Jesus and the magic of attitude

By Joseph Pikul

 


Jesus and the magic of attitude -

In the book “Become the Boss of You,” we are taken into the realm of magic to make a point. The book highlights two iconic figures: Glinda, the kind-hearted witch from The Wizard of Oz, and Gandalf, the wise wizard from The Lord of the Rings. In this tale of magic, Dorothy's remarkable willingness to accept Glinda's aid is a testament to her childlike openness.

I would not trust the counsel of a stranger and venture away from the only world I just landed in accompanied by a dog that offered me no protection. Dorothy does just that. Similarly, Frodo Baggins displays a similarly open and innocent demeanor towards Gandalf's guidance.

Embracing childlike faith in Jesus's teachings can bring profound benefits, leading to growth and understanding for a more enriching life. The teachings of Jesus and the teachings of God were revolutionary in their time, and understanding the societal challenges they faced can deepen our appreciation for their significance.

Jesus's ministry era was characterized by oppressive regimes similar to those of the 20th century. Understanding this context adds depth to the interpretation of his teachings.

The phrase, 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do, 'takes on a deeper meaning when considering the historical context. Rome, to a certain degree, permitted religious freedom to maintain control. Yet, if anyone challenged Rome, the authoritative and nationalistic rule of the centralized leader, Caesar, emerged, influenced by militarism to crush opposition. This created a tough environment for the common people to survive, let alone thrive. Over time, Roman influence compelled many Jewish religious leaders to comply. Rome allowed religious freedom but used militarism under Caesar's rule to suppress dissent, creating a challenging environment for survival. Jewish leaders had no choice but to comply with Roman influence.

While some Sadducees, Pharisees, and Essenes offered assistance, assistance for the poor and sick was limited, with a focus on Old Testament teachings like 'Thou Shall Not' by the most authoritarian figures. This context underscores the courage and faith of those who followed Jesus's teachings despite societal pressures.

Learning what to avoid, or “Thou Shall Not,” is crucial. Picture this: a shepherd neglecting his surroundings, only for a lioness to attack the flock and possibly him. In a time when the focus was on survival, out of nowhere, a Gnostic Jew emerged with a message of both surviving and thriving—a message that allows the shepherd to pause to appreciate the flowers when safe.

There must have been widespread discussion about Jesus focusing on the positive aspects of the Old Testament. He taught ideas resemblant to Psalms and Proverbs, spreading hope and healing the sick out of compassion. His teachings on his "beautiful attitudes," or what I was taught in Catholic school as the Beatitudes, must have intrigued many.

I feel confident that many may have doubted Jesus' abilities and traveled to confirm if he truly existed or if it was a hoax.

Nevertheless, certain communities are more receptive to novel concepts because human nature is what it is. It is in us to resist being told, "You cannot hold that perspective," or "You are wrong for thinking that way." This spirit of open-mindedness was less appreciated within authoritative teaching in the Temple but flourishing in the hills of Galilee.

How can we put this to use?

What can we learn from Jesus’s inspiring message? First, understand that our inner world of thoughts, feeling, and beliefs affects the outcome of our outer actions. We arrange our time and, consequently, our lives based on our current attitudes and personality. The sneaky part is that most of the time, they run the show without us knowing. However, we can shine a light on our attitudes.

We can change our attitudes, transforming them from hindrances into tools for success. Our attitudes are the programs we run on. They are what works in the subconscious when we are not concentrating. They are a huge part of who we are on a practical level because they act as a lens for us.

Attitudes also act as a lens. We become subject to the attitudes we hold, even if they are not optimal. The goal is to have optimal attitudes. We can change our attitudes. The teachings of Jesus are a really good place to start—in my opinion, the best place to start.

So, what concrete steps can we take to modify our attitudes?

Practical applications –

The first advice I would give someone is to journal about your inner realm. A good way to start is to use the book entitled “Become the Boss of You’” and the journal workbook that goes along with it. It’s a guide to jump-start your journey. I will leave a link to those at the end of this blog.

Our thoughts, emotions, and beliefs impact our actions. Our attitudes, often unconscious, influence our decisions and behaviors. By being aware of our attitudes, we can control them and shape our perceptions and practical identity. The goal is to foster positive attitudes and Jesus' teachings. Journaling is one practical way to get started. Incorporating journaling is helpful, as is dedicating time to prayer and meditation.

Engaging in focused prayer and meditation can help us tap into our inner realm of abundance and creativity, especially if that is what we desire. It's a rewarding experience to feel a sense of influence over our internal attitudes, leading to a discovery of happiness and prosperity. Once we perceive prosperity and joy within ourselves, we notice it more in the world around us. By recognizing the link between our inner and outer worlds, we can explore utilizing elements from our external environment to nurture and enhance our inner world. Both dimensions complement each other, fostering the "connected creative plane" of thought.

·         An example of allowing the inner world to affect our outer world positively would be that, in time, your reflections will tell you how to get what you want. You will become inspired from within. You can also become inspired to find out what you want and not what others want you to want. 

·         An example of using the outer world to improve your inner world would be finding enough time and a place to start a routine of reflection and prayer.

                                     

I will now put the practical applications into a nutshell;

1.      Journal your attitudes. Consider the book “Become the Boss of You” to save you time and get you started on the right path. The link is below.

2.      Set a specific time to pray for a connection between your inner and outer worlds. Asking for guidance if you feel like you need help is also helpful. Pray for guidance in the most appropriate mental image you can form.

3.      Meditate on the fact that God is our loving Father and wants to give good things to his children. Mediate on God's abundant nature and goodness. I am creating a short series of guided meditations that you will find extremely helpful. I hope to have them finished soon.

Note: If you ever feel lost, I think having a few prayer or meditation sessions on The Lord’s Prayer is good. Any prayer is perfect when it is prayed perfectly, but I find so much abundance and guidance in the Lord’s Prayer. I use it when I feel lost.

I want to give you another thought about proper prayer. Jesus gave us specific instructions about how we should pray. Some of us have been taught that asking for certain things or too much when we pray is wrong or sinful. Some believe that it is wrong to ask for anything at all. To that, I will leave you with Jesus' words.    

“Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24

Some like to refer to our outer world as the real world. I dislike that term since it implies that the inner world is not something real, an attitude that does not serve us very well. It is a happy moment when we receive the wisdom that if we do not truly understand happiness in the inner world, we will unlikely ever find satisfaction with the things in our outer world.

  

 Peace, Joe Pikul

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Welcome, brothers and sisters in God. My name is Joe Pikul. I am an author and publisher who has dedicated this blog to using prayer and affirmation to advance ourselves. Our focus is the growth and happiness of our spirit, sustained health, and wealth.

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