I'm re-reading chapter 8 and wondering about CMI.

First, it says "it's not enought to just have a general desire" but to be "specific and definite".

It would be easy to say that we don't have to work too hard to form the picture of what we want. The desires always come naturally; however, my experience is that sometimes people's minds do go blank on the questions of "What do you specifically and definitely want?"

Even though I get the mental pictures, I find it hard to stick to them. Somehow it's easy to get distracted, and confused, and want to discount what I want, or want to want more than the previous CMI...

Also it is easy to say "If that's what you want, you don't have to work hard on keeping it in your mind, because if you want it badly, it would be impossible for the CMI to get out of your mind."

But then Mr. Wattles mentions "overcome mental laziness..."

Rebecca stresses again and again to feel at ease...but Mr. Wattles seemed to have a tone of "making it work".

Anyway, I just don't seem to be settled with one specific CMI, and wondered what's happening with me.

I also wondered if I'm finding excuses for not being able to dare to ask for more, and large. We worked on worthiness in earlier life labs, maybe self-esteem needs more work before I have the capacity to ask.

I've been having similar problems with this. I've got to the point where I feel that I have a clear image of what I want but I'm not sure what action to take to bring it into reality.

What seems to help is being honest with myself about what I really want. I don't actually want a lot of stuff. What I want more than anything else is peace.

When I think of a mental image of something like a house or a car or something I might like, it doesn't always do a lot for me. When I imagine myself living in peace in that house or with the car it seems to come to life and I can really feel myself there.

I have been looking at different properties in my local area to see what would best suit me and it's easy to get sucked in to thinking that bigger or more expensive would be better. When I really focus on how I want to feel I am much more clear about what I truly desire. My desire is that I live in a house that feels peaceful and is surrounded by nature and has enough space to share with family and friends that I love. That brings me the feeling that is behind the desire and I get closer to the action that will bring it into reality.

Maybe it's not so much about working at the image as about having the discipline to be honest with yourself and to keep going and look deeper if the image isn't working for you.

Those are my thoughts on it at the moment.

Paul

quote:

We worked on worthiness in earlier life labs, maybe self-esteem needs more work before I have the capacity to ask.

Kemila,

I don’t think High Self Esteem is necessary so much for you to ask for what you want. BUT, it seems to me, it IS required if you are to BELIEVE that you can HAVE what you want.

So, I agree that if you feel (believe) you need to work on improving your self esteem, you probably do.

For example, imagine what you could believe and feel if you KNEW the following was true?

“I am worthy of every good thing.”
“I deserve every good thing.”
“Life was meant to be wonderful for me, and everyone else.”

Let the weak say, “I am strong.” Joel 3:10

“Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'?” John 10:34

"I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High." ' Psalm 82:6

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32

“Life was meant to be good for you.” Abraham-Hicks

Phil

I can also relate to an uncertain feeling regarding focusing on my CMI. This seems to be an important part of manifesting what we want and I think it's important that I am confident that I am using the correct process.

I think about what I want.....I believe I already have it, I do my best to feel like I have it and am enjoying what I have. And I'm grateful and I look at how I'm feeling.

But my mind jumps around to...... the cabin by the lake, the pontoon boat, the golf course, my house in the woods, lots of money to pay bills and take vacations. Great relationships with family and friends and being of service to others.

I too would like some advice/feedback on how to feel more confident that I am utilizing the process of manifesting my CMI efficiently.

Brian

quote:

By Soup/Brian: But my mind jumps around to...... the cabin by the lake, the pontoon boat, the golf course, my house in the woods, lots of money to pay bills and take vacations. Great relationships with family and friends and being of service to others.

It's OK to have more than one CMI! The main thing is are you passionate about those CMI's today? Can you feel them, smell them, taste them? Does think about those CMI's give you the warm fuzzies? Any action that you take toward those CMI's will be play; not work!

Remember that by our thoughts we create our CMI's; by our actions we recieve those CMI's!

What action/play are you taking toward any of those CMI's?

quote:

Even though I get the mental pictures, I find it hard to stick to them. Somehow it's easy to get distracted, and confused, and want to discount what I want, or want to want more than the previous CMI...

Hi Kemila

From my own experience, it's important not to get into the "how" if it makes you feel uncomfortable. Frequently, getting into the "how" distracts me from the what and the why, which are the important parts to the CMI.This is because it engages my critical mind, the part of my mind that rationalizes everything, and analyzes to point out why what I want is not going to happen. So, I have to disengage that part of my mind, so that I can enter into full enjoyment of what I want, as Wally says.

Distractions are very normal when you start to consciously focus on what you desire. Most likely, it's because you are discarding old habits, but they keep attempting to distract you from achieving your aim.Old habits of thinking that is unfocused in my daily life often translates into difficulty in focusing on anything in particular. You may find that finding a quiet moment everyday, and just staying still to listen may help you to focus.Out with the old, and welcome the new!

quote:

Also it is easy to say "If that's what you want, you don't have to work hard on keeping it in your mind, because if you want it badly, it would be impossible for the CMI to get out of your mind."

But then Mr. Wattles mentions "overcome mental laziness..."

I think when Wally refers to overcoming mental laziness, he is probably (I making a guess here) talking about people who are not making the effort to consistently enjoy what they desire in mind, because, as we all know, whatever happens in the outside world must first be created in our minds. So, overcoming mental laziness means we have to get into the habit of practicing feeling good about what we desire in mind first, and then taking inspired actions.

Rebecca mentions about feeling at ease frequently because that's how it feels when you get it all together, the kind of flow you experience when you are enjoying thinking about what you want and taking inspired actions.

And as Tom mentioned, if you tend to jump from CMI to CMI, you just have to ask yourself how passionate you are about the things you want, and let it all be play. Let it be easy.....as Rebecca would say

I think jumping from one CMI to another or getting worried that you're doing it wrong is a symptom of lack of faith. It's normal in the beginning, but I think it stems from believing that it's possible to screw up your life. We're afraid we'll pick a CMI that is wrong for us, or that one CMI will cancel out another -- we think we have to get it RIGHT.

What Rebecca keeps telling us is that it should be fun and easy. I don't think that means that AFTER you get it right your life will be fun and easy. I think the PROCESS should be fun and easy. Not only that, but fun and easy IS the process.

If you are having fun, and you are doing something that is easy and pleasant for you, then you are living in the Certain Way. Your JOB is to be happy. Reach for things that make you feel good and when you feel good you are naturally attracting more things that will make you feel good.

Whenever you think about the future, immediate or distant, imagine the best possible future and ENJOY the vision. THAT's a CMI.

If you notice yourself focusing on things in your past, present or future that make you feel bad, STOP. Immediately find SOMETHING that makes you feel good -- or least a little bit better, and keep reaching for better and better. THAT is how you overcome "mental laziness." Training yourself to feel good takes time and practice. It is "the hardest work in the world." But you know what? It's also the BEST, most cushy job ever.

I like to boil things down to their bare essentials. I've done this a couple of times with Wally's teachings. I think I've got it down to two steps now. 1)Feel great 2)notice all the wonderful things that you have, and would like to have. The end.

love and blessings,
Rachel

quote:

Originally posted by Rachel:
I like to boil things down to their bare essentials. I've done this a couple of times with Wally's teachings. I think I've got it down to two steps now. 1)Feel great 2)notice all the wonderful things that you have, and would like to have. The end.

love and blessings,
Rachel

What a great thread. Love that you spoke your momentary confusion and doubts, Kemilla. Since you are one who seems to grasp these teachings so well, it just made me feel safer somehow - that you too have questions now and then.

And then lots of good thinking offered - and then finally, Rachel sums it up (her version of focus, faith and feeling).

There are so many great and useful distinctions in the book and the PG course. All helping us to shape our thinking (and thus how we feel). I don't want to skip over anything, because each is one of the building blocks to the whole. But ma-a-an, it's nice to be reminded of the big picture.

Kamila,

I want to ‘revise’ or retract this statement I made earlier:

quote:

I don’t think High Self Esteem is necessary so much for you to ask for what you want.

It now seems to me that High Self Esteem IS somewhat necessary for a person to ask for what they want. Why do I think this?

Because, it seems to me, if a person has Low Self Esteem they are coming from a belief that they don’t deserve or aren’t worthy of every good thing. So, if a person believes they aren’t worthy or aren’t deserving of every good thing, it would seem WRONG for them to even IMAGINE or DREAM of what they really want.

In other words, I believe if a person doesn’t have solid sense of their selves they will RESIST allowing their selves to even dream or sincerely wonder about what’s good and possible for them (and also for others).

So, if you’re having a hard time trying to ‘discover’ or uncover what you really want, I suggest you start with a question: Do you believe you are worthy and deserving of every good thing?

If you have any doubt that you are worthy and deserving of every good thing, then why not just start reminding or affirming to yourself:

“I am worthy and deserving of every good thing.”

I find that whenever I practice this thought it helps reinforce or strengthen or make believable to me the idea of it. Sometimes just the mere thought of it brightens my day. I also like other related thoughts or affirmations like:

“I am a Child of God.”

“I am worthy of love and kindnesses.”

“Life was meant to be good for me.”

“I can only experience what I allow myself to experience.”

“This, or something even BETTER.”

Interestingly, I just came across the following quote:

"It is that you do not allow because you do not believe. What you believe regarding anything that you want is extremely important - FOR YOU WILL ALLOW ONLY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF YOUR BELIEFS. And so, in many cases your beliefs must he altered to harmonize with your intentions." - Abraham-Hicks -

Phil

"The Universe is responding to how you feel." Esther Hicks

I think there is a difference between self-esteem and self-worth. To me self-esteem can be a false image based on external values. Self-worth is more of an internal knowledge of value based on character.

I have no evidence for it. That is just how it feels to me. I think self-esteem can be encouraged from the doing that we or kids do. "Oh wow, you played that game so well and scored 50 points!" As opposed to the self-worth that could come if they were told, "you played such a great game, you had good sportsmanship and kept your cool even when others were encouraging you to get angry about _____."

To me it's doing vs being.

I think that beyond self esteem or self worth is knowledge of our own oneness with the source. If I am a part of divine spirit, then NOTHING that I ever do or not do can change that.

Having or lacking characteristics that are perceived as moral in our society has nothing to do with our worth. Except for this: A person who is fully aware of his own natural goodness has no reason or desire to harm others. The knowledge that we are deserving of every good thing comes FIRST. Then the extent to which we believe that dictates how moral our behavior is, not the other way around.

As long as I believe that my worth is based on my behavior, I retain some fear that I will screw up and lose it. I think that fear is the basis for most "fall from grace" stories and probably the ultimate source of most stress.

To me, the benevolence of the universe is absolutely unconditional love. No requirements, no expectations, no reasons even. Just pure love no matter WHAT.

Viewed that way, I can relax in the knowledge that I can't fail at life and I can't be "bad." The worst thing that can happen is I forget my worth and become unhappy. That's it.

I try to give that same unconditional love to my children. I love them because they are my children. Nothing they could ever do or not do could change my love for them. They also have many wonderful characteristics which I appreciate and encourage, but my LOVE is not dependent on their behavior. At least in my better moments.

Love and blessings,
Rachel

Good point Rachel.

quote:

you had good sportsmanship and kept your cool even when others were encouraging you to get angry about _____."

I don't know why sportsmanship feels better than winning...it just does. I love the way all my kids participate in sports. I love what a coach can teach that goes beyond skills necessary to play the game.

Thank you for this nice reminder that my kids are very good team members.

Your CMI is like a play or movie.

There are many parts, scenes, characters, desires, costumes, props, makeup, sets involved.

Individually they all seem like they are separate and different, but in reality they are all connected. They all equally contribute to your final vision.

I see A CMI made up of different parts, not separate, but connected, that contribute to your big vision.

I think we get stuck because we think that it must only be one thing in our CMI. We are always told that you must focus on one thing in order to be successful.

Your CMI is that bigger part of your spiritual self that is always evolving and growing. All the ideas and visions you come up with is simply your higher self expanding.

Appreciation from the Heart,

Richard De Haven

Hello everyone,

I've been following this thread and I feel I should ask this question as it relates to me, trusting you guys will help.
I have a CMI of becoming an IT professional among other CMIs but this one is very important to me bcos it seems to hold the key to the other ones.
I took one of the series of exams in the career pathway which didnt go well after lots of effort and confidence before siting for the exam. I lost morale to cary on after failing the exam in a misterious circumstances.
I am struggling between two extreems, one to pursue my goals to a final conclusion.
However, the need to carry on with my present job in other to pay my bills and other commitments did not give me the time required to study.
I am finding it difficult to decide whether to drop the study and pursue other things. Again I dont feel comfortable with my present job even though I got it as desired in one of my CMI at the early days of my PG course - it came to me in a mysterious circumstances then and I thanked God for it, even now.
How can handle this? How do I determine what is the right thing to do at this time?
Many thanks to all.

Goke.

Goke,

Congratulations on manifesting your current job and remembering to be grateful for it! Do you remember how you did that? Having been successful at least once with a CMI, surely you can do it again.

A couple of thoughts on your current goals. First, don't worry about that "seeming failure." It could have been one of those things Wally describes as the universe "over riding" your desire in order to give you something much better later.

Also, if you only want the career in order to get the other things, that sounds an awful lot like trying to control the how. We learn in SOGR that the universe knows the easiest way for you to receive your wishes and it is often not visible to us. So if you try to control the pathway, you're very likely to send it round the long way and it could wind up delayed.

So the fact that you didn't pass the exam could be an enormous gift. The universe is finding a faster, easier way that does not involve you doing the job you thought you needed to do. It could be saying "It doesn't have to be this hard. I have a better way in mind." Good, right?

Lastly, hard as it may be to believe, good things start coming when we RELAX. The right path is always the one that feels the best, the easiest, the one with the most fun and least struggle. Really!

If you have a little free time when you're not working, how about using it to do things that are fun for you?

You are your own best guide. When you feel good, you are moving in the right direction. Keep reaching for things that feel good and see where it leads you!

Love and blessings,
Rachel

quote:

Originally posted by Rachel:
So the fact that you didn't pass the exam could be an enormous gift. The universe is finding a faster, easier way that does not involve you doing the job you thought you needed to do. It could be saying "It doesn't have to be this hard. I have a better way in mind." Good, right?

Rachel,

I don't think I can hear it enough....it doesn't have to be hard. I don't need to be stressed out when things appear to be "bad" or not the way I want them to work out.

Thanks for the reminder.

Brian

Brian,

I know what you mean. A lot of us were raised to believe that anything worth getting is worth struggling for. But the most successful people always say they LOVE what they do. To them it's no struggle.

When I first joined this forum I was so relieved to learn that life was meant to be fun and easy. Being stressed all the time and working hard, or feeling guilty for not working hard enough was what I thought I was supposed to do. I thought that worry, work, and stress were part of being a responsible grown up. I was even sort of proud of it. I thought that being stressed all the time meant that I was being a productive adult.

But the weirdest thing kept happening. I would work really hard on projects that ended up being far less successful than I expected them to be. Somehow, the success I was sure I had worked for simply didn't manifest. That made no sense from the "work for success" paradigm.

What a relief when I decided it was okay to let all that go. I am discovering that there is more power in happiness than can ever be in work.

My first priority now is to find my own peace. All other projects are on hold until I am rested, serene and moving toward my bliss.

Of course I still go to work and do my job, but I spend a large portion of my day doing things that make me feel better. I refuse to allow thoughts of worry, stress, or fear to take up permanent residence.

I am constantly reminding myself that I am loved by the universe, that all that I want and need is already waiting for me, that all that I have to do is to allow my natural happiness to flow through me, and to relax and enjoy all the wonderful riches that are all around me.

And you know what? Funny coincidences keep happening. I do something just for fun, like shop for a dress for my daughter, or stand around in my parking lot enjoying the sun, and I end up with a new client completely out of the blue.

It happens all the time -- but the trick is to be happy in the moment. After all, now is the only time we really have, right?

Anyway, I think you're right. It's worth repeating over and over again: Life was never meant to be a struggle. It can and should be fun and easy. Isn't that great?

Love and blessings,
Rachel

I use to think......pick your battles. Now I don't want to be in battle period.

My wife jokingly says she'd like to live on the beach and paint pictures for a living. (I've never seen her paint a picture!)

Sometimes that sounds like a really good plan!

Brian

quote:

Originally posted by Goke:
I have a CMI of becoming an IT professional among other CMIs but this one is very important to me bcos it seems to hold the key to the other ones.
I took one of the series of exams in the career pathway which didnt go well after lots of effort and confidence before siting for the exam. I lost morale to cary on after failing the exam in a misterious circumstances.

Goke,

I think Rachel’s advise was great, especially how she emphasizes the importance of using your feelings as guidance. For myself, since learning this, it has served me EXTREMELY well, making my life so much easier than before, when I was trying to intellectually figure everything out. (Sure, there's a place for that, but to me it takes a backseat to how I FEEL about whatever I'm thinking or doing, or how I'm BE-ing.)

Now, I’d also like to add one thing.

It seems to me that you need to get more clarity on WHY you want the goal of becoming an IT professional.

I’ve found that setbacks can only deter us when we’re not really certain as to WHY we want what we want. If you are really clear about WHY you want what you want, any setback will just help you refocus even more.

WHY do you want to be an IT professional? What is it that you expect or hope to have with this achievement?

If you already had MILLIONS and no bills, and could do whatever you want, would you STILL want to be an IT professional? If so, WHY? If not, why not?

“The Universe is responding to how you feel.” Esther Hicks

Phil