07 Dec 2009
What do Law of Attraction and an 84-year old Buddhist monk have in common?
Article from Successful Self Employment News, subscribe
How To ‘Wonder’ Your Way To Success
By now nearly all of us know the importance of visioning, intending and asking the universe for what we want.
But there’s another side to the Law of Attraction: releasing.
Without releasing, it’s easy to ask, ask, ask your way into frustration. Abraham-Hicks says we get so focused on asking that we can’t hear the answer. That’s why releasing is essential.
I’m not a big fan of using releasing alone, as some methods teach. To me releasing is the yin complement to the yang of asking and intending. You need both.
Today I’m sharing with you a totally simple and easy way to release. It comes from Susan Jeffers Ph.D. in her book “Embracing Uncertainty.”
She calls it “The Wonder of Wondering.” Here’s how it works.
You have a desire, let’s say it’s to triple your income in 2010. Life unfolds and you find yourself thinking about the desire. You start out hopeful.
Then, as often happens, life seems to move you in the opposite direction. You lose a big client, let’s say.
Suddenly hope implodes into worry. Our mind becomes obsessed with what else could go wrong.
In those moments, Jeffers advises we retrain our over-thinking mind by wondering.
Instead of thinking “I hope I get a replacement client soon,” think: “I wonder what good things are coming to me to re-balance my income.”
Instead of thinking “I hope my prayers for more income are answered,” think “I wonder how my prayers for more income will be answered.”
Wonder helps replace frantic thinking with a sense of openness. It gives you a sense of relief. And curiosity. Even acceptance of where you are now.
When we feel relief, curiosity and acceptance we’ve released our resistance (aka stress) about what we want. We align with receiving it!
Here’s a tip from me about wonder that’s not in the book. I recommend you frame your wondering positively.
This: “I wonder whether the networking meeting will be fun and worthwhile.”
Not this: “I wonder whether the networking meeting will be a waste of my time.”
Ideally you want the conclusion of your statement (without the “I wonder” beginning) to express a positive message or affirmation.
That’s because the unconscious mind is always listening to us and being programmed by our words. “The networking meeting will be a waste of my time” is not the ideal programming!
Keep in mind it’s not about writing affirmative statements. They tend to backfire when we don’t see the evidence. It’s important to include the “I wonder” element up front.
Sure you’d prefer a certain outcome – that’s natural. But wondering helps prevent disappointment in case you don’t receive it right away.
As you continue to be in wonder about your desires, you continue releasing stress, becoming a match to what you’ve intended.
Hmm…I wonder whether the frequent use of “I wonder” is the secret to creating a “wonderful” life!
Till next time, here’s to your successful self employment.
The bold declaration isn’t mine. I’m borrowing from Thich Nhat Hanh, the expatriate Vietnamese Buddhist monk now living and working in France.
His latest book, “You Are Here,” was just translated and published in English. It’s a gem.
I was surprised to learn Thich Nhat Hanh’s birth year: 1926. For 83 years he has blessed us.
Thich Nhat Hanh states in chapter 1 that “Happiness and Peace are Possible.” Good news, right?
Only… they have nothing to do with the circumstances around you.
What about the Law of Attraction? Doesn’t it teach we can have what we want?
Actually, the Law of Attraction teaches that we have the power to choose our response under and any all circumstances.
Thich Nhat Hanh and LoA might have more in common than we think!
If you love the idea of choosing peace and happiness - regardless of which way the tide of external events flows at the moment – let this book guide you.
It asks that you drop your attachment to having things stay (or return to) the way you like them.
We call our times “turbulent.” They are. A storm is sweeping through. You have the choice to cling to the way things were. Listen to most news media, and that’s their mournful wail.
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