“Within 17 seconds of focusing on something, a matching vibration becomes activated. And now, as that focus becomes stronger and the vibration becomes clearer, the Law of Attraction will bring to you more thoughts that match.”
- Esther and Jerry Hicks, http://www.healyourlife.com/got-68-seconds, Hay House
There is one power in the Universe, available to everyone. Abraham are among thousands of teachers saying as plainly as possible that if we set an intention, and hold and affirm and tenaciously embrace that intention, Spirit will respond with the necessary creative force to help us manifest it. And then we can act to begin to bring it into the world of form. It is happening all around us. It happens every day at work, at school, at home.
To put it another way, years ago my motorcycle safety instructor demonstrated, and had us experience, the fact that if you focus on something in the road, you will surely hit it. Instead of looking at your obstacle, you can ride safely if you focus on where you want to go, not what you want to avoid. Like Wayne Gretzky focusing on shooting where the goalie isn’t, it works nearly every time.
I have been experiencing a lot of outrage this week, because of the steady diet of outrageous things being reported via the big networks and online sources (i.e., Google News). I have been thinking about rape, the privilege of the white and wealthy, a hijacked election system, racism, religious bias, the degradation of our transgender sisters and brothers, the religious mania that is subjecting people who simply want to live in peace to abuse and scorn and violence, oil spills in the ocean, oil trains on the Columbia River, a magnificent gorilla…
The media, and our politicians, and certainly the marketing industry have refined their use of the Law of Distraction.
There’s no time to work to envision and build a positive outcome – the world we want to build – if we are continuously reacting against that which appalls us. And so we apply the power of the Law of Attraction to manifest more of what we don’t want.
And here’s what else they know.
Back in the days when animal experimentation was acceptable, researchers identified a phenomenon known as “learned helplessness.”
Essentially, steady exposure to pain – and to horrible news and events - about which we can do nothing directly will ultimately cause feelings of helplessness and depression until we decide there is no point in acting. Kind of like voters in California who intended to vote for Sanders but, because Clinton was named “presumptive” nominee in the media the night before, stayed home. The “What’s the point?” feeling is the result of a steady drumbeat of outrageous events we feel powerless to affect.
And I have been focusing on those things for a lot more than 17 seconds. And I realize the media have been using the law of distraction, corrupting my use of the law of attraction – attracting to me more of what I do not want.
So What to do?
Since the only thing I have direct control over is myself, it is time to really live the bumper sticker “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
First, I’m not wasting time on what I don’t want. I am going to try to see the world I want to see - a world that values all people for our unique strengths and values and honors our differences as delightful variations on a Divine theme. A world where prosperity is possible for everyone, and where people take in equal measure to what they earn, and pay their fair share for infrastructure. And those that simply can’t for whatever reason are enabled to maintain their health and dignity with the support of the community. A world where leaders lead, and represent the true needs and interests of all the people. This world does exist, right now, in places where a very large number of people are doing a great deal of good.
I am grateful I live in a world with Carl-Fredrik Arndt and Peter Jonsson who, 18 months ago, got off their bikes and chased the rapist who was finally convicted.
Second, when something truly egregiously evil is done by someone I will be angry. Anger, guilt, and sorrow are signposts that something has gone very wrong. I will feel and own that, but do not be owned by it.
Third, I will resolve those feelings by taking action. I’ll find a way to envision a just outcome, petition those in power to hold the person accountable, and also provide some measure of healing to those affected if I can. In my case, I will at least send healing energy over distance to support those who are feeling the impact.
“Anger. Fear. Aggression. The dark side are they. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it control your destiny.”
- George Lucas
There is one power in the universe. We can focus and direct it toward our desired outcome. And we can either extend love or fan the flames of fear. We cannot serve two masters.
Let’s not let them distract us anymore.