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The Spiritual Implications of a Cosmic 2×4

Have you ever said, “Wow! I’ve been hit by a Cosmic 2×4!”? This phrase is traditional theology dressed in New Thought clothes. The phrase “cosmic two-by-four” implies there is something or someone outside of us trying to get our attention to teach us an important lesson. The implication is that God, the universe, something “out there” intends to control us for our own good, even if it means harming us or causing us pain. The idea that something wants to get our attention to force us to do what is “right” so it can teach us something is a perspective that abdicates personal choice and responsibility. Further, if we do not “get it” the first time, the whack becomes progressively worse until we finally pay attention.

We would like to say, “Get Over It!”  There is no Cosmic Two-By-Four. Please read that sentence again! One more time. Thank you. There is no Cosmic Two-By-Four—pine, oak, treated lumber, galactic laser beam, or otherwise. Since there is truly only One Power and One Presence in the universe, God the Good, this “wooden” phrase goes against the grain of the oldest and most revered Truth Principles. We do not believe God, the Good, punishes us with two-by-fours, wooden paddles, willow sticks, baseball bats, or any other “wooden explanations.”

The purely human, not cosmic, two-by-four is in our own hands! It is our poor decisions and errant actions that punish us and hurt us, not God. As long as we keep making bad decisions we will keep getting bad results.

A 2×4 moment is an opportunity to experience an “aha;” however, we can keep creating 2×4 moments if we neglect to learn from our experiences. “Aha’s” are the result of a change in perspective, an insight which comes from an intuitive leap in consciousness. Two-by-four moments occur when we suddenly realize that our own stale thought patterns and belief systems are no longer valid. If we keep beating ourselves up with the metaphorical 2×4, perhaps it’s time to pause and reflect on the thoughts, choices, and actions we’ve taken which lead to our self-flagellation. This awareness is an inside-out realization.

One of the self-denigrating assumptions we invite you to compost is the belief in a cosmic 2×4 – that there is something or someone ‘out there’ trying to get your attention to teach you an important lesson. No one has ever been hit by a cosmic 2×4. It doesn’t come from that direction.

Here’s a replacement phrase for you to try: “I’ve created a 2×4 moment!”

About the author:

Article based on an excerpt from the amazing little book, Get Over It!  The Truth About What You Know That Just Ain’t So! by Paul Hasselbeck and Bil Holton. Used with permission.

DELIGHT

At last, we are finishing our series focusing on the Four Pillars of Prosperity! We wrap up with the third phase of our Fourth Pillar: Delight. Thus far, we’ve looked at ways you can Delight in all that you have, and Delight in all that you give. This week:

Delight in all that you receive:

Think about a gift you gave to someone recently. Recall your excitement in selecting it (or making it), and how you felt as you wrapped it up and delivered it. Now, imagine that you received no acknowledgement at all. You know, there’s nothing worse than giving something, and not feeling a sense of appreciation on the part of the one you gave it to. It breaks the energy of giving.

Now think about the worst gift you ever received. That gift that wasn’t “you” — was not what you really wanted — created a sense of real disappointment in you. Now think about the person who gave it to you. Imagine how they felt in picking out the gift (or making it); the excitement they had in giving it to you. How did you respond when you received it?

Think about a compliment you received, that you negated and threw back at the giver! Think about offers for help, that you have glibly refused. When you do not receive with delight, you cut off the cycle of giving and receiving and you put a kink in the prosperity flow into your life.

Sometimes receiving with delight is the toughest challenge of all — especially when we find ourselves in a place of need, where we have to take help from others. But if we can just remember that in receiving with delight, we are actually helping those who are giving — and we are keeping that Giving/Receiving Principle alive and active in our lives!

Charles Fillmore said, “It has been found by experience that [people] increase [their] blessings by being grateful for what [they have]. Gratitude even on the mental plane is a great magnet. When gratitude is expressed from the spiritual standpoint, it is powerfully augmented.”

When we are living from a Spiritual Consciousness of Delight, regardless of the situation we are facing, whatever we need flows to us by divine grace.

There is a great story about a zoo that had just acquired a kangaroo. To accommodate their new acquisition, they built a 10-foot high fence. To their surprise, the next day they found the kangaroo outside the fence, jumping around. So, they extended the height of the fence to 15 feet. The next morning, there was the kangaroo, outside the fence again, jumping around joyfully. So they built a 30-foot fence ~ and the kangaroo out again!

As you know, zoo animals talk to one another! The giraffe asked the kangaroo, “How tall do you think they’ll have to make that fence to keep you inside?” The kangaroo replied, “I don’t know! Maybe 1,000 feet, if they keep leaving the gate unlocked!”

That’s a great metaphor for our Prosperity Consciousness! We too often focus on the problems, when all the time, the gate is unlocked, and our prosperity is there for the claiming!

We encourage you to walk through that gate, and hop joyfully around, experiencing abundant prosperity in every area of your life! Practice the Four Pillars of Prosperity: Demolition; Definition; Declaration; and Delight ~ and you will live life more abundantly!

DELIGHT

So here we are, at the fourth and final pillar of prosperity! So far, we’ve talked about Demolition (getting rid of what is no longer serving you, on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual realms); Definition (of who you really are, what your purpose is, and what your essence, in terms of prosperity and abundance, is); and Declaration (in consciousness, words, and actions — Let’s do it! and Move that bus!)

That brings us to our 4^th and final pillar: Delight!

Going back to our metaphor of the television show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, there are several examples of how Delight shows up:

• The obvious delight of the family, when they see their new home;
• Delight of Ty and the design team, in showing the home;
• Delight of the builders and volunteers, who always claim they receive so much more than they give!

Delight truly opens the Consciousness and allows a free-flow of abundance and prosperity to come to you, in ways you can never even imagine!

We have a blessing we use in our Unity celebration service, as a part of the offering: Divine Love, through me, blesses and multiplies all the I have, all that I give, and all that I receive. We want to take a new look at that familiar blessing, as we evaluate what Delight means. And interestingly enough, the familiar blessing has three phases, which actually  create a perfect outline for understanding an Extreme Level of Delight. Normally, when we repeat that blessing, we are mentally thinking about money. But let’s “amp it up” into a description of our consciousness, and see where it take us!

Delight in all you have:

Of course, this includes being grateful for the things you have. And we emphasize—all you have … without begrudging what others have, or always longing for what you wish you had.

But there’s a deeper level here: don’t we all have things we don’t necessarily feel grateful for: illness, money problems, work issues, etc.? The real secret here is to live from a state of delight, even in the midst of these kinds of issues. No matter what I “have,” I am grateful! Not for … but from! Read that one more time: not for … but from! Living from that sense of delight in knowing I am one with God and all is well, I can realize that any experience is simply “curriculum,” and I can learn and grow.

This week, practice living FROM a place of delight, claiming joy and gratitude that flows from deep within your very being, rather than expecting it to come from outer, external things. Journal your experiences as you begin to feel that sense of pure delight, regardless of outer appearance!

Next week, we will explore the second phase of Delight!

Declaration

Last week we took a look at the statement used so often by the Extreme Makeover – Home Edition crew: “Let’s do it!” We applied that to our own declarations, and the value of paying attention to our intentions, with particular emphasis on our thoughts, words, and actions.

This week, as we wrap up our third pillar of prosperity, Declaration, we look at the other strong statement used every week on the show: Move That Bus!”

Perhaps the biggest barrier to declaring our prosperity is the world of appearance. And that’s where this second declaration from the TV show comes in. “Move That Bus” – shouted at the end of the show – the Reveal — when the family is ready to see the beautiful home that has been created for them. This is a demonstration statement, a proclamation that manifestation has occurred, and you just need to remove any obstacles that are in the way of seeing it.

We are so deceived by what looks to be reality, and we allow our doubts, our fears, our insecurities, other people’s doubts, and so much else to block us from seeing and experiencing our true prosperity and abundance. This is where we need to say, “Move That Bus!” Imagine that the bus represents those doubts and emotions that are blocking us. On the other side of the bus is our manifested good. Our faith is the driver of the bus. So we must reach into the Consciousness of our One-ness with God, and speak to our Faith power center, telling it to Move That Bus!

Let’s practice! Right now, think of the biggest barrier you are allowing to stand between you and the essence of what you believe is your abundance and prosperity. Got it? Now, call on your power of intention as you shout it aloud (yes, we’re serious about this! Shout it out!): “Faith, MOVE THAT BUS!” (We encourage you to shout it out three times, getting stronger and more enthusiastic with each repetition!)

Do you feel the incredible energy flowing through your body? Do you feel a positive surge of hope, of intention, of a desire to take action? That’s because you have just set it into motion! When you declare it, you are claiming your abundance and prosperity … and it shall be yours!

Put this into practice this week. Next week we reveal the fourth and final Pillar of Prosperity that can literally transform your life!

Hopefully, you feel comfortable now with the first two steps of our process: Demolition and Definition. That brings us to Step 3: Declaration.

Here’s a little test. See how quickly you can finish these sentences:

-         You’re in good hands … (with Allstate)

-         The Energizer bunny – keeps … (going and going and going)

-         (picture a man wandering around, talking into a cell phone) Can you … (hear me now?)

Now, here are some age-sensitive challenges:

-         Plop, plop, fizz, fizz … (oh, what a relief it is!)

-         You’ll wonder where the yellow went … (when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent)

-         Two all beef patties, special sauce … (lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun!)

Those last ones go way back to the ’60s and ’70s! Advertisers really understand the power of the third pillar of prosperity: Declaration! You may be thinking this is about affirmations and denials. Well, yeah, that’s part of it. But we’re talking pillars here. And this is much more than just affirming. We are talking DECLARATION! Claiming the essence of your prosperity and abundance in three ways:

• your thoughts,
• your words, and
• your actions!

Going back to Extreme Makeover: Home Edition – the crew uses two very powerful declarations, which we can embrace as excellent metaphors for our declarations. And both of them come with exclamation points! Nothing wishy-washy about them!

The first one is “Let’s Do It!” – an initiating statement – an affirmation of commitment, intention, resolve. It’s not “maybe; we’ll try; we’ll do our best …” It is an affirmation that it will be done!

Let’s look at that statement. What if we could approach our affirmations with that same kind of faith and expectancy? Imagine what we could manifest! So how does that statement, Let’s do it!, resonate with our third pillar, Declaration?

There are three ways we declare: By our thoughts, our words, and our actions. And just like the Extreme Makeover team, we want to declare our prosperity with an exclamation point!

Have you ever noticed the power of thought declaration? This is where you set your intention. Think about going somewhere – maybe to a meeting or a class. You may think that what got you there was getting in your vehicle and driving there, or hopping on your bicycle and riding there. But just consider: before that happened, you had the intention to come. Without that intention, you would not have taken action. So it is important to be very clear in your intention – declare your essence in mind first. This is where you can add the exclamation point: Let’s do it! This opens your consciousness to allow the ideas to flow, and sends out the magnetic energy to attract the resources needed to manifest your essence.

Next, you put it into words. Our blog contains lots of information about denials and affirmations -they are such important tools on our Spiritual journey. For the purposes of this article, we invite you to begin to really pay attention to all the things you say, beyond your carefully crafted affirmations. What do you say when you aren’t thinking about what you are saying – and what impact is that having on the energy you are sending out?

For example, when asked, “Did you meditate this morning?” you might say, “I didn’t have time to do that.” What if, instead, you were more accurate, by saying, “I didn’t make time …” Subtle shift, but feel the difference in terms of accountability and intention!

Finally, we declare in one final way: by our actions! The best quote we know that illustrates this is by Emerson: “What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.”

This week, begin to pay attention to what you are declaring, with your thoughts, words, and actions. Next week, we will look at the second powerful declaration statement used by the Extreme Makeover – Home Edition team, and how it affects our third pillar of Declaration.

So far, we have worked on quite a Spiritual Demolition, preparing ourselves for an incredible flow of prosperity and abundance in all areas of our life. There is just one final area to institute a demolition: the Spiritual arena of our life.

This sounds a bit strange to a lot of people. Why would we need to demolish anything spiritual? Here’s the question we invite you to consider: What are you putting your faith in? Is there any embedded theology that is creating a roadblock in your spiritual growth and evolvement? Anything that even hints at a separation between us and God needs to be demolished, with great joy! And there is absolutely, positively no substitute for time spent in the Silence, going to Headquarters! Time spent in the Silence, in meditation, will reap amazing benefits in so many areas of your life.

We know – everyone is so busy already, that it becomes a real challenge to find time to create any type of regular spiritual practice of meditation. So, here’s your adventure for this week: Discover ways to creatively find time to spend in the Silence. Here are some examples:

• Schedule it as a meeting and write it in your calendar or put it in your PDA or Blackberry. Just write: Meeting at Headquarters!
• Transform waiting time into meditation time! Carry a meditative affirmation with you. When waiting in the doctor’s office, grocery line, lobby, meeting start, traffic light, etc., focus on your breathing and repeat the affirmation over and over. You don’t even need to close your eyes!
• Try out new types of meditations, such as an eating meditation, walking meditation, writing meditation, art meditation. If you need resources to help you, just call us!
• Start with a 5-minute/day commitment, and gently add time each week.

As we take a deeper look into the principles of having and maintaining a prosperity consciousness, it becomes so apparent that it is impossible to solve financial problems with money. We must go deeper, and totally demolish any and all barriers, so the problems will never arise again.

This week, create your own personal Demolition Party … and experience Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Demolition. This will pave the way for a fresh, gigantic leap in your consciousness – and begin the foundation for Jesus the Christ promised: you to have life, and have it more abundantly!

Coming Next: The Second Pillar

So far, we’ve been working on Demolition of Physical and Mental issues that create blocks to achieving the rich and abundant prosperity flow that is ours to have. Now let’s look at the third area we need to demolish: Emotional Error!

Emotional Demolition is tough! It means we really do need to release those grudges … and the begrudges (like when we begrudge someone else financial windfall, or promotion, etc.) We love the quote from Buddy Hackett: I don’t hold grudges against people; while I’m holding the grudge, they’re out dancing!”

Here’s a great way to begin your demolition of the internal emotions that can play havoc with your prosperity consciousness: Give your emotional voices a name. Your cast might include:

• Unforgiving Ursula
• Dramatic Diva
• Critical Crabbie
• Judging JoJo
• Begrudging Bella

You get the idea! It just means listening to those voices you hear from your “not so loving side” and naming them accordingly! Then, empower yourself as Director, and get serious with these characters – write them out of your life script!

Then comes the forgiveness work. As you realize you are bringing up the same person again and again, it’s a signal that you need to let that person go! Here is a great blanket affirmation to help us with this one. As individuals come to your mind who may be creating blocks for you, simply picture them in your mind and say:

I fully and freely forgive you. I release all judgments, resentments, criticisms, and unforgiveness, and transform that energy into good. I hold you to your highest good, and affirm only the best for you.

Also, emotionally, be kind to yourself! We are spiritual beings having a human experience! The humanness means we get to grow! It’s a process! This week, become very aware of the emotional bondage you have created within yourself, and begin to untie those bonds and let that baggage go.

In the last article, we explored the first pillar of Prosperity: Demolition. We took a look at the first of four areas that we can institute a Demolition, preparing for the abundant flow of prosperity in all areas of our life: Physical Realm.

This article focuses on the second area of Demolition we can work on, which is in the Mental Realm. Charles Fillmore said, “Thoughts are things and occupy space in mind. We cannot have new or better ones in a place already crowded with old, weak, inefficient thoughts. A mental housecleaning is even more necessary than a material one.”

Listen to your mental thoughts about prosperity. Be aware of your belief in “only-ness.” For example, I only have x amount of money; I only have this much food; I only have this stupid, low-paying job; etc. Transform your language to focus on the joy of what you have, blessing it and allowing it to be more than it appears.

On Good Morning America, we saw a segment where they sent an expert fashion guy to a woman’s house. He raided her closet, and immediately created four new, very trendy outfits from things she already had in the closet! Using that idea, here’s your adventure: Become aware of where you are mentally affirming “only-ness.” It may be with your clothes, your house décor, your finances, your relationships, or some other area of your life. Once you identify your “only-ness” area, see how you can create something new and different out of things you already have within that area.

Charles Fillmore had another great quote, which I have renamed the Fillmore Challenge! He said, “Never make an assertion, no matter how true it may look on the surface, that you would not want to see manifest in your life.” This is a perfect example of demolition in the mental realm. Every time you become aware of thoughts of lack or fear, demolish them! Refuse to give them any parking time in your consciousness! Only by getting rid of the error thinking can we clear the way for the power of prosperity thinking to make a home!

Next article, we will discuss Demolition on the Emotional Realm!

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Bil & I believe prosperity is living faithfully, joyfully, and confidently at the speed of your Christ consciousness. That’s our definition! When you do that, you are in a place of KNOWING that you will never lack, regardless of what situation or appearance of lack life may throw at you!

True prosperity is the consciousness of God as the inexhaustible, constant, everywhere present resource, unfailing and ready for all. God is not a Being out there withholding our good; it is us who are not truly embracing the principles which allow us to receive our good.

We’ve heard so much about Prosperity – so why isn’t it always working for us? It just might be because we don’t truly grasp the foundational principles. We get some of them, some of the time – but just imagine what we could do if we got them all, all the time! So we would like to offer the metaphor of pillars: imagine 4 strong, solid pillars, supporting your prosperity consciousness. If any one of these pillars is weak or missing, it just won’t hold up and support your complete prosperity Consciousness!

Over the next several articles, we’ll be discussing these pillars – what they mean, the Truth Principles behind them, and a few practical ways to begin demonstrating each one, to make it LIVE for you! Let’s start with the first pillar.

Pillar 1: Demolition!

Sounds extreme? It should! Think about the popular TV show Extreme Makeover, Home Edition. Before this famous crew can begin building the perfect home for a deserving family, they need to implement a Demolition of the old house. But they don’t just tear it down in a boring way. This team creates a CELEBRATION out of the demolition process. That is the spirit we want to approach our demolition pillar – not with any guilt, regret, or shame. Celebrate the decision to release what is blocking your good, so you are open and receptive to receive what is yours to have. Demolition is really important, because it is a visible symbol that we believe in God as the inexhaustible source. We are releasing, letting go, knowing that something far better is there for us. We need to create some demolitions on four levels: Physical; Mental; Emotional; and Spiritual.

PHYSICAL Demolition: The physical world of things is an outer manifestation of what’s going on within us, so it is very important to be aware of it. When our outer world is cluttered, unorderly, and overwhelming, it is a signal that we are out of sync on the spiritual realm. So we want to practice the act of demolition on the physical clutter in our life, releasing things that are no longer serving us.

Giving stuff away is good, but here’s an adventure that will really amp up your Prosperity Consciousness. Look around your house and find one thing you like, but that you are not using at all. Then think about someone you know who could use it, would absolutely love it, and would truly get great joy from having it. Then give it to them. Free, no strings attached. For the joy of giving!

(Example from Cher: My mother had a beautiful set of green crystal etched goblets someone gave her and my dad as a wedding gift. They NEVER used them – they were too fragile and beautiful for everyday use. She gave them to us, and we love them; we use them often, just to drink water from! She gets excited every time she visits, and sees them being used!)

This week, look for ways to perform a “Demolition” on the physical realm of your being. Release things that are no longer serving you and see what happens!

Next article, we will explore the Mental Realm for Demolition!

Have you ever gotten really excited about a fabulous sale, only to get to the store and find you’ve been tricked? What was offered for sale is not available, but surprise! There’s another deal, which of course, is going to ask you to part with a great deal more money!!

It’s called the Bait and Switch game of marketing. We’d like to share a different, more enlightening game, called the Subconscious Bait and Switch! Here’s how it works.

You “BAIT” those hidden memories, thoughts, and feelings – at a time when you are not emotionally attached to them – when you can look at them objectively and dispassionately – like following some meditation time at Headquarters, or when you are doing some journaling. You “Bait” your subconscious by saying or thinking key phrases that are incomplete, allowing your subconscious to fill in the blank.

Here are a few examples of phrases you can finish:

“I am just no good at ” (singing; marketing; managing money; meeting people..) “I would be so much better off, if it weren’t for” (parents; my boss; some past event) “The one thing I fear most is” (failure; looking silly; being taken advantage of; being alone; health problems.) “When I look in the mirror” (OK – no examples necessary!)

You get the idea Your subconscious immediately completes the blank. This is your cue to pull the “Switch!”

You “Baited” the unhealthy awareness to come to the surface, but rather than nurturing that belief, and supporting it with your thoughts, words, and actions, you begin the process of Truth Transformation! Jot down your error thoughts, and then set the intention to replace that false belief with a more empowering Truth about who you are.

For example, let’s use a non-threatening, low-risk example: “I’m just no good at singing!” Let’s evaluate that thought for Truth. Says who? Who am I comparing myself against: my friends or Celine Dion? What if I sang for fun? What if I asked a vocal coach to give me an honest appraisal of my singing? How is claiming that I can’t sing serving me?

Now for the big part: Every time I catch myself saying this, what could I say instead? Create a replacement phrase for yourself. We’re not talking about lying to yourself, but some replacement that moves you to a better place in your subconscious about this issue. In this example, you might switch to saying, “I enjoy singing for fun!” or “I like to sing in the shower!” Can’t you already feel the cobwebs being swept away? Try the Subconscious Bait and Switch to get acquainted with your hidden limiting thoughts and beliefs, and transform your thinking and your experience!