Has anyone ever told you “you should always have a backup plan, just in case something happens” or something similiar? It’s just smart thinking, right? Guess again.

As you may remember from my earlier writings, I am a firm believer in the Law of Attraction. Lenedra Carroll (mother and manager to the beautiful singer Jewel Kilcher) is quoted as once telling Jewel in her early singing career days that “if you have a fall back plan, you will surely fall back”. I agree with her, because by putting a backup plan into place “just in case”, you are activating the Law of Attraction to bring about the “just in case” situation.

On a side note, it’s amazing where I sometimes get the inspiration to write for the blog. I was listening to my favorite musical of all time, “The Phantom of the Opera”, the other day. Incidentally, it IS the Michael Crawford/Sarah Brightman version, which is the Original 1987 Cast Recording. Anyway, one of the most powerful lyrics in the entire thing is in the song “Point of No Return” when they both sing “The bridge is crossed so stand and watch it burn”. Each time I hear this line I get the image of someone literally standing and watching the bridge they’ve just crossed over as it burns. To me, this is a beautiful symbolic image because while we bless the past and respect it by learning the lessons it teaches us, we don’t try and get back across the bridge.

Does that make sense?

Basically, I guess it really comes down to living in the moment, but not haphazardly. The ability to keep ourselves focused on the present while allowing the past to help us make better decisions.

This also reminds me of something I heard on a cd titled “Never Accept Advice From Anyone More Screwed up Than You Are”, by John Addison, the co-CEO of Primerica Services.

To paraphrase him on the CD, he says “Decide is like the words homicide and suicide. In those words, somebody dies. I believe to Decide means the death of all other options.”

To me, this is one of the most AWESOME and SAGE pieces of advice ever given. When you decide to do something, give it all your energy. Do not focus on the possibility of defeat, but rather only on the probability of success.

In the next part of this series, I will ask the question “Who’s life is it, anyway?”

The think I’ve been noticing more and more is the debate that has cropped up as to whether or not hard work is required to bring about manifestation. I first noticed this debate on Andy Wibbels’ blog post which was basically a rant about The Secret. The main focus of the post was about the marketing of “The Secret“. I’ll be the first to admit that, while I overall enjoyed the DVD, a bit of the marketing behind it is over-the-top.

What is interesting, however, is that in the ensuing comments thread on the post, the debate of hard work vs. affirmation/prayer cropped up. I’ve since noticed this debate being discussed on many other venues.

Basically, the debate is this: On one side of the proverbial fence, we have the group which maintains that hard work is the only way to bring about (manifest) change. I agree with this view, to a certain degree.

On the other side is the belief that prayer/visualization/affirmation is enough to bring about (manifest) change. I agree with this view, to a certain degree.

You may have noticed that I agree with BOTH views, to a certain degree. This is because, since I am a believer in the LoA, I must realize that both views are correct from their own points of view.

The reason that hard work is necessary for manifestation to occur on the one side of the fence is the BELIEF that it is necessary.

The reason that hard work is NOT necessary for manifestation to occur on the other side of the fance is the BELIEF that it is NOT necessary.

In my own experience, I have had situations where hard work was necessary, whereas other times, I have brought about awesome change with only mental work on my part. No physical action required.

Interesting how that works.

Anyway, please realize that my beliefs in this matter are just that…MY beliefs. You may not agree with my beliefs on this, but that’s OK. In the paraphrased words of Morpheus, “My beliefs do not require you to.”

For some interesting reading about the LoA:

Steve Pavlina’s posts about Intention & Manifestation

Andy Wibbels’ post about The Secret

I’m interested in hearing in the comments about YOUR experiences with the LoA and whether or not it works for you.

I recently had the idea that perhaps the interaction of simple ideas and beliefs might give rise to complex experiences and manifestations.

So, here’s what I think.

Let’s say that you decide to practice being grateful for the simple, basic and even mundane things in life. Do this on a 30-day trial. I think that if you can be consistent with this, for just 30 days, the gratitude for the mundane things will eventually become a subconscious habit. You will start feeling gratitude for things without even knowing it.

Now, if I take this further, it stands to reason that out of the interactions of these simple gratitudes, you will come to notice yourself being consciously grateful for things you never even noticed before, and it will reinforce this gratitude looping pattern.

As a result of the Law of Attraction, you will begin creating a reality for which you are more and more grateful. Life will get better and better.

Of course, I could be delusional. I’m interested in hearing your take on this in comments. It’s been bugging me for a few days now, and I just now figured out how to get it into a blog post without sounding totally off the wall.

I’m excited because this book touches on a lot of what I believe about Beliefs and Habits.

I haven’t even finished this book yet, and I’m already adding it to my list of recommended books. I’m proud to say that my aunt is going to read it after I am finished with it.

Don’t worry, I plan to review it once I’m finished, and let you know what I learned from it.

How is it possible to quit one’s job and not feel guilty about it? Let’s find out A few years back, when I was confronted with the decision of whether or not to re-enlist (again!?) in the Navy, it was quite a quandry. I had all the thoughts mentioned above. I was in a job that I basically couldn’t stand any longer. The work itself isn’t particularly hard, unless you cound the occasional months-long time away from friends, family and any semblance of a “normal” life. I was ok with that part, because I was the one who signed up.

One thing that I find interesting, however, is that as you come up to decision points such as this, you will find out a lot about yourself, as well as a lot about the people in your life who care about you.

You will invariably be offered up truckloads of advice, whether it is asked for or not. Those in your life who care and want only the “very best” for you will give you their version of what is best for you.

Enough about that stuff. I could write a whole post just about that.

The question before us is “How can I, in good faith, quit the job I’ve got to pursue something BETTER?”

I just recently had the pleasure of reading Steve Pavlina’s post titled “Don?t Die With Your Music Still In You“. Basically, in this post, which I highly recommend reading, Steve talks about whether we really lose anything of value by dumping jobs or lines of work that are not in alignment with our purpose.

I’ve been planning to write this post for a few days now, and when I ran across Steve’s post, it sorta solidified the deal for me. I am focusing more and more on synchronicities and alpha reflections (his term) now.

So, the way I see it, there are really only two ways to quit a job. They are:

• Out alignment and congruence with your purpose, and
• In of alignment and congruence with your purpose.

In alignment

By this, I mean, the manner in which you leave your job, in my opinion, should match up with the reason you are leaving the job you currently have. I’ve known several people who quit their job(s) in a fit of passionate anger. Later on, they justified it to themselves with statements such as, “It’s the principle of the thing”.

They quit the job without having a clear sense of WHERE they were going or WHY they were going there. This is akin to jumping out of a boat when there is no other in sight, and no hope of ever seeing one. I’m not saying you should always have a job lined up before you quit, per se. What I am saying is that you should have an IDEA of what you would like to attract into your life. If you just quit your job willy-nilly, and couple that with the intensity of anger, you are sure to attract more situations that are in congruence with willy-nilly anger.

Out of alignment

Let’s say you’re not happy with the job situation you are in. By taking the time to find out what you are all about, you are more likely to be able to attract more of what you want, and less of what you do not want. Along with this, comes the notion of “Blessing where you are now, on the way to where you are going”.

So, basically, the “right” way to quit a job, is to first know WHY you are doing so, and not going through with it until you are at a sense of peace with the job. Recognize the job as a stepping stone, a learning experience. Feel genuine gratitude for the job for that reason. Treat it as a good friend that you are simply growing apart from, and release it, and let it go.

I realized the other day, as I was observing this happen to me, that this analogy of traffic lights is a perfect illustration of how to keep the proper mindset if we expect our intentions to manifest as we intend. Let me explain.

I?m driving down the street (which could be taken to mean life in general), and I approach an intersection (crossroads, decisions, etc). I decide how I want the light to be (the intention). Ideally, as I get closer and closer to the intersection (decision), I should be able to keep the intention firmly in Mind, and simply KNOW that it will happen. This usually works. Sometimes, however, the light (life circumstances) doesn?t appear to be switching as soon or timely as I would like. I begin to panic (doubt my own intentions), and the Law of Attraction simply gives me more of what I think about. By allowing doubt to creep into my intention, I begin thinking of the very situations I do NOT want to happen. By thinking about these ?negative? situations, I bring more of the same. I need to figure out HOW to stop doing that.
So, that?s the problem. But what?s the solution?
Rather than doubting my intentions, because of the APPEARANCE of what is going on, I should TRUST that the intention will manifest. This manifestation occurs, to borrow from the affirmation by Steve Pavlina’s Million Dollar Experiment, ?in its own perfect time, for the highest good of all?. Just simply focus on the WHAT and WHY of what you are intending, and not so much on the HOW. If your WHY is big enough, the how will take care of itself.

As far as the traffic light analogy goes. Think of this way. If your desire about the intention is strong enough, then you must be resolved to the point that you are willing to speed through the intersection EVEN IF the light stays red. Once you can put yourself in that place of awareness and knowing, the light will change.

I?d be interested in hearing anyone else?s take on this, and also if anyone has some experiences which might serve as examples.

By
Bill Perry
?There is more than enough? — Anonymous

In this article, I will explain why I believe Charity is absolutely and totally essential if we ever want to be truly prosperous. Please bear in mind that Charity is more about the ACT and PROCESS of giving, not the thing given. Charity can also be the giving of your Time, the giving of a Compliment, and so on. However, since my blog is centrally focused on Spirituality as applied to Financial Freedom, I will be focusing on charity the giving of Money.

The spiritual law I think of most when thinking about Charity is the ?Law of Circulation?. Dr. Ernest Holmes writes that “When the law of circulation is retarded, stagnation results. It is only when we allow the Divine current to flow through us, in and out, we really express life. The law of giving and receiving is definite.”(1)

The Clearest example I can offer to explain what Dr. Holmes means is that of water in the ocean. Water in the ocean is in constant flowing in the form of the multitude of oceanic currents. If a pocket of the ocean suddenly decided not to flow any longer, it?s source current would continue trying to flow into that pocket. Since the pocket won?t flow anymore, the currents will no longer be able to enter that space, and will alter their flow AROUND that pocket. Such is the same with money.

The reason this is so, goes back to the Law of Attraction. The most often cited reason for not giving of Money to a worthwhile charity is ?I need money for my family. Money doesn?t grow on trees, ya know.? This line of thinking, in keeping with the Law of Attraction, ensures that there will be a limited supply of money, as the currents of the flow of money will flow AROUND that pocket of stagnated money, and stagnated thought.

Since I am on the subject of money flow, I?ll tell a little bit now on the practical reason of Why Charity is Essential in the Pursuit of Prosperity. There is a belief in New Thought that ?There is more than enough?. This means that there is such think as lack when it comes to Supply. It is a known fact that there is a certain amount of actual printed money in the entire world. What a lot of beginners fail to realize though, is that if we keep the money in circulation, then there will always be more than enough for everyone to have what they want and need in life.

As an example, a person receives their paycheck of $1000. If they tithe from their paycheck, then $100 is given to a charity/church of their choosing. This is circulating their money.

As another example, a person receives their paycheck of $1000, and puts 10% into an interest-bearing savings account, which is also $100. This money is ALSO circulated, because the banks use this money as their lending capital, which allows this money to be put to use in someone else?s life.

A third and final example. A person receives a sum of money, $1000 for uniformity across the examples. This person puts the $1000 into a safe and locks it away for ?a rainy day?. This money is NOT circulated, because while it is sitting there, no use can come of it right then.

If we have a community of 1,000 people, and the total sum of money in this entire town is $10,000, there will still be enough money for everyone in the entire town IF, and only IF, the money is kept in proper circulation, and the thoughts behind that circulation are of Giving, and not of Lacking.

(1)Holmes, Ernest S., ?The Science of Mind? , Tarcher/Penguin, 1997, p. 440