Tama Kieves – Pam Grout

It only takes 15 seconds

January 15, 2020 21 Comments

“I am here to be electric. I am here to be alive.”—Tama Kieves

Nobody can argue that the human brain has remarkable cognitive capacities. It can compose symphonies, build pyramids, land a man on the moon.

But it also has a tendency to glom on to problems. Neuroscience has discovered that negative events stick to our brains like Velcro. They register in our neural chemistry much longer than say, a baby’s toothy grin or a crocus poking out of the snow.

Heck, many of us are still milking the snub we got five years ago, still telling anyone who will listen the sad, sad story of our childhood.

But here’s the hat trick that can rewire your brain.

When you see something amazing and miraculous (which we all do all the time), give yourself 15 seconds to let it register. Allow it to sink in. Write it down.

Neuroscientists have proven that by consciously focusing a mere 15 seconds on “Isn’t that beautiful?” moments, we literally re-engineer our brains. We overcome our brain’s pesky tendency to turn negatives into year-long mini-series.

Simple ask. Life-altering benefit.

Pam Grout is the author of 20 books including E-Squared, E-Cubed, Thank & Grow Rich and her latest book, The Course in Miracles Experiment: A Starter Kit for Rewiring Your Mind (And Therefore Your World).

“I am here to be electric. I am here to be alive.”—Tama Kieves

July 15, 2013 21 Comments

“I’ve known for some time that staring at objects while holding pictures in my head makes reality oddly responsive.”—Martha Beck

Martha Beck, who I met one year at an author’s conference in Kansas City (we both had new books out), wrote an article for O Magazine about vision boards. As she said, “Some results are so successful that the hair on the nape of my neck prickled for months.”

Anyone who has read The Secret (a group that includes pretty much everyone on the planet) knows about vision boards where you cut out pictures of things you’d like to invite into your life for dinner.

However, today, I’d like to talk about an even more important practice. Instead of making lists (and vision boards) of things you’d like to receive, how about composing a list of things you’d like to give? Of things you’d like to create?

And before that, make a list of all the things you already have. Things you’re grateful for NOW.

Gratitude (or amazing awesomeness, as I like to call my practice) is the oil that lubes the channels of the world’s beneficence. If you’re not playing with and appreciating “the toys” you have now, why expect new ones? Why even want new ones?

The other day I was walking my dog (lots of things happen when I walk my odd-looking bassador—that’s part Bassett Hound, part Lab) by a railroad track. It’s junky, not exactly a spectacle for the eyes. I’ve walked this route countless times. But earlier that morning I’d been reading Blue Iris, a book of poems and essays by Mary Oliver. Most were about flowers.

In about three blocks, next to what many would describe as an eyesore, I found at least seven species of teensy little flowers. Teensy little flowers that I’d undoubtedly marched by many times and never noticed. I plucked one of each and pressed them between waxed paper and into a big, heavy book. I figure they’ll be a good reminder next time my ego decides to launch a new campaign around lack and fear.

They aren’t the big showy blossoms florists stock, but each one is ridiculously beautiful and I am embarrassed that I walked by so many times without noticing.

So, yea, vision boards are great. But right now, I’m too busy making lists of all the ridiculously beautiful things I already have.

Tell me in the comments below: What ridiculously beautiful things do you already have?

Pam Grout is the author of 16 books including E-Squared: 9 Do-it-Yourself Energy Experiments that Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality.

“Without the distraction of the world’s guidance, you can finally hear your own undivided genius.” –Tama Kieves

March 29, 2013 4 Comments

“The instant it is welcome it is there.” –Course in Miracles

Earlier this week, Jewels Johnson, the creative mastermind behind the ever-inspiring Law of Attraction Radio sent me an email with this message: “I want you to write a script. It’s about this amazing humanitarian who knows Nelson Mandela, Prince Charles and the Dalai Lama. Richard Branson will bankroll.”

I had to smile as I wrote back, “Yea, I know.”

I knew because I made the intention several years ago to win an Oscar. While I’ve done everything I know how to do (written a couple amazing scripts, had plays produced here in the Midwest, sent a few pitches to Hollywood agents), I had no idea how a writer from Lawrence, Kansas, with exactly zero contacts in the movie biz, was going to make that happen.

What I did know is that if I focused solely on the end result, letting go of all seemingly brilliant schemes on my part, I wouldn’t be required to work out the details.

In fact, any attempt from me could only get in the way. Trying to work out the process of how something will happen is invariably our biggest stumbling block.

Here’s why: By concentrating on how to work something out, you’re making the assumption it’s not already worked out. If you made the intention, it’s worked out, awaiting your consciousness to tune into the right radio station.

The other boo-boo of trying to “work it out” is coming up with a finite plan, a process for getting from A to B. We think we know how everything should work and we don’t have a clue. Our planning sets up nothing but limits.

Here’s an example. Everybody wants to win the lottery.

There’s nothing wrong with winning the lottery, but that’s a very finite way to achieve abundance. The Universe (the field of potentiality, God, whatever you choose to call it) is infinite. It can create abundance in three thousand bazillion (and even that number is a limit) ways. So by intending to win the lottery, you give the Universe a grand total of one option.

I much prefer to rely on Its plan which is always so much cooler, so much more exciting than anything my mind can conceive.

As always when making an intention, I simply have to remove all blocks (normal human fears), open the gates and let it come pouring in.

And, as I will repeat again and again, we let our dreams flow in by focusing on “unceasing joy” and knowing that all the world’s goodness is our birthright. Let the universe haggle with the details.

Pam Grout is the author of E-Squared: 9 Do-it-Yourself Energy Experiments that Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality.