Intentional Association is a Key to Happiness

We are beginning to develop a sense(not just an understanding) that the reality of our emotions are not based, fed, or sourced from our experience. 

Our happiness and our sorrow are not caused by successes and failures. 

These experiences virtually have no influence on our emotions except for the feelings we've allowed(however unaware) ourselves to habitually associate them with over the years. 

It's not what happens to us that shapes our feelings.

It's how we choose to shape our feelings to what happens to us.

This determines our emotions, and then our attitudes(which are habitual emotions), our character(habitual attitudes), and ultimately our Life(summation of our character and our behavior).  

Implied method:

Change how we associate feelings to experience = change our lives

Change is Ecstasy (personal formulas that help me facilitate transformation)

Change-verb. defined by me as:

to step into a different reality and leave the less useful one behind. 

Dictionary-

Change: 

1. to transform or convert.

Transform: 

1.  to change in form, appearance, or   

     structure; metamorphose. 

2. to change in condition, nature, or character; convert. 
3. to change into another substance; transmute.

How to create change?

One way is to look at your life from an outside or macroscopic view. To step back and take into consideration everything you notice - both pleasurable and not. 

Then ask yourself: 

What does my life feel like to me?

What are my main concerns?

What are my main appreciations. 

What would I like to Change?

What would I like to keep the same?

If there are things you'd like to change,

Ask yourself, "Is my life reflecting my desires for change?" 

If you took the time to earnestly ask yourself this question you may be surprised at the answer. But don't feel bad! Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, does it. 

It's one of the great mysteries of humanity. We've always done it. From thousands of years ago,

"For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate."

Romans 7:15 ESV

up until this morning when I wanted to write as soon as I woke but "forgot" and made breakfast instead. 

This tendency to avoid what we want to do for ourselves is the greatest source of angst within us. And at the same time, if we overcome it, is the ultimate source for personal growth which manifests in our life experience as Confidence, Integrity, and Inner Peace. 

In my reflections I wonder at this joy-giving, anxiety-producing phenomena. A double edged sword. One side slices through indifference and reveals the power and light of our being. The other side cutting off our connection to joy and breeds emotional scabs that block our light from shining. 

The beauty of life is you don't need to search for help: you're help is already in your hands. 

Turn the blade over and begin doing what you Want. Change yourself from the Inside out. Transform. 

We are all in this world to raise the lives of others through our own transformation. I've been fortunate to have time on my side when I needed to "search" for answers. I've received so much help from people who've already traveled this part of Life's path and took time from their lives and family to share with others what helped them. Through books, talks, music, interaction, and art I was provided guidance. Guidance but not answers. For all that I learned was redirections into myself. Where the answers already lay. 

My gratitude can only be expressed through the continuation of empowering others. So here are the answers I've found within myself. If they do nothing except point your focus back into yourself then my efforts are rewarded. 

In life there are 3 formulas we can all follow. These formulas have been around even before man. But with Life and all Its humor, we are not tattooed with the formulas upon birth and instead are encouraged to go on a human adventure to discover these special formulas and apply the one that works for us. 

Formula 1: 

(Life is good) x (no changes) = 

Keep doing what you're doing

Formula 2:

(Life is not good) x (create changes) = Keep applying changes for good life

Formula 3:

(Life is not good) x (no changes) = 

Keep getting what you're getting 

All common sense. But the incredible things is that it's too common — too simple. 

Now there are books upon seminars upon workshops that teach the ins and outs of change. Though extremely informative and useful to become a master at the subject, the best course is always to begin with the basic fundamentals and work from there.

I believe the reason many of us don't begin with the basics is because it's so basic that we assume we're already doing it. Let's not make that mistake. 

Let's look into ourselves with honesty and pull out from our depths what we truly want. Then align our beliefs to those wants. Our behavior will follow.  

"It's never too late to be who you might have been."

George Eliot 

Now = Freedom, Truth & Life more abundant

Live right here in the now. 

Pull your consciousness, awareness, and attention to the now. The present now. 

Fear, doubt, and anxiety don't live in the present. Only in the future. 

They are untrue and distorted thoughts that are concerned with the future. 

Fear of if he will think I'm dumb. 

Doubt of if she will like me. 

Anxiety of if they are judging me. 

All of these thoughts are concerned about the future. They have nothing to do with the present except to control and restrict your behavior, robbing you of being yourself. 

Stay in the right now. There is no next minute or next hour. 

Just now. 

There is no tomorrow or next week. 

Solely now. 

There is no next month or next year. Only now. 

Every moment should be experienced in the present. 

Only when we voluntarily focus on the future to set a plan should we allow attention to be drawn away from right now. It should never involuntarily drift off to the future or even the past unless we deliberately choose to shift our attention for the purpose of reflection. 

There is no consequence for allowing our attention to drift except that we become at the mercy of our emotions to life's circumstances.  

If we have drifted, then when a distorted thought of the future presents itself to your mind, you will experience the negative emotions of fear, doubt, and anxiety. Which can worsen and magnify if you cannot bring your mind back in the present. 

If you however, stay in the preset, when a future thought presents itself, you will let it pass by undisturbed. For you know the truth of the circumstance which the thought addressed. 

Truth lives in the now. 

Attitude toward Facts = Reality

Facts may shape the world, but it's my attitude toward the facts that shape my reality.