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Mind over MatterDeveloping Watchful Awareness

Statement of the Problem – Chapter I

Many of today’s personal growth guru’s and experts in the field of thought,

motivation, metaphysics and the like, present the idea that thoughts become things, what

you think about you bring about. No argument there. The Secret did a great service in

expanding the general publics’ awareness of the power of thought and the universal Law of

Attraction. The Secret has been a significant contributor in the field of personal growth.

Many people have benefited as a result of the teachings. Many others have been discouraged

unbelievers as they tried and it didn’t work or they could not sustain the initial momentum, or

it worked on small things, but not the most sought after. If there were greater exposure and

understanding of the Laws of the Universe and more specifically the Law of Attraction and

the Laws of Thoughts, could a person benefit more consistently from the laws, intentionally

improving the quality of their life in the physical world?

Thought is at the center of the Law of Attraction. The Mind contains all the thoughts

a person thinks and is frequently considered as one and the same with thought. Yet thought is

only one aspect of mind. There is no single answer explaining exactly what the mind is or

how it works that satisfies everyone. The contemporary views of philosophy, psychology,

neuroscience, and cybernetics all come up with different interpretations of mind and

consciousness. (The Big View) The American Heritage Dictionary defines mind as: "The

collective conscious and unconscious processes in a sentient organism that direct and

influence mental and physical behavior."

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The wakeful mind of thought is the known, touchable facet of consciousness. Yet

external actions and self fulfilling results are not sustainable without internal awareness and

connection with Source. Understanding the precision of thought, noticing and paying

attention to them can create changes in experience, action, and interaction, altering what

shows up in a person’s life. Consequently, greater emphasis on the recognition and

management of personal power is needed if the Law is to serve in a substantial and

affirmative manner. (Churchland, 1995)

Ironically, individuals often do not know their own mind. Most thinking is automatic

and frequently unchecked. During waking hours, the separation between mind and

consciousness is not often discernible. The character of consciousness makes the mind both

simple and complex at the same time. Simple in that if a person has awareness, they are in

charge of what they are thinking, feeling, and doing. Complex in that seeming awareness is

often compromised, clouded by an unconscious (subconscious) mind. As a consequence,

what a person fears or doesn’t want often comes into being. Unidentified by the conscious

mind, the subconscious mind becomes responsible for the majority of tribulations,

disappointments, and heartaches. When awareness of self sabotaging thoughts is recognized,

changes in thinking can be made; doubt and resignation can be replaced with certainty,

personal energy expands, conviction turns to action and intentional thinking transports

desires into reality. “As a man thinketh in his heart, so he is.”(Proverbs 23:7)

Watchful awareness, paying attention to clues buried in the subconscious mind,

begins the journey of deliberate self creation, minimizing a life left to chance. Learning how

to recognize inadvertent violation of our life’s purpose is at the heart of becoming all we

were meant to be. Unrecognized, negative internal belief systems are self sabotaging.

Automatic thinking rather than intentional thought can facilitate disappointment, emotional

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pain and reinforce more cyclical negative thinking. The combination of thoughts, feelings,

and actions interprets the life experienced, courtesy of the Universal Law of Attraction,

(Amen, 1998) Thoughts have energy and they take form. “Thoughts are like electrical

currents which, although unseen, can be felt and produce internal effects.” (Knapp, 2002)

Negative thoughts create negative results. Positive thoughts create positive results. The

energy of thought is either stored in physical structures or is transmitted into the universe,

although the energy of thought never dies. Thought is the source for all that human beings

perceive and experience. Thought is the function of the conscious mind. Thoughts, actions,

and feelings are inversely proportional, intimately linked, and intermingled with one another.

The thoughts a person has become the current of energy exchanged within the universe;

thoughts are always in play. (Martin, 2007) Everything that happens in an individual’s life

has a direct connection with the corresponding positive or negative energy transference they

are exchanging with the universe. “Each individual is responsible for the type of energy they

create in their life”. (Knapp, 2002)

Men are disturbed, not by things, but by the view they take of them. (Epictetus) All

too often people’s attitudes are a by-product of their experiences in a world that seems out of

control, and in turn, can make the person feel helpless and out of control. Put together with

outer world perceptions and internal negative dialogs (self-talk), frustration follows and the

person may feel fated to their lot in life. (Doyle, 1997)

Most people relate the cause of how they feel to the events and circumstances in their

lives. People have been taught to believe that feelings and emotions are determined by the

events in their lives. The truth is that emotions and behavior are not dependent on what is

happening. Cognitive theorists suggest the additional factor is thought, or the belief system

which converts to self talk. (Stoop, 1996) The Laws of the Universe, particularly the Law of

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Thought, supports and solidifies this theory. “We can let circumstances rule us or we can

take charge and rule our lives from within.” (www.worldofquotes.com/ Nightingale)

The Universal Laws of Attraction, Thought, and Allowing impact lives whether

people are conscious of them or not. If individuals could learn to make the connection

amongst their thoughts, feelings, and actions and connect them to the outcomes they are

experiencing could their quality of life be improved and changed? Is it possible for people

to re-write the life screenplay they have become conditioned to? When exposed to the Laws

in a relevant way, can the benefits be taken in, sustained and personal expansion continued?

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REVIEW OF LITERATURE – Chapter II

“You can change the course of your future through awareness of what’s inside you

and what you decide to do with inner impulse and treasure” (Ohotto, 2008) On the surface it

often seems that our lives are structured by conscious thought, but the truth is, individuals are

really more influenced by what is missing from their lives. A person’s belief system takes the

form of private speech, thoughts, and the words spoken aloud which result in the actions

taken or not taken. (Stone, 2005)

Consciousness is the sum of all the person is. The mind that lies within the human

experience is the key to consciousness. The human brain is unique. It gives individuals the

power to think, plan, speak, and imagine. The brain is the physical component of

consciousness, with a constant streaming of thoughts and ideas. Mental consciousness

indicates an awareness of something: an image, a sound, an emotion. (www.thismatter.com)

The idea that the brain functions as an intermediary between the mind and the body is

an ancient one. Hippocrates described the brain as “the messenger to consciousness” and as

“the interpreter for consciousness.” (Carter, 2010) The connection between the brain and

consciousness has been artfully described by G. Schulman, "You can think of consciousness

not as a property of the brain, but of the person." (Sciencedaily.com/brain energy use)

Mind and brain are often used interchangeable; but consciousness is much more than

the brain. The 17th century philosopher, Rene Descartes, said “ No matter to what extent

our senses might be deceived there would still remain a something which could be called

"myself" even if it were utterly deceived as to the existence of any one or anything else”.

Present day scientific evidence remains unable to discount this conviction. Despite

neurological details of the brain, knowing about circuits and connections, or the chemical

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metabolism going on inside the brain, neuroscientists, physicists and others are willing to

concede that while the brain is necessary, the brain is not sufficient for consciousness.

(Amen, 1998)

People tend to think of consciousness in terms of “I" or the "self". Individuals view

and interact with the world from a personal perspective. Everything a person knows is

gathered from experience and education. The sum total of all that a person has said, done,

felt, thought, hoped for and believed creates their personality (individuality). Personalities

are formed by life experiences and the individual’s reaction to those experiences. Their

development is the cumulative effect of everything and anything that enters consciousness

and the response to it. Each person is the result of their experiences.

(quantumconsciousness.org/Our Life and Consciousness Connected) “We are what we are

and where we are because of the nature of our accumulated consciousness.” (Holmes, 1926)

The mind begins expanding and recording information at birth. An individual’s

knowledge is linked to their particular understanding of reality. The perceived reality is a

combination of the objective mind using the five senses of hearing, sight, taste, touch, and

smell to make sense of things which then become subjectively integrated into what the

person believes to be true. (Drummond, 1987)

“John Locke described it as being born a 'blank slate'.”Let us then suppose the Mind

to be, as we say, white Paper, void of all characters, without any Ideas; How comes it to be

furnished? ....To this I answer, in one word, from Experience... Our observation employed

either about External sensible objects; or about the Internal Operations of our Minds,

perceived and reflected by ourselves. These two are the Fountains of Knowledge from

whence all the ideas we have, or can naturally have, do spring. (Martin, 2007)

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Human development occurs through what is known as the ego, commonly considered

to be a person's idea of his or her own importance or worth. Ego is involved with controlling,

planning, and conforming to reality, however that reality may be perceived and stored in the

mind. Philosophically, ego is enduring and the conscious element that knows experience.

(Encarta dictionary of North America) A person’s life operates on a continuum of their ego-

based, ‘I’ or ‘self’ consciousness and their spirit-based, Source Consciousness. “The ego

based consciousness is centered and dependant on the ego. The ego, in turn, is centered and

dependent upon the sense of self or body. The spirit-based consciousness is centered and

dependant on the Spirit within, or for non-believers, character or moral fiber. The Spirit, in

turn, is centered and dependent upon the God Source, Higher Self. Simply stated, this

continuum appears to range from subconscious to self-conscious to superconscious.

(www.imprint.co.uk/ The Great Chain of Being and Consciousness)

Consciousness is pure awareness. It is the origin of the individuated human being; it

has no physical origin. The physical mind provides the opportunity for that non-physical

entity (Consciousness) to learn and live in the physical world. Consciousness remains

unchanged no matter what the mind does or does not produce. This is the divide between

Consciousness and the brain or operation of the mind. This separation is essential in

appreciating human existence. “It points directly at pure consciousness as who you are, and

not what the mind functions produce. What your mind functions produce is what

consciousness can see and know. You take that production as who you are, as it can be

witnessed. It is a deception that controls your life without you being aware of that deceit.

This is your shadow-world.” (buzzle.com/ Separation of Mind and Consciousness)

Ego sees itself as separate from God and humanity. When threatened, feeling

powerless, or less than it goes into defensive modes of behavior. The ego represents an

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individual’s personal identity; it is the ‘me’ the individual is conscious of. If the identity

feels attacked, the intensity of fear based response increases in an effort to protect the’ me-

self’. (Martin, 2007). In essence, it Eases God Out (EGO). (Unk)

The state of consciousness is always in flux, reacting or responding to experiences in

its immediate sphere of awareness. The mind is selective as to what it pays attention to. It

uses ego to protect itself and to make itself stand out (Church land, 1995) Ego has a tendency

to see its owner through rose colored glasses. When weighed through the eyes of pure ego,

most people will favor themselves. (Marcum, 2007) A person tends to use ego as a measure

of their own value, believing that happiness depends on outside approval, a belief that sets

the person up for unhappiness as the ego is rarely satisfied for long. (Coleman, 2006)

The subconscious mind operates below the level of awareness imprinting every

experience into the psyche. The subconscious is the ultimate guardian of the self-concept,

the ego. The self concept is intimately connected to emotions. Emotions are an unconscious

idea powered by either a pleasant or unpleasant feeling. Emotions are the result of feelings.

Emotions are experienced outwardly as harmony or discord. (Viscott, 1996) Feelings and

emotions are terms used interchangeably, much as the mind and consciousness are.

The subconscious determines if an emotion is good or bad, and then generates

feelings and actions accordingly. There are essentially three basic feelings: love, anger, and

fear. Each of these has a polar opposite: love/hate, anger/peace, and fear/faith. (Stoop, 2005).

Feelings are transient; they oscillate back and forth between positive and negative. There are

literally hundreds of words used to describe feelings; all can be traced to the movement

occurring inside the self. (Csikszentmihalyi, 1993) Love always moves the person toward

something or someone; it feels good and engenders joy. Fear always drives the person away

from something or someone; it feels dire and tends to block movement. Anger drives the

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person both toward and against from something or someone at the same time; it feels

dominant and attempts to control. (Doyle, 1997)

The felt emotion reflects the thinking being done and the status of alignment or

centeredness within self. The greater the vibrational difference between what a person wants

and their current thinking the more disharmonies they will feel. “You must understand that

you are a Being with two points of perspective that are continually relating to each other...

your emotions indicate the vibrational relationship between the vibration of who you really

have become and who you allowing yourself to be right now because of the thoughts you are

thinking.” (Hicks, 2009, Vortex)

Behavior is the expressed response to the perceived situation or stimulus and the

feeling accompanying it. Behaviors tend to be engrained and trigger automatically based on

past experience and belief system. (suite101.com/ What is Behavior) The subconscious is

spontaneous; it does not think; it receives, retains, and reproduces. It knows every detail of

what is in the conscious mind It creates based on conscious experience, spurred by

emotionally charged stimulus. It is impersonal and is always responsible for automatic

reactions. It is not concerned with truth or falsity; it just reacts, proceeding on assumptions. It

will, however, acquiescent to suggestions. (Martin, 2007) When there is an imbalance

between what is being experienced and what is wanted, emotional discord takes place and

behaviors become self sabotaging. “Everything that you are living is about your physical and

Non-physical points of view and how they interplay with one another… you always know

more clearly what you do want when you are faced with what you do not want... whether you

are consciously aware of it or not, all day, every day you are giving birth to new desires born

from the details of the life you are living…you have the option of aligning with the idea or

resisting it. (Hicks, 2009, Astonishing Power of Emotions)

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The arsenal of behaviors to combat unpleasant, unacceptable, or threatening feelings

is demonstrated in many ways. The ego uses two main tactics to protect itself. One is a

defensive mechanism, intended to keep unpleasant or unacceptable thoughts or feelings out

of conscious awareness. The other is an inhibitory defense, which attempts to hide unpleasant

thoughts or feelings by disavowing or negating reality in some way. (suite101.com/what is

behavior)

The ego can divide the world into black and white, into good people and bad people

and make snap, inaccurate judgments in an effort to feel better. A person may devalue

another by insulting them, labeling them negatively, or dismissing them as unworthy in an

effort to inflate or protect the ego. The ego can redirect its owner when unacceptable

feelings are present, projecting them on to others to avoid taking responsibility for their

perceived failures, shortcomings or actions. Ego can deal with conflict in a cold and

unemotional, intellectual way, ignoring feelings or verbally brutalizing the challenger.

Intellectualizing is the mind’s attempt to replace difficult emotions with rational thinking,

rather than expressing a feeling or feeling it, the person will ‘reason’ with the other person or

even with themselves to avoid the painful emotion. An individual’s ego might identify with

another person or a group, thinking and feeling as they do so the ego can take in their worthy

qualities as part of itself and therefore feel bigger and better. People use defenses to protect

their personal identity. Ego defenses are really barricades, resulting in separating the soul

(body) from its true self. The impact of these ego protective strategies can negatively affect

the person’s sense of well being. Recognizing that the ego’s protective behaviors are a matter

of automatic thinking, and learning to pay attention to any unpleasant results they create, can

be empowering and facilitate intentional choice which allows for a different kind of

thinking. (Marcum, 2007)

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There is an irony about ego. While it can be a liability in reaching for dreams and

feeling peaceful and happy, it can also be a valuable asset. In the right amount ego can be

positive and provide a healthy level of confidence, driving out insecurity, fear and

indifference. A strong, balanced ego is necessary for getting along in this world. A weak,

imbalanced ego that is either over-inflated or under-inflated disconnects the self from its true

source of power. (Crenshaw, 2009) The ego’s power is pervasive and relentless but never

neutral in how it affects presentation of the self. When the intense power of the ego is not

understood and its motivations not questioned it controls rather than supports personal

destiny. (Marcum, 2007)

The unconscious is filled with beliefs about self as a worthy or unworthy, deserving

or undeserving person. Ideas about the self come from experiences and the influence of

others. As years go by, a person judges themselves against some externally imposed

standard or value. Praise and criticism are internalized and stored by the subconscious

creating beliefs and habits. The more the beliefs and habits become engrained, the greater the

strength of the belief system in the unconscious mind. Recurring self-limiting beliefs and

habits become self fulfilling prophecies; faith in self becomes compromised or destroyed and

contraction of self occurs. Ingrained self-expanding beliefs and habits also become self

fulfilling prophecies creating synergy, expansion and harmony. (Ohotto, 2008)

Not many people understand the tremendous power of thought, either for good or for

ill. Interwoven programs become triggered by thought and powered by emotion which

materializes results. (Holmes, 1926) If a person is to learn and grow and become all they are

capable of, they must continually challenge the veracity of the ego in order to allow their

inner authority to align with their soul’s fate and destiny. (Ohotto, 2008)

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The Law of Thought is part of the unrestricted energy force of the universe.

Everything in the universe is comprised of positive and negative energy charges in constant

motion. With the advances in quantum physics, it is now known that everything in our reality

is comprised of energy in motion from the concrete things we can see, to the invisible

thoughts of the subconscious mind. (McArthur, 2007)) “Thoughts are energy and act like

magnets, drawing to them thoughts of similar vibration.” (MacLean, 2004)

The law encompasses creative thought, each thought having three parts: the kind of

thought either constructive or destructive, the direction of the thought either empowering or

disempowering and the intensity of the thought. Every thought is a tiny pulse of energy

which when it leaves the person goes out and is absorbed into the universe. Basically,

positive thought creates higher vibrations than negative thought. (Pratt, 1999)

“You are what you think”. The Law of Thought corresponds in kind to the Law of

Attraction, like attracting like. The Law of Attraction, when combined with intentional

thinking, can become a tool for creating a rich life; a rich life as defined by the individual

creating it. (Marcum, 2007)) The spirit of human beings is also made of energy. To become

conscious of the innate spiritual power, to give a free rein to natural creativity, to evolve,

human beings must look at how they exchange energy with everything around them every

moment of every day. God is an energy force effortlessly reflecting all the life in the

universe. Human beings are a conduit to this energy. Everything we think, say, or do

transmits God’s energy into everyday life. (Pratt, 1999)

Thought, motivation, intent, feelings and emotions create the canvas of

consciousness. But painting consciousness to fit the color of your thoughts does not alter

consciousness. It simply becomes the visible picture you have created. Consciousness never

interferes or objects to the color your unfettered free will chooses to paint it with. This is

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another pointer at the separation of mind and consciousness, although each depends upon

the other to give it observable existence. Consciousness is the non-biological existent

personality. It is who you are. The picture you paint upon it is your character. It is your

mind functions that paint the canvas with colors that illuminate that innate purity or veil it in

disharmonious colors that restrict what the canvas is. If you restrict the substance of

consciousness you unknowingly have restricted your existence. And that restriction will

always come back to bite you, in forms where the causation may not even be recognizable, as

being initiated from your own self-created restrictive thought-forms. Whatever you choose,

the canvas never interferes by objecting or approving (buzzle.com/ Separation of Mind and

Consciousness)

The conscious mind does the intellectual, analytical thinking. The conscious mind is

associated with the waking, thinking state. It is deliberate, verbal and responsible for self-

talk. When the facts line up it tells the person they are right. It thinks of the past,

exaggerating or diminishing pleasure; it thinks about the future; without conscious effort it

may spend little time in the moment. The unconscious mind does the perceiving and feeling;

if something feels right it will tell the person they are right. The unconscious mind is

automatic, nonverbal and literal. It knows no past or future; it is always in the moment, the

now. (Shah, 2004)

“The subjective mind is the difference between my consciousness and a

consciousness. I do, I see, I hear, I dream, I love: these are all functions of the brain. The I is

that which is aware and that which does. Without the brain, there would seem to be no

subjectivity, no I.” (Csikszentmihalyi, 1993) The soul and the spirit are connected, but

separable. (Hebrews 4:12) The soul is the essence of humanity’s being; it is who the person

is. The spirit is the aspect of humanity that connects with God. The experiences that life

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brings allow for the expansion of the Spirit. “Life constantly causes you to become more; you

are in a constant stage of becoming.” (Hicks, 2008, Astonishing Power of Emotions)

When the soul and the spirit are resonating, a person’s well being flourishes; thoughts

are positive and flexible; the God within flourishes. When an unpleasant feeling is triggered,

it commands the individual’s attention, threatening their ego and compromising their sense of

well being. The person may begin dwelling in the past or in the future. They have a sense of

pressure coming from within and outside them all at the same time. It is in these moments

that conscious choice can be compromised and thoughtless actions can occur. (Coleman,

2006) When a person focuses on what they don’t have or don’t want, internal turmoil ensues,

and expresses itself in some unwanted manner in the external world. The person is out of

alignment with their essence. Their thinking is misaligned with their desire. They experience

fear or anger on a continuum of those two feelings, ultimately pulling them further away

from what they want. Yet, at the same time, the expression of what is not wanted clarifies

what is wanted within the unconscious Higher Self. (Hicks, 2008, Vortex)

The cyclical nature of thoughts that capture the person’s attention reinforce the

emotion attached to it. The stronger the emotion, the stronger the behavioral action will be.

Like attracts like. The more powerful the emotions the more quickly the thoughts creating

them will convert them into the life experience; emotional intensity amplifies the thought.

Just as the emotion of love creates positivity and expansion, the emotion of negativity brings

more negativity and contraction of self. The more struggle, demand, force or attempt to

control, the more resistance is encountered and the more discomfort and pain is felt by the

owner. (Hicks, 2008, Vortex) Paying attention to feelings, recognizing the thoughts that serve

and those that don’t begins the process of inclusion, returning to the Self that knows love,

peace and prosperity. (Williamson, 1992)

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Emotions are the human being’s sixth sense. Emotions are energy in action. They are

the indicator of alignment within oneself; they create vibrations. The emotions felt at any

given moment indicate how well the person is thinking. Emotions are the gift of

enlightenment. Emotions let a person know if they are out of sync with their soul’s purpose.

Pleasant emotions equal alignment; they move the person towards harmony and connection

within self; they expand Consciousness. Unpleasant emotions signal an imbalance in the

psyche; they create vibrational disharmony as the ego and the Source collide, rather than

commune. (Hicks, 2008, Astonishing Power of Emotion)

Ester and Jerry hicks, authors of The Astonishing Power of Emotion explain the

function of emotions as ‘Everything that you are living is about your physical and Non-

physical points of view and how they interplay with one another… you always know more

clearly what you do want when you are faced with what you do not want. .. whether you are

consciously aware of it or not, all day, every day you are giving birth to new desires born

from the details of the life you are living…it is through contrast that you inner being

expands…no contrast, no need to grow…you have the option of aligning with the idea or

resisting it…you must allow yourself to keep up with that which you are becoming if you are

to live the joyful life that you have come forth to live…to mold your life into what pleases you

is a mental process, not an action…it is about aligning your thoughts and allowing yourself

to become who-you-really-are.

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METHODS– Chapter III- N/A

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FINDINGS – Chapter IV

Human beings are the weavers of their own lives. Each experience a person has

becomes a cord attached to their mind, creating or denying their desires, dreams and

connections with one another. The Law of Attraction is a reflection of thought, which creates

what is felt and ultimately determines what is done, resulting in an outward physical

manifestation of that prevalent thought. When a person has never been exposed to or

consciously experienced the power of thought or the law of attraction there life occurs by

happenstance. http://www.law-of-attraction-info.com/law-of-attraction. (Maclean, 2004)

Thoughts are the private conversations that go on within ourselves 24 hours a day.

Because we can never completely speak our experiences, something always remains unsaid

and unconscious. On top of this, whatever feelings and experiences we are afraid to express

openly and honestly are added to the mix of our unconscious. Freud envisioned the

unconscious as a “sort of garbage dump for wishful impulses that we would rather not admit

to ourselves”. (ayrmetes.com/ Consciousness and Unconsciousness)

A person’s hope may rise and fall, but with each setback and disappointment, there is

a renewed sense of defeat to obtain what is wanted, reinforcing what is known or believed

about the self. The mind makes its choices on a moment by moment basis trying to justify

everything it does. The intellect mixes, matches, merges, sifts, and sorts concepts,

perceptions, and experience. The conscious mind uses logic to make sense about what is

happening. (sciencedaily.com/ Brain Energy Use) When the outcome is outside of what is

wanted; the mind creates reasons and excuses to off load personal responsibility for the

results. The ego works overtime to protect itself, blaming others or circumstances for its

feelings, behavior, and outcomes. (Coleman, 2006) The emotions are influenced by the value

the individual places on an experience as good or bad. A person either likes or dislikes what

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is presented to them. If they pay heed to the emotion presenting itself, a larger picture can be

considered expanding choice rather than contracting it based on a limited perspective.

(Marcum, 2007)

Recurring self-limiting beliefs and habits become self fulfilling prophecies. Faith in

self becomes compromised or destroyed. Many find themselves prisoners of their thinking,

unknowing of the subconscious’s influence. They find it hard to move ahead. They may be

happy and successful in many areas, but there are other areas where they experience an

ongoing emptiness, absence or a sense of being thwarted. A person may be troubled by

anxious feelings that promote the experience of fear or anger for reasons they do not

understand. The person falsely assumes the events and circumstances of their life are at the

root of their displeasure. They find themselves caught in emotional cycles of unpleasantness,

repeatedly moving back towards that which they want to avoid. (Salzburg, 2007)

Each of us has within ourselves the power to be successful, happy, productive and

enlightened beings. For this to happen, the seemingly endless loop of self limiting beliefs has

to be recognized. A person cannot address nor change what they are not aware of. Many

people are conditioned to believe that their life is fated or that what they are experiencing is

their destiny. Fate is defined as something that unavoidably befalls a person; the universal

principle or ultimate agency by which the order of things is presumably prescribed; the

decreed cause of events. Destiny is defined as something that will happen or has happened to

a particular person or thing; the power or agency that determines the course of events.

(Dictionary.com) Fate and destiny are often used as synonymous, interchangeable terms.

Fate can be thought of as unchangeable, the factors in life over which a person has no control

such as the color of their skin, the family they were born into, etc. A more pessimistic view

implies that what happens to a person is their fate, indicating that the person has no control,

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no choice of what they do with what is presented to them, engendering helplessness and

hopelessness. The later reflects misalignment with Source.   Fate is for those too weak to

determine their own destiny. Destiny indicates that the individual is in charge of their life that

they are the creator of their own destiny; destiny implies that the choices made, consciously

or unconsciously determine the life experienced. (Ohotto, 2008) “Destiny is no matter of

chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved .”

(worldofquotes.com/Bryant)

The power or agency to transform fate into destiny lies in the ability to make

conscious choices and decisions. The ability to think, consider and choose creates the

destiny, fortune and providence a person experiences in their life. The results depend on

whether the individual is reacting automatically, that is, not conscious of what is driving their

decisions and choices or whether they are responding, that is having awareness about the

choices and decision they are making. (May, 1969) The key to knowing the difference lies in

the emotions experienced. When a person feels bad, angry and fearful, they are in conflict

with their better self and experiencing both internal and external chaos. When out of

alignment, it is a sure sign that the choices made were done so without thought, without first

pausing and honoring the internal feelings that were occurring. When the emotion is one of

contentment, peace, understanding, and love the person is in sync with their choices; they are

in harmony, their internal and external value systems are in alignment, their vibrational field

radiates energy and manifestation of what is wanted comes about. (Hicks, 2008, Vortex)

“Fate brings us everything we need to fulfill our life purpose.” (Ohotto, 2008) It is

what a person does with their unchangeable fate, using the power of choice and free will that

creates their destiny. When there is awareness, conscious choice is in play, addressing life’s

events, and tapping into the gifts hidden within that fate. “It's choice--not chance--that

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determines your destiny.” (worldofquotes.com/ Nidetch) “A man cannot directly choose his

circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his

circumstances.” (Martin, 2007)

The idea that human beings can take responsibility for their thoughts, actions and

outcomes can be at once intimidating and liberating, as individuals mull over the possibility:

What if it’s true? The good news is that it frees the person to create and explore and move

forward; the bad news is the reality of it means there are no longer excuses for what the

person does or how they feel, no more blaming, scapegoating, self martyrdom or

justification. Breaking free of the ego’s grip and the insidious actions of the subconscious

mind, becoming and maintaining awareness is an ongoing process which humans will

continue to contend with throughout their lives. (Rinchen, 1997)

“Every thought interacts with the energy of the universe. Negative thought looks for

other negatives thought energies to bind with. Eventually a matrix of negative thought energy

is created and forms a thought wave. These powerful negative thought waves manifest

themselves in our lives in the form of poverty, crime, war, plagues and natural disasters.

Negative energy creates a vacuum, it detracts from the life giving nature of the universe

Negative thought waves come in many sizes and have been known by many names, bad luck,

misfortune, disaster, evil, curses, etc. Call them what you will, the source of their energy is

the same. The source is us.”(Palmer, 1999)

In my own journey there have been peaks and valleys in the process of awareness. I

have grown, regressed, and grown again. Two steps forward and one back, however, is

progress. As a child I felt unprotected, uncared for, isolated, and abandoned; of course it was

dispersed with some happy moments, usually followed by more negative and frightening

events. I was always fearful; I felt very alone. I often rationalized that it wasn’t so bad;

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others had it worse than me. I carried this belief into adulthood, in retrospect to avoid the

deep, aching pain and absence I felt. As a child, whenever something went wrong I was told

it as my fault and I learned to believe it. I held onto to this unconscious belief. As a result of

my exposure and work in metaphysics I found I was living my present life from the past I

came from. My subconscious program of un-lovability and sense of abandonment carried me

into three marriages. I jokingly told others that I was married to the same man with a

different name three times. My outer ego pretended to feel secure and invincible, laughing it

off, pretending I didn’t feel inadequate. I unwittingly covered the intense pain filled emotions

with aggressive, dominating and self righteous, my way or the highway behavior patterns. I

had a repeating pattern of familiar pain filled emotions; still I had not made the connection.

What I consciously thought was that I wanted to feel connected, that I wanted to be in an

intimate and caring relationship. I wanted to feel safe. Early in each of these relationships

there were situations or conversations when I felt a phantom like fear which I chose to

ignore, because I wanted what I wanted and not what I had, so I squashed those feelings. I

ignored the emotional warning signs, those all too familiar feelings of being less than, left

out, and left alone. The more I demanded my holes be filled, the deeper the hole became.

When these relationships became unsustainable, I espoused it was their fault;(interestingly

they had not changed, I was now focusing on what I had chosen to ignore early on)

nonetheless, I ranted about the injustices I felt and how they were the problem and that

despite my sacrifices, I did everything and still it did not work. In these three marriages, I

made myself the mind reader, and no doubt the reading was very jaded based on my internal

programs in which I had unwittingly set myself up for failure. I attached myself to what I

knew, emotional disconnect. At the time I had no awareness of my own inability to trust in

myself or to open myself to love. My judgmental self talk confirmed the internal belief, it

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was my fault; mentally reviewing comments made or actions taken, I managed to match my

own internal self-defeating premises and surmising, “Ten thousand people can’t be wrong. It

must be me, I’m the problem.”

Our tendency is to judge ourselves as well as the words and actions of others. The

truth is no one but the owner of the thoughts has access to them. We can interpret what is

consciously or unconsciously communicated, but we cannot know the inner workings of a

another person’s mind or their motivation, though we surely convince ourselves we can.

Judging requires we think ourselves or others as superior or inferior. My personal experience

certainly underscores this. Judgment in many ways is a result of poor thinking, brought about

by the internal log book of the subconscious mind. Disabling judgments are obstacles to

growth and pathways to failure. (http://bjp.rcpsych.org/Mind, brain and consciousness)

The truth is that all of us look for evidence to support whatever our beliefs are, even

when they are untrue and destructive. Even when on a conscious level we may espouse a

particular desire, internally the belief system we are holding onto may be exactly

opposite. (Stone, 2005) In my own case, I somehow disconnected the painful emotions from

myself, became self insulated and self protected as an adult.

I unwittingly paired myself with persons who attracted my fears; and not my

professed desires; rather, they gave me exactly what my internal programs generated:

sadness, isolation, and abandonment. It is my subconscious scripts that have drawn me to

certain people; it is my choices brought about by my feelings, both spawned by automatic

thinking that created my circumstance. The important point is that I am paying attention to

my emotional self and thoughts a great deal more these days. Now when I feel like I am

solely responsible for everything that goes poorly, and the negative self defeating thoughts

come over me, I recognize them as a warning bell. I stop and think; I come to the present

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moment and ask: Is it true? I have a choice. A choice with intentional thought creates a sense

of empowerment and allowing, which is a great deal better than its opposite. (May, 1967) As

my journey continues, I spend more time in the present moment, enjoying my life and

appreciating the many blessings I am offered each day. When unpleasantness comes calling,

I remember I have a choice in what I choose to think and do, and the peace comes softly, if

not immediately, eventually. (Tolle, 1999)

A majority of the population remain enslaved to the unconscious, outmoded beliefs

buried in their subconscious. Hidden emotions attached to those beliefs trap the individual in

a current of external circumstance which seals their fate. When the subconscious is running

the show, everything from mood to level of success lies within the hands of someone else as

personal power is lost to reactive behaviors. In these circumstances, a person can’t conceive

that control of their fortune resides within them. They are not so much victims as they are

unconscious volunteers until they are exposed to and begin to understand the power of

thought and the emotions that attend them. (Viscott, 1996)

It is your mind functions that paint the canvas with colors that illuminate that innate

purity or veil it in disharmonious colors that restrict what the canvas is. If you restrict the

substance of consciousness you unknowingly have restricted your existence. And that

restriction will always come back to bite you, in forms where the causation may not even be

recognizable, as being initiated from your own self-created restrictive thought-forms.

Whatever you choose, the canvas never interferes by objecting or approving. The picture

formed upon the canvas of consciousness is what you see and know as yourself. It is the

observable and knowable character of your consciousness-personality. The picture is your

painting that attracts some and repels others. It is how you are recognized: a self-created

picture that people admire or dismiss. But the picture is only the superficial color upon the

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reality of the canvas. Even if the picture fades, is disfigured or totally washed away, the

canvas still remains. The canvas of consciousness perpetually remains consistent, never

altering. The interior dimensions of a person seem to be composed of a spectrum of

consciousness, running from sensation to perception to impulse to image to symbol to

concept to rule to formal to vision-logic to psychic to subtle to causal to nondual states. In

simplified form, this spectrum appears to range from subconscious to self-conscious to

superconscious. (imprint.co.uk/ The Great Chain of Being and Consciousness)

Learning to understanding how consciousness operates, particularly the subconscious,

can little by little move an individual further into the truth that they are something much

greater than the thoughts they think or the body they inhabit. (Crenshaw, 2009)

What is felt, thought, or done forms the basis of our experience. These experiences

are stored as subtle impressions in our subconscious mind. These impressions interact with

one another and give rise to certain inclination. As a consequence, a particular reaction

occurs in response to a particular situation or stimulus depending upon the subconscious

tendencies. The subconscious will then react automatically creating feelings of love, anger,

or fear. (Stone, 2005) If a person’s life is operating on auto pilot most of the time, it is no

wonder their life seems lacking and out of control. Virtually no one human being (with the

possible exceptions of enlightened beings such as the Christ) has escaped repeating events

and unpleasant, often pain filled experiences. (Marcum, 2007)

Focusing on life’s ordeals prevents experiencing what truly matters. When what is

wanted and what is present do not line up, internal conflict surges, emotions escalate, and

ineffective or inappropriate behavior occurs. Emotions do not lie. When emotions are

ignored, when the ego is calling the shots, authenticity suffers and a disconnect within the

self occurs. While ego strategies may temporarily work to stifle painful, guilt-inducing or

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unwanted thoughts and unacceptable impulses from the conscious mind, its impact on the

wholeness of the individual does not serve, but fragments their sense of self from the spirit

that lies within. (Marcum, 2007) There are times in all of our lives when we don’t like what

is happening, when our experiences make us feel, anxious, stressed, frightened, or less

important than we would like, when reality is just not to our liking. Most of us, at least some

of the time, automatically filter reality to make it feel better to us and to help us uphold a

good opinion of ourselves. These defenses are designed to protect us from anxiety, fear, and

all sorts of inner and outer stressors by allowing us to deny, falsify, or alter reality. We distort

both our inner and outer worlds to help us cope. While the motivation for one’s behavior may

be unconscious, awareness of the behavior itself is conscious which can provide a window of

opportunity for self evaluation. (Stone, 2005)

While consciousness defines our existence and reality, how the brain generates

thoughts and feelings remains unknown. “Most people believe that consciousness resides in

the brain, or that it is somehow based on the brain and the nervous system. Science

postulates a materialist understanding of consciousness. There is increasing evidence that

this may not be correct. To think that consciousness resides in the brain is akin to thinking

that the images on a TV screen reside inside the TV set. Obviously, the TV images are neither

local to the TV set, nor do they have a life of their own. We might then posit that the same is

true for consciousness. The brain is a receiver and modulator of consciousness, just like the

TV set is a receiver and modulator of electromagnetic signals. The images and thoughts in

our mind are the brain-mediated results of consciousness, just like the TV images on the

screen. (thebigview.com)

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A comparison of how the computer operates can serve as a blueprint for how the

mind operates, allowing a more diverse audience to relate to the science of thought in the

creation of experienced reality. The brain and the computer are similar in operation. Any

computer system comprises three stages: input-process-output, everything we tell the

computer (brain) is input. Particulars given to the computer become information generating a

set of instructions based on the internal operating program (subconscious). The computer

program begins processing and directs the operating system to generate a specific result. In

the computer this is called processing and in the brain it is called thinking. What a person

sees, hears, touches and feels is the data input. The latest input combines with what is already

known, looks for how it all fits together, and takes action which then determines the output.

If the computer program (thought) is corrupt the expected output is not achieved and setbacks

and complications occur. The corrupt program (thought) must be reprogrammed or restored

to do what it was designed to do. The same is true for the person. Information comes in and a

program begins running. That program may result in additional input to execute the program,

like opening a file menu and making a specific selection to get the desired outcome. In

people, this is the logical, conscious mind operating. An application is another word for a

program running on the computer. Whether or not it is a good application depends on how

well it performs the tasks it is designed to do and how easy it is to use.

(jegsworks.com/computer basics) In people the application program is the unconscious mind.

“The brain is the hardware of the soul; it is the essence, the spirit of who a person

is.” The brain holds the intelligence, will, and feelings of an individual. When a person lacks

knowledge of the mind’s thinking, when they are not connected within themselves, they can’t

be who they want to be or have what they want to have; the desired outcome is just not there

and the program needs to be corrected or changed. (Amen, 1998)

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In a computer system the hard drive is the central processing unit. The hard disk drive

inside the computer system can't be removed, nor can it be seen. Everything in the computer

is stored on that hard disk. In people, the unconscious is the central processing unit. It cannot

be seen, nor can it be removed. It retains everything from the conscious, subconscious and

the higher conscious. Both the brain and the computer respond to input. In each, the quality

of input determines the quality of output. (Knapp, 2002)

Thinking involves manipulation of information, forming concepts, engaging in

problem solving, reasoning and decision making. Too often the thinker and actor of the

thought have no idea as to what motivated them to act or speak in a certain manner. Just as in

a computer program, the result is seen but the inner workings that created the result are not

obvious. This typically results in feelings of guilt, self deprecation, isolation and or feelings

of being less than, not good enough and similar unpleasant emotions; the direct cause of

which is in the unseen subconscious. Unconscious thinking creates repeating patterns

resulting in a person experiencing similar results over and over. (Marcum, 2007) The fact is

the conscious mind cannot make use of what it does not know. Consequently the person falls

victim to automatic thinking followed by repetitious behavior patterns and further engrains

faulty thinking. Becoming aware of and familiar with the unpleasant feeling can begin to

forge the connection with the subconscious mind. Consciously using the mental process of

thought allows human beings to model the world, and to deal with it successfully according

to their goals, plans, and desires. (Atwood, 2007)

Like any other natural force, subjective mind was not created by man and he cannot

change its mode of operation; but, while he may not change a natural force, he may change

his manner of approach to it. Man cannot change his own inherent nature; but he can, and

should, learn to make the best use of all his forces. Subjective mind will never change its own

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nature, but will always reflect to the thinker what he thinks into it. Man did not make this law

nor can he change it; but, like any other law, once understood, it becomes an obedient

servant. The use of this law is entirely mental and is within the grasp of every one; it is so

simple that all can understand; it is the law of mind in action, and this law is set in motion by

correct thinking and knowing. ( Holmes, 1926)

When the soul and the spirit are connected, the person’s well being flourishes,

thoughts are positive and flexible and all is right with the world. When a negative feeling is

triggered, it commands the individual’s attention threatening their sense of well being. The

person begins dwelling in the past or in the future. They have a sense of pressure coming

from within and outside them at the same time. Negative feelings begin to escalate,

everything seems difficult; nothing goes well.. (Viscott, 1996)

Conflict always comes from negative, fear based thinking. To move towards better

energy the person must be willing to examine the thought process that created the conflict.

Behavior stemming from fear based thinking creates suffering for the individual and those

affected by it. That which is focused upon is attracted, whether it is wanted or not.

(MacLean, 2004) By cultivating an awareness of thoughts and feelings, energy flow can be

shifted away from the negative and reinforce the presence of positive energy. Because the

subconscious readily accepts suggestions, whether true or false, it is possible to intentionally

re-program what it does. As a result, conscious thought can impress whatever it choose on

the subconscious mind; it is a matter of focus, attention and repetition; it is a matter of

cultivating a conscious habit of recognizing and releasing thoughts that create a sense of

contraction or resistance within one’s self. Cultivating and widening the habit of self

awareness takes practice. While it is a simple concept, the actual practice takes persistence to

establish results. (habitsofmind.com) Consequently, trying to pay attention verses intending

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to pay attention makes the difference between success and failure in achieving desired

results; it is a matter of commitment. It means, regrouping and starting over as many times as

necessary to maintain the commitment; it is necessary to keep the end goal in mind,

particularly when doubt creeps in and emotional resistance is felt. (Covey, 1989) The

subconscious is re-programmable. It is 30,000 more powerful than the conscious mind. It

generates greater than 85% of thought. Taking control of these thoughts takes awareness and

practice. (Stone 2005)

A simple rule of thumb to determine state of consciousness is to look at the feelings

being experienced. When experiencing joy all things seem right with the world, it is

reasonable to believe you are in your higher self. When the experience is pain, hurt, sadness,

aloneness, it is reasonable to assume you are in your lower, physically based ego driven false

self that has you believing you are independent from others. (Hicks, 2008, Astonishing

Power Emotion) The themes and patterns of discomfort and emotional resistance that

continually surface and sabotage from within can be changed. Beliefs must be challenged.

Fate is a frequent scapegoat for unhappiness and discontent. Fate can be a self

fulfilling prophecy based on things beyond an individual’s control such as where they are

born, the color of their skin, or the circumstances they were born into. Fate can also be of a

person’s own doing, caused by the unconsciously created ego driven self made trials. Self

fate is the by-product of going against our inner design. Whether the fate occurs by one’s

own design or occurs as a result of things outside their control, there is one constant. Human

beings have free will and therefore the ability to make choices. If the individual believes that

they have no options, they won’t. If the individual learns to believe that they alone control

their choices many options avail themselves. What is formed with what is given is the key to

creating a life that is lived on purpose. Fate gives each person the stage on which to enact

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their life’s lessons. There are infinite possibilities between the fate the individual is

confronted with and the future they choose to create. “Fate is the being and destiny is the

doing.” (Ohotto, 2008)

We are in this life for two reasons. The first is to experience and the second is to

create. The soul is the conscious part of the personality; it is the container of the spirit or life

force. For creation to occur the spirit and the soul have to work together, neither can get far

without the other. When there is resistance between the two, opposition and vibration

disharmony occurs. The resistance felt is the distance between the soul’s ego demands and

the inner Being’s desire to create and connect for its highest good. To achieve the highest

good, an awareness of how one unconsciously violates their life’s purpose is necessary.

Awareness of emotions, creation and practice of thoughts that serve, letting go of resistance,

allowing the self to expand moves the individual into harmony.(Hicks, 2008, Emotions) “If

you don’t access direction from within yourself, your life will be directed from outside you.

You will derail your destiny.” (Ohotto, 2008)

When we try to be something other than what our inner design dictates, we consign

ourselves to an unfulfilled life that must be endured. To change this we must allow ourselves

to develop an awareness of what we are thinking, feeling and doing, particularly when

challenges present themselves and the risk for automatic reactions is highest. In so doing we

can begin to see and benefit from the Law of Attraction. (McArthur, 2007)

To change your life experience, alter your thoughts about it before going into action.

Altering your vibration (equals thought, equals energy)can be 95% of the change process,

resulting in an alignment of your energy with what is wanted, leading to action along the

path of least resistance… Every single thing that is in your life experience is attracted by

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you, and is a reflection of your thoughts and emotions, there are no exceptions. Your present

reality is the result of all of your prior thoughts and feelings. (Maclean, 2004)

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Discussion - Chapter V

Improving the quality of life and the conditions under which a person live requires

exposure to the origin and impact of thoughts. Given that most thinking is below the level of

consciousness, people have to learn to recognize clues to cultivate an awareness of the

thinking creating the feelings and actions, and begin to nurture new habits that will allow the

Law of Attraction to materialize desired results.

Consciousness is the awareness of thinking, feeling, and doing. Impulses arising

from the subconscious mind occur without awareness. Individuals become prone to react in a

particular way to a particular situation or stimulus depending upon the predispositions in

their subconscious mind. Unconscious, impaired choices and decisions create havoc and

unhappiness in a person’s life. (sciencedaily.com/Brain Energy Use)

The conscious mind is the primary reality; through it, people perceive themselves and

the world that surrounds them. When the individual is unhappy with results and experiences,

it seeks to make sense of what is happening using a cause and effect approach by means of

external information or facts to make sense of what has transpired while preserving its ego. It

spends much of its time thinking about the past and the future creating reasons for its

circumstance or what is or has happened. The idea that a person is responsible for the choices

presents as a new concept for many, particularly for those who have been surrounded by

negativity and the fated circumstances they were born into. Once a person recognizes that

they have a choice in what they do or how they respond to what presents itself, it is at once

liberating and then quickly followed by anger, fear, and guilt as the ego goes into overdrive

to disprove the truth of it. (Rinchen, 1997)

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Minimal attention has been given to people as creators of what they are experiencing

or how their emotions, more often than not, are running the show. The uneducated, poorly

educated, inadequately educated person has little concept that the mind below the surface, the

subconscious, has permanently cataloged every thought, experience, and action with no

regard for good, bad, right, wrong, appropriate or inappropriate responses to the present

situation. The untrained mind does not realize that the unconscious is instinctive and freely

associates information and as a consequence may be reacting to past event as if they are

occurring in the present moment. Uncomfortable, sometimes hollow feelings and emotions

continue to reoccur leaving the person feeling that they have little or no control over their life

or what happens to them. They become resigned to their fate; feel helpless, disempowered

and sometimes resentful of those who have more. Their life experiences become a cycle of

never-ending disappointments. Their sense of well being becomes compromised and too

often they feel that something is missing within them. (Church land, 1995)

The subconscious mind guards the human ego. It protects and defend the individual,

to keep them safe and to distinguish them from everyone else. This can be readily

demonstrated when an individual rationalizes reasons outside of themselves for their present

circumstances, oblivious to the fact that they have choices, and are therefore responsible for

what they do related to the circumstance they find themselves in. The subconscious gathers

all information relating to the individual’s experiences and computes it to create a system that

will protect the person. As a person learns and grows, much of the data in the subconscious

no longer serves them. Unresolved emotions relentlessly cause problems because they

remain active despite being out of date. Becoming aware of destructive emotions and

releasing them is essential for growth and wholeness. Problems continue to occur because

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the subconscious has no ability to add, change, or modify the content it holds without

conscious intervention and reprogramming. (bjp.rcpssych.org/Mind brain consciousness)

Once a person becomes aware of the negative thought energy they are carrying it

becomes possible to eliminate it and replace it with beneficial energy. “It is as simple as

noticing it and dismissing it with our minds. A thought enters our mind that we

recognize as negative, we simply dismiss it. By dismissing negativity we take away its power

by not allowing it to manifest further negativity in our lives.” (Palmer, 1995 )

People can be taught to bring into conscious awareness the threatening thoughts,

feelings, memories, wishes, and fears pushed out of consciousness by their defenses.

Although it seems simple and the action itself is uncomplicated, the insidious and habitual

nature of thought creates an ongoing challenge. The stronger the subconscious hold on a

thought the more difficult it is to release. Once inner experiences are properly understood

consciously, the person can begin to intentionally make better choices which will create

better results. Just as more negative thinking engenders more negative thinking, the same is

true of positive thinking. Whatever an individual pays attention to; they will always find

more of. It is a matter of re-conditioning the mind to create belief systems that serves the

person. (web-us.com/brain/theory conscience) There is a way out of self sabotaging

thoughts, feelings and actions. The individual needs to begin clearing their mind of all

unwanted thoughts and emotions. While changing the contents of mind is not easy, it is

possible with intention and persistence. In order to not do something, or change subconscious

content, the conscious mind has to create a better thought. A suggestion cannot impose itself

on the subconscious mind against the will of the conscious mind. Using the intensity,

frequency and prevalence of unpleasant emotions that create unwanted results begins the

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process of awareness and change that allows the Law of Attraction to bring abundance into

the life of the individual. It Is a matter of retraining the mind. (Knapp, 2002)

I had the privilege of teaching non-traditional, lower-socio economic college students

about the Laws of the Universe, particular the Laws of Attraction, Allowing and Thought as

part of an entry level program on college and career skills at a proprietary college. The dean

of students allowed me to create a new program in an effort to lower the dropout rate and

increase student confidence in their ability to succeed. After laying the foundation for the

course and its content the students viewed the movie, “The Secret” which was then dissected

as part of critical thinking skills. Articles and research papers were assigned that dealt with

Universal Laws and similar topics to enhance reading skills and ability to extract information

and make arguments supporting or negating what they read. One of several challenges

students were given was to create a positive self affirming statement. The purpose was two-

fold. The first designed to improve public speaking confidence and the second to challenge

and change self defeating thoughts about self. Each student was required to identify three or

four qualities and characteristics outside their comfort zone that they inwardly wished they

possessed. They were instructed to create a short and pithy, positive, present tense statement

that gave them an internal boost when they considered the possibility of truth it held for

them. They were also asked to create a mental image that matched the statement and to

visualize that image whenever they silently recited their affirmation. They were further told

to use any lapses in their ability to remember as possible subconscious blocking and to keep

visualizing and or repeating their affirmation until they felt resistance fade. Students were

instructed to listen their self talk and challenge the value of it when negativity about they

wanted or felt crept or washed over them. Throughout the semester, twice a week each

student was required to present their affirmation in front of the class. The rest of the class

36

would provide input about the believability of what they said. Students became genuinely

engaged and involved in helping each other and themselves to overcome any unpleasant or

anxious emotions they might experience in front of their audience. Remarkably, by the end of

the term changes in the way a student stood or spoke and presented themselves was markedly

improved. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."

(worldofquotes.com/ Aristotle) Of the approximately 100 students who participated in the

course 90% went on to graduate. These students expressed excitement and gratitude about

they learned and experienced. They became more confident in themselves and rather than

becoming victims of their circumstance they became conscious creators of their futures. The

students were given an exam using a summary of Universal Laws as a means to assess their

learning, reading skills and critical thinking. The results were nothing short of amazing. A

sampling of student work is presented in the appendices as they reflect the value the Laws

can produce when there is awareness of their presence and application in one’s life.

Human beings have the capacity to lift their mind from wherever it may find itself.

The mind can shift its attention from defeating thoughts to uplifting thoughts. Shifting

thoughts gradually and incrementally is less of a struggle than trying to go in the complete

opposite direction all at once. Incremental shifts in thinking create positive energy and

improve what is being experienced, reinforcing confidence and building faith in self, not

circumstance, ultimately transforming the direction of their lives. (Hicks, 2009, Vortex)

Thoughts redirected towards kindness and loving intention create a higher vibrational

frequency and resonance with the true Self occurs. Thoughts that are pessimistic or with

selfish intent transmit and multiply low energy. Moving intention in a spiritual direction, that

is one of improvement, will always sustain a high vibratory level of consciousness. To avoid

undesirable outcomes, individuals must learn to recognize and then control their thinking,

37

especially when they are experiencing emotional stress. Stress and emotion are forms of

thought energy which fuel the creation of the image being held in the mind. (buzzle.com/ An

illuminating Connective Experience) “When thought is aligned with a person’s inherently

divine nature, positive feeling is the result. When thought is in opposition or contradiction to

one's inherently divine nature, negative feeling or emotion is felt.” (Knapp, 2002)

The decision to think and function in a positive mode is the first step in transforming

energy to a higher level, raising its vibratory rate. Energy transmuted in this way attracts

more positive energy, producing a snowball effect which assists in advancing the creation of

a new, happier and more desirable future. Controlling thought energies is the difference

between success and failure for the individual and can also affect those around them. When

individuals become aware and make an active decision to improve how they are thinking,

acting, and feeling they are contributing to the quality of life for themselves and those in their

sphere of influence; they are allowing connection with their higher Self. When a person

associates with and surrounds themselves with positive like minded people the energy

evoked sparks imagination and everyday miracles occur. (Covey, 1989)

Mind is an energy force that has the ability to take any form instantly. It has the

capacity to feed on itself. “As a thought or a feeling or an emotion it can express itself only

as a mixture of matter and consciousness. Consciousness is the only spiritual basis of

Existence; it is our true nature, the Self. Thus mind can be separated from Consciousness,

and in fact this separation of spirit from the false identification with matter is the goal of

human life.” (Broughton, 2005) In order to grow and become more, to understand one’s

Self, fulfill dreams and accomplish the soul’s life purpose, bad information must be deleted

from the mind, just as a bad programs must be eliminated from a computer to operate

effectively. Ironically, the process of becoming enlightened requires help from the mind,

38

regardless of how defiant and unwilling it might be in the beginning. Cultivating the habit of

mindfulness requires being present in the moment. With awareness it allows the individual to

intentionally plan and accomplish their actions and evaluate them through the vehicle of

thought. (buzzle.com/The Separation of Mind and Consciousness)

To allow the Law of Attraction to work in our lives, the qualities of the mind must be

engaged to change deep seated emotions and the habitual draining thoughts that preceded

them. Even when there is difficulty controlling thinking because of intense emotional duress,

taking any action in a more positive direction will immediately begin to change into

something more positive and uplifting. Changing habitual patterns is hard work but not

nearly as difficult as living an unfulfilled life. (Knapp, 2002)

Accomplishments are achieved by coming out of one’s ego driven comfort zone,

taking calculated risks, and going after desires and dreams. Change can be intimidating and

difficult no matter how good it may be. New habits require dedication and persistence to

change the belief. Developing the skill of thinking and speaking about the self in a better way

creates energy shifts that feed upon its self, generating affirmative emotions and actions that,

with conscious intention, will produce the desired results. “Whatever we plant in our

subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become a reality.”

(worldofquotes.com/Nightingale ) "You affect your subconscious mind by verbal repetition."

(worldofquotes.com /Stone)

Developing new thought patterns and habits of thinking allows energy to flow in a

positive direction without resistance, generating intelligent, thoughtful behaviors that allow

goodness to materialize and the spirit to expand. “Employing "Habits of Mind" requires a

composite of many skills, attitudes cues, past experiences and proclivities. It means that we

value one pattern of thinking over another and therefore it implies choice making about

39

which pattern should be employed at this time.” When we draw upon our intellectual

resources, the results that are produced through it are more powerful, of higher quality and

greater significance than if we fail to employ those patterns of thoughtful behaviors which

create the outcomes experienced. (instituteforhabitsofmind.com)

Individuals can become distinctly better people in this world. As a person becomes

familiar with their internal world, they can connect to the gentle force and forgiving self.

Focusing on the internal thought dynamics and asking, “Is it serving or harming?” can go a

long way in attracting what is wanted. “We cannot expect the Law of Attraction to do for us

what it can only do through us, and so we must use our intelligence with knowledge that it

acting as an instrument of a greater intelligence.” (Marcum, 2007)

In order to become conscious of the spiritual power within and utilize its endless

possibilities, human beings must pay attention to how they exchange their energy with

everything around them. Energy can be constructive or destructive. Negative energy

destroys, positive energy creates. “To understand God, one must first understand energy.

Energy is a simple natural power vigorously exerted. Everything in the universe is comprised

of energy – of positive and negative charges in constant motion. Today, with the advances in

quantum physics, we realize everything in our reality is, in fact, comprised of energy in

motion, including the chair in which you sit and the car that you drive. Our spirits are made

of energy as well.” (Crenshaw, 2009)

When energy flows freely within and through and around us, when our energy is not

obstructed or impeded or cut off or diminished by our ego driven human self we experience

moments of wholeness and connection. Life is improved and self-motivated possibilities and

capacities are manifested.  The Law of Attraction will respond at its best when resistance is

40

relinquished, allowing the grace and the power of the individual to actualize in a way that

benefits self and all around them. (McArthur, 2007)

Powerlessness is the feeling that comes when a person feels they have little or no

control over their life. People all over the world struggle on a daily basis to find comfort,

connection, and a sense of completeness within themselves. The irony is that each of us is

complete within ourselves. Life’s journey is about becoming one with Source. The

challenges that life provides to each of us is the path to self discovery. Understanding how

energy works, knowing that thoughts become things, and that emotions are a key to

understanding and changing our reality is a gift each human being is worthy to receive.

“Life is like a classroom with lessons that allow you to advance and learn more about

yourself and spiritual Truth. The lessons can be a smooth flow of progress or a difficult

transition due to your reluctance to let go and be malleable to what the universe, fate,

destiny, or God want you to do and learn. Just like school, if you fail the grade, you simply

keep going through the same class until you finally pass the test. Yet that is the great thing

about spiritual progress: You simply keep going until you make the grade, in how many ever

years or lifetimes it takes. No one really fails; some just take it slower or need more time

than others.” (Knapp, 2002)

Each of us has the ability to change our life’s course. Exposure to the Laws of

Thought, Allowing and Attraction and connecting it to an individual’s life experiences can be

a powerful tool to transform not only the individual, but the collective consciousness as well.

Although exposure to the universal laws and spirituality has grown over the last several

decades, it remains elusive to the mass population. Misidentification of who and what we

really are in this world produces fear, suffering, and anxiety. As long as human beings

believe their physical existence is their real identity and chase after happiness in the external

41

world they will always feel a lack within themselves. Understanding how the universal laws

work, implementing the teachings and improving thoughts moves each of us closer to our

center. Bringing knowledge of the soul’s purpose and its connection to a higher power can

diminish the misconceptions we have about ourselves, and bring us out of the false

impression of separateness this world creates.

In the secular culture of which many people live, the connection between humanity

and a higher power is discouraged and to be kept separate. If the metaphysician could

develop and foster educational programs at the academic level in grade schools, high schools

and universities in a non-secular way using thought energy as the vehicle, wouldn’t

vibrational harmony for one and many be elevated? Would not the same irony the mind

presents as inhibitor and facilitator of connection with Source be the same as cloaking the

Source in the paradigm of secularism by presenting the connection with Source in a non-

spiritual way using the more intellectual model of critical thinking skills combined with the

quantum physics theory of energy? Could not each of us then come to the Source of our well

being using our intellectual capacities? What vehicle can be created to move the teachings

into structured educational systems already in place? If the mind can conceive it, it can be

done.

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SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS - Chapter VI

Through movies like The Secret and books by authors such as Esther and Jerry Hicks,

Wayne Dywer and the like, many people have gained a basic understanding of the Law of

Attraction. Simply defined, this universal law states that like attracts like and we create our

reality through our thoughts and emotions. Every thought or emotion we have offers a

vibration, and that vibration attracts the experienced reality and creates the world as we know

it. Positive thoughts and emotions create positive life experiences, while negative thoughts

and self limiting beliefs create negative, unwanted life experiences.

There is a link between spiritual and emotional well-being. Who and what we are is

strongly tied to our beliefs of what is possible. In Zen, there is a saying, “Be master of mind

rather than be mastered by mind.”

All thoughts and actions are based in an individual’s perception, reality and belief system.

Because the human mind does not record things objectively everything that is seen, heard

and felt is translated according to the current beliefs, emotional state, and previous

experience and knowledge of the subject before it is stored in memory. Consequently, there

is most often a discrepancy between what is actually happening and a person’s perception of

what is happening which becomes an obstruction to achieving what is wanted.

(Csikszentmihalyi, 1993)

Emotions drive decision making and behavior. Learning to recognize feelings,

learning to pay attention to the self talk accompanying the emotion affords an opportunity to

intentionally decide the next action. Just as a person has become conditioned to react to

thoughtless decisions during emotional moments, with practice and intention, new habits can

be formed and a person can develop a new conditioned response. (Viscott, 1996)

43

Change begins with awareness. Awareness begins with learning how a belief systems

and emotional reaction can support or destroy what is desired. Beliefs are readily formed

from emotional reactions. The emotions attached to the belief system reinforce the belief

which may or may not be rooted in truth. Beliefs become stored when they initially occurred.

Some remain in consciousness, but most are hidden in the subconscious. It is important to

remember that most behavior is driven by unconscious motivators. When outcomes, desires

and wishes are consistently thwarted, when pain rather than pleasure is a common

phenomenon for a person, it is a warning sign that thinking is out of alignment with purpose.

Emotional discord is always an indication that the vibrational energy of thought and knowing

are out of synch. While negative thoughts drain energy and stifle creativity, positive thoughts

empower, create higher energy, and allow innate creativity and abundance to flourish.

Cultivating an awareness of recurring unpleasant emotions allows the individual the

opportunity to pause and examine the veracity of the motivating thoughts in the present

moment and consciously choose the next action. (Attwood)

Emotional wisdom is essential to a person’s well being; emotions are not always

rational nor are they indicators of truth. Emotions are the chosen response to something

which is based on the individual’s interpretation of the event clouded by their perception,

ego, and subconscious life scripts. Learning to pay attention to self talk and emotions

provides a space to make intentional choices. (Marcum, 2007) When conscious intention is

ignited, the quality of thinking can be directed and improved, and individuals have the power

to create their own grace. (Hicks, 2008, Vortex)

The first step to improving life circumstance is to become aware of belief systems

interfering with what is wanted. As long as a mistaken conviction is present results are

blocked and progress is at best short lived. The reality is that negative beliefs are rarely based

44

in fact; more often than not they are based on misperceptions and outgrown beliefs connected

to emotional distress stored away in the subconscious. These beliefs are rarely about what is

occurring in the present moment. Subsequently reality becomes distorted and ultimately re-

enforces the faulty belief(s) as the same outcomes, the same set of distressing emotions

reoccur. ( Tolle, 1999)

Each person decides for themselves what is true for them. It is estimated that between

80% to 95% of the choices a person makes are occurring spontaneously based on emotions

evoked from a faulty subconscious memory. Human beings are always making decisions,

choosing either consciously or unconsciously to believe something as factual or not. Just as

human beings can decide to accept something as true, they can also decide to disbelieve

information. Habitual patterns of actions that do not serve are a direct result of faulty thought

patterns. Learning how and why beliefs take shape, cultivating the habit of awareness when

pleasant or unpleasant sensations trigger within gives the individual the power to consider

beliefs and change or fortify them. (sciencedaily.com/ Brain Energy Use) Coming to know

that unconscious messages have a powerful influence allows for the thought to be challenged,

prompting the question, “Is this really true, right here and right now?” Once the

unproductive thought is recognized it can be replaced with a better thought that is more

aligned with the present self.

Understanding the science behind thinking combined with education can lessen

emotional turmoil and distress creating a better life for people. People need to learn that all

their power and ability lie in the present moment. They must come to understand that past

thought and future thinking cloaked in fear become self fulfilling prophecies. Sensitivity to

one’s own emotions in the present moment generates thoughtful and considerate choices.

45

(emotional Resilience) “He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure.

Thought with purpose becomes creative force.” (Martin, 2007)

Most people trying for better life balance work hard to overcome the factors causing

disparity. Efforts to overcome difficulty can inadvertently attract more of what isn't wanted.

When a person focuses on overcoming something, the thought and emotional energy

expended will bring more of what it is centered on. This is the Law of Attraction in action.

It's commonly believed that achievements result from taking action and overcoming

obstacles. This is true to a point, but it may be the least helpful way to achieve what one is

after. The Universe functions on attraction, which means that what people achieve results

more from the vibrations of their energy than their actions. (Hicks, 2008, Attraction)

A simple rule of thumb to determine state of consciousness can be to look at

the feelings being experienced. When experiencing joy, all things seem right with the world,

it is reasonable to believe you are in your higher self. When the experience is pain, hurt,

sadness, aloneness, it is reasonable to assume you are in your lower, physically based ego

driven self that has you believing you are independent from others.

Awareness of the thought is the critical first step to allowing wholeness and

contentment to be felt within one’s self. “Errors in thinking are clearly evident if something

is stopping you from achieving your dreams, if you are not at peace with yourself and

others, if you experience problems in many of your relationships, if how your actions,

responses, or thoughts is not getting you the results you want – then there is likely to be a

glitch (a thought virus) in one of your programs.” (Palmer,1999.) When thought is in accord

with divine nature of the soul, uplifting emotion is the result. When thought contradicts the

divine nature of the soul, negative emotion is felt. Emotions are infallible indicators that will

46

inevitably point the way to the true self and the soul’s innately positive, divine nature.

(MacLean, 2004)

47

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