Self Aware World - Self Improvement Blog and Website

Video: God Is Everywhere

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 08:00:00 CST

Science & Reason on Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/ScienceReason. Stephen Fry @ BigThink: God Is Everywhere.

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Video: Abraham Hicks - Goal Setting

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:00:00 CST

Goal Setting.

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Law of Attraction or Quantum Physics?

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 08:00:00 CST

I have been reading up on and watching videos on Quantum Physics here lately, mostly about the double-slit experiment. In no way do I claim to know anything in depth about the Quantum world, but what I learned so far is very intriguing to me.

There is a relatively new video out now on PBS by Brian Greene named "Fabric of the Cosmos: Quantum Leap". In this video Brian talks about the famous double-slit experiment, how when it was monitored or "observed", the outcome of the experiment changed. Apparently the act of observing, changes the possible multiple probabilities of the movement of a single particle from many to only one. Watch the video, you'll understand better than hearing (or reading) it from me.

This got me to thinking about reality and the way things come into my life. There are facts and rules about the Law of Attraction that I have proved to be true for myself much more than once. But the attraction part that I don't quite get yet. Supposedly I'm a kind of a magnet that "attracts" things to me, depending on my attitude, state of mind or beliefs.

So, if I'm attracting events, places or people into my life, that implies that all these different kinds of possible attractions (circumstances) must already be "out there" waiting for me to pull them in using the Law of Attraction. So if all these possibilities exist, that implies that they could be referred to as parallel probabilities or realities, you might even call them parallel universes.

Somehow I prefer that my future reality is based on my attention or observation on the things that I want, and that those possibilities or probabilities that exist out there become true in my life only because my attention or observation has centered on one of the possibilities, preferably the best one.

So, rather than seeing that things are attracted to me, I would rather feel like I'm walking in the direction that is best for me, and those possibilities are made real and factual, liked stepping stones in the stream of life.

I must say that the rules of the Law of Attraction are still viable. The only difference is that my realization that Quantum Physics provides a logical answer for me as to how things actually work.

Jake

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Stuck in a Rut

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:00:00 CST

When a car is stuck in a rut, it can't move. It stays in the same position until someone comes along with a tow cable or a tow truck. When we take a closer look at this car, we see all sorts of power potential that is just lying dormant, unable to help in any way. When in it's element, this machine can zoom through traffic, go over a hundred miles an hour, and bring itself to a complete safe stop.

When people get stuck in a rut, like cars, they sometimes perceive themselves as being helpless, looking for someone or something to pull them out of the rut. The refuse to see that they have their own tow cable and they alone have the hidden power to pull themselves out.

I recently came up with an idea for a new way to make money on the internet. It was like a shot of adrenalin. I jumped in and started working on the backend programming for a new website. I was so excited that I couldn't even sleep all night. I would wake up at 4 in the morning and go straight to my home office and start programming. This new website was going be centered around a subject that I really didn't know that much about, but I kept hammering away.

Things were going great, and I was feeling great. Every snag that I ran into was easily resolved, as if someone was handing me the answers. Within a few days I was ready to launch. This in itself was unusual, since a complex database application like this one sometimes takes weeks or months.

I went about spreading the word about my new application. The first few weeks were great and I was even making a little money.

But I wanted the website to be successful NOW and started getting frustrated. Things were not moving fast enough for me, they weren't getting worse, but they weren't getting any better either. I found myself getting anxious and a little depressed. My fire wasn't as hot as before and it really upset me.

Then one rainy day, I was driving home from work and saw a brand new Porsche, which slid of the road and was stuck in the mud on the road side. The driver was desperately trying to get the car unstuck, rocking back and forth, racing the engine and spinning the tires. But that car wasn't going anywhere.

Then it hit me, I'm that Porsche! When I started getting frustrated, I slid off the road and get stuck in a muddy rut just like him! That guy can't do anything about his predicament, but I certainly can.

I had to go back and recall all the teachings and lectures I had heard about "seeing yourself doing the thing you love" and "seeing yourself as being successful" in spite of outward appearances.

I decided then to change my attitude and continue my work towards my goal, all the time seeing myself already attaining that goal, with joy and excitement.

Things immediately started to pick up again and I an now definitely out of the RUT!

Jake

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Flying with the Roger Rabbit, the Dog

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:00:00 CST

When you're a pilot, finding a mate that will love aviation as much as you do is pretty tough. Even if you meet someone that says they like flying, it's not always true. Many times a prospective mate will say anything to make you happy, to keep you interested in them. Then after the marriage, things change and the truth comes out. They may finally admit that flying is too scary after all. At times there can also be some resentment towards the other woman in your life, your airplane.

Meanwhile, back to my story.

On a beautiful Saturday morning, I drove to my hangar and pulled out my old Cessna. I had to clean her up from the last adventure before this young lady arrived. I didn't want her to think I was a complete pig. I cleaned the windows and vacuumed her out. Ready to go!

Not long after, she arrived, but not alone. She had her small dog, Buffy the Shih Tzu, tagging along.

"Oh" I said. "You brought your dog".

"Oops, I'm sorry, Is that OK?" she asked.

"I dunno. I've never flown with a dog before. I guess it will be OK." I said, not really wanting to have a dog in my airplane.

So after the pre-flight, we boarded my bird and taxied out to the run-up area. The dog seemed to be pretty calm, it just sat quietly in her lap. I did my run-up, all the time keeping one eye on the dog. Still, all seemed to be well.

Time for take-off. I pulled the airplane out on the run-way, while announcing my departure. I pushed in the throttle and started down the runway. Meanwhile the dog was starting to get agitated, but I didn't notice, since I was concentrating on my take-off.

The next thing I know, the dog had leaped from her lap and started running around the interior of the airplane, just like Roger Rabbit in the movie. Around and around it went, yipping all the way. Since I was already airborne, I really couldn't do anything about it. Not only was the dog going wild, but it was pooping and peeing at the same time.

I knew I had to get the plane on the ground as soon as possible. I was worried that that damn dog was going to do something stupid like lodging herself under the rudder peddles.

I made the pattern and landed safely. We got out of the airplane and put the dog on a leash, tied to one of the struts. Both of us were covered with pee and poop, not to mention the interior of my airplane!

She was mortified and apologized profusely. I said "Don't worry, it's OK".

We pulled the airplane into the hangar and she gracious helped my clean it up. After everything was back to normal I turned to her and said:

"I do have one suggestion though."

"What's that?" She asked.

"I think you should change the dogs name to Sue". I answered.

"Why Sue?" She asked.

"Well, then we can refer to her as Shit-Sue!"

We both laughed and went out to lunch, in a CAR.

Jake

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Pilots Take Care of Their Own

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 08:00:00 CST

Several years back, I got laid off from a job where I was working as a contract computer programmer. The company decided to "out-source" the whole department. I've never been laid off before so I really didn't know what to do next.

So, being a typical private pilot, it didn't take me long to come up with a definitive answer, "I'll go flying!". What better way to leave your troubles behind. When I fly, I can't think about anything else.

So I picked up my girl friend and we took off for a nice long evening flight. The Cessna floated on the winds like a new Cadillac and the air was clear. We watched as the sun went down over the horizon, waiting for the orange edge of the glowing sphere to pop out of sight. Then, it was time to go home.

After a nice landing, we taxied back to the hangar and I saw my new next-door neighbor watching us as we went by. He waited for me to shut down the engine and walked over to introduce himself.

"Hey, did you guys have a good flight?" he asked.

"Incredible! You couldn't have asked for a nicer evening." I answered.

"My name is Ethan. I haven't had a chance to meet you yet." he said.

"Nice to meet you. This is Susan and my name is Jake. We're out celebrating my very first lay-off ever!" I joked.

"Really, what do you do?" he asked.

"I'm a computer programmer." I answered.

"Interesting... How about you come see me tomorrow where I work. We need some more programmers." he said excitedly.

"Sure, well... Heck yeah!" I said.

The next day I drove to his office, not knowing what to expect. He invited me in and took me for a tour of the office, all the time talking with me about my programming experience. After we made the rounds and met some of staff, he grabbed a few of them and we went into one of the conference rooms.

"Mind if we have an impromptu interview?" he asked.

"Sure, no problem." I answered.

We spent the next few minutes talking about the job and my experience. Then Ethan got up from the table and paraded the others out into the hallway, leaving me behind, wondering what was going on. Then, after only a few minutes, he came back in.

"The job is yours if you want it." he exclaimed.

I was flabbergasted. "Am I awake, Is this really happening?" I thought to myself.

Then I said "Well, let me think about it... hmm... OK, I've thought about it. I'll take it!" I said with excitement.

"Great!" he said, "We'll see you in the morning!".

As I was walking out to my car, I still couldn't believe it. I had a job, and in less than 24 hours of getting laid off!

Can I be so bold as to credit aviation for my good luck? You bet your boots! Those of us that are part of the aviating community take care of their own.

Jake

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The Magic of Harry Potter

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 08:00:00 CST

Yesterday I took my family to see the latest Harry Potter movie. On the way home, my wife had a discussion about why people are so interested in this type of movie. Why is it that we are so fascinated by having the ability create things out of the blue and being able move things around with the swish of the wand? I thought to myself her that it must be because this type of thing is something that we already know how to do, but on some different level.

I went through the rest of my day thinking about this concept, not being able to let it go. Then some strange things began to happen. I sat down with my son to watch television and the majority of the commercials and the shows had something in them about magic and people creating things with their mind. It didn't end there. I went to the mall and some of the people I passed were having conversations about this same topic. On and on it went, synchronicity after synchronicity. It was, to say the least, fascinating.

And speaking of "fascinating" as Spoc would say, the last thing I watched on television last night was an old Star Trek episode where a young boy was rescued after being marooned on a planet where his spacecraft crash landed. He was the only survivor. Some highly evolved entities on this planet had compassion for the boy and gave him powers to create anything he wanted, thinking that it would help him survive. Merely by rolling his eyes he could change everything, including making some of the Enterprise crew members disappear when he got angry. He eventually took over the ship and basically became a little jerk to everyone.

At the end of the episode the entities found the Enterprise and apologized for the boy's behavior and put the ship and its crew members back to the way it was. They apologized to Captain Kirk explaining that the boy was apparently was not capable of using his new powers wisely. They decided to take the boy back to their planet so he wouldn't be able to hurt anybody again.

This television show was final proof to me that all these things that were showing up in my life during the day were a direct result of my complete attention and fascination with this subject. As a famous lecturer I heard once said "energy flows where attention goes". We need to make a daily decision to only pay attention to those things which bring joy and excitement into our lives and ignore all the negative garbage that goes on in our heads.

Jake

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Thanksgiving Party - Here we go again...

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:00:00 CST

Every year at Thanksgiving my wife and I go to a big get-together at one of her girl-friends houses and every year I dread it. The women all know each other and always have a great time. The house is filled with high-pitched chatter and laughter as they fill each other in on the latest gossip and what happened last week. They also hang out together just about every week, going shopping, eating out or going to each other's houses.

That leaves the men. Some know each other, but most don't. They look lost and uncomfortable as they wander around the house, looking at their watches, hoping that time will somehow speed up and take them home to their beloved Lazy Boys.

Luckily there is a beacon in the night, a big screen TV. It calls out to the male species saying "come ye therefore to me, for I will give you meaning and purpose in this land of woe". As I walk into the living room, I see the cavemen, gathered around a televised football game as if it were a campfire, drinking beer and speaking as little as possible. It's a pitiful scene to behold.

Now for me, there is a double dip. I don't like football. So every year I'm faced with the same dilemma, "What the hell am I going to do for the next 3 to 4 hours?". If you don't talk about football, you don't talk at all. That leaves going into the kitchen where I'm surrounded by women, which, I must say ain't so bad. BUT I just end up standing there speechless due to that fact that I have nothing of feminine interest to talk about.

That's when I realized that it's probably my attitude and predetermined dislike of situations like this that make for such a long and boring evening. I decided to just relax and listen to all the conversation going on around me. I poured myself a glass of wine, filled my party plate with goodies and took a seat at the dining room table.

Pretty soon some people came around and sat at the table with me. We started up some polite idle conversation, which, after a while, gradually turned into a very interesting exchange of personal experiences. Then I began to notice that I was starting to really enjoy myself.

Eventually we left the party, but only after the house was almost empty. My wife must have been wondering "Who is this man I'm married to?". I didn't want to leave, having been totally engaged in conversation and laughter.

For the first time ever, I told my wife "Hey, that was fun!"

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The Car Diet

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:00:00 CST

I hate fad diets. They just don't seem to work for me. It's a band-aid on a boo-boo, except the boo-boo is in your head. You try a diet, lose the weight you want to lose, then "poof" it's back.

Recently I read an article about a "Car Diet". It sounded so intriguing, I had to give it a try.

Here's the general idea. Your body is like a car. When you wake up in the morning and you're hungry, your cars gas gauge is pointing to "E". You have no fuel, it's all been burnt up during the night.

So you hop out of bed and go to the gas station (the kitchen) and fuel up by eating some breakfast. Now you have enough fuel in your car to drive you to lunch. During this trip to lunch you're busy working, running around and generally doing stuff. All this activity burns up the fuel in your stomach.

Around noon, your stomach starts to growl, indicating that the fuel you had earlier has been totally burned up, and now your gas gauge is now pointing to "E" again. Now it's time to tank up again by enjoying a good lunch and drive your car to supper. This trip also involves more movement and activity, burning up your supply of gas (food) as you journey toward supper.

Finally you arrive at supper and you are hungry once again. Here's the burning question, "Where are you going to drive to after supper?". The answer is "no-where". Most people tank up at supper and sit, watch TV and then go to bed. Meanwhile all that gas (food) is sitting in their stomachs not being used for anything. So what does the body do then? It packs all that food away as fat in case you need it later, like if your starving.

Remarkably this diets works. I eat whatever I want for breakfast and lunch and just skip supper, when I can. The weight has been steadily dropping off and I even sleep better now.

It has now become a lifestyle change for me, one that a lazy man like myself can follow.

Jake

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It's all in me head...

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:00:00 CST

This morning I was shaving in my bathroom mirror, not looking forward to the day. The guy in the mirror looked beaten down, discouraged and downright depressed. "I wish things were different" I said to myself. I really didn't like what I saw.

Then, just for grins, I decided to see what I would look like if some wizard waved his magic wand and then "Poof!", I had plenty of money and a career that I really loved.

Then I watched as my reflection changed. I was holding my head high and had a glow about me that was dripping in confidence. "Now, that's more like it!" I exclaimed.

Then I started having visions of me going through my usual daily activities and seeing vast differences. Instead of my usual complaining about work and my boss, I had a new attitude because I didn't need the old job anymore. I watched myself as I packed up my office stuff, smiled at my former cube mates and waltzed out the door, headed straight for my new career.

The visions continued. There I was, eating at a nice restaurant, not even looking at the prices, and enjoying the company of new friends. I looked down. I was wearing new expensive clothes and "looking good" as Freddie Prinze would say.

Then I walked out to the parking lot. There was my new black 2-door Mercedes, shining the sunlight, begging for me to take her for an evening drive. As I glided inside, sliding over the leather upholstery, I looked over and saw the loving eyes of my beautiful wife, who kissed me on the cheek.

Needless to say, this experience felt really good, really alive. In fact, sometimes I go back and read what I just wrote to rekindle that feeling again.

"I want to feel that way all the time!" I thought. So, why can't I? I know that I'm the one who created this life in the first place! All of this couldn't have come into existence without me participating in it. It is up to me to change it.

I have been told that when I change, my world changes. It's time for me to become the person that I want to be.

"Look inside yourself, Simba. You are much more than you have become." � The Lion King �

Jake

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Chiggers

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:00:00 CST

Yesterday, my wife and I went to watch our 13 year old son play in small football scrimmage game. When we arrived at the stadium we found that the scrimmage had been moved to an open field behind the big stadium. No biggy, we just followed the other parents and walked out to the field.

When we arrived at the field, we found that there weren't any bleachers to sit on, just God's green grass and row after row of very old pecan trees. These old leathery trees leaned over a grassy area, covering everything with a lovely shade. As we claimed our spots to watch the game, we began to notice a nice refreshing breeze coming out of the west. The smell of freshly mowed grass, accompanied by the moist fragrance of a distant rain shower, filled me with memories of my own childhood adventures, playing in open fields around my neighborhood. This, without a doubt, was much better than baking in the sun on some hot and hard metal bleachers.

Many of us jumped to our feet and cheered as our kiddos made great plays. I was really enjoying this whole experience. Grass fields, lovely old shades, a soft breeze and kids having fun. You can't beat it.

Then it started. After a few minutes, one of the mothers starting talking about "Oh, I hope I don't get chiggers out here! I hate chiggers! We will all have to go home and take hot baths after this over to get rid of them."

Soon after that she started rubbing and scratching her legs and arms, complaining non-stop after each episode. "D%^& chiggers!" She exclaimed.

I decided from the outset to ignore her behavior and enjoy the ballgame and the outdoors. But the other parents began to exhibit the same symptoms, itchin' and scratchin', almost like an invading virus had engulfed the crowd. Soon this plague was all they could talk about, wishing for a quick end to the game.

I, on the other hand didn't experience anything. I kept my "eye on the ball" (or the game). Watching my son gallop over the field with a huge grin on his face. We were both having a good time.

After the game concluded, we all made our way to the parking lot. I still wasn't feeling anything, except for the excitement of watching my son play football. However, the other parents looked like family of apes, scratching and swooping through parked cars, eager to get home and wash off the "chiggers".

The mind is indeed a curious thing.

Jake

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Relationships and Great Expectations

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:00:00 CST

Being in a loving relationship with someone is truly one of the greatest adventures in life. Especially those warm fuzzy feelings you feel at the beginning, are wonderfully delicious. At this point in any relationship, life if just great. Both parties have a heightened awareness of the others needs and desires, more than willing to do for the other.

As time goes by, things start to change a little. Those warm "gushy" feelings are not as strong. Oh, you still love and care for the other, but those "drop what you're doing" actions you took before are not as prevalent.

You, as an individual personality or sole, still have to be concerned with yourself, how you feel, where your life is headed and not loosing the person that you are. Realizing this is sometimes tough. Feelings of guilt can come over you. You can even feel a little selfish about caring for yourself more than the other.

Also, in most relationships, one or both of the participants will sometimes notice that the other is not doing as much as they used to. Again, this is not because they don't care, it's just typical behavior for any long-term relationship.

I am reminded of that song "What Have You Done for Me Lately?". Don't you just want to slap that singer?

Now enter the term "Great Expectations", a really boring book and not the way to have a good relationship. Sometimes we go into relationships with expectations that we inherited from our parents, watching Mom and Dad do for the other. In my first marriage (haven't most of us had one of those?) I demanded that wife keep the house clean, fold my clothes and put them the dresser, because that's what "Mom" always did. She in turn wanted to go out and get a "real" job like her father did, sacrificing himself for the family. I really liked my job. It didn't pay much, but I was happy with it. We both started resenting the other one big time.

As I mentioned before, there are those expectations for things we used to do when we first entered into the relationship. It's kind of like volunteering to do something for an organized group. Now it's expected! I soon learned that I really didn't enjoy doing all the things I used to do. I just did them to gain her favor at the beginning. So I stopped doing them and so did she.

In my new marriage, my wife and I set down at the very beginning, rehashing what had gone wrong with our first marriages. We soon came to the same conclusion that those "Great Expectations" were the primary cause of our divorces. We then vowed at the very beginning to not expect anything from the other, and to only do things out of love and respect for each other.

I have to say this works. I never expect anything from wife and therefore I'm never disapointed. If you think about it, if you have an idea in your head of how the other is supposed to perform some task or act a certain way, you will never get what you want. They will either fall short or go beyond your expectation of them. And if she does something for me because I "expect" her to do it, how can she enjoy what she's done for me?

Do for the other, out of love, and expect nothing in return and ALL will be well.

Jake

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A Novel Approach

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:00:00 CST

I just finished listening to an audiobook that was over 15 hours long. It took several trips back and forth from work to hear the whole book. This was the first time I�ve ever listened to an actual novel. Most of the podcasts and audiobooks I�ve listened to in the past were self-improvement and motivational type recordings. So this was definitely a different type of listening for me

I been hooked on listening to recordings on my iPod for quite a while now, every since I "borrowed" the iPod from my son.

On this occasion, the book I chose to listen to was an action/mystery/fantasy type novel, filled with joy, love, death and deceit. I have to admit I was hooked early on after listening to the first chapter of this book. I found myself listening to it on the way to work, at lunch, on the way home from work and even on trips to the grocery store.

Just like the movies, I found myself pulled into each chapter, easily projecting mental pictures of every scenario read by the narrator. The dark corridors, the lovely ladies, the sinister villains, the smell of the air, the heat or coolness of the day; it was almost impossible to not be engrossed in every subtle nuance.

As the days went by, I started noticing things begin to change on the road as I drove to and from work. At my job things were starting to change too. As the book proceeded through its story, so did my everyday experiences, in like manner. Some things were noticeable, some not, but nevertheless, different somehow.

Two days ago, the book reached its climax. The villains were attacking the good people of the village and a full battle broke out. They began to fight each other, face to face, hand to hand, slashing at each other with swords and knifes, even picking up stones and hurling them at each other. This battle continued on until its conclusion where the elder of the village was murdered by one of the villains. The villains were finally run off, leaving the village people to pick up their dead and wounded.

As I was driving home from work that evening, I noticed at the very outset of my journey home that it was �idiot� day on the highway. People were driving like maniacs, occasionally flipping each other off as they cut in and out of lanes. There were at least two drivers that decided I was driving too slow and rode my bumper for miles.

Today it finally hit me. I was participating in the story, seeing in my mind what the characters saw, feeling their pain, their joy. Their story became true and manifested itself, in my world! WOW!

I think I�ve discovered a new tool here. What do you think?

Jake

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Scrapbooking and the Law of Attraction

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:00:00 CST

My wife loves to do scrapbooking. She meets with her friends at least once a week where they gather around the kitchen table and put beautiful works of art and imagination together. If you're not familiar with scrapbooking here's a website that best explains just what it is. On this website, here's how the owner describes it "Scrapbooking is a method for preserving a legacy of written history in the form of photographs, printed media, and memorabilia contained in decorated albums, or scrapbooks. Historically, scrapbooking was a tradition similar to storytelling, but with a visual and tactile focus."

When they meet at our house, I can hear them joyfully cackling in the kitchen, sharing their family photos and decorative ideas between them. At each session, they concentrate on building one page using family and friends photos, combined with colorful paints, stamps and cutouts, all designed to enhance the subject matter of the photos.

All of these pages are then stored in a scrapbook. Each scrapbook usually has a theme. Like "Our Wedding", "Our Trip to Hawaii", "Mikeys Soccer Team", you name it. As you look through these colorful scrapbooks, you can't help but get a "warm fuzzy" when you're done. These pictorial presentations are just oozing with love and joy.

Which now brings me to the Law of Attraction. What are the key ingredients in the Law of Attraction? Visualize what you want. See yourself already in possession of that which you desire, and finally, FEEL the feelings of having it in this moment. Sounds like scrapbooking to me!

What a tool to get you centered in on what you want to have in your life! Oh, and did I mention it's fun to do?

Get your camera and start taking pictures, get a pile of magazines, or any media that displays the things you want. Glue these images to a piece of paper and then start embellishing the page with all sorts of reinforcing and affirming colors, cutouts and statements. You WILL start to feel the excitement of having what you desire. Then everyday, go through your scrapbook and lose yourself in it. Daydreaming is permitted! Soon you will begin see the pages turn into reality.

Jake

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Worry Warts and the Church Camp from Hell

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:00:00 CST

Many years ago (and I mean MANY), I decided at the young age of 19 that I was going to be bonified Church Youth Director and felt "called" to do so. I talked with my preacher and he set me up with a small church across town as their new Youth Director and offered to pay me a whopping 15 dollars a month.

I reported for duty the first Sunday of that month and was introduced to the congregation at the morning service. I was excited. After church, the preacher set up a youth luncheon so I could meet the kids. All went pretty well and they seemed like a nice bunch of teenagers.

At the luncheon he announced that we would all be leaving first thing in the morning to go to a church youth camp and that I would be going too. Everyone seemed eager and happy to go. All except me. I had never done this kind of thing before and didn't know if I could handle it. Regardless, I was determined to give it my best shot.

Now for the worry wart part. For many months, I had been nursing a seed wart on the face of my left thumb. It was driving me nuts. Nothing I tried got rid of it. Even after attacking it with a pair of toenail clippers until it bled, it just wouldn't go away, and seemed to get bigger and bigger. I was consumed with getting rid of it. Well, no time for that now. I felt I needed to concentrate on this new task at hand.

Early that Monday morning we arrived at the church camp and loaded our stuff into 2 cabins, one for the boys and the other for the girls. One of our church ladies volunteered to stay with the girls.

After we were settled in, the preacher walked into the boy�s cabin and announced "Well, you guys have a good time. I will be back on Friday to pick you up".

My eyes must have bugged out like Dobby the House Elf from Harry Potter. I walked with the preacher out to his car and told him "Wait, I've never done this before!� Then he retorted "You'll be fine. See you on Friday!"

I walked back to the cabin and looked into the faces of the 6 boys, whose countenances had seemed to change immediately to that of demon possession.

From that point one, they didn't listen to a thing I said. They went to the daily gatherings at the Church Camp Cathedral, but that was only because the camp owners threatened everyone with expulsion if they didn't attend.

Then the fun began. One day after lunch, I was walking back the cabin and saw the front door open, but only a couple inches. This seems odd to me, so poked the door open with a stick. Suddenly a large plastic cup filled with pee came crashing down and barely missed me. Instantly I heard giggling in the background behind some bushes.

The list of treachery went on and on. One of kids threw his down pillow into the wall attic fan and it exploded, putting a snow like layer of feathers snow over everything in the cabin. They short-sheeted my bed. They put mud in my underwear. They flushed the toilet while I was showering. The cursed me to my face. They snuck out at night to either smoke or to meet some girls in the woods. Needless to say I was miserable and completely frustrated.

Finally Friday had arrived and the preacher loaded the little bastards into the church van. Then he asked "How'd it go?" Then I answered "Fine. I quit!� Luckily I had brought my own car and could leave without answering any additional questions.

On the way home, I was going over the whole experience in my head, rethinking my so-called "call" to the ministry. Then I looked down and the seed wart was gone! No, it was not divine intervention, more like diverted attention intervention. The whole experience had been good for me. Showing me that what you pay attention to.... GROWS.

Jake

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The Anatomy of Synchronicity

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:00:00 CST

The term "synchronicity" is defined as "the coincidental occurrence of events that seem related but are not explained by conventional mechanisms of causality". It is a word that is widely used by many people today in the New Thought movement.

For me, synchronicity is more than just a strange coincidence, it is evidence to show us how we bring things into our personal life experience.

For those of you who are not familiar with synchronicity, I have a simple example of an occurrence that happen to me just last week. I was trying to help my son with his new German class, without knowing any German at all. We tried to make sense of his school textbook but didn't get anywhere with it.

Instead we downloaded some free software off the internet that taught German by listening to spoken translations from English, and then tested you by having you type the German words into the program. Needless to say, we both learned a lot that night.

Around 10 pm, is was time for my son to go to bed and for me to have my own private time with the TV remote. I started watching a show about how your body ages over time and how there isn't much you can do about. Eventually time catches up with you and you croak. It explained, on a cellular level, exactly what happens to your body. I ended up going to bed around midnight, because I just couldn't stop watching that show.

The next morning, after I got out of the shower, my wife yelled at me to come over watch a special news report on aging in America. While I was standing (and dripping) next to her, I noticed that she was reading an article in the newspaper called "Auf Wiedersehen". This article was about how public schools were having problems getting kids to sign up for German classes.

I can understand a single synchronicity or coincidence, but this was a double whammy. I have had countless experiences like this.

I think that synchronicities are like reports that are sent to us, showing what's going on in our heads.

Another term that is thrown around a lot in New Age circles is "Manifestation" and "The Law of Attraction". In my opinion, there is very little difference these terms and the phenomena of synchronicity.

Let's look back at my example and break it down into it's primary elements.

First, there was "interest". I was preoccupied mentally with both scenarios. I wanted to help my son and learn German myself. I was also fascinated by the subject of aging and how it worked.

Secondly, there was "emotion". My son was upset that he was going to fail his German and I felt empathetic, having been there myself. Also, the show on aging really caught my attention and was spooking me to the point of wanting to join a health club the next day.

Interest and emotion seem to be primary components in bringing stuff into anyone�s life. Yet, like some New Ager's, we "visualize" what we want and don't seem to receive it, or it takes a long time.

I think it's time to examine our own synchronicities when they do occur. When one happens, we should sit down and write out everything that we can think of that led to the synchronicity, and try to repeat those scenarios. This "cause and effect" method of analyzing really works.

When we are trying to "manifest" something into our lives and don't receive the thing we want, we need to go back and examine our previously fulfilled synchronicities to see where they differ from our manifesting efforts.

Every day synchronicities are simple, they just happen. We need to start making conscious synchronicities occur.

Jake

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