I always have a hard time whenever “god” or conscious universe is brought up. I absolutely believe in the connectedness of everything, and in manifesting your desires. In fact I can feel the rightness of most things yourself and Mr. Dyer speak about. I always get hung up when god or a plan or any religious dogma is mentioned. Why do you feel that there is an overall plan, and a directing thinking consciousness? I guess when I think of it this way it makes me feel more separate and less connected. Like there is a separate being in control of everything, when I feel more like there is a collective universal consciousness that is made up of by all of us and everything, experiencing the universe as it happens and directing our own outcomes based on our faith in our ability to connect to the source. I don’t know why but the thought of a “god” really bothers me.

About 2 years ago I made a conscious choice to make friends with my ego.  So far, it has been the most painful yet freeing experience of my life.  What are some of the positives of having strong ego drives?  How can they be incorporated into a life of service and enlightenment?

Okay, I have to ask something that has been bothering my sister and myself.   I’ll try to not go too far back, though some of our feelings probably stem from the childhood that we shared.

Our parents are verrrrry right-wing, republicans.  They watch O’reilley, and treat him like a god, etc.  They recently moved from Madison, WI to Arkansas, to retire.  Much of my Dad’s family is down there, and we feel that once they moved down there they got even crazier.   They love the war, everything Bush did, they don’t believe in global warming, and HATE the word “universe”, and LOVE to argue about anything related to anything like this, etc. etc.

We were able to take this for a while and to try to avoid hot-button subjects.  Our parents know we are democrats, and believe almost completely differently than they on most things.  It has gotten to the point where my sister and I want to just back off more and more from them.  On the other hand, our parents have decided they want to communicate (and see us) more and more.   They offer to pay to have us visit, and chastise my kids for not calling them enough, and so on.

It’s gotten uncomfortable to even talk to them, as we feel that some uncomfortable subject will come up, and we are frustrated and don’t know what to do about it.  They’re almost 80 and yet are very healthy, and quite frankly we are frightened for what they’ll be like in 10-20 years as they continue to get more… intense.

I’ve worked with Law of Attraction and seeing them at their best and focusing on good qualities, and even in imagining the visits the way I’d like them to be, etc. and it somewhat works.. but then we continue to feel as if we are walking in mine fields.  My fiance (who I’ve been with for 10 years) feels the same way we do and even though he’s very nice, he also is feeling claustrophobic around them and wants to back away.

I even feel that me carrying my extra weight over the years is a passive aggressive action from me, as I know how much they hate that I’m fat.  In fact, they talk about it ALL the time (my sister is fat as well).  Even though we know that it’s hurting us more than it’s hurting them, we still continue to feel frustrated for how to change it.

If I could afford a therapist, I would love to go to one who could help me with things that could help ME, as I realize that I don’t need to change them.

I’m just wondering if there is anything you can tell us that would help us with this.  We have tried to talk to them about things before and they go ballistic, so we don’t feel confronting them is going to do any good.  We just want something we can do that will help us get control of our lives again in this area, and not feel that we either have to 1) be fake around them just to suffer through the visit, or 2) be totally ourselves and have to listen to a lot of lectures about how we’re not good enough as we are and that we need to go to church and need to lose weight, and need to be republican, etc. etc.

As children we were taught “no, no, no”  when we were exploring our environments. In this way we were taught how to have  power over another. Then we become parents finding ourselves in the same situations. Protecting the ones we love through our decisions we make for them. We do have the highest of intentions however these intentions are a way our ego expresses itself, for surely how are we to know God’s intentions for another being placed in our immediate surroundings.

So let’s say when someone asks or needs help, I’m unable to say “no” even when it may put further strain on my personal well being. I have a hard time wondering if God is coming through these people and if God asked me for help. How dare I deny him. This is the inner struggle I face in being able to say “no” to others request. Then of course as an individual I struggle with the feelings of being walked all over. Having my kindness manipulated. If its life threatening of course no is easier to administer however if a minor inconvenience or the fact that I may personally do without to give to someone I love, i.e. children, lovers, parents. the sacrifice seems minimal to the sacrifices of others especially God through Jesus. Is this life I live not the life of God in expression.

So I guess what I am seeking is a theory where you believe God says NO is necessary.

I was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome in 1998.  I am mostly affected by any social situation.  I can also, very easily have sensory overload and suffer meltdowns.  It limits my day-to-day life greatly.I train horses and dogs, spend a lot of time in nature, but when I have to interact with people, I become very quiet and reserved.  I’m much better with animals. My question is, how can a person like me contribute to my society.  I’ve read all your books, watched your DVD’s and listened to your CD’s.  You have already helped me so much.