Trying to have a Positive Attitude?

Almost everyone wants a positive attitude. Libraries, bookstores and websites are full of methods to attain a positive attitude or to achieve Positive Thinking.

The prudent person heeds the wisdom of Albert Einstein who stated “The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them”
We live in a world of duality. Our society is built on hierarchy and it seems that we are relentlessly required to determine if something is good or bad, or one thing is better than another. Every choice we make all day long, from what to eat, what to wear to “paper or plastic?” requires a continual hierarchy of decisions that directs our lives and the focus of our lives.

Proponents of Positive Thinking say, “If we just eliminate the toxic thoughts or the negative emotions, we will produce a better world.” Sounds good, until you remember Einstein’s statement above, or even Newton’s Law stating that, “for every force there is an equal and opposite force”. Have you ever tried affirmations? Why do they work sometimes and don’t work other times? The strategy in affirmations is to identify and combat toxic thoughts by developing affirmations to counteract them. I may or may not believe what I say, but I say it. After all, there’s another law that says, “What we focus on grows”.

But what is really growing? And what are we really focusing on??

Have you ever considered that you may be concerned about some lack? By trying to fix it, you are putting focus on the lack and you may actually increase lack in your life.

In the Enlightenment book, MSI said, “There are a number of different teachings today that encourage a constant repetition of positive or idealized statements. One unfortunate effect of this is a polarization between conscious ideals and the unconscious belief systems of the destructive internal programming. If we fail to recognize, accept and change unconscious emotional and psychological imprints, these forceful tactics of the ego will only serve to create tension and resistance in the personality and can lead to a dangerous split between the conscious and unconscious minds.”

By using the Ascension Attitudes, we are structuring a higher state of consciousness. We are moving the awareness to the Source of All Good. From this state, there is only One…..there are no opposites, there is no good or bad…..there is only Infinite Potential. Every time we use the Ascension Attitudes our consciousness expands. The more we use the Ascension Attitudes, the more we habituate to higher levels of awareness.

The Importance of Attitude

                                                                  Part 3 of 3

An interesting thing that psychologists noted about Attitudes is that there are 3 levels of commitment to any Attitude, each with their own rewards:

* Low commitment – compliance:  formed to gain reward or avoid punishment

* Medium commitment – identification: As related to ego identification/comparison or self-perception

* High commitment – deep seated attitude: As to become part of the value system (5)

So as with any Attitude, the level of commitment is everything.  Ascension is so powerful as to be able to completely clear the nervous system and lead to full human consciousness. However, one can Ascend to feel better or reduce stress (just 20 minutes, two or three times a day); one can Ascend to improve their life (use Ascension Attitudes as often as you think of them); or one can Ascend to the Ultimate of Life – Full Human Consciousness, by adopting the Ascension Attitudes with full commitment.

MSI said, “Abundance in any area of human concern is the result of one-pointed commitment. It does not work to say, “I will change as soon as the external conditions make it possible to change.” The Universe can and will out-wait any such ego proposal. What does work is to say, “I will change Now, today; as I move consistently toward my goal, I assume that the means will manifest for me.” And of course they do, for instead of resisting the flow of life, the individuality has now aligned with Cosmic Will.” (6)

Ruby Nelson said, “The full realization of your true identity, your master pattern, does not suddenly burst upon you until the seed of truth has been planted, nourished, cherished, and allowed to mature to ripeness. This does not take thousands of years, it does not take hundreds, it may take only a few short years, a few months, a few weeks, depending entirely upon your attitude and intensity.” (7)

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(5)  http://www.slideshare.net/anshusweta/ppt-in-cb-on-attitude-presentation
(6) MSI.  Ascension! 2011. The Ishaya Foundation Publishing Company
(7) Nelson, Ruby.  The Door of Everything, 1963. Devorss Publishing

Attitudes

                                                                       Part 2 of 3

                                                       Why are Attitudes Important?

“Attitudes, habits and emotions are largely responsible for mental and physical health.” (2) Research shows that around 98% of illnesses can be attributed to our thought life, and approximately 13% to diet, genetics and environment.

 Dr. Leaf goes on to say that every emotion results in an attitude.  Negative emotions evolve from fear. Positive emotions evolve out of faith.  In other words, there are faith-based emotions and fear-based emotions.

Toxic stressors are activated by fear, so fear is the root of all stress.  Research shows that fear triggers more than 1400 known physical and chemical responses and activates more than 30 different hormones and neurotransmitters.

Fear based emotions demand more and more space physically in the brain as well as in our thought life.  Like weeds, they grow in abundance crowding everything else out. (3)

Your emotional state affects how your body responds to a virus.  If you experience toxic emotions, the peptides flood the cell surface and change the receptor to make cells more permeable.  Therefore, a virus that happens to be sitting outside of the cell can easily slip in thereby making you sick.  

However, according to Dr. Leaf, when one experiences praise, positive chemicals are released and distributed through the body, making positive changes to cells and DNA.  They actually enhance your ability to build memory, develop intelligence and boost your immune system to help you stay healthy longer.

As Dr. Leaf noted, faith-based emotions create positive effects.   The Ascension Attitudes help to build faith  -  the faith that can change everything.  The Door of Everything reminds us, “As you weave these three Ascension Attitudes into the fabric of your daily life, you will be filled with great and mighty faith;  for love, praise, and gratitude are major components of that essential attribute.” (4)

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(2) Leaf, Dr. Carolyn. Who Switched off my Brain? Controlling toxic thoughts and emotions. 2007 Switch on Your Brain
(3) Ibid.
(4) Nelson, Ruby.  The Door of Everything, 1963. Devorss Publishing

What Attitude do You Have?

Part 1 of 3

Have you ever thought about why we have Ascension Attitudes?  After all, what is an Attitude anyway? The simplest definition I could find for Attitude is - a blend of values and beliefs about our world which predispose us to behave in certain ways. So, an attitude is actually 3 things –Thinking, Feeling, Doing.  

Right in line with that, MSI said in the Ascension! Book;  “Each of the Ascension Attitudes has three aspects.  First, there is an emotional content to drive the experiencer inward -- Appreciation, Gratitude, Love and Direct Cognition. The second aspect is a direct alignment with the Ascendant. This unites the conscious mind with the Infinite Source within. The third characteristic of each of the Ascension Attitudes is a mental focus on one of the root areas of the individuality that is stressed and could be more fully lived.”  The Ascension Attitude addresses those 3 components, Feeling, Thinking, Doing. 

MSI continues saying, “The three-fold structure of the Ascension Attitudes causes each of the three primary aspects of our personality -- our hearts, our minds, our bodies -- to move in the direction of growth.”

“Love, praise, and gratitude, arising from your heart center in silent expectancy….these three Ascension Attitudes are your perfectly-fitted keys, the keys to the Door of Everything. These keys are lovingly placed into your hands. You must use them persistently if you would see that Door fly open. For it can be unlocked only from your side.” 1

Jyoti Ishaya

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1.  Nelson, Ruby.  The Door of Everything, 1963. Devorss Publishing

The Attitude Sets the Foundation of Mind Over Body

Two people are exposed to the same virus. One gets a full blown version of the virus, the other remains healthy. Why?

Studies now report that positive or negative emotional traits influence a persons’ susceptibility to infection. [1] People in studies who report positive emotions show greater resistance to objectively verified colds. [2] Meditation has been shown in one study to produce significant increases in left-sided anterior brain activity,  which is associated with  positive  emotional  states. [3]

OK, so maybe that is not really new information to many people. But, what about once you do get a cold? How long do you think it should take to get over it?

Deirdre Davis Brigham, a psychotherapist, noted a case of one of her patients with multiple personality disorder.  Personality number one had a case of the flu with all its attending symptoms, difficulty in breathing, congested chest, running nose, and laryngitis. When personality number two came out all the symptoms disappeared in just about six seconds. [4] No congestion, no running nose, no symptoms of the flu. Same body, two different beliefs.

Another woman, admitted to a hospital for diabetes, baffled her physicians by showing no symptoms of the disorder at times when one personality, who was not diabetic, was dominant. [5]

If one changes their mind, it affects their body and their universe. A sudden reversal in a disease (what we might call a “miracle”) comes from a deep change of mind.


“Ascension Attitudes are called Attitudes because an attitude is a way of looking at the world. They are not called Ascension Beliefs because there is no need to believe in the Ascension Attitudes for them to work. One does not need to believe that a carrot seed planted in the ground and properly tended will grow a carrot. Belief is not required. Belief is a powerful force which can be quite useful or destructive, depending on how it is applied, but it is not required to change the nature of our lives. Carrot seeds grow carrots. The seed thoughts of the Ascension Attitudes grow a new way of looking at and living life.” [6]

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[1] Cohen S, Doyle WJ, Turner RB, et al. Emotional style and susceptibility to the common cold. Psychosomatic Medicine. 2003; 65(4): 652-657
[2] Smith A, Nicholson K. Psychosocial factoes, respiratory virus and exacerbation of asthma. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2001; 26(4):411-420
[3] Davidson RJ, Kabat-Zinn J, Schumacher J, et al. Alterations in brain and immune function produced by mindfulness meditation. Psychosomatic Medicine. 2003; 65(4): 564-570.
[4] http://articles.mcall.com/1992-10-13/features/2892744_1_relaxation-aids-virus-blood-pressure/2
[5] nytimes.com/1985/05/21/science/new-focus-on-multiple-personality.html?pagewanted=all
[6] MSI. Ascension! The Ishaya Foundation Publishing Co.

Gratitude Attitude

Gratitude has more value than just feeling good. What pill do you know that has more effect than this list of benefits from cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude?

    •    Increased Energy
    •    Increased Happiness
    •    Increased Optimism
    •    Increased Social Connections
    •    Decreased Depression
    •    Decreased Envy
    •    Decreased Greed
    •    Decreased Addiction
    •    Increased Income
    •    Increased Quality and Length of Sleep
    •    Increased Immune Function
    •    Increased Exercise and thus, Visual Appearance[1]

Anyone can experience gratitude and benefit from it. “A new study shows that feeling grateful makes people less likely to turn aggressive when provoked.”[2] Polio survivors and other people with neuromuscular problems who kept a gratitude journal reported feeling happier and more optimistic than those in a control group, and these reports were corroborated by observations from their spouses. These grateful people also fell asleep more quickly at night, slept longer and woke up feeling more refreshed. [3]

It’s pretty simple, too. In a Temple University study, patients with hypertension lowered their blood pressure just by calling a “gratitude” hotline every day.  Given that studies show that people with an Attitude of Gratitude are more healthy and sleep better, who wouldn’t want more Gratitude in their life?

It is no wonder that The Art of Ascension as taught by the Ishayas incorporates the Attitude of Gratitude into each of the first Five Spheres of techniques.  The benefits listed above are not only benefits of Gratitude, but just a small portion of the by-products of practicing Ascension daily.

References:

[1] http://www.inspiredgiftgiving.com/the-research-on-gratitude

[2] http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/22/science/a-serving-of-gratitude-brings-healthy-dividends.html

[3] http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/22/science/a-serving-of-gratitude-brings-healthy-dividends.html

[4] R. A. Emmons (2007) Thanks! How the new science of gratitude can make you happier. New York: Houghton Mifflin. Original study: Emmons, R. A. & McCullough, M. E. (2003) Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well being in daily life, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 84: 377-89.