Miracle on 34^th Street

As many of you have probably noticed, it is not Christmastime, and so you might be wondering what Miracle on 34^th Street has to do with us, now, at this time of year. As with all things I talk about, the story does not start there.

Now, I haven’t seen the new movie, The Secret, but I’ve heard from those who have that it speaks about the Law of Attraction, which in its simplest terms refers to our ability to become a success magnet. We practice affirmations—those positive statements of whatever it is we want in our lives—on a daily basis, preferably several times a day, and voila! We get what we ask for.

There are two principles contained in this practice. The first I will mention is the age old statement—Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. The important thing is that you know what you want. You have to know your own mind and your body and your health and how you will feel five years down the road, because like all things, these take time. So “know thyself.” Don’t ask for a job where you have to muck out stables if you have a bad back. It may pay well, you may be able to spend time around horses, which you enjoy, theoretically, but if you can’t do the work, and take sick days off because of back pain, you’ve essentially cut your own throat. So when you’re devising affirmations, think of the consequences of getting what you ask for.

One of the tricks of getting your desire in the manner you want, is to spend time visualizing yourself and what your life will be like once you achieve exactly what it is you want. Try to establish firmly in your mind all of the effects—where you will live, with whom, how you will spend each moment of every day, who you will answer to, who will answer to you, whether you can burst out of your shell to assert your needs, etc. All of this is with the intention of getting exactly what you want so that the Creator, in his infinite wisdom, doesn’t exercise his authority to pay you with what you need as opposed to what you want. Of course, if you do get what you need, instead of what you want, you may realize that the Creator is actually right, that he does know best, and you’re happier with that anyway. In this regard, consider this statement taken from the Chabad.org Today’s Day: “Every person must know that G_d, through his individual providence, gives each person the ability to bring G_d’s supernal will from the potential state to the actual. If we couple this with the adage, “It is G_d’s good pleasure to give you the keys to the kingdom.” Then we can suggest that there is nothing we could want that is beyond the will of the Creator to provide for us. In essence, then, by receiving what is the will of the Creator, we are giving him pleasure, and thereby being a partner in our own best interests.

The second principle is called the Law of Saturation. This means that you have to keep the energy flowing on a daily basis, time and time again. Affirmations are work, there is no doubt about it. If you only want to write down your affirmation and expect it to produce results, the old adage, “wish in one hand, Etc. in the other and see which gets full first” is about the only action you will see. You must realize at this point, as we discussed last time, that you are part of an immense Universe, not the only person on the planet. Everyone wants something. So to influence the metaphysical energy to create what you want, a once over is not going to do much. You have to reach critical mass, something akin to a cloud filling with water, in order for your desire to rain down on you. To begin with, it is good practice to start with 12 repetitions of the affirmation per day. If you wish, you can break this down into 4 repetitions 3 times a day. Say the affirmations out loud, but not necessarily in a loud voice. For added energy, write them down as you are saying them. You can do this in your journal, and when you’ve finished, write down notes on how you feel that you are getting closer to your desire.

It is important to keep negativity from seeping into your mind. We say, “Fake it until you make it.” In other words, act “as if” you are already in possession of your desire, whether it is money, a car, a relationship, a new house, a vacation or what have you. Many people say their affirmations starting with, “I give thanks to the Creator for ___________.” This acknowledges that the Creator has the role of fulfilling the need. And indeed, the Creator is the source of all good. Why is this? Don’t we assume that our money comes from our employer? Don’t we assume that the person on whom we’ve had our heart set fulfills our need for a relationship? Don’t we assume that there is a physical source for all of the things we want and need in our lives? Well, yes, we assume that, but that is not the reality. “It is the Creator’s good pleasure to give us the keys to the kingdom.” The Creator is the source of everything that is—including our needs. Once we stop looking for a customer, a lover, a great deal on a car, etc., we will open ourselves up to have everything that we want in our lives. Therefore, it behooves us to actively accept the good that is waiting for us, give thanks for it, and by continuing to work the energy through our affirmations and thanks, we create a perpetual cycle in which all of our needs and desires are met.

So what does all this have to do with Miracle on 34^th Street? I was explaining the Law of Saturation to a client a couple of weeks ago. He is hard worker, a giving person, and he practices his affirmations faithfully, yet he is still waiting for his ship to come in. He gets frustrated because he doesn’t see the things happening in his life that he so desperately wants. There are two problems with his thinking. The first is that he has an attachment to the outcome. In other words, he will only accept that he has achieved success if one or two particular things happen for him. In other words, he has limited the Creator’s ability to fulfill his needs. This is a death knell to affirmations. Certainly, we should specify the parameters of what we’re looking for—the fulfillment of a particular need—but don’t limit the Universal set of possibilities that can bring it on. For example, if I want a new car, I can affirm: I give thanks for a shiny red sports car. But while I may have my mind on a new Mustang, the Universe may open the door to my having a Ferrari or a Lamborghini. In my own life, I have seen miraculous things happen. I have had a wedding cancelled on a given day, only to have three others schedule in time to make up for the change in income. Or perhaps I have sales of items that add up to more than what was lost. So by all means, ask for what you want, but don’t limit the Universe when there are so many possibilities out there that can fulfill the need.

The next thing—and this is where Miracle on 34^th Street comes in—is that you must believe. You can give lip service and say, oh, yes, I believe I’m going to get what I ask for, but you can’t fool the Universe. You have to know in your heart of hearts, having full and complete certainty, like the little girl who believed in Santa Claus, that the Creator is filled with pleasure when it comes to fulfilling your desires. Certainty is a stage of knowing that the Creator is the source of ALL THINGS—not just the things that you want in your life, but really and truly the source of ALL THINGS. When you let go of the notion that you get what you want through your own hard work, or that you get what you want because you had enough sales or customers on a given day, and really and truly know that the Creator is the one responsible for everything you have, particularly your creativity, your energy, your physical health, yes, even your desires themselves, then you will have achieved a miracle—the miracle of certainty.

Let’s compare this certainty to something that makes it a little more concrete, such as forgiveness. You know how easy it used to be to say, “I’m sorry,” when your mother was standing over you with a paddle if you didn’t apologize for pulling your little sister’s hair. You may have even thought that you could do this without really meaning it from your heart. When you grew up, maybe you thought you could still do things this way. You could say words without really having any meaning behind them, any commitment. You could say “I forgive you,” while still holding onto the resentment for an apparent wrong. Well, you know how you know you have really forgiven someone? When you can thank the Creator “for giving” you that experience. There’s some spiritual growth for you.

It’s the same with certainty. You’ll know that you are “in the groove” of certainty when you truly know that the Creator is the source of all the things in your life and that he will meet all your needs in spite of unemployment, the cost of living, taxes and so forth. You know what I’ve done to save money with the gas prices so high? I’ve decided that I will meet each of my clients in their own homes. My mileage has toggled into high gear and I spend a lot more time on the road. Sure, I’ll be able to take a tax deduction. But that’s a year away. Instead, I’m certain that the Universe will make sure that my gas tank is full whenever I need it to be. I know that the Creator will provide me with the money, the time, and a car that runs like new. And to ensure that it is always so, I give thanks for all of these things every day. I give thanks for every transaction that I make, whether I am giving or receiving money, I give thanks for a car that runs like new, and I give thanks for all the other multitude of blessings that I have in my life every day. I know fully that the Creator is my source of all good in my life and the lives of my family and friends. You can know it, too. But be ready to do a little work. Say and write your affirmations, remain positive about the fulfillment of your needs and get ready to go with the flow of positive life elements that will make your life filled with joy.

There’s also something that you can do to kick start the energy, and that is by giving to charity. Make your gift anonymous, so that it’s just between you and the Creator, and you will find that your circumstances will improve in a much bigger hurry. Why do we give to charity? Because we are acting as emissaries for the Creator’s will on earth. This may seem like the trickle down effect, but when we receive from the Creator, we are expected to allow others to also receive from the Creator, and we become the vehicle. But don’t think that you’re taking food out of your family’s mouth when you do this. Be certain that the Creator will not only replace the money you give, but he will overpay you. So give with a heart of gladness and be certain that your needs will be met.

Message from June 24, 2007--No, It's MY Source