Man my brother told me an excellent story like this.
One day at a party with friends he decided to pull a prank and bluff his friend into thinking he knows magic.
So he took a deck of cards, shuffled it, and told his friend to look at the card and remember it. He shuffled it again. Then asked him what his card was. "7 of clubs". So he cuts the deck and flips the top card, it's a 7 of clubs.
Now this was pure chance. My brother does not know any magic or sleight of hand or tricks with cards. So my brother was entirely astonished. And immediately wanted to break the act. But seizing the opportunity to fully bamboozle his friend. He pretended it was a trick.
His friend naturally was utterly astonished and asked him to do it again. Here is the thing. My brother did it again. The exact same thing except he went even deeper into the bluff. "You shuffle it. I'm not even going to touch it". Knowing full well odds are profoundly against him.
Lo and behold. He jiggles the deck saying a little incantation for theater. Cuts the deck and flips his friends exact card.
At this point my friend gets up and yells out. Naturally attracting everyone's attention. Believes my brother is a God of magic. Is insane. My brother almost equally astonished fesses up that it was chance. That it wasn't a trick. That he literally bluffed the whole thing and had no clue. But my brothers friend was having none of that. Doesn't believe him to this day.
The crazy part is that this story isn't a one shot. For my brother things like this happen often.
Yes agree. The Law of Attraction, The Secret, whatever you want to call it, works. Absolutely. Its even in the bible, as The Mathew Effect. If you live your life focusing on gratitude for what you have. and dwell in an attitude of abundance, more will be given to you.
I was one of the few distance guys in track who would always lean across the finish line, even if all by myself. I made it a habit. That also paid off once and only once with what place I got, but it didn't cost me anything extra to make it a persistant practice.
Excellent post. Personally I have been trying for almost half a century to try and find a way or formula to get this very point of persistence into other people's brains in a way that sticks. So far I haven't found any socially acceptable/legal way to do so with any kind of a reliable timeframe, but I keep trying... if only I could bottle the stuff...
You will not be able to take advantage of the chance if you are not there. You will not be there unless you have trqinsed so you are able to handle th3 chance.
Not all things work our, but that sowa not mwqn you do not work hard on the chances before you.
And this is not magic. This is prior preparation prevents poor performance.
Trusting in divine blessing and that God will make it happen through your hands if it should happen, is incredibly helpful.
Saying one should never give up is just stupid. It risks turning us into mindless atomatons that strive towards some goal that we know is hopeless and possibly not even helpful. The true guidance is listening to the quite silent spirit within; listen to what we know from our soul. But its harder to give that to people and many people want their tricks and tactics, instead of a spiritual guide that is infinitely more wise.
I just Summa Elvetica, and the Pontiff knew that I think ;)
Reminds me of my own football days. In my team I was never a serious goal getter myself (maybe five goals per season), but I was involved in pretty much every goal we scored. It was because of the blind understanding that I had with our top striker. I was passing the ball, because I was certain, he could reach it and have a scoring opportunity. He was running in the right direction, because he knew, I would somehow manage to pass the ball to him, no matter how silly the situation looked.
Success is a habit that you can train for and you can get accustomed to.
Human beings do magic all the time, whether they intend it or not. For example, know that guy that says to himself "oh, I can't do this, I'm too weak, too stupid, too lazy, too whatever"? That's a form of magic. A form which what you're advocating here acts as a counterspell.
Now, on the other hand, if you're talking about keeping away from black, evil magic, I couldn't agree more. Nothing good ever comes out of it.
Keep this in mind: magic is changing consciousness according to will. Thus, many "ordinary acts" of day to day life are a form of magic. And some things you encounter everyday are magical, too, such as advertising, for example, which intends to change your consciouness as to make you more likely to buy a product you don't actually need or even want.
Magic is, generally, delusion. You are correct that when people put themselves down they are indulging in a selfish sad sop delusion.
However the advice here is to test your assumptions against the hard rock of reality which requires humility and a rejection of delusion. You kick the ball in a way that you anticipate would work to see if you were right. If it didn't go in reality was right, if it did go in reality was also right but so were you. There's a constant back and forth with real life in confidence testing.
The 'magical' equivalent of doing the opposite of "I'm too weak, stupid, lazy" is to just say "I'm too strong, smart and disciplined" and still continue to do nothing as before. No workout, no refining of thought and no self denial. You and I have both seen these sorts of people who assert they're hot even though they're fat slobs, smart even though they're idiotic and they say they're disciplined ubermen despite the prior two points.
In short: Reject delusion. Strive and test instead.
You won't get a date if you don't expect the girl to say yes. And because you also expect the next girl to say yes, you won't be upset if the first one says no. And because you will not be upset if the first girl says no, she is paradoxically more likely to say yes. Fortune favors the bold.
Ever since I was a child, I was taught about how God’s law of believing works both for the saint and the sinner alike. The way you describe anticipating something, and then acting like it’s going to happen is similar to the way believing works in the Word of God.
Reading through all the healing records in the Bible, a pattern becomes painfully obvious. Men of God get information from God, they then either act on or relay that information to the person who needs healing, and then the person who needs healing acts on the information which was given. Examples of this are Elisha telling Naaman to wash in the Jordan 7 times, Jesus Christ telling the man with the withered hand to stretch forth his hand, Peter telling the lame man to rise up and walk, and Paul telling a lame man to stand upright on his feet. All these people were healed the moment they did what they were told to do.
After looking at these examples and many others, the best working definition of believing that I can come up with is: To trust the information which proceeds from God to the point of action. Though a simpler definition would be: To act on the information which God gives you.
While the examples in your post aren’t based on getting information from God, they do have the same pattern of trusting something and then acting on that trust. Maybe one of the reasons why high-status men seem to gain so much, is because they tap into God’s law of believing. I know this focuses on the how instead of the what and it’s not something that can be proven, but it was something your post made me think about.
I have always been inspired by this quote, and have found it to be true. A quote I often share with friends who are going through a period of discouragement.
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets:
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.”
― William Hutchison Murray, The Scottish Himalayan Expedition
Much is given, much is required.
To he who has, more will be given, and to him who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.
Here to comment after Darwin Nunez, LiverpoolFC's striker, scored this exact goal in the Premiere League. First thing I thought of is this post.
After hitting the post four times IN ONE GAME earlier this season, it's great to see his winning mentality on display.
Darwin makes his own luck. Up the Reds.
Man my brother told me an excellent story like this.
One day at a party with friends he decided to pull a prank and bluff his friend into thinking he knows magic.
So he took a deck of cards, shuffled it, and told his friend to look at the card and remember it. He shuffled it again. Then asked him what his card was. "7 of clubs". So he cuts the deck and flips the top card, it's a 7 of clubs.
Now this was pure chance. My brother does not know any magic or sleight of hand or tricks with cards. So my brother was entirely astonished. And immediately wanted to break the act. But seizing the opportunity to fully bamboozle his friend. He pretended it was a trick.
His friend naturally was utterly astonished and asked him to do it again. Here is the thing. My brother did it again. The exact same thing except he went even deeper into the bluff. "You shuffle it. I'm not even going to touch it". Knowing full well odds are profoundly against him.
Lo and behold. He jiggles the deck saying a little incantation for theater. Cuts the deck and flips his friends exact card.
At this point my friend gets up and yells out. Naturally attracting everyone's attention. Believes my brother is a God of magic. Is insane. My brother almost equally astonished fesses up that it was chance. That it wasn't a trick. That he literally bluffed the whole thing and had no clue. But my brothers friend was having none of that. Doesn't believe him to this day.
The crazy part is that this story isn't a one shot. For my brother things like this happen often.
Yes agree. The Law of Attraction, The Secret, whatever you want to call it, works. Absolutely. Its even in the bible, as The Mathew Effect. If you live your life focusing on gratitude for what you have. and dwell in an attitude of abundance, more will be given to you.
I was one of the few distance guys in track who would always lean across the finish line, even if all by myself. I made it a habit. That also paid off once and only once with what place I got, but it didn't cost me anything extra to make it a persistant practice.
Life cannot give you anything if you never show up. Persistence and anti-fragile optimism truly are key.
So is accountability. Either you got the thing done or you didn't.
Excellent post. Personally I have been trying for almost half a century to try and find a way or formula to get this very point of persistence into other people's brains in a way that sticks. So far I haven't found any socially acceptable/legal way to do so with any kind of a reliable timeframe, but I keep trying... if only I could bottle the stuff...
Well. Be persistent with it.
I reccomend Mark Queppet's work. Solving this problem has similarly been a part of his life's mission. Summary:
- Try to embody a desired ideal version of yourself
-Tie your status to the process of becoming rather than overly specific outcomes
-Practice anti-fragile optimism that gets stronger with every failure
You will not be able to take advantage of the chance if you are not there. You will not be there unless you have trqinsed so you are able to handle th3 chance.
Not all things work our, but that sowa not mwqn you do not work hard on the chances before you.
And this is not magic. This is prior preparation prevents poor performance.
Trusting in divine blessing and that God will make it happen through your hands if it should happen, is incredibly helpful.
Saying one should never give up is just stupid. It risks turning us into mindless atomatons that strive towards some goal that we know is hopeless and possibly not even helpful. The true guidance is listening to the quite silent spirit within; listen to what we know from our soul. But its harder to give that to people and many people want their tricks and tactics, instead of a spiritual guide that is infinitely more wise.
I just Summa Elvetica, and the Pontiff knew that I think ;)
Reminds me of my own football days. In my team I was never a serious goal getter myself (maybe five goals per season), but I was involved in pretty much every goal we scored. It was because of the blind understanding that I had with our top striker. I was passing the ball, because I was certain, he could reach it and have a scoring opportunity. He was running in the right direction, because he knew, I would somehow manage to pass the ball to him, no matter how silly the situation looked.
Success is a habit that you can train for and you can get accustomed to.
It's one of the basis of successful magic. Change in consciousness requires belief. Great advice.
Yes, but magic is an evil challenge to Creation. Developing confidence in yourself is not.
If you want great advice, it is this: give it up while you can.
Human beings do magic all the time, whether they intend it or not. For example, know that guy that says to himself "oh, I can't do this, I'm too weak, too stupid, too lazy, too whatever"? That's a form of magic. A form which what you're advocating here acts as a counterspell.
Now, on the other hand, if you're talking about keeping away from black, evil magic, I couldn't agree more. Nothing good ever comes out of it.
There is no such thing as white magic. Just sophistry and black magic.
Calling an ordinary act magic is more delusion than anything. Intending it to be magic is just mixing evil with delusion.
The best thing you can do for yourself is to avoid it entirely and every concept that touches it. Reject even allowing it in your mind and move on.
Keep this in mind: magic is changing consciousness according to will. Thus, many "ordinary acts" of day to day life are a form of magic. And some things you encounter everyday are magical, too, such as advertising, for example, which intends to change your consciouness as to make you more likely to buy a product you don't actually need or even want.
And here what magic is not: Harry Potter stuff.
Magic is, generally, delusion. You are correct that when people put themselves down they are indulging in a selfish sad sop delusion.
However the advice here is to test your assumptions against the hard rock of reality which requires humility and a rejection of delusion. You kick the ball in a way that you anticipate would work to see if you were right. If it didn't go in reality was right, if it did go in reality was also right but so were you. There's a constant back and forth with real life in confidence testing.
The 'magical' equivalent of doing the opposite of "I'm too weak, stupid, lazy" is to just say "I'm too strong, smart and disciplined" and still continue to do nothing as before. No workout, no refining of thought and no self denial. You and I have both seen these sorts of people who assert they're hot even though they're fat slobs, smart even though they're idiotic and they say they're disciplined ubermen despite the prior two points.
In short: Reject delusion. Strive and test instead.
People are too stupid and too prideful to make the white-black distinction.
You won't get a date if you don't expect the girl to say yes. And because you also expect the next girl to say yes, you won't be upset if the first one says no. And because you will not be upset if the first girl says no, she is paradoxically more likely to say yes. Fortune favors the bold.
Ever since I was a child, I was taught about how God’s law of believing works both for the saint and the sinner alike. The way you describe anticipating something, and then acting like it’s going to happen is similar to the way believing works in the Word of God.
Reading through all the healing records in the Bible, a pattern becomes painfully obvious. Men of God get information from God, they then either act on or relay that information to the person who needs healing, and then the person who needs healing acts on the information which was given. Examples of this are Elisha telling Naaman to wash in the Jordan 7 times, Jesus Christ telling the man with the withered hand to stretch forth his hand, Peter telling the lame man to rise up and walk, and Paul telling a lame man to stand upright on his feet. All these people were healed the moment they did what they were told to do.
After looking at these examples and many others, the best working definition of believing that I can come up with is: To trust the information which proceeds from God to the point of action. Though a simpler definition would be: To act on the information which God gives you.
While the examples in your post aren’t based on getting information from God, they do have the same pattern of trusting something and then acting on that trust. Maybe one of the reasons why high-status men seem to gain so much, is because they tap into God’s law of believing. I know this focuses on the how instead of the what and it’s not something that can be proven, but it was something your post made me think about.
I have always been inspired by this quote, and have found it to be true. A quote I often share with friends who are going through a period of discouragement.
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets:
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.”
― William Hutchison Murray, The Scottish Himalayan Expedition
My Righteous One will live by Faith. But if he shrinks back. My Soul will not take pleasure in him(Hebrews 10:38)
The idea is that you literally keep fighting until:
the play is done,
the game is over,
the project complete,
the business bankrupt,
the lawsuit lost,
the battle lost,
the war complete,
or the last breath taken.
Because you never know what might happen. Men fail. Miracles happen.
And Deus Vult.
So you stop after the play is done, and the business bankrupt, etc? Quitter.
Haha, you move on to the next battle. A good point though!