A 12-pound hawksbill turtle crawled up to die on a North Carolina beach. An autopsy showed that half of its weight was plastic. Its stomach and intestines contained multi-colored beads, part of a comb, two golf tees, a toy wheel, rope, balloon, part of a plastic bottle, a plastic toothpaste cap, the top of a plastic medical syringe, baggies, and a plastic flower.* Its contents were carb-free, but had no nutritional value. (As referenced by Paul Varo Martinson in World Religions: The Problem of Imaging Christ, Imaging Christ: Politics, Art, Spirituality, ed. Francis A. Eigo, Villanova, PA: Villanova University Press, 1991, 111).

Apart from the environmental and ecological travesties associated with the turtle’s poor food choices, this unfortunate incident speaks to the message of this post: Unless we are open to personal and spiritual transformation and to the transformational languaging which goes along with it, we risk having our spirit choked and clogged with the plastic half-truths of conventional thinking and embedded theology which can clutter half, or all, of our thinking.

We encourage you to ‘get over’ carrying around plastic thoughts and attitudes like the plastic trash in the turtle’s stomach before they send you crawling up on beaches of convention instead of soaring up mountains toward enlightenment.

This blogcast is based on a chapter from a really neat book entitled ‘Get Over It’ (It’s our book so we’re naturally high on it!). This article is designed to help you move from plastic to platinum in your thinking — from blind acceptance of conventional thinking to the unlimited openness and joy of transformational thinking.

The phrases we’re inviting you to ‘get over’ in this blogcast usually come as a pair. They are: “Birds of a feather stick together” and “opposites attract.”

We’re going to give you a bird’s eye view of these assumptions which we believe are flying out of formation. These two phrases, we think you’ll agree, have been winging it for some time. (Forgive us … we couldn’t resist the puns! But there is a serious message nesting here.)

The “birds of a feather stick together” proverb has been around a long time … since at least the mid 16th century. It first appeared in 1545 in William Turner’s version of his papist satire The Rescuing of Romish Fox:

“Byrdes of one kynde and color flok and flye allwayes together.”

No such origin can be found for “opposites attract,” although its origin may be closer than we think. It is actually a social psychology concept called “common belief factor.” It springs from the word “heterocentrism.”  “Hetero” is the Greek word for “different. “Centre” is Greek for “centered on” or “drawn toward.”  To use a similar analogy, a “heliocentric” plant, like a sunflower, is one that grows toward or is drawn to the sun. So, something which is “heterocentric” involves two or more UNLIKE things that are drawn towards each other.

Do opposites attract? Or do birds of a feather flock together? What does the latest research literature have to say about that? In one of the most comprehensive studies ever undertaken on these questions, researchers at the University of Iowa found [those of you who are looking for the perfect soulmate or business partner may want to listen carefully]:

• that people tend to hang around people who are similar in attitudes, interests, philosophy, religion, and values.
• However, it is the complementary nature of our personalities that appears to be more important in maintaining enduring and happy relationships. Those similarities include character traits like: assertiveness, introversion and extroversion, compassion, even-temperedness, sense of humor, and so on. (The findings appear in the February issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 88, No., 2, published by the American Psychological Association (APA).

Other than that, nothing is definitive. The concepts of ‘birds of a feather flocking together’ or ‘opposites attracting’ seem to boil down to one thing: the power of choice.

There is no automatic, incontrovertible, mindless magnetism that pulls people together. If that sounds like fowl language, we invite you to consider the fact that in order for these two sayings to be absolute sayings they would have to be true in all circumstances.

People who are the same don’t always hang out with each other. Opposites aren’t always attracted to each other. We choose with whom we flock, herd, swim, swarm, or hibernate.

We (the authors f this blog) like to hang around with open-minded people and other truth seekers. We also like to flock with dancers, people who love the performing arts, open-minded people, high energy people, bloggers, philosophers and metaphysicians, possibility-thinkers, healers, and frozen custard lovers, good conversationalists, movie goers, people who love to travel, people who have a good sense of humor, and banana pudding lovers, to name a few!

So who do you prefer to flock with — and what impact do they have on your life? Choose wisely, because the right people will help you walk the spiritual path on practical feet!

This Sunday Revs. Bil & Cher continue their 3-week Prosperity Series that brings us back to the basics of what Prosperity is, from Unity and Spiritual perspectives, and shares more of the formula to manifest Prosperity in all areas of your life! This week, we share what F1 and F2 represent, and give you tools to experience them in your life! You WILL see results — sometimes instantly!

This Sunday, as we continue exploring ways to “Start the Year On Fire!” we explore the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. You’ll discover what the “Twin Sin Cities” really were, where they are now, and what most churches do not want to talk about concerning the two angels who visited Lot’s house in Sodom. Most importantly, you’ll leave with insights to help you build a strong prosperity consciousness and transform negativity into powerful spiritual growth.

Has everyone mastered the First Pillar of Prosperity – Demolition? Once we’ve demo’d the things that are no longer serving us, we are at a point where we can start focusing on Pillar #2: Definition.

In the show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, which we used as a metaphor for our pillars, it is interesting to see what happens once they complete the demo. The team creates a design plan, where they have defined what the new home will look like. They begin with “big picture” ~ and then they get more specific, focusing on individual rooms. Each designer takes one or two rooms, and puts their attention there. The specificity of each room is based on really understanding the family … their “ESSENCE.”

The same is true in our expansion of Prosperity Consciousness. We need to define specifically what prosperous, abundant living looks like — for us. For example: Imagine you have been given the opportunity to plan and take your ideal vacation. What would it be? What do you think the chances are that everyone reading this article would give the same answer? Slim to none! Each of us has our own idea of what that perfect vacation would be … and those images are vastly different!

We wouldn’t let others force their favorite vacation on us — but how often do we allow others to force their definition of prosperity and success on us? For example, we had a colleague who got a great job at a Fortune 100 company, doing the technical, nerdy, computer work he absolutely loved! Guess what happened? He did his job so well; he was rewarded with a promotion into management, where all of a sudden he had to work with people instead of technology. He hated it, but couldn’t get back to what he loved because it would “ruin” his career!

Right about now, you’re probably expecting us to say that Pillar 2, Definition, is going to be some kind of goal setting message. We do believe goal setting is a very useful process, but for his process, we want to “notch it up” to a more spiritual approach. Definition, from a Prosperity Consciousness perspective, is based on our Unity Principles, and is the next logical phase after Demolition.

You see, goal setting is focusing on things we want to achieve — and that’s okay. But in Matthew 6:33, Jesus the Christ gave us the real formula for our Definition: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” That’s the best goal-setting plan we can offer! To go a little deeper in strengthening our prosperity consciousness, there are actually three questions we need to ask — and answer in order to move through the Definition phase. They are:

• Who am I?
• What is my purpose?
• What is the ESSENCE of prosperous and abundant living for me?

The first two questions are easy to answer — and we can help you with them by giving you Truth principles to wrap your mind around. The third one is more individual – and is different for each of us. What we can do there is give you a process to help you clarify it more clearly.

For this article, let’s look at that first question: Who am I?

It is so important to remember: You are God expressing Godness as you. We could just leave it at that, but we’re thinking you may want to work a little on this one!

This week, spend some time becoming aware of how you talk to yourself.

Would you go into prayer and say, “Dear God, how could you be so stupid?” Probably not! Yet whenever you look in the mirror, and say, “How could I be so stupid?” that is essentially what you are doing! So here’s your adventure for the week: Become consciously aware of how you talk to yourself, and be sure that what you say is worthy of speaking to God. When you find yourself saying belittling things, immediately say “DELETE!” and replace it with a positive phrase.

The next level of this first question is realizing that what is true for you is true for all: each of us has that spark of divinity within. So — how are you talking to and treating others? Practice the Namaste technique: “I behold the Christ/the Divine in you. I see you at your highest spiritual best.” It literally transforms the way you react to others — and affects how they react to you!

A story is told by a woman from Philadelphia, PA, of running out of the drug store where she’d gone to pick up a prescription, only to find a police officer standing at her car, ticket pad in hand. “Oh, no, please don’t give me a ticket! I forgot to put money in the meter – but I’ll move right away!”

The officer responded, “I wasn’t going to give you a ticket – that’s why I’m standing here – to be sure you don’t get one.”

Unsure, surprised, and somewhat puzzled, the woman murmured “Thanks.”

“You don’t remember me, do you?” the officer continued.  “I remember you! I went through a difficult time in my life, and ended up homeless for a while. You treated me like I was a real person whenever you passed by me, and you always had a kind word to say. This is my way of saying, Thanks!”

Matthew 25:31-46 tells the story of the king who said, I was hungry, and you fed me; thirsty and you gave me drink;  a stranger and you took me  in; naked and you clothed me; sick, and you visited me… people asked when, and he replied, “Just as you did to the least of these, you did it to me.”

To expand your prosperity consciousness, begin with the first question of Pillar #2: Definition.  Be clear in defining yourself as God, expressing Godness as you.

We are in the process of exploring the Four Pillars that support a strong Prosperity Consciousness, grounded in Truth Principles. We’ve covered the First Pillar, Demolition, in some detail. Last week, we began taking a look at the Second Pillar of Prosperity, Definition. We’ve discussed the first question, which is: Who am I? The answer is that you are God, expressing Godness as you! And we shared ways for you to begin becoming acutely aware of how your thoughts support that reality.

That brings us to the second question: What is my purpose?

People go through tons of workshops and therapists to figure this one out – but in reality, there is only one answer, and it is the same for all of us! Take a deep breath, because this is really important!

Your purpose is to express your Christ nature to the fullest extent you are able, by using your talents and gifts for the good of the world. Remember this: There is no one in the whole world that can do what you do, the way you do it!

We invite you to go back and read that last paragraph again. Go ahead, we’ll wait for you! You might even want to read it again, out loud!

Katherine Graham, former President of Washington Post, said, “To do what you love and know that it matters – what could be more wonderful?” When you living your purpose, you know it! It doesn’t mean you won’t experience problems, challenges, frustrations. It means you know you have within you everything you need in order to move through them, growing in the process.

So, this week your adventure is to spend some time becoming aware of your gifts. What brings you joy? What do people compliment you about? What is it that you would do even if you were never paid a penny for it, just because you enjoy it so much?

Here are a few affirmations you can use to help you reinforce the incredible gifts and talents you have been given, to share with the world:

• I am God expressing at the point of me, and I allow myself to nurture my gifts, appreciating the many talents I possess.
• I am willing to be of service to God and others through my gifts, and know that people are abundantly blessed by what I do.
• I deserve a rewarding, creative life, and I demonstrate my gifts to claim that life.
• I am God expressing at the point of me, I have a constant flow of new and interesting Divine Ideas that allow me to develop and share my gifts.

Repeat these affirmations at least five times a day, and reflect on them as you go into meditation. Then journal around what comes to you following meditation. You will discover you are acutely aware of your gifts, as well as ways to use them for good. And your prosperity consciousness will be expanding every day!

Next week, we will explore that BIG question that comes with Definition: What is the essence of a prosperous and abundant life for me?

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!