After a long hiatus of having to occupy myself with other things, just a moment ago I was finally playing some tunes on my guitar again. I always like to do that to relax, silence my mind… and of course learn new stuff to improve my skills.
The latter is some kind of constant urge that just always seems to be there, either blatantly or more subtly in the background. It’s a constant drive to grow, to move forward, to get better at what I (like to) do… not just in playing the guitar, but in pretty much any area of life.
‘Drive’ and ‘urge’ may not even be the right choice of words here… It’s more like a feeling of riding a wave… going with a certain flow… enjoying the game I’m playing without getting too hooked up on the results it’s supposed to deliver.
As far as playing the guitar goes though, don’t be under any illusions about my skills; I’m really not that good a player, at least not compared to many awesome players the world knows.
I’ve never had any real lessons either; I’m what you’d call ‘self-taught.’ But hey, some of the best players in the world are too. (<– I like to tell myself that!)
Anyway, being a mediocre player compared to the big shots out there, I do like to study guitarists that I really enjoy listening to – checking out their techniques, their licks, their different styles, etc.
However, as any true musician will confirm, technique, skill, style, and dexterity are only part of the story in creating great music. What’s much more essential to a unique and awesome sound is the soul that’s put into it.
I’ve heard one of my favorite players say once:
“You don’t make music… Music finds you. Your job is to practice to get yourself ready.”
Basically, what he was saying was that there’s music ‘out there,’ in the ‘ether’ if you will… like a vibration or a wave that’s waiting for us to pick it up, and then make it manifest in this reality through us…
And for that we obviously need skills and dexterity to be capable of translating and relaying the inspiration through our body’s interaction with the instrument.
And that’s a really good point to remember.
Here’s why…
Authentic ‘Manifesting’
You might be reading this out of a desire to learn how to take back control of your life, to actualize your dreams, and to consciously and deliberately create your own reality.
Well, creating the life you want is a lot like creating music, or any type of art for that matter. The practice of consciously shaping our lives and destinies is not something we do… Like real, inspired music and art, it’s something that’s done through us.
This process can either feel like a struggle (which is what most people experience), or it can feel like a natural ‘flow’… a wave or a current that you pick up… one that is natural to you… that you feel good with… that fits you… one that’s authentically you.
That’s why experiencing the latter state is referred to as being ‘in the flow,’ or ‘in the zone.’
We’ve all experienced that feeling at some point in our lives, but it usually passes by in short and fleeting bits.
Still, it’s that feeling which is what most people are really after when they say want to “attract abundance,” “manifest their desires,” and “create the lives of their dreams.”
They seek that state of flow in which everything seems to come naturally. It’s an experience that brings along such an awesome feeling, that you wish every day could be like it.
When we’re in that flow, we’re in tune with the greater currents of life. We’re playing an inspired game that feels like the natural thing to do… (almost) as if we were meant to be doing it.
Most of us seem to have completely lost this game:
We’re not just out of tune with the greater currents and waves of life in general, but also with our own wave… the one I refer to as the ‘Master Wave.’
If your life feels like a struggle, this is what you’re experiencing – instead of feeling like you’re going along with the current, it’s like you’re swimming up against the stream, and fighting with forces much greater than yourself.
So the question is:
How do you find back that flow?
Well, there’s actually quite a lot to say about that. But there’s a crucial first step to the process, which is what we’re going to address in this article.
So let’s dig in…
The First Step To Catching (Back) Your ‘Flow’
To find our flow in life, many ‘gurus’ and their following will have us ‘focus on the positive,’ and tell us that as soon as we do, we’ll get more ‘good things’ in our lives.
Now before I get into the issue with this undoubtedly well-intended piece of advice, let me make one thing clear:
Indeed, widening our perspective beyond the ‘tunnel vision’ that accompanies ongoing negativity is infinitely better than remaining stuck in it. After all, it allows us to notice all the good things that are already happening and to actually spot opportunities that we didn’t notice before.
Nevertheless, there’s actually a caveat to the mainstream interpretation of ‘positive thinking.’ And to clearly explain what it is, let me get back to my guitar story for a second…
You see, I like to play and listen to various different styles of music, particularly when it comes to guitar. I can listen to genres ranging from hard rock to classical… from blues to folk… from flamenco to jazz.
While I can enjoy the strong energy of bands like Pearl Jam and Guns n’ Roses, or the power blues tunes by Gary Moore and Jeff Healey… I can also enjoy Clapton’s acoustic jams, Richie Kotzen’s bluesy funk virtuosity, and the sweet, creamy, and mellow Fender licks of Mark Knopfler at other times.
In fact, when I was playing a moment ago, I played some solo bits from Mark Knopfler’s song ‘What It Is’ on my acoustic…
Now, while the guitar part of that song is nice in my opinion, it’s really the lyrics of the chorus of the song that I’m getting at in light of this article (<– although I’m not too fond of the way Knopfler sings, if you can even call it that… but that’s a whole other story). The lyrics go like this:
That’s what it is
It’s what it is now
What it is
It’s what it is now
Now clearly, that doesn’t exactly come across like a whole lot of poetic value at first sight… let alone great wisdom. And you’re right. But it did remind me of the danger of positive thinking, and what perfectly defines the mindset we need in order to find back our ‘Master Wave.’
Here’s why:
The phrase “It’s what it is” carries enormous power. I mean, let’s face it:
If you’re anything like most people, you’re regularly faced with challenging situations and circumstances in life that you’re quick to consider ‘negative.’ These may in fact have been your reason to start looking for ways to make your life easier and more enjoyable.
Such circumstances invoke the type of ‘negative’ emotional charge that most ‘experts’ out there warn us not to get caught up in.
Now like I said before:
While that kind of warning isn’t bad advice in itself, it often turns into a far too simplistic recommendation of merely putting our focus on whatever we consider ‘positive’ instead. As a result, most of us give this suggestion a ‘Life of Brian’-like twist – no matter what cross they have to bear, the motto remains:
“Always look on the bright side of life.”
Now again, there’s nothing inherently wrong with looking at the bright side of things…
However, the common consequence of this mentality is that most of us tend to plainly deny the whole experience that triggered our uncomfortable state, by immediately turning away to focus on positive things instead…
… all in an attempt to effectively ignore and avoid the ‘negative’ charge altogether, out of fear that it will expand if we give it any attention.
Now let me tell you why that can become a serious problem…
The Overlooked Caveat of the ‘Positive Thinking’-Craze
As explained in other articles and in the ‘Crack Your Egg’-materials, there’s no denying that our experience of life is a reflection of our inner state.
And to get back to the relevance of that song ‘What It Is’ that I mentioned, some other lyrics of it go like this:
And something from the past just comes
And stares into my soul
(That’s what it is…)
And indeed that’s exactly “what it is”… because that’s what happens during such ‘negative’ experiences: something from the past comes to stare into your soul.
Let me explain:
Such apparently ‘negative’ experiences are reflections of particular inner imbalances that have somehow gotten imprinted within us during past experiences that had a significant emotional (and often traumatic) charge to them, and that for whatever reason we didn’t fully process at the time.
Buddhists call such an unfinished pattern a ‘Sankhara,’ and the yogic tradition refers to it as a ‘Samskara.’ This is a Sanskrit word that literally means ‘impression,’ and in the yogic teachings it’s considered one of the most important influences that affect our lives.
In ‘Crack Your Egg’ we call it an Egg Mark. Here’s what it does:
We may not consciously realize it, but this way, most of our attitudes and reactions in life are often fundamentally caused by an inclination to avoid the feeling of an uncomfortable experience that got imprinted as an ‘Egg Mark.’
And as we keep following these inclinations over and over, these patterns can turn into self-fulfilling prophecies. And before we realize what we’re doing, we may have built our entire lives around such patterns of avoidance.
Now at the risk of explaining the obvious, here’s how this phenomenon blocks the process of what I referred to earlier as ‘authentic manifesting,’ which is also the main reason most of us don’t seem to get the results we want:
Many times we bring this avoidance mentality to our ‘manifesting’ efforts.
While we think that we’re taking the ‘enlightened’ route of consciously employing our creative powers to create our own destinies, implicitly we actually try to manipulate and change the world around us in a way of which we think it won’t disturb our Egg Marks. (<– We see this, for instance, in the many attempts we take to manifest a ‘rescue’ from our current situation, which is an act that’s by definition reactive, and not creative.)
As such, we make our decisions not from a free and creative frame of mind, but rather based on stimulated blockages. Even the ‘creative desires’ that we hold for genuine can result from this urge to get rid of the underlying tension imposed by the Egg Mark.
In other words:
While we think and aim otherwise, in truth our lives revolve entirely around our ‘Egg Marks.’
And that brings us to the real danger of positive thinking…
The ‘Danger’ of Positive Thinking
Another way of looking at the phenomenon of how sensory inputs from today’s events activate the Egg Marks and the patterns we’ve built around them over the years, is by interpreting them as follows:
Life actually reflects our deeply stored ‘Egg Marks,’ making us aware of the fact that we’re holding on to them inside.
So ironically, while we may have unconsciously built an entire Egg (and often an entire life) around trying to avoid the very ‘negative’ feelings that are imprinted in our Egg Marks, life will invariably keep activating them (i.e. trying to make us aware of them) in the way described above.
But while it may feel otherwise, that’s actually a good thing. Think about it:
Since they’re buried deep in our subconscious minds, how else can we become aware of them?
As long as wedon’t dissolve such underlying disturbances, we’ll keep experiencing them on a repetitive basis in our lives. The stuff that holds us down will simply periodically rear its head, whenever it happens to get stimulated.
And while the circumstances may (or may not) be different each time, the feelings and patterns they invoke always remain similar, because they originate in the (re-)activation of the same Egg Marks.
And that’s why life is really doing us a favor, and thus where we run into the actual caveat to positive thinking:
- When our Egg Marks get activated, we experience apparently ‘negative’ thoughts and emotions.
- By then ignoring them and/or explaining them away through merely redirecting our focus to ‘positive things,’ we effectively deny of the fact that they’re reflections of deeper imbalances we’re holding onto inside.
- So clearly, nothing freezes us more in our current state, lack of awareness, and inability to act constructively and creatively than this type of denial!
And this is where the phrase “it is what it is” comes in…
“It Is What It Is”
By definition, the phrase “it is what it is” does not do ‘denial’… Instead, it does ‘acceptance.’ And in doing so, it puts us into a position of tremendous power.
If we’re not honest and open enough to accept what’s happening, how can we possibly do anything about it?
So if we don’t face and acknowledge the ‘what is,’ it will never change, because we won’t change. Our Egg Marks will remain. And so they’ll keep on getting activated/reflected in our experience… usually a tad more extremely with every next time they do.
It’s almost like ‘life’ or ‘the universe’ is thinking:
“Did (s)he get it yet? No? Okay, same recipe again then… but this time a little more powerful. (S)He ought to get it some time!”
Now make no mistake:
The acknowledgment that accompanies the phrase “it’s what it is” does not mean we merely give in and meekly acquiesce to whatever happens in our lives that you’re not happy with.
Instead, it brings us back into the ‘now,’ and allows us to recognize the inner imbalance that’s being reflected… so we can subsequently clean it out of our system to finally get rid of our ties to the inhibiting patterns that we keep getting pulled into and that keep getting us more and more of the same in life. (<– Cleaning out ‘Egg Marks’ is an important aspect of the Crack Your Egg Program.)
That’s why the word ‘now’ follows up on “It’s what it is” in the song:
“It is what it is now”
The phrase thus relates to the present… not the past, not the future, but the NOW, the only moment that truly exists. It’s not what it was… It’s not what it will be… It’s what it IS.
So the state of mind that the phrase “it’s what it is” instigates, allows us to really perceive what’s happening now, and choose our response consciously from there.
In that regard, the phrase “it’s what it is” must go together with something else, which is:
“… so let’s cut the crap and finally deal with it.”
‘Negative’ experiences are not about punishment, ‘negative karma,’ or anything like that… Just like any experience, they’re about expanding awareness of our innermost selves.
If we don’t pick up on that awareness, or don’t do anything with it, we’ll never make a constructive difference in our subconscious programming or our lives.
But once we acknowledge what the ‘negative’ experience is saying… or rather, once we recognize what imprint of feelings and beliefs is being activated (<– and which ‘life’ is thus making us aware of), we know exactly what it is that we need to work on:
We need to clean that junk out of your system. And once we do, it’s simply no longer there to be reflected in our lives anymore. And that way, the ‘negative’ experience simply vanishes:
- … either because we just don’t get into the type of situations that used to activate our Egg Marks anymore…
- Or because they no longer bother us, since there are no Egg Marks or associated patterns to be activated anymore (meaning that we effectively don’t recognize them as ‘negative’ anymore).
So just redirecting our attention to something we consider to be ‘positive’ is not going to cut it. That’s like putting on a band-aid; it might alleviate or mask the symptom shortly, but it never takes away the cause for the symptom to come up in the first place, thus pretty much guaranteeing its eventual return.
The key is to recognize the Egg Mark(s) which the negative thoughts and emotional charge are associated with, and then to get rid of our ties to them. That’s the only thing that’s ever going to make a real difference in the long run.
Once we do, we’ll finally feel the freedom to deliberately create and shape our lives in the way we want, without attachments or aversions being the sole determinants of the direction of our thoughts, feelings, choices, decisions and actions.
And guess what:
The more of those ties you release, the more a unique, genuine, and authentic part of you begins to shine through.
That part is a special aspect of you that I call the ‘Master Wave’…
But while there’s lots to say and explain about this part of you, we’ll leave that for another time.
Except for these words in conclusion…
How To Pick Up & Ride The ‘Master Wave’…
It’s important to realize that your ‘Master Wave’ is not a static ‘end of the line.’ It too is a moving current, an ongoing wave progression.
But once you recognize and flow with it, it will feel so natural, you’ll wonder how you could have ever missed it. In fact, you’ll see how you’ve been denying it all along, either deliberately or unconsciously (i.e. by default).
The choice to ride it is yours. You don’t have to go look for it, ‘seek enlightenment,’ or do any of that kind of stuff.
It’s already there, waiting for you to tune (back) into it. And you can do so by getting your Egg Marks and associated junk out of the way, thus clearing your field of perception and reception. That’s how you really get (back) in the flow.
In short, it’s a matter of:
- Disregarding externally imposed norms of what or who you should be… living independently of petty irrational fears and anxieties… to be free from attachments to results and expectations, aversions to undesired circumstances, and limiting beliefs instigated in times past.
- Honestly and genuinely acknowledging who you really are… treading beyond your Egg Marks… enjoying the process of being you and becoming a more and more awesome version of you with every waking moment.
Doing so will transform what appears to be a ‘struggle’ into a ‘natural flow,’ with all the feelings of abundance, limitlessness and ease that come with it.
Rudyard Kipling summarized this beautifully in his poem titled ‘If:’
(And of course, that goes for you ladies too!)
So here’s to ‘Cracking Your Egg’ and ‘Riding Your Master Wave!’
Now if you’ll excuse me, I should get back to my guitar… I feel some music coming through.
P.S. I recommend you periodically re-read this article, or even just Kipling’s poem, so you can really let the meaning and implications of it sink in. And if you want some help cleaning out your Egg Marks, you’re always more than welcome on the Crack Your Egg Program.
Thanks Henk, I read your work with a lot of respect! The lyrics you quoted in your article is so powerful:
“That’s what it is
It’s what it is now
What it is
It’s what it is now
So true!
“… so let’s cut the crap and finally deal with it.” Thank you, Henk, for adding that line as I wince every time I hear “It is what it is.” Great article. I will re-read time and again. It’s filled with so many juicy bits, like all of your articles, that it takes digesting it piece by piece. And, your writing style is much like a friend I’ve sat down to coffee with – really appreciate! Keep ’em coming!
Second time I’ve seen this article and now is a good time for this reminder that those ‘egg marks’ can trip us up without our even knowing why we tripped. It is critical to pay attention when we fill a sense of dis-ease (physical, mental, or emotional). Only then can we dig deeper to acknowledge and release. As always, thanks for your words of wisdom.
Oh Henk :o)
How wonderful to be in synque with others who are not afraid nor judge but see the potency of the ‘negative’
I believe we need to see the glass half empty in order to refill it
Its quite a long time since we have heard lot of wise thoughts-
Never mind past is always an inspiration!
Firmly believe that a positive mind is itself a blessing-
It offers you plenty of useful initiatives–a long life too with a definite purpose.
Take it-A ccept it…Greet it….Never allow it to escape..
Lifes like that….
Highlyy appreciated your endeavours–
Fantastic article. Perfect timing!
One love. One life. Drlesyaanna conscious web series developer
Fantastic!!! No more words, realy nice article, Thanks a lot.
As always I find everything you write and share inspiring!
Thank you so very much. You are the only one who consistently “tells it like it is”
and always seems “right on”. Accepting reality is more important then pretending
life is either positive or negative, it just is. As you said, we don’t have to like it, or for
that matter dislike it, we just have acknowledge what is. Thanks again!
The more you accept what is the more you get what is! Theres a big difference between dealing with Egg Marks and releasing them and accepting reality as it is. One should be aware of ones Egg Marks and do ones best to release them because as Henk says they hold us back from our true selves and our power to freely manifest, since in essence they are blockages. But to say reality is more important than pretending is what gets you into trouble, Aside form Egg Marks that show up in our lives, all other “what is’s” if negative should be ignored while we focus on the opposite instead. For example, focusing on all the negative crap on the news will only cause one to create further havoc in ones life, Instead take your focus off all that negativity and focus instead on what you want and FEEL GOOD!. Again , tihs is not ot avoid dealing with Egg Marks when they rear their ugly head, Deal with them yes and then move on to focusing on what you want, not on what is in the world unless it serves you.
I read your articles over and over again. They are brilliant! I have unsubscribed to most others, finding I’ve actually gone beyond them, but your’s … wow! Thank you!
Thanks for a excellent read, better yet, to put to use. Keep the good writing going and the knowledge you were blessed with, your the best !
I find your articles interesting. They get me thinking. That’s a huge achievement in itself. Thank you.
I love the way you think & write Henk! I listened to the song as I was reading & it reminded me how I have let listening to my favorite music slip with the passing years. It has been a most self revealing hour on so many levels. Every time I read your work I feel more full of me; Thank you!
Your style is so unique in comparison to other folks
I’ve read stuff from. Many thanks for posting when you’ve got
the opportunity, Guess I’ll just bookmark this web site.
Hello there! RIGHT ON TIME. I was not feeling to well but I forced myself to read this E-Mail and it was the very thing I was going through from last Thursday. I have gotten a lot of positive uplifting mindmovies and hypnotist sessions in my E-mail inbox which are excellent. I was really thinking about this positive thinking stuff and thought to myself that Americans in general do not like to feel much,they don’t want to hear themselves so they fill themselves up with all kinds of things- anything to keep from hearing themselves less they scream out. Trying to think positive all the time is to deny the other aspects of your soul on this physical plain we are on. I think that is why people resort to escapism and this manifest itself in many different ways, nevertheless it is all the same whether it is drunkenness, drug addiction gossiping, overworking,laziness ,debauchery, selfishness, gender confusion and a whole list of things. We cannot deny the darkness that is in each and everyone of us. We must first accept it and then we can draw closer to the light. It is truly remarkable the way the universe works. I needed someone to help sing with my soul about the thoughts I have been having—- and then came you. (We cannot trick the universe,it hears us in our thoughts and the deep issues of our soul. Henk, this is divine words written from you to me at a time such as this and then with AMAZING GRACE you send me the copy of my favourite poem which I googled last Thursday and only to find it in my E-Mail today- Monday four days later! My soul is really rejoicing, Henk. Keep up the divine work you are doing, you are on a higher level. My soul meshes with your soul.Thanks Universe and all you Divine Masters! This is LOVE PERSONIFIED.
I was reminded of an experience in court when the learned judge said that he will hand over a factory to us (we were taking over a sick factory for running) on an AS IS, WHERE IS, WHATEVER IS basis. While we did not raise any issues and agreed to his request he added that IN LIFE WE WILL HAVE NO PROBLEMS (LESS PROBLEMS) IF WE TAKE LIFE ON AN AS IS, WHERE IS, WHATEVER IS BASIS.
THANKS HENK
ANANTHARAMAN
Thank you Henk for a truly, thought-provoking article. I can now see why I haven’t been getting anywhere with positive thinking. …I have a lot of “junk-in-my-trunk.” Time to start the clearing process. Thanks again.
Thank you, you gave me so much to think about & I really appreciate the wisdom you’ve shared with us. Magic !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANK YOU HENK, FOR SHARING THIS WONDERFUL INFORMATION. NOW I DISCOVER THE EQUITY BETWEEN POSITIVE THINKING & NEGATIVE THINKING.
As always and expected, brilliant and inspiring!!….from the bottom of my heart, thank you, Henk
Dear Henk,
Thank you ,its this connective conciousness we need to understand our essence of dignifying humanity.
I’m a musician too(base)and is my passion………..anyway without many words from me to you: “thanks for the vibes”.
I’m with you on the music part for unwinding. Your interest in guitar makes me associate the genre of country music. Many great country music artists have come about this way.
I have to also agree on the “positive thinking” approach. Unless you thoroughly extract
the cause of the negativity just redirecting your thoughts on it momentarily doesn’t address
the issue being dealt with in the first place.
Thanks.
My teenagers challenge me evey moment i am with them as they shed their skin and develope their original selves. I reflect on concepts i developed myself around during my youth in my effert to individualise and i shed my old skins too and have a fresh perspective. The letting go is constant and the freshness keeps me clear.
Thank you very much God Bless.
I believe ” Master Wave” is what we Jesus followers call God’s Kingdom.
Magnificent article! Thank You for the continuation of having something worth reading and taking in! There is not one article you have shared with me that I haven’t gotten something our of it! I really appreciate you! May we continue to be blessed by thee creator.
Wow, what a deep and very thought provoking article.
I wish I had you in my life, or someone who was on this same wavelength .
Your words are life changing and inspiring and I thank you from the bottom of my broken heart for taking the time and effort to write them and to be who you are and helping me and others get to the bottom of our ‘problems’. I hope to one day ride my “Master wave” again.
Thank you.
good job with this one. We all need “it is what it is” in this mentally twisted, manipulated world.
This is awesome stuff Henk. Thank you for sharing!
Pretty well put. I have always wondered what such negative emotions mean; to be always cropping up when they honestly do not feel good. Now I understand they come up in order to follow their way out of my system. They were confusing as I believed they did not resonate with my ambitions; now I understand that they appear in order to make space for aspired feelings.
First of all , thank you.
You have done a good job by talking about both negative and positive thinking.
We can not know one without knowing the other.
Thinking positive is to admit the existance of à parrallel mouvement to ours.
This mouvement is the one responssible for making our positive thinking happens.
This article entitled “what it is” reminds me of something my brother use to say and that is…It is what it is D”.
Then I would think to myself, why is it that he is saying that, because I thought it came off kind of like he just didn’t give a damn just except it, whatever it is,
because… it is what it is!
However, I have come to realize now that he was just in his way, not denying it but accepting whatever is going on or what have as experiences learned and to move forward, with a different attitude and perspective.
My baby brother, he is a good man.
The thing is when we don’t clear up the clutter in our lives it can follow us later, and remind us it’s time to clean up the mess and clear our path.
I really got some insight into reading this article, as well as a couple of tears flowed down my face in a good way though 🙂 because it made so much sense.
I am not a musician nor am I an artist but can appreciate and relax listening to good music, love the bass guitar and Jazz the best.
In reading all of your articles I learn something new more and more everyday I truly thank you and welcome reading more from you.
I have heard this on numerous occasions that the past doesn’t exist… the future doesn’t exist however the present is what we are living now and does.
Thanks again to you, Henk, for sending out this article and other informative material my way.
THE PAST is not to be forgotten,its the lesson,having been learnt. THE FUTURE must be postulated-its a pride tobe reconed with. THE PRESENT IS TO BE RATIONALY AS WELL AS PERIODICALLY EVALUATED.IT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PHASE OF OUR INTEGRITY: WITHOUT positive thinking as well as well -conceived planned existence life shall have no defination nor would there be challenge for survival. LET there be struggle but no repentence. THIS is the reward we shall always look forwards. sham sunder azad——————WE BELIEVE IN ONE WORLD!
Thanks Darling, absolutely beautiful
Wonderful article and loved the poem…
Ive been reading & listening to tools that guide you to acknowledge the negatives in your life and assists with moving through these feelings by releasing the built up energies.. something like that anyway.. all new to me right now but loving it as i do your articles. I am looking forward to CYE
Thank you Henk for your wisdom and guidance.
Hey Henk,
I do not think age, gender, or culture play into it.
In all honesty, I think it is a rare person indeed who spends much time thinking about the present. It is almost always the past or the future. It could be the very near future but the future nonetheless. When the end of the month is coming, a person thinks that on such and such a day they will pay that bill or that something bad may happen as a result of the consequences of something done in the past.
The present is really right now and as I finish this sentence it will be in my past. You can see from the postings that they read just posted for only 60 seconds and just like that, they are in the past. I can only think about the present for one second really can I ? Everything else is either past or future. Now almost doesn’t exist when it comes to time and yet it is so real.Time is a mystery isn’t it? But I am confusing myself.
Now to narrow it down further, in my opinion, the past is thought of in relation to the future as to how it will affect your future. So one thinks about the future, when thinking about the past but one doesn’t necessarily think about the past when thinking about the future. In the past there may be certain regrets or hurts which may cause you to dwell on them as a matter of fact, the past is known to haunt. Some people cannot even think of the future because of the past. I would have to say that the past is thought of the most but that is just because I examined myself and my thoughts. It may not be so for others.
Thank you for your intriguing question, I am sure I will think on it some more tonight!
I am fascinated with your letters!
Thanks & have a great day.
I am so glad that someone is finally looking at the issue of always reflecting on the positive. I have long held an attitude of this is what is – not realizing that it was helping me discard baggage that I was carrying. You have made this issue so clear for me. Thank you.
A couple of ideas struck me while reading your post. The first being that the protective time lag put in place by God to protect us from having our negative thinking become manifest, now seems to me to have been designed specifically to allow us to experience our past or current negative experiences in order to purge them from our lives. That is huge! An absolute game changer. It gives me (and I hope all of you) the ability to stop running away from our negative experiences, and actually understand that God is putting them in (or back in) our experience, to learn from and improve. The other idea is one that I’ve had no luck trying to reason out to myself. That is the part of the equation that says you cannot have any expectations about results. A very hard concept for most of us to accept. Your explanation tells it quite straight forward and true. It’s easy to see from your explanation that putting expectations on problem solving limits the open-endedness that needs to exist for negativity to be experienced and shed from life. Perhaps you could expand upon this idea in a future post. How about looking at the idea of expectations being taken out of the picture when dealing with a negative experience or limitation; but once the poor experience has been dealt with, that expectations can be once again used within a positive manifesting framework. (I think we may call these goals.) Or maybe that expectations used within any manifesting framework will automatically limit the outcome; as what we call manifesting is actually God doing His will through us, and our expectations are hampering God from doing His work. Regardless, I want to echo many of the posts here by saying that you boys are doing a great service to humankind. What a wonderful mantle to be able to wear.
Lot of wisdom and soul searching gets put into song lyrics the great social witness that came from artists like Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger , Johny Cash , who cannot be moved by his rendering of Hurt…….. so indeed if music is the food of love play on!
Very good post, I truly enjoyed it.
Reading your poem “If” brought to mind anotherm by C.W.Longnecker:
THINK
If you think you are beaten, you are
If you think you dare not, you don’t
If you’d like to win but you think you can’t
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost
For out in this world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will
It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you’re outclassed – you are
You’ve got to think high to rise
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win the prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
to the stronger or faster man,
But sooner or later the man who wins,
Is the man who THINKS he can.
Thank you, Henk for all your articles, I have them all filed and constantly find encouragement and enlightenment from them.
Sincerely, Joan
I have taken many people through analysis. Sometimes I need to take a dose of my own medicine. Not try to learn or be more but just to remember who I am? Great work Henk, keep doing what you are doing and all are vibrations will unite.
Henk…I truly enjoy your articles in that they express my thoughts, feelings, actions and results in my “flow of reality.” I attract all positive and negative situations becoming absolutely aware of my sowing and reaping in abundance, manifestation and blessings within my world. Your in-depth comments and inspiration lift me as my Source lifts me…Thanks Much!!!
@Kevin
That is a great poem and a wonderful analogy, thank you x
This stuff is so so true and I wish there was a like button I could click on for some of the comments from the amazing people you are collecting in this community.
What has become really apparent to me lately is that these challenges become magnified when the challenges involve parenting, I guess it is the most profound impact we have as we are trying to pass on our values to those we love most.
I have experienced many challenges as a single parent and there have definitely been times I have played the victim. It is certainly true that for every choice you make there is someone who will pat you on the back for that choice and someone who will condemn you for it. What isn’t acknowledged is that so much of what occurs in this relationship is deeply personal and unique to the people involved in it. There are strongly held cultural beliefs about what is right and many, many passionate shoulds around family. It is only recently that I have chosen to really be aware of and shed those ‘shoulds’ for the benefit of my relationship with my now adult son.
I guess what I’m saying is, to all those parents out there, when a parenting issue is causing you deep concern and upset, take a look at what ‘shoulds’ are in the background driving your perception of the problem. There may still be a serious issue that needs addressing but it will almost certainly handled if the actions taken come from the unique person in that unique situation rather than from a proscribed set of societal norms and expectations.
And also, if you understand the concept of flow, try and incorporate as much of that as possible in your relationship with your children as possible – not so much in what you do but the energy around how you do it.
I love kids,
I love people (maybe because they are really kids in grown up clothes)
I love to see them lit up with joy
Namaste x
thanks Henk again for an awesome read… you made me laugh though with ” now back to my guitar” classic… pick up and move on with what makes you feel good. Brilliant .
henk
thanks again for significant artice.iam wondering about some one.who has achieved just positive subconscious mind and positive experiences since the time ,who was born . is there any body like that?
best wishes
mohammad reza sedghi
I would like to say how much I truly appreciate your articles. They are all so inspiring and right on the money. Thanks so much for making them available. :o)
Dear Henk,
I read your posts with great respect for the mission you are on. Absolutely incredible information, each and every article. Who are you and how did you get started on this quest?
I am a 44 year old male fledgling business owner who started to “see the light: regarding personal/ financial growth, law of attraction, quantum physics, the whole spectrum at about the age of 30(Think & Grow Rich was placed in my hands and literally changed my life). While my interest ebbed back in my late 30’s, I have now in my 40’s been on a quest, a thirst for knowledge that has taken me on some interesting paths from which I’ve leaned vast amounts of information but always feel I have just barely “scratched the surface”.
Thank you for the articles. Know that they are thoroughly enjoyed . They dig so deep that I am always sorry for the end of each.
Again, I thank you,
Dave Wacholtz
Wisconsin,USA
Just wanted to thank you for all the wonderful articles. My journey has been full of ups and downs…but never boring, and oh what a ride it is! You have helped to awaken me to this marvelous new way of thinking, feeling & being. I always look forward to your articles and really enjoy the straight forward and sometimes comical way that you reach me as a reader. It is what it is, and that’s exactly the way you put it. Thank you for that. Always a pleasure reading your articles! Anxiously waiting to get started on “Crack your Egg”!
Just what I needed! Thanks a lot.
yes yes yes
Thank you for this reminder. In teaching Yoga I’ve always said at the start of the class:”Let’s start from the very beginning. A very good place to start’ (The sound of music). Acknowledge and accept what is your inner weather at the moment, accept what is there, conect to your breathing and your centre without denying your thoughts and feelings.” etc…I also play guitar and sing Russian songs, when I manage to connect to the present moment and feel what I’m feeling, without calling it ‘negative’, eventually my authentic voice and tone come through.
with all the best wishes,
Mina.
This is an excellent article! It reminds me of many years ago when I worked for a company that a young engineer started the plant using the phrase “It is what it is!” I never believed that for one minute. It is never what it is, it is what you make of it!
Thank you so much for sharing this with us and reminding us that negative experiences help us grow to be better people.
Henk! You did it agin. this aricle is fantastic.You write with so much clarity and sense. I enjoy reading everything you give us and know that you certainly make a difference in people’s lives. Every new statement is explained with an example one can understand.
You would make an excellent teacher…well, you are..
Thank you for your welcomed insights and all for FREE!!
Peace and love to you,
have come to the conclusion that there really is no negative aspect of life or of our persona. What actually takes place is a judgement that puts labels and tags on our experiences. I think the term from the song you qouted “It’s what it is” sums it up quite well.
When we are in the flow with what is we are at our best. Maybe it really means we need to accept each moment as it presents itself, without judgement and with out resistance. This is how we learn and grow and “go where no man has gone before”.
I read your article and for once read all of the comments. What you say makes so much sense. I really believe it in my heart. The comments by some of your readers are very good also. As I think about things, I realize that those weaknesses and obstacles in our life are put their for us to learn and gain experience from. If we will learn from them we will become stronger. As my wise father said “If we don’t learn the lesson the first time, we will have to keep taking it until we do learn.” And as you or one of your readers said the message can become stronger each time in order to get our attention. It reminds me also of the concept “feelings buried alive never die”. But I really agree with you about too much positivity is not good. It can keep us from seeing the truth sometimes and from progressing. Also as someone mentioned, there is opposition in all things. Anyway you said and explained things in a way that is easy to read and understand. Thank you for your sharing.
WHEN we can do all these if’s that Mr. Kipling writes of… THEN we will know that we have finally ‘grown up’… and we can be responsible, healthy, happy, doing excellent work, still FREE as children, but stronger for the experience!
Thank you thank you thanks, thanks, thanks… thats all i can say at the moment 🙂
I am not a big Oprah fan, but every now and then she says things that stick with me and your posting touches on it as well. She tells people to “hear it in a whisper” and what life does is whisper it to you, usually the negative, and if we ignore it, the whisper becomes louder and louder until it feels like we get a ton of bricks land on our head. Great post as always!
Do this way of thinking (or writing) have anything to do with the power of Now by Eckhart Tolle??? Whatever the article is great it got me thinking. Thank you. Manuel
This is the most worthwhile of any advice on this subject that I have ever heard ,and I for one intend to put it into practice to rid myself of decades of guilt,regret,and sorrow that has been a life altering cross that I desperately need to unload.If I can succeed in pulling this off,I shall be forever in your debt—–Don
I have always loved the poem IF and in fact had it hanging on my boys bedroom doors while they were growing up. Although, as times have changed considerably since the poems creation…
I now believe it could be instead of ‘Be a man my son’ to Be responsible my children’ or something similiar… That is just be though… 🙂
Just to add Iola has a point…where there is good there is evil…Mother Theresa said if we can’t accept our own hitlers we can never become enlightened.
The nature of the universe is as….if we are all part of the one then everything we see is our nature!!! doesn’t a lion kill a beautiful helpless dear that harms nothing (eats grass, is grass not alive?)…however although we don’t like to see the lion kill the dear we also don’t want to see the lion killed…..we have to learn to accept!!! Everything!!! to be truly in tune with out true nature!!!
It’s a long journey
I didn’t read your whole post because i’m a skimmer :/ but i got your gist.!! I personally think there is too much out there at the moment…too many people trying to put their own unique twist on the truth, and it’s confusing some people who are new to the concept of the ‘law of attaction’ etc…We have seen this before, in the teachings of the great prophets, my love being Jesus!! ..others were quick to jump on the band wagon and add their own gimmicks and rules in order to gain the power for themselves, we call it religion!!!….I believe you are absolutely right in what you’re are saying!!! We in ourselves are a product of other people’s impressions…impressions that we ‘choose’ to foster in order to ‘be accepted’ in the environment we arrived in… I read a book recently which is freely available on the net, called ‘transformation’ (I can’t remember who wrote it but i have in my favourites somewhere, i’m happy to dig it out if you’re interested)….this reminds us that as children our personalities…our true ‘selfs’ are constantly chipped away, we are given the impression we are not acceptable, as our true natures are not in line with society’s expectations…. we suppress our true nature, we ‘allow’ it to be overtaken by other people’s beliefs, people who have suffered the same fate, until not much of us is left..we then spend our entire lives feeling like we are not ourselves, something is missing, we are not good enough and judging others etc We see all those parts of us that we have suppressed in our judgements of others!!! We feel things are bad because we have been judged and are now judging…and we need to uncover the truth and become conscious of the truth, to become enlightened…
I also read another book recently with regards to an ancient hawaiian practice, (again sorry details escape me I read a lot),.the basis is that when we are not fully conscious of what is driving us…and subsequently driving our emotions, it is because the subconscious mind is constantly playing back memories to us….we have to realize this and escape it to allow new occurrences to take place..the only way we can do this is to become aware of what it is!! …anyway It was a good post, you have my thumbs up!!! In some ways i do believe that our emotions also play the role of a compass….if we aren’t happy we are in the wrong place/situation…i’m still investigating this concept from self analysis!!! 🙂 keep up the good work…
PS..I’ve just bought a guitar, haven’t played a note yet lol 🙂
You are something else! Do you stay up all night and compose these letters?
They have so much wisdom in them. You really hit the nail on the head with all the articles
that you publish. This article is “right on” ! You both are a deep thinker and your words have a lot of energy in them, I can feel it when I read it. Carry on and blessings on you as you generously share your wisdom.
Eager to read “Crack Your EGG” !
Don’t confuse more those who really need some answers. You take a verse and then you make your own interpretation, and voila! A piece of ‘wisdom’.
‘Some are born to sweet delight, some are born to endless night’, this comes from a poet far way more profound as the Knopflers.
or
‘Come closer my dear, it’s just the beginning of the end’
the bottom line is that where is good there’s evil too, we care the seed of life and the seed of death within all the time, from the beginning to the end, the yin and the yang, the binary universe, so on… we all know that and still people are waiting for other people to tell them what they already know…
For years now, people are told to focus on the positive, now because the well of The Secret is about to get dry, as everybody knows what it is all about, here comes an other story: positive is not enough, there is just one more technique to learn: Wow, confusing, eh?
Do you really want a piece of advice? If you have a dream yes, you can make it come true. It requires passion, lots of work, integrity and confidence in yourself. If you don’t succeed however and you know you did nothing wrong, then it might be because it was not meant to be. Let’s say you start a business, open a hotel for example and then everything goes great until an earthquake strikes, or a tsunami hits. Is it your fault? Didn’t you use the’ technique’ right? Didn’t you strike a balance between positive thinking and negativity? NO! It wasn’t meant to be, it was beyond your powers and will. It is that simple as that.
Don’t let anyone play with your mind and confuse you. Be true to yourself, believe in yourself. That’s all you have to do.
Very interesting – someone I met a few weeks ago just told me the same thing! I wasn’t sure exactly what she meant, but now I do. The best part is you are going to tell us how to get rid of the negativity – can’t wait for the article.
I always knew that God gave us messages and if we didn’t heed them, God would speak louder – which is exactly what you just said. But, it never occured to me that positive thinking would make it worse!
Thank you for the information and insight – I will continue reading and the put the information into practise.
My best to you,
Marilyn
A truth spoken from the beggining,
for the wise of heart.
U’ve opened some eyes for better life on on this earth.
Well done.
But there is one who does more.
The Teacher of truth who opens the eyes of souls
to all that is good and eternally abundant there of.
His name is Jesus!
May you blessed for what you know and how you speak Henk and Nicholas
Thank you – thank you – I can ALWAYS use a reminder – and you put it so beautifully – and thanks for posting “IF” –
You have a talent for really getting to the nitty gritty.
Thanks guys for a truly inspiring article. Thank you, it is one of the best articles that I have read in a long time.
Peter.
Thankyou Henk ,
Awesome material. Exactly what I have learned through Eckhart Tolle and Bill Harris at Centerpointe Inst but don’t always put in to action. Very timely reminder for me.
What I love about you two is how easy you make reading and understanding this stuff. You defintely have a flow going with your communicating what you are wanting to relate.
You have a way of making the complicated sound simple therefore achievable.
Looking forward to the program
Every post a gem. Thanks, Henk!
Kind of both a yes and a no to your analysis. First of all you use, being in the zone, in a very board sense. The first experience of this happened to me on stage in 52. Not pushing your role before you or dragging it behind, but being in the now, not doing anything, just being completely aware and it was ectasy. Afterwards, you think, “What was that! A spiritual experience? Am I going crazy? There was no such phrase as, being in the zone” There was no information and people did not come forth voluntarily to speak of their experiences. Then slowly, slowly in the field of sports, stories began to find the light of day about footballers running to catch the ball and suddenly finding themselves in a pool of quiet where effortlessly they caught the ball and made their touchdown. Musicians speaking of becoming the music. Golfers, etc start to publish books about how to get into the zone. I discovered that Mihally Csikszentmihalyi….( I love the fact that Zen sits in the middle of his name) ..made a study of it and his conclusions are, “The best moments occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to it’s limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile ……” For me it’s a matter of timing. Happening when you are “right on” You become a watcher in the now. You don’t do anything. Everything is happening. The original experience changed and shaped my life. If I were younger and could go out and buy a book, explaining the psychology perhaps I would say, “fine,” place the book on the shelf and feel that my questions were answered. It has nothing to do with, “goodness,” That much is clear. Also quickly, the mind throwing the negative up before you has oft times to do with nothing so much as Habit. A pattern that one has fallen into and is comfortable. Being aware of when ones falls into this pattern and directing the mind away from the loop of thoughts can be a very good and healthy thing to do. Well, I have bla de bla-ed on. Thanks for all the work you do.
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So comforting to be reminded that one is NOT a failure.
About living in the now.
In “Kong Fu Panda” there is a phrase that caught my attention, although it’s a film for children.
The old wise turtle says: ” Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called present…” How true it is. Let’s unwrap this present…
Daniela – Italy
I was reading some belief changing article by Morty Lefkoe today and it was very much along these lines. When you feel or think something that impacts you negatively that is when you can access the beliefs that are dominating your life negatively. It’s not so much that you should realize the impact of some particular event or even realize that some event in the present reminds you of some event in the past. What is important is to realize that some event in the present has given you access to a belief that you formed way back. Yes, the event could, and probably does, have similarities to some event that happened when you were a child, but that’s not important. It is possible to know what belief you formed as a child! Isn’t that awesome. It’s awesome because those once thought to be inaccessible beliefs are the same ones that limit you now. The way to access them is to become more aware of your feelings. When you feel a negative feeling ask yourself what negative belief that feeling could be related to. Thank you for your article Henk.
Thank you again Henk. it is always a pleasure to read your articles and I particularly enjoyed this one.
Brilliant articles – all of them. Just keep doing what you’re doing, Henk.
Thank you so much!
Cracking the egg…that’s quite a potentially ‘messy’ metaphor you’ve got going there. I suppose it’ll be okay if you’re ‘hard-boiled’? If you’re a ‘3-minute’ then you’re probably going to need more than the king’s horses and men to put you back together again?
I suppose that ‘spilling your guts’ is like the breaking of a wave that’s been held back by tidal force…the calm will be followed by the force unleashed. The song begins, the story is told and the silence or reaction remains…cycles, ups-and-downs, good and bad; all part of the ebb and flow of life.
…and the son broke his leg…that’s bad, no it was good, he didn’t have to go to war.
Thanks for the reminder and may your work continued to attract the beautiful flow of life.
Thank you! You often write very interesting articles. You improved my mood.
Your words, from the very beginning it was introduced to me, are alwasy so applicable to what im currently thinking.
I am one of your newest members. Glad to be aboard!:-)
I cannot thank you enough for your initiave!!
I can feel the egg cracking already! That was the right message at the right time. It seems that the LOA is at work to get me into the Flow. It seems like you were speaking right to me. I have been feeling the tug of my guitar, which has been sitting in an obscure corner of my man cave, for quite some time. The time has come for me to go with the Flow and enjoy the ride, rocks and all. Thanks for the inspiring words.
This is a nice article. Thank you for taking time to develop it.
In truth, immediately i didn’t understand the essence. But after re-reading all at once became clear.
when reading this article I came to the conclusion that it is exactly what I ‘ve doin’ for many years. Being positive has sort of become my natural state of mind without losing track of reality. I accept and move on as good as i can. 11 years ago I was layed off and after a while of selfpity I decided to accept, grab my shit together and get on with it.
I can honestly say that I have all the skills necessary to do what I do: I restore art and frame it.
Still, after 11 years of working 7 days a week, 12 hours a day, I don’t make a decent living.
I’ve read all the books, put in the effort….so where do i go wrong??
No words to express. Simply superb… The flow of thoughts are in a chronological order, which makes it easy to co relate things… thanks and regards,
svk
LET THE CHURCH SAY AMEN!!! This is also what I needed to hear!! Many thanks!!
mmm there,s something to think about thanks
All I can say is “Wow” – when the student is ready…..the teacher appears…. thank you for being my teacher today and I am grateful for the words you wrote and I listened to….. very, very inspiring…..
Kindest
Sheryl
Hi Henk,
I have recently been looking at all of the so called negative events in my life, not as painful or harmful any more. But as something that did happen in my past. In looking at them as to what they are and in what category they are in. (Abandonment, Failure, social injustice etc. etc.). What ever Schemas or Memes they are associated with, can i NOW begin to let them go. By doing so i am finding as you mention the experience does disappear. I am only now beginning to remember that there was a WAVE or Life’s Path to flow with. Simple as it is that thinking got in the way of. The fact of the matter is: Everything is, always available. What you are offering is now coming into my awareness. SO Yes please Crack my egg!!
T.C.
Yes, Thank you so much, again you have made me cry. That was excellent, so beautiful.
J. krishnamurti said stay with the feeling and you will transcend it. This is always difficult to remember in trying times however. THANKS FOR HELPING ME TO REMEMBER!!!
Thank you, it is one of the best articles that I have read. How have you know what I needed to hear?
Best regards
Maria
Great article and ‘If’ is one of my favorite poems. After reading it I was reminded of a poem I wrote a few years ago for my son, please feel free to share it if you like.
Play the Cards You Were Dealt?
Well, that’s the cards you were dealt, son, they say
And you know; they lie to your face.
They don’t even know, that they don’t know
That the world doesn’t work that way.
For you’re never stuck with a hand in this game
Unless you ‘think’ that you are,
And if you want things different, instead of the same,
Then you’ll have to raise your bar…
It’s ‘not’ the cards you were dealt in life;
For you pick each one by name.
And if you still don‘t like the hand that you made,
You always can change the game.
When it’s getting late, and time to cash in,
You’ll find with a peaceful ‘grin’
That you never could have lost the game,
You only always win!!!
That’s life!!!
Kevin Gregory Uhrich
Henk,
Thank you once again!
w/love, henry
Amen!
Henk, thank you for your great work!
I know about positive thinking. I read “The power of Positive Thinking” and I thought that the only thing that I had to do in life was think positive. Nothing else. Just think positive. I didn’t have to work.. or anything else!
“This is a wonderful concept”, I thought! “Perfect! I just think positive thoughts and I will be showered with love, money, riches and anything else that I wanted”. I never even thought that it was too good to be true, so I started thinking positive.
The problem wasn’t in thinking positive. It was in not being responsible. You can’t drive down the road and close you eyes and then expect the universe to do it for you. I just did anything I wanted, thinking that there were no consequences to my actions, as long as I thought positive.
I learned the hard way that the consequences of my faulty thinking were a long painful journey that taught me that I must be careful of the decisions that I make. I should not blindly follow people who do not have my best interest at heart… and I should never climb a mountain without a rope!
I agree with the above. You have to be in the now to allow the flow. You have to make peace with where you are now. That peace will allow all kinds of good things to flow to you.
Pat
Interersting article. Confrontational therapy (Dianetics). If you don’t know from whence you came, you cannot have a future. No denial, look at it until all the negative emotional charge is gone. THEN, your future will be bright.
I’ve overcome war, terminal disease, government harassment and any other thing that came up in my life with this therapy. It works. No opinions, no “beliefs”, just truth. It does indeed set you free.
However, now I find I’m haunted by very specific great memories of how good life can really be, how great it really was at one time. Funny thing – Got all the bad stuff out of the way, the life threatening stuff. Now I’m haunted by the good things.
Hmmmm, wonder if I can get that to happen again? I’ll work on it, get “tuned” into it like I was before I got sick or before the war took laid me low.
Confrontational therapy – it works. Great article.
Doc
Thanks Henk for a truly inspiring article.This is the first time I have read a article on negativity that makes perfect sense.
To allow oneself to experience the negativity in one’s life is actually a positive step – awesome!
Thankyou for the reminder.
Nice article!
As a musician myself I can certainly relate to what you are saying. I’ve often found the ‘best’ songs I’ve written (judging by feedback, not my own opinion) are the ones that ‘just happened’. They seemed to come from somewhere else and I just tapped into the flow. On the other hand the ones you try hard to write can be a struggle sometimes, which is probably just me getting in my own way!
BTW, I love Mark Knopfler’s work too. Can be very soulful at times.