“There is a Power greater than yourself in the universe, and you can use it.”
I first read those words on the cover of a tape set version of Ernest Holmes’ “The Science of Mind.”
I was struck by the similarities to the second step of Alcoholics Anonymous:
“Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
Many spiritual and religious traditions have this thread of an idea running through them - that there is a power in the universe that we are a part of, but that doesn’t originate with us.
That Power is unlimited.
Jesus himself said “It isn’t me, but my Father in me who does the works.” (John 14:10)
We don’t generate the power that we have. We take the power and convert it to use as we please. It’s like your computer: if it isn’t connected to a power source, it’s just an expensive paper weight. It can only function if the power is flowing to it, and it’s in good working order.
Three things need to be in place for your computer to work.
1.) There has to be a power source.
2.) There has to be a connection between the source and the computer.
3.) The computer has to be working properly. It needs to be able to take that power and convert it to useful action.
When it comes to your own personal power, all you need to be concerned about is #3. The power source is there. The connection is there. You just need to be sure that you are in good working order, accept the power, and convert it into useful action.
One of the biggest mistakes that we make when it comes to our personal development and spiritual growth is when we decide that WE are the source of our own power. Our ego’s are strong things, so strong that quite often they decide that they exist in a vacuum, are the center of the universe, and are able to both produce and use the power at will. While the connection is never broken, it can be blocked.
We are the only one’s who do the blocking.
Our job is to keep keep that power flowing, to keep ourselves from being blocked from it by our own decision to “go it alone”, and to keep our computers in good working order.
Physical, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual - these are all important aspects of you, the greatest computer system ever created.
Keep the switch turned on, and stop trying to be the one who generates the power. It’s there… you just need to learn how to use it.
Start by getting out of it’s way.
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This article was inspired by the birthday celebration of Live the Power. Happy Birthday!
16 Comments
It’s beautiful! Thank you Lyman! thank you!
I appreciate you!
You’re welcome, Karen… thanks for the inspiration!
Lyman,
Great stuff! As is often the case in the blogosphere, sometimes you read something that resonates with you so deeply that it feels like a physical smack, and your quote from this post did that for me:
“We are the only one’s who do the blocking.”
That is far from news to me, but with a bevy of changes on tap in my life, I came home from a day of soul searching at the beach and your quote in conjunction with my own thoughts today have been very helpful, so thanks for that!
I’m glad it helped, Aaron. Thanks for letting me know!
Many of the ideas you expressed are great food for thought.
It is your words of the fact that WE are not the Source of our own power that I disagree with the most. Perhaps I am not understanding your full meaning.
There is a difference between our egos and our essence (our Spirit or Soul that exists within us) That essence is the same energy that exists in everything in this world. This is Source energy. Who we really are is not our egos, it is our souls. We are the creators of our own reality and our own experiences. God, Higher Power, Source enegy is within us as well as all around us. We are not separate. This is the core conversation of all the buzz around spirituality at this time.
Become the Source, the power, the true Creator you are in your own life to change limiting beliefs and use your ego as a resource to have what you want. That is the key.
Aren’t conversations wonderful?
Lorraine,
Thanks for your insightful comments. You are right… we are not separate. But we can act separately. The problem is that often when we decide “I AM Source”, our egos inflate to ridiculous sizes and turn that into “I am ALL of Source.” I always liked the analogy of the ocean - a drop of water from the ocean isn’t the ocean itself, but it contains all of the same properties of it. (Don’t remember where I got that one from, but I know it wasn’t me.) And the Power I’m referring to is power on the scale of an ocean, not the power of a drop of water. We are expressions of Source, but not Source itself. That’s where my computer analogy breaks down - the computer isn’t an expression of the power it’s using, it’s a completely separate entity using something outside of itself. Thanks for pointing out the fact that we aren’t separate or different from our own Source of power.
I really liked what you said about using our ego as a resource. I used to try to destroy it, but now I know that it’s just as important part of me as my arms, my legs, my hands, or my liver. It has a function to serve. The thing is, my liver never tries to be my eyes, and my eyes don’t ever try to hear… but, man, that ego of mine thinks it can be everything!
Once again, thank you for leaving such a thoughtful (”full of thought”) comment! Conversations DO rock!
Lyman,
I like your analogy about the drop of water in the ocean. I have often used the one about driving the bus. Knowing how to be both the passenger and allowing Source to be my guiding force rather than my ego.
To your point about acting separately, I how we have become identified with our egos (the stories and dramas we create that be believe as real) and have forgotten we are essentially spiritual beings in a human body. When we remember we are more than our minds, we can deliberately tap into that life force energy within us to be our beacon and use our minds as a resource rather than absolute truth.
I used to give my ego a bad rap. Now, I have come to appreciate the contribution of my mind as a resource rather than an enemy. (ooh, so harsh, I know!)
Thanks for replying Lyman. Love the comments!
Check out my blog: http://www.powerfull-living.biz/blog . I welcome your thoughts!
Warmly,
Lorraine
Hi Lorraine,
I used to do the same thing with my ego… I thought I had to kill it off, rather than work with it. You are so spot on about that!
I’ve enjoyed browsing your blog as well. Thanks.
So true its funny that I would come across this particular post I just read Creative Mind Tapping the Power Within by Ernest Holmes and my husband has been reading and talking about The Science of Mind non stop. We’re keeping the power flowing
great post!
Hi, marenda! Holmes is still one of my favorite writers when it comes to the Law of Attraction… even if he didn’t ever call it that. When I first came across the Science of Mind, it really changed me.
Thanks for coming by and commenting!
How accurate about our egos! It’s amazing how much of our own energy we use against ourselves by putting ME in the power seat. I believe I need to be in control of myself, yet yield to a higher power to guide me.
Hi Harveen,
Great point about the guidance… we are always the ones who need to take action (a higher power isn’t going to do it for us), but the guidance is what helps us to know just *what action* to take.
Thanks for the comment!
Lyman, What a great article. I printed it out so that I can get the full benefit of it by reading it again and again. Thanks.
Thanks, Patricia! I’m glad you found it useful.
I have to remember to get out of the way !!
To keep the power flowing I have to Keep it together
PHYSICALLY EMOTIONALLY MENTAL & SPIRITUAL
Thanks Ken
Great points, Ken - all four of those areas need to be kept open. Thanks!
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