You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.
— R. Buckminster Fuller

How in the World Can I Change Anything?

A pretty smart guy, Albert Einstein, once told us you can’t solve a problem on the level at which it was created.

If we are fighting the existing reality, where is our focus? On the existing reality. And so what do we get? More of the same. So many times we don’t know what it is that we do want, we just know that we don’t want more of this!

When this is the case, it’s time to try on our possibilitarian hat & be open to new possibilities. Some time in the stillness often gives me new ideas – though they are often NOT about whatever issue I think I am dealing with. Then when I relax & move away from my current issue focusing on the new idea, I frequently get a possibility for the old issue. It feels like I have to get my brain off topic, (because my focus is on the issue) before solutions can appear. In the meantime, the silence has given me new ideas about something unrelated.

If you have a hard time with the silence, try it with brainstorming… but include two sheets of paper… one for brainstorming ideas about changing the existing reality, & the other about totally unrelated ideas. When you’re in the process of allowing your brain to give you information, you’ll find that it doesn’t always stay on task… You might be surprised that the totally unrelated ideas may include some gems. Don’t let any of them escape. One of those gems might be the basis for a new model.

There’s a THIRD POSSIBILITY:
How about “Letting Go & Letting God?” Sounds like a plan to me!
Thank you Lord!

Rev. Dr. Rainbow Johnson
ADAAP Clergy Counselor

…There Ariseth Light in the Darkness…
— Psalms 112:4

The Light Shines in the Darkness…
— The Science of Mind, page 345

Out Of the Darkness Arose A Great Light

Ernest Holmes tells us illumination is accompanied by light, whether it be the illumination of the mystics, or the illumination that comes from the release of the darkness that sometimes envelops us.

After over 30 years of counseling, I have realized the importance of acknowledging the shadow of the personality, & accepting these dark feelings. Only then can we release them & replace them with faith & love. As long as they are buried, they fester.

One evening, several years ago, I was having a session with a client at a rehabilitation center. He had laryngitis & could hardly speak. After two months of suffering, he finally went to the doctor who told him that he had an inflamed larynx & would have to desist from talking totally if he wanted to recover. As part of his treatment, I asked him the same question I ask all my clients. “Have you ever done anything you feel guilty about, or ashamed of?” He turned bright red & began breathing torturously. “Yes,” he muttered, “but I’ll never tell anyone as long as I live.”

I explained to him that this meeting was orchestrated by God & was giving him a chance to release the whole thing in a safe environment where he would not be judged. After a long while, he stood up, faced the wall away from me, & slowly began sharing his dark secret. In the middle of his sharing, he croaked, “I can’t believe I’m telling you this.” He finally finished & turned around. His face was absolutely radiant! An Inner Light was shining through him. And his voice was totally healed!

AFFIRMATION
As I go forth this day, when dark thoughts or feelings come upon me, I acknowledge them, accept them, release them, & replace them with the Love of God.
Thank you God!

Rev. Dr. Rainbow Johnson
ADAAP Clergy Counselor

BRRRR! Said the Rabbit

It’s been quite cold, of late, deep in the heart of Austin, Texas. I shouldn’t be surprised, after all. IT IS January!

Besides donning layers of my scarcely-worn winter wardrobe, all this frigidity has cultivated in me, an even more grateful soul. I am grateful that I work indoors, that I have a warm house to protect me, that I have a car that runs well (even in cold weather), & that I have a garage that I can keep that car in!!!. I am grateful that I own layers of warm clothes, & wool socks, to match! Not to mention the blessing of not having to chop wood, to keep the home fires going! (Been there, done that!)

And on top of all of that, I am grateful central Texas is not beset with snow & ice, along with these sub-zero temperatures. I am adding blessings to those who get to work outdoors, & those dealing with broken/frozen pipes.

What are you grateful for on this cold day? How about hot chocolate on a cold day? Curling up with a book in front of a fire?

Look for things to be grateful for, & you will surely find them…
And the Universe may bestow more blessings, since you’ve focused upon them.
Thank you God!

Rev. Dr. Rainbow Johnson
ADAAP Clergy Counselor

UpS aNd DoWnS

Have you noticed that life seems to be filled with ups & downs. There
are good things happening, & things that don’t feel so good… or things
that appear neutral & I puzzle about why they showed up at all.

It’s easy to feel good & have a great disposition when things are going
well. It’s not so easy when things are not. Part of the issue could be my
expectations for “going well.” If I expect someone to act one way &
they act a different way, it might not be a bad thing. It is only
unexpected, which can startle my brain (that likes patterns & things to
go as expected) into going “Hey, what’s up with this? It is NOT according
to expectations!”

Our brains do not like change. They understand repetition. Our brains will
encourage us to keep doing the same things – even if they are dangerous to
our health. Our brains flood with fear chemicals when we even think about
changing or doing something we haven’t done before. Sometimes even making
a shift in our perception can be a scary thing. Unfortunately, if we want
our lives to change, we MUST change.

We have to think new thoughts, try new things, go new places, imagine new
perceptions. If we can go there in our imagination, in our visioning, in
our thoughts often enough, we will begin to make new pathways in
our brains, & the new pathways will become the norm.

Simple, RIGHT? Easy? NO!

They say it takes 30 days to create a new habit. That’s 30 days of
repeating the new activity. That works for some things, but not
everything. If you’re trying to change a 30 year habit, it might take
longer than 30 days. On the other hand, if you don’t start now, it will
take longer.

What new thought, what new habit, what new pattern do you want to be begin
to reinforce today? How can I see the unexpected in a different way? Are
your ups & downs really ups & downs?

All may not be well, but there are many reasons to rejoice, & be thankful for….
Thank you God!

Rev. Dr. Rainbow Johnson
ADAAP Clergy Counselor

Lessons From the Geese
by Milton Olson

1. As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird following. By flying in the V formation the whole flock adds 71% more flying range than if each bird flew alone.
LESSON: People who share a common direction & sense of community can get where they are going quicker & easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

2. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation & another goose flies at the point position.
LESSON: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks & sharing leadership with people, as with geese, interdependent with one another.

3. The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
LESSON: We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging, not something less helpful.

4. When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation & follow their fellow member of the flock until he is able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out on their own, with another formation or catch up with their own flock.
LESSON: If we have as much sense as the geese, we’ll stand by one another like they do.

Rejoice & Be Thankful For Those Around You!
Thank you God!

Rev. Dr. Rainbow Johnson
ADAAP Clergy Counselor