A Manifestation of Intention?

I’ve been busy setting forth my intention to get a great job. It seems as if it might have finally worked out (after only a week or two). Why do I need a job?

Well, glad you asked. My wife is pregnant. I own and operate a Real Estate company which is reasonably successful. I provide insurance for my family out of my pocket, as most Realtors do. The only problem: pre-existing conditions are not covered. Since my wife was technically pregnant before the coverage started, we’re not covered for her hospital costs, etc. I need to take a job for the medical coverage.

So anyway, I’ve been hoping for a good one. Now, I’ve gotten a tentative job offer from 7-Eleven to be the Regional Manager for the North Tampa area. The salary meets the exact expectations that I put forth in my thoughts and meditations (leading me to believe that I should have asked for more), and the medical coverage should be more than sufficient to meet the needs of my family.

The law of attraction works.

It is noteworthy that my meditation led me to actually go out and apply for jobs. Intention is always enough to get the process started, and I fully believe that 7-Eleven was so eager to call me back because of my strong intentions.

My New Meditation “Agenda”

For those of you who don’t know, one of the tenets of the Law of Attraction is the ability to set forth intentions (call them focused thoughts) into the Universe and see them realized through patience, vigilance, and appropriate actions.  It’s the fundamental truth of our entire philosophy.

Sabotage: There are several ways to sabotage the process and receive the wrong result.  Failure to be patient is one way.  Failure to take the appropriate action when it presents itself to you is another.  The biggest problem for me in the past has been negative thinking (a problem which I struggle less with each day).  You have to forgive me, but I’m a combat Veteran.  I know how difficult it can be to paint a rosy picture when you’ve been banged around a bit.  How did I beat the negativity?  Meditation.

Meditation: I know what you’re thinking.  You’re picturing monks in robes chanting and sitting Indian style on the floor.  That’s not how I roll.  Here’s what I do:

1) Relax and breathe….10 deep, long breaths to clear the mind

2) Set an Intention:  “Today I am setting forth my intention to have the perfect job manifest itself in my life.  It will be high-paying, rewarding, and perfectly suited to my personality.”

3) Affirmation (I use future tense): “I’m so happy and fulfilled now that I’ve landed the perfect job.  I feel motivated and confident at work; relaxed and comforted at home.  The job is perfectly suited to my personality and it provides plenty of income for my family.” Then, I spend some time picturing what the office will look like, what kind of car I will drive, what improvements I’ve been able to make to my house because of the great income, etc.

4) Give Thanks: “I’m so thankful for the patience and understanding of my wife in this transition time between jobs.  Sure, I could have gotten any job to pay the bills, but she understands that the perfect job is out there somewhere and is content to allow me to search for it.  I also give thanks that, despite my decision to change jobs, I have enough money saved to avoid hardship.  I’m thankful for my health and my happiness.”

5) Ask and Listen: “What do I need to do in order to find this job, and what preparations do I need to make.”  Follow whatever train of thought manifests to its logical conclusion.

Anyway, that’s how I do it for anybody who’s interested.  I always feel better, more focused, and less stressed when I’ve completed my meditation.

What Does It Mean To Be Rich?

There’s an awful lot of writing going on that suggests that “The Secret” and “The Law of Attraction” are scams designed to make people believe that they can get “rich” by purchasing a book or a set of tapes. In fact, the Law of Attraction is more of a set of principles which, when properly applied, can result in a person getting “rich.” There’s really no such thing as a get rich quick scenario, and I’ll explain why:

What is “Rich?” To most people, the word has financial connotations. If you’re rich, you have lots of money. Period. Having lots of money, in my humble opinion, makes a person wealthy, not rich. What’s the difference?

Wealth is a material possession. Being “rich” is a state of being. Being rich could encompass being wealthy, but being wealthy in and of itself can never make you rich.

To be rich is to be wealthy, healthy, happy, and loved. The sooner the Law of Attraction crowd takes an introspective look at their lives and sheds the self-imposed shackles that bind the concept of money to the idea of happiness, the better. Being rich is a package deal. What good is having all the money in the world if you have nobody to share it with?

In my personal meditation, I’ve discovered that my inner most desire is not financially oriented at all, but rather an expression of the desire for security. To the extent that money can provide a sense of security, it’s necessary. However, I also find security in the idea that I can fit everything precious to me in the back of my car and drive away tomorrow.

I love my wife. I cherish my child. I’m content (but not satisfied) with my living situation. I’m healthy. I’m rich.

The Secret: Is It A Religion?

I’ve been working on this one in my head for a little while now. I apologize if this reads like an exhaustive theology or something, but what can you do? Also, this has nothing to do with Real Estate, so feel free to skip it if that’s why you’re here.

As usual, I think it best to start with a nice definition from a neutral third party:

Religion: A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the Universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional or ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

So, is “The Secret,” better known to some people as the “Law of Attraction,” a Religion? I’m certain that every Baptist minister in the world will tell you that it isn’t. Why? Because it doesn’t fit that narrowly-conceived traditional notion of Religion where God is a person who sits on a throne somewhere and throws bolts of lighting at bad people. Still, if you look at the definition above from Dictionary.com you might think differently.

Does “The Secret” have a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe? Check.

Does “The Secret” teach that the Universe (or God) is the superhuman agency by which the desires come to pass? Check.

Does “The Secret” involve devotional or ritual observances? You mean like reading devotional books, practicing meditation, and “fellowshipping” with other like-minded people? Check.

Does “The Secret” contain a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs? Well, if you count yourself as a human, then check.

So, there you have it. It fits the definition, but I think the definition is missing something: A religion is only a religion if the person practicing it believes in faith that the practice of said religion can lead to a desired result by supernatural means. For instance, Christians believe that following their religion will lead to “heaven.” Those who practice the Secret believe that their religious observance will lead to health, wealth, and emotional freedom, etc.

The question then becomes “Can a religion lose its religious status by becoming commercialized?” If you sell books about it, record tapes about it, put it on TV, and splash it across the internet, is it less a religion? Joyce Meyer doesn’t think so. Neither does the Billy Graham organization. So why is it such a transgression for “The Secret” to sell books and tapes? Did the thought ever cross your mind that they might be doing to for the purpose of helping people? If they really do think they’ve found the secret to a happy, fulfilled life, wouldn’t they have the obligation to spread the word?

Judge not, lest ye be judged.