I’m really starting to doubt the wisdom of those who encourage us to not use certain words when attempting to accomplish or attract something into our lives.
The first example that comes to mind is something that Bob Proctor says in “The Secret”:
“Most people have a goal of getting out of debt. That’ll keep you in debt forever. Whatever you’re thinking about, you will attract. You’ll say, ‘But it’s get out of debt.’ I don’t care if it’s get out or get in if you’re thinking debt you’re attracting debt. Set up an automatic debt repayment program and then start to focus on prosperity.”
Hmmmm…
While I can see the wisdom of part of this (especially the last sentence), it looks to me like it’s just more denial of what we have attracted up ’til now.
And denial doesn’t work! (at least for me it doesn’t)
According to Abraham-Hicks, our feelings are our guidance system. They let us know if we are attracting what we want, or if we are in the middle of attracting something we don’t.
I’ve been practicing this idea for a while now, and it seems to be working. My life is on a much steadier upward climb, with fewer and fewer dips into the dark side. Even when something happens that I don’t want, instead of freaking out and getting depressed about it, my first thought (ok, sometimes it’s the second or third) is “Hmmm, that’s interesting… I wonder why I attracted that?”
And here’s what I’ve learned so far: it’s not the words I use that affect my feelings. It’s the concepts behind the words.
Continuing with the Debt Analogy
I recently discovered Dave Ramsey and his Total Money Makeover… and I’m loving it. His advice is sound, it comes from a spiritual perspective (may not be my brand of spirituality, but that’s OK), and unless he’s paying a lot of people to tout his stuff (I’m not being paid), the testimonials he gets are amazing. (You can listen to him online if you’re curious.)
But wait… he’s focused on getting out of debt.
If you take what Bob Proctor said in “The Secret” at face value, Dave Ramsey (and all of those who listen to him) should be in so much debt that their eyeballs are floating!
Hmmmm…
One of the things that Dave Ramsey talks about is that personal finances aren’t just a math game. Feelings and emotions are involved, and they are just as important, if not more important, than the math of personal debt and wealth.
Because it’s our feelings that drive our actions!
And it’s our feeling that let us know if we are on the right track or not!
When I focus on getting out of debt, I can either:
1) Stare at my financial records and think about how there will never be enough, how eventually all of the creditors are gonna take the clothes off of my back, and o lord there’s just too much month left at the end of the money, how are we going to eat next week…
or I can
2) Concentrate on having all of that extra money when the credit cards are paid off, recognize that by increasing my income I’ll have more money than month, think about all the freedom that this will bring to do more of what I love…
Both are based around the idea of debt. But one feels bad, and one feels good.
I’ll have the #2, please!
Once again, it comes back to focusing on what’s going on inside rather than on what we see on the outside. I’ve spent way too much time looking for the magic words that would shift my consciousness to one of wealth, and thus attract more money too me. I think it’s time to do the consciousness shifting first, and then let the words flow from that.
Because it’s not about the words… it’s about the focus that’s behind them.
[just to clarify - I think a lot of what Bob Proctor teaches is outstanding. But this is one subject where I'm choosing another master's point of view.]
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Just wanted to say thanks, kid. Thanks for spreading the word about Dave Ramsey and deep-sixing debt. I don’t really understand what Proctor was saying either; but hating debt and wanting to get out of debt doesn’t bring more debt. You’re super-smart to live on less than you make. Keep going, and great job, baby!
“But this is one subject where I’m choosing another
master’s point of view.”
Spoken like a true congregationalist!! Right on! Use what works as long as it doesn’t hurt!
Mom
DEBTective: You’re welcome. That blog you’ve got is an interesting one; I really enjoyed browsing it!
Mom: Can anyone say “Full Circle”.
The Universe is not even responding to your words, the Universe is only responding to your vibrations. If you can get the feeling and the vibrations of what you are wanting you can create what you want regardless of your words. Bob Proctor really oversimplified the concept in the Secret!
Thanks, Karen! That’s exactly what I was trying to say, but couldn’t quite get there.
Hi Lyman,
Superbly reasoned and written post as always! It’s odd that Bob Proctor would say what he did, since both Ask and It Is Given and The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent discuss debt (and use that term) extensively. And stress the point that it’s not the acknowledgement of debt, but the intent on abundance that makes all the difference (as Karen said).
Mike
Howdy Mike,
After I wrote this post, I dug a little more into Bob Proctor’s work (like You Were Born Rich), and he does talk about setting up a get out of debt plan, buying life insurance, etc. After reflecting on it more, I believe that I made the same mistake that a lot of people make when watching the Secret… I was looking at it as a full on LoA explanation, rather than as a simple introduction.
But the basic idea of the article does still stand – it’s not the words, it’s the vibration.