While raising my three children, I have often tried to find books to help reinforce the spiritual concepts I was teaching them. Aside from colorful picture books for younger children, there was very little in the self-help genre readily available for bright youngsters seeking a special kind of knowledge to read on their own until now. Truth Works dismantles the negative life lessons our kids are taught by many adults in their lives. Reading, writing, and arithmetic aren't the only things they learn in school. There are detrimental messages they hear on a daily basis from television, music, friends, and others. People unknowingly drop their false-belief bombs that can become ingrained into our children's subconscious when they hear age-old, traditional sayings like "money is the root of all evil" "life is not fair" or "you have to struggle to get ahead" The premise for Truth Works is to undo this harmful programming at a young age, ensuring the subconscious belief system for our children is optimistic, safe, and secure. When we address these destructive beliefs in childhood and expose their false nature, they cannot reside in our subconscious minds for a lifetime as the basis for our beliefs. We are left with the pure, positive, and absolute spiritual truth.
TRUTH WORKS
Divine Life Lessons for Kids of All AgesBy Gina SendefBALBOA PRESS
Copyright © 2012 Gina Sendef
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4525-5204-0Contents
Foreword: Don't Believe Everything you Learn .........................................xIntroduction: Out with the Old and in with the True...................................xv• Chapter 1: Children Should be Seen and not Heard...............................1• Chapter 2: Money is the Root of all Evil?......................................9• Chapter 3: Life is not Fair!...................................................17• Chapter 4: Work Sucks..........................................................25• Chapter 5: You HAVE to Struggle to Get Ahead...................................35• Chapter 6: Keep your Friends Close and your Enemies Closer.....................41• Chapter 7: I Worry Because I Love You..........................................53• Chapter 8: You Can Judge a Man by the Company he Keeps.........................61• Chapter 9: You Make me Happy...................................................71• Chapter 10: Hope for the Best..................................................81• Chapter 11: You have to Fight Fire with Fire!..................................89• Chapter 12: Words can Never Hurt me!...........................................97• Chapter 13: Seeing is Believing................................................107• Chapter 14: Getting Old is a BLEEP!............................................117• Chapter 15: Suffering the Wrath of God.........................................127Afterword: Don't Follow the Leader....................................................137
Chapter One
Children Should be Seen and not Heard
It always felt awful to me that some adults felt they held power over me, as a child, simply because they were alive on this planet longer than me. The idea that children do not have the right to express themselves is one of the most ridiculous, not to mention damaging, sayings I have ever heard; it's why I chose to make it Chapter 1. It is simply 100% wrong to tell you that your opinions do not count and should be kept quiet simply because of your age.
Unfortunately, there are numerous sayings and phrases that demand kids be silent. These negative notions can set up the belief that what you have to say does not matter, that, in some way you do not matter. Nothing could be further from the truth! Every person on this earth is significant and has a purpose. The sooner you learn this, the sooner you can live your life confidently focused on fulfilling that purpose.
For the most part, grown-ups probably tell you to "keep quiet" to correct your behavior and have you STOP doing whatever it is they deem as wrong. Unfortunately, this method does nothing to explain what was bothersome and why, so you can learn to avoid the behavior in the future. Adults also demand quiet with these statements because kids tend to make noise and sometimes adults need silence. In fact, silence is very important. It is in that quiet where we can connect with God. Although the desire for peace and quiet is good, the manner in which it is sometimes demanded is not. Think about how it makes you feel when you hear any of the following statements:
• Shush
• Shut up
• Be quiet
• Pipe down
• Silence!
• Zip it
• Shut your mouth
• Truth Works
• Shut your face
• Shut your pie hole
• Shut your trap
• Zip your lip
• Shut it
• Put a sock in it
• Put a cork in it
• Keep it down
If you were to say anything like this, an adult would correct your behavior (maybe even punish you). The truth is; none of us should talk this way to anybody. That is why it is so important to explain these types of cliché sayings that kids hear every day, everywhere. It is also essential to understand the underlying negative impact they can have, which may not be obvious to adults who heard them when they were children and now use them as part of their parenting.
It is through understanding that you will learn to ignore the negativity of the lessons you are taught and be able to discern the truth. For example, "Children should be seen and not heard" may not be intended to shut you down or make you feel that what you are saying is insignificant. It simply may be a nasty way to ask for some peace and quiet or, perhaps you said something that embarrassed the adult delivering this message to you.
Whatever the reason, the message is still completely negative and totally untrue. Children should definitely be seen and heard with all of the glory and potential they bring to each and every situation. As human beings, you have permission to speak your mind freely, but you must do so with respect. As a kid you may not know how to act with societal appropriateness in every situation or how to speak your thoughts in a civil manner all the time. This can be frustrating to adults and, instead of spending time explaining some of these things, they rely on silly old sayings that make no sense; causing confusion and self-doubt that can have a long lasting and negative impact.
This does not mean that everything you say will be wonderful. You'll make mistakes and will need to be corrected from time to time. This will not make you a bad person or mean that what you say does not matter. You should always choose words carefully. Speak the truth in a thoughtful manner at all times. Think before you speak and if you are unsure, talk in private if possible to avoid a communication problem.
If you can, be an agent of change. I remember telling my daughter to "shut up" once when she was around 9 years old. She told me that I hurt her feelings and I felt terrible; her opinion changed mine. I decided from that point on to avoid that type of language in our house. Still, I knew she might hear it elsewhere. No matter where language like this comes from, when it is being spewed at us it can have an effect and make us feel powerless; but with awareness it does not have to.
It is important to know that words said to you do not have to define you. Remember, you matter to God and nothing anyone ever says to you can change that. The next time an adult is asking you to be quiet, in a not so nice way (like some of the statements I listed in this chapter), politely and respectfully let them know that you would be happy to stop talking or making noise but could they please ask in a less hurtful manner. If you ask this and are punished physically (beaten or worse), you must seek help immediately with your local authorities like the police or school social worker; physical punishment should never be tolerated.
Just because you are young does not mean that you have to act in the same manner as the people around you. If the grown-ups in your life are rude or holding onto to the negative ideas we'll discuss in this book, you do not have to join them. In other words, you are your own person and you can break the cycle of destructive beliefs and behavior by simply choosing not to act in that manner. Be yourself, set your own example, and choose what you want to believe, say and do. Of course, you will still have to obey the adults in your life to a certain extent until you are one (curfew, schedules, chores, homework, etc ...), but that does not mean that they control your Spirit.
Spirit is who we all really are, at our core being, it is what connects us to God and each other. When you are quiet and still, not watching TV or playing video games, you will hear and feel your Spirit and it will guide you always to believe in the best and follow your heart for your path in life. Negative messages like "Children Should Be Seen and Not Heard" set up negative beliefs that can shut down our spirit by letting our Ego take control.
The Ego is our false-mind, it is not our Spirit. Ego is the part of us that lives in the constant thinking mind and sees us as separate from others and God. Our Ego thrives on problems and negativity and will create drama whenever it can. All of the sayings and lessons we will discuss in this book are products of the Ego. When you hear a voice in your mind, if the message is not a positive one or makes you feel bad, it is absolutely your Ego. Spirit can only communicate positive, loving and true thoughts in stillness to guide you. Becoming aware of your Ego and watching out for those type thoughts is the first step to awakening your true self and letting your Spirit (or light) shine.
When an adult uses one of the phrases from this chapter, it is the negativity of their Ego doing the talking. The only way to deal with a situation where another person's egoic self is communicating with you in a harmful way is not to engage. Do not react by crying, having a fit, or acting out. Instead, quietly do what you are being asked and do not take it personally. From this chapter, the real message was to please be quiet; remember the truth behind the statement instead of letting the negative beliefs enter your subconscious mind. When you hear "shut up", your ego will try to fill your head with the idea that you do not deserve to speak or the person telling you that does not love you or that you do not matter. We know now that none of this is true.
HOMEWORK: Review the summary of this chapter.
• Most of the time, the adult delivering a message of this type is just seeking peace and quiet and might not mean to be hurtful
• Remember, these statements do NOT mean that you do not matter or that you do not have the right to express your thoughts and ideas
• If possible, politely say something like "Sorry, I'll be quiet but it hurts my feelings when you tell me to _______________________ (shut up, etc ...)"
• Try not to react in a negative way by crying, getting angry or thinking negative things about yourself; that is your Ego
• Your true self is Spirit and will guide you with love; if you are quiet and still you will hear Spirit in your thoughts or feel it in your heart (some of you may even hear it)
• Ego is your false self, when your thoughts and actions are harmful, destructive or negative you are being guided by your Ego
• Being aware of your Ego and those thoughts will help to make your true self, your Spirit, shine and awaken
• You always matter to God
Chapter Two
Money is the Root of all Evil?
What is money? Is it merely the currency we use to pay for life's essentials? Is it what we need to get everything we desire? Is it the source for our happiness? Does it make us bad if we have a lot of it? The truth is, money is actually none of these things on a universal level.
To the universe, everything is made up of energy or chi. Each piece of matter, living or not, vibrates at a certain frequency. Money is no different; it is simply energy. Energy is attracted to like energy, that which vibrates at a similar frequency. If your frequency is positive then you will attract positive things into your life, however the opposite is true also (negative attracts negative). This is the theory of Quantum Physics or the Law of Attraction; simply put, like attracts like.
Money cannot make a person bad, good, happy, sad, smart, stupid or anything else. Only people determine who they are and how they act. The idea that money is evil, or somehow that people who have more than you are evil, is detrimental in so many ways. If you believe money is or will make you corrupt, then you will surely sabotage your ability to have any. Why would you try to attract something if, on a subconscious level, you feel it is harmful or even evil?
There are many common negative statements you may hear about money that can have a harmful effect, below are a few.
• Money doesn't grow on trees
• The rich knows not who is his friend
• If you want to know what God thinks of money,
• look at the people He gives it to
• I am not made of money
• Money can't buy happiness
• Make every penny count
• A penny saved is a penny earned
Apart from these, I have always and still do hear people constantly bashing money or jokingly speaking disparagingly about it or people who have it. As a child, about age 9, I was fascinated by money. It was wonderful to receive money and be able to buy something I liked. If I wanted something that cost more than the money I had, I could save until I reached that amount. If I wanted to earn money faster, I could actually make it by doing things for people that were willing to pay me (chores, babysitting, paper route, etc). Soon after I started earning some money, the adults in my life intervened with many lessons. Most of these revolved around holding onto my money and not spending it. As if by letting some of my money go I could not get it back. I spent a good part of my life thinking money was in very limited supply and that you had to be extremely careful with exactly how you spent it, to the point of being afraid of spending any amount of money and over thinking every purchase.
I am sure the advice about the money I was earning was simply to instruct me to be fiscally responsible. This means to spend your money wisely and within your means. Do not purchase things you cannot afford and do not become obsessed with shopping. Although having lots of "stuff" can be fun, it does not define who you are and will never make you truly happy. You are not your things and, with or without your possessions, you are still the same person.
Unfortunately, most of what I was told about money as a child did not fully explain all of this and really made me feel confused. Money was something I needed, should work hard to earn, but should not enjoy because it might go away. That is all quite wrong and it felt wrong. Nothing in the universe is ever in limited supply; there is abundance in all things, if you believe it. Money is no different; remember, it is energy. All energy has flow; you release and receive it constantly. If you block the financial flow of energy by never really spending any money, than you cannot receive any either. This does not mean that constant shopping and spending sprees are the answer. Universal laws, like The Law of Attraction, do not respond to over indulging or extremes. All matter must be respected, if you treat something abusively, expect the same in return. Over or under spending of money is abuse of it.
If you never give or spend any money; holding onto it so tightly will cause a block in the flow of that energy cycle. Be generous, spend, share and enjoy your earnings responsibly. Know that the supply is bountiful even if every person in your life believes it is limited. Believe that you deserve wealth and it cannot make you a bad person as long as you are willing to share.
Sharing is one of the most important aspects of the law of attraction. When you attract good into your life, sharing will multiply it. Money, like all energy, is meant to be shared by giving and taking. You can do so by donating to charity, hiring employees, giving money as a gift, shopping, paying for services like house cleaning or painting, investing in a business or stock, etc ... When you share any aspect of yourself (talent, time or treasure), you are aligning with a higher energy and that is the energy of God. Negativity of any kind brings you out of this alignment.
Negative energy can come from believing in scarcity, worrying, speaking poorly about anything, participating in negative activities (like gossip), or reading, watching or listening to negative messages (like television newscasts). If something makes you feel even the slightest bit uneasy, it could be because it is negative and bringing your energy to a lower frequency. This lower frequency will only attract the same, and it makes you feel bad because your very being is sending you a message. That feeling is your intuition and you can always trust it.
Intuition is an important gift we all posses. It is that little voice in your head or that feeling in your gut. It can be especially strong in situations that you should avoid. Did you ever meet somebody and just know that for seemingly no reasons at all that person made you uncomfortable? That is your intuition at work. If something an adult tells you makes you feel uneasy, that is your intuition at work. If something a friend asks you to do does not make you feel right, that is your intuition at work. If a new idea has you excited and you want to try it; that is also your intuition. Our intuition is connected to God, therefore the messages it sends us through our thoughts or feelings could be considered to be from God. Ignoring your intuition can lead to problems, eventually you'll find yourself saying "I should have followed my instincts".
Sometimes, our intuitive guidance can be difficult to follow because it leads us in a direction that is not popular. For instance, if our parents believe money is the root of all evil but intuitively that does not feel right for you, it can be hard to disagree with them; they may even become angry or argumentative when you oppose them. However, if your gut feeling or that little voice is sending you a message about it, try to listen. It does not mean that you have to tell everybody or change your entire life at that moment. Just be sure to take note and let your intuition guide your beliefs. As a child, you may be limited in what you can do by the circumstances and beliefs of your parents or guardians, but you will be an adult some day, and then you can truly follow the path your intuition lays before you. That is why it is so important to tune into it while you are young and learn to use it as a guidance tool to empower you for the rest of your life.
It may seem that lessons about money should not be all that important in relation to your life path, but they are absolutely critical. Money is a tangible energy source that we come into contact with on a daily basis and, in modern society, it is a necessity. Our beliefs about money can define the way we relate to all energy, and therefore all life. If you believe negatively about one form of energy, it will affect the flow of all others. For instance, if you believe money is in limited supply it will not only limit the flow of money into your life, it can limit the flow of other energy as well (such as love, friendships, success, etc ...); it is all connected. Fortunately, positive beliefs will attract positive flow into your life. Money is not the root of all evil; that is man's domain. Money is simply a source for abundance; it is energy.
HOMEWORK: Review these points about Money:
• Money is not evil or bad; it is people who sometimes do bad things with it
• Money is simply a form of energy
• Money is not limited, there is abundance in all energy
• Since money is energy, there must be a flow to it (giving and receiving)
• If you believe money is limited, it will limit the flow of other energy into your life
(Continues...)
Excerpted from TRUTH WORKSby Gina Sendef Copyright © 2012 by Gina Sendef. Excerpted by permission of BALBOA PRESS. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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