Feelings and Thoughts
July 23, 2008
It is remarkable how the depth of this subject (law of attraction and positive thought) becomes more clear as we explore all the facets of it. I hear people talk about thinking positively when it is feelings that they are mostly experiencing. Is this valuable?
Sometimes it is very valuable. It depends on the nature of the feelings. Let me explain.
When feelings are the result of reasonable thoughts the feelings need to be felt to be released. For example, supposing one is experiencing feelings of sadness related to loss of a loved one. This is real. This person is in grief and needs to be in that sad place to work through it. It is when people want to quickly remove themselves from the depths of sadness that paradoxically it lingers longer or gets suppressed only to raise again at a later date and sometimes in a more seriously unhealthy way. Grief is a necessary experience. There is such a thing as healthy grief.
There are several emotions we label negative because they are uncomfortable. We may tell oursleves “I shouldn’t feel this way” “I need to get over this”. They are uncomfortable for a reason. These so called negative emotions are like physical pain. If we did not experience pain, we would not know that something is the matter with our body. Likewise these uncomfortable feelings like anger are telling us something.
When a person feels the anger… I mean feels where it is in the body and what it feels like, it is not uncommon for underlying emotions to begin to make them selves heard. For example the anger turns into feelings of hurt or disappointment.
When a person really feels the emotions, it does not mean acting on it. Acknowledging the feelings, experiencing them, and noticing any changes in them is far different than shouting or banging a pillow or sending angry emails. Feeling it gets into the center of it and that is where it get released … when ready.
This is some of the inner work I referred to in a former blog message. This is the part that may require a counsellor. And this is the part that is healing.
Likewise it is important to really feel the happier emotions like joy and love and pleasure.
And so I wish you an enjoyable summer day.
Marie
Positive Thinking
July 21, 2008
One of the concepts connected with Law of Attraction is positive thinking. I choose to think of positive thinking as being informed perspective. Constructive positive thought knows facts. The possible outcomes of those facts may be viewed in a negative or a positive way.
For example, given the current economic instability you could gather the facts that have a possible influence on your own personal situation and make some adjustments in your living situation accordingly. We have been conditioned to believe that a slower economy is troublesome and we view that negatively. It is really neither negative nor positive. It just is.
Informed positive thinking gives you a sense of self empowerment. You can feel more like a participant in what is happening when you choose how you will use the facts in a way that feels right for you. Some may see merit in changing some expensive spending habits. Others may find new ways to earn money. Perhaps there are other positive outcomes of the change that you can focus on also. Environmental advantages may be one.
Are there some situations that are more difficult to shift to a positive and empowered perspective? Certainly. The key is to catch yourself slipping into a mode that is not empowering. You have the ability to make the shift. You may need some help but you can do it.
I am interested in your comments.
Marie Knapp
Law of Attraction
July 20, 2008
Very recently I distributed the latest Tips and Notes to those who have subscribed. If you would like to receive this in your regular email every month, you can subscribe. Go to the home page and youwill see it there.
Ever since the DVD of The Secret came out about 2 years ago, I find public interest in the Law of Attraction fascinating. It seems to be an approach avoidance thing. Initially it drew a lot of attention capturing the materialistic hearts of many who thought they could have anything they really wanted. Interesting how there is a weak side in all of us that hopes there is an easy way to get where we want to go and have what we want to have. Is this our ego getting involved too quickly to soon?
Then came the back lash. The comments about the capitalistic or materialistic theme. This inspired many others to write variations on the theme. Those of you who searched for other materials on the subject likely found that, in fact, there was a lot written about this theme long before the supposed secret was exposed.
We are now in a fortunate position of examining the Law of Attraction from several different perspectives as well as from our own personal experience. I suppose it is the continued interest in the subject, the actual positive results if you learn to apply it with inner work, and the shift in focus from the materialistic outcomes to quality in realtionships, a better earth and such that prompts me to continue exploring the subject and making it a fairly key part of each retreat I offer.
If you haven’t subscribed to Tips and Notes, you may wish to do so. In the mean time you can find the July edition on the web site under Tips and notes. Comments are welcome.
Marie
July, 2008
July 18, 2008
Welcome to the July 2008 edition of Tips and Notes.
Are you enjoying these messages? I hope you will forward this one to friends and colleagues who may enjoy this newsletter too. Later, they can easily subscribe by going to the subscribe page on my web site. www.dallacor.com
DallaCor is offering several new events this fall. Some appear at the end of this message and more will appear in the August message.
Greetings from Marie
Your Thoughts Make a Difference
Negative thoughts are rampant all around us. Thoughts about the economy, investments, jobs lost, war, accidents and violent crime. Fear-based attitude is everywhere. How do you manage this?
Law of attraction, power of intention, creative thought. The book shelves are filled with titles that contain aspects of these concepts. It is everywhere. Oprah Winfrey has done a magnificent job of promoting these concepts and shifting people’s thoughts to a new way of seeing things. In spite of its popularity, is it really possible to make this a way of daily living? If it was as easy as made out, we would all be wealthy, healthy, slender and have the perfect mate. Look around. Have you seen a dramatic increase in health and prosperity since “The Secret” was revealed?
Do I think that the power of positive thought is a valid concept? Absolutely! AND it takes work. The process is deep. And by the way, positive thought is also rampant all around us. Thoughts about love, peace, success, co-operation, collaboration, and neighbourliness. You see it all depends on what you are looking for and where you put our attention.
Making Your Thoughts Work for You
I have put together a list of points you might consider:
1. Conscious thought represents a very small portion of the thought behind your day. Your life is more apt to be affected by your subconscious thought. And that is why you have inner work to do to. We all have inner work to do. It is called self-awareness.
2. Notice the automatic thought that “pops” into your mind in any given moment in response to the events of an ordinary day. Just noticing will heighten your awareness of what is really behind what happens.
3. Your subconscious thoughts are not necessarily formed in words. In fact, they may be better described as pictures, beliefs, perspectives that you hold – often without even realizing it.
4. Some beliefs you know you hold because you can verbalize them. These represent only a small portion of the beliefs you hold. Most are subconscious. Most were formed before you reached the age of 7.
5. Many of the subconscious beliefs are limiting. It makes sense. They often were formed at a very young age. Once aware of your beliefs, you have the ability to modify or eliminate them if you wish. It takes courage to bring them up to date. It may be life-changing and that takes courage to face. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) works on the meridian pathways where past events are held. Hypnosis has also been useful. Affirmations may be helpful. It is important to really believe what you are saying. You have to feel it in your heart and feel the shift.
6. Giving attention to what happens may bring to your awareness that your first inner response is often a negative one that requires adjustment. This awareness gives you the opportunity to STOP that thought. Why give nourishment to what you really don’t want? A negative thought may be ones that show judgement, criticism, self admonition, anger, retaliation or others. There are other ways of looking at it.
7. The next step could be to identify what belief precedes that negative thought. Have you automatically judged that family member in that way for some reason that you can’t even remember but that happened early in your life?
8. Awareness is a huge step in working with creative thought. In other words it is a huge step in learning to make things happen in a positive way. Pat yourself on the back.
9. Being aware of beliefs and deliberately releasing ones you no longer need, can really help you shift. It is my experience that you can actually feel the shift in your body when you release a belief and find a more supportive one and meaningful one to replace it.
10. Feelings and thoughts are closely linked. When you deliberately set out to make your thoughts creative, bring your awareness to your heart and feel the shift take place as you visualize the new situation you are trying to create.
11. Intentions are thoughts aimed at creating a new reality. I find that many people have difficulty creating an intention that is really focused on a new reality. They are often drawn to hold on to the old. They work on wording something to eliminate it. Instead, forget about that entirely. What is it you really want? Once you get it, you will find it very inspiring.
12. Awareness is the first key. Then stop the negative thought. Identify the underlying belief and replace it. Now create intentions based on how you want things to be and feel it as thought it already exists. Give it lots of feeling and attention.
Your Thoughts in Ordinary Time
The following are some practical applications:
1. Sometimes your day begins with an unsettled feeling. Notice this. This means you have an opportunity. Identify the uneasiness. You are likely picturing something going wrong – perhaps a difficult conversation or a project not happening as you wish. STOP yourself before you get far along in the visualization. Give your attention to what it is that you want to happen instead. Picture it and feel it in you heart. It is exciting.
2. You may catch yourself sending a message to someone and cautioning them about what you don’t want to happen. You start painting a very clear picture of exactly what you don’t want. STOP. Start picturing what you do want to happen. Picture it and describe that in the message. Feel the excitement in your heart as you watch it unfold.
3. At home perhaps you have decided to focus on healthy eating patterns. You begin a list of things to do and find yourself writing what you are not supposed to buy or eat. The list gets longer. STOP. Tear up that list and begin anew. This time list all the things you will enjoy buying, preparing and eating. Enjoy new recipes.
Some Questions to Ponder
1. How much do we need to focus on possible side effects of a medication? Knowing the side effects is Ok. But place your self in the statistical group that do not experience them.
2. Why do we let a physician to say how long a person has to live? We all know of people who have not believed the physician and lived far longer. It is important to know that you may need to be prepared for a possibly shorter life than anticipated. Again it is still important to see yourself in the percentage of people who have successful surgery, who respond well to the medication or who have an immune system strong enough to overcome the illness. I see strength in that at least as long as there is still a possibility that you can be in that group.
3. Since there has been recent research demonstrating the effect of intention, how well is that being taken into account in experimental research? To what degree does the intention of the observer researcher impact the results? Can we even know this at this point?
4. To what degree can all of this be applied to prayer? Larry Dossey has done research demonstrating the power of prayer showing positive effects even when the patient did not know he was being prayed for.
In Conclusion
I know that our thoughts are a very important factor in our day to day lives. Thoughts are not necessarily words. Self awareness is the key to using your thoughts wisely. I am interested in hearing from you. Your reflections and experiences with this topic are valuable to my continued learning also. Please send your comments to marieknapp@rogers.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
What’s Up At DallaCor
Individual Sessions
Individual Healing and Growth sessions are available. Call me to discuss how your life and/or health challenges may be helped by the methods I offer. You may wish to look at my web site to learn more about what I do in this area. It continues to change as I learn more so keep checking.
Mentoring Program: Human Energy Systems
This module of the Mentoring Program will be offered in mid-September and early October 2008 over 4 weeks. It includes three group sessions and one individual session in which you decide the focus. Materials are included. Interested people should let me know what times work best for you and I will work on finding a time that accommodates most. (mornings, afternoons or evenings and what day of the week).
I am currently studying the second level of the Holistic Nursing Specialization course through the Canadian Holistic Nurses Association. In the module I will share information and guidance related to energy therapies and using light, colour and sound as vibrational means to work with and help balance your chakras in your own self care.
The module will be a guide through some basic learning and experiences with the energy fields, including the seven major chakras with their distinct energies. The module is meant to give you some experience with your own energy and the energy of the other participants. The focus is on self care and self healing in daily living and life challenges. Cost is $200. For more details check my website
Reiki
I have had several requests for Reiki Classes and will offer Level 1 in September and Level 2 in November. If you are interested in either or both of the above, could you let me know what time of day and what days of the week you can be available. Check my web site in August for dates and times.
Journey Though the Chakras
What an enjoyable day we had with a group of wonderful people dancing through each chakra, journaling with each one and sharing some of their insights. Mostly it was an experiential day. The participants were deeply involved in the music and the inner quiet reflections. Thank you to all of you for making that day a success.
If you are interested in hosting this workshop for at least 15 people in your community, let’s talk. Contact me marieknapp@dallacor.com or Wendy Roman at rhythwood@amtelecom.net Previous experience with Nia is not a prerequisite.
Retreats
I have offered several retreats over the past 10 years. I am considering offering a fall and spring retreat this year based on interest. Let me know if this is something you may be interested in. share this with others who you think may be interested and look for more inthe August message.
I am planning another Wellness Retreat for May 2009. More information later in the summer. Let me know if this interests you.
AND SO
I look forward to hearing from you. Please use the comments section below or email me at marieknapp@dallacor.com and I will respond.
I wish you many blessings and a healthy and wholesome summer,
Marie
