Category Archives: Expectations

To Tithe Or Not? Does It Work?

horizons the-sun-will-come-out-tomorrow-phil-koch

“Is there are secret to giving? What about the practice of tithing, does it work? How does this relate to your career, your life? You may begin to have many important insights into how your mind works as you read this. Reflect on these. You could learn about yourself and your beliefs and practices.

I am going to share with you a small portion of a consulting session with a client who asked me a question on the practice of tithing. I was not coaching on tithing it was simply a question that came up during conversation. I am sharing some of our conversation around the topic.

A Conversation On Tithing

Client: ‘The only thing that is a little unsettling is the whole tithing thing. I’ve heard before when you put it out that it comes back to you, but I can’t help but be a bit nervous about it.

Rex: That is the point of doing it. It can unsettle anyone.

Client: A little easier if you’re making a little more money.

Rex: That is a belief many people probably have. Think about what you manifested in the past. Remember, my example of ‘goldfish’. Do you remember, what you accomplished?

Rex: Another belief, maybe. So? So, it has been awhile? So what? What does that mean? Does it mean you can or can’t now because it has been awhile?  Look, I can not tell you what to do.

I can only say you will encounter yourself through this notion of tithing. You will encounter your beliefs about limitations and your possibilities.

It is a potent opportunity to examine your beliefs. We all have them around things. So? What you decide, whether to tithe or not, is what you decide.

Client: Well, one does have to pay the bills.

Rex: Another belief… or excuse … or a reason you could examine.

Client: Who do we give the money to?

Rex: I imagine the church you chose to practice tithing with.

Client: Now this is not an excuse, but I’m not quite sure how I would do this as when money comes in, I put it in an account and pay my employee and other business expenses out of that account (taxes, etc) so I’m not quite sure how I would tithe for myself.

Rex: You write a check out of your business or your business writes you a check and you write one from that. I don’t know, How do you pay yourself?

I am not an account nor financial advisor so I can’t really tell you what or how, because I don’t know. It is all up to you and your decision anyway

Client: I don’t write a check to myself, I simply transfer money from business into personal checking when personal checking gets low.

Rex: Look, you will do what you will do. If you don’t do it, don’t do it and let t go. Don’t worry about it.  If you do, do it.  Let it go and don’t worry about it. You can tell the church you aren’t prepared to do this yet. What can they do?  Kick you out? I doubt it.

It has to be your congruent decision. Which way you decide and whatever you decide is okay. Just make the decision and be done with it. Don’t second guess it. Accept you made it. Relax. You can change it if you don’t like the decision you made.

If you learn something about how you think and what you believe and what you are open to and what you aren’t by this challenge then excellent. That is the challenge of tithing. The opportunity to explore Learn all you can. Forget the worry.

Client: Do you tithe weekly, or? I forget. I guess I’ll figure out a way to know how much to tithe.

Rex: Well, you can’t base your decision on my decision. Tithing is a belief and practice from the some religions. Some people feel very strongly that it works.  I know some who say it doesn’t matter. I know some who say it doesn’t work.

What the ‘truth’ is, I haven’t a clue. I suspect if you tithe and believe it works it does. If you tithe and believe it won’t then it wont. I think it is all about uncovering the beliefs we have about money, giving and receiving.

It is beliefs about the nature of the universe and our abilities. That, for me, is what I think the practice is mostly about. It is a practice in which you have to exercising your faith one way or the other.

Do you give and believe 110% you will get back or do you give but then doubt? I think it makes quite a difference. That is why I say it is about being congruent.

Client: Oh. I’m just wondering how you figure out 10% of what comes in, especially when you have an employee to pay. I’m not trying to make this difficult, I’m just trying to figure it out.

Rex: Well, you either go with the gross or the net. if you want to tithe 10% on what you make then it is on the net. The bottom line is if you want to tithe you can always tithe what you feel you can and increase it as you are able.

Rex: Or you step out on faith and tithe the specific 10 and expect the return as promised without wavering. It is really an exercise in developing strong faith. What if you sacrificed and gave 10% and didn’t see any return at all for a long time for a year? Maybe never.

How would you talk and think about it?  Then after a year, wow, you got it all back times 10 or 100. How would you think and feel and believe then? Or you step out on faith and give money and spend a year worrying about it and fretting about it and never get anything back?<

It is about faith and expectations and about being in charge of yourself and your beliefs and your thought process. If you did it and got nothing back monetarily but were happier and healthier over all would that be sufficient? See, we all make our own bargains about these things.

Thoughts About Tithing

We talked a bit further. I point out the conversation because it is similar to many we have with ourself or others. We want to do the right thing when we don’t know what the right thing is. We want to be assured in advance that we aren’t doing the wrong thing. We can’t actually know either.

If you do something and it turns out terrible that is what it is. If you do something and it turns out fantastic that is what it is. You have to be willing to take responsibility for either and know that no matter what, no matter how wonderful or how devastating, that you always will land on your feet and that you can begin again if necessary.

No one else can tell you what you need to do. Most of us try to avoid pain and loss and maximize gain and pleasure. When it is in question we vacillate, sit on the fence, fret, worry, hope and doubt. We don’t know what to do or how to do it. THAT is exactly why FAITH is involved.

It Is All About Faith And What We Believe

If you don’t like that answer there isn’t much I can do to convince you to. You will either embrace it now or at sometime in the future or you will never. That is your journey. FAITH IS IN THE INVISIBLE. We can’t see it. We don’t know the outcome. We don’t know how. If we did it wouldn’t be faith that was necessary.

To step out in faith means to believe when there may be no logical reason to. The Bible is ripe with stories of faith, whether true tales or myths they are potent examples for our benefit. Noah built an ark, Job trusted the lord, Daniel entered the lion’s den, David rushed Goliath, Jesus went to the cross, Peter denied his lord.

You might wish to grow your faith with lesser challenges. If you can’t believe in something put you faith into something that is a stretch but plausible. Practice using your faith to manifest opportunity, money, good things and build it up from experience. The point of manifesting and attracting is that is requires faith.

Examine Your Beliefs And How They Do Or Don’t Serve You<

If you don’t have faith IT would be silly to engage. You might believe you can win the lottery and spend all your money on tickets and still lose. Perhaps, you had doubts. Perhaps, you just didn’t win and yet you did believe 110%. You have to accept the outcome and if you aren’t prepared to do that then take smaller leaps of faith.

First Disclaimer: I never suggest gambling or playing the lottery. I never give financial, legal, medical or psychiatric advice. I am not qualified professionally.

Second  Disclaimer: Faith as used here is not the faith of the some Christian or religious thought. I use biblical examples. The faith here does not require someone to believe in any spiritual deity. Faith, as used here, and by me, means the full and compete belief  in oneself and the ability to accomplish ones purpose.

Faith can be built up. It can be tested. The Bible says we are already given faith so it is a matter of exercising it. Whether or not you believe the Bible isn’t my point. You don’t have to in order to learn about faith. You exercise your faith as you do any muscle.

You believe many things about yourself. You believe you can and can’t do things. You believe some positive things about yourself and unfortunately, you probably have some limiting ones you entertain too.

You put your faith in many things. You trust, believe and have faith that the chair you are sitting in will hold you up. You believe the house around you will continue to stand. You believe summer will give way to winter and then summer again. You believe these things.

You Already Believe So Many Things

You believe your TV remote will work, given there are batteries in it. You believe the sun will rise tomorrow. You believe your car will start. You believe electricity lights you lights and heats or cools your house. These are examples of the faith you use every single day.

I’m want to share a tiny bit of what Napoleon Hill said in ‘Think And Grow Rich’.

‘FAITH IS the head chemist of the mind. When FAITH is blended with the “vibration of thought,” the subconscious mind instantly picks up the vibration, translates it into its spiritual equivalent, and transmits it to Infinite Intelligence…

‘FAITH is a state of mind which may be induced, or created, by affirmations or repeated instructions to the subconscious mind, through the principle of autosuggestion. As an illustration, consider one main purpose for which, presumably, you are reading this book.

The object is, naturally, to acquire the ability to transmute the intangible thought impulse of DESIRE into its physical counterpart— money. By following the instructions laid down in the chapters…  if you can CONVINCE your subconscious mind that you believe you will receive that for which you ask.

What The Mind Can Conceive And Believe It Can Achieve

Your subconscious mind will act upon that belief, then pass it back to you in the form of FAITH, followed by definite plans for procuring that which you desire.

…THOUGHTS WHICH ARE MIXED WITH ANY OF THE FEELINGS OF EMOTIONS CONSTITUTE A “MAGNETIC” FORCE WHICH ATTRACTS OTHER SIMILAR, OR RELATED THOUGHTS.

A thought thus “magnetized” with emotion may be compared to a seed which, when planted in fertile soil, germinates, grows, and multiplies itself over and over again until that which was originally one small seed becomes countless millions of seeds of the SAME KIND!

…read ALOUD twice daily the WRITTEN statement of your DESIRE FOR MONEY, and to SEE AND FEEL yourself ALREADY in possession of the money! By following these instructions, you communicate the object of your DESIRE directly to your SUBCONSCIOUS mind in a spirit of absolute FAITH.

Through repetition of this procedure, you voluntarily create thought habits which are favorable to your efforts to transmute desire into its monetary equivalent. (This procedure is NOT restricted to monetary gain alone.

The Results You Get Are The Product Of Your Thinking

It can be used to help you achieve WHATEVER IT IS that you DESIRE STRONGLY, so long as it does not violate the laws of God or the rights of others.)’ SO said Napoleon.

I think this is pretty clear. Use repetition to develop strong positive thinking, feeling and believing habits. You must be totally aligned and congruent inside about your passion. You have a strong burning desire, for what it is you want. You believe, without doubting; you absolutely know you will make it happen. THEN you will get it!

I think tithing is a way of confronting your beliefs about it. I don’t think you have to tithe. I do think going through the process of honestly considering it is a great exercise in uncovering what you think and believe. You will encounter yourself and your reasons pro and con. After that, it is your decision to make, if you chose to.

This isn’t really about tithing it is about your beliefs about anything. Can you make it in your career? Will you have the life you want? The conversation is included because we have lots of beliefs about money. Be glad when we have an opportunity to examine what we believe about anything.

Our beliefs govern what we think is possible or not. What we believe is possible determines what we will and won’t do. This is why Henry Ford said, ‘If you think you can or you think  you can’t, you’re right.’ Money issues drive most of us. What do we believe about money, ourselves, our abilities, the future? The larger issue is: Are we willing to examine our beliefs to take better charge of ourselves.

The purpose of taking control of your thoughts is to live the life you deserve to live. Maximize your abilities to make your dreams come true. Then you have the health, wealth, love, success, free time, and more that you have been seeking. Put your brain to work for you to get what you want. You are always getting results one way or the other. Are you getting the kind you want?” Rex Sikes

Another great day to have some more fun!

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Is A Wonderful Manifestation Miracle In Store For You?

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“Is something good going to happen for you? Do you feel it? Do you feel lucky? What is around the corner for you that you can’t see yet? Will it be fame or fortune? Will it be large or small? Will you be pleased or not so pleased? What do you expect to happen soon?

Well, what do you expect? Think on that a moment. What do you expect? What do you expect? It is known our expectations shape what we find. They literally put a frame around it. For example, if you expect to find smiles you are more apt to during the day.

If you expect to find frowns you are more apt to as well. If you expect to find money or be lucky you are more likely to than if you decide you won’t. What you think,see and say to yourself is what you get. Your declarations, your expectations matter.

What You See Is What You Get

What you believe will happen is more likely to happen. That is the job of the Reticular Activating System (RAS) to find the match in the outer world with what you believe and expect within. Your thoughts really do determine much of reality. Maybe all of it. Yes, all of it!

How many times have you had your worst fears confirmed? Sometimes, it wasn’t as bad as you expected but it still came about. Sometimes, what you hoped for wasn’t as good as you hoped but it still came about. Our thoughts shape our reality. They really do.

Set your mindset for the best. Develop an unshakeable positive mental attitude. Keep your mind on what you want and the good you want to have most of the time each day. Keep your mind off what you don’t want, off bad news and distractions. Limit negativity.

What You Say Is What You Get

Too often we think we are positive thinkers because we spend a couple minutes each day affirming some things. Most of the day is distracted, filled with petty annoyances, bad news from FB, TV, or media of some form. We listen to gossip or complain.

We aren’t nearly as positive as we think we are. When you are predominantly positive, when you think the finest thoughts and feel your best, when you are optimistic and enthused, you literally do radiate or vibrate at a higher frequency. People can tell. It’s true!

When you are delighted from within you are more apt to create, attract and manifest wonderful, delightful, serendipitous moments more often. You are attuned for it! It can be.  You make it happen. You shine bright, vibrate at high frequency and resonate with good!

Affirm It And Confirm It

It doesn’t matter whether you believe it comes from within you or the universe responds to your requests. You just need to be feeling wonderful and open to the possibility that you will get what you want. Open up to the possibility that magic is in store for you.

It most likely won’t happen unless you take action and begin the creative process. You initiate with your thinking and the rest reacts to you. You put it out and it comes back. Expect a miracle and you are more likely to find one. Live in enjoyment and delight all your days. Plant the seed reap the harvest. It works this way!

Celebrate and appreciate what you already have and you are bound to get more and get better. Celebrate the love and friendship in your life. Celebrate your health and vitality. Celebrate your career success. Celebrate your wealthy finances and abundance in all areas. Live like happy royalty within! Imagine It! Declare it! Affirm it!

See it, say it! Assert and affirm it. Then confirm it! Focus on it. Attend to it. Energy flows where your attention goes. Become it! You don’t get what you want you get what you are! If you are happy you get more in return! If you are rich you get more back! Live with gusto! Live, love, laugh, learn, prosper and celebrate. Enjoy all good things!” Rex Sikes

Plan your day the way you want it to be!

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Stop Deceiving Yourself And Make Better Choices!

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“Are you having problems and difficulties? Perhaps, you are struggling with career, family, relationships or finances. How are you challenged? Do you know why you are having troubles? According to science we don’t actually see what is. We see through neurological filters. Our perceptions are constrained.

In fact, our conclusions that we draw about ourselves and the world are largely inaccurate. Some would say, completely wrong. Those conclusions and reasons why we have troubles are subjected to the same filtered neurological processes hence they MUST be wrong. We make conclusions based on limited information.

We never see the whole picture.  We only get fragments and tiny parts bit by bit; never everything all at once or over time. Our conclusions are drawn from our limitations of filtered processing and from our co-opted conditioned thinking as we grew up. We adopted the beliefs and conclusions of others from birth on.

We are wrong about most things because we can’t actually see who we are or what we are capable of. We may glimpse it from time to time, but mostly we react to the world from chronic, worn out, conditioning. We use the past as the basis for approaching the future and that contaminates the present and future.

Everything Can Be Otherwise If We Open Up To The Possibility

According to physicists everything is energy vibrating at different rates. Matter is energy appearing hard to our senses. This tells us our senses are easily tricked. There are upper and lower limits of what can be consciously perceived. We miss far more of what there is than we can ever know.

We are conditioned from birth to rely on our senses. We are taught that there is a separate outer world made up of solid things. Our senses wouldn’t lie, even though, quite frankly, they do. Everything is illusion, only we do think so. We believe it to be the truth about how things are. We are very wrong.

We believe there is an independent, objective reality. We believe the circumstances around us IS what is going on. We believe that it is true. For example, if we get enough reports that the economy sucks we accept it. If certain people are considered bad, we believe it. We believe so many inaccurate things!

We don’t actually know what is out there. Science reports to us, that we are mostly, if not completely, deceived. None of it has any independent outside truth, other than it is all energy appearing solid, but rather, it IS what we BELIEVE it to be. We believe our subjective appraisal. We determine whether things are ‘good’ or ‘bad’.

Believing Is Seeing

Since our subjective appraisal is deceptive things are not as they appear. They are only as we believe them to be. Our consciousness creates what is.  AND so it is, whatever we say it is, by our own declaration. We conclude it is a particular way even when multiple other possibilities exist.

We simply lock into one way of thinking about it and accept it as that. Silly human. There are infinite possibilities and we choose one. The one we choose is based on our prior conditioning from our interactions and experiences with others and the world. We create a version of reality and then tend to stick with it.

We draw conclusions and then eliminate other possible conclusions so we don’t have to think about it much. Our brains streamline the information for us. We make generalizations about ourselves and the world, which may or MAY NOT be accurate. We delete things so you can bet it is mostly inaccurate.

We leave things out when we generalize. Science says we can only consciously entertain and recall so much data in a given moment. Our brains process trillions of bits of date each second that we can’t possible  be aware of or think consciously about. Still, all of it is there.

We Delete, Distort And Generalize

We distort. If we generalize our experience and leave things out, then by that very process we necessarily distort reality or what it is. It can also work the other ways around. We distort, thus we delete, or, we even add in things that aren’t there and make generalizations based on that.

Or it could be because we delete, and distort we then make generalizations. Generalizations are the rules and reasons we adhere to through all time and space across the board, to navigate the world we create. We accept these as what is, or as independent, objective truth, when actually it is all subjective.

We see through our minds and beliefs. We are a bag of skin and bones and processes. Ongoing continuous processes attempt to decipher the nature of the universe through a limited human apparatus. We draw limited inaccurate conclusions about ourselves, the universe and ‘reality’.

We accept these conclusions as accurate; a reflection of what is. We call it reality. Our reality is comprised of outer circumstances and our inner reactions. We draw conclusions. We decide whether or not we are worthy of certain outcomes and or capable of certain actions. We believe our own BS. AND IT IS ALL BS!

We See Through A Glass Dimly

We believe our delusions. We have made our conclusions. And so it is. Science, still informs us, that everything is actually just energy appearing solid. It isn’t as we conclude it to be. The trick is to wake up to what else there is.

We have the opportunity to  shed our chronic, habitual conditioning, and drop the beliefs, the conclusions and thoughts that limit us. We can become more aware and discover new ways to think and be. Even through the very processes that trap us, we can awaken. If only we will.

It can be said, if you are seeking more, and entertaining notions such as these, that you are at least on the outer edge of beginning the process of awakening. Whether you do or not, who can say, but your very interest or desire may be an indication of something better and  important going on. We can awaken and we must want to awaken.

If that IS the case, then what can you do to enjoy it and assist the process? What can you do to accept it and go with the flow? How can you most naturally awaken, easily? How can you become more consciously aware and appreciative of the process? What can you do to celebrate and get through the limitations?

What You Say Is What You Get

Don’t fight it, but relax into it. Go with it. What is IS. Enjoy everything! Why not? If the universe is of our making then why not make it the most incredible, wonderful, experience of universe possible? No matter what goes on, why get caught up in anything less than glorious. Why not celebrate and enjoy it all?

Do you realize you are here? You have consciousness. You are alive. You have this go around why not be totally thrilled with this opportunity. In all, the trillions of stars, and immensity of the universe through billions of years YOU are here to enjoy it. If that doesn’t make you stop and go WOW what ever would?

YOU are here to live and enjoy and delight. I mean why not? What other purpose for you being here could there be? If you think there is no purpose then you are a complete idiot if you don’t assign your own. MAKE it whatever you want it to be. You have THIS opportunity. Make it great, for goodness sake. WHY NOT?

If you don’t thrill and celebrate every second you are wasting every second you don’t. What does anything matter but the love, and life and goodness you can help create? YOU exist so make it count for something marvelous! Celebrate everything! After all it is your choice. You can choose to make it whatever you want it to be.

It Is Whatever You Declare It Is

You can limit your problems, and stop it from being any difficulty. In all that there is why focus on what might be wrong, EVER, when you can make things right. Why waste time caught up in less than glorious issues?  You can decide to enjoy the ride for all it is!

Think about that. Really, think about it. It is you choice. Everything is an illusion. If we make generalizations, why not make better ones? Make ones that serve you. Instead of living out a crappy existence based on conditioning, with problems, lack and discord make it a life that includes everything you want.

Dictate what circumstances will be. If you are going to be deluded, be deluded in ways that feel good. Make it glorious. Exercise good taste and judgement. It is your choice. Decide now to enjoy it!” Rex Sikes

Have a delightful day!

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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Are You Finding Opportunity Where You Look?

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“There is so much around us that we miss because we do not see. We look but not well. It is no different than when you put your keys down and then can’t find them, even when you are looking straight at them. We miss so much.

Would you like to notice more of the good there is? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to take advantage of this? Why keep missing out if you could change it all for the better? Don’t you think the time is now to wake up to the opportunity that abounds.

I think it is all about opportunity. It is our opportunity to learn, to evolve, to do well and succeed. It’s about opportunity to be happy. It is about our potential to be, do and have anything we want in life and to live wonderfully. It is about maximizing each moment.

It is about the opportunity we find inside every challenge or obstacle we face and what we do with it. Within every bad day is so much good. If we only focused on the good instead of the difficulty we’d find it. We miss it because our focus is occupied with problems.

Attitude Is That Little Thing That Makes A Big Difference

It is about looking around and recognizing what is good and new to us that constitutes an opportunity for discovery and celebration. When we celebrate anything and everything more becomes available to delight in. Whole new worlds open up for us.

Consider this: we have the ability to be happy regardless of what is going on and regardless of whether we believe that or not. We have the ability to celebrate everything whether we ever do or not. Some of us will, sadly, many of us won’t. Because we just don’t choose to.

We have so much more going for us than we could ever, even begin to realize, appreciate or utilize. It is about the opportunity we have to explore this and realize a little be more, appreciate a little bit more and utilize a little bit more. It is always right there.

Our attitude determines how much or how little opportunity we find in the world. During bad economic times millionaires are made. During good times millionaires are made. It is not the times that matter but that those people find opportunity in both bad and good.

Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude

Regardless of what is going on there is opportunity all around each of us. Whether or not we recognize the opportunities is the issue. You can’t, literally can not.  Nor will you, you won’t, if you are negative and your view is limited. Negativity closes you down!

You need to be positive, open and expansive. Your neurology has to be primed to find opportunity and it will. When you expect the best you are better equipped to find the best. Positivity opens you up!

If you always say what you have you will always have what you say. It is important then you only speak to bless, heal and prosper. You create whatever you declare whether or not you understand this. It is an ongoing, never ending process. You can’t use it intentionally, if you aren’t aware of it. Awareness opens us up to more opportunity.

I finished writing this, took a break, picked up a book and began reading. Within the first 4 paragraphs, author, Joseph Murphy stated, ‘If you fail to recognize and utilize the wisdom and power within in you, it is just the same as if it were not there.’ Could the message be made much clearer?

If You Think You Can Or You Think You Can’t You Are Right

Look within. Discover what is inside you. Accept it. Enjoy it and celebrate it. After all it is you, so it is divine. Release it. Use it. Get the good you desire. Bless, heal and prosper yourself and others. Live fully and happily with those around you.

Make your life what you want it to be. As above so below. From within to without. The time is now. Seize it. This could be your opportunity to make some wonderful changes. Will you take it? The choice is yours. What will you do with it? ” Rex Sikes

Have a blessed day!

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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When S#%T Hits The Fan! How To Handle Crisis And Difficulties

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“Some times the excrement hits the fan. You hope it doesn’t but it does. From there it only seems to get worse. What do you do about it? Can you change things? What is the ‘enlightened’ approach. Some people think ‘this should not happen if I am a positive person!’ Well, should it?

I don’t know if it should or not. I only realize that it does. I say this from experience. Being a positive thinker makes everything better! It does! It truly does! There seem to be far fewer upheavals than otherwise, still things rock the boat from time to time. Perhaps, all the time, but most of them just don’t get to you.

I don’t think anyone should make a hard rule about it. Flexibility of mind and behavior is the key. Learning to control ones thoughts and feelings brings immense power and positive transformation in so many wonderful ways. It doesn’t matter if things get messed up once in a while. You learn and evolve through everything if open to it!

Stuff Happens Get Over It

I believe everything is an opportunity to learn, to grow, to shed old ways if we are alert to this and aware as it happens. We can learn from trials and difficulties and can even be grateful they push or prompt us to be different. Is it planned, predestined, calculated, or random happenstance? That’s  up to each of us to decide for ourselves.

Some get great comfort in assuming there is a divine plan  for their life. And it may be OR it may not. I think everything is perfect whether or not anyone or anything pulls the strings. It is what it is. Accept it, get over your complaints about it, suck it up if you have to. Learn from it. Learning from it IS what we can do that is useful!

It is what it is! It was what it was! Evolve and move forward. This blog is always my opinion since it is my blog. I may share my perception of other’s opinions but I am sharing my thoughts and learning and understanding from my perspective, whether or not I ever say I think or believe. You understand that, alright?

I don’t claim to have final ways for how you or anyone should act. It is always up to us to make our own decisions for ourselves. What I hope to do with this blog is share approaches I know work from decades of using them on myself, with others and from studying what has worked for people throughout the centuries.

Learn To Go With The Flow

Without going into immense detail, the past few days have been immensely blessed. There have been what some might call high highs, great accomplishments and forward movement. There have been multiple difficulties during the same time. Sometimes, that is how life seems to go. Again, maybe that is how it always is.

I don’t try to find assigned reasons for things but extract my own reasons for what I can do. I’ll explain more as we go along. I am discussing Friday. I write the blog during the early am hours Saturday so you get an idea of how this operates. The day began with an argument with a loved one. I didn’t want to have but did.

I reacted to some things.  A response would have been more appropriate. I could say I was tired, things had gone on in a particular way and I wanted to be done with it. I can point at numerous ways to interpret my behavior or the other person’s or the circumstance but the bottom line is my reaction made me party to an ensuing argument. The argument was significant.

Had I been more aware and responded differently, it may not have been the issue it was. Looking at it afterwards I examined it and realized I could make some other choices. I have vowed this won’t happen again. I looked at how else I might handle the situation more productively.

What You Resist Persists

What is it that I can change in me, and my thinking and doing, that would preempt it, stop it, from getting out of hand? I don’t want to blame the other party. I could. I could make it about them changing or the circumstances changing , or what we could do together differently, but at this moment, I only have my actions to examine.

I take responsibility because it does take two to have an argument. So how, and what, can I do differently to help make situations like that better? What do I, can I, and have I learned from this argument that can be of benefit for the future? If I expect the other party to change that will only ensure nothing changes.

Not because the other party doesn’t have responsibility but by putting conditions on anyone other than myself, and expecting another person to do something different would be setting myself up for disappointment. This seems to be what we do much of the time. We want others to be different, the world to be different.

When they aren’t, and it isn’t, we get bent out of shape. At least, I have. People who try to control the world and others usually end up miserably frustrated. It isn’t worth it. It is better for me to change what I can about me, than to attempt to change others. That should make sense. Hopefully, you have discovered the folly of this for yourself too.

The Only Person You Can Absolutely Control Is You

It is more important to me to become more flexible. I want to learn to be more resilient, and more resourceful to be able to handle situations that arise. It is more productive to change myself for the better than to hope or expect others to do it my way. I can hope and wish for things to turn out differently or I can make some positive changes for myself.

Work with what YOU CAN work with to make the adjustment. You CAN work on your self. You CAN’T work on others. Self is the starting place. Yes, you can negotiate with the other person and work things out. That is important too. Do what you can to get along, to have a win/win and settle things in positive ways. By all means, of course!

But when all is said and done, IF after that negotiations they don’t change, then YOU had better change, if you don’t want a repeat of that situation. If you get this point you get a lot? Change what you can about yourself. DO NOT expect the other person to change for you. If they do great. If they don’t great! That is what is. You change!

The buck stops here! The responsibility is mine. I don’t beat myself up or wallow about what happened even when sorry for what happens. I look at it and seek to discover what I can do differently to make it work out better for both of us. I hope I discover a win/win. If it is to be it is up to me and no one but me. SO I look to learn.

As Within So Without

Yes, I have repeated the same mistakes even after this examination. Remember, old habits can die hard. I seek to make new habits but in the mean time old challenging neural pathway routes, that are well entrenched, are firing while I endeavor to take a different path. Understanding this can bring great freedom.

It can also speed up the time in which you make changes and develop new habits. New insights and awareness leads to new changes in behavior AND yet you still have to repeat successfully the new behaviors often enough for them to become habit. Think of it this way. Driving a car becomes habit, right? You know this already.

You could learn to drive on a smooth, empty road and develop the habits for driving as you do. This is a given. Practice correctly long enough and habits take hold. You could also learn to drive on a horribly bumpy challenging road with tons or traffic comprised of horrible drivers. Either way you learn and make habit.

Conditions and circumstances will be whatever they are while you are learning new things. To expect the world to stop being the world and conform for you may be silly or it may be a great belief to have. OR it may be silly. You have to decide that. I find it useful to focus on what I can change and let the world be whatever it is.

As Above So Below

Sometimes I bristle at what is offered. Most of my life pain has come from resisting what the world offered. Once, I began to learn that it was up to me and my response to what was offered AND NOT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS, life became far more incredible and enjoyable. Then I stopped trying to change the world and changed myself instead. This gives me so much more opportunity.

After the argument, other events unfolded.  I got injured. There were some big issues and problems but I won’t go into details as they don’t matter. It was frustrating, to say the least. I shouted out one major expletive, at one point, when I realized my entire day plans shifted.  My phone broke earlier, I had issues with my car, and I had an appointment that now began to appear unlikely.

I had a ADR session at Cinespace Studios in Chicago. For those who don’t know what this is, it means, I had to record some dialog to replace some lines in a feature film I acted in. I couldn’t reach the director and staff to let them know what went on or when I could now arrive. Eventually, I solved this and got an email through.

My morning appointment changed to mid afternoon, possibly, depending, on traffic. I had to leave. I bought a new phone prior to leaving but service never kicked in. I had no way to call the studio and let them know of delays, I couldn’t communicate with family, I had no GPS and now faced returning late in the evening instead of by mid afternoon.

We All Have An Incredible Opportunity To Learn To Be Better

There was a lot more going on that I am not reporting. I don’t mention any of this other than to point our, as we all already know, shit can hit the fan. It does.  Then I caught hold of myself. I took a deep breath! I didn’t like this at first, but had I survived the 80’s. Travel would be just fine.  In fact, everything would be fine.

I had let it spiral out of control for a little while. If truth be told, given the circumstances, I handled it far better than I would have years ago. My actions I was least please with involved the argument, so I sought to repair that prior to leaving. We worked it out which made us both feel better.  Still, I had been injured, and car problems.

I woke up! I woke up to the fact that all this was going on. Why? I don’t know? I don’t ask why. I am trying to point that out. Why doesn’t help me. What helps me is this: ‘Okay, this is as it is. What opportunity exists for me in the situation as it is? It is what it is. What can I learn? What do I need to learn?  How can I accept what is going on? What do I need to let go of? What is important and what is not?’

IN THAT MOMENT, as I ask myself questions and realize ALL is perfect, even when tumultuous, everything settles! I understand. IT does not matter what is going on ON the outside. It matters what is going on ON the inside! What matters is what I am thinking and feeling and whether I am responding or reacting. From within to without!

Transformation Occurs In An Instant

If I catch myself reacting I have an opportunity to respond. I CAN respond as I had reacted or I CAN respond differently. A choice point opens up because of awareness. It allows for a new and different decision to made. The opportunity arises to decide now, in this moment, to do things differently. Change! I CAN change!

Instead of being a victim to circumstances I take control of me. I accept what IS and I know that I can handle any circumstances life throws at me. There is the saying; ‘God won’t test you more than you are capable. Why does god think I am so strong?’ I don’t know or care if anyone is testing me. I know that when ‘tested’ I can make the difference when I take responsibility.

As I write this, I hope you realize this is not really about me. I am using my experiences as an example, that’s true. BUT I am attempting to focus on the process I have learned and not me the person. Any of us can do use this process. My main point is you can transform anything in a moment when you transform from within.

The world around may be tumultuous but you find calm and peace within. You may find confidence and strength, you may find a smile and delight. You might even think: ‘Okay bring it I can handle anything you bring’. When you think that way, YOU CAN handle anything. Your thoughts create your reality. If life hands you lemons you make lemonade by changing you attitude.

Power Comes From Making A Decision

Most of us try to change the circumstances. The circumstances are what they are. Change your thoughts first. Then whether or not circumstances change you will have. I can promise you this. First, change yourself so that you are in a more positive, confident, productive place and you have a better chance of helping the circumstances to improve. Otherwise, don’t count on it.

If circumstances don’t change you are still positive, confident and productive! Attitude determines your altitude. The drive to the studio was quite easy. It was relaxing and enjoyable. The parking guard and I chatted for awhile. I enjoyed him. The director, technicians and session, all good. I’m glad I got there to do it!

I left, chatted some more with guard. He noticed my new phone, still not working and recommend I get a case for it. We parted. I drove back. I got back late but not TOO late. The day went great. The drive was fine. It took longer than expected but I used the time to think and listen to inspiring audio. I learned a lot from all that happened. I also learned how to improve my relationship with a loved one.

I returned home and to my argument partner who surprised me by brining home a fabulous dinner from a classy restaurant! We hugged and enjoyed each other. All is good. It is what it is! Everything is and was perfect. You could assume it was all predestined or all haphazard. What matters most is what we take from it. Learn from it.

The Quality Of Your Decisions Determine The Quality Of Your Life

We can’t ever replace learning to improve. What we resist persists. The more flexible we are the more choices we have. The more choices the greater range of opportunity and to discover what works. If we only have one way of perceiving or one way of doing we will obviously be limited in what we can accomplish. Seek to be more aware.

Turns out my day was fabulous, I declare it. I learned an immense amount. I was challenged on numerous fronts. So what. I found my center and operated from it. Circumstances stayed what they were. I changed. It was what it was and it is what it is. I like days like this. Bring it! Bring more of them! I want to improve my relationships and live a marvelous life. Whatever helps me do more of that BRING IT!

Seek to be accepting, allowing, because it is when we allow, when we relax, when we let go, we can see more clearly what hampers us. As we learn better, how we can be different, we do need to implement what we learn and repeat it again and again to condition our minds, our feelings and our behaviors. We become aware, and then use it over an over to make the new learning habitual. Habits matter!

We evolve. We become more positive and as a result more capable. The more we do the MORE we are ABLE to do. I love this process of discovery and implementation. I love this life. I do! Even when it is rough at times. I think, if Job could endure I can. Bring it!

I will learn from it (eventually) and I will rise to meet any challenge. Ultimately I love and enjoy and celebrate my life. So bring it because I will transform!” Rex Sikes

Today is what you make of it!

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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This Is The Missing Piece To Getting Everything You Want!

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“Do you want your career to take off? Do you need more money? Would you want a better connection with your loved ones? Perhaps, you’d like to travel or afford nice things. Whatever it is you want to have you can have it all once you learn this very important principle or secret. It has been hidden in plain site forever.

I am going to share it with you. I believe this is one of the most important messages you need to get. You need to know, understand and appreciate this about being a deliberate, intentional creator. This ‘secret’ is what  makes the Law Of Attraction work and I am giving it to you right now, right here. Celebrate and Share it!

It is absolutely critical. It is so simple. Even then, people miss it. Please don’t. Pay attention and keep an open mind. Once you recognize the truth in what I am saying, you may have an ‘aha’ mind opening experience. I hope you do. Enjoy learning how to make your important, good dreams and desires come true!

Whatever the mind can conceive and believe you can achieve, said Napoleon Hill. It has been said in different ways, by  different thought leaders from the dawn of recorded history. Everything begins with thought. Thought originates everything humans produce.

What You See Is What You Get

Thought precedes form. Thought precedes action. We know this is the case. It is not even in dispute. Everything that humans have made with their hands began first as an idea inside their minds. Said differently, In order to make it with your hands it must first exist in your mind.

Numerous people have stated this next concept in many ways. I’ll quote a scripture. ‘Ask, believing you have already received, and you shall receive.’ The key to getting is to believe you already have it. Imagine you already have the good you desire in your life

People have asked, how can they believe it when they look at their circumstances and those run counter to their thought? They find it difficult to believe since they don’t see it in the world. They are troubled by this scripture or concept. They are riddled with doubt.

How can I have faith first? How can I believe something is there, already, when it isn’t? Does this bother you? It certainly bothered me. I’m supposed to believe this invisible desire already exists and I am supposed to feel what it feels like to already have it. How? How exactly am I supposed to do that?

What You Say Is What You Get

We don’t understand that we are already doing it. It is there but we miss it. You create it prior to it existing in the real world. Remember, thought precedes action. Thought precedes form. Everything that exists first exists as an idea. Are you beginning to understand yet? It’s okay, keep reading.

When an architect imagines a bridge or a building they blueprint it. They plan it in every detail in their mind and put it down on paper. They create it inside their head, they visualize it or envision it. The actual building takes much longer to physically create. It first, only, exists in thought and plans.

Get it now? What you want DOES already exist. You say where? Where is it? Where does it exist? I don’t see it? OH, but you do! Yes, you do! YOU do ALREADY have it. You have it within you! It is in your thoughts you have already created it. BUT, BUT… BUT!!! IT EXISTS!!!!

It exists. As within so without! It hasn’t yet translated into physical reality but it IS already there in your mind. It exists FIRST there. What are the steps to getting your dominant chief purpose or your goals. Know what you want. Imagine it. Be specific. Be detailed and vidid. Write it down.

What You Feel Is What You Get

What does the architect do? Imagines it and writes it down or draws it out.  Conceive it, write it down, plan it. You already have what you want inside you. NOW believe you can make it happen. Think about it day and night. Make it more real and vivid. Really, truly want it!

Intensify the desire for it to transmute into form. It is already in your head ready for you to make with your hands. You repeat thinking about it, affirm it and give it over to your subconscious by repeated suggestion. Hillary climbed Everest. Edison invented the light bulb. The Wright Brothers flew. Everything starts on the inside!

Constantly think about it. See it, feel it, affirm it! Your subconscious takes over to help plan it. What you believe on the inside is what your subconscious mind works to match on the outside. That’s the job of the Reticular Activating System. Find opportunities, people and circumstances that match what you already believe inside.

Keep the faith in that inner vision. It WILL become reality. You create just as the architect does. You first think it, then believe you will have it and you can achieve it. You decide to make it real in the outer world. Stop looking at the present circumstances and complaining it isn’t there. Start making it happen!

Act As If You Already Have It – Because You Already Do

It doesn’t exist in the outer world, yet, BUT it can and it will if you stick with it. You have to keep at it. YOU DO already have it. You do already possess all the good you desire. It is already yours inside your thought world. This is great news! You already own what you want.

This is CRITICAL to understand! It will make your creating, manifesting and attracting so much easier and faster. Assume it, affirm it, declare it. Speak to yourself as if you already have it. See yourself already in possession of it. Feel these feelings. Expect it. Know it will happen. Believe it.

It is yours! Believe it. THIS is WHAT you WILL make happen! Command yourself to do it. If you were to build a chair. You would get the idea, imagine the chair. Plan it or draw it out. Get the materials and put them together. NO BIG DEAL! That IS what you would do. You wouldn’t fuss over whether you could or not.

The first step in creating what you want was accomplished when you thought it. You put the intention out there. It now exists. It exists as a thought seed. Just as an acorn seed needs nutrition and time to grow into a mighty oak so does your thought seed. Expect it to grow!

Once You Believe Your Mind Opens To What Is There

You do that much for the acorn seed you plant. Do as much for your thought seed. Plant it and expect it to grow. Give it nutrition and it will. You don’t doubt the flower seeds you plant, do you? You expect flowers to grow and bloom. Do as much with your thought seeds.

‘Ask, believing you have already received, and you shall receive.’ Your desire already exists. No question about that. It has a literal thought form. It is an idea! Thoughts are things. The results you get are from translating your thoughts into reality.

Once you make your thought a burning desire and think about it, obsess about it, you begin to get other ideas and plans how to make it happen. You attract like thoughts, like energy, like people, like events. Your brain is on the look out for these.

When you buy a brand new car you start seeing the same make and model everywhere you hadn’t noticed previously. Your brain now alerts you to them because YOU OWN IT! You notice what you hadn’t before. So keep the faith! You will make it happen. This is how it works. Conceive it, believe it and achieve it! Happy Creating!!” Rex Sikes

Delight in the day. Put a smile on your face and others!

If you like these posts please subscribe. If you think these posts would help others please share them. Help Spread the word. 

Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW BLOG SITE LAUNCHES SOON – Do you get this blog emailed to you? You will have  to again subscribe to this blog, newsletter. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches. Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude!

What To Do When Things Turn Rotten

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“I am frequently asked what to do when things go rotten. I thought I would attempt to answer with another example. It can be tough for the positive thinker when suddenly things mount up, circumstance seem  to turn south and nothing works as one would hope. What do you do? First thing.  I prefer to think in terms of ‘less than glorious.’

A couple posts back I referred to my New Years’s Eve. I got a flat and plans interrupted. I will continue with the events post NYE but let it be known; some may think what I relate is nothing, not challenging at all. Others may think it quite the ordeal. I think of it as It IS what it IS. It is because, of how others may regard these events it serves the purpose to illustrate ‘less than glorious’ or when plans change.

I had no luck on the New Year day finding a place open that could change the tire, fix the tire or sell me a new one. EVEN Walmart said nope. On Saturday I found a dealer not too far away from me, hooray! They might be able to fix or replace the flat. Months earlier the other front tire was flat, but I added ‘fix a flat’ and hadn’t had a problem.

Hey, You! Things Change

Since, I was getting the one worked on I thought might as well do two. Neither could be repaired one because of the ‘fix a flat’ the other where the hole was.  They said they’d call me when done. They close at 6pm. At 5 I had still not heard back. I called them. It turned out I needed a new wheel for one.

As it was close of day, Monday would be earliest they MIGHT be able to find one. Dealer new or aftermarket. The price significantly different. On Monday they searched. Close to mid afternoon they announced no luck locally. They could get a used one in but it would take two business days. The wheel cost around 300.00. I already paid for the two tires so the install would be free.

‘Good thing I am rich’, I always think. ‘There is more where that came from’. I am doing my share keeping money circulating. That is when money actually has some value when it is changing hands.  Life is life. Things cost. Little things out of whack or big things out of whack it is virtually the same. Little blessings and big blessings. What is IS! Celebrate and enjoy.

Get Over Yourself

Disclaimer: I am telling you my thoughts and what I think. Wealth is an attitude. Abundance is a state of mind. I have less than some and more than others at varying times. What I have access too, we all do is beyond imagination. There is plenty everywhere, OR, there is scarcity everywhere. It depends on how you view it. How you view it determines how you feel. How you feel determines how you view it!

The time I spent at the tire store on Saturday meant I missed an important tech phone call to fix computer issues. It will have to be re-scheduled for sometime in the future. I know not when. Such is life. The wheel appointment is set for Wednesday. I have to cancel another meeting, that was set for the same time, because it is the only time the party could make it.  Oh, well.

Change is what life is all about. We change, we grow. We grow, we change. Days change, weather changes, everything changes. It is when we resist change that we seem to suffer so much. It is much better to learn to be able to go with the flow. This is why I think, ‘Things ALWAYS work out the best for me’, even when it is not obvious how, yet. Attitude is everything! Things work out always!

Things Always Work Out In The Long Run

I had an appointment today and had to use my car. Luckily, I made my appointment and back without trouble. I stopped to pick up Thai food for dinner with my daughter. After sitting and waiting for about 20 minutes the server announced they ran out of chicken. They had enough for one chicken dish but not two.  I cancelled one, kept a chicken dish and a beef dish I had ordered.

Some minutes later they brought my food. I paid the bill, sans the one meal and went home ready for a nap. I was completely exhausted today. On the way home my son calls to remind me I had promised to take him snow boarding today. I totally forgot. I now scramble to make sure to pick him up and then remember my tiny spare issue.

This meant I had to commandeer my other car away from my daughter and disrupt her plans. The car with the tiny spare isn’t safe to go on the freeways, nor is it wise, since I no longer have a spare to utilize. My daughter, god love her, I do, accepts that she can take my tiny wheel car but not where she wanted to go. She can use it, just locally.

Change Is A Constant – Might As Well Learn To Embrace It

Those are my restrictions. I don’t want her stuck in the cold at night. We swap cars. Hers of course is out of gas, but dad fills it. I had to fill mine too on the way home. I get home. The way they packed the food in the containers, meant most of the sauce is now in the bottom of the bag. I remove containers dripping wet. I open the food and there is virtually NO chicken in the dish.

There are a few, four or five tiny thinly sliced pieces, lost inside a big container of sauce and vegetables. In no way could anyone call this a chicken curry. Curry yes, vegetable curry, yes. chicken, nope! Again, oh well. I scooped out a couple pieces of chicken along with the curry sauce and vegetable and rushed my meal so I could get my boy. What was there was tasty. Our plans for the evening changed.

The dinner I looked forward to, and had called her to ask what she wanted, wasn’t going to happen together. I had forgot about my prior commitment to my son. She’ll eat alone later. She ate with her boyfriend and said, ‘hey you ate all the chicken’. I hadn’t, I split what was there with her. She wasn’t upset. She was just commenting. Both of them enjoyed the food. It was his first time. They were good.

Feeling Stressed And Angry Won’t Make You Feel Better

I got my son, we got gas, we went to the ski hill. I love watching him snowboard when I can locate him on the hillside. He saw me sitting at the window and gave me a big wave. All is good. In fact, all has been good. I made it through the day, with a good attitude and steady emotions. I mentioned in my other post years ago I’d be pissed, seething. Little things bugged me.

Now, I realize sooner this is what is going on. Life is happening. There is nothing to do about it. To complain and lose my cool won’t change anything. It may only make them worse. I know I’d sure feel worse. I’d feel stressed, unlucky, a victim of circumstances. THIS is simply how things are. Accept it, enjoy what is. Who knows how it will turn out. I expect it will turn out well, if not now, eventually.

If you can’t change it accept it. Embrace it. Dive into it because you may just discover something wonderful. Hindsight is 20/20. Nothing may seem apparent right away but perhaps, down the road. Maybe even a year or two from now I’ll look back on the days of my NYE and beyond tire/wheel fix and realize something great was happening. Who knows? I certainly don’t. Anything and everything is possible. All is as it is. Go with the flow and enjoy the adventure.

What Do You Want To Feel?

All I can do is trust and remember, ‘I always land on my feet.’ It is awesome to be alive and enjoy so many incredible people, places, things and opportunities. I am able to drive and go places. Others may not be so lucky. Given this, I prefer to celebrate everything instead of bitch about it. I prefer to let go of problems and count blessings. I prefer to feel blessed no matter what is occurring.

Do I always. Nope, can’t say that I do. Do I get hooked and caught up, of course. It is less frequent but it happens. I realize sooner, rather than later that I have a decision, a choice to make; suffer and burn, OR let go and accept. The freeway surrender meditation helps a lot. It is all about learning to go with the flow. Learning to surrender, to accept what is, We need to learn how to feel blessed, always.

Some days go more smoothly, other days less smoothly. That is just the way it is. If we can feel in harmony more of the time life is better. If we feel discord less, life is better. It is our choice at any moment. We need to learn to respond instead of react. Most of us grew up reacting to what goes on instead of consciously responding to what happens. We can learn the difference and we can learn to respond.

What Is Important To You?

Hey, I am no example. I am not claiming to be. I am just pointing out that not everything goes according to plan just because you think positive. However, because you think positive, disruptions small or large don’t have to be so bad. Positive thinking takes the sting out of it. A positive attitude does make everything better. It isn’t magic but it seems like it at times. There is no substitute for a positive mindset!

Let go. Live! Enjoy! Prioritize. Determine how you want to spend your moments. Would you rather burn and be mad or is celebrating and enjoying more important to you? That is good to keep in mind. Personally, I  prefer the latter one. It is more fun and desirable. If it is for you too, congratulations and kudos. If it isn’t yet, it can be! You will get the knack of it. I promise, you will. Let go and delight! Embrace and enjoy the adventure! It isn’t over yet!!”  Rex Sikes

Everyday counts!

If you like these posts please subscribe. If you think these posts would help others please share them. Help Spread the word. 

Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW BLOG SITE LAUNCHES SOON – Do you get this blog emailed to you? You will have  to again subscribe to this blog, newsletter. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches. Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude!

How To Believe In Yourself To Get What You Desire

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“It’s the new year and you want to start off everything the right way, don’t you? You’d like to keep your resolutions, hit your goals and make you dreams come true, right? You want this year to be better than last year, even if last year was good, because you always want to make things better. Isn’t that true? Are you willing to learn how?

It takes two things to be able get anything you want in life? That is it! Two things. If you have the two things you can make almost anything happen, within reason. What does within reason mean? Most likely, you won’t be able to fly without some other form of assistance. Get it. It is reasonable to assume this.

Napoleon Hill said these two necessary ingredients were desire. A white hot burning desire for your goal. You must want it more than anything else. It must dominate your mind day and night. It should occupy your thoughts. In previous posts I’ve discussed this using his example of Edwin C. Barnes and Thomas A. Edison.

You Can Be, Do And Have Anything You Fully Desire

The second ingredient is faith. Most of us think religion when we hear or read the word faith. That is not what Napoleon Hill meant. He define faith as an unwavering belief in oneself to be able to do anything positive to make their desired positive goal happen. It is a complete conviction that results in absolutely knowing you can do it.

Most religions and other thought leaders tell people to ‘have faith,’ that is is important. No one ever said ‘how’ to have faith. Hill says this about that. ‘ FAITH is a state of mind which may be induced, or created, by affirmation or repeated instructions to the subconscious mind, through the principle of auto-suggestion.’

Again, we come back to affirmations, self-talk, and visualization. We can acquire the faith necessary to make our dreams come true by repeatedly affirming what we want. We instruct the subconscious mind by talking to ourselves in an positive and emotionally charged way. ‘Through the principle of auto-suggestion.’

Instruct Your Subconscious Mind – Direct It – Take Charge

We instruct the subconscious by imaging what we want as though it has already occurred for us. We presently enjoy in our mental movie theater of our mind that which we want to happen, by seeing it and feeling it as if it already has. We do these things repeatedly day and night because of our desire.

Faith and desire motivate us to make happen what we want. Not from desperation but from dedication! We manufacture what is necessary by how we use our mind repeatedly day in and day out. The truth is most people don’t use their minds well. They are lazy and lazy won’t cut it. That is why few people get what they want.

Autosuggestion is always going on! THAT IS WHY it is called AUTO – suggestion . It is automatically occurring! We are instructing the subconscious mind through our repeated thoughts, positive or negative. This is an ongoing process from which there is NO escape. We CAN direct it once we take charge of the process but we cannot stop it. It is to our benefit to learn how to direct and control it!

That Which We Think Most Of, Most Of The Time Controls Us

The reason so few people get what they want is because of the mix of positive and negative thoughts that influence them. They believe but they doubt too. They want it but they fear and worry. Our lives, our results are a result of the preponderance of thoughts we think. That which we think most of, most of the time controls us. Hill says.

‘Every man is what he is, because of the DOMINATING THOUGHTS which he permits to occupy his mind. Thoughts which a man deliberately places in his own mind, and encourages with sympathy, and with which he mixes any one or more of the emotions, constitute the motivating forces, which direct and control his every movement, act, and deed!’

‘…through experiment and practice, acquire the ability to mix FAITH with any order given to the subconscious mind. Perfection will come through practice. It cannot come by merely reading instructions.’  Quotes are from THINK AND GROW RICH.

Use Auto-suggestion Instead Of Auto-Suggestion Using You

We will continue to discuss faith in future posts. I like Napoleon. He speaks what others have spoke through time, but he cuts to the chase. He says it succinctly. If we can conceive it, and we really, absolutely must have it, and we fully and completely believe in ourselves and that we will have it, then we can accomplish it.

Plus, he instructs us in how we can begin to want it and believe it so that we can achieve it. It does not come from reading about it but by doing mental exercises night and day. We get it from how we direct our mind and what we occupy our mind with. We make it happen by taking control of our thoughts and directing them to the outcome!

Truly, we are able to think and grow rich, or happy or have anything we want when we aim our mind with laser like precision towards the target of our desire. When we know what we want because we have defined it and we want it above and beyond anything else, and we do the positive good that is necessary to make it happen – we can be, do and have anything! That is the outcome!” Rex Sikes

Celebrate everything!

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It’s A New Year! Life Plans Change. So What? Do This

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“What do you do when life throws your a curve ball? Something happens other than what you hoped for. Everything gets shaken up a bit. You have an opportunity to go with the changes or try to fight to keep the old way from slipping away. What do you do? You can react or respond to whatever is happening.

It was New Year’s Eve and I was to dinner party with dear friends. I purchased a nice bottle of wine and some expensive cheese to bring. I was looking forward to the evening with fine people. I prepared, got ready and went out the door. The evening cold, in the 20s. F

I got about 2 blocks from the house and noticed the car ride a bit strange. I stopped, got out, but since it was dark I couldn’t see behind the headlights. I felt the passenger side front tire and it was pretty pancaked. I had a flat. Luckily, there is a service station another couple blocks.

Sometimes Things Don’t Go As Planned

If I can get there without slicing up the tire, great. I can purchase a can of ‘fix a flat’ hope that works and fill the tire with air and be on my way. I get there and park near the air pump. I go in to borrow a tire gauge and get the can of tire foam. These station doesn’t sell anything like that, I am told. WOW! Well okay, I actually have one in my car.

BUT it is too cold to use. I try but nothing will come out. So I go for the air. Nope, the pins don’t line up and the air won’t go in. My hands at this point are becoming numb. A guy, in a truck, pulls up, asks me what’s wrong. Turns out he overheard me while in the station trying to secure a warm can of ‘fix a flat’. He throws a spot on.

He tries to put air in the tire too. Nope, it is not going in. My hands hurt. He says, ‘why not leave it here. It is open 24 hours. I’ll give you a lift home.’ I move the car, grab the wine, but drop it, it shatters. Grab the cheese and go in to return the gage. Turns out I can keep the car there but not where I parked it. So I move it.

Do You React Or Respond

I get in Kevin’s truck. I asked his name, told him mine, we shook hands. ‘Do you like cheese?’ I asked the odd ball question. ‘Here is some nice cheese’. And I put it on his console. He drove me home. I said thanks and Happy New Year. Entered the house. Called my daughter, wished her a nice evening and hunkered down.

New Years Day, I have a date with a tow truck. Hopefully, I can get the tire fixed or replaced. I could have called a tow truck, put on spare and traveled on, but really didn’t want to spend time waiting in a gas station. I could have. Home was more comfortable. I called my friends, told my host the news, apologized, and enjoyed some time alone.

What IS is. What to do about it? I was pleased none of this ruffled my feathers. Years back, I would not have been so even about it. I would have reacted poorly. Now, this time, it was different. More how I would hope it to be. Still, I did nothing special other than accept what was going on. I simply responded to what was happening.

Do You Like Cheese

I was quickly able to realize this is what IS. There is no reason to fight it or be dismayed. No reason to curse or swear or get upset because things went differently than anticipated. Maybe something good will come of this I can’t yet see. Who knows? Maybe maybe not.

My practice of surrender on the roadway seems to be paying off. You can find it within this blog in other posts of mine. I have mentioned it before.  BUT in a nutshell here it is:

I have a theory that the best modern day opportunity to learn surrender and ‘going with the flow’ is in traffic. If anything presses our buttons it is getting stuck, a’hole drivers going to fast or riding our ass. Stupid slow drivers who can’t move fast enough or turn and get out of our way. Yup, traffic is a great place to let it all go.

Some may be tempted to think, ‘well that NYE thingee really is all that big of deal’ and no it wasn’t. Rehearse and practice acceptance with little things, and you can inch your way up to bigger things. Practice letting go and accepting what is in traffic, and in everyday life.  Ultimately you build a habit of learning to respond.

Life Is Ultimately What You Make It

Fewer things will get us. We freak out less. We increase our batting average but we may never be perfect. OR maybe we will, who knows. It is pretty much going to be up to what we believe it will be like. Our expectations shape our reality. Life seems to be about learning and evolving. We learn to evolve to let go and enjoy more!

So, I watched some TV, read a little. I was going to open a bottle of wine and pour a glass but I didn’t. Soon, I fell asleep, just nodded off. New Year’s Eve came and went. I must have needed the rest. I woke at 2:39 am and realized I had yet to write my blog. Well, this is it. Happy New Year Everyone!!!

If you can’t change it don’t fight it. Accept it. There is something else available for you when you allow for it. I had a pleasant, uneventful evening at home. The year changed over and now wonderful new opportunities exist. They always exist! Opportunity is there when you need it. As are good samaritan’s, frequently. Thanks Kevin!” Rex Sikes

It is a new day! Celebrate!

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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Whatever You Want Is Just A Thought Away!

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“Whatever you want is just a thought away. Thoughts precede actions. Thoughts become things. Thoughts are the ideas which become reality. Whatever you want begins with a thought. It doesn’t begin any other way. I repeat, It doesn’t begin any other way!

It doesn’t begin with hard work. It doesn’t begin with hopes or wishes. It begins with your thinking. The issue for most people is that they don’t think it. Oh, they ‘think’ they do. They ‘believe’ they do but they actually don’t. Nope, they simply don’t! They DO NOT.

They may claim they do. What they ACTUALLY do is say the thought to themselves without feeling it. There is no emotion behind it. No conviction. They merely utter it but don’t accept or believe it. They doubt it. They think it and then think, ‘nah that won’t happen.’ They doubt, fear, or worry more than they think it is possible.

They Merely Utter It But Don’t Accept Or Believe It

They come up with all the reasons why it won’t happen. They come up with all the reasons why they won’t think it. They don’t want to be disappointed if it doesn’t work. THAT is NOT THINKING THE THOUGHT!!!! That is thinking everything BUT the thought. That is entertaining a passing fancy. That is ‘lip service’.

THAT is NOT thinking the thought! That is thinking everything BUT the thought!  We become what we think about most of the day. They utter a thought and then spend most of their time either thinking it won’t ever happen or thinking other things. They don’t spend time thinking that thought. Instead, they are distracted. The thought never becomes a predominant idea. It has no power, no legs.

THAT is not using your mind well. That is not thinking the thought. That is a passing fancy which is dismissed for numerous other reasons OR it is considered and then lost among countless other considerations. The issue is most people don’t THINK. Most people don’t know how to think. Heck, we were never taught how to.

We Are Influenced By The Predominant Thoughts We Hold

Sadly, most people, thinking mostly the same chronic, habitual thoughts today that they thought yesterday, ‘think’ they are thinking. They aren’t! They are merely playing old tapes inside their head; old programming. Old worn out, negative, limited programming, for the most part, is what they are doing. It is not new, powerful thought. They aren’t thinking new thoughts.

It is mostly the same stuff you have thought again and again. If you always do what you always did you will always get what you always got. If you want to your life to change you have to change things in your life. You can’t do the same thing over and over and expect different results BUT this is what most do! Admit it, I do too!

If you conceive of it and you believe it you can make it happen. Will it magically appear, I doubt it. Still, I am not saying it won’t. Others can do that. I suspect YOU actually have to create it. Sadly, though you most likely never will unless you think you absolutely will in the first place. You have to conceive of a new reality FIRST in order to behave in that reality.

Thoughts Are Things

‘Whatever you want is a thought away’ IS an accurate statement. If you don’t think what you want is that close, well then it most likely isn’t. You declare it. You assert it. You determine what it and your future will be like. You create your present. Most people just won’t acknowledge that this is what we do. You and I create our reality!

Reality is of our own making. Reality is of your own making. You think and your reality is a reflection of what goes on inside your head AND what doesn’t. Results in the real world are YOUR doing. Most people just won’t willingly shoulder the responsibility for what they have or don’t and where they are at.

They want to blame it on others because it is easier and it let’s them off the hook. Most were brought up believing it was someone else’s fault anyway so it is nearly natural they would think that. The fact of the matter is YOUR thinking is absolutely powerful. Your life conditions are a reflection of what thoughts you have thought.

If It Is To Be It Is Up To Me

You CAN absolutely BE and DO and HAVE anything you want WHEN you absolutely THINK YOU CAN. Become a CAN DO person. Discover your creative power to make things happen. Take charge, be in control. Your destiny is in your own hands, between your ears, within your being. MAKE IT WHAT YOU WANT IT TO BE.

Whether you think you can or you think you can’t YOU ARE RIGHT!!!” Rex Sikes

Enjoy today!

If you like these posts please subscribe. If you think these posts would help others please share them. Help Spread the word. 

Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW BLOG SITE LAUNCHES SOON – Do you get this blog emailed to you? You will have  to again subscribe to this blog, newsletter. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches. Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude!