I would really like some insight from anyone who also experiences this. Whenever I think of, or actually make more money than is absolutely necessary for survival, I feel a terrible feeling of dread coming over me - as if I'm doing something really wrong, or as if something bad is about to happen. It's irrational and self-defeating but I can't stop it or make it go away. Does anyone else experience something like this?

Hi Mattharsay, lm not sure what LL you are up to yet. Have you just started? Can you go further into the feeling, in relation to LL2 to discover where it comes from, and then work on that? l notice you say that you feel this way when you think of making money other than just for basic survival. What are you afraid you would become if you had more?
I know for myself, my childhood conditioning taught me that money makes people selfish and greedy and people dont care about others who have less than themselves. My own parents taught me that. This has been something l've had to work on.
LL4 follows on a similar theme, and is worth reflecting on. It was very difficult for me at first, to think of people who l admired who were materially wealthy. Yet some people came to mind eventually and more have followed.
Its also taken time to deal with feelings of resentment and envy as well, now, when l catch myself going into these frames of mind, l bless those people for their good fortuneand remind myself of all the good people in the world with wealth, who do good work with it.
The way l see it, its to visualise one in that place, and feel good about it. Think of all the good things you could do for yourself, and others if you had more. That one gets me feeling excited!
Good luck with it and keep working on it!

Hello Serendipity,

Thank you for responding to my post. I have completed LL2 so far and discovered that, like you, I harbor all sorts of negative ideas about money and rich people.

I think of all these negative preconceptions, one of the most damaging and challenging is a belif that life is a struggle and that we must depend on God. Therefore, when you actually start accumulating money, life is no longer a struggle and you no longer depend on God. When life is no longer a struggle, what is it? I don't know what to do with it. And what if God doesn't want to protect you any more because you are self-sufficient? What if God say.. "well, you can take care of yourself so I'll leave you alone".

So in a very strange way, I think having money means being abandoned by God, which is the scariest of all things.

Matthasary, do you feel that if you have too much love or too much wellness God will "abandon" you?

I don't know your religious background, but if the New Testament enters into it at all, think of the MANY instances in which it says that if you will ask, you SHALL receive. (Not "might," but SHALL.) To me, that sounds about as far from abandonment as you can get. And also the exact OPPOSITE of struggle.

Hello Matthasary,

That is a very strong fear, that you would be abandoned by God for having more money. It is obviously a very strong "belief", as well. It has a definite strong "feeling" with that thought, yes?

So what if, just play with this a bit, it simply wasn't true? Can you allow that thought? What if God REALLY wants you to be, do and have all that you want? Is there a "feeling" you get with this thought? Does it "feel" better than your old idea or thought? Which of these feelings do you choose to "feel" more of?

I can honestly say that Mr. Wattles' ideas and thoughts not only mirror my own but also mirror all of the greatest thinkers and spiritual sages throughout history.

We can't release a fear or belief that is harming us if we are not aware of it. Congratulations, you're aware! Be kind and gentle with yourself and relax into this process. Both saints and sinners, so to speak, get to observe the same beautiful sunrise and sunset. Now why do you think that is?

Namaste,
Linda

quote:

Whenever I think of, or actually make more money than is absolutely necessary for survival, I feel a terrible feeling of dread coming over me - as if I'm doing something really wrong, or as if something bad is about to happen. It's irrational and self-defeating but I can't stop it or make it go away.

Hi Matthasary,

Sometimes Matthasary we have to boil things down to the simple. Like-- What do I choose to feel like-- GREAT or like crap. Take your current thinking and questioning right now. Does it feel good or hurtful? Does it make you feel good or bad? If it makes you feel bad then Decide to think as many "feel good" thoughts as you can. Call to mind a time when you were feeling great and having fun. Then feel gratitude/thankful for that time.

When you're finished notice what feels better and, if you choose, choose that.

For example, you write above, "I feel a terrible feeling of dread."

How does that feel?

How would it Feel if, "Wow, whenever I think of having an abundance of money I feel a huge level of excitement and gratitude!

How does that feel?

This is what it means to choose what we want. I am the gatekeeper of my own mind. I choose what I will let in.

More to All and Less to None
Bob

quote:

Matthasary, do you feel that if you have too much love or too much wellness God will "abandon" you?

Yes, and it is based on religious belief. There is a lot of thought in Christianity that values poverty and deprivation of all the things that we naturally like. I think it's based on the idea that we have 2 natures - one, the physical seeks physical fulfillment always at any cost, and the other, the better part of us should rise above the physical and must necessarily be at war with it.

It's interesting that Mr. Wattles mentions at one point that a belief that God *wants* to give us what we want is very powerful. I have to find the exact words but it seems that he thought about this too and realized how important it was.

quote:

What if God REALLY wants you to be, do and have all that you want? Is there a "feeling" you get with this thought?

Yes, and it's a great freeing feeling. I really like that Mr. Wattles says we should just forget the past. Unlike so many people who say that we have to dig it all out and analyze it which may take 100 years, he says we should just go on and put focus on the future. It's a very encouraging thought!