Mistaken About Miracles
Just back from the beautiful woods of Wisconsin, where I was invited to present the principles of attraction to a corporate executive team and a handful of their best managers.
Wait a minute.
Did you catch that? Maybe you better re-read it …
A corporate team .. retained me .. on PURPOSE, not accident .. to learn more about how to deliberately manage their energy .. in order to create what they want!
Come again?
How did these words even get in the same sentence?! Corporate America and deliberate energy management? Who’da thought!
Well, maurices thought. (A women’s fashion retailer with 600 stores across 42 states.) And either they are doing things dramatically different than other companies, or I have been holding extremely limiting beliefs about what’s possible in the corporate world.
Actually both of those statements are probably true.
When guidance gave me a clear yes to hang with this group, I expected I’d need to prepave the you-know-what out of it in order to enjoy it. (Kind of like when I moved in with my boyfriend.) Cuz - you know corporate folks - they’re stuck in a way of working that doesn’t. Close-minded conformists who do NOT have the best interests of their most valuable asset - their people - at heart.
I could not have been proven more wrong by maurices management.
These folks are everything that I love about people, and they pull it off in a corporate setting. This is happening not DESPITE the corporate structure, but because of it. They’ve got leadership in place that honest to God for real holds the employee’s best interests at heart. I mean, yes, they’re making plenty of moolah, too, but not at the expense of people.
In fact, I suspect if I’d worked with a Meg or for a John, I’d never have left to become a solopreneur.
Now that might not sound like a radical statement to you, but coming from me - it’s practically a miracle. It sure felt like one while I was hanging out with these guys. They are fun, inspiring, alive, invested, engaged, and truly interested in their work. In all my years of working with companies (both as an employee and service provider to other companies), I sure didn’t see that very often. I’m having trouble thinking of one example even.
Which is when I realized miracles don’t exist.
It’s not a miracle that “I would SO do that again.” That was actually my intention for the project as well as my mantra - and thus it had to become my experience.
That intention is what allowed me to transform old expectations. That’s not miraculous - that’s just me using my power to manifest. Using the technology we were born with: vibrational management.
Although using that power sure brings about things that FEEL like miracles - but technically it makes total sense.
Here are dictionary.com’s first two entries on “miracle”:
1. an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.
2. such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God.
So if I didn’t know how it worked, it would qualify as a miracle. But the thing is, we know how to create these things and it is fully within our power to do so. Which means they’re not miracles, right?
That doesn’t mean I won’t still use the word in relation to whatever I’m up to, but giving myself some of the credit is probably appropriate.
Which brings me to you.
What “miracles” are you up to these days? What limiting beliefs are you intending to move beyond? Where have you kept yourself “stuck” that you’re willing to liberate yourself?
It’s all in your hands.
And if I can have the time of my life in a corporate setting, then it’s official: anything is truly possible! 
Update: I just realized there indeed is at least one major exception in the picture I paint of my personal corporate history. Kim Stephens was a dream come true manager. He treated clients and employees fairly and had a sense of humor that relieved pressure from other aspects of the work. Those were my favorite years as an employee. Thanks for that, Kim!
August 24th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Jeannette,
Thank you for your post! I love that you had the time of your life AND got a surprise! It’s like a birthday party, isn’t it?
I hadn’t considered the word miracle before and you are right–attributing a positive results to a supernatural (not natural? above nature?) being power implies we had nothing to do with it. Something to think about.
I created the funniest ‘miracle’ the other day. In the past I was not please with my street address and while checking out tolerations I might eliminate it came up again. Didn’t like it. I didn’t like the way it sounded or what it implied, but I also didn’t want to move so I acknowledged that I wanted the change, then let it go.
Two weeks later I received a letter stating my new street name and number–which I love! How often does that happen in a life time? They changed the map for me?
Miracle? If so, I’m the supernatural one!
No bad for a toaster
Thank you for this topic!!!
I want to hear everybody’s ‘miracles’!
xxx Kim
August 24th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Okay, Kim, that’s a new on on me! I’ve never heard THAT miracle before!!
ha ha
And I’m using the word loosely .. since it’s quite clear you are directly responsible! lol
Too funny! And in two weeks even! I love it! Doesn’t surprise me at all that this is your story. : )
Here’s to many more delightful “miracles”! Thanks for posting, Kim - you’re always a treat!
August 24th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Kim, that is amazing. I have never heard of anyone manifesting anything like that. I did not even know it was possible. That is powerful.
Jeanette, great post. When I rethink the definition of miracle, we ascribe supernatural to something outside of us. Yet we are all spiritual beings thus we have supernatural capacities that just tap into alignment, vibration and our incredible capacity to create. So if the definition is about creating from our spiritual side, then yeah we create our own miracles. If that spiritual side is considered something outside of us, that creates? Nope! We are that spiritual being that creates those miracles.
I am just saying that I agree with you!
Iyabo
August 24th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Trippy, huh, Iyabo? (Kim’s example!) “Incredible capacity to create” indeed!
Nice to see you here this, as I was just thinking a minute ago that one of my favorite things about you is your ability to cut through someone’s “story” (okay, I’m talking about MY stories) and compassionately & tactfully liberate us from them.
Thanks for posting on this topic!
August 24th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Jeannette - WOW how fun - love the post! Sounds like a wonderful trip (working vacation!?) and the ‘manifesting’ that you’ve created. Kim - love it!!!!
Question: what is the difference between “Manifesting”, “Deja Vue”, and “Visioning – Seeing into the future – as in dreams or flashes of something in your mind” —
Being that the ‘thing’ that you ‘saw’ or thought came to be? Was it Desired then Manifested or just something that came to be and you happened to have somehow know about it is a vision or dream -or it happened or came to be and you had the feeling(s) that you had already seen it or been there.
Any thoughts / comments?
August 24th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
MY, MY, MY! This post is so timely for the emotions I felt yesterday! The entire day I felt “bored” and “stuck”! Bored with my life, bored with the people surrounding me, just simply stuck in my reality. Then I recognized my feelings were just a result of my own limited beliefs. So I started affirming to myself how abundant the Universe is, offering us unlimitted opportunities to grow and expand, unlimitted fun and excitement, unlimitted friends. After affirming these to myself I felt better. Not up there on the scale, but better. Today I feel much better and am focusing on keeping my spirits high. I know things are going my way any day now, those “miraculous” changes in my life are manifesting very soon.
August 25th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Really good point, Phillis! I get this question a lot, and I can’t say I know the answer.
That question being: did we premonition it or create it?
Because one could argue, for example, that previous corporate invites I’ve deftly swept aside, maybe I couldn’t have had the amazing experience there that I did with this gig.
(And this is where I say for the record that the other corporate presentations I’ve done have been perfectly acceptable experiences.)
OR, maybe it is that the reason guidance gave me a “no” on other invitations is because I “premonitioned” a difficult, joyless time.
I don’t the answer for sure, but I personally believe I create my own destiny. So I believe I could turn a “no” feeling into a “yes” experience, because of my ability to release old expectations and embrace new ones.
I also know there are many credible, reputable folks who would completely disagree with me.
What if it’s not one or the other - but maybe a combination of both? Like, well … this is getting complex for a comment. This would make a great blog post!
Thanks for such a stimulating question this morning, Phillis! I’d love to hear YOUR thoughts on it!
August 25th, 2008 at 7:08 am
You know, Gillian, for many people - that switch you did with your thoughts and feelings - that in ITSELF is a miracle!
Many people never embrace that power you just showed, and that is the foundational building block of miracles.
So … congratulations!!
August 25th, 2008 at 7:47 am
Phillis’ question is a great one, one that I recently pondered. I haven’t concluded anything, but I’ve noticed with my “miracles”, they are always brought about through an emotional componant. Sometimes this starts with what one may think of as a vision or premonition - and ends with a manifested reality. Just thinking about it doesn’t cut it, but pre-experiencing it helps to create it. It is my belief that we are all omnipotent, and we have chosen not to be - to experience this universe as clumsy little human egos. These “miracles” that we experience are indeed co-created by us and our desires, with an overarching universal desire - what a rush for us to experience!
UNIVERSE: from L. universum, literally “turned into one”
August 25th, 2008 at 7:54 am
I second that, Steve. Just yesterday I was emailing a client about how it’s not important that she EXPRESS emotion in order to manifest what she wants (it’s not her style to do so), but that feeling it would be crucial in expediting the “miracle.”
Your post is reminding me how some say (and I can easily believe) that we have intentions for ourselves that pre-date our consciousness of this life. Like, we showed up with intentions for this life that may have even been born from prior experiences. Some people talk about that as “destiny.”
Then I’m thinking I’m getting off track from Phillis’ original question … but maybe not. Because in order to “premonition” (and I know that’s my word, not Phillis, I hope I captured what she was talking about) something, doesn’t that mean there’s an inevitable future ahead of us?
And maybe that’s TRUE from the perspective that we intended to experience or learn certain things in this lifetime.
Not sure I’m making any sense .. but this is a fascinating topic!
Thanks for pitching in, Steve. I love the definition of Universe!
August 25th, 2008 at 8:19 am
My morning shower meditation left me with a metaphor to share (bare with me).
A child (self ego) plays and delights in a lawn sprinkler (miracle). Now the parent (universe) sits back in their lawn chair and delights in the child! The parent set out the hose, positioned the sprinkler and turned on the water - maybe just because the grass needed water or maybe because the child said “Gee, it sure is hot today!”, and wistfully thought about the last time it was hot and a fan of water “appeared” out of the grass.
Some day that child will grow up and be the parent and set out a sprinkler for it’s own child.
Now, either that cleared up my thoughts - or removed any doubt you had regarding my sanity!
August 25th, 2008 at 8:31 am
You know what it actually did, Steve? It made me realize EVERYTHING is a miracle.
ALL of it.
Even sprinklers and kids.
MIRACLES!
lol
August 25th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Steve, that is the sanest thing I’ve read in a long time.
Jeannette, something didn’t quite rest easy in my mind as I read through the article and comments, and your last comment made it perfectly clear: I was trying to make both of the dictionary definitions work, when they are at least partly contradictory! Miracles are everywhere and rare as hen’s teeth, at the same time.
The first definition, that they are things outside the normal order of the laws of the universe, is probably the most long-running definition, the idea people hold as the root idea. And as we know, they are a lot less common than people seem to see, because the way the Universe works is much more wonderful than generally thought. From a certain point of view, a television is miraculous; and yet it is simply (if complicatedly) applying known phenomena; and so is the LOA.
The second definition, that they are workings of God, is the sort of daily “miracle” that makes things wonderful. Steve’s analogy is beautiful, touchingly sweet, and spot-on. With this 2nd definition, miracles are everywhere, and as natural as breathing.
August 25th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Honestly, John, I think you’ve expressed exactly why it is I’ll continue to think of miracles as delightful and rare “surprises” of good fortune.
Life feels good to me knowing miracles are present and within reach and even in everyday ordinary things. Like these sleeping kitties. Miracle!! Three, actually! Like this day - another Monday Miracle! Like the fact that Russ and I are still having a great time together - WOW! Miracle!!
For some reason, thinking that I attracted all this, although empowering, it’s just not as .. mm, FUN.
Maybe that’s the purpose of the veil - keeping it fun. lol
I don’t know.
I’m SO tempted to change the title of this post, which I’ve already done a handful of times!
Thanks for sharing your perspective, John. I like where you’re coming from with it.
August 25th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Well, I’m with y’all on that. I’m a pretty analytical type (Virgo, don’t you know) - even in spiritual matters. But somehow I manage to “get out of my head” and just soak it all in with a sense of bewilderment and awe (and GRATITUDE!!!)
August 25th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Wow everyone, this is a very interesting thread!
I think what happens when we step into a new understanding, a new consciousness–a new paradigm–the language that defined the old way of thinking slips a bit. The words don’t work quite the same because they don’t have the same meaning anymore. We’ve changed but our language hasn’t!
‘Miracle’ seems to be one of those words that has yet to catch up!
I think the old way of seeing a miracle as something outside of ourselves, outside of our control, keeps a part of our ‘incredible capacity to create’ (as Iyabo called it–love that) at arms length. A miracle in the new paradigm is like a smile–spontaneous, bright, sunshine in a bottle–there for everyone. I’m mean, everyone knows how to smile…:)
Steve–I loved the lawn child metaphor!
Thank you Jeannette for this fabulous post!
Kim
August 26th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
That makes sense, Kim. Languaging is by its nature potentially limiting, isn’t it?
The meditation practice of noticing without labeling is incredibly unnatural to me, but also liberating.
I’m looking forward to when we don’t rely on it nearly as much as we do now to communicate, and instead tap into our understanding of and sensitivity to energy instead.
Which you practically lead the way to.
Thanks for posting, my friend! I always love hearing from you!