them at $8 a pack and just let it go), and the HOW to get them was released, the worry over spending $8 on them was gone, and it all worked out!!! and that is how it is, it just works itself out like that when we find the grace to accept, release resistance, and allow it to come to us. You weren't kicking yourself in the pants or focusing thought on "Why don't I have enough so that I don't have to worry about $8 - blah blah blah".

beautiful example moonrambler!!!

remember this and build belief through it. there is nothing you cannot be, do, or have!!!!

[cylon]

I love how time and space bends itself just to give us the stuff we want. Who would not be cool with that?

This is where we start seeing abundance as larger than money. You don't necessarily need to have a lot of money to get what you desire. The universe will basically give it to you, free!

I don't think the universe is worrying itself on how to accomplish this or that or if it's doing it right, or if there is another way they do it in a different dimension.....you just look over your shoulder and there's your intention waiting for you.

And I guess it's because "you" are everywhere. The whole planet.

[torilink]

Originally Posted by cylon

I love how time and space bends itself just to give us the stuff we want. Who would not be cool with that?

This is where we start seeing abundance as larger than money. You don't necessarily need to have a lot of money to get what you desire. The universe will basically give it to you, free!

I don't think the universe is worrying itself on how to accomplish this or that or if it's doing it right, or if there is another way they do it in a different dimension.....you just look over your shoulder and there's your intention waiting for you.

And I guess it's because "you" are everywhere. The whole planet.

abundance is so much larger than money! great way to put it cylon! It is about having now that which you desire. Not about next week, next year, or amassing a fortune for the future - just about what we desire in the moment and every desire is fulfilled.

Years ago i used to focus on the fortune, and I made a whole lot of money - now I just focus on what I want right now, what is it i desire in this moment and I don't worry about tomorrow or next month's bills or anything... and there is nothing I don't have in this moment! when I desire something, it comes to me - sometimes in ways which are completely ordinary - other times it's downright miraculous - but it always always is there.

[moonrambler]

I found another two-pack of water filters today (different brand, same type) at another sale. Now I have four water filters for a total of $1.50 which normally would cost around $16.

It's easy to see why we start really wondering how all this works.

I've mentioned somewhere else around here about how I've noticed when going to sales, that what tends to happen is if I find some sort of relatively rare item at one sale (relatively rare, not super-rare), it's almost inevitable that I'll run across this thing again that day or at least within a week or so, even if I haven't ever seen it before or haven't seen it in months. This has become so inevitable that I'd place bets on it. It really does seem that you attract more of what you already have.

Then today I saw a brand new remote car starter at a sale, which is great for real cold weather. Like if you're at work or at the mall or whatever, you can start your car from inside the building and go out there in a few minutes and the car is all warmed up. I thought, "I've always kind of wanted one of those." I don't want one real badly though, or enough to spend what they were asking for it anyways. Then there was another brand new one at the very next sale I went to.

I don't get it.

[jeff3]

Originally Posted by moonrambler

I found another two-pack of water filters today (different brand, same type) at another sale. Now I have four water filters for a total of $1.50 which normally would cost around $16.

It's easy to see why we start really wondering how all this works.

I've mentioned somewhere else around here about how I've noticed when going to sales, that what tends to happen is if I find some sort of relatively rare item at one sale (relatively rare, not super-rare), it's almost inevitable that I'll run across this thing again that day or at least within a week or so, even if I haven't ever seen it before or haven't seen it in months. This has become so inevitable that I'd place bets on it. It really does seem that you attract more of what you already have.

Then today I saw a brand new remote car starter at a sale, which is great for real cold weather. Like if you're at work or at the mall or whatever, you can start your car from inside the building and go out there in a few minutes and the car is all warmed up. I thought, "I've always kind of wanted one of those." I don't want one real badly though, or enough to spend what they were asking for it anyways. Then there was another brand new one at the very next sale I went to.

I don't get it.

A very old observation of the phenomena you are experiencing, and a description of the LOA in very elemental form. I used to think it was a cruel decree, but have recognized it is simply an observation of how things work.

"For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him."