By Gregg Sanderson
As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind.—Henry David Thoreau
You’ve often heard “thoughts become things” or variations on the theme. If that’s so, how come your life isn’t cluttered with eclectic conflicting trash from the many thoughts you think?
Oh wait…
Maybe it’s time for the pressure washer.
“Pressure washer” is the perfect metaphor for consciousness. It shows the way your mental powers work together to create what you want—or what you don’t want—in your life. Let’s look at its components.
The water represents the creative power of the Universe. Some call it God; some call it the Force; some call it BOB. Whatever you call it, it’s what does the work.
The target is your life. The result of your pressure washing activity. No matter what you point to, it’s going to get wet.
Then there are your thoughts that aim the flow. What you think is what you get. What you think about more is what you get more of. When you think about something else, you get something else. The good news is you’re in charge. The bad news is, you’re in charge.
The pressure in the washer is your emotions. The stronger the emotion, the greater the pressure, and the more powerful the creative “spray.” That’s why we say, “Feeling first. Manifestation second.” That can be a blessing, and a curse.
It’s a blessing when the feeling is positive. Love, Joy, and Expectancy all give pressure to the creative spray. Negative emotions such as Fear, Anger, Hostility, and such pollute the “water.” Even though the spray may be strong, you don’t always get what you want.
Positive is better.
That seems simple enough. To create the life you want, feel good, aim, and “turn on the water.” Yet it doesn’t always work out that way, does it? There must be something else in play.
Maybe you need to change the filter.
Yep. That’s the missing element to complete the metaphor. Filters at the spray end are “Limiting Beliefs,” and at the pump end (emotions) are “Demands and Expectations.” In all cases, it’s the Belief System that makes the difference, and most of the time it’s unconscious.
Limiting beliefs do exactly that. They limit. You can only create within the limits of your ability to accept, so if you believe what you want is impossible, it’s impossible. If you believe it’s difficult, it’s difficult. If you believe it’s easy, it’s easy.
Demands and expectations do exactly that. They demand, and they expect. If the demands aren’t obeyed or the expectations unrealized, emotional reactions pollute the stream.
This completes the metaphor. Not let’s see what it all means, and what you can do about it.
The Bottom Line
Your belief system is the guardian of your consciousness. It controls the quality of your experience, and the life you create. This metaphor describes the whole of your consciousness.
The important point is that it’s YOUR consciousness. YOU determine what goes into it, and what comes out. Don’t assign that power to somebody else.
There’s a myriad of Spiritual and growth teachings, and we each must find that which fits us best. It would be presumptuous of me to suggest which would be best for you, other than to say, “Go for the love—not the words, but the feeling.” Once you get love in your mix, it will guide you to the rest.
And that’s the way it is.
Unless it’s something else.
Gregg Sanderson is author of Spirit With A Smile, The World According To BOB. He is a licensed practitioner in the Centers for Spiritual Living, and a Certified Trainer for Infinite Possibilities. His earlier books were, What Ever Happened To Happily Ever After? and Split Happens—Easing The Pain Of Divorce. His latest project is the New Thought Global Network, where subscribers can enjoy the best in New Thought presentations from anywhere at any time. You can see it at www.newthoughtglobal.org.
