By Rev. LeRoy E. Zemke
Pastor, Temple of the Living God
External conditions, circumstances and suggestions of others are secondary causations only. In order for any external condition to affect you, you must accept the idea or suggestion; then it becomes a movement of your own mind, which is the primary cause. Remember that it is only when a suggestion awakens a response in you that creative action takes place.
From These Truths Can Change Your Life by Joseph Murphy
Let nothing upset you;
Let nothing frighten you.
Everything is changing;
God alone is changeless.
Patience attains the goal.
Who has God lacks nothing;
God alone fills every need.
by Saint Teresa of Avila
Change: To make the form, nature, content, future course, etc. (of something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone. Change implies a shift in appearances, in an external sense as well as an internal sense, such as a building’s design or a person’s attire, or body components, or in any number of other outer expressions, change of scenery, diet, job circumstances, mood, temperament, financial considerations etc. Slowly we begin to understand that change is always occurring, even when it does not register to us, or appear to be connected in our personal interpretation of what is or is not happening to us.
In the business environment of our country alone, the specific emphasis in training seminars, workshops, classes and untold revisions of workplace operations manuals, the “how to improve and change the job at hand,” the business of change in all areas of the marketplace is a multi-billion dollar industry yearly!
When we apply that information to all other areas of life such as embracing all forms of human relationships, travel to a new country, relocating a home or one’s family or business, health related issues, adapting to a loss or the death of spouses, parents, children, or friends, overcoming financial constraints, catastrophes natural or otherwise, marriage, birth, divorce, or any other arena of life involvement, one cannot escape change in any of its guises, forms or facets. It is as ubiquitous as the wind, as the air we breathe.
From a much larger, more spiritual sense, we think of God, or that which is the all-encompassing, Creative Source of All Life, omnipotent, omnipresent, that Power (which is the foundation of the appearance of all form) as changeless. Yet, even though our intellectual conceptualization of this all pervasive power is seen or interpreted as changeless, I suspect that’s only because in an intellectual based sense we cannot interpret correctly how this power or energy actually exists or changes at its essence. Language here fails to define any kind of real meaning to God as changeless.
The above discussion briefly sets a tone, as far as this article is concerned with the idea of choosing change in a more conscious way.
From my vantage point, change is always occurring ... whether we can see it, agree with it, give credence to it, permit it, or allow ourselves to flow in some measure of harmony with it.
The real task is to cooperate with the unimaginable forces of the universe that move us inexorably, into the unrelenting ebbs and flows of that which we call the eternal. Some of these forces have scientific names such as heat, light, cohesion, ether, non-local fields, etc. Sciences such as biochemestry, bioenergetics, psychobiology, physics - especially quantum and theoretical physics, speak about the capacity we individually have to influence our lives by thoughts, actions and deeds. To gain perspective, or an appreciation of this possibility, I invite a reading of Bruce Lipton’s Biology of Belief and again, Spontaneous Evolution by Dr. Lipton and Steve Bhaerman.
In addition to the cosmic forces referenced above, change can be directed from within ourselves. Initially change often seems or appears to be difficult, restrictive or problematic. The authors just mentioned suggest that our personal attitudes and beliefs toward all aspects of our life are very important, far more so than we may think, or even believe to be possible.
These ideas are simply restatements in scientific language what the greatest teachers who have walked our earth have taught us. Jesus said, “It is done unto you according to your belief.”
Choosing change consciously is accomplished in gentle stages. As we “open up” we experience change. It is a freeing feeling to move in a new direction, even if we are uncertain about the projected outcome.
When we are conscious we are aware of a choice we make. When we are unconscious we repeat the same choice eventhough we may intellectually (rationally) know better.
Let me illustrate. We are told by a medical doctor or health practitioner that in order to lose weight, we must exercise and eat less.
So we choose to exercise but not eat less or make better choices regarding food intake. The result is that we do not lose weight because we do not choose appropriate foods. The wise choices regarding food is called unconscious behavior. We know what to eat, but we do not eat/drink what is best for us. It’s not a lack of helpful suggestions or information. We simply “go unconscious.” We choose to ignore what may be best for us.
Or we continue to smoke, drink alcohol excessively, or use drugs inappropriately. We already know, consciously, the familial, medical or societal implications. We know (consciously) the real health considerations and we stop periodically. When we basically “go unconscious,” we choose reasons that are excuses, we are in unconscious behavior.
When we experience unconscious choices, we excuse, deny, block out, or pretend to ourselves (or others) that circumstances beyond our control made us do it. Blaming others, other conditions, or outside circumstances is a red flag to us that weare going unconscious.
To make more conscious choices, I’m offering some of the following suggestions.
a. Daily, wherever we are, affirm your connection to God, the Presence, the Power undergirding and unfolding behind all manifest form. Once we even slightly begin to feel this connection we will experience a most subtle shift in our own emotional and mental state. Say, “I trust and accept the all-encompassing power of Life within me to unfold in and through all areas of my life now. And it is so!”
b. Let go of a belief in limitation. Often we cannot allow change with ease because we accept the idea (falsely) that it will be difficult. We say, “I cannot learn a new skill. I am too old,” “I have difficulty with math.” We may also say, “My family thinks I am dumb, misinformed, misguided.” That is also a limitation. We now know at the basic biological level, the human brain continues to experience learning and growth throughout our lifetime! So the corrective work for us is to choose what we really do want to accomplish or achieve.
c. Create a Believable Goal! Many potentially worthy projects fall away from us because we select a goal that’s not in sync with our inner self, our real desire. We say to ourselves, I want to earn $50,000, $60,000 or more a year. However, inwardly, we do not believe it’s possible. We hold a belief that says, I’ve never earned more than $35,000 a year. If we say to ourselves, I am not worthy or I cannot possibly accomplish such a financial goal, then for us that will be true. Be careful of looking for excuses to justify your belief ... Such as “I’ve never been able to accomplish this before ... or I’m way too old now...”, or "my health is always a factor.” "I tend to get sick or something bad always happens to keep me from achieving my desire.” These are self fulfilling repetitive prophecies (excuses).
Say instead, “This is a worthy goal. I deeply trust God and all the forces of the universe to support me in attaining mygoal. And it is so!”
When we are inwardly aligned, choosing change consciously is not only possible, it tends to unfold right before our eyes, in our hearts and in our lives.
There is no outer progress without inner change. - Joseph Murphy
Affirmation:
I begin right now as never before to welcome change. As I meet change with a friendly, welcoming attitude, change can’t ever make me afraid. It will be to me the joyous unfoldment of life as it was meant to be. Every change will be a new beginning, a beginning again - being born again.
As I get that beginning again feeling, I can feel secure in making changes for I accept the truth that God is really with me. God is within every change. Then, I have a center of security in the midst of changing things. The God within me doesn’t change ...even though everything about me changes.
A new beginning requires that kind of faith that says ...“God is here!” I give thanks for new beginnings.
Taken from Spiritual Insights for Daily Living written by William R. Parker
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