Quote from Abraham-Hicks on Finding the Better Feeling Thought:
You are here because you are wanting to really be Deliberate Creators. And we want you to know that a Deliberate Creator is really a deliberate feeler. A Deliberate Creator is one who says, "I want so much to feel good, because when I feel good, I'm in alignment with that which is my Source." A Deliberate Creator does not demand that circumstances change so that you can have a better-feeling response to the circumstances. A Deliberate Creator says, "I will choose--from what seems to be available--the very best-feeling thought, past, present or future, that I can find, and I will fixate on it until it becomes the reason for my vibrational offering. And I know that Law of Attraction will then accumulate around that vibrational offering. And then, I will reach for the better thought and the better thought, and the better thought." And what you will discover is that there is always a better thought.
There is always an even-happier thought than the happy thought you're thinking now. There is always even a better feeling--your capacity to achieve a better feeling is unlimited.
http://www.abraham-hicks.com/Knowledge/Abraham/Newsletters/QJ27/article.html
For years, Abraham taught us to “Follow Our Bliss.” They recognized that many folks who come to Abraham are teachers, who may encounter folks experiencing intense negative emotion, who do not have vibrational access to bliss. The reason for this is that Law of Attraction has great momentum in the face of significant negative emotion, and the possibilities of thoughts available are only in the “less terrible” range rather than the really delicious range.
So, what steps are best to take if you are feeling like you are in the black hole of despair? Abraham says that the best first step is anger! Not to stay there, but to give you a lift up and an energy boost that can help you then reach for the next step which is frustration and then the next which might be irritation, and then overwhelm and then neutrality and then hopefulness and then optimism...
So, here's an example.
Anger - I'm furious at my father for being such a damning influence when I was a child, laughing at me and criticising me. All little kids make mistakes, it is part of learning. Good parents encourage their children to keep trying, confident that they will succeed in the end. My Father was a bad father!
Frustration - Well, he may have been a terrible father, but I guess he did the best he knew how. His father probably treated him the same way, maybe worse. So, maybe it isn't his fault that I feel that way if he couldn't have done any better. But I am SO FRUSTRATED! I hate feeling this way about myself. I know intuitively I am a good person, and these old tapes in my head keep taking me down and down and down!
Irritation - Well, I know from Abraham that I can find thoughts that feel better. But it is so darned irritating to have to work hard to feel good. I bet other people feel good without working so hard at it. I wish it were easier for me to feel good.
Overwhelm - I guess I could do the work to find thoughts that feel better, that Abraham says is my real work. But I have so many negative thoughts and it just feels totally too much to try to pick them apart one by one to rethink this and that and the other things...
Neutrality - Well, I guess if Abraham says it is my real work, I could trust enough to try it. After all, I am not enjoying what is happening now, so maybe if I tried something different I'd get a different result. I could do it as a scientific experiment...
Hopefulness - What if I experimented with more positive thoughts and experienced more positive feelings and I started feeling better more of the time? Abraham says that if I did that, more good things would flow into my life, which would give me more reasons to feel good. And then, by Law of Attraction I'd actually have access to even more posistive thoughts, and I might actually start enjoying my life and having fun.
Optimism - Well that thought actually felt good. I like the idea that my life is going to include more fun. I am even starting to get the feeling of having fun in doing this process. I guess this Abraham stuff isn't so bad after all. In fact, it feels like it is starting to work in my life. If I continue to do it, my life will get better. I am starting to be aware that good things are flowing to me, right in this moment. I feel better. I can see that there are things around me already to appreciate - look at that beautiful flowering tree - that lovely sunset - that exquisite bridge construction. Life is good!
Your statements for these states of feeling will be different than what I have written here. But if you reach for the feeling of relief, and trust that at each stage there will be a better feeling thought just a few minutes of trying away, you will be able to move in just a little while to a slightly better feeling to a bit better feeling to a smidge better feeling to a little easier feeling to an almost good feeling to a rather pleasant feeling to a slightly joyful feeling to a very yummy feeling, indeed!
When I wrote the above message to the Abraham list, Amy responded:
Thank you Connee for writing this...helps me get clear on my setpoint. So Neutrality would be the next step? Kinda taking the "wind" out of it like a "scientific experiment"...I like it. Very soothing...this am I was in that overwhelmed feeling place that I have "so much to work on".....and the thought that, well, maybe it's not as much as I think, and maybe I could just as a "scientific experiment," stop "working" on myself for a minute...sheesh. hmm, that didn't feel as good as I thought it would. I think I'll just put all this stuff I want to change in a little basket for a little while, and when the time is right , I can trust that it will be time to do the work. For today, I am pretty sure the best thing I can do is enjoy the beautiful spring weather and acknowledge that there is farfarfar more well-being than not, which is so easy to do on a day like today in appreciation.
And then I wrote back to her…
For you, the most practiced next gentle step is appreciation! Every person will find a different thought that feels better. For some folks, the scientific approach is practiced and easy. For others, finding something to praise or be grateful for will be easier. Each of us is delightfully different! You really made the point so powerfully here. Thank you!!!
Assignment: The Set Point Exercise (Directly from Abraham!)
All anybody has to do is say, "Where am I and where do I want to be?" on any subject.
As you are moving through your day, try this exercise. When you find yourself feeling negative emotion or physical sensation, which is just an exaggeration of resistance in your body, go to a piece of paper, or you can write it in your computer, but write it. And write: Subject: and then write what you think this subject is, just a very brief description. And then write: Current Set Point: And then think around the subject and it won't be hard because you're already thinking around it, that's why you are having the emotion. Think around the subject and just even talk out loud or write it is even better.
Write what's rolling through your mind on the subject that has produced the emotion. And as you write each statement, ask yourself as the statements come, "What's the emotion that describes this?" And you'll find yourself where you are on the vibrational meter, finding words that are all similar, that mean sort of the same thing. And then say, My Current Emotional Set Point is:. And then write whatever it is.
Then write: My Emotional Goal. Not My Physical Body Improvement Goal, write My Emotional Goal:.
Now, of course, the optimum emotional goal would be ecstasy or passion or enthusiasm. But don't ask for an emotional goal that's very far from where you are. Ask for an emotional goal that is not so far from where you are. And then keep writing, trying to find sentences and statements and memories that give you that improved feeling. And when the feeling is improved, now write: Current emotional set point: and put the new statement there. And then, if you have time, continue the process and you will be amazed how, in this writing process, in this focus on how I feel, and focus upon what thoughts are producing the feelings setting, you are sitting in, you can move up this emotional scale fast. And every day you do it, you will feel less stiff. It is our promise to you.
Abraham-Hicks
Orlando FL 12/20/03