As mentioned in the documentary Beyond Belief, one of the most powerful tools you can begin to practice now is gratitude.  Darren Weissman (Hayhouse author, teacher, international speaker) expressed his experiences with Dr Masaru Emoto, conducting research on how thoughts affect the physical structure of our body (noted in Dr Emoto’s book The Healing Messages in Water).

The movie Beyond Belief only shares a fraction of this fascinating journey.  To hear the full story, get Darren’s book, The Power of Infinite Love & Gratitude: An Evolutionary Journey to Awakening Your Spirit.  This book will not only explain the ‘how’ behind why gratitude is beneficial for you to practice, but it will also inspire you to make this practice a daily part of your life.

Enjoy the book!

by Jonathan Ellerby, Ph.D.

Of all the things that people have in common around the world, stress and suffering rank at the top of the list. Regardless of how much you make, your age, looks, culture, or job, you likely do not escape frustration and aggravation with ease – it’s a part of being on planet earth. Fortunately, we also share the ability to rise above these things, and in many cases we can even learn to heal the stress and suffering in our lives. Spiritual traditions have long been the refuge from stress with simple techniques and philosophies that can transform daily life.

It is easy to feel that stress and suffering are unavoidable or that somehow you are doomed to face them again and again. This helpless feeling stems from the mistaken assumption that our emotions need to drive our decisions and our lives. The strong emotions that create suffering are rooted in either hurts of the past or unfulfilled expectations of the present.

A spouse, friend, or boss that talks to you the way a parent did while in a cruel or impatient mood will trigger the same old feelings, as if you were a child encountering the hurt again. If you have an expectation that people should always be polite or that airplanes should always be on time or that traffic should not be heavy when you are late, then you will consistently encounter the stress of that disappointment.

A spiritual perspective says that emotions like anger, anxiety, and sadness are normal and need to be felt, but when it comes to making decisions and taking action, we need to look deeper. It is possible to be less driven by old hurts and release the tight grip on unrealistic expectations. Learning about the power of perception and the mind-body connection can turn everything around. Here are six timeless techniques for managing or ending stress and suffering.

ONE: Breathe

When stress rises, the body moves in to a reaction mode: the body tightens, the mind races, and it is hard to gain a better perspective. Try taking some deep breaths. Breathe in through the nose, and instead of puffing your chest out, try imagining that you are sending the breath into your belly – push your stomach muscles out.  Then, notice where you are tense or tight, and imagine you are breathing it all out your mouth, slowly and easily. When you are in a difficult moment, take at least 2 full minutes to be with your breath.

TWO: Stick to the Facts

One way we create our experience of stress and suffering is through emotional ideas like worry and regret. Instead of keeping our attention in the present moment and focusing on the limited truth we know for certain, too often we spend our energy on worrying about things that haven’t happened, or we dwell on the past we regret. Remember, “sticking to the facts” doesn’t include judgments like “she’s wrong” or “he’s a fool” or “what if I lose my job?” Those are emotional ideas, not facts.

A fact sounds like this “all I know is that he is late, but I don’t know why.” An emotional idea sounds like “he is late because he is selfish and doesn’t care. I must be a pushover.” A fact sounds like this “lots of people are losing their jobs these days, and some fall on hard times, and some find new work.” An emotional idea sounds like this “I am so worried every day I go into work. What if I lose my job and then cannot pay my bills and car payment – I cannot concentrate.” Learn to limit those thoughts, and stick to the facts.

THREE: Forgive

The cornerstone of most spiritual philosophies lies in learning to forgive. Forgiveness does not mean that you pretend you are not hurt by someone or something, nor does it mean you condone a cruel or harmful act. Forgiveness does mean that you are committed to letting go of the energy, stories, and actions you have become caught up in.  Forgiveness means that you are committed to letting go and moving on. It doesn’t start with a feeling; it starts with a decision. Start by changing the way you act and think, and then, eventually, the feelings will follow.

For example, if you have been hurt by a coworker or a romantic partner, you can invest a lot of time in complaining to friends, gossiping, and reviewing the offense in your head. Or you can say that being hurt once is enough, see that each time you replay it you are only hurting yourself again, and learn to change the topic.

Each time we encounter stress or hurt there is a small chance to practice forgiveness. The quicker we forgive a situation and accept it for what it is, the quicker we end our suffering and move on to better things.

TO BE CONTINUED in Part Two…

Jonathan Ellerby is one of the experts featured in the documentary Beyond Belief: www.beyondbeliefthemovie.com

by Sandra Anne Taylor

The Truth about Attraction:  Sorting Out the Lies from the Laws—and Getting Your Power Back

Can you manifest your favorite author via the Law of Attraction?

Among the seven Laws of Attraction is The Law of Manifestation. This natural law of the Universe says that your consciousness creates your reality. This is projected in your self-view, worldview, and expectations, which send a holographic image of yourself and your life force out into the world. This holistic understanding is very powerful. Even a small shift in consciousness can create a dramatic change in results.

Success in practicing the Law of Manifestation in your own life isn’t just specific thoughts bringing about specific results. It’s a matter of projecting a life force that’s filled with positive images and conclusions of confidence, optimism, and self-love. Since your consciousness relies heavily on your view of yourself and your personal expectations, it will be very difficult to create success if you consistently engage in self-judgment and pessimism about your future. But you can intentionally lift your awareness to a more positive perception of yourself, your environment, and the day ahead. This will transform your consciousness and help shift the reality you create.

Your greatest power for change can be found in your awareness. Even if you can’t change the situation you’re in, you can still shift how you perceive it. It’s your interpretation of what’s around you—and not the circumstances themselves—that will ultimately determine the quality of your experience and the power of your life force.

I’ve seen the law of consciousness-created reality at work many times in my life. One particular story involves Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, who’s a wonderful author and inspiring motivational speaker.

About 20 years ago, I attended a conference where Wayne and a few other authors spoke. In his lecture, Wayne talked about a discussion that he and the other authors had over dinner the night before. I thought, Someday I’d like to speak at a conference with Wayne and have dinner with him and the other authors. I even took a moment to visualize it, but not having any idea how it would happen, I let it go.

I didn’t think about it much after that, largely because my whole life force had become about something that was far more important to me—teaching genuine self-love and the principles of personal consciousness and energy. I was publishing my own book back then and even doing lectures for free. I was passionate about the information, and I really wanted to share it with others and help people make their lives better.

I did attend more of Wayne’s lectures, and when I did, I would remember that old intention. There were times when I could feel it happening and other times when it just didn’t resonate. It didn’t matter either way, however, because my entire life was now driven by a consciousness of purpose and enthusiasm.

My career hit many delays and roadblocks along the way, but I maintained an optimistic attitude, and I was so inspired by the process and the information that I was able to keep moving forward. About ten years after that original intention about Wayne had come to mind, my wonderful publisher, Hay House, picked up my first book. Shortly before that, Wayne had switched publishers and gone to Hay House, also.

In a few more years, I found myself speaking at the Hay House I Can Do It!® conference along with Wayne and many other fantastic people. At the authors’ dinner on one Saturday night, I told him about my old intention.

I said, “A long time ago, I visualized us speaking together and having dinner . . .” He jumped up, gave me a hug, and ended my sentence by saying, “ . . and here we are.” This is just one of the many fun experiences that have come my way. But it goes to show how your entire consciousness creates your reality. One fleeting intention—backed by a purpose-driven life force—can make something happen.

So formulate your own consciousness based on a positive self-perception and a purposeful and optimistic worldview. Gently let go of any pessimistic thoughts, and remember that you get to decide what you want to be true for you. Prioritize your whole life over any individual outcome; and fill your days with passion, enthusiasm, and self-love.

Sandra Anne Taylor was inspired to write The Truth about Attraction when a close friend—recently diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease—was so overcome with guilt that she had “attracted” this condition. Sandra set out to write a book that would approach the Law of Attraction with balanced understanding and help others let go of the extremes and the faultfinding. She has been a counselor in private psychological practice for more than 20 years. Sandra’s latest book The Truth about Attraction will be released on March 15th. To learn more about Sandra’s wisdom, visit her Website at www.sandrataylor.net.

Sandra Anne Taylor is one of twenty four experts featured in the documentary Beyond Belief: www.beyondbeliefthemovie.com