Let's not confuse consciousness with thinking!

There is so much information these days about vigilance in our thinking. I've been in groups--in fact, led groups--where that vigilance was definitely promoted. What I know about this is not so much the content of the thought, but the focus of the consciousness, is what is important.

In seminars, people are often surprised to hear me say that God is not interested in affirmations. Somehow, they have what we do to re-focus our own thinking confused with praying. For some, from more fundamentalist belief systems, they continue their fear-based behavior and do affirmations "religiously." The only purpose affirmations serve is to keep you focused on a new thought pattern, likely a more positive one than you previously entertained.

Let's not confuse consciousness with thinking! Mental activity is a reasoning activity. It is about thinking. Consciousness does not reason or think. It just becomes aware. I can see you standing there without thinking. I simply become aware of your presence. Two and two are four is a state. Thinking does not make it so. It has always been four, never three or five, so there was no process of making them four, no mental activity that made it so.

Awareness is the only activity required. That is why sitting in Soul Solitude is such an important practice. Bringing the awareness of "I and the Father are one." into focus and giving it our attention lifts us to greater spiritual discernment. Being aware that this is our truth is the practice. Bringing it to consciousness is the only activity.

Joel Goldsmith wrote:

"It is only when the human mind isn't working, when in the very stillness of your innermost being, when your soul senses are aroused--when your spiritual awareness is aroused--that you can behold the perfect man. ...In other words, the humanly mental process has nothing to do with spiritual truth....No amount of any human mental process enters into this presentation. It is purely through the development of your spiritual consciousness. It is through the development of the soul sense."

This is a giant leap for many, a next step for some, in spiritual understanding. Things like 'The Secret' open our minds to possibilities, to new thought. Many will rest there. I encourage you to keep on moving forward in spiritual growth and awareness.

Make love the dominating influence in your experience. Become aware of and receptive to God's presence in your life. There is no power apart from God and we can get the spiritual "feel" of that. Sit in Soul Solitude, open and receptive...and listen.

Many blessings,
Rhoberta

Rhoberta Shaler, PhD
Co-Author, SOUL SOLITUDE: Taking Time for Our Souls to Catch Up
www.SoulSolitude.com

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Do You Practice Self-Love?

Self-love. Does that sound indulgent? Or, do you know that it is the way we nurture ourselves so that we have love to give? We cannot give a gift we do not have, so, loving ourselves and demonstrating that allows us to fill up our "love pockets" and spend freely.

Just like a bank account, we need to make deposits that more than balance the withdrawals if we don't want any nasty surprises. But, our culture has a strange way of twisting this...and, the words the Bible offers: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

We need to notice in that Bible verse that it doesn't say love your neighbor instead of yourself, before yourself, rather than yourself, yet many people behave as thought it does. In my seminars I often ask the question: If you ARE loving your neighbor as yourself, is your neighbor getting a good deal? Very important question.

In SOUL SOLITUDE, we talk about about the scripts we have inherited, adapted or adopted in our lives. Many of them come replete with putting everyone else first and living without boundaries. We learn that "nice people" don't have boundaries, or, even, say "NO!" That might have been part of your script...or, maybe, it still is.

As a psychologist, I can only say that these are very unhealthy ideas. As a spiritual teacher, I say they are also misguided. There are many people in this world who do not have your best interests at heart, particularly once you have chosen a spiritual path. They want you to do what they want you to do. They want you to do things for them that are not in alignment with your spiritual values. And, they may even use your spiritual choices as the reason why you should do what they want!!! This is especially true in the context of giving.

Take good care of yourself in every way: stay on your path, make choices supportive of your spiritual understanding, and walk your talk. You and God are a majority.

Many blessings,
Rhoberta

Rhoberta Shaler, PhD
Psychologist. Consultant. Coach. Catalyst.
www.Rhoberta.com