Six Words continued....

I like this concept of using six words to sum up a thought or feeling. Today I ran across someone's summary of a lengthier story concluded in just six words. I'll include the summary at the end of this post.

I've been reading the book _The Secret_. After first becoming aware of the book (I believe I first heard about it on 'Oprah'), I determined NOT to read it, thinking it was just another gimmick, another 'program'/method for making lots of money for the people who formulated the ideas in the book/dvd. But for some reason, I picked it up from a shelf in the bookstore...actually, I think I got it in Wal-Mart thinking 'what the heck...I'd pay less for it...what did I have to lose, really?!' I took it with me on my recent trip, and I've taken my time reading it (I'm still reading it and journaling about it too).

If you've not read it yet, I'll share the highlights with you now. I'm not going to recommend the book...I think it's one of those books that will come to you should you feel the desire to read it.

'The Secret' is the law of attraction. What you think you attract to you. Thoughts create feelings. Thoughts are cause--feelings are effect. Good thoughts associate with feelings of joy, excitement, gratitude, love--they are empowering feelings! Bad thoughts are associated with feelings that don't empower such as depression, anger, resentment, guilt.

There is a section of the book on 'Ask, Believe, Receive'. A question is posed in this part of the book: 'What do you really want? (How do I want my life to be in every area?) You are to answer the question in the present tense.

I created a very long list in a notebook including everything from grand ideas to mundane, everyday desires. I did not revisit the list until weeks later and was amazed at how many of my wishes had been fulfilled 'exactly' as I had asked for them to be fulfilled. What I also realized in looking back was how limited my scope had been. I got exactly what I had asked for--no more, no less. Who knew?!? Had I asked for more, I would have probably received it. I don't mean this in a greedy way, but something kicked in with this realization. We limit ourselves every second. Our thoughts are powerful, and we take them for granted.

Beyond this list, I discovered another significant message in the book. I will summarize. It is important to realize what you have to be grateful for in life. 'Gratitude is an attitude--gratitude rocks!' You are then directed to make a list of things for which you are grateful using this phrase as a starting place: 'I am so happy and grateful now that....'

I made this list too. I was very precise. This list was much shorter than the one I'd made before where I listed my desires. In looking back over the lists, the second was powerful, though shorter. In comparing the two, I realized the first represented lack---my feeling that all these things were lacking in my life. While this may be true, I understood then and there that the focus on this lack kept me from realizing what I have in abundance and keeps me from enjoying being just where I am. There is nothing wrong with wanting more, with making it happen, but it need not be such a powerful focus that I live my life feeling I am lacking something. My thoughts will manifest whatever I desire, but I also need to remember to be grateful for the wishes that are fulfilled already. If I fail to be grateful, I will never be happy. I will never acknowledge the fullness of life. I will always focus on more, more, more. I will NEVER have enough with this attitude.

I like the 'attitude of gratitude'. It has changed my perspective tremendously. I know this sounds like so many cliches'. What makes this different is my perception, my willingness to look at myself--at what I AM lacking and at what I want to change about myself and my life. It all begins with a single thought. My thoughts which are MY responsibility. Changing them will change my life. It's that simple. Simply complex, but if I do my part, all else follows--I'm beginning to believe this.

I've spent weeks now devoting a large portion of my time and energy to studying these concepts. Change is gradual if effective--at least this is true for me. I did not just arrive at the place where I discovered this book, or this thought, or that feeling. I've devoted most of my life to the search. Now I feel like 'Dorothy' in 'The Wizard of Oz'...it was there all along...I just had not 'felt' it nor understood it. I'm beginning to 'see the light'.

I wish the same for all people. That everyone will come to their own personal place of understanding. It is so liberating!! It is total freedom. I don't recall the exact six words I used to describe my life in the previous post, but today I have a new set of six words to describe how I feel: Life is full when perspective shifts.

I'll conclude with the six I promised to share in the beginning of this post. They were taken from the book (_The Secret_) and were from a story told about a man named Morris Goodman. He clearly states in his six words: 'Man becomes what he thinks about.' I added six more that I gleaned from the text: 'Negative messages do not serve you.'

I recommend that you go out and spend your day thinking the most positive thoughts you can conjure up!! Then enjoy the feeling that comes with them!!

Six Words

A friend of mine in 'MySpace' left the bulletin you will find reprinted below. I find it rather interesting and thought I would share it with any readers I may have. I'd appreciate it if you would leave your response to the bulletin in my comments. I'll add mine at the end of this post.

"Legend has it that Earnest Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in only SIX WORDS. The result was "For sale: baby shoes, never used."

(http://smithmag.net/sixwords/)

Here's an interesting and challenging activity. Try to compose YOUR story (the story of YOU) in EXACTLY six words (no more, no less). For some, this may be painful. (It's very hard to tell your whole story in six words.)"

My/Diane's story at this moment in six words is:

Attempting to live a functional life.

What is your story?! Do tell!!!!!!!! :))