I'm writing this article to suggest that those Ron Paul supporters who are willing to participate might want to help me with my new thought experiment. Call it an experiment in positive thinking. by Walt Thiessen
(libertarian)
Saturday, December 15, 2007
One of the most staggeringly incredible things about the Ron Paul Revolution is how it has come together so spontaneously and so easily, how so many people have seemingly emerged out of the woodwork, out of nowhere, and come together to support their candidate. I have to confess that I never thought that such a thing would happen during my lifetime. That it has happened and is happening is a marvel.
I recently borrowed a book from the local library which was recommended by a fellow libertarian. It's called The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne, and it was published one year ago. It's one of those Oprah Winfrey books, a recommendation that is usually enough to make me want to stay away. It's also one of those books on positive thinking, which is enough to make many rational people groan, roll their eyes, and try to change the subject as quickly as possible. If that describes you, I urge you to stop reading this article, because you won't like the rest of it.
If you're still reading this article, then I'm going to assume that you are at least open to the possibility of what positive thinking can do for the Ron Paul campaign.
My purpose in writing this article is a simple one. I want to encourage as many Ron Paul supporters as possible to engage in a little thought experiment in support of their candidate. I'm proposing that we utilize our inner powers as a group in support of Ron Paul's candidacy every day. I'm proposing that we focus on this because I believe this kind of activity is at the core of the Ron Paul Revolution.
Byrne's book, like so many others before hers, proposes that (in the words of positive thinking guru Bob Proctor), "Everything that's coming into your life you are attracting into your life. And it's attracted to you by virtue of the images you're holding in your mind. It's what you're thinking. Whatever is going on in your mind you are attracting to you."
In short, I'm proposing that we "attract" Ron Paul as president using what we hold in our minds. Christian Paul supporters will recognize this as the power of prayer. Non-religious types will recognize this as the power of positive affirmations or positive thinking. I don't care what you call it. I propose that we do it as a group and that we try to draw others into what we're doing.
I'm not suggesting that we abandon all of the other aspects of campaigning and supporting a candidate. Far from it! I'm simply suggesting that we might want to tweak the way we think about our candidate on a day-by-day basis.
For example, one thing we see a lot of is Paul supporters bashing other candidates. I have done it myself. But as Byrne points out in her book, "Like Aladdin's Genie, the law of attraction grants our every command." Whatever we think about we attract, whether we think about it negatively or positively. Thus, if we think about Mike Huckabee or Rudy Giuliani in a negative light, we will get more of Mike Huckabee or Rudy Giuliani. It doesn't matter that we were rejecting their arguments or their stances on the issues. Just the mere fact of focusing our thoughts and energies on them sends a command to the univserse that says that we want more of Huckabee or Giuliani. And like Aladdin's Genie, the universe grants every command we give it.
Consider the consequences of this simple observation. It means that the worst thing we can do for Ron Paul is to not focus on Ron Paul, but rather to focus on negatives that Ron Paul wants to correct.
Byrne quotes marketing specialist Dr. Joe Vitale about this:
"Everything that surrounds you right now in your life, including the things you're complaining about, you've attracted. Now I know at first blush that's going to be something that you hate to hear. You're going to immediately say, 'I didn't attract the car accident. I didn't attract this particular client who gives me a hard time. I didn't particularly attract the debt.' And I'm here to be a little bit in your face and to say, yes you did attract it. This is one of the hardest concepts to get, but once you've accepted it, it's life transforming."
This is a staggering concept. It clearly implies that we have attracted the IRS to us, that we have attracted fiat money to us, that we have attracted George W. Bush and William J. Clinton to us, and that we have attracted all of the other problems our country faces...to us!
Oh........my........God!
This concept also explains quite clearly why the Ron Paul Revolution is happening. Thousands of people from around the country and around the world are finding each other, predominantly via the Internet, because they chose to focus their minds on achieving freedom right now. For whatever reason, they decided that they were sick of the status quo, and they wanted change. And the universe granted them their wish to the limited degree that they requested it. It delivered to them contact with others who were making the exact same request of the universe. Or in religious terms, God answered their prayers by delivering to them contact with others who felt the same way as they did.
The law of attraction says that like attracts like. So here's the basis of my thought experiment. I propose that if we want Ron Paul to be President, that we focus our energies every day on Ron Paul AS President! To a large extent, this is what the Ron Paul Revolution has already done, and it's the reason why it continues to grow. It has also been a largely unconscious decision made by so many. I propose that we all make it a daily, conscious decision.
One really easy way to do it is to focus on a picture of Ron Paul that represents him in the role we want him to play. Pictures are a great way to accomplish this. Pick your favorite Ron Paul picture, print it out on your printer, and post it on your wall where you'll see it every day. Then, as you begin your day, focus for a few minutes on the picture, and as you do so feel as good about that picture as you can possibly feel. Byrne makes a great deal in her book about how important it is to have positive feelings about what it is you are trying to attract into your life. This should be easy for most of us, since most of us feel so positively about Ron Paul. Still, it's something we have to remember to do as we look at our chosen picture each day. If we don't build as much positive, happy feeling about Ron Paul while we gaze at his picture, our efforts will be muted and will not produce the results we're hoping for.
One of my favorite pictures is this one. You might also like this one. There's also a photoshopped photo that someone circulated which I can't find right now which has Ron Paul sitting at a desk that looks like it's in the Oval Office. That's an ideal one. But whatever photo you pick, make sure it helps you visualize Ron Paul actually being President.
Then, whenever things go wrong, whenever the campaign gets discouraging, or even whenever you get up to go get a cup of coffee, I want you to look at your chosen picture of Ron Paul and focus on the happy feeling of him being President. If you're religious and want to turn it into a prayer, that's great. The power of prayer is well-documented.
I plan to return to this theme from now on as I write my articles about Ron Paul. I hope you'll join me in helping to promote the Ron Paul Revolution using the attractive power of our minds.
Did you like this article? If you did, Thumb It! 114
thumbs so far
The views expressed
in this article are those of Walt Thiessen only and
do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates.
Walt Thiessen is solely responsible for the contents
of this article and is not an employee or otherwise affiliated
with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
this is also what gnostics would call, creating your own reality. there is quantum mechanics involved in this type of thinking and the root of entanglement lies there. it is entirly possible to think yourself into having abilities that flat out violate the known laws of physics, why, because you want to violate those laws. it is the reasoning behind the statment that all beings are god and capable of creating reality
It's true! Thought is the creative principle and there is no getting around it. What we focus on we get. It's said that when 51% of our thoughts are on what we truly would have be so in our lives, the balance tips and those things/conditions begin to take shape.
Thanks for a wonderful piece.
http://www.blacksheepnews.com/
Very enlightened concept, and very powerful, especially if done consciously and with a deep feeling of love, if one can muster it. Well spoken dear author.
Posted By: Oscar DeGrouch
Date: 2007-12-15 09:37:24
This is the best Ron Paul article I've read yet, and I'm a huge believer that we have the power to define our own destiny more than we think. Thank You for putting this all back in perspective!
I consider this to be nonsense. I did not "attract" much of what occurs in my life, and the premise that I did is utterly without support. Saying it repeatedly in a knowing manner will not make it true. Filling a book does not make it true.Â
We do need to realize that  we cannot predict the future, and predicting failure only gives us an excuse to not try. It certainly will pay off to ignore the fools who daily tell us that Ron Paul cannot win. I know THAT kind of positive thinking - recognizing what is made possible by hard work - does pay off. But what is paying off is the hard work, not the wishing.
Claiming that we control every aspect of our lives through attitude or thought is mystical nonsense and the fools who preach it could never prove it, no matter how well their books sell. Â
There's an old saying that "Wishing won't make it so." Quite true, but working hard might.
This article does a good job of peeling away the nasty attire of spiritualism from an otherwise sound principle. Morally, spiritually, intellectually and politically, we are what we eat. When we obsess over the evils of the other side we tend to get sick and our sickness saps the strength that could otherwise be applied to rebuilding America on the sound foundations of Constitutional law.
I suspect strongly that Carol Paul has heard a great deal of hostile pillow talk about the shenanigans of the current imcumbent of the White House. But publicly, Dr. Paul spares us endless rehersal of the multitude of neo con wrongs so that we have room in our minds to nourish ideas about creative alternatives to those wrongs.
I will not go so far as to put any Ron Paul icons on my refrigerator, but will confess that I've made the Ron Paul google search page my home page, and that my dreams are no longer plagued by visions of an increasingly Orwellian state. Instead, I dream of some day soon, waking up in the land of the free and the home of the brave. There's hope for America.
I read that book and have been focusing on an image in my head with Ron Paul taking the "oath of office"! I was wondering if anyone else was doing it, I guess I attracted this article into my life :). It will be so much more powerful if we can all do this together, imagining Ron Paul as our President. Thank you for the great article
Changing physical reality with yout mind is called "magic". RP needs action, rather than wishful thinking. Anyhow, if it makes you feel better, just do it...
Take a good look around. Most of what you see in the way of material things was created by the the question "I wonder" and so it is. For some it came through hard work, for some "as simple as pie". Bottom line is "Anything you put your attention on becomes more real in your life". Focused thought is a powerful thing for raw energy will tend to follow it and from that manifistation begins. What you "intend" to do is much more powerful than than any other kind of desire. For Freedom rings now. As Jean-Luc Picard would say... Lets "MAKE IT SO!"
I'm hesitant to get too deep into positive thinking, because it can easily veer off into useless imagination. I believe that taking action in a campaign such as this requires each individual to feel hope for a positive outcome, and it's a simple fact that if you believe the world is against Ron Paul, it will be hard to remain optimistic, energized, and active. By surrounding yourself with reminders of the RP community, you will not forget that you are a part of something very big. This selective media consumption will empower you to keep fighting.Â
Wow! A little pie in the sky, but well done. The best way to avoid negativity in your life is ... not to put it there ... who woulda thought? I recently made fun of this kind of thinking ... but no more. ALL realities start with a thought.
The fact that thousands of people are already putting forth positive efforts as a result of those thoughts is what has driven his campaign so far so fast already. The enthusiasm I have witnessed from Ron Paul supporters is their greatest weapon. Who wouldn't want to join the revolution? ... "I want to smile like that guy/gal" .... It's downright infectious . Who wouldn't want to feel good about a candidate for a change? Offer this and you have them!
This is the first election I can recall where I really want to vote FOR a candidate. That's the revolution! Thoughts like this, also.
Heh. In science, there is a kind of proof called 'proof by counterexample'. It is used to show that a given theory is incorrect because a result contrary to that theory has been found.
In other words, I can show this idea is wrong because I, personally, have engaged in campaigns to remove rules, such as the one in high school to remove some onerous social regulations. Despite the campaign pretty much being entirely negative, and focusing entirely on the rule to be removed, the campaign succeeded and the rule was removed.
In reality, the thing that must be done is to be heard, no matter whether positive or negative. I've discussed Ron Paul and the things he stands for with people who were immediately negative, but now, weeks later, are tentatively positive. People are that way; they hold very firm opinions until their reality changes, when they hold the new opinion and may deny ever having held any other opinion.
Posted By: Kelly Halldorson
Date: 2007-12-15 11:22:58
Thus, if we think about Mike Huckabee or Rudy Giuliani in a negative light, we will get more of Mike Huckabee or Rudy Giuliani.
While I'm not a big believer in The Secret's interpretation of the Law of Attraction and how to use it. I do agree with you, here.
I remember when many of us (including myself) started paying more attention to Huckabee. It had a bit of blowback. The comparison table on ronpaulgraphs.com of fundraising. Our repeated visits to his website, which drove up traffic and gave the MSM more incentive to take him seriously...I mean if both the polling numbers and his web traffic were increasing it must mean he was increasing in popularity. When in truth...we RP supporters were likely the biggest contributor to the web numbers.
Just my two cents. I'm done visiting Huckabee's site....well...mostly....I'll probably go once a week now.
Posted By: Linda Inveninato
Date: 2007-12-15 11:35:53
Dr. Paul is first in our family prayers everyday.
May the higher consciousness, of which we are all a part, keep Dr. Paul safe. May we be successful in our work to make him our leader in Liberty. Amen.
I'm so glad you wrote this article. I've often thought that Ron Paul supporters already use this principal.That's why I'm not concerned about overly enthusiastic supporters. Passion and love are the strongest attracting principals. When these forces are in your life, you can climb the highest mountains, swim the deepest oceans, and when bad things happen, they have a way of clearing out the way for something wonderful. It was very apparent to me on a lot of boards and articles yesterday, that ron paul supporters were being singled out for being too unsophisticated. That they should tone it down, and start pandering to the GOP. It was also apparent that a dividing mentality was going on, as to what types of supporters were desirable, and which ones weren't. I think that divisive thinking, pandering, and toning down the passion would wreck this huge positive energy that's going on that makes things happen. We don't need to attack others or each other. We do have to accept that a big tent doesn't fall into cookie cutter, business as usual, mentality or behaviour. The good intent,passion, and willingness to try instead of second guessing is what makes this campaign so unusual. It keeps growing, despite the odds. Let the other guys have their business as usual mentality, their negativity, their ridicule. Ego trips, insecurity,and fear based enslaving behaviour begets more of the same. Freedom rocks.
Posted By: Mike Staffieri
Date: 2007-12-15 12:58:34
It was only a matter of time before someone would write about this phenomena and it's been said that the love of 1000 people will overcome the hate of a million people...you only need a little light to overcome darkness.Sunday Dec 16th will shine a huge beacon of light and it will overcome the darkness that has settled on this once great nation
"It clearly implies that we have attracted the IRS to us, that we have attracted fiat money to us, that we have attracted George W. Bush and William J. Clinton to us, and that we have attracted all of the other problems our country faces...to us!"
Actually, 'we' did far worse than 'attracting' these things to us... we voted them in!
You've obviously struck a nerve here, good job! :) I think you're doing something right when you get strong responses from many different viewpoints!
Responding from a Christian worldview, yes, I pray for Dr. Paul and for his success on a daily basis. This usually translates into working for his success in some way or another -- telling friends, writing, trying to imagine new and creative ways to promulgate the message of freedom. This is one of my implicit goals when I write here on Nolan Chart at http://www.nolanchart.com/author54.html
Even though I may have a "church" background that tends to be dismissive of "new-age" type philosophies, I have no doubt that there is far more to life than meets the eye. Sometimes I express that by saying that God still has plenty of surprises up His sleeve. And so, I wouldn't offhand dismiss the possibility that many thousands of us who support Dr. Paul and liberty might by our thoughts be having some integrated effect on national thinking.
At the very, very least our positive thinking motivates each of us to postive and creative action. I do not think it surprising that scripture says "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might!" and also "Whatever is good, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things."
And so, thanks for your encouragement to do just that! :)
      The best example of this law, is it's action in reverse. Witness the neo cons, so distressed over the Ron Paul message, that they try everything to block it, and him, from the airwaves. The more negative energy they focus on him, the more of him they/we, get, yippee. The funniest instance, was the look on Sean Hannity's face When Ron Paul won the last Fox News debate, again, which was designed, with the fix in, against him.
        Most of us are taking possitive steps to help R.P. win this thing, asside from that, I personally, and this goes strongly against my natural inclination, avoid time consuming rebutals to negative blogs and articles. That time is much better spent doing somthing in support of Dr. Paul.
I am not disputing the recommendation made in this article, but it is hard enough to shake the labels that MSM paints us (RP supporters) as being on the lunatic fringe without giving them (the real nut jobs) any more ammunition.
You can't buy an airline ticket to no where! To buy an airline ticket you, first, have to see yourself at the destination, second, put a name to it and, third, buy the ticket. You can't complete a ballot by voting for no one, you first....
Yes indeed! This concept of "affirmative prayer" has been with us for eons. It is the very truth of the matter, as it were. In this country it is called New Thought having originated with Phineas P. Quimby in the early 19th Century.
Dr. Ernest Holmes, the founder of 'Science of Mind' wrote his first book on the subject in 1919 - "Creative Mind and Success". This predates both Napoleon Hill and Norman Vincent Peale, early advocates of 'positive thinking'.
Holmes book 'The Science of Mind' is the handbook on this methodology - termed 'Spiritual Mind Treatment'. It is the very essence of prayer.
I have been a Science of Mind practitioner for over thiry-years and as such have demonstrated the effectiveness of this science many times over. Indeed we do indeed experience what we think about all day long - good or evil. And that much of that thinking comes out of our subconscious ramblings ingrained by reinforced by habit. We can conciously break that cycle by injecting positive, affirmative thoughts at every possible moment. It is said, "Change your thinking. Change your life".
Yes! We can do this. We are doing this! Let's decide to do it for good, for prosperity, for peace and for freedom and together we can make it happen for Dr. Paul, for ourselves and for our posterity.
-dixon cannon
I have never been an active supporter for a campaign, until now. I have never given any of my money to a campaign, until now. I have never meditated for a campaign, so I might as well give this a shot too. I have voted with my fingers crossed a few times and that didn't seem to work.
I DO KNOW something everyone CAN DO today to make a wish become a reality. Go to RonPaul2008.com , join the Tea Party today and give your best donation to the Ron Paul campaign today! I've already given once tonight to help knock it over the $12 million mark (we hit it a little after midnight) and will make another donation later on today. Give as little as you want or as much as you can, every dollar helps! Happy holidays to you and yours out there! Mike
I am delighted to finally hear something I have researched a lot on the subject of what your conscious mind can do. We have been distracted by the elites, into beleiving we need a saviour, etc. Wrong. Together, as one race, living on our planet, if we concentrate on and wake up to the fact that we are our own masters, with immense powers, powers by thought, we can even change the world. Many people are "awakening", and soon we will be what we were intended to be, masters of ourselves, evolve, and not slaves to invisible dark forces. Thank you for your important article.
Yes, indeed! This is called 'affirmative prayer' and is the essence of the entire matter.
It has been a major tenant of positive prayer for eons.
Long before Napoleon Hill and Norman Vincent Peale, wrote their 'positive mental attitude' books, Phineas P. Quimby was practicing what he preached in 19th Century New England. A devotee of Quimby, Ernest Holmes published his first work on the subject entitled, "Creative Mind and Success" in 1919. Holmes went on to formalize his concepts under the banner of 'Science of Mind' and the same titled book appeared in 1927.
Science of Mind refers to this technique as 'Spiritual Mind Treatment' and it works for millions around the globe every day. I've been a student and practitioner for thirty-years. I treat for Dr. Ron Paul and this campaign "without ceasing"; I truly believe we can make this reality together.
Every technique outlined by Walt is tried and true. John Lennon said, "A million heads are better than one, so come on!" ('Only People; Mind Games 1973). Just read those lyrics - it's all right there!
-dixon cannon
I came across this artlice and since I know a little bit about both topics, thought I'd answer you.
First of all, the Tea Party movement is not some kind of "grassroots miracle." It was sponsored wholely by FreedomWorks, financed by the Koch Brothers (Nos 4 &5 of the countries richest men and Oil heirs.)   The CEO is Dick Armey, ex- Big pharmasuetical lobbyist and Matt Kibbe, who was a strategist for the Republican Party. You really do have to ask yourself why.
And as for The Secret...the law of attraction is not as simple as you make it sound. You cannot just think on what you wish and have it pop magically into being.
Please remember that it IS a spiritual principal, Cause and Effect, Karma. You cannot expect it to "work" if you're not practicing some kind of spirituality yourself.
It's all about what motivates your desire that matters..not what you desire.Â
So, if you are selfish and want more things, what you will attract are more selifishness, more dissatisfaction with what you have, more selfish people and ultimately people who will take from you.
In that way, it can be a very dangerous thing to practice this principle recklessly, and may not have the effect you want at all. If you come from the wrong place spiritually, what you win may not look like what you wanted at all.
There is a reason Ayn Rand was an atheist. What you get is the out-picturing of what you ARE, not what you want. Because all you will get is more wanting. I think you need to make a choice whether you are a rationalist or spiritual. Because until you do, those two systems will war against each other in your brain.
