While reading “The Winning Family” years ago, I was deeply influenced by words Louise Hart shared regarding beliefs. Two comments really impacted me.
“First you form your habits, then your habits form you”. Wow?! Really??!!! How much of my life is habitual? Slowly, I realized a habit filled life is mostly lived on automatic pilot and rarely involves being fully present. I’ve asked hundreds of people if they have ever had this experience: You get in your car or truck after a busy day at work. Suddenly, you are pulling into your drive and have NO recollection of the drive to get there! That is automatic living, old habits taking over and no conscious presence. How much of your live is automated where you are doing things simply because they are familiar and fixed?
Second, Louise wrote about the power of beliefs. And to clarify, she wrote about the difference between what YOU believe, not what you have been talked into believing! What do YOU believe and how do those beliefs serve you.
A common Balinese healer comment I have heard over the years: Smile More, Be Happy! That’s a great focus!
A couple nights ago, Israel and I were talking about belief, intention and quality of life. He suggested that a small but significant leap, one that changes possibilities for people, is the leap from “I can’t do that” to “Maybe I can do that”. Take travel for example.
I’m often met with questions related to how I am able to travel for so long as if it must take a small fortune to do so. It doesn’t! Traveling, getting over the fear of leaping into that unknown and surviving and thriving, opens doors. When something feels right, opportunities open up.
For this trip, I looked at flying directly to Bali. Flights were in the range of 44 hours and $2,000. However, flying to Kuala Lumpur was $750 and a round trip ticket with AirAsia from Kuala Lumpur to Bali is under $200.
I stayed in a private room in a hostel in Kuala Lumpur for $14. And met travelers from all over the world. Here, I’m in a home stay splurging! This is a lot of money for me compared to my usual travel budget. I’m spending $350,000 a night for a room here! That’s roughly $26 a night. Every other place I’ve stayed is $200,000 a night.
Two days ago, lunch cost me $35,000 RP…$2.60. That was lunch at a local warung where the money goes directly to the family. That night, I had an avocado chicken salat with a fresh lime, mint and ginger drink….$40,000. My food budget was roughly $6.00 US for the day.
What do you believe that serves you? What do you believe that enriches your life and makes it fuller, lighter, more expansive? What do you believe that lights you up, helps you feel in alignment with your Souls and touches the lives of people around you?
What do you believe that holds you back. Pay attention! Choose wisely! Remember the quote from Henry Ford, “Whether you believe you can or believe your can’t, you are right!”
Carlos Castenada contributed to the power of focus, where you place your attention and how that focus affects you. We are energy beings! You pay attention to something, that focus of attention grows. I know people who are constantly focused on what is wrong with their life! I’ve met travelers living from one “challenge” to the next as if it’s normal. For them, it is. For me, I travel with Angels and magic happens. Clearly, my belief that “Things Are Always Working Out For Me” serves me well. Things are always working out for me. Carlos wrote: “We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.”
You have everything you need to make your life what you want it to be!
Daily practice for preventative medicine: Smile More. Be Happy!