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Friday The 13th – What’s In Your Belief System?

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custom_calendar_11443 It’s not even Halloween and we have a “Friday the 13th”! But fortunately it’s not also a full moon. I will tell you that the full moon does bring the “weird” out – after all those years in an Emergency Room, you can always tell when it’s a full moon by the activity in the ER. I”m sure most of you have experienced the same thing. But what about Friday the 13th (no matter what month it happens in)? What’s up with that? Interestingly, the superstition around it is found primarily since 1900. That’s not very old. But there are estimates according to Wikipedia (take that for what it’s worth) that between 17-21 MILLION people are affected by a fear of this day, making it the most feared day there fri 13th1is.

Are you affected by this and other superstitions? If so, why? When did you first become aware of any type of “issue” with Friday the 13th (or seeing black cats or walking under ladders or any other superstition we embrace)? The origin for you will be different than the origin of the person sitting next to you. Often it’s built on a story and we all know that children (and many adults) revel in stories. Often, older siblings like to torture the younger with horror stories. If told enough times and by the “right” people, then this story will become embedded in your subconscious and will become a belief. Remember  that a belief is just a thought you keep thinking over and over (Abraham-Hicks). Wouldn’t it be sad if you found out that this superstition you’ve had all these years, whether it’s about Friday the 13th or some other one, was instilled in you simply because someone kept telling you the same story over and over again?

The point is NOT to make you feel badly because you have some superstition but it’s to make you examine your beliefs closely and not be afraid to ask “where the heck did I get that idea from?” And then go deep within to see if it came from your parents, your siblings, looking_in_dug_hole_400_clr_6593 teachers, religious leaders, friends etc. You have to be willing to examine these things. But let’s say you do look closely but you can’t figure out where an idea/belief came from. Then what? Does that make it true? Not necessarily. It may mean that you just can’t remember who or what was responsible for you thinking that way. Sometimes it’s too painful to come up with the results. You then have to look at the belief and say to yourself “Do I want to continue believing that? Is that in my value system?” If so, great, just move on. If not, then we can start working on clearing the old believe and replacing it with the new belief. We have and will continue to talk more about how to do that in other posts.

But for now, try to look at today, Friday the 13th, as a great day and a day when nothing but GOOD LUCK prevails in your life. Declare everything good that happens no matter what it is! Try it and see what happens.

Terrie

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Remembering 11 September 2001

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Remember September 11, New York CityI really didn’t do this on purpose but today being 11 September 2013 (12 years after that fateful day) is a perfect follow-on or continuation to our “what’s your story” series. That day was one of THE most eventful and significant days in American history (and probably in  World history too) at least since Pearl Harbor.  Yet I’m a bit disturbed. I’m writing this about 3 a.m. and looking at the various news services on the internet, IF they cover 9/11 at all, it’s buried and not prominent. This is bad in my opinion. It’s also a sign of the times. Since it happened 12 years ago and there has not been another event of its nature, people forget that it happened and also tend to sweep its significance under the table.  Why do we do that? I don’t know but it appears to be very difficult for people to remember what happened yesterday or last week, let alone 12 years ago.  I don’t really think it’s denial – that they hope that by ignoring it, the threat won’t be there or that it never really happened.  I think it’s just similar to that instant gratification syndrome we have. Unless it stays right in your face, you move on – there’s so much external stimuli now, that that kind of behavior is protective in a way. But please do not forget it. Take that moment of silence (it IS just a moment after all) at 8:46 a.m. Eastern time.

What’s your story surrounding September 11th? How do you remember it? It was a horrible day but it also has many positive spins and those are what we should focus on – it’s not sacrilegious to look for the positive. It’s a great way of remembering and celebrating. You can apply this to any aspect of your life and you could start today.

Where were you at 8:46 Eastern time on that day. I know exactly where I was and I know what happened and the thoughts that went through my mind. After we found out the story, my mind has created a montage of scenes, TV views, iStock_000004087071XSmallfeelings, thoughts, fears, etc surrounding that day. I think that Alan Jackson’s song “Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning” captures the lives of almost everyone in every possible scenario. But I didn’t let fear encompass me and paralyze me. It was tempting and perhaps the fear took over a bit that first night but after that, while stuck in Chicago trying to find a way to get out, I tried to focus on the good stories that were coming out of the event. I developed a closeness to people I never expected to. I began to cherish more aspects of my life than I had before.

I will tell you that the most significant and emotional part of the entire time was my running in the New York City Marathon 6 weeks after the attack. And if I had to pick one memory from the time I would pick that. I ran that entire 26.2 miles with my eyes filled with  tears. I will always remember the woman on the side of the road who offered us candy and told us she had been on the 84th floor of one of the towers. She was out there supporting us, New York, America and herself that day. She was making a positive story and changing her vibrations. Finishing that marathon was technically no big deal – I had done alot of marathons before that one but crossing the finish line  that day was significant for me and represented all that I stood for in my life and in my career. I accomplished a small feat that day and the United States had accomplished a much bigger feat by demonstrating its resilience in the weeks, months and years following that day.

You can continue to be horrified by an event or you can see what good came from it. I could write for days about the good that came from that day’s happenings but what I really want is for you to look at your own story about 9/11 and see if you can tell a different one. Go back and read yesterday’s post if need to see the benefits for changing your story. Try it today.

Terrie

 

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What Story Are You Telling?

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book_character_reading_400_clr_9091What? What the heck are you talking about Terrie? What do you mean by my “story”?

Everything we talk about is in story form in one fashion or another.

There are facts and there are stories that revolve around those facts. The stories vary from person to person. Look at so-called “eyewitness” accounts. They can differ dramatically. It’s all about interpretation. You’ve heard “perception is reality” I’m sure. Well that is true.

And there is a definite vibration surrounding your story. So why not tell the story the way you wanted it to be? “But that would be lying” you say. Not really. You can talk about facts without putting lower level vibrations (also known to some as “negative” vibrations) into them. Let’s take a recent example that I mentioned Sunday about not getting into the 100 mile endurance run I wanted to get into.

Facts:

  • I prepared really well:
    • I wrote in my gratitude journal that I got into this event
    • I had no other activities planned for that day until after the sign up time
    • I rebooted both of my computers and shut down everything that would use up resources
    • I was online on both computers on the right site so that I just had to click refresh
  • I clicked refresh repeatedly when the registration link did not show up
  • I repeated this action for 30 minutes, never getting a live registration link
  • I did not get into the event

Stories:

  1. It’s just not fair that I didn’t get in. I did everything right. It must be fixed so that only certain people get in. Why couldn’t I get in. It’s not fair. They don’t want people to participate unless they are specially chosen. I can’t do anything right. This must mean that all this Law of Attraction and gratitude stuff doesn’t really work. I’m so hurt, sad, disappointed, frustrated. I’m really mad I wasted my whole Saturday.
  2. I didn’t get in. There is a reason and it’s one I can’t see right now but I know that “everything always works out for me” and this will too. I had considered whether the dates of this event were too close to the more important 150 mile event I am going to do for MS so maybe this is the Universe’s way of confirming that. It also means I can find other events to run in. I just have to look and will find something even better for me.

See how the facts are pretty straight forward but the two stories are completely different? And there are multiple variations on the story that I could have written.

Which story do you want to tell? Practice changing your story. We’ll talk more about this later this week but right now it’s time for a run!

Terrie

 

 

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What Are You Thinking?

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what are you thinkingYou’re sitting there kind of zoned out and all of a sudden someone says “what are you thinking?” and it pulls you out of your reverie. You probably answer “uh, nothing. What’s up”?

Does that sound familiar? You may actually believe the “nothing” part of that story but it’s not true. There is almost no moment during any day that you are NOT thinking something.

The challenge I have for you is to pay attention to what you are thinking ALL the time.  Decide to be diligent for at least ONE day this week (preferably more) to monitoring your thoughts – be your own “Big Brother”. You’ll be very surprised.

It’s pretty simple – you can use a small notebook you can carry in your pocket or your purse or you could even use a portable recording device (there are many apps for your smartphone that would serve that purpose).

 

Yes, I know you have to work and you have to take care of your family and more. But these busy times are the times when you’ll usually find the most revealing thoughts – things like:

  • “I can’t believe it, I don’t have any time to myself”
  • “I’m so overwhelmed”
  • “Gees, what more do they expect me to do”?
  • “Get out of my way damnit, I’m in a hurry”
  • “I’m so stressed out. I can’t take it any more”
  • “I hate this job (or fill in any blank)”
  • “It sucks to be me”
  • “Why me”?
  • “I can’t win”
  • “I can’t catch a break”
  • “How did I get myself in this mess”?
  • “I’m so angry/mad/p.o’ed”
  • “I’m afraid that ……”
  • “I’m so tired”
  • “I’m sick and tired of …….”
  • “You’re killing me with all this”
  • “I’m so ashamed that….”
  • “I”m so embarrassed”
  • “I wonder what he’s looking at”
  • “I wish I weren’t so ….. (fat, dumb, stupid, lazy, etc)”
  • “I wonder what would happen if…”
  • “I’ll never get all this done”
  • “That’s ugly”
  • “I wish I had that”
  • “God I’m starved”

These are just a few common thoughts I came up in a few seconds. There are millions more that you have going through your mind repeatedly.  The key word is “repeatedly” – we think the same things (perhaps with minor variations” over and over again. And if you remember how Abraham defines a belief, it’s “a thought we keep thinking over and over again”. So, guess what? You’re creating or reinforcing beliefs with all these “simple” thoughts.

Write down (make an effort) or record all your thoughts. It is important that you pay attention to all of them, not just the good ones, not just the bad ones – all of them. The idea is so that you can see how your thoughts balance out – what percentage of the time do you spend thinking positive thoughts and how much time do you spend thinking less than positive thoughts. And then, what thoughts are you repeating throughout the day – whether positive or not. Those are the ones you’re cementing in your subconscious as beliefs. You really want to make a conscious choice about what beliefs you cultivate, don’t you?

When you write these thoughts down, pay attention to what’s going on at that time – are you stressed, relaxed, working out, in the car, what? Make sure to pay attention to any follow-on thoughts and actions. For instance, if, after you think, “God I’m starved”, you your thoughtshead to the snack machine or the refrigerator and pick something you wouldn’t necessarily describe as “healthy”, write down what thoughts (if any) are going through your mind as you hit that button or pull open the frig door. Is it “I really shouldn’t be doing this” or is it “some chips or ice cream is just what I need right now”.  Perhaps you’re not even thinking – you’re just rushing to the machine so that you can take the food to numb the feelings. Unfortunately, you may be using the food to numb the feelings (stress, overwhelm etc) but you’re probably still thinking while you’re doing it. And you’ve made a conscious choice to pick the food regardless of the negative thoughts because feeling the pain from the emotion is worse than feeling the guilt or shame from having eaten that ice cream.  Some people use cigarettes, alcohol, food, drugs, abuse, exercise or many other actions to keep from feeling certain emotions.  Do you want to keep using your “drug of choice”? Or do you want to change your behavior? If you want to change your behavior you have to change your thoughts.

Here’s a short example. Yesterday was the day runners could try to get into a popular 100 mile race (Umstead- one I know I could do well at). I had planned the day around the “registration attempt” time (11 am my time) and I’d used affirmations and beliefs that I was definitely going to get in. I had written in my gratitude journal every day that I was grateful that I got into Umstead 2014 (being specific so that the Universe knew that this was the one I meant, not sometime in the future).

11 a.m. came and I tried and to make a long story short, I didn’t get in. I could have spent the rest of the day being really bummed out and saying that all this stuff really doesn’t work and I’m just a hypocrite, blah blah blah. But you know what? That would have done absolutely nothing but bring my mood and vibration way down. I chose not to experience that so I realized that “everything always works out for me” (Lord knows I’ve experienced that so many times in my long life) and began to think about the alternative runs I could do or apply for. And my day improved. It took some conscious work but I chose to feel good, not to plummet to the depths of despair which I could easily have done had I not paid attention to my thoughts.

Are you up for this challenge? Can you commit to at least one day and hopefully more? Let us know by putting your comments in the box below.

Have a great day!

Terrie

 

 

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Keep On Going!

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Determination-gives-you I guess you could say that the title of today’s post is a variation of “Never give up” but I look at it (and experienced it) a bit differently. To me “Never Give Up” has to do with long term goals and processes. My simple statement of “Keep on going” is meant to be a short term mantra or way of living. In ultrarunning we call it “Relentless Forward Motion” – for me that simply meant one foot in front of the other.

Yesterday’s run made me come up with this “keep on going” philosophy again (I’m sure we have all heard this many times in our lives). I went out for an early morning run before work. My shins were not feeling great so I was discouraged again (they get better with AIRROSTI and then I abuse them again and they hurt). But I was out there early and decided just to go a “bit further”. First I told myself I would go about a mile and a half. But by the time I got there I was feeling better so I said “ok, we’ll go to 2 miles”. Then it was 2.5 miles and finally I said “you have just enough time to make it to 3 miles before you have to turn around to make it home to get ready for work. So I persisted. And you know what? It was the very best run I’ve had in months – I felt free and happy and unencumbered. In fact, I have been enjoying running just for running’s sake lately that I am reconsidering going to New York in November. We’ll see.

But I digress. What’s important is that if I had aborted that run yesterday a.m. I would NOT have been able to experience the euphoria I felt. Maybe that’s the “runner’s high” that I never really experience. Maybe it was just the feeling of freedom and the night. All I know is that I learned simply to “keep on going” and see what happens.

Try it – when things don’t seem great, just keep going and see what happens. You may be pleasantly surprised like I was.

This is short today because, you guessed it – I’m out the door on another run!

Terrie