Once upon a time: It was the day before I ‘had’ to make the annual trek from Los Angeles to see the in-laws in Boston. I had done it several times before. It’s typically around 14 hours door to door. I knew it would be long. It would be painful. It would be stressful. There would be altercations, accidents, mishaps, stupidity. The airliner would be 90 degrees and stuffy. People would cough and sneeze and squeeze.The luggage would be heavy. Security lines would be long. Need I go on? Being a practitioner of the “Law of Attraction” I knew that I was and would be RIGHT. I knew I was setting myself up literally for “hell on Earth” just as so many of us do during a blessed or supposedly fun and love-filled holiday (at least that’s what the commercials promise.) 

My wife had gone out several days ahead. I was on my own. I knew the more I thought about it, the more “trouble” I was in for. As “they” say, you really can’t NOT think about something. (Try NOT to think about Red and Green! What just popped into your head?) Well, I knew I would need to replace my negative thoughts. But how? I would be surrounded, nay, submerged in challenging situations for 14 hours. What to do? Be grateful? Sure. But that’s often way easier said than done especially while one is not sitting and meditating or reflecting but actually “in the trenches!”  Am I grateful it only takes 14 hours by plane and not 14 months by stage coach? Yes. Am I glad we fly and arrive safely. Yes. Oddly, those thoughts of gratitude still do not exactly buoy me up while lugging suitcases through an airport filled with anxious holiday travelers. Gratitude is a state of being. Is there anything one can physically do to move into a different state of being? In this case, there was.

I remembered two things:

1) When in the “victim mode,” it’s often impossible to ‘fix’ the feelings because your attention is focused on YOUR problems. So, one must “look outside” and put one’s attention on other people.

2) I know that I always feel great whenever I help another person or give to another person without any strings attached. Unconditional giving….no obligation. That’s why I actually favor Halloween as a “fun” holiday over Christmas. Christmas seems filled with obligations and obligatory giving, yet on Halloween, we hand out candy to total strangers!

My solution: (I’ll bet you think I handed out candy. Close.) Before I went to bed on the eve of my journey, I went to Starbucks. I purchased twenty $5.00 gift cards. I even tied a ribbon around each just to add a personal touch. I would hand these out throughout the day of my travels. I promised that I would not censor or edit my giving: I would not bribe or even reward people. Instead, I would hand cards out spontaneously and/or at random. I would gift the clerks, tellers, handlers, security, etc. I would not withhold a gift-card if someone was seemingly rude or un-helpful. In fact, I would be certain to make sure they received a gift.

Guess what happened? I didn’t even get a chance to hand out a card to anyone that was rude (although the Boston Airport Police did seem a little “stern.”) I have to tell you, everyone was NICE. They did not know I had these magic cards! Of course, I knew it. I didn’t have a chance to focus on “poor me” and my “holiday travel pains” or what was “wrong” with everything. My focus was on giving! Who would get the next card?  It was like a Willy Wonka adventure of some sort.

I swear I walked through security and had the nicest security person EVER help me. She literally helped with my stuff! She had a sense of humor. Wow! After I was through and ready to leave, that’s when I gave her the card. She flipped! You may think a “cup of coffee” is no big deal nor any great gift in this world in this day, but give it to someone unsuspecting, without condition, just “because” (actually, just for No cause) and just watch what a bright reaction you will most likely get.

Gratitude is almost always pointed to as the “key” to positive thought and positive attraction. I completely agree. And when it seems difficult to “get in that place” just by thinking, then try doing this. Giving is “gratitude in action!” Every good stage or movie actor will tell you, “It’s in the doing!” To shift into a specific mood, emotion, or state, do SOMETHING!

Tips:

Don’t expect any particular reaction. Just let it flow. Don’t depend or count on being “rewarded” just as you don’t want to hand out the cards as rewards. If this happens, you will slip into “giving to get” or giving with strings attached. The whole operation will go South (far from the North pole!)

Have you turned Christmas shopping into a holiday nightmare? Bring along gift cards while Christmas shopping.

Just for “no cause”: Have you become a little “slumped” in the holidays? Too may “obligations?” Well, add some non-obligatory things to your list immediately: Go to a local hospital, assisted care facility, or even a shopping mall and hand out: store bought cards, hand-made cards, single stem flowers. (I use the roses that are two dozen for ten bucks at the super market. I tie a ribbon to each.) Again, you may think this is silly, or “small” or even cheap. I assure you, they will be received as though they are gold bars. I promise.

You know those Salvation Army Santas? Sometimes I perceive them as annoying. So, I shifted my perspective. In addition to putting some change in the bucket, I give them a card and/or gift certificate and make sure they know that it is for them.

As Nike would declare: “Just do it!” Don’t “think it through!” This is an action of the heart, not the brain. Funny how I am actually a little frightened or embarrassed to begin sharing these gifts each year. My head starts sending tiny pot shots. Some how I think the gifts might either be rejected, or I might somehow be rejected or made silly. Believe me, that “small” feeling is quickly transcended. I assure you that the joy you will feel will be worth a hundred fold the time, money or “scary thoughts” invested. If you have small children, let them do the giving. Smiles will abound and hearts will grow three sizes!

I have made cards that I hand out either by themselves or with gift certificates (coffee, treats, etc.) inside.  These cards usually make a special impression because they are both a bit of a surprise, and they celebrate the people receiving them, not just the season! Check ‘em out! You can download the artwork and print them out on your home printer.

Go to http://www.themiraclechild.com

At TheMiracleChild.com there’s also a video just for you! Thank you for being you and for all that you do in this world. What would we do without you? Thank you. May the light of this season shine to and through you!

Some of you may be familiar with the works of George Orwell and his book “1984.” He created “newspeak” in this prophetic work. Many may argue that his prophesy of enslavement through thought did not come to pass. I would beg to differ. Our society merely ‘looks’ different, but rest assured, an oligarchy of repression and oppression are securely in place, and it is only through clarity and awareness that we can unseat it. We must not fall victim to “Newspeak.”

I URGE YOU TO LEARN ABOUT NEWSPEAK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newspeak

We often get ‘bent over’ or ‘worked up’ when we talk about ‘the classes’ (lower, middle, upper.) This limited delineation of the classification of people is way out-of-date. I consider myself part of “the Active Class.” Both ‘middle class’ and/or ‘working class’ carry connotations which I do not want any part of. Also, I aspire to wealth (in all areas of my life.) Ergo, I would not want to use the term ‘upper class’ as it has a derogatory connotation. Appropriately so, as it passes as ‘better than’ judgement on people that have less money.

I propose we abolish using the terms upper, middle, and lower class. (We might also term these as rich, working, and poor classes.) These terms do not serve in a practical way. They do serve as divisive distinctions for propaganda and controlling and/or distracting people from the ‘real’ (useful) issues. This ‘monetary’ distinction between people is actually rather destructive in nature. It portrays money as the root of importance. Hence, the ‘lower classes’ (both middle and poor) deduce that ‘money is the root of all evil.’ They also deduce that power corrupts. All of that ‘thought’ is nonsense. It’s limited. Distinctions based on how something IS in the world rather than how something MOVES or ACTS in the world are basically ‘hearsay’ (rumor) and inadmissible in the ‘court of universal law.’ Actions speak louder than words. Is a ‘good person’ that shoots someone better than a ‘bad person’ that feeds someone? It’s nonsense! ACTION (a reliable reflection of BEING) is key. Let’s start watching the verbs rather than the nouns (names.) (‘talk about a class act!)

The true core of class distinction comes down to ACTION and COMPASSION. Hence, I propose four NEW classes:

THE UPPER ACTIVE CLASS

THE LOWER ACTIVE CLASS

THE LOWER PASSIVE CLASS

THE UPPER PASSIVE CLASS

UPPER ACTIVE CLASS: The class that is rich-in-spirit (upper in consciousness) and actively participates in the world. They move the world (in a practical sense). All live in abundance as they flow with motion. (This class happens to include financially ‘rich’ and financially ‘poor’ people. Money and power are not a distinction here.) They give to others. They receive from others. They share their wealth whether that be wealth of spirit, mind, money, power, work, property, product, etc. They are in action WITH compassion. They take care of themselves and others. They are the movers and shakers, both big and small. They are the life-blood of this world.

LOWER ACTIVE CLASS: The only distinction here is that this active class does not have compassion. (Lower in consciousness.) They are selfish. They actually live in a ‘lack mentality’ and are poor of spirit. They participate in the world, but at others’ expense and detriment. They do this under the false belief that there is not enough to go around, and it’s better to ‘do unto others before they do unto you.’ They are the ‘bad blood’ in the world.

LOWER PASSIVE CLASS (dead weight). The ‘stuck’ class. Low in consciousness–most likely nearly unconscious. The class that is all poor-in-spirit. This includes financially ‘rich’ people and financially ‘poor’ people. The financially well-off people in this class live in fear and greed. They hoard money, power, property, services, and products through fear of lack. The financially ‘poor’ people in this group are consummate victims. They are at the whim of the movers in the world. They do nothing to change their lot in life nor the lot of others. They are not evolving. This whole class (whether with or without money, mansions, food, shelter) is a drain and burden to the planet and its inhabitants. They do not treat the Earth, the people, the plants, the animals or even possessions with any respect, gratitude, or reverence. They truly are the energy and resource vampires of this world. They are the ‘blood suckers’ in the world.

UPPER PASSIVE CLASS. (Ultimate consciousness?) I almost hesitate to include this, but by deduction, it must exist (even now). This rare class consists of the real ‘holy people’ –the gurus at the mountain top. Perhaps they serve an unseen ‘active’ participation in the world in that they ‘hold the balance’ mindfully, spiritually, and ‘thoughtfully’ for the poor-in-spirit. At minimum, they are role models for people to aspire to, so they do create movement. Perhaps their ‘being’ is so enlightened that their presence itself is movement in the world. (Certainly they cause action and movement.) My suspicion is that few of them ever truly just sit atop the mountain. (Hence this passive class does not remain in existence….it sort of evaporates in a puff of light into Nirvana.) At minimum, these people actively educate others. (Christ was a teacher.) At maximum, they give their every last action to and for others. (Mother Teresa lived with, fed, clothed, nursed, and comforted the poor on the streets of Calcutta.) These people are the heart of the world.

What is your class?

Don’t be careful! 

(A word of Caution)

The bright red and yellow lights dimmed. The sound of crunching popcorn gave way to a roar of applause. The Amazing Karloff arrived on stage, armed with sharp knives and a blindfold. His costume sparkled like the twinkle in his eye. That twinkle disappeared behind a black cloth as he donned his mask. His beautiful assistant was tied to a wheel fifty feet away. He raised a knife in the air. The wheel spun. The crowd gasped. They were racked with anxiety. Karloff, however, was not. He knew he would hit his target. There was no doubt. And luckily, that night nobody yelled out the bothersome, “be careful!” There was no need for caution. He felt the handle. He heard the wheel. He knew where his assistant was positioned. He was aware of everything in play. His mind’s eye already saw the knife safely planted at his assistant’s side. It was already done. That’s when he released the knife.

We hear it all of the time: “Be careful!” We all know that we attract our experiences to us. And, if you know even a little about the Law of Attraction, you know that the universe works on whatever one sets their attention on. The universe ‘ignores’ no and not. So first, let’s adjust our title. Let’s get rid of the “don’t.” Here’s our solution to both the title and the dilemma of “being careful:”

Be ‘Awareful!’

We’re not advocating reckless abandon, walking into danger, nor becoming ‘asleep at the wheel.’ To the contrary, we are advocating being alert, awake, and aware. Knowing what is at hand. Being present to what might show up. Here’s the thing with “being careful”: When one cautions you to “be careful” or when you say to yourself “be careful,” you are not only acknowledging that there is a danger, but that you want to make sure you do not tangle with it. Guess what? Danger, harm, trouble or pain are then within your sphere of attention. And since the universe does not acknowledge NOT, you’ve invited the possibility of trouble into your experience. Part of your attention is deflected from whatever the actual goal or desire is (like getting to the other side of the street, planting a knife NEXT to your circus assistant, or effortlessly hang-gliding over a thousand foot gorge.) Anytime full attention and focus is not given to the goal, there’s an ‘energy leak’ that provides a hole wherein the goal may not be accomplished (destination not reached, desire not fulfilled.) Any pro athlete will tell you they don’t focus on carefully hitting the ball. They envision it soaring over the fence or driving hard down the center field.

When one declares “be careful”, one is invoking caution.

DEFINITIONs:

Careful

  - Making sure to avoid potential mishap, danger, harm, trouble, pain, or loss.

Caution

  - Care to avoid mistakes, mishaps, or danger; warning.

Warning

  - indication of impending or possible danger.

Caution comes from the Latin cautio -from cavere - to be on one’s guard.

If you’re ‘on guard’ then you must be defending against a danger or harm. Caution indicates a warning against danger or mishap. Caution is rooted in and invokes fear. Therefore, ironically, being cautious and careful self-inflicts harmful thoughts. At minimum, it pulls energy away from the desired objective (whether it be fun, accomplishing a feat, or finishing a task). At maximum, it allows danger or mishap a foothold in the door.

When a mother yells out, “be careful,” typically they are worrying about all the harm that can befall a child. Indeed, many of us have heard the dreadful stories on the evening news where the mother reports how she was “always worried about that street” and she repeatedly told her kids “to be careful.”

This ‘poison’ that pollutes our awareness and experience has an easy antidote. And it’s one we highly recommend practicing. Rather than being careful, be “Awareful!” Wake up! Get present! Know where you are and the direction you head. Act with intention. Affirm others’ awareness and wake them up to the present moment.

The next time a loved one is about to embark on a trip or your child is about to cross the street, wish them:  “Be ‘awareful’!”(1)

(1)  ‘Awareful’ is not a recognized word in the English language. Let’s just call it a reminder phrase. A contraction of the phrase “be awake and present”.

Copyright 2008, William Mark Lae

Don’t go out and “Be Careful” today! This day, go forth an be….joyful, expressive, spontaneous, grateful!