Blog 445 – 10.25.2016

Did you ever think, how did things get to be such a mess? Well, sometimes things get messy because we stop paying attention to the details or perhaps because we start focusing too much on the little things that we don’t like or prefer. We become discontent, malcontents, and pretty soon the whole worlds seems like it is going to hell. I do not believe in a literally hell where God burns his trash. I think that whole concept was invented to make some people feel guilty so that others could more easily control them. But I respect your right to believe whatever serves you, still, if you happen to find a particular belief is no longer serving you, please do yourself and the rest if us a favor and let it go. I find myself saying from time to time the expression, “As sure as hell.” I correct myself and say, “As sure as heaven.” We can change our beliefs as easily as we change our minds and change our words.

We do not have to stay discontent we can focus on what we like and thereby draw more of that into our lives. Our life becomes what we focus on. To illustrate the point, the story is told of a woman who went to the doctor for thirty years thinking she had cancer only to have the doctor say no she didn’t. Finally after thirty years the doctor confirmed her diagnosis. Did she have cancer all along or did she draw cancer into her life by focusing on what she didn’t want instead of upon what she did want? What we all want is health, wealth, and happiness. Think and speak on these things.

Much of what many people call faith is really just mythical or magical thinking. What is true is true whether you or I believe it or not. The saying seeing is believing could as easily be said believing is seeing because we see what we believe.

In a nutshell, our discontent comes from worrying which is borrowing trouble from the future, holding on to baggage from the past, or thinking and talking too much about what we don’t want instead of what we do. Many people cannot sleep because their mind is always a whirl of dire what ifs and complaints.

I saw a movie some years ago and then read the book. It was called, “The Secret.” What the secret to health, wealth, and happiness boils down to is what I like to call an attitude of gratitude – being grateful for everything good in your life and thereby drawing more of that to you. Some call that, “The Law of Attraction” meaning that what you focus on, think about, and talk about is what comes to you.

Holding on to discontent only bring more to be discontented about. It is just like having and attitude of judmement and condemnation makes it very hard for us to accept forgiveness for our own shortcomings. Let go your discontent and be happy for every good thing in your life. And if you’re having trouble sleeping, sing this little verse.

“When I’m tired and I can’t sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep.
And I fall asleep, counting my blessings.”

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White