Bend, don't break

The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists. -~Japanese Proverb

Many times we see change as a threat. We become pessimistic towards the idea of newness, or we allow ourselves to remain within comfort zones because of our pride...or to avoid the risk of failure.

Resisting change means resisting growth. Those who succeed are those who take chances, and that means not only accepting change, but embracing it as a gift.

Embrace change...turn your vision into reality.

I'm holding the high watch!

Rev. Donna

Tug Of War

Some people think it's holding on that makes one strong; sometimes
it's letting go.

- Sylvia Robinson
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

In the midst of dreading another disagreement...another tug-of-
war with a loved one, I had a thought. It takes two sides to play
ideological tug-of-war. What if I simply let go of my end of the
rope?

The game of tug-of-war involves two sides pulling on a rope as hard
as they can, with each side trying to topple the other. To win, you
can either pull the rope hard enough to drag your opponent over to
your side—or you can let go of the rope at the peak of the contest,
when both sides are straining as hard as they can in opposite
directions. Then your opponent goes flying, because your resistance
was what was holding him up.

So, as long as I held fast to my end of the tug-of-war rope...or as
long as I resisted, full of righteous indignation...the other side
would keep pulling just as hard in the opposite direction. My
struggle doesn't weaken my opponent's position—it supports it. The
secret is to be non-resistant...to affirm that there is only One
Power and One Presence in my life, God, who is Good, who is
Omnipotence. It isn't giving up...it is giving way to Spirit.

Yesterday I let go of my end of the rope two times.

Donna

Why Did You Have A Heart Attack?

Best-selling novelist Michael Crichton tells a story about his medical school years in his book Travels. He and his intern pals were bored, because nearly the whole surgical floor was filled with heart attack patients. Although a heart attack is pretty dramatic for the patient, apparently it’s not the most exciting challenge for doctors-in-training. Hoping to liven up patient rounds, he decided he’d ask a different question from the usual checklist of symptoms. He asked instead, “Why did you have a heart attack?”

The responses shook him to his core and changed his entire view of medicine. First, every patient had an immediate answer. It was as if they had been asking themselves that question and waiting for a doctor smart enough to ask it. Second, every single patient reported a psychological or emotional reason. Nobody said it was too much bacon and too little exercise. They gave answers such as the following: “I lost my job and my pension.” “I want a divorce, and I feel guilty.” “My daughter wants to marry someone of a different race.”

The astounded Crichton took his findings to the chief of medicine, who responded with a story of his own. He once was hospitalized with a slipped disc precisely when he had to reject a paper written by a close colleague. He understood that the slipped disc had postponed facing an unpleasant circumstance, and he saw a clear cause and effect.

Although you can’t be precisely sure of the content of your mindset, you can be sure it’s affecting your life experiences. Through this experience, Crichton began to understand what every Truth student understands: your mindset and emotions create your reality. In every area of your life, your skills, contacts, education, and intelligence, all get trumped by your mindset and emotions. That’s why we focus first on the right mindset. We know that if we don’t get that right, the rest is wasted energy.

Here’s a question that might give you some interesting insights.

Ask yourself a version of “Why did I have a heart attack?” Ask, “What is my greatest desire right now, and what mindset, beliefs, and thoughts are keeping me from it?” See what comes up. If you’re honest with yourself, your answer can lead you to inner changes that can create positive outer results.