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Whenever I turn on the television to catch up on the news, I am reminded of what a lousy place the world is to live in. Given a choice, who in their right mind would choose to live in world comprised of violence, chaos, confusion, corruption and blatant ignorance??

Wolfgang von Goethe was right when he said, “there is nothing more frightening than ignorance in action.”

What went wrong? We are basically a good and loving people. You and I exhibit a high sense of integrity, fair play and a natural tendency to care for those in need. We are a peaceful people and intend to keep it that way by punishing or rehabilitating those who are not. We see the benefit of adhering to the law, trust in the legal system and express love and gratitude even in the most trying of situations.

There is a paradox here. In spite of our inherent goodness, we seem to be mixed with an opposite experiences of negative behavior, events and circumstance.

By definition, opposites cannot be comingled or justified one to the other. They are “elements that are so far apart and diverse as to be totally irreconcilable one to the other” (Webster) Because these opposites cannot, by law, be justified one the other, we compelled be obedient to the biblical admonition: “Choose for yourself this day whom you will serve.” (Joshua 24:15)

Being opposites, one is true and one is false. One is real and one is unreal. One is spiritual and the other is material. If we don’t make a choice between these two, we will have unintentionally tried to mix that which, by definition, cannot be mixed. This results in those things we call problems, discord, imbalance, etc. and will continue until such time as we make a conscious separation between these constructive and the destructive element.

In looking at the environment in which “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28), let us be discriminating as to how we observe and react to the world around us.

“Observation” is defined by Webster as, “An act or power of recognizing, seeing or sensing the way in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed.”

“Choose for yourself this day whom you will serve.” Your life experiences depend on making the right choice.

In a recent blog, “Lessons from Spilled Oil,” I made the point that while there is a place for technology and engineering expertise, too often one can get so cluttered up with their limiting parameters that simple solutions are overlooked. There are times when a non-technical good idea is more productive than engineering overkill.

After I posted my article, I saw a neighbor under the hood of his truck. Threads on the screw that kept his distributor cap tight and in place had been stripped which prevented the distributor from working properly. The placement of the distributor was located in such a position that it made simple repair methods next to impossible.

After spending a lot of time trying to figure out how to reach the stripped screw and/or to remove the parts that made it unreachable, he displayed utter frustration.

The point I made in my article was that solutions to problems are not necessarily what mainstream methods and procedures would have us believe. I pointed out to my friend that the problem did not necessarily involve replacing the stripped screw; the objective was to find some simple means by which the distributor cap could remain tight and secure.

With that mindset, an idea occurred to me that had nothing to do with “obvious” procedures. We implemented my abstract idea it in less than a minute and that distributor cap is tighter now than it was when the truck was new. A difficult, frustrating problem yielded to the implementation of a simple idea.

I mentioned in my “Spilled Oil” blog that I have highly visible 3-Dsigns around my office. (I call them “Thought Boxes”*) In addition to the one that reminds me “Don’t do stupid stuff” is another that was appropriate for solving my neighbor’s problem: “When you react to appearances, you are not in control.” It is often more productive to look away from the problem and focus on being aware of ideas that will achieve the objective.

Lift your thought out of traditional thought processes Ideas will unfold from within your individual conscious awareness. They will answer any question, meet any need and reveal the proper procedures by which one can meet any goal or objective. And it doesn’t matter whether it is an oil spill in the Gulf, an automotive problem, surviving a hurricane or any other “problem”, the principle is the same. Contemplate only infinite consciousness and assume a listening attitude. This will release the flow ideas whose only purpose is to reverse any adverse situation into harmony.

When all else fails, INNOVATE!

*(I find my “Thought Boxes” keep my thoughtts focused in a positive, constructive mindset. You can anticipate an article addressing this concept soon. I’m sure you could benefit from them as I do.)

FREEDOM is knowing how to solve problems.  To experience true freedom is to also experience  peaceful, harmonious life experiences.

Lots of people go through circumstances where they have temporarily “solved” a problem but are no better off in the long run.  This is because their problem solving method was predicated on academic theory, philosophical abstractions or the experiences of some third party guru and was devoid of any demonstrable operating principles.  In all likelihood, it was an escape mechanism or quick fix approach that lacked factual, scientific substance.

Simply “getting rid of the problem” is not enough to assure any lasting benefits.  What is more important than “getting rid of the problem” is to have a change of consciousness that precludes the existence of any event or circumstance as a “problem.”

Had they implemented my scientific method they would have lifted their consciousness to the point where they would have grown out of the finite mindset that brought the problem about in the first place.

We all aspire to achieving that “peace that passeth understanding.”  That “peace that passeth understanding” is a freedom from the pressures, anxieties and fear of the future that seem to be the standard in our finite, earthly experiences.

It was Helen Keller who said, “I do not want the peace that passeth understanding, I want the understanding that bringeth peace.”

Do you think for a minute that you will ever find this kind of peace and freedom from the finite world that is the cause of universal discord, chaos and confusion?  Never!

“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” Buddha

This being the case, expect a change in the focus of my blogs from “problem solving” to how you can attain self transformation and mastery over your true inner being.  This new focus will be on the dynamics of consciousness where “consciousness” is defined by Webster as, that which is “aware, known or felt by one’s inner self; the upper levels of mental life of which a person is aware.”

Hopefully, these articles will bring you to that place where your individual conscious awareness is so dominant in your thought that your present humanly circumscribed life will be subordinated to the “upper levels of (your) mental life” in and as consciousness.  This being accomplished, the claimed presence of a problem will prove to be a non-entity and simply dissolve, never to return and you will experience that “peace that passeth understanding.”

Nothing has really changed from the statements and implementation of natural laws and principles as outlined in my book, “The Science of LIVING BETTER FOREVER.”  This will simply be a more finely tuned perspective; a broadening understanding of the structure of the universe and the implications of its absolute, infinite nature. (where “absolute” is defined by Webster as, “That which is free from imperfection or mixture”.)

The nature of a universal, infinite consciousness is the substance of all that exists.  It is the root cause of all that is real and, by its very nature of being infinite, forbids the existence of any opposing concepts.  It will be to your benefit to follow these articles closely.  Read and re-read them and make them your own knowing that growth is the eternal mandate of consciousness which is committed to your well being.

I did.  Then I reviewed them. They were lousy. I felt they missed the mark and violated the very core principle of my unique scientific perspective.

I realized I had fallen into the trap of conventional problem solving techniques by attempting to advise the reader how to solve his problem.  You don’t need me for that. There are more than 108,000,000 self-help books and programs you can choose from that point of view.

These books and programs are all built on the premise that there are real  problems to solve.  To just “remove the problem” is no guarantee that another won’t soon take its place because they have not eliminated the root cause of all problems: the Law of OPPOSITES states that opposites are “elements that are so far apart and diverse as to be totally irreconcilable one to the other.” (Webster)   In other words, a negative problem is simply the unreal opposite of the real positive answer or solution which already exists.

To resolve any problem we must not treat it as a reality but must focus our attention on the reality of its opposite.

Hear me when I tell you, “In the entire universe, there is no problem to solve!!”

I could tell you of how a person’s debt was removed, how a legal mess was straightened out, how a new car was made available, how animosities were removed or a chronic disease was healed.  It wouldn’t make any difference what the nature of the “problem;” each was resolved in the same way:  by applying the law of opposites with the scientific understanding that whatever the “problem” claims to be, it is not real.  No problem or discordant situation is ever supported by Law. Dealing directly with a problem is tantamount to attempting to paint out shadows!

Believe this. It’s a scientific fact and not debatable: There is no problem to solve any more than there was a flat world to be made round.

Don’t take this statement casually.  Pause a moment and THINK about it.  Let it sink into your very being.  There is no problem to solve! What appears as a problem is an illusion with no power or identity!  It is an erroneous picture of the answer or solution that already exists.

This being the case, to resolve ANY “problem” we reject it on the basis of its UNreality and focus on its opposite, the answer, solution or objective already available in the infinitude of your oneness with the universe.  Maintain this mindset, to the exclusion of all else, and you will be led to take the necessary steps to produce the right, harmonious conclusion to your dilemma.

I don’t care if your “problem” identifies itself to you as

• economic
• commercial
• personal
• social
• medical
• emotional
• or any other

You “get rid of” them all in the same way: reject it, focus your full, dedicated attention on the infinitude of the universe knowing the problem’s opposite (answer) is waiting there to reveal itself to you.  The answer is absolute and includes no opposite any more than the light includes darkness.

This experience has made me realize that the focus of my message should NOT be on how to solve problems, as effective as it can be.   The focus of our effort should be to secure ourselves in the infinitude of our true identity as the conscious reflection of the one infinite Life.  With this mindset and identity as the standard, no discord can be known or experienced any more than errors of any kind can be known or possible in the perfection of mathematics.

I have a favorite reminder placed in as many places as necessary so I can always see it .  It is a reminder that  THERE IS NOTHING TO HEAL. Establish and maintain this mindset and make it the foundation of your reasoning efforts.

I am already free and SO ARE YOU!    Your conscious awareness is already complete, pure and infinite. Use it.  It’s FREE and inexhaustible!

Imagine this scenario: You have hypnotized me into believing that I have a dog. In my hypnotic state, I am the only one experiencing the presence of the dog and take it with me wherever I go. But my dog has developed a bad case of fleas. I’ve done everything I can to remove them but no one in my “world” has been successful. Nothing has worked so, in my desperation, I turn to you and ask for your help in solving my problem.

What are you going to do? Are you somehow enter my illusory, hypnotic world and do something to my dog? No! For you, in your world of reality, you know there is no dog to heal. Your only rational approach to helping me is to awaken me from my hypnotic state and help me realize that my “dog” scenario was only a dream from which I am now awakened and realize that my “dog” was only a false belief. “Healing” complete!

For more than 50 years, I have been a professional problem solver employing just this procedure to the benefit of a widely diversified client base. It has proven effective where traditional methods have failed. Why? Because what appear as problems to us are not really conditions that need to be overcome. They are illusory misrepresentations of the answer or solution you are seeking like your dog and its fleas. That answer is already available. When we awaken to this reality, the “problem” disappears and is the truth of the situation, ie, the answer or solutions, appears.

Since early childhood, we have all been taught that to solve a problem, we must pay attention to it, understand it, find its cause and think deeply on ways to resolve it. At the highest levels of corporate and governmental endeavors, this confrontational approach is still accepted as the only viable procedure. In fact, it’s not unusual that they conduct special probes, form “task forces” or “focus groups” to concentrate on building strategies that will destroy this “enemy”. They often retain “specialists” in their particular problem only to discover that they still have the problem.

This struggle usually produces more frustrations and anxieties (and costs!) than viable solutions.

In the event that they DO find an acceptable answer, it is because the integrity of this principle has destroyed it.

When you are faced with a tough problem or challenge, the first thing you should do is to discipline yourself to look away from it and reject it as an “enemy” with whom you must do battle. See its nothingness. Focusing your attention on it will only secure its presence and perpetuate its supposed existence. Remember, you want to get rid of it, not perpetuate it!

All problems are negative. They cannot exist alone. Webster defines “negative” as “the absence or negation of something”. Any negative is completely dependent upon there being a positive something to be negative about. You cannot have a counterfeit dollar bill unless there is a genuine dollar to be a counterfeit of. You cannot remind yourself of this fundamental fact too often!

Your awareness of any problem is your assurance that its answer is already available. The problem really is that you are making a reality out of an unreal, false appearance. The problem is a void or your ignorance of the answer. The answer lies in your awakening to this truth.

Your effort must be focused on the necessary positive mindset (“a mental attitude that determines and influences events and circumstances” Webster) and let the answer appear. It’s really that simple.

This is a simple procedure but not always easy to implement. Too often there is too much built in habitual thinking and intellectual ballast that gets in the way.

One’s natural tendency is to defend their “dog” even if it does have fleas!

Change is inevitable. Growth, being an eternal mandate of Life’s governing principle, is likewise inevitable. Growth and change, then, are synonymous terms. When one is “ready” for another new growth experience, our world presents us with new “pictures” which, too often, we tend to misinterpret as another disruptive problem we must overcome. In truth it is a new opportunity for growth seen in reverse.

I guess my time had come for a growth change. For seemingly no reason at all, I was presented with what appeared as a conflicting set of circumstances I needed to understand. I pictured its apparent confusion as a New Orleans Gumbo where a lot of seemingly unrelated components would be blended together and yield a harmonious conclusion.

For some reason, the initial impact took me back a number of years when I first experienced an awakening event. I don’t like to talk about the war, but this experience occurred in Italy during WWII. My Company was pinned down and I found myself immersed in a surreal world of noise, flashing explosions, absolute fear, chaos and all the turmoil that combat offers.

Out of my absolute fear, something happened. From deep within me came a sense that the entire world existed only in a 10 foot radius around me. Everything outside this “cocoon” was simply a nightmare that could not touch me. I somehow felt “safe.” (And because I’m here now, I guess it was right!)

The confusion of my current unrelated elements was as completely separate from me as it was in my combat experience. This experience contributed to the validation of my discovery, more than 50 years ago, of the scientific approach to problem resolution wherein I recognized that our entire experience exists only as a phenomenon within our own individual consciousness. Nothing really exists outside of this awareness.

I learned to release the entire situation and focused on the irrevocable laws of infinity’s maintaining its own perfection and balance and my relation to it. It came to my mind to take certain steps, call certain people, collect certain documents and maintain an attitude of complete confidence and trust as an objective observer knowing that the outcome would be in everyone’s best interest.

Through the cooperation, understanding and adherence to principles, laws and a mutual love and respect for others, everyone involved shared in a mutually beneficial growth experience.

It may be difficult to do at first, but as you continue to train and discipline your mind to accept your inevitable mandate to grow, the outcome is likewise inevitable. This is assured by an ever-expanding sense of your inseparable oneness with the “creative and controlling forces of the universe.” This fact confirms and reveals to your conscious awareness that you are the prime beneficiary of infinity’s unchallenged fulfillment. It is the LAW!

I’m sure it’s a terrific program that will benefit many people. Over the years I have signed up for a jillion such programs and have realized a lot of good from them. But I have also found that, for me, there was something missing. I still had to struggle to overcome some of the same old problems that seemed to be a part of what I’ve come to identify as “me.” They may have changed their characteristics but the root cause of my problems seemed to linger.

Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying here. I encourage people to pursue as many self-help programs as they can handle; and there are a lot of real good ones available. But in doing so, I would ask that they be alert to recognize a certain thread of sameness that they all seem to share.

They all seem to share the view that makes the difficulty, the problem or discord a real “something” that is preventing them from achieving whatever goal or objective they are seeking. Through whatever means proposed by a particular philosophy, in one way or another, they adopt a confrontational approach and set out to do battle with this “enemy” with the intent of destroying it and thereby freeing them to realize their objective.

In my opinion, this confrontational approach runs the risk of creating more frustration than solutions because it assumes the problem area is real and has some inherent power to do possible harm. One would benefit by considering an additional dimension that will render all these common approaches more effective. Let me give you an example:

Upon entering a darkened room, you are confronted by problems. You bump into objects, become disoriented and experience confusion and chaos. In order to resolve your disorientation, you do not strike out against the darkness, you TURN ON THE LIGHT! This reveals the complete room and its contents which ALREADY EXISTED.

Similarly, you must realize, with scientific understanding, that problems are not natural to you and that, in truth, you are ALREADY free. When you learn to reject problems with the same assurance and conviction with which you turned on the light and you will realize the natural, pressure free, harmonious life experiences that are already as natural to you as wet is to water.

In biblical terms, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Here there is no reference to confronting and overcoming an obstacle in order to gain your freedom, there is none. We are admonished to “KNOW the truth….”

The real universe in which we truly “live and move and have our being” (Acts: 27-29) is here and now and is maintained in perpetuity by natural laws and principles, defined by Webster as the “creative and controlling forces of the universe”. When you know and understand this truth, your freedom is assured. It is mandated by LAW, which defined by Webster as, “A rule or principle that always works and is enforced by a governing authority.” That “governing authority”? The “creative and controlling forces of the universe!”

Unlike any other self help approach to problem resolution, the inclusion and proper implementation of SCIENTIFIC, natural laws and principles can assure positive results with scientific predictability. The logical continuity of these natural laws and principles are detailed in my book, “The Science of LIVING BETTER FOREVER.” Its original print version is available through Amazon. An expanded E-book edition may be downloaded through my website.

And my heart goes out to those thousands who have worked just as hard and didn’t make it. It’s their work ethic and dedication to the achievement of a goal that can never be taken from them. Nothing they could have done could contribute more to building their character and ability to meet competition than their adherence to the Olympic work ethic.

Each of us has a particular talent which we must nurture, but the athlete seems to fall into a special category. Unfortunately, we too often find highly skilled athletes destroy their image and degrade their sport (and the Olympic tradition) by slipping into inappropriate social, even criminal, behavior.

Their special talent has been negated by a lack of appreciation for the social environment that gives them an outlet for their skills. Just as important as the development of their athletic skills, is an equal commitment to their development of their personal life and basic life principles.

I’ve had the privilege of meeting some these young Olympians. “Back in the day,” my wife and I had the privilege of having the Olympic Cycling Team stay at our home. When you have a bunch of young athletes tolerate sleeping on the floor, you don’t mind if they eat twice as much as “normal” people! If these guys were a cross section of today’s Olympians, and I’m sure they were, we can all be proud to support the Olympic cause.

My daughter married one of them. From this, she has developed a love for the sport that has continued for more than 30 years. She is still an avid cyclist and still competes in cycling events. She has always had a good work ethic, which is required by the demands of a serious cyclist. Today she is a certified professional Physical Trainer and Coach and is the standard by which physical conditioning can be measured. All built on the Olympic tradition of excellence. (Hey, I’m her Dad and know her better than anyone so I have the right to brag!)

Cindy also has that rare balanced awareness of knowing who she is. She is one of the biggest supporters of my book, “The Science of LIVING BETTER FOREVER” and, like so many others, has benefited from its unique approach to the science of building harmonious life experiences. It should be required reading for anyone searching for that extra ingredient that will lift them above the competition. (Available in print form from Amazon or in an expanded E-book format from my website.)

Whatever your particular skill or talent may be, when you adhere to the scientific principles revealed in my book, coupled with the dedicated commitment of Olympic principles of achievement, you will have triumphed over all competition and won YOUR Olympic Game. Don’t settle for anything less than GOLD!

Davis Goss is a creative consultant and coach with particular expertise in problem solving, with more than 50 years experience. His latest book, “The Science of LIVING BETTER FOREVER,” presents a compelling rationale for challenging conventional problem solving techniques and adopting his unique approach which is based solely on proven, scientific natural laws and principles. Mr. Goss is also available for consultation.

I lived in New Orleans and shared its ups and downs for fifteen years. One of the significant “downs” was to watch the Saints football team lose week after week. During my tenure, the Saints were to worst team in the league. It became a fixed mindset that they were expected to lose. When they did win an occasional game it was a rare cause for hope.

Then, along came Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans changed. It was as though it was given a second chance. I feel a kinship with the Saints because I, too, was “forced” into change. Like the Saints, my wife and I had an opportunity to begin again. We prospered by this change and, somehow, I felt “my” Saints would also prosper with change.

I am an enthusiastic collector of motivational and inspirational slogans and quotations. They work for me in keeping my mind’s focus on good positive stuff. I’ve got a hunch the Saints benefited from the same mindset. What they have accomplished validates the impact of these and similar statements:

• To win you’ve got to stay in the game.

• Act boldly and unseen forces will come to your aid.

• Life is never more fun than when you’re the underdog and competing against the giants.

• Where you’ve been is not half as important as where you’re going.

• If you can’t learn from your mistakes, there’s no use making them.

• Luck is when opportunity knocks and you answer.

• When you get to the end of your rope, hang on.

• When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

• Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.

• Get even with everyone who has helped you.

• Don’t do stupid stuff.

• Whatever you do, do it better.

• The first and most important step toward success is the feeling that you can succeed.

• The road to easy street always seems to go through the sewer.

• If you can do one thing well, you’re needed by someone.

• If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to it.

• Whatever you think you can or cannot do, you’re right.

Often one is aware of a shift in the momentum of a game. What is this “momentum?” It’s simply the coordinated, collective mindset of every team member’s mental focus. It is often initiated by some well-executed play or circumstance and everyone’s enthusiasm takes a giant leap forward. Unfortunately, the reverse is also true: discouragement can have a negative impact on the team’s over all ability to function as a coordinated unit.

The Saint’s collective mindset, motivated by the trauma of a devastating hurricane, is what makes the difference: it forced a new focus and opened the way to gain a new perspective, the right players, the right coaching, and the means by which they could all function as a productive unit.

With the Saint’s collective mindset, motivation commitment to excellence, positive results were inevitable and predictable.

The same motivation works for us. We can learn this lesson from the Saints in our own individual personal or professional life because underlying this phenomenon are natural laws and principles that, by definition, are “the creative and controlling forces of the universe” and every thing in it… including you!

Read more about this in my book, “The Science of LIVING BETTER FOREVER.” It is available in print form from Amazon or, as an expanded e-book version, it can be downloaded from my website.

Go Saints!!

It would seem as though nothing has changed and we are still innocent victims of situations and conditions over which we have no control. We will still accept that as a “norm” that we inherited just by virtue of being born. As far as I can tell, it’s been that way for as long as I can remember and it looks like 2010 is destined to be more of the same.

I felt this way more than 50 years ago when I made a great discovery. I discovered that I DID have control because of one underlying, and often ignored, principle that trumps all the grief the world can offer. There actually are “creative and controlling forces of the universe” that by their very nature and definition, maintain and sustain the universe in perfect balance, harmony and perpetuity. And, because of our inexorable oneness with it, we are its prime beneficiaries.

It is the Law! LAW is defined by Webster as “rules and principles that always work and are enforced by a governing authority.” We couldn’t escape it if we wanted to!

This condition is the diametric opposite of the appearance of a “world” in turmoil, threats and violence leading to what “experts” have decided will be “the end of times.”

“OPPOSITES” are a natural phenomenon in the physical, finite world. Unless we consciously do something about it, it will operate in our individual experie3nce. It is the clash of opposites that produces all problems, chaos and confusion. Webster defines “opposites” as:

elements that are so apart and diverse as to be totally irreconcilable one to the other… elements  that are in extreme diametric opposition.

To exercise our individual control and dominion over the chaos, fear. Anxiety and self- destruction, we must make a committed separation between the finite, physical world –

FINITE: “having definite or definable limits; a limited nature of existence.”

and the infinite, spiritual universe –

INFINITE: “Limitless, boundless, endless; unlimited, spiritual.”

SPIRITUAL: “Incorporeal; a life-giving force; an animating principle; having no material body or form”.

“Finite” and “Infinite” are opposites and, as such, cannot commingle or coexist. You can have one or the other but not both at the same time. One absolutely negates the other. It is the Law.

To experience the harmony and perfection of the infinite universe, we must completely REJECT the negative elements comprising the physical “world” and embrace the all-inclusive infinity of the universe. There are no other options. The choice is yours.