Ah, yes. One of the quandaries of modern life, our dependence on our personal computers. Mine has come to pass this week with my beloved trusty Dell 530S on the fritz. Not to worry; Dell is going to come galloping to the rescue with a spiffy new one sometime mid month, and in the meantime I'm using my boyfriend's older, somewhat slower one to get work and play (including blog posts and articles) done when he's not using it.
What would the Law of Attraction's role be in crashing computers? :-) Not much, except probably that I drew this to myself because yes, I worry that this is going to happen quite often, and I suspect that's true of a lot of people who spend their working lives on their computers. Plus that I also "drew to myself" my ability to use my boyfriend's computer so that this isn't quite the disaster it could have been.
Be that as it may, yes, I did "back up" important data (can't leave that to the Law of Attraction now, can we?), and I should be good to go again as soon as the new one gets here.
By the way, I've got to tell you about a piece of software I discovered several years ago, called Spinrite. It's working on my old computer right now, and what I hope it will do is to retrieve data I didn't back up. I've bought a new hard drive for the old computer, which I will clone from the old one, assuming the old one temporally starts working again after Spinrite is done with it. Great way to protect yourself from computer crashes -- although if I'd have thought of it, I'd have simply cloned my old hard drive's data onto a new one after a couple of years, which is about the life expectancy of a hard drive, for me.
Anyway; enough blather about computers and their idiosyncrasies. I'll be posting again soon!
Best,
Kim
Showing posts with label lazy law of attraction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lazy law of attraction. Show all posts
Friday, March 5, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Reality Bites
In the continuing James Ray saga, today's news reports that Mr. Ray is "broke." He can't afford his $5 million bail, his finances have been "shaken" by withdrawals to pay for his legal defense, among other things, and apparently, he's not worth the millions he himself bragged about during numerous interviews. But let's remember: This was the sleek, sexy, self-styled "guru" of the new "let's get rich" Law of Attraction crowd, and he had to look good to keep attracting those followers.
"As you think, so shall you be"
Proponents of LOA have basically always underscored the adage, "As you think, so shall you be." Nothing is truer, in my opinion, as far as Mr. Ray's situation is concerned. If you focus on appearance rather than substance, that is of course what you are going to attract. In other words, you look good on the surface, like Mr. Ray did, but when you scratch underneath that surface, what do you find? Not much.
This is a guy who bragged to Fortune Magazine in April of 2008 that his financial yearly goal was $21 million and that while he was sure there were limits, his attitude was, "I'm not aware of them."
Welcome to reality, Mr. Ray. You do have limits, and here they are, in stark relief. By the way, they have nothing to do with how much money you can earn, but how you actually earn that money -- and how you spend it. In other words, reality is going to bite you in the butt if you earn that money through pretense and callous disregard for others except for what they can give you in terms of a paycheck and a bloated bank account. By not being aware of those limits (by your own admission), you find yourself in this situation.
Being responsible and paying attention
LOA is about personal responsibility and paying attention, above all. In addition to his continuing legal troubles, Ray has also got a net worth of *negative* $4.2 million, because, apparently (and again), he didn't pay attention to his own actions in terms of finances, either. Overspending and living far above your means is just another example of the type of reckless disregard Ray so embodies.
Again, a good wake-up call for we folks who believe in the Law of Attraction. You do absolutely get back what you put out. Reckless disregard, or responsible, aware, thoughtful behavior? It's our choice.
"As you think, so shall you be"
Proponents of LOA have basically always underscored the adage, "As you think, so shall you be." Nothing is truer, in my opinion, as far as Mr. Ray's situation is concerned. If you focus on appearance rather than substance, that is of course what you are going to attract. In other words, you look good on the surface, like Mr. Ray did, but when you scratch underneath that surface, what do you find? Not much.
This is a guy who bragged to Fortune Magazine in April of 2008 that his financial yearly goal was $21 million and that while he was sure there were limits, his attitude was, "I'm not aware of them."
Welcome to reality, Mr. Ray. You do have limits, and here they are, in stark relief. By the way, they have nothing to do with how much money you can earn, but how you actually earn that money -- and how you spend it. In other words, reality is going to bite you in the butt if you earn that money through pretense and callous disregard for others except for what they can give you in terms of a paycheck and a bloated bank account. By not being aware of those limits (by your own admission), you find yourself in this situation.
Being responsible and paying attention
LOA is about personal responsibility and paying attention, above all. In addition to his continuing legal troubles, Ray has also got a net worth of *negative* $4.2 million, because, apparently (and again), he didn't pay attention to his own actions in terms of finances, either. Overspending and living far above your means is just another example of the type of reckless disregard Ray so embodies.
Again, a good wake-up call for we folks who believe in the Law of Attraction. You do absolutely get back what you put out. Reckless disregard, or responsible, aware, thoughtful behavior? It's our choice.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Should You Care about the Health Care Debate If You Believe in the Law of Attraction?
As the health care debate drags on in the US, and with no end in sight, I was musing about this dilemma the other day as it relates to the Law of Attraction. Proponents of the traditional view of LOA would say that you put your attention on what you want, and you take your attention away from what you don't want -- simple as that. What does that mean for those of us who are watching this healthcare situation, though? Do we focus on this debate with the intent that the outcome we want happens (whatever that may be), or do we ignore it and simply focus on our own well-being?
I think it's a little bit of both. I do pay attention to the health care debate, because as one of those without insurance, I want affordable insurance to be available to me (and millions of others like me) so that if I should have need of health care services, I can get them without having to worry about ending up in the poor house. This represents the first real opportunity that we have had in this country to have just that.
On the other hand, I realize that as one single person, my thoughts on this are probably going to have relatively little impact on what happens in Washington; I can, however, join with like-minded people who believe in the Law of Attraction, positive thinking, whatever you may have, and who want health care insurance for all that will be fair and affordable. The power of positive thinking, especially combined, can always make great changes.
What's not going to be beneficial is ruminating over this endlessly, thinking that Washington is only a corrupt city and that nothing will ever change; certainly, there may be corrupt politicians within the system that need to be purged, but they'll eventually cycle out. If we believe in the Law of Attraction, then we know we brought this political system into reality throughout history, and similarly, if we want to change it, we can.
And another thing: Does that mean that those who DON'T want a public option for health insurance should be ignored? That's a good question, and the short answer to that is, yes. Here's why. Not only is it a good Law of Attraction practice to ignore what you can't change (in this case, public health-care opponents' opposition), but there's another really important point to ignoring what the opposition thinks.
That is, those people who don't want a public option probably already have really good health insurance (or haven't had health problems to the point they find out their insurance doesn't really cover them after all, in which case they'll probably join the ranks of those of us who want it). The public option is for those of us whom pay too much for the insurance we do have, or who can't get health insurance at all. Those folks who don't want a public health insurance option probably also don't need it, and therefore don't have to use it.
I think it's a little bit of both. I do pay attention to the health care debate, because as one of those without insurance, I want affordable insurance to be available to me (and millions of others like me) so that if I should have need of health care services, I can get them without having to worry about ending up in the poor house. This represents the first real opportunity that we have had in this country to have just that.
On the other hand, I realize that as one single person, my thoughts on this are probably going to have relatively little impact on what happens in Washington; I can, however, join with like-minded people who believe in the Law of Attraction, positive thinking, whatever you may have, and who want health care insurance for all that will be fair and affordable. The power of positive thinking, especially combined, can always make great changes.
What's not going to be beneficial is ruminating over this endlessly, thinking that Washington is only a corrupt city and that nothing will ever change; certainly, there may be corrupt politicians within the system that need to be purged, but they'll eventually cycle out. If we believe in the Law of Attraction, then we know we brought this political system into reality throughout history, and similarly, if we want to change it, we can.
And another thing: Does that mean that those who DON'T want a public option for health insurance should be ignored? That's a good question, and the short answer to that is, yes. Here's why. Not only is it a good Law of Attraction practice to ignore what you can't change (in this case, public health-care opponents' opposition), but there's another really important point to ignoring what the opposition thinks.
That is, those people who don't want a public option probably already have really good health insurance (or haven't had health problems to the point they find out their insurance doesn't really cover them after all, in which case they'll probably join the ranks of those of us who want it). The public option is for those of us whom pay too much for the insurance we do have, or who can't get health insurance at all. Those folks who don't want a public health insurance option probably also don't need it, and therefore don't have to use it.
Monday, February 15, 2010
James Ray's "Accident" Defense Means He's No Believer in LOA
There's another thing about James Ray that's bothered me since this has come out. That is, he's been trying to say via his lawyers that this incident was an "accident." But wouldn't he, being the master of the Law of Attraction that he purports himself to be, and the ultimate believer that he says he is, know that there are no accidents?
Before this (and before he had to dance and protect his own butt), he would have said so. In fact, I'm sure he would have somberly shaken his finger at whoever tried to say so, and reminded them that they were responsible for themselves and that there were no accidents.
So, if there are no accidents, how can this incident suddenly have been deemed an accident by Ray? More than that, how do LOA's immutable laws somehow bend themselves to Ray's situation (i.e., certainly an accident for him, but no one else, right?)?
Indeed, if Ray's situation can do anything, it can make those of us who believe in LOA stop and take sober stock of our own actions, that along with the (admittedly enticing) "Just do what feels good!" clarion call of Abraham-Hicks and others in this tradition, we pair that with a respect for our physical existence and yes, our responsibility to others.
Before this (and before he had to dance and protect his own butt), he would have said so. In fact, I'm sure he would have somberly shaken his finger at whoever tried to say so, and reminded them that they were responsible for themselves and that there were no accidents.
So, if there are no accidents, how can this incident suddenly have been deemed an accident by Ray? More than that, how do LOA's immutable laws somehow bend themselves to Ray's situation (i.e., certainly an accident for him, but no one else, right?)?
Indeed, if Ray's situation can do anything, it can make those of us who believe in LOA stop and take sober stock of our own actions, that along with the (admittedly enticing) "Just do what feels good!" clarion call of Abraham-Hicks and others in this tradition, we pair that with a respect for our physical existence and
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Accountability and the Law of Attraction
I've been thinking more about James Ray and this egoistic mess he's gotten himself into, and it's crystallized something for me that I've been pondering, but I haven't been able to put into words until now. That is, when you decide to seriously pursue the Law of Attraction as a way of life, you don't become LESS accountable for other people. A lot of what I have read about the Law of Attraction in the past has hinted at just that; in other words, it's all about you, while other people are secondary.
However, I think that believing in the Law of Attraction makes you become MORE accountable for other people -- but not in the way most of us think of being "accountable."
That is, we don't become accountable to people in that we try to please them. We don't try to believe what they believe or agree with them to simply "get along," or because we think they know better than we do. The Law of Attraction is about self-empowerment, so in that sense, we truly are on our own path. We don't become responsible or accountable for other adults in that we try to take charge of them, and we know that we have to let them go on their own paths just as we're going on ours.
However, once you believe in the Law of Attraction, it does make you absolutely aware that you are responsible for your own actions in every way, which means you're also accountable for how you treat other people. And if that's true, then that means we have to be really careful that we always treat other people with care, respect and courtesy. That's a very different tone, in some respects, than the "Just float your own cork!" message you get from more traditional LOA messengers like Abraham-Hicks.
However, I think that believing in the Law of Attraction makes you become MORE accountable for other people -- but not in the way most of us think of being "accountable."
That is, we don't become accountable to people in that we try to please them. We don't try to believe what they believe or agree with them to simply "get along," or because we think they know better than we do. The Law of Attraction is about self-empowerment, so in that sense, we truly are on our own path. We don't become responsible or accountable for other adults in that we try to take charge of them, and we know that we have to let them go on their own paths just as we're going on ours.
However, once you believe in the Law of Attraction, it does make you absolutely aware that you are responsible for your own actions in every way, which means you're also accountable for how you treat other people. And if that's true, then that means we have to be really careful that we always treat other people with care, respect and courtesy. That's a very different tone, in some respects, than the "Just float your own cork!" message you get from more traditional LOA messengers like Abraham-Hicks.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
James Ray Has Been Charged with Manslaughter
James Ray has been charged with manslaughter in the deaths of three people who perished during the Sedona Arizona sweat lodge incident. This is very, very good news, in my opinion.
I'm a believer in the Law of Attraction, to be sure, but one of the Law of Attraction's teachings is that you take responsibility for your actions. Ray is trying to squirm his way around this, in my opinion, by saying that he takes responsibility but that he's not criminally guilty, which is a crock. In this case, "I'm responsible" means, "I'm guilty," for his part in those deaths.
If he REALLY believed in the Law of Attraction, this never would have happened, because he never would have so become disconnected with other people in his teachings with them that he ignored them in favor of his own ego-driven pursuits.
And now, he's really going to experience the Law of Attraction in all of its simplicity and directness. You can't "pretend" your way out of the Law of Attraction's results, and now he's going to learn that.
I'm a believer in the Law of Attraction, to be sure, but one of the Law of Attraction's teachings is that you take responsibility for your actions. Ray is trying to squirm his way around this, in my opinion, by saying that he takes responsibility but that he's not criminally guilty, which is a crock. In this case, "I'm responsible" means, "I'm guilty," for his part in those deaths.
If he REALLY believed in the Law of Attraction, this never would have happened, because he never would have so become disconnected with other people in his teachings with them that he ignored them in favor of his own ego-driven pursuits.
And now, he's really going to experience the Law of Attraction in all of its simplicity and directness. You can't "pretend" your way out of the Law of Attraction's results, and now he's going to learn that.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Bah, Humbug!
I'll say this clearly. I am not a Christian (although I respect my Christian friends' and relatives' beliefs as long as they don't "proselytize" all over mine ;-) ).
That said, what is it with "bah-humbugging" all over the greeting "Merry Christmas," anyway? So okay, Christians intend it as a recognition of Jesus' birth (even though the man wasn't really born then), and what of it?
You may call that "proselytizing," too, but you know? Whether or not it's meant that way, you don't have to take it that way. Plenty of other folks (me included) mean it as an innocuous, cheery greeting representative of the holiday itself: good feelings, good food and once-a-year treats, good times with friends and family, Christmas trees, having fun, presents and Santa, Rudolph's brave plight, all that.
So go on; relax already. And oh, yeah: Merry Christmas. :-)
That said, what is it with "bah-humbugging" all over the greeting "Merry Christmas," anyway? So okay, Christians intend it as a recognition of Jesus' birth (even though the man wasn't really born then), and what of it?
You may call that "proselytizing," too, but you know? Whether or not it's meant that way, you don't have to take it that way. Plenty of other folks (me included) mean it as an innocuous, cheery greeting representative of the holiday itself: good feelings, good food and once-a-year treats, good times with friends and family, Christmas trees, having fun, presents and Santa, Rudolph's brave plight, all that.
So go on; relax already. And oh, yeah: Merry Christmas. :-)
Monday, December 21, 2009
"The Law of Attraction Can Give You Instant Results!" Right? Not so Fast
"Change your thinking and change your life!" That's what so much of the hype around the Law of Attraction spouts as gospel, but let's take a deep breath and examine this for a minute.
Oftentimes, because the so-called "experts" make it sound that simple (and often to simply make themselves attractive to you and therefore make money FROM you), it can be really discouraging to those of us who follow LOA, especially if we are new to it, to think that we're somehow doing something wrong because things don't change miraculously overnight. (Trust me; things didn't change overnight for the so-called "experts," either.)
However, if we think LOA is going to bring us instant changes, we're really just taking the wrong approach. Instead, the Law of Attraction is a construct by which you can live your life, not just a superficial "tool" that can make you money, make you prettier, make you skinnier, make that perfect job appear, and so on.
Many of us who start out in the pursuit of LOA start out precisely to fix something that's wrong with our lives -- we don't have enough money, we don't have a loving relationship, we hate our jobs, we don't weigh what we think we should, and so on. However, if you stick with it, you'll find that something happens when you keep at it, over the long haul.
That is, your focus changes. You begin to realize that it isn't just one thing you want to fix with your life. Instead, you want to make your life better in so many ways that go far beyond the superficial. And as you stay with LOA, you begin to see just what those "beyond the superficial" things in your life are, those things that need fixing that you don't know how to fix because you neither have the wisdom nor the experience to do so.
Simply sitting back and asking for help is one way to do this. The universe and LOA in general are great at responding when we ask for help. The thing is, you have to learn to listen and watch, because the answers you get are probably not going to be particularly overt. Instead, they'll be subtle suggestions that will gradually change your life for the better, sometimes so subtly that you won't realize just how much things have improved until you look back over many months' time and see just how much better things are.
So, when it comes to LOA, go for the subtle. Look for the gradual. That's likely how LOA's improvements are really going to come to you.
Oftentimes, because the so-called "experts" make it sound that simple (and often to simply make themselves attractive to you and therefore make money FROM you), it can be really discouraging to those of us who follow LOA, especially if we are new to it, to think that we're somehow doing something wrong because things don't change miraculously overnight. (Trust me; things didn't change overnight for the so-called "experts," either.)
However, if we think LOA is going to bring us instant changes, we're really just taking the wrong approach. Instead, the Law of Attraction is a construct by which you can live your life, not just a superficial "tool" that can make you money, make you prettier, make you skinnier, make that perfect job appear, and so on.
Many of us who start out in the pursuit of LOA start out precisely to fix something that's wrong with our lives -- we don't have enough money, we don't have a loving relationship, we hate our jobs, we don't weigh what we think we should, and so on. However, if you stick with it, you'll find that something happens when you keep at it, over the long haul.
That is, your focus changes. You begin to realize that it isn't just one thing you want to fix with your life. Instead, you want to make your life better in so many ways that go far beyond the superficial. And as you stay with LOA, you begin to see just what those "beyond the superficial" things in your life are, those things that need fixing that you don't know how to fix because you neither have the wisdom nor the experience to do so.
Simply sitting back and asking for help is one way to do this. The universe and LOA in general are great at responding when we ask for help. The thing is, you have to learn to listen and watch, because the answers you get are probably not going to be particularly overt. Instead, they'll be subtle suggestions that will gradually change your life for the better, sometimes so subtly that you won't realize just how much things have improved until you look back over many months' time and see just how much better things are.
So, when it comes to LOA, go for the subtle. Look for the gradual. That's likely how LOA's improvements are really going to come to you.
Monday, December 14, 2009
LOA (Law of Attraction) and Skepticism
Just like any "religion," you've got lots of folks screaming, "You must BELIEVE!" when it comes to LOA. Now, let me tell you, when I first stumbled on LOA, it sure sounded good, to just relax, change your mind, change your vibration, watch things unfold. Presto, life is wonderful and perfect, suddenly!
Yeah, right. Except I'm a very skeptical person, especially when someone wants me to turn off critical thinking, and I think it's a good and healthy thing to be that way. And it's also not that simple, despite what so-called gurus would have you believe.
Here's what I think. You DO have a new and better life unfold, slowly over time, such that the adage, "As you think, so shall you be" really does make sense. But it happens slowly; I'm still working on it years later. And because you "do the work" of changing the way you think over that same time period, you're not the same person when you've been chugging along in this process for awhile that you were when you started.
You're not the same person precisely *because* you did the work of changing. Is that simple? Is that "presto-chango"? Nope. But sometimes, people who want to "sell" you on the Law of Attraction have a vested interest in making you think it's easy, too. "My way is the right way, and I have it all figured out; just listen to me," they might say. Tempting? Sure, but not a particularly wise choice, in my opinion.
Now, that said, it's not simple to pursue LOA, but it is truly meaningful, often fun, and always empowering for me. It makes logical sense to me now, too, so that I'm not so much a skeptic -- but I *am* always aware that I've got to keep skepticism in the mix just to keep things "real."
Yeah, right. Except I'm a very skeptical person, especially when someone wants me to turn off critical thinking, and I think it's a good and healthy thing to be that way. And it's also not that simple, despite what so-called gurus would have you believe.
Here's what I think. You DO have a new and better life unfold, slowly over time, such that the adage, "As you think, so shall you be" really does make sense. But it happens slowly; I'm still working on it years later. And because you "do the work" of changing the way you think over that same time period, you're not the same person when you've been chugging along in this process for awhile that you were when you started.
You're not the same person precisely *because* you did the work of changing. Is that simple? Is that "presto-chango"? Nope. But sometimes, people who want to "sell" you on the Law of Attraction have a vested interest in making you think it's easy, too. "My way is the right way, and I have it all figured out; just listen to me," they might say. Tempting? Sure, but not a particularly wise choice, in my opinion.
Now, that said, it's not simple to pursue LOA, but it is truly meaningful, often fun, and always empowering for me. It makes logical sense to me now, too, so that I'm not so much a skeptic -- but I *am* always aware that I've got to keep skepticism in the mix just to keep things "real."
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Law of Attraction "Foundations," not Fakery
It's no wonder that this recent focus on James Ray and the Sedona sweat lodge tragedy has brought LOA naysayers out in force. The guy is a prime example of the downfalls of falling for fake gurus, in this case for the Law of Attraction-following crowd.
But it doesn't mean LOA itself is fake, and we LOA-ers know that. It *is* an illustration of just what can happen when you give your power over to someone else, and quit thinking for yourself. LOA is all about self-empowerment, about staying focused in the "now" and fully conscious, and not about blindly following someone else.
What is LOA for?
It's a personal interpretation, of course (everything with LOA ultimately is powered by personal interpretation ;-) ).
In my case, LOA is there for me to give me a construct to my life. It helps me focus on what I want and to fix what I don't want. And it gives me permission to ignore what I don't want (but have in my life nonetheless) if it's something I can't fix right now.
That's freedom. Because what happens when I have the freedom to ignore what I don't want and can't fix is that eventually, one of several things happens:
§ Tools "show up" so that I can fix it
§ It just "goes away" of its own accord, or I can leave it behind easily
§ It just changes of its own accord to something I want
§ I grow into it and discover I DO want it, and that I just had to give it (and me) time
It's an ongoing process, too, and I'm still learning my own mastery a decade into this. If that's you, too, that's okay. Give it time. :-)
But it doesn't mean LOA itself is fake, and we LOA-ers know that. It *is* an illustration of just what can happen when you give your power over to someone else, and quit thinking for yourself. LOA is all about self-empowerment, about staying focused in the "now" and fully conscious, and not about blindly following someone else.
What is LOA for?
It's a personal interpretation, of course (everything with LOA ultimately is powered by personal interpretation ;-) ).
In my case, LOA is there for me to give me a construct to my life. It helps me focus on what I want and to fix what I don't want. And it gives me permission to ignore what I don't want (but have in my life nonetheless) if it's something I can't fix right now.
That's freedom. Because what happens when I have the freedom to ignore what I don't want and can't fix is that eventually, one of several things happens:
§ Tools "show up" so that I can fix it
§ It just "goes away" of its own accord, or I can leave it behind easily
§ It just changes of its own accord to something I want
§ I grow into it and discover I DO want it, and that I just had to give it (and me) time
It's an ongoing process, too, and I'm still learning my own mastery a decade into this. If that's you, too, that's okay. Give it time. :-)
Friday, December 11, 2009
The Law of Attraction, James Ray, and Sedona
There's been a lot of press lately about this "The Secret" so-called "guru," James Ray, and the sweat lodge tragedy that happened in Sedona, Arizona under his watch; so far, three people have died from it and many more were injured. I've been following that with interest, because I'm a believer in the Law of Attraction, and of course that incident has given a lot of LOA detractors fuel for their fire. They say that we LOA believers will say that number one, the victims attracted this circumstance to themselves, and that number two, James Ray will simply get off scot free because he can simply ignore what happened and put his attention on "something else," thus making this "unpleasant" incident simply go away.
I think they're wrong. I do NOT believe that these victims "attracted" the situation to themselves so that they could die (and I do not believe the gag worthy statement someone said, that they were just "having so much fun in the nonphysical" that they didn't want to come back).
I DO believe these victims gave their power over to James Ray to such an extreme extent that they wouldn't even listen to their own bodies when their bodies screamed that they had to get out of that sweat lodge or perish. Instead, they listened to James Ray tell them that they had to do what HE said -- so much so that they continued to ignore their own well-being to the point where they died. Why did they give their own personal power up so much that they got themselves into that circumstance in the first place?
James Ray is even more responsible for what happened. If he really DID believe in the Law of Attraction, he would know that it's about personal responsibility and self-empowerment -- and that's what he would be teaching. Instead, he was telling these people that they had to listen to HIM, or be failures. Anybody who really believed in the Law of Attraction would be saying that these people should be listening to themselves first and foremost. (And actually, he does say that in what he writes; apparently, it's not part of his personal behavior, though.) He wouldn't be on an ego trip.
But that's what it was. It was a pure ego trip for him, in my opinion, which means that he's a charlatan. Because if you really believe in the Law of Attraction, you know that you have to be wary of your ego, and you have to keep an eye on it; you don't let it control you. You also know that you can't be a fake. You can't pretend to be one thing, but really be something else. That's because the Law of Attraction draws experiences to you based upon who you really *are*, not on who you "pretend" to be. And James Ray is living that out right now -- which is exactly what he deserves.
I think they're wrong. I do NOT believe that these victims "attracted" the situation to themselves so that they could die (and I do not believe the gag worthy statement someone said, that they were just "having so much fun in the nonphysical" that they didn't want to come back).
I DO believe these victims gave their power over to James Ray to such an extreme extent that they wouldn't even listen to their own bodies when their bodies screamed that they had to get out of that sweat lodge or perish. Instead, they listened to James Ray tell them that they had to do what HE said -- so much so that they continued to ignore their own well-being to the point where they died. Why did they give their own personal power up so much that they got themselves into that circumstance in the first place?
James Ray is even more responsible for what happened. If he really DID believe in the Law of Attraction, he would know that it's about personal responsibility and self-empowerment -- and that's what he would be teaching. Instead, he was telling these people that they had to listen to HIM, or be failures. Anybody who really believed in the Law of Attraction would be saying that these people should be listening to themselves first and foremost. (And actually, he does say that in what he writes; apparently, it's not part of his personal behavior, though.) He wouldn't be on an ego trip.
But that's what it was. It was a pure ego trip for him, in my opinion, which means that he's a charlatan. Because if you really believe in the Law of Attraction, you know that you have to be wary of your ego, and you have to keep an eye on it; you don't let it control you. You also know that you can't be a fake. You can't pretend to be one thing, but really be something else. That's because the Law of Attraction draws experiences to you based upon who you really *are*, not on who you "pretend" to be. And James Ray is living that out right now -- which is exactly what he deserves.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
"Concrete" Law of Attraction
Abraham Hicks was my first introduction to LOA (Law of Attraction) more than 10 years ago now, and it was a whole new way to think. I kind of pooh-poohed it, but was also intrigued. Could it really be that easy? "Float your cork!" said Abe. "Reach for the better thought!"
Um, no. I mean, don't get me wrong, but learning LOA in human terms on this planet has meant, for me, the same kinds of struggle, skepticism, etc., I guess you'd expect when you completely change how you think. NOW I believe that things happen for a reason, that I'm pretty much responsible for what happens to me, and it's very empowering to realize that I'm never a victim of circumstance. But are there things I do differ with vs. Abe. For one, we're humans on this planet in these human bodies, and we must necessarily "filter" our experiences to at least some extent in that context. So sometimes, we can't just "feel better" and have things be miraculously okay. There will be loss, grief and struggle, and that's part of life, of this human experience we're all sharing.
That's where "concrete LOA" kicks in, for me. LOA can't completely protect me from the vagaries of life, but it CAN teach me how to see them and handle them. And it can also teach me to stay empowered, to stay present in the moment, and to sidestep those situations where I do have control and choice, but where I might have unwittingly let myself be a victim of circumstance before I knew about my own power and how to use it.
Um, no. I mean, don't get me wrong, but learning LOA in human terms on this planet has meant, for me, the same kinds of struggle, skepticism, etc., I guess you'd expect when you completely change how you think. NOW I believe that things happen for a reason, that I'm pretty much responsible for what happens to me, and it's very empowering to realize that I'm never a victim of circumstance. But are there things I do differ with vs. Abe. For one, we're humans on this planet in these human bodies, and we must necessarily "filter" our experiences to at least some extent in that context. So sometimes, we can't just "feel better" and have things be miraculously okay. There will be loss, grief and struggle, and that's part of life, of this human experience we're all sharing.
That's where "concrete LOA" kicks in, for me. LOA can't completely protect me from the vagaries of life, but it CAN teach me how to see them and handle them. And it can also teach me to stay empowered, to stay present in the moment, and to sidestep those situations where I do have control and choice, but where I might have unwittingly let myself be a victim of circumstance before I knew about my own power and how to use it.
Friday, December 4, 2009
New Lazy Law of Attraction blog
Hey, folks:
Lazy-law-of-attraction.com is just getting up and running, but I've just started this site (and blog) for folks who are interested in talking about the Law of Attraction in a more "lazy," laid back way. I want this site to be yours as much as it is mine, though this blog will mostly be my own "blathering," at least to start. ;-)
About me? I've studied the Law of Attraction for a long time and my first introduction to it was through Abraham-Hicks. I've loved a lot of Abe's approach, but thought it a bit "ethereal" at times. Not enough "in the physical," constructive advice.
Years on, I've found other resources that have also been helpful, but (just for me) have not wanted to focus as much on hype and "bling," "Look what I got!" and "YOU can be rich, too!," as many of the resources I've found have focused on.
Instead, I've always felt that yes, "enough" material subsistence is certainly necessary, IMO, to experience true freedom (if you're worried about paying rent, can you really relax and simply "be"?). But beyond that, what's with all the hype and all the focus on pretty, shiny things? What about conservation, helping Mother Earth survive, and being respectful of the environment, instead of mass consumption "just because"?
And I know; Abe (Abraham-Hicks) has said that whatever we want, we can have; the Earth will simply have the resources, and will provide, because we believe it can be so and will thus attract that experience.
Maybe that's true. But I would like to know if others feel, as I do, that there should be a certain respect inherent in practicing LOA; that just because we "can" have whatever "self"-based desires we want, maybe we practice some restraint, some compassion, some respect, and take care to honor ourselves, each other, the Earth, as part of LOA too.
I'd really like to know what you think, and that's why I started this blog, forum and website. Hope to get some good discussion going.
Best,
Kim
Lazy-law-of-attraction.com is just getting up and running, but I've just started this site (and blog) for folks who are interested in talking about the Law of Attraction in a more "lazy," laid back way. I want this site to be yours as much as it is mine, though this blog will mostly be my own "blathering," at least to start. ;-)
About me? I've studied the Law of Attraction for a long time and my first introduction to it was through Abraham-Hicks. I've loved a lot of Abe's approach, but thought it a bit "ethereal" at times. Not enough "in the physical," constructive advice.
Years on, I've found other resources that have also been helpful, but (just for me) have not wanted to focus as much on hype and "bling," "Look what I got!" and "YOU can be rich, too!," as many of the resources I've found have focused on.
Instead, I've always felt that yes, "enough" material subsistence is certainly necessary, IMO, to experience true freedom (if you're worried about paying rent, can you really relax and simply "be"?). But beyond that, what's with all the hype and all the focus on pretty, shiny things? What about conservation, helping Mother Earth survive, and being respectful of the environment, instead of mass consumption "just because"?
And I know; Abe (Abraham-Hicks) has said that whatever we want, we can have; the Earth will simply have the resources, and will provide, because we believe it can be so and will thus attract that experience.
Maybe that's true. But I would like to know if others feel, as I do, that there should be a certain respect inherent in practicing LOA; that just because we "can" have whatever "self"-based desires we want, maybe we practice some restraint, some compassion, some respect, and take care to honor ourselves, each other, the Earth, as part of LOA too.
I'd really like to know what you think, and that's why I started this blog, forum and website. Hope to get some good discussion going.
Best,
Kim
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