Posted to Facebook August 31st.
There are a number of materials and teachers out there these days using the saying "I create my own reality." I know that with some situations we find ourselves in it can be fairly easy to take out the stick of guilt, shame, unworthiness, or doubt and beat ourselves up when we hear that. Telling myself I am responsible for this nasty person in my life, or this terrible financial situation, or this poor health just feels awful. The last thing that idea/philosophy or LOP is wanting to do is make someone be on the downward spiral, so its purpose must be something else.
There are a number of materials and teachers out there these days using the saying "I create my own reality." I know that with some situations we find ourselves in it can be fairly easy to take out the stick of guilt, shame, unworthiness, or doubt and beat ourselves up when we hear that. Telling myself I am responsible for this nasty person in my life, or this terrible financial situation, or this poor health just feels awful. The last thing that idea/philosophy or LOP is wanting to do is make someone be on the downward spiral, so its purpose must be something else.
Sometimes we interpret "I create my own reality" as something we have to get out there and work really hard at with action. We have to convince others, make laws, control situations, and protect and guard our homes, families and world. This interpretation of "I create my own reality" feels more empowering than the guilt and shame, however, it is exhausting, not usually very productive, limited in its creative ability, usually relies on others changing their behaviour, can take a long time, not to mention it is not fun, inspiring, exciting, and full of appreciation -- so it must not be what LOP is talking about either.
However, if "I create my own reality" is about the perception I choose about a given situation, it then is able to be a glimmer of hope. If I am willing to no longer be right about this thing I don't want, and allow myself to be right about what I do want, ahhh, that's the relief that it creates. At last, something that I actually can control and provides the possibility of reaching heights on the upward spiral that allow me to remember who I really am.
Yes, this too takes some 'work', but at least that work guarantees some returns, unlike the work of trying to change others. And the freedom that it promises is like no other. And although some situations may seem near impossible to find an upward spiral perception to, I know if Victor Frankl can do it in the Nazis concentration camps (see "Man's Search for Meaning"), we can do it in our lives.
And, interestingly enough, when I change my perception about something, I seem to rendezvous with evidence of it in all kinds of ways, because . . . I create my reality.
However, if "I create my own reality" is about the perception I choose about a given situation, it then is able to be a glimmer of hope. If I am willing to no longer be right about this thing I don't want, and allow myself to be right about what I do want, ahhh, that's the relief that it creates. At last, something that I actually can control and provides the possibility of reaching heights on the upward spiral that allow me to remember who I really am.
Yes, this too takes some 'work', but at least that work guarantees some returns, unlike the work of trying to change others. And the freedom that it promises is like no other. And although some situations may seem near impossible to find an upward spiral perception to, I know if Victor Frankl can do it in the Nazis concentration camps (see "Man's Search for Meaning"), we can do it in our lives.
And, interestingly enough, when I change my perception about something, I seem to rendezvous with evidence of it in all kinds of ways, because . . . I create my reality.