Aha! Eureka!

This blog emphasizes thoughts that go bump in the night – those aha! and eureka! moments of mental clarity.  Such thoughts solve problems, begin new ways of doing things, and herald a better situation for the thinker.  Such moments indicate a shift in perspective – a new and fresh approach to thinking about a circumstance, situation, relationship and so on.  The “charge” resulting from an aha! moment is the literal sensation of a quantum leap to a higher frequency. 

Thinking is the most natural of human processes.  It is impossible to NOT think.  It is possible, however, to become unaware of how one thinks.  And this is where the Eureka! moments come into play.  Humans have the ability to habituate – to render certain processes and actions into habits – which means that a person can do something without awareness.  That frees up a lot of consciousness for the 3-D experience.  Thinking can become a habit.  A thought, repeated over time, embeds itself into personal experience.  That can be desirable.  It can also be otherwise.

When someone considers changing their mind, this is what’s occurring.  A held thought, or pattern of thinking, is no longer serving and can be replaced with a different thought, to create a new pattern.  It’s the process Charles Fillmore spoke when he taught “If you’re unhappy with your life, change your thinking.”  Any unhappiness (dis-satisfaction, dis-ease, etc.) is due to a thinking pattern.  The thinking has to change before anything else improves.  Emmet Fox noted the frustration many have when attempting to change circumstances without changing their thinking – it can’t be done.

An example of what a “change” in thinking means is to examine two teachings, both about the same thing:

            Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.  Buddhism.

            This is the sum of duty; do naught onto others what you would not have them do unto you.  Hinduism.

            What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellowman.  Judaism.

These very ancient teachings guide relationships between people.  In effect, don’t inflict harm on another; if it hurts you, it’ll hurt someone else.  Consider the point of attention – that which is hateful/hurtful/undesired.  Choices and decisions are made after noting a degree of pain/suffering/undesirable.  It’s a system that worked very well.

Yet there is another way of thinking about the relationships between people:

            All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye so to them. 

The New Testament update of the old teaching is subtle, yet profound.  This teaching shifts the point of attention away from hateful/hurtful/undesirable and towards desirable.  It alters the initiative - the former being reactive to others, the latter being active regardless of others.  It’s a paradigm shift.  As with any change, not everyone is able to do it, as was evident with the turmoil created when Jesus amended the old teaching.  Yet if you are able to discern the difference between the two approaches, then you’ll better understand any Aha! moment.

Does a change in thinking result in a better experience?  The proof of the pudding is in the eating, as is said.  One cannot know until it is done, otherwise the established/habituated thought or belief continues to rule.

Readers of this blog have likely bumped into some reference to Complaint-Free – a idea racing around to literally stop complaining.  Complaint free simply means to become aware of how one interprets something.  Complaining personalizes undesirable observations – the waiter deliberately brought me cold soup!  Such personalizing obstructs solving a “problem” or finding an effective way of handling a situation.  More on this here.

The point is that anyone who has made any attempt at reducing complaining (a.k.a. gossip) will be forever more sensitive to complaints and complaining, especially by others.  That’s the pudding delivering its proof.

OMG!

What the British physicist Peter Higgs and several others showed is that if there exists an otherwise invisible background field permeating all of space, then the particles that convey some force like electromagnetism can interact with this field and effectively encounter resistance to their motion and slow down, like a swimmer moving through molasses.

So notes the New York Times when announcing the apparent discovery of the Higgs Boson, a.k.a. "The God Particle" July 10.  The discovery, at the Large Hadron Collider near Geneva, may explain why matter exists, according to Professor Higgs and others.  I'm particularly keen on the description "...invisible background field permeating all of space..."  Particles interacting with this field find varying levels of resistance, thus creating 3-D material.

The handle "God Particle" presumes that the effect of the Higgs Boson satisfies the need for a "Creator" or supreme intelligence to create the Universe.

This discovery of  an infinite background (it would have to be infinite to permeate all of space) that is able to manipulate energy (a.k.a. particles) sounds, to me, a lot like characteristics of the dreaded "C" word:  Consciousness.

That will be the next quandary in the realm of quantum physics- the selection and design of the assemblage of energy into matter. 

For the moment, the ability to imagine such infinitesimal workings of our Universe is awesome.  It's boggling at times to wrap the head around the "weirdness" of  matter (which still comprises only 4 or 5% of all that is.)  This video does a great job of simplifying for us regular folks the incredible adventures the LHC physicists are engaged.

The Higgs Boson Explained from PHD Comics on Vimeo.

Exciting times to be alive!

What? Me Worry?

Don't worry - be happy!

“Yeah, riiiight…”  “If you’re not worrying, you don’t understand the situation…”

Okay, we’ve all been there – had some irritatingly cheerful soul spout some nonsense about “don’t worry…think positive” or some such grating platitude, when we’re tangled with a situation that scares us.  What’s wrong with the goody-goody unicorn rainbow person that he/she doesn’t get it!  I’ve got to worry about it, because if I don’t…”

Stop it right there.  “I’ve got to worry about it, because if I don’t…”  Then what?  What will happen should you stop worrying about something?

• Is a loved one suddenly going to wreck their life because you stopped worrying?
• Is some situation going to crater or explode because you stopped worrying?
• Is someone going to think less of you if you stop your worry and suffering on account of someone else?

What is worry, anyway?  Worry is creating something you do not want.  Worry is the action of focusing your thinking on something that you fear and do not want.  Now, how on earth does that kind of thinking improve anything?  It doesn’t.  It actually increases your awareness of what else is “wrong” or “un-desired.”  It’s easy to worry about a mole hill - then find yourself facing a mountain of grief.

The mental activity that we call “worry” is an energy launched at something that scares us.  “Oh, gosh, I sure hope Fred doesn’t eat too many sweets over the Holidays, it’s bad for his health.”  “The weather is terrible, I’m afraid Jane will have a wreck!”  Of course the mental activity can be more nebulous and manifest as a chronic dis-ease regarding certain people or situations.  I’ve even heard of physical manifestations – warts – in particular.

Worry has been described as the interest paid on trouble before it falls due or actually arrives. Many people go through the day paying a very high interest rate on their perceived troubles.

Worry is a part of the natural response to fear. Worry is a mental activity that attempts to satisfy an instinctive call to action.  You probably know someone who has said, “I’m worried sick about that.” But what did they mean?

·      “I’m worried...” Translation: I’m scared.

·      “...sick...” Translation: My stomach is in knots, I can’t sleep, eat, feel nervous all of the time, I can’t concentrate on anything.

·      “...about that...” Translation: There isn’t a thing that I can

           do about it, the situation is totally beyond my control.

What is the perception in that statement? How is the person reacting mentally and emotionally to “I’m worried sick about that?” The dread and fear are reinforced. Not only are ten troubles about to wreck my life, but they’ve got fifteen more behind them, “heading right for me!” The physical effects of the anxiety are reinforced and the lack of control is confirmed. Yet the worry continues. Something needs to be done about the “bad” things we observe.

Compound worry trumps other thoughts and feelings. The strong statement “I’m worried sick” is heard very clearly by every cell in the body. “Hey,” thinks the little cell, “the boss says I’m supposed to be sick.” What the boss expects, the boss gets.  Ouch!  You’re the BOSS!  Is this what you want?

There is a growing awareness of the connection between attitude, expectation, and health. Certainly some diseases and ailments are influenced by genetic factors, but attitude is very powerful. You’ve read accounts of “the will to live” working miracles in terminal cases. Conversely, gut-wrenching worry and complaining can screw up the heartiest of digestive systems. On the other hand...

A lot of people worry about getting older, as if worry will somehow reverse the process. Perception continues to rule. You may know of someone who is “old” at thirty and others who are “young” at eighty. The difference? Perspective. A good example is Hank.

Jovial 60-year-old Hank is smitten with 30-year-old Bonita, who is equally enchanted with Hank. They become engaged. “Goodness,” Hank’s friends remark, in horror, that “she’s half your age!”

 “She’ll catch up,” replies Hank calmly. “When I’m 90 she’ll be two-thirds my age.”

In Hank’s perspective, at some point in time, they may very well be the same age. It’s a curious math – but a great attitude!

People are going to do what they are going to do.  You know this.  Every two year-old will let you know “you ain’t the boss of me!”

The anxiety that promotes worry is part of the human sensory system alerting us that our thoughts are straying from an alignment with our higher self.  The anxiety is the feeling produced by that diversion.  It’s a means for us to re-focus our attention on the Good and create more of it.

Although we may not always understand why we feel anxious, we are very good at observing a situation, condition, or person that we believe is causing the problem.  We then leap into action to “fix” the problem.  Or, if we’re unable to do that, we worry.   We worry because we believe in some manner, that our concern about what we don't want will somehow make it better.

During World War II many parents and families were worried about their loved ones in the military or living in war torn countries.  What to do?  Tossing and turning all night, going through the day envisioning all of the terrible things that could happen, and engaging in endless conversation with equally worried people resulted in…loved ones still in war torn countries.   

James Dillet Freeman, Unity Poet Laureate, composed a wonderful prayer for those families.  The idea was to supplant worry with an equal attention to what was desired.  It works very well.  It’s called the Prayer for Protection.

Wouldn’t you rather think and envision a loved one surrounded by the Light of God?  The Love of God?  The Presence of God?  Rather than using the same thought energy to envision a loved one surrounded by car crashes, sickness, crime, misery - whatever the hazard.  Which ever you do, you use the same amount of thought energy.  Which is fueling what you desire?

What you want is to “follow your bliss” as mythologist Joseph Campbell put it.  Following your bliss is not a myth, but an eternal and universal instinct that is never fully suppressed – that two year old again.

There’s only one person in the universe who knows what is good for you.  And that’s you.  Period.  End of story.  No more searching necessary.  No longer necessary to ask others what you should want or do. 

If one is unsure of their bliss, they may worry – a floating anxiety based on a lack of direction, so to speak.  In this situation a person may worry about worrying.  Compound worry!

The happiest people are those who delight in their Life and share that delight.  Not everyone understands that of course.

Don’t Worry, be Happy!   

Some are masters of no worry

          Yeah, riiiiight!

           

People who are unhappy equally like to share their misery, or, in some instances, are so practiced in worrying and focusing on what they don’t like they lose their awareness of how they are thinking.  Borrowing an old Russian joke:

A Russian, an Englishman, and a Frenchman were walking along the road one day when they spotted a muddy lamp lying in the ditch. The Englishman picked it up and the Frenchman cleaned it. Suddenly, a Genie appeared in a puff of smoke. Greatly relieved to be free of her tiny prison, Genie offered to grant each of her liberators one wish.

The Englishman thought for a moment. “Genie, I wish that I owned a great estate with a full staff to wait on me and my family.” Poof! It was done.

The Frenchman thought for a moment. “Genie, I wish to be a famous poet and have hundreds of beautiful women clamoring to make love with me.” Poof! It was done.

Genie turned to the Russian. “And what wish may I grant for you?”

The Russian thought for a moment. “My neighbor has a new car and I do not. Wreck my neighbor’s car!”

People think like that.  It’s the belief in a finite universe where there is a limited amount of everything including happiness and if someone has something, it is at the expense of someone else.  This is nonsense.  But it is an old and very entrenched belief.

If the Universe operated that way you could go to the hospital or wherever, get an injection of some terrible bacteria and become incredibly ill.  Once you became sick, then magically some sick person somewhere in the world would be cured.  You can try it.  In a fashion, many folks do.  But it doesn’t work.  Never has.  Never will.  Because it can’t.

Who Decides?

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government…

The truths, which Jefferson originally labeled “sacred” and Franklin edited to “self evident” are clearly presented: all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. Any discussion of governance follows this declaration of the inherent nature of mankind.

At the time the notion of unalienable Rights from a Creator was almost unheard of. Memory recalled only that rights, freedoms, property, and such, were granted by a Lord, King, Noble, government, etc. by authority of the "Divine Right of Kings." The Declaration was a political separation from the King of England and also a dramatic departure from the concept of “government.” As the Constitution clearly states: “We, the People…” Divine authority for governance henceforth comes directly from the people.  In 1787 the question was put to Benjamin Franklin following the close of the Congress:

            “Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?”

             “A Republic, if you can keep it.”

The sage knew from the get-go that the idea of the people retaining their authority to govern themselves would come under assault.  For over two hundred years “We the People” have managed, often barely, to keep the Republic.  The assaults never cease, however.

The same ilk of skeptics of the fledgling Republic live today.  Then, as now, busy-bodies and unhappy people use creative means to leach away the inherent freedom of another person.  Believing in the zero-sum - they can only be enhanced by another’s loss –  they gravitate towards machinations that limit, suppress, and outright steal individual Rights and Freedom.   There lies the mischief – who decides? Who decides the happiness of your pursuit?  

Who or what is the authority for what is good for you?   How can anyone know what is good for you?  What makes you happy?  No monarch, central planner, oligarchy or ruling elite, knows what is best for you.  They only know what is best for them.

Not too long ago a great treat of going to the movies was the incredibly tasty popcorn.  Well, that’s not good for you!  Popped in coconut oil, the popcorn was slowly killing you, at least according to those who know what is best for you.  Coconut oil was banned and other oils and flavorings were used for your healthier popcorn.  That’s been a while.

Guess what?  Coconut oil is good for you. 

Freedom is lost by a thousand tiny cuts, any one of which is not fatal, but overall, in time, the “We, the people” loses it capitalization.  The ancient history of ruling elites deciding what the masses can and cannot have and do resumes.  In truth only the individual can know, and thus pursue, his/her Happiness. It is not a government function.

Words mean things. The authors of our celebrated Declaration of Independence didn’t toss words and language about carelessly or in search of catchy “read bites.” They penned a precise document which presented a profound premise for the individual person and his/her authority to construct and/or deconstruct government; to cast away any government that trespasses on the unalienable Rights.

Remember that several years ago millions of Americans went to bed one night, slept soundly, and woke up the next morning clinically obese. No long night of sleepwalking food binging - just an adjustment of Federal guidelines for body-fat ratios. Overnight millions of “fat” people were created – all needing some form of government help for their new condition (aka disease.)  And all they did was wake up the next morning.

Now we have a “war” against obesity.  Thousands of little cuts that have nothing, really, to do with overweight people (and who says that’s even wrong?)

Who decides? The Declaration of Independence is correct – you decide, from the self-evident truths which include your right to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. Make that Declaration every day.

(An update of a couple of posts from summers gone by.  Still makes sense to me!)