Hi, I've been struggling with the concept of increase, and how it can sometimes seem too much at one time. This began when I read Session 6:
"Can You Imagine." We were asked to imagine a world transformed where there was abundance for all. I'm all for that. But when I tried to picture it, I kept running into the limitations of space on the planet. We already seem to have run out of space on the freeways in So. California for all the autos there are already. The answer can't just be to build more freeways because that would take away from the space for houses. Do we have to make some choices?

This may seem silly to some but I know that sometimes limitless increase can be a problem. A body can only expand so much, for instance, before it becomes morbidly obese.

The answers that have come to me so far are that the increase must be balanced. Mr. Wattles talks about doing all you can do in one day and not trying to do tomorrow's work today. So there are some limits that we must acknowledge. The other answer that has come to me is that it's not up to me to figure out all this in detail for other people. Because, as Mr. Wattles says, we can only work on ourselves, and not try to impress our ideas on anyone else or figure out how things can come to them--or to us, for that matter. We know that a Higher Power or Formless Substance or God--take your choice--will do the work. We only have to plant the seed.

Anyone have any other ideas about increase and how far it can go?

Rose

Hello Rose!

I too was just working on that LL and found myself bumping into boundaries that challenged the vision of increase. I think your example of the freeways in So. Cal. are a great example of two different concepts "competing" with each other. If you give the freeways more room, the houses lose out and vice versa.

I think the limits of increase is held only in our minds. If we can expand our minds and vision beyond what we currently see, creative forces will work with that vision as long as it is in creative terms.

The principle of increase is increase for ALL not just one. To resolve the challenge of freeways & houses, one must try to figure out how the two can cooperate instead of compete. I don't know the answer, (maybe you make the cars go under the houses or vice versa) but just the fact that you think in terms of cooperation instead of competition sets the creative forces in motion. I'm sure that millions of people have seen the problem of the traffic, but conventional thinking is based on competition, so the problem does not get resolved. It takes someone to think creatively to make a breakthrough.

As far as what part we play, I think that just by opening other people's mind to creative alternatives is enough to start the energies flowing. I think of the story of Roger Bannister is a good example. People used to believe that it was impossible to run a mile in under 4 minutes. Then Roger did it and within a year dozens of others ran ever faster than that. He just opened a creative doorway and people walked (or in this case "ran") through it.

I think having a clear vision is really important as well. Not only does it focus in your mind what you want, if this vision is captured by the right people, the vision can become a reality. I think of Kennedy's vision of landing a man on the moon. Although he never saw the vision come true, enough of the right people saw it and it became a reality (several times!) If you can hold a clear vision of abundance for all (or a vision of uncluttered countryside) you could set the forces in motion to make the vision a reality.

In regards to the increase of the body, Mr. Wattles talks about living for the mind, soul, AND body. To me, growing obese is excess in the area of the body without balancing that with the mind and the soul.

I hope this helps. As I go through the course, I feel like I am trying to put together a big puzzle and I have to do it by putting the pieces together one at a time. I hope I've helped you put a piece or two together.

The thing that came to me when I thought about this is that a few hundred years ago, the entire world consisted of a tiny pocket of people in Africa, maybe another pocket in the Orient, etc...but as the necessity arose, the 'world' got bigger. New lands were discovered and settled. Then we developed the ability to build our housing up. instead of just further out.
I can sure relate to what you're saying. I've got these boundaries too. But things always work out, and it's not up to me to figure out how that will come about. Just so I know that nothing is impossible.

I think increase can occur in ways we haven't even yet begun to contemplate. One way is through intelligence. Remember the old wringer washers? Now there is more "intelligence" built into those machines so we can say an automatic washer is an increase over the old wringer washer, yet it still takes up about the same amount of space.

Increase will occur in capacities, in layers, in dimensions, in compactness, in richness, in facets, and so on.

Another good example is the computer. 50 years ago they thought a small computer would just fit into a room. Now, we can carry them in our pockets. The increase in memory, space, capability and reach are miraculous compared with what we might have envisioned decades ago.

This is the aspect of SOGR that excites me -- the way it is getting me to think in ways that push the boundaries of what I might have believed possible.

When you get an answer from Ben Franklin, the Mona Lisa, and Metacoach, you have some really good advice. LOL CyberRAM, I'm glad I wasn't the only one struggling with picturing the limitless abundance in Lesson Six. Thank you all.

In following Mr. Wattles' advice, I've also found myself wondering just how to picture what I want in my mind without "working" on someone else outside of myself. Mr. W advises against that very strongly, as we all know.

It's easy enough picturing a new "sewing machine" or "picture window" as in Mr. W.'s examples. But in selling anything, how does one avoid working on someone else outside of themselves? If you picture a customer, are you working on someone else outside of yourself? I guess not if you don't picture anyone special, but if your product is presently being considered by a particular person, that makes it more difficult.

I'm looking for an agent for my novel and keep running into this situation. Instead, will I be better off to skip right over the process of selling it and instead just picture my published book as I want it to look, a check for the advance in my hands, and the feeling of satisfaction one gets from such events. I think that is probably so, and I have to avoid micro-managing the whole process. I know it's not good to try to force our will on others--even in our minds.

Is anyone else experiencing this kind of dilemma over what exactly to picture and what to not picture?

Rose

I saw this movie last night starring Tom Cruise and directed by Stephen Spielberg. Spielberg is a hero of mine because he has such fantastic visions and can make them appear on film. In this film the cars traveled not only on the roads but on the buildings as well! This is a solution I never would have thought of...but if someone can envision it...I believe that it can happen.

Maureen
Reiki Waves

Is anyone else experiencing this kind of dilemma over what exactly to picture and what to not picture?

Rose[/QUOTE]



Yes!! Last November, I moved to a farm a few minutes out of town. This was a major dream come true for my husband, my daughter, and myself. We knew we would live modestly for a month or two until the house in town sold, but then in the spring, we would take the profits from that sale to pay off some debts, put up some fences, and bring in some animals.
Well, the spring has come and gone and that house still sits there empty. I have tried visualizing a buyer for it, and visualizing what I would do when the money from the sale is in our hands, but I always feel that by doing this, I'm trying to figure out those 'how's' again. But when I try to picture myself just living abundantly here on the farm, that big house keeps butting it's head in. It's my albatross.
So Rose, what if you hold a vision of people using and enjoying your product, and of their lives being better for it, and I hold a vision of a family living happily and thriving and enjoying my old house, without giving those people names or faces...? Then we're not really manipulating anyone else's life.

I like your ideas and feel that you are on the right track. Your letter made me feel better. One thing occurred to me, however, and you probably have noticed it too. And that is your former attitude about the house you were trying to sell.

"But when I try to picture myself just living abundantly here on the farm, that big house keeps butting it's head in. It's my albatross."

I am glad you will be thinking of your beautiful, liveable house for sale in a new way. The universe must be happy that you are changing your attitude about the house. Cheers,
Rose

One thing occurred to me, however, and you probably have noticed it too. And that is your former attitude about the house you were trying to sell.

"But when I try to picture myself just living abundantly here on the farm, that big house keeps butting it's head in. It's my albatross."



Oh my! I hadn't noticed that! No wonder no one wanted it, poor thing. Thankyou for pointing this out!

How I get past the limits we 'appear' to have in our crowded places:

Mr Wattles does not limit his speech to this planet, he talks about the Universe and the huge spaces that exist between the forms of the visible universe. I just have to look at the stars and other planets, Saturn is 9 times bigger than Earth etc etc and just look at the stars and try and count them, but then look at all the spaces in between the stars and the planets on a clear night and it is indeed limitless.

Close your eyes and imagine yourself at the edge of a great ocean and look beyond the horizon, can you see any edge or limit, I can't it goes on forever.

Hope some of these help when you are feeling crowded in.

Denise