This week, I’ve been dispelling several common misconceptions. On Monday, I discussed the common myth that it’s just as easy to manifest a big desire as a small one.
Today, I have another question I’d like to answer: why is it that someone can seem to be happy, and yet still not have everything they want? And, on the other hand, someone who seems to have it all can often be rather sour?
We all know it’s true. We’ve seen those who have very little money, and yet are kind towards all. And we know wealthy people who only care about themselves.
Of course, that’s not a universal truth, but it is enough so that it deserves to be covered.
My goal for this week is to show that there’s a lot more to the law of attraction than you might at first suspect. It’s not just about feeling good, and outer reality reflecting that, though of course that’s part of it. But, there’s a lot more behind the scenes, too.
If you hope to reliably use the law of attraction in your life, then you need to ground your understanding in reality. If it doesn’t apply in reality, then it’s just a nice theory.
Of course, it does apply, but much of the common understanding is limited, as I’ve said before.
As an example, whenever I’ve asked on discussion forums about this issue, of why someone can seem perfectly miserable and yet get what they want, the common response is, “Well, you can’t really know their true vibration.” And while that’s certainly true, it still doesn’t satisfactorily answer the question.
I hope to give a more satisfactory explanation in this post.
Success and Happiness Do Not Always Coincide
Most LOA teachers will say, “Just feel good and your desires will come to you.” I already showed on Monday why that was false.
But, if it were true, we’re sort of left with the idea that really successful people must be out-of-this-world happy, in order to achieve the amount of success they have.
And so when we see someone who seems to have made it in the world, and yet has pretty significant problems of their own, it’s a bit discouraging. I’ve heard people say before, “If that person can be miserable and yet be successful, then why do I need to be happy in order to get what I want?”
I mean, that seems to deal a fatal blow to the law of attraction. While there are studies that correlate happiness and success, they are by no means inextricably linked.
It’s for that reason that so many people are skeptical of the LOA. To many, it seems like we’re just saying, “Think positively and you’ll get everything you want.”
However, that’s only so if you misunderstand how the law of attraction actually works. Some people stop there, and just relegate it to the pile of ideas that hasn’t worked for them.
The truth is, all sorts of people are successful, from kind, generous people, to mean, selfish ones. That’s simply a fact of life that must be faced.
So if we’re to truly learn about how the law of attraction works, not just in theory but in practice, too, then we must take these things into consideration.
Personally, I’ve known several very wealthy people in my life, specifically two I can think of off the top of my head, both of whom were millionaires. They were both very close family friends.
Neither one was super happy and optimistic. One was kind in a sort of subtle way, but she also complained all the time. The other was very frugal with his money, and not the nicest guy in the world.
How can we explain their success with the law of attraction? We cannot simply give the cop-out answer of “Well, we can’t really know their vibration.” Again, I’ve known both of these people since I was a child.
Interestingly, I cannot even apply the criterion that they were detached from money, and therefore it came to them easily. The first was pretty detached, and not at all ostentatious with her wealth, but the other was often described as greedy, and yet still had plenty of it.
This is a question that used to bother me a great deal when I was beginning with the law of attraction, but unfortunately I could not find any convincing answers. I’m pointing out these scenarios as examples of real-world cases of what I am talking about. So, let’s find out what’s really going on behind the scenes.
Slopes vs. Steps
I think sometimes we might see the law of attraction as a scale—you could say a scale of positivity. The higher on that scale you are, the more good things you are attracting to you. The lower on that scale you are, the more negative things you are attracting to you.
You could see this like a slope. You can go either up the slope, to more positive experiences, or down the slope, to more negative experiences. But, nothing keeps you from sliding up and down that slope all throughout your day, based on your inner focus. Often the fear is, if you slide too far down that slope, you’re going to attract some pretty negative things to you.
I’d like you to see it instead as a series of steps. With steps, it takes some effort to step up to the next level, but once you have reached it, you are more or less stable at that level. You don’t slide up and down that scale, but stay roughly in the same relative position, with some variation here and there.
I’ll give you an example. Let’s say you make $2,000 a month at your job. If you have a few days of feeling pretty negative, that doesn’t cause the Universe to suddenly dock your pay. Similarly, if you’re positive for a few days, you generally don’t suddenly receive a large bonus.
That’s the flaw in the “feel good and everything good comes to you” way of thinking.
I urge you to try this: Do your best to stay as positive as possible for a week, without any active intentions or anything. I suspect that while some positive experiences will likely come to you, nothing life changing will occur. You’ll stay roughly on the same level you were at before, just on the slightly more positive end of that spectrum.
While this can be a bit frustrating, because it might appear as though you are stuck, it is also a protection.
If every time you felt negative, you had to fear becoming homeless, or suddenly losing your job, or something like that, it’d be extraordinarily hard to manifest anything positive. We’d have a few bad days, and suddenly life would turn drastically for the worse.
Obviously it’s not that way. We have relative stability.
But, one function of that stability is that it takes effort to disrupt it, to move up to the next step. We have reached a sort of homeostasis, and it’s easier to maintain that homeostasis than to try to move up to the next level.
The Subconscious Mind Is the Key
The stabilizing factor here is the subconscious mind.
I’ve mentioned many times in the past that the subconscious mind seeks what is familiar. It seeks to habituate behavior and ways of thinking.
To seriously alter the subconscious mind’s chosen set point is difficult, to say the least. It goes against everything the subconscious mind was made for. It’s job is to make it hard to easily change its programming.
As I said, this works in our favor most of the time. If you like the amount of money you receive now, or the relationships you have, or anything else good in your life, it is due to the subconscious mind’s ability to automate that you have held on to these things.
It’s like the current level goals vs. next level goals that I’ve been discussing. Your subconscious mind was made to make your current level goals easy.
If you’re a millionaire, your next million isn’t going to be nearly as hard as your first. The reason? Because your subconscious mind now knows how to generate a million dollars. And the third will be even easier.
Even if you have days, weeks, or months of negative thinking, unless it is far out of the range of your average state of being, it’s not going to seriously alter your financial situation, or likely anything else. You might have minor frustrations in everyday reality, as a result of being on the lower end of that spectrum of your current step. But unless your negative thinking becomes a habit that shifts your subconscious beliefs in the long term, then very little is likely to be affected.
But similarly, if you want to step up to the next level, it’s going to take far more than a bit of positive thinking here and there. That’ll net you some slightly more positive experiences, more alignment in your life, etc, but your overall situation is going to remain generally static.
I think this is where a lot of people run into frustration with the law of attraction. They start feeling good and thinking positively, and they do indeed experience some more positive events in their life. But, they’re almost invariably minor events: a kind word from a stranger, finding $20 on the sidewalk, an unexpected discount, etc.
We learn to hang our hopes on these small manifestations. They are “signs” that what we want is on the way. But when very little changes after a few months or even years of this, then we’re left wondering what gives.
But as I discussed on Monday, manifesting something big, i.e., stepping up to the next level, is a totally different process than simply having a more generally positive life. It takes a totally different skill set to permanently step to that next level.
It’s not the fault of the law of attraction. It’s simply that most people don’t realize that these are two different processes, with two different outcomes. One will make life a bit easier on your current level, while the other will generate the momentum necessary to reach that next step.
Why You Might Be Happy But Still Not Have What You Want
So, you find that you’re generally rather positive overall. You don’t complain, at least too much, and you are kind to others.
But yet, your manifestation is still not here. You struggle to pay the bills, or to go on that dream vacation, or to find the perfect partner for you.
To summarize what was stated above, the issue is not that you’re not feeling good enough. You’ve likely tried that already, and it hasn’t worked.
The issue is that you’re not generating momentum. There’s nothing driving you to that next level.
There are two modes in the law of attraction, which I’ll discuss in greater detail after the new year. These are contraction and relaxation.
Without contraction, there is no movement. You cannot reach the next level. Contraction is the same as the structural tension I’ve been discussing.
When you are just relaxing into your goal, which means just trying to feel good about it, there’s no contraction. There’s no drive. There’s no momentum.
Relaxation is great for reaching the upper limits of your current level, but it cannot generate the force necessary to push you to the next level.
Most people think that total relaxation or surrender would bring you to the topmost step. But, in reality, it just makes your current step more comfortable.
To generate the contraction needed, you need to add the other two elements of magic: will, and focus.
You need to use your will to choose your goal, and use your focus to single-mindedly pursue that goal to completion.
The emotion is also needed, but emotion (i.e., relaxation or “feeling good”) is not enough on its own.
Those who are successful are successful because they’ve practiced being successful. It does not take work to maintain their level of success.
But it took work to get there. And by work, I primarily mean the inner work of aligning with that goal, and generating the momentum to reach it.
Therefore, if you have your vision set on the next level, you need to convince your subconscious mind that it’s worth it. You need to use the force of contraction, or structural tension, to hold a vision in opposition to your subconscious mind. You need to instill that new vision within the subconscious, with daily focus on and embodiment of that goal.
If you do this, then the subconscious mind will gradually take on that new consciousness, and your goal will become easy to maintain.
Happiness has little to do with it. It helps to keep you on course, and is invaluable when added to the other necessary elements. But on its own, it can do very little.
If you’re a happy person, continue being a happy person. But add to that the determination and persistence to hold the vision of what you want to create. Then, you will easily step up to the next level, and your innate positivity will help you to remain there.
How About You?
Now it’s your turn. Have you felt stuck at your current level for a while? What could you do to generate the momentum needed to reach the next step? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
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Several days ago I’ve “run into” a webstore thanks to google, that has so many cool items I wanna have. Just thinking about having them makes me dance around the room xD .
I think it’s a very good motivation to keep on with my goals in general. Also taking into consideration what you said in the last call, that tying a monetary goal to something inspiring kicks the whole thing up.
Btw, if we want to manifest something, like an item, it’s better to just choose to manifest that item, than to choose to manifest money for that item, right? The latter closes doors and limits the flow of Universal energy, right? I am wondering if me choosing to manifest money for the Art of Reality Class is pinching off the Universal energy for me, of is it actually a good way to work on manifesting money.
It depends really on what feels the best to you. But often the item itself is indeed more inspiring to us than the money for that item.
Thanks.
I’ll also share with you something that I’ve kind of known for a while, but didn’t want to face it. It’s probably a major reason why I haven’t been getting specific results with manifesting so far.
I’m in a vicious loop. Over the years I’ve developed the habit of reaching for instant gratification of joy, to cover up the pain when it arises. I’m sure many people do this in their own way. That instant gratification comes up in form of checking social media and other websites too often, overeating, listening to fast, upbeat songs too much, etc. That has served me for such a long time of running away from negative emotions when they’d arise.
And most likely because of so much instant gratification, I have lost interest in progressive things, like hobbies. It’s like, I started eating only the icing on the cake, so the rest of the cake stopped appealing to me. And because of lack of progressive joys, my energy isn’t flowing properly. Also I have troubles with concentration and memory.
So obviously the solution is to cut down on instant gratification, i.e. escape from problems. On one hand, I’ll be able to feel better the negative emotions of resistance, and release them better. On the other hand, as instant gratification abates, I should regain interest in things like hobbies, which are of less instant intensity, but more satisfying in the long run.
This has helped me understand why people overeat, drink too much, or are glued to their cellphones. I’m in the same boat as them. However it’s time to get out.
I feel like an alcoholic who’s just admitted his problem. (even though I don’t drink lol)
Hi Z,
That totally makes sense. I think a lot of people do the exact same thing. For me, I think a balance is key. Good luck on cutting back, though. 🙂
Brandon, another great post. Seeing your progress as a series of steps makes total sense and your subconscious mind’s job is to keep you at your current. I am thinking that this is similar to your “comfort zone”, if you don’t move out of your comfort zone nothing will change in your life. The only way to move to the next level is to create the structural tension and eventually your subconscious will realize what you are wanting to achieve and help you get there. For the fastest progress it is probably better to aim for the next level, something just out of reach, rather than go for the mansion, island and yacht straight off the bat. This is what I am taking from all your recent posts. Great work by the way.
Hey Tim,
Thanks so much for your comment. 🙂 I appreciate it.
Yeah, initially it’s definitely better to go for what’s just out of reach, to build up confidence. Eventually, once you have more confidence in your ability to create, you can go for things that are a bit bigger to you.
Several days ago I’ve “run into” a webstore thanks to google, that has so many cool items I wanna have. Just thinking about having them makes me dance around the room xD .
I think it’s a very good motivation to keep on with my goals in general. Also taking into consideration what you said in the last call, that tying a monetary goal to something inspiring kicks the whole thing up.
Btw, if we want to manifest something, like an item, it’s better to just choose to manifest that item, than to choose to manifest money for that item, right? The latter closes doors and limits the flow of Universal energy, right? I am wondering if me choosing to manifest money for the Art of Reality Class is pinching off the Universal energy for me, of is it actually a good way to work on manifesting money.
It depends really on what feels the best to you. But often the item itself is indeed more inspiring to us than the money for that item.
Thanks.
I’ll also share with you something that I’ve kind of known for a while, but didn’t want to face it. It’s probably a major reason why I haven’t been getting specific results with manifesting so far.
I’m in a vicious loop. Over the years I’ve developed the habit of reaching for instant gratification of joy, to cover up the pain when it arises. I’m sure many people do this in their own way. That instant gratification comes up in form of checking social media and other websites too often, overeating, listening to fast, upbeat songs too much, etc. That has served me for such a long time of running away from negative emotions when they’d arise.
And most likely because of so much instant gratification, I have lost interest in progressive things, like hobbies. It’s like, I started eating only the icing on the cake, so the rest of the cake stopped appealing to me. And because of lack of progressive joys, my energy isn’t flowing properly. Also I have troubles with concentration and memory.
So obviously the solution is to cut down on instant gratification, i.e. escape from problems. On one hand, I’ll be able to feel better the negative emotions of resistance, and release them better. On the other hand, as instant gratification abates, I should regain interest in things like hobbies, which are of less instant intensity, but more satisfying in the long run.
This has helped me understand why people overeat, drink too much, or are glued to their cellphones. I’m in the same boat as them. However it’s time to get out.
I feel like an alcoholic who’s just admitted his problem. (even though I don’t drink lol)
Hi Z,
That totally makes sense. I think a lot of people do the exact same thing. For me, I think a balance is key. Good luck on cutting back, though. 🙂
Brandon, another great post. Seeing your progress as a series of steps makes total sense and your subconscious mind’s job is to keep you at your current. I am thinking that this is similar to your “comfort zone”, if you don’t move out of your comfort zone nothing will change in your life. The only way to move to the next level is to create the structural tension and eventually your subconscious will realize what you are wanting to achieve and help you get there. For the fastest progress it is probably better to aim for the next level, something just out of reach, rather than go for the mansion, island and yacht straight off the bat. This is what I am taking from all your recent posts. Great work by the way.
Hey Tim,
Thanks so much for your comment. 🙂 I appreciate it.
Yeah, initially it’s definitely better to go for what’s just out of reach, to build up confidence. Eventually, once you have more confidence in your ability to create, you can go for things that are a bit bigger to you.
This post was really fantastic as well ????! I receive so much clarity and wisdom from your blog posts, thank you Brandon.
Thanks so much, Natasha! I really appreciate that. 🙂
Happiness does keep you on course. Depression takes you off it and it takes time to get back on course after the stagnation of depression, so it is best to feel happy and upbeat no matter what. Isn’t this one of the core LOA principles? I have heard Masters say time and again that there is no reason to be depressed, as one’s situation can change. It is we who keep ourselves there, generally speaking.
It is just easier to keep at it and be on the ball when feeling good overall. One good approach is to be appreciative and grateful and that will keep you feeling generally good, allowing more things to come in. Good topic!
Hi Kat,
Yes, overall, it is better to be happy than not.
The point of this post is to say that happiness is not inextricably tied to getting what you want. It’s common sense, because we can clearly see it in life: plenty of people who have what they want, even though they aren’t very happy.
It does help, and it makes the path easier. But, on its own, it is not enough.
This post was really fantastic as well ????! I receive so much clarity and wisdom from your blog posts, thank you Brandon.
Thanks so much, Natasha! I really appreciate that. 🙂
Happiness does keep you on course. Depression takes you off it and it takes time to get back on course after the stagnation of depression, so it is best to feel happy and upbeat no matter what. Isn’t this one of the core LOA principles? I have heard Masters say time and again that there is no reason to be depressed, as one’s situation can change. It is we who keep ourselves there, generally speaking.
It is just easier to keep at it and be on the ball when feeling good overall. One good approach is to be appreciative and grateful and that will keep you feeling generally good, allowing more things to come in. Good topic!
Hi Kat,
Yes, overall, it is better to be happy than not.
The point of this post is to say that happiness is not inextricably tied to getting what you want. It’s common sense, because we can clearly see it in life: plenty of people who have what they want, even though they aren’t very happy.
It does help, and it makes the path easier. But, on its own, it is not enough.
If you have ‘everything you want’ but are not happy, I would say that you don’t have everything you want. Who wants to be unhappy? If you don’t have ‘everything you want’ and are happy, then surely the things you ‘want’ are irrelevant because you are happy. What beats true happiness? I’m missing something somewhere it seems because I don’t get all this emphasis on ‘doing’ and not ‘being’.
Hi Jon,
Have you ever met someone who is quite contented most of the time, very positive, but is still not reaching their dreams? In my experience, it’s so common as to be a stereotype.
On the other hand, a rather successful person does not need to be a shining example of positivity 24 hours a day. They do not need to be in the “Vortex” even most of the time. They can live quite normal lives, being grumpy sometimes, complaining sometimes, contented sometimes. That’s normal, is it not?
And the point is that the two, while connected, is not inextricably so.
Happiness and success are really two different considerations. Of course we all want to be happy. I consider myself rather happy most of the time. But some people try to extend that to ridiculous lengths, like trying to be joyful all day long, because that’s the only thing that will supposedly draw to them what they want. And then they get frustrated that it did not happen.
Both being and doing are important. We are both spiritual as well as physical beings. One without the other makes us incomplete. Being who we want to be is vital, but also doing what we want to do. They are two sides of the same coin.
But I’m simply trying to clarify why it is that the most apparently successful among us are not also the most spiritual, or the happiest, or the most joyful, or the kindest.
Why it is that negative people can seem to have a lot more than those who try to feel good as much as possible.
What you choose to do with that information is up to you. I just want to ground the LOA in reality, not in theory. And the plain truth is that you don’t need to be perpetually happy to manifest what you want, and being happy won’t necessarily get you what you want.
I hope that makes sense. 🙂
I love this comment. This is definitely something I’ve been wondering about for the past few months. I feel like I’m a happy, positive, content person and according to Abraham everything I’ve wanted should’ve dropped in my lap by now haha.
Thanks so much, Natasha!
Yeah, exactly. I’ve heard that exact same complaint so many times, or read it from others on forums and such. That’s why I wanted to write this post.
My wife, Christine, always tells about the experience when she went to El Salvador. She said the people she met there were all so happy. And yet, they had very little.
That bugged me for quite a while. It sat in the back of my mind and would come up every so often, and I’d wonder why that was. Why was it they were so happy, and yet had very little? It makes no sense in the Abraham paradigm.
Now it makes all the sense in the world. They haven’t set their vision on something higher. Either they’re perfectly contented where they are, which it sounds like is the case for a lot of them, or they just don’t believe it’s possible.
Thanks Brandon, but I think we are defining happiness as different things. One one hand the ‘trying to be happy’ state, which isn’t actually happiness, but a sort of fake joy arrived at through fear of not manifesting unless you are ‘happy’, and on the other the state of true contentment and happiness, where you are solidly anchored in happiness and don’t need more.
I was talking about the latter, not happiness as means to an end, i.e. stuff you want, but happiness as a state to relax into (?)
Hi Jon,
No, I actually don’t think we are. I mean that actually being happy, for the sake of being happy, is not enough to get everything you want.
Happiness and getting what you want are not synonymous. That example from El Salvador I told Natasha about, those people were not faking happiness. They were happy, and yet did not have everything they wanted.
However, I think you fail to see that happiness is a spectrum. I think it’s perfectly possible to be anchored in contentment, and still very much like or prefer that other things might come into your reality. You’re just not focused on it, or you aren’t upset by that.
I know many contented, happy people. If you asked them, they would say they had pretty good lives. They would also say that of course certain aspects could be better, life isn’t perfect after all, but they are happy.
Is this fake happiness to you? It is not to me. It is just realism.
I’m making a divide between that inner state and the outer reality. If you have a positive inner state, does it mean that every single desire in outer reality is fulfilled? No, obviously not. It just means that you are happy.
I’m really trying to look outside the realm of those who try to deliberately use the law of attraction. Abraham claims that the only thing blocking you from your goal is that you aren’t feeling good. I’m saying that there are plenty of people, in everyday life, who do feel good a lot of the time, and yet their every desire has not been fulfilled.
Their general three steps are as follows: (1) ask for what you want, (2) the Universe gives it vibrationally, and (3) you allow it to come to you, by feeling good, i.e., by being happy.
It doesn’t pan out in everyday life, though. Feeling good does not equal getting your desires. It is one necessary component, but not sufficient on its own, and some have managed to achieve their goals without feeling very good all the time.
I hope this clarifies things a bit.
I get what you are saying Brandon. There is a sliding scale of happiness, which makes the term a bit vague.
I think I am talking about noticing happiness. Noticing and encouraging it, releasing resistance to reveal it etc. I think the people who ‘feel pretty good most of the time’ you mention, aren’t particularly aware of it, and don’t give it any extra significance. LOA practitioners have a different approach to emotion generally.
I wonder if there is a sort of ‘peak happy’ state, where you couldn’t be any more happy. 😉
Hi Jon,
I understand what you are saying.
However, I’ve heard the same from LOA practitioners, that even just choosing to be happy for a while, just for its own sake, resulted in no additional manifestations for them. I’ve experienced the same.
You might be interested to read my response to Z elsewhere in this comment thread. I mentioned an instant manifestation I had earlier, but I would not describe my state as happy. A bit above neutral, if anything, and just getting over a bit of annoyance.
So in my experience, happiness does not translate to manifestation.
This is where I differ from Abraham. They see our emotions as a spectrum from very negative to very positive. In their view, the more positive the emotion, the more positive the manifestation.
I see it more, you could say, as a line, with the center being most effective, i.e., the zero state. It was in the moments of zero state awareness that I’ve made the most progress.
Zero state awareness is not the same as happiness. Happiness is a positive, just as sadness is a negative. Zero state awareness is not on that spectrum. It goes beyond that spectrum.
For me, the biggest manifestations come when I am in zero state awareness, and very lightly choose my intention. I can use a bit of emotion for a few seconds, to anchor that manifestation, but it’s not always necessary, and I drop it immediately.
But, again, that’s only one component. I’ve manifested before in moments of sheer panic, by my will to succeed alone. Your will is a powerful tool, never to be underestimated. You’re a magician, just as we all are. The prime tool of the magus is his will.
As I said, I feel it is valuable to see how LOA works out there in the wild, when someone isn’t aware of it. Does it require happiness? No. Does it require will? Absolutely. Is positive emotion useful to smooth out the ride a little? of course.
We should approach this as a science to the best of our ability. Does X work? We only know if we try X and see if it gets the results we expect. I’ve experimented with the LOA for quite a while now. In my experiments, emotion, on its own, did not lead to the manifestation of my desires. Feel free to replicate the test and try it on your own. 🙂
If you have ‘everything you want’ but are not happy, I would say that you don’t have everything you want. Who wants to be unhappy? If you don’t have ‘everything you want’ and are happy, then surely the things you ‘want’ are irrelevant because you are happy. What beats true happiness? I’m missing something somewhere it seems because I don’t get all this emphasis on ‘doing’ and not ‘being’.
Hi Jon,
Have you ever met someone who is quite contented most of the time, very positive, but is still not reaching their dreams? In my experience, it’s so common as to be a stereotype.
On the other hand, a rather successful person does not need to be a shining example of positivity 24 hours a day. They do not need to be in the “Vortex” even most of the time. They can live quite normal lives, being grumpy sometimes, complaining sometimes, contented sometimes. That’s normal, is it not?
And the point is that the two, while connected, is not inextricably so.
Happiness and success are really two different considerations. Of course we all want to be happy. I consider myself rather happy most of the time. But some people try to extend that to ridiculous lengths, like trying to be joyful all day long, because that’s the only thing that will supposedly draw to them what they want. And then they get frustrated that it did not happen.
Both being and doing are important. We are both spiritual as well as physical beings. One without the other makes us incomplete. Being who we want to be is vital, but also doing what we want to do. They are two sides of the same coin.
But I’m simply trying to clarify why it is that the most apparently successful among us are not also the most spiritual, or the happiest, or the most joyful, or the kindest.
Why it is that negative people can seem to have a lot more than those who try to feel good as much as possible.
What you choose to do with that information is up to you. I just want to ground the LOA in reality, not in theory. And the plain truth is that you don’t need to be perpetually happy to manifest what you want, and being happy won’t necessarily get you what you want.
I hope that makes sense. 🙂
I love this comment. This is definitely something I’ve been wondering about for the past few months. I feel like I’m a happy, positive, content person and according to Abraham everything I’ve wanted should’ve dropped in my lap by now haha.
Thanks so much, Natasha!
Yeah, exactly. I’ve heard that exact same complaint so many times, or read it from others on forums and such. That’s why I wanted to write this post.
My wife, Christine, always tells about the experience when she went to El Salvador. She said the people she met there were all so happy. And yet, they had very little.
That bugged me for quite a while. It sat in the back of my mind and would come up every so often, and I’d wonder why that was. Why was it they were so happy, and yet had very little? It makes no sense in the Abraham paradigm.
Now it makes all the sense in the world. They haven’t set their vision on something higher. Either they’re perfectly contented where they are, which it sounds like is the case for a lot of them, or they just don’t believe it’s possible.
Thanks Brandon, but I think we are defining happiness as different things. One one hand the ‘trying to be happy’ state, which isn’t actually happiness, but a sort of fake joy arrived at through fear of not manifesting unless you are ‘happy’, and on the other the state of true contentment and happiness, where you are solidly anchored in happiness and don’t need more.
I was talking about the latter, not happiness as means to an end, i.e. stuff you want, but happiness as a state to relax into (?)
Hi Jon,
No, I actually don’t think we are. I mean that actually being happy, for the sake of being happy, is not enough to get everything you want.
Happiness and getting what you want are not synonymous. That example from El Salvador I told Natasha about, those people were not faking happiness. They were happy, and yet did not have everything they wanted.
However, I think you fail to see that happiness is a spectrum. I think it’s perfectly possible to be anchored in contentment, and still very much like or prefer that other things might come into your reality. You’re just not focused on it, or you aren’t upset by that.
I know many contented, happy people. If you asked them, they would say they had pretty good lives. They would also say that of course certain aspects could be better, life isn’t perfect after all, but they are happy.
Is this fake happiness to you? It is not to me. It is just realism.
I’m making a divide between that inner state and the outer reality. If you have a positive inner state, does it mean that every single desire in outer reality is fulfilled? No, obviously not. It just means that you are happy.
I’m really trying to look outside the realm of those who try to deliberately use the law of attraction. Abraham claims that the only thing blocking you from your goal is that you aren’t feeling good. I’m saying that there are plenty of people, in everyday life, who do feel good a lot of the time, and yet their every desire has not been fulfilled.
Their general three steps are as follows: (1) ask for what you want, (2) the Universe gives it vibrationally, and (3) you allow it to come to you, by feeling good, i.e., by being happy.
It doesn’t pan out in everyday life, though. Feeling good does not equal getting your desires. It is one necessary component, but not sufficient on its own, and some have managed to achieve their goals without feeling very good all the time.
I hope this clarifies things a bit.
I get what you are saying Brandon. There is a sliding scale of happiness, which makes the term a bit vague.
I think I am talking about noticing happiness. Noticing and encouraging it, releasing resistance to reveal it etc. I think the people who ‘feel pretty good most of the time’ you mention, aren’t particularly aware of it, and don’t give it any extra significance. LOA practitioners have a different approach to emotion generally.
I wonder if there is a sort of ‘peak happy’ state, where you couldn’t be any more happy. 😉
Hi Jon,
I understand what you are saying.
However, I’ve heard the same from LOA practitioners, that even just choosing to be happy for a while, just for its own sake, resulted in no additional manifestations for them. I’ve experienced the same.
You might be interested to read my response to Z elsewhere in this comment thread. I mentioned an instant manifestation I had earlier, but I would not describe my state as happy. A bit above neutral, if anything, and just getting over a bit of annoyance.
So in my experience, happiness does not translate to manifestation.
This is where I differ from Abraham. They see our emotions as a spectrum from very negative to very positive. In their view, the more positive the emotion, the more positive the manifestation.
I see it more, you could say, as a line, with the center being most effective, i.e., the zero state. It was in the moments of zero state awareness that I’ve made the most progress.
Zero state awareness is not the same as happiness. Happiness is a positive, just as sadness is a negative. Zero state awareness is not on that spectrum. It goes beyond that spectrum.
For me, the biggest manifestations come when I am in zero state awareness, and very lightly choose my intention. I can use a bit of emotion for a few seconds, to anchor that manifestation, but it’s not always necessary, and I drop it immediately.
But, again, that’s only one component. I’ve manifested before in moments of sheer panic, by my will to succeed alone. Your will is a powerful tool, never to be underestimated. You’re a magician, just as we all are. The prime tool of the magus is his will.
As I said, I feel it is valuable to see how LOA works out there in the wild, when someone isn’t aware of it. Does it require happiness? No. Does it require will? Absolutely. Is positive emotion useful to smooth out the ride a little? of course.
We should approach this as a science to the best of our ability. Does X work? We only know if we try X and see if it gets the results we expect. I’ve experimented with the LOA for quite a while now. In my experiments, emotion, on its own, did not lead to the manifestation of my desires. Feel free to replicate the test and try it on your own. 🙂
This is so true . Are used to drive myself crazy trying to be happy all the time. I think will and intention are more important than feeling happy all the time. Sorry for The formatting of my comments I am using dictation on an iPhone
Thanks, Rose. Yes it is very true. Will and intention are extremely important. 🙂
And your formatting is fine. Christine and I use dictation all the time. 🙂 It’s very useful.
Thanks Brandon for this article it’s excellent and really makes a lot of sense
I find that I have more natural joy springing up as I spend more time at the zero point
That is wonderful! And that is exactly what is to be expected. As you spend more time at 0, it nourishes your being. I’m very glad you’ve had success with it.
Another cool thing is I think we can leverage the power of our so called negative emotions to propel us forward so there is never a need to fear any of our feelings
I agree. The key to using negative emotions and resistance is acceptance and non-reaction. Not sure if you saw the 10 keys class, but I talk about this exact thing there.
This is so true . Are used to drive myself crazy trying to be happy all the time. I think will and intention are more important than feeling happy all the time. Sorry for The formatting of my comments I am using dictation on an iPhone
Thanks, Rose. Yes it is very true. Will and intention are extremely important. 🙂
And your formatting is fine. Christine and I use dictation all the time. 🙂 It’s very useful.
Thanks Brandon for this article it’s excellent and really makes a lot of sense
I find that I have more natural joy springing up as I spend more time at the zero point
That is wonderful! And that is exactly what is to be expected. As you spend more time at 0, it nourishes your being. I’m very glad you’ve had success with it.
I remember when I used to be angry at God, because people who acted like jerks had friends and stuff that I wanted, but I had none of those, even though I was kind and polite. Who would have thought that being a good or a bad person had not much to do with one’s reality. Another thing that comes to mind is a common belief (at least in my family), that fair and considerate people don’t end up well in life, and that to get something in life, you have to even be unfair and fight.
I know that those are limiting beliefs. However it does surprise me how good human qualities and being happy have almost nothing to do with success. I wonder if being happy is overrated. I mean, maybe it sounds silly, but I’ve been saying a lot in the past how unhappy I was. Meanwhile I wasn’t determined to get any goals, so I wasn’t manifesting anything. I could have manifested anything, even if unhappy, if only I had the determination. I’ve been searching for happiness in life, while people around me have been passing exams, getting friends, traveling around the world, etc. Was I an idiot wasting time?
Today I’ve been wondering, what is more important in life: to be happy, or to be a good manifester? Obviously the best option is those 2 things combined, right? But other than that, what’s better? I’m starting to think that people around me started with determination to get what they want, and happiness started approaching them every now and then, from various sides. On the other hand, I’ve been trying to be happy, and I’m so behind them now. I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve been an idiot wasting time. I dunno.
Hi Z,
I understand your sentiment.
I don’t think you were wasting time or anything. You’re still quite young and have tons of time ahead of you.
I believe that happiness makes it go smoother. There are fewer let-downs, and it’s easier to deal with resistance. But, I’ve seen people do a lot without having lasting happiness.
Remember those three elements: focus, will, and emotion. Focus on the wanted, will that it will happen (making it non-negotiable), and pay attention to your emotions as they respond to that focus.
I’ve said many times before my emotional level doesn’t go very high when I’m manifesting. I don’t have to be in a joyful, blissful, super happy place to have tons of good things happen to me. In fact, just earlier, I was lying down to take a nap, and thought about how interesting it’d be if I got a PayPal payment right then. I wasn’t even trying to do anything, it was just a passing thought. My emotional level was maybe at a +1, if that. And no kidding, not 30 seconds after that thought, my phone went off with a notification that I had received money in PayPal. Sort of cool. 🙂
I’d describe myself at that moment as relaxed. Not joyful, or extremely happy. In fact a few moments before I had been annoyed, and was just getting over that emotion.
So that illustrates my point rather well, I think.
As for which is more important, happiness or being a good manifester, no one can answer that but yourself. As you say, both are important. But, I wouldn’t spend an inordinate amount of time trying to get into a really joyful place. Just hang out in easy contentment, if you can. If you can’t do that, don’t worry about it, and go for your goals anyway.
Another cool thing is I think we can leverage the power of our so called negative emotions to propel us forward so there is never a need to fear any of our feelings
I agree. The key to using negative emotions and resistance is acceptance and non-reaction. Not sure if you saw the 10 keys class, but I talk about this exact thing there.
Brandon, you bring up something that I have been wondering about when you mentioned your experience with the money coming in to your Paypal account. You thought about it and it manifested, but could it be that it was going to happen anyway and that the Universe gave you an early warning of it by bringing it up in your mind?
There is a particular make of car that I look out for when I am driving as it is the make of car that I would like to have next. The other day I was driving and just as I was about to join a busy road I suddenly had the thought that I hadn’t seen one of those makes of cars so far that day. Within a minute of joining the busy road guess what I saw, yes that make of car. Now did I manifest the car or did the Universe give me a gentle nudge by making me think of the car knowing that I was just about to see one?
I have had a few experiences like this where I have thought about something and it has then happened. So did my thinking about it make it happen or was it going to happen anyway and somehow my mind gets the information first and brings the image up in my mind as an indication of what is going to occur? Another time I was watching a TV show with my son and contestants were being picked out from a group of people. At one point I told my son which would be the next person to be chosen and I was right.
Hey Tim,
That’s a great question. I’ll be addressing it at much greater length in Monday’s post on divination.
However, I think it’s a both/and. Time is not such a static thing with the Universe. What if the Universe knew I was going to have that thought, and so the manifestation showed up immediately afterwards?
You have probably heard of the story of how Christine and I met, after several unusual circumstances, any of which could have gone differently. Did the circumstances go as they did due to a future intention to meet someone? It certainly looks like they might have, as I don’t know how else it could have happened.
There is definitely intuition, and it’s different than manifestation. The contestant example you gave I’d say is intuition, while the car I’d say is manifestation, because it’s more personal to you.
Imagine the Universe has all of time at its command, both future and past, and our intentions go out and interact with the intricate tapestry of creation. That intention holds a magnetic charge, an attraction which organizes the events necessary to fulfill it. That one thought I had, because it was totally free of resistance, could easily go out and have a ripple effect to cause that payment to be received only 30 seconds later from my perspective. But who says it couldn’t cause the client who signed up to have the inkling to do so earlier that day, and then to actually go through the process maybe a minute or two before I had the thought?
Of course we just can’t know, but I’ve had the experience on several occasions of manifesting something big pretty quickly, only to see the seeds of that manifestation even prior to holding that intention.
Sometimes people look at how intricately everything fits together, and conclude that we don’t have free will. But, what if our will is so free that we can alter timelines to bring all the events together necessary to fulfill our desires? I don’t think it’s beyond the realm of possibility.
Yes, I agree with this Brandon. It is all a tapestry and there is no time no the eyes of the Universe. Time is a factor at a very focused dimension, like we do here, yet one can live their life without time dictating them, according to Masters and my own beliefs. If you rise above all your problems, then there are no constraints. You are at zero and above it all and with that, at least for me, I have assurance that things will happen. As for the past, I do agree with Abe that we can change a story. I did that and now I am living another story and people go along with that story, not the other one I experienced with my supposed error, yet I am not sure what I even believe anymore with that one. It is blurred and so is the past, as you can change it, again with your will and desire for something else.
I took a class in the occult in college and I do remember the quote, “If you have the will and the wisdom, you will succeed”. You see, happiness is not part of the equation and I also do not understand why Abe focuses on this so much. But, then again, I think this is all Esther understands herself, since it is being channeled through her so there is a filter there. Anyway, philosophers also said that an unexamined life is not worth living. This is a life with troubles and some problems, not a squeaky clean life of pure happiness. Of course, we should follow our bliss and not get depressed, because these help and move us along, but the happiness all the time part just does not go with human life. Now I understand where you were going with this post and mentioning it in the call.
I always use the example of Alexander the Great. He succeeded in what he wanted to do, but it required will, wisdom, persistence and sheer faith in going out there are doing what he intended and bringing it to fruition. He was not a happy camper. You would think, as a Prince he would be but there was tension there to go beyond what was and he went for it and the fates were in his favor. Wow, this makes sense. He stretched himself and got stretched so he succeeded. He was not free of problems, as he was an alcoholic and kind of self-sabotaging, and still the forces were with him. It is the internal environment that propels you forward. He still respected himslef enough to go after his goals, which is another thing that matters. I think Abe does not teach this point well and I do not even go to that forum anymore.
The El Salvador example was great! In the US they say that the impoverished are happy, but as you so clearly state, right, they do not see or do anything else. The do not stretch themselves at all, and so remain there. Ignorance is bliss comes to mind, which is true. Also, another quote that comes to mind is that faith is a comfort for the suffering. It propels you forward.
And, as someone asked, is there a higher state than happiness? Would that be Nirvana?
Is the Universe in Nirvana? I do not think so, I think you need to go through stages to reach that state, but I think Nirvana is the zero state. The Universe just is; it is not in a certain state or anything like that.
These are some questions for the divinity posts.
Hi Kat,
Your comment is right on the money. And your example with Alexander the Great is perfect, as well. I also think of Napoleon.
I love the quote you mentioned, about will and wisdom. That’s great. I believe, as I think about it, that will is really our primary tool as magicians—as creators. Without will, there’s nothing else driving it forward.
And I agree about the impoverished. They are often happy, but do not envision something higher and go after it. They remain at their level. If only people knew how fluid the whole system is. I’m still realizing it myself, but I look back at the last few months and am amazed.
Regarding nirvana, or moksha from the Hindu tradition, I believe it is nothing more or less than simply living from the zero state.
The thing is that the body will always have emotions. If someone’s holding a gun to your head, your brain’s going to go into fight-flight mode no matter how spiritual or enlightened you are. But, you can train a part of your consciousness to remain in the zero state, and so to allow those emotions to travel through much more quickly, and not to get stuck.
But I believe enlightenment is more of a moment-by-moment type of thing. It’s not an on/off switch. It’s a spectrum of awareness.
Yup, Napoleon wanted to emulate Alexander. I think they each slept with a copy of the Iliad under their pillow. I know Alexander did. You see, they had rituals as well!
I high school, I took an entire class on Alexander. Though he was kind, generous and understanding, and when you went to him with a problem he would try to fix it, he was non-forgiving if you crossed him and held a grudge if you did. He was frustrated and broke the rules, but he did get to where he wanted to go, so much so that he could not believe it.
When he reached India, he came across a yogi and asked him what he could do for him, as all that land was his. The yogi responded that he should get out of the way, as he was blocking his sunlight. This may be myth, but myth is based on some type of real life event, so it is interesting.
haha, that’s an awesome story.
It reminds me of Z’s question above: is manifestation or happiness more important? Would Alexander rather have sat in a cave and meditated, or go out and literally conquer the world? I can’t see his inner drive being satisfied with anything but physical results. We are creators by nature. But happiness can make it much smoother. Or at least, the zero state. As I said in the last class, non-reaction to your unwanted thoughts and emotions. Non-reaction is another one of the most powerful tools you can wield, because it determines what is and what is not part of your reality.
Oh, and I agree the Universe is not in any particular state. In The Art of Reality Creation, I do give a bit of a cosmology of the Universe, and how it gets divided up, which is of some importance to understanding how everything fits together. But, essentially, it is not in any state. And we should not even necessarily strive to reach that level. The physical is the first of many, many levels, in my view.
Ah, yes, I listened to it!
How about interdimensional portals? Masters have been using them forever and physicists now admit that the dimensions are just a footstep away from us, yet we do not see them. Can we only go there through meditation? I wonder if those so called alien abductions were really experiences through these portals or something. Not that I think they are nightmarish or anything, but perhaps misinterpreted?
I haven’t given too much thought to that in particular. I do think it’s possible. But I think a lot of this stuff is only accessible when remaining in the zero state, such as in meditation, but it doesn’t have to be meditation. It’s never going to be something scientists can break down and study as such. The Universe almost seems to want to keep certain things secret, or only available to those who have reached the place of being able to delve into those mysteries. I know that’s very occult of me to say, but that’s what I’ve seen.
It’s like the famed million dollar prize James Randi offers for psychics to prove themselves. I guarantee you, it’ll never be given, and for two reasons:
First, that he’s a skeptic. Not believing in it is what he’s built his identity on.
Second, that the Universe wouldn’t want that to be broken down and studied, anyway. Any time I’ve demanded proof for something from the Universe, it’s never come. it’s like the first step of faith has to come from us. I don’t know exactly why that is, but it seems to be true. Once you open up to it, then miracles happen. But demand proof, and it’ll shut right down.
You could have the best psychic in the world, and put them into a science lab, and they’ll likely be no better than random chance. Because, like quantum physics, now you’ve gone and tried to observe it, and study it. It just won’t work.
Yes, I came to the same conclusion. We will never know the secrets, as we are not meant to know. We do not even remember where we came from or how we got here, as we are meant to forget. I won’t go into the yugas again here, but I am still looking for a forum on those. I found one on FB, but I need more.
Chopra has stated that The Universe is studying itself through us, but this is also limited. The Universe does not need to be studied. Still, I think most humans would like to get closer to It. It is innate, at least for some of us. It is part of us and we are a part of It and I personally feel it all the time, so there is a connection and we are meant to call upon It and out to It. Not that we are searching, as it all comes to us without that, at least for me and even you. To me, It is our true parent and we have this longing for it.
Yeah, I don’t agree that the Universe is studying itself through us. I am more in the camp of the Hindu concept of lila, that it’s all just play. It’s just a big joke. And it’s for the fun of it. That part I’ll agree with Abraham on.
And I so agree about feeling that connection. I’ve felt it so much more since I’ve personalized my own connection by working with the gods. There’s a concrete relationship there. I know my deity of choice is looking out for me. He’s taught me tons since I started working with him about 2.5 months ago. In fact most of the new material lately has come from those realizations, by connecting with him and just receiving.
I don’t talk about it much here, but it’s a huge part of my life.
Of course. A lot of it is not meant to be discussed either. It is deeply personal, sacred, spiritual.
Of course, certain circles such as this one open up to these topics for guidance and to increase understanding and even potency, and that is what humans do anyway as social creatures, yet some of it is to remain with the individual only.
So true.
I think the Universe will unfold to us when we are ready. It can’t be forced. It’s a relationship. And I’ve found, reading books won’t do it. It’s a good introduction, but this stuff has to be experiential.
Speaking of books, I think the e-book you recommended The Real Witch’s Guide to the LOA, was wonderful! It is one of the best books on LOA and creation. To the point, does not sugar coat anything, is not airy-fairy new age babble like Abe, it is a practical guide for improving your life. But it is a guide. You are right that it is all experimental.
Thanks. Yeah, that was a great book. Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
I remember when I used to be angry at God, because people who acted like jerks had friends and stuff that I wanted, but I had none of those, even though I was kind and polite. Who would have thought that being a good or a bad person had not much to do with one’s reality. Another thing that comes to mind is a common belief (at least in my family), that fair and considerate people don’t end up well in life, and that to get something in life, you have to even be unfair and fight.
I know that those are limiting beliefs. However it does surprise me how good human qualities and being happy have almost nothing to do with success. I wonder if being happy is overrated. I mean, maybe it sounds silly, but I’ve been saying a lot in the past how unhappy I was. Meanwhile I wasn’t determined to get any goals, so I wasn’t manifesting anything. I could have manifested anything, even if unhappy, if only I had the determination. I’ve been searching for happiness in life, while people around me have been passing exams, getting friends, traveling around the world, etc. Was I an idiot wasting time?
Today I’ve been wondering, what is more important in life: to be happy, or to be a good manifester? Obviously the best option is those 2 things combined, right? But other than that, what’s better? I’m starting to think that people around me started with determination to get what they want, and happiness started approaching them every now and then, from various sides. On the other hand, I’ve been trying to be happy, and I’m so behind them now. I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve been an idiot wasting time. I dunno.
Hi Z,
I understand your sentiment.
I don’t think you were wasting time or anything. You’re still quite young and have tons of time ahead of you.
I believe that happiness makes it go smoother. There are fewer let-downs, and it’s easier to deal with resistance. But, I’ve seen people do a lot without having lasting happiness.
Remember those three elements: focus, will, and emotion. Focus on the wanted, will that it will happen (making it non-negotiable), and pay attention to your emotions as they respond to that focus.
I’ve said many times before my emotional level doesn’t go very high when I’m manifesting. I don’t have to be in a joyful, blissful, super happy place to have tons of good things happen to me. In fact, just earlier, I was lying down to take a nap, and thought about how interesting it’d be if I got a PayPal payment right then. I wasn’t even trying to do anything, it was just a passing thought. My emotional level was maybe at a +1, if that. And no kidding, not 30 seconds after that thought, my phone went off with a notification that I had received money in PayPal. Sort of cool. 🙂
I’d describe myself at that moment as relaxed. Not joyful, or extremely happy. In fact a few moments before I had been annoyed, and was just getting over that emotion.
So that illustrates my point rather well, I think.
As for which is more important, happiness or being a good manifester, no one can answer that but yourself. As you say, both are important. But, I wouldn’t spend an inordinate amount of time trying to get into a really joyful place. Just hang out in easy contentment, if you can. If you can’t do that, don’t worry about it, and go for your goals anyway.
Brandon, you bring up something that I have been wondering about when you mentioned your experience with the money coming in to your Paypal account. You thought about it and it manifested, but could it be that it was going to happen anyway and that the Universe gave you an early warning of it by bringing it up in your mind?
There is a particular make of car that I look out for when I am driving as it is the make of car that I would like to have next. The other day I was driving and just as I was about to join a busy road I suddenly had the thought that I hadn’t seen one of those makes of cars so far that day. Within a minute of joining the busy road guess what I saw, yes that make of car. Now did I manifest the car or did the Universe give me a gentle nudge by making me think of the car knowing that I was just about to see one?
I have had a few experiences like this where I have thought about something and it has then happened. So did my thinking about it make it happen or was it going to happen anyway and somehow my mind gets the information first and brings the image up in my mind as an indication of what is going to occur? Another time I was watching a TV show with my son and contestants were being picked out from a group of people. At one point I told my son which would be the next person to be chosen and I was right.
Hey Tim,
That’s a great question. I’ll be addressing it at much greater length in Monday’s post on divination.
However, I think it’s a both/and. Time is not such a static thing with the Universe. What if the Universe knew I was going to have that thought, and so the manifestation showed up immediately afterwards?
You have probably heard of the story of how Christine and I met, after several unusual circumstances, any of which could have gone differently. Did the circumstances go as they did due to a future intention to meet someone? It certainly looks like they might have, as I don’t know how else it could have happened.
There is definitely intuition, and it’s different than manifestation. The contestant example you gave I’d say is intuition, while the car I’d say is manifestation, because it’s more personal to you.
Imagine the Universe has all of time at its command, both future and past, and our intentions go out and interact with the intricate tapestry of creation. That intention holds a magnetic charge, an attraction which organizes the events necessary to fulfill it. That one thought I had, because it was totally free of resistance, could easily go out and have a ripple effect to cause that payment to be received only 30 seconds later from my perspective. But who says it couldn’t cause the client who signed up to have the inkling to do so earlier that day, and then to actually go through the process maybe a minute or two before I had the thought?
Of course we just can’t know, but I’ve had the experience on several occasions of manifesting something big pretty quickly, only to see the seeds of that manifestation even prior to holding that intention.
Sometimes people look at how intricately everything fits together, and conclude that we don’t have free will. But, what if our will is so free that we can alter timelines to bring all the events together necessary to fulfill our desires? I don’t think it’s beyond the realm of possibility.
Yes, I agree with this Brandon. It is all a tapestry and there is no time no the eyes of the Universe. Time is a factor at a very focused dimension, like we do here, yet one can live their life without time dictating them, according to Masters and my own beliefs. If you rise above all your problems, then there are no constraints. You are at zero and above it all and with that, at least for me, I have assurance that things will happen. As for the past, I do agree with Abe that we can change a story. I did that and now I am living another story and people go along with that story, not the other one I experienced with my supposed error, yet I am not sure what I even believe anymore with that one. It is blurred and so is the past, as you can change it, again with your will and desire for something else.
I took a class in the occult in college and I do remember the quote, “If you have the will and the wisdom, you will succeed”. You see, happiness is not part of the equation and I also do not understand why Abe focuses on this so much. But, then again, I think this is all Esther understands herself, since it is being channeled through her so there is a filter there. Anyway, philosophers also said that an unexamined life is not worth living. This is a life with troubles and some problems, not a squeaky clean life of pure happiness. Of course, we should follow our bliss and not get depressed, because these help and move us along, but the happiness all the time part just does not go with human life. Now I understand where you were going with this post and mentioning it in the call.
I always use the example of Alexander the Great. He succeeded in what he wanted to do, but it required will, wisdom, persistence and sheer faith in going out there are doing what he intended and bringing it to fruition. He was not a happy camper. You would think, as a Prince he would be but there was tension there to go beyond what was and he went for it and the fates were in his favor. Wow, this makes sense. He stretched himself and got stretched so he succeeded. He was not free of problems, as he was an alcoholic and kind of self-sabotaging, and still the forces were with him. It is the internal environment that propels you forward. He still respected himslef enough to go after his goals, which is another thing that matters. I think Abe does not teach this point well and I do not even go to that forum anymore.
The El Salvador example was great! In the US they say that the impoverished are happy, but as you so clearly state, right, they do not see or do anything else. The do not stretch themselves at all, and so remain there. Ignorance is bliss comes to mind, which is true. Also, another quote that comes to mind is that faith is a comfort for the suffering. It propels you forward.
And, as someone asked, is there a higher state than happiness? Would that be Nirvana?
Is the Universe in Nirvana? I do not think so, I think you need to go through stages to reach that state, but I think Nirvana is the zero state. The Universe just is; it is not in a certain state or anything like that.
These are some questions for the divinity posts.
Hi Kat,
Your comment is right on the money. And your example with Alexander the Great is perfect, as well. I also think of Napoleon.
I love the quote you mentioned, about will and wisdom. That’s great. I believe, as I think about it, that will is really our primary tool as magicians—as creators. Without will, there’s nothing else driving it forward.
And I agree about the impoverished. They are often happy, but do not envision something higher and go after it. They remain at their level. If only people knew how fluid the whole system is. I’m still realizing it myself, but I look back at the last few months and am amazed.
Regarding nirvana, or moksha from the Hindu tradition, I believe it is nothing more or less than simply living from the zero state.
The thing is that the body will always have emotions. If someone’s holding a gun to your head, your brain’s going to go into fight-flight mode no matter how spiritual or enlightened you are. But, you can train a part of your consciousness to remain in the zero state, and so to allow those emotions to travel through much more quickly, and not to get stuck.
But I believe enlightenment is more of a moment-by-moment type of thing. It’s not an on/off switch. It’s a spectrum of awareness.
Yup, Napoleon wanted to emulate Alexander. I think they each slept with a copy of the Iliad under their pillow. I know Alexander did. You see, they had rituals as well!
I high school, I took an entire class on Alexander. Though he was kind, generous and understanding, and when you went to him with a problem he would try to fix it, he was non-forgiving if you crossed him and held a grudge if you did. He was frustrated and broke the rules, but he did get to where he wanted to go, so much so that he could not believe it.
When he reached India, he came across a yogi and asked him what he could do for him, as all that land was his. The yogi responded that he should get out of the way, as he was blocking his sunlight. This may be myth, but myth is based on some type of real life event, so it is interesting.
haha, that’s an awesome story.
It reminds me of Z’s question above: is manifestation or happiness more important? Would Alexander rather have sat in a cave and meditated, or go out and literally conquer the world? I can’t see his inner drive being satisfied with anything but physical results. We are creators by nature. But happiness can make it much smoother. Or at least, the zero state. As I said in the last class, non-reaction to your unwanted thoughts and emotions. Non-reaction is another one of the most powerful tools you can wield, because it determines what is and what is not part of your reality.
Oh, and I agree the Universe is not in any particular state. In The Art of Reality Creation, I do give a bit of a cosmology of the Universe, and how it gets divided up, which is of some importance to understanding how everything fits together. But, essentially, it is not in any state. And we should not even necessarily strive to reach that level. The physical is the first of many, many levels, in my view.
Ah, yes, I listened to it!
How about interdimensional portals? Masters have been using them forever and physicists now admit that the dimensions are just a footstep away from us, yet we do not see them. Can we only go there through meditation? I wonder if those so called alien abductions were really experiences through these portals or something. Not that I think they are nightmarish or anything, but perhaps misinterpreted?
I haven’t given too much thought to that in particular. I do think it’s possible. But I think a lot of this stuff is only accessible when remaining in the zero state, such as in meditation, but it doesn’t have to be meditation. It’s never going to be something scientists can break down and study as such. The Universe almost seems to want to keep certain things secret, or only available to those who have reached the place of being able to delve into those mysteries. I know that’s very occult of me to say, but that’s what I’ve seen.
It’s like the famed million dollar prize James Randi offers for psychics to prove themselves. I guarantee you, it’ll never be given, and for two reasons:
First, that he’s a skeptic. Not believing in it is what he’s built his identity on.
Second, that the Universe wouldn’t want that to be broken down and studied, anyway. Any time I’ve demanded proof for something from the Universe, it’s never come. it’s like the first step of faith has to come from us. I don’t know exactly why that is, but it seems to be true. Once you open up to it, then miracles happen. But demand proof, and it’ll shut right down.
You could have the best psychic in the world, and put them into a science lab, and they’ll likely be no better than random chance. Because, like quantum physics, now you’ve gone and tried to observe it, and study it. It just won’t work.
Yes, I came to the same conclusion. We will never know the secrets, as we are not meant to know. We do not even remember where we came from or how we got here, as we are meant to forget. I won’t go into the yugas again here, but I am still looking for a forum on those. I found one on FB, but I need more.
Chopra has stated that The Universe is studying itself through us, but this is also limited. The Universe does not need to be studied. Still, I think most humans would like to get closer to It. It is innate, at least for some of us. It is part of us and we are a part of It and I personally feel it all the time, so there is a connection and we are meant to call upon It and out to It. Not that we are searching, as it all comes to us without that, at least for me and even you. To me, It is our true parent and we have this longing for it.
Yeah, I don’t agree that the Universe is studying itself through us. I am more in the camp of the Hindu concept of lila, that it’s all just play. It’s just a big joke. And it’s for the fun of it. That part I’ll agree with Abraham on.
And I so agree about feeling that connection. I’ve felt it so much more since I’ve personalized my own connection by working with the gods. There’s a concrete relationship there. I know my deity of choice is looking out for me. He’s taught me tons since I started working with him about 2.5 months ago. In fact most of the new material lately has come from those realizations, by connecting with him and just receiving.
I don’t talk about it much here, but it’s a huge part of my life.
Of course. A lot of it is not meant to be discussed either. It is deeply personal, sacred, spiritual.
Of course, certain circles such as this one open up to these topics for guidance and to increase understanding and even potency, and that is what humans do anyway as social creatures, yet some of it is to remain with the individual only.
So true.
I think the Universe will unfold to us when we are ready. It can’t be forced. It’s a relationship. And I’ve found, reading books won’t do it. It’s a good introduction, but this stuff has to be experiential.
Speaking of books, I think the e-book you recommended The Real Witch’s Guide to the LOA, was wonderful! It is one of the best books on LOA and creation. To the point, does not sugar coat anything, is not airy-fairy new age babble like Abe, it is a practical guide for improving your life. But it is a guide. You are right that it is all experimental.
Thanks. Yeah, that was a great book. Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
I’m in the process of discovering the exact direction for which I will proceed.
Justin
Yes, Justin, this is another good one!
That’s awesome, Justin. 😀
You usually must apply some sort of deliberate technique to manifest a thing outside your reality, or above your level. Sometimes, enough positivity for a long enough time might work, but Brandon is right; happiness, even true happiness is good for protection and keeping generally positive experiences flowing your way. The tickets to the football game, the free meal from friends. These experiences give you a great launch pad for increasing to the next level.
Yup, exactly, in a nutshell!
This is gonna be another Christmas without having friends to spend it with. Each year I decide that the next year things will be different, but so far it’s never happened lol…
I hope I manage to reprogram my subconscious mind by the next year’s Christmas, so it finally lets friends into my reality. *sigh*
It sucks when I want to share joy with people, and there’s no-one to respond. I am home with family, but that’s boring old stuff.
Sorry, I just had to complain a bit, since it’s the special time of year. 🙂
Hi Z,
And how are you focusing when thinking about friends? Are you entering the zero state? Or are you allowing the resistance to overpower you? Have you deliberately chosen the result you want, or are you allowing yourself to become stuck where you are?
I understand, and empathize. Just some thoughts on what might help.
Thanks. I know that resistance is still overpowering me in this area. I can deliberately choose to have friends at some point in the future (when my subconscious finally allows it), but I can’t deliberately choose to nullify all those years of having been alone, while others were enjoying friendships all over the place. I can’t deliberately turn back the time and travel to the past. I can’t deliberately get compensation for all that lost time, and for all that pain. This is still troubling me.
I know that I need to practice the zero state more. Yesterday I tried meditating, but I kept falling asleep. Yesterday I was kind of bummed out by thinking how there’s nothing in the Universe full of love that’s actually supporting me. In the end, it is actually a (heartless) mechanism. One can be a good person but not get what they want. On the other hand, one can be a jerk, and get everything. Totally feels like a cold mechanism running the entire Universe. If there’s no a reward for being good and happy, then of course why be good and happy? This has been troubling me. I feel like I won’t get compensated for all the the times that I were in pain and lonely, and others had what I wanted. Maybe I’m a selfish bastard for wanting to be compensated, I dunno.
Hi Z,
Why would you want to be compensated? Why focus on the past? I understand it stinks, but the past is over. I had things that happened in the past as well that weren’t great. But, you move on. You can only create in the present, not in the past. Seth had a saying, “The point of power is in the present.”
You’ve said this thing before about the Universe being cold and heartless. I’m not sure why you think so. I’ve talked before about the nature of divinity. I’ve said the Universe is completely loving and supportive.
But the thought that good people should be rewarded is…well…such an Abrahamic way of thinking. Creators create. If you do not create what is desirable, the Universe cannot be blamed for that. It’ll do its best to help you, but it can’t override your own subconscious beliefs and what you choose to focus on most of the time.
Ask for help, and it’ll be given, if you’re open, however. But it’s far from cold, in my experience.
I hereby declare that I won’t post a single comment on cocreationcoaching, until and unless I manage to manifest something. That also means no more complaints from me. I think that’s a very good Christmas present for you guys. I hope you enjoy the holidays!
I hope you enjoy the holidays, too, but your vow seems a bit counterintuitive. I agree about not complaining, but if you need to ask for help, why not ask? None of us have any problem whatsoever with it. 🙂
And also, do you mean a deliberate manifestation? Because even your heart beating is a manifestation, so your desire’s already been granted. 🙂
I’m in the process of discovering the exact direction for which I will proceed.
Justin
Yes, Justin, this is another good one!
That’s awesome, Justin. 😀
You usually must apply some sort of deliberate technique to manifest a thing outside your reality, or above your level. Sometimes, enough positivity for a long enough time might work, but Brandon is right; happiness, even true happiness is good for protection and keeping generally positive experiences flowing your way. The tickets to the football game, the free meal from friends. These experiences give you a great launch pad for increasing to the next level.
Yup, exactly, in a nutshell!
This is gonna be another Christmas without having friends to spend it with. Each year I decide that the next year things will be different, but so far it’s never happened lol…
I hope I manage to reprogram my subconscious mind by the next year’s Christmas, so it finally lets friends into my reality. *sigh*
It sucks when I want to share joy with people, and there’s no-one to respond. I am home with family, but that’s boring old stuff.
Sorry, I just had to complain a bit, since it’s the special time of year. 🙂
Hi Z,
And how are you focusing when thinking about friends? Are you entering the zero state? Or are you allowing the resistance to overpower you? Have you deliberately chosen the result you want, or are you allowing yourself to become stuck where you are?
I understand, and empathize. Just some thoughts on what might help.
Thanks. I know that resistance is still overpowering me in this area. I can deliberately choose to have friends at some point in the future (when my subconscious finally allows it), but I can’t deliberately choose to nullify all those years of having been alone, while others were enjoying friendships all over the place. I can’t deliberately turn back the time and travel to the past. I can’t deliberately get compensation for all that lost time, and for all that pain. This is still troubling me.
I know that I need to practice the zero state more. Yesterday I tried meditating, but I kept falling asleep. Yesterday I was kind of bummed out by thinking how there’s nothing in the Universe full of love that’s actually supporting me. In the end, it is actually a (heartless) mechanism. One can be a good person but not get what they want. On the other hand, one can be a jerk, and get everything. Totally feels like a cold mechanism running the entire Universe. If there’s no a reward for being good and happy, then of course why be good and happy? This has been troubling me. I feel like I won’t get compensated for all the the times that I were in pain and lonely, and others had what I wanted. Maybe I’m a selfish bastard for wanting to be compensated, I dunno.
Hi Z,
Why would you want to be compensated? Why focus on the past? I understand it stinks, but the past is over. I had things that happened in the past as well that weren’t great. But, you move on. You can only create in the present, not in the past. Seth had a saying, “The point of power is in the present.”
You’ve said this thing before about the Universe being cold and heartless. I’m not sure why you think so. I’ve talked before about the nature of divinity. I’ve said the Universe is completely loving and supportive.
But the thought that good people should be rewarded is…well…such an Abrahamic way of thinking. Creators create. If you do not create what is desirable, the Universe cannot be blamed for that. It’ll do its best to help you, but it can’t override your own subconscious beliefs and what you choose to focus on most of the time.
Ask for help, and it’ll be given, if you’re open, however. But it’s far from cold, in my experience.
I hereby declare that I won’t post a single comment on cocreationcoaching, until and unless I manage to manifest something. That also means no more complaints from me. I think that’s a very good Christmas present for you guys. I hope you enjoy the holidays!
I hope you enjoy the holidays, too, but your vow seems a bit counterintuitive. I agree about not complaining, but if you need to ask for help, why not ask? None of us have any problem whatsoever with it. 🙂
And also, do you mean a deliberate manifestation? Because even your heart beating is a manifestation, so your desire’s already been granted. 🙂
Z,
Zero state (meditation) won’t work if you still have core negative beliefs, because as soon as you come out of the zero state, there they are again… the old imprints manifesting. Meditation (zero state) doesn’t erase old imprints. You’re working so hard but keep failing. You don’t need more practice, you need to identify the core negative beliefs and change them.
eg. this thing about compensation. Compensation from whom? By whom? What’s that about? Do you think by suffering that God will compensate you? That needs re-arranging. No amount of meditation will achieve that.
example-
http://www.stevepavlina.com/lefkoe-method/
Hi CJ,
I’m sorry, but that is incorrect. The zero state is one of the most effective methods for releasing resistance and changing limiting beliefs. Most methods that are used to try to reprogram old beliefs only end up strengthening them.
Please read some of my older posts on the zero state to see how that works. Or, try it for yourself if you do not believe me. However, I’ve used it with countless clients, and have had nothing but success.
So you’re saying NLP and EFT etc make things worse?
Hi CJ,
It depends how they are used. In The Art of Reality Creation, I introduce a lot of NLP techniques for resistance and moving towards your goals.
However, I never recommend making work on your resistance an aim in itself. You let it go in the moment in order to reach the zero state. NLP can help with that.
But a lot of NLP or EFT practitioners will tell you to go back into childhood, or find the root of the belief, and this just isn’t helpful. The zero state is much more effective for weakening these beliefs as they arise.
Thanks. So just work with whatever one feels in the moment. My problem is that the same stuff keeps re-appearing. I guess that’s the universal problem. Is it just a matter of persisting?
If you enter the zero state, it’ll get weaker each time. But yes, it might take a while.
But for instance, with NLP, if you dissociate from the image and make it smaller, you are basically making it less important to your subconscious. That’s great, and will help you to enter the zero state that much more quickly. I’ve done this many times, if I am especially stuck.
The things you’re dealing with, they’ve been around for years. There is never going to be a one-time fix. But, don’t focus on what you need to release. Preferably focus on creating something new, and that’ll move along the process quickly.
Z,
Zero state (meditation) won’t work if you still have core negative beliefs, because as soon as you come out of the zero state, there they are again… the old imprints manifesting. Meditation (zero state) doesn’t erase old imprints. You’re working so hard but keep failing. You don’t need more practice, you need to identify the core negative beliefs and change them.
eg. this thing about compensation. Compensation from whom? By whom? What’s that about? Do you think by suffering that God will compensate you? That needs re-arranging. No amount of meditation will achieve that.
example-
http://www.stevepavlina.com/lefkoe-method/
Hi CJ,
I’m sorry, but that is incorrect. The zero state is one of the most effective methods for releasing resistance and changing limiting beliefs. Most methods that are used to try to reprogram old beliefs only end up strengthening them.
Please read some of my older posts on the zero state to see how that works. Or, try it for yourself if you do not believe me. However, I’ve used it with countless clients, and have had nothing but success.
So you’re saying NLP and EFT etc make things worse?
Hi CJ,
It depends how they are used. In The Art of Reality Creation, I introduce a lot of NLP techniques for resistance and moving towards your goals.
However, I never recommend making work on your resistance an aim in itself. You let it go in the moment in order to reach the zero state. NLP can help with that.
But a lot of NLP or EFT practitioners will tell you to go back into childhood, or find the root of the belief, and this just isn’t helpful. The zero state is much more effective for weakening these beliefs as they arise.
Thanks. So just work with whatever one feels in the moment. My problem is that the same stuff keeps re-appearing. I guess that’s the universal problem. Is it just a matter of persisting?
If you enter the zero state, it’ll get weaker each time. But yes, it might take a while.
But for instance, with NLP, if you dissociate from the image and make it smaller, you are basically making it less important to your subconscious. That’s great, and will help you to enter the zero state that much more quickly. I’ve done this many times, if I am especially stuck.
The things you’re dealing with, they’ve been around for years. There is never going to be a one-time fix. But, don’t focus on what you need to release. Preferably focus on creating something new, and that’ll move along the process quickly.
I just had some good success this afternoon/evening. Whilst I rotate between different approaches, this time I was using the 100% release for 1 second and extending it to longer periods. Won’t go into details, but it left me astonished how much abundance can come rapid fire from different angles when the vibe is right.
I just had some good success this afternoon/evening. Whilst I rotate between different approaches, this time I was using the 100% release for 1 second and extending it to longer periods. Won’t go into details, but it left me astonished how much abundance can come rapid fire from different angles when the vibe is right.
Hey Brandon! Hope you’re having a good Christmas if you take part in it. I don’t really get the big deal with the zero state. Isn’t it just the same as meditation? I read your blog post on it but honestly I didn’t really resonate with it.
CJ makes a good point, you still have those core negative beliefs kicking around as soon as you come out of the zero state.
Hi Natasha,
That is actually not true. The zero state will dissolve those limiting beliefs more and more, every time you enter it. I’ve been using this technique for quite a while, and using it with my clients as well, and have never run into any issues with it. It also agrees with the methodology behind The Sedona Method, though they use different terminology.
I find that detailed work with limiting beliefs generally only serves to strengthen those.
And no, the zero state is not the same as meditation. Meditation is one way of entering it. The zero state can be entered at any time of the day.
Have you tried it out yourself? It might sound ineffective at first, but when properly used, it melts away resistance, in my experience.
Why is it that you don’t necessarily agree with the message “The only reason you want the desire is to feel a certain emotion, so just be satisfied with the emotion”. You seem to differ from other loa teachers who wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment.
Hi Natasha,
Sorry I’m getting to this comment a bit late. I’ve been busy over the weekend trying to transfer the site to a new host. 🙂
Anyway, to answer your question:
I used to think the same thing. But, in my experience, when we want to create, to truly create something, it is not just for the emotion of it. It’s for the sake of the creation itself. In fact, that’s one of the 10 keys, to pursue your creation for its own sake.
When an artist creates a painting, it’s for the creation itself. It’s not enough to just feel the emotion of creating the painting. He or she actually wants to create the painting, and that tension won’t be resolved until it is complete.
If you want to start a business, as another example, it’s not enough to just feel the feeling of it. Granted this is actually oriented to the wanted, not to the unwanted, you want to start it because you want to create something new. You want to see it in reality, in front of you.
So, I just haven’t seen the truth of this statement. If you’re used to being focused on the unwanted, i.e., the problem, then there is an element of truth. But when we actually create for creation’s sake, it goes far beyond that.
Does that make sense?
Hey Brandon! Hope you’re having a good Christmas if you take part in it. I don’t really get the big deal with the zero state. Isn’t it just the same as meditation? I read your blog post on it but honestly I didn’t really resonate with it.
CJ makes a good point, you still have those core negative beliefs kicking around as soon as you come out of the zero state.
Hi Natasha,
That is actually not true. The zero state will dissolve those limiting beliefs more and more, every time you enter it. I’ve been using this technique for quite a while, and using it with my clients as well, and have never run into any issues with it. It also agrees with the methodology behind The Sedona Method, though they use different terminology.
I find that detailed work with limiting beliefs generally only serves to strengthen those.
And no, the zero state is not the same as meditation. Meditation is one way of entering it. The zero state can be entered at any time of the day.
Have you tried it out yourself? It might sound ineffective at first, but when properly used, it melts away resistance, in my experience.
Why is it that you don’t necessarily agree with the message “The only reason you want the desire is to feel a certain emotion, so just be satisfied with the emotion”. You seem to differ from other loa teachers who wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment.
Hi Natasha,
Sorry I’m getting to this comment a bit late. I’ve been busy over the weekend trying to transfer the site to a new host. 🙂
Anyway, to answer your question:
I used to think the same thing. But, in my experience, when we want to create, to truly create something, it is not just for the emotion of it. It’s for the sake of the creation itself. In fact, that’s one of the 10 keys, to pursue your creation for its own sake.
When an artist creates a painting, it’s for the creation itself. It’s not enough to just feel the emotion of creating the painting. He or she actually wants to create the painting, and that tension won’t be resolved until it is complete.
If you want to start a business, as another example, it’s not enough to just feel the feeling of it. Granted this is actually oriented to the wanted, not to the unwanted, you want to start it because you want to create something new. You want to see it in reality, in front of you.
So, I just haven’t seen the truth of this statement. If you’re used to being focused on the unwanted, i.e., the problem, then there is an element of truth. But when we actually create for creation’s sake, it goes far beyond that.
Does that make sense?
Happiness to me is connection with who I truly am. Nothing on the material planet alone can bring that kind of joy and I have been there many times. Happiness is joy to me, because when you are living your life from the place of your heart (who you truly are and what you truly desire from the level of that), authentically you……then you are always living with joy and everything you truly DO want feels exciting. But, that does not meaning being positive 24/7, which is a vast distinction. Joy/Happiness are not the same thing as positive thinking in my own experience. When I have been in this place of joy, my symptoms of my chronic illness have completely vanished and when I fall back into negative belief patterns, my symptoms come back. Now, perhaps manifesting healing is different than manifesting other things. I can’t say.
I’m going to flat out say that Donald Trump is ‘successful’, but what ‘successful’ means within a certain context to each of us will vary. I think Donald Trump is a classic example that manifestation is far more than just being “happy”. When I say happy here, I mean fully allowing the expression of your higher self to flow through you. This is not meant as a knock against Donald Trump, but Donald Trump does not exactly display the highest ‘spiritual qualities’ at times, (not to sound judgmental), yes has manifested riches to the highest degree. It’s a perfect example to me, that life is utterly meaningless (to quote Bashar) and that we have the power to literally create anything, simply by how much we truly believe we can, which will in turn lead to inspired action as in Donald Trump’s case.
I manifested my own successful career in 2009 before I even had a single clue what LOA was. How did I do it? I had immense passion and I worked my ass off haha. My previous situation of being out of work for so long, gave off a rocket of desire (to quote Abe) to have a good job and work from home and bang! I manifested this incredible career. But, while there was a ton of action involved….it wasn’t hard work for me! That’s the thing. It was inspired action. It was the next logical thing for me. I didn’t do any visualizations (well not in the sense that we talk about here), any kind of inner work, no meditation….but guess what I did not have any of? Doubts, worries or fears that I wouldn’t be successful. I was just so in the zone and was so passionate about this.
But, Donald Trump or someone similar can be the most successful (outwardly at least) person ever, but is he really living with joy and living in alignment with what his heart REALLY wants? Maybe he is! Maybe this is why he chose this life; to explore this perspective. Who can say? That’s something that none of us can answer. I see manifestation though requires willpower, and most of all confidence and trust that you KNOW it will happen. But, I don’t feel manifestation alone, is the sole purpose of why we are here. Because many god awful people have manifested what some would call “success” in this world, but where does that success stem from? A place of the heart or a place of simply where their focus of attention and a belief that they could accomplish it? I mean, Hitler was “successful” in his endeavors for a number of years. I highly doubt that was his own Higher self’s desires that he was manifesting. I can also say Osama Bin Laden was successful (in his own way) in carrying out what he wanted to, but was this in his higher self’s “highest excitement” as Bashar would say? Or was he just acting out a limiting belief system of his and STILL was able to manifest mass success for himself? Who knows?
Which leaves the question of what is more important? Manifesting or connection to that place in the heart of who you truly are (which ultimately IS living from a place of higher purpose and joy) and THEN manifesting from there? To me, there is absolutely no right or wrong because…..
I see us here on this planet for one reason…..ok two reasons. Number one to explore what it is like to be a human being and each of us chooses to explore a different perspective of that. Therefore, it matters not if we find ‘joy’ or not. We are simply sampling the human life and what it has to offer and having fun creating and manifesting regardless of our connection with Source.
Number two, to express who we TRULY ARE through these human vehicles (if we so choose to explore that particular desire to connect with our true essence). I learned that not expressing who I truly was, led to dis-ease for me. I see life as about expressing those unique values, those passions, those desires through these human vehicles. And our nervous systems will inevitably fight back with resistance out of fear of going outside of comfort zone because it feels it’s lovingly protecting us (resistance).
A happy person might have everything they want, and to us looking at it, it might seem like they ‘don’t have everything they could want’. How could any of us possibly know what, in their own spiritual heart, they truly desire? How could any of us possibly know if they are truly happy? What does happiness mean to each of us?
Just my own thoughts on this subject for whatever if it’s worth.
Hi Derek,
Wonderful thoughts, and I agree. Just a few thoughts of my own:
Yes, you see that they are different, indeed. I agree about Trump.
But, I don’t think our higher self has a desire of its own, or a “greatest excitement” necessarily. I think that Spirit observes without judgment. It knows that we go through what we must go through, and it is our choice. It’ll help when possible, but it doesn’t see things as black and white as we do.
So, while to us, Trump might be, well, selfish and full of himself, to the Universe / his higher self, he’s just experiencing. He might die and say, “Huh, that was interesting.” There’s no “wrong” about it.
It’s just up to each of us.
I also don’t think there’s a better or worse when it comes to manifestation vs. happiness. And, ideally, they would be one and the same.
Also, I agree that someone might not have much, but still be happy with what they have. I also think, though, that someone can be happy, and be open to receiving more. That’s my current situation. I love where I am, and I am open to more. I am preferring more, because that’s what I want to create. But that doesn’t negate my current happiness.
Thanks for the replies Brandon.
Yeah, it’s such an interesting topic. I find Donald Trump to be such a polarizing example, not because he’s a bad person which is just a human judgment, but because he likely has an enormous amount of limiting beliefs (just based on hearing his own points of view on many topics such as banning a religion or mocking a differently abled person, etc) which he has never uncovered, but still has manifested outward success to the extreme which would seemingly contradict some of the deliberate creation teachings including Melody’s.
I guess my own life has seen me more and more with a desire for that alignment or connection with the greater aspect of myself as opposed to trying to manifest things (other than healing). And I agree with you, neither are right nor wrong. I believe we are manifesting either way consciously or unconsciously. Donald Trump is completely aware of how he is going about his success and creating his reality, but completely UN aware that what he is doing is indeed…..manifesting spiritually. He’s manifesting success, but I would question where that desire in him is stemming from, because you can have all of the riches in the world, but does Donald Trump love Donald Trump and is Donald Trump happy even without his success? I’d say no. Perhaps abundance was a theme he is exploring in this life and that’s why success has come easier for him. Or perhaps instead, his financial success is a cover up for his own insecurities.
We know he’s confident in himself when it comes to making money, but when you see how he acts with his comical twitter wars, I think they really exploit a lot about his own fears about himself and how much he really does worry what people think about him. And I’m only using him because it’s a perfect example here. I would also go on to say that many other people that we see who are very outwardly successful, but unhappy, probably have very similar fears about themselves.
I think the ‘advantage’ so to speak, in waking up from the dream, is just that….realizing you are dreaming and then manifesting from there, which provides an entirely different context to manifestation. Manifesting from a place of love is something far different than manifesting success outwardly while trampling over others (such as what Donald has done in some regards). Both are perfectly acceptable in the eyes of an unconditional loving Universe, but I think when we choose to come here, I have my own inkling of intuition that tells me that we DO intend to express the values of who we truly are through these human vehicles, even Hitler ha, but it doesn’t always happen obviously, and that TOO is perfectly ok. After all, human life is supposed to be a game, a fun amusement park. We’re all going back to that same perfect place either way once we transition.
BTW, I read your piece again last night on the zero state and it just really really resonated deeply. Thanks again
Thanks, Derek.
Yes, it is far easier to manifest from an aligned state than from an unaligned, fear-based state, definitely.
But it’s good to know that it is possible. It’s good to know you don’t have to be an enlightened sage to stop struggling in life and have some nice experiences.
It’s a balance. Most LOA teachers focus too much on the feel-good side of it. Someone like, say, Robert Fritz, I think focuses too much on the other side of it, where your emotions don’t matter at all.
The truth, as with most things, is in the middle. Emotions count, but not exclusively, and they’re not enough on their own. Case studies like Donald Trump help to outline that. As I’ve said, if a theory can’t stand up to reality, it’s not a very good theory.
And, I appreciate that you liked the zero state post. It’s funny to me the wide range of responses I get. Some don’t resonate at all with it, while others do very much. I maintain it’s the most important aspect of manifestation, and of many other things besides that, too. 🙂
Happiness to me is connection with who I truly am. Nothing on the material planet alone can bring that kind of joy and I have been there many times. Happiness is joy to me, because when you are living your life from the place of your heart (who you truly are and what you truly desire from the level of that), authentically you……then you are always living with joy and everything you truly DO want feels exciting. But, that does not meaning being positive 24/7, which is a vast distinction. Joy/Happiness are not the same thing as positive thinking in my own experience. When I have been in this place of joy, my symptoms of my chronic illness have completely vanished and when I fall back into negative belief patterns, my symptoms come back. Now, perhaps manifesting healing is different than manifesting other things. I can’t say.
I’m going to flat out say that Donald Trump is ‘successful’, but what ‘successful’ means within a certain context to each of us will vary. I think Donald Trump is a classic example that manifestation is far more than just being “happy”. When I say happy here, I mean fully allowing the expression of your higher self to flow through you. This is not meant as a knock against Donald Trump, but Donald Trump does not exactly display the highest ‘spiritual qualities’ at times, (not to sound judgmental), yes has manifested riches to the highest degree. It’s a perfect example to me, that life is utterly meaningless (to quote Bashar) and that we have the power to literally create anything, simply by how much we truly believe we can, which will in turn lead to inspired action as in Donald Trump’s case.
I manifested my own successful career in 2009 before I even had a single clue what LOA was. How did I do it? I had immense passion and I worked my ass off haha. My previous situation of being out of work for so long, gave off a rocket of desire (to quote Abe) to have a good job and work from home and bang! I manifested this incredible career. But, while there was a ton of action involved….it wasn’t hard work for me! That’s the thing. It was inspired action. It was the next logical thing for me. I didn’t do any visualizations (well not in the sense that we talk about here), any kind of inner work, no meditation….but guess what I did not have any of? Doubts, worries or fears that I wouldn’t be successful. I was just so in the zone and was so passionate about this.
But, Donald Trump or someone similar can be the most successful (outwardly at least) person ever, but is he really living with joy and living in alignment with what his heart REALLY wants? Maybe he is! Maybe this is why he chose this life; to explore this perspective. Who can say? That’s something that none of us can answer. I see manifestation though requires willpower, and most of all confidence and trust that you KNOW it will happen. But, I don’t feel manifestation alone, is the sole purpose of why we are here. Because many god awful people have manifested what some would call “success” in this world, but where does that success stem from? A place of the heart or a place of simply where their focus of attention and a belief that they could accomplish it? I mean, Hitler was “successful” in his endeavors for a number of years. I highly doubt that was his own Higher self’s desires that he was manifesting. I can also say Osama Bin Laden was successful (in his own way) in carrying out what he wanted to, but was this in his higher self’s “highest excitement” as Bashar would say? Or was he just acting out a limiting belief system of his and STILL was able to manifest mass success for himself? Who knows?
Which leaves the question of what is more important? Manifesting or connection to that place in the heart of who you truly are (which ultimately IS living from a place of higher purpose and joy) and THEN manifesting from there? To me, there is absolutely no right or wrong because…..
I see us here on this planet for one reason…..ok two reasons. Number one to explore what it is like to be a human being and each of us chooses to explore a different perspective of that. Therefore, it matters not if we find ‘joy’ or not. We are simply sampling the human life and what it has to offer and having fun creating and manifesting regardless of our connection with Source.
Number two, to express who we TRULY ARE through these human vehicles (if we so choose to explore that particular desire to connect with our true essence). I learned that not expressing who I truly was, led to dis-ease for me. I see life as about expressing those unique values, those passions, those desires through these human vehicles. And our nervous systems will inevitably fight back with resistance out of fear of going outside of comfort zone because it feels it’s lovingly protecting us (resistance).
A happy person might have everything they want, and to us looking at it, it might seem like they ‘don’t have everything they could want’. How could any of us possibly know what, in their own spiritual heart, they truly desire? How could any of us possibly know if they are truly happy? What does happiness mean to each of us?
Just my own thoughts on this subject for whatever if it’s worth.
Hi Derek,
Wonderful thoughts, and I agree. Just a few thoughts of my own:
Yes, you see that they are different, indeed. I agree about Trump.
But, I don’t think our higher self has a desire of its own, or a “greatest excitement” necessarily. I think that Spirit observes without judgment. It knows that we go through what we must go through, and it is our choice. It’ll help when possible, but it doesn’t see things as black and white as we do.
So, while to us, Trump might be, well, selfish and full of himself, to the Universe / his higher self, he’s just experiencing. He might die and say, “Huh, that was interesting.” There’s no “wrong” about it.
It’s just up to each of us.
I also don’t think there’s a better or worse when it comes to manifestation vs. happiness. And, ideally, they would be one and the same.
Also, I agree that someone might not have much, but still be happy with what they have. I also think, though, that someone can be happy, and be open to receiving more. That’s my current situation. I love where I am, and I am open to more. I am preferring more, because that’s what I want to create. But that doesn’t negate my current happiness.
Thanks for the replies Brandon.
Yeah, it’s such an interesting topic. I find Donald Trump to be such a polarizing example, not because he’s a bad person which is just a human judgment, but because he likely has an enormous amount of limiting beliefs (just based on hearing his own points of view on many topics such as banning a religion or mocking a differently abled person, etc) which he has never uncovered, but still has manifested outward success to the extreme which would seemingly contradict some of the deliberate creation teachings including Melody’s.
I guess my own life has seen me more and more with a desire for that alignment or connection with the greater aspect of myself as opposed to trying to manifest things (other than healing). And I agree with you, neither are right nor wrong. I believe we are manifesting either way consciously or unconsciously. Donald Trump is completely aware of how he is going about his success and creating his reality, but completely UN aware that what he is doing is indeed…..manifesting spiritually. He’s manifesting success, but I would question where that desire in him is stemming from, because you can have all of the riches in the world, but does Donald Trump love Donald Trump and is Donald Trump happy even without his success? I’d say no. Perhaps abundance was a theme he is exploring in this life and that’s why success has come easier for him. Or perhaps instead, his financial success is a cover up for his own insecurities.
We know he’s confident in himself when it comes to making money, but when you see how he acts with his comical twitter wars, I think they really exploit a lot about his own fears about himself and how much he really does worry what people think about him. And I’m only using him because it’s a perfect example here. I would also go on to say that many other people that we see who are very outwardly successful, but unhappy, probably have very similar fears about themselves.
I think the ‘advantage’ so to speak, in waking up from the dream, is just that….realizing you are dreaming and then manifesting from there, which provides an entirely different context to manifestation. Manifesting from a place of love is something far different than manifesting success outwardly while trampling over others (such as what Donald has done in some regards). Both are perfectly acceptable in the eyes of an unconditional loving Universe, but I think when we choose to come here, I have my own inkling of intuition that tells me that we DO intend to express the values of who we truly are through these human vehicles, even Hitler ha, but it doesn’t always happen obviously, and that TOO is perfectly ok. After all, human life is supposed to be a game, a fun amusement park. We’re all going back to that same perfect place either way once we transition.
BTW, I read your piece again last night on the zero state and it just really really resonated deeply. Thanks again
Thanks, Derek.
Yes, it is far easier to manifest from an aligned state than from an unaligned, fear-based state, definitely.
But it’s good to know that it is possible. It’s good to know you don’t have to be an enlightened sage to stop struggling in life and have some nice experiences.
It’s a balance. Most LOA teachers focus too much on the feel-good side of it. Someone like, say, Robert Fritz, I think focuses too much on the other side of it, where your emotions don’t matter at all.
The truth, as with most things, is in the middle. Emotions count, but not exclusively, and they’re not enough on their own. Case studies like Donald Trump help to outline that. As I’ve said, if a theory can’t stand up to reality, it’s not a very good theory.
And, I appreciate that you liked the zero state post. It’s funny to me the wide range of responses I get. Some don’t resonate at all with it, while others do very much. I maintain it’s the most important aspect of manifestation, and of many other things besides that, too. 🙂