AWARENESS AND COMMUNICATION

by Jayne Johnson One of the major points I make in my Goals Workshops is that of being precise and specific when expressing and writing down your goals, and I make reference to Robert Kiyosaki’s statement, “Words can make you rich or can make you poor," and to Reverend Ike’s, “Be Definite with the Infinite.” It is always in our best interest to know what we are saying – to be aware of and precise about all our communication, be it about our goals, what we’re thinking, or how we’re feeling.

WHAT ARE WE SAYING?

In a past issue of my e-Newsletter I wrote an article entitled “Enrich Your Vocabulary and Your Life.”

Excerpt: “As an example, look at the word "ciao." Although Italian in origin, it is commonly used in many countries as a farewell, meaning any one of a number of things, such as "see you later," "take care," or "love you, dahling!" We all know what this word means; however, in the American Heritage dictionary online, one finds an interesting history of the word which includes a connotation perhaps not widely known: "ciao interj. Used to express greeting or farewell. [Italian, from dialectal ciau, alteration of Italian (sono vostro) schiavo, (I am your) servant, from Medieval Latin sclavus, slave, servant ; see slave.] In the very literal sense, saying "ciao" to someone is saying, ’I am your slave’." >>

WHAT ARE WE REALLY SAYING?

Here are some other common expressions:

• I’m sick and tired of this
• I’m lost without you
• You can’t win for losing
• I’m dying of the heat
• I’m scared to death
• I’m freezing to death
• I love you to pieces
• I love you to death
• Over my dead body
• My back (feet, stomach, etc.) is killing me
• This traffic is driving me crazy
• She (or he) is a wreck over this

Have you thought of some more? People often use these, and other familiar expressions, to communicate their thoughts and feelings. They are obviously not intended to be taken literally, but if it is not what we really mean, why say it? Apparently, it is easier and faster to pluck a familiar expression out of the air than it is to stop and think about what we really want to say. With awareness missing, using a familiar expression is like being on automatic pilot. Instead of having to think about what we want to say, the mind automatically reaches for the most accessible thought, which then gets verbalized. That process can take less than a second. If you’ve ever said anything that you regretted the moment it came out of your mouth, you understand this phenomenon. In addition to the “foot-in-mouth” problem, the more subtle, insidious problem with using familiar expressions automatically is that your choices as to what to say are limited to ONE, i.e., whatever the expression is. The mind reaches out to find the words to say and theoretically should reach a whole list of possibilities. But when it reaches out and hits the familiar expression, it stops right there, grabs it, and out it comes. Using expressions while being unaware of what you are saying can lead to making statements that, though not meant literally, are still making statements to the universe as to what you are being, doing or having. In his “Master of Money” course, Reverend Ike said, “Whatever you add to ‘I am,’ you become.” That’s quite a powerful thought! So for example, if you automatically (without awareness) use the expression, “I am sick and tired of this,” at the least, you are gambling that it won’t become a reality, and at the worst, it will actually become a reality. In a sense, we are cursing ourselves! Take for example the expression, “Well, I’ll be damned.” It is not meant literally but, why say that when you could say something much more positive, something that would invite into your life that which you truly want. What about other people? Saying things like “Damn you,” “Go to hell” or other expressions that are too obscene to print here, are cursing other people. The question is, would you still want to say it, considering it from this perspective.

T-SHIRTS, LICENSE PLATES, BUMPER STICKERS AND SONGS

Other subtle forms of communication can include sayings on T-shirts, license plates, bumper stickers: Two interesting license plates spotted recently: “inadaze” and “moody.” A client of mine told me about a T-shirt he once saw in a store selling mountain-climbing gear that read, “I’m resolved to attempt the impossible and never let slip an opportunity to risk my life.” How about these bumper stickers: “I owe, I owe, so off to work I go,” and “Same rat race - different day.” Yet another avenue is song titles and/or lyrics. Here are some examples:

• I’m a Loser (the Beatles)
• Devil Inside (INXS)
• Every Breath You Take (the Police)
• I Am A Man of Constant Sorrow (Soggy Bottom Boys, O Brother Where Art Thou movie soundtrack)
• I Fall to Pieces (Patsy Cline)

Songs are another way people express whatever mood they are feeling, ranging from despair, depression, sadness and anger to happiness, joy and elation. The whole range of moods from bottom to top are all available to be communicated via song titles and lyrics. Therefore, they can at times be negative. The point is, we often sing along with them, in some cases over and over again. Every time we hear the song, we sing along. Some even stick in your mind and loop around! How many times could that add up to, over a period of years, and what negative thoughts are possibly being reinforced? I want to be crystal clear that I am not criticizing either the songs or the artists, and in that light I want to make the following points: - All these artists have also created many positive songs and lyrics (It’s been reported that Sting himself later spotted the negative connotation of “Every Breath You Take” and purposefully wrote a more positive song, “If You Love Someone, Set Them Free,” to counter it). - Songs are a form of poetic expression and as such are to be respected. - Music is one of the most mood-raising activities there is, and even songs that communicate sadness or anger can help to release the negative and restore the positive.

THE CONTEXT OF AWARENESS IS THE KEY

“Aware, adj. 1. having knowledge of something because you have observed it or somebody has told you about it. 2. mindful that something exists because you notice it or realize that it is happening.” Ironically, some artists have been harshly criticized for their positive songs. John Denver, although beloved by many for his uplifting, inspiring songs, was unmercifully harassed for what critics called “sappy” songs. So, it is all in the eye of the beholder, i.e., the beholder’s context, and that is the valuable concept on which to focus. The songwriter or artist knows what he or she is saying and the reason behind it – that is his or her context - - but when we sing along, are we conscious of what WE are saying? And are we conscious of our own context? That is an important question because every thought has the potential to program the mind. When the thought evokes or is associated with a vision or picture in the mind, the thought will have an even stronger influence. Visions are the software for the mind, as Alan Walter says, so any vision accompanying a thought makes it that much more powerful. The upside is that we can create positive thoughts and visions of what we DO want! The point is, we need to be aware of how we are programming our minds and what we are “proclaiming” to the universe, especially when doing it repetitively. In regard to all these examples, if it IS indeed what you mean to say, then know, consciously know, that. By being consciously aware, you have choice and you know you have choice, and in so doing, you are taking responsibility for your choice. One caveat - avoid getting caught up in the significance and becoming overly analytical. Don’t get drawn into the trap of watching every single word, questioning it, or adding meaning that is not there. Getting embroiled in the content and trying to figure it out or resist it, can distract you from what is really important. Your true power lies in your ability to be aware and observe, from a neutral position. Awareness gives you the space to choose because it turns off the automatic pilot function. When you are aware, you have the space to choose from multiple sources, not just one.

HOW DO YOU INCREASE YOUR AWARENESS?

Life Force Particles: “The basic force in the universe is life force, and particles are small pieces, bits, fragments, or parts of a whole. Life-Force Particles then can be defined as fragments of the life force known as you. Therefore, your power is determined by the quantity of life-force particles you have available.” – Knowledgism Dictionary, by Alan C. Walter. How do you increase your awareness? The simple version of the answer to that question is, increase the number of life-force particles you have available. The basis of my work is to help people increase their life-force particles by freeing those particles up from wherever they are stuck, trapped, etc. Life force that is stuck or trapped reduces awareness; therefore, freeing them up and bringing them to the present simultaneously increases your awareness. As I see it, Dr. Phil, Deepak Chopra and countless others, including any person, famous or not, who has the intention to help people be free of their problems and to be happy, prosperous, and successful, is helping people to gain back their life force, whether they use that particular terminology or not. From my perspective, it is a combination of learning or gaining knowledge, plus processing, that works most effectively in the recovery of life-force particles. While the simple answer to increasing your awareness is to gain back your life-force particles, the specific answers as to how to do that are many. As one suggestion, on my web site you can find two articles I’ve written on the subject of life-force particles: “SEVEN PRACTICAL STEPS TO LESS STRESS & MORE SUCCESS,” and “LIFE-FORCE PARTICLES: HOW TO RAISE YOUR LEVEL OF ACCEPTANCE.” In addition to reading those articles, I recommend reading Alan Walter’s book, The Secrets to Increasing Your Power, Wealth & Happiness, which directly addresses life-force particles, how they are trapped and lost, how trapped life-force particles cause people problems, how to recover them, and how to maintain ownership, responsibility and control of your life-force particles.

SUMMARY

The familiar expression, the song, or the license plate, bumper sticker, T-shirt, et al, are all examples of content. It’s the context of awareness that makes the difference.