Over the past 34 years, I have been on a conscious journey – searching for a way – a way to walk a spiritual path.
Walking that spiritual path, however imperfectly.
Prior to that time, in my youth, I did a lot of exploration with drugs and alcohol, sex and living what the old-timers would call a “life of dissipation.” Even then, I was still searching…. For God, for the mystical, the shamanistic, for enlightenment, for Capital-T Truth.
Fairly unsuccessfully, clearly, but there was a need deep in my soul for something more than what the world had to offer.
Then, somewhere in the winter of 1988-89, I was in the depths of despair over a relationship issue. A friend suggested I go to an Al-Anon meeting at a nearby church. I mark the beginning of my conscious journey from that point (well… I was barely conscious, but it always starts whenever the sleepwalker begins to wake up, ever so slightly).
I was so wretched, so depressed, so confused, so hurt, so angry, so sad – I took the suggestion and went to the meeting.
Was I looking for 12-Step recovery? No.
Did I know I needed 12-Step recovery? No.
Was I thinking, “I’ll start my spiritual journey now, in despair?” No.
But the healthy part of me perked up at the suggestion. I had what I now know was a G.O.D. = Gift Of Desperation. My awful situation turned out to be a gift, and I was desperate enough to take what was offered.
Who knew?
Who knew that, 34 years later, I would still be “trudging the road of happy destiny” as it is described in the AA Big Book.
My path has taken me from that Al-Anon meeting in the mountains of Upstate New York, to more 12-Step meetings in different fellowships, to find a career I was absolutely made for.
I was also led a therapist and a church I desperately needed. And in perfect God-timing, I was led to them both in the same month!
And I would need them even more desperately four months later when I was diagnosed with HIV. Then I thought for sure that I was at the end of the road.
Who knew?
Who knew that, instead, I was about to embark on therapeutic, shamanic and a metaphysical journey that I am still traveling on today.
I have had several other Gifts Of Desperation’s since that initial one: the 1996 HIV diagnosis; another relationship crash and burn; the ending of that amazing career after 22 years; a Stage IV cancer diagnosis in 2016.
And most recently, I’ve experienced some old and intractable difficulties with a manifestation of my addictions that dates back to infancy (and perhaps karmic past life) and also a bout with some “housing insecurity.”
You would think I would know by now that nothing happens, none of these gifts of desperation, without an equal and opposite reaction of positive, absolute, amazing good coming out of it!
Readers of my book, Prosperity Now! A 12-Week Journey to the Life of Your Dreams know that one of my favorite affirmations is:
Things always work out well for me,
Because God is with me in every situation.
Emphasis on the always because without exception, that has been the Truth (Capital-T) and I am absolutely certain it will always continue to be True.
That affirmation is a forward-thinking way of shifting my consciousness, my beliefs, from thoughts of lack and limitation, dread, fear, despair, and negativity to thoughts that uplift my mind’s eye toward the spiritual, the positive, the light and the Truth.
And positive thinking takes less energy, brings me only good, and btw, it is more fun!
Another phrase I use comes from Mary Manin Morrisey’s Prosperity Plus program.
“I am so happy and grateful now that ________________.”
Fill in the blank with your heart’s desire.
This is a modern variation on the formula that Jesus gave in Mark 11:24
…whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
The grammatical tenses in this verse are especially important, and possibly confusing to some, until they are explained.
The first phrase is in the present tense: Ask for something in the now.
The second phrase is in the past tense: Believe it’s already been received.
The third phrase is in the future tense: You will own what you received.
This is a metaphysical formula for manifesting abundance and prosperity.
Another way to state it is “I am so happy and grateful now that _____________.
In Prosperity Now! I tell how I manifested my “perfect, permanent place in Paris.”
When I was asking, I hadn’t received it in physical reality, but I believed that I had received it in spirit. And so, I acted as if I had received it and I really embellished my energy around this desire, with details and visualization.
Please remember, it is not enough to say the words! We must add all our senses, sight, sound, touch, taste, smell and especially feeling!
But I made some mistakes. I wasn’t surgically precise in my metaphysics, and so there were some unwanted aspects of my results.
I would say,
“I am so happy and grateful now that I have my perfect permanent place in Paris, in an old, cut-stone building, with plenty of light and space,”
although I used some French phrases to really cement the idea of living in Paris.
In hindsight, I noticed that I used the verb to have which was not bad, but I could have upped my game!
So now, I am tweaking my beliefs, refining my words and uplifting my eyes to a higher good for me.
Now I say,
“I am so happy and grateful now that I own my perfect permanent place in France, in an old, cut-stone building, with plenty of light and space.”
See the difference. I asked to have a place and I do, and it met all my criteria.
But now I want to own my perfect, permanent place in Paris.
So, I need to take the manifestation formula and refine it to be more specific and closer to what I now believe my highest and best good is.
Which leads us to the last part of all his metaphysical manifestation mischief – I have to add the phrase:
This or something better. Thank you, God.
It is very important to leave room in my consciousness for the possibility (the fact) that I don’t know what is best for me. I have my ideas of what I want, what is good for me, but the Universe reallyknows, all the time, with 100% accuracy.
And the Universe only wants my highest and best good for me, all the time, with 100% certainty.
So, in any prayer, any affirmation, any assertion of our heart’s desire, always remember to leave room for God and God ideas, God energy, God’s Love.
I am so happy and grateful now that you have read my blog and it has helped you to “Live the Life of Your Dreams.”
This or something even more amazingly better.
Thank you, God.
Happy Sunday,
Johnny
I am available to do Prosperity Now! individual or group sessions or general life-coaching, I Ching readings, dream interpretation or join us for our weekly Wednesday Course in Miracles group.
Please sign up prosperitynowlifeofdreams@yahoo.com
Or sign up on my website: http://www.johnafrederick.com
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