Changing Our Old Patterns of Thinking to Create New Patterns!

October and November Newsletter 2009

Romans 12:2 states, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Have you ever had an old pair of tennis shoes that you needed to replace, but did not want to because they were comfortable and fit so well.  Instead, you simply kept them, washing them when they became dirty, even though they never really got clean. Eventually, you gave in and purchased a new pair, but still kept the old pair because you just could not bear to part with them.

Just like the old shoes, we sometimes need to replace our old ways of thinking with new ideas. According to the World Book Complete Word Power Library, to transform means “to change, convert, transmute [or] transfigure” (Dale, p. 412).  Kazimierz Dabrowski took this idea one step further and stated that to transform is to “replace old values with new ones in the evolution of conscious life” (Aronson, 1964). Our master teacher, Jesus, was transfigured on the Mount. After six days, Jesus changed in appearance. This change was witnessed by his three disciples, Peter, James and John (Matthew 17:1-9).  Could it be that in our lives, we have too may desires to want a transfiguration of our hearts, lives and souls? Are we too afraid to break free from our old habits?

I would like to pose this question before we go any further:  How sacred is transformation in our lives? In the world?

The sacred call is transformative.  It is an invitation to our souls, a mysterious voice reverberating within and a tug on our hearts that can neither be ignored nor denied.  It contains, by definition, the purest message and promise of essential freedom.  It touches us at the center of our awareness.  When such a call occurs and we hear it - really hear it - our shift to a higher consciousness is assured.  As Maimonides, the twelfth-century rabbinical authority, physician and philosopher said, “The sound of the shofar calls to us: Awaken, sleepers, from your sleep, arise, slumbers, and examine your deeds, look after your own souls, and improve your ways.”

During the middle of September, I undertook a personal and business assessment of my life because I learned that I would not be able to advertise with a business upon which I had become dependent.  After several days of disarray, I remembered the old adage, “To thy own self be true.”

Reposition Yourself

Psalm 46:10-11 clearly reminds us to

Be still, (do not move, be quiet), and know that I am God; (Who is in control, you or God?)  I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!  The Lord of host is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.

Every morning at 5 a.m., I go to the local gym at the YWCA.  As I run and walk around the track the above scripture is on the wall and, therefore, reinforced to me daily. However, it had never meant more to me than in the middle of September. It helped me when I decide that I must focus, not on my woes, but on discovering a way to increase my funds and business without an ad in the local paper. 

A dear friend of mine has been mentoring me.  On day two of the mentoring, he told me that I should market myself on the Internet. It was then that I realized that God puts people on your path to guide you. We only need to be aware enough to listen to the advice that these individuals give to us. How many of us have been given great advice, but did not listen? Sometimes, we are blinded by our own old ways of thinking, sometimes by pride and sometimes by ego.

Becoming My Inner Coach

I thought that that day in the middle of September was going to be the end of the world as I knew it…and I was right. It was the beginning of a new world that I could have never before conceived. I took my mentor’s advice and began placing ads on the Internet for my businesses. Often, one website would lead me to another and another and, soon, I had a network of websites on which I could advertise, placing my services in front of more people that I could have previously imagined.

It has been said that often life’s disappointments are God opening new paths and opportunities to us. We must be our own “inner coaches” in order to see these opportunities. Once we are able to recognize these opportunities for what they are, we will be able to teach others to see the gifts that God lays before us. In order to recognize these opportunities, we must be still and listen. It is only by being still that we can listen to the plan provided to us by the Spirit. Once we have received the plan, we must put it in place and exercise our faith. We must not falter from our new path regardless of the distractions that may fall upon us. It is only by following this path and removing our distractions that we will realize God’s plan for our lives.

Here is a summary of how I have gotten to where I am:

1.       First, I had to let go of my fear, doubt and worry and, instead, trust God.  Psalms 46:10-11, “I   became still and knew who my God was.”  Do you know who your Higher Power is?  If not, this is a chance to examine your beliefs and find out.  Some people think that their God is connected to their clothing, money, job title, etc.  Do you know who you are in the image of God?

2.       I meditated upon what I needed to do to increase my income and my business. Then, I put a plan in place.  This place involved marketing myself on the Internet for about three hours a day.

3.       Shortly thereafter, blessings began to occur in my life, simply because I had followed God’s advice.  Can you listen to others when they are trying to help you?

4.       I know from my past experiences that when one door closes God will open another in due time.  I simply waited for this door to open and when it did, I began to understand God’s plan.

5.       Once I understood God’s plan, I began to exercise my faith in God and myself.

6.       Then, I gave thanks to God for all the blessings that have come my way.