It's a Season to Sow... (Conclusion)

I think Thanksgiving is the perfect day to wrap up the conversation we've been having surrounding the universal laws and our current economic situation. We talked about the Zodiac, the Aquarian Age, the seasons and how they all relate to your life. Please read Part 1 and Part 2 of this message before reading further. You'll be glad you did. Were you able to see the similar patterns of movement we're going through in our world and in our economy? Well, the cycles of our world and nation are longer than the cycles of our calendar year. Likewise, the precession of the cosmic ages is longer still than the cycles of our world. But the principles are the same: As above so below. We've just moved into winter in our world, which is fitting as the winter of 2008 approaches. By the way, for those naysayers and doomsday prophets... This is not the first "winter" of our economic life. The US has had six economic winters since the 1950s. Winter is never a time to despair. Quite the contrary, coming from a long run of sowing and reaping, it's now time to re-group, to reflect upon the lessons learned, to possibly spend more time with our family in celebration of what we've accomplished and most definitely plan for our next spring. Here's what we know: First, there will always be a winter. While some may wish for eternal spring and summer (and even move to California to experience longer periods of it), there's always a winter. Now if you choose to be depressed and in a negative-feeling vibration because of winter, that choice will do absolutely nothing to change the season... The season will run still its course. Likewise if you absolutely love summer and wish and want and hope it to always be... It does nothing to change natural rhythms. Seasons come and seasons go. Tide ebbs and flows. You can be Scrooge all day long and winter will not disappear. You can worry all day long about how you're going to get through winter... but you and I both know you can't worry enough to fix anything. So if "thinking positive" won't speed up winter, what's the point? Well, your negative fixation does majorly impact your current experience of the season. Likewise, it impacts in a negative way the seeds you're sowing for your future. You see, unlike the farmer... We're sowing and reaping all the time. You're sowing and reaping every single day, every single season. Second, there's never been two winters in a row--never. Oh yes, there's been some really long and tough winters (like in Winnipeg, Canada), but there's never been two winters in a row. And there never will be. Now how many people go into winter and start spouting end of the world predictions? How many people worry that winter is all that we're ever going to experience again? How many people predict in winter that we're basically screwed and we better liquidate our patio furniture and turn the pool into parking garage that we can rent out for extra income? Not those who are wise. And yet, how often do you recently see this type of mentality going on with many in our world? With a true wisdom and understanding, you can be one of those that utilize winter to your advantage... Because here's one final thing we always know. No matter what... following every single winter, what comes? That's right, spring--no exception. So what are you going to do while we're in winter? How can you align with the theme of a higher/spiritual mind and rise above appearances? Because I guarantee you that what you're doing now is determining your next spring. And I can assure you... Spring is coming. Maybe not as fast as you'd like (it usually never does) but it's coming nonetheless. Now. Get out a pad and pen and answer these questions... How can you use this time to more deeply explore the choices you made in our last economic spring and summer? How can you use this learning and grow for the upcoming sowing and reaping season? What will you do better or differently next time? How can you use this time to possibly get in better physical shape so you're ready to rumble when spring comes again? Your physical health and fitness will always have an impact on the results you produce. It either works for you or against you. How can you use this time to meditate and quiet your mind more after the busyness of summer? How can you read and journal more? Take that college course or attend that seminar you've put off for so long? How can you become more mentally fit? How about spending more time with your family or those you love? How about connecting with an old friend that you haven't had the chance to connect with during the busy summer? How about build a better and deeper relationship with those clients you've neglected? Now there's an opportunity worth its weight in gold! Take some time out of your day to ponder these types of questions deeply. Everything has a season and your opportunity is to celebrate and utilize the season to your advantage or to feel scared and miserable. There's never been a better time than right now to invest in your own consciousness... in your own mental and emotional mastery. That's what the wise are doing. You see, for nearly eight years in America, we've focused our entire attention upon war and terror to the exclusion of sound economic policies and regulations. And now that needs some attention. As individuals, we've focused our attention upon bigger mortgages and gambling in real estate to hopefully get a quick return to the exclusion of developing our mental and emotional mastery. And now, many don't know how to mentally and emotionally deal with a winter that they neglected to realize must come. It always does. So many are living in fear thinking that the Sun may never shine again, and please remember, you'll always attract and create whatever you're consistently going "3 for 3" on. Your predominant thoughts, feelings and actions will determine your results. What has to happen for you to take this winter season and make an investment in your future? Instead of living in fear and anxiety, know that the spring is coming and therefore grow your number one asset--your mind--in preparation for your next growth spurt. Either way, the season is going to go through its cycle, and it won't change until it's complete. The only thing that will change is your experience of the cycle and whether or not you're going to leverage it, enjoy it and reap the benefits. I promise the degree to which you take advantage of the unique qualities and characteristics of this season is the degree to which you will prosper now and in the future. Have a grateful Thanksgiving, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International P.S. Thanks to all of you who contributed to my Birthday Surprise last weekend... It completely blew me away! Check out the video of it here.

"Thanks Living" instead of Thanksgiving

Holiday Lessons to Live By... You may be aware that while I was growing up, my father was a Protestant minister. For years, I attended service three times per week and, like most kids, often just wanted it to "hurry up and get over with." However, with my current understanding of the mind, I now know that while I sat in service and doodled, fidgeted or pestered my little brother, my unconscious mind was wide open and received many great teachings and truths. One of those teachings came back to me in my meditation this morning, and I thought it was very appropriate for this week. I remember my father saying almost yearly from his pulpit, "We need to not only practice Thanksgiving but 'Thanks Living'." It's definitely no accident that a major portion of my teaching in The Secret is centered on gratitude. Likewise, I devoted an entire chapter to this technology (and I use that term intentionally) in my book The Science of Success. While some who don't understand the power of energy, vibration and attraction may think that gratitude is not a big deal, I can promise you that: Gratitude is the mother of creative vibrations. You see, when you're grateful for what you currently have in your life, it focuses you on the best. And that puts you in a vibration (feeling) to attract and receive more of the best. When you have a lack of gratitude in your life, you're focusing on the worst, and that puts you in a vibrational feeling that attracts to you more of the worst. Life is a self-fulfilling prophecy and YOU are the prophet. Now as you stop and think about this, it's very practical. Think about the person who's constantly ungrateful and full of complaints and problems. Do you want to be around them... much less help them? Probably not. Conversely, think of someone you know who's constantly grateful and appreciative in life. Same question: Do you want to be around them? Would you like to help this person if possible? Probably so. The universe and all its inhabitants line up in support of the person who's in a vibration of gratitude. Here's my recommendation as you move into the Holidays this year: Make the theme of the Holiday Season "giving thanks." While eating turkey and watching football may be the norm around your household, sit down for a least a few minutes and have each family member (including you) list out loud at least 3 things that you're grateful for. You'll be amazed at how positively this affects the energy in your household. Who knows... you may find it addictive, and you'll find yourself one step closer to "Thanks Living." Thanks, Dad. Your success coach, James Arthur Ray President/CEO James Ray International P.S. Please feel free to share this message with your family and friends this Holiday Season.