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Thirty-six Core Beliefs Influence How She Lives

By Barbara Levine, reprinted with permission

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I believe all healing ultimately stems from the mind and the Higher Power behind it. Sometimes we need to do something physical-like take medicine, or have surgery to support the mind's belief that healing will occur. We need external support because our minds aren't strong enough to believe the healing will occur without that physical aid. The mind alone, a gift from God, may well be able to heal any condition but for our disbelief. I wouldn't bet the farm on this one though-I'd go for expert medical advice.

I believe in the "law of agreement": an idea whose time has come depends on the agreement in principle of lots of people. Thoughts seem to get stronger the greater the number of people who believe in them. Many people agreed with me and told me they believed I would recover. That helped! Even now, whenever I am really worried, I may call a friend or other prayer partner. Each week I attend religious ser- vices during which I often pray for myself as well as others.

I believe in the power of religious affiliation and participation. Though I am Jewish, I wasn't always aware of the myriad ways my religion provides hope and healing prayer. I am now! Whenever I had a really tough experience to go through, I prayed, sometimes using the Twenty-Third Psalm and sometimes the Lord's Prayer, which I had memorized for just such tough times. At other times I inwardly chanted a mantra like "0m Namah Shivaya," or even made up an affirmation that was appropriate at the time. No matter what, I usually believed God was there with me, guiding my thoughts and actions. I felt that God was helping to heal me no matter which religion's rituals or prayers I was using. Today I mostly use Jewish prayers and rituals because I am now more comfortable with them.

I believe that I have a purpose-to be a translator and transformer. Transformers wake people up, helping to activate love, faith, forgiveness and service to the highest self. Translators speak the language of and see the good in others, be they different religions, or human potential and other groups that aren't religious, or even social movements like feminism. Different words often describe similar experiences and goals in or among different people. Translators help to synthesize divergent points of view by recognizing the common goals, purposes, and experiences of different people. It may be easier to find fault rather than good in others, but it's not healing. There is power to heal ourselves and the planet in the concept of unity-in-diversity. That means we are one people, on planet Earth with many ways of expressing who we are and what and how we believe. But we are all connected and need one another to survive whether we are conscious of that fact or not.

I believe in the power of forgiving. Forgive and you shall be forgiven.

I believe life is for giving! I awakened my inner strength when I committed myself, many years ago, to the idea of being of service in the world. At that time, I became President of the Connecticut chapter of the National Organization for Women and started teaching and lecturing about "thinking for yourself."

I believe that "what goes around comes around. " Life can either be like a vicious circle or a golden ring. "What you sow you reap." It's important for me to plant healthy seeds and to keep the soil of my life as weed-free, clear and fertile as possible. It's important for me to give, and then I feel worthy to receive.

I believe we can benefit from the experience of others. I expected people around me during my surgery and recovery period to benefit and get better as well. My attitude was, "If I have to suffer and go through difficulties like this, then at least other people should benefit making it more worthwhile for me." I was almost demanding that those around me improve themselves. Many did!

I believe in "making believe." I frequently made believe that I felt better than I really did. I pretended to everyone, some- times even to myself. Pretending is the force that creates the new reality. Sometimes, I still pretend.

I believe ignorance is not bliss, because at some point we will wake up to the truth of reality. Some- times I think I'd rather not be so aware. I don't want to know the future, but I'd still like to be prepared for different potential outcomes. I don't like being blind-sided or ambushed.

I seem to believe in "expect the best, prepare for the worst." I'm not yet sure whether that seedthought is good programming or not. Writing this book was often more uncomfortable than I expected. At times the only thing to do was to live through the discomfort, with as much non-judgmental aware- ness as I could muster. Often, after prayer, the problem cleared up just by living through it and observing it with detachment. The past fifteen years have been a period of intense questioning for me as I reflect on my eleven-year quest to be free of the tumor. It is now thirty years since my first symptom—a paralyzed left vocal cord—led me in the right direction. I've explored the philosophies, the life and practices of different groups and religions, looking for healing alternatives. The tumor is gone, but my search continues for ways to heal the damage to my nerves. I am still learning, growing, asking questions, testing beliefs, loving the process. I used to live by "making the best of it." Now I believe in "making the most of it." There is a difference.

CONCLUDED on Page Four

© Copyright 2001, Barbara Levine, owner of Aslan Publishing