Put yourself into the equation

Most self-help books are not self-help books.  They're 'maps.'  They are the author's self-help recipe, and map to what works for them.  Which is why, a lot of times, following the 'map' works for a while, and then it doesn't. The BEST self help book tells a parable, guides us and gives us clear information, but leaves a part of the 'map' open to interpretation, because the only way to truly help yourself is to adapt the 'map' to your own unique expression. 

And if the self-help gurus give us the 'map' and tell us to do it their way, they leave us out of the equation.  Hence, the reason that so many great gurus say the story must be learned in parable. 

We have to work at it, become a part of it, in order for the guidework to be successful.  The enigma, the "problem" to solve, the parable to understand, is actually just a way of putting US (I Am) into the equation.

My personal favorite guru is Beca Lewis, who wrote Living in Grace - The Shift to Spiritual Perception   (you can read about Beca and get the book by clicking on the link)

Two others I follow faithfully are Michael Masterson and Perry Marshall.  What they say is pertinent, clear, evocative and inspiring.

The three follow different focuses but the message is pretty clear....

Here's to your balanced equation!

Awesome

I don't ever want my Understanding of The Shift® to be "commonplace."  I have been objecting to the negative connotation of "magical" because I like the word - not because I want to DO magic, but "magic" (as in Harry Potter wizardry) is so awe-inspiring for me.

My First Selectman was a really special kind of guy, not because he was wealthy or hugely intellectual, or anything else for that matter, except that he was the personification of "childlike thinking."  EVERYTHING was always new to him.  Everything was wonderful, as in full of wonder.  Being around him was to experience MORE joy, MORE fun, just by watching him enjoy Being in the Present.  Nobody enjoyed food more than he did.  Nobody enjoyed children more than he did.  And nobody broke harder than he did when faced with another individual in need.  He did what needed to be done, when it needed to be done, whether he had the resources or the backing or not.  That part of it generally got him in trouble..... 

but I want to focus on "childlike wonder."  To me, that's what feeling comes up with the word "magic."  Awestruck.  Awe-inspired.  When I experience the everyday wonders and miracles when Understanding and using Shift tools, I never want to lose that feeling of Awe and Gratitude at being alive, experiencing True Life.

Thanks for listening!

Love, Jet

How's your attitude, and who gave it to you?

Yesterday I had a perfect example of face and replace.

I wanted to be angry and aggravated.  Things weren't "going my way" and I was really beginning to go to that grrrrr place.  I got in the truck and the radio was on (usually it's on cd because I am listening to my inspirational cds, but Scott drove the truck last) and out belted Starship and "We built this city on rock and roll" - I turned the volume way up and experienced an immediate mood switch to happiness and joy.  Nothing changed but my mood.  However, as a result of that, I had a much better day, I imagine I was a lot more fun to be around, as a matter of fact I'm SURE I was more fun to be around, and I was thinking more clearly, and things sort of resolved themselves around the day.

Face and replace.  For me, it's the little practical examples that have the biggest impact....

Love, Jet

Got questions about the terms used in this blog?  I use The Shift(R) tools as taught and described in Living in Grace - The Shift to Spiritual Perception by Beca Lewis  http://www.theshift.com/jettucker.html

What are you looking at?

This morning I started to walk out of hearing range of our main entrance, got a thought to stop, pause, and go check to see if the door was locked.  My husband was outside tending to our horses and we occasionally forget to unlock the door when stepping outside for a quick chore.

I checked the door and sure enough, it was unlocked, so he could get back inside.  Content, I set off to check the woodstove in another part of the house.

Moments later, I heard the dog bark, and hurried back to see what had alarmed her, knowing it was my husband, but wondering what the problem was.  He was stuck at the inner door, which was locked, and I had not checked it. 

I don't profess to be a psychic, or a telepath, but I do know that what we see in the outside world is a reflection of what we are thinking.  I knew, intuitively, that I should check the door to make sure my husband could get back in the house easily.  After all, we had both occasionally locked either each other or ourselves out; however, I checked the wrong door!  Or maybe I didn't complete the process of "checking."  Whichever it was, I know one thing - I knew I needed to look more closely at something, and I stopped the process too soon  based on an assumption and a previous experience.

So what did I learn?  That I am listening, and hearing, which is the good news.  Now I just need to practice a little more to follow through completely to the correct focus, whether that is a more thorough listen, or a focus on the "right door."

Have a great day listening and focusing!

Jet

Distractions while reflecting on the meaning of us

I woke up New Year's Eve morning thinking, "but if we are an idea of God, then what is our purpose?"  So instead of panicking, I let the thought unfold. 

I like that word, unfold.  Like blooming, an oriental poppy slowly unfurling like a piece of plastic wrap relaxing and moving and expanding after being wadded up in one's fist.  And just as wrinkly, but each wrinkle tells a story, relates an experience, and gives character.  And as we let go, the wrinkles "iron" out and what little remains just adds to the beauty of the blossom, like laugh lines on a beautiful woman's face.

So are we to experience?  Collect laugh lines?  I would like to think so.  But even more than that, I think our purpose is to find our way back to that unique idea that we were designed to express, and peel away everything else.  It doesn't matter what we "do" - pick something we love and that inspires us - but the doing has to express that unique idea that we are.  And then life becomes meaningful, as we define it. 

Define, Design and Deliver!  That's meaning!

Gratitude

Okay, New Year's Resolution - I will no longer feel guilt for what appears to be procrastination.....  :-)

I have been reading blog posts by all of my favorite and inspiring authors for the past week, and they have one prevailing thing in common -

The most successful people in the world express Gratitude for everything that they have - including, and sometimes especially! the challenges!

Go read Beca Lewis, Perry Marshall, Michael Masterson.  Every post expresses thanks for all that we have, and nowhere do they whine about what they don't have.

So, what it looks like is, to keep it Simple, express Gratitude.  Give thanks.  Right now.  Out loud.  For everything.

I give Thanks for everything in my life.

Happy New Year!

Clear up the view

As I sat early this morning doing an assignment for the Shift Masters, a beam of light caught my eye.  I looked up to see a bright shaft from the sun's rising peak through a peep hole between the tree line and the clouds off to the east.  Only by watching the tree line could I see the movement of the grey mass which looked stationary everywhere else, so I watched right there as the light of the sun appeared to move and brighten and fade, depending on the density of the cloud cover.
For a moment, I was distracted by a memory of taking off from the airport in a rainstorm, speeding down the runway, lifting into the air, climbing through the water and mist until I could see nothing but grey, and all of a sudden breaking through to a gorgeous panorama of blue sky, white puffy mountains of clouds and yellow, yellow sunshine.  I still can feel the thrill of that view!
The sun is shining.  The sky is blue.  God is good.  And just because I can't see it from my porch window right this moment doesn't mean that's not true!