Joan Campbell

I woke up early today….very early, too early and it was from a mental flood.  Last night there were several #conversations with my family that greatly disturbed me.  They are hurting and I am hurting for them and with them.  There was anxiety, fear, frustration and there is nothing I can do to help any one of my family…these are hurtful things that we must let go and let God.  I sent them to scripture and I had my usual quiet time before bed. I read my DMP and Greatest Salesman out loud….this did quiet the concerns for a time.

Then at 4am I am awake again with all the anger, frustration, and mental anguish, it had returned.  So what I did was fill my mind with my cards and kept repeating the “Law of Giving”, then on to “Do It Now”, then on to “wherever I go I bring a gift”.  “I can be what I will to be”…….You have the idea now.  I was using the Law of Substitution, the Law of Growth and the Law of Forgiveness.

This procedure reminds me of the weeds in Texas.  You go to pull them up and they pull back…I promise they actually pull back!!!…so you take another go at them and you just feel the ground holding on to them with everything in its power.  I don’t want to admit it but sometimes I just cut the weed at the bottom letting the roots stay in place.  Now we all know where that gets us in a few days…more weed, stronger root….

So the thing to do is to have a mental house-cleaning, and to have this house-cleaning everyday and keep the house clean.  Mental, moral and physical cleanliness are absolutely indispensable if we are to make progress of any kind….Thank you #Master Keys for bringing me back to work on the root and the ability to recognize the weed.

No easy task here controlling the mind.  But I have seen in my life, we have a choice and can make the changes that are required for a peaceful mind.  The mind controlled is more creative and relaxed.

I can relate to the statement “Most people allow their thoughts to dwell on selfish purposes, the inevitable result of an infantile mind.  (“ouch”)  When a mind becomes mature, it understands that the germ of defeat is in every selfish thought.”  As I have worked on eliminating faulty thoughts,  I have found a place of strength.

Not saying here that this is totally accomplished in my life….it is a work in progress.  I never realized until this week that the “germ of defeat is in every selfish thought”.  Before I didn’t realize the thoughts I was having were selfish…I thought they were for the good to help my loved ones.  But I soon realized the thoughts gave way to a barrage of verbal abuse and therein was the germ of defeat.

Please understand that the words mainly landed on the dog’s ears and a very understanding friend, but they were given orally and therefore had a life of their own. Prior to this class I used God’s promises and words of gratitude to overcome the “selfish thoughts”.  And I still use these statements today.

Now I am convicted all over again on how destructive the thoughts had become.  The exercise of quieting my mind and taking control of my thoughts has become one of the best parts of my day.  I look forward to that complete quiet place.

I am also aware in my day when those troubling words creep back in to my mind and I use the tools we have here in the workbook and on our index cards to overcome the negative thoughts.  I am so grateful to be a part of this process and in this class with everyone. Together we can do this.

How fitting that our sermon series at church is about change from the Inside Out.  We are changing our story from Ephesians 2:1-10.  I believe we have been created for a purpose, we have a calling on our lives, that only each one of us can fulfill.

The Master Keys are also changing my inside to create a better “Outside”.  I have found several interesting and thought provoking statements from the Master Key I  study each day.  “The subconscious mind cannot argue; it only acts so I must train the conscious mind to let the energy flow from the subconscious.”

As I develop new habits, I create a new reality for myself.  One very real enemy which must be completely destroyed is fear.  Boy, do I feel that one!  The fear of “really” accomplishing something great.  That “something” that I have been called to do for a long time.  This fear seems real to me now but thru training I move forward to a better place of confidence, courage and power.  I anticipate success by my mental attitude and I leap over doubt and hesitation.

I have found in my life, I have played it safe.  Not willing to move out of my comfort zone. Kind of like a turtle not willing to move out of the protective shell.  Afraid to put my head or my feet out to move to a better place.

So here I am in the Master Key, determined to learn and grow.  Overcoming the fear that grips me.  Stretching my legs out to move to a better place.  Working diligently on my new habits.  It seems slow, but I know, like an athlete, it takes time to develop the new muscles and to win at creating a better life.  Pressing forward, not letting fear dictate my purpose.

We were assigned to write a chore down for this week to be completed by the 10th…..The very first thing that came to my mind was the chore I have been putting off for a very long time….maybe 10 years.

I have been helping my Daughter’s move and downsize in their collective homes. Spending hours with them packing, sorting and throwing items away.   In this process I realized I need to do the same and get organized in my very lovely new home.

So the chore I wrote down was to remove the old fragrances and the items that also contain lotions, and oils that had gone rancid.  Wow….. little did I realize how many I had collected over what has seemed like a brief couple of years.  I found many dated even older than 10 years.  I threw out the old outdated over the counter medications as well.

I made a clean sweep of it and didn’t look back….straight to the trash they all went.  Now that I am on the other side of the cleaning, I feel wonderful.  I can say the DO IT NOW helped too.  I did not hesitate on any item.

I have made a pac with myself not to go there again.   I wonder now how I had collected so many perishable lotions in the first place.  I can now move forward with more space to organize what I do need.

I am actually looking forward to the next chores that will get done in the following weeks. Picking something small was a key for me as I get overwhelmed when I think of all the things that need to get done.

Now I know I can do this and not sacrifice days at a time.   I have such a feeling of accomplishment and I kept a promise to myself too.