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Horizons Magazine

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MAY 2001
Expectation and belief, impatience, stopping criticism

Hello and welcome to the May 2001 issue of Horizons Magazine. I'm sitting
here as the sun rises behind me, looking out my giant window at the morning
activity in my garden. I can see a giant bluejay stealing a peanut out of the squirrel
 basket, while half a dozen squirrels frisk about in the oaks, mostly getting into the
 bird feeders. Wow, we always want what someone else has, huh? We always think
 what they're getting might be better than what we're getting. Only after walking a few miles in the shoes of another do we realize that what we thought they had was not what we expected at all.

Our expectation and belief, however, play a big part in what we attract to ourselves. In this issue, Scott and Shannon Peck remind us, "The consciousness of expecting miracles involves spiritual awareness that infinite possibilities are the true reality of our expanding lives." Infinite possibilities. That means there is no end to what is possible. That our true reality is that we are ever-expanding in understanding, that anything is possible and anyone can do it.

Ken Page, who'll be in Melbourne June 14 -16, says that, "Anything you do all day long will become a state of mind," and in this issue he gives a breathing technique designed to open a new world for you, a new world here and now. I've taught breath meditation since 1972 and meditation on the breath is a very powerful and empowering process. The main benefit is that - although it sounds unrelated - as you practice meditation on the breath, you become detached from the sway of your emotions. You still feel every emotion, you just stop feeling at the mercy of your emotions. You are able to view each emotional situation from a higher perspective, one that sees past all the drama and blame. It's very powerful and empowering and, thirty years later, I still do it every day. Ma Yoga Shakti says it best in this issue "When we can manage our thoughts, our emotions and our energies, we are able to achieve much more."

We're an impatient breed; often when we begin a new spiritual practice or process or technique, if we don't see immediate results, we stop it after a few days or a few tries. Then we usually lament to friends, "it didn't work for me," when in reality everything works if you work it. A friend used to give talks locally on "why affirmations don't work" yet he was never able to form a valid affirmation and didn't want helping doing so. He wanted to do it his way and when his way didn't work, he just gave talks on why affirmations didn't work. He didn't know what worked instead, he just knew what didn't work.

We must have patience when learning something knew, and we must also have faith when we begin a new practice. As Dr. Kioni reminds us this month, "The key to faith is thankfulness. When you know you are going to receive something good, you anticipate it and are grateful." Give any new technique at least 30 or 60 days of steady practice and, if that sounds too long to you, well all the more benefit you will receive once you make the decision to do it. It's not always easy to make a decision like that but - remember, choosing not to decide is still a choice. Choosing to remain in the status quo is a conscious choice to stay there.

Rev. Beth writes, "there are choices that we make that may expedite our awakening, like choosing to meditate, or choosing what to think about?" Her Sunday lessons at Unity Church of Melbourne are always inspiring and fun; she has a lively and engaging speaking style and the music on Sunday mornings makes it worth waking up for. Plus I get to see most of my favorite pals all in one place once a week ~ come visit an 11am service and say hi to me afterward!

Lloyd Thomas this month gives us suggestions for honest communication. "Communication that is not honest invites confusion, frustration and separation." There is always a way to state what is true and useful in a kind and gracious way. Sathya Sai Baba says, "Speak only what is true, useful and good." If it is true yet hurtful to another, is it useful to speak it? It's a powerful practice to stop all criticism, to cease all comments that bring attention to anything but the highest and best in others. "But," I can hear you say, "it's human nature to comment on what I see around me. It's just human nature to complain and criticize - everyone does it." Well, no, that's not "human nature," and no, everyone doesn't do it and it's always a conscious choice to do it. If you have a friend whose path of least resistance is to point out everything wrong around her, well, the best thing you can do is to begin pointing out to her everything that's right and everything that's going well. All it takes is a little shift in focus to see what's good in everything around us.

Alan Cohen says in this issue, "At any moment we can see through the eyes of appreciation or criticism. We master the game of life by finding good wherever we look. We see the world not as it is, but as we are. Changing the world is not about setting it right, but seeing it right." Dr. Humbert talks about asking yourself how many good days you've had this week and noticing what made the good ones good, then doing more of the good stuff. Simple but profound wisdom. Rev. Sannar this month writes, "I use my words, my thoughts and my feelings in a positive and constructive manner. I am grateful for my ability to find a blessing in all situations." I believe "constructive" is a key word here. It's important to realize that every thought you think, every word you speak, is "constructing" your future experience. Just as your past thoughts and what you've been speaking the most of in the past has brought you to where you stand today. If this is where you want to be, continue doing more of the same. If you are ready for some change, then try for 30 or 60 days changing your thoughts and your words spoken. If you have something in particular you'd like to work on, give me a call and we'll figure out the replacement thoughts together. Gillian MacBeth reminds us, "without a doubt, the invisible will manifest visibly in accordance with how deeply, how strongly, how powerfully you hold the vision."

What kind of visions are you holding and how powerfully are you holding them? Part of the Mission Statement of Horizons Magazine is to? use our combined power to encourage each other in our personal visions. Write and let me know what your personal visions are. I may use some of the response in an upcoming issue. Enjoy our offering this month. Hari Om.