The bigger secret

“The world I see holds nothing that I want.” — A Course in Miracles

by Scott Kalechstein — 

The Secret is out, way out. Those who have been entrenched in feelings of powerlessness are finding their mojo by applying its principles. Yay to the setting of intentions, to the power of positive thinking, and to the wondrous law of attraction! Yay to manifesting a perfect soul mate, to the ideal income and to our wildest dreams! Rock on, minds of mankind!

And while I am glad The Secret’s message has become so popular, I do have a few thoughts to add to the conversation. When it comes to the law of attraction, I’m a bit of an outlaw. To me it’s a little piece of the truth — and in the minds of egos wanting to play God, that can be a little dangerous. I believe that letting people in on the power of thought without also giving equal emphasis to the law of allowing is a bit like teaching people inhaling without letting them in on an inseparable part of the process — exhaling!

To put it simply, the law of attraction is about how to get what you want. The law of allowing is about appreciating what you have; in other words, seeking ye first the Kingdom, or letting go and letting God. When applied together, these laws bring balance to the active and receptive male and female energies within each of us.

It is no secret that getting what you want doesn’t automatically lead to lasting fulfillment. If that were the case, the bathroom cabinets of the married, rich, and famous would not be filled with such an abundant supply of expensive anti-depression and anti-anxiety medication.

Yet we want what we want. But what’s up with all this wanting? While wanting can be defined as desiring, it is also synonymous with lacking. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” means that when we surrender our attachment to a specific outcome and trust in the benevolence of the universe, we shall not lack. And that is the law of allowing.

When we get rigidly attached to a desired outcome, however, we are coming from the assumption that we are not whole beings until we get what we want. And that’s an illusion that life delights in coaxing us to let go of.

Thaddeus Golas, in The Lazy Man’s Guide to Enlightenment, says, “There is a good attitude to take towards any goal: It’s nice if it happens, nice if it doesn’t.” Does that mean we are to be detached from having passion? No, just detached from craving an outcome, from thinking there is some tear in the fabric of God’s perfection that needs to be stitched before we can fully enjoy being alive.

I love watching dogs run after seagulls on the beach. They set their sights on a flock and then are focused, single-minded and even quite passionate about running down a bird. At the same time, they are fulfilled by the thrill of the chase, having a tremendous amount of fun just frolicking on the beach. Going home without having caught a bird does not, for one moment, diminish their love of life.

When we realize that just being alive is the gift that keeps on giving, we may pursue our own gulls just as passionately, but far less frantically. We value the process as much as the intended outcome. We embrace whatever we encounter while we’re on the trip, with loving arms open wide enough to be grateful for it all.

When we have tasted the nectar of a fulfillment that is not dependent on the outside world granting us our desires, we realize that life is blessing us just as much when we don’t get what we want as when we do. In those times, we get to practice being friends with reality, letting go of our adversarial position to “what is.” A heavy burden is lifted each time we release the arrogant assumption that we are in possession of the big-picture perspective enough to really know what our highest good is supposed to look like. We get to more thoroughly chew on the spiritual slice of humble pie that A Course in Miracles invites us to digest: “I don’t perceive my own best interests.”

There is nothing wrong with having goals and using the law of attraction to manifest them. Yet you can attain the world, only to have your achievements magnify and intensify your inner turmoil. An ego’s basic condition of lack, that nagging sense of “not enough-ness,” cannot be overcome by worldly success. When Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world,” he was speaking for all of us.

Even my mother, a devout, practicing atheist, will exclaim after the first bite of her favorite cheesecake, “Out of this world!” (It has been said that there are no atheists in foxholes, and I would venture to add that there aren’t any biting into cheesecake!)

The bigger secret is that there is a state of being available to us that is not of this world. Echoes of it visit us ever so briefly: the first few morsels of cheesecake, the first few mouthfuls of romantic love and other fleeting moments of satisfaction. For some people who consistently choose to practice “Seek ye first the Kingdom,” that state of mind sets up shop and sticks around as part of the fabric. It becomes the foundation of a sense of self, rooted in eternity. That’s what I want, to abide in a love that is not of this world. Perhaps that’s what we all want, even as we are seeking to manifest things of this world.

Have you had enough of a sense of “not enough?” Do you want out of the state of wanting that always leaves you wanting more? Let’s remember together: “I am as God created me, and I am free, whole and complete as I am. I am enough, I have enough and I do enough. I wake up from the dream of lack. I am drenched in abundance at all times. Every sunrise is proof of my infinite wealth, every breath is a miracle, and all is supremely and eternally well.”

When that state of “enough-ness” takes root and permeates your being, you will most probably be moved to chase some gulls and have some fun.

I’ll see you on the beach!

Scott Kalechstein is a modern-day troubadour and inspirational speaker. He travels the world giving concerts, talks and workshops, as well as presenting at conferences. He lives in Marin County, Calif. www.scottsongs.com and scott@scottsongs.com.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 26, Number 3, June/July 2007.