The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
James Ray was one of the teachers in the movie "The Secret". Even if you have no clue what The Secret is about or who James Ray is, I think everyone can benifit from what he says in the following letter.
October 22, 2007 4:45 PM Friends, At the time of writing, my home and office have been evacuated due to the fires raging in the San Diego area, and the James Ray International office will be closed until it's deemed safe to return by the authorities. The website will continue operate, and I'll post updates there as they are needed. These are the worst fires in California history, and San Diego County's been declared in a state of emergency. Regardless of where you reside right now, I encourage you to take heart and realize that pain is a signal to grow instead of suffer. Yes, difficulties will come in life... And don't get me wrong, the thought of boxing up a few valuables from my home is as unattractive to me as it is to anyone. Regardless, it's in the times of apparent challenge that we test who we really are. The Law of Attraction, which is so popular right now, states that you'll attract who and what you are into your life. This doesn't mean that we should blame ourselves for the fires raging like so many in the media have misinterpreted. Rather everything is your responsibility and nothing is your fault. Please read that again. If you dissect the word (response-ability) , you find it really means "the ability to respond." How we choose our responses is what we'll continue to attract, create and become. To think that your life will be challenge free is illusion. Challenges are the way we test how much we have or have not developed our ability to respond. I encourage you to take heart. Realize that in every challenge there is a gift. That's why in the esoteric traditions the Philosopher' s Stone (another term for enlightenment) is always found in a pile of dung. Likewise, in Buddhism the thousand-petal lotus of enlightenment always grows from the muck and mire. Is there a metaphor here? Yes, there obviously is. The Christian prophet stated to, "Judge not by appearances. " I encourage you in all situations in life to not to see them as a blessing or a curse. Rather, see them as an opportunity to test your level of ability to respond. To go "three for three." Think, feel and act in accordance with what you choose versus appearances. Ask the questions: "What does this teach me about me? What can I learn about me and the world from this situation? How can I use this situation to grow and become more?"
* Maybe it causes you to take and inventory of what's truly important in your life... * Maybe it connects you more deeply with your family... * It could cause you to open your heart and realize the power of helping your neighbor... * Or maybe it allows you to notice how your response is more empowered than in past situations.. .
When you find the goodness and gifts in all life's situations, even the most difficult, the universe guarantees more goodness and gifts. In the meantime, in case you're wondering, we're all in good hands and spirits here at James Ray International and we're available for service in our community. For more information on how you can help those affected by the fires, please visit the San Diego Red Cross website. To your continued harmony and fulfillment,
James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International
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If we think that miracles are normal, we will expect them. And expecting a miracle is the surest way to get one.
Thanks for this Christy . . . as an aside, I was in San Diego county during the Cedar Fire in 2003 and I'll NEVER be the same. What a terrifying, out of control experience that was, standing on my back porch and seeing flames far off and having ash just raining from the sky, dark as the inside of a cow at 2pm . . .
I have an image of Armageddon now.
Anywho, the message of this man is very powerful and in my own experience, it is very very true and it works.
Back in 1999 my best gf was in the hospital for fluid around her lungs and the docs came in to tell her the cancer was back and it was untreatable. She took it fairly well. I stayed with her till she fell asleep and I went home and threw a huge temper tantrum. I'd gotten snippy with one of the doctors and a couple of the nurses, had a bit of road rage on the way home, and I still remember the BITTERNESS and anger I felt. I got into bed and pulled the covers over my head and bawled.
The TV was on and the show was about a woman who contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion, gave it to her daughter through breastfeeding and her son via the placenta during pregnancy.
Yet after her daughter died at age seven, she single handedly set up the Pediatric AIDS foundation, and raised over a million dollars speaking around the country. She was skeletal, her voice so weak you could hardly understand her, but she was out there doing something positive from her pain.
I uncovered my head and watched this show. A little voice (who else but HP) started up, and it occurred to me I had a choice, I could stay bitter and furious and hate life for what it was doing to my friend OR I could CHOOSE to make something good out of it. I'll never forget that moment.
And I've had to do that very recently with the situation around my exA.
We can choose how we respond to tragedy. We can't control acts of God, but we can RESPOND to them in a way that builds us and others up. The other choice is to sink into despair and depression. What kind of a choice is THAT??
I so know you get this :) You and I have talked about these practices before, and that's the key word "practice". It's kind of like Alanon, it's a way of life, not just a sometimes thing. Looking for the goodness or the lesson in our struggles can only make life easier and prepare us for the next round of growth. If we see everything as a tragedy and unfair, that's what it will always be. It's up to us to embrace these life lessons and learn.
Christy
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If we think that miracles are normal, we will expect them. And expecting a miracle is the surest way to get one.
TY SO MUCH FOR YOUR POST ON A DAY WHEN I'M FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF, BUT AT THE SAME TIME SO MUCH PAIN IS HAPPENING FOR THOSE IN CA. I FEEL SILLY FOR ALL THE FEELINGS I'VE HAD ALL DAY. PITY PARTY NO MORE! I SO NEEDED THE WAKE UP CALL. I'M FREE FROM MY EX AH AND I HAVE NOTHING TO PITY BUT SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE. WE ALL NEED TO PUT OUR LIVES INTO PERSPECTIVE MORE OFTEN.
THANKS AGAIN, I'LL SLEEP DIFFERENTLY TONITE WITH OTHERS PAIN ON MY MIND!
I really like this and have long wanted to have my actions reflect my beliefs. The al anon tools will help I think to change those old automatic negative thought habits to this more positive framework with the power of attraction in use too.
Great post!
hugs from ddub
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"Choices are the hinges of destiny." Pythagoras You can't change the past, but you can change the future.
Christy, Thanks for sharing this. I have been thinking lately about what I am supposed to be learning from this pain I am feeling, and how to put it into perspective. The questions he poses are more tools for me to use: "what does this teach me about me - about the world - and how can I use it to grow and change". Good questions... Caro
