Perception - how we see things, what we expect, is a result of past experience, what we have been told, and the way our brains work. We categorize things so that we can quickly make decisions for our survival. It is a very important skill to be able to recognize sights, sounds, feelings that tell us of danger, safety, something that will be of benefit to us, or something to avoid.
It is important to look at our perceptions to see if they are based on some form of truth and if they are serving us well because they are creating our reality.
There was a study years ago done in England. It would not happen now, but they took two classes in an elementary school one was the highest achievers and the other the lowest achievers. The next year they mixed the children up. Putting half the high achievers with half the lower achievers in each class and they told the teachers that they either had a class of high achievers or low achievers when in actuality they had an equally mixed class. The punch line is that at the end of the year, each class lived up to the expectations of them. Even though some of the children had been high achievers the previous year, now they were low achievers and the other children just the opposite.
This is a classic example of what people perceive about us, expect of us, we will fulfill unless we are aware and confident in who we are. And this is true of what we perceive and expect of ourselves. In Science of Mind terms; you say it is and the Law says yes. You say you are no good at ______ and the Law yes you are no good at _____. You say ______ is easy and the Law says yes _____ is easy. You will prove whatever it is to yourself over and over until you decide it is a perception without power or truth.
To increase our awareness I told a few stories and invited folks to consider what a few facts can create in our minds. Example: I walked up to a Thornton's just as a young man was coming out the door. He had spiked hair with a purple stripe, lots of piercings, pants that did not reach his waist, and a slight slouch. When he held the door open for me, responded with 'your welcome' in a gentle respectful voice, to my thank you, I was surprised to see in myself how much I had expected something else.
My perceptions were sending out a subtle negative energy/vibration. If most folks who he meets do the same, won't we have an effect? If others send out a vibe of love and acceptance of his place in the One, won't this have an effect too? When we are called to see our oneness and the oneness of everything, we are called to be a blessing, a positive influence, a positive vibration, an uplifting perception.
In the last few weeks, we have talked about being on the road to enlightenment. I like the definition of enlightenment being - complete freedom; a place or state without limitation. It will have to include complete absence of preconceived ideas and expectations because they limit us by creating boundaries of separation.
It is a journey to enlightenment, so, today we can begin to build the perfect state of freedom. We don't have to wait or have a unique experience, or hold a special object or learn a new skill. Today we can look at someone, or ourselves with love and the only expectation one of potential and unfolding. The more we do this, the more we release restrictions and open our experiences and the experiences of those around us to true freedom.
Oh Spirit, we open to see you in everyone we meet, in every circumstance, in our own bodies, in all of our affairs, and in ourselves this day and every day.
Much love,
Rev. Carolyn
It is important to look at our perceptions to see if they are based on some form of truth and if they are serving us well because they are creating our reality.
There was a study years ago done in England. It would not happen now, but they took two classes in an elementary school one was the highest achievers and the other the lowest achievers. The next year they mixed the children up. Putting half the high achievers with half the lower achievers in each class and they told the teachers that they either had a class of high achievers or low achievers when in actuality they had an equally mixed class. The punch line is that at the end of the year, each class lived up to the expectations of them. Even though some of the children had been high achievers the previous year, now they were low achievers and the other children just the opposite.
This is a classic example of what people perceive about us, expect of us, we will fulfill unless we are aware and confident in who we are. And this is true of what we perceive and expect of ourselves. In Science of Mind terms; you say it is and the Law says yes. You say you are no good at ______ and the Law yes you are no good at _____. You say ______ is easy and the Law says yes _____ is easy. You will prove whatever it is to yourself over and over until you decide it is a perception without power or truth.
To increase our awareness I told a few stories and invited folks to consider what a few facts can create in our minds. Example: I walked up to a Thornton's just as a young man was coming out the door. He had spiked hair with a purple stripe, lots of piercings, pants that did not reach his waist, and a slight slouch. When he held the door open for me, responded with 'your welcome' in a gentle respectful voice, to my thank you, I was surprised to see in myself how much I had expected something else.
My perceptions were sending out a subtle negative energy/vibration. If most folks who he meets do the same, won't we have an effect? If others send out a vibe of love and acceptance of his place in the One, won't this have an effect too? When we are called to see our oneness and the oneness of everything, we are called to be a blessing, a positive influence, a positive vibration, an uplifting perception.
In the last few weeks, we have talked about being on the road to enlightenment. I like the definition of enlightenment being - complete freedom; a place or state without limitation. It will have to include complete absence of preconceived ideas and expectations because they limit us by creating boundaries of separation.
It is a journey to enlightenment, so, today we can begin to build the perfect state of freedom. We don't have to wait or have a unique experience, or hold a special object or learn a new skill. Today we can look at someone, or ourselves with love and the only expectation one of potential and unfolding. The more we do this, the more we release restrictions and open our experiences and the experiences of those around us to true freedom.
Oh Spirit, we open to see you in everyone we meet, in every circumstance, in our own bodies, in all of our affairs, and in ourselves this day and every day.
Much love,
Rev. Carolyn
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