About ten years ago, I accepted a job as Claims Director for a small heath plan. Even though I had absolutely no claims background, the company wanted a fresh, unbiased approach and hired me. Periodically, a provider would call me requesting that a particular claim be paid. Because I did not have the knowledge to pay the claim myself, I would ask a team leader in our department, Don, to handle it for me. Don had a great attitude and would always reply, “Joanne, consider it done.” I learned that I could do exactly that – because he always paid the claim.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about Don and his reply to me as I try unsuccessfully to receive something I cannot manifest through my own efforts: release from the debt of my current house and the purchase of a different home, one that my husband and I would select and love that better suits our needs. I have had this desire for three years, and yet we still live in my house.
I recently came upon a book written over 100 years ago by H. Emilie Cady (yes, I’ve mentioned her before) called God A Present Help. In it she describes me to a tee as she tells about people who pray faithfully for things, good things that would cause no harm to anyone, and yet fail to receive them. Cady states that typically, after a long time of praying and not receiving, these people become discouraged and think that there must be something wrong with them. They conclude that they must not have enough faith or that they have the wrong kind of faith. Cady explains that the real problem is that they are not following the directions of Jesus who said, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (English Standard Version). Cady says these people believe their prayers will be answered, not that they have already received.
Think about it. To say that something will happen places it in the future, and the future never comes. It’s never tomorrow; it’s always today. The key, according to Cady, is to see the thing we’re praying for as already happening, or as Don put it so well: to consider it done.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Special Olympians Are Joyful Receivers
Some of you may know that my brother-in-law, Ronnie, is a retarded gentleman and a gold-medal Special Olympian. I recently had the pleasure of attending a Special Olympics bowling competition and observing how joyfully and easily the participants received.
Special Olympics involves a wide range of mentally retarded individuals. They are men and women of all races, ages, and disability levels, both physically and mentally. Some are quite skilled at their sport and others can barely compete. I watched one man throw the bowling with the power of a professional bowler and another be assisted onto the lane in her wheelchair where she released the ball down a ramp.
It was interesting to watch and listen to the family and friends who accompanied these athletes. While all were encouraging, a good number also offered well-meaning advice on how the Special Olympian could bowl better and improve their score. Most of the athletes seemed oblivious to the advice, having no interest in the event as a competition. Winning was not their motivation. They seemed to revel in just being there, the enthusiasm and praise from the crowd, and the opportunity to participate. I smile as I recall one woman clapping and shouting with glee each time she threw the ball, regardless of how many pins fell.
The real fun for me and the participants came at the awards ceremony. In Special Olympics, everyone receives an award of some type, in this case a ribbon or medal. Every award is equally honored by the officials and equally cherished by the recipients. At this event, it made no difference if the recognition was for last place or first, the athlete received the award with absolute joy and excitement.
Watching this, I was reminded of Jesus’ words, "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it" (Mark 10:15 New King James Version). Surely there is a lesson in receiving from these Special Olympians. Their childlike trust and excitement for life are magnets for good and blessings. Do you have the faith of a child as you put forth to the Universe your heart’s deepest desires?
Special Olympics involves a wide range of mentally retarded individuals. They are men and women of all races, ages, and disability levels, both physically and mentally. Some are quite skilled at their sport and others can barely compete. I watched one man throw the bowling with the power of a professional bowler and another be assisted onto the lane in her wheelchair where she released the ball down a ramp.
It was interesting to watch and listen to the family and friends who accompanied these athletes. While all were encouraging, a good number also offered well-meaning advice on how the Special Olympian could bowl better and improve their score. Most of the athletes seemed oblivious to the advice, having no interest in the event as a competition. Winning was not their motivation. They seemed to revel in just being there, the enthusiasm and praise from the crowd, and the opportunity to participate. I smile as I recall one woman clapping and shouting with glee each time she threw the ball, regardless of how many pins fell.
The real fun for me and the participants came at the awards ceremony. In Special Olympics, everyone receives an award of some type, in this case a ribbon or medal. Every award is equally honored by the officials and equally cherished by the recipients. At this event, it made no difference if the recognition was for last place or first, the athlete received the award with absolute joy and excitement.
Watching this, I was reminded of Jesus’ words, "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it" (Mark 10:15 New King James Version). Surely there is a lesson in receiving from these Special Olympians. Their childlike trust and excitement for life are magnets for good and blessings. Do you have the faith of a child as you put forth to the Universe your heart’s deepest desires?
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Where is Your Focus?
Have you ever heard it said that the Universe does not hear or register the words “no” or “not”? It’s usually said in the context of how we frame our affirmations. We’re told not to think, “I do not want to be late,” because the Universe will hear, “I want to be late” and we’ll be late. I’ve even heard it said that we should choose our words very carefully or they could come back to haunt us. The example was given of a man who, wanting greater prosperity, affirmed, “I receive big bills” and ended up receiving invoices for large amounts of money he owed!
This advice is well intended and not completely off track, but it’s not totally on course either. First, the Universe to me refers to God, and I know God is not stupid. Scripture repeatedly tells us that God knows our thoughts. In Psalm 139 we read, “O Lord, you have searched me and known me…you discern my thoughts from far away” and “Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely.” How is it then that God would not know that the man in our story wanted greater abundance and that he meant denomination when he said “bills”? Having to worry about our every word makes God out to be a version of Alex Trebek, waiting to catch us up in a phrasing error.
I don’t think the problem is that the Universe cannot register negations. It’s that when we’re worrying about being on time, we’re thinking about being late. When we want abundance, we’re focusing on eliminating our debt, and our attention is on the debt. We would do better to affirm, “I arrive safely in perfect time,” and “God is my instant, constant, and abundant supply, for which I give thanks.”
To keep the right focus, be aware of your fears. Catch when you are obsessing about what you don’t want or what’s happened in the past that you don’t want to repeat. Turn your thoughts to what you do want. It’s not that the universe doesn’t hear the “not.” It’s that your focus is on the not!
This advice is well intended and not completely off track, but it’s not totally on course either. First, the Universe to me refers to God, and I know God is not stupid. Scripture repeatedly tells us that God knows our thoughts. In Psalm 139 we read, “O Lord, you have searched me and known me…you discern my thoughts from far away” and “Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely.” How is it then that God would not know that the man in our story wanted greater abundance and that he meant denomination when he said “bills”? Having to worry about our every word makes God out to be a version of Alex Trebek, waiting to catch us up in a phrasing error.
I don’t think the problem is that the Universe cannot register negations. It’s that when we’re worrying about being on time, we’re thinking about being late. When we want abundance, we’re focusing on eliminating our debt, and our attention is on the debt. We would do better to affirm, “I arrive safely in perfect time,” and “God is my instant, constant, and abundant supply, for which I give thanks.”
To keep the right focus, be aware of your fears. Catch when you are obsessing about what you don’t want or what’s happened in the past that you don’t want to repeat. Turn your thoughts to what you do want. It’s not that the universe doesn’t hear the “not.” It’s that your focus is on the not!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Remembering What I Knew Has Just Paid Off
Two weeks ago I wrote about how I was using the practice of remembering what I know to manifest a new job opportunity. Three different times in my life I experienced receiving a wonderful new job without any great effort on my part. I’ve been taking time daily to recall each of these situations in detail and re-experiencing the feelings of joy and excitement I had. This week I began a new job is that is truly ideal! Let me tell you more about this process because it’s so much fun and really effective.
Very often when we need something badly we become anxious and worried about it. These negative feelings come from negative thoughts that it won’t come and imaginings about what will happen to us as a result. We use our imaginations in the worst possible way: rather than seeing only the highest and best for ourselves, we see only the worst case scenarios happening.
To avoid this process, when remembering what we know we recall times in our lives when things did work out, when we got exactly what we desired or more. We’ve all had these experiences, so the first step is to take the time to recall them. If you’ve fallen into the negative thinking habit, it may take a while to excavate them from your memory bank. Find a quiet time and place to allow yourself to go back in time mentally. You can divide your life into categories such as family, professional, health and so forth. It might suit you better to examine blocks of time, such as childhood, high school, college, single years, and the like. As the experiences come back to mind, write them down. Remember who you were at the time, what you did beforehand and how you felt, exactly how your desire manifested, and what your response was. Really feel the feelings again. It should feel fabulous!
My job experiences took place during college, in the early 1990s, and about ten years ago. In each case I took an easy, natural step. I recall that I had no specific expectations in mind and the results were bigger than I had imagined in even general terms. This is what exactly happened recently. Two weeks ago I mentioned to my current boss that I was looking for additional work. She mentioned that another leader in our organization occasionally needed part time help, if I was interested. I said I was, and the leader called me last week, just a few days after my conversation with my boss. The position was part time, allowing me to continue marketing my current book and write my new one. It paid well, used the knowledge I had, and promised to enable me to learn much more. I went for an interview three days later and starting work just three days after that!
This process worked so well that I’m committed to seeing how I can use it again to take my next step. Give it a try, and let me know how you make out.
Very often when we need something badly we become anxious and worried about it. These negative feelings come from negative thoughts that it won’t come and imaginings about what will happen to us as a result. We use our imaginations in the worst possible way: rather than seeing only the highest and best for ourselves, we see only the worst case scenarios happening.
To avoid this process, when remembering what we know we recall times in our lives when things did work out, when we got exactly what we desired or more. We’ve all had these experiences, so the first step is to take the time to recall them. If you’ve fallen into the negative thinking habit, it may take a while to excavate them from your memory bank. Find a quiet time and place to allow yourself to go back in time mentally. You can divide your life into categories such as family, professional, health and so forth. It might suit you better to examine blocks of time, such as childhood, high school, college, single years, and the like. As the experiences come back to mind, write them down. Remember who you were at the time, what you did beforehand and how you felt, exactly how your desire manifested, and what your response was. Really feel the feelings again. It should feel fabulous!
My job experiences took place during college, in the early 1990s, and about ten years ago. In each case I took an easy, natural step. I recall that I had no specific expectations in mind and the results were bigger than I had imagined in even general terms. This is what exactly happened recently. Two weeks ago I mentioned to my current boss that I was looking for additional work. She mentioned that another leader in our organization occasionally needed part time help, if I was interested. I said I was, and the leader called me last week, just a few days after my conversation with my boss. The position was part time, allowing me to continue marketing my current book and write my new one. It paid well, used the knowledge I had, and promised to enable me to learn much more. I went for an interview three days later and starting work just three days after that!
This process worked so well that I’m committed to seeing how I can use it again to take my next step. Give it a try, and let me know how you make out.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Letting Go of the Good for the Greater
This phrase, letting go of the good for the greater, was a teaching I received early on in my experience of New Thought. It was a stretch in the beginning getting comfortable with wanting, asking for, and expecting more, when what I had was already good. Even once we get accept the idea that it’s okay to ask for more since the supply is unlimited, it still can be hard to let go of the good.
We like the good; that’s why we consider it good. On some level, it works for us. We know it and we’re comfortable with it, so why would we let it go? Well, it may be that something even better has just presented itself to us. It may have just been newly created, like the latest Blackberry, or something we just learned about that has been around a long time. It could be that our sense of self has expanded so much that now we can imagine having something better that we couldn’t dream of having before, such as a higher level job or a bigger house in a nicer neighborhood.
It’s easier to let go of the good when the greater is right there waiting, such as accepting the new job that’s been offered. It’s a lot harder to let go of the good based just on the faith that the greater will appear. Often, though, that’s the way it works when we want to receive. In March, I let go of the Jazzercise class that I taught three times a week and loved so that I could move into new opportunities to promote my current book and write the next one. The greater is still in the process of manifesting, as you may have guessed from my last post.
The picture of this process that I get is one of having my hands full. If I’m literally holding so much stuff that I could not possibly hold anything else, I’ll have to put something down. I’m reminded of that wonderful song from Sesame Street, when Ernie asked Mr. Hoots to help him learn to play the saxophone.
I've learned a thing or two
From years of playing in a band
It's hard to play a saxophone
With something in your hand
To be a fine musician
You're gonna have to face the facts
Though you're blessed with flying fingers
When you wanna wail, you're stuck
What good are flying fingers
If they're wrapped around a duck?
Change the toy's position
If you wanna ace the sax!
You gotta put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
Yeah, you gotta leave the duck alone
You gotta put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
If you wanna play the saxophone!
http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/s/sesame_street/#share
We like the good; that’s why we consider it good. On some level, it works for us. We know it and we’re comfortable with it, so why would we let it go? Well, it may be that something even better has just presented itself to us. It may have just been newly created, like the latest Blackberry, or something we just learned about that has been around a long time. It could be that our sense of self has expanded so much that now we can imagine having something better that we couldn’t dream of having before, such as a higher level job or a bigger house in a nicer neighborhood.
It’s easier to let go of the good when the greater is right there waiting, such as accepting the new job that’s been offered. It’s a lot harder to let go of the good based just on the faith that the greater will appear. Often, though, that’s the way it works when we want to receive. In March, I let go of the Jazzercise class that I taught three times a week and loved so that I could move into new opportunities to promote my current book and write the next one. The greater is still in the process of manifesting, as you may have guessed from my last post.
The picture of this process that I get is one of having my hands full. If I’m literally holding so much stuff that I could not possibly hold anything else, I’ll have to put something down. I’m reminded of that wonderful song from Sesame Street, when Ernie asked Mr. Hoots to help him learn to play the saxophone.
I've learned a thing or two
From years of playing in a band
It's hard to play a saxophone
With something in your hand
To be a fine musician
You're gonna have to face the facts
Though you're blessed with flying fingers
When you wanna wail, you're stuck
What good are flying fingers
If they're wrapped around a duck?
Change the toy's position
If you wanna ace the sax!
You gotta put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
Yeah, you gotta leave the duck alone
You gotta put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
Put down the duckie
If you wanna play the saxophone!
http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/s/sesame_street/#share
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Remember What You Know
If you asked my daughters what phrase or expression I’m known for, it would be “Remember what you know!” I used to tell them this as they headed out the door to school on days they a big test scheduled. As a student of math, I used to practice this technique frequently. When I saw a problem I didn’t immediately know the answer to, I would ask myself, what do you know that could help you reason out an answer to this? It was a very effective technique and I discovered this question was helpful in all kinds of situations. Almost always I had some experience or knowledge that I could apply to handle a current challenge, when I remembered what I knew.
Not surprisingly, this admonishment is applicable when seeking to receive. What do you know about your past experiences receiving that you could use now? I recently came upon a wonderful Biblical story in 2 Maccabees where Maccabeus remembered what he knew and encouraged his troops to do the same. Scripture states, “He exhorted his troops not to fear the attack of the Gentiles, but to keep in mind the former times when help had come to them from heaven, and so to look for the victory that the Almighty would give them. Encouraging them from the law and the prophets, and reminding them also of the struggles they had won, he made them the more eager” (2 Maccabees 15: 8-9). As you can imagine, Maccabeus and his troops were victorious.
In this story, Maccabeus reminded them of the teachings they grew up with (the law and the prophets) and of the help they had received previously. What they knew entailed both book learning or studies and lessons from practical experience. Currently I’m using this same technique in my daily meditation. I am seeking additional income and am open to taking on another job as a means. There were three times in my life when wonderful jobs came to me almost effortlessly. These jobs entailed enjoyable work in my field and paid a wage far better than I’d ever received before. Remembering these experiences helps me to maintain my expectation that I can and will receive something similar again. I affirm that the right and perfect opportunity is on its way right now as I remember what I know.
Remember what you know. As a creation of the Divine, you are worthy to receive. God is waiting to bless you again, as God has many times before. Embrace these truths, remember what you know, and receive all the blessings that are waiting for you.
Not surprisingly, this admonishment is applicable when seeking to receive. What do you know about your past experiences receiving that you could use now? I recently came upon a wonderful Biblical story in 2 Maccabees where Maccabeus remembered what he knew and encouraged his troops to do the same. Scripture states, “He exhorted his troops not to fear the attack of the Gentiles, but to keep in mind the former times when help had come to them from heaven, and so to look for the victory that the Almighty would give them. Encouraging them from the law and the prophets, and reminding them also of the struggles they had won, he made them the more eager” (2 Maccabees 15: 8-9). As you can imagine, Maccabeus and his troops were victorious.
In this story, Maccabeus reminded them of the teachings they grew up with (the law and the prophets) and of the help they had received previously. What they knew entailed both book learning or studies and lessons from practical experience. Currently I’m using this same technique in my daily meditation. I am seeking additional income and am open to taking on another job as a means. There were three times in my life when wonderful jobs came to me almost effortlessly. These jobs entailed enjoyable work in my field and paid a wage far better than I’d ever received before. Remembering these experiences helps me to maintain my expectation that I can and will receive something similar again. I affirm that the right and perfect opportunity is on its way right now as I remember what I know.
Remember what you know. As a creation of the Divine, you are worthy to receive. God is waiting to bless you again, as God has many times before. Embrace these truths, remember what you know, and receive all the blessings that are waiting for you.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Stand Up and Receive Your Applause
It’s not always easy to recognize someone who has trouble receiving, but sometimes it’s obvious. A sure sign is when in a group setting certain people are asked to stand up and be recognized for something they did – complete a project, volunteer for an event, even have a birthday. Rather than just stand there and be recognized, they applaud the other people who are standing. This gets me crazy. Do they really think the other people aren’t getting enough applause, that somehow the recognition will be incomplete without theirs? Is it that they’re just an extremely thoughtful person? Maybe, but I think it’s actually that they’d rather be giving than receiving.
Think about what’s happening here. Where is the person’s attention? If they’re applauding, it’s most likely to be on the other people standing. If we don’t notice what we’re being given, we really haven’t received it. Now we’re back to the giver (those seated applauding the others) not having their gift be received. The other outcome is that other people standing see these applauding standers and they begin to feel uncomfortable – so they start applauding. I’ve seen occurrences in church where everyone is applauding: all those seated and everyone standing. It’s as if no one is being recognized.
Of course, if only one person is being recognized, they really can’t start applauding. If they did, they’d be congratulating themselves – heaven forbid! In those cases, the people who are most uncomfortable receiving don’t stand. In fact, they slump lower in their seat and look down, hoping the attention will cease. It’s painful to watch.
I challenge you to be aware of this tendency. Next time you’re called out and recognized for something, please just stand up, smile, and soak it in! Do this, if it’s just you or if it’s entire group being congratulated. If you need some help with this, join Toastmasters. One of my favorite things about this organization is that they are forever applauding someone. It’s almost always an individual, so people quickly get used to being applauded. They either have to get over their discomfort or resign themselves to feeling it frequently.
There is so much criticism in the world today. Let’s do our parts to reverse this by graciously, gratefully, and completely receiving everything we’re offered, including applause.
Think about what’s happening here. Where is the person’s attention? If they’re applauding, it’s most likely to be on the other people standing. If we don’t notice what we’re being given, we really haven’t received it. Now we’re back to the giver (those seated applauding the others) not having their gift be received. The other outcome is that other people standing see these applauding standers and they begin to feel uncomfortable – so they start applauding. I’ve seen occurrences in church where everyone is applauding: all those seated and everyone standing. It’s as if no one is being recognized.
Of course, if only one person is being recognized, they really can’t start applauding. If they did, they’d be congratulating themselves – heaven forbid! In those cases, the people who are most uncomfortable receiving don’t stand. In fact, they slump lower in their seat and look down, hoping the attention will cease. It’s painful to watch.
I challenge you to be aware of this tendency. Next time you’re called out and recognized for something, please just stand up, smile, and soak it in! Do this, if it’s just you or if it’s entire group being congratulated. If you need some help with this, join Toastmasters. One of my favorite things about this organization is that they are forever applauding someone. It’s almost always an individual, so people quickly get used to being applauded. They either have to get over their discomfort or resign themselves to feeling it frequently.
There is so much criticism in the world today. Let’s do our parts to reverse this by graciously, gratefully, and completely receiving everything we’re offered, including applause.
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