Try This to Succeed

Have you ever decided you were going to change a bad habit, or deal with someone's negative energy, and you get a tremendous surge of strength and power.  You feel this time you are going to succeed.But, before long you find yourself back in the same rut?  

You may have stopped the behavior temporarily, or you go to a minister, a healer, or do whatever you need to do, and whatever form of treatment works for a while, but before long, you are back at the beginning. 

This is because somewhere deep inside, you have a thought, or a belief that keeps you  from achieving your goals.

When you take out these old beliefs, this leaves a void.  Nature abhors a vacuum.  It will fill it up with something.  So this is where many people slip back into old behaviors and situations that keep them stuck.  The old beliefs come back. 

So What Do You Do?

You fill up that void with a thought, an affirmation, a prayer, a mantra, a chant, a prayer or meditation to nullify the old thoughts that keep coming back until your thoughts change.

We know, we know.  In each weekly message, we keep emphasizing meditation, however, it is a practice, and it may not work for you.  There is no sense beating yourself up if you can't do it.  Many people can't.  There are other ways to find your center.  Prayer, mantras, and affirmations are other ways.

If you have a person, a situation bringing you down, instead of resisting, which does not work, it only makes the negative energy stronger, find a one or two line scripture, or affirmation that you can use to nullify the old thoughts.

For example:  You may be lonely.  However, you have decided to change your attitude.  You get out of the house and go where you can  meet people. But,those old thoughts come back to haunt you.  "I won't meet anyone."  "It's too hard to meet someone."  "Men  (or women) are no good." "I'm too old to meet someone."  "I'm too young." "I'm too fat." "I'm too skinny."

This is when you use a counter affirmation, scripture, or mantra to nullify the old thoughts.  And, you keep saying it over, and over.   How many times?  A thousand times or more until you believe it.  Too many times you say?  OK, then go back to your old way of thinking and suffering.  Keep thinking you are lonely a thousand times.  This will get you no where.

If you say affirmations, scriptures, etc. over and over.  How will you know you are believing positively?  You will know, because people will come into your life, and you will look around and have a new friend or friends.

Here are some affirmations to use:

"I am breaking through the illusion of loneliness."
"Someone out there is looking for me."
"The perfect friends are coming into my life right now."

"I am now attracting the perfect person who will love me." 

There is an old adage, if you want friends, you have to be a good friend.  Start helping others, and also volunteer. 

God wants me to have a rich, full and happy life of love.

By doing this you become a Spiritual Warrior, or as Spiritual Gangsta!    You are refusing to be a victim.  

This is a key point.  You are not trying to trick your mind.  You are not trying to make something happen.  You are not trying to hypnotize yourself.  You are simply stating the truth.  

You were not put on earth to be broke, lonely, or unhealthy.  You were placed on earth to live a rich, full and abundant life.  

Affirmations, scriptures, and mantras reaffirm your Divine Right for these gifts.  Your thoughts have kept you from these gifts.  Choose to claim them.

Here is a wonderful affirmation that you can use for any challenge, by Catherine Ponder in her book, "The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity."  All of her books are wonderful

"No.  I do not have to accept this situation.  God in His (or Her) almighty goodness is dissolving and removing all negation from my world.  No situation dismays me, for God the Spirit of Good is with me, upholding and sustaining me and making all things right."

Here is Janet's Podcast  with Christine Martin on using scriptures  "Pray What God Says."

You Can Overcome Any Change or Setback

Inside of you is a power house to help you deal with any change or setback in your life. You have already been given an infinite supply of love, health (ability to heal), instincts, mind, and prosperity just waiting for you to tap into.

Have you given your power away saying and thinking, "I am sick," "I am broke," "I am fat," I am lonely," "I am too young," "I don't look good," or "I am old"?

If you are, you are looking away from your true power and gifts. Nothing will change in your life until you recognize that inside of you is all that you need to handle any challenges that you may face.

I am half way through a rigorous docent class at the Los Angeles Zoo, and it is clearer than ever that we all have inside of us the tools to overcome difficulties. The class is one of the most intensive,rewarding programs on many levels. But, extremely difficult since it is science based, and credits for UCLA. I can't believe I got a B- on the midterm. Better than I thought.

At first look at the zoo, it may seem cruel that the animals are captive. However, the zoo is primarily a research and conservation program to save wild life and to preserve their habitants from their biggest enemy. Man.

Our study is on the habits of the wild, and how they have adapted to environments.

As we study these animals, it is incredible to see their built in survival mechanisms and skills. The amazing thing is how they have adapted to changes in the wild over hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of years.

You Are No Different

I have learned that no matter what species we are, we have been given everything inside of us to not only survive but thrive. Humans of course, are of the highest order. 


It doesn't matter if it is a reptile, primate, bird, inspect, or amphibian, every species has been given the tools to find a mate, the ability to heal, instincts to find and capture food, and build or find shelter.

We too have been given those gifts. And, despite any setback or change,we cannot only adapt to any situation, but overcome and thrive with the right attitude. Nature meant for us too to have the perfect mate, abundancy, shelter, and perfect health.

Whether you call it nature, God, Infinite Wisdom, Higher Self, Infinite Intelligence, or Divine Mind, It doesn't matter. That magnificent force inside of you has already provided you with these gifts, but it has also given you a thinking mind on the highest order of any other species on the planet.

The problem is, we allow our minds to be filled with thoughts that are counter productive. We look away from our gifts, instead of thanking our Higher Selves for what we have already been given, and use those gifts wisely and with faith.

Animals don't have that complicated thinking process. They just know what they have, and go after what they want.

The Tiger, my favorite animal, doesn't think "I will never get food again." Even though Tigers only successfully hunt 10 percent of the prey they go after, they keep trying until they succeed. If you look at that magnificent animal, you will notice that the natural beauty is their breath-taking radiant stripes. However, those marking are meant to blend into the environment to help them to hunt.

And so instead of thinking about what you don't have, think about and give thanks for your gifts. Since you are obviously reading this, a magnificent gift you have already been given is your eye sight they you may be taking for granted. It doesn't matter if you don't have 20/20 vision, you can still see, where many can't/ When was the last time that you gave thanks for your eyes?

When you give thanks for what you do have, you attract what you want in your life. Why? Because you will be on a higher vibration. You can't attract wealth thinking about lack. You can't attract health immersed 24/7 thinking of your health challenges.

I once met Norman Cousins, author of "Anatomy of an Illness" when I publicized his TV movie of the same title. The book is a classic on restoring health. Norman said what helped heal him from cancer was when he had comedy movies delivered to his hospital room. He stopped thinking of being sick and filled his heart and mind with laughter. His healing quickly followed.

I also volunteer for a continuing education program to help high-risk pregnant teens, and teen moms learn how to write. "Write Girl."

When I first met these girls, my first impression was, "These girls are too young to have babies." However, as they talked to me about their plans, and how they have adapted to their new way of life. I see how they have accepted the change in life, and they are now focused on providing a better life, by continuing their education and working. These girls are not sad, but instead are focused on using what gifts they have been given. They proudly show me pictures of their babies, and tell me of their dreams and plans to not only survive, but thrive. Do they wish that they didn't get pregnant? I'm sure some do, but the ones that I work with inspire me because they are not looking at their past. They are focused on the here and now, and their dreams.

And so in all forms of life, from the reptiles, insects, primates, and the teen moms, we have all been given gifts to not only adapt to changes and setbacks in our lives. We can use them to become better.

The key is not to dwell in the past. Learn from it. Live in the present moment. Despite your circumstances, you can be like the Phoenix bird and rise from the ashes.

Light and Love,
Janet
see the video below

That Doesn't Apply to Me

Have you ever been with someone, and you both see a sad situation, and the person you are with says the famous phrase, "There but for the grace of God goes I"? Or, maybe you have said that yourself when you see someone suffering.  

Whether you have said it, or someone you were with did, it, doesn't matter.  The fact is that phrase is fear-based.  

And, if there is fear present, you may find yourself worried about money, your job,  or walking faster past a homeless or a disabled person fearing you could "catch" what they have. 

Whether you believe in a Higher power or not, if you fear something, you attract it to you.    This is the law of attraction. 

Where did that phrase come from?  Not the Bible as some might expect.  It is widely attributed to John Bradford (1510-1555), an English evangelical preacher.  The word is, Bradford was imprisoned for  allegedly "trying to stir up a mob."  When he saw criminals, fellow inmates being led to the scaffold for punishment for their crimes, he uttered the phrase, "There but for the grace of God goes I." 

In 1955, Bradford  was not beheaded, but instead was burned at the stake alive.

Still want to use his phrase?  

How to Deal with Other's Misfortune.

So, how do you deal with the bad news you hear through others or the media?  Send them love and your good wishes.  Love is the greatest power in the universe, and since we are all connected, like prayers the energy of love connects to  them.  

Don't forget yourself either.    There is a small child inside of each of us who needs comforting, and assurance  when we hear negative news.  Tell yourself it's OK, and send yourself love. It also helps to practice feeling Divine Love surrounding and protecting you always.

Mindfulness

Tune into your feelings and thoughts.  Are you fearing that the misfortune you heard  could happen to you?  Awareness (Mindfulness) of thoughts and emotions helps distance you from them.  But, when they are unchecked these same thoughts and emotions, drive you to do and say destructive things.  Mainly, you beat up yourself or overindulge in drink, shopping and other habits.

Now you have prolonged the fear which became stronger, and you have the residual of substance abuse, or a huge credit card bill to deal with.  The underline fear is still there waiting to be handled.

So mindfully tune into your feelings, and thoughts.  Your awareness is the laser that dissolves and moves away fear.  Just by being aware that you are afraid, lessens the hold.

Use Positive Affirmations, or Scriptures.

You can also use a positive self-help phrase, other than Bradford's fear-based phrase, and most importantly, give yourself love.

When you hear of other's misfortunes, you don't really know exactly what happened in their lives to cause the situation, or what is truthfully going on behind their  problems.   

There have been many media interviews people who have lost jobs.  You may think, "That could happen to me too," and live in fear.  But, what you don't know is that person interviewed may have hated the job they lost.  They later went on, like many people do, to find a better job, or start a business making more money than they dreamed, not to mention being happier. 

So when you see a misfortune, drop your fears and try using this phrase: 

 "That Doesn't Apply to Me."

(Please Leave a Comment)

Why Is This Happening?

Recently I connected with a lovely lady I will call Beth, who is  co-chair, heading a project to save the beautiful land around Deer Park  from being developed.  Deer Park is a monastery at the top of a mountain near San Diego which was founded by Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Buddhist Master, Mindfulness Teacher and Peace Activist. 

Our family travels to Deer Park for meditation and retreats, like the thousands who come every year from around the world. 

Last weekend Walter and I went there, and I was reminded of the mission I have joined to help Beth and others preserve the land of refuge for so many people. 

Through a recent email from Beth, she shared with me that U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords who was shot in Arizona, is her personal friend. I could feel her sadness in her email.  

When awful things happen, it's only natural to wonder why?  Our minds search for answers, and when answers don't come that satisfy us, often we turn to  anger and want to blame any and every person. No doubt, you have heard the blame slung around by the Republicans and Democrats sounding off and pointing the fingers over the shooting. 

These types of tragic events lead us to imagine and construct a whole story in our heads of why this has happened.  We all go through our personal tragedies that send our minds spinning with fear. 

Ruminating on "why" is a dangerous, slippery slope which adds kindle to the fire.  First of all, we often don't know right away why something tragic has happened.  Secondly, when we don't have the truth, we imagine stories in our heads which are often far worse than the reality. We obsess about the situation to the point we become furious or very sad.  

Sadness is anger turned inward, because we can't do something about a situation. 

When we ruminate over a "wrong" we help collect more of the same type of negative energy.  Instead we must lift ourselves out of the cesspool of anger and blame, to be the light for ourselves and others.

For example, recently in the news, a family lost their home just before Xmas, but they turned the incident around to see how they could help others.  So the homeless family  when interviewed, said they didn't spend time asking, "Why?" or "Why Me?"  Instead they served  Xmas dinner to help other homeless people at a shelter. 

How do we find peace over these unspeakable tragic acts?

Mindfulness.

Nothing has ever been resolved by anger or sadness.  We must go inside and just be with our feelings.  We must become the parent to those feelings, by first acknowledging that the hurt is there, then comfort those feelings.  Thich Nhat Hanh says to "love them."  Love your feelings the same way a parent would love a child who is crying.

Inside of us is a small child crying and hurt.  It's important that we nurture that child.   

When we send our feelings love, we are turning away from our limited mind.    The mind doesn't know.  Many of us are stuck asking it,  "Why?" or "Why Me?"  

Our webmaster  Randy, who has had four heart attacks, counsels other heart attack patients.  He says "I can't stand it when people feel sorry for themselves and keep asking, 'Why Me?'  I say, Why not you?  Instead, find the strength to just go on."

When we are mindful, and stop torturing the mind, and letting the mind torture us asking 'Why?' , the answers come out of our silence from a deep place of wisdom.  So if you are hurt, afraid and anxious, find immediate comfort and peace over the situation by going inside. Locate in your body where you feel the hurt and fear.   Cradle it with your loving awareness, and watch it dissolve.   

Dropping the stories you concoct in your head and being with your feelings in silence, allows your higher, intuitive self to take over.  You will not only find the answers to any situation, but you will also find the right path to proceed in life with peace and wisdom.

Blessings, love and light to the Arizona victims and their families.  May you find inner peace, healing and love.

Watch this incredibly beautiful video by David Ault:

Make a Commitment to Live in the Present



When we are feeling badly over what we didn't and could have done, we are living in the past. 

People ask, how can I live in the present moment when I'm so busy.  Easy.  Simply ask yourself, "How much is your inner peace worth to you?"

When you are busy and spinning around, that's exactly when you need to focus on whatever task is before you.  Doing one thing and thinking of another causes stress.  Stay focus on the present moment because in that present moment, all is well.  This sets up the law of attraction for the next moment to be OK too.



Attract Only the Good

It's important to focus only on what you want in life. So many of us mindlessly think constantly about what we don't want in life, and that's exactly what we get. More of what we resist, criticize and judge.

Remember, "Where thought goes, energy flows." So refuse to get caught up in the negative, instead focus on what will make you happy.

Feeling you already have your goals is extremely important. Why? It puts you in that high energy state and activates the law of attraction. It's a wonderful place to be. 

A great time to feel yourself living your goals is when you meditate or say prayers. Make it a habit, just like brushing your teeth. 

After spending five, ten or more minutes feeling and visualizing, then let it go. Why? Because you will start clutching and grasping at your goal trying to make it happen. This is what Buddha and other spiritual masters say causes suffering. That grasping and clutching, tells the Universe you don't have what you want. And the universe gives us back what we project out. 

So see it, feel it, let it go, and have faith. Refuse to entertain thoughts of why you can't have your dreams come true. 

Think about this. Everything you see in the room that you are now in as you read this message, was someone's vision, their goal, before it became a product.