Questions
posed by Ms. Emma Clayton, Senior Editor
1:Can you tell us what the concept of "Infinite
Possibilities" means and how it can
help us to a better life?
It's
perhaps a reminder of what lies in store for each one of us,
every minute of everyday, and by keeping it in mind, it forces us to
remember the bigger picture, the magic behind reality, and the fact
that we are never as trapped, limited, or lost as we sometimes fear.
It's too easy to fall prey to negative thinking when we
become obsessed with our past or overwhelmed by the conditions
presently before us, and then worse, we begin to program our
futures, based on the very unfavorable conditions we've been
focusing on.
"Infinite Possibilities" is a reminder that our life, and
our fortunes, can radically change for the better, on a dime (or
in a split second, for you Aussies).
2:Should people really believe they can have anything they want?
Absolutely!
Excellent question, I think a lot of people have
an issue with this, and for those who think the answer is
"no", they've unwittingly robbed themselves of any incentive
to not only improve their lives, but to live as abundantly and happily
as they can. For these people, I would ask, if we shouldn't
believe in our own abilities to craft our lives, what would be the
point in living? So that life can happen to us? So that we can pass
tests as to being patient, dutiful, "good", or
obedient to some detached, judgmental God? To pay for the sins of
our fathers? That's old school thinking, though unfortunately not so
old that it wasn't handed down to both you and I.
Emma, life is banquet, a feast, and a gift given with the intent that
WE LIVE IT, not that we grovel, sacrifice, and deny ourselves its
pleasures. We are the face of God, who joyfully and PLAYFULLY
created this paradise, so that "She" might experience it
through us. In a very real sense, WE are God... with dominion over all
things, granted free will and the power to choose our thoughts, so as
to maneuver and give direction to the lives we lead. As I once said in
a missive to members of my Adventurers Club, "You are
not beholden to life, life
is beholden to you. You
are its reason for being. You came first.
3:When I make a
decision to change my life, how can I be sure that it's right for ME,
and I'm not doing it to please others?
We're all equipped to the know the truth. Whether it's about the
nature of our reality, or ourselves and the decisions we make. It's as
if we all have built-in "Truth Barometers", and they're
called our feelings. For instance, if the things I say, here or
elsewhere, sound false... bells will go off in your head and
heart. It will feel wrong. Whereas if what I say rings true,
it will feel right. I think this explains the incredible
success of my Adventurers Club and "Infinite Possibilities".
Even though I have a lot of very unconventional things to share about
our reality and dream manifestation, my listeners feel its truth...
and because much of what I say bucks the mainstream thinking that we
were all raised on... they find it as refreshing as it can be
startling, and they want more.
What makes your question a little more complicated, are the
layers of limiting beliefs we've all accumulated growing up, passed on
to us by a society that supposedly wants "what's best for
us". So it's almost unavoidable to make any decision without
our thoughts first being filtered by these beliefs... but just because these
beliefs can cloud our vision and make decision making more difficult,
doesn't mean we don't try, and the good news, is that it gets easier
and easier the more we look within, to our feelings, for
answers. Besides, no matter what we've ever been told by others,
it remains our own responsibility to discern the truth, and to
live it to the best of our abilities.
4:If thoughts
become things, how can people use their thoughts to help with their
weight-loss?
"Thoughts
become things" says as much as possible in as few words as
possible, about the nature of our reality and how we can make the most
of it. I believe in the truth behind these 3 words, without
exception. I believe there are no mitigating factors, nor any other
outside forces that determine the outcomes of our lives, HOWEVER, and
this is a huge however, this principle applies to all of our thoughts,
not just the 5 minutes we may spend visualizing each day. And when you
realize that we think thousands and thousands of thoughts each
day, everyday, paying little attention, if any to them, it
behooves everyone to ask the billion dollar question, which is,
"How can I direct, or program, my normal thinking mind, my
wandering imagination, so that it produces thoughts that are aligned
with the things I want, be them weight loss, a new Bentley, or improved
relationships?" And the answer, is to work with and align your
BELIEFS, with the things and events you want to experience.
BELIEFS are all important when it comes to affecting changes in our
lives because they filter, limit, and inspire, the mighty thoughts
that run through our heads. If someone believes, for instance, that
they gain weight easily, or if they typically think of
themselves as "overweight", then they will likely entertain
fearfully images of themselves gaining weight every time they eat, and
such mental images will eventually come to pass. How? Through the
magic of the Universe. Circumstances will creep and situations arise, that
will have them turning to food more often than they otherwise would
have, and that's just the beginning. Their metabolism will
literally slow down, their hopes will be dashed, they'll become less
physically active, depression might arise... and the pounds will
easily arrive. You see, this principle is non-judgmental.
Our thoughts, all of them, strive to become things, whether or not
their helpful or harmful. That's why we're so powerful, because
we can think as we choose, which in turn commissions the entire
Universe to deliver what we've thought about, and that's also why we
need to be so responsible with what we choose to focus upon. As
above (in thought), so below (in matter).
Of course, there are other, more complicated reasons why someone might
be dealing with weight issues, but again, these would always
be tied to limiting and/or conflicting beliefs, which then
trigger, or suppress, similar thoughts, which then set into
motion the Universe. Perhaps someone believes that
"relationships never last, and always end painfully", or
that physical pleasures are "bad", or that in
order for someone's spirituality to shine, less emphasis should
be placed on physical appearances, such thinking will very
deliberately, though covertly, set someone on a path where they
will actually sabotage their "less important" desire and
efforts to lose weight. Deep down they want to avoid having
to deal with those "greater" issues that they believe
will arise from losing weight.
The trick with beliefs, and really this is the ultimate lesson we all
must learn in time and space, is that they come first, prior to
their manifestations, even though it appears that we only
believe something as a result of our experiences. Most people feel
like their beliefs are based on their life's observations of reality,
but what's really happened, is that their beliefs formed their
reality. People are not overweight so much because of what they eat,
but because of what they think. Their thinking, their beliefs,
are what dictates the foods they eat, the exercise they get, their
metabolism, their hopes and optimisms (or lack thereof), and
then, through the magic of the Universe, their expectations are met in
the flesh, by way of the accidents, coincidents, and circumstances of their
lives. Always, our thoughts rule, and always, it's our beliefs that
govern the vast majority of our thoughts.
So how do you work at uncovering these so called "hidden"
beliefs? First off, they're not so hidden. Their effects are everywhere
in our lives! Just look to the issues you're grappling with, and the
limiting beliefs are just beneath them. Secondly, these beliefs can
quite easily be ferreted out through the use of our truth
barometers, our feelings. Follow your feelings, and then ask
yourself questions. If something doesn't feel right, ask yourself
why, and ask yourself if the reason is truly valid and still serving
you. Thirdly, watch yourself. We can't help but to think, speak
and act in line with our beliefs, so if you catch yourself saying
something like, "relationships never last", or you find
yourself avoiding intimacy with someone you love, or
entertaining daydreams that forecast unpleasant circumstances, like
weight gains or arguments, immediately realize you've just discovered some
"hidden" beliefs at work -- not aspects of
reality, but your expectations of reality. Immediately
remind yourself of the greater truths you know that exist, and perhaps
think of people you know that seem to live according to a different
set of rules than you, using such people and their lives as proof that
you do have choices over how to view your situation.
So
rather than tell someone trying to lose weight that they should just
visualize being thinner (which IS good advice), they must
also take an honest look at their beliefs about themselves, their
body, their relationships, and anything else that affects how
they feel about their appearance.
5:Can you
please share your favorite affirmation for inspiring yourself to have
the healthy body most people dream of?
I can't say that I have a favorite because affirmations for me
change as fast as my life, and if they're not new, they're likely to
get stale and meaningless. But as a little exercise, here's something
I often do during long walks or when I'm outside running. With
each step I take, I affirm, one at a time, every imaginable body
part and organ I can think of, as being beautiful and healthy, or I
"give thanks" for the same, one at a time, over and over. While
I do this, I imagine a gold light surrounding and penetrating whatever
I'm talking about, or engulfing my entire body, and see it in my
mind as radiant, clean and in perfect condition. These kind of
exercises are excellent, even if, especially if, you have an aliment,
or some dis-ease. These statements help take your attention away from
the "imperfections", suspending those beliefs that have
perhaps weighed you down, and they give the Universe a new target
to aim for. It's a little more difficult imagining something that
directly conflicts with what life is showing you, it can even feel
awkward and uncomfortable, but it can provide the spark
that changes EVERYTHING.
6:If there was a phrase to motivate and inspire people, what would it
be?
For inspiration, I don't think anything works quite as well as a heavy
dose of truth, so I'll leave each of your readers with this:
"You
live in a Universe that adores you, a
Universe with inviolate principles that anyone can harness without
limitations or regard to their past, and one in which dream
manifestation is inevitable
once you truly understand the nature of your reality and your
divine heritage.
"You can do no wrong, you've made no
mistakes, and even now as you read these words, you are bathed in
infinite love. All is well."
©Weight
Watchers Magazine - Australia
Interview of Mike Dooley, December 2002
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