Friday, May 14, 2010

Making Connections and Reaching Upward


I'm thinking lately about how it's clearer that things are working out for the best when they are viewed in retrospect. In the moment it can be harder to see the big picture - to attempt to discern the reasons that things happen as they do. I'm learning to ask clearly for what I want/need to happen, and to express gratitude for the results, and for the process itself. Lately, I have many opportunities to practice.

As my readers know, a few weeks ago now my husband, Evan's job was eliminated. It was a stressful job working for an unstable person, and truly, in many ways this is a relief. His mom also needs us more now than she had previously, and we are both available to assist her as she is recovering from a series of radiation treatments and the side effects it brought on. Evan now has the time to focus on finding that "right" placement. If he were still working, he would not have been able to devote the same focus to finding a better position. He has found a number of suitable positions to apply for, and has made some good contacts already. So it only takes a small step back to look at this situation as a blessing, or at least a good opportunity to tend to the present and put out energy for the future.

Also, it is important for us to know that we will be ok. I am making a point to ask for what we need, and I'm finding that we are being provided for in many ways. One example is that we had hoped to have sent two of our daughters to overnight camp this summer, for a short time. We applied for scholarship assistance and waited. We received a call that it was still going to be more money than we could commit to. Evan was upset and I told him that we should believe that we will have what we need, that it will be provided for us when we need it. He said I should be realistic. I refused to budge and went out to run an errand for his mom. As I was driving, I talked to the angels and Spirit. (This is, admittedly, a rather new and slightly awkward-feeling activity for me.) I told them that I am counting on them to provide for our family in whatever way will work, that I will joyfully accept more students and more writing assignments to make ends meet, and that we need their support to help us manage during this transition. When I arrived at my mother-in-law's house, Evan called and said I needed to return a call to our rabbi. I called and the rabbi told me that the girls would be going to camp on a full scholarship, and because there was a requirement for JCC membership in order to receive funding, that it would also be taken care of for us. (One year's membership to the JCC for our family is a huge perk.) It was a big told-ya-so opportunity! It reminded me of my California vacation, and the last minute plane ticket change that got me on a first class flight with cheesecake!

I am making it a point to ask the angels and Spirit to provide means for financial support for us while the right job is being lined up for Evan's highest good. Evan is putting forth the effort of searching and applying, making contacts and following through as he should be. Shortly after I made my request, Evan's severance check arrived and was double the amount we had expected (they paid out in one instead of two installments) and the next one will have his accumulated vacation pay (more than what we had anticipated). It came at the time we needed it and I'm making the connection between asking and receiving once again.

You might say these things would have happened anyway, regardless of me going to the effort of asking, and that the two events (my asking, and things working out shortly afterward) are only connected because I'm connecting them in my mind. Perhaps. There is no proof that it would not have happened without my asking. But this is where a measure of faith is needed. I'm reaching upward by asking directly for what I need, and I'm making connections between the request and the results. So let's see what happens if I continue to do this, as an experiment with the Law of Attraction, or manifesting, or whatever you want to call it.

I'm going to "Act As If" it is my asking that is making the results appear and see if more things seem to line up that way. I'm going to "Act As If" the big picture of our situation is that things are working out exactly for our highest good and that of our family, and that we are being supported by the higher powers. At the very least, this confidence will keep fear and anxiety at bay, provide us with some sense of purpose, and make living in the present a lot easier than otherwise.

We could, on the other hand, worry about when he will get a job, what we will do for money, how we will manage, and what will happen next. But, I think I'll try this new approach this time around. I have a sneaking suspicion that this process will be the realizing of an important lesson on life, attitude, manifesting and faith.

And that's something I can pass on to our kids, and share with you.

Thanks for hanging in there with me. I welcome your thoughts.

24 comments:

Amber said...

I think this is a beautiful post! I certainly think it's a good idea to pass on to your children to at least try to see the positive in everything, and to keep the faith that things will work out.
Scientifically they've done many studies that show people who tend to be more positive having longer, happier lives where they felt more fulfilled. If what you need to help you as a focus is to "act as if" you're getting some help from some divine sources, no harm in that! In asking for what it is you want/need to happen, you are clearly defining your goals, and keeping a positive attitude about reaching those goals will be greatly influential to those around you :)
I'm personally still trying to work on asking for help more myself...I have trouble clearly defining my goals so that I know what I want. I'm trying to learn how to focus on the solution more than the problem, as it were.
Much love and light to you :)

Amy Oscar said...

Of course, I love this post! A thought about coincidences, about whether or not your prayer caused money to flow.

When these kinds of things happen, most of us have to wonder: Am I just being silly? Would it have happened anyway?

We simply can't know.

There's a famous physics experiment known as "Shrodinger's Cat" in which scientists realized that we cannot know something is there - in their case, a cat in a box, without opening the box to check.

But opening the box changes the conditions of the experiment, letting in light, potentially changing the cat's behavior. So how do we know how the experiment would have turned out if we had not opened the box?

We don't. We can't.

I like to play with this question. Maybe the check's imminent arrival somehow 'reminded' you to call on the angels. Maybe the angels, who are outside the bounds of time and space, inspired the check-sender to double the payment. Maybe your faith made all of this possible.

We just don't know. My thing is: We don't have to know. We can choose to conceive of the world as a place where prayers are answered or a place where they are not. We can choose to see the world as meaningful and responsive - or not.

I choose a prayer-answering world. I want to live there.

Marguerite said...

Happy to read your story it just confirmed what i deeply believe and experienced.
I also had great surprises after asking things to spirit or Angels.
I am very messy, and keep looking for things in my workshop, so i ask for it, it works so well, sometimes i am really amazed!
But never forget to be carefull what we ask for...and keep faith in the life.
Wish you lots of good things to come

Sara Stein MD said...

Beautiful Alice. I like to picture the flow of abundance the way the volunteers unload supplies in Haiti - a chain of handing things from one to another. If you believe the chain exists, all you need to do is join - be there for the handoff, and plan to give it to the next person in line. An awesome flow of continual abundant energy.

Alice Langholt said...

Amber,

Thank you for commenting and I appreciate your thoughts! For sure focusing on the solution is a faster way to get there than focusing on the problem. It's much more proactive and puts energy moving in a positive direction.
Here's to the process of growth for us both!

Love,
Alice

Alice Langholt said...

Amy,

Thank you for your wise comment!

It's said we create our reality. If that's true, then yes, I want to live in the responsive, meaningful world where prayers are answered too. Let's meet there for coffee! (You can have tea - I know you prefer that!)

Much love,
Alice

Alice Langholt said...

Margueite,

Thank you for commenting, and I think it's great how you receive assistance, even with finding things, when you ask. It really helps illustrate the power of asking, even for the little things in the moment. I'll keep that in mind next time I'm wondering where I put something, and also in general in those little moments of the day. I think the more often we connect, the stronger our connection grows. It's really that our ability to perceive the connection grows, because the connection is always there.

Peace and light,
Alice

Alice Langholt said...

Sara,

I appreciate the visual of the chain, flowing positive energy from one person to the next. I would like my place in the chain to be a good one. Thanks for being in mine.

Love & light,
Alice

Anonymous said...

Alice, once again I must say, you are a beautiful awesome lady, with a beautiful awesome family. I know you will get through this because you are a warrior. I am going to send you some Reiki to you and your's, and also pray that God will open a door for you that no man can ever close, in the way of finances, and health, plus overall well being. Specifically that your partner will find a very good job, and perhaps, the two of you can go into a nice business together, it would be so cool to see you working as a team in the healing profession, I mean I know you already do in many ways, and that you are definitely a team, but I mean in the way of Reiki, or perhaps some other fashion you are comfy with. I love the photo you posted by the way, it has a wonderful energy for the chakras. You rock Alice, and you are an inspiring woman, and will overcome all obstacles.
Sat Nam, **(-_-)**
Piper

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful lesson and information Alice. That between stimulus and response you are making a choice is a fabulous message and a fabulous way of living to model for your children.

Anonymous said...

Alice you are I are on the same page sometimes. I have been talking to my angel and spirit guides now stop. I love the way one can create things with ones intention and unwavering belief. I currently am doubting my confidence in myself at the same time I have moments where I feel like I am on the verge of a major spiritual break though. Sometimes we need the help of each other. Reading you blog today helped me in a way I can't fully explain. i wish your radio show was this weekend. Thanks for being a friend a supporter a mentor a teacher. Most of all thanks for so openly sharing your heart with us. Mari

Alice Langholt said...

Piper,

I'm always grateful for your kind and loving words. Thank you for the Reiki and prayers also. It's always nice to hear from you and know you are there, caring and sending love.

Alice

Agrigirl,

Thank you so much for your comment. I do hope that my kids don't take on stress, but instead see the positive attitude we have chosen to embrace this time around. We'll see how things are different when we live from this place.
Love, Alice

Mari,

I am truly grateful for your presence in my life and having you as my student and friend. It's a blessing to know that you understand how I feel and that it means so much to you as well. I think it helps to know that I'm not alone and that people are reading and finding meaning in my thoughts and feelings. If you want to talk, you can always give me a call. No need to wait for the radio show! :)

Love and light,
Alice

Susan Eller said...

Alice,

I just want you to know that I support you in your approach of having faith and asking for what you want. I have also found that "acting as if" helps.

As you probably know the subconscious mind has great control over our lives and it does not know the difference between our current reality and our imagination.

Just want to share something that has helped me lately which is making the statement "Wouldn't it be nice----" and filling in the blanks. For example, wouldn't it be nice if everything my family and I need fell easily into place, wouldn't it be nice if Evan found a great job with wonderful people, great pay and benefits and so on.

Sending Reiki thoughts of encouragement, strength and support.

Blessings,
Susan

Alice Langholt said...

Dear Susan,

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and supportive comment! I like your approach and will give it a try along with just blatantly asking for what I need, which seems to be blunt, but what has been working lately! I think the idea is that directly asking is the equivalent of stating intention for something to be that way, whether we do it by saying wouldn't it be nice, or saying this is what I need, it's amounting to just the method of setting intention - using that power of the mind. Either way helps us put into words what the goal is- and that's the way to get the process in line, or so I am learning!

Sending you love and lots of appreciation for the chance to articulate this! (At least I hope it was articulate! :P)

Love and peace,
Alice

THNK said...

Alice,
Thank you for sharing this. It is indeed inspiring....at the same time EXACTLY what I need at this moment in my life... Ask for what I need....be grateful for what I have....know what I want and ASK...ask...not be afraid or ashamed to ask.

Thank you my holy sister.

hugs,
TN

Alice Langholt said...

My darling TN,

And when you ask, just know that all is working out for your highest good. Because it is. Then know you got what you asked for.

Love to you,
Alice

AnaVar said...

Everything happens for a good reason! I'm making first steps discovering reiki and your blog is full of information I need! Have to go through briefly! Ann.

Alice Langholt said...

AnaVar,

Thank you for your comment! If there's anything I can do to help you learn Reiki or support you on your journey, please be in touch. I'm glad you find my writing useful!

Love and light,
Alice

Anonymous said...

Hi Alice, you've greatly contributed much love to the online community with this post. It's truly a beautiful story and inspirational story. I'm just starting my Thetahealing sessions, and I'm just wondering, is there any process in combining Theta Healing with Reiki? Can this be done? Again thank you for sharing your experience with us. You're a beautiful soul and the world needs more people like you. Much love and God speed to you and your family.

Alice Langholt said...

Victoria,

While I am not a practitioner of Theta Healing or many other energy healing methods besides Reiki, I would venture to say that one can combine most energy healing techniques because at their source, they are all working with the same life force energy. So think of multimedia art - can you combine paint, markers, pencils, ink, and clay? Sure you can, and it's all working with color and texture to create art. The method is what makes the difference, and that is a reflection of the preferences of the artist. The viewer resonates with some styles over another, so we can choose what kind of energy healing we like to receive by choosing our practitioner. Some people receive acupuncture, some Quantum Touch, and some go to those who employ a number of methods in their work. So if you feel drawn to, learn all you can and build your own collection of art supplies for your style of work. I almost said tools for your toolbox but that would be mixing metaphors! :)

Thank you for your lovely comment and I'm glad you're reading and enjoying my posts.
Blessings,
Alice

Anonymous said...

I appreciate your insights. Thank you for taking the time to reply to my query. Much love to you and your family, and more power to your blog!

Alice Langholt said...

Victoria,

It's my pleasure and again, I'm grateful for your reading and commenting. I'm here to be of any support I can.

Much love,
Alice

Energetic Healing said...

Good to listen to your story.It is important to pause and find time for very important issues in life.When the mind is happy everything else can be dealt with.

Reikihealer said...

I support your thoughts on faith, visualizing and expecting a good outcome during times of stress. I once wanted to change jobs so badly-my health was waning due to a toxic work place. I asked my angels for help and told them it was urgent-could they help me right away? I asked for a satisfying job in homecare(I'm an RN)and wanted a patient who could benefit from Reiki. 2 days later I got a call from John Smith-owner of "Guardian Angel Homecare."(no lie!!) I did not apply there. He found a Reiki flier of mine in our small town and asked me to provide Reiki for his son with paralysis. I started private duty nursing for his child 1 week later. AAron relaxed more deeply with the treatments and his painful migraine headaches went away.It was a miraculous event! Continue to do what you do!