I find myself in an interesting position...

[James81]

This is new territory for me, and I thought it would be good for me to type this out and to get some input here.

Let me preface this to say that, first, I'm much calmer about this than I thought I would be. A part of me realizes that it's going to work out in some manner. So, a part of me is kinda *there* in that I know it'll all work out.

That being said, I'll also preface this with the idea that I've never really taken much stock in IM/LoA without attaching some form of action to it. In other words, a big part of me believes in IM/LoA, but it only *makes sense* to me from the vantage point of having me in the equation somewhere doing something or recognizing some missed opportunity. And I can tell you, it's not really easy for me to just "believe" something unless I really, truly understand it and buy into it. In other words, I can't "fake" belief in something. I either believe in it, or I don't.

And yet I find myself in a position where believing in IM/LoA would come in real handy right now. It's sort of a lose/lose situation in that I really wish and hope I can find some sort of belief that would make the IM/LoA thing work for me, but I'm also this cynical person when it comes to this because it really just sounds like a load of hokey ******** that people make up to sell books and products.

And therein lies the issue. I understand that for this to be something I believe in, I would first need to find some belief that really makes it make sense to move beyond the cynical aspect of it. And, personally, I think that's the big challenge here. I don't just take things at face value, I don't just believe what someone tells me because they say it, and no matter how much (in the past) I've tried to do that, the underlying, unconscious aspect has always been in place no matter *where* I try to place my faith.

In other words: I'm someone who WANTS to believe (and not just in IM/LoA), but I won't be able to convince myself by using "affirmation" style of convincing (i.e. playing along with it or telling myself that it's true). I can feel when I'm bullshitting myself, and I've tried many times when it comes to matters of faith to convince myself that it's true or "force" it to be true, but a part of me is ALWAYS aware that I'm not really having faith or believing.

Does that make sense?

Now that I've put that out there in as blunt, honest a form as I can, I'll share the situation.

The situation is this: I'm not sure how I'm going to make the money work for the college program I am in work. Oh, I have enough for the program, I have enough for my dorm, and my food. I essentially have just enough to make that work. It's all the added stuff that I am responsible for that I'm not sure how it's going to work. Stuff like child support. In fact, a large portion of it centers around my kids...being able to come visit them on the days I am scheduled to visit them, having enough for child support, having enough for gas to get back to see them every week.

Plus, there's things like the storage shed I currently have all my stuff in, my cell phone, and car insurance.

Essentially, I have just enough to take care of college expenses and to live if I had absolutely no other responsibilities. But when you add in the other stuff, I'm coming up short. To the tune of around $7000 I think.

And here's the rub. For the first time in my life, I don't have the time or the power to earn that money in the way that I've always done it: through a job.

And, well, the non-conventional ways are also posing a challenge. Like, I don't even have the time to work on a website, or to actually spend doing some of the things I know I could do to earn money. It's like the whole program is sucking up a huge amount of time, and the remaining time I have left is spent with my kids.

And I'm not necessarily complaining or even anxious about it per se. Like, I'm not sitting here freaking out over it. But I am getting to the point where it's *time* to figure out what to do about it, but I still have online classes lingering in limbo to finish and, well, time seems to be against me here.

It's an interesting place to be in, because it's one of those things where if I could just lift my eyes to the sky and say "I need a little help" and trust and have that kind of faith that even as I type this, that help is on the way, it would be great.

But I don't have that faith. I want to have that faith so bad, but I simply don't have it.

So, in terms of a starting place, where would I even begin here? (If there is even a beginning to be had for this.)

(Interesting enough, typing that "I don't have that faith" felt a little strange to me. Strange to see me finally admit it after spending so much time trying to muster it...by telling myself I have it and trying to force it.)

So, what do you think? I'm all ears.

[OptimistPrime]

Hmmm, I've read that if you can't change your beliefs around money to an "I am wealthy" mindset because you just can't believe it no matter how hard you try, then the thing to do is to "act as if" you were wealthy. In other words, give abundantly to other people as if you had plenty of money to spare. Action is a form of manifesting, too, and we can always change our actions even when we can't change our thoughts/beliefs.

Not sure if that helps, but it's what your situation brought to my mind.

[Sbonn]

May I suggest trying NAPs method, it works while you sleep.

Reposting the info here for you should you want to check into it.. Seeing as how you are a web developer and I am assuming programmer.. you might appreciate the way of seeing this as removing or modifying or adding in new code to your sub conscious.

NAPs = Night Audio Programming

A process based off Terry Mahaney's Supersleep method. Essentially it's a subliminal process used to access the subconscious mind during sleep to make it easier to implant new positive story or affirmations.

you can find more information here Merlin's World Forum

Here is the ebook link for downloading NAPs and the Science of Manifestation E-book

[Merr]

What Optimist Prime has said and Slick's threads about the importance of 'feelings' come to mind here. He pointed out that you could say 'I'm happy' about one hundred times and it wouldn't mean much if you say it to yourself without feeling genuinely happy. If you work on your feelings deep inside and put your imagination to work, it helps a great deal.

Despite that, what you have said about faith resonates a great deal with me. I find it difficult to have faith in things unless there is proof. Even though I have seen some good results of my own with LOA, I haven't seen many of the 'big' things coming through and I rationalise in my head and come up with alternative reasons why things happened sometimes. In my case though, I think my main stumbling block is letting go rather than a complete lack of faith as I am gradually getting there with it.

[lycan]

The solution is pretty simple. Debt. Do you have a credit card? The interest on $7000 is nothing to seriously worry about.

[LisaDreams]

From another thread:

Originally Posted by James81

And I even know that it comes from a childhood of strict parents who took away lots of choices with a "because I said so" kind of attitude about it.

You might say I have a HUGE GIGANTIC problem with authority in any form. LOL.

Definitely a bunch of "It's not fair" in there for sure. LOL.

That's not choice. That's the ILLUSION of choice.

It's that idea of illusions. The illusions I put on that weren't "me" because the original "me" was boring.

From this thread:

Originally Posted by James81

In other words: I'm someone who WANTS to believe (and not just in IM/LoA), but I won't be able to convince myself by using "affirmation" style of convincing (i.e. playing along with it or telling myself that it's true). I can feel when I'm bullshitting myself, and I've tried many times when it comes to matters of faith to convince myself that it's true or "force" it to be true, but a part of me is ALWAYS aware that I'm not really having faith or believing.

Does that make sense?

Yes it does. I love how self aware you are with this issue and how you can joke about this. I would like to offer one more reply to you about choice, because it feels like it applies to both threads. I understand that when choices are so unappealing they can seem like they are not really choices at all, but I do believe there is value in seeing them as choices. Per the other thread, not only are you choosing not to break a law and possibly incur the consequence, you can choose how you see the law. You can choose whether or not to agree with it, or whether or not to feel oppressed by it. Seeing all of your actions and beliefs as choices versus being the victim of authority can bring you to a place where you are willing to surrender a belief about anything, to be willing to see things differently.

You posted here about wanting to believe in something that you are struggling to believe in. Wanting to believe something is huge. These two threads feel tied together to me, because it feels like you are pushing up against a significant change in your belief system i.e., like you are coming close to a place of seeing all of your beliefs as a function of choice. It feels to me like you are on the edge of finding the place within yourself that is truly willing to see things differently. It's a place where your mind gives up judging your beliefs as right or wrong, where you feel neither the need to conform or buck authority, where your mind is really free and open to being willing to have a complete shift in perception.

The willingness to see things differently can feel like a form of surrender and it feels like you are right there on the edge of it.

I believe that when you really are willing to do this, the world opens up for you. In this case, money comes from where you least expect it. Whether it is money that flows to you without effort, or you get some very lucrative work that easily fits into your schedule, maybe something you thought you would have to pay for is no longer your responsibility, maybe you borrow the money in a way that feels okay for you ... The form doesn't matter. The willingness to believe that there is another way to look at your situation and to challenge all your limiting beliefs is the issue. I feel that if you can let go of believing you don't have enough time or energy or resources etc., you will get what you need. Let your mind go to a place where there are no limits.

Originally Posted by James81

For the first time in my life, I don't have the time or the power to earn that money in the way that I've always done it: through a job.

Maybe there is some kind of work that you cannot imagine that would fit beautifully into your life and give you what you need.

I'd like to share an example from my life that popped into my head just now that may help me make this point. I was in an exercise rut. I wasn't moving much and felt like I needed to not only exercise, but get some help with it. I had this thought that a trainer would be great, but it didn't seem like that would work. I know that when things aren't working in my life, then it's time to examine my beliefs and I saw that I thought I could never work it in time wise and that it would be way too expensive, and that I would have to make a big commitment and if I wasn't able to make the appointments I would lose so much money. I got really clear on my priorities and decided that the core intention was to exercise as self care. It mattered more than anything else. I was willing to drive out of my way and financially commit to this. I was willing to believe that there was a way to do this. The result? That day I found an incredible place to work out, sponsored by a local hospital's sports medicine program. It was less than a mile from my home, the sessions cost less than a third of what a typical trainer would cost, the trainers were exceptionally qualified, they had evening appointments and the scheduling/cancellation policy was super flexible. It was better than I could have imagined.

It's okay to not know how things will work out. Usually there is something even better than you currently imagine available to you. Your part is in letting go of the beliefs that block the flow. For every limiting belief you identify, choose to be willing to see it differently. I truly believe that if you can surrender the belief that you don't have the time or the power to earn money, if you can find that place in your mind where you feel resistant to believing this could all just work out, and where you no longer have preconceived ideas about what the solution has to be like, then you can allow what you need to come to you.

Lisa

[Circle]

Here you go James - http://www.merlinworld.com/TSOM/The_...ifestation.pdf . Just read this little book ( just twenty pages) and Belief will never be your problem again. No need to worry about anything. Read the book.

[Circle]

OH!!! I posted the same book someone else had already posted. What a coincidence!! After posting the link I was reading through the replies when I saw Sbonn had already suggested that

[Criseyde]

Hi James, I would actually recommend reading Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks. Putting their methods into practice won't require you to change your beliefs about anything, or do visualizations or affirmations or anything that feels like BSing yourself. It's all about getting to a good feeling place, so it has tons of value even if you don't believe in straight up "Law of Attraction." Just work on feeling good, and focusing on what you want, and the path will light up -- even if it's a path that includes action.

[James81]

First of all, Lisa, I wanted to say a big thanks for your post and how insightful it was. You connected this to an issue that probably does have a serious connection that I wasn't seeing. Great post...

Originally Posted by LisaDreams

From another thread:


From this thread:


Yes it does. I love how self aware you are with this issue and how you can joke about this. I would like to offer one more reply to you about choice, because it feels like it applies to both threads. I understand that when choices are so unappealing they can seem like they are not really choices at all, but I do believe there is value in seeing them as choices. Per the other thread, not only are you choosing not to break a law and possibly incur the consequence, you can choose how you see the law. You can choose whether or not to agree with it, or whether or not to feel oppressed by it. Seeing all of your actions and beliefs as choices versus being the victim of authority can bring you to a place where you are willing to surrender a belief about anything, to be willing to see things differently.

You posted here about wanting to believe in something that you are struggling to believe in. Wanting to believe something is huge. These two threads feel tied together to me, because it feels like you are pushing up against a significant change in your belief system i.e., like you are coming close to a place of seeing all of your beliefs as a function of choice. It feels to me like you are on the edge of finding the place within yourself that is truly willing to see things differently. It's a place where your mind gives up judging your beliefs as right or wrong, where you feel neither the need to conform or buck authority, where your mind is really free and open to being willing to have a complete shift in perception.

The willingness to see things differently can feel like a form of surrender and it feels like you are right there on the edge of it.

I believe that when you really are willing to do this, the world opens up for you. In this case, money comes from where you least expect it. Whether it is money that flows to you without effort, or you get some very lucrative work that easily fits into your schedule, maybe something you thought you would have to pay for is no longer your responsibility, maybe you borrow the money in a way that feels okay for you ... The form doesn't matter. The willingness to believe that there is another way to look at your situation and to challenge all your limiting beliefs is the issue. I feel that if you can let go of believing you don't have enough time or energy or resources etc., you will get what you need. Let your mind go to a place where there are no limits.

I think that's the issue I'm having with choice. And your post is helping me see that the real issue isn't with a lack of choice, but the presence of LIMITED CHOICE. Now, when it comes to life, I understand that it may be impossible to have completely unlimited choice. Things happen we could never predict or expect, and I am ok with working with the randomness that life itself throws at me.

It's when you start adding in HUMAN IMPOSED lack of choice is where it starts to bother me. The example being, from my other thread, making a campus smokefree when I see little logical reason for that to happen (aside from them wanting to create an image). Like, when my choice doesn't impose on someone else's choice or freedom, then I don't see why other people would make rules/laws to impose on MY choice in those situations. And, sure, I still have choices in those situations...but it's not as much choice as I feel I *should* have.

I think, essentially, what I'm saying is that I am willing to be courteous and really aware of other people's needs when it comes to what I do, but when I see that what I am doing isn't effecting anybody but MYSELF, then it angers me when someone takes away my choice to effect myself in that way. Does that make more sense? Sure, I understand I have the choice in different ways to perceive it, but when it's a rule or law it makes it so that I HAVE to choose in a certain way, and not with how I would ultimately choose if given total freedom to choose.

See what I mean?

And typing it out like that, I can definitely see how these two issues are interconnected in a way.

Originally Posted by LisaDreams

Maybe there is some kind of work that you cannot imagine that would fit beautifully into your life and give you what you need.

I'd like to share an example from my life that popped into my head just now that may help me make this point. I was in an exercise rut. I wasn't moving much and felt like I needed to not only exercise, but get some help with it. I had this thought that a trainer would be great, but it didn't seem like that would work. I know that when things aren't working in my life, then it's time to examine my beliefs and I saw that I thought I could never work it in time wise and that it would be way too expensive, and that I would have to make a big commitment and if I wasn't able to make the appointments I would lose so much money. I got really clear on my priorities and decided that the core intention was to exercise as self care. It mattered more than anything else. I was willing to drive out of my way and financially commit to this. I was willing to believe that there was a way to do this. The result? That day I found an incredible place to work out, sponsored by a local hospital's sports medicine program. It was less than a mile from my home, the sessions cost less than a third of what a typical trainer would cost, the trainers were exceptionally qualified, they had evening appointments and the scheduling/cancellation policy was super flexible. It was better than I could have imagined.

It's okay to not know how things will work out. Usually there is something even better than you currently imagine available to you. Your part is in letting go of the beliefs that block the flow. For every limiting belief you identify, choose to be willing to see it differently. I truly believe that if you can surrender the belief that you don't have the time or the power to earn money, if you can find that place in your mind where you feel resistant to believing this could all just work out, and where you no longer have preconceived ideas about what the solution has to be like, then you can allow what you need to come to you.

Lisa

This part was truly awesome. And the crux of what I touched on in my first post. Finding ways to surrender the belief that I need to earn the money in a certain way.

Or, in fact, that I need to earn it at all. Something I've been noticing is that both my parents seem to work their entire lives away. I watch them do projects around the house, watch them as they are struggling with their finances right now, and I keep thinking...you're old and you don't have much time left, why are you not out seeing the world or experiencing fun and enriching things rather than hang around the house and continue to fund and build projects here at the house that you are just going to leave to US someday?

Not that I particularly begrudge what would one day be my inheritance, but I honestly would rather see my parents live their lives to the fullest than to worry about some of these things that will have no consequence on them when they are gone.

[James81]

Synchronistic thing just cropped up on facebook:

Holstee Manifesto Poster by Holstee | HOLSTEE

I mean, that doesn't make this issue go away, but it certainly feels like exactly what I need to hear.

Oddly enough, given my skepticism, I do believe heavily in synchronicity.

[LisaDreams]

James, I'm glad something resonated with you!! I'm really enjoying this discussion too. Thanks for starting it and for your kind words to me.

I can relate to your feelings and your differentiation between the types of limited choice you described. This makes perfect sense to me: "it angers me when someone takes away my choice to effect myself in that way." Been there, felt that. When I find myself feeling similarly I need to do three things at the same time:

- Identify what (if anything) I can do to impact/change the circumstances and figure out if it is important enough to me to take some action.
- Challenge my beliefs to allow for the possibility that I can still get what I want even with these circumstances i.e., if I cannot change something (or until I can) I have to get myself into the where I accept it like the weather.
- Clearly know that I am choosing how I react.

The anger can be useful to me if it inspires me to action that I believe is meaningful, or if it triggers an insight, etc. Beyond that the anger feels like a drain of my energy. I feel that it is unproductive for me to feed or act out of anger. It doesn’t work for me. Anger can be illuminating and make me realize something, but it’s always better for me if I can release the anger once I've gotten the information from it. I feel more powerful when I do. If I feed it in any way it builds resentment and it has never brought me to a good result. So, when I feel fired up about a societal injustice, stupid laws etc., I give some thought as to how important it is to me and try to figure out if I believe there is value in putting any energy into change. Sometimes I feel there is value and sometimes I do not. If I do, I take some action and channel the anger energy into productivity. If I don't, then the realization that it is not something I am drawn to pursuing is the genesis for letting go. This is my way of moving past the temptation of getting stuck on whether or not life is fair, I don't have a choice, etc. In the meantime (while the law is in effect etc.) I look at it as I would the rain or any other force of nature. I focus on the choices I have regarding how I can react and what I can do and move forward.

I think it's an important point to make, because I think the thoughts and feelings we hold on to, that we feed energy to, shape our experiences.

Originally Posted by James81

I think, essentially, what I'm saying is that I am willing to be courteous and really aware of other people's needs when it comes to what I do, but when I see that what I am doing isn't effecting anybody but MYSELF, then it angers me when someone takes away my choice to effect myself in that way. Does that make more sense? Sure, I understand I have the choice in different ways to perceive it, but when it's a rule or law it makes it so that I HAVE to choose in a certain way, and not with how I would ultimately choose if given total freedom to choose.

For me, the undercurrent of holding to this view would be that it is supporting a belief that life is unfair and I am limited. This would feed (for me) beliefs about deprivation and that I am a victim of the choices of others, that my happiness is limited because I cannot have the total freedom I am due. By changing the way I look at it: advocating for change if I believe there's value, accepting the current state and being open to achieving my desire in another way, I feel powerful again and the flow returns to me. I may not get to where I wanted in the way I thought, but I get there.

Originally Posted by James81

Finding ways to surrender the belief that I need to earn the money in a certain way.

So getting back to your OP and the desire to change how you think, but without hokey bs. LOL!!! Consider shifting your thoughts and trying to replace ones that may not be working for you with ones that may serve you better. For example, you seem like someone that wants to be financially responsible and to make your kids a priority. When you are reviewing your finances and your mind goes to thoughts about how you're not sure you will have enough etc., instead of feeding the thought that you don't have enough, consider holding a thought like "I'm glad I am realistic about my finances and aware of how I spend my money. It's good that I am looking ahead and preparing myself for possible expenses. It's important to me to be financially responsible." Try to shift your thoughts away from what you don't have, and just see the numbers as information. Review them enough to know the truth about your finances, but don't dwell on them. When your mind goes to wishing you had the faith to believe it will work out, and another part of you thinks it's lame or irresponsible to just think your way to money, shift your thought to something like this: "Right now I'm concerned I may need more money and I'm willing to see this differently. Maybe I don't need as much as I've estimated. Maybe there is a way I can easily receive more money that I haven't imagined. Maybe there is some work available that will give me the cash I need and not conflict with my studies or time with my kids. I am willing to see this differently. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to complete my education, parent my children and be financially responsible. I'm open to whatever it takes to move me along this path."

Releasing anger about something others have done, releasing limiting beliefs about getting what you want, are both at their core about being willing to see things differently i.e., choosing to see things differently. I believe it comes down to that. In both cases, you have to give up the attachment to the thoughts about what isn't fair, or what you can't do. You have to focus on deeper goals like being personally fulfilled and not things like I want to be able to smoke in my room if I feel like it, not have to wake up before 10:00am, etc. Living a joyful life, feeling good about your relationship with your kids, completing your education ... these things can happen many different ways. If you focus more on wanting these things and challenging any beliefs that do not move in that direction, then I think you will find what you need to have them.

Originally Posted by James81

I can't "fake" belief in something. I either believe in it, or I don't.

I believe this is true for all of us, though not everyone has this awareness. The willingness has to come first. Being willing to see things differently will bring opportunities you have not imagined. The more you are willing to change how you think, the easier it gets and the faster new opportunities, information, and resources come to you. You will build a belief in the power to change your life by changing your beliefs by actually experiencing it. When you are willing to see things differently, you do. When you do, life changes.

Originally Posted by James81

Not that I particularly begrudge what would one day be my inheritance, but I honestly would rather see my parents live their lives to the fullest than to worry about some of these things that will have no consequence on them when they are gone.

I love this.

Thank you so much for this dialogue. I have enjoyed it very much!!

Lisa

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by James81

Stuff like child support. In fact, a large portion of it centers around my kids...being able to come visit them on the days I am scheduled to visit them, having enough for child support, having enough for gas to get back to see them every week.

Awww, a good daddy.

Ok, I'll help you.

But I don't have that faith. I want to have that faith so bad, but I simply don't have it.

So, in terms of a starting place, where would I even begin here? (If there is even a beginning to be had for this.)

It's easy.

The antidote to the thought "This LOA stuff is all hocus-pocus, more of ALG's nonsense" is the very logical thought: "There is nothing to lose, except 15 minutes of my time, when I do this."

So as you prepare to manifest for money, every time you have a doubt, you will simply tell yourself firmly in your mind: "There is no harm in trying this for 15 minutes."

If you are extremely disciplined and logical with utilising this thought - "there is no harm in trying this for 15 minutes" - you can suspend your disbelief and doubt long enough to dig deep into your own head, plant the money seeds, and get out.

That is all you need to do. The money seeds will sprout on their own and magically bring you money.

[James81]

Thanks Lisa for another insightful post. I may reread it and add comments later.

(And thanks for your response too, ALG.)

I actually wanted to share a cool insight that I noticed (and while I was noticing it, I thought of this thread). Again, it doesn't necessarily solve the problem, but it's an insight nonetheless and an insight that has been guiding my thinking ever since I noticed it.

Anyway, my brother and his family was up the house tonight. And while we were there, there are some deer that are getting to be rather tame because the kids keep trying to feed them when they come along. But, until tonight, they hadn't come right up to the kids. They'd get really close, but they were really skittish.

Anyway, the kids would hold out their hand and, as long as the deer was coming toward them, they would stand still. But when the deer would stop...and baulk a bit...the kids would try to move towards them and they would run several feet and stop. Then, my nephew would have to start the whole "luring" process over again...throwing out a piece of food and making a little trail to draw her in closer.

They repeated this process many times. And we kept yelling from the porch "Just stand still! Don't try to go to it, let it come to you!" (You see where I"m going with this now, no? )

And, sure enough, when my nephew finally realized that the deer would come to him, he learned to stand still. Couldn't convince my niece of that and, because of that, the deer only ate out of her hand like once. But my nephew was able, after a while, to walk right up to it and feed it right from his hand. It was truly awesome to watch.

And, while I was sitting there, I suddenly realized that I was just like the kids. I tend to let opportunities get really close, but instead of waiting for them to come up to me, I start also moving toward them and kinda chase them away. I realized that the futility is in the chase, but the "gravity" is in knowing patience, in creating a stillness from within, a peaceful calm that opportunities are attracted to.

And for most of the evening I've been calming my mind. Remembering the deer and how if you chase them, they will run away...but if you stand and hold your hand out (with food in it), they will come right up to you and eat out of your hand.

(Later, I told my nephew to watch....that the same thing was true for people...and I hold out my fist for a fist bump and just sat there and waited and, sure enough, my niece eventually saw it and walked up and gave me a fist bump. Then, I told him to watch again...and I got up and started moving to my niece with my fist for a fist bump and she turned and ran away. LOL. He laughed, but I just looked at him and said "See?" Maybe I was able to teach him a cool little lesson that he can carry with him. I know I learned one. )

[msmanifest]

Originally Posted by James81

Thanks Lisa for another insightful post. I may reread it and add comments later.

(And thanks for your response too, ALG.)

I actually wanted to share a cool insight that I noticed (and while I was noticing it, I thought of this thread). Again, it doesn't necessarily solve the problem, but it's an insight nonetheless and an insight that has been guiding my thinking ever since I noticed it.

Anyway, my brother and his family was up the house tonight. And while we were there, there are some deer that are getting to be rather tame because the kids keep trying to feed them when they come along. But, until tonight, they hadn't come right up to the kids. They'd get really close, but they were really skittish.

Anyway, the kids would hold out their hand and, as long as the deer was coming toward them, they would stand still. But when the deer would stop...and baulk a bit...the kids would try to move towards them and they would run several feet and stop. Then, my nephew would have to start the whole "luring" process over again...throwing out a piece of food and making a little trail to draw her in closer.

They repeated this process many times. And we kept yelling from the porch "Just stand still! Don't try to go to it, let it come to you!" (You see where I"m going with this now, no? )

And, sure enough, when my nephew finally realized that the deer would come to him, he learned to stand still. Couldn't convince my niece of that and, because of that, the deer only ate out of her hand like once. But my nephew was able, after a while, to walk right up to it and feed it right from his hand. It was truly awesome to watch.

And, while I was sitting there, I suddenly realized that I was just like the kids. I tend to let opportunities get really close, but instead of waiting for them to come up to me, I start also moving toward them and kinda chase them away. I realized that the futility is in the chase, but the "gravity" is in knowing patience, in creating a stillness from within, a peaceful calm that opportunities are attracted to.

And for most of the evening I've been calming my mind. Remembering the deer and how if you chase them, they will run away...but if you stand and hold your hand out (with food in it), they will come right up to you and eat out of your hand.

(Later, I told my nephew to watch....that the same thing was true for people...and I hold out my fist for a fist bump and just sat there and waited and, sure enough, my niece eventually saw it and walked up and gave me a fist bump. Then, I told him to watch again...and I got up and started moving to my niece with my fist for a fist bump and she turned and ran away. LOL. He laughed, but I just looked at him and said "See?" Maybe I was able to teach him a cool little lesson that he can carry with him. I know I learned one. )

That was really cool.

[LisaDreams]

Originally Posted by James81

And, while I was sitting there, I suddenly realized that I was just like the kids. I tend to let opportunities get really close, but instead of waiting for them to come up to me, I start also moving toward them and kinda chase them away. I realized that the futility is in the chase, but the "gravity" is in knowing patience, in creating a stillness from within, a peaceful calm that opportunities are attracted to.

I love this so much!!!!

Originally Posted by James81

Thanks Lisa for another insightful post. I may reread it and add comments later.

I think you already did.

Lisa

[Bongza]

I have learnt a lot from this discussion. thank you very much!