In April this year (2018), an interesting story highlighting racial sensitivities in the United States went viral. It was the story of two young men arrested while waiting for a friend in a branch of Starbucks in Philadelphia.
A few days after the story broke I took to Facebook to share my views with my friends online, writing that in situations like this I take the position that all experiences are educative. These events lead us to make personal discoveries and have a role to play in the all-encompassing story of our lives. Our education is cumulative and continues from emanation to emanation. It does not start and end with who we are presently and consciously aware of being.
In my work I strive to remind others of this fact and, that alternative to what we experience daily – including things that seem inevitable – are always available.
To begin the process of changing what you go through day to day, ask yourself “who am I conscious of being?” and as you ask yourself this question, take an honest look at your expectations. I can tell you from personal experience that the answer may shock or even distress you. But do not dismay, the power to change what you don’t like, lies within you.
Having completed this step of the process – take notes if you want to – go on to ask ‘what would life look like if I were conscious of being someone else?’ Word the question in a way that feels natural to you and feel free to use terms like valued, respected, kind-hearted, non-biased etc.
You might want to make note of what you might do day to day, noticing the difference not only in activity but also your relationship to others.
Don’t rush this, take the time to cultivate this new life, using as much detail as you want, and when you are satisfied you will go on to assume or put on this new identity using the technique described below.
Metaphysics is not doctrinaire, and what I teach is not only immensely practical it is the product of a theory that has been tested repeatedly. One proven in the testing.
To some the idea of changing the circumstances and conditions of life by doing nothing more than changing your concept of self may be challenging, but I urge you not to discount it before you have tried it.
The technique I recommend for stepping into a new consciousness of self goes as follows (note, it is simple but not necessarily easy to begin with, so, persevere and you will not be disappointed.)
Start with self-observation. With your eyes closed, once again ask yourself “who am I?” then take a mental tour.
Mentally see your features and your body in its present condition. Do not judge yourself. If you start to feel tension building, pause, relax, and breathe. Smile gently with your mouth closed and mental say “thank you” before moving on.
Move from your physical form to your habits, your typical emotional state, your view of the world in very broad general terms. Accept all that you are without criticism or judgment.
Next, think about your life as you would like as you would like it to be and the you who embodies this ideal. It is possible that things are presently going exactly as you would like but even if this is the case allow yourself to access deeper happiness and fulfilment.
The final step is to actively elect to identify with this new expression of self. In other words, you identify as this person. Try not to look at yourself as though you are watching an actor or television, actually experience the world around you using your imaginary (subjective senses). Imagine yourself, seeing, hearing, touching and so on, as this person. To help you do this, you can construct a mental scene in which you are performing an action and as you repeat the action immerse yourself into it until it feels completely real. This exercise is aimed at opening you up to new possibilities for you.
Throughout the day, support the decision you have made by repeating the statement “that’s me!” as you recall the mental action you took. This will help create the foundation on which to build your new incarnation of self.
It won’t be enough to just say “that’s me” and leave it there, begin to make the moods, the ideas, the actions, and the attitudes of this new you, part of who you truly are.
Don’t start looking for signs, believe that the change has happened. If you look for evidence, you have not yet reached the point of certainty that change has indeed taken place. The results will build and when you least expect it, you will see tangible proof all around you.
As I discuss with Mitch in my One Simple Idea interview, life’s frictions exist for a purpose. Don’t be distracted by the event itself, look into the perfect Law of Liberty and extract from life (all of life) all that is yours to learn, all that is good for you.