30-Day Challenge (LOA)

[Acting Like Godot]

This morning I did a deep meditation.

My usual LOA problem occurred. When I go really deep in meditation, I kinda lose all desires. I can't be bothered to manifest anything .... because it all seems so ... TRIVIAL ... compared to my huge formless inner universe.

Ok, never mind. Those of you who know what I mean, know what I mean.

Anyway, I plan to do another exercise for Day 9. I'm on leave today, hence will have the time. Will record Day 9, Exercise 2, later.

[Acting Like Godot]

I spent several hours thinking yesterday about my goals & intentions for the future. Basically, I was reflecting on all my life situations and deciding what I would like to work on, over a time frame up to the next 12 months.

Eventually I worked out a list of 20 projects, goals and intentions. I've jotted them down in a new notebook. There's an index page, and also separate blank pages for each project / goal / intention. Over time, I'll just jot down on the relevant pages what I do towards achieving each project / goal / intention.

The list is pretty mixed. They cover all areas of my life (career, marriage, fatherhood, hobbies, home, self-improvement etc etc). Some items largely depend on my personal effort and diligence. Others are heavily dependent on factors and circumstances which, in the conventional non-LOA sense, are beyond my control.

I'll use the LOA to try to achieve all of them.

I'll share the list later.

This morning, I received an alpha sign for one of these intentions. It involves a charity project. Details later.

[Acting Like Godot]

Just read in the media that my bank will be cutting another several hundred employees before the end of the year. Based on the article, I look pretty safe (the cuts are in certain departments & divisions that I don't belong too).

I had been feeling slightly insecure about my job, due to the financial crisis. My Day 1 manifestation had been to manifest job security, by attracting to myself key projects and transactions etc, such that I become indispensable.

Looks like it's working.

Today, I have just gotten involved in another big project. Actually it arises directly out of the financial crisis. The government of a particular country has created a new set of extensive regulations to rein in evil bankers. There is a huge amount of work that needs to be done, to ensure that our bank has processes and procedures to comply with all these new regulations.

I was assigned to work in this project, even though I do not usually cover this country. My boss just assigned me to do it, for no obvious reason. Anyway this project provides some assurance that I'll be required at the bank, for quite some time. When a bank faces a financial crisis, it doesn't make sense to retrench the people who are directly managing the immediate implications of that financial crisis.

[mercuryrising]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

This morning I did a deep meditation.

My usual LOA problem occurred. When I go really deep in meditation, I kinda lose all desires. I can't be bothered to manifest anything .... because it all seems so ... TRIVIAL ... compared to my huge formless inner universe.

Ok, never mind. Those of you who know what I mean, know what I mean.

Anyway, I plan to do another exercise for Day 9. I'm on leave today, hence will have the time. Will record Day 9, Exercise 2, later.

I keep wanting to ask you why you play around with this stuff when you could commit your self to more lofty goals. Do you think becoming a Buddha in this lifetime is for someone else?

I just think you have so much knowledge and potential with this, but you are working at a bank and using your abilities to better these petty circumstances. It's like using an entire power plant to solely electrify one street lamp. Why not light up the town?

I'm not trying to moralize here, like there is something wrong with using this stuff for material gain. Just when someone is really talented with it, I wonder why they don't go further than materialism.

Just a thought, ALG.

[Acting Like Godot]

Hey ...... I definitely do think about those sorts of things too ....

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

This morning, I received an alpha sign for one of these intentions. It involves a charity project. Details later.

I have a certain blog which focuses on social issues in my country. It is very popular and regularly quoted by the newspapers etc. I run it under a pseudonym. Monthly readership is about 60,000 (okay that is peanuts compared to Steve's blog, but it's big for a blogger in my rather small country)

One of the intentions I formed yesterday was that I would stick clearly to a new theme, something along the lines of "constructive change for society". The idea is that I would write nothing unless the article helps in some way to make a difference in society.

So anyway I went to office this morning, and there was an email sent by a colleague in another department. He sent the email to a whole bunch of people. Apparently in his free time, he is a committee member of a certain charity in my country, and does a lot of volunteer time. I only found out today.

He's going on a long biking trip through a 3rd world country (Laos), to visit the most poverty-stricken areas. His finishing point, after cycling for hundreds of miles, will be a home for orphans / abused women that his charitable organisation has built / sponsored.

Anyway he sent the email to ask us to donate money, as support for his biking trip which is meant to raise awareness of the problems of these orphans / women.

I emailed him to suggest some ideas. If the technology is available from Laos, I'll let him blog about his long biking trip, on my blog, as he travels through the country. And I'll ask readers to make donations to show their support.

He replied to say thanks very much ... There are some technical details he needs to check up first. We'll see how it goes.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

7. Manifest a sharp and amazing increase/improvement in my IQ, memory and other mental capabilities.

Wow, that was quick. The alpha reflection has arrived. I just noticed this new thread:

How to manifest higher Intelligence?

[Acting Like Godot]

Eh? What happened .... One post gone missing. I had typed out some examples from my list of 20 intentions.

Anyway, will write more later. Busy at work today.

[Acting Like Godot]

Arising out of Exercise 2 of Day 9, I had drawn up a list of 20 quite-varied intentions and goals to work on. These include:

1. buying the penthouse at a very pleasing price

2. my kids being very effectively bilingual

3. me spending quality time with the kids, teaching them a lot of interesting stuff way beyond the school syllabus

4. promotion at work

5. big bonus

6. to run regularly and participate in running events

7. be very outstanding at work

8. get 2 additional professional qualifications in 2009 (basically means I have to self-study and take certain exams)

9. guide my wife to think more positively

10. understand Buddhism better

11. be calmer, more peaceful, more serene

12. improve my abilities with LOA, hypnosis and magick

13. my current affairs blog to greatly increase readership and focus on a more constructive theme

14. publish my poetry book in 2009

15. take a holiday and visit a really interesting place called Borobudur

16. eat very healthily

17. sharply improve my IQ, memory and other mental capabilities

18. become an extremely eloquent and persuasive speaker (without really practising, just mainly by using self-hypnosis)

19. spend more time with my parents

20. be a more loving, patient, fun and encouraging dad to my kids

[Acting Like Godot]

I went jogging again this morning and planned to think about many of my intentions while jogging. In the end, I spent most of the time thinking about one intention only. It was about buying the penthouse. I'm wondering whether there is any better place for me to buy, and I'm asking the universe to guide me to it, if there is.

[Acting Like Godot]

I got a "cold call" yesterday, or rather, it came by email. An American bank is interested in talking to me, to see if I will join them.

(Dang, now Dan Linehan will get another chance to say a few things about me. ).

Once again I have no idea who this particular person is, or how she discovered. Also I am a bit surprised that this bank is hiring at all, given the current financial crisis.

I don't mind saying that the bank is JP Morgan.

My initial thoughts were that I am not interested in leaving my current job (after all, I took it up only six months ago). Also, if I join JP Morgan and they suddenly have some bank-wide directive to axe employees due to the financial crisis, well, if they work on a "last in, first out" basis, I'd be axed.

Then I started thinking that if I *were* to join JP Morgan in the current climate, it would only because they agreed to give me extra protection in my employment contract.

For example, I'd like a clause that says that if they seek to terminate my employment anytime in the first two years (and the reasons are not for criminal misconduct, gross negligence or bad performance etc), then I should be paid six months' extra salary, in lieu of notice.

Wow, that would be great job security, don't you think.

Hmm, anyone remember my Day 1 Manifestation.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

I went jogging again this morning and planned to think about many of my intentions while jogging. In the end, I spent most of the time thinking about one intention only. It was about buying the penthouse. I'm wondering whether there is any better place for me to buy, and I'm asking the universe to guide me to it, if there is.

So yesterday my wife said that she and the kids would go out for dinner. They would be meeting my sister-in-law and "some friends", my wife said.

Anyway, when my wife and kids came back last night, she said that one of the "friends" was this Chinese professional fengshui guy. My wife said that she showed the floor plans of the penthouse units to the chap; plus the floor plan of another home in another place that we've also been considering buying.

The fengshui chap studied the floor plans. And based on his fengshui principles, he said that one particular penthouse unit wasn't suitable for us, but the others were fine. The other place was also suitable.

(Of course he gave more detailed commentary than that. I'm presenting the simplified form).

I don't really understand fengshui, though ....

[Acting Like Godot]

Last night I used self-hypnosis on these three intentions:

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

7. be very outstanding at work

17. sharply improve my IQ, memory and other mental capabilities

20. be a more loving, patient, fun and encouraging dad to my kids

[yamizi]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

I don't really understand fengshui, though ....

My limited understanding of fengshui is that it is believe that the energy of the our surroundings would affect our own energies which eventually affect our so-call luck.

Effective fengshui should be read with your birthdate (including time).

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

18. become an extremely eloquent and persuasive speaker (without really practising, just mainly by using self-hypnosis)

Writing down your intentions is itself a form of IM/LOA, as you are expressing thoughts on paper.

Last night, I went for a Christmas dinner (yes, quite early). It was the department's Xmas dinner. One of the party's table games was a toasting competition, where each table had to select someone to make a speech / toast.

Most other tables had a person stand up and speak some nice elegant words wishing everyone happiness, health etc.

When it came to my table, I stood up, made a loud crackling 100% impromptu speech laced with jokes. Everyone laughed loudly and applauded as I went along. It was all very spontaneous and fun. I ended up with getting the entire roomful of 30, 40 people to boisterously shout a traditional cheer together, three times at the top of their lungs.

Actually I couldn't have done it any better, if I had rehearsed it all day.

At the end of the party, I won a prize for "Best Toast of the Evening". The organisers gave me a $20 shopping voucher.

[Lauxa]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

When it came to my table, I stood up, made a loud crackling 100% impromptu speech laced with jokes. Everyone laughed loudly and applauded as I went along. It was all very spontaneous and fun. I ended up with getting the entire roomful of 30, 40 people to boisterously shout a traditional cheer together, three times at the top of their lungs.

What a great image!!

You're not usually a humorist are you? How did you do it? How were you selected by your table? How did you feel just before giving the speech?

[Acting Like Godot]

It was really quite odd. Someone else actually made the toast/speech on behalf of my table. For some reason not very clear to me, the emcee kinda ignored his speech and asked for ANOTHER toast from someone else at the table. Whereupon everyone else just pointed at me. In fact, the first thing I said when I stood up was, "I thought [the other guy] already made the toast!".

And yes you are right. I am not usually the comedian.

Anyway, here's my proof that I won the "Best Toast" award! Click for image:

kids+113.jpg (image)

I'm gonna spend the vouchers but keep the envelope as my LOA souvenir.

It's really amazing how quickly the LOA can work. On Day 9, when I manifested the intention to be a very good speaker, I had NO idea at all when would be the next occasion I would be required to give a speech. Yet by Day 12, the LOA not only brought the occasion, but gave me the chance to win a prize for speaking well.

Cute!

[Acting Like Godot]

Took the kids for their swimming class yesterday.

While they were having their class, I swam and floated around the pool, relaxing and manifesting.

I worked on the following two intentions:

(a) getting promoted in Feb 2009
(b) getting a bonus of $130,000 or better in Feb 2009

Both intentions, if they come true, will be quite amazing because (1) I only joined this bank in June late 2008, and (2) this bank, like most other banks in the world, hasn't been very profitable this year.

Manifesting while swimming has certain advantages. You can use metaphoric images like the water washing away your doubts and fears. You can also just float around in the pool which helps you to relax. If you're swimming actively, then doing affirmations in time with your strokes is a way to help you stay focused.

[Acting Like Godot]

I read in the news about a woman who died in the Mumbai terrorist attacks. She was in Mumbai on a business trip. She was shot in the head while trapped in the hotel.

Turns out that she's the wife of an old friend. I've not kept in touch with him for some years now, but I first knew him when I was 14 years and our paths crossed again in university (we stayed at the same hostel and so were neighbours).

For Day 13's meditation, I have sent him peace and calm. White light visualisations, and all that. Hope it helps.

(If I were a Christian, you could say that I prayed for him today).

[Acting Like Godot]

When I did my Day 3 manifestation, one of the things I visualised was that I would run regularly in the mornings. Since then I have indeed been running regularly in the mornings.

This morning was no exception. I got up early in the morning and went running, then came back and showered and went off to the work. A healthy lifestyle.

Anyway, I used my running time to think some more about my goals. Today I thought mostly about my intentions to get promoted and to get a big bonus. I think this is an important time of the year to use the LOA on such intentions, because now is the time of the year when the organisation makes its decisions on such matters.

----

Some hours later, I was having lunch with a colleague who works closely with HR. She told me that the bank is doing something rather different from previous years.

There will be job cuts, and the poor performers will be asked to go. Among those who stay, there will be a rigorous process of classifying them according to their performance & potential. The general thinking is that top performers should still be paid very good bonuses, essentially at the expense of the mediocre performers (who may get zero or little bonuses, and perhaps even pay cuts).

I guess I'll just have to be assessed as a top performer.

[Acting Like Godot]

I wrote a post on my current affairs blog about the property market, and mentioned that I personally was thinking about buying a property but was feeling undecided. I asked for readers' advice / suggestion / feedback. Lots has come in.

More interestingly, someone emailed me privately after reading my blog. He's an old friend of mine from university days. He is a real estate analyst (not a property agent) and he suggested we meet for lunch next Friday and he'll tell me his views on the property market.

We'll be meeting next Friday. All this happening, soon after my Day 10 manifestation:

I went jogging again this morning and planned to think about many of my intentions while jogging. In the end, I spent most of the time thinking about one intention only. It was about buying the penthouse. I'm wondering whether there is any better place for me to buy, and I'm asking the universe to guide me to it, if there is.

[Acting Like Godot]

My Day 15 exercise was to plan my goals (I have too many; need to prioritise; and develop an action plan; and a tracking system). I spent some time on this, on Day 15, but didn't get very far.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

2. my kids being very effectively bilingual

Baby steps, baby steps. Bought a dozen new books in two languages, have been reading bedtime stories in two languages with the kids ...

me spending quality time with the kids, teaching them a lot of interesting stuff way beyond the school syllabus

Mrs ALG suddenly felt like teaching multiplication to our six-year-old. He took a day, and has mastered the two times table.

6. to run regularly and participate in running events

Still regularly waking up early to run before going to work.

13. my current affairs blog to greatly increase readership and focus on a more constructive theme

Just received an email from an NGO (whom I've not had any priior contact before) asking if I would be interested in collaborating with them to reach out to youths via my blog to raise awareness about drug abuse issues.

16. eat very healthily

Maid is making a vegetarian breakfast for me every morning.

[Acting Like Godot]

Today I am experimenting with a walking meditation combined with visualisation. I am thinking of a dozen brilliant people (whom I personally know; and whom I've only known of) and how they're brilliant in different ways and I am intending myself to be brilliant like them.

For further details of this kind of IM, refer to this old post by Nightdiamond. Read the section entitled "Deep Trance Identification".

[Acting Like Godot]

I just want to update you guys again. I've found the home I want to live in.

The LOA is really amazing. Past two months my wife and I have gone all around the area, viewing houses, apartments and showrooms. We saw a few places we liked a lot, but even those had a few disadvantageous features.

And then I had gone on to do my visualisations; and written down somewhere a list of criteria that my perfect new home should be like; and asked the universe to guide me, guide me ....

Then yesterday we were driving along a road in that neighbourhood. And yes, we've been there before, we'd had already checked out the available houses in that area too. And as we drove, we passed by an empty plot of land, that had been there all along ......

Except that it wasn't empty any more.

Now there were now construction cranes, lorries and construction workers on the land. Piling works had commenced. AND there was a big signboard giving details of the new residential project (17 homes) being built - with the words "FOR SALE".

In a corner, there was a sales showroom, with the project models. So we went to see, and to talk to the sales staff, to find out more ....

And you know what? The universe is constructing 17 new homes, according to the criteria that my wife *AND* I had manifested for. And you know what? My wife's criteria was not the same as mine, but the universe is meeting BOTH our sets of criteria.

Seriously, it's just damned uncanny. It's almost like the universe is our invisible personal architect, who's been patiently following us around on our house-hunting trips; jotting down our comments and feedback ...... and now it's ready, and is presenting its latest blueprint.

I won't bore you with the details .... But seriously, let me say this again .... Re the universe, don't be afraid to ask! Ask ... Ask! Ask boldly, and it will be given!!

[Acting Like Godot]

Oh yes .... Not a single home sold yet.

I'm asking for a property market crash, so I can buy one of these gorgeous homes at a dirt-cheap price.

Not all the 17 homes are exactly the same, but the typical features of each home are:

(a) four-storeys plus one basement
(b) two private parking lots
(c) 5 bedrooms each with its own attached bathroom
(d) laundry room; store-room; wet kitchen; dry kitchen
(e) master bedroom has adjoining study and walk-in wardrobe
(f) 30-metre swimming pool (shared)

[Jesann]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

wet kitchen; dry kitchen

What's the difference between a wet kitchen and a dry kitchen? (The real difference, not "one is wet, the other is dry")

[Acting Like Godot]

Ahh, the dry kitchen is for the non-messy stuff. It's the place where you keep the clean dishes, the canned food, the microwave, the wines, the bread and the coffee (and you can have a nice breakfast here in the mornings).

The wet kitchen is where the heavy-duty cooking and washing happens. This is where you chop the meat & vegetables; do the stir-frying; wash the dishes; sort out your groceries when you come back from the market with a bagful of wet fish etc. Here, things can get oily, wet, dirty, soap-bubbly.

In this new residential project, the wet kitchen is located semi-outdoors (a sheltered backyard). That way, if you do a lot of cooking, the smell doesn't get into the rest of the house.

[Jesann]

Interesting. I didn't know kitchens were divided like that in some countries. I've seen pictures of some that were kind of divided-- like the kitchen in Absolutely Fabulous during the first series, where it was one room, but the cooking area was definitely separate (if only by an invisible line) from the cupboard/sink/fridge area-- but the wet/dry thing is new to me. Neat!

[dinosaur]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

Oh yes .... Not a single home sold yet.

I'm asking for a property market crash, so I can buy one of these gorgeous homes at a dirt-cheap price.

Not all the 17 homes are exactly the same, but the typical features of each home are:

(a) four-storeys plus one basement
(b) two private parking lots
(c) 5 bedrooms each with its own attached bathroom
(d) laundry room; store-room; wet kitchen; dry kitchen
(e) master bedroom has adjoining study and walk-in wardrobe
(f) 30-metre swimming pool (shared)

HOLY **** son, you must be rich. 5 bedroom, each with their own bathroom? 2 kitchens? Four stories and a basement?

I think I feel more motivated to work on this LoA stuff...