Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts

Monday, April 4, 2016

WHAT ARE HIGHER LAWS?


Have you ever had the feeling like there is more going on in this life than what appears to be,  a sense that there really is a higher power in whatever context you believe that to be?  I’ve had this feeling all my life.  It is this feeling that took me on a  journey in search for answers to my big questions of why am I here and what am I supposed to be doing.  My search took me to the far away land of Indonesia, to spiritual books, churches and even to sweat lodges.  I found some evidence that I could not deny and some truth and yet I did not have a complete picture of what this life is really about.  That is until I learned one principle that made all the puzzle pieces fit together, that answered my big questions and pointed me in the direction of understanding the plan that the universe has for me and how I could work within that plan to create the life I longed for and live my purpose.  So what was that principle I learned that created this earth shattering collaboration with the universe? 

It's a Pendulum Thing

The principle that helped me to become a partner with the creator was learning and understanding the principle of Higher Laws.  What are Higher Laws you might be asking?  Sound kind of flaky?  Well it’s not.  Higher Laws are very real and tangible.  Simply put, higher Laws are principles that create results that work upon a paradox.They are a set of laws outlined by the Creator that when we align to a Higher Law, we get an alternate result.  It’s a pendulum thing.  When you take a long necklace with a pendulum on the bottom and swing it, you take an action on one side by drawing up the pendulum and then release it.  And what happens next?  It swings right?  The action that you take on the one hand creates an alternate response as the pendulum swings up the other side. It’s kind of counter intuitive. If you want the pendulum to go to the left shouldn’t you just be able to push the pendulum to the left?  You can but it’s not sustainable because the moment you let go, it’s going to swing to the right. To go in the direction we want to go, we need to take an action in what seems to be the completely opposite direction. That’s how the universe set up higher laws.  There is an opposite to all things.  To create the results we want we must do the action that is in alignment to the Higher Law that corresponds with the result we want.  


Have I confused you enough?  Let me give you an example. 

One example of how a principle works is that people who are constantly looking for love and taking their own temperature to know if they are happy will not be happy. People who are looking outside themselves and trying to serve others out of pure love are happy. It’s a pendulum thing, we cannot find happiness through an inward search for happiness. Finding happiness requires us to do the opposite by looking outward to serve those around us. As Mahatma Gaundi so eloquently put it, “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” 

Higher Laws are Steadfast

I have sometimes struggled with truly understanding what higher laws are and how they affect me. Stephen Covey explains that “the fundamental idea is that there are principles that govern human effectiveness - natural laws in the human dimension that are just as real, just as unchanging and arguably ‘there’ as laws such as gravity are in the physical dimension.” 

Brandon Broadwater helped me to understand higher laws best when he relayed a story told by Frank Koch in the Proceedings, a Navel Institute magazine. 

"Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities. 
Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing of the bridge reported, “Light, bearing on the starboard bow."
“Is it steady or moving astern?” the captain called out.
Lookout replied, “steady, captain”, which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship. 
The captain then called to the signalman “signal that ship: we are on a collision course, advise you change course 20 degrees."
Back came a signal “advisable for you to change course 20 degrees."
The captain said “send, I’m a captain, change course 20 degrees."
“I’m a seaman second class. You had better change course 20 degrees” came the reply.
By that time, the captain was furious. He spat out, “send, I’m a battleship. Change course 20 degrees."
Back came a flashing light, “I’m a lighthouse."
We changed course. 

What does that story teach us about higher laws? Higher laws are like lighthouses. They are unmoving principles like gravity. We cannot change them because they are not in style or convenient or even socially preferred. As Cecil B. DeMille said “It is impossible for us to break the law. We can only break ourselves against the law.” Brandon Broadwater explains that “the reality of such principles or natural laws becomes obvious to anyone who thinks deeply and examines the cycles of social history. These principles surface time and time again, and the degree to which people in a society recognize and live in harmony with them moves them toward either survival and stability or disintegration and destruction.” So I guess the question we need to know is; in our own lives are we moving towards stability, peace and even prosperity, or towards destruction, even if that destruction is a slow disconnection with the people we love. 

Principles in Action

There was a time in my life when I desperately wanted financial results.  I recall one day doing the budget with my husband Andy. I kept looking from our bank account to our budget hoping that if I looked at it just one more time I would see something different.  Tears began to well up in my eyes as I took in what I saw.  Our bank account was not only reading a negative amount, it was reading a very negative amount. I looked over at Andy and he must of saw the look of despair, hopelessness and panic in my eyes as he wrapped his arms around me and said “it’s going to be okay Con, we’ll figure this out.”  I felt a small bit of relief in his words but had no idea how we would ever figure it out. 

Fast forward a couple days and we are on a coaching call with our mentor Brandon Broadwater.  He had asked for an update about how things were going and as he listened intently to my fears and anxiety about our financial situation, he asked “so you want to make more money each month?” “yes” I responded. A glimmer of hope entered my mind and I thought “okay finally Brandon will help us to get somewhere.” Then Brandon asked me a question that cut to my very core and helped me begin to understand Higher Law principles. He asked “so how is your relationship?”  “My relationship?” I gasped. “What does my relationship have anything to do with making more money?” Again Brandon asked with piercing truth “you want to make more money right?” “yes” I responded again now losing a little patience and grace. “Your relationship has absolutely everything to do with your financial situation.” 
In that moment as the truth of that statement sunk into my very core I realized that I had a lot to learn about how to get results in my life.  It is incredible how once Andy and I began to improve the connection in our relationship, other tangible things like money fell into place.  We started to work together more on financial planning, we were more supportive of each other’s ideas and solutions, we became a team.  I know that might not sound like much but for us it made all the difference.  We went from being in conflict over money to being a team that worked towards creating a better future, which included more financial security.  What was the result? We went from being $1200 in the hole every month to having enough money for our living expenses, savings and paying off debt.  We paid debt off faster than we ever had before and at the time paid off 80 percent of our $100,000 debt in a couple of years.  The best part was that we were happy together and that our capacity to love one another and work together no matter the circumstance increased.  We saw Higher Laws in action as we created a healthier relationship which resulted in healthier finances. 

Let’s Make Sure We’ve Got it

  • Higher Laws are just as real as physical laws such as gravity
  • higher Laws are principles that create results that work upon a paradox
  • We cannot change Higher Laws, we can just break ourselves against the laws when we choose to not follow them
  • Following Higher Laws creates the results and blessings we desire in this life

Digging Deep

Whether Higher Law principles are new for you are not, here are some ideas that will help you to dig deep in your own life and apply the principles to get the results you want even more of. You can choose to ask yourself these questions, or not but I promise you that those people who dig deep and apply what they are learning are the ones who will get results. 
  1. If Higher Laws principles are new to you, how can you educate yourself about them? 
  2. If you know about Higher Law principles, what is the next Higher Law you need to align to & what is one step you can take towards aligning within the next 24 hours?

I’m humbled and grateful to be on this journey with you. I know that as you apply the Higher Law principles that you learn, you will experience more results in your life. They may not come in your timeline, but they will come. It is a pendulum thing and a predictable law like gravity is; if we align to our Creator’s laws, we will get the attached result or blessing to that law. After all, we cannot build the spiritual muscles of the soul by sitting on the couch of mediocrity. I promise that learning about Higher Law principle is one of the most important things we can do in this life. It is when we understand Higher Laws that we strengthen our spiritual muscles and can create the life we desire.  There are a few places that you can learn about Higher Laws. You will find pieces of truth in many places, however one of the place I have found the most truth is through the Higher Laws company by attending the Master Your Power Within event. What an adventure life becomes when our spiritual eyes are opened and we can see things as they really are.  
Much love,
Connie 

Thursday, December 17, 2015

4 HOLIDAY STATE STEALERS REVEALED




When I think about the holidays I remember seeing them through the eyes of a child.  I recall the excitement and joy of Christmas as a young one looking up at the Christmas tree that seemed to go on forever with it’s sparkling lights and shiny ornaments, going sledding with my family and rushing inside with rosy cheeks for hot chocolate and cookies.  I remember the anticipation of Christmas morning and all the unexpected wonder it would bring.  I think back to that time in my life and everything seemed to come together seamlessly…the gifts magically appeared under the tree, the cookies wondrously appeared from the freezer to lovely Christmas trays.  I didn’t know or appreciate all the work and preparation that was going on behind the scenes to create those memories I love so much.  Now I am not saying Christmas as a child was perfect…oh no not at all..I also recall crazy family dynamics, fights and tension too.  However what I remember most about the holidays was happy memories. 

Now that I am grown with a family of my own, it’s only natural that I want to create a sense of wonder, excitement and joy in my own family.  

And yet as the holiday season rolls forward, sometimes it is difficult not to get swept away in searching for the perfect gift, stressing over money, spending hours making treats, and a “to do” list that begins to seam like it is a mile long monster that will never be completed.   

There have been times during the holidays when I have been so concerned with getting things done so we could have the "perfect Christmas" that I found myself distracted, stressed out and frustrated with the very people I wanted to feel those warm cuddly feelings towards.  

So how do we create the holiday season we so desperately desire and actually enjoy it? 


Before we can understand how to create the Christmas we desire, we first need an awareness of 4 holiday stealers that will creep up on our festivities and rob us of the joy we could have. When we are aware of these holiday stealers are we can spot them before they sneak into our festivities and stop them in their tracks so we can love the holidays. My husband described holiday state stealers best when he said if he could think of a holiday that would have everyone sad, grouchy and frustrated with each other, he would be sure to include massive doses of sugar, lack of sleep, busyness and overstimulation.  Sound familiar? So with all that stacked against us how do we create incredible memories? We identify the 4 holiday stealers and learn how we can manage them


STATE OF MIND

Holiday state stealers are notorious for robbing us of our state of mind.  State of mind is our ability to perceive and experience our life. When we are in a good state of mind we have an attitude of "it will work out" even when things aren't going the way we want them to. When we have a poor state of mind everything is harder and our patience fuse is shorter.  There are many things that can affect state of mind such as sleep, nutrition and the language we are using. I learned about managing state of mind to create the life I want in the Master Your Power Within Event. The speaker Brandon Broadwater spent a day on how we can manage our state using Higher Law Principles. Although I don't have time in this post to go through everything he covered in a whole day, I will give you a piece of it that will help you today and throughout the holidays.

4 HOLIDAY STEALERS

1. SWEET TRAP

The first potential holiday state stealer is sugar. Ever notice how much sugar is floating around at Christmas time? I know there are a lot of opinions about sugar but I think we can all agree that sugar has an effect on our bodies and that too much of it probably isn't great for our health. If you doubt that sugar affects the body just watch a child's behavior 40 minutes after they have sugar. Now does this happen only with children? Um nope...watch how you feel 40 minutes after having sugar. That's when the low kicks in and life does not seem quite as lovely. 

2. SLEEP SNARE

What is the next state stealer to be on the look out for that can rob us of Christmas magic?  Sleep...or rather lack of sleep to be specific.  I remember many Christmases waking up with overtired, heavy eyelids after staying up to the wee hours in the morning wrapping gifts and finding wide eyes filled with excitement and anticipation staring back at me.  My daughter Zoe had been awake for a long time just waiting for her overtired parents to roll out of bed and finally when she was tired of the wait she thought it best to do the sure fire "stand and stare" at us until we got up.  Seeing her there with full anticipation in her eyes, we could do nothing other than pour ourselves out of bed in hopes that Christmas magic would kick in and banish our overtired headaches.  I had prepared so much the night before in hopes for everything to be “perfect” that I missed what I wanted most.  I missed being present with my daughter during Christmas morning.  So what’s the answer?  How do we avoid the sleep snare this holiday season…we do all we can to get enough sleep and help our kids get enough sleep.  A rested family is a happy family.  

3. MORE IS NOT BETTER

There is one last state stealing culprit that if we don’t deal with, it will tangle the joy of the holidays.  This is one trap that society seems to push for so hard this time of year.  It is one that guilts us into buying too many presents, and going to every possible holiday event we hear about.  It is one that can rob us of what we truly want during the holidays whether that is to remember the spiritual gifts that the Christmas season represents or be closer to the people we love.  So what I am talking about?  I’m talking about the impulse to overdo Christmas. Overdo Christmas…what do I mean?  I mean overshot, overbuy, over schedule, over eat, over stimulate.  I’m talking about rather than simplifying the season…stuffing the season with more.  What are the costs of experiencing the holidays in this way?  Stress, frustration, fear of finances and a difficulty truly enjoying the holidays.  

4. PERFECTION MYTH

I don't know what it is about the holidays but we can often feel like everything needs to be perfect for it to be good. We search for the perfect gifts, we plan the perfect meal, we want the picture perfect family. However the reality is that it is never perfect! In fact we are never perfect! We aren't meant to be. Life is meant to be a little messy and it is okay. When we are stuck in thinking things need to be perfect, we miss the messy and beautiful wonder of the here and now. The moment when none of the kids are smiling in the Christmas photo and you look over at your partner and laugh at the crazy Christmas sweater you are wearing that your Aunt Greta gave you. 

HOLIDAY STEALERS IN ACTION

Weeks before a party I was hosting I spent hours making Christmas treats, cleaning my house to perfection and buying gifts for everyone who was coming.  And by the time the party arrived…I was exhausted.  I rushed around making sure punch bowls were filled, treats were stacked and everything was cleaned.  

And I missed it.  

At one point I remember looking around and seeing all my friends and family having a great time talking with one another and I realized that I hadn’t really connected with anyone and that I just wanted everyone to leave because I was tired and wanted to go to bed.  Now was that the snuggly Christmas feeling I was going for when I was planning the party?  Heck no!  I wanted to be closer to the people I love the most, I wanted to feel that Christmas spirit enter my heart.  I missed it because I wanted things to be “perfect”.  I’m grateful for that memory because it has been a constant reminder for me to simplify the Christmas season so I can actually enjoy it.

DIGGING DEEP

Okay so now you are armed with knowledge about the holiday stealers that are lurking about trying to take away your holiday fun. Now that you are aware of the things that can take out your holiday cheer, you can make a decision about how you can manage them so that you can experience the full spirit of Christmas this holiday season. It will take some work though. Managing these holiday state stealers takes some planning and a willingness to break through old patters. To help you on this path, I encourage you to answer the following questions to come up with a plan that will work for you this holiday season. 
  1. What is one thing you can do to manage the sweet trap?  (Maybe it is making healthy holiday treats so you have options or maybe it is having treats before bedtime to avoid the sugar crash) 
  2. When can you commit to going to bed so you get enough sleep?
  3. What is one way you can simplify the holidays?
  4. How can you remind yourself that the holidays aren't supposed to be "perfect"?

I know that doing these things has made a makes a huge difference in helping us love the holidays again. I know that as find ways to avoid the holiday stealers and find more ways to be even more present and create a simplified holiday season, you will feel more peace, joy and happiness this Christmas. I wish you and your family all the love and happiness that your heart can hold this holiday season.  

Much love,
Connie