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Magic? Vision!

The Miracles In Your Midst

Richard Kent Matthews


Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved
ISBN 9781370685967


Table of Contents Conclusion: Between Animal and
Angel: How to Practice Compassion
Introduction When You Have a Human Brain!

Part I: Becoming Miracle Minded Bonus A: How to Improve Everything


in Seven Simple StepsGuaranteed!
Chapter 1: Making Room for Miracles
Bonus B: Prosperity and Abundance
Chapter 2: Getting Your Spiritual in Seconds
Ducks in a Row
Bonus C: Ah, Religion!
Chapter 3: Ask and It Is Given
About the Author
Chapter 4: How to Maximize the
Miracles in Your Life Useful Links

Chapter 5: Give Yourself a Break! Powerful Suggestion

Chapter 6: Grounded In Spirit

Part II: Intensifying Your Miracle


Mind

Chapter 7: Love and the Inner Critic

Chapter 8: Why, Thank You!

Chapter 9: Three Little Words: Act As


If

Chapter 10: Recycling Your


Blessings: Karma

Chapter 11: With All Thy Getting


Introduction proclaim themselves diehard atheists wont
even consider the possibility of miracles.
Youre in for a major and pleasant surprise. Too woo-woo. Not realistic, not logical.
After reading this e-book, and following at This may be the point where the atheist will
least some of the suggestions (you dont choose to jump ship. I wish you the best.
have to follow them all; you can pick and
choose), the number of miracles youll If youre still with me, its important to
experience will double. At least. understand how miracles work. You dont
cause them. They are already available. You
Self-help, personal and spiritual growth, simply choose to open your mind and heart
metaphysics, religion, business, marketing, to their reality. Once you do that, they
healthIve read at least a thousand books become visible. They happen continually.
on those subjects over the past 25 years. They will be the primary driving force in
The writers of those books are, for the most your life. Youll experience miracles from
part, great teachers. By applying much of the first moments of your day until you fall
what they have taught, I am a wiser person asleep again. Youll wonder how you ever
today. missed them. Now, thats the way to live,
dont you agree?
Perhaps youre familiar with authors like
Wayne Dyer, Mary Manin Morrisey, John The chapters in this book are short and to
Assaraf, Tony Robbins, Carolyn Myss, Joe the point. Not a lot of personal stories or
Vitale, Brian Tracy, Larry Winget, Michael anecdotes. Just the facts and a few online
Bernard Beckwith, Oprah. You know about links at the end. Thats what you want,
the law of attraction and that thoughts are thats what youre getting.
things. You perhaps meditate or circle
dance or pray the Rosary. Maybe youre a Enough said. Read on. Your miracles await.
student of A Course In Miracles. Or none of
these. (By the way, there are few graphics in this
little book. It helps in faster downloading.
This book brings all of that powerful There is a pair of butterfliesrepresenting
information into a simple focus. In just a transformationlocated at the end of the
few short chapters, youll learn everything main text. And a small piece in the Bonus
you need and want to know about section. Otherwise, its black, white, and a
manifesting miracles. Itll take around an good deal of empty space.)
hour to read and absorb. Time well spent.
(Power suggestion at end)

First, understand that the manifestation of


miracles is not a supernatural process. You
dont even have to believe in a god for
miracles to happen in your life. However,
its been my experience that those who

Part I: Becoming Miracle corner. It all depends on where we
Minded are placing our attention. If we are
Chapter 1: Making Room for Miracles caught up in anger, unforgiveness,
and yes, self-pity, we miss the
obvious. Pray without ceasing. (I
A day dawns, quite like other days; in it, a Thess. 5:17)
single hour comes, quite like other hours; Open to new experiences. Time to
but in that day and in that hour the chance take a bit of risk. If youre unwilling
of a lifetime faces us. to change, to replace the old with the
Maltbie Babcock (Presbyterian minister, new, then miracles have a hard time
late 19th century) showing themselves. Remember, the
universe is always in motion. Nothing
Miracles will not simply drop into your remains the same. Step out of your
lap. Unless youre sitting where miracles self-imposed box and into the fray.
are dropping. Its scary, its different. And its
amazing. We must not sit down and
Miracles occur all the time; in fact, the wait for miracles. Up, and be going!
universe exists because of the miraculous.* John Eliot, 17th C. British missionary
But most people think that in order for an
event to qualify as a miracle, it needs to be We say we want miracles to occur in our
dramatic, flashy, supernatural. Thats where lives. But are we willing to prepare the
most of us lose sight of the true and simple space for them? You now know how to
nature of miracles. Only the Miracle open to the miracles that are within your
Minded can spot them on a regular basis. grasp in every moment. Theyre yours for
So, as TV chef Emeril Lagasse says, Its the takingif youre prepared to see them
time to kick it up a notch. Lets get and receive them. Remember:
ready
Your potential to achieve is limited only by
the level of your fears.
The way to make room for miracles is
simple: Doug Hall (business writer)

Become willing to release fear and *Science may know the what and even the how,
self-pity. You wont do it overnight; but no one knows the why of existence. Until
shown otherwise, I will continue to view the
you just need a little willingness. universe as miraculousand deliberate.
Heres a kicker: self-pity of every
kind is the number one block to
experiencing miracles on a
continuing basis. If you want to
change the fruits, you have to change
the roots. T. Harv Eker
Trust the universe. Listen and watch.
The Miracle Minded know that there
is an opportunity around every

Chapter 2: Getting Your Spiritual Ducks A reminder: Youre going to be
in a Row motivated by self-interest all the time.
Its the way of things. Even reading
Love is but the discovery of ourselves in this book is prompted by self-interest.
others and the delight in the recognition. A wise choice, though, is to look
George Bernard Shaw outside self-interest now and then to
see the bigger picture. Where can you
What do I mean by Miracle Minded? add some positive flavor, some
assistance that only you can offer?
Fearless, well-intentioned, innocent, Again, you have the power to do so.
invulnerable; listens for guidance, acts on So, do so. The benefits will surprise
loving impulses, even if they seem odd to you.
the ego; trusting, willing to share, available,
open, eager, ready to receive It isnt necessary to be harsh with yourself if
you find a bit of selfishness within your
Too much to ask? Hardly. You may not activities in the world. Its only necessary to
think you can live up to all that goody- look at them, assess them, and decide how
goody two shoes stuff but you dont have you might bring your own desires and goals
tojust yet. Youre developing a mindset into alignment with the Higher Purpose
here and it can take a while to change your service to the world.
(in some cases) lifelong habits that have
The gift of the universe to you is more
kept you from seeing the incredible
talent and ability than you can possibly use
manifestations that are taking place around
in a single lifetime. Your gift to the universe
you all the time. So, I offer three more ways
is to develop those talents and abilities to
to create the mindset that experiences
the highest levels that you can while you
miracles day by day, moment by moment:
live. And the fun twist is, you cannot use
Observe your personal and collective your gifts and talents to help others without
worlds. Watch for opportunities that helping yourself. Guaranteed.
are waiting for your touch, for your
As for me, I know of nothing but
assistance, for your love. Those
miracles.
opportunities are everywhere. Just
Walt Whitman
look.
Take the time to discover your true
agenda. What might be hiddenfrom
yourself as well others? Can you
expand your narrow focus? You can.
So, do it. Now.
Ask yourself this question: Does
what I want contribute to the Higher
Good? Is it motivated by compassion
rather than just self-interest?


Chapter 3: Ask and It Is Given considered. You dont always know
your own good. Trust that all is
Spirit is substance which forms Itself coming together through Divine
according to your [requests] and must have Right Action. It is!
a pattern from which to work. A pan of
dough is as willing to be formed into bread God designed us to be happy but gave us
as biscuit. It makes as little difference to the choice. Anders Rive (sculptor)
Spirit what we [request].
Frances Larimer Warner (Our Invisible Prayer works. And there is nothing
Supply, Part I, 1907) supernatural about it. The universe is
constantly progressing from chaos to order.
Important: Your prayers are always Your prayeryour very existencestirs up
answered in a way that is best for all the chaos; order (The Answer) is inevitable.
concerned. And its always a good idea to
You are never given a wish without also
be grateful for that fact. Heres why: You
being given the power to make it true. You
may not always know what is best in any
may have to work for it, however. Richard
particular situation, even if you think you
Bach (author of Jonathan Livingston
do. You dont exist in a vacuum. What
Seagull)
happens to you happens to the world.
Heavy, eh?
Do not pray for easy lives.
The Three Rs of Affirmative Prayer Pray to be a stronger person.
Request. Declare what you want.
Then, decide how you will spend Do not pray for tasks equal to your
your time. (Be willing to do whatever powers.
it takes.) Put it in writing. Pick one Pray for powers equal to your tasks.
word that expresses the essence of the
prayer and repeat the one word as Then the doing of the work shall be no
often as you can think of it. Let it miracle.
serve as a reminder rather than a
You shall be the miracle.
demander. Every decision you make
indicates what you think youre
worth. ACIM Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) American
Release. Once you have made your clergyman
request, let the universe take over.
For fast acting relief, try slowing
down. Lily Tomlin
Receive. Live as if you already have
what you requested. Open to the best
possible outcome. Be observant. See
your life as blessed. Your answer
may show up in ways you havent

Chapter 4: How to Maximize the candle; call someone. You dont
Miracles necessarily need to be religious to
In Your Life engage in spiritual practice. Youre
not trying to change or appease an
He who has a why to live can bear with outside god; your goal is to tweak
almost any how. your inner experience, move it a bit,
F. Nietzsche shake it up, scrape gunk off your
spiritual eyes. Miracles appear
Your life is One Continuous Story, broken when the vision is clear. Saxby
into many chapters, subchapters, plots, and Jones
mysteries. Its mostly fiction, but you have
come to believe that its The Truth about You may think you remember your past
you. You may like what you have created. vividly. In actuality, you have been
Fine. Keep it going, adding new chapters rewriting most of it as you go along, much
and characters and plot lines. Have fun with of it unconsciously. Begin today to rewrite
it. But whenever you dont like the direction your story consciously. Make it come out
its taking, you can rewrite itin part, or the way you want it to. Horace Mann said,
entirely. Heres how: If an idiot were to tell you the same story
for a year, you would end by believing it.
Align yourself with a Better Youre not an idiot. Tell yourself a New
Outcome. Make the new story Story. And watch the miracles increase a
interesting, involved, inclusive. Get hundredfold.
clear on your purpose. Authors will
tell you that, without clarity, a story To paraphrase a wise but anonymous
has no real direction. There is only scholar, during the course of your life, a
one success: to live your life in your small number of folks will like you, even
own way. Christopher Morley love you. And a small number may well
Create a Different Truth. Write it dislike you, perhaps a lot. The vast majority,
down; make it real; keep it however, wont care one way or another
believable. Cherish forever what about you. So, be yourself, create the best
makes you unique cuz youre a real story you can, and follow your own heart.
yawn if it goes. Bette Milder History will be kind to me for I intend to
Take a Bold Step. Become the write it.
Action Hero of your own story; dont Winston Churchill
just play a supporting role. Success
is not the result of spontaneous
combustion; you must set yourself on
fire.
Reggie Leach
Create a Powerful and Spiritual
Ritual. Meditate at the same time
each day; read uplifting material;
listen to spiritual music; light a

Chapter 5: Give Yourself a Break! would be, and then do what you have
to do. Epictetus
What we practice, we become. See them as mirrors. If you let them,
Victoria Castle, Trance of Scarcity they will reflect back to you your
vanity, pride, fear, anger, jealousy,
What is perfection? My dictionary says its envy, greed, and self-pity. View these
the state of being without flaw or defect. So, habits of mind with courage and they
perfection by that definition does not exist will begin to melt away. The only
anywhere in the known universe, which is a sure way to destroy your enemies is
state of raw imperfection, seeking to to make them your friends. (Anon.)
balance and harmonize itself and never
quite making itrather like us. Just like the universe, you are perfectly
imperfect. There is much to be learned from
We tend to distrust the perfect, the flawless, your flaws, if you will allow yourself to
the become the student. And youll begin to
superior. Even a perfect God is more to touch the world in a new and powerful way.
be feared than adored. Throughout history, Embracing your imperfections allows you
the adoration or worship of the deity has to take your mind off yourself and place it
been out of fear of the deitys possible in a more beneficial arena: service to the
wrath. Thats no way to live. world, your true calling.

But thank the Powers That Be, youre not Celebrate your imperfections. They keep
perfect. And a good thing, too. Youd be you connected to the rest of us.
nothing less than boring without all those You can resent your bald spot or be glad
little faults that you so often dislike about you have a head. Rev. Richard Kent
yourself. Those defects, as you may call Matthews
them, can be taken lightly.

How to recognize the value of your flaws


and defects:
See them as necessary. Without them
you can have no spiritual goal.
Strength increases through resistance
and overcoming. If you want to build
muscle, you must tear down the tissue
first and then rebuild it. When doing
something important, comfortable is
not a place you begin. (Anon.)
See them as teachers. Change them
by changing the meaning you have
given them. You get what you expect.
First, say to yourself what you

Chapter 6: Grounded in Spirit Complaining, then, is a form of
unforgiveness. By lowering your Complaint
The art of living lies less in eliminating Quotient, you begin to free yourself from
our troubles than in growing with them. the poison that bitterness, resentment, and
Bernard Baruch (Financier) the holding of grudges creates. It doesnt
mean that those who have harmed you are
There is only one relevant spiritual no longer responsible for their actions. It
question: Why arent you dancing with joy means that you choose to take charge of
in this very moment? your emotions, to live from a place of
freedom, a place of self-respect, a place of
The clearest sign of the spiritual amateur is joy.
the amount of complaining they do. Do you
begin your day with Good morning, God! Prosperity and abundance are the RESULT
or with Good God, morning!? This of the spiritual walk, not the focus. As you
chapter offers you a simple way to begin learn to walk daily in connection with the
diminishing your Complaint Quotient and to Inner Spirit, the levels of abundance and joy
begin increasing your Joy Quotient. Ready? in your life rise exponentially. Expect joy.
You have 86,400 seconds each day. How
How to dance with joy will you spend them?
Open to Your Inner Presence. Here is a powerful affirmation. It can
Cultivate a relationship with your change your life:
Inner Guidance. Dont believe in a
god or deity of any kind? Doesnt Thank you for everything. I have no
matter. There is a place within you complaints whatsoever!
that knows how to experience a
greater joy. Make a conscious What you love, you empower. What you
decision to allow that joy to rise to fear, you empower. And what you empower,
the surface. Your decisions, not the you attract.
conditions, determine your destiny. Franklin Taylor
Randella Carmichael
Determineand choose to live
your values. Knowing others is
knowledge; knowing ourselves is
wisdom. Tao de Ching
Dont let a day go by without finding
a way to serve:
1. Start small and simple.
2. Create new habits in mind and
action.
3. Commit to serving in new ways.


Part II: Intensifying Your Miracle forgive yourself for past mistakes, past
Mind failures, past angers, past doubtsall of it.
Got it? Now, heres how to make the
Chapter 7: Love and the Inner Critic pretend a reality.

We have to learn to be our own best friend How to tame your Inner Critic:
because we fall too easily into the trap of
being our own worst enemy. Picture it; give it a face; see it as a
Roderick Thorp, Rainbow Drive (1986) distinct personality.
Give it a name that means something
We think we see a real world out there. to you.
Its convincing enough. Albert Einstein Its motives may seem positive but be
called reality an illusion, albeit a persistent ready to challenge them.
one. But what if you could reshape your Thank it for its efforts; remind it that
reality? What if you could mold it into your youre the boss. Be firm but gentle.
own forms, your own creations? What if Open to new guidance. There is a
thoughts actually are things? Would you deeper part of you that is willing to
want that? Heres what quantum physicist assist. Let it.
David Bohm says (paraphrased) about
You cant transcend something you havent
thought:
mastered. Your Inner Critic will hold you in
its control until you make the decision to
Thought shows you a world of your own
take the drivers seat. When you
making. What you see is a product of your
consciously take that seat, you canand
thoughts, not an external reality. Thoughts
willrecreate your reality as you see fit.
fool you into thinking that youre seeing the
Think about it.
world as it is. You forget you are reacting to
a world shaped by your thoughts. Until you You have two choices in life. You can
perceive thought as the creator of your dissolve into the mainstream or you can be
experience, it controls your life. distinct. To be distinct, you must be
different. To be different you must strive to
You have an Inner Critic. Though well be what no one else but you can be.
meaning, your Critic has held you hostage Alan Ashley-Pitt
for many years. It keeps reminding you how
worthless, unsuccessful, or unattractive you
are. It keeps you feeling that youre not as
good as those around you. What if you
discovered that your Inner Critic has been
lying to you this entire time? Would you
take the steps necessary to break its hold on
you? Yes? Then pretend for a moment that
you care deeply for yourself, that you hold
nothing against yourself. You completely

Chapter 8: Why, Thank You! following practices will skyrocket your
levels of Miracle Mind:
Gratitude is not only the greatest of the
virtues, but it is the parent of all the rest. Make the decision to bless all of your
Cicero (Roman philosopher 106 BC 43 resources daily. Choose to make it a
BC) discipline.
Consciously LOOK for ways to
Early spring. I can already smell the change express gratitude. Take nothing for
in the earth outside my back door. granted, including little weeds.
Something is happening, stirring, Stop with the negative talk.
awakening. I spot a small green sprout. Its See even the rough times as gifts.
not one of the garden plants that went to When things are good, say good
sleep last fall; its a tiny little clover-like things. When things are bad, say
weed. Simple, unassuming, profound. twice as many good things. Dr.
Interestingly enough, it took all of Todd Michael, The Twelve
creations energies to bring that little living Conditions of a Miracle
twig into existence. Give back! It always returns. Bank on
it. Literally.
Without everything that has ever occurred,
in all space and time, that one little plant Authentic gratitude is the gift you give to
would never have arrived. It existed from the world as well as yourself. To be
the moment of creation. Star stuff. The authentically grateful is to pray without
same atoms that once built galaxies are ceasing.
moving around exuberantly within the little (St. Paul)
leaves. The very protons that once rested in
the core of the sun now spread themselves
The Gratitude Affirmation
out as chlorophyll to welcome their stellar
cousins, traveling through space at 186,000 My life is blessed and I share it with
miles per second to become one with the the world!
leaves, the stems, the roots. Soon the little
plant will die and give way to the larger The most powerful agent of growth and
ones and later, in a month or so, the process transformation is something more basic
begins all over again. The summer weeds. than any technique: a change of heart.
Chaotic, turbulent, and quite grand. John Welwood (Transpersonal
psychologist)
The essence of the little weed is eternal.

You, too.

Gratitude is more than just saying thank


you. Its a journey through stages and finds
countless forms of expression. The


Chapter 9: Three Little Words: Act As If because it certainly carries a life
sentence if you do. D. A. Benton
If you arent putting your time, energy, Take all necessary steps toward
and money into something, then you dont your dream. Once you know what the
[care] about it. Your time, energy, and dream is and what outcome you have
money ALWAYS go to what is important to pictured, and once you have made the
you. decision to eliminate all of the
Larry Winget, author, speaker practices that lead you away from,
rather than toward, your miracle, the
To act as if means to live as if your way will show itself. The steps will
dreamyour desireis true. Most people become visible. Take them. Even if
hope that what they want will somehow they appear difficult. A lot of people
appear in their life. Sometimes with luck, know what to do but few do what they
it does. More often than not, the dream know. Anthony Robbins
passes without fulfillment. It doesnt have
to be that way. Acting as if, then, is not hope; its not even
faith. You begin walking the path you have
How to Act As If* chosen, and you dont look back.
Commitment somehow brings the necessary
Determine and eliminate all actions, guidance. The way is shown. The right
thoughts, and behaviors that are tools, the right people, the right
contrary to your dream, desire, or circumstances materialize as if by magic.
decision. Reread the quote from But it isnt magic. Its action.
Larry Winget at the beginning of this
chapter. If you want something, you (P.S. I have recently come across authors who
pooh-pooh the act as if idea. Seems its just so
will put all of your available energies much New Age nonsense that can keep you from
into it. Otherwise, its just a pipe dealing with reality. So be it. But if you choose to
dream. Its important to know the write this one off, youll ultimately miss the whole
difference. Heroes and cowards feel point of this book. Your choice. And as always,
the same fear; the difference is in the blessings to you.)
action. C. DAmato The truth is that our finest moments are
End all habits that support a reality most likely to occur when we are feeling
different from your intended deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or
outcome. Get and hold an internal unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments,
picture of your desire, your goal, your propelled by our discomfort, that we are
dream. Dont allow the picture to likely to step out of our ruts and start
become watered down with ideas of searching for different ways or truer
failure or sour grapes. Let the answers. M. Scott Peck
negative language drop away. And
dont listen to anyone who tells you
what you want isnt possible. If I
were writing the laws, I would make
it a crime to give up on yourself

Chapter 10: Recycling Your Blessings: dont recycle. But you can make up
Karma* for it the next day. When you die,
you take with you only what you have
It is the part of prudence to face every given way. Pontius D. Pelley
claimant and pay every just demand on your
time, your talents, and your heart. Always Karma, then, is simply the universe in
pay, for first and last, you must pay your action, not punishment and reward. You are
entire debt. part of it, linked forever to all that is. And
Ralph Waldo Emerson you can make your experience more
enjoyable, exciting, inspirational, and
Karma = action. Karmic debt is what you ultimately, beneficial by releasing the need
owe for everything you possess, including to cling and allowing yourself the joy of
your very breath. You pay the debt by Conscious Payback.
allowing the blessings that come to you to
By the way, you can expect miracles in
flow out again in a continuing cycle. When
droves.
you understand that your karmic debt is
actually a gift, it becomes much easier to
We are caught in an inescapable network
begin the Conscious Payback, or the
of mutuality, clothed in a single garment of
recycling of your blessings. Heres how:
destiny. I can never be what I ought to be
Pay your debt to society by getting until you are what you ought to be and you
clear on your calling. You have one. can never be what you ought to be unless I
If you havent found it, find it. Or am what I ought to be.
make it up until you get clear. Your Martin Luther King, Jr.
life is Spirits gift to you. What you do
with it is your gift to the world. Is it *The word karma is somewhat loaded.
Depending upon your particular culture, it can
gold or lead? Saxby Jones mean anything from cause and effect to the
Cast your bread upon the water, initiating of the cycles of death and rebirth. For our
says Jesus. Be open to Conscious purposes, it simply means action. Everything
Payback at all times. Seek out ways responds to everything else. The old axiom of the
to recycle your blessings. If you open butterfly flapping its wings in one part of the world
your eyes and heart, the affecting other parts of the world can be applied
here. No retribution or punishment is implied. Only
opportunities, which are many, will action.
become apparent. Just a reminder:
Seek no return. Ones true wealth is
the good he does in the world. The
Quran (Koran)
Finally, recognize that you actually
benefit from all this payback more
than anyone. Turn Conscious
Payback into a game. See how much
you can release and share every day.
The only day you lose is the day you

Chapter 11: With All Thy Getting obstacles that stand between you and
your miracle.
Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore
get wisdom, and with all thy getting, get Most of us have grown up in a paradoxical
understanding. society. On the one hand, were told to get
Prov. 4:7 educated, get a good job, raise a family. Or
establish a business, spread it out, and grow
Receiving a chain. Perhaps become a great artist,
musician, or athlete. Do something that will
Like attraction and repulsion, cause and ensure your success in this world.
effect, up and down, in and out, giving and
Were also told to give away as much as we
receiving is one principle. All giving leads
can but not to take from those who want to
to receiving. Its one of those natural laws
give back to us. But we do a great disservice
that work in spite of our efforts to thwart it.
to people who want to share with us in the
We cant break that law; we can only work
way we share with them. We deny them a
with it to our benefit or detriment. The
real pleasure.
Bible says, God makes the rain to fall on
the just and unjust alike. Receiving, then is Receiving well is a form of giving. It allows
necessary to the process. And it works well. others in your life to have the opportunity to
give back. You can, in turn, share what you
How to become a good receiver receive with the world again. Give, receive,
recycle.
Choose (Intend) to live in a state of
expectancy, not hope. Good comes Receiving requires genuine humility that
our way by right of consciousness may be uncomfortable and difficult to
by practice, by Lawnot entitlement, achieve, whereas giving poses the risk of
not as reward. No one is handing out arrogance which, unfortunately, is easy to
goodies, especially Spirit. come by.
Prosperity is only an instrument to Robert Greenleaf, On Becoming a Servant
be used, not a deity to be Leader
worshipped. Calvin Coolidge
Be ever so conscious of (Pay
attention to) what youre thinking,
saying, and doing. You are literally
creating your experience through
thoughts, words, and actions. The
kindest thing you can do for the
people you care about is to become a
happy, joy-filled person. Pablo J.
Guzman
Get out of the way! (Release)
Desperation, guilt, fear, anger, greed,
me, me, me attitudes are the

Conclusion: Between Animal and Angel: more Miracle Minded, the challenges are
How to Practice Compassion When You much easier to deal with.
Have a Human Brain!
From the beginning of this book to the very
Your daily life is your temple and your last line of it, the messageI expecthas
religion. been clear: Miracles are not supernatural.
Kahlil Gibran They are happening everywhere in every
moment. They literally scream out to be
Compassion: The Greatest Miracle noticed. And as the scales of self-pity, fear,
anger, and greed begin to fall from your
The human brain is half animal, half angel. eyes, the miracles seem to magically appear.
Your animal side, or survival instinct, is The early church father, St. Augustine,
strong. It is self-absorbed, fearful of change knew the Truth. He said that miracles do
and strangers, wants security, can be greedy not happen in contradiction to nature;
and even murderous. rather, they happen in contradiction to
our UNDERSTANDING of nature.
Your angel side is Love in a state of flux. It
is still evolving. You can aid this evolution You now have all you need to step into the
through the practice of compassion, or rarified air that the rest of us Miracle
Active Love. It isnt easy. But most things Minded folks are now breathing. Come and
worthwhile usually arent. Your animal side enjoy. You are most welcome here.
will rebel. Compassion takes a commitment.
The practice is simple, and can be difficult. Relationships are all there is. Everything
But if youre ready, here it is: in the universe only exists because it is in
relationship to everything else. Nothing
Do the least harm and the most good. exists in isolation. We have to stop
pretending we are individuals [who] can go
Throughout this little book, you have it alone. Margaret J. Wheatley
discovered the way of the miracle. If you
have implemented even a small number of
the suggested practices, you are well on
your way to becoming Miracle Minded.
You have already noticed a change in your
daily experience. Youre not quite as moody
as you used to be, not as quick to anger.
You begin your day with a smileat least
most of the timeand you carry the smile
in your heart, if not on your now relaxed
face. You recognize that everyone is part of
your family, that you cannot exist well
without us. Oh, I know, sometimes that can
be quite the challenge. But now that you are


Bonus A You are always in the present moment. It is
your choice as to whether or not you will be
How to Improve Everything in Seven mindfully present in it. It's a great gift. Use
Simple StepsGuaranteed! it wisely.
1. No Time Like the Present 2. Ah! The Spirit
Fast or slow, your life is always changing. The word "spirit" has an interesting history.
These changes can be challenging, The earliest English derivation comes from
sometimes stressful, always inevitable. 13th century Middle English, earlier from
Imagine having the ability to surf the Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French,
changes of your life like waves in the ocean. espirit, ultimately comes from the Latin
By being present and mindful, you have the spiritus, literally, breath, from spirare: to
opportunity to respond to and influence blow, to breathe. The first definition in the
your circumstances, instead of simply online Miriam Webster dictionary reads: an
reacting to and being carried away by the animating or vital principle held to give life
to physical organisms.
events in your life. By using the awareness
of your breath, mind, and body, you can Spirit and breath is in fact the same thing.
develop clarity and the ability to improve
your life. You live only because you breathe. As you
learn to breathe with more awareness, you
Mindfulness helps you develop the mental live with more awareness. So, as you
flexibility to become more focused and to continue to read, relax as much as you can,
see the big picture. It can also increase even if you're in a public setting. That may
creativity, interpersonal communication, not be easy, but do your best. Now, notice
and stability. your breathing. You'll find that it changes
Fortunately, mindfulness is not something when you notice it. It becomes a bit more
you have to "get" or acquire. You already rigid, more controlled, less spontaneous.
have the capacity to be mindful. By That's okay. We go through that stage as we
developing the skills of attention and learn to follow the breath. Ultimately, as
moment-to-moment awareness, you can you relax, your breath returns to a more
leverage this powerful resource of being even, flowing pattern.
present. Pay attention to your breath for a few
With that in mind, relax a bit, take a deep, moments. Consciously choose to breath
cleansing breath, and quietly take in the from your abdomen rather than your chest.
surroundings. This is the present moment. Let your tummy expand on the in breath and
You are present in and with this moment, relax completely on the out breath. It is said
with this space, and with this amazing that we should breathe through our noses.
planet. Take another deep breath and spend Okay, if you want to get technical. But,
a few moments in mindful contemplation of right now, just breathe in whatever manner
your present world. is comfortable for you. Breathe in, let it out.
Take a few more moments and just allow

yourself to breathe. Don't force anything. heart, then, in that persons life, there are no
Don't try to get relaxed if you can't. It's miracles. When theyve lost someone they
better to just be with yourself in whatever love, or their home is in foreclosure, or they
way you are responding in this moment. No dont have enough money to buy clothes for
one is judging you...unless you are. Allow the kids, or they find themselves in
your judgments to pass. They're actually unfriendly surroundings, miracles seem like
okay, too. But there's no need to hold onto the last thing to expect. Hope for, maybe.
them any longer than necessary. Again, But expect? Well, perhaps not. Or so it
breathe in, let it out. Keep breathing in this would seem. Heres what I tell them:
manner for a few more moments and allow
yourself some quiet contemplation. Just I know that miracles are the simplest form
keep remembering that the very breath you of energy in the universe. Why? Because all
breathe is where the Spirit resides. You it takes to create them is a thought. Simply
exist in Spirit, and you remain in Spirit for by moving from impossible to possible, you
all eternity. change the energy field around you. You
open a slight crack in the so-called hard
You have taken the first step toward real reality of daily living and allow in just
abundance. Now, just breathe...and let it be. enough light to shift your focus. Just a little.
But a little is all it takes. And once the light
3. Blinded by Miracles begins to shine, the picture changes.
I often tell those I minister to that we can I tell them that miracles are not
literally create our own miracles. supernatural. They are the essence of the
Sometimes, though, I will be challenged. A natural world. No matter the appearance,
person will say, Hey, I try to create miracles are always unfolding, always
miracles every day and nothing changes. I presenting themselves for us to see, or not
think what you say is bogus. What do you to see. It depends upon our perspective, our
think about that?! thinking. God will not send you a miracle.
Are you saying there are no miracles in Why? Because you brought all the miracles
your life? I respond. youll ever need with you when you came
into this life. Thats the great gift that your
They will often counter with something Creator gave you. Believe it, dont believe
like, Ah, dont tell me about the birds, the it. Its your call. But the moment you
trees, and the flowers. They wont change choose to see the miracle in everything, the
my life. I need the Real Thing. I need miracle appears. Its as if it has been
And then theyll list the things, situations, waiting for you to discover it. In reality, it
or people that will actually constitute a has.
miracleto them. Do I try to convince them
that everything around them is a miracle, This is the day that the Lord has made; let
that the universe itself is a miracle, that the us rejoice and be glad in it.
grandest miracle of all is their very life? No.
After all, when someone decides that there
are no miracles, and believes it with all their

4. Attitude Schmattitude! I Want Things playfulness. It leads to a more generous
My Way space, a more prosperous space
physically, mentally, and spiritually. And, at
Sometimes you wake up in the morning in a the end of those few moments, if you still
mood, perhaps not the best mood. You have decide that the bad mood is better, that its
a long to-do list, much of it unpleasant, really where you want to be right now,
some of it youve put off for a whilea thats okay, too. Just as long as you
long whileand you know you cant put it recognize that its your call.
off any longer. You bury your head under
the covers. Just a few more minutes of doze Life is happening at its best right here in
and Ill get up, you murmur. Not a great this moment, in this place. It only takes a
way to get the day going, right? minor tweak in our outlook to turn a dreary
day into the most powerful day of our life.
This could even be one of those days for
you. You might even take it out to some As the old saying goes: Smile! When you
degree on those closest to you. And I am the get old, all your wrinkles will be in the right
last person to tell you to simply change your places.
mind and get over yourself. If you want to
you will, if not, not. But I do suggest this: 5. You Are the Contribution
There is a place deep in your heart where
you feel totally connected to all that is. It If all the insects were to disappear from the
can seem difficult to reach that place when face of the earth tomorrow, the rest of life
youre feeling rotten, but its there on this planet would follow very shortly.
nonetheless. You can hang onto a bad But if humanity were to disappear
mood; you can feel justified in doing so. tomorrow, the rest of life on the planet
But you already know that a slight shift in would thrive. Or so say the experts.
consciousness can turn the day around. The Hows that for knocking our arrogance
world begins to look different, better, even down a bit?
eager to have you as a part of it. And you
dont have to start off the day in a bad mood There is a major difference between
to make a deeper connection with that arrogant selfishness and a healthy self-
Place. interest. You are born with an inherent drive
to survive. Naturally, you want things your
Its a matter of choice. way. And if youre still alive, youve gotten
everything your way. Surprised?
So, with that in mind, whatever your mood,
Were all in the same position. Those who
allow yourself to take a few moments to
survive have literally gotten everything their
access that deeper part of yourself that
way, no matter the mindset that says, Im a
knows how to lift your spirits. It knows how
victim. Or Nothing ever goes my way.
to bring you into a gentler state of mind and
Or Nobody loves me, Im not good
how to help you change your worst feelings
enough, life is unfair. One more surprise,
into feelings of joy, wonder, and
perhaps even a bit of a shock: the world can

take you out any time it wants to. It is 6. How to Feed a Hungry Wolf
through the benevolence of the people, the
animals, the insects, the bacteria, the Its an old, time worn story but it bears
viruses, the weather, timing, the planets, the repeating
sun, the galaxy, and the universe itself that An elderly Cherokee Native American was
you remain to read this little article today. teaching his grandchildren about life. He
It appears you owe a much greater debt of said to them, A fight is going on inside of
gratitude than you might previously have me; it is a terrible fight and it is between
thought. But its quite possible that you two wolves. One wolf is evilhe is fear,
wouldnt have had the chance to exist here anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed,
if you didnt have something to offer. The arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment,
universe brought you into existence because inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and
it either needed or wanted you here. Too egotism. The other is goodhe is joy,
much to swallow? Its all due to blind peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity,
chance? Perhaps. But youre here, fulfilling humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship,
some purpose. Or you wouldnt be here. empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and
You might even present a kind of faith.
evolutionary advantage. This same fight is going on inside of you
It may well be that the universe needs our and inside every other person, too.
talents, our gifts, our ability to love. Maybe The children thought about it for a moment.
the universe just wouldnt be the same Then, one child asked his grandfather,
without us. Maybe the world wouldnt Which wolf will win?
thrive as much without us as the scientific
experts might suspect. The old Cherokee simply smiled and
replied, The one you feed.
Maintaining any sense of personal
victimhood stands in the way of your Each day, each moment, you have an
precious resources manifesting to there opportunity: To give into the habits of a
fullest. So, if you are willing, declare lifetime that keep you in doubt, fear, anger,
yourselfright now, in this momentto be or bitterness; or to choose to acknowledge
the contribution the universe brought you those habits, then to move in a new
into existence to be, even if youre not direction.
certain of what that even means. Accept
Turning from old habit patterns is not only
consciously that wherever you are most
difficult; its risky. You never know what
needed will be revealed to you. Reaffirm
waits when a protective barrier comes
that idea daily. Soon, youll begin to believe
down. Thats what your habits are. They
it. And then, watch out. Therell be no
have served you well. You hesitate when
stopping you. The world, the universe, all of
anything or anyone tells you that, in order to
us, awaits your decision. Arrogant or not,
be happy, more successful, more spiritual,
you may be the one that changes everything.
more joyful, these habits must be overcome,
Indeed, you are the contribution.
released, or denied. But your habits serve as

an immune system for your emotions. They how it has served you. If the habit of feeling
keep away all that would peer in, look at the bad about other habits arises, thank it as
stuff of your life, and perhaps criticize. well. And, ultimately, if you allow it and
feed it, gratitude will also become a habit.
We often use these habits to keep even
ourselves at bay. So, what do we do with It all depends on the wolf you choose to
these incredible protectors, these habits of feed.
mind and body and spirit that do their best
to make sure we travel this earthly journey 7. How to Know When Youre Really
in relative safety, these habits that can also Quite Spiritual
keep us locked in a pattern of fear and Are you spiritually awake? Maybe, maybe
defensiveness? not. Lets see
First, thank them for doing a What is spiritual awakening, exactly? You
marvelous job in keeping you alive. get a flash of light and suddenly, you can
Second, bless them and let them levitate, or walk through walls, or predict
know that some of them may have to someone elses future, or speak in tongues?
go in order for you to grow, to
progress, and to experience new You may believe that those who are
beginnings. spiritually awake are somehow different,
And finally, recognize that everyone set apart from the rest of the mundane
is going through similar awakenings, world, superior in some mystical, galactic
that we are all attached to our habits. way. God or Buddha or Krishna or Yahweh
And that much of the time, what we holds them in special favor, in a brighter
take personally from another person light. Their everyday world has changed to
is just their habit reaching out to continual blissno more troubles, no more
protect them from presumed danger. pain. Theyre already in heaven. Its just a
matter of sending in the change of address
card.
Acknowledging and facing your habitual
patterns can be both enlightening and This may come as a surprise, even a
discouraging. Either way, when you engage disappointment, but people who are
with your habit patterns, new possibilities spiritually awakened know that the journey
emerge. And, surprisingly, you dont have has just begun. When the spiritual eyes and
to let go of any of them if you dont want to. the spiritual mind open, the one who is
All you have to do is decide which ones waking up realizes that, to this point, little
youll continue to feed. In making the progress has actually been made. Its back
conscious choice, you can be fairly assured to square one. The beginning. Kindergarten.
of the result. Now the real work starts.

Take a moment now to go within, Almost immediately, the demons strike. I


consciously acknowledging any habit you want what I want when I want it. And I
are aware of, good or bad, and thank it for dont beg anyones pardon. The ego rears
its frightened head again in ways you never

thought possible. Everything that you think bump on your spiritual head that says, Pick
is the right way, the spiritual way, the holy yourself up, join the hubbub. Youve
way, becomes the egos target. Who do you arrived.
think you are? Theres no real spirituality in
you. Youre the one who thinks only of her, In this moment, peer into your own heart.
the one who thinks helping others is a sign Are you willing to start from the beginning
of weakness. Youre the one who hides the each day and let everything and everyone be
truth of him from the rest of the world. How your teacher? Can you see your daily
can you possibly be spiritual? Youre such a experience as the gift it really is? Look
liarand a hypocrite. Oh, yeah. The closely. Look deeply. The answer is there,
spiritual walk is a piece of cake. Well, guess ready for you to find it. There is no longer
again. any need to fear the darkness for it is only
through the darknessthe pridethat the
Your demons will do everything to bring light can shine.
you back into conformity with the old ways,
the safe roads, the familiar pathseven the To experience the light, one must begin in
ones that continue to bring suffering into the darkness.
your life. Theyve become habits that the Bonus B
ego is reluctant to release. The spiritual
path, the awakened path, is a path you must Prosperity and Abundance in
choose daily. Seconds!
The great spiritual teachers of every Read these words with an open mind and an
generation remind us to keep your eye on open heart
the Light for it shines only through the
darkness and the darkness is always close at Lets pretend for a moment its the year
hand. It is where we still live. We do the 1900. Only about 30 percent of Americans
same work, interact with the same people. owned their homes in 1900, compared to
more than 70 percent in 2009 (Yes,
We continue to chop wood and carry water, foreclosure rates are high at the time of this
as the saying goes. Awakening then, is not writing, but Americans will come through
about leaving the world, but recognizing it the crisis, like weve done in all crises). And
as our home and as our responsibility. This those homes werent much. They were
is where the work is. This is where (mostly) unheated, crowded farmhouses or
awakening takes placewithin the crumbling inner city tenements. Perhaps
mundane, within the daily plodding, within three percent had electricity, and fewer than
the ongoing connections with each other. one in five had any kind of indoor plumbing
or central heating. Most cooking was done
The spiritual path is the path weve been
on wood burning stoves and if a person
traveling all along. Only now, we see it for
could read, it was usually by the dim light
what it really is: The Teacher. The Mentor.
of kerosene lanterns.
The Master. Awakening then, is finding
yourself right back where you started, only In 1900 boys usually started to work at age
this time with a reminding appreciative 14 and kept workinglong, hard hours,

often 60 or more per weekuntil they died, These few statistics are not meant to make
usually well before 50. No paid vacations, you feel guilty. My hope is that they help us
job security, retirement plans, health care. all to realize how much we possess on every
And no Social Security. Pay averaged less level, especially when we begin to feel sorry
than $4800 annually in todays dollars for ourselves. More than likely, today you
compared to an average of about $32,000 live better than 99 percent of all Americans
now. You know how hard it can be to live in 1900. Even the rich of those days would
on even that amount. envy you. With that in mind, take a few
moments to reaffirm and extend your
In 1900, it was rare to find women working personal gratitude for the blessings in your
outside the home. And if they did, it was life. Go ahead. Ill wait
usually in some sort of
Heres a simple little way to begin. Get a
garment sweatshop or understaffed hospital. picture in your mind of your favorite room
And it would be nearly 20 years before they in your home. See the large pieces of
could vote. furniture, or the electronics, or the
Almost half of the family income had to go appliances, or the walls and curtains. Now,
for food compared to around 10 percent look beyond those bigger items. Find the
today. Infant mortality was high, even small things that you may overlook when
among the favored classes. There were less thinking about appreciation. What about
than 5000 millionaires in the U.S. Today, that favorite old book you havent looked at
there are over eight million. And, there are for a while? Or the vase your grandmother
approximately 270 billionairestwo and gave you that you thought was rather plain,
one-half times that of Japan, Germany, so you have a spreading plant in it. Or the
Switzerland, France, and Britain combined. candleholders you take for granted. The
modem for your Internet connection. The
If you were born in 1900, you had perhaps a smoke alarm. The potholders hanging in the
60 percent chance of completing grade kitchen. Or the teapot on the stove. See the
school. If you stayed in school, you only bed linens, the towels in the bathroom, the
completed the 8th grade. You had less than a chairs on the patio or deck. You get the
25% chance of going to, let alone picture.
graduating from, high school. College was
out of the question, unless you were rich. As you begin to see all the riches around
you, you will come to understand how
The average life span in 1900 was less than blessed you actually are. And if you have
50 for both men and women. Most people been taking it all for granted, now is your
only had the bare necessities and many quiet opportunity to reaffirm and reestablish
MANYdidnt even have those. If you a grateful link with everything and everyone
happened to be African-American, or a in your life. Whatsoever things are good,
newly arrived immigrant, your struggle was think on these things.
almost insurmountable. Somehow you got
through. Beginning each morning with a grateful
heart and mind sets a positive tone for the

entire day. So, when you awaken tomorrow, sharing, a lesson? Can people actually do
look around the room and be glad you live that without becoming radical religionists,
in the present year. It could have been very without excluding the others? Or is the very
different. nature of radical religion the coming
together in one all-encompassing accord to
Bonus C worship a particular deity or in a particular
Ah, Religion! way? It can seem confusing at times.

If I decide to follow a particular spiritual I remember a quote from Confucius. He


path, to dedicate myself to it, must I believe said, You do not yet know how to serve
that it is true? More yet, is it Truth? Is it the people. Why then worry about serving the
Right Way? The Best Way? The Absolute? gods? It made sense. Then, one day I heard
If not, why would I choose to engage with about the spiritual path called New
it? If I dont believe it is the Correct Path, Thought. It seemed a bit odd at first. They
then why bother? didnt claim to hold the key to anything
absolute; yet, they seemed connected. I felt
And therein lies the challenge with spiritual a warm tug at the heartstrings each time I
pathsnot deciding on which path to visited the gatherings. The music lifted me,
follow, but deciding on the reason to follow the message inspired me. And I never got
it. If I cant accept my path as the Only the feeling that they were trying to force
Way, then am I being wishy-washy? Untrue anything upon me or down my throat. There
to myself? Am I just a passer-by? Shopping were neither threats nor promises of afterlife
in the Spiritual Mall? rewards and punishments. They never said I
would be cast out if I didnt happen to agree
Another question might be, why am I with every single thing they taught.
looking for a spiritual path at all? Cant I
just live out my daily life, interacting with After a few visits, I realized my wandering
friends, colleagues, strangerslike usual? was probably over. Not because I had found
Must I have some Higher Purpose in mind? the Ultimate Truth, not because they
And besides, there are so many religious convinced me that New Thought was the
paths to search through; I could spend a only way. Rather, I knew I had found my
lifetime just doing thatsearching. Oh, I place among seekers, among those who had
see Thats it. The way to keep from discovered that serving each other was the
having to believe that any one path is most spiritual path of all, that you could
absolute, I just keep searching. Right? search for the rest of your journey, and you
Hmmmm Ultimately, that doesnt seem didnt have to search alone. Indeed, there is
very fulfilling. ritual, and music, and message, but you
wouldnt call it radical religion. Yet, it is
Being a wanderer sounds interesting on the quite radical. Everyone has a place; no one
surface, but dont most of us want a place to is excluded. We all share the journeywe
rest? Perhaps to come home to now and all seektogether.
then? Maybe the gathering of folks together
for a little ritual, maybe some music, some

(To find New Thought information, a Oh, yeah... Also, an ex-fundamentalist.
church, or gathering, explore the links at the (Nothing against em!) Did my best
end of this book.) drinking, smoking, drugs, promiscuity,
lying, crying, and fearing while on that path.
I accept full responsibility for all of it.
About the Author Period. It led me to where I am now. Im a
better person for it. And I am grateful.
Contact Information
Email: RichardKentMatthews@gmail.com
Site: www.JoyJamboree.com
New Thought Links
(All listed links were live as of this writing.)
Richard Kent Matthews International New Thought Alliance

Career coach, Independent New Thought www.newthoughtalliance.org


minister (since 1993), professional speaker,
Association for Global New Thought
singer, writer, blogger, talkative, a good
listener, controversial, a bit radical, free www.agnt.org
thinker, vegetarian, cat lover, reader (loves
Powell's Books in Portland, Oregon); owns Centers for Spiritual Living (Science of
a MacBook Pro. Traveled a bit, lived in Mind)
Canada, stationed in Louisiana and www.unitedcentersforspiritualliving.org
Germany, spent 10 years in Colorado before
spending the last 27 years in Oregon. Loves Unity
tomatoes, flourless breads, coffee, teas of
many kinds; has great friends, has lost many www.Unity.org
friends to many conditions including New Thought Library
alcohol and drugs, cancer, AIDS, and old
age. No kids, but loves kids. Married once; www.newthoughtlibrary.com
involved, well, many times.
New Thought Information
Mostly free from racism, sexism,
www.newthought.org
homophobia, but not perfect in anything.
Still growing, maturing, and laughing a lot.
A former barber, soldier, office worker,
caregiver (Spent 15 years with one patient.
Nearly the best gig of entire life, second
only to ministry), and a former drunk and
heavy smoker (quit both 28 years ago).

Motivational Teachers and Authors

Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith


Agape International Spiritual Center

www.agapelive.com
Victoria Castle
www.tranceofscarcity.com

Other Great Sites


www.oprah.com
www.larrywinget.com
www.briantracy.com
www.tonyrobbins.com
www.johnassaraf.com
www.waynedyer.com

***Special, SPECIAL Bonus***


A Powerful Suggestion:
Here is a powerful suggestion that most
people will not follow: Write out this entire
book, long hand, twice. And if necessary, a
third time. That way, you will absorb it
more than in any other way you can
imagine. It may sound absurd, but you
wont fully realize the power of this
suggestion until you have done it. It works.
(I found this suggestion in a copywriting
book by Maria Veloso entitled Web Copy
That Sells
-----------
My business site:
http://www.YouPresenting.com

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