Last month I attended Jacob Glass’ lecture at the Unity Church in Santa Barbara. I love to attend his talks as he always says something I need to hear. Jacob and I go back a long way. Although he does not know it we have a similar backgrounds. Both of us started teaching in Santa Barbara over 30 years ago. Both of us have studied metaphysics, both of us attended the Science of Mind ministry to learn healing techniques and we both are long time students of the Course in Miracles.
Jacob is a quite a character, with his tag line: “This Shit Works” and books titled “The Crabby Angels Chronicles:”, he speaks to me in ways that I find funny and enlightening. His lectures are not for the faint of heart, he swears, he calls people on their shit, he has strict boundaries with his students that as a teacher I admire but have never had the nerve to enforce. He’s just pretty outrageous and wonderful in my book!
This particular evening his lecture was focusing on “doing the work” – his example cracked me up as he went on to say that he has a library of yoga books and yoga dvd’s. He said he had watched several YouTube channels on yoga and had enjoyed how relaxing they seemed. He said he had many discussions on how yoga might be of benefit. Then he bent over to touch his toes and I think he was kidding but he let out a groan and showed his lack of flexibility and said and “this is as far as I can go because I’ve never done yoga!” It was funny (although we all know yoga is not about being flexible) and a well taken point…you can read and research about something, watch dvd’s videos and Youtube, discuss it morning and night but unless you are willing to do the work you will never experience it’s benefits.
Yes, I do practice yoga and meditation regularly but I began to realize that in order to to make some more of the changes I want to make I needed to do “the work” on my thoughts. I had put aside many of the techniques that I had learned from the Course in Miracles and in the Science of Mind ministry long ago. I had studied extensively the power of positive thoughts and how to use affirmations and treatments to change my mind in order to feel more inner peace and experience a happier, healthier, abundant life. These are the lessons and miracles that brought me to yoga and to Santa Barbara in the first place! I realized that I needed to pull them out of the archives of my mind and get back to work on changing my thoughts. I am in a new phase of my life and I feel that I need a boost to create a new reality for myself. I decided I needed to change it up in order to get a different result in my life.
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The next morning I woke up earlier than usual. I found a blank journal that had been sitting dormant for quite a while and I began writing affirmations. I assigned myself the task of writing a sentence or two about something that I would like to be true for me as if it has already happened. I have been writing “I am” statements that I can relate to. I find that if my statements are too outlandish my mind just turns off and cannot except the concept as true but if I can find an affirmation that I resonate with in some way, I begin to feel better right away. I have written about having perfect health, being pain free, feeling safe and protected, knowing that a situation will resolve perfectly, etc. Some mornings I spend more time in the process and write down my thoughts and feelings. If I need to I also write any negative feelings or worries that are troubling me and then figure a way to turn it all around into a positive affirmation. I am sure to speak the affirmation out loud and add as much emotion as I can muster. I have been using Emotional Freedom Technique EFT, and tap while reciting. I say thank you and let it go.
What I have noticed is an even greater awareness of my thoughts. And my thoughts are not always positive ones. But with this increased awareness I can choose to change my thoughts in the moment. I can catch my mind and not allow my thoughts to go down the dumpster of negativity. I use my daily affirmations to get back on track when I do slip. I have become more sensitive to negative situations and everyday interactions that just are not healthy for me. I find that television news and most commercials are one of the biggest invasions of my positive space. It is hard for me to enjoy a TV show without being bombarded by prescription drug commercials, violent movie trailers and down right scary images that come barging into my consciousness when I am trying to relax and enjoy myself. I have realized that if I affirm that I am letting go of fear and then willingly let in this fear based advertising, I am not treating myself in the most loving way possible. I have been turning off the TV, letting go of the need to know the latest, breaking news. I have been smiling more, walking more, I have added dancing and singing to my yoga practice. even went to a Zumba class! With all the stresses I have had to deal with, in the past 30 days, life just seems a little more miraculous. I feel happier, healthier with less pain, and all around better than ever!
So I must say “This Shit Works” but don’t take my word or Jacob’s or anyone’s else’s, create your own bootcamp, make time to actually do the work. Just start by writing down something that you would like to be true for you as if it has already happened, repeat it often, add emotion by saying it out loud and then say thank you, let go and watch all the positive changes that begin to happen! You will soon be saying it, too!
Sue Anne Parsons 500 EYT, CYT – owner of Let It Go Yoga since 1986
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I enjoyed your thoughts and agree completely, especially that more people need to be selective about what they watch. So much on the internet and news is unhealthy and negative. Besides just turning the TV off, another control is to tape programs you like and fast forward through the commercials. Or, when commercials come on I usually leave the room to do something else and then come back when the program continues.