MKMMA 2016 – Week One

What the heck did I get myself into? Yup, I am back in the classroom, however there is a twist, I have a fulltime job and other adult responsibilities which I didn’t have in my college days. While it has been challenging to integrate coursework into my daily routine, I am deriving much value from the assignments.  It is definitely time to implement OATS starting today. This in terminology of The Greatest Salesman is a great habit to implement. It is a step toward growing an accumulative consciousness. For a very great while, my life has revolved around that which catches my attention in the moment rather than looking long term, as in the difference between the onion and the olive tree.

 

Encouraging myself to dream of the possibilities for an expansive, opulent life is something new to me. The question, “If money were not an issue, what would I do, be, have?” is now a part of my conscious thoughts. Time to speculate, ponder, explore, wonder about all the possibilities, knowing there really is no limit except what is within my own mind and thought processes. I know my DMP will morph probably more than once or twice during the coming months as I open my mind to what is possible instead of finding fault or reason why something is impossible.

 

I’m buckled up and ready for the wild ride of discovery and adventure awaiting me.

 

MKMMA – Week Nine

This is where I went sideways as Mark J says or as I would call it, going off into the weeds. Yup, my DMP was in great shape with short term goals. However, I encountered a problem in that several time-frames for completion were unrealistic. So, I continued my addiction to the Abraham Hicks material on Youtube rather than assessing and adjusting the time-frames in my DMP. Yup, this is some of my classic behavior right from my internal blueprint. Next step is to continue off course until I resort to throwing in the towel just to begin again in the fall.

Through some great coaching from my guides, I’m commited to getting back on course and completing this session. Take that, Subby!

 

MKMMA – Week Eight

Eureka!

At this point in MKMMA, my DMP is in great shape though all my desires are what I consider short term goals. This is due to two factors. First is the word limit, and second is I’m not sure beyond that. I’ve been struggling with what my life’s purpose or rather heart’s desire(s) are at this point. Some unknown desire is calling to me, something much bigger than myself and my personal goals, needs, wants. It is something by which I will make a difference in this world. I’m not driven to leave a legacy. Rather it would be something whereby I am totally in service to my fellow beings.

Tonight I was listening to a YouTube recording from an Abraham workshop. Okay, I’ve diverged from this course work a lot the past couple of days, listening to many Abraham Hicks recordings. Anyway, in this particular one, Abraham asked the gentleman who’d been invited to the hot seat to tell Abraham what is his life’s path. Before the guy could muster an actual answer, Abraham blurted out, “Succeeding on all levels on all subjects that are important to me as I move through life.” When I heard this, I backed up the recording and wrote it down. This is my Eureka moment.

What I realized from Abraham’s statement as well as from what I’ve heard from Mark, Davene, Trish and others are that my desires are uniquely mine. While my DMP currently has short term desires incorporated within it, my DMP is malleable. When my current desires have manifested, then I am free to modify or re-write my DMP with new desires. Maybe even revise it before the current desires manifest, as the amorphous cloud of my unknown desire takes on a shape, it can be incorporated into my DMP. Unlike the Ten Commandments, my DMP is not chiseled into stone!

Oh, what a relief! I’ll move forward with what I have now, keeping an open mind toward new updates.

MKMMA – Week Seven

Throughout this course “being in service” is heard time and again from Mark. I was reminded of an essay by Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen titled “In the Service of Life.” I was introduced to this essay when I became a lead volunteer in my spiritual community. It was included with other materials pertaining to my position and responsibilities.

In this essay Dr. Remen compares and contrasts serving, helping and fixing. When in service, there is a wholeness in the act. She refers to service as having an experience of mystery, surrender and awe. Her point of view is that fixing and helping bring our egos into the equation, while service comes from the soul.

In this essay I see also how service ties into our “no opinion” homework and from there to our “Mental Diet” exercise. It is an act for which there is no reciprocity sought. It is also balanced, in other words, the helper or fixer tends to be in a position of power while the server is an equal to the served.

Dr. Remen sees service as involving our whole selves, including our souls. She writes, “Our service serves us as well as others. That which uses us strengthens us. Over time, fixing and helping are draining, depleting. Over time we burn out. Service is renewing. When we serve, our work itself will sustain us.”

 

MKMMA – Week Six

Déjà vu Week… Or, the same learning opportunities keep presenting themselves until we learn and grow from them!

This course and life are fascinating! Several years ago a spiritual counselor I was working with assigned the “I Love You, my name!” exercise for me to do two to three times daily, standing in front of a mirror. I remembered it for a while and gradually relegated the exercise to my long term memory. Now, coupled with reading “The Guy in the Glass” taped to my mirror and “I LOVE YOU…” written on that sheet, I am reminded every time I am in the bathroom! I expect this will become a longer term habit.

Oh, I’ve also written “I Can Be What I Will to Be” and “Do It Now” on the same paper! Great way to remind myself!

During the webby, when it was mentioned about living a life by default, I was reminded that I applied this phrase to my life during an exercise I participated in as part of the first year of spiritual counselor training several years ago. At that time I realized I often didn’t make choices, which becomes a choice by default rather than conscious decision making. This I saw resulted in not changing my life, not living fully and authentically. How has that worked for me you ask? Well, here I am in MKMMA committed to change and discovery. In other words I have not been satisfied with my life. I am all in, doing my best with MKMMA.

The magnifying glass and compass analogies are very appropriate this week. The magnifying glass directs me to maintain focus on my desires; focus and consistent effort to create the life of my dreams. Whenever I discover myself meandering (scattering) in my efforts through distraction, I remember the magnifying glass, which helps me return to focusing on what is important to me.

The compass metaphor for my Heart’s Desire(s) is great, except I’m not sure what they are at this time. Sure, my DMP is crafted with goals and dreams for the next steps in my life, but I am discovering a yearning for something greater, something beyond my life. While I don’t have an overwhelming desire to create a legacy of some sort, I do have a desire to make an impact in this world. I’m just unsure what it is yet. Stay tuned…

MKMMA – Week Five

Interesting week, this no opinions or no judgments exercise! I have been consciously minding my own judgments for a while before this class, or so I thought. Well, two areas leaped out at me. First, I judge myself A LOT! All that negative self talk which I didn’t think I was doing. Oh, was I wrong. Many times it is just the feeling of judging or criticizing, no words are needed to have the same effect.

My second discovery was driving. I have not been one to carry on about other drivers with great emotion and perhaps accompanying physical gestures for a long while now. However, I noticed or was made aware, thank you subby, how I do comment or remark on how others drive, particularly those that cut in far too close, or just had to zoom around me just to make a quick exit. Particularly offensive is the Colorado lack of working turn signals for indicating one’s intention. Seems very few vehicles have operational turn signals in this state! Oops, was that a judgment or merely an observation? Interesting how by changing a word the thought changes, yet what is important are the underlying motivation and or emotion behind the thought or spoken statement.

Oh, now about that DMP of mine… It is now is fine form. Interesting how reading it aloud, with emotion, brings up other emotions. As I read it aloud, rarely do I make it all the way through without even a slight pause as emotions come up. I know I haven’t allowed myself to dream, or known how to let myself loose to dream for a long time. I interpret the welling of emotion as a sign of my realizing the possibilities which lie ahead. That I am the creator of my new, improved life expression. I do choose differently for a different outcome. Reading silently, I do not experience these same sensations and thoughts. There is power in speaking aloud one’s desires, dreams and intentions!

MKMMA – Week Four

The world without is a reflection of the world within. – Haanel Week 1, Paragraph 8

Okay, we are in week four, why am I reaching back to week one? Well, I’ve been mulling this sentence over since week one, looking for a correlation between my outer world and my inner world. My purpose is to learn what to change in my inner world to create a more harmonious and affluent outer world.

This week I re-read the previous weeks’ reading assignments. From week one, paragraph 17, I was struck by this sentence, “All loss is the result of a scattering consciousness.” Another way of saying this is one lacks focus, or purpose or direction. Boy, this smacked me upside the head with a spiritual 2×4! This is what our DMPs are all about – clarity, focus, specifics and dates for completion. This smacks of goals in my traditional thinking brain, something I’ve avoided or beat around the bush for decades. I can see from my outer world exactly how that hasn’t worked for me.

As a result of this revelation, I am focusing laser-like on refining my DMP, taking that scary step of committing to completion dates. Now though, I understand the dates are for more than my conscious brain. It is to give additional focus to my subconscious mind. My subconscious mind and the Infinite mind are my ally now. My conscious mind is not solely responsible for bringing forth my desires, I have a partner with limitless powers assisting in my creative endeavors.

The “Do It Now” mantra and “I promise to … I always keep my promises” phrases tie into week four paragraph twelve. This speaks of focus and determination, following through on my decisions and commitments. This paragraph refers to habit, which is what scroll one in “The Greatest Salesman” drives home. That is having good habits which compel me to follow through.

Paragraph twenty-one of week four lined up with my thinking. It talks about more and greater activity attracting more attention from the Infinite Mind. I have noticed when I concentrate on the next thing, whatever it is, and dwell not on whatever concerns I may have in the moment, magic happens. Keep on keeping on!

MKMMA – Week Three

Ah, the struggle I have mentioned? Still ensuing though I am making progress! Using a cue from other participants, I have been getting up earlier everyday to read and to do my daily sit AKA meditation. Haanel is sneaky in leading us into meditation. This week the next step is to relax my muscles and nerves, which is what I learned to do as part of my meditation practice. So far, this is old hat to me. My question is, is there a new twist er, tweak for week four? I’ll soon find out…

It was interesting to read over weeks one and two after reading week three. I made more connections with all the material; it makes even more sense now. Earlier Haanel wrote that all power comes from within. That to change the effects (outer) one must modify or change the cause (inner). Also, this makes the connection between the individual and the Infinite that our real power of manifestation comes via this connection.

Haanel speaks of the person who radiates energetically from their Solar Plexus as being magnetic, shining their light. Another way to describe this may be that the person has a sunny disposition that they are literally throwing off positive energy.

Throughout the readings focus and concentration on our desires is emphasized. In week one, paragraph 17 Haanel states “all loss is the result of a scattering consciousness.” This correlates to the subconscious not being given clear instructions of what our desired outcome is to be manifested. I know I’ve been guilty of this on many occasions. The phrase “laser focus” comes to mind, meaning to be clear in my spoken word, clear and precise in my thoughts, zeroing in with a singleness of purpose.

In week three Haanel writes about non-resistant thoughts expanding the Solar Plexus while resistant thoughts contract the Solar Plexus. In my experience, my thoughts and perceptions have affected my physical posture. Some years ago a dating guru I followed wrote that one should mind their posture as it affected our emotions. Sure enough, after reading that I made a conscious effort to sit and stand straighter and expand my body. This in turn positively impacted my emotional state.

This week I had an experience which probably was influenced by my reading. I noticed when looking at my financial account online I was charged for a service membership that I had intended to cancel prior to the free trial period ending. This charge had the potential to cause some havoc with my financial situation. After reviewing the online information about cancellation policies, I saw I was eligible for a complete refund because I cancelled within a few days the trial period ending. However, it stated that the refund would be processed after the original charge was finished processing. Furthermore, this could take several days. At first I panicked. Then I remembered the reading and thought I’d try a different approach. I assumed that all would work out positively in my favor. This is exactly what happened. No sooner did the charge complete than the credit was also processed, all within 24 hours. What a relief and demonstration!

MKMMA – Week Two

The struggle continues… My old habits continue trying to derail my efforts to instill new habits. However, I am determined to discover my authentic inner self (thanks Mark J.) and create a life of my true passions and desires. My response to point eight in the workbook is, I am not a quitter, I will forge ahead. Each week I know I will see incremental improvements and new insights.

This week I also noticed impatience on my part. I want my new life NOW! Oh, this sounds like I’m still living as the onion plant. In my mind is a phrase about before I can do, I must be. Ugh, that sounds like I am doing nothing to move forward. Yet I understand this to mean I must be still and connect with my inner self, and with the Universal Mind. Then when I have done this, the doing requires very little effort to accomplish my desires. Still, in my head I hear, “but, but, but…”

After reading paragraph 14 from Haanel, this week I on many occasions paid attention to the thoughts, AKA concerns which were playing within my conscious mind. I made an effort to shift away from negative concerns so as to not influence my subconscious to bring about more of the same. This is an ongoing project, keeping my watchman at full attention.

My reaction to paragraph 21, is that often I find I have made up stories about situations which simply aren’t true. Maybe as Haanel writes, the subconscious dissolves the anticipated problem ahead of time. Or, maybe that problem just never existed to begin with, it was all in my head, a fabrication of my imagination?

The sitting exercise which now includes thought patrol seems very much like meditation to me. I have been meditating off and on for ten years now. Through this practice I have sometimes gained surprising insights to current dilemmas present in my life. I look forward to the tweak promised for week three!

MKMMA – Week One

Oh wow, has this week been challenging in a perfect storm kind of way! Many new experiences from baby steps into blogging to committing and following through on daily assignments, absorbing the readings to observing my ingrained habits (old blueprint) attempting to throw me off course. It is very overwhelming to have so much new show up all at once. Top it off with helping my significant other pack a moving truck to move 1200 miles away.

Battered and bruised but not beaten I have persevered. It can only get better!

I really understand why Mark says, “If it isn’t written, it isn’t true.” Yes, from this moment forward I plan my week AND write it down to ensure I maximize this experience by performing all the activities as suggested. I am in this for the long haul, creating the inner changes to manifest outer changes.

I was exposed to Ernest Holmes and New Thought teachings ten years ago. Reading Haanel sounds so much like Dr. Holmes and other New Thought teachers. What I value with this course are the structured activities which will bring about changes to my inner landscape. This course brings together various techniques which more effectively work on my subconscious mind.

Number 37 on page seven in Haanel really struck home with me, that most people including myself, try to change effects AKA the outer world by trying to substitute one for another rather than reaching inside to reengineer the actual cause of that effect. I am excited to do this exact thing, work from the inside out, substituting better habits (Greatest Salesman) for unwanted habits.

In the Greatest Salesman I understand the analogy of the olive tree to the onion plant. In other words, patience and perseverance prevails over haste and the quick fix. These changes may not happen overnight, but being patient and nurturing these changes as I discover my authentic self, it will yield a much greater reward. I am in this to win, win a better me, a better more abundant life in all ways!