Lifestream
Your Flow of Creative Living
© 1996, Carolyn Odom
Burleson, Ph.D.
Session VII
SAY "YES" TO LIFE
Let your communications be yea...
Matthew 5:37
Contents: (Click on any bar to return to contents.)
- Use of Affirmations
- Enthusiasm
- Say YES to Life
- Summary
- God Is...
- Other Workshop Sessions
- Flow with the Lifestream
In the chapter on attitudes 1 have emphasized the need to make only positive statements about ourselves, i.e. to affirm the Real Self of our Being. This use of affirmations is to combat the effects of negative "SMT” (Subjective mind Talk) that goes on inside of our heads. In order to develop a positive self-image and expand our comfort zones, we need to talk back to "SMT". When it reminds us of the limitations we have placed upon ourselves or tells us that we cannot do a certain thing or achieve a certain goal just because we have not done it before, or did not do it well the last time we tried; then is the time to remind ourselves that the Lifestream which flows through us is God's expression. If we say "YES" to the Lifestream and simply allow it to flow freely, we will be amazed at the number of things we are able to accomplish.
The use of affirmations is simply to put ourselves into a positive frame of mind rather than a negative one. We always have a choice as to which thoughts we entertain. When a negative thought enters your consciousness, talk back to it with a positive thought. Do not simply dismiss the negative (for thoughts are still creative). If we dismiss it into the ethers still in its negative form, it will be picked up by another soul who may be willing to entertain it, and allow It to grow into Full negative form. We do not want that to happen; so we must first neutralize the thought by bathing it in love and surrounding it with positive energy. This is how affirmations help to bring about positive manifestations in our lives.
Affirmations such as "I am a whole healthy expression of God’s Love." "I live a happy, harmonious life because I am a center of Peace." "I can achieve my greatest desires." "I can serve to uplift humanity." They all say essentially the same thing, "YES".
Let us examine some of the psychological effects of saying “YES." To say, “YES” is to approve an action, to make a commitment in a positive direction towards accomplishing a goal. It is to say to one's self, “I have the power to fulfill that commitment and the wherewithal to accomplish that goal.” To say, “YES” is to recognize one's own intelligence and ability to reason out a workable plan, a strategy for handling the tasks involved and for overcoming any obstacles one may meet in the course of fulfilling the commitment. It is to say, “I have the physical strength and energy to carry out my plan.” It is also saying, “I have the wisdom to direct my energy on the proper course.”
To say, “YES” is say to one's self, “I have many positive attributes, and I will focus my mind upon the positive aspects of myself that will allow me to further affirm, 'I can.' I will not waste my time thinking about the possibility of failure, but rather I will dwell only upon the possibility of success and what it takes to bring it about.” For we only see obstacles when we take our eyes off of our goal. To say, “YES” is to establish within ourselves a positive psychological attitude that allows us to approach our commitment with enthusiasm. Nothing is more vital to the successful accomplishment of any goal than the amount of positive energy we put into our commitment.
I once read quite an appropriate description of the word enthusiasm by a Presbyterian of the South, the several points of which I will elaborate upon. It said:
- "Enthusiasm is reason gone mad to reach a definite rational objective."
Once we have used our intellect to set a rational objective and reasoned out our plan of action, we then go full steam ahead to achieve it.
- "Enthusiasm is inflamed by opposition but never converted; it is the leaping lightning that blasts obstacles from its path."
Any task we set out to complete will have its opposition, for dual aspects are a law of nature. There will be positive as well as negative swings of the pendulum of life. However, if our minds are set on successfully completing the task, our enthusiastic approach only becomes more enthusiastic and determined at the sight of obstacles. We approach them as a challenge and muster all of our forces to blast them out of our way and keep on going with our eyes on our goal.
- “Enthusiasm is the x-ray of the soul that penetrates and reveals the invisible."
When we are enthusiastic about achieving a goal, while we are working on our burning desires, there are forces at work with us at all levels. Problems may arise for which we see no immediate solution, but the Divinity within us can see right through to the very core of the problem and reveal a solution to our consciousness.
- “Enthusiasm is contagion that laughs at quarantine and inoculates all who come in contact with it.”
If you observe a person who enjoys life and approaches tasks with enthusiasm, you cannot help but to notice how that energy effects those around him. Before long he has a whole crew of people working along with him just as enthusiastically. And if you get close enough, it will rub off on you as well.
- “Enthusiasm is the vibrant thrill in your voice that sways the wills of others into harmony with your own.”
Have you ever tried to persuade someone to embrace an idea to which you, yourself had no commitment? It simply does not work. But when you are enthusiastic about it yourself, not only can you find many persuasive arguments to present, but also you deliver them with such positiveness that you can indeed convince others to accept your ideas or view. Consequently others are willing to lend a hand in the accomplishment of your goal.
- “Enthusiasm is the philosopher's stone that transmutes dull tasks into delightful deeds.”
Everything worth accomplishing has some aspects that are exciting and challenging which you are eager to pursue. But on the other hand, there are those tasks that are dull and routine but no less important to the accomplishment of your goal, and which therefore must be done. Approaching these tasks with the same eagerness and zeal knowing that they serve a vital purpose, makes the routine tasks just as pleasurable as the exciting ones.
- "Enthusiasm is a magnet that draws kindred souls with irresistible force and electrifies them with the magnetism of its own resolve."
Besides being contagious, enthusiasm is magnetic. This is a very important point to remember, for it can serve greatly to enhance the growth of your group, be it a business, a church or an organization of whatever sort. So keep your enthusiasm alive, and you will draw into your experience kindred souls. With the electrifying force of combined energy, groups can accomplish great things. Yet all accomplishments were initiated by someone who uttered the simple word “YES” and accepted the challenge.
Say “YES” to Life, for each time you say “YES,” you give recognition to the fact that life is a Divine creation and therefore is essentially good; that life is intelligently directed; that life is a constructive creative process. By saying “YES” you are giving recognition to the Divine Mind-Spirit-Life that resides in you and expresses through you. You are recognizing that there is a direct connection - right within your own being - to the infinite power, intelligence, energy, and wisdom of God. You are recognizing the constructive creative forces of the Universal Lifestream and allowing them to flow and express through yourself.
Saying “YES” does not necessarily mean that you alone are capable of all things, for surely you would not attempt to perform surgery if you were not trained to do so. You would not attempt to erect a huge monument or build a bridge alone. This requires teamwork. However, saying “YES” does mean that you believe that the task can be accomplished and that you are willing to do whatever you can to help bring it about. By recognizing the power, the force, the intelligence, the creativity and the wisdom of God that resides in and expresses through you, and by offering yourself as a channel, an instrument for the expression of Divine Good, you have taken the first step towards self mastery. The Divinity within you will take the next, and you will find yourself being guided in your actions. Once you get your personality-self out of the way and attune with those Divine forces within you, no challenge will seem too great, no obstacle insurmountable, and no goal too far out of reach. Say "YES" to Life.
1. Use affirmations to combat the effects of negative “SMT” and keep yourself in a positive frame of mind.
2. Turn each negative thought into a positive before dismissing it into the ethers.
3. An affirmation is a way of saying “YES” to the Lifestream of God.
4. Enthusiasm is that spark that gives us the drive to complete our tasks and achieve our goals.
5. Saying “YES” to Life gives recognition to the Divinity Within.
© 1996, Carolyn Odom Burleson, Ph.D.
Lifestream Creative Living Workshops
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"GOD IS"
GOD is the Lifestream in
which I live
GOD is the Lovestream in which I forgive
GOD is the Lightstream that guides my way
Through the dark night to a bright new day
GOD is desire urging His will
GOD is the silence in which I am still
GOD is the voice my silence has heard
Whispering His message, revealing His Word
GOD is my peace in the midst
of a storm
GOD is the work I delight to perform
GOD is the star toward which I reach
Grasping His wisdom from which I teach
GOD is the Mindstream
infilling my thoughts
GOD is the power by which all is wrought
Mine is the mind on which GOD impresses
I am a channel through which GOD expresses
GOD is the kingdom His
pleasure to give
I dwell in that kingdom as I live
GOD is the substance providing my needs
As I walk the Pathway fulfilling my dreams
GOD is the image in which I
am made
After His likeness the matrix He laid
GOD is the breath of life that I breathe
The Holy Spirit of grace I receive
GOD is the river that flows
from within
The wellspring of goodness, there He begins
GOD is the sun flung high up above
GOD is the rainbow, His promise of Love
GOD is the flame in my
brother’s heart
Sealing the bond though we may be apart
I live, and I love obeying GOD's rules
My mind is GOD's workshop - my hands are His tools
Workshop Session 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - Lifestream Meditation
© 1996 - Carolyn Odom Burleson, Ph.D.