All that we have discussed to this point has provided a picture of the landscape in which we operate and play.

Let's consider the experience of two people. On one hand we have someone who believes that things always flow in perfect order and harmony in his life. Now, on a particular occasion, he has an appointment and has to drive from his home to a downtown urban area fifteen miles away. He leaves with a sense of ease, expecting his drive will go well and that he'll find a parking place upon his arrival right where he needs one (because he always does). And indeed, his experience turns out to have been in accordance with his belief. Over here, we have another fellow, someone who always feels frustrated, always seeming to struggle against the currents of life. He is usually cursing and fighting traffic. On this day, this chap has a dental appointment in the same building as the first. He leaves his home expecting obstacles and frustrations, as is his habit, at a time that places him about one minute behind the first fellow. He hits many more red lights than green. His way is impeded by buses, rude and inconsiderate drivers, and sirens. Then, to top it off, when he does arrive, he can't find a parking place. He drives around for half an hour and is late for his appointment. He curses how this always seems to happen and reaffirms what a constant struggle life is. Is it his thinking that causes this? Are we not seeing attitude affecting events and experience?

About Methods For Implementing Change

What can we do to make our lives and experiences more like the first fellow's and less like the second? How can we learn to live with that sense of ease? Within the variety of source material available in the self-actualization field, much of the methodology offered comes from the field of psychotherapy. Psychology deals with correcting the personality. But as we should be realizing now, it's more effective to work within the realm of spirit; for working to expand consciousness will automatically correct the personality.

Like many who are reading this, I, in my search for answers (and thus relief), read many books. I found that for me (and presumably many others as well), many of the books and magazine articles that claim to help people gain control over their lives, have elements to them that require us to do things that, quite frankly, some of us can't do. This is simply because of the very resistance that is causing the suffering in the first place. The resistance has to be understood and softened first. Realistically, "If we coulda, we woulda".

Among the untenable approaches (for me), is the workbook format -- where on every other page, there is a task of writing a list of feelings or family dynamics or some other facet of self-evaluation. While this sort of list making can be an effective technique for many, it definitely did not work for me. I was far too impatient for that. I was looking for change NOW-not the weeks or months it would take to complete all of the assignments. I could only see a great deal of time and effort for no near term payoff.

Ultimately, I decided that what I really needed was to gain an understanding of how the universe worked and then from there, I intuited, it was simply a matter of flowing with it rather than against it. The concept of specific methodologies became less important to me than a good grasp of the basic principles and dynamics (the meta physics) that move the universe. Besides, I found these principles exhilarating and that exhilaration propelled me along. I happen to be a "free-styler" in most endeavors-one of those people who gets the basic idea from a recipe, but never really follows it. Whether it's cooking, designing products or departments within business, I adapt everything to my own inclinations and intuitions. We each have our own array of unique abilities; grasping basic concepts and adapting them happens to be mine. This is all really personal preference (left brain / right brain, Mars / Venus stuff, whatever). Many people find, for example, that they learn better and resonate more with personal accounts of struggle and triumph. We intuitively are drawn to that material which resonates with us. All are valid.

And so you will find that what I offer is more in the realm of understanding cosmic principles than specific methodology. As I have come to see it, we simply need to come back to the understanding of our role in the creative process of life. That leads us to the awareness that we can simply learn to ask for guidance.

Now we do need to practice some things-such as finding quiet time, learning to calm our minds, and learning to listen for and recognize answers. Come to know that you can communicate with the universe. It is essential to set aside quiet time everyday-even if it is after going to bed, before falling asleep. I recommend you learn to meditate. It's not difficult and you'll soon come to value this time.

Self Assessment Necessary For Progress

The aim of the workbook exercises I referred to above, are to assist you in evaluating what you feel and think about yourself and your place in and relationship to the world. I simply prefer to do self-reflection in the quiet moments of meditation. Many people can combine meditation with writing their feelings. This is great as well. But inarguably, in order to begin moving from where you are, at a minimum, you do need to get an understanding of how you feel about yourself now. [The movement and the understanding can occur simultaneously.] Do you feel worthy of a great life or do you feel that only others deserve happiness, abundance and wellness? Do you like and appreciate yourself? Are you mostly irritable? Angry? Resentful? Filled with anxiety, worry, fear? Communing with your Higher Self can bring these answers.

The reason it's important to make these determinations is that the circumstances of your life are an absolute perfect reflection of how you view yourself and how you feel. Let me hasten to add that you are not your circumstances. Circumstances are only a fleeting snapshot of who you think you are. As for the feeling part, what you are feeling is energy. If you have a low opinion of yourself, you feel down and irritable (low vibration energy). In light of spiritual laws, it can be no other way

Pain And Suffering

There are books devoted to this subject. I will just say that our path toward awareness is facilitated by the pain that we experience as a result of our choices to avoid and resist change and growth. We resist out of fear. The universe, throughout our countless excursions into physical life, is always trying to teach us to love, to let go of fear, to control our own thoughts and intents. Many of the books and discussions on this subject speak of the karmic aspects of suffering. Our souls seek to heal, as is the intent of the evolution of consciousness. Pain and suffering are utilized as tools to get our attention and motivate us to seek Truth and come to know that we can trust in All That Is. Coming to Truth is ultimately the relevant thing. And the Truth is that anything is possible now; there are no limitations.

Don't Delay Happiness

We have used phrases such as "all is well", "in harmony with our true purpose", "aligning our energies with our desires", "becoming connected to ultimate source", etc. When the state that these phrases describe is realized, we become receptive and open to manifestation of the joyous fulfilled life that we seek. Now someone might say, "But, what if I never achieve that state?" Let's clarify. States of mind are different from outer conditions.

The ego is quick to seize upon any hooks that it can use as rationalizations to prevent us from achieving joy and happiness, and, delay is one of the best. It would have you delay indefinitely. And so we find ourselves always thinking in terms of, "I will be happy when such and such occurs." It was never meant that our happiness should rely on conditions and circumstances outside of us. Our happiness is supposed to be in creating. This means that we must make a decision to be happy now, knowing that we can create conditions that we'd prefer over current ones. When we always delay our happiness until something outside changes or occurs, we are wasting now. We have attached our happiness to conditions.

Let me try to further clarify why this is an error. If I am unhappy now and have decided that I will not be happy until conditions "x" and "y" are met, I am, at the outset, radiating an energy of unhappiness (inadvertent resistance to happiness); the universe then continues to match that energy with the conditions of "no x" and "no y". Now, often through sheer will and struggle, we manage to attain x and y, only to discover that our happy periods are short and fleeting. In part, this is because once the conditions and circumstances are achieved, the ego just moves the goal line and makes the next desires the point of Nirvana. We soon find ourselves bored with the acquisitions. We become weary through the constant effort of will and find that we don't have time to sit down and appreciate what we've acquired or achieved. This is what's behind that idea that money can't buy happiness and why we see so many people who we think of as rich and successful, but, who in reality, are miserable.

Now, there is nothing wrong with enjoying and appreciating material things-being a recipient of the abundance of the universe. The error is in attachment, i.e., believing that your happiness is dependent upon the objects or conditions of desire. Joy comes from finally learning that the universe willingly provides, and, more importantly, that it can only do so when you finally give up the notion that it is the object or condition that can provide happiness. In truth, it is the knowing of the universe's cooperation that leads to happiness. When you just let go, you allow the cooperation to come as the universe offers it. In other words, as you've undoubtedly heard before, the manifestation of your desires may not be in the exact form that you conceived them. Infinite Intelligence sees and is aware of things that are beyond our limited vision. What it delivers is ultimately better than how we conceived it.

So we must learn to just be happy while we're developing our skills of creation. The payoff is that this sets up a mental pattern where the flow of energy will bring to you joy, sense of ease and peace of mind. Thus we discover once again the truth in the teachings of all the great masters. A) Happiness is a decision. B) It can be achieved only by living (being) in the present, not by regretting the past and worrying about the future, as the ego would have us do. And, C) The point is the journey-not the destination. Incidentally, it is as much an error to delay happiness until becoming a spiritual master, so to speak, as it is delaying until certain outer conditions are achieved.

About Effort

Because we are taught over and over to work hard to attain what we want (the Protestant work ethic), our first impulse is to roll up our sleeves and take action-work-work-work-put forth effort. In the process, we forget about the role of Infinite Intelligence. We are to turn all of our problems over to Infinite Mind (God, Universal Subconscious, the universe) and allow it to work its wonders of arranging the details for the perfect outworking of the solution.

Be aware that when you are engaged with any methods that for you seem to entail real effort, your subconscious mind will likely read this effort as an indication that there is necessity for struggle (that there are blocks or barriers or something to overcome) and it will comply by presenting conditions that require struggle. This is often the case when we are resistant. Attempting to fight the resistance with greater effort is usually counterproductive--even harmful.

Let me offer an example of this. Many of you have probably heard of the affirmation technique. It's a tool widely recommended for improving many areas of one's lives. Often it's presented as a way to reprogram the subconscious mind to accept new ideas. Unfortunately, too often, it is utilized incorrectly. People apply force of will, thinking that the idea is to "work at" repeating whatever particular affirmation as frequently as possible. I can tell you unequivocally (from personal experience) that most people will experience a detrimental effect by doing this. At a minimum, it will produce no results. More than likely, it will actually create the opposite effect. I highly recommend that if you are utilizing persistent, mindless repetitions of affirmations, cease immediately. Attempting to force the subconscious mind to accept new ideas cannot work.

This subject of effort and resistance will prevail throughout our spiritual journey. Our progress proceeds most surely in a mental climate of ease. Yet we talk about the work we must do to improve our lives. It may seem a fine line that we walk. But let's not forget that work can be enjoyable. This is most evident in artistic creation. Think about the things people pursue in their pastime-exercise, woodworking, tinkering with cars, cooking, knitting, etc. And so I suggest that we take this approach in our spiritual growth. Be easy; try not to utilize force of will.