Reimagining Myself. . . or Life as a Mad Scientist

Okay, I've already confessed in a small way that I've read and appreciated the book The Secret and I promise this won't be one big commercial for the book and method that some scorn as overly simplistic and others label a mind-cult.

But, it's started me thinking. It's an interesting proposition: Consciousness, the mind is the most powerful thing in the Universe. And we humans are only now beginning to understand the power of it. The reason I'm so drawn to it is that quantum physics actually backs some of its basic premises. Strange but true. There is provocative evidence to say that matter conforms to our expectations. That in certain instances, particles arrange to be where we look for them instead of where they statistically should be. Does that sound weird? Yeah, well, it's a weird world, Lambchop. Weirder than we know.

It seems that thought is more than just insubstantial mind-winks. Matter is interactive with thought and intention. Even if this is only at a quantum (super sub-atomic) level, it's a provocative notion. I don't know quantum theory well enough to lay it all out for you here (I can hear those sighs of relief!) but I do know that staid, mathematically-fanatical, particle-parsing physicists really believe this and have experimental evidence to back it up. Human expectation interacts with nature in a way that causes nature to respond. The human mind is powerful in a way we never expected and are only beginning to explore scientifically.


Back to the Secret: their whole premise is that the universe operates on a "law of attraction." That the universe arranges things according to your mental pictures and mental state: ergo whatever you're thinking, it sends you more of the same. So, if you're having positive, energized thoughts you get positive, energized events and substance coming at you. It you're depressed and dark in outlook, you'll get more of the same in your life. Now some of this just makes psychological sense: positive begets positive, negative begets negative. We've all seen this in operation in people's lives.

This is what the whole "affirmations" thing is about. And that's why the statement "Reality forms around a commitment" is cherished by so many writers. But most of us wouldn't bet the farm on it. It remains more of a wish than a solid, actionable philosophy for most of us. The idea that our wishes, our thinking, our intentions can influence the course of events in our lives seems a little too optimistic, unrealistic, even juvenile. But how many of us have really tested the limits of our minds? How many of us have really done experiments with our thinking and stuck with the program long enough to see results or not? In the interest of "being practical" we often let those new habits-- "I will be positive about my career and my life"-- lapse at the first sign that real effort will be required or that we may be just "wishing on a star."

I think what really got me is The Secret's assertion that LOVE is the highest and most powerful state of mental being. That in LOVE all things are possible. Okay, treading on unexpectedly familiar ground here. This is something I used to hear in church all the time. Still occasionally do. Love, a state of true, transcendent, unconditional acceptance and communion can and does have a transforming effect on us. We've known that for a long time. Whole religious faiths are based on it-- like Christianity. But is there more to it? Does the religious talk and theme mask an even deeper and more profound reality?

Is love an altered mental state that reaches out into the universe and makes things change and happen? Is it the ultimate mode of creation/re-creation in the universe? It is a potent feeling, a very dynamic emotion that can move us to reach out to each other and to the world around us to do unexpected and generous things. Is it possible that LOVE can move more than just hearts? Can it move events and change our lives? Isn't that what our books are about?

Another thing The Secret proposes is that GRATITUDE is also a powerful thing. That understanding how fortunate we are and having and "attitude of gratitude" for the many good things in our lives sets us on the plane of love and makes it possible for us to do great things with our hearts and minds. The author suggests that to cultivate gratitude, begin at the start of your day: when your first foot hits the floor in the morning, say "Thank" and when the second foot hits the floor say "you." Then with each step throughout the day let "thank" "you" go out to the universe. It puts you into a different frame of mind and into a great positive-attracting place. Hmmmm. I've tried it. It's kinda neat. But I'm still having to work on the "all day long" part.

So, all of this is the long way around to say: I'm experimenting with my life. I'm being positive and "faith" full and I'm trying to be as loving as possible in all circumstances. I'm being creative and open to new experiences and to new thoughts. So far, I've broken a writing dry spell and have one (and soon, possibly another) new publishing contract to show for it. . . in an area I've never done before. And I'm thrilled.

I'm re-imagining myself. Reinventing myself from the mind out. And I have no clue whether I'll turn out to be a Nobel prize-winner or a freakin' mad scientist.

But it's interesting. Experimenting, playing with my life and the focus of my mind. Deciding what I want to be and do and trying to make it happen. Interesting.

Remember that saying: "BE the change you want to see in the world." And the other saying: "What would you do if you were certain you could not fail?" Maybe there are more hints of our mind/spirit power around us than we realize.

What do you think? How powerful are our thoughts? Do you think there's more to the religious principles we've been taught than just the outward notions? Do you think ESP is tied into this somehow? Is ESP/mind power something we all have? What do you think would happen if we all began to think the same positive thoughts and focus on the same important goals for our country and our world? Are we on the right path in investigating this? Have any opinions or experiences to share?